MP urges Centre for Rani Abbakka Maritime University
He proposed that the university be named after Rani Abbakka as a tribute to the warrior queen who fought valiantly in safeguarding the coast of Bharat.
"The Rani Abbakka Maritime University will both pay homage to an iconic national figure and create a future-ready workforce trained in marine engineering, maritime law, port and terminal management, and maritime informatics," said Captain Chowta.
In a letter seeking the same, he highlighted that the establishment of the university aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision and the nation's strategic goal to emerge as a global maritime hub.
Drawing attention to Mangaluru's geographic advantages, historical significance, and proximity to major ports and educational institutions, Captain Chowta said it would make it an ideal location for such an institution.
Chowta also met Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in New Delhi on Wednesday to formally request the establishment of a National Maritime University in Mangaluru and proposed to name it after Rani Abbakka.
He proposed that the university offer a wide range of programmes, including BTech, BSc, BBA, MTech, MBA, MSc, and diplomas, catering to the skill development, research, and policy innovation needs of India's maritime advancement.
The proposal also seeks the active participation of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, in commissioning a detailed project report (DPR). Some of the requests made to the ministry are the constitution of an expert committee to develop the university framework and the initiation of inter-ministerial consultations for stakeholder alignment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
16 minutes ago
- Hans India
Temple demolished in Hyderabad for Muslim votes, says MoS Bandi Sanjay
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday alleged that a temple was demolished in Hyderabad to get votes of 30 per cent Muslim voters in the upcoming by-election to the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency. He told media persons in Karimnagar that the Congress government in Telangana demolished the Peddamma temple in Banjara Hills for vote bank politics. He demanded that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy tender an apology and immediately suspend officials responsible for the demolition of the temple. 'How many Temples, Masjids and Churches are on roads? But what was the need to demolish the Banjara Hills Peddamma temple? The Congress government should immediately suspend the officials responsible. Is the government trying to appease a community who are 30 per cent in Jubilee Hills for votes in by-elections?' he asked. The BJP leader asked if the government has the courage to demolish places of worship of other communities. He stated that the Hindu community was ready to teach a lesson to the Congress government for demolishing the temple. The Minister of State alleged that the Congress betrayed Hindus and Backward Classes (BCs). Bandi Sanjay said that the 'BC declaration' released by the Congress at Kamareddy in the 2023 Assembly elections was in reality a 'Muslim declaration'. He alleged that the Congress wants to give 10 per cent reservation to Muslims and increase the reservation for BCs by only 5 per cent. The MoS also alleged that Hindus in Telangana were being projected as a 'minority' as part of a conspiracy of the Congress party. 'By giving reservations to 100 per cent Muslims, attempts are being made to show Hindus as a minority,' he said. He reiterated that the BJP would not allow 42 per cent reservation for BCs if Muslims are included in BCs. 'We have to stop this here as the Congress plans to implement this Muslim declaration across the country,' he said. Bandi Sanjay alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wants to weaken the Hindu community by breaching the 50 per cent reservation cap. He remarked that Rahul Gandhi would fail just like his great-grandfather, grandmother, and father failed in their attempts. On Congress leaders calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a 'converted BC,' Bandi Sanjay questioned Gandhi's own caste and religion. He pointed out that PM Modi's BC status was recognised by a previous Congress government. 'Rahul Gandhi's grandfather was a Parsi, and his mother is an Italian Christian. Is Rahul Gandhi a converted Christian, a converted Muslim or a converted Hindu?' he asked.
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
UK FTA is a turning point in how India engages with West
The signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK last week was no ordinary moment — not just because 99% of Indian exports to the UK will now enter tariff-free, or because British luxury cars and Scotch whisky are about to get cheaper. The real story is India's evolving place in global trade — more assertive, more selective and no longer willing to play by someone else's rulebook. The immediate economic benefits are eye-catching. For British exporters, tariff cuts on whisky (down from 150% to 75% right away, and to 40% in a decade), high-end vehicles, cosmetics and dairy offer new access to India's swelling consumer base. For Indian exporters — particularly in textiles, jewellery, EVs, marine products and generics — the UK market is now wide open, with tariff advantages over rivals like China and Vietnam. The UK's access to Indian public procurement markets and its offer to exempt Indian professionals from social security payments sweeten the deal further. Also, Indian yoga teachers, chefs and tech workers will find short-term visas easier to secure— a meaningful breakthrough on the politically sensitive issue of mobility and immigration India's MSMEs are expected to be among the biggest winners. Industry analysts estimate a 30-40% rise in Indian exports to Britain in the next five years. That's not just numbers on paper — that's jobs on the ground, especially in states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. But perhaps the most significant thing about this deal is what isn't in it — agriculture. India drew a red line, clearly flagging at the outset that it's non-negotiable, which the UK respected. Our government is fully aware of our responsibility to protect the rights of our farmers. Opening up Indian farming to global agribusiness is politically radioactive. The UK agreement avoids that minefield. This signals something larger: India is happy to do trade, but only on terms that don't destabilise our broader economic progress. This new pragmatism — open on industry, cautious on food — could now become the blueprint for other negotiations, particularly with the ongoing one with the US. Hours after the India-UK deal was inked, eyes turned to the US. Trade talks with the US have been ongoing for some months. On Thursday, India's ministry of external affairs confirmed that both sides are working on the 'first tranche' of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). Behind the scenes, pressure is mounting. After reimposing 10% reciprocal tariffs on global exports in April 2025, the US specifically slapped a 26% tariff on Indian goods, though a pause was granted till August 1. That ticking clock now adds urgency to the ongoing BTA talks. Here's the sticking point: The US wants access to India's agriculture and digital markets. India, meanwhile, wants tariff rollbacks, supply chain integration and protection for its strategic sectors. The Union government is clear: India will negotiate hard and the US should not mistake flexibility for submission. The UK deal becomes a silent message to the US: We're open to trade but we won't be bullied. The UK FTA also shifts the geopolitical axis slightly. Post-Brexit, Britain badly needed a big trade deal. India, flush with economic confidence and global attention, was in no rush. That power asymmetry is visible in the final text of the agreement— cautious, layered, incremental. This is not a one-shot silver bullet. It's a living document, built to expand, revise tariffs and add new sectors over time if required. For India, the pact also sends signals elsewhere, to the EU, Japan and Asean. In July alone, the US concluded trade deals with Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia — all part of its Indo-Pacific economic strategy. India, however, is forging its own path. It's building a trade perimeter that keeps sovereignty intact while enabling access and investment. There is, of course, no escaping the historical undertones. Two centuries ago, Britain came to India in the name of trade and stayed to conquer and rule. Today, Britain is back, but on an even keel. That reversal is more than symbolic. Indian policymakers, once wary of the term free trade because of its colonial baggage, are now redefining it. The FTA is not about deference, it's about mutual interest. India is opening doors, but it's also setting terms. This is more than a trade agreement. It is a shift in posture. It is a turning point in how India engages with the West. Gone is the tentative, aid-seeking India of old. This is a country that brings its own terms to the table, and expects others to adapt. The British see this deal as a lifeline in a post-EU economy. India sees it as leverage, a card it can play while negotiating with bigger economies like the US and EU. Undoubtedly, this trade deal is historic. Not just for what it delivers, but for what it represents — the arrival of a more assertive, strategic, and self-confident India on the global trade stage. As for the Americans, they would be wise to study the UK deal not as a template to copy, but perhaps as a warning. Push too hard, especially on food and data, and India will simply say no. Syed Zafar Islam is a national spokesperson of the BJP and former member of Parliament. The views expressed are personal
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Bandi Sanjay dares KTR for open debate on BJP MP Ramesh's allegations
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has dared BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao for an open debate on the charges made against him by BJP MP from Anakapalli C.M. Ramesh accusing him of making a proposal to merge BRS with BJP in 2023. Talking to reporters in Karimnagar on Sunday, Mr. Sanjay alleged that the BRS rule was steeped in corruption. 'BRS leaders had come up with the merger proposal unable to run their party,' he said in reply to a question. However, during his speech at a public meeting in Nizamabad in 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it crystal clear that BJP is against family-centric parties and politics of nepotism, he noted. 'Let him (KTR) decide the time and venue. I will arrange a public debate either in Karimnagar or Hyderabad to prove Mr. Ramesh's allegations against Mr. Rama Rao,' he said. 'BRS is on the verge of extinction and its leadership is incapable of running the party,' he charged, accusing Mr. Rama Rao of spearheading a false propaganda against the BJP through social media platforms. 'Such lies will not be tolerated anymore,' he warned, and alleged that the Congress leaders in Telangana were not reacting to KTR's 'abusive language' against their own leaders. Accusing the ruling Congress of 'pursuing appeasement politics', he demanded that 42% quota be exclusively earmarked for BCs by excluding Muslims from the BC list. New block Earlier, the Union Minister inaugurated the Critical Care Block constructed with Central fund at an estimated cost of ₹23.75 crore at the Government General Hospital in Karimnagar.
