Rahul Gandhi To Help Educate 22 Children Who Lost Parents In Pak Shelling During Op Sindoor
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will sponsor the education of 22 children who lost either one or both parents in the Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, a party leader has said.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra also refuted any differences with the pre-poll alliance partner National Conference (NC) but said his party is waiting for formation of coordination committee with the ruling party for the past nine months.
"A lot of civilian casualties and damage to properties took place in Poonch and Rajouri (between May 7 and 10) in Pakistani shelling. Rahul Gandhi visited Poonch in the aftermath of the devastating shelling and visited the bereaved families. He asked us to prepare a list of school-going children who lost one or both parents, especially the breadwinners, and accordingly we submitted the list to him," Mr Karra, who reached Rajouri on a three-day tour of the region, told reporters late Monday.
He said the party has a list of 22 such children in the Poonch district alone, and more such children might be included at the end of the three-day visit.
Poonch district alone accounted for 13 civilian deaths among 28 fatalities in the Pakistani shelling and drone attacks in Jammu and Kashmir after the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border under Operation Sindoor in May in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead.
Mr Karra said he is visiting Poonch on Tuesday to handover the financial aid sent by the leader of opposition for the affected children for their education.
"This is an initiative aimed at extending a helping hand to the children so that their studies are not impacted," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
US, China and Russia: Navigating the superpower trilemma
Today, Indian foreign policy discourse is mired in an important debate. Two key assumptions govern this debate: that New Delhi's ties with the US arguably constitute its most important relationship in the 21st century, and that any negotiations with Beijing are a signal of weakness. India-US relations are undergoing a tense phase. The tensions have primarily been instigated by US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on India, and an additional, 'unspecified penalty' for continuing to buy energy resources from Russia. His social media comments have gone so far as to refer to both India and Russia as 'dead economies.' Naturally, this has called into question the time-tested nature of the partnership in the face of the 'China challenge'. With the US-China equation changing, India has to balance ties with both as well as work towards its own national interests Speaking of China, after a long period of severed dialogue, postures on both sides have slightly relaxed, though the road to stability vis-à-vis the border issue, or even China's backing of Pakistan, is long and winding. Nonetheless, communication and negotiation between the two neighbours is underway, and is perhaps a welcome break from the silent-but-violent treatment. Besides the volatility in New Delhi's ties with the two superpowers, there exists a bilateral dynamic between the US and China, which vitally impacts India. An intense back-and-forth of escalating tariffs ensued between the two economic giants earlier this year. Yet, Trump's recent statements seem to suggest that a trade deal with Beijing is in the works. So how does that affect India? So far, India has believed that Trump's continued dissatisfaction with Beijing will be a core aspect of mutual convergence between itself and the US. This definitely was the case under the Joe Biden administration. But if anything is certain about Trump, it is that nothing, indeed, is certain. So, the US and China may not be entering a friendly phase, but they sure are inching toward some semblance of stability. The dynamics of this fateful triangle require that India think in its national interests— sustained economic growth and security of its territory from both external and internal threats. And as PM Modi himself remarked in an interview in 2023, '[The] foremost guiding principle in foreign affairs is our country's national interest.' This begs the question: How should New Delhi balance the nuances of its ties with the US and China and the repercussions of their own thaw, while working to achieve its national interests? One way is not to believe that negotiations with China signal weakness. This anxiety is likely to play up as New Delhi and Beijing negotiate. Most recently, India has eased tourism rules, while China has opened up access for Indians to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. To a great degree, India's geographical, economic and military constraints require that communication with Beijing continue for sustainable security to be achieved. This is not to say that India should give up its confident posture, or discontinue investments in de-risking or border security. It is also not a call for it to shed its affinity for the US. But the steps toward a thaw with Beijing — high-level political conversations, ministerial-level dialogues, and working mechanism consultations on the border — are necessary. And at a time when Trump seems to be prepared to meet the 'China challenge' alone, India must figure its own way out to do the same. Second, is to evaluate costs when it comes to fulfilling its energy requirements through purchases from Russia. The affordability of such purchases, and the historic nature of ties with Moscow (especially in defence), make it a vital partner to New Delhi. However, Trump is prioritising reciprocal access to the Indian market over having a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific. And in a world where the US is vastly more powerful than India — or in most aspects, even China — much of what Trump says, goes. So the question is, where is the common ground between India not shedding its friendship with Russia, not risking insurmountable tariffs from the US, and not enabling China's unchecked regional power? The intertwined interests of economic growth and stable security seem orthogonal in this situation. But it is important to face facts. If it wasn't buying oil from Russia, India would still get the tariff slap. If there was great openness in the Indian dairy and agricultural markets, which Trump consistently demands, there would still be an 'unspecified penalty' for trading with Russia. So, the acknowledgement that there is no absolute win-win, is essential. It boils down to assessing what is more harmful — not making any adjustments to the trade numbers with Russia, or the US. It is also important to acknowledge the trade-offs — if there is a significant reduction in the imports of oil and/or defence equipment from Russia, and the US becomes the preferred alternative source of imports, Moscow may become unabashed in its support for China in its disputes with India. If trade with Russia continues as is, India shall face agonistic tariffs under Donald Trump and an overall lack of support in regional geopolitics. It is indeed true that India's tariffs continue to remain high, market openness is low, and domestic innovation and production capability face challenges. Hence, is the first step to addressing the above mentioned dilemma to take difficult steps towards phased openness? Most likely. It may assuage Trump's concerns about the US's trade deficit, without creating many troubles in India-Russia relations. Finally, the worrisome trend of self-reliance across the globe is leaving fewer alternatives for India to replace its dependencies on the US, China, or Russia. Where it gets affordable imports, it faces controversial dilemmas. Where it sees a strong partner, it faces chiding and deriding. So, moving forward, even as the willingness to negotiate diplomatically must continue, India must invest in its own trajectory toward economic and military modernisation. Illustration credit: Illustration by Chad Crowe (USA) Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
World realised India's capability through Operation Sindoor: Yogi Adityanath
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi comes at a time when both India and the world have witnessed the country's strength and capabilities through the successful execution of Operation Sindoor. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath addressing a gathering in Varanasi on Saturday. (AFP PHOTO) Referring to the military operation in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Adityanath said, 'This New India has the courage to crush the perpetrators of terror into the ground and eliminate enemies by entering their territory. Adityanath was addressing a gathering during the inauguration/foundation stone laying ceremony organised at Banauli gram sabha in Sewapuri, Varanasi, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Prime Minister Modi's arrival in Kashi today follows the triumph of Operation Sindoor. On behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh, I welcome and congratulate the prime minister.' Highlighting Modi's global stature, the chief minister said, 'PM Modi is the most popular leader in the world. In the past 11 years, more than 50 countries have honoured him with their highest civilian awards.' 'The world respects his vision for public welfare and global good. Last month, countries like Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Namibia, and Brazil bestowed their top civilian honours on prime minister Modi, making all 140 crore Indians proud.' Adityanath also underlined the pride that Varanasi, or Kashi, takes on being represented by Modi as its Member of Parliament. 'It is a matter of immense pride that Prime Minister Modi represents 'Avinashi Kashi' (the indestructible city of Kashi) in Parliament. Over the last 11 years, Kashi has emerged as a unique confluence of the ancient and the new -- a blend of spirituality and modernity that continues to draw global attention,' he said. He also said that Modi's presence in his home constituency for the 51st time is unprecedented for any prime minister. In Varanasi, he said, projects worth over ₹16,000 crore are currently in various stages of progress. 'So far, the prime minister has inaugurated projects worth ₹34,000 crore out of the ₹51,000 crore sanctioned for Varanasi in recent years,' he said. Adityanath added that during his visit on Saturday, Modi launched development projects worth another ₹2,200 crore for the people of Kashi. These include initiatives in connectivity, water supply, education, healthcare, sports, cultural rejuvenation, and all-round regional development, the chief minister said while addressing the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony held here in the presence of Modi. The chief minister also said that Divyangjans are playing a major role in building a strong and capable India, noting that the thoughtful term 'Divyang' introduced by Modi has brought new hope and encouragement into their lives, giving them opportunities to grow in every field. Adityanath said that 11 years ago, many farmers were abandoning agriculture, while some were even driven to suicide amid deep disillusionment. 'But in the last 11 years, initiatives such as Soil Health Card, PM Crop Insurance, PM Irrigation Scheme, and enhanced seed-to-market support have built a robust ecosystem.' 'Today, millions of farmers in Uttar Pradesh are actively contributing to the vision of a self-reliant, developed India,' he said. To mark this milestone, the prime minister chose Kashi to extend the benefits of these schemes to nearly 10 crore farmers nationwide, he said. In Uttar Pradesh, 2.3 crore farmers are receiving the 20th installment of PM-KISAN, including over 2.21 lakh families in Kashi alone, he said. Deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brajesh Pathak, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary, UP ministers Surya Pratap Shahi, Suresh Khanna, Anil Rajbhar, Ravindra Jaiswal and Dayashankar Mishra 'Dayalu' were present on the occasion.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi will unseat Modi, not RSS: Revanth
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said that it will not be the RSS or internal BJP politics that dislodges Narendra Modi from power—but Rahul Gandhi . Revanth asserted that the Congress, under Rahul's leadership, will limit the BJP to under 150 Lok Sabha seats in the next elections. "Even BJP MP Nishikant Dubey admitted they can't cross 150 seats without Modi. I want him to write in his diary—Modi will be unseated, not by age limits or RSS manoeuvering, but by Rahul and the people of India," Revanth said at the AICC Legal Conclave 2025 in Delhi, addressing a gathering of legal professionals in the presence of AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi. Taking aim at recent comments by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who hinted at a 75-year retirement threshold for political leaders, Revanth quipped, "I think Modi is not in favour of it. Why don't the rules that forced Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi into retirement apply to Modi?" You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Drawing a contrast between Modi's unrelenting grip on power and the Gandhi family's record of renunciation, Revanth said: "Modi has never given up any position since becoming Gujarat CM. But Sonia Gandhi declined the PM post in 2004. She backed Manmohan Singh for the PM post and even Pranab Mukherjee for the presidency. Rahul could've been PM or minister in 2009, but chose to work as a common party worker—fighting for the poor, OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis. " Revanth warned that the BJP's true agenda is to dismantle the reservation system and undermine the Constitution. "Only Congress stands between the BJP and their plan to erase social justice. Rahul will not only remove Modi but also protect the Constitution and uphold 42% reservations for OBCs by conducting a national caste census," he claimed. Highlighting the Telangana model, he said the Congress govt had already conducted a caste survey in line with Rahul's commitment. "We've shown the way. This is the model for the rest of India," he said. Taking a swipe at critics who question Congress's legacy, Revanth reminded them, "Congress gave India independence, the Constitution, and reservations. What was the BJP doing then? Parties like BRS, BJD, RJD, and even BJP came after independence. The Congress was already fighting for freedom." In a resounding call to action, he urged the Congress cadre community to gear up for a decisive political and constitutional battle. "The time has come. The Constitution, which is under threat now, will also be protected," Revanth said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
