PM Modi announces India's Mahasagar vision for Global South
Port Louis (PTI): From Mauritius, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled a grand vision for security and growth for the Global South against the backdrop of China's relentless efforts to expand its influence in the region.
Modi made the remarks after witnessing the inking of several key agreements between India and Mauritius along with his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam in this capital city of the island nation.
Eight agreements were firmed up between the two sides providing for cooperation in an array of areas including maritime security, trade in national currencies and capacity building.
In his media statement, Modi announced that India's new vision for the Global South called "MAHASAGAR" or "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions" will bring growth security.
"Our vision for Global South will be MAHASAGAR -- Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions," he said on the second and final day of his visit to this island nation.
"Our vision focuses on trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and mutual security for a shared future," he said.
Modi described Mauritius as an important partner of India.
He also recalled how India's vision of SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region was laid out in Mauritius 10 years ago.
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Boards barring non-Hindus at Har ki Pauri come up in Uttarakhand
Haridwar (PTI): Amid demands to declare the Haridwar Kumbh area in Uttarakhand a Hindu zone and restrict entry to non-Hindus at all religious places and Ganga ghats within it, signs reading 'Non-Hindu prohibited area' were put up at Har Ki Pauri on Friday.
The Ganga Sabha, the organisation that manages and maintains Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding ghats, has put up these signs on all entry points to the area, including on bridge railings and pillars.
However, the main bathing ghat of Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding area are already restricted for non-Hindus according to the Haridwar Municipal Act of 1916.
These signs were put up after a video went viral three days ago showing two young men wearing Kandura (traditional Arab attire) roaming in the Har Ki Pauri area. However, it was later revealed that these two young men were Hindus and had come to make a video for their YouTube channel.
The Sabha has demanded that all religious places, temples, and Ganga ghats in the entire Haridwar Kumbh area be restricted for non-Hindus before the 'Ardh Kumbh' next year, a demand that the Uttarakhand government is also seriously considering.
Following the Kandura incident, the Sabha had also appealed to officials of government departments, other organisations, and media houses not to appoint their non-Hindu employees in this area. They stated that this was necessary to maintain the sanctity and purity of the area.
Regarding the installation of the new signs, Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam told PTI, "According to the Haridwar Municipal Bylaws of 1916, the entry of non-Hindus into the Har Ki Pauri area is completely prohibited. This sign has been put up to inform everyone about this bylaw."
He said that this step has been taken to publicly share information about the law and traditions, so that the sanctity of the pilgrimage site is maintained and no confusion or controversy arises.
Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar also stated that the 1916 bylaws prohibit the entry of non-Hindus into the Har Ki Pauri area.
