The Times Now Summit 2025, co-presented by Dream Sports and powered by Pernod Ricard India, featured key discussions on governance, infrastructure, international relations, amongst others.
Reuven Azar, Ambassador of Israel to India, engaged in a fireside chat where he discussed the ongoing tensions between Israel and Gaza, as well as Israel’s evolving relationship with India he said, “We are seeing a complex situation in Israel, especially with the new government and changes in Syria. Currently, we have 59 hostages, and Hamas has managed to leverage international assistance to maintain power locally. While we were initially concerned about retrieving these hostages, we remain optimistic. In terms of casualties, we’ve seen around 50,000 deaths, with approximately 20,000 being Hamas militants and a similar number of civilians. Hamas is losing its legitimacy on the ground. There are demonstrations in the Gaza Strip against them.
He further added, “The urban warfare context has allowed us to maintain a relatively low ratio of civilian casualties, and Israel has performed exceptionally well in minimizing human costs during this conflict. Our relationship with India has deepened significantly under PM Modi, particularly in defence cooperation. Thanks to Modi’s ‘Make in India’ policy, Israel has entered many multi-billion dollar joint ventures with partners here, producing drones and entering the world of autonomous vehicles.”
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP, Deputy General Secretary, DMK in her fireside chat while addressing the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu she shared, “In Tamil Nadu, we have a long history of anti-Hindi struggles, and we firmly oppose any language being imposed upon us. The government cannot threaten us with conditions regarding SSA funds, stating that unless we agree to the NEP mandating three languages, we won’t receive support. This stance is unjust. It’s concerning that while there are over 85 Hindi and Sanskrit teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas, there are no Tamil teachers, reflecting a lack of representation for our culture. We respect Hindi, but we oppose its imposition on our people. Education must be a choice, and everyone deserves the right to decide which language they want to learn without coercion.”
She further added, “Moreover, if the BJP and AIADMK come together, it may create a better chance for us to win, but we must stand firm in our beliefs. I’d even like to ask UP CM Yogi Adityanath to learn Tamil to understand our culture better. We don’t accept the BJP for many reasons, including their philosophy that seeks to create division and distract from critical issues.”
DK Shivkumar, Deputy CM, Karnataka, addressed the Times Now Summit 2025 saying “Plans to make Bharat Ahead in Karnataka. Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to Bangalore to lay the foundation of the new international airport and said the time has come for world leaders to visit Bangalore first, then Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai because of the administration.” Talking about the traffic in the capital city of Karnataka, he said, “Bangalore has a population of 1.4 crores, and the vehicle population is 1.5 crores; before, I had 1 vehicle, now I have 7. So, I agree, Bangalore has been messed up in traffic.”
He further added, “We are planning underground tunnels and double-decker roads; processes are ongoing. The talent pull is too much; we are again a health hub with people coming to Bangalore from all over the world. The central government is not paying attention like the earlier Manmohan Singh government did. I have appealed to the Prime Minister for support.”
On the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector Hardeep Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas said, “We have effectively doubled our economy from $2.2 trillion to an impressive $4.4 trillion and are currently on the path to achieving the ambitious goal of becoming a $10 trillion economy. Our ambitious ethanol blending initiative has soared from 1.4% to 20%. We are actively engaged in exploration and production, with plans to escalate oil production in the Andaman Sea from 35,000 barrels per day to a projected 245,000 barrels. This proactive approach in energy policy is essential not only for India’s growth but also for establishing ourselves as a major player in the global energy market.”
Commenting on his rival parties Hardeep Puri jokingly said, “The opposition, including the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, frequently resorts to freebie politics, overshadowing the importance of sustainable development. If you look at what’s happening in Delhi, where Atishi (jokingly calls her Tinu Anand) are leading the charge, you have to question their approach. Rahul Gandhi travels to America, to Vietnam, but when he goes to America, no one makes a fuss. But nobody is paying attention, as public sees right through it. In Punjab, for instance, residents have yet to see the promised ₹1,000 per month.”
The event is supported by key State Partners, including the Governments of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Haryana; Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham as Knowledge Partner, Ekam as Associate Partner, Da Milano as Luxury Partner, Bennett University as Education Partner and Times OOH as Outdoor Partner.
The Times Now Summit 2025 continues with more key sessions and thought-provoking discussions shaping India’s future.