US memo highlights praise for PM Modi’s diplomacy

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Washington, Aug 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew praise among Indian social media users for his diplomatic outreach, defence agreements and personal equation with President Donald Trump during his February 2025 visit to Washington, according to recently released State Department documents.

The internal US Embassy assessment said supporters viewed PM Modi’s engagement with Trump, Elon Musk and Indian Americans as a strategic effort to advance India’s interests on the global stage.

The February 18, 2025, analysis was released by the State Department in July under the Freedom of Information Act. The document is marked “unclassified”, rather than declassified, and the names of the officials involved have been redacted.

“PM Modi was praised in certain circles for his diplomatic outreach, especially when it came to trade negotiations and defense agreements that were seen as positive outcomes,” the assessment said.

“Some people also appreciated the way PM Modi was recognised by President Trump as a ‘tough negotiator,’ which reinforced the idea that PM Modi was representing India’s interests in key conversations,” it added.

The embassy analysis examined public discourse in India on X following PM Modi’s visit to the United States. It identified both positive and negative narratives surrounding his talks with Trump.

PM Modi’s personal relationship with Trump emerged as one of the favourable themes.

“The relationship between PM Modi and President Trump was also viewed in a positive aspect by many,” the assessment said.

“PM Modi’s use of personal diplomacy—like meeting with Elon Musk, engaging with Indian Americans, and joining President Trump at an open press meet was seen as a smart strategic move,” it said. “These moments resonated with users who saw PM Modi as effectively putting India’s interests forward on the global stage.”

The assessment also cited PM Modi’s stay at Blair House, across the street from the White House, as a sign of the respect accorded to the Indian leader by the United States.

Social media users drew parallels with the Washington visits of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, who had also stayed at the historic US presidential guest house.

Another positive theme was support for the US-India Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology, or COMPACT, initiative.

The embassy said the initiative was praised for promoting co-production and “mutually beneficial advancement of military technology on Indian soil.”

PM Modi met Trump at the White House on February 13, 2025, during his first visit to the United States after Trump returned to office.

–IANS

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ED attaches Anil Ambani group-linked assets worth Rs 10,117 crore to date (Lead)

New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec 5 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has provisionally attached properties and assets belonging to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group entities worth Rs 10,117 crore to date.

In the latest action, the financial regulator attached over 18 properties, fixed deposits, bank balance and shareholding in unquoted investments of Reliance Anil Ambani Group “worth Rs 1,120 crore in Reliance Home Finance Limited/Reliance Commercial Finance Limited/Yes Bank Fraud Case”.

The attached properties comprise seven properties of Reliance Infrastructure Limited, two properties of Reliance Power Limited, and nine properties of Reliance Value Service Private Limited.

Also, fixed deposits in the name of Reliance Value Service Private Limited, Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Limited, Phi Management Solutions Private Limited, Adhar Property Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Gamesa Investment Management Private Limited, and further investments made in “unquoted investment by Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Limited and Phi Management Solutions Private Limited”.

In a statement, Reliance Infrastructure Limited said of the total value cited, “Rs 8,078 crore pertains to assets of Reliance Communications Limited, a company that ceased to be a part of the Reliance Group since 2019—that is, for more than six years”.

“Reliance Communications has been undergoing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) and is currently managed entirely by the Resolution Professional, under the supervision of the Hon’ble NCLT and its Committee of Creditors (CoC), led by the State Bank of India (SBI), along with a consortium of banks and lenders,” the company said in its statement.

Reliance Infrastructure Limited “continues to operate normally, remaining fully committed to growth, operational excellence, and the creation of sustainable value for all stakeholders, including its community of over 7 lakh shareholders”.

In another statement, Reliance Power said it continues to operate normally and the creation of sustainable value for all stakeholders, including its community of over 43 lakh shareholders. “The Company, based on legal advice, will take all appropriate action to protect the interests of its shareholders,” it added.

The ED had earlier attached properties worth over Rs 8,997 crore in the bank fraud cases of Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCOM), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd., and Reliance Home Finance Ltd.

“Therefore, Cumulative Group Attachment reached Rs 10,117 crore. The ED has detected fraudulent diversion of public money by various Reliance Anil Ambani group companies, including Reliance Communications Ltd, Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd (RCFL), Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RIL) & Reliance Power Ltd (RHFL),” the financial probe agency said.

According to the ED, during 2017–2019, Yes Bank invested Rs. 2,965 crore in RHFL instruments and Rs 2,045 crore in RCFL instruments. By December 2019, these became non-performing investments.

The outstanding was Rs 1,353.50 crore for RHFL and Rs 1,984 Crore for RCFL. The ED’s investigation in the case of RHFL and RCFL reveals that RHFL and RCFL received public funds of more than Rs 11,000 crore.

The ED has also initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1989, against RCOM, Anil Ambani and others.

In particular, RCOM and its group companies diverted over Rs 13,600 crore for evergreening of loans; over Rs 12,600 crore was diverted to connected parties and over Rs 1,800 crore was invested in FDs/MFs, etc., which was substantially liquidated for rerouting to group entities, according to an ED statement.

–IANS

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Sibal deplores Dhankhar’s ‘attack’ on judiciary, vows to defend it

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday expressed disappointment over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s public criticism of the Supreme Court’s authority.

Talking to media persons, Sibal said he was “surprised and saddened” on reading Dhankhar’s comments that had the potential of shaking public faith in the judiciary.

He described Dhankhar’s remarks as an “attack” on the judiciary as the Chairman of the House, and also targeted Union ministers for issuing similar remarks against courts.

“If the judiciary can’t defend itself, then the polity of the country must come forward and defend the judiciary. We trust the judiciary in doing the right thing,” said Sibal, a former Union minister.

“I believe whenever there are certain verdicts of the judiciary that go against the government, then allegations of judicial overreach are made. But when there are verdicts that favour the government’s stand, like on Article 370, then the government silences the opposition by citing the SC verdict,” he said.

Referring to Dhankhar’s remark that “Article 142 has become a nuclear missile against Democratic forces”, Sibal said, “It is not appropriate to make such a comment about a constitutional functionary.”

“What was a nuclear missile was the denomination,” said Sibal, a noted jurist.

Article 142 is the provision through which the Constitution has given the Supreme Court the power to do “complete justice”, he said.

Sibal said the President is a titular head and acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. “VP Dhankhar is not correct in claiming that the powers of the President have been curtailed (by the SC verdict),” he said.

“It does not appear okay or constitutional that statements are issued which create the impression that the judiciary is being schooled,” said Sibal, cautioning the V-P not to cross the lines drawn under the Constitution to stop the intervention of the executive and the judiciary in each other’s domain.

The V-P’s criticism of the apex court came close to a Supreme Court Bench ordering that the President should decide on bills reserved for his or her consideration by the governor within a period of three months from the date on which such reference is received.

Dhankhar claimed that the judiciary was overstepping its bounds by invoking Article 142 — a provision that empowers the Supreme Court to issue orders necessary to do “complete justice” in any matter before it. The Vice President described Article 142 as a “nuclear missile against democratic forces available to the judiciary 24×7”.

“We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India, and on what basis? The only right you have under the Constitution is to interpret the Constitution under Article 145(3). There, it has to be five judges or more… Article 142, Article 142 has become a nuclear missile against Democratic forces, available to the judiciary 24 x 7,” Dhankhar said.

The Vice-President also expressed dismay at the turn of events following the incident of a large amount of cash allegedly found at the Delhi residence of a High Court judge. He questioned the constitutional validity of the Supreme Court-appointed Commission probing the case, and said the Constitution has accorded immunity from prosecution only to the President and Governors, and there cannot be a category beyond that.

–IANS

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Tripura: 4 killed, 2 injured in truck-auto rickshaw crash

Agartala, Jan 30 (IANS) At least four people, including two women, were killed and two others critically injured after a 12-wheeler goods truck collided head-on with a passenger auto-rickshaw on the Assam-Agartala National Highway in Tripura’s Unakoti district on Friday, police said.

A police official said that the accident occurred at Sidangchhara under the Kumarghat police station limits when the goods-laden truck, heading towards Agartala, rammed into the vehicle travelling towards Pecharthal.

Fire service personnel rescued six injured passengers, including the driver of the three-wheeler, from the mangled vehicle and rushed them to the Kumarghat sub-divisional hospital.

On duty doctor said two victims were dead on arrival at the hospital, while the remaining four were in critical condition and referred to the Unakoti district hospital at Kailashahar.

Hospital authorities later confirmed that two more injured persons succumbed to their injuries during treatment, taking the death toll to four. The condition of the remaining two victims continues to be critical. One of the injured persons was later shifted to Silchar Medical College in southern Assam for advanced treatment.

The deceased were identified as Bhaskar Goswami (47), Kanchana Chakma (55), Hari Shankar Debatrata (50), and Gouri Mili Chakma (35). Goswami is the auto-rickshaw driver, and the other victims are passengers of the three-wheeler. The injured are Jatrapati Chakma (42) and Mayarani Debnath (55).

Upon receiving information, Kumarghat Sub-Divisional Police Officer Utpalendu Debnath and Kumarghat police station Officer-in-Charge Sanjay Das rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operation. The truck driver fled the scene after the accident. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. The offending vehicle has been detained, and legal formalities are being initiated.

Meanwhile, in a bid to curb road accidents and fatalities, the Tripura government has begun implementing a series of strict road safety measures, including the ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ and ‘No Helmet, No Attendance’ policies.

Special emphasis is being laid on the compulsory use of helmets, adherence to traffic rules and responsible driving behaviour, with campaigns being held at key road junctions and public places.

In line with guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, all district administrations in Tripura have adopted the ‘Zero Fatality Month’ plan to bring down road accident-related deaths to zero. Joint efforts involving traffic police, transport department officials, civil defence volunteers, NGOs and members of the public are underway.

Awareness drives, rallies, discussions, outreach programmes and campaigns using social media are being organised to promote traffic discipline and safe driving practices.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, while chairing a review meeting on road safety earlier this month, directed all concerned departments to adopt the ‘Gujarat model of road safety’ to create an accident-free road network in the state.

The Chief Minister asked officials to incorporate these elements into Tripura’s road safety framework.

According to the Transport Department official, the Gujarat model is based on the integrated use of advanced technology, strict law enforcement and swift post-accident rescue with immediate medical care.

–IANS

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