A Pune court in Maharashtra on Thursday remanded five accused, including former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar, in judicial custody in the Pune drug party case, reported the PTI. All the five accused were produced before Additional Sessions Judge J G Dorle in Pune district. The prosecution sought the extension of the police custody of the accused, and told the court that the investigators have found some objectionable chats and videos in their phones which need to be probed, according to the PTI. The prosecution also said that they want to trace the source of the contraband. The defence counsels representing the accused objected to the police probe and said the two women from whose purses the drugs were recovered have already been remanded in judicial remand, as per the PTI. The Pune police's crime branch raided the "drug party" at a studio apartment located in the upscale Kharadi area in the wee hours of Sunday, leading to the arrest of Khewalkar and six others. Pune police reportedly seized drugs, hookah set ups and liquor after conducting a raid at a party in an apartment in the district. Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested from the party, where narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor were seized, police had earlier said. Rohini Khadse is state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP). NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse had earlier said that a probe should be conducted to find out if there was a political motive behind the police action. Khadse had on Tuesday claimed the arrest of his son-in-law in a drugs case in Pune was a conspiracy to defame him as he had raised his voice about a "honeytrap" scandal, reported the PTI. Speaking to reporters at his residence, Khadse further claimed someone was the "mastermind" of the conspiracy and the police were acting as "puppets". He also asked why his son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar was named as the prime accused in the drugs case, claiming visuals of the police raid showed the alleged contraband was found in a purse of one of the accused women. Police has claimed to have seized cocaine, marijuana, hookah set-ups and bottles of liquor. (with PTI inputs)
31 July,2025 09:15 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentCommunist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Thursday strongly criticised the Centre over its muted response to the US government’s decision to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. Kumar expressed concern over what he described as a pattern of disrespect towards India under former US President Donald Trump’s leadership, reported ANI. Kumar said the timing of the announcement was particularly shocking, considering that Indo-US trade negotiations were still ongoing. He questioned why the decision was made unilaterally and highlighted a growing pattern of diplomatic disrespect from the US since Trump assumed office. "This new decision from the Trump government is actually shocking. The Indo-US trade talks are going on. All of a sudden, this was announced by the Trump administration. If you analyse properly, after Trump became the President of the US, India is getting insulted day by day. No President of the US has insulted our country like this," Kumar told ANI. The CPI leader further condemned the central government’s subdued reaction to the move, calling it passive and inadequate in defending India's interests. He said that the lack of a strong response showed a concerning attitude from the ruling leadership. "What is more concerning is that the government's response is very cool...Against Trump, they are not uttering even a single word. This is the problem," he added, reported ANI. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that recent developments reflected the failure of Modi's personalised foreign diplomacy. He highlighted how both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have learned how to manipulate the Indian PM through flattery. Ramesh drew attention to what he termed the "CAP" challenge, referring to China, America, and Pakistan, and linked it to PM Modi’s earlier remarks about the "TOP" challenge, which focused on the prices of Tomato, Onion, and Potato, reported ANI. "Prime Minister Modi once spoke of the TOP (Tomato, Onion, Potato) challenge in prices. Now India has to contend with the political challenge arising out of CAP (China, America, Pakistan). He invested very heavily in his personal friendship with President Trump, as he had done earlier with President XI. Both have the full measure of the man now--someone who can be managed easily by playing to his gigantic ego and self-obsession," Ramesh, Congress (General Secretary) in charge of Communications, posted on X. Trump, meanwhile, maintained that trade discussions with India were still underway. Responding to ANI’s question about future negotiations, Trump reiterated that India has historically been among the highest tariff-imposing countries. In a statement made during a press briefing at the White House, the former US president doubled down on his decision to impose trade penalties, citing India’s import tariffs and recent purchases of Russian oil as key factors. Trump stated, "We're talking to them now. We'll see what happens. Again, India was the highest or just about the highest tariff nation in the world, one of the highest, 100 points, 150 points or percentages. So India was one of the highest in the world. They had 175 per cent and higher than that," reported ANI. The comments were made during a press conference held to mark the signing of a Congressional bill, reflecting Trump's broader approach to international trade, which has often drawn criticism for being protectionist and unpredictable. (With inputs from ANI)
31 July,2025 08:32 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentGujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the progress of 32 high-impact projects worth Rs 1.74 lakh crore across seven state departments during the third session of the project review meeting, reported ANI. As per a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), senior secretaries from each department presented detailed updates on current progress and outlined future plans for these key initiatives. During the review, the Chief Minister stated that all these development-orientated projects serve as indicators of integrated and holistic development for building 'Viksit Gujarat', in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat', reported ANI. He emphasised that the projects undertaken must be completed on time with quality while also avoiding delays to prevent increased financial burdens. CM Bhupendra Patel also instructed officials to ensure that land acquisition compensation for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project is completed by August. In Khavda, Kutch, 64 per cent of the work on the 30 GW Hybrid Renewable Energy Park has been completed, with 6,862 MW of renewable energy capacity already operational. The Chief Minister also reviewed the energy department's progress and set a target to complete the RE Park by December 2026, reported ANI. During the review of the National Maritime Heritage Complex project at Lothal, the Ports and Transport Department informed that the state government has completed key infrastructure tasks, including the allocation of 400 acres of land, installation of a water supply pipeline, electricity transmission line, and the widening of the Saragwada-to-site road into a four-lane route. Further, it was said that works related to the primary health centre, bus station, police station, and state pavilion are in progress, and the planning for the tourism circuit is at an initial stage. Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Chairman IP Gautam shared details of the phased work under Phases 1 to 6 of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project, extending from Vasna Barrage to Gandhinagar Thermal Power Station, reported ANI. The meeting also included discussions and consultations on the master plan submitted to the state government for infrastructure development of Dream City in Surat, a visionary project inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While reviewing the Labour and Employment Department's projects, CM Bhupendra Patel assessed the progress of skill university Kaushalya and other related initiatives, directing officials to ensure timely completion of all work. Patel also issued necessary directions to the secretaries concerned to give priority to quality assurance and adherence to timelines in all high-priority projects, reported ANI. The review meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Hasmukh Adhia, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister MK Das, and Additional Chief Secretaries of the departments overseeing the projects. Also present were Advisor to the Chief Minister SS Rathore, Principal Secretaries of various departments, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Avantika Singh, Secretary Vikrant Pandey, and other senior officials. (Inputs from ANI)
31 July,2025 07:50 PM IST | Gandhinagar | mid-day online correspondentA London-bound Air India flight from Delhi returned to the bay on Thursday after the cockpit crew detected a suspected technical fault before take-off, reported the IANS. The flight, callsign AI-2017, was preparing to depart when the pilots halted the departure and brought the aircraft back for checks. "Flight AI-2017 operating from Delhi to London on July 31 returned to bay due to a suspected technical issue. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off run following standard operating procedures and brought the aircraft back for precautionary checks," the airline said in a statement, according to the IANS. The Air India said that all necessary safety procedures were followed and that an alternative aircraft is being arranged to fly the passengers to London as soon as possible. “Our ground staff is extending all support and care to the guests to minimise inconvenience caused due to this unexpected delay. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers remain the top priority,” the airline added, as per the IANS. The fresh incident comes just days after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged 51 safety lapses at Air India during its annual audit. These included outdated training manuals, incomplete pilot training, unqualified simulators, and irregularities in low-visibility operation approvals. Of these lapses, seven were classified as critical Level I breaches, which the airline was instructed to address by July 30. The remaining 44 non-compliances must be rectified by August 23. The DGCA’s action followed recent enforcement measures, including the grounding of an Air India aircraft found to have an overdue inspection of its emergency slide -- a crucial safety feature, reported the IANS. The regulator has also issued three show-cause notices to the airline, giving it 15 days to respond. Earlier, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol had told the Parliament that the DGCA had immediately grounded the aircraft involved in the overdue slide inspection until the necessary checks were completed. "DGCA immediately grounded the aircraft till the required rectification was carried out. DGCA has initiated enforcement action against Air India and the responsible personnel as per the Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual of DGCA," Mohol, said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the news agency reported. (with IANS inputs)
31 July,2025 07:09 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Rajya Sabha was adjourned until 4:30 pm on Thursday following an uproar by Opposition parties. They were protesting the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a debate on "Operation Sindoor" and also raised the issue of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), as reported by news agency PTI. The Upper House had already been adjourned twice earlier in the day: first from 11 AM to 12 noon, and then until 2 PM, due to protests from Opposition Members of Parliament. When the House reconvened at 2 PM, Opposition members immediately rose to their feet, chanting slogans against the SIR and demanding that the Prime Minister attend the session. Sambit Patra, who was in the Chair, allowed Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak. Kharge referred to a statement made by Leader of the House JP Nadda in the morning session. Nadda had argued that in 2008, following the Mumbai terror attacks, the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not respond to a Rajya Sabha debate, with the reply being delivered by the then-Home Minister instead, PTI reported. However, Kharge clarified that the Opposition's current objection was specifically to a remark made by the Home Minister. The Leader of the Opposition stated that the Home Minister had said, "I can handle you myself," which Kharge felt was an insult to all of them. "We said the Prime Minister is here, please call him to the House," Kharge explained. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded, noting that Opposition MPs had been chanting slogans for the Prime Minister to come to the House. This comment, in turn, triggered an uproar from Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs. "The behaviour of TMC MPs is not right... The way Derek O'Brien is behaving is not right," Rijiju said. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister pointed out that Prime Minister Modi had already replied to the debate in the Lok Sabha for one hour and 42 minutes on Tuesday. "They are saying the Prime Minister should reply. He spoke for one hour and 42 minutes in the Lok Sabha just a day before... He presented all the facts to the nation through the House. The Home Minister is capable of replying to the debate," Rijiju asserted. He also added that the government operates under a principle of collective responsibility and that the Opposition does not have the authority to dictate who will speak, PTI reported. As Rijiju concluded his statement, Opposition MPs continued to shout slogans against SIR. The Chair then adjourned the House until 4:30 PM. (With inputs from PTI)
31 July,2025 06:20 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndia is likely to experience above-average rainfall during the latter half of the monsoon season, covering August and September, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Addressing an online press conference, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that most parts of the country can expect typical rainfall in August, with the exception of the northeast and adjacent eastern regions. In contrast, rainfall levels in September are anticipated to be above average, reported the PTI. The country recorded higher-than-usual rainfall during the first half of the monsoon season (June and July), with some states like Himachal Pradesh suffering flash floods. From 1 June to 31 July, India received 474.3 mm of rainfall against a normal of 445.8 mm -- representing a surplus of six percent. Mohapatra noted that overall rainfall during the second half of the southwest monsoon is projected to be 106 percent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 422.8 mm. Most regions are expected to see normal to above-normal precipitation, except parts of the northeast, eastern India, certain areas in central India, and some southwestern zones of the peninsular region, which may experience below-normal rainfall, as per the PTI. He added that while subdued rainfall is forecast over the next two weeks, current conditions do not qualify as a "break monsoon phase" -- a period marked by a shift of the monsoon trough to the Himalayan foothills, often leading to dry spells across much of the country. Interestingly, the number of extremely heavy rainfall events so far -- 76 in total -- is the lowest recorded in five years. Northeast India, however, is seeing its fifth consecutive year of below-normal rainfall. The IMD has observed a declining rainfall trend in the region over the past three decades. Favourable Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) patterns in late July and the development of six low-pressure systems (four of which intensified into depressions) contributed to the heavy downpours in July, particularly in areas from West Bengal to Rajasthan, the news agency reported. ENSO-neutral conditions currently prevail and are expected to continue through October, with a possibility of weak La Nina conditions developing post-monsoon. Earlier in May, the IMD had predicted that India would receive 106 percent of the long-period average of 87 cm during the June-September monsoon period. Rainfall in the range of 96–104 percent of the LPA is deemed “normal”, reported the PTI. The monsoon remains vital to India’s economy, particularly the agricultural sector, which sustains around 42 percent of the population and contributes 18.2 percent to the country’s GDP. It is also essential for recharging reservoirs used for drinking water supplies and hydroelectric power. (with PTI inputs)
31 July,2025 06:08 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Opposition is not leaving any stone unturned in its attack on the government during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Soon after the verdict on the 2008 Malegaon blast case was out, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday asked if the news of the acquittal of the accused was intended to suppress the big news of the US announcing imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on India. Earlier on Thursday, Mumbai's NIA special court acquitted all the seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. While giving out the verdict on the bomb blast case, it stated that the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt. While speaking to reporters in the national capital, Yadav asserted, "I did not read the report, but the accused who were involved in such a huge incident should be punished. Such a big thing happened in America; is this news to suppress that? Tariffs are indeed a big question." While addressing the media outside the Parliament, Yadav said India is facing a threat from China as well. With not much expectation from the US and China, the situation does seem tricky, he remarked. The Lok Sabha MP also asserted, "Our neighbouring country will destroy our economy. India is facing a big threat from China as well. China is taking away our land and our business as well. The government needs to be careful of China." Yadav was referring to US President Donald Trump's announcement on a social media post on his Truth Social account, in which he imposed 25 percent tariffs on India starting August 1. Trump also said India will face additional penalties for purchasing oil from Russia. Trump, on the social media platform Truth Social, asserted, "Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country. Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE—ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!" (With inputs from ANI)
31 July,2025 05:00 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAfter a slight pause in the Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday, July 30, because of bad weather, the third batch of the Budha Amarnath Yatra also arrived in Poonch on Thursday, July 31. The devotees who reached the base for Amarnath Yatra received a grand welcome from the administration and locals. A devotee named Pandit Gopal Krishan, who is also a member of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said, "The third batch of the Yatra has arrived. People came in big numbers. Most of them are from Rajasthan. We welcomed the pilgrim as per the tradition in Poonch. The devotees were happy with the welcome and promised us that next year the Yatra will be held on an even larger scale." The pilgrim and the devotees lauded the arrangements and thanked the administration and people of Poonch. One of the devotees, Usha Tripathi, said that the best part of the Amarnath Yatra is the unity among the Hindus. While expressing her joy to the media, she said, "I am from Rajasthan and coming here for the first time. The arrangements are great. It is said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad began this Yatra in 2005. Slowly, people started coming from small towns and big cities to receive 'darshan' of Baba Chattani ji. The best part of unity among the Hindus," stated an ANI report. Furthermore, she also thanked the people of Poonch and the Indian Army for the arrangements amid the challenging weather. The devotee further asserted that, "I would like to thank the people of Poonch for welcoming us and for the arrangements even in this bad weather. I would like to come every year and bring thousands of people with me. I don't have words to thank the army. From Jammu, even in heavy rainfall, our soldiers were still deployed for our security. I salute the Indian soldiers," according to ANI. Another devotee, Hanuman Chaudhary, while highlighting his excitement, emphasised that "Yatra's experience is exciting. There are very good arrangements. We are enjoying ourselves. We want more people to come with us next time," the report by ANI added. The devotees who reached Poonch on Thursday, July 31, have hailed the arrangements and urged people to come in large numbers. Swami Budha Amarnath Temple is situated between the main belt of the Pir Panchal Range at Rajpura Mandi, which is 25 km to the northeast of Poonch city. The sacred Lord Shiva’s temple is located on the confluence of two gushing streams, namely Nallah Gagri and Pulsta Nadi. The temple has four doors with multiple entry points, and with a natural Shivlinga inside the Mandir, the place in the valley feels surreal. (With inputs from ANI)
31 July,2025 04:12 PM IST | Poonch | mid-day online correspondentThe ruckus in the Lower House of the Parliament continued on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm. When the House resumed, the protests continued over the Bihar SIR electoral roll, forcing the chair to adjourn the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the second time on Thursday till 4 pm. Some opposition members reached the Well of the House yet again during the later part of Thursday’s proceedings, PTI reported. Members from the Opposition repeatedly raised slogans as they sought to raise certain issues. Awadhesh Prasad, who was chairing the House on Thursday, repeatedly urged the members to take their seats, but he adjourned the proceedings as his pleas went unheard. Awadhesh Prasad, while conducting the proceedings of the House, asked the protesting MPs, "You [protesting members] don't want to discuss issues?” He further questioned if the people had voted for them to indulge solely in sloganeering in the House. However, the MPs continued with the protests. As the din continued, the proceedings were adjourned in less than seven minutes. Before the House was adjourned, the MPs congratulated the scientists for the successful flight of a GSLV rocket, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, that placed an earth observation satellite. Earlier during the day, Speaker Om Birla had also urged the protesting members to stop the slogans and go back to their seats. Before adjourning the House in the morning, the Speaker said that Lok Sabha is for discussing issues and the behaviour of the members was not appropriate. He then adjourned the Lower House of the Parliament till 2 pm. Also, earlier on Thursday, the Opposition continued its protest against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound Bihar and the reported arrests of labourers in states governed by the BJP. Furthermore, on the other hand, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, also adjourned the Rajya Sabha on Thursday morning amidst protest by the Opposition. The protest in the upper house of the Parliament demanded suspension of business under Rule 267, which was dismissed by the chair. (With inputs from PTI)
31 July,2025 03:33 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentContinuous downpours have severely disrupted life in Himachal Pradesh, leading to major infrastructure breakdowns and loss of life across several districts. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as on Thursday 10 am, a total of 301 roads were blocked, 436 electricity distribution transformers were deemed non-functional, and 254 water supply schemes were disrupted owing to the heavy rains, reported ANI. Since the onset of monsoon on June 20, a total of 170 people have lost their lives. Out of these, 94 deaths were linked to rain-related calamities such as landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and electrocution. The remaining 76 fatalities resulted from road accidents, as per SEOC's cumulative data. The report attributes the collapse in public services largely to the heavy rainfall experienced in the last 24 hours, which has intensified the ongoing crisis. Mandi district recorded the highest number of road closures at 193, followed by 47 in Kullu and 25 in Chamba. Kullu and Chamba also reported the highest power disruptions, with 134 and 142 transformers affected, respectively, reported ANI. Meanwhile, the total death toll since June 20 stands at 170, including 94 fatalities from weather-related incidents and 76 from traffic accidents. The SEOC has advised residents to stay alert and avoid travelling unless absolutely essential, particularly in areas vulnerable to landslides and flash floods. Although repair and restoration efforts are in progress, persistent rainfall continues to hamper recovery, reported ANI. A previous report from the SEOC revealed extensive damage caused by the monsoon, with property losses amounting to over Rs 1,59,981 lakh. Additionally, 2,743 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged, 680 houses have suffered destruction, and more than 22,900 livestock have perished, reported ANI. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) remains engaged with local bodies to expedite the restoration of essential services and road clearance. With more rainfall expected, authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution, especially in landslide-prone zones. Emergency response teams have been deployed in critical areas to assist with rescue and relief efforts, ensuring timely intervention in case of further weather-related emergencies. Himachal’s Kullu district alone has recorded financial losses exceeding Rs 48 crore since the start of the monsoon. Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh confirmed that 17 people have died in the region so far, reported ANI. (Inputs from ANI)
31 July,2025 03:29 PM IST | Shimla | mid-day online correspondentA political storm erupted on Thursday after former US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports and made controversial remarks about the Indian economy and its ties with Russia. Reacting on his post, prominent Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rajeev Shukla, attacked the Centre’s handling of foreign and economic policies. In a fiery post on Truth Social, the US President said: “I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care… India has among the highest tariffs in the world.” He also warned former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to "watch his words" and not enter "dangerous territory." Reacting to Trump’s "dead economy" remark, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said he agreed with the US President's statement. “Everybody knows the Indian economy is dead, except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. I’m glad President Trump stated a fact,” Gandhi told reporters, accusing the BJP of destroying the economy to benefit industrialists such as Adani. He also questioned PM Modi’s silence over Trump’s repeated claims — including mediating an India–Pakistan ceasefire, the fall of Indian jets, and now the steep tariff hike. “Why is the Prime Minister not responding? Who is really in control?” Gandhi questioned. VIDEO | On US President Donald Trump calling the Indian economy a 'dead economy', Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) says, "Yes, he is right. I mean, everybody knows this except PM Modi and the Finance Minister. It is a dead economy. I am glad that the US… pic.twitter.com/8r0kLdFEsV — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 31, 2025 Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor warned that the tariffs and additional penalties on Russian oil imports could severely damage bilateral trade. “This could destroy our trade with America. The talks are ongoing, but if the tariffs stay at 25 per cent or rise further to 35 per cent or even 100 per cent, it will be devastating,” he said, urging the US to consider India's economic realities and needs. #WATCH | Delhi | On trade negotiations between the US and India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "It is a challenging negotiation. We are negotiating with many countries. The US is not the only negotiation. We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal… pic.twitter.com/tl85WKiMjW — ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2025 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took a swipe at PM Modi, stating: “The Prime Minister goes everywhere, makes friends, and then this is what we get. The country must respond to Trump’s tariff move and his claims about averting war with Pakistan." Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called it the "beginning of bad days" for the Indian economy. “This government kept boasting of international friendships. But now, our youth need jobs and a strong economy, not foreign policy failures,” he said, according to ANI. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated during a White House press briefing that India remains one of the highest tariff-imposing nations. “We’re talking to them now. But their tariff rates have been as high as 175 per cent, it’s unacceptable,” he said. As India and the US continue trade negotiations, pressure mounts on the Modi government to respond to both the economic and diplomatic fallout from Trump’s aggressive statements. Responding to former US President Donald Trump’s controversial comment labelling the Indian economy as “dead,” Congress MP Rajeev Shukla rejected the claim, calling it “completely incorrect.” “The Indian economy is not dead. Major reforms began under PV Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh, were carried forward by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and further strengthened during Singh’s tenure. Even the current government has continued to work on economic development,” Shukla said. “If someone believes India can be finished economically, they are clearly under a delusion. Imposing tariffs is not the answer. Every sovereign nation has the right to choose its trade partners. Targeting BRICS or Russia-related imports is unfair and misguided,” he added. #WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, "... Trump saying that the economies of India and Russia are dead, is wrong. The Indian economy is not dead. Economic reforms were made when PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms… pic.twitter.com/UZ0lLvRzZY — ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2025 Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised Trump’s remarks via a post on X, writing: “Not that it needs saying—there's ample legitimate data to show that India is among the top 5 global economies and one of the fastest-growing. Calling it a ‘dead economy’ reflects either arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Not that one needs to say it there’s enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention… — Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) July 31, 2025 (With ANI inputs)
31 July,2025 03:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1753960129878_d.png "Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Awadhesh Prasad and other parliamentarians of the INDIA bloc parties stage a protest against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi. Pic/PTI")
