Auckland, July 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the India-New Zealand relationship is built on cherished memories, enduring friendship, shared values and a common commitment.

Addressing a grand Indian diaspora event in Auckland titled ‘Kia Ora Modi’ alongside his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, PM Modi highlighted that he has brought with him the best wishes of 140 crore Indians and that it is his “great fortune” to become the first Indian PM in 40 years to visit New Zealand.

“Friends, in the relationship between India and New Zealand, there are memories, there is friendship, there are values, and there is also a commitment. One beautiful New Zealand tradition defines this relationship perfectly – it is the word ‘waka’ (Māori canoe) which binds this relationship… Waka is not merely a boat. It is a symbol of shared journey, a symbol of our shared relationship. This waka is set to take a new journey today and a sea of opportunities lies ahead of us, the wind and waves are backing us,” said PM Modi to a huge applause from thousands of people gathered at the venue.

PM Modi went on to add that he has complete faith in the success of this journey.

“Not because of Modi, but because you all are its true navigators,” he stated.

The venue echoed with chants of “Modi, Modi” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” as Prime Minister Modi continued his address.

“From Auckland to Wellington, Christchurch to Queenstown, the Indian community spread across every corner of New Zealand is a vital part of this shared journey. I would like to specially acknowledge my friend Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, all the colleagues from the New Zealand government, and the members of the Labour Party present here. This demonstrates the immense bipartisan support that exists for India-New Zealand relations. It also highlights the magnitude of the achievements and contributions of the Kiwi-Indian community,” reflected PM Modi.

Earlier, artists presented a series of cultural dance performances and folk music to welcome the Indian Prime Minister, adding to the celebratory mood and showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage before the assembled audience.

Holding Indian Tricolour and New Zealand flags, enthusiastic members of the diaspora eagerly waited to catch a glimpse of Prime Minister Modi.

Many raised their mobile phones to capture the memorable moment, contributing to the lively and energetic atmosphere throughout the venue.

The event reflected the strong people-to-people ties between India and New Zealand, with the large turnout underscoring the excitement among the Indian community over the Prime Minister’s visit.

During the programme, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon were also presented with commemorative jerseys bearing their names and the number “100”, marking a special moment during the celebrations.

Thoothukudi, July 11: In a major anti-smuggling operation, the Tamil Nadu Q Branch police seized beedi leaves worth an estimated Rs 17 lakh that were allegedly being smuggled to Sri Lanka from the Thoothukudi coast in the early hours on Saturday.

The consignment was recovered from a forested stretch near Inigo Nagar Beach, while the suspected smugglers managed to flee after spotting the police.

The operation was launched following a specific intelligence input received by Q Branch Inspector Vijaya Anitha, who was informed that a large quantity of beedi leaves was being stockpiled in the Inigo Nagar coastal area for clandestine transportation to Sri Lanka by boat.

Acting on the tip-off, a special police team led by Sub-Inspector Ramachandran, along with Special Sub-Inspector Ramar, Inspectors Irudayaraj Kumar and Isakkimuthu, and First Grade Constables Palani, Balamurugan and Pechiraj, conducted a late-night patrol in the South Police Station limits of Thoothukudi City Sub-Division.

During the search operation, the team reached a forested area south of Inigo Nagar Beach, where they discovered a cache of beedi leaves concealed and kept ready for loading onto a boat bound for Sri Lanka. Police recovered 18 bundles of beedi leaves, each weighing approximately 30 kg, indicating that the consignment had been carefully packed for sea transport.

However, the suspected smugglers, who were reportedly present in the vicinity, escaped into the darkness after noticing the approaching police personnel. In addition to the contraband, the police also seized a cargo vehicle believed to have been used for transporting the beedi leaves to the coastal loading point.

Officials said the seized consignment has an estimated international market value of around Rs 17 lakh. The recovered beedi leaves and the cargo vehicle are being handed over to the Customs Department for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those involved in the smuggling network.

Investigators are examining the ownership of the seized vehicle and gathering intelligence to trace the larger syndicate suspected of operating along the Thoothukudi coast.

The seizure is part of the intensified surveillance being carried out by the Q Branch and other enforcement agencies to curb cross-border smuggling activities between the Tamil Nadu coast and Sri Lanka.

Authorities said further investigations are under way to determine the intended recipients of the consignment and whether the operation is linked to an organised smuggling network operating in the region.

Mumbai, July 11: Amid a series of earthquakes in the Marathwada region, Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Maharashtra government, accusing it of prioritising publicity exercises in Mumbai while ignoring growing seismic concerns in parts of the state.

The criticism came through an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, which alleged administrative apathy towards repeated tremors reported in Hingoli, Parbhani and Nanded districts.

The Thackeray camp contrasted the government’s high-decibel public relations exercise during the Mumbai rains with its complete silence on the seismic threats looming over rural Maharashtra. “Mr. Show-Off, do you even understand? An earthquake has hit Marathwada!” the editorial taunted, aiming squarely at the Chief Minister and his Disaster Management Minister.

The editorial heavily criticised the ruling dispensation for prioritizing media spotlight over genuine crisis management. It claimed that while heavy rains lashed Mumbai, the Disaster Management Minister and the Chief Minister rushed to the emergency war room solely for a “photo-op” and a “public relations show”.

In stark contrast, the administration remains “completely unfazed and indifferent” to the tremors gripping Marathwada, where four consecutive tremors rattled Hingoli, Parbhani, and Nanded districts in the early hours of Thursday, July 9, it said.

The editorial noted that the tremors were powerful enough to be felt across a massive geographic expanse stretching 200 to 300 km — reaching as far as Bidar in Karnataka, and Adilabad and Nizamabad in Telangana. For the people of Marathwada, the ground shaking is not a minor event — it is a deeply traumatizing trigger.

The Thackeray camp pointed out that the region has still not healed from the horrific wounds of the catastrophic September 30, 1993, Latur-Killari earthquake, which wiped out an entire generation and stands as one of the worst seismic disasters in independent India’s history.

The editorial also highlighted a grim, symbolic collapse following the latest tremors. Shortly after the ground shook on July 9, a bridge on the National Highway in Nanded’s Vishnupuri area collapsed. It noted that the bridge had been built on a “foundation of sheer corruption,” exposing how the “ruthless human hand” of the current administration is compounding the wrath of nature.

Drawing a sharp line between political theater and real-world disaster, the editorial delivered a scathing commentary on the state’s political climate. “The public wasn’t shocked at all when Shiv Sena MPs from Parbhani, Hingoli, and Dharashiv allegedly sold themselves out for Rs 50 crore each — political betrayal has ceased to surprise anyone. However, the shock of subterranean lava fracturing the earth, destroying homes, and bulldozing human lives is entirely different. While the July 9 tremors may seem mild today, they are a stark warning of tomorrow’s catastrophe,’’ it remarked.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena warned that the geographical and geological reality of Maharashtra is shifting dangerously. Regions that were once classified as stable, non-seismic zones have now transitioned into highly earthquake-prone areas. Tectonic activity is rapidly escalating not just in Marathwada and Vidarbha, but also in Western Maharashtra’s Koyna region, and across a 300 km radius, covering Thane, Shahapur, and Palghar.

Blaming the “Fadnavis-led government” for letting the state’s disaster management system lie completely dormant, the editorial concluded with a fierce warning, ‘’No one knows what lies hidden in the womb of the earth or what the future holds. However, the continuous chain of earthquakes in Marathwada should serve as a massive wake-up call for the government and the administration to shake off their complacency before the destruction occurs.”