New Delhi Apr 26 PTI Countries in South Asia need to come together to ensure that digital platforms and networks on which data flows are safe secure and trusted foreign secretary-designate Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Tuesday During a panel discussion From Mountain to Ocean Harnessing Commerce Connectivity and Creativity in the Subcontinent at the Raisina Dialogue he also said platform-based digital cooperation is a very promising domain where one can have one platform in the entire South Asian region What it essentially does is you can have one platform in entire South Asia in which one country of the region can either market its product service and even share its experience with other countries of South Asia Kwatra said He said usage of new products is another promising area in the domain of digital cooperation Platforms like National Payments Corporation of India NPCI in partnership with entities in Nepal are allowing app-based payment structures to be operable between India and Nepal Kwatra said Digital connectivity brings about enormous system efficiency for trade he said Kwatra said when one moves from 4G to 4G plus which most economies in South Asia are doing and from 4G plus to 5G and then to 6G the importance of having a trusted technology base which relies on standards increases I think this is something where countries of South Asia need to come together as a region to ensure that digital platforms and networks on which data flows are safe secure and trusted he said Once you move to 5G you will no longer be able to have a full control over the data that flows on those infrastructures he said Kwatra said there is a remarkable opportunity in the digital space mainly because it allows you to bridge the geographies at effectively no extra cost Seasoned diplomat and Indias current envoy to Nepal Kwatra was earlier this month appointed as the new foreign secretary succeeding Harsh Vardhan Shringla who retires on April 30 PTI ASK ZMN

New Delhi Apr 21 PTI Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here on Thursday amid ongoing intra-party deliberations to evolve a long-term strategy and discuss the plan presented by poll strategist Prashant KishorPilots meeting with Gandhi comes a day after she met chief ministers of Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh -- Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel Pilot reached Gandhis 10 Janpath residence in the evening Earlier this month Pilot had met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and according to sources had discussed with them the political situation in Rajasthan ways to strengthen the party in the state organisational elections upcoming polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and the revival of the party Sources close to Pilot said he is keen on remaining active and involved in strengthening the party in Rajasthan but has reiterated that he is willing to take on any role the party asks him to PTI ASK ZMN

New Delhi Jan 26 PTI The Congress on Wednesday voiced support for candidates protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams by the Railways and urged the government to find a solution to their problems through dialogueParty leader Rahul Gandhi said students were the hope of their families and the country and asserted that if independence can be taken through non violent opposition then why not rightsStudents you are the hope of your families and country I am with you against the policies of the BJP government on the side of truth but violence is not our way Gandhi said in a tweet in HindiIf Independence can be taken through non violent opposition then why not rights he said using the hashtag NoFear and NoViolenceIn another tweet tagging a video of protest by the candidates he said Youth are free to raise their voice for rights Remind those who have forgotten that India is a democracy It was a republic is a republic Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the repression of candidates for Non-Technical Popular Categories RRB NTPC and the Level 1 exams and urged the government to find a solution to their problems through dialogueShe also appealed to protesting job aspirants to keep walking on the path of satyagraha in a peaceful manner saying there is a lot of power in itNo amount of condemnation is enough for the repression of the youth associated with Railway NTPC and Group D examinations the Congress general secretary said in a tweet in HindiThe government should immediately talk to the youth associated with both the examinations and solve their problems she saidThe Congress leader added that the government should put a stop to the action of entering the hostels of students for carrying out searches and damaging propertyThe arrested students should be released she demanded adding that the order barring aspirants from recruitment for protesting should be withdrawnRailway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urged job aspirants not to destroy public property and assured them that their grievances would be resolved as candidates went on a rampage over alleged irregularities in a recruitment exam by the public transporterEarlier in the day the ministry suspended RRB NTPC and the Level 1 exams after reports of vandalism by job aspirants from different parts of the country came to light PTI ASK ZMN