'Pak'-istan journey towards Jahnam-stan !! Grand economic crisis grips Bharat's neighbour ::: "We would have given you more than IMF," taunts Def Minister Rajnath

 No amount of rhetoric and damage control spins including by Indian spin masters and Sickularism army can reverse the fact that Pakistan has landed into a serious economic doldrums. 

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had an interesting statement to make. "Maine kahan hae, mere Pakistani ke doston .... kyon doori bana key rakhe (I have said my Pakistani friends why you have kept a distance with us. You are our neighbouring country.

 

Had you kept a good relation with India; we would have easily given you more than what you have asked from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)".

File snap: Rajnath and blogger 

The on-going elections in Jammu and Kashmir and good turnout shows Article 370 abrogation did not have much negative impact despite the hoopla and media circus by Sickularism forces in India. This has also irked Pakistan. 

A helpless Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif raked up the usual Kashmir bogey at the UN only to be rebuked by New Delhi. India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has made it clear that now what is 'left' to be done is the vacation of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK). 

All the investments made by Islamabad made in resources, terrorism and men and women have come to a naught. 

Faced with the economic crises and the conditions put forward by the IMF for the bailout package, the Pakistan government's cabinet committee on institutional reforms has already recommended curtailing 150,000 vacant positions, banning contingency recruitment, and outsourcing non-core services like cleaning, janitorial work, which will gradually phase out many positions in grades 1 to 16.

In a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for reducing public sector size and expenses, the committee, headed by the finance minister, presented its recommendations for right-sizing in the federal government departments. The Ministry of Finance was asked to oversee the cash balances of other federal ministries. This was in August. 

The committee provided a detailed briefing on recommended reforms for five federal ministries – the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, the Ministry of State and Frontier Regions, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Industry and Production and the Ministry of National Health Services.

Modi with 'jailed and ousted' former Pak PM Imran Khan 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on September 26 finally gave a nod to the assistance package for crisis-hit Pakistan and also released over USD 1 billion as the first tranche after Pakistan committed to cut expenditures, increase tax-to GDP ratio, tax non-traditional sectors like agriculture and real estate, limit subsidies and transfer some fiscal responsibilities to provinces. But how does it all came?  

Islamabad has now announced to abolish about 150,000 government posts, close six ministries, and merge two others, as part of reforms agreed upon with the IMF under USD 7 billion loan deal. 

Poor thing na !! For a country that invested over the years in a so-called Pakistan terror factory to bleed India. 

'Indian' Kashmiri leaders : But Sickular 

Officially the Pakistan government says there were approximately 300,000 new taxpayers last year, and so far this year, 732,000 new taxpayers have registered, increasing the total number of taxpayers in the country from 1.6 million to 3.2 million. 

Needless to add, Pakistan has been struggling to fix its economy for the last many years and it was close to default in 2023 but a timely loan of USD 3 billion by the IMF saved the situation.

Pakistan has negotiated a long-term loan with the global lender with the hope and commitment that it would be the last loan. However, many doubt this claim as the country has already secured about two dozen loans from the Fund but failed to address the economy on a permanent basis.

The USD 7 billion loan deal of course has helped Pakistan as of now but how long is the question !! 

In the meantime, it has become increasingly difficult for local authorities to pay salaries. Pakistan is in debt with its creditors especially China for the loan it took earlier. Out of 130 Mn US dollars, it has to be 90 Mn dollars by next three years. 

"Today, we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society. It can’t blame the world; this is only karma," says Dr Jaishankar. 

Like most assembly polls in Haryana and even elsewhere, 'rebellion' set to harm both BJP and Congress

 In the poll season in Haryana - onetime dubbed as as state of frequent defections of 'Aya Rams and Gaya Rams';  the Congress has expelled 23 leaders for alleged anti-party activities and BJP has shown doors to eight. 

In Narwana assembly segment, Congress party's "unhappy leaders" list include Ishwar Singh. He was denied ticket apparently or allegedly at the behest of Randeep Singh Surjewala. But Singh still swears by Congress and even addresses media at the party office. 

But his supporters make it clear they are not happy. "In Haryana, when we are unhappy we make it clear we are unhappy," goes a common refrain and a section also adds - "all these will not be known to you today. Our anguish will be reflected on the polling day".  

The BJP-ruled Haryana goes to the polls on October 5 and the results will be announced on October 8. The Congress was ousted in 2014 and hence this time round while the anti-incumbency is strong against the BJP; the Congress is also desperate to win. 

Internal squabbling has hit the BJP also. The ruling saffron outfit has expelled eight leaders including former Cabinet Minister Ranjit Chautala.

The BJP denied Chautala ticket from Rania segment and hence he had resigned from his position and filed his nomination as an independent candidate.

More BJP leaders Devender Kadian contesting from Ganaur, Bachan Singh Arya (Safidon), Sandeep Garg (contesting the polls from Ladwa), Zile Ram Sharma (Assandh), Radha Ahlawat (Meham), Naveen Goel (Gurugram) and Kehar Singh Rawat (Hathin) were also expelled for six years. 

The Congress expelled 13 leaders on the ground of 'filing nominations' as independent candidates on Sept 26. 

The list featured Dilbag Sandil (Uchana Kalan), Ajit Phogat (Dadri), Naresh Dhande (Guhla SC seat), Pardeep Gill (Jind), Sajjan Singh Dhull (Pundri), Vijay Jain (Panipat Rural), Abhijeet Singh (Bhiwani), Sunita Battan (Pundri), Rajiv Mamuram Gondar (Nilokheri-SC), Dayal Singh Sirohi (Nilokheri-SC), Satbir Ratera (Bawani Khera-SC), Nitu Mann (Prithla) and Anita Dhull Badsikri (Kalayat). 

On Sept 30, Monday, the grand old party expelled 10 leaders for alleged anti-party activities for six years. 

The list, released by the All India Congress Committee, featured names including Chitra Sarwara, who has filed her nominations as an independent candidate from Ambala Cantt constituency. 

The seat is home turf of six-time BJP MLA Anil Vij and the Congress has named Parvinder Singh Pari as its candidate. 

Notably, Sarwara is the daughter of Nirmal Singh, another Congress candidate from Ambala. 

She had contested from the seat as an independent candidate last time as well but had lost to Vij by about 20,000 votes.

In 2009 and 2019, Haryana's voters gave marginally fractured mandates, with the Congress and the BJP winning 40 seats each respectively, the halfway mark being 46. This only underlines the importance of Independents. 

Besides anti-incumbency, the BJP faces challenges with regard many issues such as  farmers' agitation, wrestlers anguish and a disenchanted voting section over Agniveer issue and so on.

But the Lotus party hopes factionalism within Congress and Independents/ Others will spoil the grand old party’s prospects. 

The Indian National Lok Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, the Jannayak Janta Party-Azad Samaj Party alliance, and the Aam Aadmi Party have all fielded candidates on most of the 90 seats. 

Other smaller parties like Gopal Kanda’s Haryana Lokhit Party are also in fray with influence on some seats. 

The smaller parties and Independents may emerge as kingmakers in case of a hung assembly.

ends 

Prime Minister Modi speaks with Israeli counterpart Netanyahu ::: Tells him "Terrorism has no place in our world"

 The Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Sept 30 on the "recent developments in West Asia".

Modi later tweeted: "Spoke to Prime Minister @netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia. Terrorism has no place in our world. 
It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. 

India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability."

How to kill an idea

Removing a movement's leaders and its funding won't end its influence, but a vision of something better can (Israel already has most of the pieces in place) 

Israel can take advantage of the window of opportunity that Nasrallah’s death opened to end Islamic Imperialism

Over the past year we’ve heard repeatedly that, while it is possible to kill Hamas’s or Hezbollah’s leadership, it is impossible to kill an idea. 

We were told that while Israel should do its best to defend against threats (which includes preemptively destroying offensive infrastructure), there is little to nothing we can do about the ideas that drive the Sunni (Qutbist) and Shiite (Khomeinist) versions of Islamic Imperialism. That the best we can do is draw our swords and wait.

This defeatist attitude not only leads to the pessimism of militarism, it is also simply untrue. There is no way to have victory if the enemy continually reforms and regroups. Countless ideas have been killed over the course of human history, dozens of political movements squashed in recent memory alone. 

Even if embers continue to burn in odd pockets, the animating spirit of ideas including fascism, Leninist communism, and Klanist white supremacism, to name a few, have been defeated. -- 'Times of Israel' 

Security forces making all-out efforts to rescue two missing youths: Manipur Police

"In connection with the case of two youths, who were allegedly abducted by miscreants on September 27 in Kangpokpi district, security forces are making all-out efforts to rescue the missing/kidnapped youths as quickly as possible," Manipur  police said.  

Condemning the abduction of three Meetei youths en-route to an SSC GD army recruitment rally at New Keithelmanbi on Friday, a public meeting was held at Thoubal Leishangthem Awang Leikai community hall, demanding immediate release of the two youths still in captivity.

During the public meeting, parents of the abducted youth appealed to authorities concerned, including state and central governments, to help trace their sons, who have been taken hostage by Kuki militants, and their safe return.

File snap

Speaking at the meeting, JAC convenor L Subol called on CSOs and the public to assist in locating the two remaining abducted youths along with insisting that state and central forces rescue the youth in captivity at the soonest possible.

The meeting also resolved to submit a memorandum to the Governor and chief minister, urging for swift rescue of the two abducted youths, and the CSOs to support movement launched by the JAC to denounce abduction of the three Meetei youths.

The public meeting also pledged to sustain the protests until release of the missing duo. 

Reports indicate that Johnson, one of the three abducted youths, was rescued by security forces on Saturday and handed over to Thoubal police. He was reunited with his family on Sunday on completion of basic procedures.

Security forces are reportedly keeping in touch with Kuki CSOs to facilitate the rescue of Thoithoi and Thoithoiba, who were also abducted along with Johnson and are still in the captivity of the Kukis.

Amid tension gripping the state over the latest incident, a meeting was held at the chief minister's secretariat though there is no report of any specific search operations conducted by state and central security forces in suspected areas to rescue the two remaining Meetei youths.

The abduction of three civilians who went for an Army recruitment rally, followed by the holding of two as hostages by Kuki militants, has been condemned as an act of terrorism by All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) .

The organisation also demanded the safe release of the two youths while asserting that union home minister Amit Shah, and Manipur DGP and security advisor should be held responsible if anything unwanted happens to the captives.

Addressing the media flanked by members of AMUCO, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, and All Manipur Women's Voluntary Organisation (AMAWOVA), AMUCO president Ph Nando Luwang stated that the three individuals were abducted by Kuki militants on their way to attend an Army recruitment rally at Keithelmanbi.

One of the captives, Ningombam Johnson, was rescued by security forces, but the remaining two - Oinam Thoithoi and Thokchom Thoithoiba - are still being held hostage.

Nando criticised the Central government for failing to act decisively, even as civilians remain in captivity. He pointed out that this is not an international conflict where captives are legally held but rather an act of terrorism within the state, necessitating strict measures from the Centre.

Voicing dissent over central security forces' inability to rescue the two hostages, despite having knowledge of the captors' identities and location of the hostages, he urged officials, including the DGP, security advisor, and units like the Assam Rifles, to take immediate steps to secure release of the hostages.

Nando also cautioned that in case the two civilians could not be rescued, union home minister Amit Shah, DGP, and security advisor should be accountable for any undesired incidents. He further demanded the government to reject any form of negotiation with the Kuki militants and to issue public statements on the progress of the rescue efforts.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had called a meeting of all MLAs to discuss the situation in the violence-hit state and the rescue of two men "abducted" by who he claimed were "Kuki militants". The police in a post on X said the security forces are working to rescue the two men kidnapped by "unknown Kuki miscreants".

A video has been shared widely on social media where two men from the valley-dominant Meitei community were seen asking the Chief Minister to "save our lives". 

The two men, in white T-shirts, also asked Mr Singh to agree to the demand of their kidnappers immediately.

However, the authenticity of the video was no verified.

ends 

"Aren’t we all migrants?" --- a prominent Christian writer raises the question and wonders - "Does faith guide us in dealing with migrants?"

In recent times, the dramatic reality of unchecked migration has convulsed the world.

Indeed, several European countries are expelling their immigrants, claiming that they have no cultural affinity with the host country despite years of domicile. Other countries simply refuse to take in migrants from Asia and Africa, most of them Muslim.

There are about 232 million migrants today, the equivalent of the fifth most populous country in the world, writes Jesuit Father Myron J. Pereira, based in Mumbai. 

In his piece for UCA News, Pereira says: "Over 65 million people are forced to leave their homes in search of work, of which 21 million are refugees fleeing armed conflict or natural disasters, 38 million are internally displaced, and 3 million are asylum-seekers."

UCA News link

Sadly, the Mediterranean Sea has become the largest cemetery in the world, he notes adding: 

- Today Syria is one of the countries with the highest number of asylum seekers and internally displaced people fleeing abroad, along with Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sudan.

"Contrary to what the Western media tend to publicize, it is not Europe but many developing countries — Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan and Kenya — that take in the bulk of refugees, almost 86 percent of them. But of course, no one publicly talks of this.     

We are living at the crossroads of history where the flow of migration, together with humanitarian needs are raising questions about our way of life, our understanding of international relations, and how we manage diversity in our societies.       

For how long can we accept an economic system which permits the mobility of capital and financial transfers, but blocks the movement of people? 

For how long will we encourage industrial systems that exhaust the natural resources of the country, displace the poor, and produce serious consequences for the whole planet? - The writer raises a few relevant questions.

He also asks:

- Is it feasible to support authoritarian governments and armed conflicts in countries of the South, just so that a high standard of living is maintained in the West?

Is it acceptable to close our eyes to the millions who cross our borders every day, desperate to escape wars and natural disasters, all of which make a humane and dignified life impossible?       

And finally, when are we going to re-formulate our ways of understanding citizenship, social policies, and nation-states?

Migration and the Christian tradition

"As Christians, we must respond to the needs of those forced to leave their homes all over the world. There are numerous studies about migration from the socio-political, cultural, and psychological perspectives, but not too many from a theological or pastoral point of view," says Father.

In other words, what guidance does our faith give us about how to deal with migrants?

The Bible gives us histories of human mobility right from its very beginnings — the call of Abraham, the exodus from Egypt, the wanderings in the desert of the Israeli tribes, the exile, the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, and the missionary activity of the early Church.

As the letter to the Hebrews puts it, “We have here no permanent home, but seek one which is to come.” (Heb 13.14). Or more bluntly, aren’t we all migrants?

However, the silence of the churches and their reluctance to consider migration as a significant part of their contemporary history becomes a matter of accusation. This is more so since the age of colonialism was spearheaded by the Christian nations of Europe and North America.

It was also the first occasion when people were forcibly displaced from their homelands only to become slave laborers in foreign countries.

In brief, the history of the People of God is intrinsically related to the human story of displacement and exile, as much as it is to the story of pilgrimage and hospitality. It is a process which permeates the whole of Scripture and the Christian tradition. 

It may be useful to briefly consider Jesus’ attitude to migration. We will take four parameters and relate them to Jesus’ teaching and actions. They are identity, dignity, justice, and hospitality.

Most Western Christians feel comfortable with the idea of the “nation-state,” seeing in it an extension of their traditional sense of “family” or “home.” 

But this emphatically is not Jesus’ idea of identity. In Mt 10.34ff, Jesus speaks of the Gospel as a divisive force in traditional families (“to bring not peace but a sword”), and in Mt 12.46ff, he challenges conventional family relationships (“Who is my mother?”)

Accordingly, what gives identity to every Christian is not blood ties, or links to a particular homeland but following Jesus (discipleship) in his life of pilgrimage and homelessness. And it is dialogue that is the key to understanding the “other” — the migrant, the refugee.

Dignity: How has God created us?

"The first book of the Bible says it all: humanity was created “in his [God’s] own image and likeness” (Gen 1.26; 5.1-3). No declaration of human rights can surpass this, no matter what label we give the immigrant — “forced migrant,” “internally displaced person,” “de facto refugee,” etc," writes Father. 

But most host countries apply a clear economic or mercantile label, to the point of adjusting their migratory policies to the needs of their labor market. Is this just?

Being created in the likeness of God confers a special dignity and fraternity to every human being which challenges every racist and xenophobic expression, but particularly against the poor and vulnerable. How tragic then that the Christian countries of the West are often the most racist!

Justice: When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you?

In Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus not only taking on human nature, but assuming the role of a refugee as a child (Mt 2.13 ff), and of a homeless person as an adult (Mt 8.20). This condition of vulnerability and accompaniment is a sign of deep solidarity with the human situation.

In Mt 25, he says emphatically, “whenever you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” When Jesus takes the form of a homeless migrant, it means that the closer we draw to the migrants, the closer we draw to God.

Hospitality: Everyone is invited to the banquet

Through the ministry of reconciliation and celebration, Christians are called to cross over the borders of legal-illegal, pure-impure, included-excluded, and sit at one table in fellowship with those rejected and demonized by society. Migrants and refugees are the first to be stereotyped.

This hospitality is a preparation for the Kingdom (as numerous parables point out), and this it is, which will also lead Jesus to the Cross.

These four parameters continue to encourage, defy and challenge us as we approach the reality of migration, guided by our faith in Jesus and his teachings.

No one in recent times has appealed to the conscience of the world regarding migrants more than Pope Francis. Let’s therefore conclude with the prayer he made at Lesbos (Greece) in April 2016, in memory of all the victims of migration:

Merciful God, Father and Mother of us all,

we pray to You for all the men, women and children,

who have died after leaving their homelands in search of a better life.

Though many of their graves bear no name, to You each one is known, loved and cherished.

May we never forget them, but honor their sacrifice with deeds more than words.

ends

33 from Nagaland, 38 from Manipur stranded in South East Asia 'as cyber slaves' :::: About 30,000 Indians yet to return :::: Punjab tops list

Amid 'cyber slavery' reports, about 30,000 Indians yet to return from Southeast Asia; Punjab tops list

33 from Nagaland, 38 from Manipur stranded in South East Asia 'as cyber slaves'

New Delhi 

A large number Indians especially educated youths are reportedly being lured into Southeast Asian countries including the likes of Myanmar and Thailand by the promise of high-paying jobs.

But in the ultimate, those lured are only "trapped" in what has been described as ‘cyber slavery’.  Sources say "victims" are reportedly coerced into conducting cyber fraud and other illegal activities - most often under the threat of violence.

Sources in the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home in the Govt of India, say even individuals from different northeastern states have been lured and trapped.

These include 33 from Nagaland, 38 from Manipur, 92 from Assam, 20 from Sikkim, 18 from Meghalaya,  14 from Mizoram, 12 from Tripura and six from Arunachal Pradesh,

Punjab tops the list and sources further said at least 29,466 Indians who traveled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam between January 2022 and May 2024 on visitor visas have not returned.

Over one-third of those unaccounted are residents of Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Notably, Thailand alone is responsible for over 69 percent of these cases, with 20,450 individuals reported missing.

According to the data, 2,946 are from Uttar Pradesh, 2,659 from Kerala, 2,140 from Delhi, 2,068 from Gujarat, 1,928 from Haryana, 1,200 from Karnataka, 1,169 from Telangana and 1,041 from Rajasthan.

A high-level inter-ministerial panel set by the centre has now directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to conduct ground-level verification and get details of these people.

The Bureau of Immigration is learnt to have shared the data at a meeting held by the MHA with officials of the telecom department, Financial Intelligence Unit, Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, NIA, CBI, security experts of other agencies.

Sources say more than half of those who traveled from January 2022 to May 2024

- 17,115 are in the 20-39 years age group and an estimated 21,182 are males.

About 30,000 yet to return from S-E Asia, Punjab tops list

The Centre’s high-level inter-ministerial panel has now directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to conduct ground-level verification and get details of these people. 

While 29,466 of the 73,138 Indians who travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam on visitor visas from January 2022 to May 2024 are yet to return, more than half (17,115) of these are in the 20-39 years age group; 21,182 are males; over one-third are from three states — Punjab (3,667), Maharashtra (3,233) and Tamil Nadu (3,124); and Thailand accounts for over 69 per cent of the total at 20,450.

These new details have emerged in data compiled by the Bureau of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), amid reports of some Indians being trapped in “cyber slavery” in some Southeast Asian countries, reports 'Indian Express'. 

The Centre’s high-level inter-ministerial panel has now directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to conduct ground-level verification and get details of these people, said sources. The panel, set up in May to look into the issue, had directed the immigration department to compile the data.

The Bureau of Immigration is learnt to have shared the data at a meeting held by the MHA with officials of the telecom department, Financial Intelligence Unit, Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, NIA, CBI, security experts of other agencies, and senior officials of States and UTs.

According to the data (see chart), besides Punjab, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, 2,946 are from Uttar Pradesh, 2,659 from Kerala, 2,140 from Delhi, 2,068 from Gujarat, 1,928 from Haryana, 1,200 from Karnataka, 1,169 from Telangana and 1,041 from Rajasthan.

Among the rest, 675 are from Uttarakhand, 609 from West Bengal, 602 from Andhra Pradesh, 419 from Madhya Pradesh, 348 from Bihar, 263 from Jammu and Kashmir, 187 from Himachal Pradesh, 132 from Chandigarh, 126 from Odisha, 124 from Jharkhand, 115 from Goa, 92 from Assam, 73 from Chhattisgarh, 39 from Puducherry, 38 from Manipur, 33 from Nagaland, 22 from Ladakh, 20 from Sikkim, 18 from Meghalaya, 14 from Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, 14 from Mizoram, 12 from Tripura, 6 from Arunachal Pradesh, 4 from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and 2 from Lakshadweep.

“Among the 29,466 unreturned passengers, 21,182 are males. Of the total, 20,450 did not return from Thailand, 6,242 from Vietnam, 2,271 from Cambodia, and 503 from Myanmar,” said a source in the security establishment.

“The age-wise break-up shows that 8,777 are aged 20-29 years; 8,338 are aged 30-39 years; 4,819 are 40-49 years; 2,436 are 50-59 years; 1,896 are 10-19 years; 1,543 are 0-9 years; 1,189 are 60-69 years; 399 are 70-79 years; 60 are 80-89 years; and 9 are 90-99 years,” said the source.

According to the district-wise data, 1,017 are from Mumbai Suburban, 784 from Gorakhpur, 700 from Bengaluru Urban, 585 from Ahmedabad, 561 from Ludhiana, 523 from Pune, 483 from Thane, 455 from Chennai, 440 from Jalandhar and 425 from Hyderabad.

The immigration department has found that 12,493 went from Delhi airport, 4,699 from Mumbai, 2,395 from Kolkata, 2,296 from Kochi, 2,099 from Chennai, 1,911 from Bengaluru, and 1,577 from Hyderabad.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation was also asked to implement measures to prevent further outflow of potential victims.

As reported by The Indian Express earlier, the victims are sent on the pretext of data entry jobs, and then forced to carry out cyber frauds. Speaking to The Indian Express, some of the rescued men had said they were offered “lucrative” jobs by agents, and sent to these countries where their passports would be taken away.

They were then employed by these “scamming companies”, where they had to create fake social media accounts, using photos of women, to lure people to invest in a cryptocurrency app or fraud investment funds. As soon as the targets invested, they would be “ghosted” (all communication stopped suddenly) or “blocked”.

Analysis of data by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of the MHA, had found an increase in the number of cyber crimes targeting Indians — about 45 per cent were found to originate from the Southeast Asia region. Around 1 lakh cyber complaints have been registered with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal since January 2023.

ends 

PM Modi calls Mithun Chakraborty "cultural icon" :::: Noted actor will be honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award ::: In 2021 many presumed he would be BJP's CM face against Mamata

Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty, 74, will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Popular actor has shown his versatility portraying wide range of characters. He had interesting roles in film 'Kashmir Files'. 'Oh My God' and even Amitab-starrer 'Agnipath'.

In Agnipath, he plays a Tamil repeating a dialogue in pidgin Hindi - "hamara family ka bachcha".   

Among Bengalli films he did pretty well in films such as 'Titli' where he played a Bollywood star whom a teenager from a tea-garden estate in West Bengal adores and incidentally falls in love. Mithun in the film actually had affair with the teenager's mom Aparna Sen during their young days. 

On being announced to be conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Mithun Chakraborty said: 

"I don't have words. Neither I can laugh nor cry. This is such a big thing... I could not have imagined this. I am extremely happy. I dedicate this to my family and my fans across the world."

Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the news on X. He wrote, "Mithun Da’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! Honoured to announce that the Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Jury has decided to award legendary actor, Sh. Mithun Chakraborty Ji for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema."

file snap: Mithun with RSS chief 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the actor. "Delighted that Shri Mithun Chakraborty Ji has been conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, recognizing his unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. 

"He is a cultural icon, admired across generations for his versatile performances. Congratulations and best wishes to him (sic)."

Is he CM face for BJP - 2021 blog

The actor will be felicitated with the award at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony which will be held on October 8, 2024. Mithun's son, actor Namashi Chakraborty, shared his happiness at his father's big achievement with India Today Digital and said he is proud of him.

"Feeling extremely proud and honoured. My father is a self-made superstar and a great citizen. His life journey is an inspiration for millions. We are all feeling elated for this magnificent honour," said Namashi. 

Earlier this year, Mithun was honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award. The actor began his career in films with the 1976 National Award-winning drama Mrigayaa, directed by Mrinal Sen. 

He won his first National Film Award for Best Actor for the film.

His rise to stardom in the 1980s was cemented by the 1979 spy thriller Surakshaa, followed by hits like Disco Dancer, Dance Dance, Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki, and Commando, among others. Mithun created a record by playing the lead roles in more than 100 films in a decade. 

His dance performances on songs like "I Am a Disco Dancer" and "Jimmy Jimmy" made him popular among his fans as 'Disco Dancer'.

Politics of Mithun - 2021 and on .....

He formally joined BJP in 2021 on the eve of West Bengal assembly elections. 

Answering questions in an interview in 2021, he had said, "I have tremendous respect for my sister (Mamata), but there is a policy difference. What's wrong?"

To a question, he said "Those who are criticising me are keeping me in front but trying to target the people ofBengal"."These people (Trinamool leaders) are only showing dislike for the people of the state for showing changein their preference (of BJP as compared to Trinamool Congress)".

The noted actor said, he does not mind this "change" in people's mind as after Congress rule, the state was ruledby the Leftists for long and then it came under Trinamool Congress. 

"I did not bring these changes...," he emphasised adding, "people are changing themselves, because they realise they will not get anything from incumbent regime".  

His original name was Gaurangao Chankraborty. The screen name Mithun was given by noted director Mrinal Sen.

A former Rajya Sabha member as Trinamool leader, Mithun confirmed his 15-minute meeting with the Prime Minister in 2021. 

"The meeting was there. Definitely I opened out my heart to him (PM) and he understood I am really possessive about Bengal. To me Bengal comes first," he said.

"Last word from the Prime Minister was whatever is possible on his part to help build up Sonar Banglawill be done," he said, "I will do it (keep the promises) and also that "Bengal will turn around insix months (after the polls)".

ends 

Democracies and law-abiding nations are minority at UN, human rights council & UNGA dominated by autocracies : Israeli expert

Democracies and law-abiding nations are a minority at the UN. The general assembly and the human rights council are dominated by autocracies, says Dr Emmanuel Navon, a scholar and Executive Director of ELNET Israel (an NGO that promotes relations between Israel and Europe)

The scholar says:

"The UN was established by the Allies, but with time the free world became a minority in the organization it had established after WWII. Today, democracies and law-abiding nations are a minority at the UN. The general assembly and the human rights council are dominated by autocracies that use their automatic majority to pass political resolutions under the pretense of international law." 

"As free nations have become a minority at the UN, the least they can do is to stick together. When they don’t, they play into the hands of China and Russia." 

In his blog piece for 'Times of Israel', Navon, also the author of 'The Star and the Scepter: A Diplomatic History of Israel'; further says: 

"While general assembly resolutions are mere declarations that are not binding in international law, those votes carry consequences because they send the wrong message to China and to Russia. 

That message is that the free world is divided and lacks moral clarity. If we wish to overcome our divisions and to restore our moral clarity as free nations, let’s start at the UN."

He also writes: "In our common and current struggle, we must not only expand our military cooperation but also reaffirm our moral clarity. Let us not fall into the trap of those who wish to draw a false parallel between Israel and Russia. 

No, the West is not applying double standards by supporting Israel while condemning Russia. Russia is conducting a war of aggression while intentionally committing war crimes. 

Israel is conducting a war of self-defense while abiding by the laws of war. But there are consequences to moral confusion. One of them is the lack of unity among free countries at the UN." 

He also maintains - "Israel is fighting a seven-front war which includes Iran, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. But this war is not confined to the Middle East. 

It belongs to a wider geopolitical divide between the free world and the despotic powers that are undermining the US-led, rule-based order which was established after World War II and which expanded with the end of the Cold War. Russia and Iran are on the same side of this divide. 

Both countries are imperialist autocracies that treat their neighbors as subjects and that perceive democracies as a threat."

The scholar says, "Israel and its allies in eastern and central Europe are facing together the Russia-Iran axis, which enjoys the backing of China and of North Korea. Countries in eastern and central Europe are all too familiar with the threat of imperialist autocracies. 

"Czechoslovakia was dismantled in 1938 because of German bullying and of Western cowardice. Poland was conquered by Germany and by Russia in 1939. That same year, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were forcibly added to the Soviet Empire. 

Russia financed and armed Israel’s enemies during the Cold War. It is now aligned with Iran."

'Times of Israel' link

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Amit Shah flays Kharge's remarks :::: Modi speaks to Mallikarjun Kharge after Congress chief falls ill during rally

 PM Modi speaks to Mallikarjun Kharge after Congress chief falls ill during rally

Addressing a public rally in Kathua, Mallikarjun Kharge felt dizzy and was helped into a chair by his colleagues on stage. 

Commenting on the episode, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, "Yesterday, the Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji has outperformed himself, his leaders and his party in being absolutely distasteful and disgraceful in his speech. 

In a bitter display of spite, he unnecessarily dragged PM Modi into his personal health matters by saying that he would die only after removing PM Modi from power".

The Union Home Minister further asserted that this showed "how much hate and fear these Congress people have of PM Modi, that they are thinking of him constantly".

"As for the health of Mr. Kharge Ji, Modi Ji prays, I pray and we all pray that he lives a long, healthy life. May he continue to live for many years and may he live to see the creation of a Viksit Bharat by 2047," Shah said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to enquire about his health hours after the Rajya Sabha MP fell ill during an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Addressing a public rally in Kathua district, Kharge felt dizzy and was helped into a chair by his colleagues on stage. He continued his address after getting medical assistance and reassured party supporters, saying he would not die "until PM Modi is removed from power".  

"These people never wanted to conduct the elections. They only started preparing for elections after the Supreme Court's intervention," Kharge said.

"We will fight to restore statehood. We are not going to leave it. I am 83 years old. I am not going to die so early. I will stay alive until PM Modi is removed from power. I will listen to you. I will fight for you," the Congress chief said in his address.

Kharge further accused the BJP of allowing outsiders to dominate key sectors like mining and liquor contracts in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Why has the BJP delayed restoring statehood when they hold all the power? The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve better governance, and the BJP has failed to deliver," he said.

"Modi ji is shedding crocodile tears for the future of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir. The reality is that in the last 10 years, the youth of the entire country have been pushed into darkness, and Modi ji himself is responsible for this," Kharge alleged.

Kharge was campaigning for Congress candidate Thakur Balbir Singh from Jasrota ahead of October 1 polling.

IDF kills another senior Hezbollah official in Beirut; fresh barrage targets Tiberias ::: Times of Israel

IDF kills another senior Hezbollah official in Beirut; fresh barrage targets Tiberias

Military says Nabil Qaouk was ‘directly involved in advancing terror attacks’; Hezbollah also confirms death of Southern Front commander Ali Karaki in Friday strike on Nasrallah

(In this January 26, 2010, Sheik Nabil Qaouk, a member of Hezbollah's Central Council, attends the funeral of prominent businessman Hassan Tajeddine, in the southern village of Hanaway, Lebanon (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) - Times of Israel 

Senior Hezbollah official Nabil Qaouk was killed in an Israel Defense Forces airstrike on Saturday in the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, the military announced on Sunday morning, as it continued its punishing campaign against the Lebanon-based terror group.

According to the IDF, Qaouk was the commander of Hezbollah’s “preventive security unit” and a senior member of the terror group’s central council. He was considered close to Hezbollah’s leadership “and was directly involved in advancing terror attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens, including in recent days,” the military added.

Qaouk joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, and previously served as deputy head and head of the southern Lebanon area in the executive council, as well as deputy head of the executive council.

Also Sunday, Hezbollah confirmed the death of Ali Karaki, the commander of the Southern Front, responsible for the terror group’s military activity in south Lebanon.

Karaki was killed alongside Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a massive IDF strike on Beirut on Friday. He had survived an Israeli assassination attempt earlier last week.  

Earlier on Sunday, the IDF said that fighter jets struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight, including rocket launchers aimed at Israel and buildings used by the terror group to store weapons.  

Lebanon’s state news agency reported that an Israeli airstrike in northeast Lebanon on Sunday morning killed 11 people, without specifying if any of those killed in the village of al-Ain were members of Hezbollah.

Since Israel escalated its airstrikes on the Hezbollah terror group last week, more than 630 people have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. At least a quarter of those killed have been women and children, according to Lebanese health officials.

Families carry their belongings in Beirut’s Martyrs’ square after fleeing the Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, September 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) - 'Times of Israel' 

Impersonal Trust, Disunited News and Unstatesman-like Journos - Life as a newsman - Do caged birds sing it well ?

 A few old copies of onetime popular magazine 'Surya India' leave many stories to read and ponder about the state of affairs in Indian journalism and power politics. 

"Politicians shed crocodile tears for socialism and the press barons shed them in the name of a free press. Ironically it is these very people who in conjunction with the political bosses are making the free press unfree," goes one such article under the title 'Unstatesman-like Scribes'. 

The article published in March 1-15 issue (1983) talks the "painful" story of "magnificent concept of newspaper management as that of The Statesman (that) had been wrecked by a few power-hungry individuals". 

Among other articles of the same magazine (but different issues) throw focus on other news organisations of repute.

One article is called 'A personal Trust' and the strapline of the piece claims some thing rather prophetically "....a number of disenchanted journalists are growing". This is also a story for 1980s and needless to add, I found stories almost similar with minor changes in the name and etc etc from the era of late 1990s too.  

If some intellectuals after meeting with intellectual politicians such as Jairam Ramesh or for that matter even virtuous Rahul Gandhi try to draw inferences that the media standard has deteriorated due to 'social media' and Namo factors; they may be told that in the 1980s - we had neither the social media nor the man called Narendra Modi in the horizon of corridors of power play. 

Coming back to the 'Surya India' articles - the piece says - "Amidst shouts of press freedom from roof tops and glass houses, what are the so-called champions of press freedom really doing behind the scenes". 

This really sounds like a page or line taken out of our new era. The next line is hardly revealing and yet it does !

"Recently Times have exposed many a self-proclaimed champion".  

Well, if this also leaves you unmoved; here is another - 

"Nepotism and favouritism are rampant. close relations of the government are appointed, some even without a test or an interview". 

Before the merciless takeover by the Adani one Nothing Doing media group was quite famous for all that. It produced many self-styled celebrities and legendary (sic) and also Sickular.  Some are still experts going around in the town and a few have hopped channels and successfully managed to 'enter' political power houses and also Modi-bashing Sickular parties from Kolkata.  

RG Kar episode has left them anguished but is yet to make them 'change' their soul or lead them taking any anti-aapa stance !  

Back again with the Surya piece --- the article on 'Personal Trust' says a few things quite obvious :

- Why is the management (of Trust organisation) keen on recruiting the key government officials close relations? Is it not a subtle way of pleasing them or influencing their decision making?

- The article also states: "As instructed by the minister a watered down version was reportedly put out"

(This was in reference to communal tension and riots in Aligarh, Moradabad and Delhi in 1980. And the story also has reference to Kamalapathi Tripathi).

To be continued ...... 

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