PM Modi calls for greater cooperation among SCO members to ensure peace & prosperity
Bishkek: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for greater cooperation among the SCO countries in combatting terrorism, promoting economy, alternate energy and healthcare as he outlined India's commitment to peace and economic prosperity in the region.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here, Modi gave a template, 'HEALTH', for strengthening cooperation.
"Our vision is to strengthen the healthy cooperation among us. Using the letters of HEALTH, we can make a good template for cooperation.
"H for healthcare cooperation, E for economic cooperation, A for alternate energy, L for literature and culture, T for terrorism-free society and H for humanitarian cooperation," Modi said.
SCO region and history, civilization and culture of India are interconnected for thousands of years, he said.
"Our shared area is in great need of better connectivity in the modern era," he said.
Initiatives like International North South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement, clarify the focus of India on connectivity, Modi said.
"Respect for sovereignty, regional integrity, good governance, transparency, practicality and reliability should be the basis of connectivity initiatives. The importance of people-to-people contact with physical connectivity is not less," he said in an apparent reference to China's massive infrastructure development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India opposes the USD 60 billion CPEC as it is being laid through PoK.
It has been two years since India became a member of the SCO. India has contributed positively in all the activities of the SCO, he said. India's e-tourist visa facility is available to most of the SCO member countries, he said.
"On the website of India Tourism, a new 24*7 helpline will be launched in the Russian language for the convenience of tourists from the SCO countries," he said.
"Our vision is to strengthen the healthy cooperation. Using the letters of HEALTH, we can make a good template for cooperation.
"H for healthcare cooperation, E for economic cooperation, A for alternate energy, L for literature and culture, T for terrorism-free society and H for humanitarian cooperation," Modi said.
There is a need to emphasise on the healthcare work plan. India would be happy to share its experience in telemedicine and health tourism, he said.
"Economic cooperation is the basis of our people's future. Unilateralism and protectionism has not benefitted anyone. We need an open and all-inclusive trade policy at the WTO so that the interests of every countries specially the developing ones can be take care of," Modi said.
India is committed to make a favourable environment for the economic cooperation between the SCO member countries, he said.
India is committed to tackle the danger of climate change. Today, India is the sixth largest producer of renewable and fifth largest producer of solar power, the Prime Minister said.
International Solar Alliance (ISA) is India's joint initiative whose objective is to mobilise funds for reducing the cost of energy, he said.
"We welcome the SCO member states in the initiative. India is also ready to share its experience in generating the additional sources of energy," Modi said.
"Introduction of each other's literature to our youths will strengthen our relations. Ten top composition of India's literature will be translated in the language of SCO member countries," he said.
Literature and culture provide our societies a positive activity, specially they stop the spread of radicalisation among the youths in our society.
To combat the menace of terrorism, countries will have to come out of their narrow purview to unite against it, Modi said.
"Countries sponsoring, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable," he said at the summit which was also attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
India has been playing the role of first responder in the event of disaster and humanitarian cooperation, he said.
"We must pay special attention to the topic of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure," Modi added.
Modi arrived in the Kyrgyz capital on Thursday for the two-day SCO summit. The SCO is a China-led 8-member economic and security bloc with India and Pakistan being admitted to the grouping in 2017.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
