India
‘No compromise’: India’s Home Minister Amit Shah defends Citizenship Amendment Act
In a strong response to the growing opposition against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Indian Home Minister Amit Shah declared the legislation irrevocable. He affirmed the BJP-led government’s steadfast stance during remarks reported by NDTV, emphasising, “This is our sovereign right to ensure Indian citizenship in our country. We will never compromise on it and CAA will never be taken back.”
Shah’s comments come in the wake of criticism from the opposition coalition INDIA, particularly a Congress politician who suggested the law would be repealed if they were elected. Shah confidently countered, acknowledging the opposition's recognition of their limited chances at the polls. “Even the INDIA alliance knows that it will not come into power. CAA has been brought by the BJP and the Narendra Modi-led government. It is impossible to repeal it. We will spread awareness about it in the whole nation so that those who want to repeal it do not get a place,” he stated.
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The Indian home minister robustly defended the constitutionality of the CAA, dismissing allegations of it violating the nation’s constitution. He elucidated on the law’s compatibility with Article 14, explaining, “They always talk about Article 14. They forget that there are two clauses in that Article. This law does not violate Article 14. There is a clear, reasonable classification here. This is a law for those who, due to partition, remained in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and were facing religious persecution and decided to come to India.”
Shah further clarified BJP’s motives behind the enactment of the CAA, stating there is “no question of political gain as the BJP’s main aim is to provide rights and justice to persecuted minorities coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.”
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Addressing the concerns of the country’s minorities, Shah reassured, “I have spoken on CAA at least 41 times on different platforms and spoken on it in detail that the minorities of the country need not be afraid because it has no provision to take back the rights of any citizen.” He elaborated on the CAA’s objective to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, aiming to alleviate their suffering.
In a critique of opposition leaders like AIMIM’s Asaddudin Owaisi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah condemned their claims that the CAA was anti-Muslim, highlighting a broader political discourse surrounding the legislation.
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India announces steps to implement a citizenship law that excludes Muslims
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Monday (March 11, 2024) announced rules to implement a 2019 citizenship law that excludes Muslims, weeks before the Hindu nationalist leader seeks a third term in office.
The Citizenship Amendment Act provides a fast track to naturalization for Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who fled to Hindu-majority India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan before Dec. 31, 2014. The law excludes Muslims, who are a majority in all three nations.
The law was approved by Indian Parliament in 2019, but Modi’s government had held off with its implementation after deadly protests broke out in capital New Delhi and elsewhere. Scores were killed during days of clashes.
The nationwide protests in 2019 drew people of all faiths who said the law undermines India’s foundation as a secular nation. Muslims were particularly worried that the government could use the law, combined with a proposed national register of citizens, to marginalize them.
The National Register of Citizens is part of Modi government’s effort to identify and weed out people it claims came to India illegally. The register has only been implemented in the northeastern state of Assam, and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has promised to roll out a similar citizenship verification program nationwide.
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Modi’s government has defended the 2019 citizenship law as a humanitarian gesture. It argues that the law is meant only to extend citizenship to religious minorities fleeing persecution and would not be used against Indian citizens.
“These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation,” Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
India’s main opposition Congress party questioned the announcement, saying “the timing right before the elections is evidently designed to polarise the elections.”
Human rights watchdog Amnesty India in a statement called the law “discriminatory” and said it “goes against the constitutional values of equality and international human rights law.” It said the law “legitimises discrimination based on religion” and is “exclusionary in its structure and intent.”
India is home to 200 million Muslims who make up a large minority group in the country of more than 1.4 billion people. They are scattered across almost every part of India and have been targeted in a series of attacks that have taken place Modi first assumed power in 2014.
Critics say Modi’s conspicuous silence over anti-Muslim violence has emboldened some of his most extreme supporters and enabled more hate speech against Muslims.
Modi has increasingly mixed religion with politics in a formula that has resonated deeply with India’s majority Hindu population. In January, he opened a Hindu temple at the site of a demolished mosque in northern Ayodhya city, fulfilling his party’s long-held Hindu nationalist pledge.
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Most poll surveys suggest Modi will win a majority in a general election that is scheduled to be held by May.
Tragic Smile: Did a cosmetic surgery mishap kill a groom-to-be?
In a tragic incident in Hyderabad’s upscale Jubilee Hills, a man’s quest for a perfect smile ahead of his wedding ended in tragedy. Laxmi Narayana Vinjam, 28, lost his life during a “smile designing” procedure at a local dental clinic on February 16, police disclosed.
The bereaved father, Ramulu Vinjam, has pointed fingers at the clinic, alleging a fatal anesthesia overdose during the surgery. According to an NDTV report, the devastating turn of events unfolded when the clinic’s staff frantically contacted him after his son succumbed during the operation.
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“We rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival,” Ramulu recounted. The sudden loss was compounded by the fact that the family was unaware of Laxmi Narayana’s decision to undergo the procedure. “He had no health issues. The doctors are responsible for his death,” the grieving father asserted.
Following the family’s complaint, authorities have launched a negligence investigation against the clinic, with a meticulous review of hospital records and security footage underway. “We are checking the hospital records and security camera footage,” officials confirmed, signaling a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
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India allows onion export to Bangladesh, 5 other countries
The Indian government has decided to give an exemption for Bangladesh, as well as five other countries, from its ban export of onions, up to a certain amount.
This permission has been given on the recommendation of the Ministry of External Affairs of the country.
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Along with Bangladesh, India has also allowed the export of onions to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bahrain, and Mauritius. However, New Delhi has not yet taken any decision on the complete withdrawal of the ban imposed on onion exports.
On Monday (February 19), the Indian newspaper Economic Times reported that India officially allowed the export of onions to Bangladesh and some other countries.
An Indian official related to this issue said that the export of onions in limited quantities to these countries has been allowed for bilateral purposes. However, the official could not tell the exact amount of onion that has been allowed to be exported.
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Dhaka, Delhi discuss using non-lethal weapons to ensure zero border killing: FM
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said both Bangladesh and India discussed using non-lethal weapons to reduce border killing to zero.
"He (Indian FM) agreed with me that there will be no border killing if non-lethal weapons are used," Dr Hasan told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The issue of border killings was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House on February 7.
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Both sides agreed to enhanced cooperation between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) and using non-lethal weapons to reduce border killing to zero.
Dr Hasan emphasised on early conclusion of Teesta water sharing agreement, aiming to strengthen water cooperation between Bangladesh and India.
He also stressed the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty that will expire in 2026.
Responding to a question on Teesta issue, Dr Hasan said the Indian central government has no problem regarding Teesta water sharing but the State government is not yet on-board.
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He said the two countries take forward the discussion on Teesta water sharing after the India's elections in the coming months.
Foreign Minister Hasan requested his Indian counterpart to withdraw tariff and non-tariff barriers for Bangladesh's exports, as well as ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh for maintaining price stability, especially during Ramadan.
India wants to see weak democracy in Bangladesh: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday alleged that India wants fragile democracy in Bangladesh since it has extended support to last month's election which was rejected by the people and the most democratic countries.
“The foreign minister said (Thursday) that India has supported the election (held on January 7) to maintain the continuity of democracy," he said.
Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi questioned whether India wants plastic democracy in its neighbouring countries.
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He claimed that it was recognised by the entire world that the stage-managed and rigged 12th parliamentary election in Bangladesh was rejected and boycotted by the country’s people.
“If that election is fair... if that election helps maintain the continuation of democracy and if India supports that election as per the assertion of the foreign minister, then we have to think that India wants a steel-like strong democracy in its own country, but it wants a plastic democracy in Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.
Rizvi said, the government is loudly saying which countries are congratulating them and supporting the election. “It has manifested that they’re an isolated government without public support.
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He also said the ministers of the government are bragging about the support of other countries out of their fear of losing power as people boycotted the last polls.
The BNP leader said the current Awami League government is unable to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country as it was not formed with public support. “It is now visible. In the age of technology, every person is now watching how the mortar shells are coming (from Myanmar), killing the people of Bangladesh. But the government is silent. It even can’t give a statement (protesting the border incidents)."
He said the government could not set an example of keeping the independence and sovereignty of the country intact through diplomatic efforts and lodging strong protests. "It has proved once again that the world doesn’t care about a government which lacks public support."
Rizvi alleged that BNP leaders and workers are being subjected to various repression and harassment in jails.
Khaleda taken to Evercare Hospital for health check-ups
“The country's jails are overcrowded with BNP leaders and activists and the jails are accommodating inmates several times more than their capacity. Prison cells have been turned into suffocating concentration camps,” he observed.
The BNP leader alleged that over-enthusiastic officials are oppressing the jailed BNP leaders and workers by depriving them of all the facilities they deserve as per the jail code.
Microsoft unveils strategic AI vision for India; here are the details
Microsoft has announced a comprehensive strategy to spearhead the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in India, aiming to empower AI developers and secure its position as the country's most trusted AI partner.
During a keynote in Bengaluru, CEO Satya Nadella outlined the company's mission to democratize AI access, stating, "AI for everyone. We want to be India's most trusted partner for that," as reported by NDTV. This initiative underscores Microsoft's commitment to fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the AI domain.
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As part of its commitment, Microsoft plans to provide AI training opportunities to 2 million individuals in India by 2025. This initiative will particularly focus on individuals in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, as well as rural areas, aiming to promote equitable socio-economic development across the country. Nadella highlighted the importance of collaboration between India and the United States in establishing AI regulations and laws to guide this technological progression.
Reflecting on the evolution of chat-based AI technologies like GPT, Nadella celebrated the historical advancements in computing and expressed the goal of creating machines that can understand human users to facilitate natural conversations on a variety of subjects, including sports.
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Microsoft's strategy involves leveraging a neural engine for digitizing and processing data to analyze vast information sets and identify patterns. The company anticipates that AI will significantly contribute to economic growth, especially through initiatives like Microsoft Copilots. This new venture is set to be promoted through an extensive marketing campaign, aiming to solidify Microsoft's role in the AI landscape.
Moreover, Microsoft is investing in the development of AI infrastructure, including model training and inference capabilities. Nadella boasted about possessing some of the most advanced big models, such as variations of GPT, and detailed an ambitious plan for expanding the company's AI capabilities.
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FM Hasan seeks early conclusion of Teesta deal, renewal of Ganges Water sharing treaty with India
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday (February 07, 2024) emphasised on early conclusion of Teesta water sharing agreement aiming to strengthen water cooperation between Bangladesh and India.
He also stressed the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty that will expire in 2026.
The issue of border killings was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House on his maiden bilateral trip to India as the foreign minister.
Both sides agreed to enhanced cooperation between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) and using non-lethal weapons to reduce border killing to zero.
Foreign Minister Mahmud requested his Indian counterpart to withdraw tariff and non-tariff barriers for Bangladesh's exports, as well as ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh for maintaining price stability, especially during Ramadan.
Mahmud is visiting India from 6 to 9 February 2024 at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister of India.
Our discussions today will strengthen Bangladesh-India Maitri, says Jaishankar welcoming FM in New DelhiThe two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction on the excellent bilateral relation that exists between Bangladesh and India.
They discussed key areas of mutual interests, expressing a commitment to strengthening collaboration across various areas.
They stressed the need for deeper and high quality cooperation in various sectors especially trade and commerce, connectivity, power, defence and security cooperation and water.
Both the foreign ministers agreed to collaborate further each other at sub-regional, regional and multilateral platform.Mahmud thanked India for their cooperation and continued support in various sectors which resulted in a remarkable year of 2023 in the bilateral relations between the two countries.
He noted that a number of projects in promoting power sector cooperation and establishing connectivity were inaugurated by the two prime ministers.
Political stability, peace must for development and progress: Hasan Mahmud says in DelhiThe Indian External Affairs minister congratulated the Bangladesh Foreign Minister for conducting a very good and successful elections held last month.
Dr Jaishankar emphasised on regional connectivity and power sector cooperation.
He appreciated the government of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for socio-economic advancement during last 15 years.
The minister noted that Bangladesh and India should work together to fulfill the aspiration of the peoples of both countries.
He stressed devising ways and means of fast tracking LoC projects.Both the foreign ministers discussed in details the evolving situation in Myanmar and its impact on the regional stability and repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
Bangladesh’s foreign minister reiterated for India's support in the early repatriation of Rohingya refugees.Both the foreign ministers expressed commitment to further enhance their collaboration to promote sub-regional cooperation within the framework of BIMSTEC, IORA and BBIN. The foreign minister invited the External Affairs Minister of India to Dhaka for the next Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) Meeting at his earliest convenience.Earlier, Mahmud paid tribute to the memories of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.
He met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and visited Bangabandhu Media Centre at the Press Club of India.
FM Hasan, Jaishankar discuss scope of future engagement in line with "Smart Bangladesh 2041" and "Viksit Bharat 2047"
Foreign Minister says will discuss Rohingya repatriation issue with India during his visit
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday (February 06, 2024) said that the Rohingya repatriation issue will be discussed with India during his first bilateral visit to New Delhi apart from discussion on overall bilateral issues.
He mentioned that Myanmar is a neighbouring country for both Bangladesh and India.
Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the minister said Bangladesh has been seeking India's support regarding the Rohingya repatriation. "So, overall this issue will be discussed," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last September where the Rohingya issue was discussed.
123 more Myanmar security forces including army men make their way into Bangladesh: BGB
With regard to the regional situation, Modi expressed appreciation of the burden shouldered by Bangladesh in hosting over a million persons displaced from the Rakhine State in Myanmar, and conveyed India's constructive and positive approach to support solutions towards safe and sustainable repatriation of the refugees.
Since the Foreign Minister will have a meeting with India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the current security situation in Myanmar is likely to be discussed in the context of regional issues, said a diplomatic source.
The foreign minister is going to India tonight (Tuesday) and is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishanka on Wednesday.
The foreign minister is likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will have a separate meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal during his stay in New Delhi.
He will also pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the iconic Rajghat.
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He is likely to attend a seminar, too.
Asked about BNP's comment that the Myanmar BGP members are entering Bangladesh and the conflicts are spilling into Bangladesh territory due to the government's “lenient foreign policy,” Hasan said BNP leaders were "speaking the language of the insane."
"BNP thought that the foreign countries will not welcome the new government of Bangladesh after the polls, but now that all are welcoming and expressing their interest to work with us, BNP is speaking the language of the insane," he said.
Though the Foreign Minister will go to New Delhi directly, he will return to Dhaka via Kolkata on Friday night (February 9), a senior official told UNB.
In Kolkata, he will attend a "meet the press" event and a reception, to be hosted by the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission.
Earlier, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seheli Sabrin, said issues of mutual interest including trade, connectivity and energy cooperation, people-to-people contacts and regional cooperation will be discussed between the two sides at the bilateral meeting to further strengthen Bangladesh-India relations.
Asked whether the Teesta water-sharing issue will be discussed in the meeting, the foreign ministry spokesperson said they expect the issue would be discussed.
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Raining Grammys for India: AR Rahman, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan in one epic selfie
In a landmark achievement for Indian music, the celebrated band Shakti, featuring the legendary tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V Selvaganesh, and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, clinched the Best Global Music Album award for their latest work, “This Moment,” at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Shortly after the ceremony, musical icon AR Rahman, who was in attendance, shared a moment of pride on social media, posting a selfie with Shakti’s acclaimed members – Mahadevan, Hussain, and Selvaganesh.T
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Rahman’s post, filled with joy, praised their remarkable success: “It’s raining Grammys for India…Congrats Grammy winners #ustadzakirhussain (3 Grammys) @shankar.mahadevan (first Grammy) @selvaganesh,” capturing the celebratory spirit of the moment.
In an additional feather in their cap, Zakir Hussain, along with flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, also received the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance for their collaborative piece, “Pashto.” This composition further earned accolades as Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, highlighting the diverse talents within the Indian music scene.
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Ricky Kej, an Indian music composer and Grammy laureate himself, extended his congratulations via a heartfelt video of Shakti's acceptance speech, emphasizing the brilliance of these musicians and their contribution to India's global recognition in music. Kej’s enthusiastic post on X celebrated the band’s victory: “SHAKTI wins a Grammy!!! Through this album 4 brilliant Indian musicians won Grammys!! Just amazing. India is shining in every direction…”
This year’s Grammy success for Shakti and its members adds to a growing list of international accolades for Indian artists, including AR Rahman’s dual Grammy wins in 2010 for his work on “Slumdog Millionaire”.
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