M Chuba Ao -- Guest Column -- Strike a Bond with Self Dependence :::: "... slogan of the 21st century being 'Indian century' has a far greater potential"

The touchstone of any success ultimately rests with the man in the street. The common man decides everything and more so in a vibrant democracy like ours. 

Self Dependence or as we know commonly - Atmanirbhar - is a key milestone. 

Eastern Mirror Link

It's true, the Indian economy has weathered the challenges from time to time. The latest problem is from the US-Iran War. But the government of Shri Narendra Modi has handled it well. Ever since it came to power first in 2014; the NDA regime has notched up success in construction of roads and highways and in power sector. 

I might have said this earlier also. The centre has invested heavily on roads, bridges and railways and in aviation sector. However, I believe the states need to do more to tap all the potentials. In recent years, the state of Assam has done pretty well. In the process; I am sure all other north eastern states now 'feel' a challenge to deliver in areas where it has invested a lot and where each state has their own potentials.  

Indian states are the primary engines of grassroots development and economic implementation. Through cooperative and competitive federalism, they tailor national policies to local contexts—managing critical sectors like agriculture, law and order, and public health.   

A welfare state should have its own policies -- like revenue generated programmes. The issues of unemployment should be addressed at the local level.  

State governments should take up certain policy that it should not be a burden.  This decentralisation enables regions to customise their growth and public welfare strategies. Let us look into some basic technicalities.  

Eight states account for more than 60 per cent of the nation's economic activity. Andhra Pradesh, the capital New Delhi and surrounding region, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

On the other hand, five states account for 70 per cent of India's exports. They are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana – in that order.   

The eastern India and the Northeast are far off. As stated above, Assam is changing the scenario and now a lot would also depend on West Bengal as the BJP government is now running the show.

As central-funds-depended states; the northeastern states will have to pull up sleeves and try improve the situation. Nagaland has its own challenges. But the state 'balances' rapid infrastructure progress with ecological preservation.

India’s development strategy in the Northeast focuses heavily on infrastructure, railway integration, and cross-border connectivity across all eight states under the North Eastern Council. Significant projects are transforming the region's historical remoteness into a key driver of economic growth. 

The northeastern states under Modi government are now transitioning from isolated regions into critical drivers of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).

M Chuba Ao 

Framed under the Ashtalakshmi (eight sister states) and Act East policies, this journey is fueled by massive infrastructure, localised economic development, cross-border connectivity, and integration into national value chains.

Hence, we in the BJP often take pride in mentioning that the last 12 years is a significant journey and milestone - put together. But we may fail in our duties of we do not point out at the need for attaining self-dependence. 

Financial support from New Delhi is always a matter of right and privilege. But now it is the responsibility of the north eastern states too. 

Given their proximity to international borders (Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh), these states have to help manage border-as-a-gateway policies, maintain the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to monitor visitor entry, and handle inter-state border disputes.

Nevertheless, these states will have to evolve some new methodologies. They must collaborate on collective socioeconomic planning and resource sharing such as water, land, and energy. And in doing so, the union Home Ministry-run North Eastern Council (NEC) can play a positive role.  

The NE region is the powerhouse of India’s energy transition. Its massive, untapped hydropower potential is essential for meeting India's net-zero commitments and ensuring regional energy security. 

A Garo agriculturist

Major projects currently in development include the Subansiri Lower (2000 MW), Dibang Multi-Purpose Project (2880 MW), and Teesta Stage VI (500 MW). 

These projects are instrumental in powering the local economy and feeding the national grid.  The Northeast India can operate as a critical testing ground and operational gateway for India’s digital diplomacy, specifically in deploying digital public infrastructure to deepen sub-regional financial networks. 

Transitioning border trades onto secure, real-time electronic platforms can simplify transaction architecture, curbs illicit shadow economies, and bind our neighborhood commerce tightly to the Indian Rupee.

To wrap up, one may say ---- the slogan of the 21st century being 'Indian century' has a far greater potential than is acknowledged. It is more so in the context of north eastern states. 

It is truly 'the world at our feet' moment provided we are ready for it.

scenic Kohima : Nature calling 

(M Chuba Ao

is BJP national vice president. Views expressed are personal)

ends 

CIA study papers :::: Could India defeat the Khalistani movement? And what consequences would prolonged instability have for South Asia?

A declassified CIA research paper titled “India and the Sikh Challenge” has dealt with critical questions 'confronting' American policymakers from time to time: 

--- How serious was the Sikh militancy/insurgency? 

--- Was Pakistan actively supporting Sikh extremists? 

Could India defeat the Khalistani movement? And what consequences would prolonged instability have for South Asia?  

The most overlooked contribution of the CIA finding remains -- in its analysis of what it called the “Sikh International Network.” 

Long before global terrorism financing became a dominant security concern, the CIA devoted an entire section to the overseas ecosystem sustaining the Punjab insurgency. 

The Sikh organisations in Britain, Canada and the United States had developed extensive fundraising and propaganda networks that alsp generated financial support for extremist groups operating in Punjab.

Curiously, the paper validates Indian allegation and also paint a 'nuanced picture' that differs from both official Indian narratives and Pakistani denials.  

The Khalistan movement is a 'Sikh separatist campaign' that sought to establish an independent sovereign state called Khalistan in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. 

The movement remains a prominent political and diplomatic issue, particularly among the Sikh diaspora in Canada, the UK, and Australia.  

It remains largely curbed or suppressed in India.  

The CIA had warned (in late 1980s) that unless the Govt of India addressed both the security and political dimensions of the crisis, Punjab could face a prolonged period of instability.

It also concluded that India had succeeded in slowing the growth of the insurgency.

Despite several successful security operations, Sikh extremists retained the ability to sustain violence through targeted assassinations, bombings and intimidation, it said.  

Notably, under the leadership of religious figure Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the movement escalated into an armed insurgency. 

The period in 1980s and 1990s saw severe unrest and violence was met with decisive military action by the Indira Gandhi government, primarily the 1984 Operation Blue Star.

Militants were eliminated and flushed out of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and there was also subsequent anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Indira Gandhi on Oct 31, 1964. 

The conflict and subsequent police crackdowns in the late 1980s and early 1990s largely eradicated the violent militancy in India.

The early 1990s were the deadliest phase of the conflict. 

Between 1990 and 1991, around 6,000 people were killed in the region, including nearly 1,000 police officers and paramilitary personnel. 

While earlier efforts predominantly targeted Hindus, by 1990, militants were increasingly killing proportionately more Sikhs who opposed their ideology.

Militant organizations such as Babbar Khalsa issued mandatory edicts across Punjab. They enforced strict religious and social codes, such as mandating religious uniforms in schools, banning alcohol and cigarettes, and dictating media representation.

The movement experienced significant internal factionalism and criminalization. 

Under the guise of the separatist struggle, criminal gangs and armed groups began coercing businessmen and landowners for protection money to fund weapons and equipment.

The government had launched aggressive counter-militancy and policing operations, dispatching heavy army and paramilitary convoys into the state.  

The CIA paper in the meantime did not portray Pakistan as directing every aspect of the insurgency. Instead, it described what amounted to calibrated support, sufficient to keep the movement alive without inviting unacceptable international costs.

The CIA report’s assessment of Pakistan was revealing. 

By 1987, American intelligence believed Pakistan was “most likely training small numbers of Sikh extremists” and permitting them to use Pakistani territory as a sanctuary. 

The CIA assessed that Islamabad was unlikely to dramatically expand its support because President General Zia-ul-Haq remained conscious that overt involvement could damage Pakistan’s improving relationship with Washington during the Soviet-Afghan war.

In other words, the CBI believed Pakistan sought to exert pressure on India while carefully avoiding actions that could trigger a larger confrontation or jeopardise Islamabad's strategic value to Washington.  

The CIA also examined the organisations operating inside Punjab. 

It identified the All India Sikh Students Federation and the Damdami Taksal as the principal extremist groups.

The organisations had become better armed. 

The CIA report stated that these organisations probably received some assistance from Pakistan and that members were believed to have travelled across the border for training. 

It also referred to diplomatic and intelligence reporting suggesting that elements of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence were involved in facilitating support for Sikh extremists.

KPS Gill : Man who did 'miracles' and courted controversies 

ends 

Break from past to woo investors :::: West Bengal Govt to buy land for industries ::::: "we do not want another Nandigram or Singoor"

The decision — the reverse of the Mamata Banerjee government’s hands-off land policy — underscores the Suvendu administration’s willingness to try out new options to tackle a major hurdle to attracting private investment in West Bengal

The state government will “purchase” land directly and transfer it to private companies for industrial projects, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Saturday, signalling the clearest shift yet in the new BJP administration’s approach to industrialisation.   

“We have accepted the direct land purchase policy of 2013…. With this policy, we are giving land to the BSF, railways and the national highways (authority), and for the new airport,” CM Suvendu said after laying the foundation stone for hosiery major Lux Cozi Group’s new manufacturing unit at Dankuni. 

“Under the land purchase scheme, we will directly purchase land and hand it over to you.”

The CM said his government would not want a repeat of the Singur and Nandigram anti-land-acquisition agitations that ended the Left’s 34-year rule and struck a blow to Bengal’s hopes of industrial revival. 

Ironically, these agitations had powered Suvendu’s meteoric rise in politics — as a key Trinamool leader. 

“Kono industry direct land purchase kore amra chai na arekta Nandigram ba Singur hok,” he said.  (By land purchase directly by companies, we do not want another Nandigram or Singoor). 

“It’s our understanding that this government would not stop private land purchase by industry. However, we will await the official announcement of the land policy, likely before the Puja,” an official with a business chamber said.

The Mamata administration, keen on avoiding the political backlash associated with government-led land acquisition, had largely left the task of buying land to private companies. 

However, once the industries acquired land parcels exceeding the statutory landholding limits, the government required them to navigate a cumbersome process under which the land was formally vested in the state before being leased back for industrial use.

Suvendu's reference to “land purchase policy of 2013” is significant.

The then UPA government had promulgated the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, replacing the colonial Land Acquisition Act of 1894 that had been invoked in Singur for the Tata Nano factory.

However, rather than land purchase, this Act provides for land acquisition — a government process under which the landowners are obliged to give up their land, at a pre-fixed rate, while the administration is obligated to show that the acquisition will serve the public good.

Private landholdings in Bengal tend to be small whereas big industry needs large tracts of contiguous land. So, acquisition tends to work better in the state since it denies the landowner the right to refuse.

Mamata’s government never implemented the 2013 Act because it was against land acquisition in principle.

blogger 

ends 

Whatever Will Be ... Will Be :::: Those who admire Vajpayee and yet hate characters such as Syama Prasad Mookerjee must note that former PM was once PA of Jan Sangh founder

In 1951, Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Two years later, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was handpicked by the man to be his private secretary. 

When Vajpayee became Prime Minister, he made sure that his mentor was celebrated.

In 2000, Vajpayee arrived in Kolkata/Calcutta to inaugurate Mookerjee’s centenary celebrations. The main event was organised at the Netaji Indoor Stadium though chief minister Jyoti Basu was away on a foreign tour. 

In 2001, a special exhibition was inaugurated at the National Archives of India; a commemorative stamp was also released around the time and the list goes on. 

                                               son of famous Bengali educationist Sir Asutosh Mookerjee

 

Vajpayee once famously recalled Mookerjee's final instructions before his 1953 mission to enter Jammu and Kashmir without an official permit:

"Vajpayee, go and tell the countrymen that I have entered Jammu and Kashmir, but I have not taken a permit."   

Pre 2014, when the BJP with Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate started reviewing party iconography, people began hearing more about Mookerjee all over again.  

PM Narendra Modi has always made it known that he is a great fan, admirer and disciple of Mookerjee.  

In the 2013 Lalkar Rally in Jammu, against the backdrop of a discussion on Article 370, Modi invoked Mookerjee.

He reminded people of Mookerjee’s controversial death; he had been arrested when he entered Kashmir in 1953 and thereafter died in detention. 

In one of his early Mann Ki Baat programmes, Modi underlined Mookerjee’s academic brilliance. 

He said, “...very few people would know that he was the youngest vice-chancellor of the University of Calcutta at merely 33 years of age”.

Modi credits Mookerjee for his fight for a unified India, famously echoing his slogan: "Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan, do nishan nahi chalenge" (One country cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two flags). 

PM also directly linked the abrogation of Article 370 to fulfilling Mookerjee's vision.  

On  July 6, 2026 - 125th birthday of Syama Prasad Mookerjee; PM Namo paid rich tributes and remembered him as a distinguished nation-builder, eminent educationist and visionary leader who dedicated his life to India's unity, dignity and progress.  

"Dr. Mookerjee's contributions spanned diverse spheres. He was an outstanding thinker and educationist, who supported innovation and futuristic learning. As Industries Minister, he laid the foundations of industrial self-reliance while ensuring that traditional sectors and livelihoods flourished. 

His humanitarian efforts during the Bengal Famine reflected his profound compassion for those in distress. Above all, his steadfast commitment to the unity and integrity of India remains an enduring source of inspiration.

As we move forward in our journey towards a Viksit Bharat, his vision continues to illuminate our path," PM tweeted.  

The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir was named Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel and a countrywide rural infrastructure programme was named after him too.  

In 2020, Kolkata Port was renamed Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. 

The National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality in Joka was named after Mookerjee, as was a super specialty hospital and research centre at IIT Kharagpur.  

“He was primarily an educationist,” says Mookerjee’s nonagenarian nephew Chittatosh Mookerjee.

As the vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, Mookerjee introduced Bengali as a medium of instruction, founded diverse departments in science, encouraged the study of social welfare and vocational courses, and started departments in Chinese, Tibetan and Islamic history. 

He also established Calcutta University’s Asutosh Museum of Indian Art to preserve regional heritage. 

“Syama Prasad was a far-sighted politician who had a deep attachment to India’s glorious past. He chose to draw inspiration from Indian traditions rather than from the European philosophies of Karl Marx or John Stuart Mill. 

But he possessed a thorough knowledge of Western political ideas," says Syama Prasad's great grand daughter Debdutta Chakraborty. 

Ms Debdutta is researching Mookerjee’s political journey based on letters, diary entries, photographs and certificates culled from various archives including those preserved in Mookerjee’s private study at the family’s ancestral home in Bhowanipore.

She is granddaughter of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s  nephew Chittatosh Mookerjee.

The 'ancestral home' building currently houses the Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Institute or AMMI, a registered educational and cultural society run mostly by family members. 

Debdutta continues, “Although we have donated many documents to the National Archives of India to ensure proper preservation, we still have with us several boxes and cupboards full of papers related to Syama Prasad’s work.”

Debdutta’s niggle is that despite all this historical evidence, Mookerjee has been relegated to the margins of history. She attributes it to the fact that his ideology did not align with “mainstream Nehruvian or Gandhian ideas”. 

She says, “He did not subscribe to the militant politics of Bengal’s revolutionaries, nor did he toe the pro-Axis, anti-British line of certain leaders.”

 

In more ways than one, the British colonisers and their 'secret and not so secret' associates plotted the partition of India. It was also 'conspired' that Assam should go as part of East Pakistan. 

Amongst the galaxy of freedom fighters, if there is one great freedom fighter, we should be thankful to for enabling Assam to remain as a part of India, it is Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

"He shines as a big star. This man’s foresight and fight helped Assam remain in India. Assam was a group-C state and was supposed to be a part of East Pakistan during partition. Dr Syama Prasad Mukherji was a life saviour of the people of our State," wrote MiraNath Bora.

"He saved Assam from being a part of Pakistan when he fought tooth and nail to retain Assam in India and not be included in the partitioned part given to over to Pakistan as part of East Pakistan.

Great freedom fighter Pushpalata Das said that Assam could not have been saved from being merged with East Pakistan by Gopinath Bordoloi alone if Dr Mookerjee did not actively lend his support, strategise and fight for retaining Assam in India," Ms Bora wrote in an article published in website of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.

Dr Mookerjee also provided adequate security to persecuted Bengalis as long as he was alive.  

As soon as he became Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University in 1935, he introduced Assamese language. He wanted that people of India should appreciate and learn Assamese language so as to know about the history of Assam and the state’s great and brave kings.  

Mookerjee actually joined active politics 'reluctantly' when he was 38. 

In a diary entry, he notes that before that he did not “feel attracted by the noisy and dusty career of a politician”. Chittatosh says, “He joined politics to protect Hindu Bengalis.” He continues, “You have to understand the political context of the 1930s and 1940s. That was a time when Hindus were a minority in Bengal, affected by riots in a Muslim-majority province.”

Debdutta adds, “He felt that the Congress and the Leftists did not counter the rabid Muslim League and failed to protect the interests of the minority Hindu community, especially in East Bengal.”  

A well-known quote by Advani highlighting Mookerjee's movement against Article 370 states:

"He was a visionary who had foreseen the consequences of placing Jammu & Kashmir, a strategically located state, in a separate and tenuous Constitutional relationship with the rest of India."

ends 

England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to book World Cup 2026 semi-final spot ::::: And when the heat is on, Bellingham delivers

England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to book World Cup 2026 semi-final spot 

Jude Bellingham was the star . 

Jude 'shaped' this World Cup to his will. Great players do that. He is one of them.

Two more goals from this incredible young man, the second in extra-time, earned England a place in the semi-finals, eventually overcoming a Norway side that had threatened to overwhelm them in the searing Miami heat.

And when the heat is on, Bellingham delivers. It felt almost emotional that his second goal came after a 20-yard shot from his friend, his lifelong friend, Morgan Rogers was spilt. Bellingham pounced.  

England dominated the ball in the opening exchanges without carving out any clearcut chances and the hydration break came at a good time for Norway. There was a scare for Thomas Tuchel’s side on 33 minutes as John Stones’s error almost created a chance for Erling Haaland. 

England failed to heed that warning, however.  

There was time for Kane to have a goal ruled out for offside before the interval and 10 minutes after the break it was Norway’s turn to have a goal disallowed, with Torbjørn Heggem turning home from close range after a series of corners. A video assistant referee review found that Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson to the ground just before the corner was taken.

Chances became increasingly scarce as time ticked away and the tension grew, with Norway coming closest to breaking the game open on 75 minutes, Kristoffer Ajer’s heading pinging off the bar after England had failed to clear another corner. Saka’s inswinging cross moments later bounced dangerously in the six-yard box but just evaded Anderson at the far post.

Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland is in tears after the final whistle following a brave effort that ended in heartbreaking fashion, with his extra-time error proving costly as England booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals.

Three minutes into extra time England had the lead for the first time. Morgan Rogers’s effort from 25 yards should have been dealt with comfortably by Nyland, but the Norway goalkeeper fumbled the shot and Bellingham pounced.

Six minutes later Spence tumbled under Oscar Bobb’s challenge in the area. Referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot but then overturned his decision after a VAR review. England were denied the cushion but held on for another hard-fought victory.

"What would (Asim) Munir do? Distribute condoms?" ::::: Army chief Asim Munir has new job in Pakistan ::: Who knows he may win some 'never heard of prize' for Population control ::: He faces an uphill task ... Pak expected to become fourth largest population by 2030

He is not only someone who holds the distinction of being a 'Field Marshall' after Pakistan army suffered immense humiliation and military setback in Operation Sindoor.

 Asim Munir is a man who wears many hats in cash-starved country. Apart from managing the armed forces, he dabbles in diplomacy (as was seen during the US-Iran mediation) and also steers Pakistan's economic policy

In between, he still finds time to engage in anti-India rhetoric. 
Now, his list of responsibilities is set to get longer. The Pakistan army chief will now have to curb Pakistan's uncontrolled population growth.

Probably there was a military diktat and since then Pakistani health minister Syed Mustafa Kamal at a Senate meeting earlier this week, made the announcement.

With a population of over 259 million, Pakistan is presently the fifth-most populous country. It is expected to become the fourth largest, surpassing Indonesia, by 2030. 

For cash-strapped Pakistan, it is nothing short of a demographic catastrophe. In the process, has he tried to make himself the nation's dictator (with the the hybrid arrangements) till 2030 at least ? 

Is this bravado or joke linked to Indian parliamentary elections in 2029 ?  

"The government is treating this issue with the highest priority, and important policy decisions are being taken at every level," Pak health minister said.  The new job for Munir comes at a precarious time for Pakistan, which is already dealing with security issues in Balochistan and near the Afghan border. Moreover, unrest in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) over economic hardships and police excesses is only intensifying by the day.

Earlier this week, 42 Pakistani security personnel were killed by Baloch rebels and TTP militants in the restive Balochistan province. Additionally, tensions have been high along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border for the past few weeks.

Handing its army chief a role to bring the population under control at such a sensitive time has come in for ridicule from Pakistanis.

As usual, social media has erupted with memes and jokes, poking fun at the army chief's new role. 

"What would (Asim) Munir do? Distribute condoms?" one user tweeted.

"If the government needs their field marshal for population control, it should go home," tweeted popular Pakistani journalist Asad Toor.

Another user had a sarcastic take, saying, 

"He successfully reduced population in Kashmir, Balochistan, Muridke, Islamabad."

ends 

Why doesn’t Narendra Modi do press conferences? From New Zealand .... comes a new angle ::::: "PM prefers direct contact with electorate like quintessential politicians"

 “Mr Modi has perfected the art of direct contact with his electorate and seems to be doing a rather good job,” remarked a foreign ministry official and perhaps he was convincing. 

Technically and otherwise; after Norway, question of why the leader of the world’s largest democracy does not take unscripted questions from journalists follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia and New Zealand.  

Someone has answered that critical query quite convincingly in someway ... 

MEA official pointed out that Modi is one of the longest-serving prime ministers of India and he is "doing well" when establishing direct contacts with the masses.   

“It's not appropriate for me to question the PM's political method as I'm a civil servant,” Rudrendra Tandon, secretary (East) in the  Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said in reply, smiling. “He is a very successful politician.”

He then went on to “explain the context” to New Zealand reporters, claiming that PM Modi prefers direct contact with his electorate like most “quintessential Indian politicians”.  

“You must remember that the Indian electorate are predominantly rural folk who want direct contact. They don’t like being spoken down to, they don’t like being spoken to through intermediaries,” the diplomat used his skill pretty well.  

“Mr Modi has perfected the art of direct contact with his electorate and seems to be doing a rather good job,” he added, pointing out that Modi is one of the longest-serving prime ministers of India.  

"This visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in four decades, has opened an important new chapter in our relations. Our decision to elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, the progress on trade and investment and the renewed momentum in defence, education, culture, sports and people-to-people exchanges reflect the growing depth of our friendship," PM Modi tweeted. 

                       Modi with New Zealand PM Luxon 

It goes without stating that PM Modi has been using social media extensively and his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' mostly dealing with non-political issues is also extremely popular.

 

Days earlier, an Australian journalist reporting on Modi’s visit said on TV: “This is about as close as we will get to Narendra Modi on his trip with [Australian PM] Albanese. He [Modi] famously avoids unscripted news conferences, preferring more staged-managed appearances instead.”

The episode has reignited criticism at home. Several social media users said it was "mind-boggling" that Modi continued to hail India as the world's largest democracy while not holding a single unscripted press conference during his three terms in office, either in India or abroad.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called the Australian episode a "joke on the Indian media", saying it was only "a matter of time" before supporters of the prime minister turned their attention to discrediting the Australian journalist. 

She alleged that instead of demanding answers from Modi, sections of the Indian media had been reduced to amplifying his "monologues".  

During Modi’s visit to Norway last month, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng had shouted from the press gallery: “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Helle had later justified her call-out to PM Modi: 

“Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, Emirates & Cuba. It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with.”  

Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the foreign ministry had said:

"Let me give a background of what India is and why should the world trust India. Let us look at the few challenges that the world faced in the last few years. COVID was a big challenge the world faced. 

And how do you test the trust on a country? One, what is a country? A country today has four elements: One, population; two, government; third, sovereignty; and fourth, territory. 

So that is what makes a country a country. And we are proud that we are a civilizational country of 5,000 years old, continuous civilization, contributed immensely to the world. You look around, you see an India connect everywhere in the world.

India has, you know, the numbers which you see on your phones, it is originated in India. "Shunya,” Zero originated in India. 

Chess originated in India. So, we are proud of that civilization. Yoga, which the world admires today, it originated in India. India has epics and books…". 

ends