BJP demands action against Azad for his army remarks
New Delhi, June 22 : The BJP on Friday attacked senior Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks about "the Indian Army killing more civilians rather than terrorists" in the state, and demanded action against him.
The party said that Azad's statement was "irresponsible, shameful and deeply regrettable" and asked the Congress leadership to clarify "what action they are planning against Azad".
The BJP said it was shocked that such a statement should come from a person who has been the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and has witnessed the "brutal face of the terrorism in the state from Pakistan side".
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also said that the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi and "blessed" by Sonia Gandhi is at present making observations "in sync with the terrorists and their patrons".
Addressing a presser here, BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "Given the senior Congress leaders' pathological hatred towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, they have stooped to this extent where they are seeking to compromise the courage and respect of the armed forces."
"I am asking this (action) because Congress' Azad who has said that the forces are killing the locals more in Jammu and Kashmir."
Prasad said: "This statement of Azad is irresponsible, shameful and deeply regrettable. Today the people who support and vouch for Pakistan would be more happier."
After Azad's remarks, the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit issued a statement saying "we have been of the same opinion as the ones expressed by Ghulam Nabi Azad and others".
"Today what the Congress leaders are saying is being supported by the LeT. What kind of politics is this? Congress is standing with those who are trying to break the country," he said.
Prasad said the BJP "takes responsibility" as it charged the Congress for their "anti-national" stand. "That the Congress of today led by Rahul Gandhi and blessed by Soniaji is designed to make observations and behaviour in sync with the terrorists and their patrons," he said.
Prasad said: "What does he mean to say? What is he indicating?"
He reminded the Congress leader that while all live for the country, only the police, paramilitary and armed forces die for the country.
Giving the statistics of the terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir by the armed forces between 2012 and 2018, Prasad said that in 2012, 72 terrorists were killed in the state while in 2013, 67 terrorists were killed.
"In 2014, when our government came 110 terrorists were killed, in 2015 over 108 terrorists were killed, in 2016, 150 terrorists were killed, in 2017, over 217 and till May this year over 75 terrorists have been killed in the state."
"Azadji this is the story of your government and this is the story of our government. And you are saying that forces are killing locals more than the terrorists."
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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle
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New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.
"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.
The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.
The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.
Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.
Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.
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