India and Canada advancing strategic partnership: EAM Jaishankar after meeting counterpart Anand

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand in New Delhi on Wednesday, where both sides reviewed progress in ties across various sectors, including trade, investment, education, energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges.

Following the meeting, EAM Jaishankar stated that India and Canada are advancing their Strategic Partnership guided by the leadership of the two nations and sustained engagement.

“Delighted to meet FM Anita Anand of Canada in New Delhi today. Reviewed progress in our ties across trade and investment, education, energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges. Also exchanged views on key regional and global developments,” EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

“Guided by our leadership and sustained engagement across government and industry, we are advancing our Strategic Partnership,” he added.

Anita Anand recalled her meeting with EAM Jaishankar during her visit to India in 2025, when they had agreed to establish a Joint Roadmap for Canada–India ties and said that she is encouraged by seeing the progress in bilateral cooperation, including advancing trade negotiations and expanding cooperation on energy, innovation and security.

She noted that closer engagement between Canada and India provides an opportunity to shape future prosperity and contribute to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific when the international order is undergoing profound change.

“Exactly one year ago in New Delhi, I met with my Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to establish a Joint Roadmap for Canada–India relations. Returning today, I am encouraged by how far we have come — from advancing trade negotiations to expanding cooperation on energy, innovation and security,” Anand posted on X.

“The significance of this relationship lies in what our two countries can achieve together. At a time when the international order is undergoing profound change, closer engagement between Canada and India offers an opportunity to shape our future prosperity and contribute to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” she added.

Earlier in the day, Anita Anand highlighted Canada’s approach to diplomacy in a rapidly changing world. In her remarks at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on Wednesday, Anand stressed the important role that the middle powers can play in the evolution of the international order.

Sharing details regarding her participation in the forum, Anand on X wrote, “Middle powers have an important role to play in the evolution of the international order. By working together when our interests converge, we can exert greater influence and find solutions to challenges that transcend national borders.”

“At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, I spoke about Canada’s approach to diplomacy in a rapidly changing world. Our strength lies in the trust we build over time and our ability to bring countries together, especially as international cooperation is put to the test,” she added.

Anita Anand arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for an official visit. This is her third visit to India since June last year.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to Anand and noted that her visit to India will provide an opportunity to both nations to build on the recent progress and further advance bilateral partnership.

–IANS

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Delhi Police confirmed that two people have been rescued so far while maintaining that rescue operation is currently underway at the site.

Speaking to reporters at the site, BJP MLA Anil Kumar Sharma called it an “extremely tragic incident”.

“Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. Children who came from various regions to study here and were residing in a PG accommodation…the building has collapsed,” he said.

Maintaining that exact figures of those trapped cannot be revealed at the moment, Sharma said: “Students are trapped underneath the debris, that is clear.”

“Just now, two children were pulled out, and teams from the disaster management forces, MCD, and the police department have rushed them to the hospital. Other children remain trapped inside,” he added.

The BJP leader further said: “Some of the children are even making phone calls from beneath the rubble. Several children are still trapped. Continuous rescue efforts are underway, and we are praying for their safety.”

Anil Sharma said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has dispatched the full emergency response team to the spot and that Delhi BJP chief and MP Harsh Malhotra, is in constant contact over the phone.

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Meanwhile, a local who rushed to site following the tragedy, said: “There was a PG inside the building. Four floors were constructed which collapsed. There are several students trapped inside, including women.”

Another local added: “We have learned that around 20 to 30 students are trapped inside. This happened around 11:30 to 11:45 AM.”

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RG Kar verdict: Mamata unhappy with ‘life imprisonment’ for convict, says ‘death penalty was sought’

Kolkata, Jan 20 (IANS) As a special court in Kolkata on Monday sentenced Sanjay Roy, convicted in the case of ghastly rape and murder of a junior women doctor of the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital within the hospital premises in August last year to life imprisonment, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her displeasure and dissatisfaction over the quantum of sentence.

“We demanded ‘death penalty’ for the convict. I don’t know how… had the case been in our hands (state police or Kolkata Police), the death sentence would have been pronounced much earlier,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons just after the sentence was pronounced by the special court.

However, when specifically asked whether the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to carry out the investigation properly, thus leading to just “life imprisonment” and not the “death penalty”, the Chief Minister refused to make any direct comment.

“I do not want to say anything on these lines. All I can say is that recently in the three cases of similar rape and murder which were handled by the state police, the ‘death penalty’ was pronounced within a much shorter period,” the Chief Minister said.

BJP’s IT Cell chief and the party’s central observer for West Bengal Amit Malviya issued a statement that the verdict by the special court must be appealed and the Chief Minister should stop shielding the criminals.

“Agencies also need to investigate the role of the then Kolkata Commissioner and the Chief Minister in the destruction of evidence. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done,” Malviya’s statement read.

Senior advocate of Calcutta High Court and CPI-M Rajya Sabha member, Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, however, said that in his opinion, life imprisonment for Roy is quite a strong punishment.

“Personally, I feel that in a civilised country, ‘death penalty’ should not prevail,” he said.

While pronouncing the quantum of sentence on Monday afternoon, the judge of the special court Anirban Das, also made it clear that the CBI’s contention that Roy’s offence in the matter was “the rarest and rare crimes” was not tenable.

–IANS

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