‘Change In NCERT Books Is An Attempt To Brainwash Young Minds’

Yogendra Yadav, an eminent political scientist, says the change in NCERT syllabi is an unprecedented assault on not only history textbooks, but also on several other subjects. His views:

Let me be clear. What we are witnessing is a politically-backed cultural assault on the very idea of India. This is the most powerful assault in the last 75 years. Therefore, in order to destroy this idea of India, under the current dispensation, it is absolutely vital to give India a new re-written history.

The business of fighting history is not going to end with 1947’ it has to be enacted beyond 1947. Hence, now, the powers that be are targeting the discipline of political science and other sciences as well. If the young generation is brought up on the ideals of a secular and plural Indian Constitution, they have to first change it to mould the opinion among the young. Hence, the attempt to completely restructure the school textbooks.

We are asked as to why political scientist Suhas Palshikar and I have withdrawn from the current NCERT text books. We were chief advisors to NCERT in 2011 when there was a Congress-led UPA government in Delhi. Even during that time, we resisted any tinkering with textbooks without any rationale. The then education minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, had no defense in the Parliament after an uproar over the issue. Hence, we quit saying there is no point in continuing as advisors. However, let me reteirate, at least it was done in a public and transparent process; a committee was formed headed by an eminent academic, etc.

ALSO READ: Change In Syllabus Will Affect Those Sitting in Competitive Exams

This time, since the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has come to power in 2014, they have chosen to make extremely pedestrian and motivated amendments. The last two years particularly have witnessed not just tinkering but actual mutilation of the content in the NCERT school textbooks. Chapter after chapter on the history of Indian democracy, the people’s movements – which, they obviously don’t want the  young to study — the role of diversity in a democracy, the role of human rights etc, have been removed. And brazenly so. In fact, the section on the excesses and the authoritarian rule during the Emergency, has been dropped as well.

Major ideological changes have been carried out. Indeed, they might have the copyright, but they certainly don’t have control over our academic ethics and intellectual integrity. Surely – not in our name!

Funnily, they have issued a statement with about 100-plus people, including the current UGC chairman, in defense of the changes being introduced in the NCERT textbooks. Whereas our recent statement opposing the arbitrary changes has 33 eminent political scientists and academics from all over India, I can’t recognize even one political scientist in their list!

As told to Amit Sengupta

China And Western World – A Poisoned Relationship

If one will look at China through western eyes, then the world’s second most powerful economy would come as turning increasingly authoritarian in its dealings with the citizens. At the same time, Beijing is found more and more “assertive” the way it deals with the rest of the world. The West rightly or wrongly sees manifestation of Chinese belligerence in many of its recently announced foreign relations, strategic and economic policies. All this could not have happened at a more opportune time for India, which is stretched to the extreme to guard its long border, much of it is inhospitable with its northern neighbour.

At the recent G-7 summit at Hiroshima, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used the two words “authoritarianism” and “assertive” with great force while likening China as the major “challenge of our age” to telling effect. In the perception of the West and all Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) member countries, not only does China use national occasions such as Labour Day and National Day to demonstrate its growing military prowess, but at all times use economic diplomacy, which often takes the shape of economic coercion.

Whatever that may be, there are several instances of China buying up resources, strategic and otherwise, particularly in Africa without the major Western countries, including the US, not noticing the development and reacting to that for an inexplicably long time. Chinese focus in Africa taking in its stride the challenges thrown in by political turmoil and serious conflicts between warring groups in several countries has been to progressively expand its role as an energy and resource extractor. As China has thereby secured long-term supply of a variety of minerals from bauxite to iron ore to copper concentrate for its gigantic minerals processing industries, it has been smart to keep on buying huge quantities of farm products from across the world to meet immediate requirements and also to build at the same time large inventories of grains to take care of supply shortfall from domestic sources at any point in future.

In fact for all its investment and trading activities China is becoming the target of increasing criticism that under the veil of global fraternity, China is primarily driven by an ambition to match the US, if not overtake it within a given time frame. The country is also accused of cornering food items to build reserves when millions in many countries do not have enough to eat and food price inflation is menacingly high.

But more often than not China is perceived wrongly is not to be contested. There is a whole set of deep-seated misconceptions about China that feeds its poisoned relationship with the West. By the time, the People’s Republic of China celebrates centenary in 2049 it wants to realise the dream of becoming a “strong, democratic, civilised, harmonious and modern socialist country.” Michael Pillsbury has said in his book The Hundred-Year Marathon that dream is not a “secret strategy to replace America as the global superpower.” There would not have been heightened concern about threat to peace if Beijing is not found to be increasingly aggressive in the South China Sea and its designs on Taiwan and Hong Kong remain an antidote to peace. At the same time, in its defence Beijing says it is imperative for the country to keep the sea lane free and open through which is conducted international trade and undisturbed flow of commodities.

More recently, the West’s disappointment with China boiled over as the country failed to come up as an ideal peace-broker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In the weeks and months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, some European leaders hoped that Beijing would use its influence over Moscow to end the conflict. Furthermore, Ukraine itself wanted China to broker peace and also play a major role of the reconstruction of the war battered country.

ALSO READ: Saudi-Iran Agreement – A Victory For China

Instead to the disappointment of the West, Chinese diplomats were found campaigning through western capitals that Kyiv should push for peace by laying down its arms. What caused more distress is painting Vladimir Putin acting in self-defence. How much the West disposition to China has hardened since the start of the new phase of Ukraine war became clear at the recent conference of Stockholm China Forum. A participant at the conference captured the disturbed sentiment of Western participants when he said China’s collusion with Russia has come as an “electroshock for Western governments.”

Kyiv has its compulsions to hope for China playing a positive role in helping finding a solution to the war, considering its capacity to put pressure on Putin. But the Western countries will remain horror struck at any suggestion of China playing role in shaping the future security architecture for Europe. This is largely because of Beijing blaming NATO alliance for triggering the Ukraine war and also as the Economist points out for all its attempts at “promoting a world order in which individual countries seek security via shifting, values-free calculations of their interests.”

From growing misapprehensions about China automatically follows the West’s deliberations about de-risking its commercial ties with that country. The Chinese fear that the West may be thinking of total decoupling of their economies from it is, however, farfetched. Any steps towards that, while unthinkable are fraught with grave risks to all the concerned economies. What also has to be kept in view is that around two-thirds of the West’s overall trade with China have no strategic implications. At the same time European nations are keen to deny China access to high technologies that will help it to build “advanced weapons or tools of repression.”

Western investors have considerable reservations about Beijing obsession to go on tightening the security network that go the extent of punishing big ticket investors collecting soil samples before building factories. No less dangerous will be attempts to secure data relating to weather in the Taiwan Strait that should ideally precede investment in a coastal wind farm. In any case, as the world has been witnessing over the last few years more and more US and also European manufacturing groups are cutting their operational size in China in favour of other Asian destinations, including India. What steps Beijing will take to come back in the confidence of Western financial institutions and industries will be keenly watched.

Vietnamese INS Kripan

India Gifts ‘INS Kirpan’ To Vietnam

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Gang here in the national capital on Monday.

During the meeting, progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives was reviewed, with both sides expressing satisfaction with the ongoing engagements.
Defence Minister Singh announced the gifting of an indigenously-built in-service Missile Corvette INS Kirpan, which will be a milestone in enhancing the capabilities of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

“Both Ministers identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of defence industry cooperation, maritime security and multinational cooperation,” an official release by the Ministry of Defence said after the meeting.

Further, as part of his engagements Vietnamese defence minister also visited DRDO headquarters and discussed ways to enhance defence industrial capabilities by cooperation in defence research and joint production.

Earlier in the day, General Phan Van Gang laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes. The visiting dignitary arrived in India on Sunday on a two-day visit.

Vietnam is an important partner in India’s Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific region. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Egypt Tour Modi

Modi To Visit Al-Hakim Mosque, Pay Tribute To Martyred Indian Soldiers: Egypt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his first Egypt tour, will visit the 11th-century Al-Hakim mosque and will also pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who died fighting for Egypt during the First World War, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday.

The Foreign Secretary made these remarks while addressing a special briefing on Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to US and Egypt.
PM Modi will make a State visit to Egypt on June 24 and 25.

Kwatra said, “It is worth mentioning here that this will be Prime Minister’s first visit to Egypt and I might also mention that this would be the first official bilateral visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Egypt since 1997.”

He added that there have been visits in between, but they have mostly been for multilateral or plurilateral events.

Kwatra also said that PM Modi upon reaching Cairo on June 24 will first meet with the India unit, a select unit of high-level ministers that the President of Egypt had constituted after his return from India.

“Most recently, the Egyptian president had paid a state visit to India when he graced our Republic Day earlier in the year as the chief guest. At this stage, the prime Minister is expected to reach Cairo in the afternoon of June 24 where where his first interaction will be with the India unit,” the Foreign Secretary said.

He also mentioned that over the last several months since the visit of the President of Egypt, India has seen intense level of ministerial level political exchanges with Egypt.

“External Affairs Minister himself, the Defence Minister and the Minister of Environment have travelled to Egypt. We have had, similarly at least three to four ministers from the Egyptian government who have visited India. Even as we speak a ministerial-level delegation led by the chairperson of the Suisse Canal Authority is in India clearly shows you the extent of very sharp focus that both India and Egypt are placing on strengthening all aspects of their relationship,” the Foreign Secretary added.

Speaking further about PM Modi’s visit, Kwatra said after the interaction with the India unit, Prime Minister will have an interaction with the small Indian community that is there in Egypt and will likely also meet some of the prominent personalities in Egypt.

“His next day will begin with a visit to Al-Hakim mosque. It is the 11th-century mosque which was refurbished, and renovated by the Bohra community and the visit to Al-Hakim mosque will be followed by a visit to the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War,” he added.

After this Prime Minister will have an official engagement with the President of Egypt, including bilateral talks with the President of Egypt and the signing of various MoUs and agreements on that day, said Kwatra.

Recalling the recent India visit of the Grand Mufti of Egypt, he said, “Egypt has also been invited as a special guest during India’s G20 presidency.”

Kwatra also noted that PM Modi’s visit is a “very quick, reciprocal visit,” which came just within six months of Egypt President Sisi’s visit to India.

“We do expect and are confident that the visit of PM Modi to Egypt will not just ensure continuing momentum to the relationship between our two countries, but will also help it expand to new areas of trade and economic engagement between our two countries,” Kwatra said.

Prior to his Egypt visit, PM Modi will reach the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Nitish Kumar

Nitish Ducks Question Over Uniform Civil Code

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar evaded questions from reporters over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying “Bahut garmi hai” (the weather is too hot), adding that the matter will be discussed later.

He was speaking to reporters in Bihar’s Patna on Sunday.

“Bahut garmi hai…sab baat hoga baad mein, abhi bahut garmi hai (It’s too hot. Let us talk about all matters later),” Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said when a reporter asked him about Uniform Civil Code.

His remarks came days ahead of a meeting of top Opposition leaders scheduled to take place in Bihar’s Patna on June 23. Notably, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has called this meeting to stitch a grand alliance against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, JD(U), national president Lalan Singh said earlier.

Amid a raging debate on the need to introduce uniform laws for every citizen of the country, the Law Commission of India has solicited the views and ideas of the public and recognised religious organizations to examine the Uniform Civil Code, officials said on June 14.

A day after the Law Commission solicited the views and ideas of people and recognized religious organizations about the Uniform Civil Code, the Congress slammed the government over the move saying it represents the ruling BJP-led coalition’s “desperation for a legitimate justification of its continuing agenda of diversion from its glaring failures”.

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the 21st Law Commission after carrying out a detailed and comprehensive review observed that it is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage” to have a Uniform Civil Code.

He said the Law Commission has produced an enviable body of work over the decades on numerous issues of national importance.

“It should be mindful of that legacy and remember that the interests of the nation are distinct from the political ambitions of the BJP.”

A Law Ministry release said that the 22nd Law Commission of India is examining the Uniform Civil Code, a reference sent by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

It said since more than three years have lapsed from the date of issuance of the Consultation Paper, bearing in mind the relevance and importance of the subject and also the various court orders on the subject, the 22nd Law Commission of India considered it expedient to deliberate afresh over the subject.

As per the release, the Law Commission has given 30 days to the respondents to present their views on the UCC. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Kathmandu Adipurush Pokahara

After Kathmandu, Pokhara Bans All Indian Films Amid Adipurush Dialogue Row

Standing alongside Kathmandu Metropolis, the Pokhara Metropolitan City has also enforced a ban on the screening of Indian films following the ‘Adipurush’ dialogue controversy.

An announcement in this regard was made by Pokhara Mayor on Sunday, directing cinema halls in the Metropolitan city of central Nepal to stop screening of all Bollywood films starting from Monday morning.
Earlier on Sunday evening, Nepali capital Kathmandu’s Mayor Balendra Shah had enforced a ban on Indian films. Soon after the announcement, the Pokhara Mayor, Dhanraj Acharya, sent letters to three movie theatres directing them to stop the screening of all Indian films.

After the orders from the mayors of both Metropolitan cities, the cinema halls in both here have scrapped the screening of Hindi or Bollywood films from their schedule and replaced them with Hollywood and Nepali movies.

Kathmandu Mayor on Sunday evening took to Facebook and announced a ban on the screening of all Indian films by deploying the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police.

“Indian film Adipurush had a dialogue claiming Janaki was India’s daughter which is objectionable and we had given three days’ ultimatum to correct it. There is no doubt that it is the first duty of every government, government agency, non-governmental sector and Nepali citizen to protect the national interest by keeping Nepal’s freedom, independence and self-respect intact,” the Kathmandu mayor stated in the Facebook post.

The mayor further claimed it is the duty of all the government authorities to protect the national interest and stated the screening of films will damage the national identity, nationality and cultural unity.

“If the film is shown as it is, it seems that Nepal’s nationality, cultural unity and national identity will be severely damaged and irreparable damage will be done. Due to cultural encroachment on Nepal from that movie, this metropolitan city has attracted serious attention,” the mayor stated.

Shah stated that the film is against the national interest and announced a ban on the screening of all Indian films in Kathmandu starting Monday morning. “If the film is allowed to be shown in other areas within the country and abroad, it will establish a misleading fact, so it is prohibited to show any Indian film in the Kathmandu metropolitan city until the objectionable parts are removed from the said film,” he said.

As per the mayor’s secretariat, the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police has been deployed on Sunday evening and relayed the message to ban the screening of Indian films from Monday morning. The Kathmandu Metropolitan has 17 film theatres, as per the record of the metropolis.

Soon after the announcement of the ban on screening in the Nepali capital, the ‘T-Series’ the production company of ‘Adipurush’ has written to Nepali Mayor stating it was “never intentional or deliberate to cause any disharmony for anyone,”

Defending the disputed dialogue, the company also claimed that it wanted to show respect towards women quoting the dialogue which was objected to by the Nepali mayor in particular.

“We request you to view the film in its artistic form and support the intention of reaching out to a larger audience to create interest in our history,” the letter signed by Radhika Das from the Super Cassette Industries Private Ltd also known as T-Series concludes.

The Hindi film Adipurush released all across the globe on Friday contains a dialogue that states ‘Janaki is a daughter of India’. The dialogue, however, has been removed in Nepal after the censor board of Nepal objected to it and delayed its release for Friday.

The film company had silenced the dialogue after which it received permission to screen in the theatres of Nepal. However, Friday’s morning show didn’t go as planned due to a delay in the circulation of the film and fear of vandalism.

Balendra Shah, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor earlier on Friday wrote a letter to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology requesting to stop the screening of Indian films in Nepal unless an objectionable dialogue from a recently-released movie is omitted.

Shah also sent the same copy to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Film Development Board urging the government to take diplomatic initiatives with India to remove the dialogue.

Mentioning that Article 5 and Article 56 (6) of the Constitution have assigned the responsibility to federal, provincial and local governments for the protection of national interest, Shah has said the metropolis was concerned due to cultural encroachment by the movie.

Mayor Shah on Thursday also warned that no Hindi films will be allowed to run in Kathmandu Metropolitan City until the controversial wording is removed not just in Nepal but also in India. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Rishi Sunak

Sunak Shares ‘Barfi’ Made By His Mom With Ukraine Prez

A video showing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offering an Indian sweet (barfi) to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has gone viral on social media.

The video, which was first shared by Rishi Sunak, the first Indian-origin British PM, on his official Instagram handle, shows him offering Indian sweet (barfi) made by his mother to Ukraine President Zelenskyy.

“It’s not every day that @zelenskiy_official tries your mum’s, homemade sweets,” Sunak captioned the video.

In the heartwarming video, shared a day ago, Sunak recalled the incident when he shared Barfi with Zelenskyy, which his mother had made.

“My mum had got some Indian sweets that she wanted to give me that she’d made, called barfi. I saw President Zelenskyy on the Monday after that and he and I were chatting and he was hungry. So I actually gave him some of my mum’s barfi which she was very happy to see. She was thrilled by that,” the UK PM is heard saying in the video.

The video has received positive reactions from users.

“Oh boy, no matter who u r PM or ordinary man, u don’t go without ur Mum’s home made Barfi. It’s mother’s love,” said a user.

Another user, who goes by name, Shabnam Russo, wrote, “This is the cutest we can all relate to mum’s barfi.”

“Indian parents are not less than god. Blessed by Indian culture,” another Instagrammer commented.

Notably, President Zelenskyy recently visited Britain during his European tour, which was aimed at securing new weapons for a counteroffensive against Russia. It was Zelenskyy’s second trip to the UK since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

“We’re thankful from all our hearts, from Ukrainians, from our soldiers, we are thankful. And this is a privilege to be here,” Zelenskyy told Sunak.

Sunak, whose parents came to the UK from East Africa in the 1960s, is of Indian descent. His father was a local doctor while his mother ran a pharmacy in southern England, something Sunak says gave him his desire to serve the public.

Ever since the Ukraine-Russia conflict began, UK PM Sunak has continued extending support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Notably, the UK has been offering military assistance to Ukraine ever since the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow started in February last year.

His wife is Akshata Murthy, the daughter of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy.

UK PM Sunak’s mother-in-law, Sudha Murty, in a video shared recently, said that her daughter, Akshata Murty, “made her husband a Prime Minister.”

Rishi Sunak’s quick ascension to power has been highlighted before but his mother-in-law claims it was her daughter who made that possible. His mother-in-law, Sudha Murty, has claimed in a video circulating online that because of her daughter, Rishi Sunak became the youngest prime minister of the UK.

Sudha could be heard saying: “I made my husband a businessman. My daughter made her husband Prime Minister of the UK.”

“The reason is the glory of the wife. See how a wife can change a husband. But I could not change my husband. I made my husband a businessman, and my daughter made her husband a Prime Minister,” she said. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

RK Puram Murder Case

Delhi: Two More Apprehended In RK Puram Double Murder

In the heinous murder case of two sisters in RK Puram, two more accused persons have been apprehended, informed Delhi Police on Monday.

They have been identified as Kishan Chaudhary (27) and Ganesh Swamy (39).
Overall 5 persons have been nabbed till now in the murder case of two sisters. Earlier, Arjun, Mickel and Dev were arrested in this case.

Delhi Police tweeted, “2 women shot dead in Delhi. 2 more accused, 27-year-old Kishan and 39 year old Ganesh Swamy apprehended. Total 5 nabbed so far in connection with the case. 2 sisters, namely Pinky and Jyoti were shot dead yesterday in RK Puram area by a few assailants over a money settlement issue.”

Earlier mortal remains of two sisters who were allegedly shot dead in a suspected money settlement case in Delhi’s Ambedkar Basti area early on Sunday morning were brought to their residence. The deceased women identified as Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29) were rushed to SJ Hospital but the duo succumbed to injuries, as per police.

According to police, more than two dozen of men reached at victim’s residence in Ambedkar Basti during the early morning hours of Sunday, the assailants were looking for the victim’s brother named Lalit. Lalit managed to escape and angered by this, the assailants allegedly deliberately shot both his sisters. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Delhi Rain

Light Rain In Parts Of Delhi, Brings Relief From Scorching Heat

Parts of the national capital received light rainfall on Monday morning, bringing respite from the scorching heat.

The IMD predicted mostly cloudy skies with the possibility of very light rain and drizzle in Delhi for Monday (June 19).

Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) on Saturday predicted thunderstorms with light-intensity rain in Delhi-NCR.

“Thunderstorm with light intensity rain NCR ( Manesar) Farukhnagar, Kosali, Sohana, Rewari, Bawal, Nuh (Haryana) Nandgaon, Barsana, Jalesar, Sadabad (U.P.) Bhiwari, Tizara, Khairthal, Deeg (Rajasthan),” RWFC tweeted.

RWFC provides weather forecasts for North-West India along with Delhi-NCR regions.

Meanwhile, the remnant of the cyclonic storm Biparjoy which created a depression over central parts of East Rajasthan is likely to move nearly east-northeastwards and maintain its intensity of depression during the next 12 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Earlier on Sunday, heavy rain lashed parts of Rajasthan’s Barmer district under the influence of cyclonic storm Biparjoy. Severe waterlogging and a flood-like situation were seen at various places.

“The Depression (Remnant of CS BIPARJOY) over central parts of East Rajasthan lay at 23:30 IST of 18th June about 60 km west-northwest of Tonk, 60 km east-southeast of Ajmer. Likely to move nearly east-northeastwards and maintain its intensity of Depression during next 12 hrs,” tweeted IMD.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Saturday said that as cyclone Biparjoy has weakened into a deep depression and is moving in the East-North East direction, heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places over South Rajasthan and adjoining areas of North Gujarat.

He further said that it is raining only in Gujarat and Rajasthan due to the cyclone.

“Cyclone Biparjoy weakened into a deep depression. It is moving in the East-North East direction. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at one or two places over South Rajasthan and adjoining areas of North Gujarat. Due to the cyclone, it is raining only in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Monsoon has nothing to do with this cyclone,” Mohapatra said while talking to ANI.

The cyclone Biparjoy weakened into a ‘Deep Depression’ on June 16 over Southeast Pakistan adjoining Southwest Rajasthan and Kutch, about 100 km northeast of Dholavira and moved to Rajasthan following its landfall in Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

It is further expected to weaken into a ‘Depression’ in the next 12 hours, the weather department said. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Washington Unity march

Indian-Americans Hold Unity March In Washington Ahead Of Modi’s Visit

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the United States this week, Indian Americans in Washington held the Unity march to extend a warm welcome to the PM.
PM Modi is set to visit the US from June 20-24, his first state trip to the country, at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US president and the First Lady will also host PM Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will address the Joint Sitting of the US Congress and meet a number of American politicians, prominent citizens, and noted personalities from the diaspora.

Indian Americans have organised the march in 20 major cities across the United States including New York. The community were seen chanting “Modi Modi”, “Vande Mataram” and “Vande America.”

Indian-American diaspora, Ramesh Anam Reddy, who was one of the participants in the unity march, said, “We are all here, the Indian diaspora in Washington DC, Maryland and all the surrounding cities, we are all here to celebrate the ‘Unity Day’ and the PM Modi joining American president Biden. So, this is a great event for all of us and a great moment for all of us.”

“We wanted to celebrate that and wanted to make sure that everyone knows how the India and America relationships are growing and how they are helpful. I think India is making all the difference. That’s the reason we are here. So many people are coming here and they want to sympathize and they wanted to even the mainstream Americans, they want to join the unity march. That’s what we are here for.”

Talking about the footprints in the unity march, Reddy said that there are at least 20 plus cities that are joining this unity march. In Washington, DC only, around 702,000 people are expected to join the march.

At the rally, the participants were seen dancing to the tunes of the song “Har Har Modi.”

Meanwhile, another Indian American, Raj Bhansali, said, “I am here to support Prime Minister Modi. It feels great to be able to engage with our Indian community. It is a very proud moment for all of us that PM Modi will be visiting the United States.”

Earlier on Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised that PM Modi’s state visit to the US will yield significant outcomes. Speaking to reporters, he highlighted that this visit will mark the first time an Indian Prime Minister addresses the US Congress twice.

Minister Jaishankar stressed the significance of PM Modi’s address to the US Congress, noting that very few individuals have had this privilege. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, he said, “PM will be on a state visit to the US. State visit means it is the highest level in terms of honour. Only a few people have been given this honour. It is happening for the first time that an Indian PM will address the US Congress for the second time. That’s why its importance is huge.” (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com