Month: July 2025

Alia Bhatt has reacted to the first look of Ranbir Kapoor’s starrer Ramayana.

The film stars Ranbir as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana.

The ‘Raazi’ actor took to her Instagram account to post the teaser along with a caption that read, “Some things don’t need words. This feels like the start of something unforgettable. Diwali 2026 — we’re waiting.”

Filmmaker Karan Johar too took to his Instagram Stories to share his reaction. Calling it a “mega blockbuster”, Johar wrote, “UNREAL! Congratulations to the entire team — it is looking phenomenal and I cannot wait for the world to witness this magic!”

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The teaser was released on Thursday and has received a strong response from fans. Many were impressed by the visuals and the background score. The film’s music is composed by two legends — AR Rahman and Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer.

Fans were too quick to respond to the collaboration. A user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “#Ramayana glimpse was too good. Hans Zimmer cooked so hard. Ranbir Kapoor is the greatest acting choice ever.”

Zimmer is best known for his work in Interstellar, Dune, and The Lion King, and has won two Academy Awards. His collaboration with AR Rahman has raised high expectations for the film’s music.

The makers have opted for a full-fledged theatrical experience designed for IMAX, promising immersive action sequences choreographed by Hollywood’s top stunt professionals, including Terry Notary (‘Avengers’, ‘Planet of the Apes’) and Guy Norris (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’).

Set 5,000 years ago, ‘Ramayana’ draws from ancient Indian mythology to present a cosmic battle between light and darkness.While the story is rooted in Indian spiritual tradition, its execution is global, featuring music by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, and production design by teams behind films such as ‘Dune’, ‘Tomorrowland’, and ‘Captain America’.

Producer Namit Malhotra described the film as “a cultural movement,” adding that the intent is to introduce India’s epic to global audiences through cutting-edge cinematic tools.

During a teaser unveiling event, Namit said, “I still can’t believe that we are actually seeing it and sharing it with all of you. It has been a very, very long dream that we have been collaborating to put our heart, soul, life into this, so that we can do justice to this epic.”

He added, “My only aspiration is with pride, how do we take our greatest culture, our greatest part of our history and share it with the world. We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that we deliver the very, very best that anybody in the world can try.”

Part 1 of ‘Ramayana’ is slated to release in Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in Diwali 2027. (ANI)

Actor Parag Tyagi is reeling from the loss of his wife, Shefali Jariwala.

A few days after the passing of Shefali, best known for her presence in the iconic song ‘Kaanta Laga’, Parag penned an emotional note on Thursday, remembering his beloved wife.

In his note, he described Shefali as “sab ki maa”, who always put others first, offering comfort and warmth through her presence.

Calling Shefali his “Pari”, Parag on Instagram wrote, “Shefali, Meri Pari — the ever-eternal Kaanta Laga — was so much more than what met the eye. She was fire wrapped in grace — sharp, focused, and fiercely driven. A woman who lived with intention, nurturing her career, her mind, her body, and her soul with quiet strength and unwavering determination. But beyond all her titles and achievements, Shefali was love in its most selfless form. She was sab ki maa — always putting others first, offering comfort and warmth simply through her presence. A generous daughter.A devoted and affectionate wife and a wonderful mom to Simba. A protective and guiding sister n maasi.A fiercely loyal friend who stood by those she loved with courage and compassion.”

He urged all to remember Shefali with love always.

“In the chaos of grief, it’s easy to be swept away by noise and speculation. But Shefali deserves to be remembered by her light. By the way she made people feel. By the joy she sparked. By the lives she lifted. I’m starting this thread with a simple prayer: May this space be filled only with love. With memories that bring healing. With stories that keep her spirit alive. Let that be her legacy — a soul so radiant, she will never, ever be forgotten. Love you till eternity,” Parag concluded.

Shefali left for her heavenly abode on June 27. She was 42.

Last Friday, she was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by Parag, reportedly after suffering a cardiac arrest. However, she was declared dead on arrival.

The Mumbai Police sent her body for a post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. After the autopsy, police officials revealed that the cause of death had been ‘reserved’.

A prayer meet in memory of the 42-year-old star was held in Mumbai on July 2. It was attended by her family members and close friends. (ANI)

The first look of Aamir Khan from the upcoming film starring superstar Rajinikanth, ‘Coolie,’ has finally been unveiled, leaving fans excited to see the actor in a bold avatar as ‘Dahaa.’

The poster was shared by the makers on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, and it quickly became a hot topic online.

In the black-and-white poster, Aamir can be seen in side profile, wearing round glasses and a black vest while smoking a pipe. The actor’s rugged and intense look is very different from his recent roles, which has added to the excitement for the film.

Along with the poster, the makers added a caption that read, “Introducing #AamirKhan as Dahaa, from the world of #Coolie. #Coolie is all set to dominate IMAX screens worldwide from August 14th.”

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Introducing #AamirKhan as Dahaa, from the world of #Coolie 😎⚡#Coolie is all set to dominate IMAX screens worldwide from August 14th 🔥@rajinikanth @Dir_Lokesh @anirudhofficial @iamnagarjuna @nimmaupendra #SathyaRaj #SoubinShahir @shrutihaasan @anbariv @girishganges… pic.twitter.com/Z8pI5YJzRe

— Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) July 3, 2025

Soon after the poster was released, fans chimed in the comment section to share their excitement.

One fan wrote, “Finally it’s out, gonna be a hell of a banger clash on screen.” A second user added, “Cannot wait to watch #AamirKhan in a #LokeshKanagaraj movie.” “Fireeeeeuuuuu update.. momentum building up for #CoolieThePowerhouse ..,” commented a third user.

This film marks a special reunion between Aamir Khan and Rajinikanth after nearly 30 years. The duo last worked together in the 1995 film ‘Aatank Hi Aatank,’ which also starred Juhi Chawla and Om Puri.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie is a Tamil-language action thriller starring superstar Rajinikanth. This is also the first collaboration between the ‘Leo’ director and the actor. The cast also includes Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Soubin Shahir, and Upendra.

Coolie is set to hit theatres on August 14, later this year.

Aamir Khan, who recently made a comeback with ‘Sitaare Zameen Par,’ is being praised for his role in the film. It is a sequel to the blockbuster movie Taare Zameen Par. In the sports drama, Aamir plays the role of a basketball coach who is tasked with training a group of neurodivergent children. The film, directed by Prasanna, hit theatres on June 20. (ANI)

The Congress Party on Thursday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) for being “unabashedly partisan” by acting like the middleman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to a release, the party charged that the Special Intensive Review of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the elections was aimed at disenfranchising about two crore voters who may not be able to furnish the documents the Commission is seeking.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here today, senior party leaders including Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar and the AICC in-charge for Bihar Krishna Allavaru stated that the role of the Commission had come under strong suspicion and any shred of credibility that had been left has also gone away.

Pawan Khera observed that the ‘SIR’ was a clear conspiracy to disenfranchise the Bihar voters and deny them their basic right to vote. He noted that the ECI was acting like the puppet of the BJP government.

Khera took strong exception to the way the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, dealt with a delegation of eleven parties belonging to the INDIA bloc. He told the CEC that he should leave a better legacy for the future lest his name be dumped in the dustbin of history.

“The way ECI is being run poses a serious threat to democracy – not just against the Opposition, but against each and every voter”, the senior Congress leader warned, while pointing out that the Constitution defines everybody’s limits, and no one, including the Commission, should try to breach those limits, as per the release.

“With all humility at my command, I warn the ECI that governments come and go. Why are you being so servile to them? It would be better if you followed the Constitution”, he told the Commission, while remarking, “so many ‘shahs’ and ‘shahanshahs’ came and went away”.

He also took a dig at the CEC for feeding the media with his WhatsApp messages, trying to plant stories attributed to ‘sources’.

Suspecting the motive and intention of the ECI behind this exercise, Bihar PCC president Rajesh Kumar observed that it was a clear attempt to snatch away the basic voting right of the Bihar voters.

He pointed out that there will be practical difficulties in carrying out the Special Intensive Review of the electoral rolls in just one month, as the government does not have adequate resources, particularly the manpower to do that.

He noted that the CEC had said that the Commission expects around 20 per cent of voters in Bihar to be disenfranchised. He said, it’s the poor and marginalised people who will be most affected by this exercise, as they are unlikely to be able to furnish the required documents, particularly their own and their parents’ birth certificates.

Bihar PCC president pointed out that while the government has been accepting the ‘Aadhaar’ card as proof of identity for almost everything and everywhere, it is beyond comprehension why it is not being accepted for electoral purposes.

The Bihar Congress president said that the immediate reason for the exercise to disenfranchise about two crore voters was the growing popularity of the Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, in Bihar. He disclosed that a survey had been carried out, which showed that the Congress party enjoyed significant popularity. This, he said, unnerved the BJP, and it launched this exercise to disenfranchise the voters in Bihar.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishna Allavaru said that the Special Intensive Review of the electoral rolls was yet another “arbitrary decision” of the Modi government being imposed on people.

“First it was the demonetisation, then the GST, followed by an unannounced lockdown, the acceptance of a ceasefire when our defence forces had an upper hand over Pakistan, and now this was the fifth arbitrary decision to carry out an exercise of such a magnitude within a month in Bihar,” Allavaru said, as per the release.

Allavaru challenged the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and all three Election Commissioners to present a single example anywhere in the world of such a humongous exercise of reviewing eight crore voters within just one month.

He pointed out that the voters among these eight crores had cast their votes just a year ago in the General Election. He asked, ‘What has changed within a year that the Election Commission has decided to conduct a Special Intensive Revision arbitrarily, requiring people to furnish documents within just one month?’

The senior Congress leader asked why the Election Commission has refused to acknowledge the most conveniently available and widely accepted proofs of identity like the Aadhaar card, voter ID, ration card, job card or the driving licence.

“The poor people of Bihar, the youth and the marginalised sections will be made to suffer by being asked to produce their birth certificates as well as those of their parents”, he noted, while asking, “Is this a joke?” (ANI)

After Mumbai Police told Bombay High Court of “no foul play” in the Disha Salian death case, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday said that some people were trying to defame him for five years over this issue.

“Some people have been trying to defame me for 5 years… I did not say anything back then and won’t say now as well because why talk on a topic which is not related to me,” Thackeray told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar advised Aaditya Thackeray to stay away from “filmy people” amid the fresh chaos over the death of Disha Salian. He added that the doubts in the case arose when it was discovered that CCTV footage was missing.

“We have not accused anyone involved in the investigation. However, one issue is that when CCTV footage is missing, doubts arise, so it is essential to ensure that the footage is available. One should always have a clean image in politics… He (Aaditya Thackeray) should also realise that he needs to stay away from these filmy people. He got defamed because of them,” Kesarkar told ANI.

This comes after the Mumbai Police told the Bombay High Court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) findings in the Disha Salian death case were consistent with the conclusions drawn by the original investigating officer. The statement suggested that there were no major contradictions between the SIT’s findings and the previous probe, which had ruled out foul play in the 2020 death of the 28-year-old celebrity manager.

As this happened, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut demanded a public apology from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP leaders, and Eknath Shinde after a Mumbai Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) ruled out foul play in the death of Disha Salian.

Speaking to mediapersions, Raut said, “Now, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis should apologise (to Aaditya Thackeray). Narayan Rane’s son Nitish Rane, Devendra Fadnavis, other BJP leaders, Eknath Shinde, all of them should apologise to Shiv Sena (UBT) and Aaditya Thackeray…”

NCP (SCP) leader Rohit Pawar also lambasted the BJP for attempting to associate Aaditya Thackeray.

“Aaditya Thackeray had no relation to this incident. The BJP and its allies attempted to take political advantage by associating Disha Salian’s name with Aaditya Thackeray… For political gain, these leaders tried to use the name of a person who is no more,” NCP-SCP leader Rohit Pawar told ANI.

Disha Salian was found dead on June 8, 2020, after she allegedly jumped off the 14th floor of a building in the Jankalyan area of Mumbai’s Malad area. (ANI)

Merely two days after its rollout, the Delhi government has put its End-of-Life (EOL) vehicle impounding on hold, which involved a ban on providing fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.

Amid the backlash from opposition and public outcry, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that the city will not impound old vehicles for now and formally wrote to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to suspend the policy.

In a letter to the Commission, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa wrote that the implementation of this direction, which came into effect July 1, 2025, has revealed “certain issues” that must be addressed before they are fully implemented.

At a press conference, Sirsa raised concerns over the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, saying they are not functioning properly.

He pointed out issues like technical glitches, non-working sensors, and the failure to identify High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) plates.

He also noted that the system has not been integrated with NCR data and has not been implemented in cities like Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.

“We have informed them that the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that were installed are not a robust system, and there are still many challenges with them. Technical glitches, non-working sensors, and malfunctioning speakers, all these challenges are there. It has not been integrated with the NCR data yet. It is not able to identify HSRP plates. We also said that such a law has not been implemented in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad and the rest of NCR till now,” Sirsa said.

Just a day earlier, only 80 end-of-life vehicles were impounded on the first day of Delhi’s newly enforced fuel ban targeting old vehicles. Officials attributed the low number to fewer vehicles showing up at fuel stations.

According to official records, Delhi has around 60.14 lakh deregistered End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles, with a significant number still in active use.

Data from the VAHAN database shows the city has over 62 lakh EoL vehicles, including 41 lakh two-wheelers and 18 lakh four-wheelers. This means nearly 62 lakh vehicles would have been affected by the rule.

Sirsa said that the Delhi government is committed to cleaning the environment without confiscating vehicles to be confiscated.

He also proposed that the vehicle ban should focus on pollution levels rather than just age, and suggested implementing the system across the entire NCR before applying it to Delhi.

“We will clean the environment of Delhi and will not allow the vehicles of Delhi to be confiscated. This is the resolution of our Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta ji, towards the people of Delhi, this is her promise to the people of Delhi… It will be better if this system is implemented in the entire NCR and then it is implemented in Delhi. We are also looking for a solution that the vehicles should not be banned on the basis of age, but should be banned considering their pollution capacity,” Sirsa said.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notified the Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025, on January 6, 2025, to ensure the environmentally safe management of end-of-life vehicles.

Due to the continuous decline in Delhi’s air quality, the government implemented the End-of-Life vehicle impounding policy to curb pollution.

However, following a strong public outcry and concerns over its impact on vehicle owners, the government decided to put the policy on hold just two days after its rollout. (ANI)

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday congratulated Punjab MLA Sanjeev Arora for being inducted into the Bhagwant Mann-led state cabinet.

The AAP MLA became a state minister after he won the Ludhiana West assembly bypolls. He was previously a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab.

“Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Sanjeev Arora ji for the new responsibility as a Cabinet Minister of Punjab. We are confident that during your tenure, you will live up to the expectations of Punjab’s 30 million citizens and work with complete honesty, dedication, and commitment for the development of Punjab,” Kejriwal said in a post on X.

पंजाब के कैबिनेट मंत्री के रूप में नई ज़िम्मेदारी के लिए श्री संजीव अरोड़ा जी को हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएँ। हमें विश्वास है कि आप अपने कार्यकाल में पंजाब के 3 करोड़ नागरिकों की उम्मीदों पर खरे उतरेंगे और पंजाब के विकास के लिए पूरी ईमानदारी, निष्ठा और प्रतिबद्धता के साथ काम… https://t.co/2RPeFfCNLz

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 3, 2025

Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also congratulated Arora on being sworn in as a minister.

“I hope that Sanjeev Arora Ji will live up to the expectations of the people of Punjab. He will work with complete honesty and without any bias for the development of Punjab and the welfare of 3 crore people of the state,” CM Mann said in his post.

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath to Arora earlier today at Raj Bhavan.

Earlier on Tuesday (July 2), the AAP leader resigned from Rajya Sabha, which was accepted by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar with immediate effect.

The Ludhiana (west) assembly seat fell vacant in January after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi. Congress had fielded former state minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had fielded Parupkar Singh Ghumman.

Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan administered Sanjeev Arora’s oath as MLA in Chandigarh earlier.

Arora won the Ludhiana West assembly seat by-election by a margin of 10,637 votes, garnering 35,179 votes in total. (ANI)

Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) have partnered with Heartfulness (led by Daaji – Guide of Heartfulness & President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission) to restore closed mine sites and promote sustainable livelihoods.

The partnership was formalized through two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed on July 3, 2025, at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the headquarters of Heartfulness, in Hyderabad.

The partnership aims to restore closed mine sites by creating a viable green cover, controlling hazardous gases, and replenishing soil layers. The initiative will focus on developing a sustainable ecosystem at mine closure sites, generating livelihoods for local communities in alignment with the RECLAIM initiative.

The Union Minister was joined by Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State of Coal and Mines, Senior Management, and Representatives of Coal India Ltd, SCCL, and Heartfulness.

The RECLAIM initiative, which is an acronym for – Reach out, Envision, Co-design, Localise, Act, Integrate and Maintain, intended for the Community Engagement and Development Framework for Mine Closure and Repurposing. It builds on field experience and global good practices including guidance from ICMM (2022), the Sustainable Development Goals, and IFC Performance Standards.

The MoUs will ensure that the regions that were once shaped by extraction become spaces for renewal, dignity, and opportunity. Since mine closures significantly impact both landscapes, there is a need to restore natural systems. An equal need to strengthen local institutions and enable sustainable livelihoods is felt.

The RECLAIM framework is a key step toward as a structured guide for inclusive community engagement and development throughout the mine closure and post-closure phases. It offers a practical, step-by-step approach to institutionalizing community participation in the transition process.

G Kishan Reddy said, “We are committed to restoring the closed mine sites, as it is time for us to give back to nature. The Govt. Mandate mine closures in the most scientific and sustainable way and replenish the mining sites with economic and environmental value across the country. Heartfulness’s meticulousness in creating a sustainable ecosystem is evident at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the Heartfulness headquarters. By joining hands with them, we will do all we can for restoration, repurposing, long-term socio-economic growth by generating livelihoods.”

“It is an opportune moment for Heartfulness to give life to the closed mining sites. Since the extraction depletes the site of nature’s bounty, we should feel the responsibility in giving back in the best of our ability not only in terms of creating a viable ecosystem but also help create sustainable livelihoods in such regions across the country,” added Rev Daaji – Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission.

The framework is supported by a suite of actionable tools, templates, and field-tested methodologies tailored to the Indian context. Special emphasis is placed on gender inclusivity, the representation of vulnerable groups, and alignment with Panchayati Raj Institutions, ensuring that the transition is equitable and locally relevant. (ANI)

Keeping the door open for diplomacy, Iran has stated that any negotiation process with the United States is meaningless unless Washington provides a credible guarantee to prevent future acts of aggression by Israel and the US.

In an email interview with ANI, Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Iraj Elahi emphasised Tehran’s conditions for resuming dialogue with Washington.

“As for negotiations with the United States, considering their betrayal of diplomacy and complicity with the Zionist regime in launching illegal attacks on Iran — while a diplomatic process was still ongoing — there will be no meaning or value in any talks unless a credible guarantee is provided to prevent the recurrence of such acts of aggression by the US and Israel in future negotiations,” he said.

The ambassador was referring to two major military operations carried out last month.

On June 13, Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion”, conducting widespread airstrikes on Iranian soil targeting nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow, missile production centres, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command bases. Several top IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists were reportedly assassinated during the operation.

This was followed by US strikes on June 21-22 under “Operation Midnight Hammer”, which also targeted Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

Iran has strongly condemned both operations, calling them a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

“The Israeli regime, which possesses nuclear weapons and has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), attacked our country under the pretext of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. There is no evidence of such intentions, and our nuclear program is under the strictest IAEA inspections,” Elahi stated.

He further added that the US attacks lacked any legal justification and described them as “a crime of aggression.”

He also claimed that the operations involved cyber and terrorist elements, resulting in the deaths of several scientists, professors, military figures, and innocent civilians.

“These attacks represent an unprecedented and flagrant violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, the non-proliferation regime, resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors, and UN Security Council Resolution 2231,” Elahi said.

The envoy also accused the US and Israel of undermining diplomacy. “The Zionist regime’s attacks, in collusion with the US, occurred just two days before the sixth round of Iran-U.S. negotiations. It was a betrayal of diplomacy and a clear indication of America’s lack of seriousness in dialogue.”

Dismissing Israel’s justification of the attack as a preemptive act to neutralise an existential threat, Elahi asserted, “This claim is entirely baseless and has no foundation in international law. Iran has never attacked any country in its history. Even though we do not recognise Israel and view it as an occupying and apartheid regime, our position on the Palestinian issue is peaceful — a referendum involving all original inhabitants.”

On the nuclear issue, the ambassador reiterated that Iran’s programme remains peaceful. “According to IAEA reports, Iran’s nuclear activities show no deviation toward weaponisation. The justification by Israel and the US for attacking peaceful facilities is both illegal and illogical.”

Responding to questions about Iran’s recent decision to limit cooperation with the IAEA, Elahi said Tehran remains a member of the NPT and is committed to its provisions. However, he blamed the Agency’s politicisation for the current situation.

“The Parliament’s decision to suspend cooperation reflects public dissatisfaction with the IAEA’s biased behaviour, especially its Director General’s silence on the attacks. The expectation was that he would either help prevent such aggression or at least condemn it — he did neither,” Elahi said.

While reiterating Iran’s willingness for diplomacy, the envoy stressed that meaningful negotiations are only possible if the US ensures there will be no repeat of such attacks in the future. (ANI)

In a landmark moment of India-Ghana ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Parliament of Ghana on Thursday and highlighted the “sweetness” of the relationship between the two countries, which he said was rooted in shared struggles.

“The histories of India and Ghana bear the scars of colonial rule, but our spirits have always remained free and fearless. We draw strength and inspiration from our rich heritage. We take pride in our social, cultural and linguistic diversities. We built nations rooted in freedom, unity and dignity. Our relationship knows no bounds,” PM Modi said.

“And with your permission, may I say, our friendship is sweeter than your famous sugarloaf pineapple,” Prime Minister Modi said.

He also highlighted the democratic political system of India.

“For us, democracy is not merely a system. It is a part of our fundamental values.”

The Prime Minister pointed out, “India has over 2,500 political parties,” and repeated it after seeing the reaction from members of the Ghanaian Parliament.

“I repeat, 2,500 political parties. 20 different parties governing different States. 22 official languages, thousands of dialect. This is also the reason that people who came to India have always been welcomed with open heart. The same spirit helps Indians integrate easily wherever they go. Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar into tea,” said PM Modi.

Praising the African country, PM Modi said, “Ghana is known as the land of gold, not just for what lies under your soil but as much for the warmth and strength in your heart.”

“When we look at Ghana, we see a nation that shines with courage, that rises above history, that meets every challenge with dignity and grace. Your commitment to democratic ideals and inclusive progress truly made Ghana a beacon of inspiration for the entire African continent,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi said that with President John Mahama, India and Ghana have decided to elevate ties to a comprehensive partnership.

“The world order created after the second world war is changing fast. The revolution in technology, the rise of the Global south and shifting demographics are contributing to its pace and scale. The challenges such as colonial rule that humanity has faced in the earlier centuries, still persist in different forms,” he said.

Listing out the new and complex crises faced by the world such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cyber security, PM Modi said that institutions created in the last century are struggling to respond.

He brought to attention India’s vision at the G20 during its 2023 presidency- one earth, one family, one future and underscored how India highlighted Africa’s place at the global high table and how the African Union became a permanent member of G20 during India’s presidency.

“The changing circumstances demand credible and effective reforms in global governance. Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We need more than slogans; we need action. That is why during India’s G-20 presidency, we worked with the vision ‘One earth, one family, one future’.” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that emphasis is put on Africa’s rightful place at the global high table.

“We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G-20 during our presidency. For India, our philosophy is humanity first,” he said adding a verse in Sanskrit that he translated as “May all be happy; may all be free from illness; may no one suffer in any way.”

This philosophy, said PM Modi embodied India’s approach to the world. “This guided our action during the COVID pandemic. We shared vaccines and medicines with over 150 countries including our friends in Ghana,” PM Modi said.

In his concluding remarks, PM Modi said, “India carries Africa in its heart” and gave a call for building a partnership.

“It is a matter of great pride and honour for me to be conferred with Ghana’s national award, The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, by the President. I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Mahama ji, the Government of Ghana and the people of Ghana. I humbly accept this honour on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians,” PM Modi said

Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s founding President and a revered leader of the African independence movement.

PM Modi said he dedicated the award to the youth of both countries.

“I dedicate this award to the aspirations of our youth, their bright future, our rich cultural diversity and traditions and the historic ties between India and Ghana,” he said.

The award was presented during PM Modi’s visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than 30 years. During his visit, PM Modi held talks with Ghana President Mahama and the two leaders agreed to elevate their relationship to a “Comprehensive Partnership.

“This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 30 years. The trip is expected to deepen the India-Ghana partnership and signal New Delhi’s continued engagement with Africa and the Global South. (ANI)