28 Nov

Noshaba Shehzad Exclusive Interview/ Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu/

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


Is  Pakistan leaning on Minority Community  Tourism to beat its Economic Woes?

Rashmi Talwar 

DATELINE AMRITSAR  25th November 2023- 

Noshaba Shehzad Exclusive Interview

Pakistan recently launched an Online Booking Portal for Sikhs. Religious Tourism was a golden chance that Pakistan hardly looked at other than the designated sites via protocol between the two neighbouring and estranged countries. But a woman amidst restrictive lines of religion and patriarchy Noshaba Shehzad not only took notice of this precious Tiara studded with gems of historicity of minority religious shrines but fine-tuned it from Government-planned poor man’s pilgrimage to luxury tourism for all kinds of Traveller and pilgrim pockets. She thus strode tall as the First and Only Woman Travel facilitator for Sikh & Heritage Tourism of Pakistan. Noshaba from Lahore Pakistan traced her path-breaking journey in a talk with Senior Journalist RASHMI TALWAR   from AMRITSAR.

Q Noshaba, as a Muslim woman what gave you the courage to break the glass ceiling, and enter an un-trodden path by any woman in Pakistan to frame a niche pilgrimage and heritage tourism for members of the minority communities, as first woman ‘tourism operator’?

Ans: This wasn’t easy; it was just the right timing that flew the winds in my favour. I was already bestowed with the title of Pioneer Woman of Pakistan in International Business dealing with the export of agricultural products. I thus became the only woman in the Pak International Trade Delegations who accompanied the Prime Minister to other countries. It wasn’t that I was included like a ‘trophy’ businesswoman to show off the inclusion of a female, I was a value-added businesswoman in a rock-solid export field. When Pakistan PM Imran Khan, a former Cricket Captain, focussed on the long-term demand of India for a ‘visa-free’ corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, after his commitment to fellow Indian Cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, then MP from Indian Punjab, he urged me to look at Tour operations for Sikh community. This suggestion coming from the PM was also supported by my family, especially my husband. With tremendous amounts of effort in a man’s field, I became the first woman Tour operator with niche tourism in Religious and Punjab Heritage Tourism which no man in Pakistan had done before. I was fascinated by our ancestral home at Talagang near Islamabad where rich Hindus and Sikh families once lived. The area was thus sprinkled with buildings belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities. One lane was named Gali Sethian (the Rich) of wealthy Hindus. Surrounded by this heritage, I drew upon my agricultural background to locate places of heritage value. Alongside as an agricultural expert check-listing cash crops for export to various countries from lush field produce from lands in Pakistan’s rural belt, I was already familiar and grounded in the vast lands that still held the remnants of the rich architectural past that formed into stories that my grandmother told me of pre-partition times to lull me to sleep and I felt, it was providential. –“That Agricultural and architectural Heritage have a great connection!” That’s how my beautiful Heritage buildings and grandmother’s stories gave me a new track to walk on.

Q. Why did you choose to be a Tour Operator for minority heritage and shrines, what was your attraction for a non-Muslim community?

Ans: “As a kid I felt a deep and hidden vibrancy of multi-cultural living of yore, emerging from our agricultural lands. It was no coincidence that we lived in a house owned by a rich Hindu family post-Indo-Pak Partition. I grew up listening to stories from My father Malik M Siddique Alvi and my grandmother about collective living from all religious backgrounds and respecting each other’s identities and sensitivities. My father too was exceptional and open-minded, he was the first in these parts to complete Electronic Engineering in 1957 from the USA. One day he had to break the news of the death of a colleague to his bereaved wife and parents, and so went to his village. The news of the death of a husband didn’t register at all with his wife who didn’t even know her husband’s name and was unaffected by the news, like an innocent child. She felt nothing around and roamed around quite unaware of her future. That incident struck my father to the core and he laid great store in the education of his three daughters. This led to each of us studying up to university levels and rising up to higher education abroad.

All three of us rose in a life enriched by the liberal mind of a father, and I ascended as a businesswoman, my sister is a doctor and another sister is a lawyer cum engineer. 

Q How do all the accolades of being the first woman walking a unique path sit with you? You won several awards, any award that really makes you proud?

ANS: Yes I am the first woman agricultural exporter, first woman trade expert, and business entrepreneur. And yes I am humbled by the FOA (Food and Agriculture Organisation) Award bestowed upon me by the United Nations with an International focus on ‘Beating world Hunger’. My father actually encouraged me to take on the reins of Agriculture. Today I export citrus, mangoes, Potatoes, Maize, pulses, Himalayan Salt, a complete range from industrial salt to edible salt, spa range, carved items, and others. It feels as if I am fulfilling my father’s dream of being an empowered daughter. My sister as an International lawyer takes care of the logistics of international Business. 

Q. Perhaps the Pakistani government took a leaf out of your recipe book of Tourism and spread its arms to launch the first-ever Online Portal for Sikh Heritage is it true? Describe your interest and format on Heritage Tours

The government of Pakistan’s gesture of opening its arms to Tourism for Heritage and Minorities areas is a huge step forward in improving relations with other countries, especially India, and also spells economic growth for Pakistan. My special area of interest and Tourism thrust is heritage, history, and religious tourism, which demands time, effort, and historical verification every step of the way. It has been difficult as things are not documented; records are absent so have taken the initiative to record history and format it, but all the same a very fulfilling and joyous journey of mine to unravel the stories of yesteryears.  I also went to the US and Canada based on the information and historical facts that we collected to attract religious Tourism to our country. I delivered lectures on the Tourism of Minorities.

Hindus have a massive and unexplored heritage. Sindh, Lahore surroundings for example, Khushab, and Kesar valley, are some unexplored places of heritage. World’s greatest migration took place in 1947 between India and Pakistan and those tangible remnants of people who left are still surviving even after 76 years. I have uniquely formatted my Tour in sites with unique programs, itinerary, and design that connects them with more stories and places of heritage importance. I want this history to pop out of books into the open and be witnessed. When visitation becomes regular and frequent to these places the government too will wake up to their potential and help with their preservation and conservation, also accrue commercial benefits to the country. I broad-based my work through,-‘The Lahore Chamber of Commerce’, besides writing about them as an authorized operator by the government.

We have consultant historians attached for example for the history of Jhelum; I consult Khalid Sarwar, a historian attached to the government, and historian Mirza Beg. I explore and research from other sources to authenticate these histories in consultation with freelance historian Imran William attached with us. This is my favorite baby in my vast field of work. I learn a lot from historians examining bricks, building materials, design, and usage, it is the most interesting field I could have ever asked for from my Upparwala.

Alongside we enjoin a cultural treat in the evenings giving employment to artists of that area. In some packages, we arrange a meeting with the village’s elder or Wadera or Jirga head, familiar with the area of interest.

Q Can you familiarize us with some heritage buildings in Pakistan?

ANS:  As per Sikh Heritage 345 Gurdwaras exist, 135 are historical while 25-26 are functional. Pakistan has 6 UNESCO sites of minority community heritage including Taxila, Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist Monastery, Dharmarajka Stupa, and Monastery. Katas Raj is world famous Hindu site in Pakistan and Smadhi Atma Ram ji has recently been highlighted in Gujranwala. There are countless Mandirs in every city, we can’t even count them. All are historical and unexplored.     

Q. Did Kartarpur Sahib move the wheels in the direction of Minority Heritage Tourism?

ANS: Earlier Katarpur Sahib Initiative brought a massive change, there were people-to-people interactions, misunderstandings, and fears came to rest. There were closures to the pain of separation and loss for several separated families that met from either side of the Radcliff line at this Gurdwara.

Kartarpur sahib boosted not only Sikh Tourism but also made space for Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist tourism as well, in Pakistan. More ways are being tracked for these communities. After the forthcoming Gurpurb, my focus will turn to Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu heritage and tourism. 

I have been working on those tracks for years, Jain living in Dubai. Plus, Buddhists and Hindus are far more than the Sikh population that comes for pilgrimage and tourism. Just like Sikh tourism for which I have worked on their history, itinerary, plans, lesser-known places, details, and Heritage, they want me to format the same way for their communities. What is of utmost interest is that my package offers to facilitate their travel including assisting in granting visas to various areas of Heritage and Tourist interest. As you already know visa is an issue, especially for Indians as per the current situation prevalent in both countries. I get feelers especially from Dubai by the Jain community in Dubai, who wish to visit many of their sites that are in Pakistan.

Q You have helped many partition victims from India to visit their ancestral homes, is it true?

ANS: To help victims of partition to revisit their memories gives me immense pleasure. It is greatly fulfilling and you say –‘good karma’. Recently it was 90 yr Reena Chibber Varma who visited her ancestral home in Rawalpindi after 75 years and was helped by India Pakistan Heritage Club members that number thousands and also by me,  it is my life’s mission to help Indians who had fled Pakistan after Partition see their old homes. This interest developed from the painful stories of the Partition I hear from my father who died last November aged 90. He used to remember Shakuntala, his 16-year-old neighborhood friend, every day. When the exodus started, Shakuntala hid our family home for three days. She was found in our house. But our family could not keep her as it was illegal, and she was unwilling to leave. She had to be forcefully transported to a camp amid tears and cries from both sides. My father never forgot that. When I traveled abroad extensively to study agriculture in foreign universities, I made a lot of Indian friends, and most of them had painful memories to share. I have a special affinity for these crumbling bricks of fallen walls that speak to me of the sheer pain forced to leave their homes and hearth forever.

Q Were you invited for consultation when Pakistan started the Sikh Yatri portal?

ANS:  No. We only came to know through the news; that no private stakeholders were invited for discussion only Sikh community representatives were taken on board.

Q India Pakistan Heritage Club is also at the forefront of bringing together lost families. Are they helpful to you?

ANS: India Pakistan Heritage Club on the popular social networking site Facebook was started by Imran Williams and Zahid Karmanwala of Pakistan and has more than 1.45 lakh members from both nations. The group has been deleted by Facebook three times and came up again and again with its loyal membership and more.

“Interacting in this group, I realized how desperately people longed to come to Pakistan. I also met a lot of pilgrims from India at the Kartarpur corridor. Many of them, particularly the older lot, cry and beg to be taken to their ancestors’ place from there. It’s all so traumatic,”

For some of the members I arranged and facilitated a tour with security to Kasur, Lahore, and Gujranwala

Q Any particular story of any recent family of victims coming to see their ancestral place?

ANS: There are many- Parag Sehgal, 41, of Chandigarh, went numb when he scratched a dusty portion of his ancestral Haveli’s outer wall in the year 2022 in Lahore’s Model Town area in ruins but fits the memory of his grandmother as she described it.

GS Batra from Amritsar an 88-year-old on his return from Pakistan called his visit a much-needed closure about his house in Tamman village, near a Gurdwara, a spring flowing along it. ‘My life’s final wish has been fulfilled. I met the son of my father’s best friend Hayat Khan who became a Pakistan minister in the 1960s and hosted lunch for me. Noshaba arranged everything,” he said. This is my ultimate fulfilling moment.

Q Time is running out for that first generation of displaced men and women, should India and Pakistan take a humanitarian stand once again and let them visit ‘Visaless’. What is your view?

ANS: Most of the first-generation migrants with memories of undivided India are above 80 and within these bitter relations visas are becoming nearly impossible. I feel both governments setting aside differences must step in before it’s too late to restart visa-less travel for senior citizens and on priority the partition victims. I vociferously raise my voice for visa-less travel for senior citizens and especially for those having homes on either side of the border. ‘They are in the twilight of their lives, give them their dreams as a parting gift’, I urge both governments.

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PART –II

BOX

Pakistan launches Online Booking Portal for Sikhs, Takes cue from Private Travel operators

The first-ever “Booking Portal for Sikhs” was inaugurated by Pakistan Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. This, especially for those on pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib and other sacred Gurdwaras was being seen by Indian experts as a positive step towards building up a failing economy of Pakistan through legit means and using its precious heritage assets to attract worldwide tourism.

“It’s a groundbreaking religious Tourism program designed to facilitate Sikh pilgrims” announced the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab in Lahore Pakistan. The portal will facilitate hotel bookings and security services portal for Sikhs from India and the globe, during pilgrimage to their heritage and holy sites sprinkled across Pakistan.

The first religious tourism program was launched to promote interfaith harmony. Through this portal, Sikhs from around the world can make hotel bookings, as well as hiring security services, arrange transportation, and make their pilgrimage planning more efficient. Also, the privilege of a VIP status, during their visit when booked through the government-launched Portal. This will ensure a seamless obstacle-free experience, alongside, an additional facility of a friendly Tourism police at hand to extend support during any difficulty. 

CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi stated that Sikh pilgrims will receive warm hospitality and the inclusion of security services ensures a safe and secure journey and would be accorded a VIP status for a fulfilling and memorable experience during their tour to Pakistan. He added, that there would be provided the facility of a friendly tourism police, for support.

Dr Mimpal Singh – a member of the Parbandhak Committee – expressed gratitude for the establishment of the Sikh Yatra Booking Portal and lauded CM Naqvi’s efforts in this initiative.

Dr Mimpal, is the distinguished first ‘Sikh’ to become a doctor in Pakistan, a pediatrics specialty; the owner of “Sardar Ji Child Health Care Clinic” and Assistant Prof in Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, Punjab Pakistan. He is also a member of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee PSGPC.  

While welcoming the facility wholeheartedly, he said-“According to India Pakistan agreed Protocol, Sikhs and Hindus visit Religious Shrines in Pakistan, and Muslims visit their shrines in India. Sikhs are allowed four visits a year. With the inauguration of this portal, the Sikh pilgrimage would become more convenient for our community. The pilgrims will cherish their visits to Pakistan and return as goodwill ambassadors.,” Dr Mimpal while acknowledging the proactive approach and the online portal as a significant step towards strengthening cultural ties and promoting religious tourism in Pakistan”, said.

Saifullah Khokhar Deputy Secretary of Administration Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara Pakistan while talking to this writer from Narowal said the Pilgrimage Portal doesn’t apply today to pilgrims from India as no visa is required and only a permit is required for this Yatra that commenced in year 2019. But for those coming on a full-fledged pilgrimage or tour of religious and heritage sites which includes Kartarpur Sahib, the Government of Pakistan has recently made massive arrangements for nearly 2500 pilgrims at a time. This facility was created since the area possesses no worthwhile private accommodation for stay. On the land belonging to the Gurdwara, as many as 20 large halls were built for accommodation and a 40-bedded VIP space is also provided.  

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BOX

No new passports for Pakistanis

Incidentally, while Pakistan is going all out to woo the Sikh community and looking at Tourism in a wider perspective for worldwide attraction, in their own country, Pakistani citizens are having great difficulty in obtaining new passports.

Regrettably, it is a minor issue that has become monumental with the country running short on lamination papers that are imported from France. The Pak government, thus records a  backlog of around seven lakh unprinted passports, putting Pakistanis’ dreams of traveling abroad at a standstill. Pakistan’s Passport offices continue to receive applications, according to Express Tribune, despite having been warned that they will be unable to deliver the documents on time due to a shortage of lamination papers.

Many a dream of studying abroad Pak students who qualified seem to be on hold. Moreover travel for business, tourism, families, and friends reuniting all are stalled.

On the other hand, the applications filed by the citizens for new passport has increased significantly. As per ‘Daily Pakistan’ the figure received by the Department of Passport is at 20,000 to 30,000 passport applications per day. Currently, the figure looms at 40,000 daily, despite applicants being warned by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports of their inability to deliver the documents on time due to a shortage of lamination papers.

The prime reason for the spike in the number of applicants is the economic woes being faced by Pak youth forcing them to seek study and consequently migrate for better job opportunities abroad.‘Times of Karachi’, reports a backlog of seven lakh unprinted passports pending and has no clue when the pendency will improve.  Back in the year 2013, passport printing in Pakistan took a similar hit due to the department owing money to printers and thus a fall in adequate lamination papers.

When asked about DGI&P’s inefficiency, Qadir Yar Tiwana, Director General for Media of the Ministry of Interior, the parent ministry of DGI&P, is known to have said, “The situation will soon be under control.” According to a senior officer of the passport office in Peshawar, they can currently only process 12 to 13 passports each day, compared to 3,000 to 4,000 earlier, and they have no clue when the pendency would be improved.

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23 Nov

Son of Hamas denounces Terror outfit Hamas at UN, Exposes ‘savage’ indoctrination of Palestinian kids / Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in ISRAEL PALESTINE.


WC -2454

Son of Hamas denounces Terror outfit Hamas at UN, Exposes ‘savage’ indoctrination of Palestinian kids

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 22 November 2023—-

In a blistering 30-minute speech at the United Nations the Son of Hamas co-founder denounced Hamas at the UN, and exposed and blasted the terror organisation for the ‘savage’ indoctrination of Palestinian kids. 

 Mosab Hassan Yousef the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef defected from the terrorist group in the late 90’s and secretly worked with the Israeli security services to expose and prevent several Hamas terrorist attacks. 

He later wrote in year 2010 an autobiography titled “Son of Hamas”. 

Yousef exposed the true face of Hamas calling it the genocidal death cult.

Addressing the UN Security Council under the mission of Israel to the UN he opened his speech with “I see a lot of division and confusion and lots of hatred, lots of misinformation.

Everybody speaks on behalf of the children and on behalf of the innocent.  I am not sure about their real intention”. And continued –“But today I speak on the authority of a Palestinian child as someone who grew up in that culture. Hamas’ first crime against children in Palestinian society is not arming them or encouraging them to carry out suicide bombing attacks it is the religious ideological indoctrination to carry out suicide attacks.

He carried further his side of his own life story –“I am a first-hand witness for Hamas and their intention. My father is one of the founding members of the Hamas movement. I was there when Hamas was born I was there before Hamas was born and I will be there when a mass is dead,” he was accolade with resounding claps.

He continued-“I am not part of the propaganda. I work for nobody I work only for myself and I represent myself and this authority, I speak so don’t make the mistake and take my words very carefully Hamas is committing a crime against this generation, and the next generation so blaming Israel is not going to solve the problem”.

 He talked about his childhood encounter with Hamas –“Imagine a 10-year-old child when I disobeyed the Hamas, I was tied up to a post and I was whipped by Hamas’s top leader.  I don’t want to mention his name because he is not worth it. Lashed with an electric cable and with every lash, I lost my breath, until I lost my consciousness.  My father was in prison at that time and this leader thought that he was my mentor.” And boom, -“This is Hamas’s way of discipline!”

“And this is how they wanted me to become a violent savage like them. And that was the time with the very basic intelligence of a child, I felt that that was not natural it wasn’t. but I had still to go to the mosque to please my mother and please my father and obey this type of monster. I had to talk about my personal struggle and I hate to be in a position to be on the defence (weakness) and he also doesn’t like to be on defence because this is what Hamas did to Israel on October 7th. “They put us all on defence!”

Growing up in a society where the majority of the Palestinians blame Israel and as a child I took this gospel truth like the Quran, I took this truth as a Holy Scripture, that Israel was our problem! But then as I grew up I started identifying the enemy within.- the religious authorities, the corrupt leadership, who basically do not care about children they did not care about Palestinians.

They care about nobody but themselves. The world is empowering them to become victims; this has to come to an end. let’s put my childhood side, maybe a child does not see things for what they are maybe I was bad and I misbehaved as a child to be beaten up again and again and again by Hamas leaders and some people say is it personal. Yes it is personal, do anyone have any problem with that?” he asked. “It is a personal problem and I swear I will not die before I see Hamas dead. I made this a goal for my life!”

“Unlike many of the leaders who sit and give Hamas legitimacy, not contain them, not cut them, not condemn them, even if the entire world stands there with them, the child witness will always be there and nobody can deceive the child anymore.”

Continuing his first encounter with Hamas, Mosab said at the UN –“As I grew up, I became the Hamas and the Islamic student movement in our town and I became part of the movement. This was out of the love for my father and our family and I had no other choice. This somehow led me to my first imprisonment, at the age of 18, weeks after my 18th birthday In May 1996.

My problem was not Israel that arrested me. During that experience of imprisonment, I saw Hamas with a lot more brutality, and a lot more pain, than the pain I experienced on a personal level in prison, Hamas tortured and killed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners because they had the suspicion that they were collaborating with the state of Israel.  I spent 16 months in that first arrest among Hamas leaders.

There was a Al- Maj Hamas security wing, this division of Hamas brutally tortured people putting needles under their fingernails, burning plastic on their bodies, and stubbing burning cigarettes on their skin.  Screams of hundreds of prisoners of that period I don’t wish for any of you to go through such experience to realise what type of monster we are dealing with.”

Regretting his father’s initiating the establishment of Hamas he said –“It is unfortunate that my father helped establish such an organisation and I don’t mean to dishonour him. I love my father and I will always do. I am not here to dishonour my people, I love my people but I cannot believe how far Hamas was able to travel in this madness and we could not stop them. After I was released from prison, I made very hard choices to fight against Hamas and I still do”.  And added -“Nobody can get in my way not even the United Nations!”

“As per the choices I made in a rational mind I ended up working with Israeli intelligence for 10 years we had a common goal that was to stop suicide bombing attacks by Hamas.

Hamas committed many suicide bomb attacks in the ’90s and the early 2000s. Suicide bombers with explosives went inside a bus and blew himself up killing all types of people not only Israelis, they were Americans, Europeans and other nationalities including Israeli Arabs and Muslims, but Hamas did not differentiate.

They took a hotel park for example on a holiday on the most secret Jewish Holiday as suicide bombers went in for dinner and blew himself up killing more than 30 people, including some holocaust survivors. Some teenagers at the beach Hamas suicide bomber killed about 18 and wounded dozens. Hamas attacked the Hebrew University, and six Americans working there were killed. They targeted synagogues, they targeted everywhere, knowing that in retaliation they would invite violence and they love violence. “Hamas without chaos cannot survive it is their climate this is where they survive!” When the peace process came Hamas would sabotage the peace process through suicide bombing attacks. They don’t have a vision which is the problem because nobody can gauge their ambition when they are waging war.

we are not talking about just political terrorist organisations, we are talking about a religious group that does not believe in political borders. That wants to annihilate the entire race in order to build an Islamic state. I don’t know why it is not obvious to everybody that the United Nations failed to condemn a bunch of rapists, this is what they are. They are lower than animal consciousness so as I don’t speak only on the authority of that abused child and someone who grew up in Palestine territory I also speak on the authority of someone who has 10 years of experience in counter-terrorism of Israeli intelligence.”

“It took 8 years to capture Ibrahim Hammad, a mass murderer from the small town of Ramala with less than 20000 population, while he was sending suicide bombers every other day it was a big nightmare to capture him and you know now what they are doing and why the hostage situation in Gaza. They want to get Ibrahim Hammad released, he is on the top of the list to be released, and they want the mass murderer to go back to the street.  Israel had to release more than 1000 Hamas members to get the return of one Israeli soldier back to his mother. Hamas had a taste of that deal, so they thought this time they could go and bring 200 hostages, and more, so that it could bring the only true democracy in the Middle East to its knees!”

“This is why it’s a very brutal war and many understand the significance, they know that Israel cannot release more Hamas terrorists because they want the release of the mastermind behind the attacks on October 7th.  How can Israel afford and how can any of you validate the release of mass murderers to the streets so they can carry a lot more terrorist attacks and hijack an entire society and use hundreds and thousands of people as human shields”.

For those who know the problem they don’t have the courage to say and most of us have our own calculations from Russia to China to the rest of the superpower of the world giving Hamas a cover. Hamas gave the attacks on October 7th as a birthday gift. Now nobody is talking about Ukraine using Hamas as the wild card in the Middle East igniting a religious war to divert attention. all those criminals whether they were high profile or low profile are all savages they are all enemies of children and enemies of humanity.

The United Nations and the rest of the international community have empowered those who used the Palestinians’ cause to become richer, they were seeking wealth seeking power and do not care about the Palestinian people, as the children of Gaza sink into despair and poverty

Leaders of Hamas along with their families and their entourage enjoy the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha Qatar. We can continue putting our heads in the sand we have escaped our responsibility but if we do not eradicate Hamas in this war, we do not eradicate then the next  Gaza war will be deadlier it’s going to be much greater if today we are complaining about 10,000 casualties, I am not sure about the number because it’s Hamas statistics I don’t not trust anything they say or anything they do but even if it was true then it’s a miracle that we have only this number the next war will be talking about will be about hundreds of thousands. This is the fourth war with Hamas and the fifth war in Gaza, if we do not eradicate Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza this time and give Gaza back to the people of Gaza, we will give Hamas and terrorist legitimacy, we will show them that we are afraid, and tomorrow they will come back with vengeance.”

And asked –“ What made the Hamas attack this time a lot stronger than the past wars because under international pressure we had to negotiate with them and we have to give them legitimacy this is what encouraged them and gave them power. Qatar for example a member of the United Nations playing the mediator could have fooled me. Actually, they are the ones hosting Hamas they are the ones who have been funding Hamas. A top Hamas leader was in Moscow just a week ago.”

For Hamas, the hostages are “Booty!”

None of us thought about the mother of that kid and seeing her daughter being dragged by a savage who wants to dominate women as their sexual lust their lust for power their lust for territory.

“I had to die many times in order to transcend this mentality –Israel can annihilate Hamas in no time, in a matter of hours or days but since Hamas’s strategy is to take human shields, it cannot be forgiven this crime. If Israel fails in the Gaza war none of us will be forgiven for this crime of gambling with children’s blood for political game. So Israel now got stained by blood this is what Hamas wanted, to sacrifice thousands of children so that Israel can take the blame.

Hamas -digging tunnels and bunkers under hospitals, and schools, launching missiles and Hamas misfires killing at the hospital and they went so fast to blame Israel, and the rest of the world listened to them, to their propaganda and nobody is concerned about what is true and to check what is true and what is false.

Whatever serves their political interest, going against the collective consciousness of humanity, going against the interest of defenceless children who have no one to speak on their behalf they don’t have the power to discern. And yes they are dying but who’s causing all these deaths, blaming Israel like cowards not having the courage to take responsibility?

If Hamas is not eradicated in Gaza we will set the model and we will give freedom to so many radical groups around the world especially in Europe because many ISIS have fled to Europe under civilian cover, there are sleeping cells in Europe and there is a migrant problem in Europe and there is an Islamic problem in Europe and this is just if you really care for the global security and I speak as the person who was part of the counter-terrorism against efforts against radical elements it will inspire many groups around the globe they will see that and this will fuel thousands of savages who can blackmail the international community the superpowers and bring democracy to the knees. Many of them are watching now and many of them are very happy about how the world is responding and many of them are satisfied to see the state of confusion fear and anxiety. This is the time to get United because in Gaza all of us will be next,” he concluded calling for God’s protection of all children Palestinian Israelis and urging for hostages to be reunited with their families.

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21 Nov

Is Pakistan arming Israel against Hamas? / Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , .


Is Pakistan arming Israel against Hamas?

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 18TH November 2023—       

Is Pakistan supplying weapons to Israel even as pro-Palestinian rallies are taking place in its streets? If reports are to be believed a third-world South Asian country championing the Palestinian cause and vociferously condemning Israel for years could be supplying weapons to Israel.

Israel has sworn a violent takeover of Gaza through the elimination of Hamas from the face of Earth. Israel followed this declaration, with non-stop bombardment of Gaza since the 7th of October’s horrendous attack by Hamas on its soil. Hamas- a designated terrorist wing of Palestine is known to have laid around 500 Km of secret tunnels to carry out offensives against Israel.

An open intelligence source, that became viral on social networking sites -on ‘X’ claims that Pakistan is the South Asian supplier supplying the 155mm shells to the state of Israel. This claim by the ‘X’ handle made public, is not possible to verify. Incidentally, I55mm shells are the same ones that Israel is using in its unrelenting offensive against Hamas near the Gaza Strip.

These shells emerge in many countries that are using military equipment supplied by the USA.  Experts say the 155mm artillery provides a good balance between range and warhead size and Pakistan Ordinance Factory produces these shells in bulk.

It is no secret that Israel has been sourcing weapons to bombard Hamas in Gaza from many countries. The USA has been Israel’s staunchest ally and biggest supplier of weapons. These arms are being used by Israel against Hamas/ Palestine. However, the question remains how Pakistani arms are reaching Israel given that Pakistan is a theological staunch Muslim state that was born after a bloody partition from India on the sole agenda of being a separate country for the Muslim community. 

The ‘X’ account making the claim has given four graphic maps showing the exact route that is taken by Pakistan arms to reach Israel. The first one was a British Air Force RRR6664/5 flight that flew from Bahrain to Nur Khan Base, in Pakistan’s garrison town of Rawalpindi, and then from Bahrain, it left for Duqm city in Oman to Cyprus’s Allied Base and from there on the weapons were exported to the state of Israel.

This is not the first time that Pakistan‘s name has cropped up for supplying 155mm shells to many other countries. Ukraine too is using these very shells in its war with Russia. Pakistan is known to have supplied this very model of shells to Ukrainian troops even as Pakistan is known to have conducted mock war drills with Russia.

Pakistan is completely in denial about these allegations. These particular 155 shells have been critical for Ukraine on the Russian war front. The shells have been critical in the war in Ukraine. They are used in Howitzer a system that uses precision guided system. At one point they had been firing where 7000 to 9000 shells a day. These shells helped Ukraine to strike targets up to 24 to 32 Km away. It is being reported that at the moment Ukraine has been facing a depletion of its Pakistan-made shells while the war is still going on. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically referred to the 155mm shells that were used in the Southern offensive as having a slowdown because of a short supply of these from America. And when the Americans had a shortfall in their ammunition stock they started sourcing these shells from different countries including South Korea and Pakistan and now it is reportedly being said that America is giving these shells to Israel for them to be used against Palestinians and Hamas.

Incidentally, most of Pakistan’s artillery is Soviet based which serves as the more uniform format of artillery in Central Asia and the countries of the Middle East. Pertinently Israel’s military equipment is mostly US-based and the 155mm shells are a mandatory part of its ammunition stockpile.

This report by an intelligence source was reportedly leaked hours after the arrival of Britain’s Army’s chief of the General Staff Sir Patrick Sander, who arrived in Pakistan as a part of the UK’s commitment to maintain good defense relations with Pakistan. So far both countries are yet to collect and connect their heads at a denial or acceptance of these reports about Pakistan’s supply of 155 mm shells.

Having a shortage of these shells US is procuring these shells from Pakistan and South Korea and passing them on to its allies i.e. Ukraine and Israel. The shell can turn deadly and can be packed with highly explosive material is the reason why the 155 mm shell in a Howitzer round is so crucial and lethal in its use.

The intelligence source has given a graphic description of the route taken from Pakistan to send supplies for Israel which shows the routes, the Equipment listed as C17(ZZ176), Aircraft: Boeing-C-174 Globemaster- III At Barometric Altitude 27,000ft with Ground Speed: 471 kts and Track 46degree. The graphic seems to be taken from the flight LED screen on Saturday -11th November at 11.33 UTC. Two of the four graphics are dated 11th November, one is dated 13th November and another on 14th November from Duqm to Cairo.  

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19 Nov

Pro-Hamas Protestor tears down American flags in New York, America / Rashmi Talwar

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , .


Pro-Hamas Protestor tears down American flags in New York, America

Calls for Trump to rise in America!

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 13th November 2023-

The 59th Street Lexington Avenue, New York USA, Upper East side of Manhattan Borough of New York City was lined with protestors shouting slogans – ‘Takbeer!’ generally followed by Allah O Akbar! But instead of the usual follow-up of the slogan, something else was visible to protestors that took their focus.  Lexington Avenue is the 14th busiest subway station in America with thousands of passengers passing it every single day. But this day, Lexington was swarming with protestors in favour of Palestine and Hamas in the ongoing war against Israel.

Alongside the protestors, one could see NYPD abbreviated uniforms of (the New York Police Department) moving in a loose human chain along the Lexington Avenue Crossing. The police seem to remain mute spectators to the ongoing sacrilege of the Nation’s flag.  They are seen looking up on the pole amidst Pro-Hamas slogans freely shouted as three shrouded figures climb the pole and one of them tears one American flag and then the second  American flag.    The Shrouded figure is able to pull down two American flags one after the other and unable to pull down a third one, installed on a pole standing in the heart of the busiest and most glamourous city of the world.  Three American flags are seen to flutter on the street pole alongside a Palestinian flag as well as other flags. Below these flags is the clear direction board reading “Lexington Ave”.

“The police are just a mute spectator to the national insult to the flag of the United States of America in its own country and not elsewhere in some other nation,” one comments. The Pro Hamas protestors carry boards of Free Palestine and a flutter of Palestinian flags is seen in the bursting crowd. The video is posted by @TimesAlgebraIND.

Comments came fast and furious as one posted “NYPD must show their strength here than in the movies !”, (referring to the popular TV series NYPD). Comments were tagging @RealDonaldTrump and drawing his attention to the insult of America and some were commenting on former US president -Trump’s Roar versus that of present US President, Biden.

Twitter now ‘X’ was abuzz with this National insult and shame while there was no stopping the Tweetrati comments marking the police personnel in pictures showing their mute watch. One calling out “How many American Soldiers since independence had died for the flag? Now Americans are just watching how it has been desecrated right in front of the whole world. Wow!” Another wrote, “Wow, evil becoming gutsy!!”

One Indian commented –“USA allows other country’s flags to be burned in their country, now they get it back with interest! Well Done Biden – Let your eyes Widen!”

Yet another wrote –“US doesn’t need Russia, Iran or China to hit. Its Insiders have proved they can bring down the US flag standing on US soil! India has been bleeding by such snakes.”

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Trump leads in 5 critical states in USA, voters blast Biden                           

Former US President Donald J Trump known for his tough stands is catching the American voters’ imaginations in five battleground states of America emboldening poll Pandits to predict another presidential term for Trump in Poll-2024 writes Shane Goldmacher in in New York Times. Trump is high on the popularity chart on key issues of handling the economy, the age factor of Biden, and his other soft pedals on key issues.  Including- the Afghan pullout, handling of Ukraine, and intelligence failure in Israel.

Five out of six states give Trump a lead with the highest by the state of Nevada, followed by Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania while Biden leads only in Wisconsin.

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14 Nov

Cocaine Gangster HS Uppal shot dead by unknown in Canada / Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


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Cocaine Gangster HS Uppal shot dead by unknown in Canada

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 13TH November 2023—–

In another Gangster Hardeep S Nijjer- like mysterious assassination assassins shot down Gangster Harpreet Singh Uppal in broad daylight, in Canada. Uppal, a Leader of “Brothers Keeper” Gang, and his 11-year-old son were shot dead in Edmonton, Canada in a Gangwar. H S Uppal was described as a “higher-level figure” in the organized crime scene in Canada. “While police in Canada remained helpless clueless!”, one Canadian remarked online.  

Uppal was already facing charges of Cocaine possession, trafficking, and illegal possession of body armour.          Police caught hold of the video clip of the killing incident and it seemed the son was intentionally killed so as not to leave any witness of the killing in broad daylight, experts observed. 

The report was posted by a mediaperson Norbet Elikes, on his blue tick-marked account with 30K followers including being followed by the account of “Indian Stats and Index”.

A 0.34-second video clip shows the fleeing of the suspect. Alongside it is the mug picture of HS Uppal.

The killing comes just a day after Diwali when Indian Hindus and Sikhs raised Indian flags in the streets of Mississauga in Toronto suburbs in Canada and outnumbered and outshouted Khalistani Sikhs carrying their yellow flags, on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

A social networker commented about the increasing sheltering of Gangs in Canada as -“what goes around, comes around.” Referring to Canada’s free reign to Khalistanis to insult and threaten Indian High Officials. Another asked, “Where are the ‘five eyes’?”  Referring to the sharpshooter intelligence network, of five countries caucus,  viz-a-viz the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Another Twitterati commented “Canada becoming a haven for Gangs to thrive and wage gangwars “Yeah, looks like a drug deal gone wrong!”

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Punjabi-Canadian organized crime data and influence

Indo-Canadian organized crime or Punjabi-Canadian organized crime is made up predominantly of young adults and teenagers of Indian Punjabi ethnic, cultural, and linguistic background, typically ethnic Jat Sikhs.

Collectively, these groups are among the top 5 major home-grown organized crime hierarchy across the nation in Canada coming in 3rd place, after the “Asian Triads” and “White biker gangs”.

 The 2004 British Columbia Annual Police Report ranked them third in terms of organization and sophistication in British Columbia, ranked behind outlaw motorcycle clubs and Chinese criminal organizations such as the Triads drug clans.

They Control the Territory of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Yukon, Washington, and Alaska and their areas of Influence in the USA are Nova Scotia, California, Oregon, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona. In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Italy, Greece, Russia, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador with minor connections in  Spain, Germany, France, Africa, India, United Arab Emirates.

They are mostly of Indian Punjabi-Canadian Sikh ethnicity. And are reported to indulge in Criminal activities of Assassination, drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, weapon trafficking, illegal gambling, robbery, chop shop, assault, loan sharking, racketeering, extortion, contract killing, and kidnapping according to Wikipedia.

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14 Nov

Is India, Qatar moving in opposite Directions? /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA -QATAR. Tagged: , , , , , .


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Is India, Qatar moving in opposite Directions?

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR November 2nd 2023— With Qatar meeting almost 40 per cent of India’s LNG requirements and more than seven lakh Indians in Qatar, the Indo-Qatar relationship was seen as most robust in recent years. India, continued with its economic engagement with Doha, even when, Qatar was isolated and feeling the heat of the Saudi-led blockade in 2017-2021.

However, in the present scenario when the Middle East is ruffled over the ongoing Israel-Hamas /Palestine War, India’s challenges spiralled, over the death sentence pronounced by ‘Court of First Instance’ in Qatar to eight ex-servicemen of the Indian Navy, detained in Doha since last year on espionage charges, curiously that remain vague and cloudy.

New Delhi expressed its “deep shock” at the verdict and is exploring all possible legal and diplomatic options. The former Indian Navy personnel were employees of a private company called Al Dahra and were arrested from Doha last year in August by Qatar intelligence agency. What is significant is that the owner of the company, an ex-serviceman of the Royal Oman Air Force was also arrested but later released. However, the eight Indian Navy veterans continued to be tried in an extremely confidential manner bordering on being covert as some veterans call it, despite New Delhi being granted consular access to them.

What is strange is –“Qatar’s refusal to be forthcoming with the details of the case that had cast a shadow and now with a formal declaration of the death sentence, New Delhi is perturbed about its citizens and the reasons thereof”, says an insider.

For most Indians, it has not only been disconcerting to see their retired servicemen being treated like this but it has also raised questions about the very nature of India-Qatar ties which seem to be propelled by energy and people-to-people engagements.

New Delhi managed to build remarkably strong ties with the Arab states in the Gulf. Looking beyond just energy ties and diaspora linkages, the Indian approach to the region assumed a strategic depth and character, making way for a wider regional policy response instead of merely bi-laterals as reflected in the emergence of that I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and the US) mini-lateral.                   Incidentally, there is also a framework agreement on defence and security cooperation signed in 2008 that envisages maritime training, joint exercise and enhancing defence manufacturing bases of India and Qatar.

For Qatar, building robust ties with an emerging economic power like India was a priority as it sought diversification in its external relationships, while for New Delhi it has been about strengthening partnership with a Gulf state.

However, the Israel-Hamas conflict and the challenges it has thrown up, have complicated intra-regional ties. Qatar’s decision to challenge the foundations of an essentially strong relationship with India will push in a counter thought i.e. to rethink the future sustainability of the India-Qatar ties. According to some reports- the case of eight naval personnel of India relates to allegations of spying for Israel which adds another layer of complexity to the problem when the world is increasingly being divided over the rivals Israel and Palestine.

Watchers of foreign affairs feel –“If this crisis is not resolved in an amicable manner, future cooperation between India and Qatar will be difficult to envision”. Prof Harsh V. Pant, Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at The Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi writes – “The timing and severity of the punishment meted out by the Qatari court are confusing, but its implications for India’s ties with Qatar can be far-reaching. Qatar’s lack of sensitivity to Indian concerns about extremist voices at another time could have been brushed aside, but those pertaining to ex-Indian servicemen could cause lasting damage to this relationship”.

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14 Nov

Canada to overhaul Immigration sys introduces measures for affordable, adequate housing, health, and others / Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO-CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , .


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Canada for an overhaul of the Immigration system introduces measures for affordable and adequate housing, health, and other services

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR November 2nd, 2023—-When a Prime Minister offers his hand for a handshake, it is a distinct honour and courtesy for a citizen of the country, to shake hands with the head of the government. But, in early October this year, a smiling Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, was refused a handshake by an agitated Canadian –“I am not shaking your hand – you f**ked this country”.  “How did I mess up this country?” Trudeau is asking the man in a video clip that went viral.  The citizen answers- “Can anybody afford a home in this day in Canada? You ruined the whole country. You are sending aid to Ukraine, to a guy who slaughtered his own country!”

It is true that Canada is facing a crisis in housing and in vital services especially health,  in consonance to the needs of its growing population, migration being its primary source of growth in its populace. Both the refugee and immigrant policies of Canada have severely strained its services and housing facilities, which prove to be inadequate in ratio to the rate of migration in the country.

Insufficient housing served to jack up rental rates as well as sky-rocketed the prices of houses in Canada.  The growing voices of discontent including those of the stakeholder- citizens or migrant newcomer, has found ears. The government admits its shortcomings and is ready for corrective measures- “It is the stakeholders who provided important insight into how we can develop a stronger and more integrated immigration system .” says IRCC (Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada) official.

Now the country is taking vital steps to improve its immigration system. Marc Miller, Minister IRCC, announced a slew of measures mapping out a vision to bolster Canada’s immigration framework, ensuring it remains a driving force for the nation’s economic growth and overall prosperity.  “As we move forward, the people who come to Canada will continue to be at the heart of our work, whether they wish to work, study, or call this place their home,” the IRCC states.

Canada posted its biggest population jump in almost seven decades, with the population growing by 2.9% in the 12 months to July 1, 2023, to more than 40 million.

A whopping 20-25 % of the immigrant population in Canada comes from India. At least 40% of the ‘foreign student’ strength too emerges from India. In the year 2022, as many as 4,37,000 new immigrants were admitted and in the present year 4,65,000 is the target.

Canada’s lenient refugee policy, also allowed more than 80,000 Ukrainians to enter, which raised heckles of Canadians who are facing the highest inflation rate in food, lifestyle and housing.”These actions can help shape a system that meets the needs of Canada’s economy and labor market. Changes will be implemented through whole-of-government collaboration and a focus on welcoming the people needed for the future while maintaining the safety, security, and integrity of the system,” the IRCC said in a statement.

Significantly, immigration remains the main driver of population growth in Canada. In 2021, more than 8.3 million people, or almost one-quarter (23%) of the population, were new immigrants or permanent residents in Canada.

The world is watching with interest the falling proportion of Canada’s population within the working-age category which is fast diminishing. Just 50 years past, the ratio stood at around seven workers for every senior citizen in the country.

Currently, Canada has roughly three workers for each senior, and it is anticipated that this proportion will further decline to nearly two workers per senior in the near future. The aging workforce carries significant economic implications, such as persistent labor market shortages.

A recent study by – the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and The Conference Board of Canada highlighted a growing trend of newcomers in Canada opting to leave, posing a significant challenge to a nation heavily reliant on immigration for its population and economic growth.

Videos of unhappy immigrants are regularly uploaded on YouTube with talk show hosts in growing numbers picking on them to open up about life in Canada seen from the eyes of an immigrant, with 90% wishing to leave the country. Though these videos do not allow any formal percentage of unhappiness quotient, they are the growing voices of discontent in the country of their migration.

The report highlights the potential risks of Canada failing to meet the expectations of its newcomers, who are grappling with issues like deteriorating housing affordability, strains on the healthcare system, and challenges related to underemployment. It also emphasizes how disillusionment among immigrants can hurt progress, even in a country that consistently achieves new records in terms of population growth.

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Canada takes ‘7’ measures

In its report ‘An immigration system for Canada’s future’, the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) took cognizance and outlined seven measures which include:

Integrated planning that will align housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and other vital services, with immigration levels, in close cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. It intends to install a Newcomer Advisory Body, for formulating an advisory body of newcomers with immigration experience to offer insights for enhancing programs, policies, and service delivery. Another measure is about Improving the International Student Program, which deals with expediting study permit processing. The creation of a Chief International Talent Officer position that will better align immigration programs with the labour market, including industry and sector strategies.

Two other measures relate to offering refugee status calling for a Swift Response to Global Crises, to make the immigration system agile and equipped to address global humanitarian crises efficiently and equitably. Besides, empowering Francophone Communities, Canada intends to develop a new ‘Francophone Immigration Policy’ to enhance the vitality of Francophone minority communities while also bolstering the demographic presence of French linguistic minorities in the country. And lastly, a User-Friendly Website, to help applicants easily access information.

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Canada to overhaul its immigration system

The Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 comes only a day after Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged shortcomings in the country’s immigration system and ensured to overhaul the system.

“IRCC has been engaging with stakeholders and the public throughout the year to help shape the future of a stronger immigration system,” the Canadian immigration minister said.

Soon after Millers’ announcement, IRCC released its new strategic report so that stakeholders were informed of the department’s intentions.

IRCC said it is working to better align immigration with the labor market, modernize the application process, enhance application processing standards, support smaller communities in attracting newcomers, and promote French-speaking immigration throughout Canada.

In the report, IRCC has identified three pillars and a number of actions to take to maintain Canada’s status as a destination of choice for newcomers:

Create a more welcoming experience for newcomers

Align immigration with labour market needs

Develop a comprehensive and coordinated growth plan

In 2022, Canada broke the record for new immigrants at 437,000 admissions. The target for permanent resident admissions in 2023 is 465,000. And, the Canadian government is further pursuing a new strategy to improve the immigration system.

Earlier this year, to further target economic immigrants who are best suited to help Canada close the labour force gap, IRCC introduced category-based selection rounds of invitations for Express Entry candidates who have work experience in an in-demand sector, or the ability to promote the French language outside of Quebec.

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Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026: IRCC to release PR entry plans for the next three years today.

Canada is scheduled to release its Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 on Wednesday

The Immigration Levels Plan lists the guidelines regarding the number of permanent residents who will be invited to Canada in the next three years under each of the three immigration classes:

  • Economic
  • Family
  • Humanitarian

Interestingly, under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the federal government is required to unveil its annual immigration plan in the non-election year in early November.

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31 Oct

Diplomacy’ played on the ‘Visa Chessboard’/ Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, WORLD DIPLOMACY. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


Diplomacy’ played on the ‘Visa Chessboard’

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 28th OCTOBER 2023—- It was a week of throwing the VISA dice. There was no ‘blind’ turn on the Global chessboard of nations but sure-shot international diplomacy at play. The visa intrigue was not easy to solve though.

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Month after suspension, India resumes visas for Canadians, only in some categories

India resumed visa services in certain categories for Canadian citizens, nearly a month after being suspended in the aftermath of Canada’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and a week after 41 Canadian diplomats left India, in accordance with New Delhi’s demand. While tourist visas and e-visas are still held in abeyance, the Indian High Commission in Canada announced that it would begin accepting applications for visas for entry, business, medical, and conference purposes. Officials said that applications from Canadians in these categories would be accepted at Indian missions in other countries as well, which had also been suspended in the decision of September 21.

“After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it was decided to resume visa services for certain categories,” the Indian High Commission in Ottawa stated.  Emergency situations would continue to be addressed. Tourism and e-visa services have not yet resumed; the move comes days after Canadian diplomats left in accordance with New Delhi’s demand.

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Indo-Canadian Spat Visa Suspension

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) call for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ on October 29th in Surrey

Amidst an unfriendly exchange between New Delhi and Ottawa over the unsubstantiated accusations of Indian agents involved in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force Head Hardeep Singh Nijjar- a designated Terrorist by India. Matters reached a level when India scrapped the issuance of any fresh visas to Canadian citizens. This hardly had any effect on Indian citizens, especially students, businessmen, or those holding Indian passports as they could come to India owing to their citizenship rights in India. While, those of Indian origin, who have taken on Canadian citizenship, could freely visit India by using their OIC (Overseas Indian Citizen) cards. The main segment affected was the natural Canadian citizens. Last week, 41 Canadian diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond October 20.

Nijjar, who was the organization -Sikh Force for Justice’s principal in British Columbia, was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in Surrey. While India designates Nijjar as a terrorist, the accusations against him by India were never tested in a Canadian court.

Meantime the pro-Khalistan elements in Canada continue to target India’s senior-most diplomats, as well as its missions, he said, ‘Although they are small in numbers’.

In a recent show of strength, Pro-Khalistanis carried posters ascribing Indian HC Sanjay K Verma, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar as -‘Enemies of Canada’ at car rallies to India’s High Commission in Ottawa and Indian Consulates in both Toronto and Vancouver this Saturday. The pro-Khalistan groups are emboldened by the fact that the law of the country gives them free reign in the name of freedom to issue threats and formulate separatist and divisive agendas against India. On October 29th the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) gave a call for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ in Surrey- the hotbed of Khalistan propaganda in Canada. This clearly shows that Canada is not serious about the security of Indian diplomats and mission staff. Although Canada has provided personal security details to Indian diplomats while also enhancing coverage of the missions, it doesn’t seem serious.

The issuing of visas by India was suspended on September 21. India-Canada relations hit rock bottom on September 18th after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18 in British Columbia.

In the fallout of these unsubstantiated allegations by the Canadian PM, both countries expelled a diplomat. Last week, 41 Canadian Diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond Friday (October 20). Canada described that act as a “mass expulsion” of its diplomats, while India had argued that it wanted ‘parity’ in the size of the mission.

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US issues visa waiver for Israeli citizens  

Travellers from Israel can travel to America for 90 days without a visa. The United States of America launched a ‘visa waiver’ recently allowing Israelis to visit the United States for 90 days without applying for a visa.

The US announced adding Israel to the visa waiver program, thus adding it to a select group of 40 countries mostly European and Asian countries, whose citizens could travel to America for three months without a visa.

America had said that Israelis can start traveling to America without a visa from November 30. The Department of Homeland Security said the program had become operational.

For visa-less travel to the US, the Israelis must have a biometrically enabled passport. Those who do not have such a passport must still apply for a U.S. visa, the department said. This process may take up to 72 hours following which they can travel to America

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Canada’s visa slowdown in India

Mounting diplomatic tensions between Canada and India have led to the visa services at the offices of the consulate general of Canada in Chandigarh being temporally suspended and currently only operating in New Delhi. This is worrying especially for Punjab where Canada scored as the top educational destination of choice.

The halt in its in-person visa services in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chandigarh has put Indian students in dilemma, and contemplate applying for study visas to other educational destinations in the world.

The high housing cost and cost of living in Canada have also discouraged parents from pursuing Canada. Hence Australia and Britain are the likely gainers for serious students and not those who were applying to Canadian universities with the end goal of gaining Canadian citizenship.

On the quieter front, private banks in India have given an informal direction to their loan officers to hold back educational loan applications and deliver loans to those students applying for study visas in Canada.

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Visa-less to Sri Lanka for Indians

The Sri Lankan cabinet approved the issuance of free tourist visas to Indian passport holders, Foreign Minister Ali Sabri stated on Tuesday.

The move is expected to aid Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild the tourism sector to pay off the huge accumulated debt. The Sri Lanka cabinet has approved the proposal to grant with immediate effect free visas to travellers from six other countries including India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Surprisingly, no European country is on the Sri Lankan visa-free list and neither is the United States of America. The visa-less policy has started as a pilot project in Sri Lanka and will continue till March 31st when it will presumably be reviewed.

The aim is that increased travel of visitors from these seven nations is expected to increase tourist arrivals in the island country to over 50 lakh in the coming years, said the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry. Many island nations especially were deeply affected by the aftereffects of the pandemic while Sri Lanka is seen to be making efforts to climb out of an economic trough. The tourism arrivals after this new policy are expected to marginally cross the 15 lakh mark. However, the move is being seen as one that opens up exciting possibilities for seamless travel between the two neighbouring countries. 

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Israel refuses visa to UN over remarks “justifying Hamas attack”, says Israel  

Israel refused to issue visas to UN representatives after remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appeared to justify Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel. Israel was reportedly learned to have said -” The time has come to teach the UN a lesson, calling it a “HUGE setback” for the UN & its propagandists.

Israel called for the resignation of UNSG Antonio Guterres after he told the Security Council ‘Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum’.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen, who participated in a Security Council ministerial meeting on the Israel-Gaza situation in the UN, canceled a scheduled meeting with UN Secretary-General on Tuesday afternoon at UN headquarters. The Secretary General later said his statement was misrepresented denying that he justified terror attacks against Israel.

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Some visa-free locations for Indians:

Indian passport holders can travel to as many as 57 countries without a visa. Ten of them are:

Nepal- Mount Everest, is known for its picturesque villages, vibrant cities, stunning farmlands, and mountaineering sites. Indian citizens do not require a visa to enter Nepal nor do Nepalese require any visa for India. Nevertheless, those from other countries require a visa valid for six months from the date of issue.

Barbados- known to be the ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’ is renowned for having some of the most stunning beaches in the world.

Bhutan- Its proximity to India requires it merely to possess a  valid passport or identification to travel to India. If the visit is for a week in Bhutan, it is exempted from any visa for Indians.

Hong Kong – is one of the most famous regions in China, with a blend of stunning natural and architectural features. Indian passport holders can be here without a visa for a maximum of 14 days.

 Seychelles– An archipelago of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean is an ideal eco-friendly trip. It is a visa-free country but requires a permit on arrival from its Immigration Department. This permit is valid for 30 days.

Haiti – the Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation. An Indian passport holder, may enter and remain  in the country for up to 90 days without a visa

Mauritius– an island nation in the Indian Ocean is famous for its white sand beaches, stunning lagoons, and coral reefs. Indians can stay in Mauritius for 90 days visa-less

Dominica, a mountainous Caribbean island nation, enjoys warm, tropical weather. Indian Nationals on business or pleasure are exempt from any visa requirement for a period of six months here.  

Maldives – a South Asian country is one of the many island destinations to soak up the sun, enjoy balmy weather, and spend luxuriously in exotic resorts. Indian passport holders do not require any form of visa for 90 days for the purpose of tourism.

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27 Oct

Israel ready to buy information, throws Leaflets over Gaza /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


Israel-Hamas/Palestine War

Israel ready to buy information, throws Leaflets over Gaza

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 26TH October 2023—Notwithstanding efforts by world bodies including the United Nations to find a resolution to the Israel-Hamas/ Palestine War, the Israeli army stepped up its social presence and intensified efforts to track down hundreds of its Israeli citizens held hostage by Hamas on October 7th during the on-going war. Israel’s army, the ‘Israel Defense Force (IDF)’ offered rewards for information on a mass scale relating to hostages held captive by Hamas, by anyone in Gaza. IDF aircraft dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip from Tuesday onwards- assuring Palestinians and any others of financial rewards and a ‘better future’ for their children in lieu of information on hostages held by Hamas.

The leaflets read in both English and Persian/Urdu script – “If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area. The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality. The contact details are: Secure phone call: *8619 Whatsapp, Telegram, Signal @ +972503957992.

Undeterred over its losses, Israel is using any and everything possible in its relentless effort to track and bring back its hostages. Its virtual platforms including Twitter now ‘X’, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal etc are continuously being bombarded with information. “It is simultaneous on-spot, quick, real-time, and lightening information service using social networking platforms to keep all platforms, updated about everything,” says an Indian defense expert in the field of cyber security.           And added –“The IDF’s ‘X’ handle gives out minute-to-minute information and broad bases it. The virtual handle immediately spots and calls out falsifications, and tailored information from the rival sides of Hamas and Palestine. Counters and cross-questions the information floated by rival supporters.           Many of its videos are posted minutes after the action. Its posts also include “voice intercepts”, videos, and Photos as proof for various statements and rumours floating around. Many times in the day and at odd hours IDF’s Spokesperson LTC Jonathan Conricus takes on LIVE sessions on ‘X’ and other social platforms simultaneously”. The IDF also carried the message of the Leaflets as a post on IDF’s ‘X’ Wall.

The Israeli military said it would ‘invest maximum effort’ for those providing any information on hostages. It also promised and assured ‘complete confidentiality’ and a financial reward for those coming forward with relevant information in the leaflets giving its contact details.

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85yr-old released Hostage reveals ‘Intelligence lapse’ for October 7th attack by Hamas

Four women abducted were released by Hamas recently. Two American hostages were released first namely Judith and Natalie Raanan- mother and daughter holding dual citizenship of US-Israel.

Two Israeli women were released on humanitarian grounds according to Hamas which included Yocheved Lifshitz (85) and 79-year-old Nurit Yitzhak Cooper. Yocheved Lifschitz the 85-year-old released hostage- said she was kidnapped with her husband Oded . “I was hustled over a motorcycle and sped over fields, beat her with sticks broke her ribs. Describing her ordeal in Hebrew, Lifschitz words were being translated by her daughter -“We walked several kilometers in Gaza and reached a huge tunnel network that looked like a spider web. Lifschitz was speaking to reporters from Tel Aviv in the lobby of a Ichilov hospital where she is being treated and said she had “been through hell” describing the ‘hell’ of the harrowing Hamas Attack and terrifying capture, although she said,  her captors treated her well during captivity. Both women’s husbands remain in captivity.

 Lifshitz a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz in her informal testimony recounted her time in captivity. Finding chinks in Israeli Intelligence she was critical of the Israeli Army and revealed-“The lack of knowledge in Shin Bet (Israeli Army) harmed us very much. We were warned three weeks ahead of it. They showed us masses reaching the road. They sent fire balloons to burn our fields and the army somehow didn’t take it seriously. A catastrophic lapse in security that left so many Israelis exposed”.

Describing the attack she said –“And suddenly on Saturday, October 7th morning when all was quiet there was this heavy bombardment and under that cover, the mob broke through the multibillion-dollar huge barrier fence on the border, entered  Kibbutz and came in large numbers.”

During her captivity, she said -“Hostages slept on mattresses in tunnels and were given pita bread, cheese, and cucumber. It was clean and the doctor visited many women there. She also had a good word about her captors who she said treated her ‘nicely and medic and doctor was provided and medication was there if needed and they were polite’. No wonder the 85-year-old turned around and shook hands with one of her captors before being escorted to her freedom. And said she did that because –“they treated us gently and met all our needs!” Experts call it a case of “Stockholm Syndrome” where a fugitive feels trust and affection in cases of Kidnapping or Hostage by a victim towards their captor. 

At least 222 were taken hostages and 1400 Israelis were killed by Hamas on October 7 according to the Israeli military spokesperson

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Israel refuses visa to UN, asks UN Secretary-General to first apologise publicly, then resign

Israel refused to issue visas to UN representatives after remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appeared to justify Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel. Israel was reportedly learned to have said -” The time has come to teach the UN a lesson, calling it a “HUGE setback” for the UN & its propagandists.

Israel called for the resignation of UNSG Antonio Guterres after he told the Security Council ‘Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum’.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen, who participated in a Security Council ministerial meeting on the Israel-Gaza situation in the UN, was programmed to meet Secretary-General Guterres later on Tuesday afternoon at UN headquarters.  Cohen canceled his meeting with Guterres after remarks by the UN chief angered Israel- accusing him of “tolerating and justifying” terrorism. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s comment to the Security Council that attacks by Hamas “did not happen in a vacuum” was retorted by an angry Israel, that called for the UN chief’s resignation and apology.

Guterres commenting on the situation in the Middle East said that it was growing more dire by the hour and the war in Gaza was raging and risks spiralling throughout the region. The UN chief said it is “important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation”.   “They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have been vanishing,” he said in the meeting, also addressed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres said.

In a post on social network X’, Cohen said he “will not meet with the UN Secretary-General!” “After the October 7th massacre, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet!”

Later talking to reporters at the UN Security Council stakeout, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan lashed out at UN Secretary-General Guterres, saying his remarks in the council were “unfathomable”.

“You, Mr Secretary General, have lost all morality and impartiality. Because when you say those terrible words that these heinous attacks did not happen in a vacuum, you are tolerating terrorism and by tolerating terrorism, you are justifying terrorism.”

Erdan said –“Hamas beheaded babies, burnt families, raped women, and abducted kids, babies, and Holocaust survivors, but the Secretary-General is blaming Israel -the victim!”.

“This is a pure-blood libel. And I think that the Secretary-General must resign because from now on every day that he’s here in this building unless he apologizes immediately, we called him to apologize, there is no justification to the existence of this building,” Erdan said.        “The UN building was established to prevent atrocities. How can the Secretary-General, with his words, justify in any way the terrible atrocities that happened to our innocent civilians?” he asked

Cohen, addressing reporters at the Security Council, said: “There were no two sides” – “There is only one side to support. Therefore, I decided to cancel my meeting with the Secretary-General”. “We are fighting for Israel but we also fighting for the entire free world. Otherwise, the West will be the next. But we are determined to do everything to eliminate Hamas “totally”.

A visibly fuming, Erdan, said the meeting with the UN Secretary-General had to be canceled “Because I’ve been serving here for the last three years and I saw and I felt the impartiality of the Secretary-General and how he gives the feelings that he doesn’t really care, for the suffering of the Israeli civilians”.

A spokesperson for Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said: “The Secretary-General will meet with family representatives of hostages held in Gaza. They will be accompanied by a representative of the Israeli Permanent Mission to the United Nations.”

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24 Oct

Son of  founder member of Hamas breaks silence, spills out the workings of Hamas / Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO PALESTINE. Tagged: , , , , , , .


Son of  founder member of Hamas breaks silence and spilled out explicitly about the workings of Hamas

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 22ND OCTOBER 2023—-

Author, Mosab Hassan Yousef son of Sheikh Hassan- one of the founding members of Hamas, in an interview broke his silence and spilled out explicitly about the workings of Hamas- a designated terrorist organization by most of the world, with Fox News Brian Kilmeade.

In 2010, Mosab wrote a book “Son of Hamas”- A gripping account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices. Thereafter a documentary was made on his life called “Green Prints”.

Mosab, who was born in 1977, grew up in the West Bank where his father Sheikh Hassan was a founding member of Hamas. He was groomed to take a senior role before he turned on the terrorist group in prison. He then started spying for Israel and later converted to Christianity and ultimately was granted asylum in the US.

“Give us some insight into Hamas and how they operate and how they were able to pull off what they did on October 7th ?” Mosab began with –“I was born at the heart of Hamas leadership and I know them very well; They don’t care for Palestine people or human life. “I saw their brutality first-hand in 1996 when I spent about a year and a half in Megiddo Prison. They killed so many Palestinians at that point, and this is when I decided that I could not be with this movement.”

“I had to be honest with myself. Even though Hamas gave me advantages- I was like a prince in that world, but I did not like them,” he continued. “I turned against even my own blood, because I hated Hamas, and today, 25 years later, they are the rulers of Gaza, and we see what they are capable of doing. We saw what happened on October 7th. In fact, I asked a question what if they become a ruling party at some point what they will do.”

His remarks come almost two weeks after the terror group carried out a massacre of Israelis murdering and dismembering civilians, including children, and taking hostages.

Mosab continued – “Hamas is not a national movement. Hamas is a religious movement with a goal to establish an Islamic state. They don’t care for nationalism. Actually, they are against nationalism. They are using the Palestinian cause only to achieve their goals. The long-term goal is transforming the Middle East and the world into an Islamic state.”

And added –“The real culprit behind the scenes is Iran – the real master in this picture. Hamas does not serve the Palestinian people, Hamas serves Iran. Those are the masters of Hamas. So they lie about nationalism, that they are a national movement. They are using Palestinian people as a human shield.”

Now they have retreated back to Gaza. A ground incursion is about to happen, would you recommend Israel do this and what will they find when they go in? Brian asked.

Mosab answered -“First of all we need to evacuate civilians as much as we can. You know this is an ugly war and Israel did not start it. Hamas did! He stated in no uncertain terms.

“We need to encourage civilians to go into Egypt, possibly women and children, maybe men over 50 years old. Need to get them out of the picture. Then the Gaza Strip needs to be cut into two – North and South. It is the Northern part, where most of the tunnels are. We need to have a siege long enough to deplete the enemy and starve them” Mosab said and added.

SON OF HAMAS

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“After that, we may need to explore using GAS. This sounds horrible but I don’t see any other option as the tunnels are interconnected.” And “This has to be done at the right time we can’t just rush into it. Most importantly we need to get the civilians out of the picture”.

The anchor inserted –“Mosab you also say it’s almost impossible for us to give $100 million aid to the Gaza strip, and keep it away from Hamas?”

Mosab continues – “After destroying tunnels we need to finish Hamas Rule in Gaza on priority. Then, to replace the regime with the Palestinian Authority,  or the Egyptian Government, or the Arab League Force. We need to replace their rule in Gaza. After that, we can talk about Aid. As of now sending any aid would be a mistake!”

“So, you also believe that this isn’t about the Palestinians fighting for their rights and their sovereignty what is the real mission of Hamas? What do they really think of the Palestinian people? Was another query.

You know, the long-term goal of Hamas is transforming the Middle East and The World into an Islamic State. This is Hamas’s agenda and they are not hidden by the way.

“So Hamas is serving foreign agendas?”

“We are talking about Iran and Russia lately. Hamas serves those parties and Iran pays them close to a Billion Dollars annually” says the son of the Hamas leader

And continued – “Iran is the real master in this picture. Hamas doesn’t serve Palestinians Hamas serves Iran! They lie about Nationalism and they use Palestinians as a shield. We need to free Gaza from Hamas and this is what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people the greatest favour by bringing the Hamas down. Palestinian people want to live a normal life. They don’t want missiles, in the most populated areas on earth to be launched from under hospitals and from the crowded areas and going suicidal and endanger the life of the entire population of Gaza. WHO DOES THAT? You got to be insane to do that!

When asked by anchor –“ People around the globe are protesting for Hamas, they are saying Israel to back off and stop the airstrikes well, what do you say to those protestors?

I cannot convince the entire world of the truth. Right now people are emotional they hate to see children dying. Even though Hamas is killing the people at the hospital and we have evidence of that, they still blame Israel, people can blame whoever they want but now we have to focus, on public opinion is very important. Unfortunately, it’s not the time to win public opinion. It’s time to win the war against the most brutal terrorist organization today.

 Later on, when they look back at the situation, they will understand what we were doing. We should not be afraid of public opinion we have to explain as much as we can but now we have to concentrate on our goals”. The anchor commended  Mosab –“That’s why your perspective is so vital and unique you grew up in Hamas family, you broke from it and spoke to stop the violence.”

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India sends aid to Palestinian people through Egypt

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 22ND OCTOBER 2023—-

Embracing global togetherness and an inclusive policy towards humanity India flagged off humanitarian Aid for the people of Palestine today. The Government of India in its embrace of its unique people-centric gesture of – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’– The world is one village, on Sunday, sent aid to Palestine.

An Indian Air Force C-17 carried nearly 6.5 Tonnes of Medical Aid and 32 Tonnes of Disaster Relief Material for Palestine in the Gaza Strip amid a continuing war between Hamas and Israel, which will reach Gaza via Egypt. The flight departed for El-Arish airport in Egypt. The relief material will be sent via the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that –“Relief material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items”.

The humanitarian step was greatly appreciated by Twitterati of all strata including India’s majority Hindu community who always attempts to be in the forefront of extending help and support in the testing times of adversity even to countries and people who have inimical relations with its people. Indians’ generosity could be judged by its Covid vaccine generosity despite having an overwhelming population of its own.  India extended its hand far beyond its borders, providing medical aid and essential supplies to 150+ countries during the COVID-19 pandemic consolidating its commitment to global well-being.

Another recent example is India was the frontrunner for providing aid to Turkey during its devastating earthquake in February, despite having a bit of strain in its relationship. India always extended a helping hand to nations in their moments of need, embodying hope and unity and many of them lauded India’s step.

In a comment, a Twitterati wrote – “By unequivocally expressing solidarity with Israel against terror attack and by also providing humanitarian relief to Palestinian citizens caught in the crossfire, India has demonstrated a mature, nuanced diplomatic stance worthy of the mature democracy that India is”.

Meantime, in view of the ongoing developments in Israel and Palestine, Helplines continue to assist Indians at @MEAIndia, in addition, to  @indemtel & @ROIRamallah to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance at its 24-hour Control Room floated by the Ministry of External Affairs In for all Indians in distress stuck in Israel or Palestine expanses.

WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh

22 Oct

Indo-Canadian: India rejects the implementation of parity in diplomatic strength, as a violation of International law / Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


INDO-CANADIAN

India rejects the implementation of parity in diplomatic strength, as a violation of International law

Rashmi Talwar

October 20th 2023—–

In a scathing statement, India rejected any attempt by Canada to portray it in bad light or insinuate that India had violated any International law. A number of career diplomats and experts in International relations have expressed their points of assent and dissent on Twitter X platforms over the last many days. However, in the absence of any formal clearance from the Indian Government of a violation probability or improbability, the negative narrative was gaining steam.

Today, the Indian Foreign Office scotched all rumours and half-truths with the release of a formal official statement. In it, Delhi wrote in no uncertain terms that it was not violating any International Law by giving the marching orders to the Canadian diplomats and demanding parity in numbers in consonance with the number of Indian diplomats in Indian Missions in Canada. Delhi even expressed its ire and accused Canadian diplomats of their continued interference in the internal affairs of India and thus justified its demand to reduce their presence in the country’s mission offices.

Below is the verbatim statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Parity in Canadian diplomatic presence in India

We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India.

The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.

We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation.

Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following:

“In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission.”

We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms.

New Delhi

October 20, 2023

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Canadian FM faces a volley of questions on evidence sharing about  ‘Indian agents’ involvement in the killing of designated Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada

Canadian Foreign Minister Melaine Joly faced criticism for evading a direct question regarding the sharing of evidence with the Indian government on its alleged involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. During a press briefing, Melaine failed to clarify whether evidence was provided to India or not. She instead clarified in a roundabout way saying-  “We had numerous conversations with India before the (Canadian)  PM went in front of the house (Canadian Parliament) and made his declaration!”

“But did you show them the evidence, you are basing your claim on, you are not answering the question?”

And Melaine answered –“Through these different conversations the Indian officials were made aware of the “credible allegations” and so based on that,  India has decided to take their own decisions which are “precedent–setting” including  revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats  which is not only ‘unprecedented’ but also contrary to ‘International law’ so in that sense because this is so unprecedented, so many countries’ diplomats around the world are in danger, we decided not to reciprocate.”

Joly was caught totally off guard when repeatedly asked – “But you’re not answering the question directly on that point?” Joly asserted –“I have answered your question – you asked me a question whether we had a conversation and presented evidence, I told you there were meetings and information was shared.”

Question: “You (Joly) personally went to Washington and spoke to the Indian Foreign Minister, if you could confirm that to us; what is the tenor of the diplomatic conversation  (with India) is it still ongoing or is it over?

To which Joly answered –“Well, I always believe in diplomacy and so much that diplomacy is best when it is kept private. So I will continue to do that (Keep it private) and I know that my colleague as Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dr S Jaishankar) can count on me to make sure that we continue to engage and I ask for full cooperation.”

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Delays in Visas for Indians: Canada

Canada on Thursday stated a slowdown in its visa applications for Indians, as 41 Canadian diplomats were removed from India in the midst of the continuing logjam between the two countries.

This was following India’s intent to unilaterally remove immunity for all 41 Canadian diplomats but 21, in Delhi by October 20th. Ottawa informed that ‘Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was reducing its number of employees in India to five from 27. “The statement from IRCC stated to continue to accept and process applications from India but reduced staffing levels were expected to impact processing times”.  Authorities however assured that the Canada-based IRCC staff will do the day-to-day work required in the country.

In early October India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in India failing which their diplomatic immunity will be withdrawn. This is being seen as a further escalation of the diplomatic spat over the murder of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, shot outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey BC Canada on June 18th.

Two months after this killing Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau on September 18th alleged a “potential link” between the killing and  Indian government agents. India promptly dismissed the accusations as absurd and motivated. However, the issue which was on a diplomatic level was brought openly on the floor of the Canadian Parliament by its PM which triggered a diplomatic pandora between the two countries. Which led to expulsions of each other’s senior diplomats. Stung by ‘baseless and evidence-less’ allegations India subsequently further suspended all visa services for Canadian nationals and asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country. Adding that after October 20, India will remove all diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats in the Canadian Mission locations in India”

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WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh

21 Oct

Gujarat ATS Arrests Pak Hindu Spy, Sly-spy got fathers in defense services to upload photos with children via emotional msg Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


BREAKING NEWS

Gujarat ATS Arrests Pak Hindu Spy 

Sly-spy got fathers in defense services to upload photos with children via emotional msg

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 20TH October 2023—–Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a Pak spy (54 years) Labhsankar Maheswari from Tarapur, from coastal Gujarat through inputs by Military Intelligence (MI).

In July MI officials, got a whiff of something fishy from a WhatsApp number 90xxxx6792 who was later found to be a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). The spy used the WhatsApp application, to compromise Android mobile handsets of Serving Defence Forces. These defence personnel were mostly having wards studying in different Army Public Schools (APS) across the country. He targeted these personnel, through WhatsApp messages luring them to install certain malicious Android applications (“.apk” files) in the garb of a Nationalist campaign named – “Har Ghar Tiranga” just before Independence Day.  

The WhatsApp user (purportedly a Pakistani Intelligence agent sitting in Pakistan), posing as an APS official sent the national-pride message with the malicious application to such targets with the patriotic text message encouraging them to install the application and upload their ward’s photo with the national flag on the application, to participate in the competition. MI smelled a rat detected a nefarious campaign and started pursuing the caller. The last cellular use of the mobile number 90xxxx6792 was detected in Gujarat where MI officials sought assistance from ATS Gujarat Police. After exhaustive technical analysis and groundwork by Gujarat Police ATS, the spy named Labhsankar Maheshwari was identified.

Labhsankar was found to have facilitated the Pakistani agency in acquiring the Indian WhatsApp number by passing the account creation OTP on the said number to the Pakistani agency.

With further assistance, the Air Force Intelligence (AFI) accurately identified the targeted Android mobile device and brought it for cyber forensics examination by the Gujarat Police ATS. A cyber forensics examination by FSL Gujarat revealed that the WhatsApp number- 90xxxx6792, was being used and operated from Pakistan. It was being used to target and hack mobile devices especially those belonging to Indian Defence personnel and acquire critical information about them, their whereabouts, their families, and other parameters.

It is also suspected that the Pakistani agency managed to acquire a significant amount of information pertaining to students of Army Public Schools (and their guardians) through old or existing vulnerabilities through their usage of websites or Android applications. For instance -the “DigiCamp Mobile Application” is available on the websites of all Army Public Schools and is mostly used for paying fees to APS. These schools come under the ‘Army Welfare Education Society (AWES)’, a private body supported by the  Indian Army.

Gathering rock-solid evidence and additional information through ground verification, the Gujarat Police ATS lodged an FIR, under sections of IPC and Indian IT Act, at ATS, Ahmedabad against Labhsankar Maheshwari on Wednesday and arrested him on Thursday from his house in Tarapur, Anand district, Gujarat.

It was found that Labhsankar Maheswari, originally a Pakistani Hindu had come to India in 1999 with his wife, for fertility treatment. Initially, he was staying at his in-laws house in Tarapur. The in-laws had shifted to India beforehand. While putting up at Tarapur,  he kept applying long term visas and with support from his in-laws established himself as a successful businessman with a grocery store, multiple rented-out shops and stores, and later his very own house in Tarapur. 

The couple, however, lived without any children. Subsequently, they were granted Indian citizenship in 2006. In early 2022, Maheshwari visited his parents in Pakistan. It is suspected that he was cultivated and groomed during his visa processing, and during his one and half month stay in Pakistan at the house of his parents. It is believed, it is since this trip he has been in communication with the Pakistani Intelligence Agency.

Apart from facilitating the creation of the WhatsApp account, Maheshwari later sent the SIM card to Pakistan and provided other assistance to the Pak Intelligence Agency including transferring money to some other suspected espionage conduits on behalf of the Pakistani agency.

The investigation is still on and more details are expected to spill out shortly, informed the authorities

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WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh.wordpress.com

20 Oct

1200 persons evacuated from war-torn Israel- Palestine in 5-flights, Jemima Imran Khan tweets

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, ISRAEL PALESTINE. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


Former PM Pakistan Imran Khan with his x-wife Jemima Goldsmith and their 2 sons Suliman Isa Khan and Kasim Khan in happier times

Israel-Palestine War 

1200 persons evacuated from war-torn Israel Palestine in five flights, 18 Nepalese saved, Jemima Imran Khan tweets

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 19th OCTOBER 2023—-India’s ongoing ‘Operation Ajay”  evacuated 1200 persons including 18 Nepalese, in five flights from Tel Aviv from the warzone of Israel and Palestine (Hamas), since they started on October 12th; six days after the Israel (Hamas )Palestine war started on  t7th October. “Some of the Indians are in the Gaza and West Bank areas and we shall try to come to their rescue as well”, informed Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

No Indian casualty till now has been reported. Only one suffered injuries and, her condition is now stable.

While condemning the horrific bombing of the Al-Ahil hospital in Palestine and serious and continuing concern over civilian casualties, and the humanitarian situation, the Foreign Office spokesman said –“On humanitarian assistance, India has been supporting Palestine and Palestine refugees through significant contribution to UN Relief with a total of $29.53 million contributed between 2002 and 2023. The Indian annual contribution has been increased from 1.25 to 5 million in 2018 and we have pledged 5 million for the next two years.

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BOX

Jemima Goldsmith x-wife of former Pak PM Imran Khan caught between two warring faiths, Jewish-Christian and converted Muslim  ….Tweets on X

Imran Khan with his wife Jemima and two-year-old son Sulaiman arrive at the Churchill Inter-Continental Hotel in London )

Jemima Goldsmith, the first wife of former Pak PM Imran Khan, from 1995 –to 2004, moved to Pakistan after her marriage and was later hounded for her Jewish roots when Imran- the former Cricket Captain of the Pakistan Team,  jumped into politics leading his  Tareek-E –Insaf Party. Jemima, today jumped into the Twitter now ‘X” pool of words and pooled her past experiences openly with the Twitteretti crowd, on the open platform.

Jemima was an Anglican Christian before she converted to Islam for her marriage to Imran. However, in Pakistan, she claimed to have been made acutely aware of her Jewish roots since her paternal grandfather was a German Jew. “‘ Imran’s political opponents used and abused her roots to muddy Khan’s chances in Pak Politics’ Imran had said in one Televised interview.

Caught between the crossfires of two opposing (rather three different faiths)  and Khan’s political ambitions, Jemima the British Millionaires’ divorced Khan in 2004 and moved with her two sons back to Britain.    

In light of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine (Hamas), Jemima tweeted, finding herself compelled to engage in a verbal duel opening up about her experience with both religions as the bloody faith-related war raged on and wrote:

“I realize that Twitter spats don’t help anyone. I have found it hard to disengage – I have Jewish and Muslim family members & friends, whom I deeply love. I have lived in a Muslim country for ten years and have been to Gaza and the West Bank and I also have a historic family connection to Israel. I have personally had (and continue to receive) countless death threats on account of my Jewishness & faced decades of anti-semitic abuse. The father of my children was shot, according to his would-be -assassin, because of his “proximity to the Jews” – ie. me. Meanwhile, my children have faced Islamophobia in the UK (& anti-semitism in Pakistan!).  

Perhaps because of these experiences, I passionately believe that political tribalism is the enemy, not just of reasonable discourse but of peace. It’s why I’m so in awe of the bravery & integrity of those Israelis who despite having lost relatives in the last few days, have made some of the most powerful statements against the ongoing bombing of Gaza. I pray their voices are heard. Killing and maiming thousands more innocent children will not save terrorized hostages, nor will it bring peace and, like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan post 9-11, will likely only create more terrorism and a less safe world for all of us.”

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WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh

13 Oct

First Chartered Rescue Flight by India under ‘Op Ajay’ reaches Israel / Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA ISRAEL, INDIA PALESTINE. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


India RESCUE

First Chartered Rescue Flight by India under ‘Op Ajay’ reaches Israel

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR OCTOBER 12, 2023—–

As many as 230 Indian passengers readied themselves for the first “Ops Ajay” rescue and evacuation chartered flight tonight from Israel, that would land them in safety to their home countries from the war zone of the Israel-Hamas-Palestine War. This is the first batch that would be evacuated out of the conflict zone and flight parameters are fervently being worked out for more flights for stranded Indians. This is the first group of Indians to be notified of evacuation.

India is in touch with Tel Aviv, Israel for the safe rescue of 18000 of its nationals that are stuck in the Israel-Palestine war zone. Special charter flights and necessary arrangements under the operations are underway till the filing of this report. “We don’t rule out other flights including using Indian Air Force planes for evacuation “, said the Ministry of Affairs spokesperson  Arindam Bagchi addressing a press conference today.

India has launched Ops Ajay in a phased evacuation of its citizens from Israel. External EAM spokesman said the Indian embassy continues to compile lists of its citizens and has given a call in Israel to its citizens to contact its embassies in Tel Aviv and Ramallah and register themselves urgently.

Has the Israeli embassy contacted India regarding a return flight to bring back its Israelis to their home country in the same return flight?” “Only the Israel embassy can answer this, but no barter flight modalities are worked out till now with Israel”, MEA said. On how worrisome was the situation?” The MEA said there was a call out by the Indian embassy to its citizens to follow the advisory issued by Tel Aviv strictly.  He admitted to the MEA being concerned over the injury of one Indian citizen and was in touch with the person in hospital and denied any casualty of Indian so far.

About security concerns, the MEA said “Obligations under Vienna conventions” are being followed to evacuate safely our citizens.  Concerning any weapons or support to Israel the MEA said India has received no such demands or feelers from Israel.  

On the Evacuation of those on the high-density conflict sites like the Gaza Strip and the West Bank the MEA said there were a dozen or 13 people in the West Bank and 3-4 in the Gaza Strip and we are in touch, there are constraints,  but we will take them if they request assistance. “How does India see Hamas?”-  “It should be clear that we see this (Hamas ) as a terrorist attack! How does India see the situation in Palestine? He said “India policy in this regard has been longstanding and consistent.  India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders side by side at peace with Israel. That remains our position to date.”

How do we see developments that are happening including the violence the PM raised some issues? “I like to add there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law; There is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations that sums up India’s position.”

Meantime the Ministry of External Affairs has established a 24/7 control room in Delhi to oversee the operation. Separate emergency helplines and Tel Aviv and Ramallah are operational to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine. India’s efforts aim to assist over 18000 Indians in Israel including a small number of students, caregivers, diamond traders, and IT professionals.

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Russian Prez Putin concerned over loss of civilian lives in Israel Hamas war: Let Men fight

“Leave woman and children alone!” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on day 6th of October 12th of the Israel-Hamas war.

Urging both sides to minimize loss of civilian lives, in retaliation to Hamas atrocities on Israeli soil, as Israel Defense force continued to pummel Palestine terror assets in Gaza, the Russian Prez urged both sides to aim for minimum loss of civilian population including women and children in an ‘X’ video post.   

“What’s happening is terrible. We understand that the level of violence is very high on both sides but nonetheless, no matter how high it is, we need to aim to minimize the losses to the civilian population, to minimize casualties among women, children, and elderly people. “If men decide to fight, let them fight each other. Leave the women and children alone, this applies to both sides”, the Russian boomed.  

Russian President’s remarks come at a time when a terrorist group Hamas indiscriminately massacred children in Israel which was confirmed by US President Joe Biden. The Palestine side also alleges similar atrocities on women and children by Israel.

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India’s Recent Rescue Operations

India has undertaken successful evacuation operations including Operation Ganga” to evacuate Indians from Ukraine, and “Operation Kaveri” to bring back Indian nationals from Sudan during times of civil unrest there. A third ”Operation Ajay” for Israel Palestine  is added to the list no

Hamas launched a “surprise attack” on Israel on October 7 with a volley of rockets into Israel. Israel declared war on Palestine thereafter. As many as 2100 were killed in the Israel-Hamas War. About 18000 Indians are stranded in the war zones.

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84 countries supporting Israel, 20 countries with Palestine-Hamas

As many as 84 countries of the world are supporting Israel and  20 countries with Palestine-Hamas. However, 28 United Nations member states still do not recognize Israel. Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with two of its Arab neighbors Egypt and Jordan after signing peace treaties in 1979 and 1994 respectively. In 2020 Israel signed agreements with four of the Arab League including Bahrain, UAE, Sudan, and Morocco. Egypt was the first Arab country to establish ties with Israel.

Palestine has the support of Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Kuwait, Turkey, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Bangladesh, Brunei, Sudan, Algeria, Malaysia, and others. Israel is supported by many Western countries including the “5 eyes” USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand Israel. Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Hungary, Czech Republic, Europe, and Japan.

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Kashmiri Woman in Palestine seeks evacuation, FO seized of the matter

A Kashmiri Lubna Nazir Shaboo seeks evacuation from Palestine. India received a distress call from a Kashmiri woman Lubna, Nazir Shaboo on a social media video. Lubna claimed she was stuck in Gaza where Hamas struck Israel with rockets amid a raging war between Israel and Hamas. Lubna, an academic, and a resident of Srinagar is married to a Palestine and has reached out to India’s Foreign Office (FO) for rescue from the Gaza Strip he has come under Israel’s siege cutting off water, electricity, and food to the region besides plugging all exit points of the territory.  The government is seized of the matter said Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Indian FO during a press conference today. He said as many as a dozen or 13 Indians are stuck in the Gaza Strip and about 3-4 are stranded in the West Bank side.

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The writer can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

7 Oct

Day of viral videos  puts Canadian PM Trudeau in an embarrassing position /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , .


Day of viral videos  puts Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in an embarrassing position

Day of viral videos  puts Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in an embarrassing position

Putin Labels Canadian Speaker an ‘Idiot’ over #Nazigate

Rashmi Talwar

Amritsar 6th Oct 2023—-

Even as reports filtered in about the pullout of Canadian diplomats from India to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, following the Indian Foreign Office’s adamant stand on the repatriation of 41 Canadian diplomats from India, Russian President Vladimir Putin labelled Canada’s former speaker ‘Anthony Rota’ an idiot!

    “If he didn’t know that Hitler and his henchmen fought against Russia during WWII, It just means he didn’t study in school and has no basic knowledge, And, if he did know ‘Yaroslav Hunka’ was a Nazi and calls him a hero of Canada and Ukraine then he is a villain!” Putin put down the Canadian speaker in a video that went viral on ‘X” today heaping more embarrassment on Canada.

The Russian President lashed out reacting to #Nazifest that unfolded days earlier when Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Volodymyr Zelensky gave war criminal Yaroslav Hunka, a standing ovation on the floor of the Canadian Parliament before embarrassing revelations about him fighting for the  Nazis, tumbled out.

The Canadian speaker stepped down from his position after the huge embarrassment for Canada in its Parliament, surfaced.

link:

https://x.com/eOrganiser/status/1710183103795466292?s=20

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Canadian, refused a handshake with its PM Trudeau

In another video, a Canadian citizen refused to shake hands with a smiling Canadian PM Justin Trudeau –“ I am not shaking your hand – you f**ked this country”.  “How did I mess up this country?” Trudeau is asking the man in the video clip.  To which, the citizen says, “Can anybody afford a home in this day in Canada? You ruined the whole country. You are sending aid to Ukraine, to a guy who slaughtered his own country.”

Under Canada’s lenient refugee policy, more than 80,000 Ukrainians have entered Canada which has raised the heckles of Canadians who are facing the highest inflation rate in food, lifestyle and housing.

link:

https://x.com/ShreeShankar96/status/1710492461716660675?s=20

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Video trends of Trudeau admitting to smoking marijuana

In another embarrassment to Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau was seen in a video admitting to the use of marijuana in the past .” A very rare user of Marijuana  I think about five or six times in my life I took a puff. And one of those puffs was three years ago when I was an MP.” the Canadian PM is saying quite openly. 

This adds a bit of credibility to the statement of Deepak Vohra, a former Indian diplomat who was labelled to have made ‘bizarre claims’ against the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, saying when Trudeau came to India for the G20 this month to Inda, his plane was apparently “full of cocaine”. He further claimed that because he (Trudeau) was high on drugs, as he did not come out of his room for two days leaving him unable to attend G20 programmes. The Indian diplomat made these claims during a Television debate, where he said that sniffer dogs had smelled cocaine on Trudeau’s plane.

Vohra also ripped the Canadian PM over his “credible allegations” statement, in his parliament address. Trudeau used the words “credible allegations “against Indian agents involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjer. “It can either be ‘credible’ or it can be ‘allegations’. He took a jibe and said -I also have a ‘credible rumour ‘ to make in this case that Trudeau is crazy! It is a ‘credible rumour’, the former diplomat was known to have spat out.

Trudeau had said that the Canadian government had ‘credible allegations’ that the Indian government agents were behind the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian, on Canadian soil. Harjit is a Khalistani terrorist designated by India.

link:

https://x.com/mekarora/status/1707363029380383038?s=20

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5 Oct

NIA, hot on the heels of Khalistanis indulging in Anti-India propaganda / Rashmi Talwar/

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


NIA, hot on the heels of Khalistanis indulging in Anti-India propaganda,

Two videos insulting the Indian flag emerge on X

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 5TH Oct 2023—

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) is seized of the matter of two videos trending on Twitter now ‘X’, that show Khalistani activists insulting the Indian flag in full public view.

NIA is looking for local Indian connections of those in the video

One of the videos comes from the United Kingdom (UK) and the other from Canada.

In the video from the UK, the Khalistanis are pouring a liquid calling it urine on the Indian flag and making fun of India’s national pride.

In the second video from Canada the group is more vocal and uses a ‘Dhol’ and is seen kicking the Indian flag rolled as a turban.

Both the videos are extremely hurtful to Indians all over the world. Naresh, an Indian in the USA contended that the USA, Canada, UK’s so-called free speech and expression are greatly being misused to denigrate friendly countries. The ‘FIVE EYES’ UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada should take notice and bring some norms of decency and respectful behaviour towards other countries.

Gurinder Singh, in Canada a grocery outlet owner, was of the similar view that elements spewing, cultivating and spreading hatred should be pulled up by respective governments, afterall a country is responsible for the behaviour of its own citizens!

video links

CANADA

United Kingdom

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NEW YORK

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American Comic Andrew Schulz roasts Canadian PM brings house down with laughter

American stand-up comedian Andrew Schulz Hezi mercilessly roasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over Canada’s diplomatic standoff over the killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an Indian-origin- Canadian citizen, on Canadian soil.

In his unique and somewhat skewed humour, Andrew said I saw a headline about –“A Punjabi! Separatist! Assassinated! In Canada and- “I said ‘Oh No! They got Justinder !!!…’, ‘How did they get Justinder ?’ in his latest hilarious take off that brought the full stadium into the throes of loud laughter  (PM Justin Trudeau, seen as a  sympathiser, protector and ally of Khalistanis in India is adorably called ‘Trudeau Singh’, ‘JustInder’, and many such delightful names in India and abroad)

Andrew has 510,000 followers on Twitter now ‘X’.

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5 Oct

Canada develops cold feet over escalated standoff with India.  Now wants ‘diplomatic’ and ‘private’ talks /Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


Canada develops cold feet over escalated standoff with India.  Now wants ‘diplomatic’ and ‘private’ talks with New Delhi over downsizing of Canadian missions 

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 4TH October 2023—

When the Indian Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar boomed –“Let’s not normalize what is happening in Canada!” It seems the world, particularly Canadians, Indians, and watchers of International affairs, and foreign missions world over, listened, intently, nodded, and applauded India’s stand. “There is today, a climate of violence, an atmosphere of intimidation, and activities, such as smoke-bombs thrown at Indian missions, mission officials denied entry in a place of worship, individuals were targeted and intimidated, there were posters put up” –  Do you consider this is normal? Questioned the FM and no one could deny these observations. 

Meantime, on the other side of the net,  Canadian PM Justin Trudeau seemed to have toned down after India’s diplomatic offensive of declaring persona non grata, 41 of Canada’s diplomats in India after October 10. “We are going on in extremely challenging times with India now and that’s why it’s so important for us to have diplomats on the ground working with the Indian government there supporting Canadian families.” Said the Canadian PM –“And we have to continue to engage responsibly and constructively with the Indian government!” he added when queried over the new state of affairs that Canada finds itself after New Delhi gave an ultimatum for equi-sizing of Canadian diplomatic strength in India with that Indian missions in Canada. As many as 62 Canadian diplomats are stationed in India compared to India’s 20 diplomats in Canada.

Interestingly, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly too seemed to have softened down and put across the Canadian plan of action to tackle the impasse diplomatically. “First and foremost we are in contact with the government of India, and we are taking the security of Canadian diplomats very seriously and we will continue to engage ‘privately’ because we feel that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain ‘private’. We are in constant cooperation for any way to stop the expulsion of Canadian diplomats.

On a query that India has asked for downsizing nearly two-thirds of Canada’s diplomatic strength in consulates in India, how would that impact Canada and Canadian citizens and businesses? She repeated the lines -“We continue to engage and it is important that we do so. But as I said a number of times, these conversations take place diplomatically and privately.”

The stress on ‘diplomatic and private’ talks is ironic considering that a diplomatic flashpoint was reached over a very ‘untactful handling’ of the Canadian PM’s blame game on India in full attention of the Canadian Parliament’s floor, over the killing of a ‘terrorist’ Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated terrorist by Government of India, whose extradition plea by India had been successively and deliberately ignored on flimsy grounds by Canada.

Experts feel- “ If a diplomatic and sober stand was chosen by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in the first place to take up the case of Hardeep Nijjar’s killing, instead of declaring it in the Canadian Parliament, albeit that too without ‘placeable’ evidence  it would have not had such a tidal effect between the two countries .”

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‘5-eyes’ diplomatic presence in India

*How many Canadian Embassies/Consulates are there in India? Canada currently maintains 7 diplomatic representative offices in India including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and New Delhi

* The US Embassy in Delhi coordinates the activities of four consulates in India — in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad – ensuring a strong U.S.-India relationship throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest U.S. diplomatic missions in the world, a reflection of the importance the United States places on its relationship with India.

* Consular Assistance in India is provided by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and Australian Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

* New Zealand mission Offices operate in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh.

* British High Commission Offices are located in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai. It also has an office at Bangalore covered by the Deputy High Commission in Chennai.

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Author Rashmi Talwar can be reached at email: Rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

4 Oct

Government contemplating cancellation of OCI cards, asks Canada to repatriate its 40 diplomats from Indian High Commission / Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


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2 Oct

Harman, London’s Sikh Restaurateur calls foul as Khalistani Sikhs vandalize his car, seen in a Viral video/ Rashmi Talwar /Greater Jammu

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA UK, KHALISTAN KHALISTANI. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


Harman, London’s Sikh Restaurateur calls foul as Khalistani Sikhs vandalize his car, seen in a Viral video

Rashmi Talwar

Amritsar 1st Oct 2023—As soon as Major Gaurav Arya (retd), having a following of 1.6 Million uploaded videos on his X social networking platform, about Harman Singh Kapoor, a UK-based Sikh Restaurateur,  thousands of comments likes, and replies flooded his wall. In the video recorded in the UK by a neighbour of Harman is seen appealing to Arya to highlight his case as he has been facing death threats for the past 8 months after posting anti-Khalistan posts on his Facebook group with a following of about 2.5 K.

Harman and his wife Khushi are owners of  Rangrez Restaurant in London UK       

Photo caption: Harman Singh Kapoor’s  Vandalized car splashed with Red Paint 

“I have been under threat from Khalistanis for the past 8 months,” said Harman showing his car splashed with red paint and a bullet mark on the windscreen in the video. At least three attempts have been made on my life and also on my family. My family gets death and rape threats regularly but I and my family refuse to bow down in front of Khalistanis.

Harman was attacked by Pro Khalistan radicals days after the Indian High Commission in London was vandalized by them. Recently he uploaded “The Canadian PM was first in the world to put allegations on another country without evidence!” And adds – “Trudeau is harbouring criminals for his vote bank and these Khalistanis that he is protecting will one day carry out riots in Canada!”

“I had to go underground into hiding with my family because of these threats from Khalistan is at that point I thought of putting an end to the whole issue and saving the family but then my kids just 16 and 17 years old said that we won’t be able to see ourselves in the mirror if we surrender thus …..We will keep fighting I have been living in the UK for the last 46 years but then ” Dil mein hai Hindustan”. 

His family and wife Khushi have allegedly been attacked 3-times. They have been threatened on social media and have received intimidation calls.

Harman alleged the attackers asked him to remove the post and raise slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Hindustan Murdabad”. They also told him to burn India’s flag or else he would be killed.

“I wonder if these people are asking for ‘Khalsa Raj’ or ‘Gunda Raj,” Harman said. Harman Kapoor says the so-called ‘liberal’, ‘free speech loving’ UK government has taken no notice of this kind of harassment in this country. The alleged threats were made despite repeated assurances by the police of safety and special safeguarding measures. Harman says that UK Police have done nothing and that the Khalistanis are running amok. Anything could happen to him or his family at any time.

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 Photo caption: Harman Singh Kapoor with his flashy clothes and Turban 

A flamboyant Sikh couple Harman who has resided in the UK for 46 years cannot be missed with fancy branded ties such as LV, Dior, Michael Kors, and Burberry over his turban, brightly branded flashy shirts rings gold chains, fancy glares. He and his wife often make spoofs of Khalistanis on their Facebook page, appearing in their fancy outfits. His Facebook page names and shames Khalistanis out to denigrate India. Two of them were Kuldeep Singh Mankoo and Tejinder Gill, allegedly of the “Khalistani” Gang.

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30 Sep

Kashmiri woman activist busts Pakistan’s malicious propaganda at United Nations / Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in UNITED NATIONS. Tagged: , , , , .


‘We will snatch our Kashmir from Pakistan that rightfully belongs to us’: Tasleema

Kashmiri woman activist busts Pakistan’s malicious propaganda at United

‘We will snatch our Kashmir from Pakistan that rightfully belongs to us’: Tasleema

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 29 SEPT 2023—– A Kashmiri woman Tasleema Akhtar, bust the balloon of Pak Propaganda at the 54th Session of the United Nations in Geneva in its current session. Tasleema Akhtar, a socio-political activist, unmasked the concocted propaganda by Pakistan about Kashmir and Kashmiris during the of UN’s Human Rights Council Session.

In her intervention, Tasleema who wore a black and white Hijab over beige colored Kashmiri ‘Phiren’ or long cloak, put forward stark developmental and other differences between the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK)

A native of JandK Tasleema compared the two regions under India and Pakistan- “UT of Jammu and Kashmir on our Indian side is bringing widespread transformational changes for the betterment of people. While Kashmiris living in Pak-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are living at the mercy of the Pakistan government who have utter disregard for them, their basic human rights or any responsibilities towards providing any fundamental amenities for them.” She read out.  

And further added- “While the  Indian government is investing in projects and bringing peace and prosperity to the region, Pakistan is struggling to meet its basic financial obligations, at the same time it is shielding terrorist outfits to wage a proxy war in India. PoJK lacks even basic infrastructure amenities and has negligible resources and if at all it has, it is by misappropriation of the meager funds of Pakistan.  Education and literacy rates in J&K are far ahead of PoJK. The Government of India spends ‘nine’ times more in UT compared to its counterpart of Kashmir occupied by Pak.”

And continued-“PoJK, is facing a major crisis in the education sector, it lacks basic infrastructure including building structures, providing clean toilets, drinking water index, causing acute hardships to our Kashmiri students on the other sides, resulting in high dropout rate of students there.

In the health sector, PoJK is poor while JK here is availing full health benefits even in remote areas and under various health schemes which is a far-off dream for the people of PoJK. 

On the sidelines, Tasleema said to a TV channel- “I am here to raise the voice on behalf of my Kashmiri community, which has been a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. A mother was deprived of a son, a brother snatched as also snatching both parents from the child using deadly bullets. I’m here to put across their pain, death, and depth of suffering. I have come here to the UN to put a voice to their wounds and concerns. In the last 30 years, Pak-sponsored terrorists have not given us a single night to sleep peacefully.  It is only in the last two or three years, we have seen a bit of calm in our Kashmir, but Pakistan terrorists do not let us have any peace anywhere. “She cited the recent example of the recent Anantnag Encounter killing Humayun Butt SP Police and Col Manpreet Singh Maj Ashish Dhanauk. They rape Kashmiris, they hunt us !”

“I ask on what basis they come to Kashmir, with whose permission like “Chors”, they enter our country as thieves. No country is going to tolerate this. They bring their baggage infiltrate into India and then kill the locals. I have come to the UN to ask for justice for those victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and their families. ‘They ask us to provide food and break open our doors to enter houses and premises. They have for long terrorized in such an inhuman manner that the victim’s voices are muzzled badly. The victims cannot share the ignoble atrocities committed on them or acts done onto them, with anyone. Due to fear and shame, they become mute about these instances.  Even now, they feel they cannot open their mouths about what happened to them.  ‘They’ (Pak Sponsored Terrorists)  commit rape and untold atrocities.’ 

And further states- “When we heard stories of victim’s suffering for the first time it was Earth-shattering and heartbreaking for us. Those orphaned children, victims of terrorism roam around aimlessly in deep trauma and grief. They go from pillar to post not knowing where their lives were leading them. Pakistani terrorists have snatched their lives, and their education; they have snatched their shelter, the canopy of love, security, and protection from parents who have been killed. I am here to ask for justice for these victims. I’m hopeful and God willing if justice and hearing start about them here it could trigger a wave against terrorism, otherwise, this Pak-sponsored terrorism will destroy the world.  

On a query -“But Pakistan says in UN that they are talking about the rights of Kashmiri!” To which she says “Which rights of Kashmiris are they talking about?  Tasleema lashes out. Adding “Pakistani terrorists are agents of death and are into the business of death and destruction through terrorism. They have blood on the hands of innocent Kashmiris who have been sent into the Graves. Which right of Kashmiri do Pakistan terrorists talk about? She boomed.

“I am from the grassroots level of Kashmir I am not one of those Kashmiris who make noise about Kashmir sitting in the UK, Germany Italy, US. Those ones only parrot the words of Pakistan, which sponsors terrorism in Kashmir.  

Show me anyone of them who lives at the grassroots level in Kashmir, and then they can claim to talk on behalf of Kashmiris!

I stay in Kashmir and I know each day, every minute, and second about happenings in Kashmir because I, stay there. After addressing the UN here I shall again go back to my Kashmir. The number and kind of atrocities committed in Kashmir is limitless. Now we will expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. And we will continue to expose them always.

Pakistan is radicalizing and misguiding the Kashmiri youth by using ‘Jihad’.  Which ‘Jihad’? That which kills humanity?

In a full-blown response, Tasleema retorted – Pakistan needs to introspect that as a Muslim country why Shias are banned, and why Ahmedis are persecuted in Pakistan. “Look at our India it is a multi-religious country, look at our brotherhood!” 

 If as a Muslim country, Pakistan cannot tolerate their own religious sects and coexist peacefully, what will they do with Kashmiris? Are they not bloodthirsty about Kashmiris? They want only Kashmiri’s land they don’t want any Kashmiri ‘Quam’ or people of Kashmir. But Pakistan is sadly mistaken about Po JK.
“PoJK is a part of Indian Kashmir and we will snatch that from Pakistan. It is our land!”

Kashmir occupied by Pakistan has no authentic documents to buttress their claim.  They are committing atrocities on Kashmiris in Pakistan with no electricity, which facilities were given in all of these years, tell us? When they claim they facilitate the public of PoJK with self-rule (calling it Azad-‘Free’ Kashmir) it is the Pakistan army that rules them. Compare this to the development works and projects in Jammu and Kashmir in India every single day, there is progress! There are good roads, hospitals, and good colleges, and the Tourism &hospitality infrastructure is also being enlarged and expanded. 

The PM has granted a five lakh cover for any person who is hospitalized via a gold health card scheme.  We are living a better life and we desire to intervene in the affairs of PoJK affairs more actively because it is our Kashmiris who are facing atrocities and we cannot tolerate these atrocities on our brethren in PoJK.

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Junaid Qureshi talks from Geneva 

 Kashmiri Junaid Qureshi (Director European Foundation for South Asian Studies EFSAS) while talking to this Writer from Geneva over the Phone,  shared about his presentation/intervention at the 54th UN during the General Debate Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

He relates -“In the worst migrant boat disaster in the Mediterranean Sea, a boat carrying 750, people capsized in June this year (2023). At least 300 people from Pakistan, including 135 from Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir, died. Names as the ‘Greece Tragedy’ such tragedies have become a recurring feature for Pakistanis, who see no end to the devastating economic, political, and climate crises that compel them to flee. However, the inordinately large number of youth from Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir to undertake such dangerous journeys is because of poor living conditions and a stifling environment created by an oppressive regime.”

He further underlines – “The Jammu Kashmir issue is complex, but Islamabad has no locus standee there, as the former princely State had legally acceded to India. The primary question, then is, should an occupying power be allowed to hold on to territory without legal title, and call it ‘Azad’ or ‘Free’ but treat it like a colony to be exploited and ceded. Moreover, it impoverishes its people through exploitative policies and culpable inattention. Thereby forcing them to leave in large numbers just to ensure survival.”

 He further added at UNGA (HR Session) “Human trafficking remains a thriving ‘industry’ in Pakistan surviving on patronage of unscrupulous politicians and officials. This was underlined by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which asked the State to take responsibility “for its part” in the Greece tragedy.” and urged the presiding President, -“Perhaps, such an assertion by this august Council is also in order”, before placing his mike down and taking his seat. 

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Junaid Qureshi

Junaid Qureshi holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the VU University Amsterdam and is the Director of the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS based in the Netherlands.

Qureshi is a columnist for Kashmiri and other world-renowned periodicals, as well as for the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA- the advisory organization on foreign affairs to NATO).

As a political commentator, Qureshi’s expertise ranges from cultural history, religions, and socio-political conditions of the subcontinent, with a particular focus on Jammu & Kashmir, and Indo-Pak relations. Has appeared in European and South Asian media (Radio, TV, Newspapers). In addition, he has been a regular speaker on issues about extremism, and youth radicalization, at the international fora of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and the European Parliament in Brussels where he has placed his intervention in more than 25 sessions.

Hailing from Srinagar, JK, his family still lives there. He also has family living in Pakistan Administered Jammu & Kashmir.

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23 Sep

Indo-Canadian Rift: Canada Plants a face Saving Article/ NIA Releases Terrorists Posters / Rashmi Talwar

Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO CANADIAN, INDO-CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


Indo-Canadian Rift: Canada Plants a face-saving article

Rashmi Talwar

    NIA Releases Terrorists’ Posters

    The article by CBC News titled “Canada has Indian diplomats’ communication in bombshell murder probe: sources” by Evan Dyer stirred a storm on  ‘X’

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 22ND SEPT 2023—-In an article described by many as ‘desperate’ and an alleged leak presumably by Canadian authorities with the rising clamour of noises calling for ‘proof of the pudding’ (pudding here meaning the outright accusations by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau citing ‘potential links’ of Indian agents to the murder of designated terrorist and Khalistan ideologue Hardeep S Nijjer outside a Surrey Gurdwara on June 18 by unknown gunmen).

    The article, by Evan Dyer journalist with CBC for 25 years, citing sources, asserts– “The Canadian government has amassed both ‘human’ and ‘signals intelligence’ in a months-long investigation of a Sikh activist (Nijjer’s) death that has inflamed relations with India. That intelligence includes communications involving Indian officials themselves, including Indian diplomats present in Canada: citing Canadian government sources”. (‘Signal intelligence’ could mean telephonic snooping! Says an intelligence source)

    The article adds –“The intelligence did not come solely from Canada. Some were provided by an unnamed ally in the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance. In a diplomatic crisis that unfolded progressively behind the scenes, Canadian officials went to India on several occasions seeking cooperation in the investigation of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death. The Sikh leader was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C, on June 18 and reportedly had been warned by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service that he was at risk.

    The article continues: “Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Adviser Jody Thomas was in India over four days in mid-August, then again for five days this month. That last visit overlapped with a tense meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The Canadian sources say that, when pressed, behind closed doors, no Indian official has denied the bombshell allegation at the core of this case — that there is evidence to suggest Indian government involvement in the assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.”

    “I can assure you that the decision to share these allegations on the floor of the House of Commons … was not done lightly,” Trudeau said Thursday in New York after attending the United Nations General Assembly.

    “It was done with the utmost seriousness.“

    The dispute has poisoned Canada’s relationship with India, a growing international power, just as the United States is courting it as a potential ally. (The article admits India is a “growing international power”, and is being wooed by the USA as its ally)

    India accuses Canada of sheltering terrorists. The Indian government has fumed at Canada for — in its view — sheltering Sikh separatists, including Nijjar, whom it called a terrorist.

    The article notes–“When asked about the intelligence reports, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said she couldn’t comment without risking the investigation and Canada’s obligations to its Five Eyes partners. “That partnership rests very much on those… intelligence conversations being held in confidence,” she told CBC News Network’s Power & Politics host David Cochrane. Asked if Ottawa is thinking about retaliating by pausing visa processing for Indian visitors, Freeland said the government is focused on bringing the killers to justice. “This is not about geopolitics,” she said.

    Jake Sullivan(NSA to US) is cited to calm waters about dividing the US and Canada on this– “I have seen in the press some efforts to try to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Canada on this issue. I firmly reject that there is a wedge between the U.S. and Canada,” he said.

    The article further points out that the Canadian government has refused to discuss Modi’s awareness of, or involvement in, the case. The Indian government did not respond to the CBC’s requests for comment.

    Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae, when asked how far accountability could go, and whether Ottawa expected legal repercussions for people in the Indian government, Canada’s ambassador ‘steered wide of the question’. “I’d rather not go there. I don’t think it’s smart for me to do that,” Bob Rae replied at a news conference. “I like my job. I would rather not lose it.”

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    BOX-1

    Public Comments on the article

    Jay Singh: CBC is funded by the Canadian Government and it seems to be doing what it’s been doing. No evidence was provided. This is again a bunch of nothing full stop about why India was treated differently versus Russia and China. Please read his responses don’t push India with Russia and China that would be too much of a foolish move.

    Michael Jasper: There is probably some evidence but this is more about Trudeau’s se handling of the incident.

    Andrew Laz: So Canada and its intelligence partner are all lying or they are all covering for us as we like

    Rebecca Younger says CBC has such a great record with those unnamed sources Ryan Martin says doesn’t the West do the same thing travel into another country and put a hit on someone they consider hit-worthy.

    Carlo Smith: Let the media do the leak, provide a minimal grip, and talk with allies but it is out there now, and here we are.

    Dominic Lee Blanc All Canadians deserve to feel safe in their community. The circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians runs contrary to the values we hold here as Canadians this is no place for acts of aggression hate intermediate”. Blanc is a minister of public safety inter-government affairs and MP for Beausejour in New Brunswick Canada

    BOX-2

     NIA releases ‘three’ posters of Khalistanis involved in San Francisco Attack on Indian Consulate urges general public to provide information

    Seeking to find clues from the general public National Investigating Agency (NIA) issued three separate ‘requests for identification and information’ against 10 Khalistan supporters who were allegedly involved in the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco.

    Sending the posters to this correspondent the posters sought the cooperation of the general public in nabbing them. The three posters read –“On 19th March 2023, the persons shown in the pictures below were involved in an attack on the Consulate General of India (CGI), San Francisco (USA), causing injuries to the CGI officials and damage to property. If you have any information about them, please share via WatsApp/Telegram/Signal @77430-02947 or send through email at info-chd.nia@gov.in Please share the following details:- 1. Name 2.Phone no. 3. Address (Village & District) 4. Passport details 5. Nationality. The identity of the informant will be kept secret.

    While two posters carry photos of two accused each, the third poster carries photos of other six accused in the case. The first attack, which took on the intervening night of March 18 and 19, was carried out supposedly by Khalistani supporters, who attempted to set it on fire the consulate premises with forceful entry.

    According to NIA, some ‘Slogan-shouting Khalistani supporters’ broke through security barriers by the San Francisco police and hoisted two  “so-called Khalistani yellow flags” on the consulate premises”, damaging the consulate building, assaulting and causing injuries to the consulate officials.

     NIA launched a probe registering a case on June 16th under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. A team of NIA, the agency said, visited San Francisco in August in connection with investigations into the case.

    The consulate again came under another attack on the intervening night of July 1 and 2, by Khalistan supporters who attempted arson to burn the consulate. The local fire department put out the fire. No major damages or injuries were reported.

    A video uploaded to ‘X” by Khalistan supporters showed that arson took place on July 1st-2nd. The video, carried the written ticker – “violence begets violence” with pictures of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed by masked men on June 19th outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Vancouver. Hardeep is a designated terrorist in India, is wanted in several cases.

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    BOX

    ‘X’ BUZZ: Media opines on on-going Indo-Canadian row

     “Hours into Justin Trudeau’s master plan to take on India without disclosing any evidence he claims to have. So far we’ve lost a diplomat, India killed a trade deal and no major allies have publicly backed us. Not Great. Tomorrow doesn’t look promising either: Daniel Bordman @Nattelegraph Sn Correspondent from Toronto Canada who takes up for the Hindu community in Canada.

    Paul Antonopoulos: editor of Greek City Times with a huge following on social networking sites wrote: “Justin Trudeau has resorted to supporting Khalistanis terrorists (Sikh extremists) in his own country to try and preserve his own unpopular government. According to the Angus Reid Institute, Trudeau’s approval rating has plummeted to only 33% and his disapproval rating has skyrocketed to 63%. It is quite clear that Trudeau is on his way out. Despite this reality, he is now making desperate steps to try and shore up support among his usual voter blocs. However, by appeasing extremist elements, Trudeau could create future security risks for Canada. What will Ottawa do in the future when these extremists demand a separate Khalistan for Sikh-majority areas of Canada since their project to create one in India failed?”

    Indrani Bagchi an Indian foreign policy commentator wrote – “Trudeau not only did himself a disservice but he has also perversely made Modi a hero in India just before the elections without a Balakot, to boot”.

    Keean Bexte a senior journalist from Alberta Canada took a dig at the Canadian PM – “After Trudeau accused India of assassinating someone in Canada, the only nation in the world willing to trust and stand shoulder to shoulder with Trudeau is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. What a badge of honour!”

    Anand Ranganathan a scientist and Author journalist wrote:  In 1985 Khalistanis blew up Air India flight 182 killing 329. Amarjit, widow of the pilot Captain Bhinder claimed Justice wasn’t done. She was right. All accused had walked free because Trudeau’s father refused to hand over AI-182 bombers. (PHOTO ) 

    Photo caption: Amarjit, widow of Captain Bhinder pilot Air India flight 182 killing 329 in 1985

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    23 Sep

    Canada-India Spat, as another Punjabi Sukha Duneke gets killed in Canada/ Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO CANADIAN, INDO-CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , .


    Canada-India Spat, as another Punjabi Sukha Duneke gets killed in Canada

    Canada-India Spat, as another Punjabi Sukha Duneke gets killed in Canada

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 22nd Sept 2023—- India Canada’s tit for tat notwithstanding, Sukhdool Singh aka Sukha Duneke was riddled with bullets on Wednesday night by unknown gunmen believed to be gangsters. Sukha, a known gangster himself was allegedly killed in Winnipeg Canada. The killing seemed to find parallels with the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in inter-gang warfare outside a  Surrey Gurdawa in Canada on June 19. Hardeep’s (45) killing has soured  Indo-Canadian relations recently as both countries use bans, and advisories to their citizens for travel and partly sour diplomatic relations with each other.

    Gangster Duneke was known to have fled to Canada using forged documents in the year 2017 pending almost seven murder cases out of 20 against him in India. Canadian intelligence puts the onus of his killing on Moga based Davindar Bambeeha Gang.

    PhotoSukhdool Singh @Sukha Duneke

    Interestingly many countries who act ‘holier than thou’ with India and other developing countries could be accused of providing shelter, asylum, and nurturing criminal elements from India on the pretext that the individuals were being persecuted on innocent grounds such as faith, community, and due to public protests. It is a known fact that these criminal elements have been extensively used by countries moreso by Canada recently.

    As many as 30 gangsters are known to be granted asylum by these countries. Mostly they arrive on fake passports or water routes, in Italy, Greece, and Nepal and in no time become valid passport holders of the host country. The maximum number is known to have arrived in Canada. Hardeep too was a wanted fugitive and terrorist heading the KLF a banned organization by India, provided asylum by Canada issued a Canadian passport allowed to propagate and carry out his  Khalistani agenda, inimical to India.

    Gangsters ‘Most Wanted’ have their roots in the Amritsar belt, Taran Taran, as well as in Moga, Barnala, Ferozpure, Fazillka, Kapurthala, Chandigarh, Abohar etc. The majority of them are from Punjab. More than 20 FIRs in cases of murder and other heinous crimes are registered against Duneke in Punjab and other states.

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    India Fires Salvos at Canada after it takes Indo-Canadian spat to a deeper level

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 22nd Sep 2023—-

    Stung by the arm-twisting tactics employed by the Canadian government issuing a travel advisory to the newly normalized state of Jammu Kashmir in India, equating it with a turmoil zone and therefore a life-threatening space, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs today took the spar deeper with Canada. Ministry of External Affairs MEA temporarily suspended issuing visas and processing visa applications for travel to India in its Canadian High Commission citing security threats that disrupted the normal working of the Indian HC. “Even e-visa applications of all categories are suspended. Discrimination of visa grants are of concern. Those having a visa or OCI cards are free to travel to India”. MEA‘s official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi replied to queries. The creation of an environment that disrupts the normal functioning of our HC has caused us to hold visa services temporarily.

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    BOX

    Downsizing Canadian diplomats in Canadian High Commission and Consulates in India

    The Indian Foreign Office called for parity of strength and parity in rank among the diplomats of the Canadian High Commission and its Consulates in India, with those in the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, consulates in Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada.

    “The number of Canadian diplomats in Canadian HC and consulates is higher than Indian counterparts in Indian HC in Canada; we have asked that the diplomatic number be downsized by Canada.

     MEA‘s official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in no unequivocal terms retorted that India needn’t worry about any ‘reputational damage’ rather it is Canada that should be concerned about its reputation as a growing space for safe haven for terrorism, extremism, and organized crime.

    About the travel advisory issued about Canada, the MEA clarified that it covers all Indians irrespective of religion or faith –“ Exercise utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence “


    Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indians are therefore advised to avoid travel to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.  Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada for Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant. Register with the Indian High Commission in Ottawa or download MADAD an Indian app for help and support to Indians in Canada.  

    The Consulate General of India in Toronto and Vancouver continues to be in contact with Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian community in Canada, the MEA assured.

    About Canadian diplomats in India facing threats –“If Canadian diplomats or any foreign diplomats are facing threats in India we will take that very seriously and provide all security similarly we do expect the same sensitivity from the Canadian government towards posters threatening and assassination and incitement to violence towards Indian diplomats and attacks on our premises should also take their responsibilities seriously under Vienna convention. Fugitives, safe havens, and no action against terrorists causing disruptions in India are not going to be taken lightly. “

    “We have 20-25 cases extradition requests to Canada, but Canadian response has not been helpful or responsible.”

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    BOX-1

    Canadian Immigration Minister MM botches up citizenship dates of Hardeep Nijjer

    Canada’s minister for Immigration, refugees, and citizenship- Marc Miller first posted Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Khalistan Ideologue and designated terrorist of KLF wanted by India became a Canadian citizen in March 2015 while passport no QK139247 shows it was issued in November 2012.

    The question arises whether Hardeep had a Canadian Passport before he became a Canadian Citizen.

    Then the Minister of Immigration corrects it to May 2007!

    So was Hardeep without a passport from 2007 to 2012?

    This post on Twitter now ‘X’ caused much upheaval with top personalities calling off the minister’s bluff of saving the Indian-born fugitive whose killing by two unknown gunmen in Surrey Canada in June has been blamed on Indian agents, and has become an issue between India and Canada.

    Some pointed out “Were the dates back-dated to save Nijjer from October’s Shingar Cinema Blast accusation?” The Shingar Cinema blast took place in Ludhiana Punjab killing six in the year 2007.  

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    Writer Rashmi Talwar can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

    21 Sep

    G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meet at UNGA NY avoids all mention of Canada’s allegations of killing of Canadian Sikh by Indian agencies in Joint Statement/ Rashmi Talwar/GREATER JAMMU/

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDO-CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    Indo-Canadian Rift and its Fallout 

    G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meet at UNGA NY avoids all mention of Canada’s allegations of killing of Canadian Sikh by Indian agencies in Joint Statement

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 20 SEPT 2023——–In a joint statement released by Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan in her capacity as Chair of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting by UN released on 09/19/2023 at 04:01 PM EDT in New York, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union reaffirmed their strong unity in addressing threats to international peace and security.

    Significantly, No specific mention was made of the spat caused in the Indo-Canadian ties over Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s charges of threat to the sovereignty of Canada with allegations of killing of a Canadian Sikh on Canadian soil allegedly by Indian agents. The mention under the heading of Indo-Pacific and Beyond reads-“The G7 members reiterated the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, prosperous, secure, and based on the rule of law, and that protects shared principles including sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms, and human rights” This point of joint statement relates to China’s aggressive postures in Vietnam, island disputes with Japan,  and aggression in Taiwan besides  Russia’s war in Ukraine”  clarifies Senior Journalist on Foreign Affairs Sandeep Dishit.

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    BOX-1

    Do the self-proclaimed ‘5-eyes’ of the world gang up against countries?

    AMRITSAR 20SEPT23—– They are the self-proclaimed five-eyes of the world. When one of the five countries takes up any issue, minor or major, against a country, they pounce on the victim country spouting all fire and brimstone, citing their self-framed ideas of liberty, fraternity, and sovereignty and therein their dos and don’ts. The other four countries fall in the accusation line, robotically, like being marshalled. Somebody compared it to the ‘gang rape’ of a victim country who dared to flout or had fallout of favour of either one of the five eyes.

    This became true recently when India had a well-entrenched brilliant career diplomat in Dr. S Jaishankar as Foreign Minister stirred India clear from taking sides in the Ukraine- Russia war. This pissed off the Western Bloc to a great extent. This kind of daring by India is being seen to be muzzled by stirring issues to create civil unrest or encouraging anti-India activities from their own soil.  The five-eye Western bloc is seen as the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. India’s honourable FM’s diplomatic flair will be on full display as it stirs India in the face of allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about charges linking Indian Government agents to the murder of Sikh Separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar (45) headed “India’s banned” Sikh terrorist organisation -Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and was declared ‘Most Wanted’. Nijjar was killed by two unknown gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada on 18th June.

    BOX-2

    Canadian Opposition takes on its PM over allegations against India

    Canadian Opposition Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre took a jab at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau for his allegations against India for the alleged killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep S Nijjar. He called upon the Canadian PM to come out clean with all the facts related to these charges.

    On a query, the Canadian leader pointed out that it was interesting to note that the PM remained silent on issues of Chinese interference in Canada for many years “I do find it very interesting that he (PM) knew about two Canadian citizens being kept hostage and he (PM Trudeau) did nothing, said nothing.” And added-“We need to see more facts and PM hasn’t provided any facts. He did not tell the opposition or the Canadian public about these allegations against Indian agents. Prime Minister needs to come clean on all the facts and evidence possible so that Canadians can make the judgement on that.

    When asked, what were the risks involved if he (PM) didn’t provide more information and if these allegations were untrue or false? “Real!” -The Canadian leader boomed. The Canadian leader of the opposition was answering media queries regarding allegations levelled at India by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

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    BOX-3

    Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s advisory, a setback for JK?

    Canada recently poked India with a travel advisory to Jammu and Kashmir with a ‘yellow badge’. It chose the recent Anantnag encounter as a ruse to issue a travel advisory to India, especially to UT of Jammu & Kashmir to needle India. This was easily seen as a spiteful gesture for the diplomatic fallout after the Canadian PM charged Indian Government agents with the  Murder of designated Sikh terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar albeit a Canadian Citizen.

    Interestingly on the Canadian website, as many as 95 countries have been marked with ‘Yellow badge’ including India which stands for “Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)” Advisory about  India was updated on 2023-09-18 exactly at 14:48:30 hours.

    The 95 countries out of 195 countries of the world are those who have been issued a cautionary advisory by Canada as a ‘Yellow Badge’. Significantly, these yellow-badged countries are the ones that include some European Union (EU) countries which are France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and even Brexit UK. Alongside are China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Israel (West bank and Gaza strip) besides Hong Kong. While advisory caution for travel to China, UAE, Turkey, and HK can be understood what is surprising is a travel advisory to snow-bound Antarctica, where little is seen as a human threat.

    Out of 195 countries, 20 countries have been flagged with ‘Red badges’ where the Canadian government advises “Avoid All Travel. “Due to unpredictable security situation; there is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest, and kidnapping. ”

    “And eight countries are those advised to ‘Avoid all unessential travel’ with ‘Orange Badge’. On the whole, Canada has issued favourable travel for only 75 countries in the world!

    Significantly, a large chunk of Canadian holidaymakers could be seen in Mexico (which is a visa-less destination for Canadians and Canadian visa holders), despite a ‘Yellow Badge’ travel advisory counselling caution similar to that issued against India. That brings home the impression that Canada’s advisories are taken lightly by its citizens!

    BOX-4

    Kashmiri’s take on Canada’s travel advisory against J&K

    Ishtiaq Ahmed, of Srinagar, running a travel agency, and owning houseboats and a hotel in Srinagar when asked about Canada’s adverse travel advisory for UT of J&K scoffed at it. “Tell me how many Canadians have come to J&K in the past years?” he countered.

     “Since the time six western tourists and their two guides were kidnapped in Liddarwat  Pahalgam in J&K in July 1995, by forty militants from Kashmiri Islamists; No! I have not come across any Canadian tourists!”

    “Mostly Canadian and other western tourists travel to lesser known areas of Kashmir. But very few European, American, British or Australian New Zealanders are seen in recent years. Some stray visible white foreigners are but just a few and far between. So, in my opinion, the advisory is not serious other than a diplomatic expression of displeasure over recent allegations by Canada on India and the Indian diplomats”. And added-“The advisory virtually holds no water for UT of J&K on the ground, as it used to, earlier. Our tourism is booming owing to the scrapping of Article 370 which hindered our growth. Now G20 has taken place, smart city development is on a rapid pace and talks are on for a World Beauty Pageant at Destination Jammu& Kashmir! What more do we desire? ”

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    7 Sep

    BCCI Prez and VPrez cross over to Pakistan after 15 yrs / Rashmi Talwar/ GREATER JAMMU/

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in Cricket, INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    BCCI Prez and VPrez cross over to Pakistan after 15 years

    “Purely Cricket, nothing Political: BCCI Prez Roger Binny

    Rashmi Talwar

    Wagah -Attari (AMRITSAR ) 4th  Sept 2023- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajeev Shukla arrived at Wagah Attari JCP border between India and Pakistan after landing at the Amritsar airport, on a visit to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 on Monday.

    They are likely to be present in the Gaddafi Stadium for Tuesday’s match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and the September 6th matches of Super Four.

    Binny and Shukla are travelling to Pakistan after an invitation was extended to the members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and other cricket boards by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to attend the mega event.

    ‘Purely Cricket Nothing Political’:  said BCCI President Binny when asked about their visit for Asia Cup 2023 while crossing over to Pakistan via the Radcliff Line.   

    Commenting on his visit President of BCCI Rodger Binny said-” India-Pakistan is bigger than any other Tournament in the world”. Adding -“Even bigger than even Ashes and we hope things will happen”.

    Queried over the cold vibes between the two countries affecting Cricket. Binny declared -“BCCI has no say in the matter. We have come by the government’s nod!” 

    In the past, the Pakistan Cricket Board had twice invited BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, President Asian Cricket Council, to watch the opening match of the Asia Cup between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan on August 30. However, Shah’s visit did not materialize. Besides Shah, the PCB also invited heads of other boards who are part of the Asian Cricket Council.

    The Asia Cup 2023 is ongoing from August 30 to September 17 across Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

    Currently, India is playing all their matches in Sri Lanka.

    After India’s strict refusal to travel to Pakistan, an innovative format was cut out with Pakistan hosting four matches while Srilanka got the lion’s share of nine matches in its territory.

    This is the first Indian Cricket Delegation crossed over to Pakistan in the last 15 years since the 26/11 Mumbai Attack in 2008. 

    According to the schedule, the four-member BCCI team will attend an official dinner in Pakistan which will also include delegations from other Cricketing Boards.

    The duo had also visited Colombo Sri Lanka to see cricket matches.  

    The PCB chief Zaka Ashraf extended a warm welcome to the Indian guests on the Pakistani side. 

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    BOX

    Trolled on Twitter 

    The BCCI official duo of President Roger Binny and V President Rajeev Shukla faced the ire of trolls on Twitter. With some writing the choicest of Expletives for them over dead bodies of slain soldiers and civilians. One urged them to take the son of Amit Shah Home Minister of India in the present delegation alongside and enjoy the neighbourhood hospitality of Biryanis!  Jay Shah is the son of Amit Shah and the President of the Asian Cricket Council besides being the  Honorary secretary of BCCI. Another agitated Indian told the BCCI duo to permanently stay in Pakistan.  

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    WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT email: rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

    14 Jun

    Padamshri Surjit Pattar pens lyrics of “Attari Junction” documentary/ GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in AMRITSAR HERITAGE, HERITAGE, INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    Padamshri Surjit Pattar pens lyrics of “Attari Junction” documentary

    Indo-Pak Last Rail Connect

    Padamshri Surjit Pattar pens lyrics of “Attari Junction” documentary

    Documentary to release in August to mark 76 years of Independence

    Rashmi Talwar Attari – (Amritsar) 13th June 2023…..

    Famed Punjabi Poet Padmashri Awardee  Dr. Surjit Pattar penned the lyrics of the upcoming documentary film “Attari Junction” based on India’s last rail connecting Attari with Pakistan on the Lahore side. Meantime it is seen over the years that a mammoth crowd of over 20,000 People visit the Wagah-Attari Border on the Indian side on average, daily, to watch the Beating Retreat Ceremony of the lowering of the flags; but, none visits Attari Railway Station, a 161-year old Heritage rich building and space that witnessed the Best and the Worst of human emotions, especially during partition and for decades later. Now it stands lonely, stupefied, and mute to the animosity between the economically disparate neighbours.

    As the shooting began today, it came as no surprise -how both warring countries sitting side by side, simultaneously witnessed a common sunset. The manmade lines drawn did not dim the musical winds or the birds from crisscrossing, the melodies and drumbeats on both sides had an unhindered passage and audience beyond partitions. But the people of both countries are locked-in and are made to conjure up images of demonic forces across borders, by respective powers on both sides and the stakeholders in the continuation of this animosity.

    Punjab’s eminent Author, heritage promoter, nature artist, and Director of the film- Harpreet Sandhu while talking to Greater Jammu said – “This short film will portray historical rich architecture of this 161-year old Attari Railway Station, which is a blend of Indo-Islamic and Victorian architectural styles. Its arches and ornate facades showcase an aura of grandeur and elegance of the architecture of the bygone era. Given the eyeball catcher- the Wagah Attari Retreat ceremony, this vital heritage of Railtrack has seldom been highlighted.  The Documentary film under the patronage of Sewa Sankalp Society has been scripted by Atul Tirkey, IRS Deputy Commissioner Customs, Attari. No one could do more justice to the film’s lyrics than the Internationally renowned Punjabi Poet Dr. Surjit Pattar. The film whose shooting will be wound up in three days at Attari will be released to mark the 76th year of Indo-Pak Partition”, he added.

    Shooting the film “Attari Junction” –began with the clapboard Mahurat shot by MP Amritsar Gurjeet Aujla, and Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Amit Talwar, in the presence of a battery of IRS, IPS, and IAS officers.

    The director further revealed  –“The film in trilingual languages are juxtaposed just as during those times. It will have the Deputy Commissioner Customs Atul Tirkey, as an actor speaking English, and I, Harpreet Sandhu, as Director, also a former Additional Advocate General, Punjab and Chairman of Punjab Infotech, would try to do justice to the film in Punjabi while retired Chief Commissioner Income Tax and Author Parneet Sachdev would be using Hindi.”

    Is the purpose to only highlight heritage, even as all top officers are involved in this documentary? I asked –“We never wanted to it have a flimsy and commercial touch by bringing in famed Punjabi actors like Daljit Dosanjh. We have done a detailed script for nearly 8-months on how many kilometers was the stretch and at which times it was discontinued between the countries, the history behind it. Besides this, we looked into the outcome of this railway junction on the measurement of tourism, culture, trade exchange, and several other aspects. So I personally will not use the word that it’s a ‘big documentary’ but it is surely meaningful, compact and being made to solely highlight this 161-year old heritage of rail junction. My purpose and what I hope to achieve, is to spread awareness, about this last railway station that has witnessed the worst of Partition days. We all are putting in full effort. We have done extensive shooting of key actors playing commoners and have canned a fabulous train shot with a train arriving from Qadian to Attari. We also went up until the last gate and shot there as it was locked .” What did you do about the horses that used to gallop alongside the train on the Indian side?  No, we haven’t looked into that.  The necessary permissions for shooting the Documentary film have been obtained from various government agencies including the Northern Railway, New Delhi and Land Customs Attari, and the BSF authorities.

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    BOX

     Writer’s Journey in the Samjhauta Express

    In the year 2007, a land passage through the road route between India and Pakistan was denied to the Hindu Jatha to Pakistan on the occasion of the Maha-Shivratri annual celebration at Katasraj shrines in Pakistan. The Hindu and Sikh Jathas as well as Muslim Jathas to Ajmer Shrief came under the Indo-Pak Agreement of Pilgrimage to visit shrines in each other’s countries.

    It was a time when a popular Pakistani actress had flouted the rules of specific city-based visas to visit Agra without a visa for the city of the Taj Mahal and was apprehended by Indian authorities. This took a toll on Pakistan over the Indian reprimand to the Pak embassy. A petulant Pakistan thus resorted to tit-for-tat retaliation denying the easy land-crossing to Indian Hindu Jatha, to divert it to the cumbersome rail journey on the rail Samjhauta Express.

    Samjhauta Express was started in 1976 as a bi-weekly and was a symbol of a ‘train of emotions’ to help bridge the gap for the separated families of both countries.

    So we arrived at the Attari Railway station at 8 o clock for the train of emotions, after much emotional trauma of being diverted at the last minute from the Wagah road route to the Attari rail route. The train arrived hours late. In the meantime, we explored the heritage rail station and absorbed the mechanism, of how the trains operated through an exhaustive hotline system of giving or holding back clearance to the train as per the whims and fancies of authorities of both countries. This time the special treatment of delayed clearance was reserved for the Hindu jatha. The old system of Red and Green flags to indicate stop and go were used. The bogeys were all 3rd class and non-AC 3-tiers with iron bars on windows just like the ones before the partition of 1947.  Finally, after an exhaustive procedure of processing hundreds of cross-country travellers and loading baggage, most of us found ourselves sitting on sacks of luggage as the loaded train finally and painfully groaned out of the Attari station.     

    Although overjoyed at its finally starting to move, the train journey conjured up images of the year 1947 bloodied trains during partition which reached Amritsar and Lahore with dripping blood of cut-up bodies. My attention was diverted soon as I watched horse-mounted BSF personnel galloping alongside the train on the Indian side up until the gates opened up to no man’s land, and I caught the scenes in my portable Sony camera.

    The train went into a deep sleep after every 15 minutes, as if its old bones felt tired under its heavy weight. In an interview with BBC, I told the channel how a distance of 3Kms stretch between the two countries took 12 hours to cross! This fact was highlighted as the catchword in every other channel.

    Just a few days later in the early hours of midnight on 19th February 2007, a bomb blast took place in the Samjhauta Express at Chandni Bagh in Panipat Haryana India, in which 68 people were killed mostly Pakistanis. We, as the Hindu jatha of 175 people were still in Lahore after visiting Katasraj shrines in Pakistan.  I had got a little ‘Palm Plant’  packed in Lahore, as a take-back memory home to Amritsar -an emotional keepsake of the soil of Pakistan and Lahore that once was the soil of the land of my paternal grandmother and my Multan-based grandfather.

    However, we were rushed before the schedule to return to India due to security issues following the Samjhauta Blast.  But I wouldn’t leave without my green plant. So while sitting on sacks again on the return, my little greenie also sat with me. My husband who waited for me at Attari railway station for nearly 4-hours before arriving at Attari was pointed out by a fellow also waiting for his mother arriving from Lahore that “People have picked up trees from Pakistan to bring to India!” My husband gaily pointed out that the person who could bring a tree from anywhere could only be Rashmi Talwar, his wife.

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    11 Jun

    Ashwini’s book ‘Amrita & Victor’ paints the intimate, flamboyant, free-spirited, colorful life of  celebrated painter Amrita Sher-gil/ GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in BOOKS. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .


    Ashwini’s book ‘Amrita & Victor’ paints the intimate, flamboyant, free-spirited, colorful life of  celebrated painter Amrita Sher-gil

    Rashmi Talwar

    Book: ‘Amrita & Victor’ by Ashwini Bhatnagar

    Pages: 214

    Publisher: Fingerprint

    Ashwini’s book ‘Amrita & Victor’ paints the intimate, flamboyant, free-spirited, colorful life of  celebrated painter Amrita Sher-gil

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 9th June 2023—Through the prism of letters exchanged between Amrita Sher-gil and Victor Egan, her cousin, who became her beau and life partner much against the standard norms of society, Ashwini Bhatnagar’s book ‘Amrita and Victor’ explores the celebrated artist’s tumultuous journey of love and colours across continents, that created a rare bridge between Indian and Western art.

    The book weaves a love story interspersed with Amrita’s creativity that astonished art connoisseurs, including Jawahar Lal Nehru. “The extraordinarily talented, incredibly beautiful, and deliciously free-spirited Amrita refused to paint Nehru- she found him too handsome!

    Amrita born in 1913 in Budapest Hungary, to a Sikh Aristocrat and named after Amritsar or the Amrit Sarovar of Golden Temple, was the daughter of Umrao Singh Shergill, scion of royal Majithia family of Majithia- a Township 25 Kms from Amritsar. Umrao’s forefathers were generals in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army. Amrita is the daughter of a man who missed by a whisker, to become the grandson-in-law of the Maharaja, had he not fallen in love with Hungarian Marie Antoinette, a travelling companion of the Princess Bamba, whom he was to marry; Bamba, being the daughter of Prince Duleep Singh, son of the Maharaja.

    During a talk with Majha House founder Preeti Gill, about the half-Hungarian, half-Punjabi renowned and unconventional Hungrian-Indian artist Amrita Sher-gil and her Hungarian cousin Victor, Ashwini disclosed to a packed audience how the book, on the distinguished artist, lingered in his mind for 20 years after a discussion with renowned writer Khushwant Singh, where I heard Khushwant using unsavory language to describe Amrita. “I confronted him, although I had no clue about her, to be told to go find out about her and write a book. This triggered me to explore the life of this mysterious Hungarian Indian artist,” shared Ashwini.

    On whether Amrita was moral? Ashwini said – “It is not a question of morality but ethics, and aesthetics”. “I never really saw Amrita through the moral glass. I saw her as a highly sensitive artist, who drew and triggered her creativity not only from her traumas in early life but also her explorations- of the rational and irrational, the state of wild and untamed, from a place of the unknown, the rough, the bare and the nude.”   From her partner she felt a high voltage need for support, acknowledgment, and justification for her wild bouts involving multiple sexual partners and unconventional behavior. “And as an artist, seeking and finding support is as natural as life,” the author answered.  

    Drawing a comparison with a book he wrote on actor Meena Kumari, Ashwini said he could draw parallels between the two extremely talented beauties Amrita and Meena Kumari, who flouted every social bond and emerged on the wings of their own talent.  Though illustrious in their respective field of arts both sadly, died young.  Their talents didn’t go unescorted there was someone who gently supported and encouraged them to take a flight to fulfill their inner rushes of creativity. I never felt Kamal Amrohi to be the villain in Meena Kumari’s life and didn’t pen his personality as such. Similarly, the character of Victor too is supportive in my book much to the chagrin of those who felt he was a sissy and dumbo to Amrita’s untamed promiscuous life. From a place of exploration is where Amrita drew her creativity to paint unusual human and other subjects with intensity and a refreshing style. In fact, my take on both these men is varied and gentle, supportive and humane for the flamboyance of the frothing fountain of talent of both women, that they loved and supported.”

    Ashwini, the author-journalist, also a film writer, having worked in editorial positions in top national dailies, was in Amritsar, for the book release, at the city’s cultural hub -Majha House.  

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    9 Jun

    Viral video of Former PM Indira Gandhi’s Assassination by her bodyguards in Canada/ GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in CANADA, INDO CANADIAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    Viral video of Former PM Indira Gandhi’s Assassination by her bodyguards in Canada

    Rashmi Talwar

    Viral video of Former PM Indira Gandhi’s Assassination by her bodyguards in Canada

    Larger underlying issue: Indian FM 

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 8th June 2023— Lashing out at Canada over a free run to Khalistan radicals, the Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, in a direct warning said “It’s not good for Canada!” The FM fumed over a video, that became viral,  purportedly taken on 4th June in the streets of Brampton, a pocket area of Ontario Province, with a sizable Sikh population. That makes the event held merely two days before the observance of Operation Bluestar day i.e. ‘Ghallughara Diwas’ on 6th June, by Sikh radicals. 

    The video depicted the former PM Indira Gandhi with her signature crop of black hair, with raised her hands, supposedly in alarm, dressed in a white Saree, smeared in blood, as cut-outs of Sikh bodyguards in NSG Uniforms, as two killers Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, were depicted firing at her from a light machine gun and a revolver. The scene was recreated from the actual assassination of a PM in office on Oct 31st, 1984. It was the same year of army Op Bluestar in the Golden Temple to flush out terrorists from the holiest Sikh shrine in Amritsar.

    On a moving vehicle, the life-size statue of Indira Gandhi is seen standing on artificial green turf representing the time when she was crossing the garden in her PM house, and the two cardboard uniformed bodyguards opened fire at her. She is seen flaying her arms in alarm. A board, half hidden by her figure, reads “Revenge for Op Bluestar at Harmandir Sahib” (Golden Temple).

    The Tableaux called the ‘Shaheedi Float’ on Public display as a floater on a street in Brampton was created to mark the 39th anniversary of Op Bluestar. In the video,  some nearby and distant homes and pines could be seen. In an adjoining road to the tableaux, women in Punjabi salwar Kameez were seen in groups as the tableaux moved on the street.

    Dr S Jaishankar taking umbrage to the allowance of such horrific assassination, display against a former PM of India, during a vocal address, castigated Canada, and said- I think there is a bigger issue involved. And the bigger issue involved is really the space that Canada has continuously given. Frankly, to us we are at a loss to understand, other than the vote-bank politics, why would anybody do this.          Because if you look at their history, you would imagine that they would’ve learned from their history and not repeat it. So it isn’t one incident,  I think there is a larger underline issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists  to people who advocate violence, and  I think it is not good for relationships and it is  not good for Canada!”

    Jitandar Singh, a communication expert, wrote in a post on Twitter in response to the video “A country allowing such an event has to introspect. All these are clear signs of weak political leadership. Canadian citizens should worry about their political future. Appeasement does not help in the long run.”  And further added –“For the sake of the country, the Government needs to do everything to crush them using all possible measures and also their connections, and sympathizers here. They are rapidly growing in their adventurism.” He quoted “The farm law repeal, apology to the protesters, soft approach to them after their R-Day raid on Red Fort, yearlong highway blockades sent a wrong message. They have become more motivated and emboldened.”

    Michael  Carvalho, another Twitterati, responded –“Political sensitivity towards Sikh minority especially in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta seems to hinder a full-scale crackdown.

    The most tragic irony of this situation is that the Khalistani propaganda hurts Sikh sentiments and Sikhs in their own home country and is actually tarnishing Sikh tenets. The  Sikh community in India is greatly against the Khalistani elements propagating Khalistan from foreign shores.

    A professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar lashed out at such elements and asked them to send their children and come themselves to give the supreme sacrifices of giving their lives,  if they desire a Khalistan. “We certainly don’t want it!”.

    It may be mentioned, that last year the same radicals held a controversial referendum for the formation of Khalistan, in the Brampton area.

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    Ujjal Dosanjh Indo-Canadian Sikh politician

    In a recent interactive session at Majha House, a cultural hub in Amritsar Ujjal Dosanjh, the first India-born Canadian provincial leader, when queried over Khalistan displays in Canada explained it as an attention-seeking and importance-creating tactic of migrated Canadian youth. A Sikh lady countered the Canadian politician –“I think the Indian diaspora in Canada,  needs to ask some of us in India whether we want a Khalistan or not. It seems our opinion doesn’t matter and we are the ones who will be subjected to it”, pipped in Deepa Swani.

    Dosanjh then was at pains to explain his views and stated-“In 1984,  time of peak militancy in Punjab –“I called out Khalistan as a pipe dream!  I still stand by it. It won’t happen, because people in Punjab don’t want it.  And some of us suggested to self-professed Khalistanis to -Go buy land in Alberta where land is quite flat like  Punjab, and set it up (as Khalistan), don t bug the people back home in India”.

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    Manipulation for political gains!

    “The era of foreign entities stirring up communal tensions in India is regrettably resurfacing in high-frequency Incidents where armed Sikhs attack the Indian diaspora. Incidents of attempts to vandalize temples in Australia, and disrespecting the Indian flag in the UK are recent glaring examples that experts put to tactics to ‘spite’ India due to his sovereign stand in the war between Ukraine and Russia. India preferred to be neutral instead of taking sides between EU & US-supported Ukraine and Russia supported by China. India preferred to look after its own and its people’s interests instead of being dragged into the war.

    This is one of the prime reasons to rile India by encouraging anti-India sentiment in countries abroad.

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    India’s Gigantic Response with a Gigantic Indian Flag!

    Indian High Commission not only responded to Khalistan supporters, who tried to replace the Indian Tricolour with the Khalistan flag, in London recently, but also took a serious tit-for-tat approach, to the security breach issues at its HC offices in London, that was tactically overlooked by the British.

    A giant size Indian National Flag, on the Indian mission’s building, was installed in minutes, replacing the desecrated small one as Khalistanis tried to take down the Indian flag and hoist their own.  India thus gave a clear signal of supremacy to Khalistanis and British alike.

    Alternately, India also visibly reduced security in the British HC in Delhi as a retaliatory measure to drive home the point, leading London to immediately reinforce security around Indian HC in London.

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    3 Jun

    200 fishermen,  3 civilians repatriated  to home country past protocol at Attari Wagah / GREATER JAMMU/Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , .


    200 fishermen,  3 civilians repatriated  to home country past protocol at Attari Wagah

    Rashmi Talwar

    Indo-Pak Border

    200 fishermen,  3 civilians repatriated  to home country past protocol at Attari Wagah

    Rashmi Talwar

    Attari-Wagah, 2nd June, 2023 —–

    Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, today tweeted in the afternoon about the repatriation of Indian fishermen-“Pakistan is releasing 200 Indian fishermen and 3 civilian prisoners. Earlier, 198 Indian fishermen were repatriated on 12 May 2023. This is in line with Pakistan’s policy of not politicizing humanitarian matters. Compassion should take precedence over politics”. Replying to this tweet one Faraz Khan responded –“It means 200 families will be celebrating today plus three more of the civilians”.

    An hour later three Indian civilians crossed over via the Wagah Attari Joint Check Post JCP to their homeland from the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar. They were handed over to the BSF and were detained for interrogation and immigration formalities. The three included one Bablu Ram Chander, an Indian who had unintentionally crossed the Indo-Pak border somewhere from the Kartarpur Sahib Sector in the year 2019. While the two Indian Sikhs Harjinder Singh and Balwinder Singh too had inadvertently crossed the border from another side of the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib Area belt falling in the Narowal province of Pakistan in the year 2020.

    The three were lodged in the Kot Lakhpat Jail infamous for the incarceration of two former Prime ministers of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

    Two hundred more Indian fishermen prisoners lodged in Landhi and Malir Jail, in  Karachi, apprehended from maritime waters from a non-tangible waterline border between India and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean were looking forward to freedom in their home countries. The 200 Indian fishermen were brought amidst tight security, to Lahore via Allama Iqbal Express train from Karachi by the Edhi Foundation. The Edhi Welfare Trust arranged the safe transportation of Indian fishermen to Lahore The prisoners were taken in a fleet of tempo traveler mini buses to Wagah from Lahore station accompanied by security vehicles.

    They were handed over by Pakistani Rangers personnel to the Border Security Force at the border’s Joint Check Post (JCP)

    While crossing the border into India at about 9.30 pm, each of the prisoners was handed over an Indian flag by the BSF personnel.

    All 203 of them were issued ‘Emergency Travel Certificates’ by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad before they crossed over to their homeland, officials informed. Indian fishermen had been nabbed by the Pak Navy in the maritime areas of the Indian Ocean. Fishermen from both countries often stray into each other’s territories without any intention of doing so. 

    The Pakistani fishermen’s repatriation is part of India-Pakistan’s Treaty of Understanding of prisoner repatriation of each other’s country after completion of jail terms due to border trespass.

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    2 Jun

    Divided JammuKashmir melts in Collective grief of Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, Her death unites two sparring communities in JK /Greater Jammu/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in Jammu and Kashmir. Tagged: , , , , .


    Divided Jammu and Kashmir melts in the collective grief of Prof Ved Kumari Ghai,

    Rashmi Talwar

    Divided Jammu and Kashmir melts in the collective grief of Prof Ved Kumari Ghai,

    Her death unites two sparring communities in Jammu and Kashmir

    Rashmi Talwar

    Amritsar 01 June 2023—-

    ‘Zamana Kar saka na uske kadd ka andaza

    Woh aasma tha, lekin sarr jhukaa ke chalta tha’

    [“The world could not estimate his stature,

    He was the sky but walked with his head bowed.]

    With this couplet in praise of Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, a global cultural criticRavinder Kaul,  summed up the pain and memory of a stalwart scholar of Jammu and Kashmir, who passed away at the age of 91, in Jammu recently. “Many of my memories are attached to her. She gifted me a copy of the English translation of ‘Nilamata Purana’ which she had painstakingly translated”, he wrote on his wall.

    Many a digital wall of Kashmiri Hindus /Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslim intelligentsia of Jammu and Kashmir and even Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, displayed photographs and videos embellished with paeans of praise for the Padma Shri Awardee, Prof Ghai, who held a universal appeal for most of the scholarly, the knowledgeable and informed, collective narrative of erstwhile undivided Jammu and Kashmir.

    Born in 1931, Dr Ghai held a master’s degree in Sanskrit, Ancient Indian History and Literature; a Doctorate in Sanskrit, besides a Diploma in German and Danish languages.  She was also an author of a variety of books, and a theologist, heading the Department of Sanskrit at Jammu University. Varied communities of Jammu &Kashmir came together in collective grief on social networking sites, for one of the tallest woman intellectuals of this age, who left a sizeable knowledge pool for generations to learn, reflect upon, and as a reference point, irrespective of the communities they belonged to.

    Ahmad Ali fayyaz, a senior journalist with a 44.5K following on Twitter, wrote a long and beautiful piece. Opening his lines from the Nilmata Purana translated by the scholar Prof Ghai:

    “O controller of the enemies, the holy region of Kasmira is possessed of all the sacred places.

    There are sacred lakes of the Nagas and the holy mountains;

    There are holy rivers and also the holy lakes;

    There are highly sacred temples and also the hermitages attached to them.

    In the center flows, making as it were, the parting of the hair; the Vitasta – the Highest Goddess visibly born of the Himalaya.”

     Janamejaya (asked): “O Twice-born, how did that which was a pure lake in former Manvantaras, become a province in Vaivasvata (Manvantara)?”

    Related to this he writes: “Arguably, this is the first history on ancient Kashmir written in Sanskrit sometime in 6th to 8th century CE and brought to us in English by Prof. Ved Kumari Ghai of Jammu in the 1960s.” Adding-“If the Rajatarangini by Kalhan, is important from the point of view of the political history of ‘Kasmira‘, the Nilamata is no less important for the cultural history of that part of the country”, he quoted the writer Dr. Ghai as she wrote-“It is the National Epic of Kashmir along with Rajatarangini, encompassing modern-day regions of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Khorasan, Tajikistan, modern Dardic regions of the world”.

    “Nilamata Purana” was actually Dr. Ghai’s Ph.D. thesis approved by Banaras Hindu University in 1960 and later published by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Language in 1968.

    In memory of this academic, Fayaz wrote “This erudite scholar of Sanskrit, Hindi and Kashmir’s ancient cultural history, who was professor and HoD of Sanskrit at the University of Jammu for a long time, her passing away in Jammu this week is the end of an era!

    Take One Digital Network played out a visual interview with Dr Ghai recorded in October 2022, where Dr. Ghai, one of the few survivors left, to have met Mahatma Gandhi shared her experience at length about the Father of Nation, with correspondent Rajinder Kitchloo. The Padma Shri Awardee, Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, a Gandhian herself, hoped the next generation of footprints, would also follow in the steps of the Mahatma. “Mahatma was an amazing man, who said what he did and did what he said! She held the Mahatma, as a man of ideal,s true to his word to the core – leading by action, where his own ‘Actions spoke louder than his words’. Alternately his soothing words could douse flaming tempers within minutes which otherwise could wreak havoc, she observed, in the interview.

    Meeting Mahatma Gandhi in Jammu: she recounted her divine experience and espoused Gandhian Values.

    Mohsin Shakil Manhas, a urologist and medical Anthropologist from Muzaffrabad, in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, wrote on his Twitter handle: Dr Ghai, is one of the greatest scholars ever born in J&K . Immensely appreciate her amazing academic work especially on ‘Nilamata Purana’

    Avtar Mota, researcher, banker, writer, and blogger extolling the virtues of Dr Ghai wrote under the headline ‘Scholar Extraordinary’-

     Kashmiris, in particular, remain indebted to Dr. Ghai for her scholarly translation of Sanskrit Nilamata Purana (2 volumes) into English. She also translated Kashmiri poet, Rajanka Ratankantha’s’ Suryashatakam’ written in Sharda script (100 Shlokas in praise of the Sun God) into English. “Sun worship across cultures is as old as THE human civilization”. Along with that Dr  Ghai, authored many other books –‘Kashmir Darpan’, ‘Narendra-Darpan’ and ‘Kashmir Ka Sanskrit Sahitya Ko Yogdaan’ ( Kashmir’s contribution to Sanskrit literature).  With her scholarly husband, Prof  Ram Pratap, Dr. Ghai co-authored books-  Urmika ( a collection of  Sanskrit poetry ), Mere Geet Tumhaare hain (Hindi), Rajendra-karnpur, Bhallat-shatak, and Sanskrit Sahitya Aur Nibhandh. Her scholarly book “Studies in Phonetics and Phonology”, was widely appreciated and received.

    Dr. Ghai’s scholarly papers on ancient Indian history and culture assisted two generations of writers with her knowledge and erudition. Being invited on foreign platforms for her academic assignments, the HoD PG Sanskrit Department, University of Jammu, received several awards and honours including the prestigious Padma Bhushan. Chairperson at Gandhi Sewa Sadan, Vasudev Katumbkam Welfare Society, and Member of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board she was associated with literary and social organizations, in addition to her teaching and research work. Dr. Ghai’s conceptual clarity and erudition were remarkable and praiseworthy. She also taught Panini’s Grammar and Sanskrit Literature at the Institute of Indian Studies, Copenhagen University, Denmark (1966-67 and 1978-80), and remained associated with Stockholm University.

    A very polite lady who was firm and clear in her beliefs and elocution. She wrote -“Nilamata  Purana is a mine of information on ancient practices in the  Kashmiri society. I am happy to see how beautifully Kashmiri Pandits have carried forward many rituals and practices from ancient times. The practice of Dwar-shobha  and Bhoomi-Shobha appear in every Kashmiri Pandit marriage as ‘KROOL’ and ‘VYOOG’. Kashmiri Pandits continue the Vasanta festival of Nilamata as ‘Soant’. The spring season was given a festive welcome. People held prayers so that the gardens of Kashmir were full of flowers, rivers had adequate water, fields gave enough to eat, cows yielded milk, fruits ripened on trees, and intellectuals retained the power of their pen. It looks good when elders invest their time and energy to pass on these good things to the younger generation for the continuity of the civilization, heritage, and culture, it secures these tangible and intangible heritage,” Ghai concluded.

    Fayyaz Sheheryar, former Director General All India  Radio, and Board member Prasar Bharti condoled –Prof Ghai, a rare combination of Scholarship and Decency. Pray for eternal Peace for her.

    Nida Nawaz wrote -“A brilliant Hindi poet of J&K – Rest in Peace, Humble Tribute, Was indeed an icon of Sanskrit and Hindi Literature”.

    S Khursheed Qadri, former DG, of the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Tourism and Culture Department consultant, writes – “Great Scholar of Sanskrit Literature and a noble soul”.

    NB Vishen, a well-known lawyer with a 4K following  –May God grant Sadgaddi to her Soul.  Om Shanti!

    Iqbal Mir,  a journalist on development reporting–“She was a scholar. Both Great and dignified Lady. Her death is a great loss to research and Literature”.

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    1 Jun

    Mohammad Ali Jinnah majorly responsible for Indo-Pak Partition’: Pak-Swede Author / Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, Partition India Pakistan. Tagged: , , , , , .


    ‘Mohammad Ali Jinnah majorly responsible for Indo-Pak Partition’: Pak-Swede Author

    Rashmi Talwar

    ‘Mohammad Ali Jinnah majorly responsible for Indo-Pak Partition’: Pak-Swede Author

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR, 30TH May 2023—–

    Professor Emeritus, Stockholm University, and author of 11 books, Ishtiaq Ahmed, hosted by ‘Rotary Imagine’ Chandigarh while talking to the writer, said–“Mohammad Ali Jinnah was majorly responsible for Indo Pak Partition of 1947!”  “Should I write it?” “Yes! You can write it. There are no two ways about it,” he said this thoughtfully, unhesitatingly while discussing his book- “Jinnah: His Successes, failures, and Role in History”.

    KP Fabian wrote in columns of ‘The Hindu’ national newspaper, about the book on Jinnah, -“As an attempt at ‘historical reasoning’ by a political scientist.” And added, -“MA Jinnah has been praised, and dispraised for the partition of India. There is however a distressing shortage of genuine history written by professional historians”.  

    Fabian further writes-“In Pakistan, there have been at least two schools of thought. One celebrates Jinnah as the creator of Pakistan. The other school argues that Jinnah was using the Pakistan card as a bargaining chip and it was Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru who rejected Jinnah’s legitimate demand for a fair share of political power, who should be held responsible for the partition of India and the concomitant horrors.”

    Prof Ishtiaq Ahmed, a midnight-child, born in 1947, a few months before Partition on 24th February, in Lahore, penned the book following deep research and historical reasoning of the period under the British. He has been invited to India by “Vasant Vyakhyanmala” Nashik, literally meaning ‘Spring lecture series of Nashik, celebrating its Centenary- Year in May 2023 – The Maharashtra-based organization has a glorious and proud history. It has the most distinguished names on its speakers list including Mahatma Gandhi, SV Savarkar, Pandit Nehru, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Jayaparkash Narayan, Vinoba Bhave, Balasahed Thackeray, Lata Mangeshkar.  

    “Invited as an academic for the keynote address on the lecture series on the political-affairs segment; his topic was, “Centenary: “The tale of two brothers lost in a fair”- connected to India-Pak socio-political trajectory and what should be done and how should they deal with each other”. Significantly, the lecture series is a part of the month-long centenary celebrations by the pre-partition organization- ‘Vasant Vyakhyanmala’, where a number of noted speakers have been invited, marking its 100 years.  

    Coming back to the ideas and political role of the Founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah – Prof Ishtiaq Ahmed writes in his book –“Mohammad Ali Jinnah has been both celebrated and reviled for his role in the Partition of India, and the controversies surrounding his actions have only increased in the seven decades and more since his death”. In his book Ishtiaq Ahmed has placed, Jinnah’s actions under intense scrutiny to ascertain the Quaid-i-Azam’s successes and failures and the meaning and significance of his legacy. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed states that he used “a wealth of contemporary records and archival material, tracing Jinnah’s journey from Indian nationalist to Muslim communitarian and from a Muslim nationalist to, finally, Pakistan’s all-powerful head of state.”

    The book asks and answers many valid, uncomfortable, and burning questions about Jinnah being a party to the drawing of the Radcliff border line dividing the nation into two. “How did the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity become the inflexible votary of the two-nation theory? Did Jinnah envision Pakistan as a theocratic state? What was his position on Gandhi and federalism? These are some of the queries the book raises and allows to flow into ‘historical reasoning, by the author. The volume according to experts is a path-breaking examination of one of the most controversial figures of the twentieth century and asks these crucial questions against the backdrop of the turbulent struggle against colonialism.

    Ishtiaq Ahmed, talking about his other critically acclaimed book -“The Punjab Bloodied, Partitioned and Cleansed” said, ‘It all began in 1936. Until the Muslim League captured Punjab, there was no chance of making Pakistan.” Going into the depth of the partition tragedy he said –“In 1936, the then president of the Indian National Congress Pt Jawaharlal Nehru said in Lucknow, “An independent India would finish feudalism”. And added -“Rights of farmers will be protected. We will make socialist India, which will be inspired by the Soviet Union,” quotes Nehru.

    Following this statement, alarm bells rang among the Britons and the Muslims. “In north-western India, big landlords were mainly Muslims. The landlords were convinced by the leadership of the Unionist Party to support and stop the Congress in its tracks. “Thus, Punjab Unionists won elections.”

    In 1937, Jinnah announced Muslim opposition to the Congress. “This was the beginning of a hate campaign, where demonizing and dehumanizing the Hindus became a new normal,” said Ahmed. Ahmed junked the theories accusing the Congress of Partition and pointed out that it continuously resisted the move and agreed to it only in March 1947. “Thus, a separate electorate system led to Partition,” he said.

    Ahmed said 80 percent of fatalities and 75 percent of displacement were recorded in Punjab during Partition.

    He said the violence started after July 10, a year before the partition in 1946.

    Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru ensured that the Muslims who wanted to stay in India should be allowed to live there. Thus the demographics of mixed communities remained the hallmark shaping  India even today in its present scenario. “It took me 11 years to research this voluminous book of 750 pages”, inserts the author.

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    BOX

    The Punjab Bloodied, Partitioned, and Cleansed

    ·   Won a prize for best non-fiction book at Lahore Literature Festival,  and the Coca-Cola Prize at the Karachi Literature Festival in 2013.

    ·   It took 11 years of research.

    ·  The book unravels the 1947 Tragedy through Secret British Reports and First-Person Accounts.

     · “More than one million people died and 14 to 15 million people got displaced. Total population of Punjab, including princely states was 34 million,” he said, adding that weapons used by Punjabis during World War-I were widely used in 1947 carnage and otherwise.

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    26 May

    Pakistanis and Kashmiris Voices of support to India at Pakistani Youtuber Channel/ GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in G20 INDIA, INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


    Pakistanis and Kashmiris Voices of support to India at Pakistani Youtuber Channel/

    Rashmi Talwar

    SRINAGAR GREATER JAMMU/ 25th May2023—-

    Aslamlekkum! Namaste! Satsri Aka!, Good morning!

    This mélange of greetings is common in the Indian context where a vibrant multi-faith society co-exists in one nation 

    Interestingly, these greetings come from the most unlikely forum of –-Sana Amjad– a Pakistani Youtuber, running a formidable News Channel in her own name, having a following of 8.34 Lakhs!

    Sana’s channel is a young 5yr old born in 2019. Her ideas -original, simple, with a stamp of Youngistan! She brings the voice of the Pakistani Public to the fore on various local, national, and international issues. Hence most of her videos attain viral status, especially in this belt of India and Pakistan. The reason is, her topics are bold, fearless, time-lined,  often striking sentiments on both sides of the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) between two warring neighbouring countries India-Pakistan.

    In this ‘no-holds-barred’ Exclusive Talk with Dynamic Sana Ahmed, CEO and owner of YouTube channel ‘Sana Ahmed Channel,  the journalist from Lahore, Pakistan, writer RASHMI TALWAR, ’  speaks to Sana about the Kashmir-itch, felt by the Political class of Pakistan, especially post the successful completion of G20 Summit 2023,  held in Srinagar Jammu Kashmir, which according to Pakistan, is disputed.

    Q. What does the public in Pakistan feel about Pakistan’s aggressive posturing against India’s G20 Srinagar Summit 2023?

    The public is angry that the government and political class of Pakistan are least concerned about solving any of the public problems of Pakistan, and instead are ranting about Kashmir at all international forums. ‘It is frustrating to see that on any International forum, Pakistan brings up the Kashmir issue, and sets aside all other issues of public interest. The real issues get buffed and buried by the Kashmir issue. We are not solving any internal problems at all. There is a big  issue of shooting prices of commodities, rising living expenses, declining opportunities, and employment woes, but we are looking at only Kashmir!’ ‘It- (Kashmir) is not gelling with the public anymore. About 50% of the public has understood that Kashmir on the Indian side is India’s and Kashmir on our side is ours. And 50% of Pakistanis feel ‘unless and until we get Kashmir, all our problems will remain and no solution is possible!’ Now what is the solution for this mindset?

    Q. What does Pakistan pubic visualize as their so-called ‘Freedom of Kashmir?

    There are two types of statements and views of the Pakistani public as far as its own ‘Pakistan Kashmir ‘ and India’s Kashmir is concerned.

    If we talk about Skardu, Gilgit, and Baltistan- the portion on the Pakistan side of Kashmir, then those people are not empowered with rights. They don’t get electricity, any employment or job opportunities, they want to be facilitated with these fundamental rights but they are not given such rights in daily life. They are keen to live with their counterparts in Kargil, India who are far away and unavailable to them. On the other side is a part of the Pakistan public that still believes that they will make Kashmir into Pakistan.  Even today they feel that Kashmir is an inseparable part of them. For Kashmir, this section of the public is ready for a fight with India. They will say India should give independence to Kashmir,  by that they mean Indian Kashmir, not Pakistani Kashmir. but more firmly they want Kashmir should join Pakistan.

    Q. What about Pakistan’s Foreign Minister who is the first Pak FM in 12 years to visit India, is the public happy with his visit and conduct at the SCO Goa G20 in India?

    Pakistan’s public is angry with Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari Bhutto who came back home and said he was not treated well with due protocol by India. But the public is asking ‘You (FM) talked about just ‘Kashmir’ and no other issues and nothing came out from this international event for the Pakistan public, by your visit’. The public feels that this government is not even looking at any problems that the Pakistanis are facing in day-to-day life; they are just concerned about their own ego without any thought to the economics of the country. They didn’t bring in any trade treaty, nothing of that level, and just said I have been humiliated in India and that’s all. On top of that, as Pak FM to India after 12 years he went and gave a threat to India – “Of an ‘Aisa Jawab denge’ which India will not forget easily’, if India holds a G20 session in Kashmir”. What happened? Pak public is asking where is the ‘Krara Jawab’  as India has already completed its G20 session in Srinagar successfully.

    Q. But then none of the foreign guests of any country got a handshake from Indian Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar during their welcome at G20 SCO Goa; it was a traditional Namaskar with folded hands. What was the issue of humiliation if all were being accorded the same treatment?

    Oh Zardari expected the handshake and said the warmth was missing, he conveyed back home to Pakistan. In Pakistan, he says to the public,-‘that country (India) is very against Pakistan’.

    Should trade between the two countries, besides people-to-people exchange restart?

    Imran Khan as Prime Minister closed all trade with India following the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status.  But Pakistan must also understand that India does not need Pakistan, instead, Pakistan badly needs India. You know the exchange rate of the dollar to the Pakistani rupee is climbing to Rs 300/ for every US1$. In these circumstances how will we manage? We are getting Indian medicine, Indian vegetables, and even Indian onions via Dubai which naturally are very expensive. Government should look at the public suffering, at the economy, it is important the country should look at its own crisis or does it have to cry only for Kashmir? For 75 years we have got nothing from Kashmir why can’t we keep aside Kashmir and start talking about things that would matter and benefit Pakistan?

    FM Bilawal could have done another deal keeping aside the Kashmir issue, but he hasn’t, so now we are looking at elections in Pakistan but again we are very unhopeful because no tenure of the elected government survives the completion of the 5-year tenure in Pakistan. The government is pulled down before the completion of the tenure or else the government collapses.

    Q. So what is the future for Pakistan?

    There is no future, unfortunately! I am a Pakistani but I say my country has no future! We are looking at a moment in Pakistan when 7 to 8 lakh youth have migrated out of Pakistan and the rest are stuck here only because they do not have the means. Anybody who gets an opportunity to move out of Pakistan is getting out. They (Pak rulers) are fools to hang on to Kashmir!

    Q. As an independent journalist and owner of the channel you raise issues that are not comfortable to the government. Are you scared?

    I am not scared. I raise authentic issues that affect our people.  I do stories after verifying that the news is correct and not a fake I started in 2019 when the ‘Indian Abhinandan’ issue gripped India and Pakistan came up between the two nations.

    What is your view on the Taliban?

    I don’t want to talk about the Taliban.   

    Did you talk to people on your side of Kashmir about what they want?

    No, we couldn’t talk to the people of ‘Azad Kashmir’ directly, as people there are shy and scared to talk openly about their desires on camera.

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    Voices of Kashmiris and Pakistanis supporting India on Sana Ahmed Channel, going viral

    Rashmi Talwar

    Srinagar J&K 25th May2023…..

    (PIX)

    Tabish Bukhari, Editor, Kashmiri Indian Youtuber,  – We as Kashmiri are delighted about G-20 Srinagar. About six years back the Indian Home Minister’s arrival in Kashmir saw strikes and protests. Presently 60 top foreign delegates arrived at the International event and not a single call of ‘hartal’ or strike was observed. Kashmiris are buoyant about their future in tourism, people are happy with the smart city facilities of Srinagar. 

    And no, we never want to join Pakistan!

    If security is stringent for the public, it is vital and our responsibility that not a scratch came to our guests as we Kashmiris will not let a finger of blame be raised at us. The public has also understood the security strictness. And they support the security forces. During G20 kashmiris were joyous and excited, after 40 years this tourism boost has come to Kashmir.     Pakistan’s feelings don’t matter to us Kashmiris. Will Pakistan decide what should happen or not happen in our land? Pak has a tummy ache every time a meeting or discussion is to take place in Kashmir, Pak pulls out Kashmir from its pocket and starts ranting about Kashmir being persecuted. Where is the persecution? We Kashmiris feel Pakistan has turned mad or cannot digest that we are happy. We advise Pakistan to improve its own conditions.  And who are Pakistanis to dictate to Kashmiris which meeting will be held in Kashmir or which will not? Kashmir laughs at this intervention by Pakistan. Where the Pak public is concerned the poison is fed by politicians. You in Pakistan are giving Rs 5000/month for internet services, Prices are skyrocketing, a former PM is arrested, Army is ruling, so your first concern is about yourself. In the last 8 years, we have improved our lives, no mother was separated from her children, or sister lost her brother. we want to see Kashmir at the top as bloodshed in Kashmir took place due to Pakistan but not now. We want development, we need jobs, and for our youth, we are doing everything, we don’t want the bloodshed that had ended, to restart now. The public has understood.  And we ask Pakistan- ‘When you are able to improve your own country’s conditions then look at the PoK how have you kept Kashmir which is in your occupation?’

    We see all videos emerging from PoK. By influencing two or three countries to boycott G20 Srinagar, you (Pakistan) think you have won. We ask ‘Who are you’? We are so happy. If China boycotted, do you think it makes a difference to us, and I also ask Pakistan – to find out how China is showing you loyalty? You should question its motives. Saudi Arabia and Turkey make up four countries that didn’t come the ones important to us came. it is only Pakistan that has influenced Saudi. The day Kashmir ceases to be an issue for votes and voting areas, Pakistan will progress. Till then Pakistan will be destroyed by its politicians and Pok terrorist organizations.

    ( PIX )  Iman Leghari student of Chemistry Lahore Pakistan

    India has a large trade scale with America and feels the US is on its side so India is in a position of power and therefore said that China’s absence at G20 Srinagar has no effect on India. Every country prefers to keep their economic ties that’s why they are coming to India.  Hence even Muslim countries of OIC came for the G20 Srinagar. Indian PM Modi has boosted the Economy; this economic drive has successfully made it a strong partner even with the Muslim world.

    Indian confidence comes as the 5th largest technology power in the world and the world admits it. Pakistan needs India, India does not need us. We should come forward for trade forgetting the past and enmity with India.  

    (PIX) Ayesha, Lahore Pakistan—– India is a Top power in development, and production, it is stabilized. if they brushed off China’s absence at G20, it is with this power that the opposite partner benefits from partnering with India. Biden asked for Indian PM Modi’s autograph. Look at Indian PM Modi’s creativity, his dealing, and his handling. We can call him a ‘Chaiwala’ but see how he is handling foreign powers. We should learn from his techniques and we should learn from India how they are growing as a nation. They are now 20 years ahead of us, and here we cant resolve disputes amongst ourselves!  Modi is focused on benefitting his nation and he doesn’t waver from that. Even if he doesn’t agree with some nations he has good relations with them why because he wants benefits for his country from any nation irrespective of the nature of their country heads. We should make good relations with India, and we should keep economics separate and religion separate. The Indian PM is smart not to be aggressive and gives a timely reply. He is smart in his moves.

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    23 May

    Day-1 G20 Delegates receive a royal welcome with Pagris, Tilaks, and Marigold Showers/ Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in G20, G20 INDIA. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    Day-1 KASHMIR G20

    G 20 delegates receive a royal welcome with Pagris, Tilaks, and Marigold Showers

    Day-1 KASHMIR G20

    G 20 delegates receive a royal welcome with Pagris, Tilaks and Marigold Showers

    Rashmi Talwar

    SRINAGAR J&K 22 May 2023 ————–

    Amidst the beat of Dhols, delegates from 17, G-20 member countries and guest country invitees were offered a royal welcome with red velvet traditional Indian umbrellas held aloft their heads by individual umbrella bearers reminding one of the days of the Rajas and Maharajas. Alongside Kashmiri girls performed the typical Kashmiri Roff dance.  Delegates were ushered in and accorded a warm welcome, anointed with Saffron Tilaks, a Saffron Pagri or Turban placed on their bare heads, and showered with saffron-colored fragrant marigold petals at the premises of Lalit Hotel, in Srinagar-Kashmir hosting the biggest International event in decades. 

    Few foreign Delegates were seen carrying their own luggage or strolling them along the bridge of the famous hotel that has hosted many a star on the world horizon. As Kashmiri music with its typical Santoor, Rabab, and Tumbaknari instrumental melody wafted from a stage in the entryway of the hotel lobby accompanied by a rhythmic playing of ghara or earthen utensil. A sizzling Bhangra, a cultural dance from the neighbouring state of Punjab enraptured the delegates with vigorous rhythmic steps, loud claps and pauses. Some Kashmiri detractors sniggered over the ‘tilak’ as a Hindu custom and saffron colors which they said typified the political color symbols of the ruling BJP party in the country. 

    On the delegates’ itinerary after the vigorous session were 15 places to visit including Shalimar Mughal Gardens, Bakshi Stadium, Government Arts Emporium housed in a heritage building from the British times, the Pari Mahal a palace cum observatory high over the city built in 17 century by Dara Shikoh son of Emperor Shah Jahan and brother of Aurangzeb, newly renovated Zero Bridge, Polo view the market of 1954 recently spruced up for G20.

     The TRC football stadium; Chashme Shahi Gardens- oozes the purest spring waters known to be specially flown for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. With it a ‘shikara’ or Kashmiri boat ride with heart-shaped paddles; a visit to the Char Chinari or the island of four Chinar Trees, the SPS Museum that houses nearly 80,000 treasures. 

    Of course, the guests would be watched closely though discreetly by Marine frogmen of commandos patrolling the waters of the Dal lake with highly sophisticated TATA night visions, the national security guards stationed to prevent fidayeen attacks and counter-drone operations, the special operations group of J&K police and Indian army at checkpoint keeping a high powered vigil over the priced guests in the highly sensitive region. About 160 CCTV cameras were up across the city in a state of high preparedness with daily drills at the conference venue. While CRPF forces are deputed on anti-mine operations, the Special Operations Group (SOG) has been deployed for the first time to secure a civilian population.

    The event recorded the highest participation compared to the first two tourism working group meetings of G20 at Rann of Kutch and Siliguri.

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    BOX

    Gulmarg, Dachigam tour Cancelled for G20

    Owing to security issues and adverse reports, the scheduled sightseeing visit to the Dachigam National Wildlife Park and the tourist Hotspot Gulmarg or Meadow of Flowers in North Kashmir have been dropped from the itinerary, which was to showcase tourism for G20 delegates. It was canceled at the nth moment even as vigorous preparations were ongoing for the international event. A senior official at the ongoing project told the writer that the cancellation was due to a serious threat perception.

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    BOX

    Lal Chowk shop owners to keep shops open all three days of G20

    Shopkeepers of the Lal Chowk, the hub of Srinagar and a center point for all protests, hartals, and any form of civil disobedience, have been asked by the city administration in accordance with the foreign office and Ministry of Home to keep their shops open for all three days of the G20 Meet in the city.

     They have all been issued passes in the area which is under high vigil lest some hardcore attack or even stray mischief may sour the taste or could be staged in protest against the G20 session in J&K which some countries have boycotted including China supporting Pakistan, Turkiye, and Indonesia. Meantime, the J&K Police issued an advisory against international mobile numbers used for spreading rumors in the union territory as people in the valley reported getting automated calls from some odd numbers.

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    Exhibition of crafts of Kashmir at SKICC            

    An exhibition of Kashmiri handicrafts, including papier mache, wood carving, carpets and shawls, walnuts, and wild produce was displayed at 11 stalls at the Sher E Kashmir Convention Center SKICC the venue of the G20 meeting.

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    Terror Mastermind wife gives a call to Kashmiris to boycott G20

    Mashal Mallik wife of Yasin Mallik, the mastermind of terrorism in Kashmir, screamed from the mike of the Bol TV Channel from Pakistan and gave a call to Kashmiris to boycott the ongoing G20 International Meet held in Srinagar Kashmir.

     She exhorted them to rebel and sit-in protest in a ‘hartal’ or strike mode to object to the holding of the International event in Kashmir and accuse the country of betraying the cause of Kashmir and its liberation, ‘Modi is celebrating over Kashmiri blood and graves’ she cried, trying to evoke gullible Kashmiris to rebel.  However, she and her ranting were able to garner only 125 likes on YouTube.

    oo—oo

    Points on Tourism Enhancement in J&K

    ·         Under its presidency India has so far held 108 meetings in various parts of the country, the Srinagar Tourism being one of the most impressive under tense circumstances.

    ·         G20 chief coordinator Harshvardhan Shringala said that the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar has the highest dedicated participation and will be the most significant event held in Jammu and Kashmir.

    ·         Promoting film tourism in J&K G20 chief coordinator said that a draft National Strategy on Film Tourism will be unveiled to provide road map for the role of films as promoters of tourist destinations.

    ·         The meeting is set to deliberate on five key priority areas, which include ‘Green Tourism’, ‘Digitalization’, MSME, and ‘Destination Management’ these priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transaction of the tourism sector and achieving the targets. Film Tourism is ideal for economic growth and cultural preservation and G20 will focus on strategies to promote film tourism and will invite international organizations and industries besides stakeholders, to strategize the format.

    ·         About 300 new tourist destinations are in the pipeline in Jammu and Kashmir and  Srinagar aims to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage and promote sustainable development of the region

    ·         Ram Charan, a famous South Indian actor shook a leg with foreign delegates on the Oscar-winning song ‘Naatu Naatu’. The actor landed here to participate in a side event of the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in Kashmir Valley. He is among the representatives of the Indian film industry at the summit to discuss film tourism for economic growth and cultural preservation.

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    23 May

    Bridal Beauty walks the red carpet for G-20 Tourism Session in Srinagar / Rashmi Talwar/ GREATER JAMMU

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in G20, G20 INDIA. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    G-20 SRINAGAR  

    Bridal Beauty walks the red carpet for G 20 Tourism Session in Srinagar

    G-20 Tourism Session

    Bridal Beauty walks the red carpet for G20

    Rashmi Talwar

    SRINAGAR J&K, 21stMay 2023—

    As the clock strikes at midnight, -the land of Rishi Kashap Kashmir decked up in bridal finery steps out to a new dawn.It reminds me of poet Rainer Maria-

    Weavers weaving at fall of night,

    Why do you weave a garment so bright?

    Like the blooms of a peacock purple and green

    We weave the marriage veil of a queen.   

    Indeed Kashmir, the crown of India, and the G20 International- walked hand in hand, to tear apart clouds of gloom, onto the road of happily ever, passing  Bollard lights of the Indian  Tricolor outlining roads from Indira Gandhi Airport Srinagar en route to the shimmering waters of the Dal Lake.

    It is a new Kashmir, a modern Kashmir where the Jhelum bank is decked in flowers where loudspeakers once rolled out loud, and soft music plays in rhythm with the whistling wind.

    “Each true Kashmiri heart is joyous and proud of the city hosting G20) Tourism session,” says a senior Kashmiri lady. “We may have set aside our culture, but this joy is unsurpassable- “Let such joy prevail, Cultures come and go!”

    Tariq Mir, a media person comments – The international event has come as a blessing, as under it, the smart city work has picked up at a supersonic pace including beautification. Abid, a bureaucrat inserts that the G20 should be extended so that all beautification works can be completed in record time.

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    ‘Smiles as wide as a mile’

    Greater Jammu found a palpable excitement in the air as ‘smiles as wide as a mile’ met everywhere, although thorough checking and security apparatus was spread throughout the paradisiac land. “Abrogation of Article 370 &35A has led the older lot of politicians to change tactics to woo the electorate and match with the pulse of the people, who are hungry for normalcy; the former rulers seem to have toned down their restrictive, controlling, and vitriolic comments.  

    Where nightlife was nil, the stadium played matches under power lights carry on till 10 pm unheard of in decades. Hotels are booming with cent percent bookings. The trickle of tourists in turmoil times has turned into lakhs. The year-round season is the new flavour of Kashmir.

     An orthodox culture was melting and the subdued female gender is once again flowering in full form. Girls are topping school, college, board, and University exams, stepping out vigorously to claim their space in the sun. A copper utensil shop owner thanked the new ruling dispensation of the state for getting rid of the theatre of stone pelting and the hartal calendars. Now businesses have a chance to pick up”. Men women born in 50s and 60s freely talk about a fashionable Kashmir-“The beauty and grace of Kashmiris was matchless. Our pride spelled  gloom for us”, says Shaista  adding –“After ages we witness and taste freedom from the stranglehold of tradition, fear, and faith to push us deep down.”

    A youngster from Burnhall school says he loved watching ‘Pathan’ movie in the cinema hall – Matinee Show !! I saw the entire hall wearing masks. It wasn’t protection against infection but hide as fear factor prevailed. Now, not a single one is wearing a mask.

    Rilke a poet said –“Let everything happen to you, because beauty and terror just keep going, no feeling is final.”

    Abid, a bureaucrat tells me Kashmir has turned into an all-season destination. Film shootings are rivaling each other Boys and girls are not only fascinated but opportunity is striking at their doorstep, many are thus absorbed in the fields where their ideals have made names. Huma Qureshi, a Gurezi Kashmiri is much adored. Music and performing greats inspire, it has in turn given a fillip to celebrity tourism.

    People who have seen only death and doom in years feel that the development pace shouldn’t slow down and one or other international events should step into Kashmir soon so that incomplete works can complete in record time. The freedom has also come to new liquor shops opening in tourism heavy city.

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    BOX

    Call from Across the Border

    Abid, an IAS officer told this writer –“Kashmir received the dreadful call from across the border to impose a hartal, where black to protest against the G20 in Kashmir. All shopkeepers downed their shutters in Lal Chowk as was the norm. Two shops opened their shops and started doing the daily chores of cleaning and setting up products and goods on display, which triggered the strength in each shopkeeper to lift the shop shutters and defy the diktats from masterminds of terror, operating from Pakistan and elsewhere in the world. The Hartal call was not called off but defied in all forms of defiance.

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    Exciting European Plaza

    The Polo view market famous for handicrafts, a 200-meter stretch, had a makeover with flowers and tree-rounder seaters and squares, where people relaxed and rolled under the shade of trees, watching and admiring the beauty of flowers, spend a relaxed time. Well, so excited were the people that students, elderly, middle-aged, children, security forces, vendors, drivers, shopkeepers, the busy baker, and even shikarawalas and every Kashmiri worth his salt were seen clicking selfies at the spot to be part of the new age beauty spot that stretched about 200 meters of a model Street of the poshest shopping complex.

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    Srinagar Spruced up

    A senior official connected with  Unesco’s Handicraft Project – commented “Srinagar is a lot prettier and a lot cleaner! Beautiful wood signage, and smart bicycles free to rent, is such a wholly pleasant sight. The bicycles are quite an attraction and cycle tracks were built at Rajbagh and the Bund. Uniform color-coded footpaths their layout matches any metro city. Under the handicraft policy they are engaging Kashmiri artists and have created 4600 cooperative societies their actual number of artisans is 3.5 lakh, The G20 is going to give a fillip to more exports which have already captured the markets of Germany, the US, and UK with our carpets pashmina, walnuts, sozni embroidery,  paper mache.

    So much so that women have come up with innovative ideas and leading in e-commerce with bakeries, jams, pickles cakes, and other goodies. They are shunning stereotypes and have entered no entry zones of Gyming. So now you see not only two girls in the gym without any male escort, but a mother-daughter gyming side by side, father gyming with daughter, even girlfriend-boyfriend culture is quite free with frequent activities together in the gym and tuition classes space as well as play fields. Similarly, Nightlife is picking up, tastefully done liquor outlets have opened and Cinemas have become the great liberators from hide-and-watch corners by youngsters.

    It is now common to see girls in jeans and t-shirts and it is quite accepted as a mode of dressing, therefore there is no one who eyes girls wearing Western garments such as jeans. Girls drive cars and scooties fearlessly, comments Tariq Mir. “ The moot thing is fear has  vanished from the Kashmiri Stratosphere- Now who dares  to question a girl on the street about her clothes, appearance, work, or activities behind closed doors like singing, acting, and dancing or in the open- like sports or riding a heavy-duty mo-bike and becoming a vlogger ?” Those dreadful days are gone from Kashmir …..To Be Continued …

    23 May

    India repatriates 22 Pakistani prisoners at Attari Wagah/ Rashmi Talwar/ GREATER JAMMU

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    India repatriates 22 Pakistani prisoners at Attari Wagah

    Indo-Pak Border

    India repatriates 22 Pakistani prisoners at Attari Wagah

    Rashmi Talwar

    Attari-Wagah, May 20, 2023 —–

    Indian government repatriated 22 Pakistani nationals held in various Indian prisons, who had completed their sentences. They were handed over via the Attari-Wagah border here, officials said.

    They were handed over by Border Security Force personnel to the Pakistani Rangers at the border’s Joint Check Post (JCP) on Friday, the officials said.

    Since none of the Pakistan nationals had any kind of travel documents at the time of their arrest, all of them were issued ‘Emergency Travel Certificates’ by the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, before they crossed over to their homeland in  Pakistan, officials informed.

    Of the 22 prisoners, nine fishermen were incarcerated in Kutch prison in Gujarat and brought here to Amritsar, 10 from the Amritsar Central Jail, and three from other prisons, officials confirmed. 

    Officials said that the Pak fishermen had been nabbed by the Indian Navy in the maritime areas of the Indian Ocean.

     Since it has a poorly demarked watery borderline, the fishermen from both countries often stray into each other’s territories without any intention of doing so. 

    The Pakistani fishermen’s repatriation is part of India-Pakistan’s Treaty of Understanding of prisoner repatriation of each other’s country after completion of jail terms due to border trespass. Under this, 500 Indian Prisoners, which includes 499 fishermen and one civilian would be released and repatriated by Pakistan to India by July 3.

    Pakistani and India regularly arrest each other’s fishermen for violating the maritime boundaries which are poorly marked at some points in the expanse of the Indian oceans that separates the two countries.

    Earlier on May 12, Greater Jammuhad reported on the repatriation of  198 Indian fishermen from Pakistan who were brought amidst tight security, to the Wagah-Attari  Indo-Pak Border from Karachi by the Edhi Foundation, and were repatriated in the dark. The delay in repatriation was caused due to the civil unrest in Pakistan following the arrest and release of its former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Out of 200, two fishermen including One Muhammed Zulfiqar and Soma Deva had died in Karachi’s prison on May 6 and on May 9 respectively. Their bodies have been kept in the Edhi Foundation mortuary till they could be flown out to India. The Indian fishermen were incarcerated in Karachi’s infamous Malir Jail for years.

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    17 May

    Khalistan comes from a feeling of ‘irrelevance’ in Indian migrants in foreign lands: Ujjal Dosanjh, first  India-born  Premier of B.C. Canada /GREATER JAMMU /Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INTERNATIONAL. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    Khalistan comes from a feeling of ‘irrelevance’ in Indian migrants in foreign lands: Ujjal Dosanjh, first India-born  Premier of B.C. Canada

    Khalistan comes from a feeling of ‘irrelevance’ in Indian migrants in foreign lands: Ujjal Dosanjh, first  India-born Premier of B.C. Canada

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 16 MAY 2023-

    The issue of Khalistan comes out of a ‘sense of irrelevance’ of the Indian Diaspora, a sense of nothingness or no importance attached to themselves in their adopted countries. Following this ‘irrelevance’ in a foreign society, one latches on to something that one knows. Alongside, one needs to live for a cause, this twin factor was fulfilled when Khalistan became the cause, which became handy to Sikhs who migrated.  It became like, you go to a Temple, you shout Khalistan slogans and suddenly you get a rush of feeling, of being alive! And suddenly you find some relevance, attention, and importance being showered upon you”.         Ujjal Dosanjh the Indo-Canadian Sikh politician who rose to prominence as the first India-born Canadian provincial leader, expressed these views while speaking at Majha House- a cultural hub of Amritsar, during the book release of his debut novel ‘The Past Is Not Dead’ based on the caste baggage, immigrants carry from their homeland during foreign migration and live and bear it even in foreign lands.

    Recently Khalistan sloganeering had again grabbed headlines and figured prominently in the media reports emerging from countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada, which were essentially the US, UK Australia, and Europe Bloc supporting Ukraine in the Russian-Ukraine War. World think tanks are not off the mark to think that the timing of the Khalistan movement’s revival is not a coincidence as India chose to remain adamantly neutral to this conflict and refused to be part of sanctions against Russia or take any sides. Khalistanis were seen disrespecting the Indian flag in the UK, their Canadian activities of sloganeering Khalistan in Gurdwaras throughout, and Australian reports of disrespecting Hindu temples.

    “I think the diaspora needs to ask some of us in India whether we want a Khalistan or not. It seems our opinion doesn’t matter and we are the ones who will be subjected to it”, pipped in Deepa Swani, moderating the session along with Preeti Gill the founder and owner of Majha House. Dosanjh clarified his views and stated that in 1984, the time of peak militancy in Punjab –“I called out Khalistan as a pipe dream!  I still stand by it. It (Khalistan) won’t happen, because people in Punjab don’t want it.  And some of us suggested to self-professed Khalistanis to -Go buy land in Alberta where land is quite flat like in Punjab, and set it up (as Khalistan), don t bug the people back home in India”.

    About modern voices of Khalistan among the younger generation of Canadian Sikhs –Dosanjh explained it as “Another phenomenon, wherein the old hardcore elements of Khalistan are imparting fanaticism to the next generation. This new generation in Canada and America speaks perfect English and raises Khalistan on various stages. Significantly, some of these desi cum firangis, have never been to India, never even seen the country. They are so easy to manipulate by the older hardcore ones”. And added -“You see they don’t know the country India, they pick from social media and mass-share it with each other and formulate the idea that this incident is the way things are happening back in Punjab. Of course, there is much violence in India, but it is not happening to Sikhs as much as it is happening to the rest, inserted Canadian politician

    when I spoke against Khalistan, many Sikhs hated me –“They pointed at me and said, “No Sikh is going to vote for you, if it’s no Khalistan.” He pointed out that today mediocrity dominates politics everywhere and there was a scarcity of leaders.

    Talking on behalf of migrants from India to Canada, he noted –“No doubt there is racism in Canada and many other countries too, but it is our own actions and omissions that make us irrelevant. One important factor is Education as the greatest instrument for integration in any society, which was not the pressing issue with the first Indian immigrants to Canada,  who went on to set the mould for others, that came after them.  

    It seems to me Congress destroyed the fabric of India long before BJP did. BJP made it worse and I was say crazier. Congress has already weakened the secular fabric and core philosophy of India to a dangerous degree.

    Taking on BJP he inquired – which Political party has ‘Building a Mandir ‘in its manifesto, for a country that comprises of multi-religio, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-directional electorate.

    Dosanjh didn’t spare Sikhism either, “The founder Sikh Guru Nanak was radical about Sikhism being a caste-less society ”  but look at Sikhism today – It is riddled with casteism away from the core tenets of Sikhism.

    Speaking out his mind without any full stops Dosanjh said –“Religion is not going to give you anything – infrastructure roads, buildings, or happiness and I am out of this religious rut”. 

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     BOOK: ‘The Past Is Not Dead’ BY Ujjal Dosanjh

    The book ‘The Past Is Not Dead’  authored by Ujjal Dosanjh as his debut novel, projects ‘caste’  as the ultimate label that shadows one throughout life beyond the seven oceans in faraway lands too. Ujjal, the Sikh politician who rose to prominence as the first India-born Canadian provincial leader, a prominent lawyer, and author, born in Dosanjh Kalan, Jallandhar spent his early life in villages before migrating to the UK talked about the issue of casteism among the Indian diaspora. Having served as the 33rd premier of British Columbia, Canada from 2000 to 2001 he spoke about the ultimate humiliation of lower castes in Punjab, which travels from generation to generation never letting them forget their antecedents, despite successes in life.

    He spoke about his book that traces how the caste is carried onto foreign lands from the Punjab hinterland and refuses to leave lives and beyond. The book is based on caste-based slurs and violence in the UK that the protagonist Kalu witnessed and is subjected to.       Kalu,  plays out the real-life experiences of Dosanjh in the book when he migrates to the UK in 1965 just as Dosanjh did.        Dosanjh relates- “I was 18, a turbaned Sikh boy, living with cousins. An acquaintance of my cousin used to do Hawala transactions, during those times. He was being accused of not remitting money back to the customer’s family in Punjab. Suddenly, the customer stood up and gave a tight slap with a litany of Casteist slurs, to the Hawala operator. I just froze. It remained with me,” The book is a tribute to that man, who bore the insults and the violence and torture.

    Dosanjh said casteism is a reality abroad “I worked, as a lab assistant, even in a crayon factory and I know the way immigrants face casteist experiences in the UK by their Indian counterparts. I have seen people go numb or crazy if they know their child is marrying a person from a lower caste. There are so many incidents in Bedford, UK, alone believe me, not as brutal as in India, but it’s ugly, humiliating, and painful.”

    So the adage –‘You can leave India behind, but not your ‘caste’, falls true even today, especially among the rural migrants. The urban is lesser involved with casteist leanings but villages being close-knit, smaller in size, inter-connected, and bonded, practice this to the hilt.

    He talked about a growing sense of irrelevance among the Indian diaspora. “When people migrate to another country, not quite familiar with the culture or society of that country, there are chances that they get ghettoed’ packed-in both into physical and mental Ghettos. The tragedy grows when the diaspora grows, more are ghettoized in physical and mental ghettos. Look at the areas of Surrey and Brampton, ghettos in Britain, and in the USA in some places; we build ghettos there to overcome the stigma of being irrelevant in a foreign society. You think alike, you don’t change and carry along your casteist baggage.”

    Casteism is a reality among the diaspora; and definitely ugly.

    Talking about the Congress Party in India the former Canadian politician stated – “Congress destroyed the fabric of the country, by pandering to castes, nullifying the core philosophy of secularism. Congress didn’t do it as much in a blatant fashion, as the BJP –RSS are doing it now”.

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    BOX

    Ujjal Dosanjh

    ·      Ujjwal Dosanjh is a midnight child born on September 9, 1947

    ·    ‘The Past Is Never Dead’ is his debut novel, although he has penned several books.

    ·      He was Awarded ‘Pravasi Bhartiye Samman’ in 2003 by Prime Minister AB Vajpayee.

    ·      He served as the 33rd premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and was active in politics in Canada till recently.

    ·     He faced one attack in 1985 by Khalistanis during the peak of Punjab militancy for speaking against Khalistan but survived with 80 head stitches and a broken hand.

    ·     Second attack on him came  on 26th Dec 1999, and his office as a member of the legislative Assemble in British Columbia Canada was vandalized with an attempt at arson

    ·          

     BOX

    ·Ujjal Dev Dosanjh is a PC and KC

    ·PC: Meaning Dosanjh is part of His Majesty Privy Council for Canada which makes him as a personal consultant to the Monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs  of elected members of Parliament of former cabinet ministers

    ·KC: Dosanjh is also the KC as King’s Council in the UK and in some commonwealth countries. The appointment is conferred by the Crown that is recognized by the courts. Appointments are made within the legal profession on merit.

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    13 May

    198 Indian Fishermen return home to India  in the dark / GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in Amritsar-Lahore, INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


    198 Indian Fishermen return home to India  in the dark 

    Beyond Closing of International gates via Wagah Attari JCP 

    Rashmi Talwar

    WAGAH- ATTARI BORDER (AMRITSAR) 12 May 2023—

    As Pakistan battled with political and social turmoil in their streets, Indian fishermen imprisoned in Pakistan finally reached Lahore station from Karachi much beyond the assigned time at 7 pm today. A senior official told the writer that several unscheduled stops were made due to the ongoing upheaval in Pakistan, following the sudden arrest-and-release of its former PM Imran Khan which led to public tempers spilling onto the streets.

    However, despite the uncontrollable situation in the neighboring country, 198 Indian fishermen were brought amidst tight security, to Lahore via Allama Iqbal Express train from Karachi by the Edhi Foundation. Reportedly of the 200 to be repatriated to India two had died. Their bodies may cross over tomorrow.

    The Indian fishermen were incarcerated in Karachi’s infamous Malir Jail for years. The journey from Karachi takes nearly 23 hours on normal days. The prisoners were expected to reach by 2 Pm and at the most their repartition to India would have been possible before both the countries ritualistic ‘Beating Retreat ceremony’ with the lowering of the respective country flags and closing of the international gateways.

    But was delayed due to abnormal conditions prevailing. Pakistan’s Edhi Foundation Information Bureau Lahore, informed that many of these fishermen had completed their jail sentences years ago. The fishermen were arrested for crossing the invisible Maritime borders of the  Indian Ocean. 

    More fishermen thus imprisoned in Pakistan would be released next month, stated the charitable foundation’s press release. it was seen that the Indian prisoners were being handed over remuneration money for work done in prison over the years, at Lahore station. 

    Being all smiles anticipating their return to their motherland, one Bhasker had anointed his forehead with three strokes of saffron lines and a single white vertical line cutting through them like a ‘Trishul’, adorned by many Hindu castes in South India.

    The prisoners were taken in a fleet of tempo traveler mini buses to Wagah from Lahore station along with the fleet of security vehicles. Volunteers of the Edhi Foundation in red Edhi T-shirts could be seen assisting in the formal clearance of the prisoners before being seated for the onward journey to Wagah. 

    Till the filing of this report at 9.30 pm, the formalities of immigration for repatriated Indian prisoners from Pakistan on the Indian side were ongoing.

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    12 May

    Amritsar Blasts: Radical literature, 1.1 kg explosive, 5 arrested; foreign links possible /GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in Golden Temple, INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    Amritsar Blasts: radical literature, 1.1 kg explosive, 5 arrested; foreign links possible

    Amritsar Blasts: Radical literature, 1.1 kg explosive, 5 arrested; foreign links possible

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 11 May 2023—

    Three mysterious blasts in a row at Heritage Street of Golden Temple Amritsar in five days set alarm bells ringing in the holy city and around. The 3rd blast took place at about 12.30 am which proved to be the final blow to the conspiracy, with the arrest of five accused and a woman held in custody by Punjab police.

    The five arrested include Azad Veer Singh, Amrik Singh, Dharminder Singh, Harjeet Singh, and Sahib Singh, all residents of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. All accused belong to the Sikh community pointing a finger at radicalization, initiated among youth in the recent past by Amritpal Singh, who is now under arrest.

    Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav while briefing the media on Thursday said ‘low-grade explosives of fluorides and bromides mixed with a mixture of sulphur and potash that was sourced from Anngarh area- notorious for making of illegal country made liquor, were seized. After the 3rd blast in the early hours today i.e. 11th May, police laid siege and overpowered the five-member terrorist gang. In the preliminary interrogation itself, the arrested terrorists made big revelations by accepting their crime”, he added.

    The DGP revealed- the suspects included Azad Veer and Amrik Singh staying in the Guru Ram Dass Sarai (inn) located in the Golden Temple complex for the past several days and had assembled the explosives while Dharminder Singh, Harjeet Singh, and Sahib were held for sourcing and providing explosives.

    Sahib Singh was a licensed holder of explosives used in the manufacturing of firecrackers. A woman, the wife of an accused, staying with him in the Sarai near the blast spot was being probed. Police recovered 1.1kg of explosive material besides radical literature from their possession.

    DGP while briefing about the modus operandi of the accused said -“ The arrested terrorists told that they bought the material for making firecrackers and took a trial by putting stones in it, in which they were successful and started preparing bombs. Azad Veer Singh went to the bathroom of the inn and threw the bomb on the Galliara (Golden Temple Corridor)side behind the Sarai at around 12.12 am today. The police cordoned the area even as a probe and scanning of CCTV cameras inside the Guru Ram Dass Sarai were ongoing for the previous two blasts, which led to these suspects. He said the accused confessed to the earlier explosions at Heritage Street also. Their links in India and abroad will be exposed,” the DGP added. that pictures from their mobiles showed explosive assembling establishing their links. They were booked under Narcotics Act and Explosives Act.

    BOX

    SERIAL BLASTS SEQUENCE :

    ·    May 6: For the first blast on 6th May, the accused assembled 200gm of explosives in a container and hung them in a polythene bag from a thread from the rooftop of Saragarhi parking falling on Heritage Street, which exploded at around 11.30 pm.

    ·    May 8: Accused Azad Veer kept another bomb at the rooftop on May 8, around 4 am, and left the scene. It was connected with a thread, which was pulled by a passer-by leading to the blast at the same spot at around 6.30 am. 

    ·     May 11:  Accused Azad Veer Singh assembled a bomb and went to the bathroom of the inn and blasted the third bomb in the park behind it in the early hours at 12.30 am today following which five accused and a woman were nabbed.

    BOX

    Amritsar blasts: SGPC releases CCTV footage, questions Punjab Police ‘leniency’

    The prompt action of the SGPC’s employees led to the arrests, claimed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami. The incidents of explosions near  Golden Temple are the result of the government’s failure,  accused  Dhami, while talking to the media. And said that “If the government had seriously investigated the two blasts on the heritage road in the past, then this latest incident would not have happened”.

    Giving information about the incident, he said that after hearing a loud explosion around 12:10 last night, the SGPC employees immediately took action,  identifying the perpetrators of the incident through CCTV cameras, they caught the accused from the verandah of Sri Guru Ramdas Sarai at around 4:15 am and handed them to the police. And added –“It is extremely worrying that actions are being taken to worsen the situation in Punjab”. He expressed apprehension of some deep conspiracy, behind the blasts

    BOX Radical Fallout

    It is being increasingly speculated by experts that a potent mix of radicalization and a foreign hand could be a possibility in the incident of three blasts near the Golden Temple. According to Baljit BaliEditor Babushahi Online news portal, radicalization is an important factor that came into the picture via the Amritpal Singh episode. Other experts on conditions of Anonymity point to India’s neutrality in the Ukraine-Russian war, where India refused to toe the line of the Western bloc and refused to be a part of sanctions against Russia.

    This fallout manifested itself in the form of recent incidents that seemed inter-linked

    ·         Security lapse and disrespect to the Indian flag at the Indian embassy in the UK

    ·         Increased attacks on Hindu temples in Australia

    ·         BBC documentary pointing an accusing finger at  PM Modi for Gujarat Riots

    ·         The entry of Amritpal Sikh a radical Sikh on the Punjab horizon.

    ·         The storming of a police station in Ajnala near Amritsar and making off with a jailed inmate using Sikh Holy Book Guru Granth Sahib as a shield by a mob led by Amritpal

    ·         Three bomb blasts near the holiest Sikh shrine in Amritsar

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    11 May

    Pak public makes off with Peacocks, eggs, pigeons, and a cannon from Corp Commander’s house, following Imran Khan’s arrest/ GREATER JAMMU/ Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


    Pak public makes off with Peacocks, eggs, pigeons, and a cannon from Core Commander’s house, following Imran Khan’s arrest

    Pak public makes off with Peacocks, eggs, pigeons, and a cannon from Corp Commander’s house, following Imran Khan’s arrest

    Rashmi Talwar

    Amritsar May 10, 2023—

    Videos of a rushing man, pressing a peacock under his arm; two other people holding the rare white peacock one each, and scenes of an ancient cannon being dragged by a group of Pakistan public through a Pak street, carrying off pigeons and eggs in a video, took the Twitterati by storm today. The video showed a break-in at Corp Commander’s/GoC 4-Corps Lt Gen Salman Fayyaz Ghani of Pakistan Army, house that flashed on Twitter all day. When one of the peacock thieves was questioned, he asserted that the (Pak) army had fleeced its public, so justifiably all of this loot and more belongs to us- the Pak Awam!”.

    There were more videos of people making off with loot from the GoC s house,  picking out pigeons,  caught with cooked korma, strawberries, cooked lady finger,  a bottle of tomato ketchup, and a large bottle of Coca-Cola, from the vandalized area.

    The turn of events after the surreptitious whisking away of the former PM and Pakistan Cricket Team’s most popular Captain Imran Khan (IK), sent the Pak public into a frenzy, on the roads, triggering the Twitterati chatter big time.

    Hashtag #PakCivilWar ruled Twitter, emerging from this neck of South Asia where events in Pakistan had a major fallout in borderlines nations, more so in India, Tehreen Akhtar of CNN News tweeted that IK’s arrest has created a civil war-like situation in Pakistan.

    So as the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian defense intensified the security along the International border (IB) with Pakistan along the J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat borders, Pakistan watchers keenly followed the unfolding of events of near-anarchy in the economically battered neighbouring  Pakistan.

    Just as one watched the Twitterati reveal that about 250 supporters of IK were arrested, Asad Umar former minister in IK’s government was arrested; a video of a man appeared singing –“Woh dekho 75 saal ka Janaza ja raha hai ..” (See the 75-year-old corpse is on its journey to the graveyard!) threw in a Shakespearean drama character of a poet predicting the future,  often seen in theatre performances of the Victorian era, seemed so ironic and befitting. 

    Ghulam Akhbar of News Channel ‘Bol Network’ tweeted –“All roads to ‘Jatti Umra’ the residence of (former Pak PM and present PM Shahbaz Sharif’s elder brother) -Nawaz Sharif, are sealed by containers parked there”. The Pak public is up in arms against the present incumbency of the ruling Sharif family along with the Pak army that allegedly seemed to have abducted IK.  Interestingly Jatti Umra is the ancestral village of the Sharif family  in the Indian side of Punjab about 25 Kms from Amritsar after which the name of the village was used to name the official residence of the former Pak PM

    A young dupatta-covered girl in a video floated in a car-“ Talking to the camera on twitter  –she addressed IK  “Why have you worked so hard to civilize this country – “for whom a sack of wheat is enough to survive, they are animals! And we deserve these people because this is a country that survives on alms..” and went on use abusive words for the vandalizing public. The video garnered 35000 views and 83000 shares.

    Fakhar Yousafsai , Journalist with Khyber news tweeted about the motorway Toll plaza of Swat, allegedly being set ablaze, another tweet where a video showed people freely entering in hordes the gateway of Peshawar Cantonment.   Ruksanna Jabeen a Mass Comm graduate wrote-“5-PTI workers are martyred by protectors of Pakistan!”  

    “(Situation is ) Fragile and precariously poised. Tensions are mounting. Army has been deployed in two provinces— Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The same army has been taking the flak and thrashing from the people since yesterday,” termed Senior Producer, SAMAA News, Islamabad,  Zeeshan Saddique, in a tweet.

    Meantime, the media wing of the Pak army issued a strongly worded presser, and expert watchers assess it as  – “A complete showdown between PTI and Army!” (A copy of the note  is with the writer)

    Murtaza Solangi, a former DG of Radio Pakistan, talking to this writer termed the violent protests in Pakistan as –“Very sporadic, no huge involvement of Public, only activists. The sporadic and organic protests will continue but it can’t turn the tide. This would mean Imran would most probably remain under arrest? Yes. Because of the impending multiple cases. Proven or unproven, the government has too many legal instruments to keep IK in custody for a few months.” Solangi  negated the rumour of arrest which had caused a huge uproar in Pakistan, of Shah Mahmood Qureshi former Foreign Minister in IK govt,  and said “SMQ is not arrested!” Querishi was seen in a video protesting the arrest of IK -” Captan, was injured and bleeding from the head  &how he was lashed with sticks on his injured leg. This is against humanity! he boomed.

    “Osint Updates” an open source with 32000 followers,  broke the news on Twitter “While violence and arson are taking place in Pakistan, the COAS of Pakistan Asim Munir has reached Qatar”. Another tweet displayed a video proof,  headlined -“A section of Pakistan army  openly came in support of IK soldiers clashed with each other.”

    Indians as rivals too trolled Pakistan’s violent conditions and re-tweeted videos. One by Jamal Baloch showed a  PTI protestor from Imran Khan’s party calling the Pakistan Army chief -a dog!

    What stood out was an old tweet by Kumar Vishwas, the famous Indian poet-politician, who is seen to regale his audience in a video saying- “Who knows, at 8 0clock in the evening (using a pun of the fateful 8th November 2016, the day of sudden demonetization in India) the two ministers would suddenly throw a bombshell that past midnight tonight the New Delhi NCR’s borders would include the city of Lahore”, to much guffaws from the spectators.

    The enormity of evolving events in Pakistan was upheld and expressed by Jeremy Corbyn Member of Parliament  UK, who wrote “The arrest of former PM of Pakistan is a dark day for democracy. Solidarity with protestors in Pakistan and beyond, demanding his immediate release.”  

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    6 May

    “Just wake up and smell the coffee! 370 is History!” brought a whiff to SCO: Sandeep Dikshit /Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    DAY-2

    SCO GOA 2023

    “Just wake up and smell the coffee! 370 is history” brought a whiff of morning beverage to SCO: Sandeep Dikshit Sn Indian Journalist  

    Trade in local currencies and Corpus fund for SCO, other takeaways

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 5h May 2023—

    When Shesh Paul Vaid former Director General J&K Police tweeted –“Encounter continues in #Rajouri while terrorist organization PAFF took responsibility for the attack earlier today. Duplicity of Pakistan at its best, where we have #BilawalBhutto in Goa unashamedly talking diplomacy while terrorists from his country are ambushing Indian soldiers”, it amplified the emotions of India during the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at Goa.

    People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) militant organization is actively engaged in the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. PAFF was established in year of the Covid19 virus in 2020 by Jaish-e-Mohammad / Lashkar-e-Toiba, two Pakistan-based Jihadist groups.

    Sn Indian Journalist on diplomatic affairs Sandeep Dikshit covering the SCO Goa for The Tribune on the second leg of the event while talking about his impressions stated –“While indirect arrows were exchanged against each other by FMs of India and Pakistan Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar and Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, following the Rajouri attack, the exchange was not face to face, but ‘veiled swipes’ as Suhasini Haider Diplomatic Affairs Indian Editor with The Hindu, puts it.

    Dikshit says the Indian FM firmly brushed aside the query regarding JK’s position within India –“To a question of Abrogation of article 370 from J&K – Indian FM famously said –“Just wake up and smell the coffee! 370 is history and  the sooner people realize the better it is!” I think it brought a whiff of morning beverage in the diplomatic roomful, Dikshit laughed.

    The Tribune journalist said the scathing attack on Pakistan by Dr S Jaishankar when he said, As a promoter, justifier, and spokesperson of terrorism industry-the mainstay of Pakistan his position was called out and countered at SCO.  “Victims of terrorism do not sit with perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism, victims of terrorism defend, counter call it out and delegitimize it that is what India is doing” was in response to the quotes that Bhutto Zardari gave to TV channels including BBC and Rajdeep Sardesai and others.

    It seemed the power-play for Indian audiences came from three basic emerging pointers – first, the IED blast killing five Indian Jawans in Rajouri coinciding with the second leg of SCO today. Second, is the Karnataka election and third is Pak FM Bilawal interview where he rants about –the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir, the holding of G20 Sessions in J&K, and Jadhav who he alleged had spied for India”.

    India’s strength also was visible when the Indian FM rejected the China corridor, as an aside saying –“Connectivity is good for progress but it cannot violate territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. Saying as part and parcel of India G20 JK meetings are natural as they were to the rest of the Indian states.

    Another set of significant takeaways from the SCO was the collective will for local currencies for International trade partners, which obviously was an attempt to erode the growing exchange rate of the US dollar and undermine its value. Another was to endorse English as the official language of communication within the SCO, making working groups like startups, and innovations by youth. Also included was the need for modernization and expansion of SCO with new entries including Iran and Belarus.

    As many as 10 member states were still sitting on the fence waiting for entry into the SCO.  There was also a significant proposal to take four countries secular in nature as dialogue partners including Bangladesh and Maldives; setting a Corpus Fund for the SCO organization. These takeaways meet the common and mutual national interests of all participating countries.

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    6 May

    No toxicity from Pak FM Zardari, nor any negativity from India: Murtaza Solangi /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , .


    TEXT BELOW

    SCO GOA 2023

    DAY-I

    No toxicity from Pak FM Zardari, nor any negativity from India: Murtaza Solangi Pak Journalist

    A dozen Pak Journalists make for SCO Goa

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 4th May 2023—

    Murtaza Solangi, a former DG of Radio Pakistan and a senior member of the media persons delegation from Pakistan that arrived in India to cover the G-20 SCO at Goa while speaking exclusively to Greater Jammu after the opening session at  Goa said –“I couldn’t detect any single negative from either Indian side or the Pakistan side. There was nothing toxic from our Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari neither did the Indian side display any negativity.”

    Solangi an old hand with Pakistan and an expert on India-Pakistan diplomatic and political affairs as the editor of Naya Daur was talking on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s Foreign Ministers Meeting while having dinner in Goa.

    Solangi who is covering this event in India after 12 years of Pakistan’s absence from Indian events, while sharing his assessment after the opening session said   –“There was no provocative news from any side. When Mr. Zardari arrived in Goa, he waved and looked quite at ease.” And added–“It feels as if India is putting in a concerted effort and Pakistan too was responding in a similar fashion not to aggravate or to add more tension to that which already exists between the two countries. To my mind, it also feels, the Indian side cannot exhibit any overzealous attitude towards Pakistan’s participation after a sizeable gap, as it was also a crucial time for elections in the Indian state of Karnataka.  Therefore any warmth that the Indian side even feels seems to be under wraps and not on open or full display.”

    Asked about the agenda for Pak FM per se? Solangi said in the absence of any bilateral planned pre or post the SCO, the Pak FM intends to leave India right after the 5th May Session.”

    A senior diplomat at the SCO commented in a personal conversation –“It would not be wrong to say that in many state elections in India in the recent past, the stringency of stand and attitude toward Pakistan of “Zero Tolerance” paid huge dividends in terms of electoral successes to the ruling party. The formula worked then, and there is no reason to tone it down now, as it may not be in the fitness of things to the lofty idea created of a strong and retorting India towards Pak-sponsored terrorist activities and other misadventures in contrast to earlier soft approach.

    As many as 12 journalists from Pakistan crossed over via the Wagah route and flew to Goa from the Guru Ram Dass Rajasansi Airport in Amritsar to cover the SCO meet.

    Mustafa Solangi among the 11 other media persons included three women –Sumeera Khan of Samaa TV, Muneeze Jahangir from Aaj TV, others include Kamaran Yusuf from Express Tribune,  Aizaz Syed from Geo TV.  

    The journalist delegation will crossover back to Pakistan from Wagah Attari JCP Amritsar on May 7.

    00–00

    19 Apr

    First ever book on ‘Pak Minorities 100 Heritage Sites’ released / Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , .


    Exclusive Follow –Up (Front Page)

    First ever book on ‘Pak Minorities 100 Heritage Sites’ released on World Heritage Day 

    Pak PM Misses event

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR April 18, 2023 – 

    Invoking the 11th August 1947 speech of MA Jinnah to the constituent assembly of the nascent theological state of Pakistan carved from India, – “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State”, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani Patron –in-chief, of the Pakistan Hindu Council opened the glittering prize distribution ceremony today.

    The day was extremely relevant to the event as it was –“World Heritage Day” which also saw the unfolding of the First ever Nationwide Book on ‘Pak Minorities 100 Heritage Sites’ at the country’s Prime Minister Secretariat Auditorium, in Islamabad today.

    A coffee table colorful book “Top 100 Minorities Heritage Sites of Pakistan” by Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani was released to commemorate the occasion of the first-ever National level- ‘Photo Contest of Minority Heritage Sites of Pakistan’.

    The book was cataloged via this Photo Contest of Minority Heritage sites in Pakistan and the ceremony for the Prize Distribution of the contest was broadcast live for two hours on all Pak TV Channels and social networking sites.

    Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif as the chief guest, skipped the occasion, which was graced by Pakistan’s Education and Human Right Ministers

    Pak watchers in India looked with keen interest at the unfolding events in neighbouring Pakistan initiated by a Hindu MNA Dr. Venkwani

    Speakers present on the occasion spoke about the restoration and preservation of a treasure trove of art, culture, and heritage structures and creating Tourist Circuits connecting the restored sites, which could accrue huge returns and add to the failing economy of Pakistan, with the public-people partnership.

    Incidentally, the country has a history of being too jittery about holding minority events and deeply fearful of security. Hence, the venue for the event where selectees of the contest were to be felicitated and honored was kept a closely guarded secret and was only shared with the 100 shortlisted participants, a day in advance.

    The extra cautious invite by email read –“All winners in the list will receive a prize. All of those who have confirmed through Emails are requested to reach HEC (Higher Education Commission) Auditorium, Islamabad along with the original CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card) before 1:00 pm on Tuesday, 18th April 2023.    Official HEC vehicles will be moved from HEC to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat at 01:00 pm (Sharp). Nobody is allowed to reach PM Secretariat directly due to security issues”.

    Zahid Karamwala who was one of the selectees in the list of 99 others told this writer from Islamabad –“As many as 40 winners from far and near arrived and were hosted at the Pak PM’s Secretariat. Each of the present selectees received prize money of Rs 10,000, along with a certificate and the coffee table book, which featured their own selected photograph.” Adding-“I am deeply overwhelmed by this acknowledgment of our work and dedication towards heritage sites, especially the neglected ones belonging to the minorities. This is also a big tribute to our “India Pakistan Heritage Club” that has spurred many amongst the public of both countries to see heritage sites fondly mentioned in stories by their elders on both sides of the dividing line between the two nations.

    Pakistan Hindu Council Patron Dr. Venkwani during his address to winners of the contest who had arrived from all around the nation regretted -“We (Pakistan) did not use our huge pool of diversity to benefit the nation, including, art, culture, and heritage, we just frittered it away”. Adding –“Pakistan possesses a rich cache of 1256 Temples including Hindu, Jains, Buddhist sites and 520 Gurdwaras, and scores of churches dot our cities and countrysides, out of these Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETB) has been able to make only 31 functional. Making them functional would mean huge sentiment and historical tourism potential for Pakistan. He urged his country –“Let’s become a team, let’s become a nation!”

    Writer can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

    18 Apr

    Is Pakistan’s civil society soft-wooing India with enhanced attention to Minorities?/ Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    Exclusive

    Pakistan Hindu Council organizes ‘Pakistan Minorities Heritage Photo Contest’ 

    Pak PM to grace, venue kept top secret, Live broadcast across Pakistan  

    Is Pakistan’s civil society soft-wooing India with enhanced attention to Minorities?

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR April 17, 2023 – 

    Amidst a near economic collapse, terrorist strikes, a flood fury that left a trail of destruction, rising prices of commodities, and the IMF loan’s hefty burden, somewhere, the minuscule Hindu community of Pakistan, found space, albeit a photo competition.

    Karachi-based ‘Pakistan Hindu Council’ (PHC) initiated an “All Pakistan Minorities Heritage Photo Contest” on January 31st this year. The PHC along with technological assistance from the Press Network of Pakistan received an overwhelming response from the Pakistani public comprising majorly its Muslim population.

    Just a few days back the PHC declared a list of 100 shortlisted winners of the Photo competition with a final announcement on April 18 of the top winners, at an award distribution ceremony to be held in Islamabad.

    PHC headed by Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani MNA (Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan), equivalent to a Member of Parliament in India,  also the Patron-in-Chief of PHC while speaking from Karachi Pakistan, told this writer –“The event received hundreds of photographs of minority-owned heritage structures, from all over Pakistan. It was an unbelievably overwhelming response. Conditionally, these photos were essentially to be of a structure existing pre-partition i.e. before 1947.”

    Answering a query about the prize distribution ceremony Dr. Vankwani confirmed that the photo contest’s concluding ceremony would be high profile. “The Prime Minister of Pakistan Janab Shehbaz Sharif has agreed to preside over the glittering Prize distribution ceremony to be held in Islamabad on the forthcoming 18th of April,” he stated with much buoyancy.

     “The winners would receive Rs 50,000; Rs 30,000, and Rs 20,000 as prize money, respectively. Besides which, special category prizes, lucky draw winners, and others will receive other accolades.”

    The prize distribution function venue significantly has been kept a closely guarded secret citing security reasons and would be shared ‘only’ with participants. “It will be a live telecast from the capital city of Islamabad, across countrywide Television networks, at 3 PM dot Pakistan Time. Do come!” added the MNA nonchalantly. “Oh no Sir, I am from India!” “Oh! Okay, Okay.”  Further stating-“As many as 551 monuments belonging to minorities in Pakistan prior to 1947 partition have been beautifully photographed by participants both by professionals and amateurs. We plan to catalogue and publish a book on the 100-best shortlisted photographs of minority monuments featured in this competition.”

    The ‘All Minorities Nationwide Heritage Photo Contest’, a first in Pakistan’s 75 years of history, started in January this year. It was directed to include heritage structures- Hindu Temples, Churches, Gurdwaras, and Synagogues prior to the partition year.  Other than shrines, it also included any enclosed or open space for worship, any place converted into a religious site, government offices, educational institutes, hospitals, homes, commercial places for instance shops or markets, or buildings, even those not in use, like water wells, were listed as places of significant inclusion, owned by minorities. The competition-specified sites for photography included nationwide locations of such structures in provinces of PoK (Pak Occupied Kashmir)  or what Pakistan calls – AJK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sind, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad, and others.

    More than 1200 entries of Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, and other communities’ sites, were received by the organizers. The 100 shortlisted were put up on PHC’s website and shared on other social networking sites.

    A reader pointed out in the comment section, – “Majorly it is the majority Muslim community of Pakistan, I can see, that’s named in the list of 100-shortlisted winners”, to which, he received many laughter emoticons. He was right, this writer could count only 22 participants from minority communities in a list of 100 of the best.

     PHC, established in the year 2005, a non-profit organization, working for the welfare of deprived communities, and forging interfaith harmony, had broadcast on its page–“Every Pakistani citizen regardless of religious affiliation can participate and help to highlight, and value beauty and diversity of minority religious heritage, across Pakistan”.

    Tourist potential from the preservation of Heritage structures of the minority community  

    Why and how did the Hindu community find its space amidst the overwhelming Muslim majority theological state, is being seen in India’s power circles, with a raised eyebrow. With Pakistan liberally giving visas to Sikh Jathas; more than 2500 recently for Baisakhi Celebrations; seems to be a case of Pakistan’s soft and friendly overture to minimize hostility with India.

    Stalling of International Trade with India had a spiral effect on commodities rocketing sky high like perishable goods such as onions, tomatoes, garlic, and others.   

    “Guns and Ties don’t go hand in hand!” was India’s refrain to Pakistan raising the walls between the two countries, after terrible terror strikes.

    Thus Pakistan’s overture to highlight minorities seems to stem from a space of a failing state, desperate for hand-holding, besides resuming trade ties with the growing influence, power, and stature of India the world over. 

    Alongside, it is about wooing minority communities in other countries who could conveniently get visas for Pakistan, for tourism. Interestingly, much harmony exists between citizens of India and Pakistan thriving in a third country.

    Eric Johansen, a Norwegian who is looking forward to his forthcoming visit to Pakistan in May, feels- “Pakistan indeed is a treasure trove of heritage and historical structures and places. The Western world including myself finds great interest in the processes of conservation and preservation of minority heritage structures in Pakistan after its initial neglect for three-fourths of a century. Heritage structures tell complex stories which elicit great interest among curious tourists as well as niche tourists comprising historians, archeologists, etc who could join the dots with museum displays. Like piecing together alternate history from monuments in consonance with museums”, he explained.

    Some of the minority sites that were photographed include St Luke’s Church in Abbotabad, Mohenjo Daro’s archeological site of early man of the Indus Valley Civilization, Hindu Katasraj Temples, Sikh Nankana Sahib  Gurdwara, Buddhist Takht-E-Bhai in KPK, Sharda Peeth Kashmiri Pandit temples in PoK, Chaukhandi Tombs in Karachi,  

    Even some private museums and galleries hold much interest for tourists especially where artifacts belonging to minority communities are tastefully displayed. Eating joints such as Cooco’s den is massively popular among tourists where visitors get to eat amidst the charm of heritage buildings lit up at night and surrounded by minority shrines and artifacts collected by its owner, a sculptor, and artist Iqbal Hussain from vandals who vandalized minority-owned places in Muslim agitatory moods during partition, Babri Masjid demolition in India and other moments. They looted prize sculptors and art , and sold it in all types of intact and broken forms to high-profile buyers and connoisseurs of art in Pakistan. That way they were able to salvage some idols in various stages of destruct and make good use of them as a display.

    00—00 

    BOX

    Zahid Karmanwala is one of those 100 shortlisted at number 98.

    Talking to the writer from Lahore, Heritage lover Zahid Karmanwala said he and his partner Imran William are passionate about Heritage structures and together explore, highlight, and present findings to Pakistan’s Tourism ministry, collaborate on a contractual basis with conservators and tourism authorities to restore minority structures.

    Karmanwala, whose ancestral home is in Ferozepur India, which he visited in 2017 said. “It was in Spain I saw how structures built by Muslims- a minuscule minority there, stood so well preserved and had become the prized heritage of the country ushering in tourism, which spurred me into action to search heritage buildings of minorities along with William. We both go on a motorbike hundreds of kilometers on every holiday to locate a new structure, document it and send it across to the Tourism and Heritage Preservation, to collaborate with its preservation under the Government of Pakistan. The Jain temple which lay overturned from year 1947 in Lahore was lifted recently and is one of our finds and now is being conserved. Similarly, Atma Ram Samadhi in Gujranwala is also another marked for restoration.

    Both Imran William and Zahid Karamawala along with a few Indians are administrators of the ‘India-Pakistan Heritage Club’ a group, with a following of 1,61,000 followers in both countries. The group reunited many Indo-Pak partition victims with their lands and loved ones through this Facebook group. Many others found solace in seeing the photographs of the lands and landmarks left behind they wished to see again and again. Recently a 90-year-old Indian lady, Reena Chibber Varma was able to revisit her ancestral home in Rawalpindi Pakistan 75 years later, which she left when she was of 15 years old, through the efforts of this group.

    Writer can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

    00–00

    16 Mar

    Drama diplomacy between India and Pakistan /Published in 2014 / Rashmi Talwar

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in AMRITSAR- INDIA PAKISTAN -HISTORY, INDIA PAKISTAN, INDIA PAKISTAN PEACE. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


    Rashmi Talwar

    Drama diplomacy between India and Pakistan / Published in 2014

    Rashmi Talwar

    Digging deep into the India-Pakistan psyche, I have suddenly arrived at a serious conclusion that aside of Punjabis signature bonhomie of Paapis – Jhaapis and the Buraaahs…on either sides of the border, the only thing that may still stall the nasty smoking guns of two nations is to straddle the ‘saas bahu’ serials from India to Pakistan and let the ‘Zindagi’ channel bring in the Gulzar (flower) syndrome to India.

    Leave aside the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that have done nothing between India-Pak relations. And never mind poverty and proxy warts that cut into the resources of our impoverished countries, if our defense arsenals can remain flushed surely e-to-e (entertainment to entertainment ) exchange would be a cakewalk. 

    This time the big nuclear Goliaths could fight on mm screens big or small with very little loss of life.

    Surely ‘Tulsi’ India’s honorable HR minister -Samriti Irani must not underestimate her personal impact and those of her generation of TV actresses, on the audience west of Radcliff line. If wedding culture be the competition category, then India has aplenty. From sagai, joota-chupai to vidai. Damsels in Kanjivaram sarees, sindoors, bindiyas, bichhuas and cuddly relationship with their age-defying mom-in-laws, sounds interesting material for export.

    Pakistani TV serial for instance – ‘Zindagi Gulzar hai’ may belt out soft background scores in keeping with the storyline but it has to match Indian serials technology with the actor’s entry welcomed with reactions enhanced by three-dimensional pointed echo or triple-zoom close-ups matching with three thumps, as if it was a Martian that entered the Indian home space clutter. Technically you can’t ever get this effect, without rolling eyes, a raised eyebrow, closely locked dentures, and a count of three.

    Still ‘Zindagi Gulzar’s university life or Pak girls in discotheques on the other side of the border with a free mix of sexes could be virtually eye-popper for Indians especially those who noticed separate enclosures for men and women at the Indo-Pak Wagah Attari border.

    Much like Tulsi’s ‘Kyuki saas be kabhi bahu thi’, serials like Parvati’s ‘Ghar Ghar ki Kahani’ could add a few footnotes to the relationship remix.  These ‘Made in India’ caricatures could use bold tag lines ‘serials double-up as  free lessons for growing daughters!’
    After all, these serials have an applauding distinction of catching the highest number of female eyeballs in their 500-plus episodic roller coaster rides. The 500-Club has –Kyunki.., Ghar ghar.., Balika Vadhu, Uttraan, and many Dharmic and historical serials even as India yawns!

    In the make-up segment, the non-make-up Pak beauties of the serial ‘Kash mein Teri beti na hoti’ merely look the part but our Indian heavy eye-shadowed, artificial-lash fluttering ‘poor’ Indian girl emerges a looker. Even ‘Kashaf’ as the heroine of the Pak serial ‘Zindagi Gulzar hai.’ should have had a good feather haircut instead of the simple plaid. 

    The heroine in polka-dotted pajamas from Pak play ‘Aunn Zara’ may have tough competition with Indian child brides like ‘Anandi’ in  Balika Vadhu who sleeps in all rustling silk sarees, matching jewelry along with special non-bleeding night make-up complete with gloss, to emerge as goddesses at the strike of dawn. Beating Anandi are many, many more Indian actresses in stunning bedroom looks.

    Only ‘Saman’ of Pak serial ‘Maat’ can give competition to our serial heroines. ‘Saman oozes oomph even in salwar suits’. Shhh … this may be  ISI plant or Pak propaganda!

    India’s Amna Sharief as Kashish in ‘Kahin toh hoga’ with her designer suits surely will be a rocker.  

    Remember the competition in these visual channels should be based entirely on the classic formula of ‘Dirty picture’ actress Vidya Balan dialogues–Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! If Pak can use their two or four marriages syndrome as in ‘Kash mein teri beti na hoti’ and many daily series of ‘Kitne Girhain baki hain’ India can plug in old serials like ‘saans’ with Neena Gupta and Kawaljit of an adult affair or child-adult serial ‘Barey ache lagte hain’ and if that doesn’t suffice the Indian caste based serials of ‘Kyasth’ ki larki’  aur ‘Brahmin’ ka larka in ‘Ye pyar na hoga kaam’ could somewhat participate.

    This time Pak is not resorting to its old tricks of fake currency, arms, cocaine packages, and suicide bombers and ready to heap a proxy war on India. They are taking the celluloid screens, those (All) watching ‘Zindagi’ channel in India know that Pak has come armed with its most potent missile of a bouquet of Pakistani dramas and Telefilms. Attacking and some ready to attack are Dil-e-Muzter, Silvatein, Shehr E Zaat, Dastan on Indo-Pak partition, Behadd-Telefilm, Durr-e-Shehwar, Humsafar, Adhoori Aurat, Virassat, Tanhai, Bulbulay,  Bilqees Kaur, Perchaiyan, Rehaai and hundreds of other ..Huff…Huff…I am out of breath now.

    From women’s empowerment, and gender ties to social trends, Pak arsenal has a range. While India’s classics like Tareek Mehta ka Ulta Chashma, Office office, Balika Vadhu,  Na Ana iss des laado, Aik boond Ishq is merely like air rifle shots before the staccato fire. There was a time India made –‘Tamas’.

    India! India! Wake- up! Let us throw the challenge of ‘Sach ka samna’ with the host extracting hidden tales of a person labeled the ‘bakra’. Pak could well enjoy and even float a tolly version of the show, of course, Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Kon Banega Crorepati’ with its dharmic sawals could be a mismatch in the theological state.

    Even India’s youngistan fare like ‘Splitvilla’, ‘Roadies’ stunt manias ‘Khatro ke Khiladi could turn lucky but the song and dance reality shows will score tops, don’t you see Indian songs playing in Pak serials.  

    Well, ‘Comedy with Kapil’ could give some guffawick competition to Pak’s political and social satire sitcom ‘Hasb-be-haal’

    However, all is not over for India. Other than cricketer turned politician Imran Khan and a Canada-based Pak cleric Mohammed Qadri historic democracy march, it is the Indian Actor Salman Khan’s ‘Kick’ that is kicking up a duststorm in Pakistan with a collection of 57.8 million in three days. Buzz says it garnered a whopping Rs 65,700,000 on this Eid in both Lahore and Karachi, even as Pak’s drama brigade flashily entered Indian homes riding on ‘Zindagi’ channel just before Eid on July 23rd. 

    The Salman starer released on Eid became the highest holiday grosser in Pakistan with an estimated business of Rs 20.8 million Pak rupees daily and as many as 58 screenings in Karachi alone. “Other than Paf Cinema all other cinema halls in Lahore are running ‘Kick’ to full houses including Prime cinema, Tamaseel cinema, Cine gold,  Capital cinema, Prince cinema, Gulistan cinema, Rex and one in the  Fortress stadium called Sozo world.

    Pak’s only claim to film fame in India has been -‘Khuda Ke liye’, ‘Bol’, and a cross breed ‘Tere Bin Laden’ a made-in-India set in Karachi film with Pak actor Ali Zafar in the lead.

    Instead of India- Pak’s efforts on ‘Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) turn it around to (CFP)-

    ‘Come-hither Filmi Pressures’.   

    00–00

    3 Jan

    BSF ups ante against drones in anticipation of Republic Day / Rashmi Talwar / Kashmir Images /

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .


    BSF ups ante against drones in anticipation of Republic Day

    Attack in Kashmir on Hindus alarms 

    Drones a major threat

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR, 2nd January 2023 –

    In anticipation of the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the Border Security Force -BSF is on high alert.

    The killing of Hindus in Kashmir yesterday and today barely two days into the new year 2023, has rung alarm bells in Punjab when the month of January celebrates India turning into a Republic. 

     As per last year’s track-record massive drone activity replacing human couriers and traditional systems, has become the new-age challenge for Border forces in Punjab. Increasingly drones are being used for cross-border smuggling of arms, and ammunition, contraband, proving the greatest challenge to forces and increasing threat perception manifold with a deadly combination of Narco-Terrorism..

    In the past year, the Indian Punjab Frontier manned by BSF, captured 22 drones, besides which, it seized a whopping cache of contraband including 316.988 kg of heroin in various incidents. In smuggling of weapons via drones, the BSF seized 67 weapons including Chinese and Turkish marked guns, with about 850 rounds of ammunition.

    Along with drones and drugs, in cross-border vigilance, two Pakistani intruders in the year past were shot dead. BSF officials apprehended 23 Pakistani nationals, out of which nine Pakistani nationals, who had inadvertently crossed the International Border, were handed over to Pakistan Rangers, and returned to their home country.

    Republic Day celebrations on January 26th morning in the throes of winter and the harshest Chillai Kalan, chilly conditions is always under threat, especially in four districts of Punjab bordering Pakistan. 

    According to records in the last three years from 2020 to 2022, Covid-19 on one hand, plus drone incursions from across the Pakistani border, on the other hand, raged furiously and unabated. 

     As many as 369 drone sightings were recorded in Punjab. In the year 2020, about 47 drones were sighted; they rose to 64 in the year 2021 even though countries reeled under waves and waves of Covid-19 and borders on both sides remained completely sealed owing to the pandemic. In the past year-2022, the number of drones that crossed the International border rose to a whopping 259, from the previous years, as per BSF data.

    On conditions of anonymity, senior BSF officials said “Anti-drone drills are being carried out vigorously, especially near the cities on the international border with Pakistan in Punjab, to thwart any attempt at attack or sabotage, of Republic Day Celebrations. In addition to this, other modes of BSF border vigil including physical patrolling, and mechanical and technological vigil continue. BSF has identified Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, and Fazilka on the International Border as ultra-sensitive, as more than 85% of payload, originating from across the border, was dropped in these parts.

    Meantime, sources in defense said, “Anti-drone systems like drone hunters, at checkpoints, border movement, and ground patrol; jammers, electromagnetic Technology, chambers, EMP Protection are being fine-tuned for the vigil.”

    The BSF’s Punjab Frontier responsible for guarding the 553-km-long border meets tough challenges along the Indo-Pakistan International dividing line. Several stretches of the border are vulnerable to smuggling, infiltration, and inclement weather conditions- “Fog conditions are the most dangerous near water bodies on Indo Pak border and is a covert cover for illegal and damaging activities”, the officer further added- “Forces have kept strict vigil on villagers along the international border”.

    Incidentally, last year the holy city of Amritsar, Punjab became the second distinguished border city, as the destination for the celebration of the 58th Raising day of the BSF, for the first time in the force’s history since its inception in 1965.

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    3 Jan

    Amritsar, Kashmir Bishop mourns the passing away of Pope Benedict XVI / Rashmi Talwar / Kashmir Images

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INTERNATIONAL NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    (TEXT BELOW)

    Amritsar, Kashmir Bishop mourns the passing away of Pope Benedict XVI  

    Rashmi Talwar 

    AMRITSAR 1st January 2023—-

    Dr. P K Samantha Roy, Bishop, Dioceses of Amritsar, general secretary, Church of North India  (CNI),  in a note to ‘Kashmir Images’ expressed his heartfelt sadness at the passing away of former Pope Benedict XVI who passed away on  31st December 2022, on the eve of New Year at the age of 95years. 

    The Bishop wrote -“I am saddened to learn about the home call of one of the most important religious heads of the world Pope Benedict XVI. He will always be remembered as an outstanding theologian who emphasized discovering and following basic biblical values and not indulging too much in consumerism. The world would also remember Pope Benedict XVI as an honest and bold leader who voluntarily abdicated his position on the grounds that he was not in the best of mental and physical form to continue. A rare example to be followed indeed”.

    He further expressed -” I was personally and spiritually blessed by his teachings.He often referred to Jesus as a ‘friend’ who takes away our burdens and fears This has been very useful for me as a Bishop to deal with my own fears.I express my deepest condolences to the whole Roman Catholic Church in this hour of mourning, at the same time I thank God for the life and ministry of Pope Benedict XVI.”

    Dr. Samantroy is incharge of all CNI properties in Kashmir including schools and Historic Churches. This includes – Tyndale Biscoe School for boys, Mallinson School for Girls, Kashmir Valley School at airport road Humhama, all in Srinagar; and lone rural Christian school ‘Tyndale Biscoe School, Tangmarg that once became a victim of arson and was burnt down.

    This, and four historic churches including  ‘All Saints Church’ Srinagar, church lane, ‘Saint Luke’ Dalgate Srinagar, ‘St Mary’s Church’ Gulmarg,  all more than 125 years old, and ‘St John’s Church’ in Pahalgam near Forest hut, is about a 100 years old.

    Pope Benedict XVI died, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health. He led the Catholic Church for fewer than eight years until, in 2013, and he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.

    Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican where he passed away at 09:34 (08:34 GMT) on Saturday.

    His successor Pope Francis will lead the funeral on 5 January. 00–00

    3 Jan

    When Germany and Pakistan met in India, Amritsar / Rashmi Talwar / Kashmir Images /

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in BOOKS, INDIA PAKISTAN. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


    (TEXT BELOW)

    When Germany and Pakistan met in India, Amritsar

    Book Release

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 11th December 2022–

    In an afternoon with a nip of a winter chill, at Majha House, a literary hub in Amritsar, German writer Bernhard Moestl and Pakistan writer Tahmina Aziz Ayub shared the stage for the release of their respective books in the border city.  ‘Shaolin: How to Win Without Fighting’, a book by Moestl, and ‘Forgotten Legacies of Sir Ganga Ram – 1851 – 1927’, by Ayub.

    Majha House founder, Preeti Gill, introduced the two – ‘Bernhard and Tahmina are not just writers but explorers of different philosophies”.

    While introducing his book, Moestl said, “As rightly pointed out, my book was an exploration of the ancient Shaolin way of life, insights, life skills, and philosophies to win in life.” And, opined –“We don’t need to win, but we do need to fight all through our lives!”

    Adding –“Many people live all their lives trying to prove to other people that they are the best. But in the Shaolin way, we do not need to ‘prove’ that we are stronger than others; we just ‘know’, and in this realization lies the win! The question is not what we can do, but what we think we can do. It is all about harnessing and realizing the power of the mind.”

    Differentiating between ‘mindfulness’ and ‘meditation’ he said, “To me, ‘Mindfulness’ means being aware and conscious of actions and reactions. For instance -If a person does not act or react according to our expectations, that person controls us. We react to his behavior, because he presents himself as different from the ordinary, as someone mysterious. But if we rise above this ‘expectation’, then that is ‘meditation’.”

    The second session saw Tahmina talking about her book “The forgotten legacies of Rai Bahadur Sir Ganga Ram 1851-1927,” about the person, beyond the renowned Ganga Ram Hospitals, which we in North India are familiar with.

    “To me, Sir Ganga Ram- the iconic engineer and philanthropist, is an unsung hero whose life and art need to be known widely”, the author opined. Delighted that her book was being first launched in Amritsar, even before its book launch in Lahore, her hometown, she said –“I have strong ties with Amritsar, as well as the protagonist of my book ‘Sir Ganga Ram’. Not many people know that Sir Ganga Ram’s early life was in Amritsar, living in the area of Katra Ahluwalia in the ancient walled city near the Golden Temple, as this Aggarwal family arrived from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. After going to Lahore College, Ganga Ram did his engineering at Thomason Engineering College, Roorkee. His first major project was in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan, and later went on to shape the architecture of the city of Lahore with his valuable additions.”

    Sir Ganga Ram’s contributions spanned the field of architecture and women’s rights with a special focus on widows and empowerment. Sir Ganga Ram when talking about the importance of Lahore in his life had famously said-“It was a –‘love affair’!”- If Lahore changed him, he too shaped Lahore.

    Among his many contributions was ‘DAV college in Lahore designed by him, as were Aitchison College, and Hailey’s College of Commerce; he renovated Tollington Market, created Mayo School of Arts (now National College of Arts, Lahore), the General Post Office, Government College Chemical Laboratory. He built Lady Maynard Industrial School for Hindu-Sikh women training, who faced financial difficulties. Along with iconic buildings – the Lahore museum, Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore,- presently a 700 bedded state of art low-cost Hospital, besides the General Post Office, Lahore among many others.

    Extolling the philanthropist’s intellect Aziz says-“His intelligence and vision went beyond architecture, and dedicated to the cause of education, women elevation and empowerment. He is credited with much including the introduction of the subject of Commerce, as a full-fledged institute in Lahore.

    “There are many projects which are his ideas and we still practice them- such as carpet weaving, and furniture making for jail inmates. In addition, the novel concept of lift irrigation and hydel power, and enhancement of agro-industry, all came from his visionary mind. He also got made schools for children, homes for widows and destitute children, “she said in conclusion.

    Significantly, the closest Sir Ganga Ram came to naming places after himself were the two Ganga Ram hospitals in Lahore and Delhi, and a model village ‘Gangapur’ with new irrigation techniques and a farming system. Along with this, he created a unique transport system of single horse-drawn twin-train carriages on a narrow rail track; carrying 60 people at a time, a matchless marvel carrying people from his village Gangapur, to Buchiana to and fro, for trade and other activities.

    Along with an innovative hydel project for irrigation that turned acres of barren land into gold; Ganga Ram also founded  Widow’s Marriage Association and according to his Biographer- Pyare Lal Bedi,  is known to recite verses of Munajat-e-Bewgan  -The widow’s prayer, a poem written by Urdu poet Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali and was moved to tears while reciting it.    

    As the evening fell into dusk readying for another golden dawn to usher in the energy of the magnificent man -Sir Ganga Ram, whose aura and gifts are remembered fondly long after his passing, on both sides of the partitioned borders, it gave a glimpse to the German foreigner about our neck of the woods, and the history of two nations painful divide.    

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    27 Nov

    ‘Kashmir Images’ reference to be part of singer Talat Mahmood’s Biography / Rashmi Talwar/ Kashmir Images

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, REENA CHHIBBER VARMA. Tagged: , , , , , .


    RESPONSE

    ‘Kashmir Images’ reference to be a part of singer Talat Mahmood’s Biography 

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 26TH November 2022—

    Sahar Zaman, TEDx speaker, award-winning TV journalist- anchor, and curator of music platform Jashn-e-Talat, is currently penning the biography of her grand-uncle Talat Mahmood. The yesteryears singer with a golden voice, the inimitable Talat Mahmood was referred to in an article carried by “Kashmir Images” on 15th August 2022 Titled –“Lady who saw the first Indian PM crying copious tears …” by Rashmi Talwar, the article was in the sequential stream of articles celebrating 75-years of India’s Independence, from British rule.

    The newspaper write-up was an eyewitness account of nonagenarian Reena Chhibber Varma (90), who watched the momentous occasion of the presence of four of India’s greatest singers on stage during the celebration of the Republic Day Cultural program in the year 1963. “It was held only a few months after India’s debacle in the Sino-India war of 1962, just after the Republic Day parade. The culture fare had become a ritual of a newly carved free nation, where the nation’s top performing artists were invited for an evening of performances, for foreign dignitaries and top personalities of the nation, in an auditorium, in close proximity to the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.

    Among the greats that Reena witnessed that day, were Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor, and Talat Mahmood. “Talat Mahmood then sang – ‘Hungama’e gumm se tang aa kar…’ Talat was my favourite, although I am a singer myself, but Talat’s style was hard to replicate. I still am an ardent fan of Talat’s songs”, adds Reena, who claimed to have met Talat a number of times and to date even has his framed photograph hanging in her home in Pune.  

    This historic moment of January 1963 is known for the patriotic song– “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo… Zara Aankh Mei Bhar Lo Pani” sung by Lata Mangeshkar,  which drove the first Indian PM Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru to tears, amidst the public; so pained was he, at the loss of India and its soldiers in the war with China. “The wounds of war and loss were too raw and the song was extremely moving” described Reena, who recalled that the entire stadium was in tears along with PM Nehru. “It was a heartrending spectacle of raw pain.”

    Referring to this article which she found on the internet, Sahar wrote to this writer – “I am writing to you ‘with reference to Mrs. Reena Chhibber. I have read some delightful pieces written about her in “Kashmir Images Newspaper”. In one of them, she mentions the Republic Day cultural show of 1963, where great singers -Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood, and Mohammed Rafi performed. I am currently writing my grand-uncle Talat Mahmood’s biography”.

    On this writer’s request to carry the reference of the newspaper’s article as a source for one of the greatest incidents in India’s nascent history, where her uncle Talat Mahmood too sang in front of the first PM of the country, in her book – Sahar responded- “Absolutely! I have mentioned your publication (Kashmir Images) because you were a Godsent”.

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    1 Nov

    Udtaa Punjab: Posters on Drugs alarms Amritsar / Rashmi Talwar / Kashmir Images

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in AMRITSAR, DRUG ADDICTION. Tagged: , , , , , , .


    Udtaa Punjab: Posters on drugs alarms Amritsar- Border city presumably becoming frontrunner as drug capital of North India

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 31st October 2022——

    “Chitta ethe Milda Hai..” “Chitta- (the deadly white powder, a crude form of heroin) is available here”. This line on a poster at Chowk Moni area of Amritsar, in Punjabi script, sent shivers down the spine of residents. A video of this became viral in nanoseconds.

    The resident of the narrow lanes of Chowk Moni who filmed the drug posters, says on camera –“I was returning from Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh, and was shell-shocked to see posters- like an advertisement of an outlet- selling deadly drugs. When I passed this area around 1.45 am, to visit the Sikh shrine, at that time, there was no such poster. ”

    However, the videographer in his hurry failed to notice the finer print “Valon:Ujraya hoya parivar”- (From: A ruined family) below. At first glance, the poster seems to have been created on a home printer. Dozens of these posters were seen stuck on closed shutters of many shops and walls in the wee hours of the morning.

    The video that was shared like wildfire has led to a scurrying hurry by the administration to take cognizance of the issue in the area.

    This is the first time posters, however crude, have appeared with the message of selling drugs although, they were not meant for selling,  rather a cry of family and seemed aimed at creating public awareness about the massive issue of destruction of families, from drugs sold in close proximity of Gurdwara area.

    The appearance of posters sent shock waves. While the administration was seen dashing for damage control by pointing it as the pain of a lone affected family. Experts say -the protest against drugs by an affected family may seem on the surface like a cry in the wilderness but it holds a higher connotation. The poster is symbolic of a new mode of broadcasting for drugs, even as the administration has been sleeping for years on the rampant rise of drug abuse in the border city of Amritsar, that are witnessing daily drone dropping drugs, presumably from across the border in Pakistan, in quantities of kilograms instead of gramme, worth multi-crores in the international markets. 

    Alongside this, administrative watchers are seeing the poster assault, as a novel trend, a bold new openness about drug consuming, selling, and peddling. The new means also provides inroads, ideas, and avenues for mischievous elements to use posters, with coded messages to sell and buy drugs. Experts fear the new development is similar to the ‘dark web’ like emergence, – a covert virtual world of illegal activity. But unlike the virtual world, this illegal market would be on ground zero.

    Lately, videos highlighting the rampant prevalence of drug abuse in Amritsar are becoming a daily feature, raising fears of the city emerging as a topper in drug dealing and consumption.

    From Drone dropping drugs to drug racket running from jails, Punjab is on the brink of the great fall, even as the politicians-police nexus in the past have tried every trick to hide the alarming issue. From denial, and feigning ignorance to partnering in the lucrative crime; the accusations fly past them from the public to no avail.

    Meantime, following the poster video, police has asked residents to provide clues to them, which has become a joke amongst the public, who say the police themselves are in cahoots with peddlers, drug traffickers and their kingpins. Peddlers throng schools and places of worship where many worshippers come with issues and problems and many young and vulnerable victims fall in the trap of drugs.

    A number of videos are trending lately on social media, especially of women drug addicts lolling on streets in an intoxicated stupor. The video of a newly married girl caught on camera injecting herself with drugs and walking in an intoxicated limpness, in a notorious locality of  Chhabal, Amritsar where drug addiction is rampant, triggered the trend of shooting and broadcasting videos of addicts. What raised the heckles was that the girl was wearing bright red and white “choora bangles” a symbol of a newlywed amongst Hindus and Sikhs.  This led to a flood of videos of addicts. Videos emerging from the infamous ‘locality of widows’ – Maqboolpura – an area where most male members have succumbed to drugs and died and the majority of women are left widows fighting a twin battle with their sons and now daughters too,  following in the footsteps of their father, into the dark gallows of drugs.

    Two girls sitting in an auto rickshaw with veiled faces are seen begging for help to shun the dragon that has clasped them in its deadly claws, in another video, showing needle marks in various parts of the body on camera where they had injected drugs.

    A few months back a village elder along with panchayat members in a live video, broke open the lock of a three-storied palatial home in a Punjab village which had turned to ruins as all three surviving members had turned into addicts including a mother and her two sons. The once splendid home was shorn off all grills in the house which are generally installed on widows and staircases besides grills on the terrace were cut and sold for the daily drug fix of the tri-some. The house had nothing. Even doors, and windows were uprooted and sold and addicts were now trying to pull out doorframes and window frames fixed in walls. Even taps were uprooted and all metal in the house was sold.

    Another set of long-range videos of ‘Jora Phatak area’ broadcast rampant druggies near railway lines in Amritsar. Where addicts were seen running, after, seeing people chasing and video graphing them. A video of Amritsar jail premises, where addicts were injecting drugs went viral with the suspension of many senior officials including wardens and deputy Jail superintendent, and others. Huge hauls of cell phones, cigarette bundles, and quantities of drugs some in ‘Pooris’ (packs) were sold to inmates. 

    Many of the local videographers who posted videos on social networking sites are seen challenging the Deputy Commissioners and Police Commissioners of the area questioning them- ‘If they didn’t know where the drugs were beings sold, wherefrom they entered, who were the racketeers and where are the seized drugs being pilfered. Where are you sitting ?’ They also questioned the administration over their laxity in hauling up police personnel in cahoots with drug racketeers.  In a cry of pain and anger, they are seen calling out -“Don’t you know how you are ruining the wombs of Punjab? Humankind will never forgive nor spare you for indulging in this deadly game or turning a blind eye to this horrifying monster,” they are seen cursing, as the once robust Punjabi youth is increasingly falling into the dark, deep, deathly abyss of drugs.

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    12 Oct

    ‘Pakistan –The sick man of South Asia’: Dr. Ishrat Husain /Rashmi Talwar / Kashmir Images

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN, Majha House. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    (TEXT BELOW)

    ‘Pakistan: The sick man of South Asia’: Dr Ishrat Husain

    Indo-Pak  

    ‘Pakistan –The sick man of South Asia’: Dr. Ishrat Husain, Top Economist, Pakistan 

    Rashmi Talwar  

    In an unfiltered conversation at a webinar organized by Amritsar-based ‘Majha House’, eminent Pakistani banker, and economist, Dr. Ishrat Husain, talked candidly about his book ‘Governing the Ungovernable’, Institutional Reforms for Democratic Governance’- tracing Pakistan’s dismal economic condition. The ex-Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan; Dean and Director, IBA, Karachi was in conversation with Aaditya Dar, an Economics Lecturer, University of Maryland, USA. Preeti Gill, Director, ‘Majha House’ – a cultural-literary hub, opened the session with – “Governing the Ungovernable,” –is an intriguing title taking a ‘comprehensive look’ at flaws that led to institutional decay in Pakistan, weaving Pakistan’s political, social, and economic history, for its rise and falls.

    Excerpts

    Q. What led you to write this book? 

    Ans: As a civil servant, later a public policy fellow at Woodrow Wilson Centre, Washington USA, I researched -“Why Pakistan from such a sterling position of 40 years of an upcoming economy became a ‘Legard’ in South Asia?”

    And I found all ‘conventional factors’ such as- Lesser foreign assistance flows; Garrison state syndrome; love of the US for Pak Dictators; Global economic conditions being adverse, and lastly if Religious extremism and terrorists destabilized the country; explaining the Pak economic downfall were nullified. Instead, I found the decay of Pak institutions! My idea as to -“Why the military became so powerful in Pakistan? – was, because the army as an institution strengthened itself- they took mediocre into the armed forces, and after 10 years transformed them into a first-rate human resource while civil services took the best and brightest and after 10 years transformed them into “cynics” and “no-doers”.

    It was a startling revelation, how a stronger institution i.e. Army, occupied the vacant institutional civilian space. Also, how the state of various institutions, led to the downfall of the Pak economy,  motivated me to write this book.  

    Q. What do you mean by- ‘Love of US for the Dictators’, How true is it? 

    Ans: “Love of the US for the military Dictators” is a popular belief that whenever military dictators ruled, Pakistan received foreign funding, which is untrue, as a factor, for the economic graph of Pakistan. 

    Pakistan was in military alliances with the USA, right in the beginning.  

    In the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the US took away all the spare parts of military equipment, supplied by American vendors to Pakistan. Then, in the 1971 Indo-Pak war despite the tilt of US President Richard Nixon and his assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger, Pakistan benefitted nothing from the US.  

    Both were periods of military dictators Gen Mohammed Ayub Khan, and Gen Agha Muhammed Yahya Khan, in 1971. Thirdly, under martial ruler Gen Zia-Ul- Haq, Pakistan’s aid was cut-off from the US. The US only resumed support, despite sanctions against nuclear bomb testing by Pakistan, when it needed Pakistan for intervention in Afghanistan against the Soviets.      In 2001 – during military dictator Gen Parvez Musharraf, more US sanctions were imposed because of the military coup.

     I, therefore, drew the conclusion that the ‘US’s Love for the Dictators’ was not true!   After 9/11, in 2001, despite military sanctions, the US came with big help to Pakistan.  And when Musharraf quit in 2008, the US sanctioned $2.5 billion dollars yearly to civilian ruler Asif Zardari under the Laugar Bill.  Even during the civilian rule of ZA Bhutto- who was anti-US, Pak got huge aid from very rich OPEC countries. It’s the US’ own interests that reign Supreme! And whenever there is a convergence of interest between the US Administration and Pakistan – whether it is democracy or dictatorship, the US comes!  

    Q. –‘Did religious extremism and Terrorism affect the economy of Pakistan ?-Can you talk about the ‘religious edifice’ idea in the book and how it is intertwined with Pakistan’s development journey?

     Ans: The extremism and religious terrorism in Pakistan took shape after 2001 when Pakistan joined the US against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s, TTP Tehreek-e- Taliban (Pakistan), believed we were in the wrong faith-wise, and they inflicted acts of terrorism in Pakistan.

    But from 1990 to 2001, the economic growth rate had already come down from 6 ½ % to 4 % during this period, the economy slowed down when no terrorism and religious extremism was in Pakistan. And from 2014 when extremism was absolutely eliminated from Pakistan, the growth rate stumbled again. So, there is no correlation between the intensity of terrorist activity within the country and the GDP growth rate.

    Secondly, Religious leaders in Pakistan have a lot of influence. A newly founded Tehreek-e-Labak, Pakistan could bring crowds on streets and completely impede the movement of goods and services on roads and highways. But in elections, the religious parties bagged not even 10 to 12 seats in assembly or national assemblies. Religious parties divide us into Shias, Sunnis, Barelvis, Deobandis, into Ahl-i-Hadith.

    Therefore they don’t attract that kind of support or if they did they can change the entire ‘edifice of our constitution’ as also law-making. They have street power with support from ‘Madrassas’ and kids enrolled there. 

    Q. What about restructuring key institutions, like banking?

    Ans: I took over as Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (equal RBI Governor). Interest rates then were almost 20% to 21%. 

    How can you do business in such an environment where the borrowing cost and the cost of capital are so exorbitant? We undertook reforms of strengthening the Central Bank as a regulator.   Today, instead of having to bear the losses and subsidize that from the exchequer, these banks are contributing billions of rupees, as their corporate taxes. But unfortunately, since 2010 access to the sectors like agriculture, and low-cost housing, SMEs, has declined. It is because of ‘obstructing’ the credit by a very dominant player, which is,- the government of Pakistan.

    Q. Like India’s Agriculture is central to the economy of Pakistan, what’s the role of irrigation authorities, in the context of climatic havoc like floods in Pakistan? 

    Ans: Indus Basin Delta which irrigates 78% of our land is inefficiently used. There’s an inequitable distribution of water. The influential tamper with water courses, even at minor canals, and divert waters to the extent of water-logging their own fields, while tail-end users are denied water for even a decent yield per acre. We used to recover 100% of the operation and maintenance cost from farmers, today only 10% are collected from farmers, as all big landlords are members of state or provincial assemblies, and don’t allow any reform in this sector.

    Presently, devastating floods (Sep-Oct 2022) in Pakistan created havoc. Experts say (flooding) recharges some groundwater, so the repletion rate could be stopped, but see, at what cost! Groundwater is only used by tube-well owners, who are very influential politicians. 

    Q What are the current bottlenecks in the administration of justice in Pakistan? 

    Ans: The rule of law is the most critical ingredient for democratic governance. And that’s why I say- we are “ungovernable”. An ordinary citizen of Pakistan does not have access to the entire chain of justice.

    How can a poor person afford the high costs of legal processes given the corruption scenario in Pakistan? Land title disputes occupy 80% of the court management registers, with tampering of records, and disputes go on and on. 

    How can you have collateral where the land title is in dispute and it is under litigation? My proposal was to formulate- an ‘alternate dispute resolution mechanism’ and computerize and digitize our land records. Otherwise, it is the law of the jungle whosoever is influential, and powerful will do according to their own discretion and resolution.

    Q What’s the ‘Garrison State Hypothesis’ (GSH) and alleged funding of militancy in Indian Punjab & Kashmir, and how did these factor in the downfall of the economy of Pakistan?

    Ans: This idea that all the money is sucked away by the defense as in the GSH is flawed.  Actually, all the money is being sucked away by debt servicing.

    The defense took $7.5 Billion, last year.  Debt-servicing is going to take away $20 Billion, And that is the Federal government’s net revenues! Our debt ratio today is close to 100% of GDP, creating a fiscal imbalance.

     Q: Biodiversity is equivalent to equilibrium in the order of the world’s social and cultural diversity. Lack of social diversity, is it leading to problems in the economic Ecosystem in Pakistan?

    Ans:- There is a fragmentation in society based on ethnic,  linguistic, and regional grounds. It is basically the “elite capture” that is most dominant in Pakistan. Yes, the poor, rural, the backward have occupied high positions in decision-making, but their behaviour is the same as that of other ‘elites’.

    It’s not whether it’s a woman, or Christian, or a rural migrant; when they reach a certain level; there is an identity of interest with the elite class. The disparity where they all started disappears as they start behaving like the elite class. 

    Q. Your talk so far shows there is not much disappointment, then why do you call your country ‘ungovernable’? 

    Ans– I am disappointed that a fast-moving country that was among the top 10 developing countries, has now become the “Sick man of South Asia” despite all we have done to make Pakistan a great Nation. That is because our Institutions of governance have completely failed us.

    Q. Will the division of West Punjab solve the water-sharing issues or worsen them? 

    Ans: Well I think Indus Basin works, but for the future, water management is entering a completely new phase with the melting of glaciers. 

    In Gilgit Baltistan (Pakistan) recently I saw first-hand how much the glaciers were melting. India, Pakistan has a responsibility to draw a new water contract to sustain the livelihood of both Nations, where the Treaty needs to be revisited, in light of the climate change challenges.

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    The author can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com.

    Dated :12 October 20222

    27 Sep

    World famous “‘Langoor’ Mela” starts in Amritsar / Rashmi Talwar / Kashmir Images

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in 1 AMRITSAR -LAHORE. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    (TEXT BELOW)

    World famous “‘Langoor’ Mela” starts in Amritsar

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR 26 September 2022—

    Few are aware that the holy city of Amritsar is “world famous” for the annual “Langoorwala Mela” at the Hindu shrine Durgiana Temple, architecturally built as the replica of the revered Sikh shrine – the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. Durgiana Temple with a similar, gold-covered dome, the circumambulation around the temple and causeway path to the sanctum sanctorum of the main shrine, sitting in a similar pool of Nectar is exactly like the Sikh Golden Temple and a mere few kilometers apart, located in the ancient walled city of Amritsar.


    What Eid is to Kashmir, “Durga Puja” to West Bengal and “Dandiya celebrations” to Gujarat, the langoor-wala Mela or fair is to the Holy City of Amritsar.
    Every year on the occasion of the onset of winter- on the ‘Navratras’- (9-Holy Days), thousands from across the country and abroad arrive at the ancient “Bara Hanuman Prachin (ancient temple) Mandir” on the premises of Durgiana Temple here, to participate in the internationally famous Mela to make a wish for a child or for thanksgiving.

    The unique mela is a rare feast for the eyes, in the Holy city that sees children dressed as ‘Langoors’ – a species of monkeys, dancing to the tune of drums in a procession passing through different parts of the city. This time over 5,000 ‘Langoor’s’ symbolizing the army of Lord  Hanuman – the Monkey Lord, are participating as a thanksgiving to  Lord.

    Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, president Durgiana TempleCommittee, said over 200 volunteers will undertake the management of the mela.

    More than 3000 ‘Langoor’ costumes are sold annually while many languor outfits are given for rent. Childless couples, irrespective of ‘religion’ or caste, seek blessings of Lord Hanuman( from epic Ramayan ) for the birth of a child and on wish fulfillment dress their child as  ‘Langoor’, in gratitude to the Almighty.

     In bright red silver-striped outfits, with silver and golden trimmings, conical-shaped caps, faces, arms, smeared with fuller’s earth, and make-up like ‘‘Langoor’s’ complete with long tails and silver-colored staffs in hand, children dance to drum beats for all nine days. lately, monkey masks too, have also become popular.

    Bimal Arora, finance secretary Durgiana Temple committee informs –“The temple boasts of a “rare” idol of Lord Hanuman in sitting position which is only found in two other temples in the world, at Prayagraj and Hanuman Garhi”.


    Legend has it that the twin sons of Lord Rama – Luv and Kush of epic Ramayan who were born close to Amritsar in a mud hut of Rishi Valmiki the author of the Ramayan,  called the “Ram Tirath” lived in exile with their mother, Sita Mata till their youth. The twins captured the ‘Ashwamedha horse’- or the horse of victory, let loose after “Ashwamedha Yajna” performed by Lord Rama (the twins’ father and King of Ayodhaya) to stake his claim over all land territories where the Royal horse set afoot. —Lord Hanuman, who unknowingly came to defend the captured horse from the two young sons of Lord Ram, was taken prisoner by the twins and tied to a Banyan tree which is believed to be the offshoot of the same tree located on the Temple premises eons past. Later the truth about the children’s parentage was revealed here.s As a ritual, childless couples believing auspicious spirits lovingly tie a red sacred thread or ‘Mauli’ around the majestic bark of this ancient banyan tree seeking a boon of a child.

    Interestingly the city of Lahore and Kasur in Pakistan are named after Luv and Kush respectively, and the fact is even mentioned in the official records of Pakistan.

    Remarkably, the pledge to make a ‘Langoor’ can carry on for life, and an eighty-year-old ‘Langoor’ and a few months old baby could be dressed as ’Langoors’ to fulfill the vows of parents or grandparents. A strict regime of custom is followed by parents or a guardian of ‘Langoor’ – to sleep on the floor, observe fast, shun footwear, eat vegetarian food uncut with a knife, and recite verses from Ramayana during the entire 9-day period.
    The ‘Langoors’ on their part remain barefoot all 9-days and sleep on the floor. The mela concludes on Dussehra festival when ‘Langoor’s’ finally take off their ‘Langoor’ outfits near the banyan tree. Childless mothers gifted with a child, untie the thread on the ancient tree on the fulfillment of their wish.

    In popular belief, the unique festival has been celebrated for centuries.

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    BAJRANGI BAHIJAAN DRESSED LANGOORS AND BLACK FACED LANGOORS

    14 Nov

    India rejects the implementation of parity in diplomatic strength, as a violation of International law / Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA PAKISTAN.


    India rejects the implementation of parity in diplomatic strength, as a violation of International law

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR October 20th 2023—–

    In a scathing statement, India rejected any attempt by Canada to portray it in bad light or insinuate that India had violated any International law. A number of career diplomats and experts in International relations have expressed their points of assent and dissent on Twitter X platforms over the last many days. However, in the absence of any formal clearance from the Indian Government of a violation probability or improbability, the negative narrative was gaining steam.

    Today, the Indian Foreign Office scotched all rumors and half-truths with the release of a formal official statement. In it, Delhi wrote in no uncertain terms that it was not violating any International Law by giving the marching orders to the Canadian diplomats and demanding parity in numbers in consonance with the number of Indian diplomats in Indian Missions in Canada. Delhi even expressed its ire and accused Canadian diplomats of their continued interference in the internal affairs of India and thus justified its demand to reduce their presence in the country’s mission offices.

    Below is the verbatim statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

    Parity in Canadian diplomatic presence in India

    We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India.

    The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.

    We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation.

    Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following:

    “In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission.”

    We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms.

    New Delhi

    October 20, 2023

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    Canadian FM faces a volley of questions on evidence sharing about  ‘Indian agents’ involvement in the killing of designated Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada

    Canadian Foreign Minister Melaine Joly faced criticism for evading a direct question regarding the sharing of evidence with the Indian government on its alleged involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. During a press briefing, Melaine failed to clarify whether evidence was provided to India or not. She instead clarified in a roundabout way saying-  “We had numerous conversations with India before the (Canadian)  PM went in front of the house (Canadian Parliament) and made his declaration!”

    “But did you show them the evidence, you are basing your claim on, you are not answering the question?”

    And Melaine answered –“Through these different conversations the Indian officials were made aware of the “credible allegations” and so based on that,  India has decided to take their own decisions which are “precedent–setting” including  revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats  which is not only ‘unprecedented’ but also contrary to ‘International law’ so in that sense because this is so unprecedented, so many countries’ diplomats around the world are in danger, we decided not to reciprocate.”

    Joly was caught totally off guard when repeatedly asked – “But you’re not answering the question directly on that point?” Joly asserted –“I have answered your question – you asked me a question whether we had a conversation and presented evidence, I told you there were meetings and information was shared.” Question: “You (Joly) personally went to Washington and spoke to the Indian Foreign Minister, if you could confirm that to us; what is the tenor of the diplomatic conversation  (with India) is it still ongoing or is it over?

    To which Joly answered –“Well, I always believe in diplomacy and so much that diplomacy is best when it is kept private. So I will continue to do that (Keep it private) and I know that my colleague as Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dr S Jaishankar) can count on me to make sure that we continue to engage and I ask for full cooperation.”

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    Delays in Visas for Indians: Canada

    Canada on Thursday stated a slowdown in its visa applications for Indians, as 41 Canadian diplomats were removed from India in the midst of the continuing logjam between the two countries. This was following India’s intent to unilaterally remove immunity for all 41 Canadian diplomats but 21, in Delhi by October 20th.

    Ottawa informed that ‘Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was reducing its number of employees in India to five from 27. “The statement from IRCC stated to continue to accept and process applications from India but reduced staffing levels were expected to impact processing times”.  Authorities however assured that the Canada-based IRCC staff will do the day-to-day work required in the country.

    In early October India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in India failing which their diplomatic immunity will be withdrawn. This is being seen as a further escalation of the diplomatic spat over the murder of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, shot outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey BC Canada on June 18th.

    Two months after this killing Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau on September 18th alleged a “potential link” between the killing and  Indian government agents. India promptly dismissed the accusations as absurd and motivated. However, the issue which was on a diplomatic level was brought openly on the floor of the Canadian Parliament by its PM which triggered a diplomatic pandora between the two countries. Which led to expulsions of each other’s senior diplomats. Stung by ‘baseless and evidence-less’ allegations India subsequently further suspended all visa services for Canadian nationals and asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country. Adding that after October 20, India will remove all diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats in the Canadian Mission locations in India”

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    14 Nov

    Blame game breaks out over death sentence pronounced by Qatar to 8  Indian former naval servicemen /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu /

    Posted by Saanjh WorldTravel in INDIA -QATAR. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


    WC 930

    Blame game breaks out over death sentence pronounced by Qatar to 8  Indian former naval servicemen

    Rashmi Talwar

    AMRITSAR October 27, 2023—–When KC Singh a former sharp-shot diplomat and Strategic Affairs Expert & columnist wrote on his ‘X’ social networking handle –“The Qatar espionage trial should never have been allowed to take place, knowing how opaquely the judiciary functions in the Gulf Sheikhdoms. There’s only one escape route. The ruler has to intervene and grant a pardon and deport the persons”. It was a point to be noted.           The former diplomat- much respected and much listened to, commands an ardent following of 88.8K,  among which is the Foreign Affairs and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC).

    Just as Qatar pronounced death sentences to 8- Indians, seven of whom were former naval officers the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s statement to the parliament in December last year went viral, as if on a cue.

    The statement by Dr S Jaishankar was –

    “Regarding the detention of 8- Indian x- navy officers in Qatar, Dr S Jaishankar India’s External Affairs Minister had said last December – “this is a sensitive case I am referring to the case of detention of some of our ex-servicemen in Qatar I can only say because there their interest is foremost in our minds.

     I can only assure we have been seized of the matter, our ambassador; and senior officials have been in continuous touch with the Qatari Government on this. Our efforts are obviously to ensure that they are not treated unfairly and the sooner we can bring them back home.

    I assure you that they are very much very, very much and strongly in our priorities in respect of Qatar and it is something we are pursuing.”

    Then the social networking enthusiast MP Shashi Tharoor wrote on ‘X’

    “Shocked to learn that Qatar has passed a death sentence on eight former Indian Navy officers. The details of the entire case are shrouded in mystery & opacity. Trust MEA India Dr S Jaishankar & Prime Minister’s Office will act immediately with the highest levels, of the Qatar government to support an appeal and bring them home”.

    Somebody commented – MP Tharoor- Correct yourself seven are navy officials and one is a sailor.

    Asaduddin  Owaisi Indian MP in a post on ‘X” wrote

    In August, I raised the issue of our ex-naval officers stuck in #Qatar. Today they have been sentenced to death Narendra Modi has boasted about how much “Islamic countries” love him. He must bring our ex-naval officers back. It’s very unfortunate that they face the death row. Asaduddin  Owaisi Indian MP has 2.8 million followers.

    Meantime in response to the judgement, the Indian External Affairs Ministry issued a statement:

    “We are deeply shocked by the verdict of the death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options.”

     “We attach high importance to this case and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities.”

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    Arrested Indians on charges of spying worked for Qatar Co.The arrested Indians were identified as:

    ·         Captain Saurab Vasisht

    ·         Captain Navtej Singh Gill,

    ·         Capt Birendra Kumar Verma,

    ·         Commander Purnendu Tiwari,

    ·         Commander Sagunakar Pakala,

    ·         Commander Amit Nagpal,

    ·         Commander Sanjeev Gupta

    ·         Sailor Ragesh

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    All ex-Indian Navies were employees of Qatar’s Dahra Global

    The eight men had begun working for a private company, Al Dahra Global Technologies, owned by two ex-servicemen of Qatar armed forces from 2018 onwards, shortly after the renewal of the India-Qatar Defence Cooperation Agreement for five more years. Dahra Global provided training and other services to Qatar’s armed forces and security agencies.

    The eight were arrested by the Qatari domestic intelligence agency State Security Bureau sometime in mid-September last year and the first public knowledge about their arrest crept out after they spoke to their families on September 30 last year.

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    Glimmer of hope

    A faint hope emerges for the 8 veterans in the “2015-Pact” between India & Qatar’, according to which –‘in case their death sentence is commuted to imprisonment

    Under it, Indian nationals sentenced in Qatar can be sent to their home country to serve the remaining part of their term.

    Qatari citizens convicted in India also can be sent to their home country to serve their sentence

    The agreement was signed to facilitate the social rehabilitation of the sentenced people      

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    All 8 worked on sensitive project, and were convicted of ‘spying for Israel’

    Dateline Qatar:

    2018-20: Eight naval retired personnel start working on a sensitive project for the Qatar Navy

    Aug 30, 2022: All eight along with the owner of the company Al Dahra Global Technologies arrested

    Nov 2022: Al Dahra owner, a retired Sqn Leader, was released

    March 29, 2023: Trial began, all 8 served solitary confinement hinting at security-related issue

    Sept 30: All were permitted a ‘brief telephonic contact’ with family

    Oct 1: Indian envoy Deepak Mittal, now in PMO, met the detained men

    Oct 3: Qatar court conducted the seventh hearing in the case

    Oct 26: All eight sentenced to death; media reports say charged with spying for Israel on Qatar’s stealth submarines

    Charges were also framed against two Qataris, including former Oman Air Force officer Khamis al-Ajmi, who was also the CEO of Dahra Global. Qatar’s then Head of International Military Operations Major Gen Tariq Khalid Al Obaidi was the other Qatari national to be interrogated.

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