Trump optimist about US-India trade talks 'working out very well', terms Modi 'smart man'
New York/Washington, Mar 29 (PTI): US President Donald Trump has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "very smart man" and a "great friend of mine" while emphasising that tariff talks would "work out very well between India and our country".
The remarks assume significance since Trump has repeatedly criticised the high tariffs charged by India and other countries on American goods.
"Prime Minister Modi was here just recently and we have always been very good friends," the US president said in the White House Friday.
"India is one of the highest tariffing nations in the world.… it's brutal, it's brutal. They're very smart. He (Modi) is a very smart man and a great friend of mine. We had very good talks. I think it's going to work out very well between India and our country, Trump said.
"And I want to say you have a great prime minister," he said.
PM Modi had visited Washington DC in February and held bilateral discussions with Trump. The visit came less than a month after Trump was sworn in as US President for a second term.
Trump had earlier said that India was a very high-tariff nation and reiterated that reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose levies on American goods would kick in on April 2.
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Omar Abdullah launches free bus service for women in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar(PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched free bus service for women in the Union Territory, at a function held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here on Tuesday.
Abdullah expressed hope that the move would make travel easy and comfortable for women.
The launch was also attended by ministers Satish Sharma and Sakina Itoo.
Free bus rides for women, a promise made in the National Conference's election manifesto, was announced in the recent budget presented by the chief minister.
"In the budget, we had made a special announcement that women will travel free of cost in SRTC (state road transport corporation) and Smart City buses from April 1. Today, we have launched the service with a hope that it will make their travel across Jammu and Kashmir easy and safe," Abdullah told reporters here.
He said the government will compensate the SRTC and Smart City buses for the zero-fare tickets.
"There will be no losses for the SRTC and Smart City buses. We will provide them compensation from the budget," Abdullah said.
In an X post, the chief minister said it was not just a welfare measure, but a commitment to women's empowerment and accessible mobility.
"Starting today, women across Jammu and Kashmir will travel free of cost in all Smart City and SRTC buses. This isn't just a welfare measure, it is a commitment to women's empowerment, accessible mobility, and a more inclusive J&K," he wrote.
Meanwhile, National Conference said the initiative paves way for women to move forward, both literally and figuratively.
"Enhancing mobility is key to greater opportunities, independence and progress. This initiative paves the way for women to move forward, both literally and figuratively," the NC wrote on its X handle.
