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July 18, 2024
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Priyanka tells PM to create opportunities for youth

The Congress leader’s comments followed a stampede-like situation near Mumbai airport where thousands of job seekers gathered for a few loader vacancies….reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for his claim of creating “eight crore new jobs,” urging him to “stop diverting attention” and create real opportunities for the youth. Her comments followed a stampede-like situation near Mumbai airport where thousands of job seekers gathered for a few loader vacancies.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning and was eventually controlled, according to an official from Sahar police station. In a Hindi post on X, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted the contradiction between Modi’s job creation claims and the reality of unemployment, citing a similar incident in Gujarat where 15 lakh people applied for 25 vacancies, leading to chaos.

“This shows that the record has definitely been broken, but of extreme unemployment. The country is facing historic unemployment,” said Gandhi. She appealed to the prime minister to stop making empty promises and focus on providing genuine opportunities for the youth.

Gandhi’s remarks came after Modi recently claimed that eight crore new jobs were created in the past three to four years, silencing those spreading false narratives about unemployment. Citing a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report, Modi asserted that his government prioritizes stability and growth, which has been welcomed by investors.

During an event launching infrastructure projects worth Rs 29,000 crore, Modi criticized opposition parties for spreading misinformation about job creation. In response, the Congress accused the government of manipulating statistics to falsely claim job creation, ignoring the quality and conditions of employment.

Recently, Priyanka Gandhi condemned the attack on a convoy of security officials in Manipur’s Jiribam on Sunday, in which one CRPF personnel was killed. She questioned when the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take action to resolve the ethnic conflict in the state.

“The violence that began on May 3 last year continues to this day. A state has completely disintegrated. When will the central government and the Prime Minister wake up from their sleep?” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a post on X.

She also expressed her prayers for the speedy recovery of the three injured soldiers, saying, “The news of the killing of a soldier in the attack on the CRPF convoy in Manipur is extremely sad. May God grant peace to the departed soul. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. I pray for the speedy recovery of the three injured soldiers.”

Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, also paid tribute to the fallen soldier.

“I pay my heartfelt tribute to the fallen soldier in the cowardly attack on the CRPF convoy in Manipur. May God give place to the departed soul at his holy feet and provide a speedy recovery to the injured soldiers,” Pilot said in a post on X.

Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh “strongly condemned” the attack in Jiribam, which resulted in the death of one CRPF personnel on Sunday.

The Chief Minister also extended his condolences to the bereaved family and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

“I strongly condemn the killing of one CRPF personnel in an attack carried out by an armed group, suspected to be Kuki militants, in Jiribam district today,” Biren Singh said in a post on X.

“His supreme sacrifice in the line of duty shall not go in vain. I further extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased soldier, while praying for the speedy recovery of those injured during the attack,” he added.

A convoy of security officials was ambushed by insurgents in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Sunday. One CRPF personnel was killed and several others were injured.

Notably, the state of Manipur has been witnessing ethnic strife since May 2023.

PM CARES only for vanity, says Kharge 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre for its alleged failure to carry out vaccinations under the ‘Mission Indradhanush’ program and took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying “PM CARES only for vanity.”

Terming it a “cardinal sin,” the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha claimed that 16 lakh children were not provided key vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) and measles shots in 2023.

He further alleged that around half of the applications for assistance to children who became orphans during the COVID pandemic were rejected by the PM CARES Fund, “without providing any reasons.”

Mission Indradhanush is a flagship routine immunization campaign led by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The scheme launched in 2014 plays a pivotal role in ensuring that routine immunization services reach children and pregnant women who might have previously missed or dropped out of the vaccination programs.

In a post on X, Kharge said that the central government is ‘wasting’ India’s strong foundation in immunisation laid by the Congress party.

“Modi Govt has committed a cardinal sin by not vaccinating lakhs of children. Neglect of immunisation means loss of precious lives. The gains of India’s strong foundation in immunisation laid by the Congress party have been shamelessly wasted by the Modi Govt, as 16 lakh children have not been provided the key vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) and measles shots in 2023, eroding the advantages made in 2022,” the Congress leader posted on X.

“Not only this, the rank apathy and flagrant disdain for COVID orphan children exposed by media reports shows, nearly 50% of applications for assistance to such children were rejected by #PMCARES Fund, without providing any reasons! @narendramodi ji, how will we ensure ‘Viksit Bharat’ if our children aren’t taken care of? In reality PM CARES only for vanity!” he added.

India’s immunization programme, launched in 1985, is one of the largest health programmes of its kind in the world, catering to a birth cohort of 2.7 crore (27 million) children annually.

Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on December 25, 2014. The scheme aims to cover all those children who are either unvaccinated or are partially vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.

India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provides free vaccines against 12 life-threatening diseases to 26 million children annually.

The Universal Immunization Programme provides life-saving vaccines to all children across the country free of cost to protect them against Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia, and Meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts), according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (ANI)

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Pakistan Risks Overstretching Itself in Yemen War

Pakistan’s expanding military role in Saudi Arabia amid the Yemen conflict could strain its defence resources and fragile finances…reports Asian Lite News Desk Pakistan’s military involvement in the war in Yemen may prove unsustainable because of mounting financial pressures and competing security demands, according to a new report. Islamabad’s growing military presence in Saudi Arabia risks stretching its defence resources while exposing the country to greater strategic and economic challenges. An article by Andrew Wilson in One World Outlook describes Pakistan’s involvement as a case of “fiscal and strategic overreach”, arguing that the country lacks the financial flexibility to sustain an expanded military commitment. Pakistan’s external finances depend heavily on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, financial support from Gulf countries and remittances from Pakistani workers in the region. The report argues that deeper military involvement in the conflict could place additional pressure on these sources of financial stability. It also warns that deploying troops and military equipment abroad could weaken Pakistan’s capacity to address security challenges along its eastern border and deal with two domestic insurgencies. The move could also draw Islamabad into a conflict it has sought to approach cautiously. A Reuters report in May, citing Pakistani security and government sources, said Islamabad had deployed around 8,000 troops, a squadron of approximately 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 fighter jets, two drone squadrons and a Chinese HQ-9 air-defence battery to Saudi Arabia. According to those sources, Riyadh was financing the deployment, with Pakistani personnel operating the equipment. The sources also said a confidential agreement contemplated the possibility of deploying up to 80,000 troops. Islamabad has not confirmed those figures, although it has acknowledged its military presence in Saudi Arabia, including the deployment of fighter jets at King Abdulaziz Air Base from April. The One World Outlook article argues that Saudi financial support can cover allowances and operating expenses but cannot easily replace military equipment needed elsewhere or resolve the political and strategic challenges of participating in the Yemen conflict. Pakistan’s defence budget is another concern. For the 2026-27 financial year, the federal government allocated PKR 3 trillion, or approximately $10.8 billion, to defence services. The allocation represents an 18 per cent increase from the original PKR 2.55 trillion provision and amounts to around 2.1 per cent of projected gross domestic product (GDP). Defence spending accounts for approximately 16 per cent of the federal government’s PKR 18.8 trillion expenditure. Military pensions are budgeted separately at PKR 822 billion, while debt servicing costs stand at approximately PKR 8 trillion, more than two-and-a-half times the defence allocation. The report argues that these competing financial obligations leave little room for additional military expenditure without placing further pressure on public finances. Pakistan’s reliance on IMF assistance also limits its fiscal flexibility. The country must meet the conditions attached to the programme, including a primary budget surplus target of 2 per cent of GDP and continued restraint on development spending. According to the article, these requirements make it difficult for Islamabad to finance an additional military commitment without compromising other budgetary priorities. Pakistan’s economic indicators offer limited reassurance. Economic growth for the 2025-26 financial year is estimated at between 3.6 and 3.7 per cent, while inflation reached approximately 10.3 per cent in September following an energy price shock. Foreign exchange reserves stood at around $21.5 billion at the end of September. Although this marks an improvement from the low levels recorded in 2023, the report notes that the reserves cover only a few months of imports. Financial assistance from Gulf partners remains central to Pakistan’s external stability. The article says Islamabad holds approximately $8 billion in Saudi deposits at its central bank. In July, the State Bank of Pakistan said Riyadh had extended the maturity of $5 billion in deposits to December 2028, easing the country’s immediate external financing requirements. A further $3 billion deposit was also extended in the spring. However, the article argues that these arrangements provide temporary relief rather than long-term financial independence, particularly as regional conflict threatens the stability of the Gulf economies on which Pakistan relies. The report concludes that Pakistan faces a difficult balance between supporting Saudi Arabia militarily and preserving the financial and military resources needed to address its domestic and regional challenges.

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If there is one thing that can bring some comfort to the struggling Bangladeshi economy, it is good relations with India. Bangladesh should remember that Delhi’s backing, through easy supplies of essentials

DP World Lands 15-Year Bangladesh Port Deal

The agreement between the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and DP World covers the New Mooring Container Terminal…reports Asian Lite News Desk Bangladesh has signed a 15-year concession agreement with global ports operator

Nepal Floods Cause $1.66 Billion In Damage, Says World Bank

Nepal’s August 2026 floods caused an estimated US$1.66 billion in direct physical damage, with infrastructure accounting for 83 per cent of the total…reports Asian Lite News Desk Nepal’s devastating floods in August 2026 caused an estimated US$1.66 billion in direct physical damage, with infrastructure accounting for 83 per cent of the total, according to a World Bank report. The estimate, included in the World Bank’s Nepal Development Update unveiled this week, is close to the Nepal government’s preliminary Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), which put physical damage at US$1.81 billion. The government’s assessment also estimated losses beyond physical assets at US$883.32 million, taking the total economic effects of the disaster to approximately US$2.7 billion. The World Bank’s Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) found that infrastructure suffered the greatest damage, estimated at US$1.38 billion, or 83 per cent of the total. Residential buildings accounted for US$185 million, or 11 per cent, while non-residential buildings sustained damage worth US$101 million, or 6 per cent. The floods along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers caused extensive damage to hydropower projects, solar energy facilities, electricity transmission infrastructure and transport networks. The energy sector, particularly hydropower, was among the worst affected. The August 2026 floods affected 12 hydropower projects and one solar project, involving 281.1 MW of operational capacity and 395.02 MW of capacity under construction. Damage to transmission lines and substations also disrupted the transmission of 149.6 MW of electricity to the national grid. The total affected capacity reached approximately 430.7 MW, equivalent to 10.6 per cent of Nepal’s installed hydropower and solar capacity at the end of fiscal year 2025-26, which concluded in mid-July. The disaster also severely damaged transport infrastructure along the 82-km Rasuwa trade corridor, which connects Kathmandu with the Rasuwagadhi border point with China. More than 55 km of the corridor was damaged, including 40 km that was completely destroyed. The floods also damaged 37 motorable bridges and 68 suspension bridges. The disaster resulted in significant human losses along the affected corridor and beyond. According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 1,455 people had been confirmed dead, while 5,285 remained missing following the disaster. The World Bank report found that the physical damage was concentrated in three districts in central Nepal: Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. Rasuwa was the worst-affected district, accounting for US$1.07 billion, or 64 per cent, of the total direct damage. Nuwakot recorded an estimated US$551 million in damage, while Dhading suffered approximately US$39 million. “The findings highlight the concentration of physical damage in a small number of districts and the disproportionate impact on infrastructure, underscoring the scale of the reconstruction challenge facing the affected areas,” the World Bank said. The global development financier said the floods had demonstrated the scale and complexity of disaster risks in Nepal’s Himalayan environment. The event also showed how a single extreme weather event could trigger cascading impacts across sectors and geographical areas. The report said recovery efforts should extend beyond restoring infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition. While the principle of “Build Back Better” remained relevant, the World Bank stressed that rebuilding infrastructure to higher engineering standards in the same locations might not always be sufficient. “In some cases, simply rebuilding the same infrastructure in the same location to a higher engineering standard may not be sufficient. Nepal may need to build differently — based on a better understanding of risk, more careful decisions about location and design, greater redundancy in critical networks, stronger monitoring and early warning, and a more integrated approach to infrastructure development in the Himalayas,” the report said. The World Bank said Nepal’s recovery strategy should incorporate improved risk assessment, more informed infrastructure planning, stronger monitoring systems and better early warning mechanisms. The report emphasised that reconstruction should not only restore damaged assets but also reduce the impact of future disasters, particularly in the country’s vulnerable Himalayan regions.
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