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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Congress leaders wanted Indira ji, JP to talk, find a meeting ground… But it didn't happen due to her coterie': Govindacharya
In the early 1970s, K N Govindacharya was the RSS Patna Vibhag pracharak, putting him at Ground Zero of the student-led protests that snowballed into a mass agitation against the Indira Gandhi government, and led to her invoking the Emergency. Now 82, the once powerful BJP general secretary, representative of the party's push beyond its Brahmin-Bania base, is more engaged in social and environmental activism. He talks to The Indian Express about his recollections of the Emergency, including his meeting with Jayaprakash Narayan. Excerpts: On March 18, 1974, there was firing in front of the Assembly in Patna when students tried to storm it, and the offices of two pro-agitation newspapers, Pradeep and Searchlight, were torched. That day a MISA warrant was issued against me and Ram Bahadur Rai. On March 19, we quietly met Jayaprakash ji; I had worked with him during drought relief in 1966. He first said you people are upadravi (troublemakers), and have torched two newspaper offices. I told him that both torched offices belonged to newspapers that were supportive of the students' agitation… I asked him to make enquiries to test my claim. It was then decided that on March 27, there would be a small protest. Shivanand Tiwari was arrested that day. Jayaprakash ji then announced that if curfew was not lifted by March 29, he would take to the streets. Curfew was lifted a day earlier. On April 8, JP held a rally at Gandhi Maidan, where he talked of vyavastha parivartan (systemic change). JP had to go to Vellore soon after that for treatment, as he was unwell. The students' agitation continued, with some support from other organisations, but began to lose steam. So we decided to make Opposition MLAs resign… In between, there was a police lathicharge in front of a girls' school in Gaya. JP said that this government cannot stay, and that the Assembly should be dissolved. From May 8- 9 (1974), Opposition MLAs began to resign. In early June, Jayaprakash ji returned from Vellore. On June 5, the Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti planned a protest. The procession was attacked by activists of the Indira brigade… The then district magistrate told the gathering that it should stay calm, and police would act action against only miscreants. JP endorsed what the DM said, and gave the gathering a slogan – Sampoorna kranti ab naara hai, bhaavi itihas hamara hai (Total revolution is our slogan now, the future will be ours). After that, the rains began, and all activities were carried on in-house. Early in October, a Bihar bandh was called. In November 1974, Indira Gandhi commented that since JP is 'so democratic', the coming elections would determine who had the support of the people. JP accepted the challenge, and said that the agitation would take an all-India form. No, she had begun to become intolerant. (Congress) Young Turks like Chandra Shekhar ji wanted talks between Indira ji and JP; they wanted to find a meeting ground… But that did not materialise because of her coterie – like Om Mehta, R K Dhawan, Makhanlal Fotedar… After the jolt from the court, there was a sudden change in her. We heard that she got to know that there would be a show of strength at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting. So, she moved towards the imposition of internal Emergency. On June 25, 1975 (the day the Emergency was imposed), I was in Varanasi and heard something was about to happen. So I returned to Patna by Punjab Mail, and decided not to go to the RSS office but first assess the situation. I sent a student there to figure out what was happening, and he said there were police all around, and the premises were being searched… I had learnt from the (1974) Bihar agitation how to work underground. That same night, I met six of our workers to decide where all our prominent state leaders would take shelter. We decided to withdraw money collected during RSS guru dakshina (before bank accounts get frozen) and to hide the list of those who donated it. I managed to stay in hiding through the Emergency, and was eventually sent to jail for one day after (the 1977 Lok Sabha) elections had already been declared. On February 24, 1977, I had gone to Bhagalpur for a poll campaign. At the house where the meeting was being held, police came. An informer had given the tip-off. The cops asked for Govindacharya. People told them I had left. They asked me, I said I was Ram Bharose Tiwari, and my father was Jogeshwar Tiwari. Police left, but returned, because of what the informer had told them. I was to be sent to jail, but the Sangh had got the news. A bail application was immediately submitted. The next morning I got bail. I never stayed for more than a week at any place. I travelled through Bihar, Assam, Bengal, Odisha, Manipur and other parts of the Northeast. I used to stay in the homes of ordinary organisation workers. Jayaprakash ji was released from jail within months because of his kidney ailment, and came back to Patna after treatment. Bhaurao Deoras of the RSS wanted to meet him. We found ways for it. A professor, Ramakant Pandey, asked me to convey to JP that he should go for a morning walk each day. The plan was to decide beforehand where he would have breakfast, and to bring the person who wanted to meet him to that house in advance… Police and intelligence personnel would be stationed outside. In 15 minutes, the conversation would be over… Once JP met Bhaurao ji in this manner. We did this six-seven times. I went to JP with the RSS prant pracharak, and he said we should get sweets. We said you have diabetes and are on dialysis. He said it doesn't matter. He ate sweets that day. Many did not want to contest the elections, some were in jail. Some were released because they were candidates, and then many of those in jail wanted to contest to secure their own release. George Fernandes wasn't released. He won from jail. Till February (1977), we did not sense that people were supporting us. Then, there was a game changer: Jagjivan Ram, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna and Abdullah Bukhari entered the campaign for us. This made a big change. Phir jwaar badhta hi chala gaya (the tide then kept on rising).
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report – Inter Milan Ready To Listen To Offers For Turkey Midfielder Amid Galatasaray Links
Report – Inter Milan Ready To Listen To Offers For Turkey Midfielder Amid Galatasaray Links Inter Milan have seemingly changed their stance on Hakan Calhanoglu amid intense speculation linking him with Galatasaray. Per Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, the Italian giants are open to selling the former AC Milan star this summer. Advertisement What looked unthinkable last summer is about to become a reality. Indeed, Hakan Calhanoglu is no longer unsellable as Inter aim to cash in on the 31-year-old in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Galatasaray are waiting for their chance to strike. Inter Milan Open to Letting Hakan Calhanoglu Join Galatasaray MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale looks o during the Coppa Italia, Quarter Final match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) Even though Inter would let the Turk move to Istanbul, there are certain requirements. For starters, anything less than €35-40 million would be unacceptable. While Galatasaray have become popular among footballers for premium salaries, they're not famous for paying high transfer fees. Therefore, the optimism isn't high unless the Turks decide to deviate from their usual transfer policy. Advertisement Otherwise, they'll need Inter's helping hand to lure the 31-year-old back to his homeland. Anyway, Calhanoglu will not feature for Inter at the Club World Cup, with Petar Sucic expected to fill the void.
Libya Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Libya Observer
Libyan-Italian economic forum kicks off in Benghazi
The Libyan-Italian Economic Forum officially launched on Tuesday in the city of Benghazi, coinciding with the inauguration of the first direct flight by Italy's national airline from Rome to Benghazi. The three-day forum is hosting around 100 companies, with expectations of over 450 participants including entrepreneurs, institutional representatives, company managers, and Libyan delegates. The President of the Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce, Nicola Colicchi, described Benghazi as one of the most stable and dynamic areas in Libya. He emphasized that the event is not a governmental initiative, but rather a business-to-business meeting, according to the Italian outlet Decode39. The event is organized by the Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Tripoli and the Consulate General in Benghazi. During the forum, Italian companies are holding business meetings with local partners, with a focus on eastern Libya, which is currently undergoing infrastructure reconstruction and economic revitalization. The forum also includes sessions on priority sectors identified by Libya's Reconstruction and Development Fund, such as infrastructure, healthcare, water management, port logistics, agriculture, environmental technologies, and sustainable development. Participating Libyan companies operate in sectors including construction, food processing, fisheries, and healthcare. Organizers noted a 'very high demand' for knowledge, technology, and business management expertise — a significant opportunity for Italian small and medium-sized enterprises. Decode39 highlighted that Rome aims to strengthen its strategic presence in a highly competitive environment. Colicchi remarked, 'The Turks are everywhere,' underscoring that the forum reflects efforts to reinforce a structured Italian presence in Libya. The Italian-Libyan Chamber of Commerce is also set to open a new permanent office in Benghazi to serve as a hub for Italian businesses seeking to build sustainable ties with the Libyan market, the outlet reported.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Why are so many Turks applying for German citizenship?
AP image Germany has become increasingly attractive for Turks whether for life, work or study. Immigration statistics show that a total of 22,525 Turkish citizens received German passports in 2024, a 110 per cent increase over 2023. Turkey is now second only to Syria when it comes to the number of its citizens receiving German passports. Alaz Sumer is one of those who decided to apply. He came to Germany about eight years ago to pursue his master's degree. Now a lawyer, he works for a Berlin-based NGO and is completing his doctorate in constitutional law. He told DW that citizenship is the goal of every immigrant saying it is much more practical . "Otherwise you are always stuck dealing with bureaucracy, and it is heavy here. Just getting a residency permit can be torturous." Burak Keceli, an IT specialist who graduated from Istanbul's respected Bogazici University, came to Germany in 2016. He said he came for career reasons and has spent several years working in the private sector. Today, he continues to live in Berlin. "I've lived in Germany for years and speak the language fluently," he said. "After all that time, I wanted to be able to have my say politically. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The power of a German passport was also an important factor … with it, I can travel to many countries around the world without a visa. According to the 2025 global passport index, which ranks passports by the number of countries a holder thereof can travel to visa-free, Germany ranked fifth in the world, behind the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Singapore and France. A German passport provides visa-free entry into 131 countries, whereas a Turkish passport only allows 75. Dual German-Turkish citizenship a big incentive Germany's June 2024 citizenship reforms no doubt gave the trend a major boost, with dual citizenship becoming a major incentive for migrants to seek a second passport. Sumer, for instance, said he had no desire to relinquish his Turkish citizenship. " I didn't want to give up my right to vote," he said. A Turkish passport, he added, also has advantages in countries with which Turkey has better relations than Germany. Burak Keceli is also a dual citizen. He calls the possibility of having two passports "very positive," but said he would have sought German citizenship either way. Germany's previous government also shortened the residency requirement for citizenship from eight down to five years, and down to three for those who could show special integration potential. The new government under chancellor Friedrich Merz did away with the three year rile in May. Still, the new government has let the dual-citizenship model stand, meaning migrants can keep their original passports. That's very important to many of those who have come to Germany from elsewhere. Until recently, Germany required all migrants, with the exception of Swiss and EU-member state passport holders, to renounce prior citizenship before granting them German passports. That forced many to hold off seeking German citizenship over the emotional, familial and business ties they maintained with their country of origin. That goes for an estimated 3 million Turks living in Germany. Political repression and skyrocketing inflation in Turkey The political, social and economic situation in Turkey has also been a major driver for immigration. "I wanted to be an academic," said Sumer, "but I didn't have the impression that it was really possible to do so freely in Turkey. When the situation deteriorated, I left." As for Keceli, he said would wouldn't have been able to have a "nice life" in Turkey. "If I had chosen to go to another country [other than Germany] I probably would have applied for citizenship there." The political climate in Turkey has been worsening for years. Human rights organizations regularly report freedom of speech and press violations by the government. In March, the government of President Recap Tayyip Erdogan had his most capable election challenger, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu arrested, a drastic measure even by Erdogan's standards. Moreover, the country has languished economically for years: In 2015, a euro cost about 2.3 Turkish lira, now it's nearly 46 ($1 is currently worth around 40 Turkish lira, 10 years ago it was around it cost around 2.7 Turkish lira). Turkey will always be 'home' Despite integration and years of life spent in Germany, many Turks still feel rooted in their old culture and continue to call Turkey home. "Germany never became home for me. I wouldn't describe myself as a German. But even if I did, Germans would laugh at me — and rightly so," said Sumer. Keceli sees things similarly. "All of my loved ones are in Turkey. I never lost the connection. I will continue to travel back and forth. And even if I don't always keep up on the latest news, I still listen to Turkish music. I will always call Turkey home. I don't really feel at home in Germany." Not German enough? Sumer said he "mostly enjoys" life in Germany, but admits he doesn't feel like he really belongs. "I don't think that you're immediately accepted when you get a German passport, that certainly wasn't the case for me." He then described experiences that mirror those of other migrants: "I feel closer to Turkey than I do to Germany. It's clear to me that I am only German on paper. Even if you assimilate and live by German standards, you're still always an immigrant." Sumer recounted moments of everyday discrimination. When he tried to find an apartment after receiving his citizenship, he said, he didn't get any replies whatsoever to his online queries using his real name. That changed when he used a fake name. "If you don't have a German name, a German passport won't do you much good either," he said.
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Greece is one of NATO's top defense spenders. Here's why
Sun-soaked Greece may not immediately come to mind as a top defense spender — but only four NATO allies spent a bigger slice of their GDP on security than the Mediterranean country last year. In addition to the U.S., NATO estimates show that tally includes Poland, Latvia and Estonia, which ramped up their defense expenditures in response to Russian aggression in recent years. Greece has meanwhile consistently been a big defense spender, spending around 3.1% of its GDP on defense in 2024. At the core of Athens' defense spending motivations is its tense and fractious relationship with fellow NATO ally Turkey. Greece and Turkey have "a lot of historical baggage," Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at Bruegel, told CNBC. Tensions between the two nations date back several hundred years and include war, the displacement of over 1 million people, clashes over controlling Cyprus, and a strong geographical element due to Greece's many islands, he said. "You have this very large number of Greek islands quite close to the Turkish coast that, in principle, the Turks could invade relatively easily," Kirkegaard said. "Greece has traditionally maintained a ... non-trivial military presence on virtually all these islands, and that is quite expensive because it means you have to have... a lot of garrisons." Concerns about the "Turkish threat" are still relevant today, George Tzogopoulos, senior fellow at ELIAMEP, told CNBC. "Greece spends a lot on defence to protect its sovereignty and sovereign rights," he said. Instability in nearby countries and regions including the Middle East, and especially Turkey's "muscular policy" across the Mediterranean, have made it is crucial for Greece to continue with its strong defense spending, Tzogopoulos explained. "Greece has no alternative but be prepared for all scenarios," he added. Greece's military strength has cracks despite the country's large defense budget, experts say. For example, Greece has increasingly been focusing on investing in sophisticated weapons systems, especially since the Russia-Ukraine war, Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of political risk advisory at Teneo, told CNBC. But, he noted, "much of that spending has been directed abroad." "The country still lacks a strong domestic defense industry and a key priority moving forward is to build and sustain an indigenous industrial base that can reduce dependence on foreign arms suppliers," Piccoli said. Greece's military capabilities is also plagued by practical problems, Kirkegaard added. Many of the Greek army's numerous tanks are relatively old, and personnel is not trained to use these vehicles in large formations. Equipment is also often very spread out across the country's islands. "So it would be a mistake, therefore, in the case of Greece, to equate spending with sort of flat out military capabilities," Kirkegaard said. As NATO officials gather this week, Greece's defense spending levels should also strengthen the country's voice among the coalition's 32 members. The expenditures have already boosted Greece's relationship with major powers like the U.S. and France, Piccoli said, partly because these nations supply military equipment to Athens. "Defense spending in Greece also functions as a tool of geopolitical leverage, enhancing its standing and security guarantees in a complex regional environment," Piccoli added. Top of agenda at the NATO summit will be defense spending, with Reuters reporting that coalition members have agreed in principle to hike their target for such expenditures to 5% of their GDP. This includes 3.5% on traditional defense issues and 1.5% on related elements like infrastructure and cybersecurity. The jump to a 5% target will be much smaller for Greece compared to many other nations, but even Athens might not quite make it, Kirkegaard suggested. "Do I therefore think that Greece is is one of the countries that's going to be particularly responsive to these new NATO targets? No, I think the answer is no, because the broader shift in NATO expenditure levels is driven by Russian aggression, which is not, you know, Greece's principal military challenge," he said.
