India-US ties at 'all-time high, would reach the moon and beyond': Dr Jaishankar

India-US ties at 'all-time high, would reach the moon .....

Speaking at an event organised by the Embassy of India at the India House in Washington, DC, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar reiterated that the Modi government was committed to elevating the India-US relationship to unprecedented levels.

He said the bilateral ties were at an “all-time high” and suggested that the relationship would reach “the moon, maybe even beyond.”

The minister drew attention to the recent collaborative endeavors between India and the United States, all sharing the commonality of starting with the letter ‘I.’ 

These initiatives include the India-Middle East Economic corridor, I2U2 (India, Israel, US, UAE), Indo-Pacific cooperation, and the I-CET initiative.  “Alphabet ‘I’ is very good for the US certainly,” he said, 

Dr Jaishankar acknowledged the exceptional year that the India-US relationship had witnessed and also emphasised on the historic visits that transformed the bilateral ties over the years. 

These included Rajiv Gandhi’s visit in 1985, the 2005 visit by Dr Manmohan Singh, which paved the way for the nuclear deal, and the numerous visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Jaishankar highlighted his presence at all these significant meetings and pointed out that the relationship had shifted from mere dealings to collaborative efforts. 

“Our relation has reached an all-time high. Earlier India and the US used to deal with each other now they work with each other,” he stated.Stating that the success of the G20 could not have happened without the support of the US. 

“I think particularly, I must say, because I’m in this country today, the contribution, the support and the understanding that we got from the United States to make a successful G20, I think that is something I would certainly like to recognise in public in Washington DC.”

The External Affairs Minister also presented data illustrating the remarkable growth of the Indian-American community, from 3,000 in 1949 when Pt Nehru visited the US, to over 5 million today. 

He stressed that the human bond between India and the United States is the “defining characteristic of their relationship”, with the diaspora playing a commendable role in strengthening these ties.

“When Nehru came to the US in 1949, there were 3,000 Indian Americans, when Indira Gandhi came in 1966, there were 30,000 Indian Americans, when Rajiv Gandhi came here in 1985 there were 3,00,000 Indian Americans, when PM Modi came there were more than 3 million Indian Americans and it’s grown to almost 5 million. 

If there is something unique about our relationship is the human bond that we have.  Role, responsbility and the commitment of the diaspora to the India-US relationship is commendable,” the minister said.

Nagaland's original and India's second oldest regional party, NPF, may opt for major revamp

New Delhi/Kohima

All eyes will be on October 21, 2023 when Nagaland's original regional party -- and incidentally country's second oldest regional outfit the Naga People's Front after DMK, will hold its general convention at Kohima.

Incumbent party supremo Shurhozelie Liezietsu is likely to call it a day and hang up his boots. Well, he is 86 and so that's the only good reason for him to relinquish the prized post.

Blogger and veteran Shurhozelie: Aug 2022 

The 1936-born veteran leader also served as the 11th Chief Minister of Nagaland from February 22, 2017 to July 19, 2017.

In fact, it is said he remained 'reluctant' and wanted to stay away from the responsibility of ruling the state but in February 2017 was compelled to come up as a 'stopgap' arrangement after a mega crisis gripped the state government following large scale protests against women reservation in the urban local bodies.

The then Chief Minister T R Zeliang had to bow out of office and despite attempts made by certain quarters Neiphiu Rio, then Lok Sabha MP, could not make it to the post.

Veteran Shurhozelie has seen many ups and downs in electoral politics and in the present assembly, NPF has merely two MLAs.

His former legislator son Khriehu Liezietsu also lost February 27 election to Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome of NDPP, a party which is now practically run by none other than present Chief Minister Rio.

 

In the late eighties and the 1990s, Shurhozelie along with two other regional stalwarts Late Vizol Angami and Late Vamuzo Phesao made a great triumvirate.

Of the three regionalists of the 1990s - Vizol Angami, Vamuzo Phesao and Shurhozelie - all three had distinct virtues and characteristics.

Shurhozelie used to be the craftiest of the three while Vamuzo had a flamboyant style and was the most ambitious. Vizol was of course the idealist Naga politician and who also has the distinction of sacking his onetime deputy chief minister S C Jamir from his UDF cabinet.

Both Vizol and Vamuzo were his seniors and so Shurhozelie remained overshadowed. But when it came to real politicking, Shurhozelie was the brain behind the trio.

After many years, when he became Chief Minister replacing T R Zeliang for a brief period; even a hardcore pragmatic politician Neiphiu Rio had told me in Delhi, "It's all destiny ....he had the crown in his luck".

.

Shurhozelie has been an excellent debater in the assembly too. As Jamir and Vamuzo usually indulged in personal attack against each other and another former CM K L Chishi used his eloquent and unique sarcastic flavour against opponents, Shurhozelie would deliver the real knockout punch.

In 2022, he lost 21 sitting legislators when the MLAs led by former CM T R Zeliang quit his camp and embraced the Rio-led NDPP.

A typical 'fighting cock' that Shurhozelie is, even after losing 21 MLAs - he remained a defiant and fighting old war horse. He emphatically said, the four MLAs who did not desert him are the 'real heroes' of the NPF.

One of them was of course his son.

During assembly debates in the 1990s one statement he used to often say and I remember it was - "You cannot teach

new tricks to old dogs".

The statement referred to frequent defectors - a menace Nagaland politics was synonymous for years.

Paradoxically the old defection game - political head hunting hit Shurhozelie even at the prime age of 85.

The fact of the matter is that the likes of T R Zeliang and Neiphiu Rio himself have done business with Congress and lately touted themselves as the best of 'regionalist fighters'.

In August 2022, I met Shurhozelie in his residence at Kohima. Of the political stuff he said, one striking point was : "Do not worry...we will wake up on time". The NPF chief had said when asked to comment whether his party will soon withdraw support to the Neiphiu Rio government.

Maybe later on, he regretted the decision not to withdraw support to the NDPP-BJP regime. He had many success stories and yes, at times in politics and also in life; success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.

During the 2023 general elections under his leadership there were no NPF ticket takers from onetime regional bastion, Kohima district, except his son. And he also lost.

There was speculation about his resignation on moral ground but Shurhozelie did not.

Shurhozelie also stated that it's time for 'younger leadership to take over' and hence it is expected the baton could pass on to one of his younger colleagues.

Who will be the genuine real regionalist now to succeed him? Speculation is rife that it could be five-time sitting MLA and a former minister  Azo Nienu. But a party insider said, "Our party symbol is Cock....and hence we know it will be wrong to count chickens before the eggs are in the nest".

Shurhozelie's party NPF is a BJP ally in Manipur but he surprised many when he did not turn up for July 18 NDA bash though he was personally invited by BJP national president J P Nadda.

Shurhozelie is set to call it a day at a time when women participation in the polls is in debate. The Nagaland government is now okay with the women quota in urban local bodies and parliament has passed the quota bill for state legislatures and Lok Sabha.

He has stated many times that women should also be given 'equal opportunities' but this is something that remains a pending pledge by his party.  

ends   

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books ‘The Talking Guns: North East India’, and ‘Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth’. Views expressed are personal)

“In the last two months, Narendrabhai batted like a T20 cricket player", says Amit Shah :::: "US misses big picture on row with Canada" - Jaishankar

 

In recent months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has batted like a T20 batsman and completed four works including the new Parliament building inauguration, Chandrayaan-3 mission, G20 Summit and passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Home Minister Amit Shah made the observation in Ahmedabad on Saturday, Sept 30.

“In the last two months, Narendrabhai (PM Modi) batted like a T20 (cricket player) and improved the perception of the country. Since becoming the Prime Minister, Narendrabhai has rejuvenated ISRO and inspired scientists in a way that India excels in the space sector. 

Friends, all of you, me and the entire country and world has seen the Tricolour flying on the Moon. It is a big honour for us,” Shah said after commissioning and laying foundation stones (21 projects) for works worth more than Rs 1,600 crore for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority.  

“G20 has been organised by many countries (in the past). But the heads of all the countries said in one voice that in the next 25 years they will find it challenging to emulate the way India hosted the G20 summit. 

Such was the beautiful execution of the G20 despite the tough international situation — where there is Russia, China and even United States — our Prime Minister sent a message to the entire world after the summit, held under the shadow of the Ukraine conflict, unanimously passed the Delhi declaration,” Shah said at the event where Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also present.

Dr Jaishankar on US vis-a-vis India-Canada row

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar  threw up a candid question “When was the last time that any of our missions was intimidated to a point where it could not continue with its normal functioning? And if someone says this could happen in a G7 country, in the Commonwealth countries it gives you a lot to think about.”

He was surprised that very few people in the US, specially officials he met over the last days including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan,, knew about Canada’s permissive attitude towards terrorism.

This lack of awareness, the minister said “is a part of the problem”.

It was important, therefore, for him to present to them the “accurate picture” and “our point of view” so that the ongoing debate is not confined to just one or two issues but “the bigger picture which has been going on for some time, and it’s a very serious picture”.

“A lot of Americans are astonished,” the minister told reporters on Friday, unlike Indians who won’t be surprised if told there are people in Canada “who are advocating violence or advocating separatism; there is a history out there”.

“I suspect very few American know this,” he went on to say, and added: “So, in a way, a lot of what I said at the meetings, I think, was new to the Americans.”

At an event at Hudson Institute, a think tank, Jaishankar first raised this difference in the way Americans look at Canada and how Indians look at Canada.

“When Americans look at Canada they see something; when we in India look at Canada we see something else.

“And that’s part of the problem,” the minister said, in a veiled criticism of American officials who have been calling on India to cooperate in Canada’s investigation into allegations by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India was behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani activist, in June.

White House and state department officials have expressed “deep concern” over Trudeau’s allegations and have said they support the investigation and want India to cooperate.

In fact, according to reports, it’s the US that provided key information to the Canadians about alleged India links to the killing as part of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement that the two countries have with the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Jaishankar said it did not come up in the meetings. “It’s important that we, you know, talk it out with the Americans. After all, they are very close to Canada, they are good friends of ours,” the minister said about why he brought up the larger context for his American interlocutors.

“It’s important that they also have an accurate picture, that they have our point of view on this matter as well.”

This is a conversation that should continue with focus on all issues. “I’m not prejudging issues. I’m not taking absolutist positions,” the minister said. “What we have taken is a very reasonable stance. It should not be that the entire debate focuses on issue one, issue two, and the bigger picture which has been going on for some time, and it’s a very serious picture.”

"Let's not normalize what is happening in Canada...How would you react if you were in my shoes?......," Dr Jaishankar on recent row vis-a-vis attacks on Indian diplomats

 "...It's an ongoing conversation...Yes, I did spend some time on it...Yes, we discussed other things...Our relationship has many dimensions. Many areas of cooperation...I want to be fair. If something is discussed, I am transparent about it. I have no problem saying yes we discussed it. 

"We have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission....," he said.

I don't want you to think that in the India-US relationship, there is only one issue. I would say yes, it's an ongoing conversation...

We are a democracy. We don't need to learn from other people what freedom of speech is about...We don't think freedom of speech extends to incitement to violence. That to us, is the misuse of freedom...How would you react if you were in my shoes? 

If it was your diplomats, your embassy, your people, what would be your reaction?, " External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said at a press conference in Washington. 

"...Our point is that there is today a climate of violence, an atmosphere of intimidation...Just just think about it. We have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission. We've had our consulates, violence in front of them. Individuals have been targeted and intimidated.

There are posters put up about people. So tell me, do you consider this normal?... If this had happened to any other country, how would they react to it?...

Let's not normalize what is happening in Canada...So I think it's necessary to call out what is happening there and our point is this:

There may be an individual incident. Yes, if there is an incident and there is an investigation and there are allegations you know there are processes involved in it. I mean nobody is disputing that..."

Dr S Jaishankar says, "No incident is isolated and no incident is the totality. There is a context for everything and there are multiple problems out there...But there is a larger issue...I think the larger issue should be flagged...".

"In India, it will not come as a surprise to anybody if you tell them that there are people in Canada who are advocating violence, separatism...All Indians notice, I suspected very few Americans notice...When Americans look at Canada, they see something, when we in India look at Canada, we see something else and that's a part of the problem...What we have taken is a very reasonable stance...

When was the last time that any of our missions was intimidated to a point where it could not continue with its normal functioning?...If someone says this could happen in a G7 country, in a Commonwealth country, it gives you a lot to think about."

"...Right now there is such an environment where there is a kind of pressure on our Embassies, our High Commissioners and our Consulates. Violence is being propagated against them...How can they carry out the work of visa in such an environment?...

 "This is a matter of law and order. Under the Vienna Convention, it is the responsibility of every country to provide security to its embassy and those working in the embassy. 

.....Don't make it bilateral. This environment is not in India...Social media postings, protests and threats are happening in Canada. They (the Canadian government) should take action there."

We've always said that look if there is information let us know...It's not that our doors are shut to looking at something. If there is a requirement for us to look at something, we are open to looking at it. But, I then expect somewhere...something for me to look at."

"...Everyone is aware of the amount of attention that the Modi government has paid to the issues of the Sikh community in the last 10 years and the suggestions it has made." 

"I do not believe that the discussions that are taking place right now are the representative issues of the entire community (Sikhs)...Those who talk about terrorism, the separatist people...whose arguments involve violence...This is a small minority...Don't take this as a matter for the entire community...". - Jaishankar

Pakistan ::: 'unnamed country to the west of India' :::: - ".... multiple chickens are coming home to roost," says Dr Jaishankar 

"The unnamed country to our west, their problems are much more long-term...," diagnosed External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at the Hudson Institute when asked to comment on the economic crisis confronting that country.  

 "There are countries in different parts of the world in crises of different kinds, and we have a few proximate to us. We saw Sri Lanka, which really went through a very, very almost economic meltdown last year, and we had to step forward," the Minister said.

He also pointed out that India has actually "did the largest bilateral lending that we have ever done"...

--- almost a package of $4 billion as a way of stabilizing their economy. 

Referring to Pakistan as was stated by the questioner, Dr Jaishankar said --- 

"The unnamed country to our west, their problems are much more long-term. They are much more deeper historically in terms of what happens when distortions have been introduced into the natural progress of an economy, excessive expenditure on the military or if your borrowing has not been prudent or if you have infrastructure which doesn't pay its way. 

"I think there are a lot of factors there in multiple chickens are coming home to roost at the same time," Dr Jaishankar said without naming Pakistan. 

"Look, we are a democracy. We don't need to learn from others what freedom of speech is about," the Minister said at a press conference.

"We don't think freedom of speech extends to incitement of violence. That to us is misuse of freedom, not defense of freedom," Dr Jaishankar said in reference to the row triggered by the Canadian authorities. 

"It's not like our doors are shut to look at something. But we need something to look at," Dr Jaishankar said, when asked about the lack of evidence for Canada's allegations against India.

"If they are prepared to share with us specifics (of their allegations) and any relevant information, we are also open to looking at it, but what we do not want to see is an incident treated in isolation as it doesn't convey the right picture," he said.

 I don't know if I would use the term deadlock...The issue is as follows: The Canadians have made some allegations. 

We have pointed out to them that this is not the Government of India's policy and if they are prepared to share with us specifics and anything relevant, we are also open to looking at it. So in that sense, that's where the matter stands but what we do not want to see is an incident treated in isolation because then that somewhere does not convey the right picture. 

The fact is that we have had an ongoing problem with Canada and the Canadian government for some years now. And the ongoing problem really revolves around the permissiveness in regard to terrorism, extremism and violence.  

This permissiveness is also reflected in the fact that some important extradition requests have not been responded to from their side in the fact that there are individuals and organizations who are clearly involved with violence and illegal activities in India, who themselves declared. I mean it is not a secret. 

They continue to carry on with their activities in Canada and most important, the fact that our diplomatic missions and our diplomatic personnel have been consistently and continuously intimidated in Canada...The fact that we have had to temporarily suspend our visa operations...It is just that they made it very difficult for us to operate those services..."

The Pakistan government has been running a large, unsustainable fiscal deficit of around 7 pc of GDP for the last many years, which is the main reason for the accumulation of its huge domestic and foreign public debt, external sector fragility and inflation.

Last year, the government was able to obtain $10.8bn in external financing and had to impose strict restrictions on imports and even on legitimate dollar outflows to avoid defaulting, reports 'Dawn'. 

Indian Ambassador to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, prevented from entering a Gurudwara in Scotland

 

Indian Ambassador to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, was prevented from entering a Gurudwara in Scotland.

Reports say a group of radical Sikh activists prevented the Indian High Commissioner from entering the Gurudwara, claiming that Indian officials are not welcome in any Gurudwara in the UK due to recent tensions and targeting of British Sikhs.

Doraiswami, who is on an official trip to Scotland, was stopped outside the Glasgow Gurudwara on Albert Drive, where he reportedly had a meeting with members of the Gurudwara committee.

Jaishankar flags off 'permissive Canadian attitude'; says Khalistanis given "operating space because of compulsions of Canadian politics"

"They (anti-India and Khalistani groups) have been given operating space because of compulsions of Canadian politics,' External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC. 

“I don’t think for most Americans, Canada doesn’t look different. For us it certainly is a country where organised crime from India is mixed with trafficking, violence, terrorism….it is a very toxic combination of issues and people who have found operating base there. So a lot of our tensions with Canada well preceded what Truedau said."

“You have to appreciate that this this has been an issue of great friction for many years with Canada going back to the 80s. Then it became dormant. But in the last two years it has come back very much into play due to a very permissive Canadian attitude to terrorists, extremists and people who openly advocate violence. They have been given operating space because of compulsions of Canadian politics.

“India’s security related issues with Canada have preceded its PM Trudeau’s allegation. Our response to him both in private and public is what he was alleging is not consistent with our policy. And, that if his government had anything relevant and specific, we are open to looking at it. That is where this conversation is at this point of time,” the Minister said during interaction with the US think-tank.

Jaishankar is currently in the last leg of  his US visit. Earlier, he was in New York for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

Speaking on changing world architecture, Dr Jaishankar said,  "I make this very important distinction. Where India is concerned, India is non-Western. India is not anti-Western”.  

“The world as we live it today is largely a Western construct. Now, if you look at the world architecture there's been obviously enormous change in the last 80 years… nothing illustrates it more than the G20 itself. So, the list of the G20 will tell you the easiest way of actually getting a sense of the changes in the world.”

During the interaction at the Hudson Institute, the EAM told the mederator "You said that India and the United States have never worked together before...That is a very thoughtful observation because dealing with each other is not the same as working with each other. 

In the past we have always dealt with each other, sometimes not entirely happily, but working with each other is really uncharted territory.”

“It is a territory which we have both entered in the last few years. It has required both of us, to overcome what my Prime Minister called the hesitations of history when he spoke to Congress a few years ago. So how do we create that ability and the convergences and hopefully the comfort to work together? I think that would be very crucial to the future of the Pacific order," he said. 

On India being described as a 'reformist' rather than as a 'revisionist power', the Minister said, “… it's very clear today that we are serious about climate action. If you are looking to sustain, to ensure that Sustainable Development Goals are well-resourced, then somewhere we have to find the financial muscle for that.”

On whether India had set sights on a changed world order, the External Affairs Minister said, “We do believe today United Nations where the most populous country is not in the Security Council, when the fifth largest economy is not there, when a continent of 50 plus countries is not there, that United Nations obviously lacks credibility and toward large degree effectiveness as well. 

"So when we approach the world, it's not with a sort of pull down the pillars kind of approach.”

It may be mentioned that at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meet in New York as well, Dr Jaishankar called on the United Nations to make reforms to stay relevant in the modern world and said that the issue cannot remain "indefinite" and "unchallenged".

Keeping up with the spirit of his speech at UNGA, Dr Jaishankar said, "In our deliberations, we often advocate promotion of a rules-based order. From time to time, respect for the UN Charter is also involved. 

But for all the talk, it is still a few nations, which shape the agenda and seek to define the norms. This can't go on indefinitely nor will it go unchallenged. 

"A fair, equitable and democratic order will surely emerge once we all put our minds to it. And for a start, that means ensuring that rule-makers do not subjugate rule-takers."

Dr Jaishankar will also be addressing the 4th World Culture Festival, which is being organised by the Art of Living Foundation of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Blogger 

India and the US are geostrategic aligned in the way they see the world. The national security systems of both countries have moved from being suspicious of each to being most enthusiastic about working together, India is non-West but isn’t anti-West, and there is convergence on the Indo-Pacific, Dr Jaishankar said.

Alluding perhaps to shared anxieties about China, the External Affairs Minister said, “We both want to see a certain stability, a certain set of rules, a certain distribution of power which is advantageous to both of us. And our interests are not clashing in that respect. At the biggest picture level, there is a powerful case for India and the US to work together.”

He then pointed out that within both systems, the national security side historically had “the greatest suspicion or reservations” about each other in the past but were today the “most enthusiastic about working together”, at a time when both NSAs, Jake Sullivan and Ajit Doval, have shepherded the initiative on critical and emerging technologies, a key framework to deepen ties on defence, space, semiconductors, telecom, quantum, artificial intelligence, among other domains.

Jaishankar rejects 'minority discrimination' charge against Modi Govt 

He asserted that the Modi government, irrespective of religion, caste and creed, has been delivering social welfare schemes. 

He staunchly underscored that in every society in the world, at some point, there's been some discrimination on some basis but asserted India does not disseminate social schemes on the basis of the above criteria.

"I defy you to show me discrimination. In fact, the more digital we have become, the more faceless the governance has become. Actually, it's become fairer," he said. 

He said that the world should embrace the fact that the structure of the Indian government has to look after every aspect of public life-- from food, education, healthcare and finance.

"What is the test really of fair and good governance or of the balance of a society? It would be whether in terms of the amenities, the benefits, the access, the rights, you discriminate or not and in every society in the world, at some point, there's been some discrimination on some basis. 

"If you look at India today, it's a society today where there is a tremendous change taking place, the biggest change happening today in India is the creation of a social welfare system in a society which has less than $3,000 per capita income. Nobody has done that in the world before," he said.

"Now, when you look at the benefits of that, you look at housing, you look at health, you look at food, you look at finance, you look at educational access, health access. I defy you to show me discrimination. In fact, the more digital we have become, the more faceless the governance has become. Actually, it's become fairer," he added. 

ends 

Dr Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Blinken for bilateral talks; both silent on India-Canada row

 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar described his meetings with the US-based think tanks as an open and productive conversation. “Discussed transformations underway around the world and India’s growing role,” he said.

On Friday, Jaishankar will speak on 'India’s Role in the World Today' at the prestigious Hudson Institute think-tank.

Dr Jaishankar, who is on a five day visit to the US, held a crucial round of bilateral talks with his US counterpart, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. But both leaders did not take questions from media after the meeting. There is also a studded silence on the recent Canada-related row.

He started the day with a visit to the White House for a meeting with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The White House did not issue a readout of the meeting.

“Recognized the tremendous progress in our bilateral relationship this year and discussed taking it forward,” the minister posted on X. After a meeting with representatives of the think tanks from Washington DC, Jaishankar met US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “Spoke about our expanding trade and economic relationship and its broader significance,” he later said. 

“Today I met with” Jaishankar “to discuss the positive momentum of the U.S.-India trade relationship, and opportunities to collaborate on WTO reform and IPEF negotiations,” Tai said.

New Delhi will host the fifth edition of India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Jaishankar announced on Thursday. The ministerial dialogue is likely to be held in November.

The US delegation would be represented by Blinken along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation.

“I actually look forward to seeing you in Delhi for the 2+2,” Jaishankar told Blinken, as the latter welcomed him at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department for the meeting.

The last 2+2 ministerial was held in Washington DC on April 11. Started during the previous Trump administration, the first 2+2 ministerial was held in New Delhi on September 6, 2018.

"Focused discussion on India-US collaboration on critical and emerging tech and creating resilient supply chains at discussion convened by @USISPForum," Jaishankar said in another post on social media platform X.

"Glad to know that India is the major talking point in corporate boardrooms. Our collaboration offers more possibilities with each passing day," he said.

The two sides remained tight-lipped about the direct or indirect implications of the diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia early this year.

Secretary Blinken refused to respond to reporters’ questions about the row.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome my friend and colleague, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, here to the State Department, back to Washington. We’ve had very good discussions over the last weeks – of course at the G20, in New York at the General Assembly – and I’m looking forward to pursuing them this afternoon,” Blinken said.

Both the top diplomats were smiling and in a cheerful mood as they appeared before the media at the Treaty Room of the State Department for a photo-op ahead of their bilateral meeting on Thursday.

Jaishankar, who arrived here from New York on Wednesday after addressing the 78th General Assembly session of the United Nations on Tuesday, held a series of meetings with top Biden administration officials on Thursday.

ends 

M S Swaminathan - A light that shone was no ordinary light

 M S Swaminathan - A light that shone was no ordinary light

New Delhi 

M S Swaminathan is no more. The nature of world politics and food crises and issues has changed over the decades.

But essentially Swaminathan was a compassionate man concerned about hunger and like his mentor, guide and associate Norman Borlaug for long, Swaminathan also believed that "the battle to ensure food security for hundreds of millions of miserably poor people is far from won".

Around 2000, along with Dr Borlaug, Swaminathan was still in agony that "the world's population who felt hunger between 1960 and 2000 had fallen from about 60 percent to 14 percent". But the agri scientist and hailed as the Father of the Green Revolution in India knew that the figure translated into850 million men, women and children.

In the 1960s, Dr Swaminathan worked with Dr Norman Borlaug, and other experts to produce HYV Wheatseeds. He started teaching small-scale farmers how genetically engineered grains might enable them to grow higher yields. These demonstrations were game-changing since the crop tripled prior output levels in the first year of the green revolution era. Because of his efforts, it is said the average agricultural production increased from 12 million tonnes to 23 million tonnes in just four crop seasons.

IANS link

Swaminathan worked closely with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to develop agricultural programs and policies that would assist the country in remaining self-sufficient in agriculture.Swaminathan served as the Ministry of Agriculture’s Principal Secretary from 1979 to 1980. Between 1972 and 1979, he was the Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and from 1980 to 1982, he served on the Planning Commission catering to agricultural and rural development.  

The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by M S Swaminathan, submitted five reports through the period December 2004 - October 2006. Following from the first four, the final report focused on causes of famer distresses and the rise in farmer suicides, and recommended a holistic national policy for farmers.

The report of NCF pointed out that in 1961, the percentage of the workforce in agriculture was 75.9%. while the number decreased to 59.9% in 1999-2000.  But agriculture still provided the 'bulk of employment' in the rural areas.

Therefore, it was suggested that overall employment strategy in India must seek to achieve two things.  First, create productive employment opportunities and second to improve the ‘quality' of employment in several sectors such that real wages rise through improved productivity.  The measures to do so included -- accelerating the rate of growth of the economy and also

laying enough emphasis on relatively more labour intensive sectors,  inducing a faster growth of these sectors; and

Improving the functioning of the labour markets without eroding the core labour standards.

It was also recommended that there is a need for implementing a universal public distribution system. Swaminathan pointed out that the total subsidy required for this would be only one percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

True, people like them should be hailed also as a humanist. Swaminathan had the conviction that there was no timeto relax until hunger became history. 

Revolutions are usually associated with the young; but in Punjab, from young college students to retired army men, smallfarmers and illiterate peasants would queue up to get the 'new seeds'. Dr Swaminathan was more than happyat the fag end of his life and career that at least in Punjab, the divorce between intellect and labour, the bane ofIndian agri scene, was vanishing or already vanished. 

Dr Swaminathan and his expertise were in debate during the height of farmers' protest vis-a-vis threereform bills that the Narendra Modi government later withdrew.

It may be stated that the Swaminathan Commission had recognised the problem of cartelisation among traders in a particular Agricultural Produce & Livestock Market Committee (APMC)  and thus recommended the establishment of One Nation-One Market. 

The report also spoke about “development of domestic and international markets" for local produce, and move towards a Single Indian Market.

To achieve the same, it had suggested simplification in the movement of goods by abolishing road tax and local taxes and introduced a National Permit for plying commercial vehicles anywhere in India. 

Regretfully, on November 19, 2021, after a year-long farmers' stir in and around Delhi,Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a dramatic retreat announcing the roll back of three

contentious farm laws. 

The laws passed by Parliament in 2020 were outright rejected by the opposition 

parties including by the communists, provincial regional parties and the principal opposition

Congress.

The three legislation sought to open the agri sector for small and marginal farmers so that they

could sell their products outside government-controlled markets.

Farmers in some states such as Sikh-dominated Punjab are used to government patronage. 

They do not like the concept of free and open market determining the prices. 

Finally, did all that mark the story of democracy, good governance and a good farm policy getting marginalized and vanquished as against the anarchy and street politics.

ends

CBI probe begins : Amit Shah vows killers of 2 Manipuri students will be punished

 Photos of the bodies of the two students -- Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17), who were allegedly kidnapped in July -- went viral on social media on Monday (September 25), setting off violent protests in the state again. 

Around 150 students have been injured in the two days of protests in Imphal Valley as the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged protesters.

A BJP mandal office in Thoubal district was set on fire by a mob on Wednesday. The mob destroyed the office gate, shattered windows, and damaged the windshield of a vehicle parked within the premises.  Protestors also resorted to burning tyres and blocking the Indo-Myanmar highway using wooden logs and unused electric poles.  

A team of CBI officials, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Manipur's capital Imphal on Wednesday and began investigating the crime. The focus of the central probe agency will be identifying the scene of crime, retrieving the bodies and nailing the perpetrators. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has vowed that the perpetrators will be arrested and punished, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Biren Singh stated that both the central and state governments are treating the case with the utmost seriousness. He disclosed that Home Minister Amit Shah had personally called him, assuring that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would probe the case thoroughly.

The Chief Minister said Shah told him that this case has to be dealt with very seriously and those responsible have to be booked as per the law of the land. The Home Minister assured that “no one will be spared”.  

In light of the prevailing law and order situation, the Manipur government has declared the entire state a "disturbed area". 

As per the state government's notification, the entire state, except for 19 specific police station areas, was declared a "disturbed area" under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Rajasthan assembly elections: BJP appoints 'controversial' Ramesh Bidhuri as leader in charge for polls in Tonk district

It could be a surprising decision. but the saffron party feels the move will fetch it some extra votes. Tonk district in poll-bound Rajasthan is a Muslim stronghold district.

Therefore, the decision to appoint Ramesh Bidhuri as the leader in charge of its affairs in the Tonk district has triggered a political row.

The South Delhi MP courted controversies after he hurled communal slurs and abuse at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali in the Lok Sabha on the last day of recently held special session of Parliament.

Tonk significantly has a sizable Gujjar population and the BJP is expecting Bidhuri to swing the votes for it. At present, the three assembly constituencies in the Tonk district are with the Congress and the BJP has only the Malpura sea.  

What makes Ashok Gehlot say so?  

"I would like to request Prime Minister Modi ji that whenever you come next time, these days you are giving guarantee, so you give a guarantee that the schemes that we have started will not be stopped if (BJP) government is formed," Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said.

He said that Modi should say that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), laws enacted by the Congress government and the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme will remain.

Gehlot also targeted Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, questioning his "frequent" visits to Rajasthan. 

Hitting out at central ministers touring the poll-bound state, the chief minister alleged that they do not have any job in Delhi as the prime minister has started a "new system where RSS functionary sits in departments" to get the work done. 

 The 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held by year end to elect 200-member Legislative Assembly. 

The tenure of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on January 14th, 2024.  

The BJP's crucial meeting regarding shortlisting the names of candidates for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections was held on Wednesday night. Another meeting was called on Thursday morning.

Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda national Organisational General Secretary BL Santosh are taking stock of the ground situation. 

Speculation is rife that the BJP may adopt a Madhya Pradesh-like strategy by fielding senior leaders, MPs and union ministers in the elections.

 

Justin Trudeau has failed to honour request from Bangladesh PM on 'assassin' Noor Chowdhury taking shelter in his country

Justin Trudeau could have his own version of democracies and freedom to justify his 'pandering' of pro-Khalistani anti-Sikh votes. But the Canadian Prime Minister has failed even Bangladesh PM and a much hailed pro-democracy woman leader in Asia, Sheikh Hasina. 

The Bangladesh Prime Minister had visited Canada in 2018 G-7 Outreach meet and during her bilateral meeting with Trudeau, she had requested her Canadian counterpart for his "personal initiative" for immediate extradition of the self-confessed killer, one of the two assassins who directly shot Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dead way back in 1975.

Sheikh Hasina

                                     S.H.M.B Noor Chowdhury

Chowdhury was a Major in Bangladesh Army in 1975 when was in the conspiracy to eliminate Bangladesh founder Mujib. Now in his seventies, Noor Chowdhury is said to be living in Etobicoke since 1996. 

Canada has in effect not accepted Bangladesh’s requests for extradition, arguing that under Canada’s Extradition Act, a fugitive facing the death penalty in another country cannot be deported.

Awarded the death sentence in 1998 by a Dhaka court, Chowdhury, is yet to get a 'refugee status' officially in Canada. In 2009, the Bangladesh Supreme Court upheld the death sentence awarded to Chowdhury and 11 others involved in the killing of Rahman and his family members. Five of his accomplices were hanged in 2010. 

Prior to that in 2017, Bangladesh PM had told Canada's outgoing High Commissioner, Benoit-Pierre Laramee. at her office -- "One of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu is now residing in your country, extradite him".

Interestingly, like Canada, the US and UK too have been harbouring Bangladeshi fugitives Ashrafuzzaman Khan and Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, respectively, accused of murdering Bengali intellectuals during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 

Dhaka has been seeking an extradition treaty with the UK over the past year.

While the whereabouts of Major Shariful Haque Dalim (a principal plotter in Rahman’s assassination) are still not known, it is said Bangladesh officially 'knows' that Col Rashed Chowdhury is in the US and Noor Chowdhury is in Canada. 

Well, in all that, the double standards of the western powers come to light yet again.  

In retrospect it can be recalled that Noor and other officers conspired to remove the 'secular government' of Sheikh Mujib and replace it with an Islamic law under Khondakar Mushtaque. 

On 14 August 1975, the army officers met to finalize their plans for the next day. 

Noor was placed in the team that was to attack the residence of Sheikh Mujib, the President of Bangladesh.

Noor along with Major Mohammad Bazlul Huda shot and killed Sheikh Mujib while he was coming down the stairs.

The attack on 15 August 1975 killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members.

After the coup, Noor was posted to the Bangladeshi embassy in Tehran as the second secretary. 

In 1996 when a Bangladesh Awami League government was voted to power, Noor was recalled to Bangladesh. He refused to comply with the government order and lost his job as a result. 

blogger