Monthly Archives: March 2023

BLOGS, ISLAMABAD, LATEST

AICC ACCUSES MODI OF DESTROYING DEMOCRACY

All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) spokesperson M.V. Rajeev Gowda accused the BJP government of “destroying democracy bit by bit” and said that it was sending wrong signals to the world. Prof. Gowda reiterated Congress’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue and alleged that the Modi government was scared of this inquiry. He said Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification was Modi’s ploy to divert people’s attention from the Adani issue. “Mr. Gandhi is being targeted because he has raised serious questions about Mr. Modi’s relationship with the business conglomerate Adani group”.

Gandhi’s allegation that Modi and Adani enjoy a special relationship got a boost from a report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg, which accused Adani of dubious and fraudulent practices, even calling it among the biggest con acts in recent history. Earlier, at a lecture at Cambridge University UK, Rahul Gandhi alleged that democracy in India is under attack and PM Modi is “blowing our country to smithereens” and destroying the architecture of India. Modi is subverting the very fundamentals of India’s democracy – free speech, dissent, and a free press. While paying lip service to parliamentary democracy, this government has shown all the traits of a fascist authoritarian state.

Modi government intends to push through muscular Hindu nationalism where minorities and Muslims are at best second-class citizens.  His rule is projected as an “Amrit Kaal” or golden period and BJP is projected as the only party that can ensure Hindu supremacy.  Recently, American billionaire philanthropist George Soros said that India is “a democracy, but its leader, Narendra Modi, is no democrat.” The entire government and ruling party machinery are engaged in peddling false narratives to extoll Modi and idolize Modi. Therefore, anyone who upholds and speaks of diversity, questions the government, or exposes crony capitalism and corruption is perceived as a threat and crushed. Glorification of one leader and advocating one-party rule in preference to India’s diverse, multiparty federal structure are further indicators of the country’s gradual slide into authoritarianism.

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ISLAMABAD, LATEST

JOURNALIST REPORT 2023: KILLING, DETENTIONS & HARASSMENT OF JOURNALISTS

Since India revoked the special status in 2019, press freedom has deteriorated significantly, and journalists in IIOJK are continuously facing intimidation and fear. Indian govt has introduced Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) and using these acts to silence the critical journalists. Under UAPA Indian authorities can arrest, conduct search and seizure operation without a warrant if they suspect in unlawful activities. The PSA is another tool used to crack down on independent that allows for preventatives detention of any individual for up to two years without warrant, trial or specific charges. In May 2020, the J&K department of Information and Public Relations announced a new media policy that authorized govt officers to censor the content of the print, electronic and other forms of media. In another effort to censor independent media, India govt placed travel restriction on 22 journalists, barring them from travelling abroad just to avoid their interaction with international human right organizations and journalists. Besides this, India has illegally detained 23 Kashmiri journalists under UAPA and PSA including Khurram Pervez, Aasif Sultan, Massrat Zahra, Fahad Shah, Hilal Mir, Ghulam Jeelani Qadri, Gowhar Geelani, Peerzada Ummer, Anees Zargar, Kamran Yousuf, Qazi Shibli, Mudasir Ahmad, Tahir Hussain, Ishfaq Tentry, Mohammad Amin Kamloo, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muzamil Mattoo, Auqib Javeed, Manan Gulzar, Salman Shah, Sajad Gul and Mukhtiyar Zahoor. The Summoning and interrogation of journalists have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Many journalists have to quit job when pressurize for reporting fabricated stories to promote Hindutva ideology. Financial pressure, surveillance and harassment by authorities have created a chilling effects on press freedom in Kashmir. The hostile atmosphere in Kashmir has also forced local journalists to leave the valley. The report indicates various reports, surveys conducted by international organizations criticizing the online harassment of Kashmiri female journalists. India has been continuously silencing the voices of descant especially to journalist by subjecting them to in human coercive measures. International journalist’s bodies and human right organizations have time and again printed the growing trend of intimidation of journalist. The gradual decline in press freedom ranking also substantiate the findings of KIIR Report. India at present stand 150 out of 180 in international press freedom ranking. The contents of KIIR are recommended for wide proliferation on all media platforms.

ISLAMABAD, LATEST

“Sikh Diaspora Outraged Over Worrying Crackdown on Sikhs in India!”

Ever since Amritpal Singh Sandhu took over a head of ‘Waris Punjab De’ after the death of its founder head named Deep Sidhu, state machinery started harassing him by cancelling arms licences of his guards and detaining his friends. On 18 March 2023, prior to launching crackdown, section-144 was imposed and mobile phone service was suspended in Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka districts.Police arrested a large number of Sikhs including members of ‘Waris Punjab De’ and its head Amritpal Singh. Sikh diaspora has expressed serious concerns over this crackdown Sikh population in Indian Punjab and elsewhere in India. Following have expressed serious concern over crackdown against Sikh in India;

Randeep Sarai, Member of Parliament in Canada said on Twitter:

Deeply concerned about news reports coming out of Punjab, India. The suspension of internet services and restricted gatherings of more than 4 people in some areas.

Gagmeet Singh, Party leader of the New Democratic Party in Canada, said:

I am deeply concerned by reports that India has suspended civil liberties and imposed an internet blackout throughout the state of Punjab. These draconian measure are unsettling for many given their historical use to execute extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances during the 1984 Sikh Genocide. I am calling on Justin Trudeau and Liberal government to immediately contact their Indian counterparts to express concern regarding the suspension of civil liberties and the safety of Canadian abroad.

Tim S. Uppal Canadian Conservative Party deputy leader tweeted:  

Very concerned about reports coming out of Punjab, India. The government has suspended internet services and restricted gatherings of more than 4 people in some areas. We are closely following the situation.

Gurratan Singh, former Member of Provincial Parliament also tweeted:

What’s happening in Punjab right now: – mass of Sikh activists – shut down of internet and text – crackdown on public gathering – mass censorship of human rights media. Let the Indian Government know that we condemn this repression. The whole world is watching.

Author and poet Rupi Kaur, shared a post by the world Sikhs Organization of Canada (WSO) which stated:

Mass arrests of Sikh activists are taking place in Punjab. At least 78 people have been arrested. Internet and SMS have been shut down in areas along with crackdowns on gatherings. Sikh media outlet and pages have been blocked.

Ravi Singh, Khalsa Aid chief said:

Targeting of Sikh youth in Punjab is once again causing huge concern in Sikh community across the world. Our memories of the 1980s are still very raw. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is urged to stop deployment of army or paramilitary services.

World Sikh Organization said  

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) condemns the security operations in Punjab to arrest Sikhs leader, Bhai Amritpal Singh. Indian authorities have announced the mass suspension of internet services across Punjab citing a threat to “public order by incitement to violence”. State-wide cordon and search operation are currently underway across Punjab. We are also deeply concerned that the confusion around Bhai Amritpal Singh’s detention may be used to orchestrate a false encounter and facilitate his extrajudicial murder. This tactic was commonly used by the Punjab police through the 80’s and 90s to eliminate Sikh activists. We call on the Canadian Government to demand accountability from India and call for the immediate resolution of civil rights and internet services in Punjab. Share widely to spread the message (Press Released enclosed).

Sikh Diaspora in UK Reacts 

Sikh diaspora took to streets in London and gathered at Indian High Commission in London to deliver the note of protest to Indian envoy. The latter didn’t turn up to receive. Thus one of the enraged Sikh pulled down Indian flag and tried to replace it with that of Khalistan. Indian govt served a note of protest to UK High Commission in New Delhi.

ISLAMABAD, LATEST

POLITICIZATION/ SAFFRONIZATION OF INDIAN MILITARY

Ever since Modi created a new slot of ‘Chief of Defence Staff’ CDS and appointed General Bipin Rawat against this slot the politicization of the Indian army started. It is the incumbent government that created conditions for the negative political reorientation of all three services.

Politicizing Seniority Appointments

When Gen Bipin Rawat was appointed India’s first CDS he was already beholden to the BJP government for superseding two senior Generals in making him COAS. In 2019, setting aside seniority principle Modi had named Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Chief of Naval Staff prompting Vice Admiral Bimal Verma – the officer who had been superseded – to move Armed Forces Tribunal.

Misuse of Senior/ Junior Ranks’ Photographs

For the first time in the history of elections pictures of Director General Military Operations, and the strapping of Sikh Lt Gen Ranbir Singh were emblazoned on banners/ posters alongside pictures of Modi & Amit Shah during the UP election in violation of Election Commission SOPs.Photographs of security forces personnel killed in the February 14 suicide bombing in Pulwama were displayed in the background when Modi delivered a few election speeches.

Exploiting False Flag Attacks

There was an engineered attack (false flag) on the paramilitary force at Pulwama (Feb 2019) in IIOJK with an intent to first blame Pakistan and go vindictive. Thus dropping the pay-load by IAF on a barren mountain peak at Balakot inside Pakistan was politicized for electoral gains (election 2019). Though PAF crushed that so-called Indian gain by bringing down two IAF fighter aircraft including one pilot captured and handed over to India with a bleeding nose. Three years later, Balakot air strikes helped BJP’S 303-seat victory in general elections; Balakot and the politics that engulfed it became folklore. The soldier was inveigled into domestic politics. Sequel to the false flag attack (Sep 2016) on Indian Army Brigade HQ at Uri so–called surgical strike (which never took place) across LOC in September 2016 was hyped by Modi to shore up an electoral edge for BJP in the UP Assembly elections held months later.

Modi ki Sena/ One Rank One Pension Issue

Modi’s party colleagues referred to Army & Air Force as “Modi ki Sena [Modi’s Army]” or “Modi ki vayu Sena [Modi’s Air Force]” during election campaigns. The entrapment of the military and veterans began with an imperfect One Rank, One Pension which is locked in court.

Saffronization of Indian Military

Soldiers started tying Ranks & Diwali sweets are being distributed among the frontline soldiers. Troops reciprocated by carrying yoga mats, constructing over-bridges & clearing garbage from mountains, thereby enabling officers to ingratiate themselves with the political class. At Artillery Regimental Centre in Deolali, arti has been recited (for the first time) on parade with soldiers clapping. Enshrined on a prominent boulder on the parade ground was the symbol Om. In the regimental Centre, the parade would end with the singing of the regimental anthem but now the ceremony ends with ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. As per details only 2% of Muslims serve in the armed forces against the population of 14% with promotions frozen till Colonel. The intelligence community has barely any Muslim representation in a country that portrays itself to be epitome of secularism.

Senior Ranks Activities Smelling Politics

General (R) Bipin Rawat was compliant with the government agenda and remained associated with some events that were clearly political. He even skipped a Navy Day event for such activities. The political ‘tamasha’ at the inauguration of Purvanchal Expressway (in UP) was attended by all three services chief revealing height of brazenness. On 17 Sep 2021, Corps Commander 15 Corps, responsible for operations in the Kashmir Valley, under its Twitter handle – Chinar Corps – tweeted to felicitate Modi on his 71st birthday. The message with three images of Modi in military combat dress showed servility. Tweet was quickly deleted but the screenshot dented the apolitical status Indian army.

Navy & Air Force Chiefs wrote letters to President & PM for maintaining communal harmony in the military following hate speeches delivered at Dharam Sansad (religious assembly) held at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Writing of letter was unprecedented.

Miscellaneous

In many 2019, a Leh district election officer complained against a Commanding Officer for being partisan in voting as he was observed persuading armed forces personnel for voting certain candidate. The 60-year-old autonomous Institution of Defence Studies and Analyses was prefixed with the name of former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and for some time, carried Modi’s pictures on flyers. The scams of the Rafael deal and the military housing project also manifested that institutionalized corruption remains a legacy of the Indian armed forces.

ISLAMABAD, LATEST, WORLD

INDIA IS MAKING EAST PUNJAB ANOTHER KASHMIR

In the year 2019, the Hindu fascist regime of BJP decided to go after Sikhs in Punjab and the Muslims in the Kashmir, the two areas under the non-Hindu rule. There is a stark resemblance in the Indian HRAs being perpetrated in IIOJK and East Punjab. The experts are of the views that IIOJK is an experimental lab of Indian fascist state since long and Khalistan has been chosen to replicate the outcome. East Punjab is the food basket of India, where Sikh farmers are prosperous. Their hard work combined with the rich fertile land of the five rivers has given them both money and confidence. Modi conspired to take control of their lands by imposing restrictions while forcing them to sell their produce to the large Corporations denying them free market access. The Sikhs strongly retaliated. The Khalistan Referendum the International Sikh community decided to hold referendums in all important international capitals. After the very first referendum in London, where the Sikhs overwhelmingly voted to leave the Indian Union, ‘Hindutva’ caved in. Like the Kashmiris, the Sikh community now realizes the past blunder of their leadership in deciding to stay in the union. It may prove to be the unbundling of India where secularism has failed. A ‘Hindu Brahmin’ state may be in the marking where minorities will no longer exist. Considering the ongoing crackdown against Sikhs, RSS mentored BJP led Govt under Modi is going to make another IIOJK out of Punjab State. India under the leadership of Modi taking all steps to implement its Hindutva ideology in Punjab and remodeling it into another IIOJK. The wounds, caused to Sikhs nation in the wake of a military operation “Operation Blue Star” launched in 1984, are yet to heal Modi government has started another brutal crackdown on Sikhs. Tension prevails in all parts of the state and among Sikh diaspora all over the world, over the police action. The police have imposed Section 144 in many districts and announced to shut down the internet. Demonstrations have also taken place in all over Punjab against the police action. Legal advisor to ‘Waris Punjab De’, Imaan Sigh Khara stated that Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh and they are afraid that Amritpal will be killed in a fake encounter. Besides this, thousands Sikhs took part in the second phase of Khalistan Referendum voting at the Brisbane Convention. However, such actions are a part of sinister plan yet to unfold. But, Modi is trying to Hinduize the Sikh majority Punjab. It is pertinent to mention here that there is severe tension in Indian Punjab at the moment and the internet is closed in most areas.