Tanzania President Hassan becomes first woman to be conferred honorary doctorate by JNU
New Delhi (PTI): Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to be bestowed with the honour.
President Hassan arrived in India on a four-day visit on Sunday.
She has been awarded the honorary degree for her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism.
Hassan, the first woman president of Tanzania, went down memory lane to share her journey -- from being born in a humble family in an African village to becoming the president of her country.
"The world says there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad," she said in her acceptance speech.
"I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India the incredible India," she added.
Hassan noted that India has always been a shoulder to lean on in the struggle against colonialism.
"In our struggle against colonialism, India has always been a shoulder to lean on. Together, we can be a formidable voice championing effective positive changes. This honour comes with responsibilities and expectations. My heart is beaming with gratitude by this profound recognition bestowed upon me by the great university. I extend my appreciation for deeming me worthy of this degree my first by a foreign university," she added.
The event was attended by Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.
"Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillar. Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to east Africa along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the (COVID-19) pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides," Jaishankar said.
Education Minister Pradhan said India is implementing the new National Education Policy, the foundation of which is built on the pillars of access, equality, quality, affordability and accountability.
"Tanzania is a key African partner of India and we count on your support to amplify the aspirations of the Global South, especially on education and human resource development. Skill-focused and market-aligned higher education are to be delivered to the youths of both the countries in a collaborative manner," Pradhan said.
The minister highlighted that India has a vibrant higher education ecosystem with 55,000 institutions, 42 million students and 1.6 million teachers, which needs to be further strengthened with an aspirational National Education Policy that is bringing transformative reforms.
The Tanzanian president received training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Hyderabad.
ITEC is a capacity-building programme offered by the Ministry of External Affairs under which officials and civilians receive training in the defence sector.
Addressing the occasion, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit called the convocation a display of "nari shakti" and women-led development in "Amritkaal" and congratulated Jaishankar and Pradhan for India's stride towards a successful G20 and National Education Policy, 2020.
"We celebrate 'nari shakti' today. Women-led development in 'Amritkaal'. Tanzania is a great friend of India and JNU is happy to be a part of this ceremony," Pandit, the institution's first woman vice-chancellor, said.
She also invited President Hassan to a lecture series at JNU's Centre for African Studies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Hassan, with a focus on boosting overall bilateral ties.
Before the talks, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Hasan's visit is an opportunity to take the long-standing ties between the two countries to "new levels".
President Hassan will also participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi later on Tuesday.
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BJP using women's quota bill as front to pass Delimitation Bill that will break India: Mamata
Cooch Behar (WB) (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was using the proposed amendment to the women's quota law in Parliament as a front for the Delimitation Bill that would "break the country into pieces".
The TMC will fight this Central government's move at every step, she asserted at her party's poll rally here.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to tweak the women's quota law, along with the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, to implement the proposed amended women's quota law, in the Union territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
According to the Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats will also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
Opposing the Centre's move, Banerjee alleged that "the BJP brought the Delimitation Bill while keeping the women's reservation bill at the front".
"The BJP is trying to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to nearly 850 through the Delimitation Bill. It will break the country into pieces," the TMC supremo said.
She also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not speaking the truth about the development of north Bengal at a BJP rally last week.
"The prime minister said nothing was done for the development of north Bengal. But we spent Rs 1.72 lakh crore on the development of the region," Banerjee said and asked Modi to cross-check data before making such remarks.
