On freedom anniversary, prime minister vows developed nation
By Eastern EyeAug 20, 2022
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will aim to become a developed nation within 25 years as the country marked 75 years of independence on Monday (15), with the leaders of Britain, the US and France sending congratulatory messages.
In his traditional address to the nation from Delhi’s historic Red Fort, Modi said Indians should shed “colonialism in our minds and habits” and urged young people to “aim big” and give their best years for the cause of the country.
India is the world’s sixth-largest economy and is expected to grow at more than seven per cent in the current fiscal year ending in March 2023, the fastest among major economies.
The World Bank currently categorises India as a lower-middle income economy – a classification meant for countries with a gross national income per capita of between $1,086 (£902) and $4,255 (£3,534.5). High income countries, like the United States, have a per capita income of $13,205 (£10,969) or more. “We must turn India into a developed country in the next 25 years, in our lifetime,” said Modi in a 75-minute-speech in Hindi.
“It’s a big resolution, and we should work towards it with all our might.”
Safdarjung Tomb is lit up in the Indian tricolour, in New Delhi last Saturday (13)(Photo by SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Many experts say India’s economy could expand to become the world’s third-largest by 2050 after the United States and China, although per capita income, currently around $2,100, may remain low compared to many countries.
With about 1.4 billion people, India is expected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country next year.
Wearing a cream-coloured turban speckled with the colours of the Indian flag, Modi, 71, also said India should crush the “termite” of corruption and nepotism, follow an “India first” mantra and ensure that “in speech and conduct, we do nothing that lowers a woman’s dignity”.
Narendra Modi whileaddressing the nation from the Red Fort(Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)
“Self-reliant India is the responsibility of every citizen, every government, every unit of society,” he said.
He urged Indians to shed “colonialism in our minds and habits” and said, “Hundreds of years of colonialism has restricted our sentiments, distorted our thoughts.
“When we see even the smallest thing related to colonialism in us or around us, we have to be rid of it.”
Modi said India’s growth story continued despite terrorism and “proxy wars” and natural calamities and described the country’s diversity as an “invaluable strength”. “India is the mother of democracy. When those with democracy in mind undertake their course with this resolve, the biggest of the empires in the world fall,” Modi added.
Millions of Indians celebrated the anniversary by unfurling the flag at their homes and by singing the national anthem, while presidents and prime ministers from across the world sent messages to mark the milestone anniversary.
British prime minister Boris Johnson marked the day with a throwback image from Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat during his visit to India in April this year. “Congratulations to the people of India on 75 years of independence,” Johnson said.
“During my recent visit to Gujarat and New Delhi I saw the thriving ‘living bridge’ between our countries. I look forward to seeing these bonds go from strength to strength in the next 75 years.”
Johnson posted his message on social media, with an image of him paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad.
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Opposition Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer also conveyed his Independence Day wishes on Twitter.
“I’m proud of Labour party’s role in supporting India to gain independence,” Sir Keir said in his video message.
“Our 1945 manifesto made clear our commitment to Indian self-government. And in 1947, Clement Attlee, as Labour Prime Minister, passed the Indian Independence Act. Since then, Labour has been at the forefront of promoting values of internationalism and cooperation abroad while building an inclusive society at home. Today we celebrate the vibrant, multi-faith democracy that India has become,” he said in the video, alongside images from his visits to temples in the UK.
During a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Indian High Commission in central London, the acting high commissioner of India, Sujit Ghosh, read from India’s newly elected president Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation.
The traditional Independence Day celebrations included a rendition of the national anthem Jana Gana Mana and patriotic songs.
The 75th anniversary celebrations in the UK also included the arrival of INS Tarangini at the West India Docks at Canary Wharf in east London, welcomed with an enthusiastic diaspora turnout last Sunday (14).
Border Security Force personnel perform at the India-Pakistan Attari border post, near Amritsar, on Monday (15) (Photo by NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images)
The Indian Navy tall sailing ship will be based at the Thames Quay until Thursday (18) and hosted a special Independence Day celebration on Monday (15) evening.
Home secretary Priti Patel said the UK “strongly values its relationship with India” and noted the relationship is about “far more than trade, business and economics”. “We have strong cultural and family ties that run deep,” Patel said, adding, “The diaspora in the UK is proud of its heritage and values and this anniversary also reminds us of the incredible contributions they make to life in the UK across all parts of our society and economy.”
Britain and India are working on securing a free trade agreement by October and Patel said “both countries are working hard” to finalise it.
“Bilateral trade between the UK and India has grown to over £25 billion a year in goods and services and there is potential for this to grow much larger in the future,” the home secretary added.
College girls wear face masks depictingIndian freedom fighters in Chennai last Friday (12) (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
This year, the US and India also celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Biden said, as he noted India and the United States are “indispensable partners”. “I am confident that in the years ahead our two democracies will continue to stand together to defend the rules-based order; foster greater peace, prosperity and security for our people; advance a free and open Indo-Pacific; and together address the challenges we face around the world,” Biden said.
“The vibrant Indian-American community in the United States has made us a more innovative, inclusive, and stronger nation,” the president added.
French president Macron took to Twitter to congratulate Modi and Indian nationals. “Dear friend @NarendraModi, dear people of India, congratulations on your Independence Day! As you proudly celebrate India’s stunning achievements in the past 75 years, you can count on France to always stand by your side,” Macron tweeted.
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In his message, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese recalled his fond memories of his travels to India. Albanese said he was “strongly committed to deepening our partnership in the spirit of respect, friendship and cooperation”.
“On the first Independence Day in 1947, when prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru called for his people to join with confidence in the adventure of their new independence, the world could not have imagined how profoundly India would heed his call,” the Australian prime minister said. “The emergence of the world’s largest democracy and the achievements made by independent India have been remarkable,” Albanese said.
India and Australia signed an interim Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) on April 2 under which Canberra would provide duty-free access in its market for over 95 per cent of Indian goods such as textiles, leather, jewellery and sports products.
The agreement will help in boosting bilateral trade from $27 billion (£22.35bn) to $45-50bn in the next five years. “All Australians applaud India’s successes and the many achievements that define this great country and its people,” he said.
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In his message Russia’s president Putin said, “India rightfully enjoys considerable prestige on the world stage and plays an important constructive role in resolving pressing issues on the international agenda. Russian-Indian relations are developing in the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership.
“Moscow and New Delhi are cooperating successfully in various areas, effectively interacting within the framework of the UN, BRICS, SCO and other multilateral structures.”
Describing India as an “innovation superpower changing the world for the better”, Israeli prime minister Lapid said his country wanted to be a part of India’s emerging story.
“India is a proud democracy rooted in deep history and tradition. It is also an innovation superpower changing the world for the better,” Lapid said in a video
posted on his Twitter handle.
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“That’s why Israelis love India and Indian people. That’s why tens of thousands of Israelis visit India each year,” he noted.
Highlighting that India and Israel are marking 30 years of diplomatic relations as well this year, the Israeli prime minister emphasised on the launch of the groundbreaking I2U2 forum comprising India, Israel, the UAE, and the US.
“As we celebrate all that India has achieved over the past 75 years, we look forward to the next 75 and beyond. We look forward to seeing the next chapter in India’s wonderful story unfold, and we are excited to be a part of the story as a partner, ally and friend,” he said. (With agencies)
A CONVICTED child sex offender from Pakistan has successfully challenged government attempts to send him back to his homeland, claiming he faces danger because his criminal acts became public there.
Jamil Ahmed, 48, persuaded immigration judges that deporting him would breach his human rights after newspapers in Pakistan reportedly covered his convictions for abusing teenage girls in Scotland, reported The Times.
The case highlighted ongoing legal complexities surrounding the removal of foreign nationals who have committed serious crimes in Britain.
Ahmed first faced justice in 2008 when courts found him guilty of unlawful sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 16. He received a three-year probation order and was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
Five years later, he appeared in court again on similar charges involving another teenager. This time, magistrates sentenced him to three years and six months in prison and placed him permanently on the sex offenders register.
Following his second conviction, immigration officials issued a deportation order. However, Ahmed has spent nearly ten years fighting through the courts to remain in Britain, losing two previous appeals but never actually being removed.
At his latest tribunal hearing in Edinburgh, Ahmed's representatives argued that media coverage of his crimes had reached Pakistan through various publications, including the Daily Kashmir News.
The tribunal judgment said, "Ahmed asserts that he has a well-founded fear of persecution and is at risk of suffering serious harm in Pakistan because knowledge of his crimes have become known in Pakistan and published in newspapers."
He further claimed that local authorities in Pakistan had opened an investigation based on his convictions, and that religious leaders had issued a fatwa against him. He alleged that extremists were distributing leaflets containing his photograph and that armed men had visited his family home searching for him. Tragically, he said his father was subsequently shot dead.
The Home Office challenged the authenticity of the alleged Pakistani newspaper reports during proceedings.
Ahmed called Pakistani legal expert Asad Ali Khan to testify about the newspaper coverage, but the 2024 hearing judge dismissed this evidence, leading to Ahmed's initial defeat.
However, the Upper Tribunal ruled that the previous judge had made legal errors by failing to properly consider the expert testimony and other key evidence.
Judge Jeremy Rintoul concluded, "I consider that, cumulatively, the judge has failed to reach sustainable conclusions with respect to the documents, the wife's evidence and the expert's opinion."
Ahmed, who is married with children and continues living in Scotland, will now face a fresh hearing to determine his immigration status, the newspaper report added.
Bertrice Pompe (CL) and Bernadette Dugasse (CR), who were both born on Diego Garcia, speak outside High Court following their campaign's failed bid to prevent Britain transferring ownership of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, on May 22, 2025 in London.
A BRITISH court on Thursday cleared the way for the government to proceed with a deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, lifting a temporary injunction that had blocked the signing of the agreement.
The deal would involve the UK transferring the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius and paying to lease the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the territory.
Prime minister Keir Starmer was scheduled to finalise the agreement in a virtual signing ceremony with Mauritian representatives on Thursday. However, a last-minute injunction granted to two Chagossian women by London's High Court delayed the process.
The injunction, granted early Thursday morning, temporarily blocked the deal, leading to criticism of the government. At a 10:30am hearing, Judge Martin Chamberlain lifted the ban, stating that extending it could harm the UK’s national and public interest. He added that any further legal challenges must be brought before the Court of Appeal.
“We welcome the judge's ruling today,” a government spokesperson said.
The opposition Conservatives criticised the proposed agreement. “You’re seeing British sovereign territory being given away to an ally of China, and billions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money being spent for the privilege,” said Conservative MP Robert Jenrick. “This was always a bad deal,” he added.
Earlier, the two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, had sought the injunction after a leaked newspaper report on Wednesday night indicated that the deal was set to be announced.
Outside the court, about 50 protesters gathered. The women's lawyer, Philip Rule, said the government was acting “unlawfully” and argued that Thursday could be the court’s last chance to intervene.
Starmer has said Britain’s ownership of the Chagos Islands has been questioned by international legal rulings and that an agreement with Mauritius is the only way to ensure the base remains operational.
The base on Diego Garcia is leased to the United States and is considered a key military facility in the Asia-Pacific, having been used during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ahead of the court’s ruling, a government spokesperson told AFP, “The deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.”
The Conservative Party called the agreement a “sellout for British interests”.
Britain retained the Chagos Islands after Mauritius became independent in the 1960s. Thousands of Chagossian residents were later removed from the islands and have pursued legal claims for compensation.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that the UK return the islands to Mauritius following decades of legal disputes.
Under the proposed deal, the UK would obtain a 99-year lease for the base, with the option to renew. The government has not disclosed the cost but has not denied reports of a £90 million annual fee.
Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam has said Mauritius would continue to pursue full sovereignty over the islands if the United States did not support the agreement.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Deepika Padukone was expected to lead Spirit opposite Prabhas before exiting the project
Deepika Padukone is no longer part of Spirit, the high-profile film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas. The news comes amid reports of rising tensions between the actress and the filmmaker over working terms that didn’t quite align.
Initially, Deepika was expected to headline the film and take home a career-best paycheck of £1.9 million (₹20 crore). Her presence in the project had created early excitement among fans of both the actress and Prabhas. However, things reportedly soured during early discussions.
Industry buzz grows as Deepika walks away from SpiritGetty Images
According to several industry reports, disagreements began when Deepika reportedly requested fixed work hours for an 8-hour workday with approximately 6 hours spent filming. She also wanted a share in the film’s profits, in addition to her fee. Further, there were claims that she was unwilling to deliver her lines in Telugu, which became a sticking point in a multilingual project.
While none of these details have been officially confirmed by Deepika or Vanga, sources close to the film suggest that the director was not on board with the terms and decided to part ways. The production team is now said to be on the lookout for a new lead actress.
Earlier, Deepika had already stepped back from the film due to her pregnancy. The film’s shooting schedule, initially set for late 2024, had to be adjusted. When the filmmaker returned with a revised timeline, she was reportedly back on board. But the situation appears to have shifted again.
This development has sparked chatter on social media, with fans and insiders weighing in. Some question whether the actress was ever keen on doing the film, while others point out that Vanga’s films haven’t offered substantial roles for women. The debate has only intensified in the absence of any official statement from either party.
Deepika Padukone’s Spirit exit fuels debate on demands and director controlGetty Images
Meanwhile, Spirit remains a highly anticipated release, with plans for a global rollout in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Korean. The film is still in its early stages, and casting updates are expected soon.
For now, what could’ve been a major collaboration has ended before it began, not with a bang, but with a breakdown in expectations.
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Salal Dam on the Chenab, the first hydropower project under the Indus Water Treaty
INDIA is considering plans to dramatically increase the amount of water it draws from a major river that feeds Pakistani farms downstream, as part of retaliatory action for the deadly April attack on tourists that New Delhi blames on Islamabad, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Delhi “put in abeyance” its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which governs the use of the Indus river system, shortly after 26 civilians were killed in Indian Kashmir in what India described as an act of terror. Pakistan has denied any involvement, but the accord has not been revived, despite both countries agreeing to a ceasefire last week.
After suspending India’s participation in the treaty, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi ordered officials to expedite planning and execution of projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers, three bodies of water in the Indus system that are designated primarily for Pakistan’s use, six people told Reuters.
One of the key plans under discussion involves doubling the length of the Ranbir canal on the Chenab to 120 km, according to two of the sources. The canal, which runs through India to Pakistan’s agricultural heartland of Punjab, was built in the 19th century, long before the treaty was signed.
India is permitted to draw a limited amount of water from the Chenab for irrigation, but an expanded canal – which experts said could take years to construct – would allow it to divert 150 cubic meters of water per second, up from about 40 cubic meters currently, the four people said, citing official discussions and documents they had seen.
Details of the Indian government’s deliberations on expanding Ranbir have not previously been reported. The discussions started last month and continue even after the ceasefire, one of the people said.
The Indian ministries responsible for water and foreign affairs, as well as Modi’s office, did not respond to Reuters’ questions. Indian hydropower giant NHPC, which operates many projects in the Indus system, also did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Modi said in a fiery speech this week that “water and blood cannot flow together,” though he didn’t refer to the treaty. Water minister CR Paatil told a media event last Friday (16) that his ministry would “implement what prime minister Modi says” and “try to ensure that not a drop of water goes out.”
The water and foreign ministries of Pakistan did not respond to requests for comment. Foreign minister Ishaq Dar told lawmakers last week that the government had written to India arguing that suspending the treaty was unlawful and that Islamabad regarded it as remaining in force.
A dry stretch of the Indus River in Pakistan’s Jamshoro and Kotri districts earlier this month
Islamabad said after India suspended the treaty in April that it considered “any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan” to be an “act of war.” About 80 per cent of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million.
Any efforts by Delhi to build dams, canals or other infrastructure that would withhold or divert significant amount of flow from the Indus system to India “would take years to realize,” said water security expert David Michel of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
International relations expert Happymon Jacob at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University said that India’s new focus on the Indus Waters Treaty reflected an attempt to pressure Pakistan over Kashmir.
“With the latest conflict, Delhi may refuse to discuss Kashmir with Pakistan in any format,” he said. “Delhi has not only progressively narrowed the scope of bilateral talks but has also curtailed the agenda, focusing only on specific issues like the IWT.”
Pakistan said it is preparing legal action in several international forums, including the World Bank, which facilitated the treaty, as well as the Permanent Court of Arbitration or the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
“Water should not be weaponised,” Pakistan’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told Reuters on Monday. “We don’t even want to consider any scenario which... does not take into account the reinstatement of this treaty.”
The Indus system runs through some of the world’s most geopolitically tense areas, originating near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet and snaking through India’s north and Pakistan’s east and southeast, before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
The treaty is widely seen as one of the world’s most successful water-sharing accords, having survived several major wars and longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan.
Islamabad has previously opposed many Indian projects in the Indus system, while Delhi said after the Kashmir attack that it had been trying to renegotiate the treaty since 2023 to account for population increases and its rising need for clean hydroenergy.
The treaty restricts India largely to setting up low-impact hydropower projects on the three rivers allocated to Pakistan. Delhi has freedom to utilise the waters of three other rivers – the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi tributaries – as it sees fit.
Delhi has also created a list of hydropower projects in its Jammu and Kashmir territory that it hopes will expand capacity to 12,000 megawatts, up from the current 3,360 MW.
The list, which was created by the power ministry and seen by Reuters, was not dated. A person familiar with the document said it was created before the Kashmir incident but is actively being discussed by government officials.
The prospective projects also include dams that can store large volumes of water, in what would be a first for India in the Indus river system, according to two people familiar with the matter. India has identified at least five possible storage projects, four of which are on tributaries of the Chenab and Jhelum, according to the power ministry document. (Reuters)
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Kim called the warship a “breakthrough” in the country’s naval forces
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, expressed his fury after witnessing a major accident during the launch of the latest North Korean warship, on Thursday. Kim considers this malfunction in the mechanism of the warship as a shame to the nation’s prestige.
As per Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), parts of the 5,000 ton destroyer’s bottom was damaged, and went off-balance as it eased into water during the launch. Parts of the destroyer’s hull was crushed, leaving the bow stranded on the shipway.
No casualties or injuries were reported after the incident.
The mishap took place in Kim’s presence, along with a large crowd from northeastern part of Chongjin, which added to his humiliation. He commented the accident as “criminal act”, and “carelessness”, from those in charge. He declared that those involved with the error will be held responsible and punished.
Multiple state institutions are considered responsible the accident – including the Munitions Industry Department, Kim Chaek University of Technology and the central ship design bureau.
Yang Wuk, an Asan Institute for Policy Studies military expert commented on the failed launch of the warship, embarrassing for the country.
According to a South Korean military analysis, the damaged warship is on their side in the water. The South Korean military spokesperson, Lee said that he expected the damaged destroyer to be equipped like the Choe Hyon.
“If the ship does not move together, the stresses will tear the hull apart,” said Sal Mercogliano, Professor at Campbell University and a maritime expert.
North Korea lacks floating docks usually found in shipbuilding states. Therefore, "Pushing from the side is the most basic, simplest and cheapest, if done right,” said Chol Il, retired South Korean submarine commander.
Kim called the warship a “breakthrough” in the country’s naval forces. Therefore, he ordered for the destroyer to be restored before the late June plenary session of the ruling Worker’s Party.