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India extend $100 m credit, gifts Dornier aircraft to Seychelles

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8 years ago

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India extend $100 m credit, gifts Dornier aircraft to Seychelles

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]India and Seychelles have agreed to work together to develop a naval base project at the Assumption Island keeping each other’s concerns in mind after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Danny Faure on Monday.  India has also announced a $100 million credit to Seychelles for augmenting its defence capability.

While speaking at the joint press conference Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I have reiterated India’s commitment towards effective contributions to projects of national importance in Seychelles. These projects will not only help Seychelles’ economy but they will also help to further intensify our mutual relations”.

He further said, “I am happy to announce a credit line of US $ 100 million for Seychelles. From this credit line Seychelles will be able to purchase defence equipment from India to build its maritime capacity. The second Dornier aircraft which I had promised during my visit to Seychelles in March 2015 is ready to be handed over tomorrow.”  The Dornier aircraft will arrive in Seychelles to participate in the National Day festival of Seychelles on June 29, he said.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted,[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Faure, who is on his first bilateral visit to India, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Modi Monday morning.

India extend $100 m credit, gifts Dornier aircraft to SeychellesRead More: Seychelles President visit Sabarmati Ashram, IIM Ahmedadad

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the visiting leader and discussed with him expanding bilateral cooperation in key areas, including capacity building and human resource development.

On Tuesday, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj handed over the Dornier aircraft to the visiting Seychelles President.

 

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Addressing the ceremony Sushma Swaraj said, “Today marks a historic day with the fulfilling of this commitment by handing over of this world class and state-of-the-art second Dornier aircraft to the Republic of Seychelles. It is gift from India ahead of the celebrations to mark the National Day of Seychelles on 29th June”.

She further said, “ I am sure, this aircraft will give a quantum enhancement in maritime reconnaissance and contribute towards keeping the vast EEZ of Seychelles free from maritime threats”.

The Seychelles president had landed in Gujarat on June 22 as part of his six-day India tour and visited the Sabarmati Ashram on Saturday, where Mahatma Gandhi lived between 1917 and 1930. Faure also visited the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, where he held a meeting with the institute’s director Errol D’Souza.

After visiting Ahmedabad and Goa, he arrived in Delhi yesterday and was received by minister of state for external affairs M.J. Akbar.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The visit comes just days after Faure said that a joint project with New Delhi to develop a naval base at Assumption Island in his country would not move forward. However, the two countries reached an agreement.

Faure, in his remarks, said the Assumption Island project was discussed and the two countries equally engaged to work together bearing each other’s interests.

Seychelles President Faure has been facing criticism at home since that country signed an agreement with India in 2015 to develop a naval facility at the island which would have given New Delhi a strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean Region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Seychelles in March 2015 when two countries signed four agreements, including MoUs on Renewable Energy cooperation and in the field of Hydrography, a protocol on Sale of Navigational Charts and an agreement on Development of facilities on Assumption Island.

Seychelles President James Alix Michel visited India in August that year when five agreements on bilateral air services, agricultural cooperation, blue economy, tax information exchange and gifting of a second Dornier aircraft to Seychelles were signed.

A 45-member Indian army team participated in the 7th India-Seychelles biennial joint military exercise conducted in Mahe during February 2016. These bilateral exercises are being held in Seychelles since 2001.

India has an important link with Seychelles in the form of Indian nationals being the earliest inhabitants of this island, mostly from Tamil Nadu and later from Gujarat, who went there as traders, labourers, construction workers and more recently as professionals. There are more than 10,000 people of Indian origin, which is significant in a country of 96,000 people. In addition there are 11,000 Indians holding Gainful Employment Permits.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Centre revokes detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after nearly six months

The central government has revoked the NSA detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after nearly six months, saying the decision was taken after due consideration as Ladakh continues to witness political tensions.

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24 hours ago

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March 14, 2026

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songm wangchuk

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been detained for nearly six months under the National Security Act (NSA), will be released after the central government decided to revoke the detention order.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the decision was taken after due consideration, noting that Wangchuk had already completed nearly half of the permissible detention period under the law.

In a statement, the government said the move was part of its broader effort to maintain peace and encourage dialogue in Ladakh.

According to the ministry, the government remains committed to creating an atmosphere of stability and mutual trust in the region so that constructive engagement with all stakeholders can continue.

The statement added that ongoing protests and bandhs had affected normal life and disrupted several sections of society, including students, job seekers, businesses, tour operators and tourists.

The government also reiterated its commitment to providing safeguards for Ladakh and expressed hope that regional concerns would be resolved through discussions, including through the High-Powered Committee and other dialogue mechanisms.

Detained after protests in Leh

Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests broke out in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional protection for Ladakh.

The clashes reportedly left four people dead and about 50 others injured, including security personnel.

Authorities detained Wangchuk under the NSA on the orders of the Leh district magistrate to maintain public order. He was later transferred to Jodhpur prison.

Long-running agitation over Ladakh safeguards

The activist has been one of the prominent voices in the movement seeking constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, particularly the inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Since 2023, Wangchuk has led campaigns highlighting the impact of climate change on Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem.

Last year, he undertook a 35-day fast demanding statehood and constitutional protections for the region. The protest eventually escalated into unrest, after which he called off the fast, saying his message of pursuing a peaceful path had not succeeded.

Legal challenge and court remarks

Wangchuk’s detention was challenged in the Supreme Court by his wife Gitanjali Angmo, an educator.

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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the government’s decision to revoke the detention but questioned the length of time Wangchuk spent in custody.

In a post on social media platform X, Tharoor said the 169-day detention appeared excessively long and called on the Supreme Court to establish strict norms for the maximum period of detention without trial.

He also argued that indefinite detention without trial was a practice inherited from the colonial era and should not exist in a mature democracy.

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BJP and TMC workers clash in Kolkata ahead of PM rally

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BJP TMC workers clash

Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress clashed in central Kolkata on Saturday morning ahead of a rally scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.

The confrontation took place near Girish Park, roughly five kilometres from the Brigade Parade Ground where the prime minister is expected to address supporters.

Eyewitnesses reported that members from both political groups raised slogans and threw stones at each other during the confrontation. The clash created tension in the area as supporters were moving towards the rally venue.

According to BJP supporters, stones were allegedly thrown at them without provocation while they were heading towards the rally. One party activist told a Bengali news channel that the group was targeted suddenly and also faced verbal abuse.

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TMC supporters also alleged that stones were thrown towards the residence of local party leaders during the incident.

Police personnel were quickly deployed to the spot to control the situation and prevent further escalation. A large contingent of security forces intervened to restore order in the area.

The clash occurred about half an hour before the prime minister’s scheduled address at the Brigade Parade Ground. The rally marks the conclusion of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

During his visit, the prime minister is also expected to unveil and lay foundation stones for development projects valued at more than Rs 18,000 crore in the state.

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Massive fire destroys around 80 shanties in west Delhi, hundreds left homeless

A massive blaze swept through a slum cluster in west Delhi’s Matiala village, destroying around 80 shanties and leaving hundreds of migrant families homeless overnight.

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massive fire

A massive overnight fire destroyed around 80 shanties in west Delhi, leaving hundreds of migrant families homeless after flames swept through a large slum settlement near Uttam Nagar.

The incident took place late on the night of March 11 at the Machhli Mandi shanty cluster in Matiala village. The blaze spread rapidly across nearly four acres, reducing homes made of bamboo, tarpaulin and plastic sheets to ashes within hours.

According to Delhi Police, the affected families were largely migrant workers from Bihar who earn their livelihood as daily-wage labourers and ragpickers. Though no deaths were reported, residents lost most of their belongings including clothes, utensils, food supplies and documents.

Firefighters battle flames through the night

The Delhi Fire Service deployed 23 fire tenders to control the blaze. Firefighters continued operations throughout the night and managed to bring the flames under control at around 3 am on Thursday. Cooling operations continued afterward to prevent the fire from reigniting.

Thick grey ash and burnt debris covered large parts of the area after the fire. Charred bamboo frames, melted plastic sheets and twisted tin roofs were scattered across the ground.

Some residents claimed they saw unidentified people arrive on motorcycles and set several huts on fire before fleeing. Authorities have not confirmed this allegation.

Authorities cite disputed land and possible waste burning

District Magistrate Mekala Chaitanya visited the site and said the land has been under dispute for a long time.

He stated that the occupants had been issued an evacuation notice on March 7, with the night of the fire marking the final deadline to vacate the area.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said police teams helped evacuate residents before the fire intensified.

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Residents said they are now struggling to survive without basic necessities.

Rani Devi, a mother of three, said her family had no food, milk or drinking water after the fire destroyed their home and belongings. She added that many families were now sleeping amid the burnt debris.

A student, Rahul Kumar, whose board examinations are scheduled to begin soon, said his textbooks, notebooks and school uniform were all destroyed in the blaze.

Another resident, 42-year-old Rajesh Paswan, who migrated from Bihar over a decade ago and works as a ragpicker, said the fire wiped out everything his family owned overnight.

Demand for compensation and rehabilitation

AAP leader Ramesh Matitala met affected families and called for immediate compensation and rehabilitation.

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