Govt must provide security to Rohit Pawar: Sule amid questions after Ajit Pawar's air crash
Mumbai (PTI): NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Thursday demanded that the Maharashtra government provide security to her party MLA Rohit Pawar, noting that he has been raising concerns and questions in the wake of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in an air crash.
In an X post, Sule said the January 28 plane crash in Pune's Baramati town, in which Ajit Pawar and four others were killed, has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, with people still in deep grief and numerous doubts and suspicions being expressed on social media.
Rohit Pawar has been placing facts, issues and questions in a well-researched and thoughtful manner reflecting public sentiment, she said, stressing that people deserve clear answers from the authorities.
"If the authorities delay in providing answers, the unease will only grow further. To prevent this from escalating, it is essential that the truth of the incident comes out before the public in a completely transparent manner," the Baramati Lok Sabha member said.
Emphasising that questioning the system is a constitutional right of every Indian citizen, Sule said Rohit Pawar was articulating the doubts and concerns in the minds of the people before the authorities.
"It is extremely important that he is provided adequate security and the full responsibility to ensure his safety must be taken by the state government," she said.
Rohit Pawar, a two-term MLA and nephew of Sule and late Ajit Pawar, held two press conferences recently and claimed there was reason to suspect sabotage in the air crash.
He has demanded that Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu step down from his post until the probe into the plane crash is completed.
The legislator has also claimed that the VSR company, whose Learjet plane carrying his uncle crashed in Pune's Baramati town last month, was being protected.
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'Technology with humanity': French President Macron pitches for inclusive AI future
New Delhi (PTI): In the face of increasing geopolitical tensions, there is a growing sense of urgency to direct all digital tools towards an inclusive approach and India and France will jointly work to build a framework for artificial intelligence by combining innovation with responsibility and technology with humanity, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.
In his address at the AI Impact Summit here, Macron said France and India share a common vision for developing a "sovereign AI" to protect the planet and foster prosperity for all.
"At a time when tensions are rising, there is an increased sense of urgency to direct all our digital tools towards this inclusive approach. And in order, indeed, to be strong here in India, but to be strong as well on the African continent," he said.
"Let's focus together on bridging rather than dividing, creating rather than destroying, sharing rather than taking. France intends to use its G7 Presidency to foster that vision," he added.
Macron said France, as the current G7 chair, will work towards ensuring protection of children against AI and digital abuse.
"This is why in France we are embarking on a process to ban social networks for children aged under 15 years. We are committed in this journey with several European countries being present here today, (including) Greece, Spain," he said.
"I know, Mr Prime Minister, you will join this club. This is great news that India will join such an approach in order to protect children and teenagers. We stand ready to take all necessary actions to ensure that our young citizens are truly safe," he said, apparently to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Describing India as a major player in the artificial intelligence (AI) domain, the French president underlined the need for rules to govern use of AI.
"I have come to convey that we are determined to continue to shape the rules of the game. And to do that with our allies, such as India, because we believe in core shared values, science, rule of law, global balance."
Now is the time to channel our forces toward what works. Concrete action and solutions that make AI more sustainable, efficient, and accessible," he said.
Macron also pitched for what he described as "targeted funding to leverage talents and creativity" in the AI domain.
"The future of AI will be built by those who combine innovation and responsibility. Technology with humanity. And India and France will help to shape this future together. And the journey has just begun," he said.
The French president began his address by lauding India's journey in the digital space.
"Ten years ago, a street vendor in Mumbai could not open a bank account. No address, no papers, no access. And today the same vendor accepts payments on his phone, instantly. Instantly, for free, from anyone in the country," he said.
"That is not just a tech story, that is a civilization story. And India built something that no other country in the world has built, a digital identity for 1.4 billion people. A payment system that now processes 20 billion transactions every month," he said.
"A health infrastructure that has issued 500 million digital health IDs. Here are the results. They call it the India Stack Open Interoperable Sovereign," he noted.
