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Burqa-clad woman who hurled petrol bomb on CRPF bunker arrested

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The Commune
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The Burqa-clad woman who had on Tuesday (March 29), hurled a petrol bomb at a CRPF bunker in Sopore town of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been arrested, Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Vijay Kumar who is the Inspector General of Police confirmed the arrest and said the woman in the Burqa has been identified as Haseena Akhtar, a resident of Baramulla and a member of the banned terrorist organisation Dukhtaran-e-Millat started by Asiya Andrabi.

According to Kumar, Akhtar is an OGW (over-ground worker) of Lashkar-e-Taiba (leT) and there are three FIRs filed against her under UAPA. Further information states that Haseena Akhtar is the wife of Mohammed Yousuf Bhat, a resident of Sheeri Baramulla, who was a stone-pelter and was arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2016 for 17 months.

According to the IGP, Akhtar came into contact with Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, a pro-Pakistan separatist who runs the biggest network of ‘women jihadis’, as claimed by Andrabi herself.

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Christian missionaries in Andhra chant Christian prayers inside temple

By
The Commune
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A video of a Chrisitan missionary group occupying a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram in Gangavaram and holding a congregation inside temple premises went viral on Friday (April 1).

BJP National Secretary Sunil Deodhar, who is in charge of the party in Andhra Pradesh shared a video of the Christian group, led by a pastor, singing hymns and prayers inside a Ram Temple in a village near Gangavaram.

The video has now gone viral and one can see that a pastor who is wearing a white frock is seen sitting inside the Ram Mandir and singing hymns along with his congregation.

Many BJP leaders of the state have accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy of implementing his ‘religious conversion’ agenda.

Senior BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said an environment is being created in Andhra Pradesh where there is no place for Hindus and adding that this is only possible due to the appeasement politics of the YSR-Congress government.

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Quad gets bipartisan support in US Senate

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The Commune
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india quad indo-pacific

In a show of bipartisan support, a group of American lawmakers on Thursday (March 31)  introduced a bill in the US Senate to strengthen the existing trade partnership with America’s Quad partners Australia, India, and Japan in a bid to reduce the dependence on China for the import of critical mineral supplies.

The bill titled, ‘Quad Critical Minerals Partnership Act’, is viewed as a critical decision to reduce America’s dependence on China, and protect the long-term national security interests of the US and its allies, a media release said.

The bill was introduced by Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator James Lankford, John Cornyn, and Mark Warner and they said this bill will improve America’s access to critical minerals by working closely with its QUAD partners, and counter China’s current market dominance of this vital resource, it said.

China controls nearly two-thirds of the global supply of rare earth elements and this bill would direct the Administration to leverage the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (United States, Japan, India, and Australia) to promote shared investment and development of this critical resource, the statement said.

“The ubiquity of critical minerals in our daily lives, and their importance in so many modern and emerging technologies, means that ensuring that our supply chains for these critical minerals are robust and secure is essential,” said Warner, Chairman of the powerful Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“China’s control of much of the market for these minerals and other rare earth elements – combined with the exponential growth in demand that is expected in the coming years – is particularly alarming,” he said.

“I’m glad that the Biden administration recognizes this threat, and the comprehensive strategy and multilateral engagement that this bill calls for, in concert with our close Quad partners, like India, will be an important step in meeting this challenge,” he added.

Senator John Cornyn said the time has come for the United States to further cultivate and strengthen its ties with the Quad partnership countries, and working with them is a commonsense step towards eliminating China from the critical mineral supply chain.

“This legislation would ensure critical minerals for everything from consumer electronics to military defenses come from our allies instead of an adversary like China,” Cornyn said.

Senator Angus King said“As supply chain snarls continue to prevent Americans from accessing vital goods, it is critical that we work with allies like Australia, India, and Japan to build better systems and increase collaborative efforts to compete on the global market. Investing in rare earth minerals today is a fundamental way we can prepare ourselves for a successful and secure tomorrow – which is why I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan bill,”.

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Christain pastors in Andhra Pradesh refuse govt honorarium fearing loss of their SC status

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The Commune
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Christain pastors in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have reportedly said that they do not want honorariums from the Government of Andhra Pradesh due to fear of losing their Schedule Caste status.

Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), an legal activism group had raised this issue, wherein they exposed that those who had converted to Christianity are still holding on to their SC certificates to avail all the benefits. 

Earlier in September 2020, an investigation by LRPF revealed that 70% of the 29,841 Christian pastors, who received one-time government honorarium of ₹5,000 through the Disaster Relief Fund, hold Scheduled Caste / Other Backward Caste certificates illegally. The SC/OBC certificates are given only to practising Hindus.

In light of this, Christian pastors in the state are not applying for the government honorarium in order to enjoy the benefits of Scheduled Caste status.

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₹3,170 crore disbursed to 29.1 lakh beneficiaries under PM SVANidhi Scheme

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The Commune
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The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is implementing Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme since June 01, 2020 to facilitate provision of collateral free working capital loan to street vendors to restart their businesses, which were adversely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As on March 24, 2022, the number of beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi Scheme are 29.1 lakh and a credit of ₹3,170 crore has been disbursed.

PM SVANidhi Scheme has achieved its objective of facilitating loans to the Street Vendors to restart their business. As on March 24, 2022, 30.5 lakh loans which include 1st as well as 2nd tranche loans, have been disbursed.

As on March 24, 2022, Private Sector Banks have disbursed 61,358 loans, which account for just 2% out of total of 30.5 lakh loans disbursed.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) & Department of Financial Services (DFS) regularly conduct review meetings with the Lending Institutions (LIs) including private sector banks, to improve their performance. From FY 2020-21 to FY 2021-22, the percentage share in loans sanctioned by Private Sector Banks has increased from 1.9% to 11.6% while percentage of share in disbursements has increased from 1.7% to 2.5%.

The Ministry has signed an MoU with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for implementation of PM SVANidhi Scheme. SIDBI has leveraged the Udyami Mitra Portal and the network of lending Institutions, which include Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Cooperative Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) & Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) for scheme implementation.

The Lending Institutions charge rates of interest as per the extant Reserve Bank of India guidelines.

An interest subsidy of 7% is paid on quarterly basis on timely repayment of the loans.

(Published from PIB)

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Disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur reduced after decades

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The Commune
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Due to the continuous efforts of the Central Government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many such steps have been taken in the North Eastern States, which have led to a significant improvement in the security situation and accelerated development. In comparison to 2014, there has been a reduction of 74 percent in militancy incidents in 2021. Similarly, deaths of security personnel and civilians have also come down by 60 percent and 84 percent respectively during this period.

The consistent efforts of the Government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and improvement in the security situation in the Northeast has resulted in a significant step by the Government of India to reduce the disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades.

To realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous North East region, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has held  dialogue with all the States of the North East on a regular basis. As a result, most of the extremist groups have laid down their arms expressing their faith in the Constitution of India and the policies of the Modi government. Today all these persons have become a part of the democratic process and are participating in the  development of the North East. About 7,000 militants have surrendered in the last few years.

In order to fulfill the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India in the last three years, has signed several agreements to end insurgencies and bring lasting peace to the North Eastern States. For example, the Bodo Accord of January, 2020 which resolved the five decades long Bodo problem of Assam and the Karbi-Anglong Agreement of September 4, 2021 which resolved the long standing dispute over the Karbi region of Assam. Similarly, the NLFT (SD) agreement was signed in August 2019 to bring militants into the mainstream of society in Tripura. After that a historic agreement was signed on January 16, 2020 to resolve the 23 year-old Bru-Reang refugee crisis, under which 37,000 internally displaced persons are being resettled in Tripura. On March 29, 2022, another important agreement was signed regarding the boundaries of Assam and Meghalaya.

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is committed to make the whole of the North East region free from extremism. In this regard the Central Government has been interacting with State Governments and other stakeholders from time to time. Due to the improvement in the security situation under the Government led by Shri Narendra Modi,

the Disturbed Area Notification under AFSPA was completely removed from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018.

Disturbed Area Notification is in force in whole of Assam since 1990. Due to the significant improvement in the situation after Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, now AFSPA is being removed with effect from 01.04.2022 completely from 23 districts and partially from 1 district of Assam.

The Disturbed Area Declaration is in force in entire Manipur (except Imphal Municipality area) since 2004.Taking an important step under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, 15 police station areas of 6 districts of Manipur will be excluded from the Disturbed Area Notification with effect from 01.04.2022.

In 2015, AFSPA was in force in 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, 20 kms. belt of Arunachal Pradesh along the Assam border and in 16 police station areas in 9 other districts of the State. This has been gradually reduced and the Disturbed Areas Notification, is currently applicable in only 3 districts and in 2 police station areas in 1 other district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Disturbed Area Notification is in force in the whole of Nagaland from 1995. The Central Government has accepted the recommendation of a committee constituted in this context for withdrawal of AFSPA in a phased manner. The Disturbed Area Notification is being withdrawn from 15 police stations in 7 districts in Nagaland with effect from 01.04.2022.

Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah said that due to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment and attention to the North East region, which had been neglected for decades, the region is now witnessing a new era of peace, prosperity and unprecedented development.

Home Minister Amit Shah greeted the people of the North East on this important occasion.

(Published from PIB)

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Video of DMK councillor’s husband and his men misbehaving with woman goes viral

By
The Commune
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A video has gone viral in social media in which the husband of DMK councillor along with his goons can be seen misbehaving and threatening a woman.

According to reports, Devi, a resident of Oyyathopu in Kodungaiyur area of Chennai had gone to the office of K Sharmila Gandhi, the councillor of Greater Chennai Corporation’s ward number 34.

In the video, Karunanidhi can be heard questioning Devi about the construction of a wall despite him warning against it.

In response, Devi fiercely tells him that she is the owner of the land and that he has no right to question.

Immediately, goons seated next to Karunanidhi rise up from their chair and threaten the woman who in turn asks them to not raise their voices.

As the unruly scenes unfold, the woman DMK councillor Sharmila Gandhi can be seen seated next to her husband doing nothing.

“You are the councillor, not him. A councillor should not threaten the public, they should solve their queries. This is not how you are supposed to treat a woman.”, Devi can be heard saying.

A report by The New Indian Express noted that the DMK high command had conducted an enquiry and found no wrong on the councillor and her husband’s part.

Gandhi was also quoted in the report saying that the compound wall of the building was encroaching the road and that they had called the woman to the office based on a complaint by the Kumaran Nagar Association.

However, this video has become a fodder for opposition parties like the AIADMK and BJP to attack the DMK government.

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Kodi Kaatha Kumaran is close to our hearts: Sadhguru on Tiruppur revolutionary

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The Commune
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“Nearly 3-4 generations fought (for India’s Independence) but most of those names are unfortunately
unheard of. It’s very important that we respect and are grateful for what the previous generations
have done for us (because) a nation that lives without gratitude will not go far,” said Sadhguru,
Founder-Isha Foundation speaking about his social media initiative of “bringing one revolutionary
alive” for the next 75 days to commemorate India’s 75th anniversary of Independence.

“As a part of India 75 Amrit Mahotsav, I will be bringing one revolutionary alive in the social media. Please share this with your friends and above all express your gratitude for those who laid down their lives, for those who sacrificed their youth to make India what it is today.”

His first video was dedicated to Tiruppur Kumaran who was born into a weaver family in Chennimalai (present day Erode) in Tamil Nadu.

Describing Kumaran’s passion for his country, Sadhguru said, “When the Independence movement started gaining momentum, Kumaran became deeply inspired and involved in Mahatma Gandhi’s principles and ideals.” Kumaran’s Desha Bandhu Youth Association attracted thousands of youth from in and around Tamil Nadu. In his tribute to the Tiruppu revolutionary, Sadhguru explained how he came to be remembered as ‘Kodi Kaatha Kumaran’.

“In protest of Mahatma Gandhi’s arrest in Bombay, there were riots and demonstrations across the country including Tamil Nadu. There was one such procession in Tiruppur which Kumaran took part in. Protesters were singing patriotic songs like Subhramanya Bharati’s “Acchamillai, Acchamillai’ which
means I have no fear. They also waved the Indian national flag, which was banned at that time. The
police grew angry and led a brutal lathi charge in which many were lethally injured.”

It is said that though Kumaran’s skull was fractured during the brutal crackdown, he refused to let the
national flag touch the ground. “He lost his life the next day at the young age of 27. Even today, he is
fondly remembered in Tamil Nadu as “Kodi Kaatha Kumaran”, which means Kumaran, who guarded
the honour of our national flag,” said Sadhguru.

He also revealed Isha’s special connection with Kodi Kaatha Kumaran: “This incident in Tiruppur happened just on the banks of Noyyal river. Noyyal river passes very close to the Isha Yoga Centre, and hence Kodi Kaatha Kumaran is very dear to our hearts.”

To mark the 75th anniversary of India’s independence from British rule, Sadhguru will release videos about lesser known freedom fighters who participated with passion and commitment in India’s struggle for independence. Apart from Tiruppur Kumaran, Sadhguru has also released videos about Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru; Komaram Bheem; and Jhalkari Bai.

Sadhguru is currently on a 100-day lone motorcycle journey of 30,000 km across 27 nations spanning Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East as part of his global initiative to Save Soil from extinction. He will enter India on the 75th day of his journey carrying the Indian national flag.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate
75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. It is being
celebrated under five main themes: Freedom struggle, Ideas@75, Resolve@75, Actions@75,
Achievements@75 to commemorate India’s 75th year of Independence.

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Christian missionary hospital in Vellore asks Hindu family to convert to Christianity in return for medical help

By
The Commune
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In another case of alleged aggressive proselytization by Christian missionaries, a Hindu family from Karnataka was asked to convert to Christianity and offer prayers at a church in Vellore, Tamil Nadu in exchange for free treatment for their 3-year-old ailing child.

According to a report in the New Indian Express, Iranna Nagur, a 34-year-old Dhaba (hotel) employee and resident of Basavana Bagewadi of Karnataka was struggling to pay for the medical treatment for his three-year-old son and had travelled over the border into Tamil Nadu seeking better medicial treatment for his ailing son.

Nagur had already spent over ₹3 lakh for his son’s treatment and when he visited a hospital in Vellore run by a Christian Missionary, they put conditions in exchange for free treatment for his son and one of the condition was Iranna and his family should convert to Christianity and offer prayers at a church for at least two months to get free medical treatment at the hospital.

Speaking to the media, Iranna said he had exhausted  all his money as he could not get any financial support from anywhere for his son’s treatment and his monthly earning is ₹12,000 per month and he spends half of his earnings on the medical treatment of his ailing son.

Iranna, went to the hospital in Vellore with a promise that all arrangements have been made, including ₹10 lakh for the bone marrow surgery of his son, with the condition of offering daily prayers at church.

“The talks were also held about the conversion to Christianity. I was determined to accept Jesus because the hospital authorities had promised to take care of all the medical expenses of my son,” detailed Iranna, who has three children, including two daughters.  

However, the BLDE Association in the Bijapur district in Karnataka has now come forward to help the family and extend help to the child suffering from Thalassemia preventing them from converting to Christianity.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express & OpIndia)

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Pakistan facilitates trafficking of Christian girls as brides for Chinese men, some forced into prostitution

By
The Commune
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Disturbing news has again emerged from Pakistan wherein girls from the minority Christian community are increasingly becoming targets of human trafficking to China. 

Chinese workers in Pakistan who are there due to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are now gunning for a bride through any means since there is a massive shortage of women in China due to its one-child policy.

As per reports, Chinese men come to Pakistan with documents issued by non-existing companies and but the real motive is to buy a bride.

There is also a Brookings Institution report titled ‘Bride Trafficking along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’. In that report, brides are sold for as low as USD 3,500 to USD 5,000. However, for the families of these girls who are impoverished, this is a significant fortune.

Since there are restrictions due to the Sharia law on marriages in Pakistan, Christian girls are an easy target because they do not come under the ambient of Sharia law.

Christian activists reported that in the city of Gujranwala, Punjab, between 750 and 1,000 Christian girls were trafficked to Chinese men and in several instances, the girls have reported abuse, maltreatment, domestic violence and forced pregnancies.

There are also reports of sham marriages as some Chinese men do not even look for real wives, but for exotic women who are forced to work as prostitutes in China.

There is also another horrifying report via unconfirmed accounts that claim that Pakistani women are taken to China and killed to use their bodies for organ harvesting which the Chinese authorities “vehemently deny”.

It is also reported that human traffickers are complicit with the corrupt Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officers who facilitate the process. In China, there is a serious shortage of brides due to the draconian one-child policy that led to many people aborting fetuses if it is girls resulting in a drop in the sex ratio. 

Pakistan is now considered a Chinese vessel state and politicians are more worried about maintaining a relationship with China than worry about Pakistani women being trafficked as brides.

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