The World Opinion

Tag: PM Modi

  • On Opposition’s Concerns Over PM-CJI Meet, BJP’s ‘Iftaar Party’ Counter |

    New Delhi: As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s casual visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence on Ganesh Puja, faced a significant backlash from the opposition, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has responded by reminding Congress of a similar incident concerning former PM Manmohan Singh.  

    BJP’s spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala shared some old pictures of Manmohan Singh with the then CJI KG Balakrishnan laughing at an Iftar party in 2009. 

    Poonawalla circulated old photographs of the 2009 Iftar party showing then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh together with then Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. Poonawalla remarked that during that period, the Opposition believed the “judiciary was safe.” He compared this with the current situation, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at Ganesh Puja at the Chief Justice’s residence has led to claims that the “judiciary has been compromised.” 

    2009- PM Manmohan Singh’s Iftaar Party was attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan- Sshhhh – Yeh Secular hai.. judiciary is safe!

    PM Modi attends Ganesh Puja at current CJI House – oh God Judiciary compromised pic.twitter.com/vhkUdRRVHI
    — Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 12, 2024

    ‘Should they be enemies?…’ said BJP’s Sambit Patra on Opposition’s remarks. He said that this is the beauty of democracy that the different ‘pillars’ maintain different courtesy’s when on-duty and when off-duty. 

    Patra asserted, “The leaders of the Opposition are doing politics over the Ganesh prayers offered by PM Modi at CJI Chandrachud’s residence yesterday… Should the different pillars of democracy not converge? Should they be enemies?… Should they have no courtesies towards each other?” 

    The speaker questioned the inconsistency in objections, pointing out that while there are concerns about the Prime Minister meeting the Chief Justice of India, similar meetings involving Rahul Gandhi with figures like Ilhan Omar, the Chinese Premier, and George Soros, as well as signing MoUs, have been ignored. 

    He noted that there was no objection to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attending Iftar parties, suggesting a double standard regarding the significance of these interactions. 

  • BJP, Opposition Spar Over PM Modi’s Ganpati Puja At CJI’s Residence |

    A row erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for Ganpati Puja celebrations. PM Modi’s visit drew criticism from the leaders of the opposition bloc INDIA. Reacting to PM Modi’s visit to Chandrachud’s home, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that such visits cast doubts in the minds of people. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted to the opposition’s criticism, saying that “attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime”.

    On Wednesday, PM Modi took part in the Ganpati Puja festivities at Chandrachud’s residence in Delhi. The Chief Justice and his wife, Kalpana Das, welcomed the PM, who was wearing traditional Maharashtrian attire for the celebrations.

    #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi attended the Ganesh Puja celebrations at the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/VqHsuobqh6
    — ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2024

    PM Modi took to social media platform X and shared a video of the celebrations, which did not go down well with the opposition. Raut said that the CJI should distance himself from the case where the Uddhav Thackeray faction had challenged the decision of the Maharashtra Speaker recognising the Eknath Shinde camp as the real Shiv Sena.

    “Our case of Maharashtra… the hearing is going on before CJI Chandrachud, so we have doubts if we will get justice because the PM is the other party in the case. The Chief Justice should distance himself from this case because his relation with the other party in the case is openly visible. Will CJI Chandrachud be able to give us justice in such a situation?” the Shiv Sena MP said.

    #WATCH | On PM Modi visiting CJI DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganpati Poojan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, ” Ganpathi festival is going on, people visit each other’s houses. I don’t have info regarding how many houses PM visited so far…but PM went to CJI’s house… pic.twitter.com/AVp26wl7Yz
    — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2024

    In a post on X, Raut shared a list of recent cases where the Supreme Court has not given a desirable verdict for the opposition. He also mentioned the apex court’s suo motu cognisance of the Kolkata RG Kar rape and murder case and the bail hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “One should understand the chronology to understand all such cases,” Raut said in the post.

    संविधान के घर को आग लगी
    घरके चिरागसे….
    १) EVM को क्लीन चीट
    २) महाराष्ट्र में चलरही संविधान विरोधी सरकार के सुनवाई पर ३ सालसे तारीख पे तारीख
    ३) प. बंगाल बलात्कर मामले मे suemoto हस्तक्षेप लेकीन
    महाराष्ट्र रेप कांड का जिकर नहीं.
    ४) दिल्ली मुख्यमंत्री केजरीवाल के
    bail पर तारीख पे… https://t.co/jzVpQqDQh3
    — Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) September 11, 2024

    Irked by PM Modi’s visit, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also took a jibe at the CJI. “After the festivities are over, hopefully the CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections are round the corner anyway, it can be adjourned for another day,” she said in a post on X.

    In response to Opposition’s flak, the BJP came down heavily and recounted events of the past and asked if the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) did not attend the Iftar party hosted by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

    While addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in the national capital, Lok Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “They do not have any objection to the prime minister meeting the chief justice of India but Ganpati Puja,” he said, and accused the leaders of the opposition of indulging in politics.

    “I am surprised that if the prime minister meets the chief justice of India, you raise an objection. But when he (Rahul Gandhi) meets (US lawmaker) Illhan Omar, who is with Pok, in America, you have no objection,” he further stated.

    BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also slammed the Congress for criticising PM Modi’s visit to CJI’s residence. “The entire Congress and Communist ecosystem is in a twist after PM Modi attended Ganpati Poojan at CJI DY Chandrachud’s residence. The same suspects held it as an epitome of secularism when Dr Manmohan Singh hosted Iftar parties and then CJI would attend,” he said in a post on X.

    BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also lashed out at the opposition, saying that attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime and the judiciary and politicians share stage on several occasions. 

    “Attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime On many occasions judiciary and politicians share stage On auspicious functions, marriages, programs – but if PM attends it at house of CJI , Uddhav Sena MP doubts integrity of CJI & SC. Congress ecosystem attacks SC like Rahul Gandhi did in past It’s shameful contempt of court & abusing judiciary,” he said.

  • Semicon India 2024: Entrepreneurs Hail First-Of-Its Kind Initiative, Call For More Such Events | Economy News

    New Delhi: As the three-day Semicon India 2024 event kicked off in Greater Noida on Wednesday, entrepreneurs and traders were a happy lot as they got to showcase their products and also a chance to connect with respective global business partners.  Many traders at the exhibition welcomed the first-of-its-kind initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and called for making it a regular event, yearly. 

    Some entrepreneurs said that the Semicon India event helped develop a direct bridge with hi-tech global counterparts as well as the consumers, while others saw this as a big stepping stone in Make in India initiative. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi after inaugurating the Semicon event, said that it was the right time to be in India as the government was offering stable policies and ease of doing business on investments.

    Speaking at the inauguration, PM Modi said: “I can say that this is the right time to be in India. You are at the right place at the right time. In India of the 21st century, the chips are never down. Today’s India makes the world believe that when the chips are down, you can bet on India.”

    A couple of traders spoke to IANS explaining the importance of the Semicon event and what it would mean for their businesses. SCT Solutions’ Nilesh Dhanraj said that the event was one of its kind in the country and companies from across the world are participating in it.

    “This facilitates direct link between producers and consumers. We urge the government to organise more such events in the future,” he added. Gentec’s Chinmaya Panchal said that such events should be organised not just once a year but also half-yearly or quarterly as such exhibitions help develop synergy between various stakeholders.

    Win Chen of AGM group said that he was very happy to attend the SEMICON show. “It was very impressive, many noted companies participated in the show,” he said. Jayesh Panchang, a representative of Taiwan-based company AGM said that after PM Modi inaugurated the event, the semiconductor industry should grow at a fast pace. “We would be happy to be part of this journey,” he added.

    Stonhard India, which looks after clean rooms and conductive flooring of the semiconductor industry, said that it supports PM Modi’s vision. “This will give strength to the Made in India mission. Many global companies are taking part in it. Many stakeholders are coming under one roof and this will facilitate fast-paced growth,” said Stonhard India representative.

    Arun Kumar Singh said that his company has been given a target of installing 25 crore Smart meters. “This will plug leakages in electricity distribution and will bring an end to power theft,” he said. Notably, the Semicon India 2024 is being organised from September 11 to 13 with the theme ‘Shaping the Semiconductor Future’. The three-day conference will showcase India’s semiconductor strategy and policy which envisions making India a global hub for semiconductors.

  • With Eyes On Semiconductor, PM Modi Arrives In Singapore; Strategic Ties, Bilateral Cooperation In Focus | world news

    PM Modi Singapore Visit: Following the conclusion of his visit to Brunei, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Singapore to ‘deepen strategic partnership’ between India and Singapore. He arrived in the Southeast Asian country at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in the second leg of his two-nation visit. This is PM Modi’s fifth official trip to Singapore. His last visit to Singapore was in 2018.

    During the visit, the Prime Minister is slated to connect with three generations of Singapore’s leadership, officials in New Delhi said. He will receive an official welcome at the Parliament House on Thursday and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

    After arriving in Singapore, PM Modi took to We also look forward to closer cultural ties.”

    Landed in Singapore. Looking forward to the various meetings aimed at boosting the India-Singapore friendship. India’s reforms and the talent of our Yuva Shakti makes our nation an ideal investment destination. We also look forward to closer cultural ties. pic.twitter.com/SG2IttCKEg — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2024

    During his visit, PM Modi is accompanied by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other government officials.

    In a statement ahead of his departure, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The leaders will review the progress of the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest”.

    PM Modi To Meet Senior Singapore Ministers

    PM Modi would call on Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. During the visit, he will also meet with Singaporean business leaders and interact with those in the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.

    Speaking about Modi’s Singapore trip, officials said that this visit will build synergy in the semiconductor ecosystems of the two countries and PMs of both the countries will visit a semiconductor manufacturing facility.

    They said MoUs will be signed for cooperation in manpower skilling in the semiconductor sector. From skilling centers to training and recruitment by Singapore firms, this will help India’s youth with better skills and opportunities, officials further stated.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • Watch – Modi In Singapore: PM Tries His Hands On Dhol, Meets Indian Diaspora |

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday and received an enthusiastic welcome. Modi highlighted that this meeting aimed to boost the friendship and closer cultural ties between India and Singapore.

    Prime Minister received a from members of the Indian diaspora as he arrived at a hotel in Singapore today. He even tried his hand at playing a ‘dhol’ as the crowd performed to welcome him outside the hotel.

     

    #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries his hands on a dhol. Members of the Indian diaspora welcomed PM Modi on his arrival in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/JBWG5Bnrzk
    — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2024

     

    PM Modi shared a post on the microblogging site X and said that this meeting aims for close cultural ties.

    “Landed in Singapore. Looking forward to the various meetings aimed at boosting the India-Singapore friendship. India’s reforms and the talent of our Yuva Shakti make our nation an ideal investment destination. We also look forward to closer cultural ties.” the post read.

    The Indian diaspora in Singapore expressed their excitement over PM Modi’s arrival, calling it a “dream come true” moment. Some enthusiasts even woke up at 5 a.m. just to catch a glimpse of him.

    “We all woke up today at 5 am with full excitement and made this banner for PM Modi. Because of him, India’s image has improved drastically.” Indian students in Singapore told to ANI.

  • PM Modi In Singapore: CapitaLand To Double Investments In India To Rs 90,280 Crore | Companies News

    Mumbai: Global real asset manager CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI) on Wednesday announced to more than double its funds under management (FUM) in its core market India to $14.8 billion Singapore dollars (Rs 90,280 crore) by 2028 -up from the current 7.4 billion Singapore dollars – as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day official visit to Singapore. 

    The announcement will contribute to CLI’s global target of achieving $200 billion Singapore dollars in FUM by 2028, the company said in a statement. Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, posted on X that it is “good to see Singapore companies doubling down on investments in India”.

    CLI entered India 30 years ago with the development of its first IT park called the International Tech Park Bangalore (ITPB). Its footprint has since expanded to 14 business and IT parks, offering 23.5 million square feet of space strategically located across Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Gurugram, with more than 250,000 professionals working from these parks.

    “India has been one of our fastest growing markets, where our investments have tripled in the last seven years. With India’s GDP forecasted to grow 7 per cent in 2024 and its trajectory to be the world’s third-largest economy in the next five years, the country is attracting demand from global corporations and institutional investors for quality real assets,” said Lee Chee Koon, Group Chief Executive Officer, CLI.

    As a long-term investor in India, “we not only invest in the assets but also contribute significantly to the economic development of the country”, he added.

    With a current land bank of over 16 million square feet, CLI will accelerate development activities to address the increasing demand for premium office spaces across key metropolitan cities.

    CLINT, the largest India-focused property trust listed in Singapore, will continue to develop and execute forward purchase acquisitions, securing prime assets to ensure a robust pipeline for sustained growth.

    The real asset major will also seek joint development and joint venture opportunities with capital partners, along with commercial management partnerships, to expand in India.

    “We will leverage our operational expertise to grow the value of our assets, further expand our logistics footprint under our established logistics platform, Ascendas-Firstspace (AFS) and scale up our lodging portfolio through CLI’s lodging arm, The Ascott Limited,” said Sanjeev Dasgupta, CEO, CLI India.

  • PM Modi Begins Key Visit To Brunei, Singapore Today: What’s On Agenda? |

    New Delhi: Beginning today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Brunei and Singapore. On September 3-4, he will visit Brunei at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors. This marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Brunei, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei. 

    Brunei is a key partner in India’s “Act East” policy and its broader vision for the Indo-Pacific region. 

    The visit is expected to bolster India’s cooperation with Brunei across various sectors, including defense, trade, investment, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, while also exploring opportunities in new areas, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. 

    Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary of State for External Affairs, announced that Prime Minister Modi will engage in bilateral discussions with Brunei’s leaders during his visit, focusing on all aspects of their cooperation and relationship. 

     “As you know, we share a very warm and friendly relationship with Brunei and our engagements cover multiple areas such as defence, trade and investment, energy, space, technology, health, capacity, building, culture and vibrant people-to-people exchanges,” ANI quoted Mazumdar as saying. 

    According to him, the Indian diaspora in Brunei, numbering around 14,000, includes a significant proportion of doctors and teachers who have gained respect and recognition for their contributions to the country’s economy and society. 

    PM Modi’s Visit To Singapore 

    Modi will thereafter visit Singapore at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on September 4-5. This marks his first visit to the country in nearly six years. 

    During the trip, PM Modi will hold meetings with Singaporean officials and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, he will also engage with Singaporean business leaders. 

  • 35-Foot Tall Statue Of Shivaji Maharaj Inaugurated By PM Modi Collapses In Sindhudurg; Opposition Slams State Govt |

    A 35-foot statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday. The incident, occurring around 1 PM, has sparked significant criticism from opposition parties, who have blamed the state government for negligence and poor quality of work. The statue was inaugurated last year on December 4.

    Heavy Rains and Winds Suspected as Contributing Factors

    According to local officials, the statue’s collapse may have been influenced by recent severe weather conditions. The Sindhudurg district has experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds over the past two to three days. While experts are expected to investigate and determine the exact cause of the collapse, weather-related factors are currently being considered as potential contributors.

    Opposition Blames State Government For Neglect

    Following the incident, opposition leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the state government. NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil accused the government of prioritizing the event over the quality of the statue’s construction. “The state government is responsible for this collapse due to their lack of proper care. They were more focused on organizing an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi than ensuring the statue was built to last,” Patil stated. He further alleged that the government’s approach to the project involved issuing new tenders, accepting commissions, and awarding contracts without proper oversight.

    Similarly, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik condemned the alleged poor quality of workmanship. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into those responsible for the construction and installation of the statue. “The state government may try to shirk responsibility, but those accountable for this project must be thoroughly investigated,” Naik asserted.

     Government’s Response

    In response to the criticism, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar acknowledged the incident but noted that he did not have complete details at the time. He referenced a statement by PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, who is also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, affirming that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted.

    Kesarkar also assured that the government is committed to rectifying the situation. “We are dedicated to erecting a new statue at the same location. This statue, unveiled by PM Modi, honors Shivaji Maharaj’s visionary efforts in constructing a sea fort. We will take all necessary measures to address this issue promptly and effectively,” he said.

  • Youngsters Without Political Background Entering Politics Will Strengthen Democracy: PM Modi |

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Sunday that a lot of things are happening in India in the 21st century which are strengthening the foundation for a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

    In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast, he said his Independence Day call for one lakh youth without any political background to join politics has evoked wide reactions and urged the youngsters to enter public life for a developed India and stronger democracy. Countless people from all walks of life joined the freedom movement even though they had no political background, he noted.

    “They devoted themselves entirely to India’s independence. Today, to achieve the vision of a Viksit Bharat, we need to rekindle that same spirit once again,” he said. A large number of young people are willing to join politics, and all they need is right opportunity and guidance, he said.

    Modi said youngsters have written to him and reacted on social media to his call. They have noted that family politics suppresses new talent, he added.

    During the programme, Modi spoke to several young entrepreneurs helming different space start-ups as they highlighted their work. They praised the growing vibrant space eco system in the country.

    The prime minister said the youth of the country has benefitted a lot from various reforms in the space sector.

    On the occasion, he noted that India celebrated its first National Space Day on August 23 to mark the first anniversary of the successful landing of its spacecraft on the Moon.

    Highlighting works of different organisations and people in improving environment, he batted for collective efforts in the field.

  • ‘Putin Doesn’t Respect You’: Zelenskyy Urges Modi For Stronger Support From New Delhi | world news

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday urged New Delhi to play a more active role in supporting Kyiv’s ongoing peace initiatives. Zelenskyy stated that a Russian strike on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital that happened on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow last month, demonstrated Russian President Vladimir Putin does not ‘respect’ India or you (PM Modi). Zelensky made these remarks during a media briefing following his talks with Modi.

    Increasing his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy stated, “If he (PM Modi) has ideas (on peace) we will be happy to speak about it. But we don’t change our territories on any propositions… PM Modi wants peace more than Putin… The problem is that Putin doesn’t want it. I don’t know what they spoke about when they had a meeting… If during the official visit of PM, you attack the children in hospital. … So, he had to recognize that he (Russian President) doesn’t respect India or doesn’t control his Army… It means that he doesn’t respect the Indian PM…So, for me, he is very clear. He is not so smart as his Russian TV shows.

    Zelenskyy emphasized India’s significant global influence as a ‘big country,’ noting that while many export avenues for Russia are closed, India remains open. “India holds a substantial influence,” he remarked. Zelenskyy also mentioned that he had a candid discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding India’s oil purchases from Russia, which are generating billions of dollars to support Russia’s military efforts.

    On question regarding Ukraine’s direct involvement in buying ‘Made-in-India’ products, and allowing Indian companies to get established on his ground, Zelenskyy said, “Yeah, we are ready (to directly engage with India and buy products made in India in I gave all these messages to your productions. We are ready to buy. to open our companies in India. So, we are very ready for such dialogue and for such work,” reported ANI.

    Following their meeting, Zelenskyy took to social media and said that India and Ukraine had finalized four agreements. These agreements span various fields, such as medical cooperation, agricultural collaboration, humanitarian aid, and cultural exchanges.

    “India supports Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This support is crucial, as it aligns with the global principle of respecting the UN Charter,” Zelenskyy stated.