Nadoja award: Thinker Dr. G Ramakrishna refuses to accept honour from Governor Gehlot
Vijayanagar: Thinker Dr. G Ramakrishna, who was recently selected for the ‘Nadoja’ award by the Kannada University of Hampi, has called the selection an honour but has refused to receive the award from Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.
Ramakrishna, however, clarified in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday that his refusal to accept the award during the formal event did not mean that he was refusing the award itself.
He has stated that he held a long-term relationship with the University, starting with being professor there for two years three decades ago. He not only wrote a book published by the University, he also participated in several programmes there.
Speaking further about his relationship with the University, Ramakrishna said, addressing the Vice Chancellor, “If the syndicate there confers on me the degree of 'Nadoja', I will consider it an honour, there is no question of refusing. I have already written to you and informed you that I will accept the honor. Not going to the graduation ceremony is not a refusal of the degree. I have told everyone there and I think they all appreciated it. I humbly wish to convey this to all of them and all my friends.”
He added in his post, “I did not receive the award from the person from whose hand I was supposed to receive it and will not receive it in the future. There is another strong reason for not going and receiving the honor. I was not ready to receive the honor from the current Governor of the state, and I am still not.”
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PM Modi receives red carpet welcome as he begins 2-day visit to Israel
Jerusalem (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday to a red-carpet welcome with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara receiving the Indian leader at the Ben Gurion airport.
It is PM Modi's second visit to Israel in nine years. The India-Israel relationship was elevated to the level of strategic partnership during his first visit to that country in July 2017.
Netanyahu greeted the Indian prime minister with a warm hug, following which Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport, located 20 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv.
The Indian prime minister will address Israel's parliament later in the day and will have a tete-a-tete with Netanyahu. The two leaders will hold wide-ranging talks on Thursday.
In his pre-departure statement, Modi said he was confident that the visit will further consolidate the enduring bonds between India and Israel and set new goals for the strategic partnership.
"India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years," Modi said.
"I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties," he said.
Modi said he and Netanyahu will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
"I am confident that my State Visit will further consolidate the enduring bonds between the two countries, set new goals for the strategic partnership, and advance our shared vision for a resilient, innovative and prosperous future," Modi said.
The prime minister's visit assumed greater significance as it is taking place amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including deteriorating ties between the US and Iran.
There has been an upswing in India-Israel ties in the last few years, including in the areas of defence, scientific research, cybersecurity and innovation.
The defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of the partnership between the two sides, with Israel supplying a plethora of military platforms and weapon systems to India.
In November last, during the visit of India's defence secretary to Israel, an important agreement on defence cooperation was signed.
As India is looking at developing an indigenous air defence shield called "Sudarshan Chakra", it is learnt that New Delhi would like to explore the possibility of incorporating certain elements from Israel's Iron Dome all-weather air defence system that can intercept and destroy missiles and artillery shells.
The trade and investment ties between the two sides are also witnessing steady progress.
During the visit to Israel of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in November, the term of reference (ToR) for the launch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and Israel was signed.
In September, the two sides had inked a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) to expand economic cooperation.
The people-to-people ties between the two countries are also an important aspect of the overall relations, with over 41,000-strong Indian diaspora playing a key role in the two-way engagement.
