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The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — August 1, 2025
Trump's tariff tirade The U.S. President's '25% tariffs from Friday plus a penalty' may not have been unexpected as Mr. Trump has given many hints about his disapproval of India's dealings with Russia. However, his comment that India and Russia can take their 'dead economies down together' is shocking and reflects an unexplained contempt for both nations. As if this was not enough, his additional remark, of a U.S.-Pakistan oil reserve deal and the possible sale of this oil India 'some day!', is akin to adding insult to injury to India's self-respect and national pride. The Government of India's response has been strangely meek and timid. S.K. Choudhury, Bengaluru Debate in Parliament 'Operation Sindoor' is over and the Prime Minister, in his recent speech in Parliament, dwelt at length on the action taken. Therefore, it is unfortunate that the Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is now attempting to tarnish 'Operation Sindoor' with his repeated questioning of the ceasefire. One expects a better standard of debate in Parliament from the Opposition. Mani Nataraajan, Chennai Arrest of nuns The arrest of the nuns in Chhattisgarh under 'trafficking and conversion charges' reeks more of communal vigilantism than credible law enforcement. When the kin of the tribal girls themselves deny coercion, the justification collapses. Anti-conversion laws, ostensibly to prevent forced conversions, are being misused to criminalise legitimate acts of charity, employment or faith. This is not governance. It is harassment, weaponised. When constitutional freedoms are at the mercy of fringe complaints and political appeasement, we risk replacing rule of law with rule by mob. The state must protect rights, not undermine them under pressure from ideological groups. K. Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru Appeasement politics in Kerala and divisive politics in North India, with an eye on the vote bank, is the tactic the ruling party at the Centre is indulging in to win elections. Rather than shedding crocodile tears and expressing well-rehearsed anguish, State leaders from this national party must walk the talk. . Dr. Biju C. Mathew, Thiruvananthapuram Poverty, illiteracy and ailment are three prominent causes which are used by missionaries. The moot question is this: why were the tribal girls being taken to a place hundreds of kilometres away from Chhattisgarh? To debunk the arrests as communal vigilantism is lopsided. Ravi Mathur, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Honour killing Despite constitutional protections, it is evident that governments, central and State, have not shown a commitment to enacting legislation against honour killings, largely due to vote bank politics. Since societal beliefs in 'caste supremacy' are the root cause of these crimes, civil society has a responsibility to work collaboratively with the government to eliminate the illusion of 'caste pride' and ensure social harmony. C. Raghavan, Chennai
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu most resilient State, prepared to face any trade barriers, says Industries Minister
Tamil Nadu is the most resilient State in India, with various sectors involved in manufacturing. If any trade barriers arise, the State is definitely prepared for them, said Tamil Nadu's Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa. Sharing his views on the 25% tariff on Indian exports announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, he said: 'Even before President Trump came (referring to conversations before the US elections), I had a personal discussion with the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary and many other senior secretaries. We spoke on what sectors we should look at….if he gets elected.' 'The difference between other States and Tamil Nadu is that we have been watching this for the longest time,' he added. The Minister said that the government of Tamil Nadu has foreseen such disruptions and has laid down firewalls to protect the manufacturing sector. 'Tamil Nadu is not a reactive state. We foresee things like this,' he said on the sidelines of the Passenger Vehicle Expo 2.0 that was organised by All Omni Bus Owners Association adding that the state has always balanced between services and manufacturing. Mr. Rajaa also pointed out how Tamil Nadu works with many countries across the globe. He further said: 'As a State we will stand with the Government of India and I hope our Ministers, our Union Ministers and the Prime Minister take a very informed, wise decision balancing the interest of our farmers, the primary sector, and the industrial growth.' Noting that there is no clarity and it is still too early to comment on sectors that would have a blow due to Mr. Trump's announcement, the Minister said, 'They say textiles might be out of it….so we don't know yet. There is no clarity just from one tweet. This is diplomacy and trade between two of the largest countries in the world. And you can't work this out over a tweet.' The Industries Minister also said that the State would soon roll out high speed chargers to charge electric vehicles in key locations. He also said that the state was organising a mini investors conclave next week at Thoothukudi and some MoU's will be inked during the event. 'We will be taking this conclave to all industrial hubs,' he said.
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Peace rally in Hyderabad seeks justice for arrested nuns
A large crowd of Christians, clergy, and concerned citizens from various denominations marched through the streets of Secunderabad on Thursday evening, calling for justice and the immediate release of two Catholic nuns who were arrested earlier this week in Chhattisgarh. Organised by the Catholic Association of Hyderabad, the peaceful rally began with candlelight, placards and banners, voicing collective anguish over the rising climate of hostility faced by minority communities in India. In an appeal issued during the rally, the association called upon the people of the nation and its institutions to uphold the Constitution and take meaningful steps to protect vulnerable communities. 'We urge the Government of India and all political parties to take immediate action against those who incite violence and promote communal hatred. The safety and security of minority communities must be ensured, constitutional morality and freedom of conscience upheld, and the rule of law protected. Institutions must function impartially,' said the organisers in a statement. Prominent figures from the community who participated in the rally included Bishop Antony Prince Panengaden, Rev. Fr. Raju Alex, Rev. Fr. Abraham Palathinkal, Sister Alphosa Vattoly, Sister Carmali Thaniath, retired IAS officers Ms. Minnie Mathew and Mr. Mathew C. Kunnumkal, and community leader Mr. Roydin Roach.
The Print
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
2,000-year-old Piprahwa Gems, its Buddhist links & how govt stopped a Sotheby's auction to bring it home
The May auction had come under fire, as scholars and art historians argued that the storied gems are not subjects of commodification but are associated with the legacy and heritage of Buddha and Buddhists. The gems, associated with Buddhism and for long, a bone of contention between Indian and Hong Kong authorities, are now back in India after more than a century and 27 years. New Delhi: The Government of India has repatriated the Piprahwa Gems from Hong Kong, two months after Sotheby's called off a 7 May auction of the gems, following a word from New Delhi, cautioning about diplomatic and legal actions. The gems were expected to sell for 100 million Hong Kong Dollars. After the gems were brought back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X, 'It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India's close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture.' Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called the repatriation 'an exemplary case of public-private partnership'. 'A large portion of the acquired collection will be on loan to the National Museum for five years, and Godrej Industries has agreed to display the entire gem collection upon its arrival in India for a period of three months,' Shekhawat said. Naman Ahuja, a Delhi-based Art historian, was among the first to call out Sotheby's for selling the precious gems in the market openly. 'Are the relics of the Buddha a commodity that can be treated like a work of art to be sold in the market? And since they are not, how is the seller ethically authorised to auction them?' He also questioned the 'custodianship' of the gems. 'Since the seller is termed the 'custodian', I would like to ask—custodian on whose behalf? Does custodianship permit them now to sell these relics?' Sotheby's, which planned to sell the Piprahwa Gems, considered the artefact garlanded with pearls, rubies, topazes, and sapphires as 'one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the modern era' and 'of unparalleled religious, archaeological and historical importance'. Sotheby's description of the collection went 'The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha'. The auction house, Sotheby's, is headquartered in New York City, its popular outlets are in London and Paris, and another one is in Hong Kong—where the Piprahwa Gems were supposed to be sold. Also Read: The afterlife of stolen antiquities when they are returned to India Piprahwa Gems & Buddha The Piprahwa Gems trace their origin to a stupa, a dome-shaped monument in the village of Piprahwa, located in modern-day Uttar Pradesh. Siddharthnagar, the district under which Piprahwa falls, is named after Buddha. It is widely believed that the gems were left mixed with some of the cremated remains of Buddha, believed to have died circa 483 B.C., 161 km from Piprahwa in Kushinagar. During his excavations in 1898, English engineer William Claxton Peppé discovered the stupa at Piprahwa—south of Lumbini, the 'birthplace of Lord Buddha'. Peppé, unknowingly, had unearthed one of the eight stupas, believed to contain ashes and fragments of Buddha. The Sakya clan of Buddha built the stupa to honour the relics of their 'illustrious kinsman, Gautama Buddha', reveals the website 'The Piprahwa Project' run by the family of Peppé. Since the excavation of Piprahwa Gems, the Indian Museum in Kolkata has housed a majority of the gems, while Peppé's family retained about a fifth of them. At the time, the British colonial administrators described some of the gems as 'duplicates'. Acts of Extradition The British could claim ownership of 'treasure' found in India, including archaeological finds, if they deemed the same as 'treasure trove', according to the 1878 Indian Treasure Trove Act. 'Treasure' was anything of substance hidden in or attached to the ground, and if that 'treasure' did not remain hidden for more than a century, the British could claim it. This Act justified the British claim over many artefacts found in the Subcontinent, including the Piprahwa Gems. Now, the Indian Government has permitted Peppé's family to retain only a portion of the relics, claiming the gems by leveraging the power of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, which prohibits the export of antiquities without government permission and criminalises unauthorised sales abroad. Dating back over 2,000 years, the Piprahwa Gems come under the jurisdiction of this Act. Since the government recognises the Buddha relics as artefacts of national importance, it is bound to fall under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, a law that protects structures and items of archaeological importance—especially if declared of national importance. The government invoked these acts in a 5 May 2025 notice to Sotheby's and the Peppé family, demanding 'immediate cessation' of the auction and the repatriation of the relics. The Union Ministry of Culture posted on X that the auctioneer 'responded to the legal notice, with the assurance that full attention is being given to this matter'. The government was successful in Sotheby's postponement of the 5 May auction of the relics till the house successfully oversaw the repatriation of Piprahwa Gems from foreign shores Wednesday afternoon. Dedipya Agarwal is a TPSJ alum interning with ThePrint (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Naga collective calls UK auction of Naga human head 'colonial violence', urges repatriation of remains
News18
3 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Trump's Tirade, India's Reply, Political Plot: Key Points In Massive Debate Over Trade Deal
Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods due to India's high tariffs and Russian oil purchases. Experts foresee limited GDP impact but significant effects on key sectors. Ahead of the August 1 deadline, US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods and a penalty, even as negotiations between Washington and New Delhi are ongoing. Trump's announcement drew ire from opposition parties, but the Government of India stated that it would study the implications of the tariff. Experts have predicted a very limited impact, suggesting that the tariff blow could lower India's GDP by up to 30 basis points. Sectors such as pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, textiles, and automobiles are expected to be affected the most. Stock markets in India, which had been trading in a range over the past few days, did not witness any knee-jerk reaction, although the benchmark indices ended in the red. Trump has linked his tariff decision to India's purchase of Russian oil and its standing in BRICS, which Washington sees as an anti-US alliance. However, he changed his tune later to say he does not care what India does with Russia. Even though tariffs have been imposed, Trump has kept his doors open for negotiations and hinted at a possible deal by the end of this week. What Trump Said About India? While he continued his tirade, the US President expressed willingness to negotiate a deal with India. 'They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now, they are willing to cut it very substantially. But we will see what happens. We are talking to India now. We will see what happens. It doesn't matter too much whether we have a deal or we charge them a certain tariff. But you will know at the end of this week," he said in the White House on Wednesday. Trump has also called India's economy 'dead" and said both New Delhi and Moscow can bring down their economies together. How India Responded Shortly after Trump's announcement, India said it is studying the implications of the tariff. While maintaining that both countries are engaged in negotiations, the government said it will take all steps necessary to secure the national interest. The government also said it attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. In the Parliament, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal made a statement, 'We will take all necessary steps to safeguard our national interest." Politics Over Tariffs Peak The opposition saw Trump's announcement as an opportunity to corner the government. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, echoed Trump and said the Indian economy is a dead economy. 'Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact," Gandhi said when asked to comment on Trump's dead economy remark. While the Rae Bareli MP attacked the Narendra Modi government, two of his party colleagues– Shashi Tharoor and Rajiv Shukla – called out Trump for his decision. Tharoor, who has gone out of his party's line to back the government on some issues like Operation Sindoor, said India must not 'buckle under" and negotiate hard with the United States. But this time, Shukla also joined Tharoor on the issue and said the government considers Trump a friend, but he has slapped us. 'This is a really wrong step by the US. The government considers Trump a friend, but he has actually slapped us; Indian businessmen will suffer due to this. We will raise all issues in Parliament…When there is so much friendship (between India-US_, then why is Donald Trump troubling India?" Shukla said. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress also hit out at the government over 'failure" of India's foreign policy and diplomacy. 'We were shown that Trump is a great friend of PM Modi, but the decisions coming from the other side are not good for India's prestige and self-respect," TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said. On the other hand, the ruling BJP and its allies targeted the opposition for taking on the government over Trump's tariffs. Former union minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur said, 'Leader Opposing Bharat, LoB, Rahul Gandhi's job is only to oppose India. Anyone from around the world makes an anti-India statement, Rahul catches hold of it and starts speaking without thinking." Echoing a similar reaction, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora said, 'When a country like the US imposes tariffs on other countries, the country unites, and the opposition stands in support of the government. In India, unfortunately, there are still some people in the opposition who prefer to rejoice and celebrate temporary setbacks. I can only hope and pray that they will mature, grow up and learn to put country before politics." (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter -- Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump Rahul Gandhi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 31, 2025, 22:08 IST News india Trump's Tirade, India's Reply, Political Plot: Key Points In Massive Debate Over Trade Deal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. 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