The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday, April 6, okayed a new gas pricing formula to reduce prices of piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). It also okayed a new space policy laying down roles of various private and public entities besides the setting up of a Rs 2,600 crore Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Hingoli, Maharashtra.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur announced the new gas pricing policy saying domestic and industrial users of PNG would see a 10 per cent reduction in pricing. The reduction in CNG, used in vehicles, would also be reduced.
This has come about after an amendment to domestic gas pricing guidelines issued in 2014. As off now the gas pricing is done as per average price at four international gas hubs, said Thakur. In the past two years the international prices has gone up $1.79 dollar Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBtu) in October 2020 to $ 8.57 MMBtu in October 2022.
Now the domestic gas price will be linked to imported crude price. It will be at 10 per cent of crude pride.
A ‘base floor price’ of $ 4 MMBtu has been fixed and a ‘ceiling price’ of $ 6.50 MMBtu has been fixed. These prices will apply to all gas from ONGC and Oil India fields. The price band is for two years henceforth it will rise at 0.25 cents every year. Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singhsaid the new space policy aims to enhance the role of Department of Space, boost activities of ISRO missions and give a larger participation of research, academia, startups and industry.
Some three years ago, space was openedto private participation and after three years ISRO has 150 startups. The ‘InSpace’ was created as entity easing public private participation and is like a coordinator between public and private sector. The policy will lay down the roles of all.
New Delhi (TIP)- The ED Wednesday, April 5, told a Delhi court the investigation in the money laundering probe against AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the alleged excise scam is at a “crucial” stage and it has found fresh evidence of his complicity. The agency made the submissions while seeking time to argue on the bail application of the former Delhi deputy chief minister.
Special Judge M K Nagpal adjourned for April 12 the arguments on the application.
The judge also extended till April 17 the judicial custody of Sisodia after he was produced before the court and the agency sought an extension of custody.
During the arguments, the Enforcement Directorate counsel said the agency was “in process of gathering fresh evidence that has come to light.”
“We need time…requesting court to grant time to advance arguments,” the counsel said after a brief argument.
The counsel appearing for Sisodia, meanwhile, claimed before the court the ED does not have evidence to prove the charge that he had indulged in money laundering.
“There’s no basis (for the charge). They’ve probed and examined everything, raided my residence etc. but found nothing. The (excise) policy was approved by various authorities concerned, including the LG. Now you’re blaming Sisodia solely. Also, this (the probe) is not under the preview of the ED,” the counsel said.
He asserted the central anti-money laundering agency cannot make the vague allegation that he will tamper with evidence if enlarged on bail.
“You never claimed any effort by me to influence, contact, threaten witnesses when I was out and holding (excise) portfolio. Now I’m not even holding any portfolio,” he said.
New Delhi (TIP)- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, April 6, accused the Narendra Modi government of not walking the talk on democratic principles and causing disruptions in Parliament to divert attention from the Opposition’s demand for a JPC probe into the Adani issue. Addressing a joint press conference of opposition leaders at the Constitution Club after a “Tiranga March” from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk, he said the government’s intention was to get the Budget Session washed out. He said the government talks a lot about democracy, but it does not follow what it says, and asserted that the Opposition was unitedly fighting for democracy and the Constitution.
“The budget of Rs 50-lakh crore was passed in just 12 minutes, but they (BJP) always allege that the opposition parties have no interest and they keep disturbing the House,” Kharge said.
“The disturbance was created by the ruling party. Whenever we made a demand, we were not allowed to speak. This has happened for the first time in my public life of 52 years and never has such a thing happened earlier,” he said.The government’s “intention was to get the Budget Session washed out and we condemn this attitude”, the Congress chief said and added that “if this continues, democracy will be finished and we will move towards dictatorship”. He said the issues raised by 18 to 19 opposition parties was on the Adani matter and how his wealth increased to Rs 12 lakh crore in just a period of 2 to 2.5 years.
“Why are you fearing from constituting a joint parliamentary committee probe even when the BJP will have its say as it will have majority members? Something is fishy, that is why the government is not agreeing to order a JPC probe into the Adani issue,” Kharge said. He said the government did not answer on the Adani issue in Parliament and instead diverted attention by demanding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s apology over his remarks in the UK. The demand for the JPC probe was made to ensure transparency in the Adani case as MPs of opposition parties would have got an opportunity to inspect the documents related to the issue, the Congress chief said.
New Delhi (TIP)- The Budget session of Parliament ended on Thursday, April 6, amid noisy protests by the Opposition over the Adani issue, a matter which virtually washed out the 25-day-long second leg and all six bills including the crucial Finance Bill were passed with any debate.
When Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar were delivering their valedictory addresses in the respective House, opposition members were raising slogans.
While the Opposition pressed for a probe by a joint parliamentary committee into the Adani issue, BJP members countered by demanding an apology by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his “democracy in danger” remark made in the United Kingdom. Rahul Gandhi since stands disqualified as a Lok Sabha member following his conviction in a criminal defamation case by a Gujarat court.
As opposition members raised slogans and displayed placards demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into allegations of fraud against the Adani Group. Birla said, “You have lowered the dignity of the House. This behaviour is not good for parliamentary system and the country.” “This House is always for high level of debate and discussions. But you systematically disrupt the proceedings which is not good,” he lamented.
This session, Lok Sabha functioned for only 45 hours as against its scheduled 133.6 hours because of disruptions, according to a think tank that compiles the data. Rajya Sabha worked for just over 31 hours out of 130 hours in the session, the data said. The Budget session of Parliament was held from January 31, 2023 to April 6, 2023, with a recess from February 14 to March 12.
According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research, the productivity, which is the percentage of time the House functioned against the total schedule, was 34.38 per cent for the Lower House in the Budget Session.
The only time the Lok Sabha’s productivity was lower than this was in the Monsoon Session of 2021, when it functioned only for 20.93 per cent of the scheduled time.
The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, recorded its lowest productivity since 2019, functioning only around 24 per cent of its scheduled time. In the Monsoon Session of 2021, its productivity was around 28 per cent.
Rajya Sabha could devote around just two minutes to legislative business, while it was less than an hour in Lok Sabha. Financial Business took 17.25 hours in Lok Sabha and 18.23 hours in Rajya Sabha.
Throughout the Session, noth Houses witnessed repeated adjournments of the Question Hour.
In his concluding remarks, Birla said the House held discussions on the General Budget for 14.45 hours, and 145 MPs participated in it. Discussions on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address were held for 13.44 hours with participation of 143 MPs.
Excluding the Finance and Appropriation Bills, The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was the only Bill passed during this session. Both bills were passed without any discussion by either House. Source: PTI
In an embarrassment for the Congress, party veteran and steering committee member AK Antony’s son Anil Antony on Thursday, April 6, joined the BJP, saying while those in the Congress considered “serving a family” their religion, he considered “serving the nation” his duty.
Anil Antony had quit the Congress on January 25, protesting the party’s stand on the BBC documentary on Gujarat riots.” Nowadays, some Congress leaders believe it is their dharma to serve the interests of a single family. But I believe it is my duty to serve the nation,” Anil Antony said, joining the BJP in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Kerala BJP chief K Surendran. Back in Kerala, former Defence Minister AK Antony termed the development “very painful.”
Currently, chairman of AICC’s disciplinary committee and a confidant of former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, AK Antony said, “My son’s action is wrong and very painful.” AK Antony had authored the 2014 Lok Sabha election debacle report identifying Muslim appeasement a major factor for the party’s rout.
Asked if he had consulted his father on joining the BJP, Anil Antony replied: “This is not about personalities, this is about difference of opinion and ideas. I strongly believe that I have taken the right step. But my respect for my father remains. There is no question of any politics in my family.”
The Union Home Ministry on Thursday recommended a CBI probe into the affairs of the Indian arm of the global NGO Oxfam for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, sources said.
The home ministry found that Oxfam India continued to transfer foreign contributions to various entities, including other NGOs, even after registering under the FCRA, which prohibits such transfers after an amendment that came into force on September 29, 2020, sources said. Oxfam India is the second NGO against whom the home ministry has recommended a CBI probe within a month for alleged violation of the FCRA. On March 20, the home ministry recommended a CBI inquiry against Aman Biradari, an NGO established by activist Harsh Mander.
Aman Biradari was one of the NGOs to which Oxfam India transferred foreign contributions, violating the law, sources said. There was no immediate reaction from Oxfam India. During a survey by the Income-Tax department, multiple emails were found which revealed that Oxfam India was allegedly planning to circumvent provisions of the FCRA by routing funds to other FCRA-registered associations or through the for-profit consultancy route, sources said. The survey also “exposed” Oxfam India as a probable instrument of the foreign policy of foreign organisations or entities, which have funded the NGO liberally over the years, they said.
Kerala train fire accused arrested from Maharashtra
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police and Central Intelligence on Wednesday, April 5, nabbed a man suspected of starting fire on a Kerala train that killed three people. The absconding accused, identified as Shahrukh Saifi, was nabbed from Ratnagiri railway station.
According to the Maharashtra ATS, he will be handed over soon to a team of Kerala cops and is expected to be brought to Kochi by evening.
In a statement to ANI, Kerala DGP Anil Kant confirmed that Saifi has been taken into custody. “After a detailed interrogation of the accused, we will be able to know more details,” he added.
Saifi, who hails from Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, was reported missing from his house on March 30. His parents had filed a missing person’s complaint on Saturday. His plans to escape to Gujarat was foiled as the burn injuries on his face aggravated and Saifi was forced to get down in Maharashtra, a senior officer said.
He had allegedly poured petrol on a co-passenger, injuring several others, inside the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express on Sunday after the train left Kozhikode railway station. At least three of the injured are women.
PESHAWAR (TIP): A Pakistani soldier was killed and eight terrorists were eliminated during an overnight raid at a militant hideout in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military has said. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 5, an intense exchange of fire took place between the security personnel and terrorists during the intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Shinwarsak area of South Waziristan district, which also left one soldier dead, the Dawn newspaper reported on April 6.
“Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and eight terrorists, including terrorist commander Jan Muhammad alias Chargh, were sent to hell,” the statement said. Weapons and ammunition were seized from the slain terrorists, who have remained actively involved in terror activities against security forces and the killing of innocent citizens, it said.
“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the statement added.
The military has not yet identified the militant group to which the slain terrorists belonged. Pakistan’s government has stepped up its offensive against militants following a spike in terror attacks. (PTI)
KATHMANDU (TIP): Nepal on April 3 confirmed the detection of a new Omicron variant of COVID-19 identified as “XBB1.16” and said that at least 10 out of 24 latest samples of patients across the country have tested positive for the new strain.
Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population said it has cautioned its citizens after the detection of XBB1.6 variant, which has been identified and spreading in neighbouring India.
“A new variant of Omicron ‘XBB1.16’, spreading in the neighbouring country India, has also been detected in Nepal. So far 10 of the 24 samples tested by the Health Ministry have been confirmed,” Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, deputy spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, said. According to the ministry, to identify the molecular genetic changes in COVID-19, 24 PCR, and antigen-positive samples were collected in March at the National Public Health Laboratory through random sampling.
Of the 24 samples collected, two tested positive for BA.1.1, two for BA.2, and one for BA.2.76, 2 for BA.5, two for BA.5.2, 10 for XBB 1.16, three for XBB 1.5, one for XBB 2.6, and one for XBF.
The health ministry has urged people travelling from abroad to get tested for coronavirus infection at the health desk at borders, and to get the necessary treatment and counselling from nearby hospitals if tested positive, arranged by the ministry, saying that the new variant is spreading rapidly in neighbouring India. (PTI)
DHAKA (TIP): A massive fire partly destroyed one of the biggest clothing markets here in the Bangladesh capital on April 4, injuring eight people, including two fire personnel.
The fire broke out at the Bangabazar market around 6:10 am and was brought under control after over six hours of efforts at 12:36 pm, Shahjahan Shikder, officer-in-charge of the media wing of Fire Service and Civil Defence said.
However, the fire was seen spreading to neighbouring buildings as a result of strong winds. Flames could still be observed in various locations.
Bangladesh Air Force helicopters sprayed water over the burning market, the bdnews24.com portal reported.
At least eight people, including two members of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, were injured while working to control the massive fire, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
According to Rafi Al Faruk, duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, 48 fire service units were working to control the fire.
The cause of the fire is yet to be known.
The first unit of firefighters reached the scene within two minutes, said Anwarul Islam Dolon, an official in the media department of the Fire Service.
Eyewitnesses said that owners and employees of shops in the market rushed to the spot after hearing the news of the fire. They were seen removing goods from their stores and moving them to a safe location. Businessmen at the site said that at least six markets in Bangabazar caught fire.
Bangabazar Market has some 2,900 shops and about 150,000 people work there.
Bangabazar, one of the biggest markets in the country, houses hundreds of stores constructed of tin and wood. With the advent of Eid, clothing stores stocked up new products aiming for a big sale. Many staff at the clothing stores spend the night in their stores during Ramzan. The reports said the traders and their store staff were desperately trying to remove the products from the flames.
Bangabazar was burnt down to ashes earlier in 1995 before it was rebuilt.
Dhaka South City Corporation owns the market, which is divided into four parts: Bangabazar Complex, Gulistan Unit, Mohanagar Unit, and Adarsha Unit. The last time the market caught fire was on Jul 24, 2018, which gutted some stores at its Gulistan unit. (PTI)
ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) for April 7, amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country’s politically crucial Punjab province.
Pakistan’s parliament on April 6 passed a resolution rejecting the country’s Supreme Court’s decision about the Punjab elections delaying the case and demanding a full court to decide on this vexing issue.
A three-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday fixed May 14 as the new date for elections to the Punjab Assembly, as it quashed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to extend the polls date from April 10 to October 8.
The top civil and military leadership will participate in the NSC meeting while the heads of the country’s intelligence agencies will brief the participants on the national security situation, according to The Express Tribune newspaper.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at 11 am on Friday at the Prime Minister’s House, the report said.
The NSC is a federal institutional and consultative body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as its chairman.
It is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security advisers and Cabinet ministers.
In the latest development, the National Assembly or the lower house passed a resolution to reject the decision of the apex court.
The resolution was moved by lawmaker Khalid Magsi of the Balochistan Awami Party which is part of the ruling coalition and was adopted by the lower house.
It called upon Prime Minister Sharif and the federal cabinet not to implement this judgment as it is contrary to the Constitution.
The resolution came after Sharif addressing the cabinet meeting on Wednesday described the apex court’s decision as a mockery of the Constitution and law, and added that it could not be implemented.
His idea was supported by the National Assembly, showing the bitter divide over the date of the election in Punjab where the assembly was dissolved on January 13 and the polls should be held within 90 days.
The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and hold them with the general elections in the country after August this year.
However, former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has been pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the elections in the Punjab province, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. (PTI)
TAIPEI (TIP): China sent warships through waters around Taiwan on April 6 as it vowed a “resolute response” to the island’s president meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen held talks with McCarthy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, expressing gratitude afterwards for the meeting that she said showed her island was not isolated on the international stage.
China had repeatedly warned both sides the meeting should not take place, and deployed an aircraft carrier through waters near Taiwan hours before the talks went ahead. Three additional warships were detected in waters separating the island from mainland China, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday morning. An anti-submarine helicopter had also crossed the island air defense identification zone, according to the ministry.
Despite Taiwan having been ruled separately for more than 70 years, China views it as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.
China carried out its largest-ever air and sea exercises around Taiwan following a visit in August last year by McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, to the island. China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan in August.
Its response to the McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level. Tsai said in the United States she had received a warm welcome from politicians on both sides of the aisle.
“Their presence and unwavering support reassure the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated and we are not alone,” she told reporters at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Tsai’s visit to California was technically a stop-over after a trip to Latin America to see two of Taiwan’s dwindling band of official diplomatic allies. Hours after the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, China issued a strong rebuke. “In response to the seriously erroneous acts of collusion between the United States and Taiwan, China will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” China’s foreign ministry said.
However there were no initial signs of extra military activity on Thursday morning on Pingtan island in southeastern China — home to a People’s Liberation Army base and known as the closest point on the mainland to Taiwan. AFP journalists on Pingtan last year had witnessed missile launches and army helicopters flying over the island following Pelosi’s visit.
McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, said a shared belief in freedom and democracy underpinned a relationship that was “a matter of profound importance to the free world”. He had originally planned to go himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California.
The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China. McCarthy vowed US arms sales to Taiwan — which infuriate Chinese leadership — would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. (AFP)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (TIP): Long-time Mideast rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia took another significant step toward reconciliation April 6, formally restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift, affirming the need for regional stability and agreeing to pursue economic cooperation.
The agreement was reached in Beijing during a meeting between the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers, a month after China had brokered an initial reconciliation agreement between the two regional powerhouses.
The latest understanding further lowers the chance of armed conflict between the rivals, both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region. It could bolster efforts by diplomats to end a long war in Yemen, a conflict in which both Iran and Saudi Arabia are deeply entrenched.
April 6 announcement also represents another diplomatic victory for the Chinese as Gulf Arab states perceive the United States slowly withdrawing from the wider region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian laid out details of Thursday’s agreement in a tweet, after his talks with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The minister wrote that Thursday marked the beginning of “official diplomatic relations … economic and commercial cooperation, the reopening of embassies and consulates general, and the emphasis on stability, stable security and development of the region.” Amirabdollahian said that the issues are “agreed upon and on the common agenda.”
The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said that in addition to reopening embassies in the two capitals, diplomatic missions would start operating in two other major cities — Mashhad in Iran and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The report said both sides also agreed to study the prospects of resuming flights and official and private visits between the two nations, in addition to how to facilitate the visa process for their people.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the two foreign ministers signed a joint statement and expressed their determination to improve ties in line with their talks in Beijing last month.
Thursday’s talks in Beijing marked the first formal meeting of senior diplomats from the two nations since 2016, when the kingdom broke ties with Iran after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts there. Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric with 46 others days earlier, triggering the demonstrations.
The warming of ties shows that “regional countries have the will and ability to take the lead” in maintaining peace, Mao said at the briefing.
She said China is ready to support both sides in fostering good relations, urging the international community to help the Middle Eastern countries resolve their differences.
“The colonial hegemonic tactics of stirring up contradictions, creating estrangement and division should be rejected by the people all over the world,” she said. (AP)
PARIS (TIP): Protesters started a fire at one of French President Emmanuel Macron’s favourite restaurants in Paris on April 6 during clashes with riot police at the upmarket left-bank brasserie.
Staff at La Rotonde in the Montparnasse area of the city were forced to put out flames on the awning of the restaurant where Macron held a victory party during his successful 2017 election bid. An AFP journalist saw a group of men dressed in black fire fireworks and throw stones in the direction of the eatery.
The fire was caused by a flare thrown onto the fabric awning, with firefighters needing to extinguish it.
Ranks of riot police formed to protect the business on the 11th day of national protests and strikes against Macron’s widely unpopular bid to increase the retirement age to 64 from 62.
The red velour sofas and soft lighting of La Rotonde, a Belle Epoque hang-out once frequented by Picasso, have long been a favourite of Macron and his wife Brigitte.
The former investment banker held strategy meetings there as he prepared his bid for the presidency in 2017 and has been known to eat there with his wife since winning power.
In a decision criticised as elitist by his opponents at the time, Macron used La Rotonde to host staff and political allies for a party after he topped the first round of voting in 2017. The restaurant has been targeted before because of its association with the 45-year-old president. In 2020, during violent anti-government protests by so-called “Yellow Vests”, a suspected arson attack left its entrance damaged.
“When there are marches and so on, you hear people saying ‘Death to the Rotonde, Death to Macron’,” Gerard Tafanel, who owns the bistro with his brother Serge, told AFP at the time.
“It happens all the time: anonymous phone calls, people who enter in the middle of the day saying ‘Death to Macron’.” (AP)
TORONTO (TIP): A prominent Hindu temple in Canada’s Ontario province has been vandalised by unknown people with “anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti”, in what is described by police as a “hate-motivated incident.”
In a statement, the police in Ontario’s Windsor City said on April 5 that it has launched an investigation into the incident and looking for two suspects. The High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada has strongly condemned the act of vandalism. “We have taken up with the Canadian authorities the hateful act of putting anti-India graffiti on the walls of BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Windsor. We strongly condemn this act of vandalism,” the mission said in a tweet.
The Windsor Police Service said officers were dispatched to the Hindu temple in the 1700 block of Northway Avenue following a report of hate-motivated vandalism on Wednesday.
“Officers discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti sprayed in black on an exterior wall of the building,” the police said in a statement. The Windsor Police Service was investigating vandalism at the temple “as a hate-motivated incident,” the statement said.
Through investigation, officers obtained a video that shows two suspects in the area just after 12 am. In the video, one suspect appears to commit the vandalism on the wall of the building while the other keeps watch, it said.
At the time of the incident, one suspect wore a black sweater, black pants with a small white logo on the left leg, and black and white high-top running shoes.
The second suspect wore black pants, a sweatshirt black shoes, and white socks.
Police asked residents in the immediate vicinity of the temple to check their home surveillance or dashcam video footage for evidence of the suspects. In January, the Gauri Shankar temple in Brampton was targeted with anti-India graffiti, causing an outrage among the Indian community.
The Indian Consulate General in Toronto had said the defacing of the temple had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada. At least three similar acts of vandalism have been recorded in Canada last year.
Last September, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the rise of hate crimes against Indians and anti-India activities in Canada, expressing their concern with stern language.
Statistics Canada reported a 72 per cent increase in hate crimes based on religion, sexual orientation, and race between 2019 and 2021.
This has led to increased fears among minority communities, particularly the Indian community, which is the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada, accounting for almost four per cent of the population. (PTI)
LONDON (TIP): King Charles III for the first time has signaled support for research into the British monarchy’s ties to slavery after a document showed an ancestor with shares in a slave-trading company, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on April 6. Charles takes the issue “profoundly seriously” and academics will be given access to the royal collection and archives, the palace said.
The statement was in response to an article in The Guardian newspaper that revealed a document showing that the deputy governor of the slave-trading Royal African Company transferred 1,000 pounds of shares in the business to King William III in 1689.
The newspaper reported on the document as part of a series of stories on royal wealth and finances, as well as the monarchy’s connection to slavery. Charles ascended to the throne last year after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. His coronation is planned for May 6. Charles and his eldest son, Prince William, have expressed their sorrow over slavery but haven’t acknowledged the crown’s connections to the trade.
The king has said he’s trying to deepen his understanding of “slavery’s enduring impact” that runs deep in the Commonwealth, an international grouping of countries made up mostly of former British colonies.
During a ceremony that marked Barbados becoming a republic two years ago, Charles referred to “the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history.” English settlers used African slaves to turn the island into a wealthy sugar colony.
The research into the monarchy’s ties to slavery is co-sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces and Manchester University and is expected to be completed by 2026. (AP)
JERUSALEM (TIP): Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets early on April 6, setting off air raid sirens in southern Israel, as violence erupted for the second day in a row during a sensitive period of overlapping holidays. The barrage came after another tense night at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police clashed with Muslim worshippers attempting to stay overnight, in defiance of long-standing compromises about the management of the compound. The Israeli military said seven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip all exploded in midair. No group claimed responsibility for the barrage.
Unrest in the region was less intense than the previous days, but the rocket fire raised fears of a wider conflagration as Jews began the week-long Passover holiday, hundreds of Christians in the Old City gathered for Holy Thursday at the Holy Sepulcher to mark the Last Supper, and Muslims marked the Ramadan holy month.
Al-Aqsa is the third-holiest site in Islam and stands on a hilltop known to Jews as the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism. Conflicting claims over it have spilt into violence before, including a bloody 11-day war two years ago between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. Since Ramadan began on March 22, scores of Muslim worshippers have repeatedly tried to stay overnight in the mosque, a practice that is typically permitted only during the last 10 days of the monthlong holiday. Israeli police have entered nightly to evict the worshippers. (AP)
LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): Addressing a charged-up group of Indian Overseas Congress USA leaders from all over the USA who were assembled at a special meeting in New York on April 1, 2023, Dr. Sam Pitroda emphasized the importance of recalibrating collaborative efforts to canvass, educate, and respond to the electorate in India on what they are looking for from their elected representatives. At this time, he has appointed five new working presidents to cover the five zones that he had delineated of the USA for this purpose as follows:
Working President, North-East Zone – Mr. Pradeep Samala.
Working President, South-East Zone – Dr. Sajan Kurian
Working President, South-West Zone – Mr. Srivatsa Ramanathan
Working President, Mid-West Zone – Mr. Kulraj S. Grewal
Working President, West Coast Zone. – Mr. Devenderpal S.
Bhullar
Other Changes/Appointments:
Vice-President, Community Liaison – Mr. Rajendar Dichpally
Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, – Mr. Gurmit Gill
Chairman, Membership Committee, – Mr. Nikhil Thagadur
Chairman, Social Media Committee, – Mr. Avinash Dandiya
General Secretary, – Mr. Sandeep Vangala
General Secretary, – Mr. Balinder Singh Kundu
The newly appointed officials of IOCUSA
President Mohinder Singh Gilzian expressed gratitude to all the leaders who came from all over the USA. He also praised the vision and the valuable guidance of Dr. Sam Pitroda ji, who is respected as a great visionary leader. George Abraham, the Vice-Chair, congratulated all the new appointees and thanked them for their dedication to the cause. Pradeep Samala, IOC Working President In charge Northeast Region stated that as a Working President, he would work towards building IOC chapters across the Northeast region with the guidance of IOC global Chairman Sam Pitroda ji, IOC USA president Mohinder Ji and other leaders. “At this crucial juncture, it is very critical to bring NRIs & PIOs into the IOC fold and work for the betterment of the country,” Mr. Samala added. Mr. Kulraj Singh Grewal, IOC Working President In Charge Mid-West Region, said, “Thank you very much to our IOC Chairman Sam Pitroda ji, and IOC USA president Mohinder Singh Gilzian ji for giving me this opportunity. I promise to fight for the party with everything I have and meet every expectation that you have of me.”
IOC officials with Dr. Pitroda
Rajender Dichpally, IOC Vice-President for Community Relations, said that there was a need to work with the Indian organizations to find common goals away from the religious and biased approach adopted by HSS and other right-aligned forces in the USA so that we can strengthen the forces of secularism and help promote values of love, tolerance and progressive approach, which the congress party stands for. He said the message Rahul took to all of India during his Bharat Jodo Yatra should be the basis of finding common ground with Indian organizations and diaspora. We should unite the forces in the fight to save the idea of India.
John Joseph, IOC Vice-President, said, ” India is no longer a true democracy; MLAs and MPs are bought for a price as the BJP leaders are perpetual liars – it looks like someone writes the script, and all of them echo the same. BJP has become the government for a few Business houses, and the common man is neglected and ignored – when the Indian currency is losing its value, the finance minister says that it is not true the Dollar is gaining! If we have people of such caliber, how will India face the economic downcall (Crash ) that is expected soon? We need a government that cares for the common man – the neglected/oppressed and squeezed beyond tolerance. Rahul Gandhi is the only one who can turn it around, and Congress is the only party that really cares for India. Let us unite and remove the party that is abusing power in 2024.”
Mr. Balinder Singh Kundu, IOC General Secretary said, “Parliament Elections in India are around the corner; we have to unify IOC globally to support the party in our home states; our leader Rahul Gandhi ji gave us a great tool “weapons” in the form of Bharat Jodo Yatra and Hath se Hath Jodo going on now, we have to promote his Agenda “Nafrat ke Bazar mein Mohabbet ki dukan kholenge” We have to sound in unison.
Gurmit Gill, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, said, “we need to support Rahul Gandhi in the upcoming 2024 election; he is our only chance to save democracy in India”. Avi Dandia, Chairman of the Social Media Committee, said, ” I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Sam Pitroda and Mr. Mohinder Singh of overseas congress for appointing me as chairman of social media ( US chapter) with independent charge.”
Dr. Sam Pitroda bestowed “The Chairman’s” award upon Secretary General Harbachan Singh Esq., which stated in part, “your untiring efforts and outstanding performances have earned our highest esteem.” Seen on the right is IOCUSA President Mohinder Singh Gilzian
FORDS, NJ (TIP): BIHAR JAHRKHAND ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (BJANA) celebrated Holi, one of its trademark events at Royal Albert Palace in New Jersey. More than 550 people from the Bihar and Jharkhand diaspora attended the event. This gathering of members from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut is a signature event for the BJANA family. This Holi festival brings people together in a spirit of unity and joy as we celebrate the coming of spring and the regeneration of life.
Doctor Ashish Jha (Covid 19 Response coordinator and Assistant to US president) was the event’s chief guest, and Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, consul general, was the guest of honor to this mega event. Dr. Jha thanked the BJANA team for inviting him to this major event and wished the crowd that this holiday season would bring success and growth to everyone’s lives. The Consul General appreciated the work done by BJANA to promote Made In Bihar Products Biharika and Made in Jharkhand Products Jharcraft and Tourism during the event.
Dr. Ramjee Prasad Scientist from Denmark, Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awardee, Dr. Sujal Singh, Dr. Archana Narain, and Mr. Mohan from TEAM Aid were also honored for their outstanding contributions to society during the event. Mr. Anurag Kumar, the president of BJANA, addressed the audience and gave a shared BJANA fundraising efforts and its social/charitable program like US Kids Teaching the Kids in Bihar and Jharkhand, promoting tourism and business opportunity. Mr. Kumar acknowledged the invite accepted by Dr Ashish’s and his presence enriched the importance of the event. Mr. Kumar also expressed gratitude to the Ramesh Bhatia Foundation for its kind donation of money to the charitable and social causes run by BJANA.
Immediate past president Dr. Avinash Gupta and Bihar Foundation East Coast Chairman Alok Kumar have congratulated the BJANA Team and volunteers for taking the effort to make this grand event memorable and bring the community together. The audiences were mesmerized by the folk dance from Bihar and Jharkhand that was performed by BJANA members as part of the event packed with guests and enjoyable cultural performances like singing and dancing by a children’s women’s group. Attendees enjoyed the lucky draw, sumptuous food, and performances, the scholarship awards were also given at the Holi event to meritorious students. The launch of the special Holi magazine Vaishali and the rewards given to the children who contributed to it.
Mr. Sanjeev Singh, vice president of BJANA, thanked the committee members and volunteers for their tireless efforts over the past few weeks to make this huge event a success.
A dance performance by kids.A song by kidsSponsors
IOCUSA members protest the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi
LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): Indian Overseas Congress, USA, an advocacy organization that promotes democracy and freedom in India, held a protest in New York against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case. The supporters held placards that said ‘save democracy, save India’, ‘Modi-Adani Bhai Bhai’, ‘Adani & 20,000 Crores Rs’, and ‘Rahul Gandhi Zindabad’ and shouted the slogans.
The protests were staged at an event organized by IOCUSA in Long Island, New York, where delegates from ten states were present—over one-hundred-chapter delegates of IOCUSA who were highly incensed by the conviction of Rahul Gandhi strongly expressed their disappointment and anger. The maximum penalty had been imposed for a non-lethal and drummed-up offense with extra-ordinary severity, which was totally out of the norm, character, and scope, which shows how far the Modi Government went to unjustly overreact with intent to remove Rahul Gandhi from the public square.
In the keynote address, Mr. Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, challenged the audience and rhetorically asked what kind of India we all want. He went on to say, “In today’s India, there is an ongoing disinformation campaign against the opposition: they used to call Rahul Gandhi Pappu and then filed court cases. However, after the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra, they have even ratcheted up the pressure. When Rahul went to London and had a series of private and public meetings, and said Indian democracy is a larger public good and added that Indian democracy is in danger, but that is our problem. However, in the media in India, on almost every channel, his talk was twisted and turned into a campaign against him. Every minister showed up on Indian T.V. and said Rahul was asking to interfere in Indian democracy. It is obvious that the ruling party has captured the media along with all other institutions, such as Judiciary, E.D., and Income tax. Even Civil society is not allowed to function as a watchdog. It is wrong. But nobody seemed to listen. There can be no meaningful conversation, and the sanctity of the scientific, logical, and rational mindset appears lost. It isn’t easy to operate”.
“We are in a situation where the 2024 election becomes very important for the country. It is the idea of India we are fighting. It is not a fight between Modi and Rahul Gandhi or Modi and XYZ, nor is it a fight between BJP and Congress. It is a fight about the idea of how we build a nation. We want to build a nation with peace and harmony where everybody can work comfortably, or should we be in a nation where everybody is fighting each other, affecting our growth and prosperity? We cannot ignore 200 million Muslims in India. They are very much a part of my life. I grew up with their music and culture, and they have become an integral part of India. Then you begin to separate Muslims and Christians, and whatever, you begin to attack the very fabric of India. That is what is going on, and that bothers many of us.”
“2024 is ahead of us, and how do we convince people that we have to fight for the idea of India? Some people feel that the fight will be on social media, and others feel that it will be over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). There are all kinds of ideas, and everyone has a view of what is wrong. There is so much interest in what is going on in India. These are the issues we are fighting for. Indian Overseas Congress has been here for a while. Today we are in 32 countries. We are successful only because of people like you who are present here. You make it happen. We don’t see the results if we don’t make things happen. Some seniors may feel that if BJP wins in 2024, they must write off India. However, I cannot afford to write off India. I want India to be the way it was when we were kids. Lots of good things have happened. When I came to America, I had never seen a telephone, television, or refrigerator in my life because we were that poor. Today, we have everything. India is what it is today because we planted the right seeds at the right time in education, Industry, technology, and science. Today’s India needs to forge ahead; we cannot have prosperity without having the core of it. And the core of it is being attacked. You may build high-speed trains, but there is no soul in them. We need to get the soul back. In the long run, there will be no prosperity if there is no peace. Peace only comes by respecting each other. I very strongly believe in it. Therefore, let us work together and take this message to our families and friends across India to make a difference starting today”. Mr. Pitroda exhorted.
In his presidential address, Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian asserted that we are at a critical time for India, particularly for democracy and freedom of expression in our motherland. As NRIs, we have a responsibility to see that a democratic and secular India survives and prospers. The last three years have been challenging. Covid has stopped us from achieving many of the goals we have set out to accomplish. However, the time is ripe now for us to become active and be counted. Sam ji has proposed a reorganization of IOCUSA to be more responsive to the ongoing challenges. That will include appointing five working Presidents to work in their respective zones. This way, we hope to reach the maximum possible NRIs and convince them to join us to help preserve democracy and the rule of law in India. What happened to Rahul Gandhi should never have occurred in a democratic country. We have seen the weaponization of the law enforcement system against the opposition.
In summary, we are joining a fight against tyranny and dictatorship. In 90 days, we will have chapters reorganized or newly created in every state where there is a substantial number of Indian Americans. The 2024 National elections are just a year away, and we need volunteers to help our party to defeat communalism and preserve freedom. I know that for many, America has become the new home. They see India only in a rearview mirror. Many others are concerned but unwilling to get involved. Are we saying that we have no obligation to the country that has given us birth, education, and freedom to immigrate to this great country? We owe it to our brothers and sisters who are left behind the same freedom we enjoy here in the U.S. In the coming days, the newly appointed working Presidents will assemble a team in their own zones. New York is in the Northeast Zone, which includes several nearby states. He concluded by urging the gathering to come forward and enlist and make their talents and skillset available so we can work together and rally behind the cause of freedom and democracy.
George Abraham, Vice-Chairman, in his speech, thanked Mr. Pitroda for his spirited defense of freedom everywhere in the last couple of weeks. He added, “only a few years ago, four Justices of the Supreme Court held unprecedented news conferences in which they asserted that democracy was in danger in India. That prediction is steadily becoming a reality. A mere expression of words in jest can put you in jail. This is not the India we left behind. This is not the India Nehru and Ambedkar envisaged. Today, institutions are undermined, media is muzzled, a parliament is no longer a debating body, diets are regulated, and freedom of expression is curtailed. With the recently enacted changes to OCI, NRIs are also gagged, and it is all part of silencing any dissent. We want you to use words in support of this cause that means speaking out,” Mr. Abraham added.
After Krishna Sree Gandham and Sharath Chandra Vemuganti sang the Indian National Anthem, Secretary Secretary-General Harbachan Singh, Master of Ceremony, declared the event open with a welcome speech and thanked everyone who came from far and near. He also gave a rousing welcome to the Chief Guest and Global Chairman, Dr. Sam Pitroda. All those who spoke at the event include Minhaj Khan, Gurmit Singh Gill, Pradeep Samala, John Joseph, Rajendar Dichpally, Balinder Singh Kundu, Dr. Dayan Naik, Sabu Sakaria, Pavan Darsi, Gurinderpal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Amel Singh, Gulshan Singh Ghotra, Sharath Chandra, Gourishankar Ranganagoudra, Dr.Jayesh Patel, Devindarpal Bhullar, Kulraj Grewal, Srivatsa Ramanathan, Sharod Chandra, Johnson Myalil, Sukhy Dho, Verghese Pothanikadu, Zinda Singh and Pappy Badosh.
In the end, Dr. Sam Pitroda proudly bestowed “The Chairman’s” award upon Secretary General Harbachan Singh Esq., which stated in part, “your untiring efforts and outstanding performances have earned our highest esteem.”
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Noted Indian American chef, cookbook author and culinary teacher Raghavan Iyer has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 61. Iyer died on March 31 in San Francisco, according to an Instagram message by Terry Erickson, his partner of 41 years.
“It is with a heavy and sad heart I must tell you of Raghavan’s passing this evening. He died peacefully at University of California San Francisco hospital,” Erickson stated.
“A celebration of life will be planned for a later date. I will post the information on his Facebook page,” he wrote. Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes. He never saw a difference between family and friends, so I am sorry for your loss as well. Thank you.”
Iyer “made Indian cooking accessible to Americans,” a media channel wrote in an obit piece. “He broke with traditions in writing cookbooks, teaching thousands of cooks, consulting for restaurants, leading tours, catering meals and creating frozen dinners.
Iyer, “who as a young man left India for the United States clueless about how to cook even a simple potato curry, went on to teach America’s heartland how to prepare one of the world’s most complex cuisines,” the channel said.
Erickson was one of the first people Iyer met when he arrived in Minnesota from Mumbai at 21 to attend a small but well-regarded hospitality management program. He had picked it because it was the least expensive one he could find in America.
“When I first got to this country, I was almost embarrassed about where I was from and the food we ate,” he said in an interview with media in February. After a while, he said, he realized that his culture was the “tool” he could use to overcome feelings of inferiority.
Iyer’s “contributions were a bridge to a new breed of American cooks and cookbook authors from the Indian diaspora, like Nik Sharma and Asha Gomez, who broke with classic preparations and found success playing with ingredients — swapping feta for the Indian cheese paneer, for example, or replacing the crust of a pizza with naan,” according to the media.
Iyer consulted for restaurants around the country, taught countless workshops, led tours to India, created a line of frozen Indian meals for Target and instructed thousands of professional cooks at universities, museums and companies, including Google.
But his favorite thing was helping individual cooks confidently tackle dishes like curries and biryanis, often using basic ingredients common in supermarkets, the media channel wrote.
Iyer published “Betty Crocker’s Indian Home Cooking,” the first of his seven books, in 2001. His last book, “On the Curry Trail: Chasing the Flavor That Seduced the World in 50 Recipes,” which he wrote between bouts of chemotherapy and surgeries, was published in February.
Iyer was born on April 21, 1961, in Chidambaram, a small city in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, to Gangabai Ramachandran, a homemaker, and S. Ramachandran, an officer in the Indian navy who later moved the family to Mumbai.
He was the youngest of six children. His oldest sister, Lalitha Iyer, was a resident in obstetrics and gynecology when their mother was pregnant with Iyer, and she helped deliver him.
Iyer, who attended Jesuit schools, wanted to be a doctor, too, but he didn’t get into medical school, although he did earn a Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Bombay University. Because he spoke six languages and loved to eat, he decided to pursue a career in hospitality.
Soon after he met Erikson at Southwest Minnesota State University, the two fell in love. They moved to Lansing, Michigan, to pursue hospitality degrees at Michigan State University before settling back in Minneapolis.
In addition to Erikson, Iyer is survived by their son, Robert, who also lives in Minneapolis, and four siblings in India: Bhaskaran, Lalitha and Ravi Iyer and Mathangi Gopalkrishnan.
Erickson told the media Iyer struggled with immigration issues for 18 years. Eventually, with the help of the Betty Crocker book and a growing national culinary presence, he attained residency through the national interest waiver, which requires, among other qualifications, that the applicant demonstrate significant expertise or exceptional ability in his or her field.
VANCOUVER (TIP): A 28-year-old Sikh, facing multiple charges including assault, uttering threats, and mischief, has turned himself in at Vancouver Provincial Court, police said.
Manveer Singh Dhesi, who turned himself in on March 31, is known to live in Surrey but police said he also frequents Burnaby in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The Burnaby Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had put out a notice earlier this week seeking public assistance in locating Dhesi wanted on a British Columbia wide arrest warrant.
According to information presented during a bail hearing on March 31, Dhesi’s charges relate to alleged incidents on March 13 at his ex-girlfriend’s home, Burnaby Now reported. His ex-girlfriend, her sister, her brother-in-law and her brother-in-law’s brother were all at the house, according to Crown prosecutor Jennifer Dyck.
“There was an alleged incident where Dhesi turned up at their home, assaulted, allegedly, two of the individuals and barged into the home without consent,” Dyck told Burnaby Now.
British Columbia provincial court Judge Jeffrey Campbell ordered Dhesi to pay a fine of $500 and asked him not to go within two blocks of his ex-girlfriend’s house, or contact any of his alleged victims.
NEW YORK (TIP): An Indian American Associate Professor at New York-based Albert Einstein College of Medicine has been honored with the Young Urologist Award in recognition of her efforts and commitment to advance the development of fellow young urologists.
Dr Nitya Abraham, Program Director for the Montefiore Urology residency program, has mentored countless students, residents, fellows and junior faculty both at her institution and others in the New York region.
“I’m grateful to my mentors over the years, my chair at Montefiore Medical Center, and of course, my parents and supportive husband, for molding and equipping me to win this award,” Abraham said in a statement.
“At a time when rates of physician burnout are increasing, it is wonderful that the American Urological Association and its leaders are recognizing the hard work of many young urologists across the country,” she added.
According to the American Urological Association (AUA), a ‘young’ urologist is defined as someone (who has completed training) who has been in practice for 10 years or less.
Abraham is also the Chair of the Executive Curriculum Committee for Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has served the AUA as an Oral Board Review Course faculty member. She is a member of the Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Young Urologists Committee and social media committee.
The awards committee described Abraham as a prolific researcher with a clinical research focus on the impact of social determinants of health on pelvic floor health.
She has received funding from the US Department of Defense for urinary diagnostic markers of interstitial cystitis and is also a co-author of the AUA White Paper on Rationale and Strategies for Reducing Urologic Post-Operative Opioid Prescribing, a statement released by AUA said. A graduate of University of Connecticut, Abraham completed Medicine at New York University Langone Medical Center and the Urology residency at the same place.
She did a fellowship in Female Urology at Cleveland Clinic, following which she joined the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. She is the daughter of Dr Thomas Abraham, Chairman of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International, and retired internist/geriatrician Dr Susy Abraham.
Along with Abraham, Rena Malik, MD from Mid-Atlantic Section at the University of Maryland; Jesse D. Sammon, DO from New England Section at Maine Medical Partners Urology; Sarah Vij, MD from North Central Section at Cleveland Clinic; Alexander J. Ernest from MD, Society of Government Service Urologists at Brooke Army Medical Center, etc., also received the award.
Established in 2012-2013, AUA’s Young Urologist of the Year Award is presented annually to select early-career members in recognition of their efforts and commitment to advancing the development of fellow young urologists. The following members were selected by their colleagues who serve on the Young Urologists Committee and endorsed by their respective Section/Society to receive this special honor for 2023.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US has recognized Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by renaming localities, the White House has said. The US reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighboring country claims as the southern part of Tibet.
The official names of the 11 places were released on Sunday by China’s ministry of civil affairs. “The United States has recognized that territory (Arunachal Pradesh) for a long time (as an integral part of India). And we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by renaming localities,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday, April 4. “And so, again, this is something that we have long stood by,” Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. India on Tuesday outrightly rejected China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of India and assigning “invented” names does not alter this reality. “We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
“Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality,” he said. It was the third batch of standardized geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by China’s civil affairs ministry.
The first batch of the standardized names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh was released in 2017 and the second batch of 15 places was issued in 2021. China’s renaming of the places in Arunachal Pradesh came in the midst of the lingering eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in May 2020. Following the standoff, India bolstered its overall military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well.
The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a nearly three-year-long confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement of troops from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.
(Source: PTI)
MISSISSIPPI / LONDON (TIP): Indian-American physician and community activist, Dr. Sampat Shivangi of Mississippi, participated in an event at the Parliament of the United Kingdom held at the House of Lords in British Parliament on March 7-8, 2023, to honor the Indian diaspora. The event was attended by Indians from European countries, United States, and diaspora elsewhere, Dr. Shivangi said.
House of Lords member Swaraj Paul was instrumental in organizing the event along with Lord Karan Bilimoria, and Lord Rami Ranger a business tycoon. “It was such a wonderful experience and opportunity to meet these British Indian billionaires who have made their strides in UK,” Dr. Shivangi said in his note about the visit.
Dr. Shivangi was also invited to the home of Lord Paul, who is in his 90s and “still very active and much involved in Indian diplomacy and Indian diaspora,” Shivangi said, adding, “He mentioned to me that London Zoo will be named after his family in recognition of his services to Britain.” Lord Paul also scheduled a visit to the House of Lords March 8, for Dr. Shivangi.
A conservative lifelong member of the Republican Party, Dr. Shivangi is the founding member of the Republican Indian Council and the Republican Indian National Council. Dr. Shivangi is the National President of Indian American Forum for Political Education, one of the oldest Indian American Associations. Over the past three decades, he has lobbied for several Bills in the US Congress on behalf of India through his enormous contacts with US Senators and Congressmen.
A close friend to the Bush family, he was instrumental in lobbying for the first Diwali celebration in the White House and for President George W. Bush to make his trip to India. He had accompanied President Bill Clinton during his historic visit to India.
Dr. Shivangi is a champion of women’s health and mental health whose work has been recognized nationwide. Dr. Shivangi has worked enthusiastically in promoting India Civil Nuclear Treaty and recently the US India Defense Treaty that was passed in US Congress and signed by President Obama.
Dr. Shivangi is a member of the U.S. National Advisory Council for Substance Abuse and Mental Health SAMHSA, Center for National Mental Health Services, in Washington, D.C.
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