Is political consensus on Operation Sindoor over? Democratic Newsroom debates
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India Today
3 minutes ago
- India Today
No invite for Pak, Bangladesh, Turkey as RSS gears up for centenary celebrations
As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) prepares to kick off its centenary celebrations later this month, some notable absences from the guest list are drawing attention. Pakistan and Bangladesh haven't been invited, and Turkey also appears unlikely to receive an the event is expected to be grand, inclusive and wide-ranging with participation from intellectuals, politicians, journalists, influencers, entrepreneurs and community leaders, however, the diplomatic invitations are being handled with caution. Sources told India Today that the 'atmosphere isn't right' for inviting to sources aware of the matter, the decision is unsurprising given the current geopolitical climate. Relations with Islamabad and Dhaka remain strained, while Ankara's recent defence collaborations with Pakistan have further complicated matters. Though the RSS is engaging with various embassies, the consensus is that the environment isn't conducive to extending an invitation to Pakistan or, by extension, to Turkey and DAYS, BIG VOICESThe flagship event will take place from August 26 to 28 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The final day is expected to be particularly impactful, with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat taking questions from the audience.'This is more than a celebration,' said RSS pracharak and national executive member Sunil Ambekar. 'It's a platform to reflect on the past, explain the ideology, and chart a roadmap for the future. We've had in-depth discussions on where RSS stands, where it's going, and what kind of energy we want to harness.'WHY TURKEY, BANGLADESH MAY BE LEFT OUTThe diplomatic exclusions extend beyond Pakistan. Turkey, due to its growing defense ties with Islamabad, is also likely to be sidelined. Earlier this year, the RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch even called for economic sanctions against exclusion is also under consideration, largely due to rising concerns over attacks on minorities under Dhaka's interim regime. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has raised repeated alarms, and until the situation stabiliSes, an invitation seems the Sangh plans to reach across the political and social spectrum—extending invites to members of opposition parties and representatives from Muslim and Christian the single-location event held in 2018, the centenary celebrations are being scaled nationwide. After Delhi, major events are planned in Bengaluru (November), Kolkata and Mumbai (February). The aim: to broaden engagement, spark dialogue and reflect on the RSS's the heart of it all is a central theme: '100 Years of RSS: New Horizons.'The celebration will explore the Sangh's legacy, its evolving role in Indian society, and its vision for the future. But this time, the focus isn't just on swayamsevaks. The invite list spans a diverse array of voices: politicians, academics, entrepreneurs, media personalities, industrialists and social influencers.'There's a need to question inherited colonial structures, especially in fields like medicine and economics,' Ambekar said. 'It's time to explore an Indian way forward.'- Ends
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Big INDIA bloc parties reject smaller allies' plea to find a way to let Parliament run
NEW DELHI: As the opposition's protest seeking a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar electoral rolls has brought Parliament to a halt, some members in the INDIA bloc ranks Tuesday urged the alliance brass to find a way to run Parliament, but their plea was shot down. Sources said at the meeting of the INDIA bloc on Tuesday morning, CPM's John Brittas, RSP's NK Premachandran and IUML's ET Mohammed Basheer felt that the Parliament session should not be washed out. While Brittas is a Rajya Sabha MP, Basheer and Premachandran are in Lok Sabha. However, their plea was countered strongly by the bigger parties of the bloc like Congress , DMK, TMC, SP, Shiv Sena, RJD, who felt the govt cannot get away by evading a discussion on a politically critical issue like the electoral rolls review. With the opposition programmes targeting the Election Commission lined up in coming days - dinner meeting at Rahul Gandhi's residence on Thursday, Bangalore protest led by Rahul on Friday, and the joint march to EC on Aug 11 - the opposition is unlikely to relent till then. A wider consensus to raise a protest over the electoral roll revision was evolved last week after a discussion on Pahalgam-Operation Sindoor in the two Houses over three days. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 25 Brilliant Plant Hacks That Will Change the Way You Grow Things Learn More Undo As they gathered to chart out the future strategy, SIR came to dominate the discussion. Opposition leaders were told by Rahul that issues being raised in Parliament were important but BJP was winning elections by manipulating the electoral rolls. He told INDIA bloc members that a "deep dive" on voters' list done by Congress in a sample Bangalore seat has unearthed serious irregularities, and the govt should be forced to discuss the subject in Parliament. Since then, the opposition has mounted vigorous protests in the parliament every morning.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
RPAs for 3 services to mountain radars: DAC clears procurements worth Rs 67,000 cr
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved a range of military procurement proposals for the armed forces worth nearly Rs 67,000 crore. These include the procurement of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) for the three services, a compact autonomous surface craft for the Navy, maintenance support for the C-17 and C-130J fleets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), and a comprehensive annual maintenance contract for the S-400 long range air defence missile system. The DAC's approval for the maintenance of both American and Russian platforms with the IAF can be considered a display of strategic autonomy by India, especially at a time when the US President Donald Trump has been criticising India over its crude oil imports from Russia, a move New Delhi termed 'unjustified and unreasonable targeting' of the country. The IAF has a fleet of 12 C-130J-30 Super Hercules Aircraft, procured from the US in 2010-11, followed by additional orders in the subsequent years. The IAF operates a fleet of 11 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft procured between 2013 and 2019. Both were procured by India from the US under separate Foreign Military Sale (FMS) agreements. India had signed the S-400 deal with Russia in 2018, a year after the US passed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The long range surface to air missile system played a critical role in defending Indian skies during Operation Sindoor between May 7 and 10. These procurements are particularly significant in the light of Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India on May 7 after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, and appear to be drawn from lessons learnt from it. According to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry, the DAC has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sights for the Battle Mechanised Platforms with the Army, which will enhance the night driving capability of BMPs and provide higher mobility and operational advantage to the mechanised infantry. The DAC is the primary body responsible for approving major capital acquisitions in defence. The first step in the defence procurement process is the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN). However, obtaining an AoN does not always lead to a final order. The DAC also approved the procurement of the compact autonomous surface craft, the BrahMos fire control system and launchers, and the upgrade of the BARAK-1 point defence missile system for the Navy. 'The procurement of the compact autonomous surface craft will enable the Indian Navy to detect, classify and neutralise threats during anti-submarine warfare missions,' the statement said. For the Indian Air Force, an AoN was granted for the procurement of mountain radars and the upgrade of the SAKSHAM/SPYDER weapon system, which will enhance air surveillance capabilities along and across borders in mountainous regions. The upgrade of the SAKSHAM/SPYDER system for integration with the Integrated Air Command and Control System will strengthen India's air defence capabilities. Additionally, the procurement of MALE RPAs for three services will support round-the-clock surveillance and combat readiness, as these aircraft can carry multiple payloads and weapons while operating at longer ranges for extended missions.
