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Australia To Host Latest Edition Of 10-Day Malabar Exercise For First Time

By LokMarg 7th August 2023

The latest edition of the Malabar exercise is all set to commence in the Australian waters from August 11-21 that will see the participation of the United States, Japan, India and Australia.

Australia is also the host for this mega event which is being hosted there ‘for the first time’.

The ten-day exercise aims to deepen the interoperability between the key partners, Australia, India, Japan and the United States who are also members of the Quad or the Quadrilateral security dialogue.

The exercise is also designed to deepen the partnership for the Indo-Pacific, for shared aspiration, for a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific and it will be followed immediately afterwards by AUSINDEX, the bi-annual naval exercise between India and Australia.

The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992. Japan joined the Naval Exercises in 2015. Malabar 2020 saw the participation of the Australian Navy also.

Malabar exercise is a navy-led exercise that will witness the participation of the navies from all four countries. Two major Australian ships HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Choules will perform an entry into the Sydney Harbour. The vessels and the aircraft will then proceed out to an exercise area off the coast of New South Wales.

The Indian Navy will be represented by its multi-role stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri and indigenous destroyer INS Kolkata.

A destroyer from the United States will be seen along with a major surface vessel from Japan. There’s a large designated and gazetted exercise area which is referred to as the East Australian exercise area which will witness this high-voltage exercise. Though Malabar has four countries as participants, there are no plans or discussions on its expansion at the moment.

During his India visit in March this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his country will host Exercise Malabar. Albanese was received onboard INS Vikrant by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar with a Guard of Honour. The Australian PM said his visit reflected his government’s commitment to place India at the heart of Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Malabar exercise which represents one of the most complex naval activities that the four nations do together is also the capstone exercise that builds on a number of the bilateral excercises that the countries do with each other around the world.

China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the aim is to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, but this exercise is not directed at any country and hence isn’t a China exercise per se since it is not a military or the defence arm of the Quad.

Notably, the Indo Pacific region has been subject to significantly enhanced strategic competition. And all partners of this exercise are determined to see greater strategic equilibrium and their purpose is to make sure that there is some concrete action beyond the words and talks.

Even as Beijing alleges that the Quad is aimed at it, the grouping has maintained that it is not intended ‘against China’.

Earlier in March this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Quad is not a military grouping adding it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters.

“We are working on things that are really critical,” Blinken said at a panel discussion of the Quad Foreign Ministers themed ‘The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon’ in the national capital in March this year.

Australia and India have seen an exponential increase in defence cooperation. Exercising has been both more frequent, and complex and that is an aspiration that both countries are determined to see continue. Since, the United States and Japan will send only one warship each, its important to understand in which context Malabar has been scheduled this year, and the size of exercises and ships numbers shouldn’t equate with complexity the important thing here to understand is, what those ships and what those men and women inside those ships and aircraft are doing together.

Australian PM during his March visit earlier also noted that Last year, India and Australia conducted more exercises, operations and dialogues than ever before.

The strategic importance of the India-Australia partnership is increasing and there has never been a point in both countries’ histories where they have had such a strong strategic alignment, Albanese said. There has never been a busier or more productive time in the bilateral defence and security partnership and 2023 will be “busier than ever” in this area, he added.

During PM Modi’s visit to Australia in November 2014, both sides decided to extend defence cooperation to cover research, development and industry engagement and agreed to hold regular meetings at the level of the Defence Minister, conduct regular maritime exercises and convene regular service-to-service talks.

The fourth edition of AUSINDEX was held during between September 7 and 10, 2021 in Australia at Off Darwin. Navies of India, Australia, Japan and the USA also participated in Phase I of Exercise Malabar 2021, from August 26 to 29, 2021 off Guam and in Phase II in the Bay of Bengal from October 12 to 15, 2021.

India also participated as an Observer in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 in July 2021. India-Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2022 was held in Rajasthan from November 28-December 11, 2022 between Indian Army and the Australian Army, the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with the participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies.

Australia and India have also built links between their defence forces through regular personnel and training exchanges, such as short specialist courses and longer-term higher education positions. Every year, Australia sends officers to attend India’s premiere military educational institutions.

India also sends four officers to study in Australia annually. Inaugurated in 2023, General Rawat India – Australia Young Defence Officer Exchange Program offers the opportunity each year for fifteen young officers from across Army, Navy, and Air Force, to learn more about each other’s training, operational environments and culture.

In 2023, 15 young Australian Defence Officers travelled to India and in 2024 it is expected that 15 young Indian Armed Forces officers will travel to Australia, to study Australian Defence capability and culture. (ANI)

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21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A

21-Member Oppo Delegation To Land In Imphal For 2-day Manipur Visit

By LokMarg 29th July 2023

A 21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, is set to touch down at Imphal airport on Saturday for a two-visit to violence-hit Manipur.

The visit follows from a chorus from the Opposition members for a debate on the Manipur situation and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has resulted in repeated disruptions and adjournments in both Houses of Parliament.
The Northeast state has been racked by ehtnic violence, which broke out over a Manipur High Court order asking the state government to consider adding the Meitei community to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Amid the persistent violence, a video from May 4, when the clashes broke out, surfaced recently purportedly showing two women being paraded naked.

The viral video triggered a fierce war of words between the BJP-led Centre and the Opposition, both within the four walls of the Parliament and outside, over the prevailing state of affairs in the Northeast state.

Demanding that all scheduled businesses in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha be set aside for a discussion on Manipur, members of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) raised a ruckus, disrupting and stalling proceedings in both Houses.

The visit by the I.N.D.I.A delegation comes even as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a motion of no cofidence moved by the Opposition against the Centre over the Manipur situation.

The motion was tabled in the Lower House by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is part of the delegation visiting Manipur on Saturday.

Defending the motion against the Centre, Opposition leaders said it was aimed at eliciting a response from PM Modi over the Manipur situation in Parliament.

The 21-member Opposition delegation, from both Houses, includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.

Only Demand Is Peace With Justice: Manoj Jha

As per the schedule, the delegation, split into two teams, will reach the Imphal airport at 12 pm on Saturday and will leave for Churachandpur, the epicentre of the ethnic violence in the state. The delegation will likely hold a press conference at 8.30 pm later in the day.

The Opppsition members have been adamant on the demand for a discussion on Manipur and a statement from PM Modi on the prevailing state of affairs in the state since the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 20.

While the Treasury said it was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the Opposition insisted on a debate under adjournment motion.

Amid the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha over the Manipur issue, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday held a meeting with leaders of all Opposition parties to discuss the proceedings of the Upper House next week.

The BJP’s Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the Opposition should proper functioning of the House by way of dialogue, debate and discussion.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur during which he announced several steps to restore peace.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the state in June. (ANI)

India Will Cross LOC If: Rajnath Warns Pak

By LokMarg 26th July 2023

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said while the jawans of the Indian Army did not step across the Line of Control (LoC) during the Kargil conflict in 1999, they could have ventured inside enemy territory if they so wanted.

Addressing an event commemorating soliders, who laid down their lives on the line of duty, at the 24th Kargil Vijay Divas, on Wednesday, the Defence Minister said, “The honour and dignity of the nation are above everything else for us. And to save or restore our country’s honour and territorial integrity, we can go to any extent. The reason why our forces did not cross the LoC after emerging victors in ‘Ooeration Vijay’ on July 26 1999 is because we are a peace-loving country, which is rooted to its values and are committed to international laws.”
“We did not cross the LoC (during the Kargil conflict) but it does not mean if could not or cannot do so. We reserve the right to cross the LoC to defend our borders and will do so, if needed. Let there be no doubt about it,” he said.

He said the Kargil conflict was imposed on India.

“We did try to resolve all issues with Pakistan through diplomatic channels, but were backstabbed. Late Prime Minister Atal-Ji had made sincere efforts to address and resolve all issues, including Kashmir, by visiting Pakistan. However, as part of its nefarious designs, Pakistan sent its soldiers to capture some of our positions in Kargil. The enemy occupied vantage points and were strongly placed,” the minister said.

He said that Indian Army gave a befitting reply to Pakistani intruders during “Operation Vijay”, sending a message not only to the cross-border rival but the whole world, that when it comes to its national interests, the Indian army will not back down at any cost, Singh said.

“Even today, we are fully committed to safeguarding our national interests. It doesn’t matter who is in front of us. The public has reposed its faith in us and knows that the government will never compromise on the issue of national interest. Whether it is about Kargil or another incident, our army shown that wars are not fought with bombs and guns but on the courage of conviction and valour,” Singh said.

“Our government has given a free hand to the army to act however its wants to defend our borders and territorial integrity. Our army was always as powerful as it is today but the only thing lacking in previous years was political will. I want to assure you that the political will of the government has only become stronger in the last few years. The government stands firmly with our army,” he said. (ANI)

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India Developing Its Own 400 Km Class LRSAM Air Defence System

By LokMarg 26th July 2023

In what could be a major boost for self-reliance in the defence sector, India is indigenously developing a three-layered long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) defence system which would be able to strike down enemy aircraft and missiles at around 400 Km ranges.

The proposal for developing a three-layered long-range surface-to-air missile system is at an advanced stage in the Defence Ministry and is expected to be taken up for clearance soon, defence sources told ANI.
The over USD 2.5 billion project will help india to be part of an elite group of militaries with indigenous capabilities to shoot down enemy assets in the air from such ranges, they said.

The missile system will have three layers of surface-to-air missiles, which would allow it to hit targets at different ranges.

The surface-to-air missile system development work has been taking place as India worked with Israel to develop the medium-range surface-to-air missile system MRSAM which can hit aerial targets at 70 plus kms.

The Indian system, sources said, would be very capable and would certainly be in the class of the S-400 air defence system already acquired from Russia and deployed along the China and Pakistan border.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made significant success in terms of developing air defence weapons for both ground-based and warship-based systems.

After the LRSAM project was taken up by the DRDO, the Indian Navy changed the name of its indigenous LRSAM system to MRSAM.

The Army and the IAF already had named a similar indigenous system as MRSAM.

The Indian defence forces already have the S-400 air defence systems, which can hit targets at 400 Km maximum distance and also have the capability to take out targets at shorter ranges too.

The system is used by the Chinese military as well, which has deployed it along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The Chinese also have their indigenous air defence systems but they are less capable than the S-400.

Three squadrons of the S-400 have already arrived in India and operationalised but the delivery schedule of the remaining two units is unclear.

The project lead for the LRSAM project would be the Indian Air Force which is keen on promoting indigenisation in defence hardware. (ANI)

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India’s Rice Exports Ban To Fuel Volatility In Global Food Prices: IMF

By LokMarg 26th July 2023

IMF’s Chief Economist and Director, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, has said restrictions imposed by India on exports of certain varieties of rice are likely to exacerbate volatility on food prices in the rest of the world.

“And they (the ban on rice exports) can also lead to retaliatory measures. So, they are certainly something that we would encourage the removal of these type of export restrictions, because they can be harmful globally,” Gourinchas said in a press conference after it launched World Economic Outlook on Tuesday.
He was asked in the press conference on what would be the impact on the global inflation after India’s decision to restrict export of certain categories of rice.

Notably, India’s rice exports ban came soon after Russia’s announcement of pulling out from the United Nations and Turkey-brokered Black Sea grain deal.

The IMF chief economist noted that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was very instrumental in making sure that there would be ample grain supply to the world in the last year.

“And there are estimates of about 33 million tons of grain that were shipped from Ukraine to the rest of the world. And it helped keep price pressures on food and grain prices lower,” Gourinchas said.

“…now that this grain deal has been suspended, the same mechanics works in reverse, and it’s likely to put upward pressure on food prices,” he added.

Grains prices are estimated to rise 10-15 per cent, the IMF economist said.

The central government last Thursday amended the rice export norms putting the non-basmati white rice in “prohibited” category.

The export policy relating to non-basmati white rice (Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed: Other) was revised from “free” to “prohibited” and it came into force immediately.

However, export will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government.

West African country Benin is one of the major importers of non-basmati rice from India. Other destination countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Cote D’ Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon Somalia, Malaysia, Liberia, and UAE.

India in September 2022 banned the exports of broken rice and imposed a 20 percent duty on exports of non-Basmati rice, except for parboiled rice amid concerns about an estimated low production due to a fall in area under the paddy crop. It later lifted the ban in November. (ANI)

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IAF Asks Dassault To Integrate Indian Weapons On Rafale Fighter Jets

By LokMarg 23rd July 2023

In a step that could be a big success for ‘Make in India’ in defence and also open the global market for desi weapons, the Indian Air Force has asked French firm, Dassault Aviation, to integrate indigenous weapons like ‘Astra air’ to air missile on the Rafale combat aircraft.

The Rafale is used by many countries including India, France, Egypt, Qatar and many others along with Greece, Croatia, UAE and Indonesia, have placed orders for these planes.
“The IAF has asked the original equipment manufacturer Dassault Aviation to integrate Indian-made weapons like the Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) and the Astra air-to-air missile with the Rafale which has been in service with the IAF since 2020,” defence officials told ANI.

Along with these DRDO-developed missiles and bombs, the IAF also has plans of integrating multiple indigenously designed weapons by private sector firms including long-range glide bombs with the aircraft in the near future, they said.

Industry sources said that in view of the capability and the pricing of the Indian weapon systems, there could be a big market for them once they are integrated into the Rafale.

The Indian weapon systems are already integrated into the Su-30 MKI combat aircraft along with the indigenous LCA Tejas.

India operates 36 Rafale fighter jets and has already expressed intent to buy 26 Rafale marine aircraft which are to be used by its Navy.

The Indian Air Force top brass have been pushing for indigenous solutions for their war-fighting requirements to be self-reliant, especially in times of conflict.

A lot of weapon systems acquired by the force during the ongoing standoff with China have also been put on the indigenisation path.

The Astra air-to-air missiles are capable of striking targets up to the 100 Km range but very soon this will be extended to 160 KMs in the Astra Mark 2 while the further upgraded version would be one with a strike range of 300 Kms.

The SAAW can also hit targets at 100 Km plus range and its advanced versions are also being developed.

“The private sector companies have also developed missiles and bombs which can hit targets from long ranges and can be equipped on the Rafale,” the officials said. (ANI)

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Putin Not To Attend BRICS Summit To Be Held In SA

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS nations summit to be held in South Africa, announced the office of the South African President.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed South Africa’s readiness to host the historic 15th Summit of BRICS nations- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in August.
It will be the first summit hosted in person since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions. The Summit will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

The BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will attend the first BRICS Summit to be hosted in person since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions.

The Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, as per the Presidency’s press statement.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Wednesday, “By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.”

President Ramaphosa has in recent months and weeks held a number of consultations on the hosting of the Summit. The President’s most recent consultation in this regard took place last night, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at the BRICS Political Party Dialogue in Gauteng.

In due course, a comprehensive statement on the substantive issues to be covered at the Summit and other related foreign policy matters will be issued.

President Ramaphosa is confident that the Summit will be a success and calls on the nation to extend the necessary hospitality to the many delegates who will arrive from various parts of the continent and the globe.

“President Ramaphosa has in recent months and weeks held a number of consultations on the hosting of the summit. The president’s most recent consultation in this regard took place last night, Tuesday, July 18, at the BRICS political party dialogue in Gauteng.

“The summit will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. In due course, a comprehensive statement on the substantive issues to be covered at the summit and other related foreign policy matters will be issued.

“President Ramaphosa is confident the summit will be a success and calls on the nation to extend hospitality to the many delegates who will arrive from various parts of the continent and the globe,” as per the South African Presidency.

Earlier, the South African government granted diplomatic immunity to all international participants, including Russian President Vladamir Putin and other Russian officials, at BRICS-related events to be held in the country, as per local media.

“Immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage, and, in respect of words spoken or written and all acts done by them in their capacity as representatives, immunity from legal process of every kind,” the document reads.

A warrant for Putin’s arrest was issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague in March, and since South Africa is a member of the formation, it is obliged to arrest Putin when he is in the country.

Despite this, South Africa, as the current chair of the BRICS alliance, has officially invited Putin to the summit in August. (ANI)

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India Came Out Of Pandemic Relatively Stronger: Ajay Banga

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

India has come out of the pandemic relatively stronger, said World Bank chief Ajay Banga, who is currently in India, and noted maintaining the momentum in economy will be the best way to tackle poverty and buoy growth.

Indian-American Banga, who began his five-year term as World Bank Group President on June 2, 2023, visited a skill centre facility here in Dwarka, where he interacted with students enrolled in various skill development programs.
The executive directors of the World Bank selected Banga as the 14th President of the Bank for a five-year term in May this year.

“I think India has had an advantage over tackling poverty as its economy has been growing, India had a year or two of challenges during the pandemic, but India has come out of it relatively strong…The best way to tackle poverty is growth in jobs,” said Banga here in the national capital on being asked to comment on a Niti Aayog report which showed 13.5 crore Indians escaping poverty in past five years.

The Niti Aayog report titled ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023’ was released on Monday. The report stated as many as 13.5 crore individuals in India moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

Banga further said the gains made on poverty over the last three to four decades the world over took a little hit due to the pandemic and climate change, and higher debt in some countries.

“The best way to drive a nail in the coffin of poverty is growth. And jobs every other way, is you have to provide skilling for those jobs. You have to provide education for those jobs. You have to provide health care for people grow up,” Banga said.

India, he noted, is focused on both growth and jobs.

“So I’m actually more optimistic today with all the infrastructure investment that has been going on with all the investment with digital and physical infrastructure (here in India),” he said. (ANI)

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India Is At The Right Place And Time: Nita

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

India is at the right place and time and its rich culture is attracting people around the globe, according to Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani.
Speaking to ANI in New York, where her Foundation has supported an art exhibit “The Tree and the Serpent” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art she said, “This is our fourth exhibit at the MET (museum). We started in 2016 with Nasreen Mohamedi and also at NMACC (Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre) we have the vision of bringing best of the world to India. So I am kind of delighted to be here and be a part of this large exhibit.”

The exhibit “The Tree and the Serpent” is a piece of Buddhist art from the period 2nd century BC to 4AD.

“So I am really excited to be here. India is the cradle of Buddhism and Buddhism is intertwined with Indian ethos.”

She said her Foundation is also looking at collaborating with various museums of the world and to bring art to India.

“In last three months after we opened (the NMACC), we saw footfalls of 5,000 to 6,000 a day. Just for two exhibits we had over one and a half lakh people coming. India is at the right place and time now. So much of Indian culture is interesting people around the globe,” she said.

India’s first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, was opened around three months ago, aiming to showcase the best of India across music, theatre, fine arts and crafts to the world.

The Centre was named after the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Mukesh Ambani. The cultural centre is housed within the Jio World Centre, located in the heart of Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.

When asked how much influence India has in the West and how it has changed in the past few years, Nita Ambani said she could see the transition in front of her eyes.

“I came here first as a young bride at 21 and today I sit here as a very proud Indian. There has been so much global interest in Indianness and Indian culture and so much appreciation for what India holds. I think our young Indians are leading the way for this change. I met the Indian diaspora at the White House and the excitement of meeting them was palpable. They are doing so well in healthcare, at NASA, at culture, at media and at businesses,” she said.

Referring to Indians who are heading international corporations, she said she thinks the confidence on India is “so high”. “It’s wonderful to see this happening.”

At the State dinner hosted by the US President and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House last month for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nita Ambani was among the Indians who were part of the guest list.

She said it was wonderful to experience the deepening of friendship between the oldest and largest democracies.

“I think this century is going to belong to the youth of our nation. We have 50 per cent population under 25 and it is young girls and boys that are making India shine and proud, and this meeting is only going to strengthen the relationship between these two countries,” she further said. (ANI)

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NDA Stands For New India, Development, Aspiration: Modi

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Countering the Opposition parties, which at their seond joint meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday named their fledgeling alliance as I.N.D.I.A (India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the NDA stands for “New India, Development, Aspiration”.

Addressing a meeting of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the national capital on Tuesday evening, PM Modi said,” NDA means N=New India, D=Development, A=Aspiration.”
In a veiled at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark at an event in London earlier this year, questioning why the “defenders to democracies” were unmoved over the prevailing state of affairs in India, PM Modi said even when the NDA was in the Opposition, it never insulted the people’s mandate or never took help of foreign powers to destablize the ruling governments.

“Even when we were in the Opposition, we always preached and practised positive politics. We unearthed scams of previous governments but never questioned or insulted the mandate of the people. We never took the help of foreign powers against the ruling governments. We never created hurdles to development schemes meant for the welfare of the country and its people,” PM Modi said.

He stated further that nation, national security and progress were the priorities for the NDA.

“For the NDA, it is nation first, security of the nation first, progress first and the empowerment of the people first,” PM Modi said.

The representatives from a total of 38 political parties were in attendance as the meeting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP got underway in the national capital on Tuesday evening.

The NDA leaders, who arrived for the meeting, also posed for a group photograph before going into a huddle.

Ahead of the meeting of the NDA, Prime Minister Modi shared a tweet, expressing his delight at the NDA partners from across the country arriving in the national capital for the hudde.

PM Modi took to Twitter to post,” It is a matter of immense joy that our valued NDA partners from across India will be attending the meeting in Delhi today. Ours is a time-tested alliance which seeks to further national progress and fulfil regional aspirations.”

The NDA leaders, who arrived for the meeting, also posed for a group photograph before going into a huddle.

The meeting is part of the BJP’s ongoing efforts to shore up the NDA and devise a joint strategy against the fledgeling grand Opposition alliance, ‘INDIA’, with an eye on next year’s Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)

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