On 19th August, a Hindu student was murdered by a Muslim junior at the Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. The incident sparked a massive outrage and the accused Muslim student was arrested. The victim’s family have approached all available forums to file application seeking action against Seventh Day School.
Along with the parents of the deceased student, members of the ‘Jan Akrosh Wali Mandal Sangharsh Samiti’ have filed an application with the Ahmedabad DEO, Mayor, Standing Committee and AMC Commissioner demanding strict action against the school. The victim’s family has said that this application has been filed so that such an incident does not happen in any other school.
This application was filed on 28th August 2025. OpIndia has accessed a copy of the application submitted to the Mayor and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. It states that that disturbing incidents have been taking place at the Seventh Day School after the AMC gave government land on lease. Along with this, allegations of Christian conversion have also been made. The application demands that this lease should be cancelled immediately and the illegal property should be bulldozed.
In addition, the application submitted to the DEO has also demanded that the school’s recognition be cancelled immediately and that the school be taken over by the government. It has further been alleged that many criminal activities were going on in the school in the past, but the school had not taken any action in this regard. It has also been claimed that a complaint was also made to the school administration that some students were carrying weapons in the school. However, no action could be taken in that direction either.
During the conversation with the officials, the parents of the deceased student described their son as ‘heroic’ and demanded that appropriate action should be taken to ensure that this does not happen to other students.
The deceased’s father, while making a representation to the AMC Commissioner, said that his son’s soul will be able to find peace only when appropriate action is taken against the school. The parents, while making the representation, said, “AMC should take appropriate action and set an example so that no other such student has to sacrifice himself.” Meanwhile, the student’s mother also demanded action to bring the officer to justice.
‘Hope for appropriate action’ – Mother of deceased Hindu student
Speaking to OpIndia, the chairman of the ‘Jan Aakrosh Wali Mandal Sangharsh Samiti’ said that a complaint has been filed with the DEO, Mayor and AMC Commissioner following the brutal murder of a Hindu student. Regarding this incident, it has been demanded that the recognition of the Seventh Day School be cancelled due to negligence and the lease of the AMC should also be cancelled. He has alleged that the conditions under which the land was given on lease have been violated. He has also demanded that the government take over this school so that this does not happen to other children.
Meanwhile, the deceased Hindu boy’s mother told OpIndia that she has demanded cancellation of the school’s recognition and has also made a representation to the higher authorities in this regard. She said, “We have requested the authorities with folded hands to take appropriate action against this school.” She further said that so far, the response received from the authorities was satisfactory, however, there is a demand for speedy action in this matter. The deceased victim’s mother also said that she hopes that appropriate action will be taken.
As reported earlier, the Seventh Day School has a controversial past. In 2016, the school was in the news after a teacher of the school mercilessly beat up a child studying in the 4th standard for merely talking to another student during an examination. It has also been alleged that the Moral Science syllabus in the school is designed to lure Hindu students to Christianity.
The school was again embroiled in a controversy in October 2024, after the school administration took around 200 students on a trip without permission from the District Education Office. The trip was in clear violation of government rules. This controversial school is run by a foreign church.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s back-to-back visits to Japan and China come at a critical time for the global economy. Washington establishment under Donald Trump’s presidency is getting apoplectic as India tests a cautious thaw with Beijing and strengthens supply linkages with Japan.
In the recent outbursts of Peter Navarro, senior counselor for trade and manufacturing to Trump, he has been accusing India of supporting Russia’s war. He even dubbed Russia-Ukraine war as “Modi’s war,” and tried to explain the 50% tariff shock while publishing a photo of Modi in saffron to insinuate sectarian politics. The optics are unappealing, the economics are shoddy, and the plan is counterproductive. India is under no obligation to act as someone else’s proxy. It is developing an Asia-first economic map, with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trading bloc at the core and re-entry remaining a viable option if circumstances are favorable.
Japan: Partnership beyond optics
In Japan, Modi is prioritizing substance over symbolism. De-risking supply chains and securing long-term capital in India are the goals of the visit aiming for advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, essential minerals, high-speed rail, and defense industrial cooperation. In addition to Japan steadily investing in Indian capabilities, including ports, freight routes, urban transit, and now next-generation technology. Tokyo is also the only partner that supports India on the China problem.
“Make in India, Make for the World” was not merely a slogan when Modi made his pitch in Tokyo this week. It was a market invitation supported by demand, demographics, and policy changes. Japan serves as India’s industrial counterbalance, preserving the QUAD’s economic backbone and lowering its susceptibility to tariff wraths abroad.
In order to secure its growth trajectory, India should embrace the East Asian strategic geography and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), according to economist Jeffrey Sachs. Japanese FDI and co-production can lessen the impact of Washington’s harsh tariffs, particularly in industries where American companies are sluggishly sharing technology. India’s position in any future RCEP discussions is further strengthened by a more robust Indo-Japan production network.
China: Engagement without illusions
The China stop is practical compartmentalization, not surrender. While pursuing trade, investment, and market access victories that promote expansion and export volume, New Delhi can maintain a strict border and security stance. Because the scale of Asian demand is too great to ignore, the choreography is purposeful; it begins in Beijing and continues to intensify with Tokyo. Some people in Washington are uneasy about that because they want India to be permanently aligned against China. That won’t happen in India and it hasn’t. It favors bilateral connections for trade, SCO/BRICS for hedging, and issue-based coalitions like the Quad for security. In the short run, China will have impressive optics as Xi hosts Putin and Modi to portray a non-Western center of gravity.
What Washington gets wrong and why Navarro is the worst messenger
With the nuance of a sledgehammer, Peter Navarro has made a comeback to the public eye. He has defended 50% tariffs on Indian goods, referred to the conflict in Ukraine as “Modi’s war” in interviews and on X, accused India of operating a “laundromat” for Russian oil through refined products, and, tellingly, ended his thread with a picture of Modi wearing saffron, suggesting that India’s policies are motivated more by sectarian nationalism than by pragmatic economics. That is crass, reductionist politics posing as strategy.
Unpacking the errors by Navarro
Energy security is not Warmongering – After 2022, India increased its purchase of Russian crude to maintain price stability and inflation management. That decision is motivated by consumer welfare and grid dependability, not geopolitical allegiance. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, G-7 implemented a $60-per-barrel price cap to reduce the Kremlin’s oil revenue while assuring global supply. India’s capacity to purchase cheaper cargoes was a component of that process, US officials admitted.
Tarriff blackmail doesn’t build alliances – A domestic base may be appeased by imposing a 50% tariff and taunting India on TV/X, but doing so reduces U.S. power, forces India to increase its efforts in Asian markets, and increases the appeal of Japan-India and RCEP-plus options.
The saffron image is a tell – Ending a policy thread with an image of Modi in saffron is not analysis, it’s a dog whistle designed to portray India’s choices as sectarian. That is not how you communicate with a sovereign partner you claim to respect. It has sparked reaction across the Indian political spectrum.
In summary, Navarro’s strategy is both rhetorically and economically inflammatory. It seems that some people in Washington would prefer to penalize India rather than work with it on issues like price ceilings, rules of origin, or integrated energy management areas where real policy is made.
RCEP: The Asian trade engine
This brings us to the economic map’s center. RCEP 15 Asia-Pacific economies led by ASEAN, which include Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and China, account for about one-third of world GDP. India left the bargaining table in 2019 due to worries about Chinese dumping, rules-of-origin violations, and inadequate service access. These concerns were genuine. But the world has moved on.
The RCEP came into effect in 2022, and its tariff phase-downs and cumulation procedures are already reshaping Asian supply chains. With fresh US tariffs in place, Delhi is openly reconsidering whether a guarded re-entry is better for Indian exporters than staying out.
India famously withdrew from the 2019 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) talks, saying that it was concerned that low-cost imports, especially from China, would overtake homegrown industries and cause disproportionate harm to vulnerable sectors like dairy and agriculture. India’s primary concerns were not addressed, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained steadfast. The country’s farmers, micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, and dairy industry were helped with the decision to not join RCEP.
Meanwhile, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN members are already benefiting from expanding RCEP preferences and cumulation among themselves, leaving India vulnerable to trade diversion if it continues to be outside the pact.
Potential re-entry does not necessarily imply “open borders” liberalization. It can be conditional integration, with snapback safeguards to protect sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy while utilizing the advantages of RCEP in supply chains, manufacturing, and technology. There can also be tough rules of origin to prevent Chinese trans-shipment via third countries.
At a time when Washington’s tariff rants threaten India’s exports, such a plan not only protects rural India but also enables New Delhi to optimize market access in Asia. In other words, India can protect its sovereignty and thwart American pressure by shielding farmers at home and merging industrial sectors outside.
When done well, RCEP is less of a capitulation and more of a tool for India to gain strategic economic scale while hedging risks by design, regardless of whether US goodwill follows.
Why some sections in Washington are going mad against India
Remove the noise, and three distinct worries explain Washington’s outburst. The first is a loss of trade leverage, if India anchors supply chains with Japan and considers a cautious re-entry into RCEP, the US loses the tariff stick it used to win concessions, which explains the pressure tactics and exaggerated fury over India’s oil purchases. Second, the battle for narrative control, branding the Ukraine crisis as “Modi’s war” is an attempt to rewrite causation, shifting responsibility for a European conflict onto an Asian democracy practicing energy pragmatism inside a sanctions regime established by the West itself.
Third, there is concern that an Asia-centric order may emerge without Washington at the helm. Xi Jinping hosts both Putin and Modi, and Tokyo and Delhi strengthen industrial links, a non-Western geometry emerges which the US must learn to navigate rather than dictate. Tariffs and insults are a bad place to start.
Conclusion
China’s vast theater and Tokyo’s boardrooms, Modi’s twin visits, show a self-assured India laying out its own economic routes and security measures. In that scenario, RCEP is a platform that India can influence if the conditions benefit its producers and consumers rather than a sign of surrender. The United States has two options: either accept India’s reality or lash out against it on X threads and on TV channels. Peter Navarro opted for the latter, slipping into satire with saffron imagery and catchphrases that dissolve under scrutiny. India does not have to give a reciprocal response. It needs to keep pushing Make in India, trade with Asia, and deal with America on equal terms. India’s eventual independence is the reason why some elements of Washington are “going mad.”
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Japan, he was gifted a Daruma Doll, a symbolic gift deeply rooted in Japanese culture and history. The doll was presented to him by Rev Seishi Hirose, the Chief Priest of the Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple in Takasaki. The Daruma Doll, a simple looking round figurine, carries profound meaning in Japan and also has a unique connection to India.
The Daruma Doll, also known as “Dharma Doll,” represents Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist monk who travelled to China around the 5th or 6th century CE and founded the Zen school of Buddhism. Bodhidharma is known in Japan as Daruma Daishi. Over centuries, Bodhidharma became an iconic figure in East Asia, associated with meditation, resilience, and determination. In Japan, his story inspired the creation of the Daruma Doll, which embodies the spirit of never giving up.
The handmade doll itself is usually round, hollow, and weighted at the bottom with a round base so that it always returns to an upright position even if pushed over. This feature symbolizes the Japanese proverb “Nanakorobi yaoki” (fall down seven times, get up eight), a reminder of perseverance and bouncing back from setbacks.
Daruma Dolls are made of paper mache, and are traditionally coloured red. The letter Fukuiri is written at the bottom, which means here is happiness in it. The eyebrows represent a crane and the beard represents a turtle’s tail. There is a Japanese saying that cranes live 1000 years and turtles live 10000 years, and they are regularly used as symbols of celebration.
They are known as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, and are often used to represent setting and achieving goals. Traditionally, the doll has blank eyes. When someone sets a goal, they paint one eye black, and once the goal is achieved, they fill in the other eye, completing the doll’s vision and marking the fulfilment of determination.
At the end of the year, all the Daruma dolls are brought back to the temple they were purchased from. The returned dolls are burned in a traditional burning ceremony, called the daruma kuyō. This ceremony is generally held right after New Year’s Day. People then buy new Daruma dolls at the temple to be used in the new year.
Daruma dolls at a shop
The Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple in Takasaki, where the doll originated, is the most famous centre of Daruma-making in Japan. The temple holds annual fairs where people buy new dolls, set fresh goals for the year, and return old dolls for ceremonial burning, symbolizing closure and renewal.
While the dolls are traditionally bought at the start of the new year and returned at the end of the year, they are available for purchase throughout the year. Moreover, people may keep them, instead of returning to a temple for ceremonial burning. Companies and political parties in Japan also buy the dolls to achieve desired goals.
Ceremonial burning of lucky Daruma Dolla
The Indian connection to the Daruma Doll lies in its very origin, the figure of Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma was a monk from southern India, often linked with the Kancheepuram region. His journey across Asia not only shaped the practice of Zen Buddhism but also influenced martial traditions like Shaolin Kung Fu in China.
As per legend, Bodhidharma lost his limbs by performing the Zen meditation Zazen for nine years. To represent this, Daruma dolls were made without limbs.
In Japan, his austere life of meditation and endurance became the foundation of the Daruma legend. Thus, while the doll is a quintessentially Japanese cultural object, its spiritual roots trace back to India.
For India, receiving the Daruma Doll during Modi’s visit is more than a ceremonial gesture. It symbolizes the deep cultural bonds shared between India and Japan through the legacy of Buddhism
In essence, the Daruma Doll is far more than a decorative artifact or a religious symbol. It is a centuries-old reminder of how Indian philosophy travelled abroad, adapted into new traditions, and continues to inspire millions with its message of unwavering determination.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a 2-day visit to Japan. He will hold summit talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and strengthen civilisational bonds, cultural ties, and economic partnership between the two countries.
While India has surpassed Japan in May 2025 in terms of nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to become the fourth largest economy in the world, it tends to gain immensely from the East Asian nation through manufacturing, technology, investments, and human resource collaboration.
Our partnership with Japan is not just shaping industries but the livelihoods of farmers, students and entrepreneurs.
Japanese investment in India continues to grow
Over the past 2 years, India has witnessed a steady inflow of Japanese investments. This showcases their confidence in our growth trajectory.
According to reports, more than 170 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) valued at over $13 billion have been signed across multiple sectors between India and Japan.
For instance, Nippon Steel is expanding its footprint with projects in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. It includes a large integrated steel plant worth ₹56 billion, which will strengthen India’s manufacturing capabilities.
JFE Steel has announced ₹445 billion for electrical steel production, which is vital for India’s growing power sector. These projects are not only adding capacity but also creating thousands of new jobs.
Japanese automobile giants are equally committed to India’s growth. Suzuki Motor is setting up a massive new plant in Gujarat worth ₹350 billion and expanding production lines.
Similarly, Toyota Kirloskar is investing in both Karnataka (₹33 billion) and Maharashtra (₹200 billion) to ramp up hybrid and electric vehicle production.
These investments are positioning India as a future hub for clean mobility and catering to both domestic demand and exports.
Beyond manufacturing, Japanese firms are also venturing into real estate, renewables, and aerospace. Sumitomo Realty has pledged $ 4.76 billion in urban development.
Similarly, Osaka Gas is focusing on renewable energy and green hydrogen. Astroscale, on the other hand, will work with ISRO to launch satellites using India’s PSLV.
Indian SMEs entering global value chains due to partnership with Japan
A transformative feature of the India–Japan partnership is its impact on small and medium enterprises (also called SMEs).
For decades, Indian SMEs have faced challenges of restricted market reach and limited access to technology. Due to their partnership with Japanese firms, these enterprises are finally entering international supply chains.
Indian suppliers are being integrated into semiconductor ecosystems through partnerships with Tokyo Electron, Fujifilm, and Tata Electronics.
This not only brings India closer to the global chip industry but also ensures that local firms adopt world-class standards in quality control and production.
The automobile sector is also witnessing rapid SME integration. Both Toyota and Suzuki are extending their supplier networks to Tier-2 and Tier-3 Indian companies.
In the digital space, Fujitsu’s Global Capability Centre is hiring 9000 Indian engineers and creating business for IT-linked SMEs.
Due to this, Indian SMEs are increasingly gaining exposure to advanced practices, cutting-edge technologies and global markets. This is boosting India’s competitiveness on the world stage.
Japan and India cooperate to boost rural economy
India’s economic partnership with Japan is not limited to its urban industries. It is reaching deep into India’s rural economy.
For example, Sojitz Corporation is working with Indian Oil and investing $395 million in 30 plants that will utilise agricultural residues and produce 1.6 million tons of biogas annually.
This allows farmers to earn additional income by supplying crop waste. At the same time, they are contributing to the clean energy transition mission.
Suzuki Motor is collaborating with the National Dairy Development Board to convert cow dung into biogas and fuel CNG vehicles.
Since nearly 1/5th of India’s passenger car market runs on CNG, the project has massive opportunities for both energy independence and rural employment.
Japan-India partnership ensures increased manufacturing and exports
The partnership with Japan is also helping India transition from being a consumption-led economy to an export-driven one. It is reinforcing India’s position in global markets.
The new projects of Nippon Steel will strengthen India’s export capacity in speciality steels for automobiles and energy industries. Fujifilm & Tata are strengthening our position in global chip supply chains.
Toyota and Suzuki are producing hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) in India. The goal has been to ship these cars to Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This aligns with India’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
HR and knowledge exchange between India and Japan
The most ambitious dimension of India–Japan cooperation lies in human capital.
The India–Japan Talent Bridge program is supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), which has a budget of ¥15 billion for skill and HR cooperation.
It seeks to facilitate talent exchange of 5 lakh students and professionals within 5 years through higher studies, internships and employment.
Major Indian universities such as IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Guwahati, IISc Bangalore and Anna University are hosting career fairs and exchange programs with Japanese institutions.
They are opening pathways for Indian students to engage with advanced Japanese research and technology firms. Japanese corporations are also actively recruiting Indian talent.
Nidec is establishing a software development center in Bengaluru. Musashi Seimitsu is developing EV components with Indian graduates. Dai-ichi Life Techno Cross is hiring bilingual engineers.
Fintech companies such as Money Forward are also drawing heavily on India’s IT workforce. Beyond corporate hiring, venture firms are funding Indian startups. This is especially true in deep-tech domains.
They are not just providing capital but also mentorship and research opportunities. It is significantly boosting India’s innovation ecosystem.
Through academic exchanges, corporate partnerships, and startup funding, India and Japan are nurturing a generation of professionals equipped to tackle the challenges of the future.
Collaboration on other fronts
A landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Assam and M/s ASEAN Holdings.
It supports India’s Act East Policy and focuses on industrial infrastructure, logistics and agro-based industries.
For Assam, this partnership implies jobs, development, and greater integration with ASEAN markets. India and Japan are aligning their cooperation with global priorities.
At the Japan–India–Africa Forum and the TICAD Summit, the two nations outlined a shared agenda of mineral security, semiconductor supply chains and clean energy resilience.
This global dimension ensures that India and Japan are shaping regional stability and connectivity. From Gujarat’s steel hubs to Banaskantha’s dairy farms, from Bengaluru’s IT corridors to Assam’s industrial gateways, the impact of Japanese cooperation is evident.
It is not merely a story of investments and trade. It is about reshaping livelihoods and futures.
As Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Ishiba meet in Tokyo, the India–Japan economic relationship is emerging as a defining partnership of the 21st century.
India brings scale, manpower and markets while Japan contributes technology, capital and expertise. Together, we are building global upply chains, fostering clean energy, empowering farmers and nurturing young talent.
The vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ is being realised in real time in 2025.
In an alarming turn of events, Denmark has accused three Americans with links to US President Donald Trump and CIA of attempting a regime change operation in Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
After Denmark’s public broadcaster, DR, reported that three US citizens were involved in a secret plan to secede Greenland, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen. Not to forget, Trump has several times expressed his desire to take over Greenland during his second term.
Minister Rasmussen said that the U.S. chargé d’affaires was summoned to discuss “outside attempts to influence” Greenland’s future.
Citing official sources from Danish and American government, DR reported that the three Americans involved in the alleged regime change operation have links with the Trump administration.
The idea was to push pro-US sentiments in Greenlanders. Reports say that one of the three Americans involved in the secret plot had prepared a list of “U.S.-friendly Greenlanders” and collected names of vocal Trump critics.
Meanwhile, the other two are accused of attempting to establish a network with Greenland politicians, business leaders, and locals. Although it remains unclear whether the individuals were acting on their own or were ordered by Trump administration to fuel pro-US secessionism in Greenland, a White House official told Daily Beast, “We think the Danes need to calm down.”
Earlier this year, it was reported by Wall Street Journal that top officials working under Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, issued the instruction to agency heads in a “collection emphasis message”. In this message, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency were all included. This message told chiefs to analyse Greenland’s independence movement and attitudes to American efforts to extract resources on the island.
Mineral-rich and strategically significant Greenland is Trump’s key to unlock dominance in Arctic Ocean
It must be recalled that in March this year, US Vice President JD Vance announced a visit to Greenland to receive briefing on Arctic security issues and engage with US service members. Despite a backlash from Danish government and Greenlanders, Vance visited the US-operated Pituffik Space Base in the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
Even during his first tenure as US President, Trump had shown interest in controlling Greenland, given its strategic and economic potential. In December 2024, Trump expressed his desire to gain control of Greenland. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that it was an “absolute necessity.”
In March 2025, Trump reiterated his desire to control Greenland during his Congressional speech. This week as well, President Trump told the media, “I think Greenland is going to be something that maybe is in our future.”
Notably, Greenland, the world’s third largest island, carries immense economic, strategic as well as geopolitical significance owing to its unique location and resources. Since it is positioned between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, Greenland falls along the key maritime and aerial routes. These routes connect North America with Europe. Given its proximity to the Arctic Circle, it is an important player in the rapidly changing Arctic region where melting ice due to climate change has unlocked both challenges and opportunities.
As ice sheets recede, Greenland’s vast deposits of rare earth minerals, gas, oil and other resources are becoming increasingly more accessible, further adding to the island’s importance. In addition to the natural resources, Greenland’s location enhances its military significance, especially for missile defence, space surveillance, as well as monitoring naval activities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Greenland also has an important role as a transit route in the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap or simply the GIUK Gap.
Greenland’s Strategic Position in the Arctic (Image source: National Snow and Ice Data Center; National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency)
Trump wants to control Greenland as its unparalleled oversight of the North Atlantic and Arctic could be pivotal for the US to monitor and counter Russian, Chinese and even North Korean activities in the region. Greenland would help US dominate the Arctic shipping routes and also boost the US project power into the High North. Besides, Greenland has an abundance of neodymium, dysprosium, uranium, and other Rare Earth Elements, which are crucial for green technology manufacturing. Securing these diverse resources all in one place would help the US curb its dependence on China, which dominates the global supply of REEs.
Wherever the treasure of natural resources is found, US’s plane of ‘democracy’ piloted by CIA arrives
The US intelligence agency CIA has a history of executing regime change operations across various countries. Its covert actions have been focused on toppling foreign governments and replacing them with favourable, rather, subservient governments to the US. This is done by fueling anti-government sentiments, promoting secessionism, triggering violence, and employing several other tactics. Although this has been an old phenomenon, regime change tactics became entrenched in America’s foreign policy during the Cold War and continues to be an outrageous tactic of supporting coups, funding propaganda, and psychological warfare, election interference and even covert military action.
History is replete with examples of the CIA’s regime change operations. In 1953, under Operation Ajax, the CIA orchestrated the Iranian coup to overthrow Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. In 1954, under Operation PBSuccess, CIA supported a coup to oust President Jacobo Árbenz of Guatemala and install a military dictatorship, as his land reforms threatened US corporate interests.
In 1957-58, President Dwight Eisenhower authorised the CIA to subvert the Sukarno government in Indonesia. The CIA supported local insurgents to carry out guerrilla attacks and also hired mercenary airline companies for logistics and combat missions. The CIA operation named Operation RIPLEY was exposed after Indonesian forces downed the airplane of Allen Pope, a contractor for Civil Air Transport, the company that had been involved in Guatemala regime change operation. While the US government denied direct involvement, the failed operation embarrassed the CIA and it discontinued the operation.
In 1961, the CIA backed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba by training Cuban exiles to invade and overthrow Fidel Castro’s government. The operation, however, failed and in its unintended consequence, Castro’s regime became even stronger.
In 1963, the US backed a coup against the government of Ngô Đình Diệm in Vietnam due to his role in the Vietnam War, leading to his assassination. CIA is also notorious for having carried out regime change operations in Latin America, particularly, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. In 1973, CIA covertly backed opposition to Chile President Salvador Allende, which resulted in a military coup led by Augusto Pinochet. Allende’s socialist policies were blamed for the agitation against him. Between 1979 and 1989, CIA funneled billions to Mujahideen terrorists under Operation Cyclone to oppose Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan. While the Soviet withdrawal was achieved, CIA’s actions ended up giving rise to Taliban.
With changing times, the US deep state, particularly, CIA also altered its tactics. Shifting from Cold War-era coups and direct interventions, the CIA pivoted to more subtle ‘soft power’ methods like economic sanctions, cyber operations, backing pliable opposition parties, and information warfare. These tactics not only offered plausible deniability but also served the purpose of destabilising the target governments, in response to geopolitical tensions or resource interests.
This shift was marked during Bill Clinton’s presidency in the US. Clinton enlisted billionaire hedge fund investor George Soros to fund massive networks of non-profit organisations, later media outlets, in countries of strategic significance to the US. Soros’s support to Bill and Hillary Clinton is quite widely known. Through these well-funded NGOs pretended to focus on human rights, poverty alleviation, education, and women and minority rights, the CIA exercised power, waged wars, orchestrated mass protests and even toppled governments in target countries. OpIndia has reported on many occasions how Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundation, USAID, Omidyar Network etc also tried to effect regime change in India in recent years, although their attempts failed to deter the Modi government.
The CIA also used cyberattacks, particularly, the Stuxnet virus in 2010 to target and weaken Iran’s nuclear program without direct military confrontation. In Syria, it is reported that the CIA ran covert operations to fund and train anti-Assad rebels during Syrian Civil War. Even President Trump had in his first term directed CIA to take action to oust Bashar al-Assad. Eventually, Assad regime fell in 2024 and now a pro-US former Islamic terrorist Sharaa heads Syria.
While the US denies, it has been alleged that the CIA orchestrated a plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and destabilize the country. In 2020, the CIA backed a mercenary incursion in Venezuela. Venezuelan government said that American private military group Silvercorp USA and pro-US Venezuelan opposition leaders conspired to invade Venezuela and overthrow Maduro. The Venezuelan military, however, caught the American mercenaries and killed some of them.
The CIA also has a history in Brazil. In 1964, CIA backed a coup that overthrew João Goulart, a left-leaning president, whom the US saw as a communist threat. The US intelligence agency conducted covert operations, including funding anti-Goulart labour movements and carried out psyops to destabilise Goulart’s government. Eventually, the CIA managed to oust democratically elected President João Goulart through a coup executed by US-backed Brazillian military leaders.
Even in recent times, the CIA attempted a ‘Maidan-style’ uprising in Brazil in 2023 to oust President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva. It was reported that the supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace, with intention of provoking military coup. This alleged operation against Lula was to check Brazil against its ambition to align firmly with BRICS nations. The CIA has failed to oust Lula, who now is taking the Trump administration head on and has openly declared support for India and other BRICS nations in face of Trump’s tariff war.
The US intelligence agency has also been accused of orchestrating a regime change in Bangladesh in 2024, where student protests against quota laws magnified into anti-Sheikh Hasina protests and demands for her ouster from power. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to resign from her post and flee to India in August 2024, has historically been opposed to US’s ambition of establishing military base on Bangladeshi soil. Hasina’s refusal to surrender Bangladesh’s sovereignty resulted in her ouster. It must be recalled that months prior to her unceremonious ouster, Hasina accused the United States of orchestrating her removal from the post of PM because she refused to hand over Saint Martin Island to the US, which would have enabled the western superpower to have “sway over the Bay of Bengal”.
In natural resource-rich Greenland, there is no dominant pro-US sentiment. However, Trump has a growing desire to control Greenland and the Arctic Ocean, where Russia and China are increasing dominance, it is highly likely that Trump administration may have ordered CIA to orchestrate a regime change.
Adani Group Company Adani Power has said that it has received a Letter of Award (LoA) for 25 Years long term procurement of electricity from Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd (BSPGCL). The India’s largest private sector thermal power generator will supply the power from a 2,400 MW greenfield thermal power plant to be set up at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district of Bihar.
Adani Power said that it will be an ultra-super critical plant with 3 units of 800 MW each. The company will invest around $3 billion in setting up the plant and the related infrastructure. The company said that the project will generate around 10,000 – 12,000 direct and indirect employment of during the construction phase and around 3,000 once operation starts.
Adani Power had emerged winner in a tightly contested Tariff Based Competitive Bidding process called by BSPGCL, offering the lowest supply price of Rs 6.075 per KWh. BSPGCL awarded the LoA to Adani Power on behalf of North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (SBPDCL). Separate Power Supply Agreement (PSA) will be signed with the state entities.
A statement by Adani Power said that India’s power demand is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, with peak demand rising from current around 250 GW to 400 GW by 2031-32, and 700+ GW by 2047, propelled by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and a growing population. The company said that thermal power will continue to remain the backbone of the country’s energy security, providing critical base-load and grid balancing support, due to its inherent ability to provide large-scale, reliable, and round-the-clock power.
To meet this ever-increasing power demand, government has envisaged an additional around 100 GW of thermal capacity to be added by 2035.
Adani Power CEO S.B. Khyalia said, “Adani Power, as India’s largest private sector thermal power producer, has consistently demonstrated the capability to deliver dependable capacity at scale.” He added, “With our upcoming ultra-supercritical, high-efficiency Pirpainti project in Bihar, we are setting new benchmarks in operational excellence and sustainability. This plant will provide affordable and uninterrupted power to the people of Bihar, catalysing industrialisation, strengthening the state’s economy, and supporting the prosperity of its people. Through projects such as this, Adani Power remains committed to playing a leading role in securing India’s energy future.”
As the assembly elections in Bihar are approaching, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is probably aware that his party would not otherwise be able to attract voters, has intensified his attacks on the Election Commission by peddling lies about the voter list and the election process in an attempt to mislead the electors.
Casting aspersions on the Election Commission and the electoral process is an old trick in the playbook of Gandhi. He keeps conveniently using it as and when his party loses elections. However, this time, perhaps anticipating his party’s defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress scion began his attack much earlier.
As the Specific Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar has reached its concluding phase, Rahul Gandhi has once again accused the poll body of rigging the voter list. On Thursday (28th August), Gandhi shared a post made from his party’s account on X, alleging that the voter list in the Nidani village in the Gaya district of Bihar, was doctored as around 947 voters, falling under Booth No. 161 of Barachatti Assembly constituency, were found registered at the same house address.
Gandhi alleged that hundreds of electors in the village, which has more than 100 houses, had the same house address as House No. 6.
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations were refuted by the Chief Election Officer (CEO) of Bihar, who pointed out video evidence posted by the District Election Officer-cum-District Magistrate, Gaya, containing the statements of voters of Nidani village.
फैक्टचेक- कृपया इस संबंध में जिला निर्वाचन पदाधिकारी-सह-जिला पदाधिकारी, गया के हैंडिल से किये गये इस पोस्ट का अवलोकन किया जाये जिसमें आपके स्तर से उठाये गये मामले की स्थिति की सही जानकारी दी गई है। https://t.co/nxuWMJ3LEThttps://t.co/LOSAstUoPM
— Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar (@CEOBihar) August 28, 2025
Debunking Gandhi’s lies, DEO, Gaya, clarified that house numbers are not allotted in many villages and therefore, symbolic or notional house numbers are allotted to voters in the voter roll. He posted the videos of voters of Booth No. 161 in the village who said that their names are present in the voter list and that they have been regularly voting in elections.
कई गांवों में गृह संख्या आवंटित नहीं होती है, जिसके कारण वोटर रोल में सांकेतिक गृह संख्या दी जाती है। जिन मतदाताओं का उल्लेख किया गया है, सभी गांव में मौजूद हैं, सही वोटर हैं। निदानी गांव के 161 बूथ संख्या के वोटर स्वयं स्थिति स्पष्ट कर रहे हैं।@CEOBihar@ECISVEEPpic.twitter.com/7w7GLuFyDl
The DEO shared video statements of four voters of Nidani village, who corroborated that since many houses in the village do not have house numbers, the voter rolls carry symbolic or notional house numbers to ensure that all eligible voters are included in the list. This does not mean that the voters are fake or the electoral roll is tampered.
The voters expressed satisfaction over the SIR exercise being carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar. They said that many people in the village have been voting included in the voter list since 1987 and that no valid voter has been excluded from the voter list. They dismissed the fake claims of the voter list being rigged in the village.
Rahul Gandhi and his old lies
This is not the first time that Rahul Gandhi’s fake claims have been exposed by the poll body. Earlier this month, Gandhi levelled massive allegations electoral malpractice on the Election Commission and claimed that the election body had been colluding with the BJP to rig elections.
He alleged that ‘vote chori’ of lakhs of votes had take place in Maharashtra and Karnataka, where voter lists were tampered. He pointed out that several voters registered in assembly constitutuencies in these state had ‘house number 0’ or the same house number, which according to him indicated that these voters were fake.
He had to face embarrassment after allegations were debunked by a fact-check by the Election Commission. The polly body explained that people who do not have specific house number, which is common in rural areas, and those who are homeless are assigned ‘house number 0’ by the ECI to ensure they are not excluded from the voter list.
Similarly, several voters are found registered at the same address in case of rented-accomodation or joint families living in a shared household.
A video has been doing the rounds on social media, showing India’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, speaking during an event. In the viral video, Admiral Tripathi can be heard talking about India’s Operation Sindoor. He is heard saying that the Modi government stopped Operation Sindoor due to which some purported losses were suffered by the Indian Air Force during the operation.
“Sir, a few days ago, while addressing the Indian Navy on the deck of Vikrant (INS Vikrant), you had said that the Operation Sindoor is not over yet. And if needed, the Indian Navy might get the opportunity to open the attack next time. We were expecting that the government would allow us to take part in the fight (Operation Sindoor), but the government did not give us the command to join the fight. And this is the reason that the Indian Air Force had to incur losses,” Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi could be heard saying in the video. The video was widely shared by Pakistani propaganda handles on social media to mislead people and push an anti-India narrative.
A fact-check of the video by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) revealed that the video was doctored and that Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi made no such statement during his speech at the event.
?प्रोपेगेंडा से सावधान❗
कुछ पाकिस्तान-समर्थित अकाउंट्स डिजिटल छेड़छाड़ कर नौसेना प्रमुख एडमिरल दिनेश कुमार त्रिपाठी का वीडियो फैला रहे हैं, जिसमें दिखाया जा रहा है कि नौसेना प्रमुख #OperationSindoor के दौरान सरकार पर कार्रवाई रोकने का आरोप लगा रहे हैं, और दावा कर रहे हैं कि… pic.twitter.com/1Csn1LH7Uj
PIB posted the original video containing the actual words of Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi in which he can be heard praising the Modi government and hailing the Indian Navy’s defence capabilities.
“Sir, a few days ago, while addressing the Indian Navy on the deck of Vikrant (INS Vikrant), you had said that the Operation Sindoor is not over yet. And if needed, the Indian Navy might get the opportunity to open the attack next time. I want to say that with modern and state-of-the-art platforms like Udaygiri (INS Udaygiri) and Himgiri (INS Himgiri) make us capable of inflicting an opening knock-out punch on the enemy,” said Admiral Tripathi.
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces as a direct response to the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent Hindus.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the following days, as India prepared for a war-like situation, the Indian Armed Forces planned a military strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
US President Donald Trump imposed additional 25% tariffs on India, which came into effect on August 27, taking the total to 50% tariffs. The impact of these tariffs has been discussed in media for months. The additional tariffs were levied on India citing purchase of oil from Russia. There is a section in India that is constantly working hard to bolster the narrative of Trump and America in an attempt to pressurise Indian government even though it is hurting Indian interests.
As part of the same campaign, it is now being claimed that this tariff decision by Trump has had the biggest impact on India’s diamond industry and there is a possibility of a terrible recession, due to which thousands of jobs will also be at risk.
Surat is the center of India’s diamond industry. Diamonds are exported from here to the world including America and a business worth thousands of crores is done every year. It is not new knowledge that there is a huge recession in this industry in Surat.
Leading the charge of crediting Trump tariffs for this slowdown are media outlets like Reuters and BBC. Notably, their reporting is always suspect, especially on geopolitical issues affecting India. Later, Gujarati-Hindi media also picked up the issue and said Trump’s tariffs are creating this slowdown.
The BBC has published a report on the local industry in Surat. It shows the condition of diamond factories and says that many places used to employ a large number of people, but now the number has been reduced and employees have been laid off. The reason is that orders are not being received and due to this, the employees are not being paid. In addition, many jewelers are complaining that their salaries have been reduced, or they are being removed from work, the report adds.
The BBC report further states, “The direct impact of the tariff-induced recession has already started to hit workers.” Quoting some individuals, it said that the jobs of more than one lakh jewelers are at risk and their future is bleak.
Reuters, in its report, has focused on the diamond bourse in Surat, which is always a target of the media. Even though Prime Minister Modi inaugurated it some time ago, it has not yet fully started. Reuters has linked this to the tariffs and claimed that most of the offices are empty. The report claimed that orders have now decreased due to the increase in tariffs. In addition, it has also been said, quoting some individuals, that many industrialists are no longer willing to move their business to the diamond bourse.
Apart from that, the report has talked about the recession by quoting many small diamond businessmen. Apart from that, several other unnamed individuals have repeated the claims in the report.
After foreign media, articles have also been published in Gujarati media on this issue. Gujarat Samachar published an article on August 28 and claimed that Trump’s 50% tariff will put more than 50 thousand jobs in Surat’s diamond-textile industry at risk. The report claims that 30% of Surat’s diamond industry trade is with America, so Trump’s tariff could hit this industry hard,
What is the truth?
From a larger perspective, this narrative is going to help America. Surat is the economic capital of Gujarat and Gujarat is the home state of Prime Minister Modi. The diamond industry has flourished in Surat over the years. If negative rumours are spread that Surat’s largest industry has been badly affected due to tariffs and changing global equations, then it works in Trump’s favour that he is really hurting PM Modi and his home state. However, we have to see that many of these things are not being reported in systematic context or using complete facts, and are directly or indirectly helping to set a wrong narrative.
It is a fact that there is a slowdown in the diamond industry of Surat, but this situation is not new. This is the situation for almost the last one year. Detailed reporting about this slowdown in the diamond industry can be seen in many reports during the last eight-ten months. At that time, Joe Biden was the President of USA, and there was no discussion about tariffs in global politics.
So, if the BBC had gone to the diamond factories of Surat before Trump came, it would have seen the same situation. Because as mentioned earlier, the diamond industry has been in recession for a long time.
Secondly, it is not that the diamond industry will be affected insignificantly due to the tariffs of America, but it is also a fact that Indian diamond businessmen have the upper hand in this. Moreover, India has the option of other markets, America does not have other suppliers who can export diamonds at that scale. There is high demand for diamonds in America, which only the Indian diamond industry can meet.
As far as the Diamond Bourse is concerned, it has been questioned ever since its inauguration, because many offices have not been opened there yet. Whatever the reasons, it is a separate discussion, but the tariff and the fact that the offices in the bourse are not functioning have nothing to do with it. Even when the tariff issue was not there, Diamond Bourse’s situation was the same as it is now. The reality is that the government is making continuous efforts to keep this bourse running.
What do the experts say?
When OpIndia contacted experts associated with the diamond industry of Surat on this matter, they also said the same thing. Jagdish Khunt, president of the Surat Diamond Association, completely dismissed the reports of a terrible recession in the diamond industry due to the US tariffs and said that the media has fabricated most of these things.
Talking about the recession, Khunt said that Surat has been witnessing a recession for the last two years and it has increased during the past year. This has been the situation since before there was any tariff dispute. Talking about the impact of the tariffs, he said that the impact of the US tariffs on the diamond industry will be there in the short term, but in the long term, it will be manageable.
‘America is dependent on India, even if there is a loss, it will be short-term’
Talking about the reasons, he said that currently Surat is supplying diamonds to all the countries of the world. About 90% of the production of diamonds is being done only from India and America also knows that very well. Therefore, no country in the world is able to export that quantity of diamonds to America or fulfill its demand. Today, America is completely dependent on India for diamonds, no country can take India’s place. Therefore, if the tariff is increased, the loss will be to the common Americans and ultimately the demand for diamonds will increase and internal dissatisfaction will also arise.
He said that even if America remains firm on the tariffs, India will not suffer. Explaining the reason, he said that the loss will be compensated by sending the same diamonds that were being sent to America to other countries of the world. Talking about the importance of diamonds in America, he said, “Today, in India, gold is very important for weddings. Similarly, diamonds are important in America. If the locals there do not get diamonds, there is a possibility of protests or they will buy diamonds even at expensive prices. Because diamonds are a part of their social life.”
Explaining all these reasons, he said that the diamond industry is not likely to face any problem due to tariffs because the demand for diamonds is highest in America and only India can fulfill that demand. Therefore, America is completely dependent on India. But, it is not like that in India’s case. India is not dependent only on America. India sends diamonds to almost all the countries of the world. Even if it stops exporting to America, it can compensate by exporting more diamonds to other countries.
Reports that the recession was caused by tariffs are false
Bhavnagar Diamond Association President Ghanshyam Gorasia also shared the same thing in a discussion with OpIndia. He said that the effects of tariffs will definitely be there, but it has not caused and cannot cause a recession. He also gave the same argument that diamonds are very important in America, just like gold is in our country. Therefore, even if diamonds become expensive, they are important for the Americans and they will buy them, but if they don’t, India will be able to sell them to other countries. But here too, the loss is to America, because it will not be able to get diamonds from any other country except India.
Thakarshibhai Patel, who manages about 10-12 factories in the diamond industry in Surat, has also supported the statement of the presidents of both the associations. He said in a conversation with OpIndia that no one can deny that there is a recession, but that recession is not due to the American tariffs. He also said that the US tariff may have some effects, but that too only for a short period. Another factory owner, Laxmanbhai, has also said the same. Apart from that, some jewelers have also repeated this.
However, news about the recession was also published in Gujarati media reports in 2024. At that time, there was no tariff dispute. Therefore, it is proven that there is a recession in the diamond industry of Surat, but it is also proven that the recession has not come because of the US tariff. Rather, the diamond industries have even formulated a plan to sell to other countries as an alternative to the US tariff. However, many steps have been taken by the government in this regard. According to Jagdishbhai Khunt, both the state government and the central government are currently with the diamond industry and when needed, they always adopt a positive attitude for the industry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba over the next few days during his upcoming visits to Japan and China.
He is visiting Japan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for the 15th Annual India-Japan summit. During his two day visit, the two nations will focus on shaping the next phase in our Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which has made steady and significant progress over the past eleven years, and statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office said.
The PMO added, “We would endeavor to give new wings to our collaboration, expand scope and ambition of our economic and investment ties, and advance cooperation in new and emerging technologies, including AI and Semiconductors. The visit will also be an opportunity to strengthen our civilizational bonds and cultural ties that connect our peoples.”
PM Modi said in a post on X that focus would be on deepening the Special Strategic and Global Partnership and boosting economic and cultural linkages between the two countries. He will also be travelling to Sendai to visit a semiconductor factory. He said that this visit will highlight “the futuristic dimension of our cooperation in areas like emerging technologies, AI and semiconductors.”
From Japan, PM Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. India is an active and constructive member of SCO. The PMO said in the statement, “During our Presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in the fields of innovation, health and cultural exchanges. India remains committed to working with the SCO members to address shared challenges and deepen regional cooperation.”
PM Modi further said, “I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.” He further added, “I am confident that my visits to Japan and China would further our national interests and priorities, and contribute to building fruitful cooperation in advancing regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development.”
