
Operation Sindoor a testament to India's growing strength: Rajnath
: Commending the Indian Armed Forces' recent successful operation against Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, defence minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh called it a testament to India's growing strength.
He praised 'Operation Sindoor,' describing it as a precise and fitting attack on Pakistan, comparable to the 1971 war. This operation demonstrated India's military capabilities and strategic clarity, showcasing the bravery of the armed forces, he said.
Singh, who reached Lucknow on Saturday on a two-day visit, was addressing BJP workers at the Aishbagh Ramleela ground.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for changing the world's perception of India, he highlighted India's rapid economic growth, stating that the country has jumped from 11th to 4th place in terms of the size of its economy since Modi took office in 2014.
Singh predicted that India would become the third-largest economy within the next two to three years.
The defence minister stressed on giving due importance to party workers as they are the ones who make corporators, MLAs and MPs.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
12 minutes ago
- First Post
Operation Akhal enters third day: 3 terrorists dead, one soldier injured in Jammu-Kashmir's Kulgam
This operation follows a series of successful counter-terrorism missions in the region. Just days earlier, security forces neutralised Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam massacre in 'Operation Mahadev' read more An Indian Army soldier looks out from an armoured vehicle on a highway leading to south Kashmir's Pahalgam, in Marhama village, in Kashmir. Reuters In a significant escalation in counter-terrorism efforts, three terrorists were killed, and one soldier was injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district as 'Operation Akhal' stretched into its third day on Sunday (August 3). The operation, which has already resulted in the death of six terrorists, has put the spotlight on the relentless efforts of security forces to curb militancy in the region. Operation based on precise intelligence inputs The operation began on Friday when security forces, acting on precise intelligence inputs, launched a cordon and search operation in the dense Akhal forest area of south Kashmir. The situation quickly escalated when a group of terrorists, concealed by the forest cover, opened fire on the joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An initial exchange of fire ensued, but operations were paused on Friday night due to challenging conditions. On Saturday, the operation resumed with renewed intensity, resulting in the elimination of three terrorists. According to reports, these individuals were affiliated with the Resistance Front (TRF), a splinter group of Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The TRF had previously claimed responsibility for the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, which tragically claimed the lives of '26 civilians.' As the operation entered its third day, the Akhal forest area reverberated with the sounds of 'blasts and firing' throughout the night. High-tech surveillance systems and elite paramilitary units have been deployed to neutralise the remaining threats. The operation is being closely overseen by the Director General of Police (DGP) and the 15 Corps Commander. This operation follows a series of successful counter-terrorism missions in the region. Just days earlier, security forces neutralised Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam massacre in ' Operation Mahadev' near Srinagar's Dachigam area. On July 29, another operation, dubbed 'Shiv Shakti,' resulted in the killing of two additional terrorists by the Indian Army. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since the April 22 attack, security forces have made significant progress, eliminating approximately '20 high-profile terrorists' in Jammu and Kashmir.


Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf slams govt for obstructing visa of Imran Khan's sons: ‘weak and cowardly'
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday strongly criticised the federal government for allegedly obstructing the visa process of Imran Khan's sons, saying their treatment reflects the authorities' 'fear' of the former prime minister's children visiting Pakistan. In a statement, PTI's Central Information Secretary Mr Waqas clarified that Sulaiman and Kasim Khan hold National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs), giving them full constitutional rights to travel to Pakistan. 'The oppressive and tyrannical government was forced to lie out of fear of Imran Khan's children coming to Pakistan, which shows how weak and cowardly they are,' he said, as reported by Dawn. The party released tracking numbers showing that visa applications were submitted to the Pakistan High Commission in London. According to Waqas, while NICOPs may take several weeks to issue, visas can be granted within hours. He added that the boys had received no response through official channels and accused authorities of shifting blame. A day earlier, Aleema Khan, sister of the jailed PTI founder, spoke to reporters outside Adiala Jail and addressed apparent confusion over the documents. 'The NICOP of one [of the brothers] is missing and the other can't find his card, so they've submitted two applications: one to issue their NICOP, which is valid for the next six to seven years… and they have also applied for the visa which can be issued within an hour,' she said, as per Dawn. She said it was their personal choice to apply for both documents, especially since they hold British passports. 'So what issue does the interior ministry have in issuing a visa?' she questioned, adding that she had access to the application tracking numbers. Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry previously questioned the need for visas if the two already held NICOPs. He maintained that dual nationals could still receive consular assistance from the UK even if they entered Pakistan using NICOPs. Meanwhile, conflicting views emerged from within the government. Senator Irfan Siddiqui stated that the two should be allowed entry and to 'carry out their activities' within the framework of the law. But Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said they could not participate in political activity due to their British nationality and warned that visa violations could result in cancellation. In an interview aired Friday night with Piers Morgan, Kasim Khan said he believed US President Donald Trump could help secure his father's release. 'If anyone can make a difference, he (Trump) can,' he said, reported Dawn. 'They had great conversations when they were both in office and mutual respect for one another.' He expressed hope for support from Trump, noting that warnings had circulated about possible arrest if they visited Pakistan. 'When we floated the idea of going, we were told by people in the Pakistani government that we would be arrested,' he said, as per Dawn. 'So we've still tried to get our visas. We are still looking to go at some point.' Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail since August 2023, is serving a sentence in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces multiple terrorism-related charges stemming from the May 9, 2023 protests. Last week, PTI rejected reports that Khan had told jail visitors his sons would not come to Pakistan or lead any movement. (With inputs from Dawn)


News18
20 minutes ago
- News18
AI disruptions will be brief as reskilling drives new jobs: Karnataka IT Min
Last Updated: New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) Disruptions from Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be brief and new jobs will emerge, Karnataka's IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge has said, highlighting the state's large-scale reskilling initiatives are underway to prepare talent for new-age technologies. In an interview with PTI, Kharge asserted that Karnataka retains a comfortable lead over others in technology, with strong data and performance vectors backing its position. The state encourages innovation and collaboration, ensuring 'that any entrepreneur or corporation who dreams of making it big globally, starts from Karnataka", he noted. On the issue of disruptions due to AI, the minister said, Nipuna Karnataka, the state's large-scale reskilling and upskilling initiative, aims at safeguarding and future-proofing its talent pool. 'While there might be certain job losses, new jobs will be created…And that is why we need a massive reskilling and upskilling programme. So, there will be disruption, but the disruption will be for a brief while, until we are able to reskill and upskill people," he said. Nipuna Karnataka is a Rs 300 crore reskilling initiative, industry-driven and industry-focused, with ambitious targets to train talent at scale, he added. In the coming financial year, the state government aims to skill individuals in key areas, like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and other technologies, in line with the global tech demands. 'We intend to scale over 5,00,000 people in the coming financial year, in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and anything that the industry might need. So, we are closely talking to them through our skill council for emerging technologies, taking their feedback, taking their curriculum, and seeing how we can ensure that we give the most affordable and most talented human resources for them. 'And this programme is just not catering to the local ecosystem, we are catering to the global ecosystem also," Kharge noted. He said Karnataka retains its lead over others, and data ranging from IT exports to startups and GCCs play, underscores its competitive strengths. 'We are far ahead of the curve when it comes to our neighbours or neighbouring states. So, while we love competition, we are not afraid of it. It also helps us pull up our socks," he said. As many as 20,000 startups are registered with the state government, he said, adding that of 110 unicorns, more than 45 are from Bengaluru. 'We contribute 21 per cent of the national bioeconomy, and 65 per cent of defence electronics manufacturing happens in Karnataka. And GCCs, we have close to over 800 GCCs and their units, totalling about 1,500," Kharge said. The same trend is evident in office space demand, real estate leasing, and GCC momentum. 'Last year, we gobbled up close to around 47 per cent of the entire country's real estate for GCCs. This year, just in the last six months, 13.1 million square feet has been given only for GCCs. So, where is the competition? I don't see that," Kharge said. The minister emphasised that the state's policies are backed by strong, actionable outcomes like the recent Quantum Roadmap. 'We are just not announcing mere policies for the sake of announcing them. So, when we keep the Karnataka quantum roadmap in front, people believe us…That is because over the years, we have managed to build a strong foundation of skills. 'We have topped that with incubators, and we have topped up with centres of excellence across sectors. So, I run more than 25 centres of excellence from agritech to space tech. And through these, we are innovating and inventing. On top of that, we have put budgets. On top of that, we put policies," Kharge said. PTI MBI BAL BAL (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 03, 2025, 12:15 IST News agency-feeds AI disruptions will be brief as reskilling drives new jobs: Karnataka IT Min Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.