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“Expansionism is a mental disorder, whole world is troubled by expansionist forces”: PM Modi targets China from Indo-Pak border

By
The Commune
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuing his tradition of being with the armed forces on the day of Deebavali, met and interacted with the soldiers at Longewala border in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Addressing the soldiers, PM Modi said that India is working rapidly to increase its defence capability and make its defence sector Atmanirbhar.

In a veiled attack on China, Prime Minister Modi said that the entire world was troubled by expansionist forces.

“Today the whole world is troubled by expansionist forces. Expansionism is, in a way, a mental disorder and reflects 18th-century thinking. India is also becoming a strong voice against this thinking,” PM Modi said while addressing the Jawans.

He said that India is becoming a strong voice against this thinking. He added that the world now understands that this nation won’t compromise with its interests, not at any cost. “This repute and stature of India are all due to your strength and valour. India is clearly presenting its opinions on international fora today because you’ve secured the nation,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi has been celebrating Deebavali every year with soldiers ever since he assumed office in 2014.

“In 2014, I celebrated Diwali at Siachen. Many people were surprised. But you know me, I am always with my own people during festivals. And I have continued with that tradition even this year,” the Prime Minister said.

“Be it the peaks of the Himalayas, the stretch of desert, dense forests or the depths of seas – your valour has always triumphed in every challenge,” said PM.

“My Diwali is complete only when I come amid you. My happiness doubles when I look at the joy on your faces,” he added.

The significance of taking oil bath on Deebavali

By
The Commune
-

Deebavali in the southern part of the state especially in Tamil Nadu begins with an oil bath before sunrise.

The oil is heated with turmeric, betel leaves, pepper, and carom seeds. It is offered to Goddess Lakshmi (neivedhyam) and the eldest lady of the household puts gingelly oil and massages on the heads of all family members. Then shikakai (a mix of powdered herbs) is used to wash off the oil. This bath on Deebavali day is termed holy because it is considered as sacred as bathing in the river Ganga.

They then wear new clothes, pray, burst firecrackers, enjoy the sweets and savouries prepared, call up friends and relatives to exchange greetings and settle down to watch ‘pattimandram’ helmed by Solomon Papaiyya on Sun TV.

But what is the significance of taking an oil bath on the day of Deebavali? The answer to this is in the Charaka Samhita, the treatise on Ayurveda.

Symbolically oil bath means a new start by eliminating all evil within and outside the body. It is also said that goddess Mahalakshmi is said to be present in sesame plant, thereby making sesame auspicious.

With respect to health and well-being, sesame oil is considered as a body coolant that reduces heat from the body. It is also said to increase blood circulation. Not only does it moisturize the body, but also enables removal of environmental pollutants and toxins from the skin apart from removing dead cells.

Before the oil is applied on the head and body, the feet of all in the family, especially the newly wed couples, are coated with a paste made of turmeric and limestone powder, locally called Chunnambu / Chuna.

When mixed using water, the limestone causes the turmeric to turn red in colour. Lines are drawn around the soles of the feet and ankle with this red paste which then leave behind a coloured pattern on the feet even after washing away.

This is called Nalangu and is associated with auspicious events. Nalam means good, well being. Nalangu is one of the first ritual in the series of wedding rituals, where the paste is applied individually to the bride and the groom in their respective homes and they are made to undergo the ritual oil bath before their wedding day.

But one will be amazed to learn as to why this practice of Nalangu was instituted at all? It is a wonderful way to provide relief to ensure that the person can withstand the standing and running around to be done as part of the ensuing celebrations.

Thus, Naraka Chaturdasi has been an important aspect of the Deebavali festivities throughout India. A mix of limestone and turmeric is used by many even today, as home remedy to treat swelling and pain, especially around joints. What could be a better way to treat tired feet and aching ankles after hectic activity that typically precedes preparation for any festival or celebration?

Deebavali is the that many Indians look forward to. This year it is all the more necessary to keep up the festive spirit and an oil bath is meant to ignite that spirit.

(Excerpts from the book ‘Deepavali’ which is part of the series ‘Autobiography of India’ brought out by Bharath Gyan. For more information, visit www.bharathgyan.com)

Philippines will be the first country to receive BrahMos cruise missile from India

By
The Commune
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India has decided to sell the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile to the Philippines amid border tensions with China due to its aggressive posture along the Line of Actual Control, a report in the Hindustan Times said.

The deal will be signed next year when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to the information available, the meeting is likely to take place in February 2021 and the Philippines will become the first country to get this missile system developed as a joint venture between India and Russia.

China for a long time has been very aggressive in the South China Sea and has made claims to territories that compromise the sovereignty of the Philippines and other nations in Southeast Asia like Malaysia and Indonesia.  

BrahMos has a range of 290 kilometers, and it has already been inducted by the Indian Army, Navy, and the Air Force in large numbers.

For a long time, India has been working to increase the level of indigenous systems in the BrahMos missile. In the last few months that saw India conduct several missile tests, including the hypersonic missile, the quest to have an indigenous seeker is being worked on to bring down its cost.

India has conducted at least three tests of the BraMos missile over the last two months.

However, what should worry China is that the Philippines will get the missile which has a range of around 500 km that could seriously compromise Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships.

The missiles which the Philippines Army would receive from India will be its first Land Based Missile System Battery, and have been selected after extensive trials.

Trump issues executive order, bans investments in firms linked to Chinese military

By
The Commune
-

United States President Donald Trump who recently lost the Presidential election and is yet to concede defeat has issued an executive order prohibiting US investments in Chinese firms.  

Trump has accused China for the spread of the COVID-19 virus which he calls the “China virus” and has blamed his loss on the communist regime. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the US has suffered economically and its GDP has taken a massive hit.

Many small businesses have gone under and now not only the US but the entire world faces the prospect of a crippling economic recession.

The new order issued by Trump who will be in office with full executive powers until noon of January 20, 2021, has banned investments in firms that are owned or controlled by the Chinese military. However, this order could be reversed by President-elect Joseph Biden but it might prove to be very difficult due to the strong anti-China sentiment among the Americans. 

The order could impact some of China’s biggest companies, including telecoms firms China Telecom Corp Ltd, China Mobile Ltd, and surveillance equipment maker Hikvision.

From January 11, until November 11, 2021, the new order issued by Trump will prohibit purchases by US investors of the securities of those companies. According to the information released by the White House, “China is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses,”.

This decision could hit China really badly as it is also going through economic and political turmoil amidst rising tension with practically all its neighbors. It is estimated half a trillion dollars in market capitalisation was represented by the Chinese companies and their subsidiaries. 

The other problem for China is the lack of clarity and vision Biden has for China. Also, under Trump, the US has gotten a lot closer to India at strategic levels that saw its respective military conduct various military exercises like the just concluded Malabar naval exercise with India, Japan, and Austalia known as the Quad.

Below is a list of those companies based on Department of Defense data found —

Aviation Industry Corporation of China
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp
China Electronics Technology Group Corp
China South Industries Group Corp
China State Shipbuilding Corp
China North Industries Group Corp (Norinco Group)
Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology
Huawei Technologies
Inspur Group
Aero Engine Corporation of China
China Railway Construction Corp
CRRC Corp
Panda Electronics Group
Dawning Information Industry Co
China Mobile Communications Group
China General Nuclear Power Group
China National Nuclear Corp
China Telecommunications Corp
China Communications Technology
China Communications Construction Company (CCCC)
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
China Spacesat
China United Network Communications Group
China Electronics Corporation
China National Chemical Engineering Group Co Ltd
China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina)
SinoChem Group Co Ltd
China State Construction Group
China Three Gorges Corporation
China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corporation

Sadhguru’s Deebavali message: “Light a lamp for the wellbeing of mankind”

By
The Commune
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As India prepares to celebrate one of its most exuberant festivals, Deebavali, in the shadow of the pandemic, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder-Isha Foundation shared a message of warmth and wellbeing with the people of Tamil Nadu, urging them to light a lamp for mankind.

In a brief video message in Tamil, Sadhguru said that this Deepavali is being observed in the backdrop of a relentless pandemic that has brought untold suffering to mankind. He urged all Tamil people to light three lamps – one for their own wellbeing, another for the wellbeing of their family and friends and a third lamp for the health and wellbeing of all humanity.  A feeling of oneness with the world embracing all mankind is vital for us to overcome this challenging time, Sadhguru asserted.

Encouraging people to celebrate privately and avoid gatherings, Sadhguru said, “If there is love and joy within us, that is a great celebration. You should not miss this celebration.” He said that on the day of Deepavali, a new light must enter our lives.

Sadhguru also called for citizens to encourage the ethnic weaves unique to India. Last year Sadhguru launched ‘Save The Weave’ a campaign to encourage people to adopt natural fibre clothing and help preserve India’s handcrafted weaves. Synthetic textiles are estimated to be one of the largest polluters and contaminants of natural resources besides accelerating physiological deterioration and ill health.

Sadhguru released this message on his Twitter handle in support of local weavers: “Bharath’s skilled weavers are the ambassadors of our pluralistic culture; the only Nation with 120 unique weaves, each representing the ethos of its region. This #Diwali, let’s wear our weaves with Pride & commit to keeping them alive. -Sg @smritiirani #Local4Diwali #SaveTheWeave”.

Obama likens Rahul Gandhi to a kid lacking aptitude or passion trying to impress a teacher

By
The Commune
-

Former US President Barack Obama has come out with his latest memoir titled “A Promised Land” in which he has opened up about several political leaders from around the world.

A review of the book carried by the The New York Times has thrown some excerpts about what the two time former POTUS thought of the leaders around the world which includes former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

About the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Obama said he was a man of ‘impassive integrity’. “Secretary of Defense Bob Gates and the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh both come across as having a kind of impassive integrity,” the New York Times quoted  from the book.

However, Obama’s likened Rahul Gandhi as an inept student. He says in his book “Rahul Gandhi has “a nervous, unformed quality about him, as if he were a student who’d done the coursework and was eager to impress the teacher but deep down lacked either the aptitude or the passion to master the subject.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had met Barack Obama when the latter visited India in 2017. He had taken a picture and shared it with the caption “Had a fruitful chat with President @Barack Obama. Great to meet him again.”

This has now come as a severe setback to the image of the Congress leader who is already referred as ‘Pappu’ (a child). The Congress leader is believed to be in Jaisalmer on vacation following the humiliating defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections and in the by-elections held across the country.

Barack Obama’s remarks on Rahul Gandhi has now set social media on fire with ‘Pappu’ and ‘RaGa’ trending.

https://twitter.com/Shehzad_Ind/status/1327083250901106690

https://twitter.com/ramprasad_c/status/1327063994562207746

https://twitter.com/realme911/status/1326978691037970432

 

Fake love: Ex-lover blackmails married woman with pictures and videos and extorts money

By
The Commune
-

The Tirunelveli police are on the lookout for a person who in the pretext of love, lured a young woman into a trap and extorted money by blackmailing her with intimate photos of them both. A complaint was lodged with the ASP Pradeep by the woman in which she alleged that her former boyfriend has been trying to extort money from her by blackmailing her.

The woman had been in a relationship with Solomon, a mason from Kandapatti near Mukkoodal, before her marriage. Solomon, who was ‘supposedly in love’ took pictures and videos on his cell phone when the two were together which includes intimate ones. Solomon, who did not do anything when the woman married someone else, started extorting money by blackmailing with their intimate photo and videos they took when they had been together. When she ran out of money, he had demanded a gold chain and jewellery worth about ₹1 lakh rupees from the woman. His accomplices Johnson and Mano, too started threatening the woman and started harassing her.

Whilst the woman had been perplexed as to what to do in this scenario, her husband had gotten suspicious of his wife’s behaviour over the recent past and had sent her out of the house. Following this, she had lodged a complaint with the inspector of the region.

Police are searching for Solomon, who has turned from a bricklayer to a blackmailer.

Hosur police inspector assaults Hindu Munnani leader who complained against religious conversion

By
The Commune
-

Christian missionaries, who have been campaigning for the spread of Christianity in Hindu-majority areas by receiving funding from abroad in the name of social service, educational assistance, and financial assistance to the underprivileged, have been freely proselytizing, using local police and politicians.

It has been reported Hindu Munnani activists who had caught and handed over the Christian missionaries to the police were intimidated by the police inspector at Therpettai police station near Hosur.

The public had informed the Hindu Munnani leaders in the area regarding a group that had been involved in proselytization through ‘jeba koodam’ (prayer meetings). Following this, a Hindu Munnani activist with public help caught the missionary who had come and took him to the police station. But the police inspector is said to have intimidated the complainant instead of taking action against the missionary.

Later, Hindu Munnani Divisionaly Secretary Umesh had arrived at the police station after the intimidated activist informed Hindu Munnani leaders.

The police inspector reportedly insulted the Hindu Munnani leader with inappropriate words and is even said to have assaulted him along with a fellow police officer. Following this, the Hindu Munnani cadres staged a road blockade in front of the police station demanding immediate action against the police inspector and the attacker. To bring the situation under control, the Hosur DSP held talks with the Hindu Munnani and assured that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible for the issue.

Christian missionaries indulge in proselytization activities hiding behind the cover of Article 25 of the constitution. But Article 25 comes with reasonable restrictions that the right to practice and propagate religion is subjected to public order, morality and health. But, these missionaries in the ‘jeba koodams’ claim that ‘Jesus is the only God’ and resort to abusing and attacking other faith, especially Hinduism.

Trangenders cheer as Kerala High Court rules action for discrimination against the third gender

By
The Commune
-

Kerala High Court is now pushing for equal rights for transgenders coming as a relief to the members of the community in the state.

It recently issued a ruling that said that a person cannot be denied basic rights just because they are a transgender. This had been issued by Justice Devan Ramachandran in a recent case.

The petitioner Hina Hanifa, a trans woman, had challenged NCC’s exclusion of those belonging to the transgender community. She is a student of the Thiruvananthapuram University College. An interim order to include her in the program had also been sought by Raghul Sudheesh, her counsel.

During the hearing of the case, the petitioner was asked to be excluded in the enrollment process of the NCC unit, as she was a transgender despite identifying as a woman. The council from the central government’s end argued that the petitioner had identified as male until the age of 21 ever since birth. Post this, he had undergone surgery to reassign his gender to female. But Section 6 of the National Cadet Corps Act only granted enrollment to male and female genders.

Following this, the petitioners submitted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, which banned discrimination of any kind against the transgender community. The petitioner later also filed a case in the court seeking an amendment of the criteria.

19ft tall gold statue of favourite dog breed of Turkmenistan’s President unveiled

By
The Commune
-

Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov inaugurated a 19 feet tall golden statue of the Alabai breed of dog, on Thursday. It is a homebred variety and belongs to the Central Asian Shepherd breed of dogs. This has been installed in the country’s capital of Ashgabat.  The new statue has been in the works for several years. Last November, President Berdimuhamedov, currently serving his second term, had unveiled a plan to build the statue though he had suggested that it be 15-metre in size.

The statue had been designed and built by Sargart Babayev, a famous architect, under the supervision of local firm Altyn. This is also surrounded by an LED display of Alabai puppies playing.

The former Soviet Union republic country considers dogs as a national heritage symbol, and this particular breed holds great value in their culture. The only other animal to have an equal amount of reverence is the Akhal Teke horse.

Notably, this is the President’s favourite dog breed. Last September, Berdimuhamedov also launched a book on the Alabais during a weekly cabinet meeting. In October 2017, he had even gifted an Alabai puppy to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday. Needless to say, the internet at that time erupted into a volley of memes in connection with this.

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TheCommune
The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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