NEW DELHI (TIP): Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury has said that she will be filing a defamation case against PM Modi over his alleged ‘Surpanakha’ remark made in Parliament back in 2018. The ex-MP took to Twitter to share a video of Modi’s speech where he linked her laughter to the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Watch the video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1638927867018092545
Chowdhury wrote, “This classless megalomaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the house. I will file a defamation case against him. Let’s see how fast courts will act now.” In the video, PM Modi purportedly addresses other BJP parliamentarians where he asks them to let Chowdhury continue speaking as since the Ramayana serial, it is only today that they have got the privilege to hear the same famous laughter.
Chowdhury’s charge against PM Modi comes amid the guilty verdict handed by a Surat court against Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark. He was disqualified as a lawmaker after a Surat court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, according to a Parliament notice.
The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged “how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” comments on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court, the Congress leader’s lawyer Babu Mangukiya said. The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, during Lok Sabha poll campaigning.
Tag: PM Modi
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Renuka Chowdhury to file defamation case against PM Modi over alleged ‘Surpanakha’ remark
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Focus on ‘inclusive agenda’: PM Modi’s address at G20 finance ministers’ meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Feb 24 urged G20 finance ministers to focus on an “inclusive agenda” and the most vulnerable citizens of the world as the first ministerial meeting of the world’s largest economies got underway in Bengaluru under the shadow of the Ukraine conflict. The Indian side has sought to keep the focus of its G20 presidency on the economic and geopolitical fallout of the war, especially on the Global South, while working to bridge differences within the grouping on the Ukraine crisis. The prime minister, in his remarks in English to the FMCBG meeting, made no direct reference to the Ukraine crisis but acknowledged the challenges confronting the finance ministers and “serious economic difficulties” facing the world.
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Indian diaspora in US holds protest in California against BBC documentary on PM Modi
FREMONT (TIP): The Indian diaspora in Fremont, CA, on Saturday. January 28 held a protest against the BBC documentary series “India: The Modi Question”.
About 50 members, under the banner of “Indian Diaspora”, chanted slogans and marched through the streets of Fremont in San Francisco area of United States stating that they “reject BBC’s sinister and biased documentary.” While marching in Fremont, people were shouting slogans like “Biased BBC” and “racist BBC.”
While protesting at Fremont, people carried banners which said, “BBC IS A BOGUS Broadcasting Corporation” and “Indian Diaspora rejects BBC’s Sinister and Biased Documentary against Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” “BBC Documentary spreading fake propaganda,” “BBC is a fake news peddler.”
UK’s national broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. Prominent Indian-origin UK citizens condemned the series. Prominent UK Citizen Lord Rami Ranger said the “BBC caused a great deal of hurt to over a billion Indians.”
On January 19, India denounced the controversial BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.
Addressing a weekly media briefing External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said this documentary show, based on some internal UK report, shows the colonial mindset. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.
“We think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias and the lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible,” Bagchi said in response to the question on the PM documentary series. The MEA spokesperson said the documentary is a reflection of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. He even raised questions on “the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it.” “The documentary is a reflection of the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it; frankly, we do wish to dignify these efforts,” he added.
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BBC documentary on PM Modi: Delhi Police detains 24 students from DU for planning to screen film
New Delhi (TIP)- Delhi Police on Friday, January 27, detained 24 students from the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty for planning to screen the controversial BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots. The action comes days after similar protests occurred at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia over the documentary’s screening.
Reacting to the detaining of students over the screening of the BBC documentary in DU, Rajni Abbi, Delhi University proctor, said, “Whatever the course the Police have to take, they will take it. No permission had ever been sought from us, no permission was given.”
In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said, “Around 4 pm, some 20 people came outside the Arts Faculty gate to screen the banned BBC documentary. As it can cause disturbance of peace and tranquility in the area, they were asked to disperse from there… When they did not, they were peacefully detained. A total of 24 people were detained.”
When asked, another official said Section 144 was imposed on the campus in December. “Section 144 was imposed in December till February 28 to prevent any law and order problems at the university,” the official told PTI. Police officials, however, said they were visiting all college and university campuses in the district to ensure peace and tranquility in the area. Earlier in the day, the varsity authorities had also written to the Delhi Police about the proposed screening. Delhi University Proctor Rajni Abbi said they would not allow the screening and stressed that the students’ outfits had not sought the administration’s permission.
The Left-affiliated SFI alleged that the screening could not be held as the administration of the government-run varsity disconnected power supply. However a QR code with a link to the film was shared with students so that they could watch it on their personal devices.
Tharoor targets people in ‘secular camp’ over ‘move on’ charge
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he never asked people of India to “move on” from the 2002 Gujarat riots as a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the violent chapter back in news. Tharoor said the wounds of Gujarat riots have not fully healed but stressed there was little to gain from debating the issue “when so many urgent contemporary matters need to be addressed.”
Speaking to an online news portal, the Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram had said that India has “moved on from this tragedy” and people feel the matter should be “put behind” as two decades have passed and the Supreme Court has also given its judgment. The Congress leader, however, added that he was not “casting aspersions on those who believe that the full truth was not indeed revealed by the official investigations.”
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UK PM Rishi Sunak defends PM Modi over BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots
London (TIP): Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come out in defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a controversial BBC documentary claimed that the British government was aware about the Indian leader having an alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Sunak said he does not agree with the characterisation of Prime Minister Modi by Pakistani-origin Imran Hussain, an Opposition Labour Party MP, when he asked if the British Premier agreed with claims in the BBC programme that some UK Foreign Office diplomats believed that “Modi was directly responsible”.
During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on January 18, Hussain raised the claims made in the first part of ‘India: The Modi Question’ that UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) knew the “extent of Narendra Modi’s involvement”, then Gujarat Chief Minister, in the communal clashes that claimed hundreds of lives.
“The UK government’s position on that is clear and long standing, and it has not changed,” Sunak responded.
“Of course, we do not tolerate persecution anywhere, but I am not sure that I agree at all with the characterisation that the hon. gentleman has put forward,” the British Prime Minister said.
The Indian government has, meanwhile, condemned the BBC Panorama programme, which has not been screened in India, as a “propaganda piece” with a questionable agenda behind it.
“We think that this is a propaganda piece, designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, lack of objectivity and continuing colonial mindset is blatantly visible,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters during a press briefing in New Delhi on Thursday when asked about the controversial series.
The first part of the two-part ‘India: The Modi Question’ programme, which aired on BBC Two on Tuesday, was categorised by the UK taxpayer-funded broadcaster as “a look at the tensions between Indian PM Narendra Modi and India’s Muslim minority, investigating claims about his role in 2002 riots that left over a thousand dead”.
The second part of the series, scheduled to be aired next Tuesday, is pegged as a “look at the troubled relationship between Indian PM Narendra Modi’s government and India’s Muslim minority following his re-election in 2019”.
“We strongly condemn the BBC’s malicious documentary, ‘India: The Modi Question’, said Insight UK, among several diaspora groups who have taken to social media to condemn the documentary.
“Riddled with antisemitism, anti-Hindu and anti-India biases, they have lost many viewers and yet continue spreading their hate without consequence or accountability,” it added. (PTI)
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President Murmu confers Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 at PBD convention in Indore
President Droupadi Murmu on January 10 graced the valedictory session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention and conferred the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards today here upon 27 overseas Indians as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or an organization established and run by Non-Resident Indians in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad. Speaking to ANI, the awardees expressed their contentment and gratification over receiving the prestigious awards and said that the Indian diaspora is giving examples of shining in foreign lands that they moved to with India in their hearts.
“This award has been amazing. First of all coming home, coming to India and my family, it is already humbling, and then to receive an award from the President herself has been a truly magical moment and a very big honour in my life,” said Archana Sharma from Switzerland who received the awards in the field of Science and Technology.
“The Indian diaspora is shining diamonds in Switzerland because in Switzerland we have a very – very highly skilled and highly educated Indian diaspora and they are actually dotting very key positions. For example, in the United Nations, the WHO, and in all these kinds of international organizations in multinationals, and in the business community as well. So, we have a sterling diaspora in Switzerland and they are all very connected with India”, added the awardee. Thanking the Government of India for this honour, Reena Vinod Pushkarna from Israel who got the award in the field of business and community welfare said that she was delighted that the government did not forget them even when they leave their Motherland and go to other places.
“Very honoured, extremely touched. My parents up in heaven must be very happy today. It started with food, led to culture then led to diplomacy. Now, there are so many exchange programs, between the citizens of India and Israel, and it all started with just two simple people so I thank the government of India for not forgetting its people and this is what PBD stands for, that they don’t forget their Indians even when they leave their Motherland and go to other places to carry on our journeys but with India in their hearts”, said Reena.
Another awardee from Canada said that he was honoured to receive the award from his Matribhoomi and he will continue to serve both in Canada and India.
“It is a privilege that I got this award from Bharat Mata our Mataribhumi and I will continue to offer our services I am blessed to be able to continue my service, for contributing to the field of education, health care, and clean technology, and continue to serve both Canada and India”, said Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan.
Getting the award for community welfare from Sri Lanka, Sivakumar Nadesan said that we can do better with the quality of life, improve it and make larger jobs and skills.
“I got the award for community welfare. They have also mentioned that I have done media. So, I think that it is the combination of both. But especially on the community welfare side, we are talking about the Indian origin people who went there four generations ago and they have planted tea, worked on the bridges, worked on the roads and actually done lot of development for Sri Lanka during their lifetime. But I think we can do better with the quality of life, improve it and kind of make them more free to make a larger jobs and skills and housing”, he said.
The 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The awards were conferred by the President during the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations. The recipients were chosen by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the vice-president with the External affairs minister S Jaishankar as the vice-chair of the panel, whose other members are drawn from various walks of life.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that the Indian Diaspora today has become an important and unique force in the global system. It has grown into an energetic and confident community in every region and is making stellar contributions to world affairs in leadership positions.
Referring the theme of this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention – “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal”, the President said that it reflects India’s desire to make its Diaspora a partner in the achievement of its national developmental goals.
In the next 25 years, India is going to embark on an ambitious journey of collective hard work, sacrifice, and intensive development to transform into a self-reliant world leader by 2047, when we would be celebrating the centenary of our independence, she said.
Source: ANI
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World looking up to India: PM Modi
Prime minister Narendra Modi on January 9 addressed the 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention – this time in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore – and declared himself happy to see it organised in ‘the heart of India’. This year’s Pravasi Bharatitya Divyas theme is ‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’.
Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the president of the Republic of Suriname, and Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, were among the special guests, as was Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. More than 3,500 diaspora members – from 70 countries – registered for the event, news agency ANI said.
Here are prime minister Modi’s top quotes from his address at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas:
- This Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is special in many ways. The nation has entered ‘Amrit Kaal’ for the next 25 years and our Pravasi Bhartiya community has a significant role to play in further elevating India’s role on global levels.
- Each and every Pravasi Bhartiya present here has achieved unprecedented success in their respective fields. I’m happy that the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is being organised in Madhya Pradesh, which also is called the ‘Heart of India’.
- I would like you all to relish food in Indore – a city which is known for its delicacies from namkeen to poha; everything here has an unforgettable taste. Chappan dukan is highly famous and the Sarafa market is a world-renowned venue.
- The digital exhibition displaying our freedom struggle has been organised here and it brings the glorious era in front of you all again.
- ‘Swadesho Bhuvantrayam’ means ‘for us, the whole world is our country, only human beings are our brothers and sisters’. It was on this ideological foundation that our forefathers shaped the cultural expansion of India.
About the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Honour/Award) is the highest Indian award for Non-resident Indian and Overseas Citizen of India or an organisation or institution established and run by Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day), to honour exceptional and meritorious contribution in their chosen field/profession. The award is given by the President of India. Since 2016, the Government of India has doubled the number of awardees each year to 30 after a decision to grant the award once every two years.
“A jury-cum-awards committee, with (the) Vice President as the chairman and External Affairs Minister as the vice-chair and other distinguished members from various walks of life considered the nominations…and unanimously selected the awardees,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a release.
When Pravasi Bharatiya Divas started?
A High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed by jurist and Parliamentarian LM Singhvi, had recommended in January 2002 that the government must renew and strengthen linkages of overseas Indians to their place of origin, and with each other.
The committee recommended that a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan should be set up to emerge as the focal point for networking between India and its overseas Indian community; and as a suitable place which to commemorate the stories of the Indian Diaspora. The idea of a day to have the government recognise the community flowed from this, and was held in 2003.
January 9 was selected as it was the date when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. Over the years, he has often been described as the first non-resident Indian of the most famous NRI by various politicians, including PM Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Since 2015, the centenary year of Gandhi’s return, the format was revised for the meeting to be held once every two years. Since the pandemic, this will be the first in-person meeting.
List of Overseas Indians given the honor
Sr. No. Person Country Field
1 Jagadish Chennupati Australia Science & Tech/ Education
2 Sanjeev Mehta Bhutan Education
3 Dilip Loundo Brazil Art & Culture/Education
4 Alexander Maliakel John Brunei Medicine
5 Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan Canada Community Welfare
6 Joginder Singh Nijjar Croatia Art & Culture/Education
7 Ramjee Prasad Denmark Information Technology
8 Kannan Ambalam Ethiopia Community Welfare
9 Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay Germany Community Welfare
10 Mohamed Irfaan Ali Guyana Community Welfare
11 Reena Vinod Pushkarna Israel Business
12 Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotani Japan Education
13 Rajagopal Mexico Education
14 Amit Kailash Chandra Lath Poland Business
15 Parmanand Sukhumal Daswani Congo Community Welfare
16 Piyush Gupta Singapore Business
17 Mohanlal Hira South Africa Community Welfare
18 Sanjaykumar Shivabhai Patel South Sudan Business
19 Sivakumar Nadesan Sri Lanka Community Welfare
20 Dewanchandrebhose Sharman Suriname Community Welfare
21 Archana Sharma Switzerland Science & Technology
22 Frank Arthur Seepersad Trinidad Education
23 Siddharth Balachandran UAE Business
24 Chandrakant Babubhai Patel UK Media
25 Darshan Singh Dhaliwal USA Community Welfare
26 Rajesh Subramaniam USA Business
27 Ashok Kumar Tiwary Uzbekistan Business
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‘In Maa, I’ve always felt that trinity’: PM Modi’s moving tribute to his mother
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a moving tribute to his mother Heeraben Modi who died in the early hours of Friday, December 30, at the age of 99. “A glorious century rests at the feet of God… In Maa I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values,” the Prime Minister tweeted this morning informing his mother’s death.
Sharing a photo of her, he recalled what she told him when he met her on her 100th birthday in June.
“When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said one thing, which is always remembered that work with intelligence, live life with purity, that is, work with intelligence and live life with purity,” said the Prime Minister who attended her last rites in Gandhinagar.
The UN Mehta hospital in Ahmedabad where she was admitted on Tuesday night said in a statement that she died at 3.30 am. Her body was later taken to Gandhinagar.
Heeraben used to live with Pankaj Modi, the Prime Minister’s younger brother, at Raysan village near Gandhinagar. PM Modi used to visit her during most of his trips to Gujarat.
Heeraben was born on June 18, 1923, in an ordinary family in Gujarat’s Visanagar as Heeraben Damodardas Modi. She lost her mother at an early age and her growing-up years were full of struggles.
Heeraben after marriage lived in a tiny house in Vadnagar with her family, including her husband, Prime Minister Modi and his five siblings.
To help with the family’s income, she would wash utensils at a few homes and also spun the charkha.
In an emotional blog post earlier on Heeraben’s 99th birthday, Prime Minister Modi said she has always led a simple life and has no assets in her name. Heeraben was a dutiful citizen and despite her age she was often seen casting her vote on the day of elections. She was also famously seen joining the queue outside a bank when the Prime Minister had declared demonetisation in the country in 2016.
Even during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was some hesitation among many regarding vaccinations, Heeraben set an example by taking the vaccine.
Condolences started pouring in from across the world after the demise of the mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was one of the first world leaders to offer condolences to PM Narendra Modi over the passing away of his mother, Heeraben Modi.
Mr Kishida tweeted, “PM Modi @narendramodi, I would like to express my deepest condolences for the passing of your beloved mother. May her soul rest in peace.”
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ also expressed sadness over the death of PM Modi’s mother.
In a tweet, Nepal PM stated, “I’m deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Smt. Heeraba Modi, loving mother of Prime Minister @PMOIndia At this hour of grief, I express heartfelt condolences to PM Modi ji and the family members and pray for eternal peace of the departed soul.”
Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa condoled the death of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother. He tweeted, “Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Smt. Heeraben Modi. My heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on the loss of his beloved mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with the PM and his family in this hour of grief.”
Former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed condolences over the passing away of Heeraben He tweeted, “My heartfelt condolences to Shri @narendramodi ji and his family at the passing away of his venerable Mother Heeraben Modi. May her eternal soul attain Moksha.”
Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov offered condolences to PM Modi over the death of his mother. He tweeted, “My heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on the biggest loss. My heart breaks for you Om Shanti.”
German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann tweeted, “Deepest and sincere condolences to honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi. We join him and his family in mourning their loss.”
United States President Joe Biden on Saturday offered “heartfelt” condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his mother’s demise. “Jill and I send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister @narendramodi on the loss of his mother, Heeraben Modi. Our prayers are with the Prime Minister and his family at this difficult time,” Biden’s tweet read.
Apart from Biden, several other global leaders also sent their condolences after PM Modi’s mother passed away in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad.
“There is no greater loss than losing one’s mother,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted adding “my condolences to Prime Minister @narendramodi on the passing away of his mother”.
“Saddened to hear the news about Indian PM @narendramodi’s mother, Hiraben Modi, passing away. My thoughts and prayers are with PM Modi and his family during this time of mourning,” Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih tweeted.
West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to say, “Condolences to PM Narendra Modi on the passing away of his mother, Heeraben Modi. I pray that her soul rests in peace. In this hour of grief, I hope that he and his family members find strength.”
Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu tweeted: “My deepest condolences to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi on the sad demise of his beloved mother, Smt. Heeraben Modi.”
“I am deeply pained by the passing away of Hira Ba, mother of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi. The death of a mother leaves such a void in one’s life that is impossible to fill. I express my condolences to the Prime Minister and his entire family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!” Rajnath Singh said in a tweet in Hindi.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said,”Extremely saddened by the news of the demise of Mrs. Heeraben, mother of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. My deepest condolences to his entire family. May nature give him and all his loved ones the strength to bear this loss.”
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Indian American singer Falguni Shah wins Grammy Award: PM Modi Congratulates
NEW YORK (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, April 5, congratulated New York-based Indian singer Falguni Shah for winning a Grammy Award. Shah, known by her stage name Falu, won the award for ‘A Colorful World’ in the best children’s album category.
“Congratulations to Falguni Shah on winning the award for the Best Children’s Music Album at the Grammys. Wishing her the very best for her future endeavors,” Modi tweeted.
Shah, who is in her early 40s, has trained in Hindustani classical music in the Jaipur musical tradition and in the Benares style of ‘thumri’ under Kaumudi Munshi and semi-classical music from Uday Mazumdar.
Shah moved to the US in 2000 and her subsequent career there led her to collaborate with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Wyclef Jean, Philip Glass, Ricky Martin, Blues Traveler and AR Rahman, among others.
On winning the Grammy, Falu said:
“I am very happy and so grateful for winning this GRAMMY with the album “A Colorful World”. ?
“I dedicate this GRAMMY to:
All of the children around the world who are born with the ability to love each other regardless of the color of their skin or their ethnic background. May we all be as open and loving as our next generation and look up to them for inspiration. My homeland, India. My gurus, my family – all who have made me who I am today.
My community in America. I love this country and my musical community for emboldening my Indian classical roots. Thank you for being my second home. The Recording Academy. I thank everyone for the dedication it requires to do such critical work, and to my fellow musicians and colleagues for their amazing contributions in music. It’s an honor being part of this incredible community. The outstanding musicians, the producers, engineers, music professionals and my label @elcerritorecords, for standing by me to make this album. This album brought me the light I needed after losing my beloved father. You pulled me out of one of the darkest times in my life. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Album Credits – A Colorful World #behindtherecord
Main Artist and Lead Vocals: Falu
Piano: Tammy Lynne Hall
Keyboards: Mario Gabriel Sanmarti
Bass: Dave Sands
Drums: Oscar Autie
Cello: Ivette Falcón
Guitar: Camilo Landau
Trumpet: Dileyvis (El Niche) Romero
Backing Vocals: Nona Brown
Children Vocals: Nishaad Shah, Ayan Shah, Sebastián Gonzalo Sanmarti Keil, Julián Santiago Sanmarti Keil, Alberto Morito Cárdenas, Lola Carrizo Bonanzinga, Vera Costa, Sara Costa, Danna Villanueva Menjivar, and Jayvyn Thwaites
Arrangements: Mario Gabriel Sanmarti
Backing Vocal Arrangements: Nona Brown
Producers: Kenya Autie, Mario Gabriel Sanmarti, and Tina Kids
Associate Producer: Mia Moravis
Recording Engineers: Oscar Autie and Mario Gabriel Sanmarti
Mix and Mastering Engineer: Oscar Autie
Additional Recording Engineers: Boris Larramendi, Akash Shah, Gaurav Shah, and Jesse Kassette Hanes
Lead Vocals Coach: Emily C. Eagen
Album Cover Artist and Designer: Daniel López Márquez
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BRICS Leaders Call for Settling Afghan Situation by Peaceful Means
The declaration at the summit said the leaders also sought an “inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue so as to ensure stability, civil peace, law and order”.
NEW DELHI (TIP): The five-nation BRICS summit chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday evening called for settling the situation in Afghanistan through peaceful means. The declaration at the summit said the leaders also sought an “inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue so as to ensure stability, civil peace, law and order”. While the theme for the summit is “cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus”, the focus remained on Afghanistan.
The “New Delhi Declaration” adopted at the end of the summit also emphasized the need to “address the humanitarian situation and to uphold human rights, including those of women, children and minorities”.
The five-nation grouping (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) also underscored their “priority of fighting terrorism, including preventing attempts by terrorist organizations to use Afghan territory as terrorist sanctuary and to carry out attacks against other countries”.
The declaration said they were “committed to combating terrorism… including cross-border movement of terrorists, and terrorism financing networks and safe havens”.
Very strong comments on the subject during the summit came from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spoke of the possible threats an unstable Afghanistan might pose to neighboring countries.
Afghanistan should not become a “threat to its neighboring countries, a source of drug trafficking and terrorism”. Its citizens, he said, “deserve to exercise their rights of defining of what their state will look like on their own”.
He also made it clear whom his country held responsible for this situation. “US and its allies’ withdrawal from Afghanistan has created a new crisis,” he said. “Global security has faced serious challenges and system of strategic stability has gone downhill. Outstanding regional conflicts haven’t stopped”. This situation, he said, “stems from irresponsible attempts to impose alien values… To build a so-called democracy without taking into account historic features and traditions that other people have followed. It results in destabilization and chaos and after that, the authors of this left and entire international community will have to clear up this mess”.
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What J&K leaders said after meeting PM Modi
New Delhi (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, June 24, met political leaders from Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) for the first such engagement since the region was stripped of its semi-autonomous status and statehood on August 5, 2019. Here is what the leaders and their parties said after the meeting:
Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) demanded the restoration of statehood and said they told Modi that the decisions taken in August 2019 were not in the interest of the people and should be reversed.
NC leader Omar Abdullah said they sought the restoration of the J&K cadre of the all-India services, which was merged with the Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories cadre. He added the Centre refused to discuss the restoration of special status claiming it was a “sub-judicial matter.” On delimitation, he said NC conveyed to Modi that it was not needed. “We told the Prime Minister that we do not stand with what was done on August 5, 2019. We are not ready to accept it. But we would not take the law into our hands. We will fight this in court,” he said.
People Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti said she highlighted the issue of “ongoing persecution” of Kashmiris and also asked Modi to resume dialogue with Pakistan “to boost trade and maintain peace in Kashmir”. She added the atmosphere has become “suffocating” in Kashmir. Mufti said she also spoke against the culture of booking people under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. She added she told Modi the government illegally abrogated J&K’s special status and conveyed to him they would get it restored legally through courts.
J&K Congress unit chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir said Modi’s “body language” reflected there has been a backlash from the voters of the Bharatiya Janata Party over how the abrogation of the region’s special status was carried out.
Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Congress put forward five demands: immediate restoration of statehood, protection of land and jobs for the domiciles, return of Kashmiri Pandits, the release of political prisoners and assembly elections.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami said he told Modi it would have been wiser if this meeting was conducted before the nullification of Article 370. “We made it very clear Jammu & Kashmir is committed to remaining with India, but constitutional guarantees of Indian constitution should be given back.” Tarigami said there was “no assurance at all” regarding the fulfilment of the demands.
J&K Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh said he demanded full statehood and elections and that a delimitation process should be initiated only after an elected government is in place. Singh added he also complained about the absence of representatives from Ladakh.
People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone said there was a lot of “emotional bonding” between Modi and Kashmiri leaders and the meeting was held in a “cordial atmosphere.”
Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari said he also requested protection of land and jobs, improvement in infrastructure, and employment. He added Modi said delimitation would take place and this would be followed by the assembly elections. Source: HT
Statehood, delimitation: Key takeaways from PM Modi-J&K leaders meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah held discussions with representatives from several political outfits of Jammu and Kashmir in a meeting that lasted over three hours on Thursday. Fourteen prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir took part in the meeting. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, MoS (PMO) Shri Jitender Singh and senior officials were also in attendance.
This was the first meeting of its kind since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in August 2019, where the following points were discussed.
Emphasis on delimitation
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah stressed on delimitation and the subsequent elections that would follow a delimitation exercise. Soon after the conclusion of the meeting, PM Modi took to Twitter to convey that delimitation has to happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and J&K gets an elected government that gives “strength to J&K’s development trajectory”. Amit Shah emphasised that the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in Parliament, the government said in a press release.
Demand for statehood
The leaders hailing from Jammu and Kashmir unanimously demanded the restoration of Kashmir’s statehood. People’s Conference leader Muzzafar Hussain Baig said, “All leaders demanded statehood. To which the PM said, the delimitation process should conclude first and then other issues will be addressed.”
Elections
The Prime Minister said during the meeting that the Union government was fully committed to the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed conducting assembly elections similar to the District Development Council elections conducted last year. The Prime Minister also assured the representatives that an elected government cannot be substituted with a bureaucratic one.
Aspirations of Kashmiri youth
The Prime Minister talked to J&K leaders about the aspirations of the youth of Kashmir who, he said, are poised to provide political leadership in the coming years. ANI reported that PM Modi also discussed offering opportunities to the youth of J&K.
Development projects
Amit Shah credited J&K for coming a long way in terms of development. Around 90% saturation has been achieved in individual beneficiary Central Government schemes in J&K. Several major road projects, two new AIIMS, 7 new Medical Colleges have also been set up, according to the official press release. New industrial policy has been notified with a ?28,400 crore package to accelerate industrial growth with the aim of creating 4.5 lakh jobs, the release added.