New Delhi: Speaking in Parliament on Monday about the “unprecedented challenges” India faces due to the West Asia conflict, PM Modi underlined the country’s opposition to attacks on civilians and energy and transport infrastructure, and said attacks on commercial ships and disruptions to international trade are unacceptable.Modi said that as far as diplomacy is concerned, India’s role is clear. He said, “We have expressed our deep concern about this conflict from the beginning. I have also spoken to all representatives of West Asian countries. I have urged everyone to de-escalate and end this conflict.” The PM said India continues to make efforts for the safe passage of Indian ships through diplomacy, adding that Iran has already allowed several Indian ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz.On the challenges facing India, he said the war has created “unprecedented economic, national security and humanitarian pressures”. He said India has “extensive trade relations with belligerent and war-affected countries, the conflict zone straddles important trade routes, and a large portion of India’s crude oil and gas needs are met by the region.” news networkPM: In touch with partners to ensure maritime securityThe PM said that India has always raised its voice for the benefit of humanity and peace and reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solutions to the problems of West Asia. “No one’s life should be at risk in this war in the interest of humanity. Therefore, India’s endeavor is to encourage all parties to reach a peaceful solution as soon as possible,” he said in his first statement on the crisis in Parliament.Modi said, after the war started, movement of ships through the strait had become difficult. He also recalled his interactions with leaders of the GCC and other West Asian countries.Modi said, “There are efforts to continue to source oil and gas wherever possible. The Indian government is constantly monitoring the shipping routes in the Gulf. Our efforts are to ensure the safety of all essential goods like oil, gas and fertilizers. We are in constant touch with our international partners to ensure the safety of our sea corridors. Due to such efforts, many of our ships have visited India in the last few days.”Drawing attention to the nearly ten crore Indians living and working in the Gulf countries, as well as the significant number of Indian crew members aboard commercial ships in those waters, Modi said, “India’s concerns are naturally high, and therefore, it is essential that a united and unanimous voice from the Parliament of India goes out to the world on this crisis.”External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier said that India would focus on talks with Iran to facilitate the movement of its ships. This was amid US President Donald Trump’s efforts to build a coalition to deploy warships in the strait, an idea that won little popularity even with America’s allies.

Jammu: A committee of experts constituted by Jammu University to review the syllabus of MA Political Science course has recommended removal of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Mohammad Iqbal from the chapter ‘Modern Indian Political Thought-Minorities and Nation’.Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana and a BJP leader have strongly condemned the reported recommendation by the university’s political science department to remove poet Iqbal and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan from its academic curriculum.The university formed the committee after the ABVP protested on Friday over the inclusion of Jinnah in the revised postgraduate political science curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. According to officials, during the Faculty and Departmental Affairs Committee meeting held on Sunday (March 22), the participants unanimously resolved to recommend removal of topics involving Jinnah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Iqbal. Officials said the recommendation has been sent for consideration to the Board of Studies, which is scheduled to meet online on Tuesday to deliberate on the matter.ABVP Jammu and Kashmir secretary Sannak Shrivatsa said that teaching about Jinnah and others is unacceptable, as these were the same persons who propounded the two-nation theory and were responsible for partition. He also warned of intensifying protests if the curriculum was not amended.However, Minister Javed Rana, in a post on Twitter, said that the recommendation to remove Iqbal and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan from the curriculum, was “a ridiculous, anti-scholarly act of intellectual vandalism”, and a “deliberate attempt to create ideological fanaticism rather than nurture curious citizens”. “JU should stop functioning as a laboratory of historical revisionism,” he said.BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal also demanded reconsideration of the proposal and on Monday wrote a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan seeking his intervention. Sirwal said, “The proposal to remove Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Iqbal from the curriculum risks undermining an important part of India’s intellectual and educational heritage, which must be preserved for future generations.”

New Delhi: Considering the sharp rise in cyber crimes against women and children over the past few years, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the government should initiate a structured and time-bound examination to formulate a “comprehensive and gender-sensitive cyber crime law”.In its report on “Cyber ​​Crime and Women’s Cyber ​​Safety” tabled in Parliament on Monday, the Women Empowerment Committee also recommended introducing age-appropriate rules and calibrated usage limits on social media platforms to protect children and adolescents from adverse psychological impact and safety-by-design standards to ensure responsible digital engagement.It highlighted that NCRB data shows an approximately 239% increase in cyber crimes against women between 2017 and 2022 and a multi-fold increase in cases involving children, underscoring the gravity of the situation.The significant increase in such crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects high digital dependency. The National Cyber ​​Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) has recorded over 2.48 lakh complaints related to women and children between 2019 and April 2025.The committee, headed by BJP Lok Sabha MP Dr D Purandeshwari, said the rapid increase in complaints lodged on NCRP indicates increased awareness as well as institutional action. However, it also noted the phenomenon of under-reporting, driven by fear, stigma and limited digital literacy, particularly among young girls, rural women and socio-economically vulnerable groups.The report is based on inputs received from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Cyber ​​Peace Foundation, an NGO, cyber experts from CDAC and social media intermediaries (Google and Meta).The Committee highlighted that cyber crimes affecting women and children are currently addressed through several laws, including the Information Technology Act, 2000; Indian Judicial Code, 2023; POCSO Act, 2012; and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. “These provisions collectively cover a wide range of offences. However, their scattered nature often results in overlapping mandates, interpretive ambiguity, uneven enforcement and procedural delays,” it said.In this background, it stressed the need for a comprehensive cyber crime law that complements and harmonizes existing laws rather than suddenly changing them.The Committee also called for holding digital platforms, especially social media, messaging and hosting services, to higher accountability standards. Furthermore, it strongly recommended that mandatory KYC-based verification be introduced on all social media, dating and gaming platforms to prevent the menace of fake profiles, impersonation and anonymous harassment.“Platforms should conduct periodic re-verification and maintain high-risk flags for accounts repeatedly reported for abuse. Strict licensing criteria and age-verification protocols should be established for dating and gaming apps, with provisions for penalties for platforms that fail to protect women and minors from fraudulent or coercive practices,” it recommended.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on completing four years and lauded its efforts in promoting development, ensuring good governance and promoting public welfare across the state.Responding to the Prime Minister’s message, Dhami expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to development. In a post on X, he said, “Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words and good wishes for the development, good governance and public welfare of Uttarakhand.”Dhami said the state’s progress in the last four years reflects the faith and collective resolve of the people under Modi’s leadership. He said, “Our government is fulfilling its resolve to build a strong and self-reliant Uttarakhand by working with the core mantra of public service, transparency and inclusive development.”He further emphasized that Uttarakhand will continue to contribute to the vision of ‘Developed India-2047’, and said that with the support of the Centre, the state will continue to achieve new milestones.According to an official statement, PM Modi in his message highlighted that under the “dynamic leadership” of CM Dhami, Uttarakhand has made rapid progress in all sectors. He also highlighted the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the state and described it as “Devbhoomi”, a land known for its faith, traditions and diversity.The Prime Minister said that Uttarakhand is continuously moving forward in line with the vision of “Developed India”. He pointed to key infrastructure initiatives including the Char Dham all-weather road project, which aims to make the pilgrimage safer and more accessible, and the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line, which is expected to significantly boost rail connectivity in the region.Modi lauded the government’s focus on improving connectivity in border areas and promoting winter tourism, saying such efforts have strengthened the local economy and helped curb migration. He also appreciated the initiatives aimed at promoting local products, empowering women, creating employment opportunities for youth, supporting startups and pursuing digital and green development.Emphasizing the importance of preparedness, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of strong disaster management systems and sustainable development in ensuring long-term progress in the hilly state.Expressing confidence in the future of Uttarakhand, PM Modi said the state’s contribution in building a “developed India” will continue to grow stronger during the current “Amrit Kaal”. He stressed that active participation of citizens will be important in building a self-reliant and prosperous Uttarakhand.The Prime Minister greeted the people of the state and expressed hope that Uttarakhand will make new achievements in various fields in the coming years.

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi made a scathing attack on the Prime Minister on Monday Narendra ModiCriticizing his recent speech on the West Asia conflict, he claimed that he had “compromised” and could not participate in parliamentary debates.Speaking at the Tribal Rights Constitution Conference in Vadodara, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister avoided naming the United States in his Lok Sabha address and said he was “100% under the control” of US President Donald Trump.The Prime Minister said, “I heard that the Prime Minister gave a 25-minute speech. But I guarantee that he cannot participate in the debate in Parliament because he has compromised. Narendra Modi spoke for 25 minutes but did not say a single word against America. Narendra Modi is 100% under Trump’s control.”Rahul Gandhi also criticized the government’s trade approach and claimed that it would harm Indian farmers.Rahul Gandhi said, “Narendra Modi has opened India’s agricultural sector to America through trade agreements. Here we have small farms, whereas in America there are big farms spread over thousands of acres. Here people work by hand and there the work is done with big machines. If American goods start coming to India, our farmers will be ruined.”He further accused the BJP and RSS of undermining tribal rights and alleged that the term “vanvasi” was being used to dilute the identity of the tribals.“Adivasi means the original inhabitants of India – the real owners of this land, water and forests (‘Jal-Jungle-Zameen’). But the RSS-BJP have introduced a new term – ‘Vanvasi’, which means you only live in the forests, and not that you are the real owners of these resources. Narendra Modi and BJP leaders join hands in front of Birsa Munda’s statue, but they attack the ideas for which Birsa Munda fought and martyred. When BJP snatches land, water and forests from tribals, it is not just an attack on Birsa Munda, but also an attack on the Constitution.”The comments come after Prime Minister Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, describing the situation as “worrying” and outlining its economic, security and humanitarian implications for India.Congress leaders also criticized the Prime Minister’s speech. Party leader Pawan Khera questioned the intention behind the address, saying, “…perhaps this speech was given keeping in mind the upcoming elections… The first question is why did you go to Israel?”..”Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also attacked the Prime Minister, accusing him of failing to condemn the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and calling his speech a “master class in self-praise and partisan rhetoric”.“The Prime Minister’s uncharacteristically brief speech in the Lok Sabha today was, as usual, a master class in self-arrogance, cowardice and partisan samad-baazi (theatrical dialogue). Not a single word was said in condemnation of the ongoing US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Iran’s attack on the Gulf states and the Strait of Hormuz is, of course, completely unacceptable – but so is the continued bombing of Iran with the aim of regime change and state collapse,” Ramesh wrote on X.Responding to Modi’s reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramesh said, “Finally, the Prime Minister’s invocation of the COVID-19 pandemic is worrying. His government’s response was uniquely disastrous. The country cannot forget the extremely depressing scenes that had become all too common then – millions of migrants walking barefoot towards their homes, thousands dying from lack of oxygen, and millions left jobless. We can only hope that there will be more preparation this time.“In his address, the Prime Minister said the conflict has posed “unprecedented challenges” for India, particularly given its dependence on the region for crude oil and gas and its importance to global trade routes.“This war has also created unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, national security and humanitarian as well.” India has extensive trade relations with war-fighting and war-affected countries. The area where this war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. In particular, a large part of our crude oil and gas needs are met from this region,” he said.He said the government has given priority to domestic LPG consumers amid supply uncertainties and is working to ensure uninterrupted availability of petrol and diesel, noting that India holds strategic petroleum reserves of over 5.3 million metric tonnes.The Prime Minister’s statement comes amid rising tensions in West Asia following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israel strikes on February 28, following which Iran retaliated and disrupted key sea lanes including the Strait of Hormuz.