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Leaders of 13 oppn parties express concern over recent communal violence, question PM’s ‘silence’

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Leaders of 13 oppn parties express concern over recent communal violence, question PM's 'silence'
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

New Delhi: Leaders of 13 Opposition parties Saturday expressed deep concern over the recent incidents of hate speech and communal violence in the country, and urged people to maintain peace and harmony.

In a joint statement, the leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and her Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand counterparts M K Stalin and Hemant Soren, also raised concern over the manner in which issues relating to food, dress, faith, festivals and language “are being deliberately used by the ruling establishment to polarise society”.

They also demanded stringent punishment for the perpetrators of communal violence in the country.

“We are shocked at the silence of the Prime Minister, who has failed to speak against the words and actions of those who propagate bigotry and those who, by their words and actions, incite and provoke our society,” they said in the joint statement.

“This silence is an eloquent testimony to the fact that such private armed mobs enjoy the luxury of official patronage.”

Asserting their collective resolve to work together to strengthen the bonds of social harmony that “defined and enriched India for centuries”, the Opposition leaders said, “We reiterate our commitment to combat and confront the poisonous ideologies which are attempting to entrench divisiveness in our society.”

“We appeal to all sections of the people to maintain peace and foil the sinister objective of those who wish to sharpen communal polarisation. We call upon all our party units across the country to independently and jointly work for maintaining peace and harmony, they said in the joint appeal.

Incidents of communal violence were reported from some parts of the country on the occassion of Ram Navami on April 10.

There have also been sharp divisions over the Hijab row in Karnataka and some other parts of the country and violence on the JNU campus over serving of non-veg food in the hostel mess on Ram Navami.

“We are extremely anguished at the manner in which issues related to food, dress, faith, festivals and language are being deliberately used by sections of the ruling establishment to polarize our society,” the statement said.

“We are extremely concerned with the growing incidents of hate speech in the country by people, who appear to have official patronage and against whom no meaningful and strong action is being taken,” they said in their joint statement.

On the recent incidents of communal violence, they said, “We are deeply concerned, as reports indicate that there is a sinister pattern in the areas where these incidents have occurred. Incendiary hate speeches preceded the aggressive armed religious processions unleashing communal violence.”

They also expressed pain at the manner in which social media and the audio-visual platforms “are being misused with official patronage to spread hatred and prejudice”.

The Opposition leaders said they reiterate their firm conviction that the country will prosper only if it respects, accommodates and celebrates its many diversities in full measure.

Signatories to the joint statement also include: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja, All India Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas, Revolutionary Socialist Party general secretary Manoj Bhattacharya, IUML general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, and Communist Party of India(ML)-Liberation general secretary Dipanker Bhattacharya.

NIA files chargesheet against three ISIS recruiters

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BENGALURU: The NIA on Saturday filed a supplementary chargesheet before a special court here against three people for their alleged involvement in radicalising and recruiting gullible Muslim youth into the ISIS terrorist group.

Muhammad Tauqir Mahmood and Zohaib Manna of Bengaluru, and Mohammed Shihab of Bhatkal in Karnataka have been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the spokesperson said.

The case was registered by the NIA in September 2020 after examination of Dr Abdur Rahman in a case of the Islamic State Khorasan Province which led to unravelling of an ISIS module, the official said.

During this, names of various people responsible for radicalising and funding the visits of Muslim youth from Bengaluru and Karnataka to ISIS areas such as Syria, had emerged, the spokesperson said.

The NIA had earlier filed a chargesheet against two accused in the case.

Mahmood and Manna were involved in radicalising and recruiting gullible Muslim youth into the fold of the ISIS through a “Quran Circle” group, according to the spokesperson.

They were also involved in raising and receiving funds to finance the visit of radicalised Muslim youth to Syria, the NIA official said.

Mahmood and Shihab had earlier visited Syria illegally to establish connection with ISIS terrorists, the spokesperson said, adding that further investigation in the case continues.

Congress seeks arrest of ex-minister KS Eshwarappa for contractor death

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CHIKKAMAGALURU: Opposition leader Siddaramaiah verbally tore into the Karnataka government’s lapses, calling it shameless, illegitimate, a factory of lies and 40per cent government and sought immediate arrest of former minister KS Eshwarappa under prevention of Corruption Act.

Siddaramaiah said that the Contractors’ Association president Kempanna wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7th June, 2021, drawing his attention to rampant corruption and demand for 40 % commission for government works. Till now, no action had been taken on it, he added. “The delay has taken the life of a young contractor Santhosh. Modi boasts of 56 inches chest but what is important is heart of a mother,” Siddaramaiah lambasted. 

He said that the BJP came to power in State in both 2008 and 2018 due to Operation Lotus. ‘‘In 2018, Congress and JD(S) MLAs were poached by offering Rs 25 crore each. This showed BJP had no belief in constitution and democracy.’’

Siddaramaiah demanded that the Rs 4 crore pending bill of Santhosh should be settled, `1 crore compensation be given to the family of deceased and a job should be given to wife of Santhosh, Jayashree, a BA graduate, on compassionate grounds.

Shatrughan Sinha: Shotgun back in limelight with Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll victory for TMC

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Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha

KOLKATA: Three years after his parliamentary poll defeat in home state Bihar, actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha emerged triumphant on Saturday in neighbouring West Bengal’s Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll, quashing the “outsider” tag accorded to him by the opposition BJP.

Sinha (76) also helped the state’s ruling party break jinx in the Lok Sabha seat, where it did not taste success so far, having registered victory by a margin of 3,03,209 votes.

The former Union minister garnered a massive 6,56,358 votes against BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul’s 3,53,149, according to the Election Commission website.

The victory will not just pave way for Sinha to come out of the political wilderness that he had entered into following his defeat at Patna Sahib in 2019 Lok Sabha polls but also give the TMC an opportunity to distance itself from the ‘Bengali sub-nationalism’ plank, which is apparently proving to be a hindrance to its pan-India expansion plans.

Popularly called ‘Shotgun’ by fans for his straightforward dialogue deliveries in films, Sinha, who joined the TMC after his four-decade-long stint in BJP and a brief innings in Congress, had vowed to work for the development of people in the industrial town during his campaigns.

“I am no less a Bengali than any other Bengali. I am not an outsider. I have always adored the Bengali language and Bengali culture. Today’s results are a testimony to it. I will work for the development of people,” Sinha, known for his signature dialogue ‘khamosh’, told reporters.

Born in Patna in 1946, the popular Bollywood actor had joined the BJP in the late 80s when it was a party of two MPs and served as its star campaigner during the Vajpayee-Advani era.

Sinha made his electoral debut with a loss in the 1992 bypoll from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency as another movie star and Congress candidate Rajesh Khanna pocketed the seat.

Despite the loss, he continued to grow as a leader in the saffron camp due to his perceived proximity to party veterans Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani.

Sinha had been a Rajya Sabha MP for 12 years and a member of the Lok Sabha for 10 years, all as part of the BJP, the party he had once called his “first and last choice”.

He was a union minister during Vajpayee’s tenure as the prime minister, holding important portfolios such as shipping and health & family welfare.

After the BJP stormed to power in 2014, however, Sinha was not given a place in the Narendra Modi cabinet.

Aggrieved, he had fired frequent salvos against the leadership for allegedly sidelining the old guards.

The two-term Lok Sabha MP from Patna Sahib walked out of the BJP in 2019 and joined the Congress.

He lost to saffron party’s Ravi Shankar Prasad in the 2019 parliamentary polls.

The ‘Bihari babu’, as he is often referred to, had also taken part in TMC boss Mamata Banerjee’s mega anti-BJP conclave at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, just before the elections.

With this victory in Asansol as a TMC candidate, Sinha is expected to give the party’s national expansion plans a boost ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Tension in Karnataka’s Hubballi after cops arrest youth for posting picture of saffron flag atop mosque

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HUBBALLI: Tension prevailed in parts of Old Hubballi after hundreds of protesters gathered demanding action against an arrested youth late Saturday night. 

The protests began after a derogatory post by the accused Abhishek Hiremath went viral on Saturday night. Upon complaining, the police picked up the youth from his residence in Anand Nagar and brought him to the Old Hubballi police station. 

The police said the accused in his post had put up a saffron flag atop a mosque and had posted the same as his status. Many who saw the post objected and brought it to the notice of the police after which the arrest was made. 

The protesters gheraoed the police station and also damaged police vehicles. At least three police officers including an inspector were injured in the incident. Police resorted to dispensing tear gas, firing in the air and caning to disperse the crowd.

As the inquiry was underway, large numbers of people started gathering in front of the police station demanding action against Hiremath. As the agitating group did not move from the police station, the cops resorted to taking action. The situation was soon brought under control. Prohibitory orders are in place in the Old Hubballi area. 

2023 Karnataka polls: Parties try strengthening their corners in the ring

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As the three main parties in Karnataka — BJP, Congress and JDS — face the looming Assembly polls that are likely to be held early next year, each one is doing so from the basis of its own predicament

It is well known that a house divided falls like a pack of cards, and no other party faces as many internal divisions as Congress in Karnataka. Its rivals have joked: “The biggest enemy of the Congress is the Congress itself !” There are several factions and they are led by Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, KH Muniyappa, HK Patil, BK Hariprasad and Dr G Parameshwara. The recent polls in five states left Congress unit in Karnataka demoralised as it feared that the same recurring here in the 2023 Assembly polls if they do not unitedly fight the opponents instead of fighting each other. Congress’ bungling over the Youth Congress leadership issue, torn between two groups even among the younger generation of the party — one led by Raksha Ramaiah and other by Mohammed Nalapad — brought the ugly divisions to the fore. Unless the leadership is clearly fixed and everyone remains accountable, Congress could fall apart, like in Punjab.

Congress was forced on the backfoot on issues of hijab, halal, and ban on Muslim traders at temples. It finally got an opportunity in the form of “40-per-cent corruption” issue on a platter. Though critics argue that “lethargic” Congress did not exploit the complaints by contractors’ associations in two back-to-back legislative sessions, the suicide of contractor Santosh Patil provided fresh ammunition. Shivakumar said for the upcoming 2023 polls they will focus on the failures of this government on all fronts — corruption, unemployment, price rise and Covid failure. Congress’ rivals had mocked at the party over night-long protest in the House seeking Eshwarappa’s resignation over the national flag issue and failing. Also, when Eshwarappa did resign on Friday evening, the ex-minister’s supporters stressed that he did so by his own will and not due to Congress pressure and demands for his resignation.

BJP: consolidating its hindu votes

Less than a year away from the Assembly polls, ruling BJP has started preparations well before the rival parties. The party organisations and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai are trying to work in tandem to further increase the momentum after BJP won four out of five states. The party has clarified that there are no plans of going for early elections, nor any more changes in leadership, and has shifted gears into the poll mode. Karnataka BJP leaders, in four teams, are touring the state to galvanise workers and popularise welfare and development programmes of both state and Union governments. Party insiders feel preparations started with the change in leadership of Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa being replaced by another Lingayat Basavaraj Bommai nine months ago. Bommai initially staggered and struggled to bring some seniors on his side, and is yet to take control of the administration to bring in a clean and transparent government to enhance the party’s image.

The low-profile Bommai’s imaginative budget had earned appreciation with some welfare programmes targeting all sections — including Vidaynidhi, a scholarship programme for children of farmers which is to be extended to children of fishermen and weavers; reintroduction of Yashaswini health scheme; additional Jayadeva and Kidwai hospital units; financial assistance to pourakarmikas, Dalits and others; and a manufacturing unit in North Karnataka region. The hijab row, the halal issue and the call to boycott Muslim traders turned out to be a blessing in disguise for BJP when the Congress itself was appearing to regain its lost ground by taking up Mekedatu padayatra and price rise issues. The principal opposition parties’ stand on hijab issue and support to some of the outfits to observe bandh against the High Court verdict was a windfall for BJP as vast sections of Hindus consolidated behind the party.

JDS: facing an existential crisis

Elections after elections, JDS is known to face the crisis of its existence and retaining its identity as a regional party to be reckoned with. Evidently, it has started all-out efforts to impress upon the people of the state, especially in the old Mysuru region. After holding a brainstorming workshop ‘Janata Parva’, also aimed at identifying the alternative candidates for those who are ready to quit the party, party supremo HD Deve Gowda sounded the poll bugle by launching the ‘Gangajala Ratha Yatra’ as part of the ‘Janata Jaladhare’ programme to showcase his contribution to the irrigation sector in the state. The 15 decorated buses with LCD screens dispatched in different directions will create awareness.

Since 2004, the party has experienced upheavals as stalwarts like Siddaramaiah quit the party along with his supporters and joined Congress. Yet JDS, which has the strong backing of Vokkaligas, managed to make an impression and become a kingmaker. With a poor track record of retaining stalwarts and their supporters in its ranks, the party is likely to merely play a role of “kingmaker” again. After Siddaramaiah, wi th some key leaders — including GT Deve Gowda, Srinivas Gowda, SR Srinivas, among others — leaving the party in the Old Mysuru region, it may get difficult (almost impossible) for the party to realise its ambitious plan of getting 123 seats in the Assembly polls, and might just limit itself to helping either BJP or Congress in their Assembly seat equations. Many leaders in the region have started identifying with Siddaramaiah as a leader who can fight for the farmers’ cause. For instance, when the state government failed to procure ragi, former MLC YSV Datta approached Siddaramaiah instead of Kumaraswamy — enough evidence of JDS men losing trust in their leaders.

India logs 1,150 new COVID-19 cases

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NEW DELHI: With 1,150 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,30,42,097, while the active cases increased to 11,558, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death to climbed to 5,21,751 with four fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent, the ministry said.

An increase of 192 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded as 0.31 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded as 0.27 per cent, according to the ministry.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,25,08,788, while the case fatality rate was recorded as 1.21 per cent.

The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 186.51 crore.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

UK PM Johnson to arrive in Ahmedabad on April 21, hold ‘in-depth’ talks with Modi

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Britain PM Boris Johnson and Indian PM Narendra Modi (R) attend a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.

LONDON: Boris Johnson will become the first British Prime Minister to visit Gujarat when he lands in Ahmedabad this week for a two-day visit to India for “in-depth talks” with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, according to Downing Street.

Investment announcements in key industries in both the UK and India will take place, Downing Street said in a statement on Saturday.

Johnson will then proceed to New Delhi to meet Modi on April 22, where the focus will be on India-UK strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership.

According to officials on both sides, Johnson will also use his India visit to drive progress in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations launched earlier this year.

“My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence,” said Johnson, ahead of the visit.

“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together. India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times,” he said.

While in Ahmedabad, Johnson is scheduled to meet with leading businesses and discuss the UK and India’s “thriving” commercial, trade and people links.

The choice of Gujarat, India’s fifth largest state, was linked with it being the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian diaspora population in the UK.

“In Gujarat, the Prime Minister is expected to announce major investment in key industries in both the UK and India, boosting jobs and growth at home, as well as new collaboration on cutting-edge science, health and technology,” the Downing Street statement said.

“The Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday (22nd April).The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, which will move into their third round later this month, are expected to result in a deal predicted to boost the UK’s total trade by up to 28 billion pounds (USD 36 billion) annually by 2035 and increase incomes across the UK by up to 3 billion pounds (USD 3.9 billion).

It emerged earlier this week that at the end of the first two rounds, four out of 26 chapters have been agreed and there has been “significant progress” in the remaining 22 chapters of the FTA.

The two leaders are expected to mandate a timeline for the possible completion of the process, initially set for the end of this year.

Last year, the two prime ministers had agreed on a UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing more than 530 million pounds (USD 692 million) in investment into the UK and committing to a deeper bilateral relationship across trade, health, climate, defence and security, and connecting people.

India was identified as a priority relationship for the UK in the 2021 Integrated Review and was invited by the UK as a guest to last year’s G7 summit in Cornwall, the UK government officials noted.

Downing Street highlighted that the UK is leveraging post-Brexit trade opportunities with India’s growing economy to drive down prices in key commodities for consumers, open opportunities for UK businesses in areas like green tech and services, and create high-wage, high-skill jobs.

According to official estimates in the UK, investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs across the UK, which is expected to be boosted by upcoming announcements and a future free trade deal.

Modi and Johnson last met in person on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November last year.

Johnson’s visit next week is seen as long overdue on both sides, having been cancelled twice before due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Contractor suicide case: CM Bommai refutes alleged interference investigation

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Basavaraj Bommai

BENGALURU: Accusing the opposition Congress of wanting to be investigator, prosecutor and judge in the case relating to civil contractor Santosh Patil’s death, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday dismissed allegations of interference by his government in the investigation.

“Santosh Patil’s suicide is being investigated, postmortem has been done, FSL (forensic science laboratory) report will come. On the basis of it, what has happened will be scientifically known,” Bommai said in response to Congress’ questioning, as to why Eshwarappa has not been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Speaking to reporters here, he recalled that during Siddaramaiah-led Congress government’s tenure in K J George (former Minister) case, the police, despite having video allegations against him and the death note, did not mention his name in the FIR, and there was an attempt to shut the case, and the court had to issue an order, when the deceased police officer M K Ganapathy’s family approached it.

“But, we have filed FIR (in Santosh Patil case) as per the complaint and accordingly the investigation is on…based on the progress of investigation, further sections may be added, let the investigation happen,” he added.

M K Ganapathy, who was Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mangaluru, had allegedly killed himself at a lodge in Kodagu on July 7, 2016.

In a video message before suicide, he had named the then Home Minister K J George, and two top IPS officers responsible for his extreme step.

Congress wants to be an investigator, prosecutor and judge in the contractor’s suicide case and it cannot happen, Bommai said, adding that people are aware how the national party shut several cases while in power.

“When, what section has to be invoked, what provisions, will happen as per law. The government has in no way interfered. Just because I brought out what they (Congress) in during the George case, they have accused me of giving a certificate (of innocence to Eshwarappa), did I give a certificate?” he said.

There is law and investigation will take place in accordance with it, he said, the veracity of the investigation will be analysed in the court, when the charge sheet is submitted.

Accusing the state government and Bommai of trying to protect Eshwarappa, the Congress on Friday had demanded his arrest and that a case be registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The opposition party also urged that an impartial investigation be conducted by the police under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court.

Noting that Congress is going on a statewide protest against corruption, as though they are very clean handed, Bommai said, “people are aware of what Congress is, let them first calculate the number of skeletons of corruption in their cupboard…they are trying to set a narrative, we will place before the people about their corruptions.”

Asked whether the Santosh Patil suicide cases will be handed over to CID or other agency for further probe, he said, “Let the preliminary inquiry happen first, based on the need, we will decide.”

Santosh Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor, was found dead at a hotel in Udupi on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa, who is also a senior BJP leader, of corruption.

In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil had blamed Eshwarappa for his death.

Patil last month complained to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and also BJP central leaders stating that he was yet to be paid Rs four crore for road works undertaken in Hindalga village and had accused Eshwarappa’s aides of demanding 40 percent commission for the release of the payment.

Indian Diaspora keeping identity of India alive wherever they are: Rajnath Singh

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WASHINGTON: The people of Indian origin keep the identity of India alive wherever they are in the world, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said, applauding the Indian-Americans for maintaining the “complete identity” of their culture thousands of miles away from their home country.

Describing his five-day trip to the US as fruitful, Singh said he had a wonderful meeting with his American counterpart Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

On Monday, Singh held bilateral talks with Austin and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral defence cooperation and the regional security situation, including in the Indo-Pacific and the broader Indian Ocean Region.

“I congratulate you for maintaining this complete Indian identity,” Singh told a group of Indian-Americans during a public reception hosted in his honor by the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Thursday.

“This is not a small thing. People lose their (cultural identity) when they stay at some place for a long time,” he said.

Indians living outside India always feel pride in calling themselves Indians. Singh said he was making his fourth trip in his political career to the United States and the first in San Francisco.

The Indian community in the United States has established itself here. This is a result of the efforts of the community, he added.

“Had I come here as a political leader, not on my official tour, I would have met the Indian community in all the places I visited here,” he said.

India and the United States, being the largest democratic powers, have the potential to establish global “peace and prosperity”.

The relationship between the United States and India is multifaceted, economic, strategic, and defence as well, he said.

“Today the entire world knows that India and the US are natural allies,” Singh said, asserting that this relationship has stability and continuity and at the same time the two countries have an important role to play in maintaining this stability and continuity.

“This ground reality cannot be ignored,” Singh said. He is scheduled to leave San Francisco for India on Friday.

The Indian Diaspora, which keeps on climbing to new heights in the US, plays a key role in this relationship, Sigh said.

People in India are always proud of the achievements that the people of Indian origin or its diaspora achieve here.

For instance, when Parag Agarwal became the Twitter CEO, people in India felt that someone among their own has become the head of Twitter, he said amidst applause.

Similarly, there are several tech leaders in the US from among us, be it Satya Nadella of Microsoft or Sunder Pichai of Google, he said.

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