NEW DELHI (TIP): In what can be viewed as a significantly aggressive shift in India’s foreign policy, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi attacked Pakistan over alleged human rights abuses in Balochistan, Gilgit and “occupied” Kashmir, probably a first ever accusation against Pakistan by an Indian Prime Minister, in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on August 15.
The broadside at Pakistan was the high point of his 94-minute speech and part of the government’s attempts to counter Islamabad’s ploy of raising in international forums alleged human rights abuses by Indian security forces in Kashmir. At least 58 people have died and 2,000 injured in the Valley in a month-long spell of violence sparked by the killing of a militant leader in July.
“I want to specially thank some special people from the Red Fort. In the last few days, people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pak-occupied Kashmir had conveyed good wishes and gratitude to me,” Modi said in his address from the ramparts of the 17th century Red Fort, a tradition started by Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic “tryst with destiny” speech in 1947.
India and Pakistan, both born out of independence from Britain, celebrated their 70th Independence Day a day apart.
“I have never seen these lands or met them. But when they congratulate (the) Indian Prime Minister, they congratulate our 1.25 crore people. And this is why I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pak-occupied Kashmir.”
In a sharp retort, Pakistan’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz said Modi was “only trying to divert world attention from the grim tragedy that has been unfolding in the Indian-occupied Kashmir over the past five weeks”.
Modi did not mention Kashmir where many areas are still under curfew. India has accused the western neighbor of stoking unrest in the Valley.
During an all-party meeting on Kashmir last week Modi said the time has come to expose Islamabad’s brutalities on its own people in the three restive areas where Pakistan’s security forces are accused of carrying out extra-judicial killings in crackdowns on dissidents.
“What kind of life is this, inspired by terrorism? What kind of government set-up is it that is inspired by terrorism?” asked Modi.
“The world will know about it and that’s sufficient for me,” said Modi, the first Indian PM to raise in an Independence Day speech rights abuses by Pakistani security forces in these areas.
He mentioned how India was “devastated” to hear about the killing of students in an army school in Peshawar.
“It brought tears in Parliament and every corner of India. This is our culture of humanity. On the other side, killing of innocents by terrorists are celebrated by a government inspired by terrorism,” said Modi who sported a red, pink and yellow turban.
Modi made another significant departure in his address this Independence Day. Instead of making promises, he dwelt more on the government’s achievements. Also, he emphasized the importance of good governance in realizing objectives.
“There was a time when people were more scared of income tax authorities than police officials, particularly among middle class families. I want to change that,” Modi said on Monday. He also said that while Income Tax refunds used to take time, now people get their refunds in no more than three weeks.
Similarly, Modi said, while it took six to eight months to get a passport, it just takes a couple of weeks now even though around two crore people apply for it annually now compared with around 20,000 earlier.
“We have also connected 70 crore Indians to Aadhaar and social security schemes,” he said in his address.
SARANGPUR, GUJARAT, INDIA (TIP): Millions of tearful devotees gathered for the cremation rites of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, one of India’s most commonly known Hindu ascetics revered by millions around the world. The fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha departed his mortal body on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at the age of 95. Over 2.1 million devotees from around the world dashed to the village of Sarangpur in Gujarat, India, to pay their last respects before his final rites were performed on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.
Thousands throng the cremation site
The atmosphere was filled with comforting friends and strangers sharing memories with each other of their uplifting interactions with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, reminiscing upon the heartfelt connection that cemented his influence and wisdom in their lives. Many had traveled overnight from the United States to attend the cremation.
“Pramukh Swami Maharaj welcomed all people in search of guidance, spirituality, and self-improvement. He had a heart in which the whole world could live. Those who love him are all different, but the divinity they saw in him is the same,” said Puja Patel, 22, from Columbus, Ohio. Most remembered as a pious, selfless person, Pramukh Swami Maharaj had dedicated his life towards the service and personal development of others, establishing mandirs (Hindu temples) to preserve spirituality for current and future generations, as well as developing and overseeing schools, hospitals, and disaster relief services to provide infrastructure and support across communities of all sizes.
Dr. Kashyap Patel, a cardiologist in Atlanta, Georgia, expressed his feelings following the passing, “I grew up building a bond with Pramukh Swami Maharaj. His travels from India would bring him to America, and he would take the time to get to know devotees in all corners of the world. He would reassure them in their faith, talk with them about their struggles, challenge them to improve their poor habits, listen to their seemingly insignificant worries – sharing the burden of life’s emotions with all who would lean on him. As he aged, his travels slowed, and face-to-face meetings with him grew fewer for all devotees. During this time, it became clear that his role as a guide, as a Guru, was not limited to his physical presence, it continues in the hearts of all those who accepted him as their teacher and friend.”
Once the official word was released from the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Sarangpur, Indian television networks began coverage of the memorials and tributes leading to the final rites rituals of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Heads of state from all over the country arrived to pay a final visit to the spiritual leader who has united communities in support of serving society. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited Sarangpur, Gujarat from Delhi and addressed saddened devotees before the funeral rites saying, “His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a stalwart among humans who embodied compassion and humility…Today you have lost a Guru, but I have lost a father.” Senators, congressmen, and governors offered their condolences. Congressman Ed Royce of California wrote, “He touched countless lives, providing hope and guidance during his tireless travel across India and around the world. As a spiritual leader, he will indeed be sorely missed,and my prayers are with the millions around the world who mourn his passing and celebrate his remarkable life.”
British Prime Minister Teresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, HRH Prince of Wales, and other heads of states also sent condolences and tributes. “His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj exemplified the values of British Hindus whose contribution helps make the United Kingdom one of the world’s most successful multi-cultural, multi-faith democracies,” stated British Prime Minister Teresa May. Speaking of his life of service she added: “This legacy of selfless service will continue to benefit humanity for a long time to come.” Over 95 years, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life work and travels acquainted him with curious minds from around the globe.
After news of his passing, many have extended their warm words on the loss of a beloved leader. Tributes are shared at http://pramukhswami.org/tributes. Born as Shantilal Patel on December 7, 1921, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was initiated as a swami (Hindu monk) on January 10, 1940 and received the name Narayanswarupdas Swami. On May 21, 1950 he was appointed as Head of the organization and came to be known as Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Ever since he became a swami, he has counselled seekers from all walks of life through comforting discussions, compassionate letters, early hour phone calls, and visits throughout Gujarat – home to home, hut to hut – often made entirely by foot. The sheer amount of time given selflessly in working with people, listening to their pains and miseries to provide solutions rooted in unity and compromise, is the reason the entire Hindu community is experiencing an unparalleled sadness upon his passing. Pramukh Swami Maharaj served individuals as a father, teacher, mentor, friend, advisor, and ally – he was a Guru who empowered people to live morally upright lives rooted in devotion that would transform their character, attitudes, and outcomes to provide greater happiness for both themselves and their families.
When the final rites were performed, thousands in Sarangpur were seated in prayer facing Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s funeral pyre, with hundreds of thousands watching through a live telecast streaming around the world. In accordance with Hindu final rites His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, carrying a bundle of straw set ablaze by a holy flame from the site of the Akshar Deri located in Gondal, Gujarat, began the final circumambulations around Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s mortal body. With each step, Vedic chantings could be heard resounding in the background. The circumambulations were continued by senior swamis, who have shared a religious life with Pramukh Swami for decades, each bowing their head with utmost love and respect as they paid their final respects to both a guru and friend. When the flame ignited Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s body, beginning at his toe, the audience was collectively stilled and quieted. The mood on the mandir grounds was solemn and awash with the profound devotion of pained people as they watched the light of the pyre grow stronger, recalling their Guru. Heartfelt tears soaked millions of faces for whom this day was unimaginable, the day of the physical departure of their beloved Guru who has guided them through life’s peaks and valleys. Chaitali Inamdar of Edison, New Jersey said, “Although I am deeply saddened by the news, I truly believe he will always be with us through his teachings. I lost a friend but even in that loss, I have gained insight and wisdom in the reassurance that his message thrives in how I choose to live my life.” Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life and message of spirituality has left a lasting impression on the community of Hindus who will now work to carry his work and teachings forward under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, Keshavjivandas Swami, sixth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. All individuals who wish to send their condolences and fond memories with His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj are encouraged to send their notes to tributes@in.baps.org, or share their stories on social media using the hashtag #pramukhswami. More details on http://pramukhswami.org , www.baps.org https://www.youtube.com/user/BAPSChannel ###
About BAPS The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals. Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots – their rich Hindu culture. Its 3,300 international centers out of which over support these activities of character-building. BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.
BAPS North America Since 1970, BAPS has been serving families and individuals across USA and Canada through various spiritual and cultural activities. Its 150 centers, including over 90 mandirs, form the hub of its various initiatives. With over 65 dedicated swamis giving spiritual guidance, the organization hosts over 630 weekly satsang assemblies for children, youth and adults. More details on http://www.baps.org/Global-Network/North-America.aspx Contact: BAPS North American Headquarters Phone: 732-777-1414 ext 140 or 732-497-2267 Email: media@na.baps.org Source: BAPS (Based on a press release)
BEIRUT (TIP): His face bloodied and completely covered in dust, the little boy sits quietly, staring ahead, dazed and shocked after an apparent air strike in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Alone in an ambulance, the boy -identified by doctors as five-year-old Omran Daqneesh – tries to wipe the blood off his head, unaware of the injury he has sustained.
Video of children being pulled from the rubble of a building hit by air strikes in Aleppo has been widely circulated on social media, causing upset and condemnation over the harrowing reality of Syria’s five-year war.
The video was shot on Wednesday in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of the city.
It shows an aid worker carrying the little boy out of a building and placing him on a seat inside an ambulance, before rushing back out to the bombed-out scene. The boy sits alone, stunned, before two more children are brought into the vehicle. A man with blood on his face then joins them.
Omran was rescued along with his three siblings, ages 1, 6, and 11, and his mother and father from the rubble of their partially destroyed apartment building. None sustained major injuries, but the building collapsed one hour after the family was rescued. A second building, next to theirs, was also heavily damaged. Rescue workers worked until 5am to retrieve a final victim from the rubble. The victim, who was not identified, survived.
Last year, international sympathy for victims of Syria’s war was heightened by a photo of a drowned 3-year-old refugee from Syria, Alan Kurdi, washed up on a Turkish tourist beach. The image of Aylan, who died when a people smugglers’ boat taking his family and other refugees to a nearby Greek island capsized, swept across social media and was retweeted thousands of times.
Aleppo, split into rebel- and government-controlled areas, has become the focus of fighting in Syria’s five-year conflict.
Rebel-held areas are suffering heavy air strikes daily as pro-government forces try to retake territory lost to rebels two weeks ago in the southwest of Aleppo. The fighting has frustrated the UN’s efforts to fulfill its humanitarian mandate, and the world body’s special envoy to Syria on Thursday cut short a meeting of the ad hoc committee —chaired by Russia and the United States— tasked with deescalating the violence so that relief can reach beleaguered civilians.
The UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said there was “no sense” in holding the meeting in light of the obstacles to delivering aid. The UN is hoping to secure a 48-hour pause in the fighting in Aleppo.
More than 290,000 people have been killed and more than half the population has been displaced since Syria’s conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests that escalated into a brutal multi-front war.
SUNRISE, FLORIDA (TIP): “They honor President Obama,” he told a rally inSunrise, Florida on Wednesday, August 10. “He is the founder of Isis “.
Trump also attacked his Democratic rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton, calling her a “co-founder”.
Hillary responded by accusing him of “trash-talking” the US and echoing the talking points of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump stood by his remarks on Thursday, August 11, using a sports phrase to say Obama and Clinton were the Islamic State’s “most valuable players”.
The Republican presidential nominee has endured 10 days of negative headlines after a string of controversial comments.
Most recently, he appeared to urge his supporters to take up arms against Clinton to stop her from appointing liberal judges to the US Supreme Court if she wins the election.
The hotel developer-turned-politician denied he was inciting violence, but the daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, who was shot in 1981, condemned his “verbal violence”.
Trump’s unfounded off the cuff comments have received wide disapproval, including from Republican politicians who are increasingly getting worried that Trump’s adventures with his tongue may alienate voters and bring them suffering.
IS can trace its roots back to the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian who formed al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) after the US-led invasion in 2003. It became a major force in the insurgency, carrying out dozens of attacks a month.
After Zarqawi’s death in 2006, AQI created a militant umbrella organization, Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Over the next four years, it was steadily weakened by a US troop surge and Sunni Arab tribal fighters who rejected its brutality.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became leader in 2010 and began rebuilding ISI. The following year, ISI joined the rebellion in Syria, which offered it a safe haven and easy access to weapons, some of them supplied by US allies opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.
The group also exploited withdrawal of US troops from Iraq at the end of 2011 and widespread Sunni anger at the sectarian policies of the country’s Shia-led government.
ISI changed its name to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis or Isil) in 2013 and began seizing territory in Syria. In 2014, Isis overran large swathes of northern and western Iraq, proclaimed the creation of a “caliphate”, and became Islamic State.
The White House has not commented on the “IS founder” claim but a spokesman for Clinton said: “This is another example of Donald Trump trash-talking the United States.
“What’s remarkable about Trump’s comments is that once again, he’s echoing the talking points of Putin and our adversaries to attack American leaders and American interests, while failing to offer any serious plans to confront terrorism or make this country more secure.”
In recent weeks, several leading Republicans have deserted Trump over his outspoken attacks.
Most recently, Senator Susan Collins said she would not be voting for him, pointing to a time he seemed to mock a disabled journalist.
Time Magazine on Thursday reported that the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus, had threatened to withdraw funding from the Trump campaign, and instead direct it to Congressional campaigns.
Trump denies that this conversation ever took place.
Polls suggest support for the embattled candidate has been falling in key battleground states in recent weeks.
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The 70th Independence Day of India is being celebrated with great enthusiasm with parades, flag hoisting and music concerts at a number of places all over the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The celebrations organized by the Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations include a musical evening by music maestro A.R. Rahman on August 15.
A Photo Exhibition is being held to commemorate the birth centenary of India’s Carnatic music legend Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi on 15-19 August, 2016 at the United Nations. The year marks the 50th anniversary of her performance at the United Nations. The photo exhibition will depict various facets and moments of Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi’s life and times providing a rare insight to the music legend’s achievements.
India’s Minister of State for External Affairs of, Mr. M.J. Akbar will attend the events.
The events are being organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations with the support of Sankara Nethralaya, an India-based civil society organization. The role of civil society is a growing one at the United Nations.
Incidentally, the United Nations is also celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. As India celebrates its 70th Independence Day, the event will emphasize that the wisdom of Indian tradition remains relevant to current global thinking. The musical evening will provide a glimpse of gaiety and dynamism of India on the occasion of India@70.
United Nations Postal Administration will issue a stamp to mark the birth centenary of Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi.
Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi, a legendary Indian musician was invited by the then UN Secretary General Late U Thant to perform at the UN General Assembly hall on 23 October 1966. She thus became the first Indian to perform at the UN General Assembly Hall. She was the first ever musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna Award (1988), India’s highest civilian honor and also the first ever to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1974).
A.R. Rahman, an internationally renowned music composer and musician, has won several international awards, including the Golden Globe, two Academy Awards and two Grammy’s for his work on the film score for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
Dignitaries from the United Nations, Permanent Missions to the United Nations, Permanent Observers to the United Nations, UN specialized agencies and invited guests from the international community will be attending the event.
LOS ANGELES (TIP): Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was once again “detained” at a US airport, the third time in seven years that he has been stopped by US immigration officials at the country’s airports, with the actor expressing disappointment on social media.
“I fully understand & respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really, really sucks,” the actor tweeted after being detained at the Los Angeles airport.
I fully understand & respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks.
“The brighter side is while waiting caught some really nice Pokemons,” the 50-year-old actor said in another tweet referring to the widely popular web game.
The brighter side is while waiting caught some really nice Pokemons.
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia in the US Department of State Nisha Desai Biswal has apologized for the “hassle” Khan faced.
“Sorry for the hassle at the airport, @iamsrk-even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening,” Biswal tweeted. Her Twitter account says the tweets there “are my own”.
Sorry for the hassle at the airport, @iamsrk – even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening!
This was not the first instance that Khan was detained at an American airport by immigration officials. In April 2012, Khan was detained at the White Plains airport near New York for over two hours by immigration officials.
Khan was in the US to visit Yale University and was accompanied by Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani. He was understood to have been travelling in a private plane.
Following the incident, sources had then told PTI that while Ambani and the rest of their group was cleared immediately, Khan was stopped and was given immigration clearance only after about two hours.
Yale University officials had to contact and speak with officials at the Department of Homeland Security and Department of US Immigration and Customs in Washington when they were informed that Khan was held up at the airport.
After the incident in New York, Khan had said, “Whenever I start feeling too arrogant about myself I always take a trip to America. The immigration guys kicked the star out of stardom,” Khan had said to the Yale students.
In 2009, Khan was detained at the Newark Airport in New Jersey for nearly two hours.
Following the incident, Khan had sought to downplay the “unfortunate procedure” at the Newark airport and had said that he would not demand an apology. (Source PTI)
WASHINGTON (TIP): Though 62 percent of poll respondents say they see Clinton as dishonest, they nevertheless view the former secretary of state as more qualified for the highest office in the land than the brash, billionaire businessman.
A new Fox News poll shows Democrat Hillary Clinton leading Republican Donald Trump by 10 points.
Clinton leads Trump 49 percent to 39 percent in the latest poll, the first taken since both candidates named their running mates last month. The difference falls outside the poll’s 3-point margin of error.
When Libertarian Gary Johnson is included, Clinton’s lead is cut to 9 points, with Clinton at 44 and Trump at 35. Johnson pulls 12 percent of the vote.
Among the poll’s findings:
Qualified:
Clinton: 65 percent,
Trump: 43 percent
Right temperament:
Clinton: 64 percent
Trump: 37 percent
Knowledge to serve effectively:
Clinton: 72 percent
Trump: 40 percent
Trump does have more support from veterans (53-39) but Clinton draws more Republicans (12 percent) than Trump draws Democrats (5 percent.)
The poll talked to 1,022 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide by telephone July 31-August 2.
NEW DELHI (TIP): After being subject to months of haggling and histrionics, the Goods & Services Tax (GST) finally had its historic day in the Rajya Sabha with the passage of the Bill to amend the Constitution, paving the way for what is popularly referred to as the concept of “one nation, one tax.”
Barring the AIADMK, which staged a walkout on the plea that it violated federalism, all others, including the Congress, voted for the Bill.
Led by the former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, the Congress, supported by members of some other parties, made a valiant effort to extract an assurance from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that as and when he would introduce the subsequent legislation to operationalize the GST, it would be as finance rather than money bills. This was to ensure that they would also be voted in the Rajya Sabha.
However, Jaitley refused to yield, stating that he could not give a commitment on future legislation whose contours would be decided by the Centre and the States together.
The Rajya Sabha passed the constitutional amendment by two-thirds majority, as all parties, except the AIADMK, pledged support. The amendments moved by Jaitley were also put to vote. The Bill will now be returned to the Lok Sabha for its approval.
The constitutional amendment will enable both the Centre and the States to simultaneously levy the GST, which will subsume all indirect taxes currently levied, including excise duties and service tax. It will be levied on consumption rather than production.
Two components
The GST will have two components keeping in mind the federal structure of India: the Central GST (CGST) and the State GST (SGST).
The shift to the GST regime will lead to a uniform, seamless market across the country. It will be a uniform rate, will check evasion, and boost growth rates, Jaitley said initiating the debate.
Earlier in the day, lead speaker for the Congress, Chidambaram, made it clear that the main Opposition party will support the long-pending Bill only if the government gave firm assurances on two things: keeping the GST rate capped at 18 per cent in the subsequent legislation needed for the GST’s roll-out and bringing forth these as financial bills rather than money bills, which the Upper House will not just discuss but also vote on.
Jaitley hopes GST rates will be moderate
The Union Finance Minister also refused to give an assurance on demands put forth by Congress leader P. Chidambaram and others but did give the Rajya Sabha his word that the government will go by the Constitutional provisions and precedents at the time of bringing in the subsequent GST Bills.
Congress voted in favor
The Finance Minister said that his discussions with States led him to believe that the rates would be moderate and less onerous than the combined burden of the Central and State taxes on goods and services, which comes at present rates to about 27%. However, he said that it was not possible for him to give an assurance on legislations that had not yet been drafted. Before the Bill was put to vote, the AIADMK members staged a walkout from the House.
Putting on record that the GST was originally initiated by his predecessor, Chidambaram, Jaitley expressed gratitude to leaders of all political parties for the consensus that he was able to build on the Bill. “A legislation of this kind cannot be made on the basis of a partisan approach…,” he said.
The Indian Panorama received some reactions to the GST Bill which was passed in the Rajya Sabha unanimously on August 3.
K Ganesh
K Ganesh says: “The passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha is a progressive measure as it can facilitate seamless movement of goods across inter-state borders enabling better efficiency and spurring growth of the (eCommerce) sector. However, like every regulation, it needs to be implemented correctly, and should not make lives of eCommerce players even more complicated by burdening them with more administrative hassles,” said K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur, Partner – GrowthStory and Promoter of sector leaders such as BigBasket, Bluestone, FreshMenu, Housejoy, Homelane, Portea etc. “For the consumer, the price points of many products should come down or remain at the current levels (depending on the GST rates) as there will be free flow of credits since the total indirect tax cost embedded in the price (of products) is likely to decrease”.
Hari Menon
Hari Menon, CEO, BigBasket commented: “The passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha is a progressive reform, and we welcome it. If implemented correctly, it will bring relief from one of the key issues faced in the e-commerce segment – cascading taxes. We are hopeful that in the long-run the creation of a unified marketplace will reduce the tax burden, inventory cost and logistical issues; and ensure seamless movement of goods across the country. This will help bring efficiency, transparency and boost profitability and growth of the sector.”
Dhiraj Agarwal
Dhiraj Agarwal, Co-Founder, Campus Sutra observed: “From the point of e-commerce there are two points in which we are awaiting clarity. First being mechanics of GST across each state as online orders are not location dependent. Secondly, as a fashion e- commerce player we are eagerly waiting to see whether apparel continues to be in the necessity category and hence attracts a lower GST than the standard rate.”
ISLAMABAD (TIP): India’s Home minister Rajnath Singh used the Saarc Home Ministers’ meeting in Pakistan on August 4 to seek the “strongest” action against countries that back terrorism and pilloried those who eulogize terrorists, delivering a terse message that was not covered by the Pakistani media.
“It also needs to be ensured that terrorism is not glorified and is not patronized by any state. One country’s terrorist cannot be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone. I also speak for the entire humanity – not just for India or other Saarc members – in urging that under no circumstances should terrorists be eulogized as martyrs. Those who provide support, encouragement, sanctuary, safe haven or any assistance to terrorism or terrorists must be isolated. The strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organizations, but also those individuals, institutions, organizations or nations that support them. Only this will ensure that the forces engaged in promoting the heinous crime of terrorism against humanity are effectively countered”
Singh did not name any countries or individuals in his speech at the meeting of Saarc interior ministers but there was little doubt he was referring to Pakistan.
The remarks were an apparent reference to the stance adopted by Pakistan on slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and the subsequent unrest in Kashmir that left about 50 people dead last month. Islamabad angered New Delhi by referring to Wani as a “Kashmiri leader” and a “martyr” besides describing his death as an “extrajudicial killing”.
“If we are to rid ourselves of terrorism, we will have to genuinely believe that attempts to distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists are misleading, and thus, no type of terrorism or support to it can be justified on any grounds whatsoever,” Singh said in his speech.
“Strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organizations but also those individuals, institutions, organizations or nations that support them.”
Singh said mere condemnation of terrorism was not enough and that terrorists must not be eulogized or glorified as “martyrs”. Singh, who returned to India late Thursday afternoon, said he would speak in Parliament about his visit to Pakistan.
As the Saarc meeting began at Serena Hotel in Islamabad, the frost permeating bilateral ties was plain for all to see. Pakistan’s interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was receiving participants at the entrance of the venue and shaking their hands.
When Singh and a grim-looking Khan came face-to-face, their hands barely touched before the Indian minister moved into the hall, witnesses said.
Khan brought up Kashmir in his speech and criticized what he said was the use of “excessive force” to suppress protests in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said there was a difference between fighting for freedom and terrorism.
“Using torture against innocent children and violence against civilians qualifies as terrorism,” Khan was quoted as saying by the Dawn. Visiting Indian journalists were not allowed to capture the moment as they were kept at a distance by Pakistani officials. This led to an angry exchange between an Indian official and a Pakistani official.
Both Singh and Khan stayed away from a lunch hosted for the Saarc ministers.
Pakistani media, including the vibrant private TV news channels, did not cover Singh’s speech. Pakistani officials said there was great anger in the country against the Indian government over the violence in Jammu and Kashmir, and that was why the media “blacked out” Singh.
“We are respecting public sentiments,” one official said. TV news channel directors said on condition of anonymity they were advised by official quarters not to cover Singh’s speech.
Pakistan tried to downplay the Saarc meet and only state-run Pakistan Television covered the introductory speeches by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and interior minister Khan.
But India dismissed the “blackout” controversy over Singh’s speech as “misleading”, suggesting only host country ministers’ remarks are aired.
“It is the standard Saarc practice that the opening statement by the host country is public and open to the media while the rest of the proceedings are in camera, which allows for a full and frank discussion of issues,” a government source said.
During his speech, Singh also said terrorism had been greatly amplified by the misuse of digital technology. He asked governments to look at all aspects of cybercrime and called for immediate ratification of the Saarc convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters.
Prime Minister Sharif also touched on terrorism in his opening address but from a different point of view. Sharif said Pakistan had registered “remarkable gains” against terrorists at the national level through the army’s operation Zarb-e-Azb and the implementation of a National Action Plan.
“This reflects our government’s determination to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from our soil for good,” he said.
“Let me reaffirm that Pakistan remains committed to jointly working with the Saarc member states in fighting terrorism, corruption and organized crime among others.”
Singh’s arrival in Pakistan has coincided with protests at several places by radical organizations and extremist leaders such as Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen head Syed Salahuddin. Some protesters gathered at a distance of about 10 km from the National Assembly, located close to the venue of the Saarc meet.
Security was high for Singh, who was transported to the hotel in a helicopter.
Singh also called on the Pakistani premier with other Saarc ministers. The ministers were with Sharif for about 20 minutes and exchanged pleasantries. There were no formal discussions.
NEW YORK (TIP): The pro-immigration advocacy group led by Michael Bloomberg is already shifting its focus to 2017, with a new campaign launching Wednesday, August 3, focused largely on making the economic case for overhauling the immigration system and giving cover to GOP lawmakers on the issue.
The Partnership for a New American Economy, headed by the former New York City mayor and News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, is calling the new initiative “Reason for Reform” and w flooded all 50 states Wednesday with pro-reform events and detailed economic reports tailored to each state. The group is also pushing a new digital crowdsourcing effort to collect stories of how immigration has affected residents in all 435 congressional districts.
The new project is the most elaborate yet from the Bloomberg-led group, underscoring that immigration reform – should it occur next year – will be a fiercely contested legislative fight. Pro-reform forces are determined to start early trying to persuade Republicans, well before a new president is elected.
“Together, those stories and the data make a compelling case: not only do Americans want immigration reform, our economy needs it,” said the group’s chairman, John Feinblatt. Also involved in Wednesday’s new campaign are companies including Intel, Pinterest and Google; as well as groups that have long advocated for an immigration overhaul, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Western Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
It also indicates the level of optimism among advocacy groups pushing for immigration reform that a new president and Congress can make headway on the issue – despite significant rifts between the two parties on immigration that’s reflected in each of the presidential nominees, as well as a deeply divided Capitol Hill.
Congress got halfway to an overhaul during the 113th Congress, when the Senate passed a sweeping comprehensive immigration measure written by the so-called Gang of Eight in 2013 but the House never moved on the issue. Those same groups leading Wednesday’s campaign had pushed for reform in 2013, and could not sway enough House Republicans amid threats of a political backlash from the right.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says she wants to take on immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship within her first 100 days in office. GOP standard-bearer Donald Trump’s immigration platform is anchored by a wall along the southern border and mass deportation of immigrants in the United States illegally.
The House is likely to stay in GOP hands, but Senate control is up for grabs. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer has promised to take up immigration reform if Senate Democrats win in November and he becomes majority leader next year. Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has a long history of favoring pro-immigration measures, but pledged in his bid for speaker last year that he would not move legislation on contentious issues such as immigration without support from a majority of his caucus.
Wednesday’s effort from Bloomberg’s group is yet another effort to nudge House Republicans along, particularly by invoking what it describes as the economic benefits of immigration reform.
For example, the coalition’s report for Ohio says immigrants in the state earned $15.6 billion in 2014 – leaving them, after taxes, with $11.1 billion in spending power that could be pumped back into the economy. Florida’s report finds in that same year, 51 percent of agriculture workers in the state were foreign-born.
And the report for Nevada says companies in the state owned by immigrants generated $795.3 million in business income in 2014, while noting that the gaming and resort behemoth Las Vegas Sands was founded by a Russian immigrant.
The Partnership for a New American Economy wants to have similarly exhaustive economic data and anecdotes available for all congressional districts by next year.
As part of Wednesday’s campaign, the Partnership for a New American Economy pulled in GOP politicians such as Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, actors Reid Scott of “Veep” and Dean Norris of “Breaking Bad” and early investors in tech companies such as Google, Twitter, Fitbit and Foursquare. They are joining local events, penning op-eds or appearing in videos on behalf of the campaign.
In all, the Partnership coordinated 62 immigration reform events nationwide on August 3.
PHILADELPHIA (TIP): US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said on July 28 the challenges facing Americans demand steady leadership and a collective spirit, contrasting her character with what she described as a dangerous and volatile Donald Trump.
In the biggest speech of her more than 25-year-old career in the public eye, Clinton accepted the Democratic presidential nomination for the Nov. 8 election with a promise to make the United States a country that worked for everyone.
“We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against. But we are not afraid,” she said.
She presented a sharply more upbeat view of the country than her rival Trump did when he was formally nominated for president at last week’s Republican convention, and even turned one of Republican hero Ronald Reagan’s signature phrases against the real estate developer.
“He’s taken the Republican Party a long way, from ‘Morning in America’ to ‘Midnight in America,’” Clinton said. “He wants to divide us – from the rest of the world, and from each other.”
She portrayed Trump as volatile, saying “a man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.”
While her speech lacked the electrifying qualities of President Barack Obama and a parade of other prominent Democratic speakers, Clinton spoke authoritatively and with self-assurance in her pitch to the American public.
She acknowledged some people still do not know her well.
“I get it that some people just don’t know what to make of me. So let me tell you. The family I’m from, well no one had their name on big buildings,” Clinton said in a reference to Trump. She said her family were builders of a better life and a better future for their children, using whatever tools they had and “whatever God gave them.”
As she prepared to deliver her speech, people familiar with the matter said the FBI is investigating a cyber attack against another Democratic Party group, which may be related to an earlier hack against the Democratic National Committee.
The previously unreported incident at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, and its potential ties to Russian hackers, are likely to heighten accusations, so far unproven, that Moscow is trying to meddle in the US election to help Trump.
Clinton said it would be her “primary mission” to create more opportunities and more good jobs with rising wages, and to confront stark choices in battling determined enemies and “threats and turbulence” around the world and at home.
‘Moment of reckoning’
“America is once again at a moment of reckoning. Powerful forces are threatening to pull us apart,” said Clinton, a former secretary of state. “No wonder people are anxious and looking for reassurance – looking for steady leadership.”
Clinton, who is vying to be the first woman elected US president, called her nomination “a milestone.”
“When any barrier falls in America, for anyone, it clears the way for everyone. That’s why when there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit,” the 68-year-old Clinton said in a speech that capped the four-day nominating convention.
The evening sounded at times more like a traditional Republican convention than a Democratic one. During retired General John Allen’s remarks, chants of “USA!” filled the hall and large flags were brought in to be waved. Speakers, some of whom included military and police officers, made frequent mentions of religion and patriotism.
“I certainly know that with her as our commander-in-chief, our foreign relations will not be reduced to a business transaction, I also know that our armed forces will not become an instrument of torture,” said Allen.
Clinton embraced her reputation as a policy wonk, offering a litany of proposals for tuition-free college, infrastructure investment, immigration reform, gun control, affordable child care, paid family leave and more.
Clinton also reached out to Republicans and to followers of primary rival Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist US senator from Vermont. His supporters chanted at times during her speech only to be drowned out by her supporters. “Your cause is our cause,” she said.
WASHINGTON (TIP): WikiLeaks released audio recordings on Wednesday, July 27, apparently hacked from the Democratic National Committee’s servers, including a message from an irate Hillary Clinton supporter demanding the party stop “bending over backwards” for Bernie Sanders.
Links to the 29 recordings were posted on Twitter a few hours before US President Barack Obama took the stage in Philadelphia to address the party’s national convention, a meeting that formally nominated Clinton as the Democratic candidate for the White House.
The confab was meant to be a show of unity, but instead has exposed the raw anger of Sanders supporters who feel disenfranchised by the primary process.
The WikiLeaks files seemed timed to embarrass the party and Clinton, although the audio recordings did not appear to contain any bombshell revelations.
They came after the anti-secrecy website on Friday leaked 19,000 emails from the accounts of several top Democratic party leaders.
At least two email messages suggested an insider effort to hobble Sanders’ upstart campaign against Clinton – including by seeking to present him as an atheist in deeply religious states.
The uproar following the leak forced party chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz to abruptly announce her resignation on the eve of the convention she was meant to preside over.
In one audio recording, the angry Clinton supporter said in her minute-long voice mail that she was “furious” about what she perceived as party support for Sanders and giving the self-described democratic socialist “too much influence.”
“Bernie is the worst person in the world to even be running in the Democratic Party because he’s not a Democrat,” said the unidentified woman, who noted she was on a fixed income and had donated $300 to Clinton.
“Quit acquiescing to this person who likes to play the victim card and who also has been attacking Hillary, which gives Trump all his talking points. I will leave the Democratic Party if the Democratic Party continues to coddle Bernie Sanders,” she said.
It was not known which party official the woman was trying to reach.
In another recording, a woman — possibly the same person in the earlier call — was upset the party was letting Sanders supporter Cornel West serve on the platform committee, calling him “trash.”
The audio files also provided a small glimpse of the daily inner workings of the party, with a staffer from an ambassador’s office calling to make sure her boss received an invitation to a St. Patrick’s Day reception at the White House.
Former ambassador to Austria William Eacho left a message to get details on an invitation from Wasserman Schultz to attend a dinner with Obama.
It was not immediately clear if the audio recordings were part of the original cache of 19,000 emails and attachments released by WikiLeaks on Friday.
NEW DELHI(TIP): The issue of rising prices came to a boil in Parliament on Thursday, July 28, with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi faulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the runaway cost of kitchen staples, a charge that prompted finance minister Arun Jaitley to spring to the government’s defense.
Gandhi highlighted spiraling prices of pulses such the popular arhar dal, potato and tomato to tear into Modi’s poll promise of taming food inflation.
“There is a new slogan in villages, arhar Modi, arhar Modi, arhar Modi,” he said in the Lok Sabha, mimicking the BJP’s 2014 poll slogan of “Ghar Modi (Modi in every household)”.
He questioned Modi’s silence on price rise. “You talk about start up India, stand up India, make in India, but not price rise,” he said, mocking at Modi’s signature projects.
Finance minister Jaitley countered the Congress leader’s charge, and reeled out statistics to make his point that the price rise is seasonal.
“When the new produce arrives, prices go down,” he said, and asked if the Congress-led UPA was any better in checking spiked prices of essentials.
“The UPA government left behind a double-digit inflation. Today, steps have been taken in each sector to contain inflation. Any form of bluster is not a substitute of statistics.”
He also brushed aside Gandhi’s demand that Modi should announce a date by which the prices would come down. “Asking for a date is not the solution. It is about putting in place a policy to fight inflation,” the minister said.
Gandhi too listed out comparative prices of veggies and pulses in 2014 and 2016, saying tomato sold at Rs 18 two years ago, but is selling at Rs 55 now.
“You said you want to be chowkidar (caretaker)of the country. You have become the Prime Minister … a big man now. Under the nose of chowkidar, theft of pulses is taking place … Leave chowkidari to us and the Congress party,” he said, reading out excerpts from Modi’s Lok Sabha poll speeches.
“I want to remind the Prime Minister of the promises he made … He had promised that when the BJP government comes to power, it will bring down prices.”
He recalled Modi’s speech at a 2014 poll rally in Himachal Pradesh, in which the BJP leader criticized the UPA government over price rise. “Ma-bachche raat rote hain, aasoon pee ke sote hain (mother and child cry the whole night and sleep drinking their tears) … What a dialogue,” Gandhi said, in his seventh speech in the 16th Lok Sabha after the 2014 general elections.
Soaring food prices, especially of pulses, veggies and dairy products have fed inflation, driven up mainly by shrinking supplies after two years of back-to-back droughts in top farming states. Pulses such as tur or arhar dal are important sources of protein in India, which has been struggling to increase its output to meet local demand.
With India’s retail inflation moving towards the 6% mark, prices of tomato, sugar and pulses have become talking points for opposition parties, which accused the government of burdening the people with taxes, but not managing inflation.
The Opposition spoke about sugar and tomato, whose price have spiked substantially in the past few months. Sugar prices have gone up by 17%, while tomato has recorded a 100% rise.
Finance minister Jaitley said in case of sugar and onion, the government was worried about farmers not getting their remunerative prices.
“For many months, sugar was at Rs 22-23. We were worried about the farmers. Mills were getting closed. When sugar priced surged to Rs 40, we clamped down on exports,” he said.
“The biggest worry was how farmers will get prices for onions. 20,000 tons of onions had to be bought so that farmers get money. With fresh harvest, tomato prices will come down.”
Explaining the demand-supply gap on pulses, the finance minister said: “If steps to increase pulse production had been taken in the past decade, the situation would not have come to this.”
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): India’s Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin responded sharply to the remarks made by Pakistan’s envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani’s killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly here on Wednesday, July 13.
Strongly hitting back at Pakistan for raising in the United Nations the issue Indian Ambassador has said Pakistan “extols” the “virtues” of terrorists and uses terrorism as a state policy towards the “misguided end” of coveting the territory of others.
Earlier, in her statement, Pakistan’s envoy Ms. Lodhi, besides raising the Kashmir issue, also mentioned the “extra-judicial” killing of Wani, whom she described as a “Kashmiri leader”, by Indian forces.
Ms. Lodhi, who has regularly raised the issue of Kashmir at various U.N. fora, termed Wani’s killing as the “most chilling recent example” of “human rights violations” by Indian forces in Kashmir.
Alleging that the denial of self-determination to Kashmiri people had led to arbitrary detentions, summary executions and other “atrocious” violations, she said, “Its most chilling recent example is the extra-judicial killing last week of a Kashmiri leader, Burhan Wani, shot to death by Indian forces along with dozens of other innocent Kashmiris.”
In his statement, which sources here termed as perhaps the hardest-hitting against Pakistan in recent times, Mr. Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to “misuse” the U.N. platform.
“Regrettably, earlier today we have seen an attempt at misuse of this U.N. platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to U.N.-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self-determination,” he said.
“The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations,” he noted.
Ambassador Akbaruddin asserted that Pakistan’s “track record” failed to convince the international community that it should gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very session of the UNGA.
“We remain strongly committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all through pursuit of dialogue and cooperation,” he added.
Over 30 people have been killed and more than 250 injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel after Wani’s killing last week.
The U.N. has expressed concern over the tensed situation in Kashmir, with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling on all parties to exercise “maximum restraint to avoid further violence and hopes that all concerns would be addressed through peaceful means.”
NEW YORK (TIP): Mother Teresa was widely known as a living saint as she ministered to the sick and the dying in some of the poorest neighborhoods in the world. Although some people criticized her for not also challenging the injustices that kept so many people so poor and abandoned, her simple service touched the hearts of millions of people of all faiths.
Born to an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in what is now part of Macedonia, she went to India in 1929 as a Sister of Loreto and became an Indian citizen in 1947. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
Shortly after she died in 1997, St. John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period and allowed the opening of the process to declare her sainthood. She was beatified in 2003.
After her beatification, Missionary of Charity Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, the postulator of her sainthood cause, published a book of her letters, “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light.” The letters illustrated how, for decades, she experienced what is described as a “dark night of the soul” in Christian spirituality; she felt that God had abandoned her. While the letters shocked some people, others saw them as proof of her steadfast faith in God, which was not based on feelings or signs that he was with her.
The date chosen for her canonization is the eve of the 19th anniversary of her death and the date previously established at the Vatican for the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage of people like her who are engaged in works of mercy.
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