Say 'namaskar', not 'good morning', says Vice President
Panaji, Sep 28: Indians should let go the colonial mindset and greet people with 'namaskar' rather than with 'good morning', 'good afternoon' and 'good evening', Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday.
Naidu, speaking at a convocation ceremony organised by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here, said that while he was not against English language, India should break away from the mindset imposed by British colonial rulers.
"Namaskar is our 'sanskar' in India. That is applicable in morning, evening and night too," he added.
The Vice President said that as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, he had done away with colonial practices which were outdated.
He recalled how, recently, a section of the media misquoted him as calling the English language an illness when he was talking about protecting and encouraging the mother-tongue.
"I did not say it. English is not an illness, English is welcome. You learn (it). But English mind, which we have inherited from the British rule, is an illness. Britishers have gone, their mindset remains," Naidu said.
Naidu appreciated the institute for not sticking to the customary black convocation gown, routinely worn by students at such ceremonies.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
