Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described Indias’ economy as the world’s most “dashing and dynamic” and said some people who have the attitude of “we are everyone’s boss” are not liking it. Singh’s comments come amid high tariffs announced by the US on goods imported from India. The speed with which India is moving ahead, no power in the world can stop it from becoming a big power globally, Singh said in his address after performing bhoomi pujan of a rail coach manufacturing unit of the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district. “Today, if any country has a dashing and dynamic economy, it is India’s economy,” he asserted. The defence minister, without naming anyone, said some people are not liking the rapid development of India and are unable to digest it. “They think that we are everyone’s boss and how is India moving forward so fast? Many people are trying to do something, so that when things made by the hands of Indians in India go to countries of the world, they become more expensive than the things made in those countries, and they become so expensive that the people of the world do not buy them,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 August,2025 08:24 AM IST | Raisen | AgenciesThe INDIA bloc will put up a joint candidate for the vice presidential polls and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is reaching out to opposition parties to explore names and reach a consensus on it, sources said Sunday. Though there has not been any structured discussion on picking a candidate, backchannel talks are on among INDIA bloc partners to deliberate on names of possible candidates with Kharge reaching out to opposition parties for building a consensus. There is consensus among parties that the INDIA bloc will put up a joint candidate for the vice presidential polls, Congress sources said. However, a section in the opposition camp believes that the INDIA bloc must decide their candidate after the BJP announces its pick. This comes at a time of heightened unity among INDIA bloc constituents who have vowed to fight against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged poll rigging. In a show of unity, top INDIA bloc leaders held a dinner meeting at the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday and vowed to fight the electoral rolls' revision in Bihar as well as what they described as the “vote chori model” of the BJP-Election Commission. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 August,2025 08:22 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that there would be no deletion of any voter’s name from the draft electoral roll in Bihar without issuance of prior notice, affording opportunity of being heard and a reasoned order. The poll panel also said that the statutory framework does not require it to prepare or share any separate list of names of people not included in the draft electoral rolls. The EC filed an additional affidavit in the apex court on Saturday, days after it came out with the much-anticipated draft electoral rolls in Bihar, enlisting 7.24 crore voters but knocking off more than 65 lakh names, claiming that most of the persons concerned had died or migrated. A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant is hearing the pleas against the EC’s Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 August,2025 08:19 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Indian technology and the ‘Made in India’ initiative were behind the success of Operation Sindoor which brought Pakistan to its knees in a few hours. The world for the first time saw the new face of India during Operation Sindoor when it demonstrated its ability in destroying the terror hubs deep inside Pakistan, he said. He said that there was a major role of Bengaluru and its youth in Operation Sindoor. The PM underlined that Bengaluru is identified with big cities of the world. Noting that India has to not only compete globally, but also has to lead, he said, “We will progress only when our cities are smart, fast and efficient.” In this context, he said his government's emphasis has been on completing modern infrastructure. “Urban planning and urban infrastructure are much needed in the 21st century and we have to make cities like Bengaluru future ready,” the PM said. Vande Bharat trains PM Modi on Sunday flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains here on Sunday. While the much-awaited Bengaluru-Belagavi Vande Bharat Express was flagged off by Modi in person; the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Amritsar, and Ajni (Nagpur)-Pune Vande Bharat services, were launched virtually. The Bengaluru-Belagavi Vande Bharat Express will be the 11th Vande Bharat service to operate in Karnataka. Covering 611 km in just 8.5 hours, it is the fastest train between these two cities, saving approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from KSR Bengaluru to Belagavi and 1 hour 40 minutes from Belagavi-KSR Bengaluru compared to existing services, Railway officials said. PM inaugurates Metro line PM Modi on Sunday inaugurated the yellow line of Bangalore Metro Rail, which is expected to ease traffic congestion in several heavily congested corridors connecting the city’s IT hub. The PM also took a metro ride from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Electronic City metro station and he interacted with students during the journey. With the opening of the yellow line, the operational metro rail network in Bengaluru will increase to over 96 km serving a large population in the region. He also laid the foundation stone for Phase-3 of Bangalore Metro Rail project worth over Rs 15,610 crore. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 August,2025 08:16 AM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesAs part of India’s 79th Independence Day, the Indian Navy Band is set to spread waves of patriotism across Mumbai with live performances at three of the city’s most prominent landmarks. The events, open to all, will take place from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm at the following venues and dates: Flora Fountain, Fort, on August 11 Bandra Fort Amphitheatre on August 14 Gateway of India on August 15 The band's performances are part of a series of celebrations designed to honour India’s Independence, evoke patriotic sentiments and enhance national pride among citizens. The Indian Navy has urged Mumbaikars to attend in large numbers, soak in the atmosphere, and join in commemorating the country’s journey to freedom. The origin of the Indian Navy Band dates back to 1945, when it was formed with only a small group of naval musicians. Over the decades, it has evolved into a celebrated ensemble, gaining both national and international recognition. The performances from the Indian Navy Band have not only enthralled audiences across the country but around the world, often during the overseas deployments of Indian Naval warships. The band, majorly renowned for its versatility, spans into multiple genres. From stirring martial music that stirs patriotic emotions to classical symphonies, overtures, and concertos, its music reflects a seamless blend of tradition and modernity. The hallmark of the Indian Navy Band is their extensive versatility. For Mumbaikars, the performances promise to be more than just musical evenings. As the tricolour waves proudly on this Independence Day, the Indian Navy Band’s melodies will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the country’s independence, while also celebrating the unity and diversity that define the nation today.
10 August,2025 07:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonDays after the flash floods created a havoc in parts of Uttarakhand, the Indian Army continued their relief operations on Sunday. According to news agency ANI, the Indian Army is on its toes with executing the extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the Dharali and Harsil of the state. It has been reported that the Indian Army’s engineering, search, medical, and communication teams are working around the clock to restore connectivity, rescue stranded civilians, and support local communities to restore normalcy in the landslide- and cloudburst-hit areas of Uttarakhand. The major focus of the troops remains on restoring vital links. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Army engineers are working hard to construct a 90-foot Bailey Bridge at Limchigarh, even as clearance work is underway on the heavily damaged stretches of road between Gangotri and Uttarkashi. Moreover, a 330-foot cableway is also being built to connect submerged road sections and restore movement on the road as soon as possible. On Saturday, 33 helicopter sorties, including those of the army and civil aviation, evacuated 195 civilians from the affected areas. Nearly 200 tourists were assisted in crossing mudslide zones and reaching the Harsil helipad for onwards evacuation, ANI reported. Following their rescue, the Indian Army provided food and accommodation to over 110 stranded tourists. Meanwhile, the search operation for missing soldiers and civilians are being conducted with the support of five highly trained Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs, drones, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and LiDAR equipment. Debris clearance, resuscitation of footbridges, and temporary track construction are also underway to improve ground access. Furthermore, various medical teams of the Indian Army have treated 35 patients, including tourists and local residents. Also, additional medicines and supplies have been flown in from Dehradun to make sure that every person hit by the tragedy gets the best treatment and intensive care. The news agency ANI has also reported that communication has been fully restored between Harsil and Nelong, with damaged optical fibre replaced and satellite internet extended to Dharali village. Additional supplies are scheduled for 10 August, following the delivery of over 1.4 tonnes of fresh and dried rations via air maintenance flights. In the vicinity, fuel storage has also been established to make sure that ongoing air operations are conducted smoothly. The Indian Army continues to uphold its motto of “Service Before Self” in the face of challenging conditions, ensuring the saving of lives, the restoration of critical infrastructure, and the provision of relief to those afflicted. (With inputs from ANI)
10 August,2025 06:41 PM IST | Uttarakhand | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Sunday, while addressing a public event in Bengaluru, stated that the country is firmly on track to become the world’s third-largest economy, ANI reported. “We are rapidly moving towards becoming the top third economy. This speed came to us from the spirit of reform, perform, and transform. This speed came to us from clear intention and honest efforts. In 2014, Metro was limited to only five cities. And now there is a network of more than 1,000 km in 24 cities... Before 2014, about 20,000 km of rail route was electrified... We have electrified more than 40,000 km of rail route in the last 11 years itself... Till 2014, there were only 74 airports in India. Now their number has increased to more than 160... The figures for waterways are also equally impressive,” PM Modi said, adding that from three operational national waterways in 2014, India has reached to 30. He further noted that in the past 11 years, India’s economy has jumped from the 10th place to the top five. “We are now moving rapidly towards becoming one of the top three economies,” PM Modi added, according to ANI. He also urged for enhanced quality standards for ‘Make in India’ products with a focus on “zero defect and zero effect”. Expressing hope that the youth of Bengaluru and Karnataka would lead the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, PM Modi said, “We have to strengthen the presence of Bengaluru and Karnataka in ‘Make in India’. I urge that our products should be of the standards of ‘Zero Defect, Zero Effect’. That is, there should be defect-free products, and their manufacturing should also not have any negative impact on the environment. I expect that the talent of Karnataka will lead this vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.” He also highlighted the importance of technological self-reliance, declaring that the next priority for the nation should be “Tech Atmanirbhar Bharat”, reported ANI. “Now is the time to give more priority to the needs of India and move ahead faster in developing new products,” the PM said. During his address, PM Modi hailed Operation Sindoor and credited the role of ‘Make in India’ defence for its success. He acknowledged the significant contributions of Bengaluru and Karnataka’s youth and congratulated all involved. “We are seeing Bengaluru emerging as a city that has become a symbol of the rise of the new India... A city that has put India’s flag on the global IT map. If there is anything behind Bengaluru’s success story, it is the hard work and talent of its people,” PM Modi added. This was the PM’s first visit to Bengaluru following Operation Sindoor. He praised the Indian forces for their capability to destroy terrorist hideouts deep across the border and emphasised India’s strength in forcing Pakistan, which came to defend the terrorists, to its knees within hours. “The entire world has witnessed this new face of New India,” said the PM, attributing the success of Operation Sindoor to the power of technology and the strength of Make in India in defence. Meanwhile, trade tensions between India and the United States have escalated following US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a total 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports. President Trump accused India of purchasing Russian oil and energy, which he claims has been funding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. After announcing 25 per cent tariffs against India, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and threatened an additional “penalty” for importing Russian oil. “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India; their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world,” Trump said on Truth Social. Later, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said he was “glad” that the US President had stated a fact and that the entire world knows the Indian economy is “dead” except for the Prime Minister and Finance Minister. “Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact... The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani,” the Congress leader said. (With ANI inputs)
10 August,2025 06:05 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentDays after Rahul Gandhi did a press conference putting light on voter list manipulation, the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is now set to hold a dinner for INDIA bloc MPs on Monday. According to the sources, the dinner will also hold a discussion by the opposition in view of closing ranks against the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged poll rigging. As reported by news agency PTI, the opposition leaders and MPs would also take out a protest march on Monday from Parliament to the Election Commission office over the "poll fraud" issue. After the protest march, the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha will host INDIA bloc MPs for dinner at the Hotel Taj Palace, Chanakyapuri. This comes just days after top INDIA bloc leaders held a dinner meeting at the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and vowed to fight against the electoral rolls' revision in Bihar as well as what they described as the "vote chori model" of the BJP-Election Commission. Since the INDIA bloc’s last meeting in June 2024 at Kharge’s residence, this was their first physical meeting. News agency PTI has also reported that several leaders from 25 parties were present at the meeting, which included Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and T R Baalu, CPI (M)'s M A Baby, CPI's D Raja, CPI (ML)'s Dipankar Bhattacharya and MNM chief Kamal Haasan. Rahul Gandhi presented the "vote chori model" during the meeting, alleging that the BJP is perpetrating it through the Election Commission. The Congress, while addressing the issue, asserted that “The leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also explained the entire ‘game’ of how the BJP and the Election Commission were ‘rigging’ the elections,” as cited by news agency PTI. Congress also highlighted that, "A unified front against electoral manipulation!" However, in a social media post on X, they later said that, "We are dedicated to the preservation of democracy and will prevent its destruction at all costs." Earlier Rahul Gandhi had also delivered a presentation at a press conference in which he made incendiary claims about a "huge criminal fraud" in polls that was the result of "collusion" between the BJP and the Election Commission. Gaurav Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, stated, "The same unity was visible in the meeting as the way opposition parties have been united in Parliament in the national interest and have cornered the government,” as cited by news agency PTI. Opposition parties have been protesting the SIR exercise currently underway in Bihar, asserting that it would result in the disenfranchisement of a significant number of individuals. (With PTI inputs)
10 August,2025 04:57 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentArmy Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, while putting the light on Operation Sindoor, asserted that it was unlike a normal mission. Emphasising that Operation Sindoor required a lot of strategic and tactical planning, it was just like playing a game of chess, as "we did not know" what would be the enemy's next move. As reported by news agency PTI, the Army Chief recalled the intricacies of India's decisive military action in May on terror infrastructure in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack during his address at a function at IIT-Madras on Saturday. Using the metaphor of the chess game, Gen Dwivedi asserted that, "In Operation Sindoor, what we did was we played chess. So, what does it mean? It means we did not know what the next move the enemy was going to take was and what we were going to do. This is something we call… the grey zone. The grey zone is that we are not going for the conventional operations. But we are doing something, just short of a conventional operation," as per news agency PTI. While highlighting the Indian army’s conventional approach during Operation Sindoor, he said, "Conventional operation means go with everything, take everything you have. And, if you are able to come back, do so; otherwise, stay there. That is called the conventional approach. Here, the grey zone means any activity that is taking place in all domains; that is something we are talking about, and Operation Sindoor taught us that this is the grey zone." Adding the metaphor during his lecture, he further emphasised, "So, we were making the chess moves, and he (the enemy) was also making the chess moves. Somewhere we were giving him the checkmate, and somewhere we were going in for the kill at the risk of losing our own, but that's what life is all about," as cited by news agency PTI. Under Operation Sindoor in May, the IAF carried out precision strikes on multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir linked to terror groups. The operation was aimed at destroying terror infrastructure and neutralising key operatives in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. (With inputs from PTI)
10 August,2025 04:55 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentKarnataka Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge on Sunday criticised the BJP for "hijacking" the credit for Yellow Line Phase 2, stating that the Karnataka Government shouldered the bulk of the expenses, contributing over Rs 12,000 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bengaluru on Sunday to inaugurate the much-awaited Yellow Line of Bangalore Metro and the Vande Bharat Express train between Bengaluru and Belagavi. He is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the Bangalore Metro Phase-3 project. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kharge said, "The Metro project was launched under the UPA Government led by Manmohan Singh. In the first phase, the UPA Government bore a significant portion of the cost, outpacing the State Government's contribution," he wrote. According to him, after BJP came to power, their commitment to the project dwindled, with the Central Government's share decreasing drastically in subsequent phases. "The Karnataka Government has shouldered the bulk of the expenses, contributing over Rs 12,000 crore, covering land acquisition costs and additional expenses," he added. The Central Government only provided Rs 8,000 crore for the project, he pointed out. "This lack of support forced BMRCL to take loans to cover the remaining project costs. While Karnataka's contributions to the Centre continue to grow year after year, the returns to the state diminish, and the Yellow Line project is a glaring example of this," said Kharge. Meanwhile, speaking to PTI Videos, Tejasvi Surya, MP of Bengaluru South, insisted that the PM "pushed for public infrastructure in Bengaluru", stating that between the Yellow Line and the proposed Orange Line that the PM is laying the foundation stone for on Sunday, 18 lakh commuters will benefit. "But Congress tries to take credit for all the things in which they don't have any role. You may have seen recently, Congress tried to take credit for even the IPL victory," said Surya. The credit for the success of it goes to the people of Bengaluru, nobody else, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 August,2025 03:38 PM IST | Bengaluru | PTINo senior advocate will be permitted to mention cases for urgent listing and hearing before the court of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai from Monday. "As directed, designated senior counsels are not permitted to mention any case/s before the court of the Chief Justice of India with effect from Monday, August 11, 2025," a notice issued by the apex court said. On August 6, the CJI had said that from August 11, no senior advocate will be permitted to mention cases for urgent listing and hearing in his court so that juniors get an opportunity to do it. CJI Gavai, who was sworn in on May 14, had reverted to the practice of oral mentioning of cases for urgent listing and hearing by lawyers and discontinued the practice adopted by his predecessor Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Justice Khanna discontinued the practice of oral submissions for urgent listing and hearing of cases by lawyers and asked them to either send emails or written letters instead. "There is a great demand that no matters should be mentioned by senior counsel(s)," CJI Gavai had said on August 6. He had asked the court staff to put out a notice that no senior lawyer will be permitted to mention cases for urgent listing and hearing in his court from Monday. "From Monday, no senior counsel, I mean designated senior counsel, will be allowed to mention matters. Let juniors get an opportunity to do it," the CJI had said."This will be practised at least in my court," the CJI had said, adding that it was up to other apex court judges to adopt the practice. Usually lawyers mention their cases before the CJI-led bench at the outset of the day's proceedings for out-of-turn listings and hearing of cases on grounds of urgency. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
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