India and Japan vow to enhance defence equipment and technology cooperation

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed Japan’s review of the three principles on the transfer of defence equipment and technology and hoped that it would further deepen the defence partnership between both countries.

According to the Joint Statement issued after the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, which was held in New Delhi and attended by PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi, both sides expressed deep satisfaction that bilateral defence and security cooperation is on an upward trajectory. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation based on the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, adopted at the last Annual Summit.

“They directed their Ministers to hold the fourth round of the 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo by the end of this year. They welcomed the progress made in the cooperation among the respective services, including the successful conduct of the naval exercise JAIMEX 25, supported by the two services on the Japanese side,” the Joint Statement detailed.

India welcomed Japan’s participation in the International Fleet Review 2026 held in Visakhapatnam. Both sides concurred on deepening maritime security cooperation through enhanced exercises, maritime domain awareness using satellite capabilities, naval maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) cooperation, and defence equipment and technology cooperation under the framework of ‘Make in India’.

“The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction that an agreement has been reached in principle on the remaining technical details regarding the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (‘UNICORN’) project. They expressed their expectation for an early conclusion of the project and concurred on exploring ways to materialise other projects in the field of defence equipment and technology,” the statement added.

The two leaders also welcomed the steady progress under the Quad framework and reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing practical cooperation.

“They underscored the importance of Quad collaboration across the four pillars of maritime and transnational security; economic prosperity and security, including critical minerals; critical and emerging technologies; and humanitarian assistance and emergency response,” the Joint Statement highlighted.

They noted that growing bilateral cooperation in these areas would further strengthen and complement the Quad efforts and reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating towards an early convening of the next Quad Leaders’ Summit.

–IANS

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‘Attempt to divert attention’: BJP on Pak Minister Khwaja Asif’s remark

New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) A day after Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warning of a retaliatory strike on Kolkata in the event of any “future misadventure” by India has triggered strong reactions across India’s political spectrum, with leaders condemning the remarks and urging restraint.

Asif, while speaking to reporters in Sialkot, said on Saturday that if India attempts another “false-flag operation”, Islamabad would respond by “taking it to Kolkata”, escalating tensions through his remarks.

Reacting sharply to Pakistan Minister’s remarks, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagdambika Pal criticised Pakistan’s internal economic situation and governance, suggesting that such statements were an attempt to divert attention.

Speaking to IANS, Pal said that people in Pakistan are facing severe economic hardships, with fuel prices reportedly soaring and the government struggling to manage debt obligations.

“People are out on the streets in Pakistan, petrol and diesel prices have gone extremely high, and even friendly nations are demanding loan repayments. Pakistan does not even have sufficient funds to service its debt. In such a situation, making provocative statements is an attempt to distract from domestic failures,” the BJP MP added.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior BJP leader T.R. Sriniwas strongly criticised Asif’s remarks and issued a stern warning against terror activities emanating from across the border.

He cautioned that India could respond decisively if provoked, referring to the possibility of a strong countermeasure, ‘Operation SINDOOR-2’ against terror activities.

Meanwhile, senior advocate and former MP Majeed Memon, emphasising the need for diplomatic restraint.

“Whether it is Pakistan’s Defence Minister or any other leader, making statements like ‘we will attack India’ is not appropriate. Pakistan should remain within its limits and work towards maintaining peaceful and constructive relations with India,” Memon said.

Congress leader Nana Patole questioned the timing and context of Pakistan Defence Minister’s statement, linking it to ongoing political developments.

He alleged that such remarks were being amplified deliberately during the election period, particularly in West Bengal.

“The election process is currently underway, including in Kolkata. Such statements are being spread at this time deliberately. Why is this being said in Kolkata and not elsewhere? Why wasn’t it said in Delhi? Because there are no elections there,” Patole said.

–IANS

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BJP slams Rahul Gandhi for ‘deliberate misquotation’ on NEET paper leak issue

New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member, Sudhanshu Trivedi launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of deliberately misquoting the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in connection with the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduation (NEET-UG) examination paper leak controversy.

Trivedi said on Friday that while the Solicitor General clearly mentioned in court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally concerned and supervising the “Paper Leak Issue”, Rahul Gandhi conveniently omitted the word “Issue” to create confusion.

In a strongly-worded post on social media platform X, the BJP Spokesperson added, “The problem with Rahul Gandhi is that, until now, he was unable to comprehend the ‘Issue’; now, he is unable to even read the word ‘Issue’ itself.”

He described the Congress leader’s approach as “clueless, issueless, and shameless”.

Trivedi emphasised that the NDA government under Prime Minister Modi remains fully vigilant on the NEET paper leak matter.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally extremely sensitive to this matter and is maintaining a strict vigil,” he asserted.

He accused the Opposition of indulging in “low-level shamelessness” by selectively editing statements to mislead the public and create a false narrative.

The BJP leader also targeted Rahul Gandhi with a stinging poetic verse in Hindi, saying: “Gandhi ne jise mehnaton, kar-kar ke banaya, Rahul ne us party ki, maachis laga ke rakh di. Kya kaha gaya, aur, jaane kya usne bataya, Qasid ne to paigham ki, maachis laga ke rakh di. (The party that Mahatma Gandhi built — through sheer toil and sweat — Rahul Gandhi has reduced it to ashes, Setting it ablaze with a matchstick.)”

Trivedi questioned Rahul Gandhi’s selective interpretation, asking, “What was actually said? And what did he go on to claim?”

He alleged that the Congress leader has destroyed the very essence of the original message through propaganda and misquotation.

The remarks come amid growing political heat over the NEET-UG examination irregularities.

The Union government has repeatedly assured strict action against those involved in the NEET paper leak, while the Opposition has accused it of failing to control the crisis affecting lakhs of students across the country.

Sudhanshu Trivedi’s sharp criticism reflects the BJP’s aggressive counter-offensive against Congress allegations.

He said that the Narendra Modi government is committed to upholding the sanctity of examinations and delivering justice to students.

This latest political exchange highlights the intensifying war of words between the ruling BJP and the Congress over one of the most sensitive issues concerning India’s youth ahead of key political developments.

–IANS

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State level committee to be formed for educational reforms in military schools: Maha CM

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed the administration to set up a state-level committee for educational reforms in the military schools.

“The policy of military schools has been announced with a view to ensuring that a maximum number of students in the state participate in the National Defence Academy (NDA) and to prepare disciplined, confident, team-oriented and leadership-oriented students. There is a demand for improvement in this from the schools, and in line with these demands, and to raise the educational standard, a state-level committee should be formed for this purpose,” he said at the meeting he chaired regarding educational reforms in the military schools.

The Chief Minister said that the committee should study the educational reforms in Sainik schools, quality, admission process, CBSE curriculum and various demands of the schools and submit a report to the state government within a month. After receiving the committee’s report, a policy decision will be taken in the interest of the students.

School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse said that the government is positive about providing quality educational facilities in military schools, saying that the committee should conduct a physical inspection of the schools, study the demands and problems of the schools in detail and submit a report within a time frame.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday said that swift action should be taken to ensure the transparent and effective implementation of the sand policy recently approved by the state cabinet. The policy proposes the availability of sand at cheaper rates and to curb unauthorised sand mining.

Bawankule said that according to the new policy, the state government is conducting a tendering process for the extraction of sand from the sand group in the riverbed, transportation of the excavated sand to the depot and construction and management of the sand depot.

“According to this new policy, the common man will get relief. Sand will be available to everyone, and the royalty amount will be waived as per the sand policy. Also, royalty receipts should be delivered to the beneficiaries constructing houses through the group development officers for providing sand from the nearest sand depot. Sand should be made available for construction in the villages. For this, the District Collector should hold a meeting with the Guardian Minister and the Tehsildars, with the MLAs and release the sand as per their demand,” he added.

Further, Bawankule asked the administration to establish a state-level committee to ensure that as many workers are registered and they get all the benefits of the government schemes.

He said that the government is implementing a slew of initiatives for the employment, service conditions of building and other construction workers in the state, their safety, health and welfare.

Bawankule said that in order to provide justice to the building and other construction workers in the state and to include them in all government schemes, it is necessary to register a maximum number of workers.

“As a taluka-level committee has been formed for the effective implementation of the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a detailed study should be conducted at the village level by forming a committee for the building and other construction workers comprising local people’s representatives, gram sevaks, sarpanchs and other important persons,” he said.

–IANS

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