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EAM Jaishankar: We Uphold a Zero Tolerance Policy Towards Terrorism
During delegation-level talks in New Delhi with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated, “First, I want to thank the UK Government for its strong condemnation of the brutal attack in Pahalgam and for its solidarity and support in our fight against terrorism. We adhere to a zero-tolerance policy and expect our partners to fully understand this, as we can’t equate the perpetrators of such acts with their victims.”
Lammy arrived in New Delhi for a significant two-day visit focused on enhancing the UK-India economic and migration partnership. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi prior to his discussions with Jaishankar.
“David, it’s a pleasure to welcome you back to India. Your recent meeting with Prime Minister Modi sets the stage for us to evaluate our comprehensive strategic partnership, which has strengthened across various sectors,” Jaishankar commented.
He highlighted the recent conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Double Contribution Convention as important milestones to boost bilateral trade and investment while benefiting other strategic aspects of their relationship, including supply and value chains.
“Since your last visit, significant initiatives have advanced, including the Technology Security Initiative (TSI), which aims for deeper collaboration in strategic sectors like AI, semiconductors, telecom, quantum, healthtech, biotech, critical minerals, and advanced materials,” he added.
Jaishankar also pointed out the launch of the Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue, which will promote trade in critical technologies and address licensing and regulatory issues.
He noted that the UK-India infrastructure financial bridge has the potential to unlock substantial long-term capital for India’s infrastructure development.
“We are witnessing strong collaboration in the education sector, with more universities intending to establish campuses in India. Additionally, I had the honor of opening two new consulates in Manchester and Belfast,” he remarked.
“There are numerous topics we can discuss, and I look forward to exploring ways to deepen and diversify our partnership while exchanging views on key regional and global matters,” Jaishankar concluded.
The UK Foreign Secretary expressed his condolences regarding the recent Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to combat terrorism.
Lammy mentioned the progress made on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and highlighted the growing cooperation in education and trade.
“It’s regrettable that a horrific terrorist attack has occurred since our last meeting. My Prime Minister has asked me to extend the UK’s deep condolences and support to India in confronting the terrorism threat,” Lammy stated.
Commenting on the recently finalized FTA, he noted, “Our country has achieved an FTA, which marks the start of a new era in UK-India relations and paves the way for greater ambition.”
He estimated that the agreement could elevate bilateral trade by £25.5 billion in the near future and welcomed the increasing interest of UK universities in partnerships in India.
“I am delighted to discuss our comprehensive strategic partnership and the technology security initiative we launched last year. It’s remarkable to see more universities seeking to open partnerships here in India. Our new agreement is expected to boost trade substantially,” he added.
Lammy expressed his gratitude for his visit and appreciated Prime Minister Modi for taking the time to meet with him. “I’m thrilled to be back in India and thankful to Prime Minister Modi for the audience he granted me during this busy and challenging time,” he concluded.
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.
According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.
The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.
The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.
In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.
Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.
Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.
Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.
Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.
Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.
The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.
The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”
However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.
Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.
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