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PM Modi to chair UNSC High-Level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case For International Cooperation”

By
The Commune
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modi CERAWeek award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the High-level Open Debate on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’ on 9th August at 5.30 PM IST via video conferencing.

The meeting is expected to be attended by several Heads of State & Government of member states of the United Nations Security Council, and high level briefers from the UN System and key Regional Organizations. The Open Debate will focus on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity and strengthened coordination in the maritime domain.

The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime. However, this will be the first time that maritime security will be discussed in a holistic manner as an exclusive agenda item in such a high level open debate. Given that no country alone can address the diverse aspects of maritime security, it is important to consider this subject in a holistic manner in the United Nations Security Council. A comprehensive approach to Maritime Security should protect and support legitimate maritime activities, while countering traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime domain.

The Oceans have played an important part in India’s history right from the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. Based on our civilizational ethos that sees the seas as an enabler of shared peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi put forward the vision of SAGAR – an acronym for ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region’ in 2015.  This vision focuses on cooperative measures for sustainable use of the oceans, and provides a framework for a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain in the region.  In 2019, at the East Asia Summit, this initiative was further elaborated through the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) with a focus on seven pillars of maritime security including Maritime Ecology; Maritime Resources; Capacity Building and Resource Sharing; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation; and Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport.

Narendra Modi, would be the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate. The event will be broadcast live on the United Nations Security Council website and can be watched from 1730 hrs IST/0800 NYT.

(Published from PIB)

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Chinese Communist party sending spies to UK under new visa scheme

By
The Commune
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As China cracks down on democracy in Hong Kong by imposing draconian laws, as per a report on dailymail, China is now sending its spies to the United Kingdom to take advantage of the new visa scheme designed to help residents who are escaping the Communist regime.

More than 34,000 applications have been received for the British National (Overseas), or BNO, visa since it was introduced in January, and among the thousands of applicants, China is trying to send sleeper agents and place informers and people who will steal security secrets in open societies.

However, there are stringent background checks for the applications and the vetting process for the BNO visa scheme is more thorough than any other.’

Lord Patten, who was the last governor of Hong Kong, told the paper, “We are dealing with a totalitarian state which uses informers,”.

Reacting to the crackdown on democratic protesters, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said, “We will not look the other way on Hong Kong, and we will not duck our historic responsibilities to its people,”.

Successful applicants from Hong Kong will be able to stay in the UK for up to five years, and after that period will be able to settle in the UK indefinitely. The UK government has also lowered the new visa application to £250 for five years, but migrants will have to pay the NHS immigration health surcharge which costs £400 per person per year, or £300 a year for students.

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‘Is DMK Christianizing TN?’: Logo of local body painted on garbage vehicle causes stir

By
The Commune
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A picture has gone viral on social media in which a garbage collecting vehicle of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) can be seen having a logo with a cross.

https://twitter.com/AskPradeepG/status/1424289579406745601

This vehicle was reportedly spotted by a resident of Kilpauk on Sunday (August 8) morning. The logo painted on the garbage collection truck of the GCC shows a cross placed on a pedestal with a flag on the top and dot at the intersection of the cross. Two incomplete circle encloses the cross denoting the letters C in ‘Chennai’ and ‘Corporation’.

This image has caused a stir on social media with many alleging that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu is trying to Christianize Tamil Nadu to satisfy its core vote bank who voted en masse for the DMK.

The allegation comes in the light of the government making a number of controversial appointments. Recently, a Christian priest named Father Maria  as a member of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission who is also an open Maoist symapthizer. Mariasusai is the Rector of Janodaya Salesian College at The Retreat, Yercaud, and is a Christian priest of the Salesian order. Father Mariasusai has an extremely controversial past as he allegedly had a close relationship with recently deceased ‘Urban Naxal’ and fellow Christian priest Stanislaus Lourduswamy, aka Stan Swamy.

In another controversial appointment, the DMK government headed by MK Stalin appointed Dindigual Leoni as the head of the Tamil Nadu Textbook & Educational Services Corporation who is also a Christian.

Hence, it is in this light that netizens have raised concerns about the DMK government trying to ‘Christianize Tamil Nadu’. Here are some reactions on social media.

https://twitter.com/sriramcbe/status/1424293865368952833

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Sadhguru congratulates Tamil Nadu government for separate agri budget

By
The Commune
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Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, lauded the announcement of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin that “a separate budget will be tabled for the agriculture sector in Tamil Nadu”.

Responding to the announcement, Sadhguru posted on Twitter: “Congratulations to #TNGovt on historic Agriculture Budget. #TamilNadu is one of the oldest agricultural heritages & is one of the earliest practitioners of #OrganicFarming- is sure to bring immense economic, ecological & health benefits. Best Wishes. –Sg

The separate budget for the agriculture sector is scheduled to be tabled in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on August 14. The Chief Minister said it will focus on natural agriculture, revitalizing farmers’ markets and setting up village markets. All these features are expected to boost farmer income and make the sector a more economically attractive proposition.

Isha has been promoting organic farming in Tamil Nadu for more than a decade. Launched under the guidance of the late agronomist Shri. Nammazhvar, Isha Agro Movement has so far imparted natural agriculture training to 10,000 farmers across Tamil Nadu.

The Velliangiri Uzhavan Farmers’ Producers Organisation promoted by Isha has been acclaimed as one of the best Farmer Producer Organizations in the country and has received accolades and awards from the Central and State Governments.

“I spoke within the limits of freedom of expression,” Christian pastor arrested for rabid anti-Hindu hate speech tells High Court

By
The Commune
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“I spoke within the limits of freedom of expression. I need to be granted bail,” said Pastor George Ponnaiya, who has filed a bail petition in the Madurai branch of the High Court.

On July 24, Christian Pastor George Ponnaiya, wanted on charges of rabid hate speech against Hindus and slandering Bharat Mata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah, was arrested by Kanya Kumari police.

After his hate speech video went viral on social media, several Hindu leaders filed complaints across Tamil Nadu and controversial Pastor George Ponnaiya went into hiding. Kanya Kumari Police formed five special teams to arrest the pastor, and he was arrested in Kallikudi, Madurai district, using his cell phone signal.

Pastor George Ponnaiya stated in his bail application to the Madurai branch of the Madras High Court that he is merely a social activist whose speech has been misconstrued and false charges have been levelled against him.

He added that expressing anti-government opinions is not unlawful, and that he did so within the bounds of the constitution’s freedom of expression. He also stated that he has a heart problem and that he should be released on bail.

He has also filed another petition, which will be heard soon, requesting a stay of the trial and dismissal of the case.

 

(with inputs from Dinamalar)

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Justice in exile for 28 years: Remembering the day when Islamic terrorists bombed Chennai RSS office and killed 11 people

By
The Commune
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Dec 1, 2008. It was a Monday. A Chennai based public opinion forum named Vigil  had organized a meeting for the citizens to register the callousness of the UPA government in handling terror threats posed by Islamic terrorist organizations. Arun Shourie, who was the main speaker lashed out at the then Central Government for failing to act upon the intelligence inputs about imminent threats of attacks by terrorists. Before Shourie, an editor of a daily newspaper addressed the occasion who during his speech made use of the cliched overrated statement about how Tamil Nadu is a haven of peace, a false rhetoric peddled by all Dravidian parties. In a scathing and swift response, several alert men and women in the audience stood up and pointed out to the gruesome 1993 terrorist attack on the RSS office.

It wasn’t the usual day for Swayamsevaks as 8th August 1993 was the occasion of Guru Pooja. A small ceremony was held in the forenoon at the Narada Gana Sabha in Alwarpet, Chennai. After the event, members disbursed without a hint of what was to strike at them in the very same afternoon.  At around 2.30 pm,  a powerful RDX bomb exploded at RSS head quarters of Tamil Nadu situated in Chetpet, Chennai. Eleven people, including eight young pracharaks (RSS full timers) and 3 other Swayamsevaks who had come to meet RSS pracharaks lost their lives. Seven others were injured.

Image
Top row from left: Ramasubramaniam, Seshadri, Kumaribalan, Premkumar, Mohana, Lalitha Bottom row from left: Desigan, Ramakrishna Reddy, Kasinathan, Rajendran, Ravindran

Kasinathan, fondly known as Kasi was one of the Pracharaks who died in the dreaded blast on August 8. He had quit his job at a national bank to join RSS as a full timer. He became the office secretary in Chennai after serving in several capacities in district level. He came across as a endearing personality and a swift decision maker who would go to any extent to help his fellow Swayamsevaks. He was reclining in his seat after lunch and he was hit by the beam that came down in the impact of the blast. Upon his death, his eyes were donated to Sankara Netralaya as per his wishes.

Investigations revealed that Islamic jihadis were hiding and training themselves for a long time to attack the RSS and terrorize Hindu society.

S.A. Basha was the prime accused and 15 others were arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged involvement in the blast and for possession of lethal weapons. The other hardcore Al-Umma activists who were arrested included its State Secretary M. Mohammed Ansari, Mujibur Rehman, Ojir, Mohammed Aslam, Siraj alias Auto Siraj and Ahmed Pasha. This was followed by riots against the Hindus in December marking the first anniversary of demolishment of the Babri Masjid.

Barring a few regional dailies and magazines, many in the national media did not even bother to cover the brutal bomb blasts leave alone condemn it. A few on the other hand were even apologetic to the Islamic terrorists as they twisted it as a vent in view of Babri Masjid demolition.

It was reported that the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had offered to provide money from the government to rebuil the RSS office. However, it was politely declined by the Swayamsevaks and was formally communicated by General Secretary H V Seshadri. Funds were collected by Swayamsevaks on their own through campaigns and the office was rebuilt through the donations made by several members of the public and other organizations. But what the governments and courts ought to do – making justice prevail by punishing the terrorists – has not been done despite the main accused getting arrested. Though the charge sheet was filed in 1994 and case was taken up by CBI which examined more than 200 witnesses, the perpetrators are yet to be brought to justice. Justice has been on exile for more 28 years.

(With inputs from VSK Tamil Nadu)

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Dargah erects flagpole on top of sacred hill dedicated to Lord Murugan, removed after Hindu Munnani’s complaint

By
The Commune
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A decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the District Collector to immediately remove the flagpole illegally erected by Sikandar Shah Dargah at the Thiruparankundram, anear Madurai.

The meeting was chaired by the district administration on the 24th of last month after the Hindu Munnani demanded the removal of the flag hoisted at Sikander Badushah Avulia Dargah on the hilltop of the dedicated to Thiruparankundram Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple in Madurai district.

The Islamic structure was built in the 17th to 18th-century over the 14th-century grave of last sultan of Madurai Sultanate Sikandar Badushah who faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of the great Pandya kings. The dargah is near much older Kasi Viswanathar cave temple.

At the meeting, the police were told that only the wooden flagpole should be used and that the newly erected iron flagpole should be removed immediately, based on the results of the 2011 peace talks.

It was also decided that both parties should approach the relevant civil court to seek redress as to who owns the land. 

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Vice President calls for reviving the glory of traditional Indian sports like hockey

By
The Commune
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Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for reviving the glory of traditional Indian sports like hockey and urged state governments and corporate entities to join hands in providing needed encouragement.

Releasing the postage stamp in the memory of social worker and nationalist, Shri Chaman Lal at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today, the Vice President said that that recent performance of Indian hockey team in Tokyo Olympics has rekindled the interest in the sports and time has come for promoting traditional Indian sports like hockey and kabaddi in a big way. He called for strengthening infrastructure including artificial turf and training and coaching at the grassroot level. Shri Naidu also lauded the Center’s proactive encouragement to Indian sports.

Asking to shed the colonial mindset of aping others blindly, the Vice President said that we should justly feel proud of great tradition and culture. He also asserted that there is inherent talent among Indians in every field, ‘what is required is right encouragement and support for this talent’.

Paying rich tributes to Shri Chaman Lal, the Vice President said that he dedicated his entire life in selflessly serving the country and the people. Calling Shri Chaman Lal a great nationalist and a visionary thinker, he said that his life’s philosophy was characterised by service, values and creativity. “Despite receiving a gold medal in M.Sc at Punjab University (Lahore) in 1942, he chose the path of service even though he had a bright career ahead. He saw spirituality in service,” Shri Naidu said.

Stressing the need to strike a balance between one’s personal rights and societal duties, he said that too much insistence on rights without taking care of one’s social responsibilities can lead to disbalance in society. The Vice President also said that enlightened and sensitive citizens who put the nation before self are the nation builders in true sense. “Not being selfish and doing the welfare of others – this is what every civilization, every religion teaches us”, he said.

The Vice President further said that in true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, Shri Chamanlal successfully reconnected overseas Indians, who have been living abroad for centuries, with their motherland and infused the spirit of Indianness among them. He worked tirelessly for creating a global network of Indian Diaspora spread around the globe, Shri Naidu said and added, “today all diaspora Indians are our cultural representatives and India gets recognition by their success.”

Recalling the important role played by Shri Chaman Lal during the period of emergency, Shri Naidu said that he helped the family members of jailed persons with great diligence despite great risk to him. Recalling his personal interactions with Shri Chaman Lal, the Vice President said that despite his advanced age, he used to be full of new ideas, always ready to take up new responsibilities.

Lauding the eternal Indian Guru-Shishya tradition, Vice President Naidu underlined that Indian culture does not see knowledge and learning as intellectual property rather it believes that knowledge increases by sharing. We believe that one has to repay one’s debt to the Guru by sharing his or her knowledge with others, he said. Quoting Rigvedic shloka -“Aa no bhadra: kratavo yantu vishwatha”, the Vice President said that Indian culture believes in universality of knowledge. “Knowledge is not bound in any geographical boundary, it is the common heritage of all humanity”, he added.

Calling Shri Chaman Lal the inspiration behind the Center for World Studies, the Vice President said that the Center is working to highlight India’s achievents on global stage. He congratulated the Center for World Studies for organising the birth centenary of Shri Chaman Lal all across the world. He also welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Communications, Government of India to release a postage stamp in honour of an inspiring personality like Shri Chaman Lal ji.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & IT, Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, Rajeev Chandrashekar, Minister of State for Skill development & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Member of Parliament, Dr Subrahmanian Swamy, Member of Parliament, Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of Parliament, Vineet Pandey, Secretary (Posts) and others attended the event.

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Muslim police officer in UK posts racists messages on Twitter, was in regular contact with female jihadi

By
The Commune
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In another case of blatant hatred and bigotry, a Muslim police officer who was once hailed as a role model for bravely confronting anti-lockdown protesters is now facing an urgent investigation after it was revealed she regularly used her Twitter account to post racist messages and was in regular contact with a suspected female jihadi in Syria,  reports dailymail.

Photo of this Muslim police constable  26-year-old Ruby Begum wearing a hijab on the front line went viral last year, with senior colleagues calling her inspirational.

However, now it has emerged that Begum, who joined the Metropolitan Police in 2016 used Twitter to insult Jews and mock the 9/11 attacks and frequently used the offensive term ‘kuffar‘ to describe non-believers, writing in July 2014: ‘Kuffar lips have been all over my mug there is no way I’m using that thing again.’ Elsewhere she describes Pakistanis as ‘p***s’.

After this incident came to light, the Met launched an investigation and referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and placed Begum on ‘restricted duties’.

Now the Scotland Yard is investigating if Begam communicated with a woman who left Europe in 2014 to live under the Islamic State’s so-called caliphate.

Begum has been running a Twitter account under the name Ruby Beees since 2012, posting more than 25,000 messages, and gave herself the nickname Cookie and it seems most of her antisemitic comments was made in 2014 when Israel launched an attack against the Palestinian Islamic terror group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In one of her tweets Begum wrote, “Dirty Zionist. Jahannam [hell] is awaiting.’ In another tweet, she wrote: ‘Israel have no limits. Scumbags I can’t wait for the day they get severely punished,”.

Later that year, she said, “Zionists have no hearts! They’ll get what’s coming to them subhanallah [glory be to God],” and gave false equivalence to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the Holocaust. She wrote in January 2015. “It’s alright when Israel does it #HolocaustRemembranceDay,”.

Ruby Begum, who was born in Wapping, East London and is one of six sisters and three brothers and her parents are from Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan. However, due to the genocide commited by Punjabi West Pakistan in 1971, Begum is hates Pakistanis.

In June 2013, she tweeted to a Twitter user called @rajab_96: ‘LOL [laugh-out-loud] it’s cos you tweeted about p*** stuff so I thought your [sic] p***. Are you a p***?’

But what is troubling is that on September 11, 2019, Begum tweeted, “Omg [O my God] it’s 9/11 today? Jokes, I only noticed,” and in another tweet, she said, “Must be stupid if you think I’m gonna do 2 mins silence for 9/10,”.

But what has gotten the investigators more interested is that she was in contact with suspected IS female jihadi with whom she communicated uses the online name Muslimah4Life. In one tweet, Muslimah4Life said she was using a Yazidi slave as a maid, “My maid (slave) taught me how to bake a Syrian bread, finally I made one on my own today. Alhamdulilah [praise be to God],”.

Ruby Begam is now under restricted duty until the investigation is completed.

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Coins dating back to Chola period unearthed near Trichy

By
The Commune
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Feature Image: Representational Image

Copper coins dating back to the Chola period, believed to be at least 1,000 years old, have been found on an agricultural land near the town of Manachanallur in Trichy district. Antiquities, including conch bracelets and spiral pieces, were also recovered from the site. Archaeologists have urged the state government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to explore the site as it has been recovered near the surface.

Farmers plowing fields in Solakanallur village, 12 km from Manachanallur, found copper coins in their field. The locals informed Babu, a private college professor who had already tried to find ancient remains of the Chola period in the village in recent years. 

According to the Times of India, Babu said, “Two coins found on the surface of the ground turned to ashes. On one side of the coin is engraved a statue of Rajaraja Chola standing. On the other side is a seated figure sitting on a throne.” These coins are 2.5 centimeters in diameter and weigh less than five grams.

Babu compared such coins with the copper coins in the Thanjavur and Trichy museums and tried to calculate their age. He also says that these coins may have been issued by Rajendra Chola in honor of his father.

Uraiyur in Trichy was where the Chola empire was founded and was the capital of the Cholas before Thanjavur. Many more antiquities can be found near Manachanallur if one were to survey the region, Babu says.

Babu further said that the coins have been sent to the Department of Archeology, Thanjavur Tamil University for further study.

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