Dubai, Sep 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Consul General in Dubai, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, on Wednesday met Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority Chairman, Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, and discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation, trade and investment.

"Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General, met H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman, Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority today. The discussions focused on exploring opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, trade, and investment and reinforce India-Sharjah ties," the Consulate General of India in Dubai said in a post on X.

On Tuesday, Reddy called on UAE Supreme Council Member and Ras Al Khaimah ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, with their discussions focused on deepening the partnership in trade, investment and cultural exchanges.

"Consul General Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy paid a courtesy call on H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Discussions focused on exploring avenues for further deepening the longstanding and multifaceted India-Ras Al Khaimah partnership, including in the areas of trade, investment, business, people-to-people ties and cultural exchanges," the Consulate General said on X.

"CG thanked His Highness for the continued support extended to the Indian community in Ras Al Khaimah and reaffirmed the Consulate's commitment to further strengthening these close ties," it added.

During his visit to Ras Al Khaimah, Reddy also met the head of the emirate's chamber of commerce.

"Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General of India, Dubai, held a meeting with H.E. Mohamed Mosbbeh Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Discussions focused on strengthening India-UAE economic and commercial relations, with particular emphasis on promoting trade, investment and greater engagement between the business communities of India and Ras Al Khaimah," the Consulate said.

The Consul General also held talks with officials of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ).

"Consul General Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy held a meeting with Mr Puneet Jain, Chief Strategy Officer, and Mr Mohammed Al Blooshi, Strategic Partnership Manager, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. The meeting covered matters of mutual interest and avenues for further strengthening India - Ras Al Khaimah economic and business ties," the Consulate said.

Source: IANS

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Kochi, Sep 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The bodies of two Malayali women, Anjana and Ann Mary Mathew, who were allegedly murdered by a close friend in California last month, were brought back to Kochi on Monday, with relatives making arrangements for their funerals amid an outpouring of grief.

The bodies arrived at Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery in the morning on a flight from San Francisco via Los Angeles and Dubai.

After completion of the official procedures, the bodies were handed over to the relatives.

The body of Ann Mary Mathew, a native of Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, was taken to her husband's home in Kottayam.

A close relative told IANS that the body would be taken to her parish church on Tuesday morning, where the final rites will be held.

The body of Anjana, a native of Thrissur, was first taken to her ancestral home at Peechi.

A large number of people gathered there to pay their last respects, with many filing past the body.

It will later be taken to the family's home, where the funeral is expected to be held at the local parish on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi had been closely following the arrangements for bringing the bodies back to Kerala from the US since the killings last month.

The two women were killed in a double murder in California on August 28.

Anila, a native of Erattupetta in Kottayam and a close friend of both victims, has been arrested by California police in connection with the killings.

According to investigators, Anila went to Ann Mary's home in San Jose and allegedly stabbed her to death.

About one-and-a-half hours later, she allegedly called Anjana and asked her to come to a location.

Police said Anjana was subsequently killed after being struck by a vehicle.

Anila was arrested soon after the killings and is currently being held in the high-security section of the Santa Clara County Main Jail.

The motive behind the killings of the two women, who were close friends, is still being investigated by the Milpitas police.

The murders had sent shock waves through the Malayali community in California and Kerala.

The return of the bodies on Monday brought the tragedy home, with relatives and friends gathering at the two families' homes to bid farewell to the young women.

The investigation by US authorities is continuing to establish the circumstances and motive behind the killings.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The V.D. Satheesan government has ruled out holding the Loka Kerala Sabha in its existing format, making it clear that there is no change in the UDF government's decision to discontinue the controversial platform set up by the previous LDF regime.

The Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement on Monday that organising the Loka Kerala Sabha in the manner in which it was conducted during the LDF government was not under the government’s consideration.

It also made it clear that not a single rupee has been earmarked for the sixth edition of the Lok Kerala Sabha in the coming financial year.

The clarification came amid indications of differing views within the ruling front and media reports in major dailies on Monday that Satheesan has backed out from what he said as the Leader of Opposition.

Loka Sabha was conceived as a common forum for expatriate Malayalis to participate in discussions on Kerala’s development and issues concerning the diaspora, but the then Congress-led UDF opposition had kept out of this during the then-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-created event.

"The decision that the Loka Kerala Sabha will not continue is a political decision of the UDF. There is no change in it," the Chief Minister’s Office said.

The government, however, has clarified that this does not mean that programmes relating to expatriate welfare or engagement with the diaspora are being discontinued.

The Loka Kerala Sabha Secretariat already has an office, and funds have been provided only for its administrative expenses, the statement said.

Funds have also been earmarked for programmes conducted through NORKA, including business leadership meets and other initiatives involving expatriate Keralites.

The government said the welfare of expatriates remains one of its primary areas of focus.

The allocation is also intended to meet the preliminary expenses involved in implementing proposals relating to expatriate welfare, it said.

The Loka Kerala Sabha had become a major political flashpoint during the previous government, with the UDF, then in Opposition, repeatedly accusing the LDF of spending public money on an extravagant event.

Satheesan himself had strongly criticised the platform, and the UDF had boycotted its official sessions.

The fifth edition was held in Thiruvananthapuram in January, with more than 500 delegates representing 125 countries and 28 Indian states participating.

The UDF stayed away from the event.

The latest government clarification effectively closes the door on a sixth edition in the format followed by the LDF government.

At the same time, the decision leaves scope for the new government to engage with expatriate Malayalis through NORKA programmes and other welfare-oriented mechanisms rather than through a large-scale Loka Kerala Sabha.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's star shooting contingent will be vying for glory at the Asian Games 2026, with 30 shooters set to compete for medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Games 2026.

India have a strong squad with a blend of experience and youngsters, with the likes of Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat headlining the contingent. The shooting competitions run from September 20 to October 1 as India will be competing in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events.

Bhaker, Esha and Rahi headline India's line-up in the pistol events. Bhaker enters the Games as a double Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 and a gold medallist from the Hangzhou 2023 Games in the team event. She will compete in both 10m Air Pistol and 25m Pistol.

Meanwhile, Esha made headlines in the Asian Games 2023 after winning silver in individual and team events. Esha will compete in 10m Air Pistol and 25m Pistol. She is also the 2023 World Champion.

Suruchi, Kamaljeet, Kedarling B. Uchaganve and Aakash Bhardwaj will also be vying for medals in the 10m Air Pistol field, with Suruchi also featuring in the Mixed Team event.

In the 25m Pistol event, Manu and Esha will be joined by veteran Rahi, who won a gold at the 2018 Asiad, while Anish will compete in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. Anish will be featuring in the Rapid Fire Pistol competition.

The Rifle event has the likes of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh B. Patil and Elavenil Valarivan, among others. The squad brings together proven international performers and a number of young shooters who have made their mark at the global level.

Aishwary will compete in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. He is a reigning silver medallist from the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and is also a former World Cup gold medallist and Asian champion.

Niraj Kumar will be joining him in the 50m 3P event, while Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa K. Vinod will be featuring in the women’s event.

Rudrankksh, who has major championship experience under his belt, will compete in both 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions.

India fielded Elavenil Valarivan, Parth Rajesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa K. Vinod in the 10m Air Rifle events.

Elavenil is a former World Cup gold medallist and an Asian champion, while Parth is a former Junior World Champion.

The Shotgun squad also blends experience with youth. Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi and Shapath Bharadwaj will be featuring in the trap event in the men’s competition, while Aashima Ahlawat, Manisha Keer and Neeru will be vying for medals in the women’s event.

Chenai is a gold medallist from the men's trap team event and a bronze medallist in the individual category from the 2023 Asian Games. He will be competing in men’s Trap and the Trap mixed-team event.

Neeru is heading to the Aichi-Nagoya Games after winning gold in women’s Trap at the 2025 Asian Championships and a World Cup gold in Lonato, Italy in 2026. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in a trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup.

Anantjeet Singh Naruka will be participating in the Skeet and Mixed Team events. He is a Hangzhou Asian silver medallist.

Speaking ahead of the marquee competition, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, NRAI President, highlighted India's strong shooting squad for the Asiad. "India’s shooting contingent for the Asian Games represents a strong combination of experience, international exposure and young talent.

"Our athletes have worked hard through the season and are entering the Games with valuable experience from World Cups, World Championships and Asian-level competitions. The Asian Games will be an important opportunity for them to compete at the highest level and represent the country with confidence and pride. We wish the entire contingent the very best for their competitions in Nagoya," Kalikesh Narayan said.

Pawankumar Singh, NRAI Secretary General, emphasised the depth of the Indian shooting contingent. "The depth of the Indian shooting squad across Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun reflects the progress of the sport in the country. We have athletes with experience of major international competitions alongside young shooters who have already demonstrated their potential on the global stage.

"The NRAI has worked closely with the athletes and support staff in preparation for the Asian Games, and we look forward to seeing the contingent put its preparation into competition when the events begin," Pawankumar said.

Source: IANS

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Suva, Sep 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta, on Thursday offered condolences on the passing of Fiji's Minister for Employment, Productivity,and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh.

Signing the condolence book, the envoy and hailed Agni Deo Singh's role in strengthening bilateral ties.

"High Commissioner Suneet Mehta signed the Condolence Book for the late Hon. Agni Deo Singh, Minister for Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations of Fiji. India extends its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Fiji, and to the bereaved family. We honour his dedicated service to Fiji and his valued contribution to strengthening the enduring India–Fiji partnership. He will be deeply missed. May he rest in eternal peace," the Indian High Commission in Fiji posted on X.

Earlier, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita offered condolences on the passing of Agni Deo Singh.

"My heartfelt condolences on the sad passing away of Honourable Agni Deo Singh, Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations of Fiji. I pray for strength and solace to his family in this moment of profound grief. May his soul rest in peace," he said, as per the Indian High Commission in Fiji.

Agni Deo Singh passed away in Australia's Brisbane on September 12, as per the Office of Fiji's PM.

Fiji's PM Sitiveni Rabuka offered condolences to Singh's family, loved ones, colleagues and friends, The Fiji Times reported. He hailed Agni Deo Singh's contribution to Fiji, particularly his service to workers.

"Prime Minister Rabuka acknowledges the late Honourable Singh’s dedicated service to the workers and people of Fiji and his invaluable contribution to the Government and the nation."

The funeral of Agni Deo Singh is set to take place on Sunday, The Fiji Times reported. Condolence books have been opened at the Ministry’s offices in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa for members of the public who want to pay tribute to him.

Source: IANS

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Kozhikode Sep 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and discussed ways to expand cooperation between Kerala and Malaysia in information technology, sustainable tourism, higher education, and trade.

Satheesan described the meeting, which lasted 40 minutes, with the visiting Malaysian Prime Minister as an absolute honour and said Kerala’s historic cultural ties with Malaysia and the vibrant Malayali diaspora there continued to anchor the enduring relationship between the two sides.

State Industries and IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty and Indian Union Muslim League supreme leader Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal accompanied Satheesan to the meeting.

The interaction assumes significance against the backdrop of Kerala’s long-standing links with Malaysia, which predate the large-scale migration of Malayalis to the Gulf countries from the 1970s.

Malaysia had been a major overseas destination for Keralites even before the Gulf migration began, and a sizeable Malayali community has since established deep roots in the country.

Several Malayali families in Malaysia now belong to the third generation of settlers, giving the relationship a strong social and cultural dimension beyond economic ties.

Satheesan, in a social media post after the meeting, said the discussions had been productive and focused on expanding cooperation in areas that could directly benefit Kerala and strengthen its links with Malaysia.

The emphasis on IT and higher education comes as Kerala seeks to deepen international partnerships in emerging sectors, while sustainable tourism offers scope for cooperation between two destinations with strong natural and cultural attractions.

Trade was also identified as an area for expanding economic engagement.

Ibrahim had come to Kerala amid his visit to India for the BRICS Summit.

His Kerala engagements have drawn attention to the longstanding people-to-people links between the state and Malaysia.

The Malaysian Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Kerala for the Maldives.

The meeting between Satheesan and Anwar comes as Kerala seeks to leverage its historic overseas connections not merely as a legacy of migration but as a platform for new partnerships in technology, education, tourism and commerce.

Source: IANS

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Colombo, Sep 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday interacted with the Indian community in Colombo, highlighting the "crucial role" played by the Indian diaspora in strengthening friendship between both neighbouring countries.

"The Indian community is the 'Sethu' between India and Sri Lanka. India will always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis," said Singh during his address at the event.

He emphasised that the relationship between India and Sri Lanka is based on shared history, culture, and faith.

"India and Sri Lanka are close friends. We stand with Sri Lanka through thick and thin and are committed to the peace, prosperity, and development of both countries," Singh mentioned.

The Defence Minister also highlighted that, while the world is grappling with the challenges of economic growth, India has recorded 7.8 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2026-27.

The Indian economy, he mentioned, which was $2 trillion in 2014, has now doubled and India is today contributing more than 16 per cent to Global Growth.

"Electronics manufacturing in India is an industrial revolution. Electronic goods production, which was ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014, has now exceeded ₹11 lakh crore. Electronics exports have also risen from ₹38,000 crore to more than ₹3 lakh crore. In mobile manufacturing, India is today the world's second-largest producer," Singh stated during his address to the Indian community in Colombo.

Earlier in the day, Singh arrived in Colombo for a three-day official visit to the island nation, aimed at deepening bilateral defence and maritime cooperation.

He was warmly welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo by Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.

“Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath arrived in Colombo on an official visit to Sri Lanka from 08–10 September 2026. He was received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Defence Maj Gen Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Shri Santosh Jha. Raksha Mantri received a warm and traditional welcome from the Sri Lankan side, reflecting the close and enduring ties between India and Sri Lanka,” the Ministry of Defence posted on X.

During his visit, Singh will hold talks with the Lankan leadership on various issues to further strengthen bilateral ties in mutually beneficial areas, including a strong maritime and defence partnership. He will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today left for Sri Lanka on a 3-day visit to the island nation. Leading a high-level delegation, Raksha Mantri will hold talks with the leadership of Sri Lanka on a range of issues to further strengthen traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including a strong maritime and defence partnership," the Ministry of Defence wrote on X.

Singh said that he looked forward to a "productive engagement" with Sri Lankan leadership during his visit to the island nation. He described Sri Lanka as one of the important partners of India under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR vision.

"Leaving New Delhi for Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit. Looking forward to a productive engagement with the leadership of Sri Lanka during the visit. I shall also be interacting with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka. Besides our longstanding partnership as well as deep historical and civilisational ties, Sri Lanka is one of our most important partners under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives," Singh posted on X before leaving for Colombo.

According to the statement released by the Ministry of Defence, India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties and a multifaceted partnership, anchored by regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation and strong people-to-people ties.

-- IANS

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Source: IANS

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Riyadh, Sep 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh interacted with a large cross-section of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia, appreciating their role in deepening the bilateral ties across key sectors.

Singh also urged the community to play an active role in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat 2047.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the MoS said, "Pleased to interact with a large cross-section of the vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia, at an event organised by the All-India Steering Committee under the patronage of the Embassy. Appreciated their invaluable contribution to strengthening India–Saudi Arabia ties across trade, investment, energy and culture. Encouraged them to contribute to the realisation of Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat@2047."

Singh also inaugurated the Integral University Alumni Chapter - Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, saying, "It was heartening to meet alumni who have made the Kingdom their second home and who carry with them the values and learning of their alma mater."

On Monday, Singh engaged with the Indian businesspersons, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals and lauded their "invaluable" role in strengthening bilateral economic ties with Saudi Arabia.

"Had an enriching interaction with Indian businesspersons, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals in Saudi Arabia. Appreciated their invaluable role in strengthening India-KSA bilateral economic ties and discussed opportunities to tap the business opportunities between the two countries, including promotion of partnerships in 3Ts- trade, investment, tourism and technology," MoS Singh stated on X.

Furthermore, he interacted with the officials of the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and encouraged them to continue working with dedication and commitment to advance Prime Minister Modi's vision of the 3Ts -- Trade, Technology and Tourism.

"Emphasised the importance of further strengthening India–Saudi Arabia ties and delivering effective, citizen-centric consular services," MoS Singh noted.

He planted a sapling at the embassy under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.

"Planted a sapling at Embassy of India in Riyadh dedicated to my mother under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign -- an initiative that beautifully reflects our enduring reverence for motherhood and our shared responsibility towards a greener and sustainable future," Singh said on X.

Source: IANS

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Riyadh, Sep 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Monday hailed the role of Indian workers in cementing ties between India and Saudi Arabia.

Singh made the statement after he met Indian workers at the labour camp of the Al Fanar Company in Saudi Arabia and expressed the Indian government's commitment to the welfare of the Indian diaspora abroad, especially workers.

"Delighted to interact with Indian workers at the labour camp of the Al Fanar Company. Our workers play an important part in cementing our bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. The welfare of Indian diaspora abroad, especially Indian workers, is a priority of the Government of India," Singh posted on X.

Kirti Vardhan Singh is on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. This is his first official visit to Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, Singh met Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel al-Jubeir and reviewed the "excellent" state of bilateral ties.

Following the meeting, MoS Singh, in a post on X, wrote: "Had a warm and productive meeting with Adel al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy of Saudi Arabia. Reviewed the excellent state of India-Saudi bilateral relations and discussed cooperation on climate action."

MoS Singh also met Saudi Arabia's Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmad bin Sulaiman Alrajhi and discussed strengthening cooperation in the labour and manpower sector.

"Held wide-ranging discussions on further strengthening India–Saudi Arabia cooperation in the labour and manpower sector, reflecting the depth and growing momentum of our Strategic Partnership. Grateful to Ahmad bin Sulaiman Alrajhi for the invitation and warm hospitality," Singh posted on X.

During his visit, he will also meet Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture as well as other dignitaries, according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss issues of mutual interest in the areas of human resources, skill development, environment, climate change and international affairs and further strengthen the multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia," it said.

Source: IANS

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Riyadh, Sep 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, on Sunday met Saudi Arabia's Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmad bin Sulaiman Alrajhi and discussed cooperation in labour and manpower sectors.

"Pleased to meet H.E. Eng. Ahmad bin Sulaiman Alrajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia. Held wide-ranging discussions on further strengthening India–Saudi Arabia cooperation in the labour and manpower sector, reflecting the depth and growing momentum of our Strategic Partnership. Grateful to Ahmad bin Sulaiman Alrajhi for the invitation and warm hospitality," MoS Singh stated on X.

Singh arrived in Saudi Arabia, on his first official visit, on Saturday and was received by the country's Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Dr Tariq Al Hamad.

"Arrived in Riyadh on a bilateral visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Warmly received by Ambassador Shri Vipul and HE Dr Tariq Al Hamad, Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. I look forward to fruitful engagements with Saudi counterparts and meaningful interactions with Indian diaspora and business leaders in the Kingdom," MoS Singh stated on X.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during the visit, which will go on till September 8, MoS Singh will also be meeting the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Affairs Envoy, the Vice Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture, as well as other dignitaries.

MoS Singh will interact with a large cross-section of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia and Indian business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals during the visit.

“He will interact with Indian workers, reflecting the Government of India’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of Indian workers overseas," the MEA said in a statement.

"The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss issues of mutual interest in the areas of human resources, skill development, environment, climate change and international affairs and further strengthen the multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia," it added.

Source: IANS

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New York, Sep 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a striking irony, the very Indian national flag for which Sikh soldiers faced bullets and laid down their lives is now being trampled under foot by some Sikhs abroad, a report has highlighted citing the shocking videos and images that went viral during Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent visit to New York which showed some protesters disrespecting the Tricolour.

Emphasising that the act cannot be acceptable under any circumstances, the report asserted that the key point is that the actions of a handful of individuals must not be associated with the Sikh community as a whole. Millions of Sikhs live across the globe, and, with only a few exceptions, the overwhelming majority understand and uphold their responsibilities towards their country, society and humanity, a report in 'Khalsa Vox' detailed this week.

“India’s national flag, the Tricolour, is not merely a piece of cloth made up of three colours. It is a symbol of the identity of millions of Indians, the sovereignty of the nation, and the countless sacrifices that made it possible for us to breathe freely in an independent India. Respect for the Tricolour is not a matter of any political party, government, or ideology; it is the responsibility of every citizen towards the nation,” the report stated.

“Disrespecting the Tricolour is not merely an insult to a piece of cloth; it is an act that hurts the honour of the country. And when such an act is carried out by someone dressed in Sikh attire, the question becomes even more serious: Does merely wearing a turban and keeping a beard make someone a Sikh?” it asked.

The report noted that Sikhs have not merely expressed their patriotism through slogans but have etched their contribution to the nation’s history in blood. Whenever the country faced threats along its borders, Sikh soldiers stood at the forefront and took charge of the battlefield.

“Even today, when the mortal remains of a martyred soldier arrive at his home wrapped in the Tricolour, that flag carries with it the grief of the family, the sacrifice of the soldier, and his final loyalty to the nation. Countless Sikh soldiers have laid down their lives while defending this country,” it added.

Expressing concern, the report said some people based abroad are attempting to associate anti-India activities with Sikh identity. Such efforts, it said, not only affect India’s image but also tarnish the reputation of the Sikh community, which is globally admired for its hard work, service, courage, and sacrifice.

“If someone sitting on foreign soil insults the national flag of India, they must understand that they are not merely opposing the Government of India or a political organisation. They are insulting the national symbol of a country with which the emotions of millions of families are deeply connected. For Sikhs, this question is even more profound,” Khalsa Vox mentioned.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Several spiritual leaders on Friday criticised actress Swara Bhasker over her remarks on the portrayal of Jauhar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film 'Padmaavat', accusing her of disrespecting the sacrifice and bravery of women associated with the tradition.

Speaking to IANS, Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj, Mahant of Saket Bhawan Temple, said that questioning the penance, dedication and sacrifice of women who performed Jauhar was “highly condemnable”.

“Swara Bhasker herself is a woman. Questioning the penance, dedication and sacrifice of those brave women is highly condemnable. Her statement reflects a very regressive mindset towards society and her own family,” he said.

“Questioning the bravery of such women is like spitting at the Sun. Her remarks about these brave women only bring disrepute to her own image. One should never make such statements about women who contributed to the uplift of society and fought against barbaric invaders,” he added.

Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj further said that the country belonged to women of valour, devotion and sacrifice, adding that such remarks would not be accepted.

Mahamandaleshwar Yatindranand Giri of the Juna Akhara said people formed opinions according to their own nature and argued that Bollywood personalities should not automatically be considered social icons or role models.

“People think according to their nature, and those associated with Bollywood should not be considered social icons or role models. Their work is primarily entertainment, a tradition that has existed since ancient times. Earlier, there were theatrical performances, and today they have moved to television and cinema. Therefore, neither they nor their statements can be considered an ideal for society,” he said.

Arya Sant Varun Das Ji Maharaj also criticised Bhasker, saying that those who did not understand the dignity of women or the values associated with Indian womanhood could not understand the concept of Jauhar.

“People who do not understand the dignity of women or the values of Indian womanhood cannot understand Jauhar. They cannot comprehend the sacrifices made by our brave women who fought with swords,” he said.

Mahant Deveshacharya Ji Maharaj, successor to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, also targeted the actress over her film roles and language.

“Swara Bhasker herself lacks character. You can see the kind of roles she has played in films and the kind of language used in them. It is said that one’s character is shaped by one’s conduct. You can judge what kind of ideology Swara Bhasker follows by looking at her roles in films,” he said.

Katha Vachak Aniruddhacharya said women such as Padmavati were regarded as symbols of purity and sacrifice.

“Women like Padmavati are pure women. They are called Sati. They sacrificed their lives to protect their honour. We should understand from these stories that if anything is worth more than life, it is one’s character. That is why, even if life is lost, character should not be lost,” he said.

Mahant Raju Das Ji Maharaj said Jauhar represented cultural traditions, women’s dignity and sacrifice.

“Jauhar represents our culture, the dignity of women and the chastity of our mothers and sisters. It reflects the self-reflection and sacrifice of the women of our country, who are born in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Kali,” he said.

He added that repeated derogatory remarks against Sanatan Dharma would not be tolerated.

The controversy comes after Swara Bhasker spoke about Deepika Padukone’s Jauhar scene in the movie 'Padmaavat', calling the sequence problematic and questioning the message it conveyed to women and survivors of sexual violence.

Swara Bhasker recently shared that she wrote a letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali after 'Padmaavat' was released. She spoke about the letter during an event in New Delhi and discussed her concerns about the film and its portrayal of Jauhar.

She said, “I'm watching this and it shows all these 800 women committing Jauhar. Watching it, I was thinking that 'God forbid, I was a rape survivor, what is this film telling me? I would feel like a coward. That I didn't kill myself to save my honour. Is that what you want to tell women in a society like ours where I feel like there's anyway a rape epidemic. Is that what we want to tell our survivors that you don't deserve to live? That if you had actually been brave and honourable women, you would have killed yourself? Are we saying that rape is the end of a woman's life?"

Source: IANS

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Washington, Sep 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maryland Governor Wes Moore has praised the growing role of Asian Americans in his administration, telling an Indian American gathering that diversity was also about appointing the most capable people.

“The AAPI community runs deep in this administration,” Moore said. “And it’s not just because we believe in diversity, it’s because we believe in working with the best.”

Moore spoke at a re-election fundraiser at the Maryland residence of eminent Indian American physician Dr Arul Vigg. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, elected officials, entrepreneurs, doctors and community leaders attended the event.

The temperature was still near 80 degrees when the outdoor programme began. Guests gathered around a makeshift stage outside Dr Vigg’s red-brick home.

Dr Vigg, a kidney specialist who studied medicine in India before completing his residency in Ohio, said his parents had travelled from India for the event.

Their “love, sacrifice, and lifelong example have shaped the person I am today,” he said.

Moore highlighted Asian American officials holding senior positions in Maryland. He cited Susan Lee, Sanjay Rai, Portia Wu and Meena Seshamani among those serving in his administration.

He reserved particular praise for Miller, his Indian-born lieutenant governor. Moore described her as a friend, partner and guide.

“When we talk about what is the moral compass of the Moore Miller administration, you do not have to look any further than our Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller,” he said.

Miller said the gathering reflected the immigrant community’s belief in opportunity and civic responsibility.

“As an immigrant, when I look across this room and see our AAPI community, we all believe in the American dream,” she said.

Miller cited Indian American entrepreneur Anil Sharma, who she said arrived in the United States “with $100 in his pocket” and later built a billion-dollar company, 22nd Century Technologies.

“You bring success, you earn success, but you give back to your community,” she said.

Moore also contrasted Maryland’s policies with those of President Donald Trump. He criticised federal job cuts, immigration operations and the use of the National Guard in neighbourhoods.

“In Maryland, we decided to move different, that in Maryland we decided to move together to work in partnership with local law enforcement and also community groups,” Moore said.

He said Maryland’s violent crime rate had fallen nearly 60 per cent during his tenure. Miller also credited him with reopening the shipping channel 11 weeks after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The governor urged supporters to campaign for another Moore-Miller term.

“While there has been progress, we know the job is not done and we are ready to finish the job,” Moore said.

Moore became Maryland’s first Black governor in January 2023. Miller, a former state legislator and transportation engineer, became Maryland’s first immigrant and first woman of colour to serve as lieutenant governor.

Source: IANS

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Washington, Sep 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hindu American leaders on Thursday welcomed a full-page paid advertisement in The Wall Street Journal featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, saying its message of unity and respect for diversity made the community proud of its heritage.

The paid advertisement appeared on Page A5 of the newspaper’s September 3 edition. It carried a photograph of Bhagwat and a message from his address at the Universal Oneness Celebration held at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 29.

“Our oneness and diversity has to be celebrated, has to be respected, has to be accepted. India has a civilizational ethos built on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is one family. India is a living example of this diversity,” Bhagwat was quoted as saying in the advertisement.

The advertisement described Bhagwat as the head of the “World’s Largest Voluntary Organisation,” the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in India.

It said 5,000 delegates representing 250 organisations from 853 cities across 39 US states had attended the Universal Oneness event at the Madison Square Garden in New York. The advertisement was paid for by RSS Friends, according to the disclosure printed on the page.

Prominent community leader and businessman Ramesh Bhutada said the advertisement had become a source of pride for Hindu Americans.

“I am delighted to see full page ad in Wall Street Journal . It represents very spirit of Hinduism it makes all Hindu American feel proud of their heritage,” Bhutada said.

Sudesh Agrawal, director of the AHEAD Forum, said the message reflected the Hindu community’s willingness to work with other communities for the wider good.

“The Hindu community in the Americas has unequivocally conveyed its commitment to engaging in dialogue and collaboration with all other communities for the collective advancement of humanity. It is imperative that we translate this commitment into tangible actions. We will do so with unwavering dedication,” Agrawal said.

“We extend our sincere gratitude for the esteemed platform provided by the Wall Street Journal to disseminate this message to the public,” he added.

The advertisement placed Bhagwat’s remarks within the broader theme of Universal Oneness. Its central message stressed respect for diversity and the Indian civilisational idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a Sanskrit expression commonly translated as “the world is one family”.

Bhagwat is the Sarsanghchalak, or chief, of the RSS, a Hindu volunteer organisation founded in Nagpur in 1925. The organisation marked its centenary in 2025 and has an extensive network of local branches and affiliated bodies in India.

The August 29 gathering at Madison Square Garden brought together Hindu Americans and representatives of community organisations from across the United States. The programme centred on universal oneness, community cooperation and the role of Indian civilisational values in promoting harmony among diverse societies.

Source: IANS

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Bishkek, Aug 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in Bishkek and interacted with the Indian community members who were present there to welcome him.

PM Modi had unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Bishkek during his visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2015.

"In Bishkek this morning, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the city. Gandhi Ji’s thoughts will always have an unparalleled impact on our minds," PM Modi posted on X.

PM Modi interacted with members of the Indian community gathered outside the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial to meet him.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi also met members of different communities in Bishkek.

PM Modi arrived in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek for a two-day visit on Sunday. During this, he is scheduled to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.

After landing in Bishkek, PM Modi, in a post on X, wrote, "Landed in Bishkek a short while ago. Grateful to Mr Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic for the warm welcome. Will be meeting various leaders bilaterally and attending the SCO Summit tomorrow and the day after."

The Prime Minister also received a warm welcome from the Indian community in Bishkek. The Indian community members chanted "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" as they welcomed PM Modi in Bishkek.

"From Bharat to Bishkek, a very special welcome by the Indian community earlier this evening," PM Modi posted on X.

He also witnessed cultural performances from the people of Kyrgyzstan and appreciated their performances.

A few yoga enthusiasts also performed Yoga to welcome the Indian Prime Minister.

"India has been an active and constructive member of the SCO since 2017. I look forward to advancing India's vision for the region, anchored in Security, Connectivity and Opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability in our neighbourhood and beyond," PM Modi said in the departure statement before he emplaned for his two-nation visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday.

"I also look forward to meeting President (Sadyr) Zhaparov (Kyrgyzstan) and other SCO leaders, and to attending the Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, a celebration of the rich living heritage of Central Asia that India holds in deep respect," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi expressed confidence that his visit will strengthen India's strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepen civilisational connect with the region, and advance shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, values that lie at the heart of India's engagement with the world.

Source: IANS

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Bishkek, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received a warm welcome from the Indian community in Bishkek as he arrived in the Central Asian nation to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

"From Bharat to Bishkek, a very special welcome by the Indian community earlier this evening," PM Modi said on social media platform X.

The Indian community was chanting "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram".

PM Modi also witnessed cultural performances from the people of Kyrgyzstan and appreciated their performances.

A few yoga enthusiasts also performed Yoga to welcome the Indian Prime Minister.

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev received PM Modi at Manas International Airport in Bishkek.

"Landed in Bishkek a short while ago. Grateful to Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, for the warm welcome. Will be meeting various leaders bilaterally and attending the SCO Summit tomorrow and the day after. Several bilateral engagements are also going to take place during the Prime Minister's visit to the Central Asian nation," PM Modi said on X.

"India has been an active and constructive member of the SCO since 2017. I look forward to advancing India's vision for the region, anchored in Security, Connectivity and Opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability in our neighbourhood and beyond," PM Modi said in the departure statement before he emplaned for his two-nation tour to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday.

"I also look forward to meeting President (Sadyr) Zhaparov (Kyrgyzstan) and other SCO leaders, and to attending the Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, a celebration of the rich living heritage of Central Asia that India holds in deep respect," the Prime Minister said.

"I am confident that this visit will strengthen India's strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepen our civilisational connect with the region, and advance our shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, values that lie at the heart of India's engagement with the world," he added.

Kyrgyzstan expects PM Modi’s visit to give a major boost to bilateral economic ties, investment and trade, with the country keen to attract more Indian companies to sectors including infrastructure, renewable energy, tourism, technology and agro-industry, Kyrgyzstan’s Investment Minister Ravshanbek Sabirov said on Saturday.

Source: IANS

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Chicago, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday that India is likely to sustain an economic growth rate of 7 per cent or more in the financial year 2026-27, continuing the momentum recorded in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Chicago during her US visit, she said that India was likely to maintain its growth momentum despite geopolitical uncertainties and supply-chain disruptions following the US-Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Continuously keeping in touch with global uncertainties as much as understanding India’s own requirements have kept us floating. Whereas many countries are completely disturbed, their calculations have gone haywire," the Finance Minister observed.

She said that the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East conflict initially affected supplies of key commodities such as crude, petroleum products and fertilisers to India, but the country managed to reroute supplies.

The Finance Minister highlighted that the government has also kept fertiliser prices unchanged for farmers through subsidies despite a sharp rise in international prices.

"The forthcoming season will also require fertilisers from November. We are adequately stocked," she added.

FM Sitharaman further stated that the government would continue with systemic reforms and seek to mobilise more capital, particularly from overseas, as India’s economy expands. While private investment has picked up domestically following the government’s push on capital expenditure, India also needs to attract international investment to meet its growing capital requirements.

"Because of the ambitions that we have, we need capital. Therefore, on my trip to Canada and the US, and other ministers as well as the Prime Minister himself, all of us are talking to global funds," she said.

"Showcasing what India has already achieved and hearing their expectations so that we can go back and provide clarity is part of the effort," she added.

"We are also talking with several countries for the bilateral investment treaty along with a bilateral trade agreement," Sitharaman pointed out.

Last week, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also visited Japan, where he pushed to mobilise investments worth $60 billion by 2035.

Source: IANS

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Bishkek, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian diaspora in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday expressed their excitement for the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Central Asian nation.

"I am very happy that he is coming here for the first time. I am very, very happy because I have never seen him before, and now he is coming to Bishkek for the first time, and I will meet him face-to-face. I am very excited..." an Indian said to IANS, expressing his excitement for meeting PM Modi.

Sabina Abylgazieva, a Kyrgyz entrepreneur and business/investment specialist, expressed confidence in the potential for cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan.

"I believe that cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan has great potential, as our two countries are already working together and sharing valuable experiences. I think there are significant opportunities, particularly in the business sector, where we can learn from our Indian partners and exchange expertise, ideas, and opportunities..." Abylgazieva told IANS.

Youth Movement of Kyrgyzstan Chairman, Jakshylyk Beknazarov, called India "one of the most developed countries in the world", and said Kyrgyzstan values India’s experience and achievements.

"India is one of the most developed countries in the world, and Kyrgyzstan greatly values its experience and achievements. India has a wealth of experience in tourism, IT, science, cinema and many other fields. That is why we, as Kyrgyzstanis, want to share our own experiences with India and learn from each other," Beknazarov told IANS.

Askar Shaikidinov, another member from the Kyrgyzstan Youth Movement, called PM Modi’s visit to Kyrgyzstan highly significant and hoped that the visit will further strengthen the close and strategic partnership.

"First of all, Your Excellency, let me extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kyrgyzstan. His visit to Kyrgyzstan is highly significant, as India and Kyrgyzstan have witnessed very active and dynamic cooperation over the past decade. This visit is expected to further strengthen the close and strategic partnership between the two countries," said Shaikidinov.

PM Modi is travelling to Bishkek to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit after concluding his bilateral visit to Uzbekistan on Sunday. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO, and this year's theme is '25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity'.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Religious leaders from 30 countries have pledged to confront hatred, defend persecuted communities and ensure that artificial intelligence remains in the service of humanity.

The commitments were unveiled during a 'Universal Oneness' gathering at the Madison Square Garden in New York, attended by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat and representatives of several major faiths.

More than 200 religious representatives helped prepare the call to action after negotiations at a conference held earlier on Saturday.

"We will reject the use of religion to justify hatred, humiliation, dehumanisation or violence and teach that deep conviction can coexist with respect for those who believe differently," the declaration said.

It acknowledged both the power of faith to promote reconciliation and the history of religion being used to deepen divisions.

"We know the extraordinary power of faith to heal, reconcile, and inspire. And the painful truth that religion has sometimes been used to divide, exclude, and justify violence," it said.

The declaration came against the backdrop of armed conflicts, displacement and growing mistrust across societies. It warned that hatred now travels rapidly across borders through digital platforms.

"No government, institution, or technology can carry responsibility for the moment alone. Neither can religious leaders, but there is a responsibility that is uniquely ours," it said.

The leaders affirmed the dignity of every person and rejected the idea that unity requires people to abandon their individual beliefs or identities.

"Unity does not require conformity. Conviction does not require contempt," the declaration said.

Under five commitments, religious leaders pledged to examine the teachings and practices of their own communities, speak out when people are targeted and build relationships across religious and cultural boundaries.

"Peace begins with the courage to hold our own communities accountable," it said.

The leaders also promised to bring young people from different religious and cultural backgrounds together before disputes or tragedies arise.

"The person we know is harder to hate," the declaration said.

It called for joint service to people facing hunger, illness, displacement and persecution.

Cooperation, it said, must be evident through action and not merely public declarations.

"Our cooperation should be visible not only in what we say together, but in what we do together," it added.

The declaration also addressed decisions involving war, poverty, environmental protection and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

"We will insist that human progress remain in the service of human beings and that technology strengthen rather than diminish dignity, truth, freedom and human connection," it said.

Each participating leader was asked to undertake at least one concrete initiative. These could include bringing together communities that seldom interact, confronting hatred, creating opportunities for young people or serving alongside another religious group.

"We are not naive religious leaders alone cannot enforce limited hatred or reverse every injustice, but neither are we powerless," the declaration said.

During the gathering, participants tied rakhis on one another as symbols of connection, care and mutual responsibility.

Organisers said the tradition was being extended beyond families to friends, neighbours and communities.

Mohan Bhagwat has served as the Sarsanghchalak, or chief, of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since 2009. The RSS, founded in 1925, is marking its centenary and has organisations and affiliates operating in several countries.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prominent religious leaders have warned that hatred is spreading rapidly across borders even as humanity struggles with armed conflicts, displacement, prejudice and the disruptive effects of emerging technologies.

Addressing the 'Universal Oneness' gathering at Madison Square Garden in New York, Jewish, Christian and Muslim speakers called for dialogue, compassion and a renewed recognition of humanity's shared identity.

The gathering was attended by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat and religious representatives from several countries.

Baba Jain, Founding Secretary-General of the World Council of Religious Leaders, presented a call to action prepared after consultations involving more than 200 representatives of major faiths from 30 countries.

"We know the extraordinary power of faith to heal, reconcile, and inspire. And the painful truth that religion has sometimes been used to divide, exclude, and justify violence," Jain said.

He added that religious leaders must first examine the words, teachings, institutions and practices within their own communities.

"We will reject the use of religion to justify hatred, humiliation, dehumanisation or violence and teach that deep conviction can coexist with respect for those who believe differently," he said.

Jain also called upon faith communities to build relationships before crises arise and to bring young people together across religious and cultural boundaries.

"The person we know is harder to hate," he said.

Imam Sharif said the gathering's success would be measured by what its participants did after leaving the venue.

"The question is what will be different tomorrow because we were here today," he added.

"If we leave here with deeper relationships, renewed courage, shared responsibility, and a determination to act, then perhaps we would have helped begin something much, much greater," he said.

Sharif said unity should not be confused with uniformity.

"We do not have to become the same in order to belong to one another," he said.

"Unity does not require conformity. Conviction does not require contempt."

He warned that technological advancement had not eliminated humanity's oldest impulses.

"Hatred travels across borders and through our screens faster than ever before. Technology is advancing with breathtaking speed, all while humanity is still struggling with ancient diseases of the heart, freed, prejudice, arrogance, tribalism, dehumanisation and the thirst for domination," Sharif said.

Reverend Thorne said people were repeatedly being told whom to fear, blame or exclude.

The gathering, she said, conveyed a different message.

"Every time human beings choose to gather instead of retreat, to listen, instead of shout, to understand, instead of condemn, something sacred happens," she added.

"Before our titles, before our religions, before our politics, before the borders on a map, we are human beings, children of God," Thorne added.

Rabbi Blumenthal said Jewish teaching held that every human being carried godliness and possessed infinite value.

"Every one of us is equal, valued and loved because when God looks at us, it is like God looking at a mirror," he added.

He said religion was not only about believing in God but also recognising that God had faith in humanity.

"I am convinced that much of what troubles us in our society today is that we are lonely," Blumenthal said, calling upon people to seek "connection, love, and respect for one another".

The programme used Raksha Bandhan and the tying of a rakhi as symbols of care, protection and mutual responsibility.

Participants were encouraged to extend that bond beyond families to neighbours, strangers and different religious communities.

Bhagwat has led the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since 2009. Founded in 1925, the RSS is marking its centenary and has used the milestone to highlight its message of social organisation and service.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has pledged the organisation's full support to religious leaders working to promote interfaith cooperation, saying sustained grassroots action can change the global climate of conflict and mistrust.

"RSS with all its might is always with you because we are on the same page," Bhagwat told an international gathering of religious leaders in New York.

Addressing the "One World, One Humanity" programme, attended by more than 180 participants from 30 countries, Bhagwat said religious diversity should be respected and protected.

He added that different faiths were paths towards the same ultimate truth.

"Diversity is a decoration for our innate unity. It has to be accepted. It has to be respected. It has to be protected," he said.

"As I protect my own specific nature, I have to protect others also."

Bhagwat said the RSS believed it had a duty to take this message beyond India.

"We as RSS, we think because we have this knowledge that all humanity is one, it is our duty to go all over the world and tell everybody that in spite of our diversity, we are one," he added.

"Diversity is the rule of nature. Unity is the truth behind it."

The RSS Chief also addressed questions surrounding the organisation's approach towards Muslims.

Recalling an interaction with Muslim participants in Delhi in 2018, he said he had been asked whether Muslims would be driven out of India under the idea of a Hindu nation.

"I said no. That is not Hindu," Bhagwat said.

"If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat. He will not remain Hindu."

"If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same. And every human has a dignity. There is no difference between humans," he added.

Bhagwat said dialogue with Muslim and Christian communities in India had continued since that 2018 meeting.

Dialogue and service, he added, must proceed together and begin within communities rather than through political intervention.

"These things do not happen through politics. Sorry to say, but the fact is, politics has now become a game of self-interest," he said.

"We and ours is the solution. So our experience in Bharat is that we have to start with the society."

Bhagwat said political policies could eventually be influenced by building a strong public consensus.

In a democracy, he said, politicians would find it difficult to disregard firmly established public opinion.

"Whatever we decide to do today, we should start in our own country and create pockets of such selfless service, such atmosphere of unity," he added.

"We should create at our own place the models of the world we want."

In his remarks, he called for interfaith dialogue to be expanded from national leadership forums to provinces, districts and local blocks.

Local engagement, he said, could correct mistrust and demonstrate how communities could cooperate through service.

"If we together start working, we can change the situation of the world," Bhagwat said.

He cautioned, however, that the effort would require patience because changing ingrained habits and public attitudes would take time.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded in Nagpur in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar. The organisation marked its centenary in 2025 and describes itself as a volunteer-based cultural and social movement.

Bhagwat has served as the RSS Sarsanghchalak, or chief, since 2009. The organisation has a large network of volunteers and affiliated bodies working in social service, education, labour, student affairs and other fields across India.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said politics has become a "game of self-interest" and added that lasting change must begin within society before it can influence governments and public policy.

Addressing religious leaders at the "One World, One Humanity" programme in New York, Bhagwat added that political action alone could not create unity or change deeply rooted social attitudes.

"These things do not happen through politics. Sorry to say, but the fact is, politics has now become a game of self-interest," the RSS Chief said.

He added that the emphasis on individual interests had made it harder to find solutions to social divisions.

Collective thinking, he said, offered a better path.

"Where there is me, I am I. There is no solution. We and ours is the solution," he added.

"So our experience in Bharat is that we have to start with the society."

Bhagwat said religious leaders ultimately wanted to influence political decisions, prevent wars and encourage governments to pursue the right policies.

But such efforts, he added, could not begin at the political level.

"We want to change, influence the policies before they happen, influence them in the right way. We want to stop wars, we want to do all these things," he said.

"Therefore we want to influence the politics. We have to at some point of time. But we cannot start with those."

Bhagwat said the process should begin by building public opinion through dialogue, service and practical examples of cooperation.

Democratic governments, he said, depend on the views of citizens.

"Politics today, especially in democracy, it depends on the public view," he said.

"If there is public opinion, then no politician will dare to go against it."

Bhagwat urged participants to take their common commitments back to their countries and begin working within local communities.

"Whatever we decide to do today, we should start in our own country and create pockets of such selfless service, such atmosphere of unity," he said.

The RSS Chief said communities should develop working models of the kind of world they wanted to build.

These efforts should then be connected through sustained dialogue, he added.

"We should create at our own place the models of the world we want," Bhagwat said.

"And we should connect. We should keep on this dialogue."

He called for interfaith engagement to move beyond senior religious leaders and reach communities at the provincial, district and block levels.

"If we start at this level and start instructing our own people and then try to have this dialogue in all the countries, in the provinces of those countries, district level, block level, if you go like that, then the atmosphere will change," he said.

Bhagwat cautioned that changing public attitudes would be a long and difficult process.

Knowledge alone, he said, was insufficient unless it shaped conduct and daily practice.

"If we together start working, we can change the situation of the world," he said.

"But it will take long time. It is not so easy to clean up public mind."

Bhagwat has led the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since 2009. The Sarsanghchalak (Chief) is the organisation's highest-ranking office-bearer and provides its broad ideological and organisational direction.

Founded in Nagpur in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar, the RSS marked its centenary in 2025. It describes itself as a volunteer-based cultural organisation and has a nationwide network of local branches and affiliated bodies.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has urged religious leaders to create local models of unity and selfless service, saying global change must begin in communities and be sustained through dialogue at every level.

Addressing the "One World, One Humanity" programme in New York, Bhagwat said participants should carry their common resolve back to their countries and turn it into visible action.

"Whatever we decide to do today, we should start in our own country and create pockets of such selfless service, such atmosphere of unity," he added.

Bhagwat said that religious leaders should demonstrate through local initiatives how people from different communities could work together.

Successful projects could then be connected across regions and countries, he added.

"We should create at our own place the models of the world we want," he said.

"And we should connect. We should keep on this dialogue."

The RSS Chief called for interfaith engagement to move beyond international conferences and senior religious figures.

Dialogue, he said, should reach people in provinces, districts and smaller administrative blocks.

"This dialogue also we should take to the lower level," Bhagwat added.

"If we start at this level and start instructing our own people and then try to have this dialogue in all the countries, in the provinces of those countries, district level, block level, if you go like that, then the atmosphere will change," he said.

Bhagwat added that the RSS had gained practical experience through its dialogue with Muslim and Christian communities in India.

The engagement began after his 2018 address in Delhi and had continued despite frustration over the slow pace of results.

"So we started that dialogue. Mainly with Muslims and Christians of Bharat," he said.

"And step by step we are going ahead."

He cautioned that changing social attitudes would require patience.

People might understand the principles of goodness and love but still struggle to translate that knowledge into behaviour, he added.

"But now we have to create a situation wherein this knowledge prevails. And this knowledge rules the human behaviour," Bhagwat said.

He added that intellectual understanding alone was not enough.

"Good conduct had to become a habit strong enough to resist the attractions of material gain, power and superiority."

"We have to instill the practice," he said.

"Habit should be changed so radically and new habit should be so strong that it should fight this deflection of the lure of material happiness."

Bhagwat acknowledged that some participants in the continuing interfaith dialogue had questioned whether it was producing results.

"We have sat for seven times, nothing has happened," he quoted participants as telling him.

His response, he said, was: "Okay, continuously, something will happen."

The RSS Chief urged religious leaders not to abandon the effort because results were slow.

He said the work would be laborious and time-consuming but must continue without despair.

"We have to add one more resolve there. That we will pursue this code untiringly for the time it takes," he added.

Bhagwat has served as Sarsanghchalak (Chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since 2009. The position is the highest office in the organisation and carries responsibility for its broad ideological and organisational direction.

The RSS was established in Nagpur in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar and completed 100 years in 2025.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said the organisation serves people without religious discrimination, citing its response to an air disaster involving two planes from Arab countries whose passengers were predominantly Muslim.

Addressing the "One World, One Humanity" gathering of religious leaders in New York, Bhagwat noted that dialogue between communities must be accompanied by service.

"Dialogue is the first step. Service is another. Not one step after that. It had to start simultaneously," he said.

Bhagwat said service had been central to the RSS since its inception.

Volunteers did not ask about the religion or identity of people who needed assistance, he added.

"Right from our conception. We are serving. And while serving, we don't say, we don't see this discrimination," Bhagwat said.

"Whoever is needing, we are serving."

He said RSS volunteers, supported by society, were operating 130,000 service initiatives of different sizes.

Bhagwat cited the collision of two planes over Haryana to underline his assertion.

He said RSS volunteers reached the site and helped the victims without considering the religion of those on board.

"Both were from Arab countries. Most of the passengers were Muslims," he added.

Bhagwat said the volunteers treated the few survivors, recovered bodies, helped arrange funeral rites and later assisted relatives in identifying the victims.

"We never thought at that time that these are Muslims," he added.

The RSS Chief said the organisation could work in this manner because it was not motivated by politics or the prospect of receiving something in return.

"We could do this because we are not in politics," he said.

"We do it. We only give. We don't want anything."

Bhagwat acknowledged that perceptions had developed about the RSS because it had not publicised much of its work.

He invited people to observe the organisation from within before forming conclusions.

"That is why in publicity matters we are much behind," he said.

"There are many perceptions created by wrong narratives."

"But when you come and see us from inside, all those will be displayed within a day," he added.

Bhagwat said service could also change those receiving assistance.

"People who recovered from hardship through such projects often returned later to help others, without being asked to do so."

"This project has given me so much. I have to give back," Bhagwat said, describing the response of some beneficiaries.

"We don't preach them to do this. But that urge develops."

He urged religious leaders to establish similar examples of selfless service in their countries and connect them through continuing dialogue.

The 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision over Haryana involved a Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft and a Kazakhstan Airlines plane. All 349 people aboard the two aircraft were killed in one of the deadliest mid-air collisions in aviation history.

The RSS was founded in Nagpur in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar and marked its centenary in 2025. The organisation has a nationwide volunteer network, while its affiliated bodies work in areas including education, social service, labour and tribal welfare.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said religious diversity must be accepted, respected and protected, describing it as a visible expression of the fundamental unity of humanity.

Addressing religious leaders at the "One World, One Humanity" programme in New York, Bhagwat said faiths may follow different practices but humanity remained one.

"I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different but humanity is one," he added.

Bhagwat said there was one ultimate truth, although people understood and described it differently because human perceptions were limited.

"That truth is one truth but it is described in many ways according to the describer," he added.

He used the ability of different living beings to perceive colours as an example of how experiences could vary without necessarily being untrue.

Human beings may see the same world differently, he said, but they remain part of a shared reality.

"We are experiencing the same thing. That is the basis of humanity," Bhagwat said.

He added that religions were now largely identified by their rituals.

"Such disciplines were necessary for people following a particular spiritual path, but they should not become ends in themselves."

"What for religion is there? It is leading us to truth," the RSS Chief said.

Bhagwat compared religious practices to a finger pointing towards a light.

"A person who continued looking only at the finger, rather than following its direction, would fail to see the light," he said.

"So seeking the ultimate truth, divinity, which we call by different names, science nowadays calls it consciousness, we have to have to tread the path of truth," the RSS Chief added.

The RSS chief said religious paths could be straight or winding, long or short, and carefully constructed or difficult to navigate.

Their differences reflected variations in human perception, he added.

"Paths are bound to be there and they are bound to be many because there is a difference between our perception," the RSS Chief said.

Bhagwat added that Hindu tradition had long held that water falling at different places eventually reached the ocean.

"In the same way, different spiritual paths moved towards a common destination."

"There are many paths," he said.

"Oh God, you are the goal. How like the water falling from heaven on the earth always leads to ocean."

Bhagwat said India had historically provided shelter to communities that could not find safety elsewhere.

"Traditionally, Bharat has been giving shelter to everybody," he added.

"So those who could not find a safe place in the world, they came to Bharat, they found their place."

He said the RSS considered it its responsibility to take the message of unity amid diversity around the world.

"Diversity is a decoration for our innate unity," Bhagwat said.

"It has to be accepted. It has to be respected. It has to be protected."

"As I protect my own specific nature, I have to protect others also," he added.

"Because diversity is the rule of nature. Unity is the truth behind it."

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded by K.B. Hedgewar in Nagpur in 1925 and marked its centenary in 2025. It describes itself as a cultural and volunteer organisation working to organise and strengthen Hindu society.

Mohan Bhagwat, a Veterinary Sciences graduate, became the RSS Sarsanghchalak (Chief) in 2009. He is the sixth person to hold the organisation's highest position.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that knowledge alone cannot overcome religious and social divisions, calling for sustained practices that make service, love and respect part of everyday human behaviour.

Speaking at the "One World, One Humanity" programme in New York, Bhagwat added that traditions around the world already contained the knowledge needed to promote peace and unity.

"The problem is not knowledge of human beings," he said.

"In our knowledge, traditional knowledge, all over the world, every society in its tradition has this knowledge somewhere."

The challenge, the RSS Chief said, was to create conditions in which that wisdom guided human conduct.

"But now we have to create a situation wherein this knowledge prevails. And this knowledge rules the human behaviour," Bhagwat said.

"Knowledge of goodness. Knowledge of love. That we have to do."

He said that people often knew the right course but acted differently because of personal preferences and temptations.

Using his own diabetes as an example, Bhagwat said he knew that he should avoid sugar but could still find excuses to eat sweets.

"I know everything," he said.

"But still, when that comes, I say, oh, once I find it, it is all right. I find excuses. I do it."

Human beings behaved similarly despite knowing that religious leaders were offering the right message, Bhagwat added.

Intellectual education by itself could not overcome deeply embedded habits.

"This is a matter not of educating them, intellect twice," Bhagwat said.

"We have to instill the practice."

Religious rituals could help build those habits because they taught people to give, the RSS Chief added.

"Rituals of all religions teach the practice of giving," Bhagwat said.

The RSS Chief cited Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the spiritual teacher of Swami Vivekananda, who studied and practised multiple religious traditions, including Islam and Christianity.

"He (Ramakrishna Paramahamsa) practiced all the religions," Bhagwat said.

"Those of Bharatiya origin and also Islam and Christianity."

Bhagwat said Ramakrishna's conclusion was that different faiths led towards the same destination.

"And then he told us, don't worry. As many ways, as many thoughts. But all lead to one goal," he said.

"That is not theory. Real experience."

He also referred to philosopher and academic R.D. Ranade, who studied mystical traditions across different faiths and cultures.

"He tells that whatever the path, the experience people get are strikingly similar," Bhagwat said.

"There are documented experiences. He has studied all those."

Such teachings, the RSS Chief said, needed to reach ordinary people.

"Individuals must recognise that personal change was necessary before society could resist the desire for material gain, influence and superiority."

"Habit should be changed so radically and new habit should be so strong that it should fight this deflection of the lure of material happiness," he said.

Bhagwat urged religious leaders to continue their work even when visible progress was slow.

The task would be difficult, he said, but abandoning it could allow humanity to return to conflict.

The Ramakrishna movement traces its spiritual foundation to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th-century mystic whose teachings influenced Swami Vivekananda.

Vivekananda introduced Vedanta and yoga to a wider Western audience during his 1893 address in Chicago.

Bhagwat has led the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since 2009. The organisation was founded in Nagpur in 1925 and marked its centenary in 2025.

Source: IANS

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Tashkent, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Indian diaspora is a living bridge between India and Uzbekistan as he was greeted by a large gathering of the Indian community in Tashkent during his bilateral visit to the Central Asian nation.

"Overwhelmed by the warmth and affection of the Indian community in Tashkent. Our diaspora is a living bridge between India and Uzbekistan, strengthening the bonds of friendship between our nations," PM Modi said on Saturday on social media platform X.

He also appreciated the Indian-Uzbek fusion cultural performances during the welcome, and said that it showcased a deep cultural connect.

"A captivating fusion of Indian and Uzbek musical traditions! The Tabla blends beautifully with the Doira and Chang, showcasing the deep cultural connect between India and Uzbekistan," Prime Minister Modi said, sharing a glimpse of a Tabla performance on X.

A few women from the Indian community also tied a rakhi to PM Modi's hand as he was greeting the Indian community members.

He also witnessed cultural performances by artists. PM Modi was seen intriguingly observing dance performances by children and shook their hands after the performance.

Earlier, PM Modi visited the Yangi Uzbekistan Monument and said that it reflects the aspirations and progress of the Uzbek people.

"Upon landing in Tashkent, went to lay a wreath at the Yangi Uzbekistan Monument with President Mirziyoyev. The Yangi Uzbekistan Monument reflects the aspirations and progress of the Uzbek people. Glad to begin my visit by coming here," he noted on X.

PM Modi was accompanied by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as both leaders examined the artwork representing Uzbek culture and history at the Yangi Uzbekistan Park.

PM Modi thanked President Mirziyoyev for the warm welcome at Tashkent airport as he began his two-day State Visit to the Central Asian nation.

In a special gesture, Mirziyoyev travelled to the airport and received PM Modi, highlighting the friendship between both countries that has grown immensely over the last 12 years.

"Landed in Tashkent to a warm welcome by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Grateful to him for the special gesture. This is my fourth visit to Uzbekistan, reflecting the depth and growing momentum of our bilateral relations," PM Modi said on X after landing in Tashkent.

Source: IANS

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Vientiane, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, on Saturday interacted with the Indian diaspora in Laos and appreciated their contribution in strengthening ties between the two nations.

“Wonderful interacting with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Lao PDR. Appreciated their immense contribution to strengthening the close, friendly ties between our two nations. Our community continues to serve as an invaluable living bridge,” MoS Margherita stated on X.

He also interacted with the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) alumni in Vientiane.

“Interacted with the vibrant ITEC and ICCR alumni in Vientiane. Truly inspiring to see how India's capacity-building partnerships continue to contribute to the developmental journey of Lao PDR and reinforce our profound people-to-people ties. Our alumni remain the strongest pillars of our bilateral friendship, fostering deeper civilizational connects, goodwill, and mutual trust. Actively advancing India's Act East Policy!” MoS stated on X.

Earlier in the day, Margherita held an interaction with stakeholders from the tourism and textile sectors of Laos.

“Had a productive interaction with prominent stakeholders from the tourism and textile sectors of Lao PDR in Vientiane. Explored avenues to enhance bilateral trade, promote sustainable tourism, and revive traditional textile links. Our shared and rich civilizational heritage offers immense potential to boost economic synergy, create livelihoods, and deepen business-to-business (B2B) connect,” Margherita said on X.

He also inaugurated the performance of the iconic Phra Lak Phra Lam at the National Theatre in Vientiane.

“Delighted to inaugurate the performance of the iconic 'Phra Lak Phra Lam' at the National Theatre in Vientiane today. Supported through Indian grant assistance, this showcase of the Lao adaptation of the Ramayana highlights our deep-rooted civilizational links and vibrant cultural exchange. Proud to witness our shared heritage coming alive on stage, further strengthening the close bond between our peoples,” noted Margherita.

–IANS

ksk/as

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) More than 5,000 people from 39 US states are expected to attend a 'Universal Oneness' event scheduled to be addressed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at New York's prestigious Madison Square Garden on Saturday (local time), organisers have said.

The gathering, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., will bring together people from 85 cities. More than 200 organisations have partnered for the programme, according to event spokesperson Priya Samant.

"This event is a celebration of the Indian philosophy 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which is that the world is one big family," Samant said on Friday.

"And we all can live in peace and harmony, even though we have our differences," she said. "With this event, we are trying to bring that message forward where people from all walks of life are going to come."

Samant said the programme would be an interfaith gathering with cultural and spiritual elements. It is being held during the weekend of Raksha Bandhan, a festival that she said symbolised "protection, care, and bond between one another".

The programme will include an a cappella performance by Indian-American youth and the chanting of hymns, she said.

Organisers said the registration process had drawn an overwhelming response. Although registration had now closed, it had initially been open to everyone, Samanth said. Those unable to attend in person would be able to watch the programme online.

"We got so much overflooded with the requests to attend this event, so it's closed, but it was an open registration," she said.

Indian-American community members associated with the programme said its central message was especially relevant during a period marked by conflict and divisions.

Dr Avinash Gupta said the gathering reflected the "timeless philosophy of our ancient Indian culture, that the world is one family".

"In this divided world and at this difficult time, it is all the more important for us to be united and spread the message of oneness and peace and harmony with each other," Gupta said.

Ankur Vaidya, associated with the programme and a volunteer with the Federation of Indian Associations, called on New Yorkers and the wider American community to participate.

"We urge the greater American community, the community of New York, to participate, to seek truth in what we are trying to share," Vaidya said.

"Inclusiveness, wellbeing for all is the message that the programme intends to give," he added.

Samanth also addressed opposition to the gathering. She said people were entitled to express their views in a free society and that dialogue remained the way forward when groups disagreed.

"We might, we will have differences, profound differences, but we can still come together, and we can still have a seat at the same table and talk through our differences," she said.

"Dialogue does not mean endorsement, listening does not mean agreement, and understanding does not mean abandoning your differences," she added. "Oneness does not mean sameness. It means that we can have differences and we can still work together."

The RSS was founded in Nagpur in 1925 and is marking 100 years since its establishment. It describes itself as a volunteer-based cultural organisation focused on character-building, social service and national development.

Bhagwat has served as the RSS Sarsanghchalak since 2009. The Madison Square Garden programme forms part of his US visit and seeks to present the Indian philosophical idea of the world as one family to an overseas audience.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) As Indians based in the United States, UK and Canada, who were on a pilgrimage to the Kailash Mansarovar, remain missing following the massive flash floods in Nepal, their family members appealed for help from the governments of both nations.

A family in Gujarat's Surat lost contact with their son, who is an engineer in Florida, daughter, and daughter-in-law, who were on the pilgrimage, following the tragedy.

Speaking to IANS, their mother, Sushila Patel, said: "My son, daughter-in-law, and daughter went to Nepal on August 23 and were scheduled to leave for Mansarovar on the 25th."

"During the last conversation that we had, they told me that their immigration was completed and that they won't be able to talk to me after this (as they were entering China). Since we saw the news of the tragedy, we have been calling people to know about their whereabouts. My son-in-law, who stays in Bombay (Mumbai), also said that they are unreachable," she added.

The family appealed to the government to provide some information about the missing members.

Chhattisgarh BJP leader Karta Ram Gupta’s daughter Dr Meena Gupta, a UK-based doctor, was part of a 77-member group from Sadhguru's Isha Foundation and was on her way back from the Kailash Mansarovar when she reportedly went missing.

Her brother-in-law said: "We even spoke to her on a video call during her 'darshan' at the Kailash Mansarovar...she had last spoken to her father on August 25."

The family said that according to the group, she was at the immigration office when the tragedy struck.

"I appeal to the Indian and Nepalese authorities to provide any possible details about her at the earliest," sister Mamta Mittal told IANS.

Swati Bagrecha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh was also part of the Isha foundation group and went missing after the flash floods near the China-Tibet border, during her Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.

Showing photographs from her visit to the holy place on his mobile phone, her brother, Dr Prashant Bagrecha, said: "She had come to India from Canada on August 8 and after that undertook the journey to Nepal, towards Mount Kailash. Day before yesterday, she reached the immigration office at around 9 am, while on her way back...the group said that she was last contacted at around 9:05 am and had been unreachable after the flash floods struck."

The brother said that he has spoken to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, maintaining that everyone is trying to help at their own level.

In a similar case, Sandeep Kumar Garai, hailing from West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman, has been out of contact since Wednesday morning, following the devastating floods.

Talking to IANS, Sandeep's wife Tithi Garai appeared frustrated as she complained of not receiving any update about her husband's whereabouts from the administration.

"The administration hasn't helped me at all till now. I am not getting any news. What is the administration doing? Yesterday I went and filed a (report) at the police station, and even at the SDO office. They haven't provided any help till now. Bardhaman police station called me, but they are just saying they need documents, but we have not been provided any update so far," she said.

Source: IANS

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New York, Aug 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has defended its chief Mohan Bhagwat’s forthcoming address in New York as an inclusive interfaith engagement, rejecting criticism from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and groups campaigning to cancel the Madison Square Garden event.

Sunil Ambekar, the organisation’s national publicity chief, said that Bhagwat would communicate with people from different faiths and cultural backgrounds at the “Universal Oneness Celebration” on August 29.

“The Universal Oneness Celebration in New York exemplifies an interfaith gathering where RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji will communicate with a diverse, multicultural, and multi-faith audience,” Ambekar said in a post on X.

“Organised in the spirit of open dialogue and mutual respect, the event reflects Bharatiya ethos which is fundamentally inclusive and welcoming to all.

“This initiative is in line with longstanding tradition of engagement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with varied communities across India and the world, fostering understanding and shared purpose.

“We invite anyone interested in learning more about the RSS vision and philosophy to participate in these open forums of dialogue,” Ambekar said.

His remarks amounted to the RSS’s clearest response to the controversy surrounding Bhagwat’s visit and demands from several US-based groups that Madison Square Garden cancel the programme.

The gathering is being organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, or AHEAD Forum, with the participation of more than 100 US organisations.

Organisers have promoted the programme around the message that “The world is one family”. AHEAD has described the gathering as being “united in oneness and enriched by diversity”.

Bhagwat arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday. He was welcomed by representatives of the Universal Oneness Celebration, according to the event’s official X account.

The programme is expected to attract about 5,000 members of the Indian diaspora, according to media reports. The organisers have not released a detailed speaking schedule or a complete list of participants.

Mamdani has said he opposes the event because of what he described as the RSS’s ideological outlook.

“It has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision of any country, frankly,” the New York mayor said.

He indicated, however, that the city may not have the authority to prevent the private programme from taking place.

“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event,” Mamdani said.

Hindus for Human Rights has launched a campaign asking its supporters to telephone Madison Square Garden and demand the cancellation of Bhagwat’s appearance.

“Take 5 minutes. Call Madison Square Garden,” the group said in a post using the hashtag “NoHateAtMSG”.

The Indian American Muslim Council, Savera: United Against Supremacy and several Sikh, Dalit, Muslim and civil rights activists have also opposed the gathering. Demonstrators held a protest and news conference outside New York City Hall on Tuesday.

Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller and Democratic congressional nominee, joined the criticism.

“There is no room for Mohan Bhagwat and RSS hatred in our city,” Lander said.

Supporters of Bhagwat have launched a counter-campaign urging community members to contact Madison Square Garden and oppose the cancellation demand.

Popular American singer Mary Millben also criticised Mamdani and accused opponents of targeting Bhagwat because of their opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Madison Square Garden has not announced any change to the programme. Bhagwat’s address is expected to proceed as scheduled on Saturday.

The visit is part of the RSS centenary-year international outreach and includes the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Bhagwat is visiting at the invitation of overseas community organisations.

Source: IANS

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Toronto, Aug 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has said that India and Canada are the "most natural partners" in the world and stressed that bilateral ties have seen a "remarkable transformation" in recent times.

Union Minister Sitharaman arrived in Toronto on Tuesday (local time) for a four-day official visit to Canada focussed on strengthening bilateral trade, investment linkages, and financial cooperation.

Speaking during a reception of the Indian diaspora business community in Toronto, the Finance Minister said, "India-Canada bilateral relations have seen a remarkable transformation in recent times, underpinned by our shared values of democracy and pluralism, and expanding economic engagement, and an unprecedented pace of high-level interactions— which the High Commissioner recalled a minute ago — and the strength of our people-to-people ties."

Hailing the Indian business community in Canada, she said, "This is a community that sits inside Canadian boardrooms, on the trading floors of Bay Street, inside the risk committees of the pension funds. It is, in the truest sense, a strategic bridge between two vibrant democracies and two innovation-driven economies."

She recalled the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in June 2025, and said that during that meeting both leaders agreed to reset India-Canada ties by reaffirming a "future-focussed strategic partnership".

"This was further advanced during Prime Minister Carney's visit to India early this year, which formally launched CEPA negotiations, a Canadian $2.6 billion uranium agreement with Cameco, the adoption of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as an overarching framework of the renewed strategic partnership, and a joint declaration of ambition to more than double two-way trade to Canadian $70 billion by 2030," she added.

The Union Minister said that she believes India and Canada are the "most natural partners in the world".

"We are both vibrant democracies wedded to the rule of law. We share the Commonwealth traditions, a similar parliamentary model, and the same official language. We see eye-to-eye on most geopolitical questions. We both champion UN-based multilateralism, North-South cooperation, and a rules-based international order. Above all, Canada and India are the two great multicultural societies in today's world that truly value and cherish diversity. And that is a bond that goes deeper than any trade agreement," she added.

The Finance Minister said that India today stands as the fastest-growing major economy in the world and offers a combination that is difficult to match -- scale, sustained growth, a young population, expanding consumption and rapidly deepening capital markets.

"India's transformation is structural. Rapid urbanisation, a growing middle class and world-class digital infrastructure are creating new opportunities across virtually every sector of the economy. Our digital ecosystem has also dramatically reduced the cost of access and expanded the reach of financial and commercial services," she said.

Sitharaman said that the India-Canada partnership is "increasingly moving from capital flows to deeper institutional engagement".

"Capital markets are only one dimension of a modern financial partnership. Equally important is the underlying financial infrastructure," she said, hailing India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system.

"There are significant opportunities here for collaboration with Canadian banks, fintech companies and regulators - not only in payments, but in shaping the next generation of digital financial infrastructure," she added.

The Finance Minister stated that India is also creating "new gateways" for international capital.

"GIFT City, India's International Financial Services Centre, is emerging as a global platform for international financial institutions, supported by a regulatory and tax framework designed specifically for cross-border financial activity," she added.

At the same time, Sitharaman said that India has "progressively opened" sectors like insurance, asset management and pensions to greater foreign participation, while the Indian capital markets have become "deeper, more liquid and more sophisticated".

For Canadian institutional investors, she said that it creates opportunities not only to participate in India's growth, but also to "use India as a platform for wider regional and global financial activity".

Source: IANS

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Washington, Aug 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has arrived in the United States to attend a major Hindu gathering in New York City that will promote unity, civic responsibility and global harmony.

Bhagwat was received by members of the Universal Oneness Celebration team ahead of the August 29 event, according to the organisers.

Photographs released by the group showed the RSS Chief being welcomed with a traditional ceremony.

"The world is one family," the Universal Oneness Celebration said while announcing Bhagwat's arrival.

The gathering will urge participants to look beyond divisions, recognise the bonds connecting humanity and embrace mutual respect, harmony and oneness, the organisers said.

The Universal Oneness Celebration is being presented by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum, in association with hundreds of cultural, spiritual, service, faith and community organisations from across the United States.

Organisers described it as one of the largest and most diverse Hindu community gatherings held in the country. It will coincide with celebrations of the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan.

Bhagwat, who has served as the RSS Sarsanghchalak (Chief) since 2009, will deliver an address expected to draw attention in India and the United States.

The organisers said he rarely speaks at large public events in America.

The programme will also feature faith-based speakers and cultural presentations linked to the central theme of the gathering.

Organisers added that the celebration comes as questions surrounding social cohesion, pluralism, civic participation and interfaith understanding have acquired greater relevance across the United States.

The gathering will seek to highlight the growing role of Hindu Americans in public life and their contributions to education, health care, business, public service, philanthropy and civic engagement.

Central to the event will be the ancient Indian idea of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', or "The World Is One Family".

Organisers said the concept would be presented as a framework for addressing contemporary challenges through dialogue, mutual respect, shared responsibility and service.

The programme will bring together people from different linguistic, regional, cultural and organisational backgrounds.

Organisers said it would demonstrate how a pluralistic community can unite around common values while retaining its diversity.

The New York gathering will broaden that message to underline a shared responsibility to protect and care for communities, nations, humanity, nature and all creation, according to the organisers.

Those expected to attend include community leaders, entrepreneurs, physicians, educators, lawyers, artists, elected officials, young leaders, veterans, faith representatives and volunteers.

Delegations are also expected from temples, yoga organisations, educational institutions, service bodies, linguistic and regional associations, cultural groups and interfaith communities from across the country.

AHEAD Forum describes itself as a collaborative platform promoting constructive engagement, civic participation and dialogue among Hindu organisations and community leaders in the United States.

It also works to increase understanding of Hindu philosophy, culture and the community's contributions to American society.

The RSS was founded in Nagpur in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. It operates through a nationwide network of local branches and volunteer initiatives focused on character development, leadership training, education, disaster relief, rural development and community service.

Bhagwat became the RSS' sixth Sarsanghchalak (Chief) in March 2009. A veterinary sciences graduate, he previously served in several organisational roles, including as the RSS General Secretary, before succeeding K.S. Sudarshan as the organisation's chief.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Reserve Bank of India's special USD-INR forex swap facility for FCNR(B) deposits, Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings (OFCB), and External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), launched on June 8, has driven an unprecedented surge in foreign exchange inflows into the country to the tune US $73 billion as on August 21, according to a Finance Ministry statement on Monday.

FCNR(B) deposits alone accounted for $65.40 billion, underlining the overwhelming response of Non-Resident Indians to the scheme. The scheme's success underscores the strength of the Indian diaspora, who have reposed faith in the Indian banking system and have once again demonstrated their enduring economic and emotional stake in India's growth story, channelling savings into FCNR(B) deposits at a pace that has consistently exceeded expectations, the statement said.

Having reached $73 billion in under eleven weeks, with still another week to go, this stands out as the largest and fastest foreign-currency mobilisation exercise undertaken by India, comfortably surpassing the scale and pace of the RBI's 2013 FCNR(B) swap scheme, which had raised about $26 billion over roughly three months. The response has been strong enough for the RBI to advance the closure of the FCNR(B) window itself, from September 30 to August 31, 2026, having already achieved its objective ahead of schedule, the statement said.

"By securing large-scale, long-term non-resident deposits and commercial institutional funding entirely on tap, the Government of India has fortified its external buffers with maximum cost-efficiency. This spectacular response is a testament to the fact the Indian economy, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is moving from strength to strength despite unprecedented challenges in the global financial landscape," it added.

Meanwhile, Indian banks stepped up their efforts to attract FCNR(B) deposits by offering higher interest rates after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suddenly cut short the deadline for its dollar-rupee swap window to August 31, from September 30.

The swap facility, announced in June to boost the inflow of dollars amid a weakening rupee, was originally available until the end of September, but the RBI abruptly shortened this by a month due to the "encouraging response" to the facility, which resulted in the required amount of foreign exchange flowing into the country.

Source: IANS

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Washington, Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) California’s State Assembly has adopted a resolution recognising Diwali and expressing its “deepest respect” for Indian Americans and the Indian diaspora in the state and around the world.

House Resolution 137 recognises this year’s Diwali festival on November 8 and encourages Californians to participate in the celebrations. Assembly members Darshana Patel and Ash Kalra introduced the measure on August 13.

The resolution was adopted after being considered by the Assembly Committee on Rules. It drew a broad group of co-authors from across the State Assembly.

The Hindu American Foundation announced the adoption in a social media post.

“California’s Diwali Resolution has officially been ADOPTED!” the organisation said.

It thanked Patel and Kalra “for their leadership in recognising the significance of Diwali and advancing this important resolution.”

“Special thanks to Asm. Patel’s office for reaching out to us for consultation on the bill language. We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute,” the foundation said.

The resolution describes Diwali as a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and South Asian Americans. It notes that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains celebrate the festival annually across the United States and around the world.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, means “a row of lamps,” according to the resolution. It calls the festival one of the world’s oldest holidays and says it brings families, friends and communities together.

The document highlights generosity, unity, joy, appreciation and reflection as central elements of the celebration.

The resolution says the lamps represent “the defeat of darkness and the victory of light.”

It also recognises the festival as an important time for families to gather and participate in traditions that promote a sense of community.

Different Diwali traditions represent the triumph of good over evil and carry themes of overcoming struggles, embracing positivity and humility, and maintaining kindness despite personal challenges, the resolution says.

The measure notes that Diwali will be celebrated this year across the Indian American and South Asian American diaspora. For many communities, the festival also marks the beginning of a new year.

“For those who celebrate, Diwali is a time to commit to knowledge, growth, and happiness,” it says.

The Assembly said the festival also provides a time for reflection and underscores the importance of wisdom, kindness and transformation.

Source: IANS

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