Kingston, May 4: Cricket serves as a bridge between India and Jamaica, fostering a relationship “written in runs, respect and friendship”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said as he dedicated a digital scoreboard, gifted by New Delhi, to the Caribbean nation.

Speaking at the unveiling of the scoreboard at the iconic Sabina Park cricket stadium in the Jamaican capital Kingston on Sunday, Jaishankar highlighted the unifying role of sports, particularly cricket, which he said is followed passionately by over a billion people in India.

“Sports bring nations together by creating shared experiences and fostering mutual respect. And cricket, in particular, has a special meaning for India and Jamaica,” he said.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness was also present at the event.

Sabina Park is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the island nation.

Recalling the historic significance of Sabina Park, Jaishankar noted that the ground holds special memories for Indian cricket, including a century by legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid and the start of Virat Kohli’s Test career in 2011.

Describing these moments as symbolic of the India-Jamaica connection, he said the relationship between the two countries is “written in runs, respect and friendship”.

Jaishankar said the state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard would enhance the viewing experience for cricket lovers in Jamaica and stands as a testament to the enduring cricketing partnership between the two nations.

Highlighting Jamaica’s rich cricketing legacy, he said the country commands immense respect globally for producing great players such as George Headley, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Chris Gayle and Andrew Richardson.

Jamaican cricketers receive enthusiastic support from Indian fans, including in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jaishankar said.

As nations cooperate and compete globally, India and Jamaica will always continue to seek “special connections that define our ties, and cricket is very much one of them”, he said.

Calling the scoreboard a symbol of solidarity, Jaishankar expressed hope that it would witness many memorable innings, including those reflecting the growing friendship between India and Jamaica.

“May the scoreboard count many great innings to come. Among them, that of India-Jamaica friendship,” he said.

In a social media post after the unveiling ceremony, Jaishankar noted the absence of cricket legend Gayle at the event, saying he was “missed”.

Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.

Jaishankar, in his speech, underlined that despite geographical distance, India and Jamaica share close ties rooted in a common history and aspirations as developing nations of the Global South.

“We may be geographically some distance apart, but in spirit, in our struggle, in our aspirations, we are indeed very close. Both our nations have come out of a shared history. We are proud developing nations of the Global South today. We have made a place for ourselves in the international community,” he said.

The minister also recalled India’s support to Jamaica during challenging times, including assistance during hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic through medicines and vaccines.

Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India’s strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.

New Delhi, May 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the lotus is now blooming from Gangotri to Gangasagar with the BJP’s historic victory in West Bengal and asked all parties to work for change, not revenge, and ensure that the state’s future trumps over fear.

Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters after the win in assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, Modi said it was a special day in many ways as it heralds a bright future for the country.

“It is a day of trust in the great democracy of India, trust in the politics of performance, trust in the resolve of stability, trust in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.

“I bow before the people of West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Keralam,” he said at the victory celebration event where BJP President Nitin Nabin, Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, among others, were present.

Modi said on November 14 last year, when the Bihar election results came in, he told the BJP workers from this very spot that the Ganga flows onward from Bihar all the way to Ganga Sagar (in West Bengal).

“And today, with victory in West Bengal, from Gangotri (Uttarakhand) to Ganga Sagar (West Bengal), it is nothing but the lotus in full bloom. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal today, in these states surrounding Mother Ganga, there are BJP-NDA governments,” he said.

Democracy, not fear, won in this festival of democracy in West Bengal, Modi said.

When the BJP has won in Bengal, there should be talk of ‘badlav’ (change) not ‘badla’ (revenge), ‘bhavishya’ (future) not ‘bhay’ (fear), he said.

The Prime Minister said winning and losing are a natural part of democracy and politics, but the people of the five states have shown the world why the country is the mother of democracy.

“Democracy is not just a system for us; it is the river of traditions in our veins. Today, not only has India’s democracy triumphed, but India’s Constitution has also triumphed. Our constitutional institutions have triumphed; our democratic processes have triumphed,” he said.

Modi said the nearly 93 per cent voter turnout in West Bengal has been historic in itself, and new records of voting have also been set in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.

He said women’s participation in this election has been exceptionally high and this is emerging as the brightest picture of Indian democracy.

” Today is a historic day, unprecedented. When years of penance transform into attainment, the joy that appears on the face, that joy today I am seeing on the faces of BJP workers across the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the Election Commission, all its employees, all the personnel involved in the voting process, especially the security forces, for the successful conduct of the assembly elections.

“History will always remember your contribution to maintaining the dignity of India’s democracy,” he said.

New Delhi, May 04: Congratulating the people of West Bengal on the massive win scripted by the BJP in the assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the people of Bengal have sent a strong message to infiltrators and their sympathisers, highlighting that parties engaged in the politics of appeasement will not forget this lesson.

In a series of posts on X, he remarked that the overwhelming public mandate reflects the people’s response to those who create fear, appeasement, and protection to infiltrators.

“Millions of salutations to the people of Bengal…This is the victory of trust in Shri @narendramodi ji over the TMC’s ‘fear’. For every BJP worker like me, this is a moment of pride that from the source of Mother Ganga in Gangotri to Gangasagar, today the BJP’s saffron flag is proudly waving everywhere,” the Home Minister said.

He described the BJP’s “historic victory” in Bengal as the outcome of the sacrifices, struggles, and martyrdom of countless workers.

“It is a triumph of the patience of those families who, even while enduring violence, never abandoned the saffron flag. In this arduous journey of the BJP from zero to a resounding majority today, I bow to all those workers who offered their lives, endured violence, suffered tortures, and yet never wavered from the path of ideology—and to their families. The people of Bengal have paid tribute to all those martyred BJP workers through this resounding majority,” he said.

The Home Minister expressed confidence that the hopes and aspirations demonstrated by Bengal through this trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership will be fulfilled.

“The people of Bengal have taught such a lesson to the infiltrators and their sympathisers that the parties indulging in the politics of appeasement will never be able to forget,” he said.

Shah also affirmed that the BJP will work tirelessly to restore the lost glory of Bengal, a sacred land that has been home to great figures such as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami Vivekananda, Kavi Guru Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, while striving to realise the dream of ‘Sonar Bangla.’

New Delhi, May 04:  Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay has emerged as a major political force in Indian politics, with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), delivering a strong electoral performance and positioning itself as a key contender in Tamil Nadu.

In a dramatic turn of events, TVK dealt a significant blow to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), long considered a dominant force in the state’s political landscape. Vijay’s rapid rise marks a shift from traditional political trajectories seen in leaders like M.G. Ramachandran, J. Jayalalithaa, and N.T. Rama Rao, with his appeal driven largely by mass popularity and a strong youth base.

A significant factor behind TVK’s surge is the support of Gen Z voters—young, digital, and politically assertive—who have helped transform fandom into political capital.

Initially met with skepticism, Vijay’s entry into politics has defied expectations, reshaping Tamil Nadu’s electoral dynamics. The results signal not only anti-incumbency against the DMK government but also a broader demand for political change.

Vijay’s popularity among youth, a campaign focused on governance and corruption-free administration, and his strong connect with first-time voters have contributed to his rise. His film career, backed by a loyal fan base, appears to have translated effectively into political support.

This electoral shift marks a significant moment in Tamil Nadu politics, traditionally dominated by the DMK and AIADMK.