Maldives MP Mickail Naseem has proposed Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer & suspended ministers Malsha, Maryam Shiuna, Mahzoom Masjid to be summoned by the Maldives Parliament. Speaking to our correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations." Watch to know more!

Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign & suspended ministers

The social media is filled with 'Boycott Maldives' hashtag. Following derogatory comments by Maldivian officials about Indian PM Narendra Modi. It is now time for Maldives parliament to intervene, says Maldives MP Mickail Naseem in a conversation with WION . The 3 ministers were soon suspended after their remarks drew criticism from India and abroad.

India-Maldives Row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments, proposes Muizzu's visit to India

The Indian state of Gujarat is getting up for the annual vibrant Gujarat Summit now this year Summit is expected to break its 2019 record of signing over 20,000 deals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the summit at the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be attending the summit as the Chief Guest on the 9th of January.

Vibrant Gujarat 2024: Over 100,000 resgistrations for the summit, 3-km-long roadshow in Ahmedabad

The Maldives government has suspended three Deputy Ministers over derogatory remarks made against india and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Maldives' former deputy speaker and current member of Parliament, Eva Abdulla, spoke to WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibbal.

Maldives Government must issue a formal apology to India: MP Eva Abdulla

Kashmir's Winter Wonderland has achieved a new Milestone. Gulmarg reigned as one of the best Ski resorts in Asia and witnessed record-breaking tourist arrivals in 2023. Over 1 million visitors took rides on Gulmarg's Gondola which generated a revenue worth over $122,000, here's a report.

Kashmir's record-breaking tourist arrivals in the year 2023

The social media is filled with 'Boycott Maldives' hashtag. Following derogatory comments by Maldivian officials about Indian PM Narendra Modi. The 3 ministers were soon suspended after their remarks drew criticism from India and abroad.

Maldives-India Row: Maldives sacks ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha & Mahzoom Majid

Estonia's Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo has lauded India's IT revolution and said that his country sees India as a "powerful IT centre and one of the centres&nbsp;of gravity".

Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he pointed to his country's digital identification ID and India's Aadhar. The minister who is also the Minister of Economic Affairs pointed to how "countries like India are instrumentally important for Estonia...countries who share the same values, the same basic values and in this context, I mainly mean you know, rule of law, democracies need to stick together". The minister is in India to attend the 'Vibrant Gujarat&nbsp;Summit'.

&nbsp;

Here are the excerpts of the exclusive interview.

Sidhant Sibal: What will be the key focus of your India visit?

Tiit Riisalo: Yes, of course. If you look a little bit into the broader picture, the relations with countries like India are instrumentally important for Estonia, because if you look around ourselves in a in a global context, we understand very well that the countries who share the same values, the same basic values and in this context, I mainly mean you know, rule of law, democracies need to stick together and work together and communicate. And for this, not only you know reading what happens in the newspapers or even having the zoom or web conferences is not enough, you need human contact. And that's why we had to deepen this mutual understanding. And we certainly find India, in the coming years one of the major global players who shares our values so of course, we want to have good, good working relationships, diplomatically, economy wise, but also as a minister of economy, I represent delegation of the Estonian companies and as a small export oriented country, Estonia is very happy to scale our businesses outside Estonia and outside EU and we hope also Indian companies take interest in in Estonia. Our market size as a Republic of Estonia is not that big, but we are a member of the EU, one of the outstanding members of the EU and its market of 500 million people. So we hope also from the Indian side to create interest to invest in our region.

Sidhant Sibal: How is India's IT revolution?

Tiit Riisalo: Estonia is a well known digital society. We made our first moves already in the end of the 90s. And we are well recognized worldwide, especially now for the efficiency of digital government. But we understand very well that just by admiring yourself in the changing world, you don't reach too far. And we definitely see India's powerful IT centre&nbsp;and one of the centres&nbsp;of gravity in this context. And from one side we are happy to share how we experience but from the other side to learn what is happening in Estonia. And again, it's also interesting for our IT companies because in IT, it's even better. You know it is much easier to scale up. And so we hope that that we find new ideas here, that India find something useful or Indian company in Estonia, but also vice versa, that that we can, maybe work mutually together in some sort of solution using then both experiences and one thing we certainly share and that most countries don't cross yet very well, I must admit is the importance of strong, singular digital identity, which opens, you know, public services which opens business opportunities, and I think definitely we will find mutual interest

Sidhant Sibal: When it comes to IT space. You have been training Indian officials if you can elaborate on that. And I believe you have with India unique cyber exercises, if you can elaborate on that as well.

Tiit Riisalo: This you know, educating of the public sector of course, is something we have to share with the world and, and we have been doing this this for years, because we believe that this shared experience based on open source software, where India has also now taken a lead which we have been preaching already for years. It's an instrumental cornerstone of democracies so that we actually make the public services not that expensive, easy to develop based on platforms, and that makes it accessible to people. You know, in public sector services, but also business wise. So we are very like minded here and certainly this is, this is also where we have shared our experience also together with our European partners. We have done some training courses which are still going on actually to sort of educate mainly the state employees, but we also look further because we need digital literacy also among you know our populations, otherwise there is no point to develop the digital services. So what concerns cyber, then we are there also I must admit, standing pretty strong on the global level. And it all started for fortunately or unfortunately, with a nuance that Estonia was target of the first major cyber attack in 2007, made to buy by unfortunately our neighbour Russia, but from there on we had to technological basis, but I think we were the first ones to recognize what importance cyber security has in the world which is actually connected to the complete IoT or internet of things. And we see it on a daily basis. And yes, we have a good working relationship and in Estonian case, we always work together with private companies because we just don't have enough people. You know, to hire everybody and in the public sector. So we work together with the private sector and the private sector has also more motivation to develop the services.

Sidhant Sibal: You mentioned the unique identification. When it comes to India. If you can elaborate I mean, are you looking at some kind of Indian model?

Tiit Riisalo: We both use that. We have the system in place already from the beginning of the 2000s. It's electronic identity and you can add the first one it started with you know, the ID card and the chip on it. And then there was you know, messaging based and now it is smartphone based and I think it's developing in the Indian case you use this Aadhaar system, I think so, these are basically doing the same function in a little bit different ways. But, why is it important that this you know, opens secure services, makes it possible to offer secure services. And this is something that we share the understanding, which enables us to work together to advance this sphere.

&nbsp;

Estonia's Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo has lauded India's IT revolution and said that his country sees India as a "powerful IT centre and one of the centres of gravity".

Estonia's Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo has lauded India's IT revolution and said that his country sees India as a "powerful IT centre and one of the centres of gravity". Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he pointed to his country's digital identification ID and India's Aadhar. The minister who is also the Minister of Economic Affairs pointed to how "countries like India are instrumentally important for Estonia...countries who share the same values, the same basic values and in this context, I mainly mean you know, rule of law, democracies need to stick together". The minister is in India to attend the 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit'. Here are the excerpts of the exclusive interview. Sidhant Sibal: What will be the key focus of your India visit? Tiit Riisalo: Yes, of course. If you look a little bit into the broader picture, the relations with countries like India are instrumentally important for Estonia, because if you look around ourselves in a in a global context, we understand very well that the countries who share the same values, the same basic values and in this context, I mainly mean you know, rule of law, democracies need to stick together and work together and communicate. And for this, not only you know reading what happens in the newspapers or even having the zoom or web conferences is not enough, you need human contact. And that's why we had to deepen this mutual understanding. And we certainly find India, in the coming years one of the major global players who shares our values so of course, we want to have good, good working relationships, diplomatically, economy wise, but also as a minister of economy, I represent delegation of the Estonian companies and as a small export oriented country, Estonia is very happy to scale our businesses outside Estonia and outside EU and we hope also Indian companies take interest in in Estonia. Our market size as a Republic of Estonia is not that big, but we are a member of the EU, one of the outstanding members of the EU and its market of 500 million people. So we hope also from the Indian side to create interest to invest in our region. Sidhant Sibal: How is India's IT revolution? Tiit Riisalo: Estonia is a well known digital society. We made our first moves already in the end of the 90s. And we are well recognized worldwide, especially now for the efficiency of digital government. But we understand very well that just by admiring yourself in the changing world, you don't reach too far. And we definitely see India's powerful IT centre and one of the centres of gravity in this context. And from one side we are happy to share how we experience but from the other side to learn what is happening in Estonia. And again, it's also interesting for our IT companies because in IT, it's even better. You know it is much easier to scale up. And so we hope that that we find new ideas here, that India find something useful or Indian company in Estonia, but also vice versa, that that we can, maybe work mutually together in some sort of solution using then both experiences and one thing we certainly share and that most countries don't cross yet very well, I must admit is the importance of strong, singular digital identity, which opens, you know, public services which opens business opportunities, and I think definitely we will find mutual interest Sidhant Sibal: When it comes to IT space. You have been training Indian officials if you can elaborate on that. And I believe you have with India unique cyber exercises, if you can elaborate on that as well. Tiit Riisalo: This you know, educating of the public sector of course, is something we have to share with the world and, and we have been doing this this for years, because we believe that this shared experience based on open source software, where India has also now taken a lead which we have been preaching already for years. It's an instrumental cornerstone of democracies so that we actually make the public services not that expensive, easy to develop based on platforms, and that makes it accessible to people. You know, in public sector services, but also business wise. So we are very like minded here and certainly this is, this is also where we have shared our experience also together with our European partners. We have done some training courses which are still going on actually to sort of educate mainly the state employees, but we also look further because we need digital literacy also among you know our populations, otherwise there is no point to develop the digital services. So what concerns cyber, then we are there also I must admit, standing pretty strong on the global level. And it all started for fortunately or unfortunately, with a nuance that Estonia was target of the first major cyber attack in 2007, made to buy by unfortunately our neighbour Russia, but from there on we had to technological basis, but I think we were the first ones to recognize what importance cyber security has in the world which is actually connected to the complete IoT or internet of things. And we see it on a daily basis. And yes, we have a good working relationship and in Estonian case, we always work together with private companies because we just don't have enough people. You know, to hire everybody and in the public sector. So we work together with the private sector and the private sector has also more motivation to develop the services. Sidhant Sibal: You mentioned the unique identification. When it comes to India. If you can elaborate I mean, are you looking at some kind of Indian model? Tiit Riisalo: We both use that. We have the system in place already from the beginning of the 2000s. It's electronic identity and you can add the first one it started with you know, the ID card and the chip on it. And then there was you know, messaging based and now it is smartphone based and I think it's developing in the Indian case you use this Aadhaar system, I think so, these are basically doing the same function in a little bit different ways. But, why is it important that this you know, opens secure services, makes it possible to offer secure services. And this is something that we share the understanding, which enables us to work together to advance this sphere.

'We see India as a powerful IT centre,' says Estonia's IT minister to WION

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement on Saturday that the INDIA alliance would meet in “10 to 15 days” to make decisions about key posts has not gone down well with the JD(U) that has been pushing to get its party chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar appointed the bloc’s convener.

Seat sharing talks still in pre-mature stage | INDIA alliance faces uphill battle

The political consultancy business in India has experienced significant growth, both in size and influence, within the internal workings of political parties across states. The functions of political consultancy encompass various aspects, including strategic planning with party leaders, conducting precise surveys using technology, managing communication through targeted media campaigns, digitizing internal party management, handling logistics, and utilizing call centres for mobilizing party cadres.

Indian Elections: Behind the scenes

India's supreme court has quashed the remission of 11 convicts in the bilkis bano gang rape case... Overruling the Gujarat government's 2022 decision the top court stated that the case was not under the state's jurisdiction and that the sentence convicting the eleven will be upheld... In a blow to the Gujarat government, the Supreme Court ruled that the state reflected a lack of competency in granting remission to the convicts... The apex court has argued that it is not Gujarat rather the Maharashtra government that has jurisdiction to rule on the case...

Bilkis Bano case: Gujarat government's decision to remit sentences overturned by SC

How crucial are poll strategists in Indian political campaigns

Kashmir Tourism has been touching new peaks in the last few years with record breaking tourist arrivals.

Gulmarg, known for one of the best ski resorts in Asia, has set a new record. The Gondola ride that takes tourists from Gulmarg to Khilanmarg and Apharwat Heights at a height of 14,000 ft and makes it Asia's highest operating cable car has set a new record. More than one million tourists took the Gondola ride this year, generating over $12 million in revenue.

''As you know, 2023 was a very good and encouraging year for tourism. We have witnessed a major footfall in the summer and autumn season and a huge number of tourists have come to celebrate New Year's in the valley too. The recent figures given out by the Cable Corporation shows that a million tourists have taken the ride of Gulmarg gondola and enabled the corporation to fetch a record-breaking revenue. So, in this context we hope that the coming year 2024 will be equally fascinating and more tourists will come,'' said Ahsal Ul Haq Chisti, Deputy Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department.

The Cable Car Corporation revealed that the recent figures are encouraging and higher than the last year (2022). According to the data provided, 8,50,000 tourists had taken the gondola rides with an earning of over $11 million in 2022.

The J&amp;K Cable Car Corporation runs and manages the Gulmarg Gondola, considered the flagship attraction of Kashmir tourism. It is possibly India's most popular ropeway, and at a height of 14,000 ft, it is Asia's highest operating cable car.

The J&amp;K Cable Car Corporation in the last one year has worked on the improvement of the Gondola services.

From undertaking several safety tests and overhauling of the second phase of the Gondola with the latest technology, the Cable Car Corporation has improved and enhanced the service delivery by improving the ticket issuing mechanism also.

The tourists taking these rides have been all praises for the Gondola services and calling it a memorable experience. “It was an amazing ride. The bookings were seamless. I invite people from all across to enjoy the experiences of Gulmarg Gondola,”&nbsp;said Akshay who is on vacation at Gulmarg these days.

The Cable Car Corporation has been taking feedback from the tourists on how to Improve the service and this year's record-breaking numbers and footfall has been the reason for that. According to Jammu and Kashmir's Cable Car Corporation, the department always asks the tourists to avail the online mode of ticket selling for their convenience, time saving and curbing the chances of any black marketing by any tout. &nbsp;

Gulmarg has been one of the most favourite destinations for the tourists coming to the Valley and has seen huge tourist arrivals during the New Year&nbsp;as well.

Kashmir Tourism has been touching new peaks in the last few years with record breaking tourist arrivals. Gulmarg, known for one of the best ski resorts in Asia, has set a new record.

Kashmir Tourism has been touching new peaks in the last few years with record breaking tourist arrivals. Gulmarg, known for one of the best ski resorts in Asia, has set a new record. The Gondola ride that takes tourists from Gulmarg to Khilanmarg and Apharwat Heights at a height of 14,000 ft and makes it Asia's highest operating cable car has set a new record. More than one million tourists took the Gondola ride this year, generating over $12 million in revenue. ''As you know, 2023 was a very good and encouraging year for tourism. We have witnessed a major footfall in the summer and autumn season and a huge number of tourists have come to celebrate New Year's in the valley too. The recent figures given out by the Cable Corporation shows that a million tourists have taken the ride of Gulmarg gondola and enabled the corporation to fetch a record-breaking revenue. So, in this context we hope that the coming year 2024 will be equally fascinating and more tourists will come,'' said Ahsal Ul Haq Chisti, Deputy Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department. The Cable Car Corporation revealed that the recent figures are encouraging and higher than the last year (2022). According to the data provided, 8,50,000 tourists had taken the gondola rides with an earning of over $11 million in 2022. The J&K Cable Car Corporation runs and manages the Gulmarg Gondola, considered the flagship attraction of Kashmir tourism. It is possibly India's most popular ropeway, and at a height of 14,000 ft, it is Asia's highest operating cable car. The J&K Cable Car Corporation in the last one year has worked on the improvement of the Gondola services. From undertaking several safety tests and overhauling of the second phase of the Gondola with the latest technology, the Cable Car Corporation has improved and enhanced the service delivery by improving the ticket issuing mechanism also. The tourists taking these rides have been all praises for the Gondola services and calling it a memorable experience. “It was an amazing ride. The bookings were seamless. I invite people from all across to enjoy the experiences of Gulmarg Gondola,” said Akshay who is on vacation at Gulmarg these days. The Cable Car Corporation has been taking feedback from the tourists on how to Improve the service and this year's record-breaking numbers and footfall has been the reason for that. According to Jammu and Kashmir's Cable Car Corporation, the department always asks the tourists to avail the online mode of ticket selling for their convenience, time saving and curbing the chances of any black marketing by any tout. Gulmarg has been one of the most favourite destinations for the tourists coming to the Valley and has seen huge tourist arrivals during the New Year as well.

Gulmarg Gondola breaks records: Over a million tourists in 2023 generate $12mn for Cable Car Corporation

The Maldives government has suspended three deputy ministers for disparaging India's prime minister, an official said on Sunday, during a dip in ties with its powerful neighbour.

Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives comments row

Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives derogatory comment row

PM Modi to inaugurate vibrant Gujarat Summit

The government of Maldives has suspended three deputy ministers on January 7. These ministers made derogatory remarks against India’s PM Narendra Modi on social media.

All you need to know about the 3 Maldives Ministers suspended for derogatory remarks against PM Modi

Amid the online campaign of boycott Maldives, flight and trip booking company EaseMyTrip in a significant step decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings after derogatory remarks were made by some of Maldives' now suspended ministers against India following the recent visit to Lakshadweep by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's&nbsp;co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”

The travel company, EaseMyTrip, went one step further and started a visit Lakshadweep campaign with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In solidarity with our nation, <a href="https://twitter.com/EaseMyTrip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EaseMyTrip</a> has suspended all Maldives flight bookings ✈️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TravelUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TravelUpdate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SupportingNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SupportingNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LakshadweepTourism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LakshadweepTourism</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExploreIndianlslands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ExploreIndianlslands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakshadweep?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakshadweep</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExploreIndianIslands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ExploreIndianIslands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kishanreddybjp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kishanreddybjp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JM_Scindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JM_Scindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tourismgoi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tourismgoi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/incredibleindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@incredibleindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY">https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY</a>
— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) <a href="https://twitter.com/nishantpitti/status/1744080855100744082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

EaseMyTrip, which has its headquarters in New Delhi, was founded by Rikant Pitti, Prashant Pitti and Nishant Pitti in 2008.

Speaking to ANI, Prashant Pitti said, "Our company has recently taken the decision to not accept bookings for Maldives. The reason for this is the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. We have taken this decision to establish 'nation first and business later'."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-president-departs-for-china-amid-diplomatic-row-with-india-677741">Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India</a> 
 
Prashant Pitti, in his post dated January 4, wrote, "Water &amp; beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles We at @EaseMyTrip will come up with crazy special-offers to promote this pristine destination that our PM @narendramodi has recently visited!"

<h2>India-Maldives row and debate over tourism&nbsp;</h2>

Amid row over tourism between Maldives and India, hashtag #BoycottMaldives started trending on social media platforms as many tourists began cancelling their scheduled vacations to the island nation.

Meanwhile, three deputy ministers of Maldives were suspended by the government on Sunday (Jan 7) for posting derogatory comments on social media against India's Prime Minister Modi.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maldives-sacks-3-ministers-for-insulting-comments-on-pm-modi-india-maldives-derogatory-comment-row-677615/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts.

Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad.

<h2>Indian Chamber of Commerce, other&nbsp;travel companies call for boycott of Maldives</h2>

Meanwhile, the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Monday (Jan 8), issued an “appeal to boycott Maldives”. Head of ICC’s aviation and tourism committee Subhash Goyal appealed to all Indian trade associations to “stop promoting Maldives in view of the anti-India feelings expressed by ministers of Maldives.”

“Please divert all such queries to Lakshadweep and Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands which are even better than Maldives in many ways.. other destinations that can be promoted in the Indian Ocean region are Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bali, Phuket etc,” he said. Goyal further “appealed” Indian carriers to suspend the flights towards Maldives and appealed Indian hotel companies to make more investment in Lakshadweep “for better returns.” Goyal’s STC Travels also stopped selling tickets and packages for Maldives.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid the online campaign of boycott Maldives, flight and trip booking company EaseMyTrip in a significant step decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings after derogatory remarks were made by some of Maldives' now suspended ministers against India following the recent visit to Lakshadweep by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amid the online campaign of boycott Maldives, flight and trip booking company EaseMyTrip in a significant step decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings after derogatory remarks were made by some of Maldives' now suspended ministers against India following the recent visit to Lakshadweep by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.” The travel company, EaseMyTrip, went one step further and started a visit Lakshadweep campaign with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep. In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings ✈️ #TravelUpdate #SupportingNation #LakshadweepTourism #ExploreIndianlslands #Lakshadweep#ExploreIndianIslands @kishanreddybjp @JM_Scindia @PMOIndia @tourismgoi @narendramodi @incredibleindia https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY — Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) January 7, 2024 × EaseMyTrip, which has its headquarters in New Delhi, was founded by Rikant Pitti, Prashant Pitti and Nishant Pitti in 2008. Speaking to ANI, Prashant Pitti said, "Our company has recently taken the decision to not accept bookings for Maldives. The reason for this is the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. We have taken this decision to establish 'nation first and business later'." Also read: Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India Prashant Pitti, in his post dated January 4, wrote, "Water & beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles We at @EaseMyTrip will come up with crazy special-offers to promote this pristine destination that our PM @narendramodi has recently visited!" India-Maldives row and debate over tourism Amid row over tourism between Maldives and India, hashtag #BoycottMaldives started trending on social media platforms as many tourists began cancelling their scheduled vacations to the island nation. Meanwhile, three deputy ministers of Maldives were suspended by the government on Sunday (Jan 7) for posting derogatory comments on social media against India's Prime Minister Modi. Watch: Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi "The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts. Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad. Indian Chamber of Commerce, other travel companies call for boycott of Maldives Meanwhile, the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Monday (Jan 8), issued an “appeal to boycott Maldives”. Head of ICC’s aviation and tourism committee Subhash Goyal appealed to all Indian trade associations to “stop promoting Maldives in view of the anti-India feelings expressed by ministers of Maldives.” “Please divert all such queries to Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands which are even better than Maldives in many ways.. other destinations that can be promoted in the Indian Ocean region are Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bali, Phuket etc,” he said. Goyal further “appealed” Indian carriers to suspend the flights towards Maldives and appealed Indian hotel companies to make more investment in Lakshadweep “for better returns.” Goyal’s STC Travels also stopped selling tickets and packages for Maldives. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian travel companies call for boycott of Maldives after row over scornful remarks on PM Modi

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised.&nbsp;

In a brazen act of violence, notorious 40-year-old gangster Sharad Mohol, from Pune city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, was gunned down on Friday (Jan 5) afternoon in the Kothrud neighbourhood. The&nbsp;video of the incident has surfaced on social media, and has since gone viral.

Mohol was allegedly gunned down by members of his own gang .&nbsp;

He was ambushed by three to four assailants in the Sutardara locality of Kothrud around 1:30 pm on Friday,&nbsp;the day of his wedding anniversary.

The chilling footage shows the assailants closing in on Mohol, with one firing at point-blank range, and another shooting him in the shoulder.

Following the attack, the gangster collapsed on the road. In the video, people at a nearby house are also seen rushing to their balconies after hearing the gunshots. The entire saga triggered neighbours to rush to the gangster's aid.

Despite their efforts, Mohol succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a private hospital in Kothrud.

<h2>Eight suspects arrested&nbsp;</h2>

A police official reportedly said that eight suspects were swiftly apprehended from a vehicle on the Pune-Satara road.

Among the seized items were three pistols, three magazines, and five rounds of ammunition. Officials suspect&nbsp;an internal gang strife behind the deadly attack.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/they-ran-away-indian-navy-chief-reveals-how-the-hijacked-ship-was-rescued-from-pirates-677369">'They ran away...': Indian Navy chief reveals how the hijacked ship was rescued from pirates</a>

Sharad Mohol, a central figure in multiple criminal cases, including murder and dacoity, had faced charges related to the killing of alleged Indian Mujahideen agent Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui inside Yerawada jail.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-lallas-standing-idol-in-dark-stone-to-grace-ayodhya-temple-trusts-general-secy-677353">Ram Lalla's standing Idol in dark stone to grace Ayodhya temple: Trust's general secy</a>

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Gangster <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SharadMohol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SharadMohol</a> was shot dead by members of his gang in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pune?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pune</a> yesterday over a financial dispute. 
 
A video has now emerged that shows a group of men firing at Sharad Mohol from close range in a narrow lane in Pune's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kothrud?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kothrud</a>. 
 
As Sharad Mohol falls to the ground after being… <a href="https://t.co/KfthqI9Cff">pic.twitter.com/KfthqI9Cff</a>
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) <a href="https://twitter.com/HateDetectors/status/1743571421287309684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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However, he was later acquitted in the case.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ayodhya-gets-a-major-facelift-all-decked-up-for-ram-mandir-inside-south-asia-677102">Ayodhya gets a major facelift: All decked up for Ram Mandir | Inside South Asia</a>

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Authorities believe that Mohol's killing resulted from an internal power struggle within his gang which revolved around territory and money.

Maharashtra's Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, dismissed the incident as a gang war and said,&nbsp;“As our government knows how to deal with such notorious elements, no one dares to get involved in a gang war."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. In a brazen act of violence, notorious 40-year-old gangster Sharad Mohol, from Pune city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, was gunned down on Friday (Jan 5) afternoon in the Kothrud neighbourhood.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. In a brazen act of violence, notorious 40-year-old gangster Sharad Mohol, from Pune city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, was gunned down on Friday (Jan 5) afternoon in the Kothrud neighbourhood. The video of the incident has surfaced on social media, and has since gone viral. Mohol was allegedly gunned down by members of his own gang . He was ambushed by three to four assailants in the Sutardara locality of Kothrud around 1:30 pm on Friday, the day of his wedding anniversary. The chilling footage shows the assailants closing in on Mohol, with one firing at point-blank range, and another shooting him in the shoulder. Following the attack, the gangster collapsed on the road. In the video, people at a nearby house are also seen rushing to their balconies after hearing the gunshots. The entire saga triggered neighbours to rush to the gangster's aid. Despite their efforts, Mohol succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a private hospital in Kothrud. Eight suspects arrested A police official reportedly said that eight suspects were swiftly apprehended from a vehicle on the Pune-Satara road. Among the seized items were three pistols, three magazines, and five rounds of ammunition. Officials suspect an internal gang strife behind the deadly attack. Also Read | 'They ran away...': Indian Navy chief reveals how the hijacked ship was rescued from pirates Sharad Mohol, a central figure in multiple criminal cases, including murder and dacoity, had faced charges related to the killing of alleged Indian Mujahideen agent Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui inside Yerawada jail. Also Read | Ram Lalla's standing Idol in dark stone to grace Ayodhya temple: Trust's general secy Gangster #SharadMohol was shot dead by members of his gang in #Pune yesterday over a financial dispute. A video has now emerged that shows a group of men firing at Sharad Mohol from close range in a narrow lane in Pune's #Kothrud. As Sharad Mohol falls to the ground after being… pic.twitter.com/KfthqI9Cff — Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) January 6, 2024 × However, he was later acquitted in the case. Watch | Ayodhya gets a major facelift: All decked up for Ram Mandir | Inside South Asia × Authorities believe that Mohol's killing resulted from an internal power struggle within his gang which revolved around territory and money. Maharashtra's Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, dismissed the incident as a gang war and said, “As our government knows how to deal with such notorious elements, no one dares to get involved in a gang war." (With inputs from agencies)

VIDEO: Footage shows Indian gangster Sharad Mohol's shocking murder in Pune

India’s Tamil Nadu has secured investments exceeding $4.39 billion. Global corporations, including Apple suppliers Tata Electronics and Pegatron, are spearheading this transformative wave.

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The Indian Supreme Court on Monday (Jan 8) in its verdict cancelled Gujarat's government order allowing the early release of Bilkis Bano's rapists last year. The court also said&nbsp;Bano's petition challenging the remission order is entirely valid and maintainable.

Justice BV Nagarathna, alongside Ujjal Bhuyan, delivered the verdict and came down heavily&nbsp;on the state government saying it could not have passed the remission order.

"It is not the government of state within whose territory the offence occurred who can pass remission order. Thus, orders of remission have to be quashed," said Justice Nagarathna.&nbsp;

"We strike down the remission orders on ground of usurpation of powers by the Gujarat government," he added.

The court has directed all 11 convicts to report to jail authorities within two weeks.

The court made it clear&nbsp;it was the state of Maharashtra that could have only passed the remission orders as the offenders were sentenced there.

The court minced no words in stating that the state of Gujarat suppressed facts and kept the SC in the dark, referring to the May 13, 2022 judgment (which directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of convicts).&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Gujarat was complicit and acted in tandem with Respondent No. 3 (convict) in this case. This Court was misled by suppressing facts. Use of power by Gujarat was only a usurpation of power by the State," said Justice&nbsp;Nagarathna.&nbsp;

"Taking advantage of May 13 order of this Court... Other convicts also filed remission applications and this Gujarat government passed remission orders."

<h2>Who is Bilkis Bano?</h2>

Bilkis Bano was one of the numerous&nbsp;residents of Gujarat who was attempting to flee the state during the 2002 Gujarat riots. She was only 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while attempting to escape from her village.

She was five months pregnant at the time and&nbsp;was hiding in a field with several other family members and her three-year-old daughter on March 3 when they were attacked by a mob of 20-30 men with sickles, swords, and clubs. Fourteen members of her family died in the attack, including her baby.&nbsp;

Due to the awful nature of the crime&nbsp;and the indignation that ensued, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI investigation, and 11 of Bilkis Bano's assailants were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous act.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-bilkis-bano-all-you-need-to-know-507718">Also read |&nbsp;Who is Bilkis Bano? All you need to know</a>

However, on Independence Day (August 15) in 2022, the Gujarat government, under its remission programme, released the 11 rapists.

These inmates had served more than 15 years in prison when one of them petitioned the Supreme Court for their early release. Sujal Mayatra, the collector of Panchmahals, presided over the panel that investigated the inmates' premature release.

The convicts were given a hero's welcome upon their release while several were seen posing with big political leaders of the state. Consequently, their release triggered a wave of condemnation from the opposition, activists as well as the civil society.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian Supreme Court on Monday (Jan 8) in its verdict cancelled Gujarat's government order allowing the early release of Bilkis Bano's rapists last year. The court also said Bano's petition challenging the remission order is entirely valid and maintainable.

The Indian Supreme Court on Monday (Jan 8) in its verdict cancelled Gujarat's government order allowing the early release of Bilkis Bano's rapists last year. The court also said Bano's petition challenging the remission order is entirely valid and maintainable. Justice BV Nagarathna, alongside Ujjal Bhuyan, delivered the verdict and came down heavily on the state government saying it could not have passed the remission order. "It is not the government of state within whose territory the offence occurred who can pass remission order. Thus, orders of remission have to be quashed," said Justice Nagarathna. "We strike down the remission orders on ground of usurpation of powers by the Gujarat government," he added. The court has directed all 11 convicts to report to jail authorities within two weeks. The court made it clear it was the state of Maharashtra that could have only passed the remission orders as the offenders were sentenced there. The court minced no words in stating that the state of Gujarat suppressed facts and kept the SC in the dark, referring to the May 13, 2022 judgment (which directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of convicts). "Gujarat was complicit and acted in tandem with Respondent No. 3 (convict) in this case. This Court was misled by suppressing facts. Use of power by Gujarat was only a usurpation of power by the State," said Justice Nagarathna. "Taking advantage of May 13 order of this Court... Other convicts also filed remission applications and this Gujarat government passed remission orders." Who is Bilkis Bano? Bilkis Bano was one of the numerous residents of Gujarat who was attempting to flee the state during the 2002 Gujarat riots. She was only 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while attempting to escape from her village. She was five months pregnant at the time and was hiding in a field with several other family members and her three-year-old daughter on March 3 when they were attacked by a mob of 20-30 men with sickles, swords, and clubs. Fourteen members of her family died in the attack, including her baby. Due to the awful nature of the crime and the indignation that ensued, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI investigation, and 11 of Bilkis Bano's assailants were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous act. Also read | Who is Bilkis Bano? All you need to know However, on Independence Day (August 15) in 2022, the Gujarat government, under its remission programme, released the 11 rapists. These inmates had served more than 15 years in prison when one of them petitioned the Supreme Court for their early release. Sujal Mayatra, the collector of Panchmahals, presided over the panel that investigated the inmates' premature release. The convicts were given a hero's welcome upon their release while several were seen posing with big political leaders of the state. Consequently, their release triggered a wave of condemnation from the opposition, activists as well as the civil society. (With inputs from agencies)

Bilkis Bano case: India SC cancels Gujarat government's order to release 11 convicts who raped her

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu departed for China along with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on Sunday night (Jan 7) which marked the beginning of a state visit. He had received an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The official visit comes at a time when the country is engaged in a diplomatic row with its closest neighbour and a major source of tourism - India.&nbsp;

President Muizzu, who came to power with his 'Out India' campaign, suspended the government's three deputy ministers - Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid, after they posted derogatory comments on social media platform X in reaction to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing the world to visit Lakshadweep islands, which is the archipelago for tourism.

The prime minister's visit was seen by some as an effort to attract tourism to the island but some also viewed it as a step to take away tourists from the globally popular Maldives, whose 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean are filled with luxury resorts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-govt-suspends-ministers-who-made-racist-remarks-against-indians-to-target-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-677475">Maldives govt suspends three ministers over derogatory remarks on PM Modi</a>

"The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts.

<h2>Indian celebrities call for local tourism</h2>

Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad.

#ExploreIndianIslands became the second largest trending hashtag on social media platform X in India and some users also started sharing screenshots of cancelled bookings of Maldivian holidays.

Watch:&nbsp;Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives derogatory comment row

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India, which is a crucial ally of Maldives, has been contributing significantly to the country's economy through tourism as the Indians form the biggest group of tourists who visit the island nation. However, the relations between the two countries have strained since Muizzu came to power in November. The president had been seen as pro-Chinese, and in his election campaign had vowed to remove a small contingent of Indian military personnel which is stationed in the Maldives.

(With inputs from agencies)

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu departed for China along with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on Sunday night (Jan 7) which marked the beginning of a state visit. He had received an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu departed for China along with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on Sunday night (Jan 7) which marked the beginning of a state visit. He had received an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The official visit comes at a time when the country is engaged in a diplomatic row with its closest neighbour and a major source of tourism - India. President Muizzu, who came to power with his 'Out India' campaign, suspended the government's three deputy ministers - Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid, after they posted derogatory comments on social media platform X in reaction to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing the world to visit Lakshadweep islands, which is the archipelago for tourism. The prime minister's visit was seen by some as an effort to attract tourism to the island but some also viewed it as a step to take away tourists from the globally popular Maldives, whose 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean are filled with luxury resorts. Also read: Maldives govt suspends three ministers over derogatory remarks on PM Modi "The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts. Indian celebrities call for local tourism Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad. #ExploreIndianIslands became the second largest trending hashtag on social media platform X in India and some users also started sharing screenshots of cancelled bookings of Maldivian holidays. Watch: Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives derogatory comment row India, which is a crucial ally of Maldives, has been contributing significantly to the country's economy through tourism as the Indians form the biggest group of tourists who visit the island nation. However, the relations between the two countries have strained since Muizzu came to power in November. The president had been seen as pro-Chinese, and in his election campaign had vowed to remove a small contingent of Indian military personnel which is stationed in the Maldives. (With inputs from agencies)

Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India

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In a move that can have a huge impact on the logistics industry, India's antitrust body is probing delivery companies like DHL, UPS & FedEx for alleged collusion on discounts and tariffs.

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India has quickly become the preferred hub for EV manufacturing. Days after reports said that Tesla could set up a plant in the Indian state of Gujarat, Vietnamese electric-vehicle maker VinFast is all set to invest 2 billion dollars to set up a manufacturing plant in the state of Tamil Nadu.

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