Trade pact opens doors for AYUSH practitioners in EU-member states: PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the practitioners of Indian traditional systems of medicine will now be able to provide their services in the European Union countries, following the historic India-EU trade pact.
AYUSH practitioners will be able to provide their services in the EU member states, based on professional qualifications earned in India, which will greatly benefit the youngsters associated with ayurveda and yoga, Modi said at the centenary celebrations of the Arya Vaidyasala Charitable Hospital in Kerala.
In a video message, the prime minister said the recently-announced historic trade agreement with the EU will give a major boost to Indian traditional medicine services and practitioners.
He said the pact will also help establish AYUSH wellness centres in Europe and extended his congratulations to all dignitaries associated with ayurveda and AYUSH for this achievement.
Modi said India has been treating people through ayurveda for centuries, but it is unfortunate that within the country and largely abroad, efforts have been required to explain its importance.
He said a major reason for this has been the lack of evidence-based research and research papers.
The prime minister said when ayurvedic methods are tested on the principles of science, public trust becomes stronger.
He expressed happiness that the Arya Vaidyasala has consistently tested ayurveda on the touchstone of science and research, working in collaboration with institutions like the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Modi pointed out that the institution has focussed on drug research, clinical research and cancer care, and with the support of the Ministry of Ayush, the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for cancer research marks an important step in this direction.
The prime minister said the Arya Vaidyasala has played a significant role in preserving, protecting and advancing ayurveda, and recalled the contributions of its founder, Vaidyaratnam P S Varier.
Modi said the Arya Vaidyasala is a living symbol of India's healing tradition that has served humanity for centuries.
He said ayurveda in India has never been confined to an era or a region and in every age, this ancient medical system has shown the way to understand life, create balance and harmonise with nature.
The Arya Vaidyasala manufactures more than 600 ayurvedic medicines and its hospitals across different parts of the country treat patients through ayurvedic methods, including patients from over 60 countries, the prime minister noted.
He said the Arya Vaidyasala has earned this trust through its work and when people are in distress, the institution becomes a great source of hope for them.
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Trouble ‘Miyas’ everywhere only then they will leave Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Says “Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP are openly against them, we are saying it openly
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that four to five lakh “Miya voters” would be removed from the electoral rolls in the state once the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is carried out. He also made a series of controversial remarks openly targeting the Miya community, a term commonly used in Assam in a derogatory sense to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official programme in Digboi in Tinsukia district, Sarma said it was his responsibility to create difficulties for the Miya community and claimed that both he and the BJP were “directly against Miyas”.
“Four to five lakh Miya votes will have to be deleted in Assam when the SIR happens,” Sarma said, adding that such voters “should ideally not be allowed to vote in Assam, but in Bangladesh”. He asserted that the government was ensuring that they would not be able to vote in the state.
The chief minister was responding to questions about notices issued to thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims during the claims and objections phase of the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in Assam. While the Election Commission is conducting SIR exercises in 12 states and Union Territories, Assam is currently undergoing an SR, which is usually meant for routine updates.
Calling the current SR “preliminary”, Sarma said that a full-fledged SIR in Assam would lead to large-scale deletion of Miya voters. He said he was unconcerned about criticism from opposition parties over the issue.
“Let the Congress abuse me as much as they want. My job is to make the Miya people suffer,” Sarma said. He claimed that complaints filed against members of the community were done on his instructions and that he had encouraged BJP workers to keep filing complaints.
“I have told people wherever possible they should fill Form 7 so that they have to run around a little and are troubled,” he said, adding that such actions were meant to send a message that “the Assamese people are still living”.
In remarks that drew further outrage, Sarma urged people to trouble members of the Miya community in everyday life, claiming that “only if they face troubles will they leave Assam”. He also accused the media of sympathising with the community and warned journalists against such coverage.
“So you all should also trouble, and you should not do news that sympathise with them. There will be love jihad in your own house.” He said.
The comments triggered reactions from opposition leaders. Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi said the people of Assam had not elected Sarma to keep one community under constant pressure. Congress leader Aman Wadud accused the chief minister of rendering the Constitution meaningless in the state, saying his remarks showed a complete disregard for constitutional values.
According to the draft electoral rolls published on December 27, Assam currently has 2.51 crore voters. Election officials said 4.78 lakh names were marked as deceased, 5.23 lakh as having shifted, and 53,619 duplicate entries were removed during the revision process. Authorities also claimed that verification had been completed for over 61 lakh households.
On January 25, six opposition parties the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(M-L) submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief electoral officer. They alleged widespread legal violations, political interference and selective targeting of genuine voters during the SR exercise, describing it as arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional.
