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US keen on creating new numbered fleet in the Indian and Pacific ocean to counter China

By
The Commune
-

As the navies of India, the US, Australia and Japan are engaging in the ongoing ‘Malabar’ exercise in the Arabian Sea to enhance operational readiness and interoperability, the US Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite has announced for the establishment of a new ‘numbered’ fleet close to the border of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

At present aircraft carriers USS Nimitz of the US Navy and the Indian Navy’s INS Vikramaditya are engaged in the Malabar exercise that has expanded to an exercise between the QUAD to counter China’s attempt to dominate.

Navy Secretary Braithwaite made the comments at the US Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium on Tuesday (November 17).

The US Navy has the worlds largest fleets of modern destroyers, aircraft carriers and a nuclear submarines with the capability to deploy anywhere in the world at a moments notice.

The US Navy currently has a total of seven fleets, deployed across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Mediterranean and Middle East regions.

These fleets designated by their numbers—for example, Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain and each fleet will have a combination of aircraft carriers, submarines and other surface ships as well as refuellers and logistical supply networks.

Kenneth Braithwaite was quoted by the US Naval Institute as saying, “We want to stand up a new numbered fleet. And we want to put that numbered fleet in the crossroads between the Indian and the Pacific oceans, and we’re really going to have an Indo-PACOM footprint. We can’t just rely on the Seventh Fleet in Japan. We have to look to our other allies and partners like Singapore, like India, and actually put a numbered fleet where it would be extremely relevant if, god forbid, we were to ever to get in any kind of a dust-up.”

Braithwaite emphasised the important roles of allies such as India and Singapore in the proposed plan that can be a much more formidable deterrence to China. 

Braithwaite is scheduled to travel to India soon and the naval secretary said, “In the coming weeks he would be traveling to India to discuss both their security challenges and how the US Navy can uniquely help them, but also how India can help the US,.”

Braithwaite said it is not possible for the US alone to stand up to China and other nations around the Pacific and the Indian Ocean need to push back China both militarily and economically if they want deterrence to work.,” the US Naval Institute reported.

The need for a new numbered fleet in Indian and Pacific oceans is to reduce the strain on Seventh Fleet. A proposed First Fleet for the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean would allow more effective partnerships with regional partners such as India.

India already has signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the renewed Defense Framework Agreement, and the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the US.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on and President-Elect Joe Biden to congratulate him and both leaders reiterated firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed shared priorities and concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

However, Braithwaite who is a political appointee wants to push the idea of a new fleet for the Indian and Pacific oceans before his time at the Pentagon. In America, positions such as the Secretary of the Navy ends when new administration is sworn in in January. “Unfortunately, I don’t get a much longer stint in this seat… but I got 60 days to go out now and really grasp the bully pulpit,” Braithwaite was quoted as saying by Breaking Defense, a US publication.

During his interaction on Tuesday, Braithwaite highlighted the nature of the Chinese threat and said,”the Chinese have shown their aggressiveness around the globe… Chinese presence in the Arctic is unprecedented. Most recently, I was in a trip to the Far East: every single one of our allies and partners are concerned about how aggressive the Chinese have been. I would argue with anybody that not since the War of 1812 has the United States and our sovereignty been under the kind of pressures that we see today,” he was quoted as saying by the US Naval Institute.

Oxford University Student Union passes resolution to ban “beef and lamb” to combat climate change

By
The Commune
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As the debate rages on in many Indian universities weather to serve meat in campus canteens, Oxford University students have voted to ban beef and lamb at campus canteens, in bid to combat climate change.

The Oxford Student Union passed a motion by a two-thirds majority at the weekly student council and now it joins the rank of Cambridge University that had already banned beef from the university canteens.

In the Cambridge University, in 2016, catering service introduced plant-based replacements for beef across its 14 outlets and 1,500 annual events.

The motion said: “As the UK’s premier university, the nation looks to Oxford for leadership, but Oxford has shown a lack of leadership in addressing climate change.”

The student union now will lobby further to ban meat at eateries on campus, such as in libraries and other university buildings.

However, there is an option for the university colleges, where students live and have tutorials to individually decide on whether to introduce a similar ban.

The Oxford Union has 22,000 members that represent students in university decision making.

DMK takes off ‘Go Back Modi’ graffitis in Karur after BJP leader Annamalai warns of replacing it with ‘Sudalai Raja’

By
The Commune
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Whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Tamil Nadu, the DMK and its alliance partners like Congress, VCK, MDMK and other small parties engage in activities like trending ‘Go Back Modi’ on social media and releasing black balloons in the air.

Recently, V. Senthil Balaji who is now with the DMK had put up ‘Go Back Modi’ graffitis on walls across Karur. This had become a major issue with Annamalai issuing a warning against the DMK to take off the graffitis.

In a public meeting organized by the BJP Tamil Nadu in Karur, the former IPS officer had said that the ‘Go Back Modi’ graffitis which have been put at the behest of DMK’s Senthil Balaji should be taken off by DMK members themselves before 24th November 2020. He warned that failing to do so will result in BJP cadres replacing them with ‘Anju Katchi Ammavasai’ (a sly dig at Senthil Balaji’s swinging between DMK and AIADMK 5 times) and ‘Sudalai Raja’ (a comical reference to DMK chief MK Stalin).

“Those who do not respect Prime Minister Modi and wishes to do politics in Karur, we will not allow them… You come for honest politics.. Let us fight on those terms… Let the people decide which party has good policies and principles, which party will give good governance.. let the people decide.. Just because you have the money earned illegally.. don’t think you can get away with all this.. Today is November 16.. If the ‘Go Back Modi’ graffitis are not removed by November 24, BJP cadres will replace it with ‘Anju Katchi Ammavasai and Sudalai Raja”, BJP leader Annamalai said.

Following Annamalai’s warning, it was found that the ‘Go Back Modi’ graffitis in Karur had been erased.

Netizens took to social media to share pictures of the erased graffitis and hailed BJP leader Annamalai for his daring move.

#Breaking: Tanker rams into BJP leader Khusbu’s car while on way to Vel Yaatrai, has narrow escape

By
The Commune
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Yesteryear actress Khushbu Sundar who recently joined the BJP in Tamil Nadu was on her way to Cuddalore to participate in the Vel Yaatrai. She was nearing Melmaruvathur, 100 kms from Chennai, when a tanker lorry rammed into her car.

The BJP leader escaped unhurt but her car has been severely damaged with the front and back doors on the left side of her car mangled. The police are now investigating the accident scene.

Taking to twitter, Khushbu said that she had met with an accident near Melmaruvathur as a tanker rammed into them.

“With your blessings and God’s grace I am safe. Will continue my journey towards Cuddalore to participate in #VelYaatrai. Police are investigating the case. #LordMurugan has saved us. My husband’s trust in him is seen.”, Khushbu said.

While the BJP leader has said that a tanker rammed into her car, the Tamil media has reported as if Khushbu’s car collided with a lorry going in front of her.

The BJP leader in another tweet asked the press to understand that it was the tanker lorry that rammed into her and not the other way round.

“My car was on the move in the right lane and this container came from nowhere and rammed into me. Police are investigating n questioning the driver to rule out any foul play.”, Khushbu said.

Madaras HC allows school run on temple land owing 13 crore to HR&CE to function

By
The Commune
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Madras HC increased security in court campus after country bombs were exchanged among suspects in the Armstrong murder case. Christian shrine

The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (H&CE) Department has been directed by the Madras High Court to permit a private school owned by the Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty (DRBCC) Charities Trust that owed it ₹13 crore in rent arrears to function at fixed monthly rent of ₹20 lakh.

The land on which the school is built is owned by Kanchipuram Arulmigu Ekambarnathar temple but located in upmarket Kilpauk area in Chennai metropolis.

The judgement was issued by Justice N Anand Venkatesh who was hearing a petition challenging the sealing of its premises by the HR&CE Department due to rent arrears by the Trust’s Seetha Kingston Matriculation Higher Secondary School.

The charities during the hearing made it very clear that it was not in a position financially to pay ₹25 lakh per month rent as demanded by the HR&CE Department.

However, in his judgement, Justice Venkatesh said some practical solution has to be there while fixing a tentative rent and a situation should not arise where the trust might not be able to pay the monthly rent fixed by the court.

The DRBCC Charities Trust wanted the court to fix Rs 15 lakh as rent but the High Court decided that the trust must pay Rs 20 lakh tentatively.

Also, if the trust is not able to resolve the issue, the staff and students must look for an alternative by March next year.

MP to soon have a law against love jihad

By
The Commune
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Taking cognisance to the menace of “Love Jihad” the Madhya Pradesh state government will introduce a ‘Love Jihad Bill to punish Muslim men who pretend to be a Hindu and entrap a Hindu girl into marriage and later forcibly converted her to Islam. 

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has said the state government will soon introduce a“love jihad” bill in the state assembly.

If the law is passed it will be stringent and the guilty will have to endure five years of rigorous imprisonment and the charges will be deemed cognizable and non-bailable, Indian Express reports.

One of the provisions in the bill would make it mandatory for the concerned district collector to be notified a month in advance regarding the formalization of an inter-faith marriage.

“There will be provision to declare marriages taking place forcefully, out of fraud or by tempting someone, for religious conversion, null and void. Those assisting in committing this crime will also be considered a party to the crime,” Mishra stated.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “Jihad will not be permitted in the name of love at any cost in the state. Necessary legal provisions will be made against love jihad.”

Just as the Nirbhaya rape and murder case forced the government to make changes in the law, the cold-blooded murder of a 21-year-old girl named Nikita Tomar at the hands of politically connected Muslim boy has brought the whole case for the need of law against love jihad.

Nikita was shot dead right outside her college by a man named Tausif in Haryana’s Ballabgarh area in October. The family has alleged that Tausif was forcing Nikita to convert to Islam and marry him and when she refused Tausif gunned her down along with his friend Rehan.

New Zealand-based Christian evangelist of Fiji-origin caught violating Indian visa norms

By
The Commune
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An evangelist named Dennis Nand of Glad Tidings Ministry, a Christian missionary organization based in Auckland, New Zealand has been caught flouting Indian visa laws, a report by Mission Kaali has revealed.

Dennis, who is believed to be a Indo-Fijian, had visited India in 2019. He had gone to a village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on February 13 or 14 to participate in proselytization activities.

On 17th February he had attended a meeting pastors, leaders and church believers at Nagpur organized by another Christian missionary organization Trinity Living Light Fellowship.

 

These activities of evangelist Dennis Anand is in violation of the terms and conditions of the visa. A tourist visa can only be used for non-business purposes, such as tourism or visiting family and friends. Even if one holds a missionary visa, the person cannot use it for proselytizing activities and can only join a missionary organization approved by the Government of India for which the organization must receive a certificate indicating it is compliant with the Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act.

Glad Tidings Ministries does not have a website of its own and only has a Facebook page. Dennis has a Facebook page of his own supposedly for ‘sharing prayers’.

Mission Kaali has now filed a complaint with the Home Ministry to take action against Dennis Nand for violating visa norms.

Citizens can file complaints against organizations involved in illegal proselytization activities with the Ministry of Home Affairs at this link. Click here for a guide on how to file complaints against such individuals or organizations.

Cauvery Calling to organize statewide drive for sapling plantation

By
The Commune
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The Cauvery Calling team is organizing a statewide drive for the general public to participate in sapling plantation on private farmlands across the Cauvery river basin in Tamil Nadu. ‘Nurturing the Desire to Plant a Tree’ is a platform for eco enthusiasts who don’t own land and don’t know where and how to plant saplings but wish to do so. The sapling plantation drive will be held at a different location each month. The first event will be held at Thotiyapatti village in Karur district on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Representatives from Isha Agroforestry visit the farms and evaluate the quality of the soil and water. They then recommend suitable saplings for plantation. Saplings are finalized for plantation by farmers. The initiative achieves several objectives: it involves the community in plantation activity and gives them first-hand experience of working on a farm; it generates curiosity and interest in farming among the general population and brings the community closer to the farmer; it ensures high sapling survival rate as they are on farmlands where they will be cared for.

There are 30 Isha nurseries in Tamil Nadu that produce 100% naturally grown saplings. The saplings are available to farmers at a nominal cost.

Cauvery Calling is a movement launched by Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, in an effort to revitalize river Cauvery. It promotes tree based agriculture on private farmlands in the Cauvery basin. Its 12-year mission is to enable over 5 million farmers to plant 2.42 billion trees on their own farmlands in the river basin for economic gain. This will substantially increase farmer income by 3 to 8 times, enrich soil in the basin, improve water tables and augment Cauvery’s source flow levels.

Those who are interested in participating can register for the event by calling 94437 19705.

‘Periyarist-Communist-Ambedkarist-Marxist’ man shares obscene image of Lord Ram and Prophet Mohammad

By
The Commune
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A man named ‘Sa Raavana Cholan SV’ shared an obscene image of Lord Ram and Prophet Mohammad on his Facebook profile leading to widespread condemnation from both the Hindu and Muslim community.

‘Sa Raavana Cholan SV’ who identifies himself as a ‘Periyarist’, ‘Communist’, ‘Ambedkarist’ and ‘Marxist’ had shared an image of Lord Ram and Prophet Mohammad kissing each other. (Image not published here due to curb its circulation).

The image became viral with several members from both the community mass reporting the profile.

Following this, ‘Sa Raavana Cholan SV’ locked his profile restricting others from viewing his profile.

According to his Facebook, ‘Sa Raavana Cholan SV’ hails from Neyveli and claims to be working with a security systems trader based in Chennai. The current profile picture is a painted image of VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan.

Speaking to The Commune, the owner of the business who wished to remain unidentified said that they had terminated ‘Sa Raavana Cholan SV’ from the job more than a year back in April 2019 after they had received a similar complaint.

“We had received several complaints about his inappropriate posts on social media. We had warned him several times about it but he did not listen to us. We then terminated him from the job ” adding that ‘Sa Raavana Cholan SV’ has nothing to do with him or his company now.

So far, no reports are available of anyone registering a complaint against the culprit. The profile has not been taken down by facebook despite the hate speech and peddling of inflammatory content.

Malabar naval exercise irks China as India, Japan, Australia and the US begin round two

By
The Commune
-

India, along with Japan, Australia and the United States (US) is ready for round two of the Malabar naval exercise off the coast of Goa starting from Tuesday (17 November). 

This year India invited Australia and now the combined naval forces of the four QUAD nations will embark on a series of military exercises to enhance cooperation and interoperability.

The Quad is a strategic alliance and this year, must to the dismay of China, Australia was invited to take part in the Malabar exercise in more than a decade.

Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds called the Malabar exercise, A demonstration of the strategic trust between the four democracies but also strengthened the collective ability to contribute to regional security.”

For Communist China, the Quad is a strategic and geopolitical challenge and a thorn on the heel of President Xi Jinping led Chinese Communist Party (CCP) establishment. Many articles have been published in Chinese newspapers attacking both India and Australia for creating unnecessary tension in the region.

In 2007, several countries bowed down to Chinese pressure and India could also be counted among those nations who did not want to upset China. However, India under Prime Minister Modi has remained firm this time and ensured Australia participated in these crucial naval exercises.

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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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