Ravi Shankar Prasad-led delegation concludes Europe visit, rallies support against Pak's cross-border terrorism
Prior to their departure, the BJP MP-led delegation, which includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran, met with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)-India and interacted with the media there, during which the delegation delivered a strong message on the global threat of terrorism, highlighting Pakistan's misuse of international funds to support terrorism and arms proliferation.
The delegation also received widespread support from British parliamentarians, think tanks, and the Indian diaspora for India's democratic unity and firm stance against terrorism.
Delegation leader Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that during their time in the UK, the delegation met with key UK figures, including the Speaker of the House of Commons and Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, emphasising the need for international accountability on terrorism financing amidst appreciation for India's democratic approach.
Following the interaction with the media, Prasad highlighted the global concern over terrorism as a 'cancer' and called for scrutiny of Pakistan's use of international funds, noting the novelty of the all-party delegation initiative.
'This has been really good. Our visit to England concludes today. We held a press conference at the India House here; we met the Speaker of the House of Commons this morning. We met the Chairman of the Conservative Party yesterday; we also met Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel. We also met Indian Friends in the Labour Party... We also interacted with Think Tanks. All of them are concerned that terrorism is a cancer... We also said that they (Pakistan) get loans from the IMF and World Bank and they get other funding too. So, is the funding being used for terrorism and weapon purchases or for the poor? This should be asked of them... Everyone said one more thing: that the all-party Parliamentary delegation visit is a new initiative,' Prasad said.
Congress MP Amar Singh emphasised the delegation's efforts to explain India's terrorism challenges and urged Pakistan's government to clarify its stance.
'We met several people here. We met the Speaker, Ministers, a few State Ministers, Labour MPs, and Conservative MPs. We have tried to explain how India is being affected by terrorism... We have also said how our neighbouring country troubles us again and again. Now, their Government has to decide what stand they take. But we have said everything we had to,' Singh stated.
Meanwhile, AIADMK MP M Thambidurai noted the UK's support for India's anti-terrorism actions, its appreciation of India's democratic unity, and its criticism of Pakistan's military rule and misuse of funds for terrorism.
'We met all the elected people of the House of Commons and Senators also... They are all positive... The Indian delegation is much more successful, seeing the reaction of all sections of people in Britain. They are for India; they are against terrorism... They are very unhappy with Pakistan... Instead of developing the country, there is no democracy there. There is a military rule there... They are misusing the money they are getting and using it for terrorism... The UK is one of the countries that have suffered. So, the UK also felt that terrorist camps in Pakistan are a dangerous thing... So, whatever action that has been taken by India to tackle terrorism is being appreciated by them,' the AIADMK leader noted.
UK MPs, following the meeting with the delegation from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)-India, questioned Pakistan's aid misuse as well as backed India's anti-terror stand.
UK MP Bob Blackman raised critical concerns over Pakistan's use of international aid money during the meeting with the all-party delegation, questioning whether funds meant for the country's development were being diverted to purchase Chinese weapons for terrorism against India.
Key figures like House of Lords MP Lord Karan Bilimoria and former member of the UK Parliament Shailesh Vara also expressed unanimous cross-party support in the UK for India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, alongside discussions on deepening India-UK ties in trade, security, and education, despite last-minute camera restrictions leading to phone recordings.
Blackman expressed the UK's condolences and support for India's anti-terrorism actions, emphasising India's desire for peace and questioning Pakistan's misuse of aid for military purposes, advocating for its use in health initiatives like polio eradication.
'We had a meeting and it's great to see the delegation from all parts of India... Everyone from the United Kingdom expresses their condolences and support for the people of India who've suffered this terrorist outrage... India wants peace and tranquillity between the two,' Blackman stated.
'The money that's sent to Pakistan, what is it used for? What it shouldn't be used for is buying Chinese weapons that would then enable terrorists to attack India, and I take a very strong view that our international aid money that should go to Pakistan should be going for the eradication of polio and other infectious diseases that benefit the people of Pakistan rather than it being used illicitly for military purposes,' he added.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, who chaired the APPG-India meeting, highlighted the unified cross-party support in both nations against terrorism, reflecting a positive meeting outcome and emphasised the potential for deeper India-UK collaboration in security, education, and the recently agreed FTA, strengthening bilateral ties.
Former UK MP Shailesh Vara appreciated the delegation's in-person visit for providing a clear explanation of the Pahalgam attack and enhancing bilateral understanding and underscored the solid India-UK relationship.
The all-party delegation was welcomed by APPG India President Sandy Verma, and the meeting was co-chaired by UK MPs Lord Karan Bilimoria and Jeevun Sandher.
Many current and former MPs, including Lord Ed Vaizey, Bob Blackman, Barry Gardiner, Gurinder Singh Josan, Gagan Mohindra, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Kanishka Narayan, Shailesh Vara, Baggy Shanker, Mark Pritchard and others also joined the discussion.
Earlier today, the delegation met UK Minister for Citizenship and Migration and Minister for Equalities Seema Malhotra at the UK Parliament.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Conservative Party's Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel expressed her pleasure after meeting with an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Prasad, and stated that 'significant areas of discussion were covered.'
During their diplomatic outreach, the delegation visited the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Denmark. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Only 8.25% Indian graduates hold jobs that match their qualifications: Report
Only 8.25% of Indian graduates are employed in jobs that align with their qualifications, while over 50% are engaged in lower-skilled roles, reveals the latest report by the Institute for Competitiveness, the Indian affiliate of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report finds that the Indian job market is experiencing a distortion where nearly 50% of graduates are employed in roles like clerks, machine operators, and sales workers (Skill Level 2), triggering alarm bells for policymakers and economists. These jobs are classified under the National Classification of Occupations (NCO), which assigns skill levels (1 to 4) to job categories. Ideally, those with a higher educational skill level should hold jobs that match or exceed that level. Overqualified and underutilised A worrying trend emerges when looking at overqualification. For high-skill (Skill Level 4) jobs: — 63.26% of workers hold educational qualifications that match. — But 28.12% are working in lower-skill jobs (Skill Levels 4–8), like clerks or machine operators. — Another 38.23% of those doing Skill Level 4 jobs have graduate-level education, suggesting oversupply of degrees without demand-aligned jobs. A similar trend persists at Skill Level 3. Only 8.25% of those with Level 3 education are in equivalent jobs, while over 50% of graduates are working in lower-level clerical and retail roles. This not only affects individual career satisfaction but indicates massive inefficiency in utilising India's educated manpower. Underqualification: The other side of the mismatch In Skill Level 2 jobs, 8.56% of workers lack the requisite formal education. This could be due to informal skill acquisition, experience-based progression, or vocational training. This is where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) becomes critical. TVET enables underqualified individuals to bridge formal gaps, but the infrastructure and accessibility of such programs remain inadequate. Which states are most affected? According to the report, states with large young populations like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal face the most pressing challenges in addressing this mismatch. Without targeted intervention, these populous states risk: –Large-scale underemployment –Brain drain to urban areas or abroad –Skill redundancy in local economies –Missed industrialisation opportunities Here's an overview of skill 1 workforce share: Top and bottom 5 states While states like Goa and Kerala have fewer workers at Skill 1 level, states such as Bihar and Meghalaya continue to have over 60% of their workforce in this lowest education category, posing long-term challenges for skilled job creation. Can education keep up with workforce needs? India has made considerable strides in elementary education through schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Midday Meals, and NIPUN Bharat, reflected in near 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at primary levels. But the transition to higher education remains uneven. While states like West Bengal (93.38%), Kerala (89.45%), and Jharkhand (87.88%) show high improvements in female GER, Lakshadweep saw a 90% decline over the decade, revealing geographic disparities. Only 2.17% of India's population has educational qualifications at Skill Level 4. At the state level, Chandigarh leads with 11.21%, more than twice the second-highest, Uttarakhand (4.99%). Top States by Skill Level 4 Workforce (based on 2023 data from the report) In contrast, states like Bihar (0.45%), Jharkhand (0.70%), and Odisha (0.87%) lag behind, risking exclusion from high-skill job markets unless significant educational reforms are implemented. How big is the economic impact of upskilling? The report shows that transitioning from intermediate to advanced skill levels could raise wages by 149%, drastically boosting both individual prosperity and GDP. However, this demands systemic investment. India needs to bridge an Rs 88,000 crore funding gap in higher education and increase education spending from 3.06% to 4.89% of the total budget. What is the way forward? To address the pressing skill mismatch, the report suggests four key interventions: –Granular Skill Data Collection – for more responsive policies. –Regular Skill Gap Analysis – led by Sector Skill Councils and State Skill Missions. –Update NCO Codes – to keep pace with emerging occupations. –Integration with PLFS – to include 4-digit NCO levels for better mapping. Is India prepared for its demographic deadline? India's demographic dividend, with 650 million people under 25 according to UNFP 2023 data, won't last forever. By 2046, the elderly population will surpass those aged 0–15, turning the current opportunity into a potential burden. To be workforce-ready by 2047, India needs: –An education system aligned with industry needs –TVET reforms to address underqualification –State-specific interventions in high-population regions –Gender-focused higher education policies Failing this, a majority of Indian workers, nearly 9 out of 10, as per the Skills for the Future report, may remain trapped in low-competency jobs, unable to fully contribute to India's economic ambitions.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
26 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Steamhouse India files confidential IPO papers to raise up to ₹700 cr
Industrial steam and gas supplier Steamhouse India has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) through a confidential pre-filing route, with an aim to raise between Rs 500 crore and Rs 700 crore, industry sources familiar with the development said. In a public announcement on Wednesday, Surat-based Steamhouse India said it has submitted "the pre-filed draft red herring prospectus with Sebi and the stock relation to the proposed initial public offering of its equity shares on the main board of the stock exchanges". While the exact issue size has not been officially disclosed, industry sources estimated that the IPO could be in the range of Rs 500 crore to Rs 700 crore. Built on the industrial legacy of Sanjoo group, the company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Surat. Steamhouse India serves over 167 clients across the country. The company has expansions underway at Pirana, Ahmedabad; Dahej SEZ; Vapi Phase 3; Ankleshwar Phase 3; Panoli Phase 2; Jhagadia; Nandesari Phase 2. It also plans to expand operations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. As per the company's FY24 annual report, its total revenue was Rs 291.71 crore and profit stood at Rs 25.97 crore. The company has opted for the confidential pre-filing route, which allows it to withhold public disclosure of IPO details under the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) until later stages. This route is gaining traction among Indian firms aiming for flexibility in their IPO plans. In recent months, logistics service provider Shadowfax Technologies, Gaja Alternative Asset Management, commerce enablement platform Shiprocket, Tata Capital, edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah and Imagine Marketing, the parent company of wearables brand boAt, also chose confidential filings. In 2024, food delivery giant Swiggy and retail chain Vishal Mega Mart floated their IPOs following similar filings. Market experts note that the confidential pre-filing route offers companies greater flexibility and reduces the pressure to go public quickly. Unlike the traditional route, which requires companies to launch their IPOs within 12 months of receiving Sebi's approval, the pre-filing route extends this window to 18 months from the receipt of final comments. Additionally, firms can modify the primary issue size by up to 50 per cent until the updated DRHP stage.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Office space demand from GCCs up 24% at 31.8 mn sq ft in FY25: Vestian
GCCs accounted for 42 per cent of the pan-India absorption in 2024-25, registering a marginal increase from 41 per cent a year earlier Press Trust of India New Delhi Leasing of office spaces to set up Global Capability Centres (GCCs) increased by 24 per cent last fiscal to 31.8 million square feet across seven major cities, according to a report. Data from real estate consultant Vestian showed that the leasing of office space to establish GCCs stood at 31.8 million (318 lakh) square feet in 2024-25 as against 25.6 million (256 lakh) square feet in the preceding year. "Over the past couple of years, GCCs have been the primary growth driver of India's office market. This growth has been fueled by cost optimization strategies, a skilled talent pool, rapid infrastructure development, favourable government policies, ease of doing business, and a supportive business environment," Vestian said in a statement on Wednesday. As per the Vestian's report, GCCs accounted for 42 per cent of the pan-India absorption in 2024-25, registering a marginal increase from 41 per cent a year earlier. Shrinivas Rao, CEO of Vestian said, "GCCs contribute significantly to the office market in India, accounting for over 40 per cent of the absorption recorded in the past two years." This share is expected to grow even further, fuelled by the expansion of large conglomerates from various industries such as IT-ITeS, BFSI, Healthcare & Lifesciences, Engineering & Manufacturing, and Consulting Services, he added. "India continues to offer a compelling value proposition through its skilled talent base, operational scalability, and robust ecosystem," Rao said. Among cities, the leasing of office space for establishing GCCs stood maximum in Bengaluru at 12.43 million square feet last fiscal as against 8.34 million square feet in the preceding year. In Mumbai, the absorption of office spaces by GCCs jumped to 3.68 million square feet in 2024-25 from 1.36 million square feet in the preceding year. Real estate major DLF Ltd, Embassy Group, Prestige Group, RMZ Group, Tata Realty & Infrastructure Ltd and three office assets-backed REITs -- Mindspace Business Parks REIT, Brookfield India Real Estate Trust and Embassy Office Parks REIT--are the major players in Indian office market. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
