What do Kuki students want ? They do not want any 'fresh election' in Manipur .... they are also against tripartite talks ... they also want to boycott elections

The 2023 Manipur conflict has left long term impact.

Younger generation is worst affected. 

At a press conference in Delhi,  the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) leaders batted for 'status quo'. That is post-violence situation. 

"The presence of over 5000 sophisticated weapon in the hands of Meitei militants - the VBIGs and the radicalised militia Arambai Tenggol poses a significant threat to the safety and security of the minority and vulnerable tribal Kuki-Zo," it was stated.  

To a question on the possibilities of tripartite talks between Kukis, Govt of India and Meiteis,

KSO interim president Lalboi Doungel said: 

"With regard to talking to Meiteis, it can be immaturity on the part of those who are outside (Manipur) to presume that we do no want to talk to Meiteis; you see all the valley-based Meitei civil society organisations have chanted slogans to annihilate Kukis... you have seen the video. 

How are we going to talk to those people who want to annihilate us and uproot us from Manipur...

"Therefore only place of solace is  of course going to the constitution and our demand for a separate administration. Because we are not demanding breaking of the integrity of the country"." 

file snap : Blogger in Churachandpur 

It was stated in a statement that "...misappropriation of funds intended for equitable sharing has also occurred".

"Despite the fact that 90 per cent of the state is comprised of hill areas, only a maximum of 10 per cent of the state's budget is allocated for developing these regions. The Grant-in-Aid (Art 275) allocated for the development of hill regions is being redirected to support the development of valley areas".

They demanded -- 

"The buffer zones must remain intact and enforced until a comprehensive political solution such as a Union Territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo is achieved.

If the Majoritarian government is so hell bend on border fencing-it must also fence the buffer zones as that will act as permanent deterrent to the fragile peace in Manipur."

The 'demand' also include - "swift and high-level prosecutions of war criminals those implicated in the Audio-Tape leak in cases involving mass violence, including arson, mass graves, and sexual crimes."

They sought that the process of setting up of a separate administration should begin and therefore the Governor of Manipur be also made "the Lt. Governor of the newly created Union Territory with Legislature for the Kukis for a permanent peace in the region".

In an observtion note, the KSO said: 

"The world is watching Manipur. The removal of buffer zones before justice is served would be a betrayal of the Kuki-Zo community and a green signal for more violence. 

We call upon the Central Government, the Supreme Court, and the international community to ensure that these protective measures remain until

The Kuki-Zo will not accept peace without justice. 

"Buffer zones are not just a temporary measure they are a moral obligation until the victim community see redress in the form of UT with Legislature," it said. 

Nagaland model - 'bad example' ??  

The Kuki Students Organisation maintains they are not interested either installation of a popular government in the present Assembly (which is under suspended stage since the imposition of President's Rule) or even for the dissolution of the state assembly and a fresh election.

The Congress party has been demanding dissolution of the state assembly and an early fresh election.

On the other hand, at least 44 NDA MLAs are reportedly keen for installation of a popular government. Ten of them recently called on the Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also. In social media was so intense that people even started distributing portfolios. One figment of imagination was there could be 3-4 deputy CMs also.

However, in all likelihood, the centre will continue with the President's Rule experiment at least next few months. 

One KSO source threw a one-liner which calls for closer studies by academcians and policy makers in Delhi.

"No, we are not interested for any election in Kuki-dominated hills. We are not keen for any installation of a popular or unpopular government in Imphal. For us the fact of life is we have been chased away from the capital Imphal.... 

As for election, you all just saw in Nagaland (2024 Lok Sabha), Eastern Nagaland stayed away from voting. 

"We will also do so when time comes and elections are imposed from top....". 

Pandora's Box are often self-created. The leaderships in Delhi as well as in Kohima may also reflect on this aspect.  

Every strongman can have 'weaknesses' ! Some say Love, others call it Liability 

ends 

Postmortem :::: Gallons of water flowed into Pakistan with millions of dollars :::::: For a pact - Indus Water Treaty - hailed as a triumph of water diplomacy, India paid not just in rivers, but in rupees ::: That was SICKULARISM

It was a test of Sickularism at play.

In other words - appease an enemy nation !! 

Not just water, money too flowed from India to Pakistan as part of Indus treaty

For a treaty hailed globally as a triumph of water diplomacy, India paid not just in rivers, but in rupees, following the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan of 1960. Behind the Indus treaty lies the lesser-known story of how India bankrolled Pakistan's water infrastructure, only to be repaid with hostility.

Someone was in hurry to please someone.... or someone else. 

The impasse ended only after India and other donor countries agreed to pay $1 billion ($10 billion today, factoring in inflation). 

Of this, India paid $174 million ($1.6 billion today) to Pakistan.

This paved the way for the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960. 

"I have stuck my neck out to secure funds from various friendly governments," an impatient and anxious World Bank president, Eugene Black, told Indian and Pakistani negotiators in April 1959. He needed to break the impasse over the agreement over the Indus waters. Time was running out, and an agreement could not be reached for the potential Indus Waters Treaty even after eight long years of negotiation. 

And the virtuous Indian leadership obliged the negotiator as well as the 'enemy nation' !! 

Under the agreement, Pakistan was granted exclusive rights over the western rivers, the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum, while India retained unrestricted use of the eastern rivers, the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.

While billions of gallons of water continued flowing into Pakistan, millions of dollars also flowed from India to Pakistan for the next 10 years, as compensation for India's exclusive access to the eastern rivers.

Over almost six decades later, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is again in the spotlight. Following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, India announced the suspension of the IWT. 

Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists.

Falsehood and Fraudsters play their games ... this time in Dubai :::: ..... notorious ISI of Pakistan had laid a trap

Initial reports said, the notorious ISI of Pakistan had laid a trap.

Replying to the viral video, an X user said: “Patriotism gone for a six..what a shame. Expected better from them (Kerala community)."  

Another user wrote: “How much Disloyal can you be to your nation…learn from the most literate people… Disgraceful!"

“Don’t they have anyone from India origin!! Shame to see these happen," a third user said.

The Cochin University BTech Alumni Association had organised an event in Dubai, allegedly part of a Pakistan-backed propaganda campaign. 

Hence the row ....

Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi received a warm welcome from the Indian Kerala community during an event held at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD).

The event became a major topic of online debate as netizens reacted to the Kerala community’s enthusiastic reception of a former Pakistani cricketer despite heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

At a later stage, the Cochin University BTech Alumni Association (CUBAA) has clarified that former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul appeared "uninvited" at their cultural event in Dubai last week, saying the organisers were caught off guard.

But they admit they  “couldn’t ask them to leave".

The cricketers showed up at Ormachuvadukal Season 2, an inter-collegiate dance competition hosted by CUBAA at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) on May 25. The group said their presence was “unsolicited" and came just as the event was winding up.

The event "Orma Chuvadukal 2025" held at the Pakistan Association Dubai was orchestrated by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to create a false narrative that Indians support Pakistan's stance, former Hindu Aikya Vedi leader Dr. Bhargava Ram alleged.

The event, featuring Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, has also raised questions about the extent of Pakistan's influence in the UAE and the potential consequences for those who collaborate with its agencies, according to Hindu monk Bhargav Ram.

"The CUBAA's actions were a clear betrayal of national interests and demanded that the organization's dealings be investigated and those responsible be brought to justice."

The Hindu leader also criticized CUBAA's attempts to shift the blame by claiming that the Pakistan Association Dubai organized the event.  

In viral videos from the event, Afridi can be seen stepping on stage to loud cheers and chants of “Boom Boom," his nickname from his playing days. 

The 47-year-old responded to the crowd saying, “Hogaya Boom Boom," prompting further applause.

Afridi’s appearance has drawn backlash online, particularly because it comes weeks after he made disparaging remarks about India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Afridi has frequently criticised India and made politically loaded statements, especially on Kashmir.  

He made a controversial statement criticising the Indian government and army over the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

“India carries out terrorism itself, is responsible for killing its own people, and then puts the blame on Pakistan," alleged Afridi while talking to local media reporters in Pakistan.

In the season of debate over Operation Sindoor :: Operation Jalrahat of Assam Rifles and Army rescue over 800 stranded 'flood victims'

INDIAN ARMY AND ASSAM RIFLES RESCUE APPROXIMATELY 800 CIVILIANS UNDER OP. JAL RAHAT -2  

Heavy downpour over the past few days in Manipur has led to overflow of the Imphal River, one of the largest rivers in valley districts in Manipur, causing severe flood situations

(In the early hours, the office of All India Radio (AIR) Imphal was swiftly evacuated by Assam Rifles following an on call request from the Director of AIR. 

The premises had been severely inundated, necessitating the urgent relocation of both staff and critical IT and communication equipment. The prompt response ensured the safety of personnel and preservation of essential broadcast infrastructure.)

Rescue efforts were carried out under intense conditions, with multiple columns fully equipped with buoyant rescue boats operating relentlessly to assist affected civilians. The situation is now under control, and Assam Rifles remains fully committed to supporting the people of Manipur during this crisis.

Heavy machinery such as excavators was utilised in the affected areas to prevent breaches in the flooded areas and clearance of debris in the landslide-affected areas by the Water Resource Department. 

Eight Relief camps/shelters were opened in Imphal region. 

Most of the affected people have gone to the houses of their relatives, and about 800 persons were living in the relief camps.

Over a thousand houses have been completely inundated by flood as the major rivers flowing in Manipur were all running above the danger levels.

Relief materials have been distributed.

Many people, including women and children, who were taking shelter on the rooftop were safely evacuated. 

In a daring rescue operations at Imphal East local volunteers managed to reach a house and safely rescued two young children. 

In coordinated high-risk operations, at the first stage over 270 people have been evacuated.

Manipur Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, visited various flood-affected areas of Imphal city. 

He went around different locations on the banks of the Imphal River, assessing its overall condition. The key locations that were visited included Kangla Nongpok Thong, Lairikyengbam Leikai, and Singjamei bridge.  

Troops of Assam Rifles were swiftly deployed with Quick Reaction Teams to the most affected locations in Porompat, Wankhei , Sanjenthong, Palace Compound, New Checkon, Khurai Heikrumakhong Heinang, Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Angom Leikai, Nongmeibung Raj Bari, Imphal East district and adjoining areas in Imphal East & west districts of Manipur.

Two major rescue columns were activated as part of the operation. The first column, Singjamei, conducted rescue operations in Wangkhei Khunou from 1130 hours to 1430 hours, extricating a total of 193 individuals including 64 men, 85 women and 44 children.  

Two major rescue columns were activated as part of the operation. 

The first column, Singjamei, conducted rescue operations in Wangkhei Khunou from 1130 hours to 1430 hours, extricating a total of 193 individuals including 64 men, 85 women and 44 children.

Simultaneously, the second column operated in Heikrumakhong between 1200 hours and 1430 hours, successfully rescuing 182 persons comprising 35 men, 90 women and 57 children.

At other locations in Imphal East and West, another 408 people were extricated including 137 men, 179 women and 92 children.

The total number of people rescued reached approximately 800 people, including approximately 10 to 20 differently abled and aged individuals.

All rescued persons were safely shifted to higher ground and secure locations. Aid provided on site included drinking water, food packets and immediate medical assistance by health experts from Assam Rifles .

A distress call from Khurai was received regarding missing children. The troops quickly launched search parties, located the children and rescued them at 1330 hours.

Ends 

Our Spl series --- GOOD OPTICS :::: Bangladesh Army Chief Gen Zaman is "drawing parallels" with what happened to Pakistan in 1980s

As we promised in this series 'Good Optics' -- we will deal with matters -- that no one is mentioning or talking or discussing so openly.

- happy reading 

Bangladesh Army Chief Gen Zaman is "drawing parallels" with what happened to Pakistan in the 1980s

(Myanmar's nationals and Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel, who crossed the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to seek shelter in Bangladesh, being escorted back at Cox's Bazar.

- snap Hindustan Times )

New Delhi 

Strategic autonomy is often described as the ability of a nation to pursue its own national interest and preferred foreign policy without being constrained by other countries.

It can be argued that India has pursued the policy of strategic autonomy ever since its independence during the bipolar cold war (1947-1991), unipolar times (1991-2008) and now in the multi-polar era.

But by 2025 things are changing fast and may change further. In the South Asian context of course, the India-Pakistan conflict is there for everyone to see and debate.

General Abhay Krishna

But what is a new emerging situation and context is now Bangladesh.

"The Rakhine Corridor is quietly turning into one of the most consequential geopolitical flashpoints in our region right now. 

It’s being pitched as a humanitarian lifeline to northern Rakhine, which is now largely under the control of the Arakan Army. But behind the smokescreen of aid, what’s really at stake is strategic access and a looming great power contest between the US and China, with Bangladesh caught squarely in the middle," says Lt Gen Abhay Krishna (Retd).

Of course, the Americans are pushing for the corridor under humanitarian pretexts. 

I posed him a few questions on the matter.

A keen observer of strategic things having served as Army Commander of three regions Eastern Command, South Western Command and Central Command, General Krishna says:

"Obviously the US is securing influence and possibly even a semi-permanent presence near the Bay of Bengal. Muhammad Yunus, heading the interim civilian government in Bangladesh, has signalled openness to the corridor under Western pressure, but this has put him at odds with the Bangladesh Army, particularly General Waqar-uz-Zaman".

The typical interesting part of Gen Krishna's analysis is that:

"Gen Zaman sees through it. He’s drawing parallels with what happened to Pakistan in the 1980s when, under the guise of fighting the Soviets, the country became a staging ground for foreign interests. The result was long-term instability, foreign interference and blowback that reshaped Pakistan’s politics forever."

We may understand that way Gen Zaman is showing "maturity" and he doesn’t want Bangladesh to be the "next lab rat".

Zaman says he is opposed to the "bloody corridor" and he has started calling for elections by December 2025.

This disturbs the power equilibrium signalling Bangladesh army's discomfort with the current interim civilian arrangement. This may obviously bring us to legitimate queries - how should India react and how is China reacting.

Lt Gen Abhay Krishna (retd) sums up the paradox quite well.

"On the Rakhine corridor issue, New Delhi may actually find itself in silent alignment with Beijing. This is a case of diplomatic billiards. Supporting Waqar Zaman’s resistance to the corridor, even informally, helps India in more ways than one," he says.

I asked him to elaborate things further and he maintained:

"It keeps Bangladesh in check, prevents a US beachhead and may even open the door for India to engage directly with groups like the Arakan Army or the Chin rebels".

He has a point. The engagement with Arakans is perhaps already happening quietly in Mizoram.

It is understood that New Delhi has built goodwill by offering non-lethal support and diplomacy rather than taking sides in the broader Myanmar conflict.

On Arjuna's dilemma to fight his own cousins and other near and dear ones, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar once said it was like 'strategic constraints' as often discussed in the contemporary setting.

Why are we referring to this?

This is only to underline that predicaments often would haunt in geo-strategic thinking.

Indian army at job : Modern machines for modern war 

Quoting Lt Gen Abhay Krishna (retd) may be relevant yet again.

"The Rakhine Corridor is in effect far more than a simple humanitarian channel. 

It’s now a test case for how new proxy conflicts could play out in South Asia with humanitarianism as the cover and strategic encirclement as the real game".

Bangladesh’s military is trying to avoid walking straight into a trap and smartly so.

What should India do notwithstanding the fact India is part of the Quad - that also has Japan, Australia and more importantly the United States.

Well, if we go by Lt Gen Krishna's viewpoint.

"The Govt of India may find that its interests are best served by staying out of the American orbit on this one."

But during the course of interaction, the former military commander also pointed out a few things which we often tend to ignore.

"Please keep it in mind that the US isn’t working in a vacuum. China, which backs the Myanmar junta and maintains ties with various ethnic groups including the Arakan Army is watching this corridor idea with deep suspicion".

Importantly, for Beijing, the Rakhine corridor represents a direct challenge to its strategic depth in Myanmar and the region.

"If US gains a foothold in northern Rakhine via Bangladesh, it changes the calculus for both China and India," says the former Army Commander and a keen follower of unfolding geo-politics and security scenario.

He further explains:

"This is where things get even more interesting. India, on paper, should be aligned with the US. But in practice, Delhi shares China’s apprehensions about the corridor. India has major stakes in the Kaladan project. It needs southern Rakhine to stay stable and doesn’t want the Americans getting too close to its northeast."

There is yet another angle and that's something the Americans are trying to tell Dhaka - this corridor would also elevate Bangladesh’s strategic clout at a time when India or even China want to quietly "box it in".

Often in the past, global crises such as Russia-Ukraine conflict had provided a bunch of  neo opportunities to Indian diplomacy to shape a totally new road map for itself - where it will highlight its own vision and need not side blindly either democracies of the American’s school or the strong and steady leadership of Russia.

"Rising sea levels, cyclones and resultant dwindling farmlands have over the years pushed over a crore of Bangladeshis towards Indian shores. The bigger challenge is that this 'humanitarian tragedy is being very cleverly weaponised," says the General.

He also adds: "Extremist networks, like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been exploiting the riverine Sundarbans, embedding sleeper cells. and smuggling arms under the guise of migration.We, therefore, need to be proactive to prevail over these developments.”

India needs to be more than just cautious. 

ends 

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan dismisses Pak PM's claims that it shot down six Indian jets ::: Candid observation --- "What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down..."

Understood mistakes, rectified them: Top General reflects on Op Sindoor losses

The Akash missile system was pivotal in thwarting Pakistan's sustained drone and missile attacks during Operation Sindoor,

"What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down... Why they were down, what mistakes were made - that are important. Numbers are not important,"  said Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

The CDS, however, dismissed the Pakistan Prime Minister's claims that it shot down six Indian jets, calling it 'absolutely incorrect'.  

In a separate interview to Reuters, General Chauhan said the losses India suffered were in the initial stages, on May 7, when it launched Operation Sindoor.  

"What I can say is that on May 7, in the initial stages, there were losses... What was important is why these losses occur and what we will do after that," he told the agency.

In an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, however, dismissed the Pakistan Prime Minister's claims that it shot down six Indian jets, including four Rafales, as "absolutely incorrect".  

'QUICK TO REMEDY TACTICAL MISTAKES'

However, the Chief of Defence Staff said the armed forces were quick to analyse the "tactical mistakes", remedy them, and again target Pakistan on May 8 and May 10.

"The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range," Gen Chauhan said.

The remarks are the most direct by the army so far on losses suffered during the hostilities, which came as India destroyed nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan. It was in response to the horrific Pahalgam attack, which left 25 tourists dead.

As Pakistan retaliated by launching a wave of drone attacks targeting Indian military facilities and border towns, the armed forces struck 11 vital airbases with long-range BrahMos missiles.

"On the India-Pakistan relationship, we are not operating without a strategy. 

When we gained independence, Pakistan was ahead of us on every metric: social, economic, GDP per capita. Today, India is ahead on all fronts: economic performance, human development, and social harmony, despite our greater diversity," he said speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defence and security summit. 

He underlined that India had reached out to Pakistan several times, like in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited then-premier Nawaz Sharif to his oath ceremony after the BJP's win in the Lok Sabha polls.

The next year, PM Modi made a surprise stop in Lahore to meet Sharif and wish him on his birthday.

"Diplomatically, we have reached out like in 2014 when the PM invited Nawaz Sharif. But it takes two hands to clap. If all we get in return is hostility, then disengagement may itself be a sound strategy for now," he said.

ON OPERATION SINDOOR AND AKASH SYSTEM  

The Chief of Defence Staff pointed out how indigenous platforms like the Akash missile system were used effectively to neutralise attacks from Pakistan.

In the same breath, he highlighted that integrated radars, built into a cohesive network across India, proved to be crucial.

"We have not only used indigenous platforms like the Akash missile system effectively, but we have also built our own networking infrastructure for air defence without relying on foreign vendors. We have integrated radars from multiple sources into a cohesive network across India and that was crucial," General Chauhan said.

The Akash missile system was pivotal in thwarting Pakistan's sustained drone and missile attacks during Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack, earlier this month. In retaliation, Indian forces targeted 11 key Pakistani military sites, including the Nur Khan air base, which is just 10 km from the Army headquarters.

ends 

Shashi Tharoor diplomacy ... "flying colours" in Colombia

Colombia makes U-turn on Pak deaths after Shashi Tharoor’s disapproval

Colombia has withdrawn its statement condemning the deaths in Pakistan during India's Operation Sindoor following Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's rebuttal.

Colombia earlier condoled Pakistani terrorists casualties after India's Operation Sindoor.

Shashi Tharoor had said 'no equivalence between terrorists and defenders'

At last, Colombia has retracted its statement condoling the deaths in Pakistan during India's Operation Sindoor.

It will now issue a fresh statement following Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's strong disapproval. 

The MP, who is leading a multi-party delegation to five countries, pointed out the matter on Friday, saying that there is no moral equivalence between terrorists and those defending their nation.

"The Vice Minister very graciously mentioned that they have withdrawn the statement that we had expressed concern about, and that they fully understand our position on the matter which we really value," Tharoor said aalongside Colombia's Vice Foreign Minister Ms Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio.

"We are very confident that with the explanation that we received today and the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir, we can also continue the dialogue and be aware of what is happening," Villavicencio said.

Speaking to the media following Colombia's withdrawal, Tharoor repeated his stance on "no equivalence possible between terrorists on the one hand and innocent civilians on the other".

 He highlighted that India's only disappointment with the South American country's previous statement was that this very difference was "overlooked".

"We're very pleased to learn that that statement has been withdrawn as you've also mentioned, and we are also very pleased that you, as representatives of the people of Colombia, are determined to stand with us for our sovereignty, for peace in the world, for peace in the subcontinent of India and that you are very, very happy that this kind of dialogue will continue between our peoples and our representatives," the Congress veteran told ANI.

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya, who is part of the delegation led by Shashi Tharoor, also expressed joy in Colombia retracting its earlier statement. 

"There is a difference between tourists being killed and terrorists being neutralised. You cannot create an equivalence between the two...The Vice Minister as well as the authorities, saw merit in our arguments and were gracious enough to withdraw the statement that they had made earlier. 

They also expressed full sympathy and understanding with India's position," he said.

Shashi Tharoor has been sharing multiple updates of his five-country global outreach since heading to the same.

On Friday after Colombia's earlier statement on Pakistan, the Congress veteran had highlighted that Operation Sindoor was a legitimate response after the Pahalgam massacre in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were shot dead point-blank by terrorists. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front - a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) offshoot based in Pakistan.

The Shashi Tharoor-led delegation is one of seven tasked by the Indian government with a global outreach mission to explain to 33 countries why India conducted Operation Sindoor. 

Ends

­

"Himanta da will regret for being so cheap" : Congress leader Rajesh Sethi ::::: "Maram karibi na ho.... I say these days to my luck. Do you believe, I cannot face my children" on ILP row in Nagaland

 A brief interview with AICC (Minority Cell) leader Rajesh Kumar Sethi.

Blogger:

# Elections are nearby in Assam and also few other states such as West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. How things are emerging in terms of preparation for the polls? As you work and hail from northeast India, what is your assessment on the appointment of Gaurav Gogoi as Assam pradesh Congress chief?

Rajesh Sethi : 

We all are thrilled in the northeast. It's a far-sighted move with the high-powered killer instinct. You must have heard; a good beginning is half done. This is such a case. I welcome the move and salute political sagacity of our national president Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji, of Rahul ji and also organisational general secretary K C Venugopal ji. I have said earlier also now Himanta Biswa Sarma's utter frustration and nervousness is visible to all.

# What are the main election issues, your party would take up in Assam ?

Rajesh Sethi: These are early days. Our party is a disciplined organisation. Election issues in each state will be identified and highlighted at an appropriate time. But there is an internal mechanism for it. The Congress party has a robust system to identify these issues. But from my side as a common onlooker, I can say misgovernance will be a principal theme in Assam. 

The last five years has been worst in terms of social harmony and the lack of it in the history of Assam. 

Such a peace loving community in the state had been pushed towards polarisation. It's very sad.

# Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also raked up 'Pakistan connection' to Gaurav Gogoi's wife. Will it impact the voting pattern?

Rajesh Sethi: 

Himanta ji is only trying to conceal his fear. The voters of Assam are smart enough. They know the ill-intent of the chief minister. Hundreds of Indians have visited Pakistan. All big leaders visit Pakistan and different countries. That does not make them anti-India. Visiting Pakistan is a non issue. Actually it is a non-starter. Himanta Biswa Sarma will regret in 2026 for conducting himself so cheaply. 

He was also a Congressman and pretended to be loyal to Late Tarun Gogoi ji. But see today. 

# Congress party from time to time raises the issue of corruption in Assam?

Rajesh Sethi :

Yes. Probably the last four years or so saw the extreme nature of corruption in Assam.  The main points are that Assam is being sold, syndicate rule is going on. The Chief Minister and his family are looting the entire state. You may not believe even BJP old-timers are not happy with the manner things have progressed.

# There is a new controversy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said "chhoti ankh wala ganpati bappa". He was attacking Chinese and imports from China. But Congress leaders say he was insensitive to the people of the north east region?

Rajesh Sethi: 

Of course, when a Prime Minister speaks, he should be sensitive about everything. These things matter a lot. because sometimes we see these cause a lot of trauma and harassment for people from the northeast when they come out to work or study outside the region. He could have made his point in a different manner. Such languages are often used to taunt the people of our region. 

# Your party has now problems with Shashi Tharoor. 

Rajesh Sethi :

Oh, on this I will not speak much. Mr Shashi Tharoor is also a senior leader and very competent. But in a party; we all must abide by discipline and what isthe party line. Has he fallen into bad company ? I do not know. But all-party delegations visiting different parts of the world are not serving any purpose. 

Look what happened in Colombia. Our parliamentary team was there and the Colombian leaders sympathised and sided with Pakistan. It was such a big disappointment. 

This is an example that shows despite the hype on the ground India's foreign policy has collapsed. 

# Finally, let me ask you about the Inner Line Permit row in Dimapur these days? The Congress party can easily point out at the basic faultline. Will a state government sharing power with the BJP allow another 'Jammu and Kashmir of 1990s' wherein Hindus had to leave their own house? 

Rajesh Sethi: 

There are wheels within wheels with regard to the politics of NDPP-BJP regime. The less said is better. In Kashmir, what has happened ultimately.... that is for everyone to see. I maybe at pain today this side. But in Kashmir what is Omar Abdullah today - he is so-called Chief Minister of a Union Territory.  Who is having the last laugh?

Land and property grabbers had their field's day in Kashmir. 

In Nagaland, Marwaris, Bengali Hindus, Biharis and Assamese people came decades back. We all thought we are part of them.... 

Maram karibi na ho.... I say these days to my luck. Do you believe, I cannot face my children these days.

This feeling insecure is not exclusive to any one community. Just as our Naga brothers and sisters express genuine fears about protecting their identity, land, and culture — especially when they move out to cities across India; - we too, the long-settled non-Nagas, have every right to voice our concerns.

The BJP in Nagaland is doing picnic. Some people do not want Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), that is another game. Will these policies help natives? I have my apprehension. I am also against Bangladeshi influx.

But today uncertainty clouds our children’s future and this is our fate, my children's rightful place in a society we have slogged hard and invested every penny we had to build. 

Innocent people's cries often have turned into fury. Some political elements have not understood that.

ends 

 

Finally Congress has something to smile about :::: Tharoor left "dismayed" in Colombia ::: But there is a China angle and of course something to do with Trump

"We were a little disappointed in the reaction of the Colombian government... We will say to our friends in Columbia there can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them," Congress MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor said.

"There can be no equivalence between those who attack and those who defend," he insisted. 

Colombia has expressed condolences over the loss of lives (read terrorists) in Pakistan due to India's Operation Sindoor. 

It left Shashi Tharoor dismayed.

Observers suspect 'China link' to Colombia's pro-Pakistan stance?

As Shashi Tharoor, as leader of the delegation, was defending India in Colombia, his own party back home used the issue to attack the government and also took a dig at Tharoor. 

"What is happening in foreign policy? A country like Colombia is standing with Pakistan. We will not ask which country stood with India?" Congress spokesperson Asma Tasleem tweeted.

Tharoor also stated:

"Just as Colombia has endured many terror attacks, so have we in India. We are only exercising our right of self-defence. We are here to dispel any such misunderstanding".   

Tharoor  made it clear that India could not have allowed the Pahalgam terror attack to go unanswered and underscored that under Operation Sindoor, only terror camps were targeted.  

Of course India and Colombia have a long history of diplomatic relations, with cooperation in trade and renewable energy, there seems to be a China link to the South American nation's pro-Pakistan remarks. 

A few weeks ago, Colombia actually inked a joint cooperation plan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ambitious connectivity project of China.

Pakistan and China are often dubbed as "all-weather friends". 

Colombia has started leaning towards China on trade amid strained ties with the US under Donald Trump.

Over the last few weeks ever since Tharoor was selected by the government to lead Indian all-party parliamentary delegation to the US and countries such as Colombia and Guyana among others; the Congress leaders have been attacking Tharoor.

Jairam Ramesh - now considered a key adviser in the Rahul Gandhi team -  mocked the other say and said - "Terrorists are roaming and our MPs are also roaming".

Udit Raj said Tharoor has turned "super spokesman for the BJP".  During his interactions with diplomats, senior officials and members of various communities including at Panama. Tharoor had echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement, stressing that Operation Sindoor was essential after the killing of 26 people in Pahalgam.  

“Our Prime Minister has made it very clear Operation Sindoor was necessary because these terrorists came and wiped the sindoor off the foreheads of 26 women by depriving them of their husbands and fathers, their married lives,” he said. 

In fact, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju joined the issue and said: 

"...There’s limit to political desperation!" 

"What does the Congress party want & How much they really care for the country?  Should the Indian MPs go to foreign nation and speak against India and its Prime Minister?"  

Analysts feel a displeased Congress leadership may summon and grill Shashi Tharoor for his remarks in favour of the Prime Minister. 

There are chances that he would be served with a show cause notice too.  So far Tharoor has remained unfazed and he also tweeted saying- 

"...as usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do."

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has crossed swords with Donald Trump as his government leans towards China. 

He even called the US President "Donald Duck". 

Colombia was one of America's closest trade and security partners.

The trigger point was deportation flights from the US carrying alleged illegal Colombian immigrants. While Colombia initially denied entry to US military planes, viewing it as a sort of humiliation, it then sent its own aircraft to bring them home. 

The move came after Trump warned of hefty US tariffs.

ends 

"One who was begging during Operation Sindoor must not forget — it is not over", Modi in Kanpur :::::: Ex-Denmark envoy to India Freddy Svane says: "You can't have blood and water together, you can't have trade and terror together....

PM Narendra Modi said in Kanpur --, 

“Let no one be under any illusion. The one who was begging during Operation Sindoor must not forget — it is not over yet.”

"....terrorist masterminds and the governments backing them will be treated the same," the Prime Minister asserted.

In Copenhagen, Denmark,

Freddy Svane, former Danish Ambassador to India 

said: "...I think it was really outstanding to have this interaction with the all-party delegation coming to all the countries in Europe and across the world, willing to explain that terror has to come to an end; we have to fight it, we have to stand shoulder to shoulder. 

You can't have blood and water together, you can't have trade and terror together, and therefore we need to stand up. 

I am really happy to see that Government of India and PM Modi took this initiative to convey the message to all of our Speakers, we might have read about and I have lived in India - I have seen it and felt the impact. 

Now it's time really for all of us to realise that it's a big issue and thanks to India, now we can start talking and act upon it. So, action is needed."

All-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad attended the luncheon interaction hosted by the Indian Ambassador, with members of Parliament of Denmark, Freddy Svane, Manu Sareen, Helle Degn and Niels Ahlmann-Ohlsen.

Media briefing by 'victorious' Indian military - Operation Sindoor 

All-party delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule arrived in Ethiopia

At Riga, Latvia: 

The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi meets Andžejs Viļumsons, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Latvia and Andrejs Pildegovičs, Ambassador of Special Tasks of the Secretariat of the Candidate of Latvia to the UN Security Council, as well as being the Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN.

Gave enemy sleepless nights: PM Modi's Operation Sindoor shoutout to BrahMos at Kanpur event 

At Kanpur, in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (May 30th) hailed the Indian Army and gave a shoutout to Operation Sindoor at a rally.

He said Indian forces left  India's enemy rattled and the military showcased the might of homegrown defence systems such as the BrahMos missile. 

PM Modi pointed out that BrahMos missiles gave sleepless nights to the enemy during Operation Sindoor.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said the world had witnessed the anger of Indian daughters and sisters turn into action during Operation Sindoor. 

"We destroyed terrorist hideouts deep inside Pakistan, hundreds of miles in, entering their home," he said.  

The Prime Minister said the country had made its policy clear in three ways: 

India will respond strongly to every terror attack, with its military choosing the time, method and conditions; 

-- India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats; 

and terrorist masterminds and the governments backing them will be treated the same.

“Pakistan's old game of distinguishing between state and non-state actors will not work anymore,” he said.

 

ends