From The Hindu, July 24, 1925: India's demand
Dr. Besant, outlining the purposes of the draft Commonwealth of India Bill, which she had brought to England, said India had a feeling that Britain regarded her as a subject nation. The ambition of all Indians was to enter into partnership with the Mother-Country, somewhat on the lines of the Dominions.
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Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- Indian Express
PM Modi's visit to the Maldives: A diplomatic reset
When President Mohamed Muizzu, riding the 'India Out' campaign, rose to power in the Maldives in September 2023, he signalled a clear intent to politically distance Malé from New Delhi. His January 2024 visit to China and his call for India to withdraw troops from the Maldives complicated ties with India. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the island nation to attend its Independence Day celebrations, during which several economic agreements were signed and projects inaugurated, marks a significant turnaround in bilateral relations after a period of strain. The Maldives is a key pillar of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Beyond deep-rooted cultural ties and a history of friendly relations — India was among the first to establish diplomatic ties following that country's independence in 1965 — it sits atop critical sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, through which a major share of global trade and India's energy imports pass. It is an integral part of India's maritime security architecture. India provides economic support and assistance to the Maldives in infrastructure and healthcare. Tourism, which accounts for nearly a third of the Maldivian economy, saw Indians as the largest group of visitors for several consecutive years up to 2023. This trend was disrupted in 2024, after derogatory remarks by three Maldivian junior ministers (suspended subsequently) triggered a diplomatic row and led to a sharp decline in Indian tourist arrivals. In a bid to reverse this, President Muizzu, speaking to reporters over the weekend, acknowledged that 'India is one of the major countries that helps the Maldives with tourism. With PM Modi's visit, it is going to increase a lot.' Apart from meeting senior government officials, PM Modi also held separate interactions with the main Opposition party and leaders from across the political spectrum in the Maldives. These engagements reflect New Delhi's effort to insulate bilateral relations from the ebb and flow of politics between and within both countries. On the China question, it would be unrealistic to expect Malé to avoid doing business with Beijing. As the world's second-largest economy, China presents significant opportunities for the Maldives, and the latter is entitled to make its own choices. Talks on loan restructuring with China, however, initiated during President Muizzu's state visit in January 2024, have seen little progress so far. As a key neighbour and regional power, India can counterbalance Beijing's influence by making better offers — especially given that Maldives's external debt burden has worsened as a result of China's lending practices. New Delhi, therefore, should keep using its leverage to further its interests and maintain close relations, while keeping a watchful eye on Malé's political environment.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
US will change visa interview policy from September 2
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Renewal of US work and student visas is facing yet another roadblock, as the Trump administration is set to eliminate the interview waiver provision effective September 2. This is expected to increase interview wait time, impacting many companies that employ workers on H-1B visas as well as students, say immigration US Department of State on July 25 announced that all non-immigrant visa applicants barring B1/B2 categories will require in-person interview. The requirement will also cover the previously excluded category of children below 14 years of age and elderly applicants aged over 79 years. "With the interview waiver, applicants were able to get an appointment in less than a month to drop the documents," said Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, founder of immigration platform Visa Code. "But the process will further increase (now) and with the current job scenario, this will impact highly skilled worker jobs, similar to what is playing out for students," he is also not much clarity on interviews scheduled after September 2. Many Indians have scheduled appointments in India for H-1B renewals with the interview waiver after September 2 for their families, which is now in a limbo, Senthurjothi said. "It is not clear if they need to book a new appointment."Before Covid-19, interview waivers were restricted to certain visa categories or people. After the pandemic, the US expanded the scope of waivers to manage visa application backlogs. The difference between then and now is the increasing scrutiny around visa issuance and Raman, country head, India & GCC Practice Team, Davies & Associates, said the level of scrutiny has increased not just at the consulate level but also at port of entry, where multiple verifications are done. Immigration experts are also seeing increasing demand for biometrics from H-1B workers and requests for evidence (RFEs) related to workers' arrest records."Following the biometrics appointment, depending on the individual's circumstances, the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) may issue another RFE related to the beneficiary's arrest record," said Joel Yanovich, immigration attorney at Murthy Law Firm.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Decisive action has replaced ‘politics of appeasement': NDA MPs target Congress
Underlining India's 'new normal' in response to cross-border terrorism, the BJP and its allies on Monday threw their weight behind the replacement of 'dialogue and cooperation' with 'decisive action' as displayed under Operation Sindoor launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. During the debate on Monday, the NDA leaders listed instances of the Congress 'surrendering' India's national interest due to reasons ranging from 'lack of courage' to 'politics of appeasement' during its rule for decades. 'The India of today is not the India of 2008…this turnaround, this new normal is because of our changed policies. We must give full credit to our armed forces…in the past, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists were attacking India and killing Indians almost on a daily basis,' Kendrapara BJP MP Baijayant Panda said. Citing terror incidents during the Congress-led UPA's tenure, Panda listed various instances when India sought dialogue with Pakistan in the aftermath of such attacks. 'What is most shameful is that retaliation was considered, it was planned by our armed forces but the then-government did not permit,' he said. 'We kept appeasing them… Putting no pressure on them to stop terror funding…Our approach in the past was only to cooperate… not to teach them a lesson,' he said. Terming Operation Sindoor 'strong, successful and decisive', Narasaraopet TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu called it (Operation Sindoor) a befitting reply to the Pahalgam 'slaughter'. 'More than violence, it was an assault on the soul of India…tourists were asked about their religion and shot dead in front of their children… wives… it is slaughter…,' Devarayalu said. 'With Operation Sindoor, India has sent a very strong message… India will wait, but will never forget. This is not aggression, this is assertive deterrence,' he added, crediting PM Narendra Modi for moving from 'reactive to resolute, from strategic silence to strategic sovereignty'. Panchayati Raj Minister and Munger JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh also attacked the Congress for not having done enough to counter terrorism when it was in power. 'Between 2004 and 2014 during the UPA's tenure, the terror attacks which took place claimed 615 lives…what action did you take…nothing happened,' Ranjan said, citing the 2008 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Samastipur LSJP(PV) MP Shambhavi said: '…This is the new Bharat that does not light candles after a terrorist attack, it sets fire to their pyres. India wants peace but on its own terms.' Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. Over the last 15 years, he has covered bureaucracy & politics, crime, traffic & intelligence, the Election Commission of India & Urban Development among other beats. He is an English (Literature) graduate from Zakir Husain Delhi College, DU & specialised in Print at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. He tweets @jatinpaul ... Read More
