UKraine war impact: Russia to make History compulsory subject from first grade

New Delhi 

Yet another round of bizarre things may happen under the sky.

The Russian Education ministry has decided that history will become a compulsory subject from the first grade. 

“We will never allow it [to be written] that we somehow treated other nations – our fraternal nations of Ukraine and Belarus – poorly,” said education minister Sergey Kravtsov.

He also announced a new initiative at the opening of an exhibition called 'Everyday Nazism'. 

“We will do everything in our power so that historical memory is preserved," he said.

Now that Russia's war against Ukraine continues in one geography or the other,Russia is reportedly planning to overhaul its education - taking it hand-in-hand with its war in Ukraine. 

Officials are writing curricula to justify the invasion, and have suggested schools will hold flag-raisings and sing the national anthem each morning from September. 

A major Russian textbook publisher is on the job using autochecking software to take note of all 'positive references' to Ukraine in its school books.

Andrei Turchak, head of the ruling United Russia party, told the students: “Victory will be ours. The enemy will be defeated, and peaceful life on this earth will finally come … we will liberate this territory and clean it from the fascist demons".

However, reports suggest there is also a new level of pressure on teachers, sometimes to organise pro-war photo-ops with children, or in other cases to hide their anti-war feeling from their students. 

“I know a lot of teachers who have hidden their online profiles, they are very careful speaking about politics in school,” says one article in 'The Guardian'

ends 

Naga Deputy CM loses key portfolio days after remarks on Peace Talks

Naga Deputy CM loses key portfolio days after remarks on Peace Talks

IANS report

Link

New Delhi/Kohima, April 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) 

Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and BJP floor leader in the assembly Y. Patton lost key portfolio of Roads and Bridges days after he almost set a deadline to wrap up Naga peace talks by August 15. 

In a government notification, Chief Secretary J. Alam informed that Roads and Bridges portfolio would be henceforth catered to by NDPP legislator and advisor, H. Chuba Chang.

Deputy Chief Minister Patton, however, will continue to handle the key portfolio of Home.

In what was considered a key development, Patton said at a public function in Dimapur on Tuesday (April 19) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been urged to announce 'resolution' of the Naga political problem during Independence Day during a possible visit to the state.

He said separate requests have been made to PM Modi and the Home Minister (Shah) during recent meetings in Delhi between the central leaders and a Naga delegation led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Patton said, now that centre's peace emissary A.K. Mishra is in Nagaland and is meeting important stakeholders, the students leaders and other social organisations should impress upon Mishra that 'enough is enough' and more than 25 years have been spent on negotiations.

They all should now urge that a final announcement of a solution should be made either by the Prime Minister or the Home Minister by August 15.

Patton also said once elections are over next year, it would not be possible for any state legislator to step aside.

Patton's words were significant as influential stakeholder NNPG also has lately demanded resignation of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and all 60 MLAs from the House to enable "an inclusive transitional arrangement for implementation of the Indo-Naga Agreement, for an enduring peaceful coexistence".

The NNPG has already inked Agreed Position with the centre in 2017 and has been awaiting patiently for the final Peace Accord.

The NNPG is an umbrella organisation of seven militant groups while NSCN (IM), which started formal talks with the centre in August 1997, has substantial base in Tangkhul-dominated areas of Manipur.

Top NDPP leaders say there was no major political difference as is being out to be and BJP's in-charge of Nagaland, Nail Kohli, was taken into confidence as the regional party believed that the new arrangement had to be accepted by the BJP as party of a deal under which the saffron party had been allocated a Rajya Sabha berth.

BJP's Nagaland women wing chief S Phangnon Konyak was last month elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha giving her the unique opportunity of being second Naga women to be a Member of Parliament and first BJP member of Parliament from Christian-and-tribal dominated Nagaland.

Thus it might be a 'small price' being paid by the Lotus party or even Patton to ensure the first woman MP from Nagaland on a BJP ticket.

However, observers say things go beyond the surface. The change of portfolio has happened on the eve of state elections.

"It is an election related decision by Chief Minister Rio," said a BJP leader in Nagaland on the condition of anonymity.

Answering questions, he, however hastened to add, "it is well known that elections are expensive affairs in Nagaland and who knows it better than Chief Minister Rio who has been in power punctuating with a brief gap since 2003".

The broad hint is that like slog overs means run making season in a limited overs cricket match; almost similar rules could perhaps apply to electoral politics too.

Nagaland politics could be at crossroads but the road map is seemingly the old one !

The BJP has always made a big fuss about Manmohan Singh's 'compulsions of coalition politics'; well Nalin Kohlis and Y Pattons too have their compulsions.

In politics truly, the most important element is power and power is directly linked to juicy portfolios. All these for people as during elections the people and the neta class will be yet again face to face to each other.

In a joint statement, NNPG leaders led by N. Kitovi Zhimomi has said lately: "Our great hope in the days ahead is that the august House and members of Nagaland Assembly collectively will look at new direction, as primary stakeholders for the future, will put in papers en-masse to enable an inclusive transitional arrangement for implementation of the Indo-Naga greement, for an enduring peaceful coexistence."

The NNPG is against delay in signing of final accord while NSCN (IM) said it cannot accept any pact that does not guarantee a separate Flag and Naga Constitution. 

While peace parleys are still on and a special emissary AK Mishra is camping in Nagaland since last Monday, the Centre has obviously rejected the twin demands.

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

Source: IANS

 Portfolios still count ......

New Delhi 

The 'Naga peace talks', solution and sacrifice ... nay !

In politics, the most important element is power and power is directly linked to
juicy portfolios. All these for people as during elections the people and the neta class will be yet again face to face to each other. 

Saturday afternoon's most eventful episode in Nagaland politics was not what came out of the parleys between A K Mishra and the NSCN (IM).

It was a government notification signed by Chief Secretary J Alam that the portfolio of Roads and Bridges would be henceforth catered to by Advisor H Chuba Chang. The words quickly spread that Deputy Chief Minister Y Pattton was not happy, but accepted the reality.

If NDPP sources are to be believed, in that 'reality' phase figured Nalin Kohli, BJP's in-charge for Nagaland. He had recently visited Nagaland and perhaps had 10-20 minutes long interaction with BJP Morcha leaders. 

The meetings could have been longer 'informally' no doubt.  The NDPP sources said Kohli was taken into confidence as the regional party believed that the new 
arrangement had to be accepted by the BJP as the saffron party had been allocated a Rajya Sabha berth.

Small price for the Lotus party or even Mr Patton to ensure the first woman MP from Nagaland on a BJP ticket.

Blogger and Naga youths

The 'portfolio episode' happened when the NNPG, a principal stakeholder in the peace process, has already demanded the resignation of the council of Ministers and all 60 legislators.

"Our great hope in the days ahead is that the august House and members of Nagaland Assembly collectively will look at new direction, as primary stakeholders for the future, will put in papers en-masse to enable an inclusive transitional arrangement for implementation of the Indo-Naga Agreement, for an enduring peaceful coexistence," the NNPG stated two days back. 

Even otherwise we are into slog overs. It is hardly a few months before the tenure of the present assembly ends.

So as the cricket rules apply, the runs must come. In limited overs cricket, your 'run' is the team's run.

In politics of course - what is yours can be mine if I can snatch if with a finesse.

Nagaland politics is at crossroads but the road map is seemingly the old one ! 

The BJP has always made a big fuss about Manmohan Singh's 'compulsions of coalition politics'; well Nalin Kohlis and Y Pattons too have their compulsions.

In Kohima, one grapevine in circulation was that the saffron party would retain Roads and Bridges and part away Tribal Affairs. Between Patton and Imna Along, it is Deputy CM and floor leader who has made the sacrifice. 

Imna Along's statement in assembly on '400 years' and peace parleys
also made headlines.For his part, Patton hit headlines this week when he indicated that talks could be finalised by August 15.

Over to Nitin Gadkari !

ends 

Guest column: India fought Covid19, built 'structures' for future crises too

India fought Covid19, built 'structures' for future crises too:  Foreign Secy Shringla

New Delhi

"This is not the last crisis we will face. We have created structures that can surge 
capacities to deal with future crises," says India's Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla.

The leadership provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi "as we dealt with the challenges of the pandemic has been inspirational," he wrote in a newspaper article.

"It is obvious that we coped, and then, adapted. Our ability to respond to crises and deal with the 

unexpected was tested to the utmost. India rose to the challenge of the pandemic," he maintained.

Dealing with various aspects thrown by the challenge - not known to the world for magniture and

the sheer the variety of it, Shringla says, "The pandemic was not just a health care and economic shock. 

It is a significant geopolitical event. Among other things, it established that crises of this nature require more 

international cooperation, not less".

He pointed out that the “normal” business of diplomacy did not pause due to the pandemic. 

"We adapted rapidly to a new world of digital and virtual diplomacy. A new type of hybrid diplomacy 

has emerged in which the virtual combines with the personal.....India took several steps that placed it at 

the forefront of global efforts to combat Covid-19. We joined and catalysed several diplomatic initiatives 

to deal with various aspects of the pandemic". 

"We worked through, and with, multilateral and plurilateral platforms such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), G20, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

We worked with our Quad partners on several pandemic-related activities," Mr Shringla notes.

The Foreign Secretary also said that India walked the talk when it came to part of the international

community in fighting the pandemic.

"....one of the most remarkable features of our response, was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam 

(the world is one family)” in operation. In its darkest and most dire moments, India never forgot 

that it belonged to a greater international community".

"Our leadership gave importance to a forward-looking agenda that made India’s capacities available to 

the international community. India walked the talk when it came to being a force for good and a 

responsible international citizen," he writes further adding, "India not only shared in the suffering, 

but also rose above it".

ends 

India’s successful response to the Covid-19 crisis

Speaking at an event in September 2020, I said that Covid-19 presented us with extraordinary challenges. Every facet of our national life was affected by the complexities and difficulties of the situation. I said that how we dealt with these immense difficulties — and whether we were able to transform some of them into opportunities — would influence our future trajectory as a nation.

Eighteen months later, the pandemic may or may not be over. We will not be in a position to definitively arrive at a conclusion on that score for some time. There can, however, be little doubt that India’s massive vaccination drive, unprecedented in scale and scope in epidemiological history, has blunted the deadly edge of the virus for us.

India also undertook significant steps to deal with the economic impact of the pandemic. As Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi noted in his “State of the World” address at the World Economic Forum, “During the corona period, when the world was focusing on interventions like the quantitative easing programme, India paved the way for reforms.”

India ensured food security for over 80 crore people through the pandemic.

Supported by widespread vaccine coverage, gains from reforms and easing of regulations, robust export growth and ramped up capital spending, the Indian economy is expected to witness a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of over 8% in 2022-2023. This would be among the highest in large economies.

The pandemic exacted a toll. Lives and livelihoods have been lost in India and globally. Lockdowns and disruptions have exacted an economic cost. The social and psychological costs, such as the impact on school-going children and the old, will become clearer with time.

When historians look back at this period, they will, at one level, recount the costs and suffering imposed by the pandemic. They will, at another level, describe the geopolitical and geoeconomic consequences of this tremendous shock and its impact on megatrends such as globalisation.

They will also talk about responses. They will talk about how nations responded and how the international community reacted. In India, the pandemic, while posing an unprecedented challenge, evoked an unprecedented whole-of-society and whole-of-government response.

To say that the government was faced with an unforeseen situation is an understatement. The initial response, as it must be to all black swan events, was necessarily ad hoc. There was no institutional memory of dealing with a crisis of this magnitude. There were no policy frameworks or operating procedures that could guide the government in formulating answers to the many difficult questions that arose. However, respond we did. And, as the pandemic persisted, these responses coalesced into a sui generis policy framework and administrative and operational responses.

What were the broad features of this response?

First was the citizen-centric focus. The Vande Bharat Mission brought hundreds of thousands, and then millions, of Indians home by air, land and sea. It was a complex logistical operation that kept India connected to a disrupted and locked-down world.

Second, and one of the most remarkable features of our response, was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family)” in operation. In its darkest and most dire moments, India never forgot that it belonged to a greater international community. India not only shared in the suffering, but also rose above it. Our leadership gave importance to a forward-looking agenda that made India’s capacities available to the international community. India walked the talk when it came to being a force for good and a responsible international citizen.

While Vande Bharat was underway, India dispatched large quantities of medicines as both humanitarian grants and commercial exports to partner countries. This was followed by Vaccine Maitri, which made vaccines available to many parts of the world. This was also a period in which Indian medical and technical expertise was being deployed through various platforms.

The third major effort related to the procurement of medical products and essential medical supplies. This became one of the greatest challenges faced by us in responding to the pandemic. It was a whole-of-society effort that added civil society and private sector contributions to a whole-of-government effort.

This was parallel to, and also supported, the process of scaling up domestic manufacturing capacity to meet demand and supplement health infrastructure in the country.

We also worked to safeguard critical vaccine supply chains; and facilitated access to vaccines, vaccine technology and vaccine raw material for Indian entities. We expanded the global relevance of India’s vaccine capacity by linking Indian manufacturing, and research and development capacities with markets and global institutions.

The “normal” business of diplomacy did not pause due to the pandemic. We adapted rapidly to a new world of digital and virtual diplomacy. A new type of hybrid diplomacy has emerged in which the virtual combines with the personal.

The pandemic was not just a health care and economic shock. It is a significant geopolitical event. Among other things, it established that crises of this nature require more international cooperation, not less.

India took several steps that placed it at the forefront of global efforts to combat Covid-19. We joined and catalysed several diplomatic initiatives to deal with various aspects of the pandemic. We worked through, and with, multilateral and plurilateral platforms such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), G20, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). We worked with our Quad partners on several pandemic-related activities. India also supported organisations such as GAVI: The vaccine alliance.

It is obvious that we coped, and then, adapted. Our ability to respond to crises and deal with the unexpected was tested to the utmost. India rose to the challenge of the pandemic.

This is not the last crisis we will face. We have created structures that can surge capacities to deal with future crises.

The leadership provided by the PM as we dealt with the challenges of the pandemic has been inspirational. It was a privilege to have been a part of this effort.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla is the foreign secretary, Government of India 

The views expressed are personal

(Courtesy - Hindustan Times) 

Jahangirpuri violence and Bulldozers : UCAN report

 Bulldozers rolled out on the streets of India’s national capital New Delhi to demolish allegedly illegal properties in a largely Muslim neighborhood before the Supreme Court called the action to a halt.

The demolitions began around 10am on April 20 amid a heavy security deployment in Jahangirpuri in northwest Delhi, about 25 kilometers from the Indian parliament. 

Bulldozer-Diplomacy: Johnson in Modi's Gujarat 

The Muslim neighborhood had on April 16 witnessed a saffron procession to mark the birth anniversary of the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman erupt into violence as the participants brandishing swords and sticks marched past one of the local mosques.

On April 20 morning, residents watched helplessly as the bulldozers razed to the ground a string of stalls and houses encroaching on the roadsides. The wall and gates of a mosque were pulled down amid rising tension as the rubble was carried away in waiting trucks, according to eyewitness accounts. 

The neighborhood heaved a collective sigh of relief when the Supreme Court stayed the action within hours.

Brinda Karat, a senior Marxist leader, was the only politician to rush to Jahangirpuri. She stood in front of one of the nine bulldozers waving a copy of the Supreme Court order, but to no avail. Civic and police officials at the demolition site claimed they needed to receive the court order “officially.” 

The demolitions were totally illegal and the officials were motivated to promote the communal agenda of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karat said.

Several Muslim residents and shopkeepers claimed they were being specifically targeted and not even given advance legal notice about the operation.

But officials of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is governed by the BJP, claimed they were merely bringing down “illegal buildings that have encroached onto the roads.”

“This is demolition of India’s constitutional values. This is state-sponsored targeting of the poor and minorities. The BJP must bulldoze the hatred in their hearts instead,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

“This is all you can expect from someone whose history is linked to corruption and riots. He [Rahul Gandhi] is doing no good to the country by sowing the seeds of hatred. He is maligning the country’s image,” retorted federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.

Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia compared the action to “hooliganism” and said the only way to end it was “to bulldoze the BJP headquarters.”

Sisodia, who belongs to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was helpless as the national capital has twin administrations — a municipal corporation in addition to the provincial government. New Delhi’s security apparatus falls under the control of the federal government.
Hence, the civic and security affairs are helmed by the BJP, which opposition parties alleged led to unnecessary strife.

“What is the BJP trying to achieve by sending bulldozers to an area where there was already communal tension?” asked Delhi Congress leader Anil Chaudhary.
Akhilesh Yadav of the socialist-oriented Samajwadi Party said the BJP had turned bulldozers into a “new symbol of its brute power and high-handedness.”

“It is obvious that Muslims and other minorities, the backward and poor Dalits are the BJP’s target,” he told UCA News.

Residents said the situation remained tense in Jahangirpuri, which houses around 10,000 families — most of them Muslim migrants from Bangladesh.

Police have arrested 23 suspects including two juveniles, most of them Muslims, for the April 16 violence.

A group of Delhi BJP leaders met Federal Home Minister Amit Shah but remained tightlipped about what transpired between them.

Extradition of Mallya, Nirav others "high priority", India tells UK PM ::::: India raises Khalistan issue with British PM

New Delhi 

India has made it absolutely clear to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the extradition of fugitive wrongdoers is "high priority" for New Delhi.

For his part, PM Johnson too was forthcoming and his words were assuring enough.

“We welcome people who have talent and brilliance coming from India to the UK, we don’t welcome — I want to make it absolutely clear now — we don’t welcome people who want to use our legal system to evade the law here in India. So, let me be absolutely clear about that,” Johnson said at the media briefing. 

Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, “On the issue of economic offenders, we have been pursuing this matter for some time at different levels with the UK. Our objective is to bring back those economic fugitives wanted in India to face justice in the country, and the matter did come up.It was conveyed that this is a high priority".

He further said, "Prime Minister Johnson indicated that he was very sensitive to Indian concerns".

Vijay Mallya is fighting the extradition case in a UK court, while two others Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are also facing the legal process.

In total, the Centre, in 2020, said efforts were on to extradite 72 fugitives to India from the UK and other countries. Another accused, Lalit Modi, was last reported to be living in London.

Answering questions from journalists, Shringla said, "I am also responding to the issue of, you mentioned, Khalistani anti-India activists, who take advantage of freedoms that are offered by democracy such as ours. And in that context, I think this point was raised quite clearly and I think Prime Minister Johnson, as I said, took careful note of that". 

Mr Johnson said that "he was very sensitive to our concerns in this regard. And that he would have a close look at that. As far as he was concerned there was zero tolerance for such people who create issues and that could impact on the relationship between both our countries", the Foreign Secretary said.

Responding to questions about the extradition of fugitives Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, Johnson said, “I think there are legal technicalities that have made it very, very difficult but what I can tell you is that the UK government has ordered their extradition and we have said that from our point of view, we want them to be taken back to India for trial".

On Afghanistan, a joint statement said that both sides expressed their serious concern about the humanitarian situation, violations of human rights and the hampered access of girls and women to education. “Both Prime Ministers called upon the Taliban to allow girls to return to secondary school,” the statement said.

ends 

India raises Khalistan issue with British PM Johnson

New Delhi

India on Friday, April 22, raised the issue of Khalistan with British PM Boris Johnson.

At the bilateral talks here after New Delhi flagged off the contentious matter, the visitingdignitary said the United Kingdom is sensitive to India’s concerns and "there will be zero tolerance to this issue".

This was stated by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla at a special briefing here.

He said, "India welcomes the UK joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative under the maritime security pillar and agreed to cooperate closely in this region towards their shared commitment".

Mr Shringla said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpartalso discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

"PM Modi expressed deep concern over the situation and mounting humanitarian crisis. Mr Modi also reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and conveyed strong advocacy for a peaceful resolution of the situation," the Foreign Secretary said.

The two sides also held discussions on the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations. 

"Both sides agreed to enhance corporation in  energy, green hydrogen, trade, defense,"Mr Shringla said.

The Foreign Secretary said the issue of 'economic offenders' also figured.

"We have been pursuing this matter for some time at different levels with the UK. Our objective is to bring back those economic fugitives who're wanted in India to face justice in country," he said adding, the matter was discussed during the bilateral talks. 

Meanwhile in a Joint Statement, both the Prime Ministers "expressed satisfaction" at the progress in implementation of the ambitious Roadmap 2030 for India-UK future relations.

They also appreciated the regular review of the same by External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar and U K Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss. 

"They further mandated their teams to identify high-impact projects for time-bound implementation in each of the pillars of the Roadmap. Both leaders also expressed their desire to steer bilateral relations towards a Vision 2047 for shared security and prosperity of their people and the planet".

ends 

Boris Johnson is in India on diplomatic mission, but backhome he faces challenges 

New Delhi 

Boris Johnson is on an India visit. It's a key diplomatic mission.

He was in Gujarat on Thursday and on Friday (April 22) he will holdbilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Johnson at Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar

But back home he faces severe criticism and challenges including repeated call for resignation.

"He is in every sense the minister of chaos," says 'The Atlantic'.

It was reported that after being the "first G7 leader to travel to Kyiv since the Russian invasion", he was no doubt hailed by Volodymyr Zelensky, cheered by Ukrainians in the streets, and even grudgingly praised by his "enemies at home and his critics abroad". 

"Yet within 72 hours, he was once again facing calls to resign..," 

A piece in the reputed 'The Guardian' says - "The prime minister (Johnson) has no programme, no strategy, no professed ideology: only a frantic search for survival".

The article penned by Simon Jenkins says - "Whenever challenged, he refers to the war in Ukraine, as if this was Britain’s business. A war is handy for any prime minister. 

"Thatcher’s leadership in 1982 was rescued by the Falklands war. David Cameron wanted to go to war in Syria and went to war in Libya. But these prime ministers were conducting or proposing conflicts on their country’s behalf.Ukraine is not Britain’s war, thank goodness".

Johnson is in serious trouble. He faces danger on all fronts - says the piece.

In fact, the British PM Johnson and his government have been the target of unfriendly press even otherwise.

His party colleagues have warned Johnson that he faces being “punished at the polls” unless he acts to 

tackle the UK’s cost of living crisis, according to the Daily Mail.   

He has issues of privileges committee and 'lying' to parliament. There are elections in May.

As the year began, the British prime minister faced fresh accusations of “corruption” over the funding of  his Downing Street flat refurbishment, 

"Johnson’s luck may still run out: Britain’s Metropolitan Police is investigating a series of other potentially illegal parties that took place at Downing Street on his watch and could issue more fines, triggering another potentially fatal crisis. Yet, for now at least, he survives.

In one sense, Johnson is simply lucky. The timing of the fine—a paltry £50 ($65)—could hardly have been better for the prime minister. Not only did it come during the Easter break, when Parliament was not sitting and much of the country was on holiday, but it came at the very moment when he was basking in the glory of his visit to Kyiv and the diplomatic success of the hawkish position he has taken toward Russia since Vladimir Putin’s invasion." - Atlantic.com.  

Putin claims Mariupol win, Russia bars entry to Kamala Harris,

New Delhi 

In a significant turn of events in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, President  Vladimir Putin on Thursday claimed victory in the biggest battle of the Ukraine war declaring the port of  Mariupol “liberated” after nearly two months of siege.

However, hundreds of defenders were still 'holding out'. 

In a televised meeting with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu inside the Kremlin, Putin said there was no need for a final confrontation with the last defenders who were boxed in after surviving nearly two months. 

Russia on Thursday also announced expansion of an entry ban on US officials to include US 

Vice-President Kamala Harris and 28 other American officials, business giants and journalists.

The sanctions list, published by the Russian foreign ministry, included Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, 

Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks and Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, among others.

“These individuals are denied entry into the Russian Federation indefinitely,” the Russian foreign ministry 

said. 

According to experts, Putin’s declaration of victory lets him claim his first big prize since his forces were 

driven out of northern Ukraine last month after failing to capture the capital, Kyiv.

Russian Defence Minister Shoigu estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters remained inside the plant. 

Putin called on them to lay down their weapons and surrender, saying Russia would treat them with respect.

Asked to comment on Russia’s decision to blockade the steel works rather than storm it, Ukraine’s defence ministry spokeswoman said the move testified to Putin’s “schizophrenic tendencies”. 

Ukraine, however, scoffed at the idea that a Russian victory in Mariupol was already achieved.

"The Russian agenda now is not to capture these really difficult places where the Ukrainians can hold out in the urban centres, but to try and capture territory and also to encircle the Ukrainian forces and declare a huge victory, retired British Rear Admiral Chris Parry said. 

Whodunit ? Any takers, Pakistan sponsors US leader's visit to Pak and PoK

New Delhi

It could sound bizarre but such unthinkable things happen when Pakistan is

involved in any international media craze game. It gets a boost when

the other player(s) is or are - some American intellectuals or lawmakers.

This was the case with Democrat MP Ilhan Omar's visit to Pakistan and then Pakistan occupied Kashmir 

(PoK).

The United States did not sponsor her trip ! Who done it ? Well, Pakistan sponsored the trip.

The State Department sounded emphatically clear. 

"As I understand it, Representative Omar is not visiting Pakistan on US government-sponsored travel, 

so I'd need to refer you to her office for questions on her travel," US State Department spokesman 

Ned Price said.  

"Unfortunately, we don't have an official comment on this right now, but will let you know if anything 

changes," Jacklyn Rogers, press secretary in Ms Omar's office said on Thursday in response to mails 

and queries seeking details of her travel plans and sponsors.

What did Pakistan benefit ? A few headlines momentarily.

India on Thursday slammed US Congresswoman Ms Omar's visit to Pakistan-occupied 

Jammu and Kashmir.

"This visit is condemnable," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here.

"We have noted that US Representative Ilhan Omar has visited a part of the Indian Union Territory of

Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said adding, if such a politician

wishes to practice "her narrow-minded politics at home, that may be her business". 

Interestingly, Pakistan had toyed with the idea of enlisting the services of a US leader

at a time when the outgoing dispensation in Islamabad (headed by Imran Khan) made a scathing

attack on Americans for allegedly sponsoring the downfall of Imran's dispensation.

Pakistan always rejoices spreading falsehood and farcical narratives on Kashmir and often

enlists the support of some lawmakers or intellectuals in the west. It has not helped Islamabad's

case.  

At the same time some Pakistani leaders and governments have used the Kashmir conflict to 

reinforce and strengthen the politics of 'pan-Islamism'. 

Pakistani governments have also used the so-called Kashmir issue with India to acquire its own

domestic legitimacy or to ensure regime survival.

An experienced Twin Cities policy analyst, organiser, public speaker and advocate, Omar was sworn into

office in January 2019, making her the first African refugee to become a Member of Congress.

She is also one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress.

She has attracted controversies for her remarks and tweets on Kashmir earlier also.

While 'support' for their spread of terrorism in Kashmir is fairly widespread in Pakistan, 

the politically dominant military and the religious parties are the strongest proponents and backers

of the same.

ends 

-

India's condemnation of Bucha atrocities was strongest, says Boris Johnson :::: India slams US congresswoman Ilhan Omar's visit to Pak-occupied J&K

On request, India allows Japan to pick up supplies from Mumbai for Ukraine

New Delhi 

India on Thursday said that it had received a formal request from Japan for 'permission to land in Mumbai' to pick up humanitarian supplies from the UNHCR depot for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, and the plea was accepted.

"We have conveyed our approval for picking of such supplies from India using commercial aircraft," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here.

 

He also said, "We had also received a request for overflight clearance for Japanese SDF aircraft 

carrying humanitarian cargo for Ukraine. This was processed and approved as per established norms".

Reports in a section of the media claimed quoting political leaders that 

Japan’s plan to deliver relief supplies to Ukrainian refugees has been "delayed because of inadequate planning 

with other governments". 

A Japanese ruling party senior functionary and 'policy chief' Sanae Takaichi reportedly said:

“A situation has arisen in which India has refused to allow a Self-Defense Forces plane to land and pick up 

supplies".

Takaichi reportedly made the remarks at a meeting of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers. 

“This is a clear case of insufficient preliminary coordination on the part of the government," he had said.

Meanwhile, issues related to reports that some academics of the Australia India Institute at the Melbourne 

University have 'quit' due to alleged interference by the Indian High Commission in the institute’s work 

also figured at the media briefing.

 

"As far as academic freedom in Australia is concerned, this is for the Australian authorities to respond to. 

I do believe that the authorities of the Institute of Melbourne have made their position clear to it,"

MEA spokesperson said. 

He also said that the reports of 'dragging' the Indian High Commission to Australia into this is unjustified.

Mr Bagchi also pointed out that, "The institute was set up by the Australian government in partnership with 

the University of Melbourne and funded by Australian government and institutions. The 

Government (of India) has no say in decision-making of this institute".

“Some events relating to India” have been “discouraged or not supported on the grounds (by the institute) as they 

were likely to be controversial”, the scholars had written, according to reports.

ends 

India's condemnation of Bucha atrocities was strongest, says Boris Johnson 

New Delhi

On the backdrop of efforts made by western players to push India to take a tougher stance against Russia, visiting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, April 21, said the world understands "different relationship" between New Delhi and Moscow.

"Actually, if you look at what the Indians have said, they were very strong in their condemnation of the atrocities in Bucha," said Johnson in PM Narendra Modi's native state of Gujarat.

"As I think everybody understands, India and Russia have historically very different a relationship, perhaps, than Russia and the UK have had over the last couple of decades. We have to reflect that reality.....But clearly I will be talking about it to Narendra Modi," the British Prime Minister said.

"India and the UK both share anxieties about autocracies around the world, we are both democracies and we want to stick together," he emphasized. 

Mr Johnson also said that the two countries are "hoping to complete another free trade agreement" with India by the end of the year or by the autumn". 

Johnson and PM Modi will hold bilateral talks in New Delhi on Friday, April 22.

"There's also the opportunity for us to deepen our security and defence partnership," the British PM said.

" The UK is making an Indo-Pacific tilt in our integrated review of our national defence and security strategy," he maintained. 

Western media reports quoting the British Prime Minister claimed that he was "ready to offer more visas to India" in return for this year clinching a free-trade deal.

Speaking on the flight to Gujarat, he told journalists - "I have always been in favour of talented people coming to this country (Britain)....We are short to the tune of hundreds of thousands of people in our economy and we need to have a progressive approach and we will."

Britain has made getting a trade deal with India one of its post-Brexit priorities as ministers, free from the European Union's common trade policy, look to gear policy towards faster-growing economies around the Indo-Pacific region.

India also wants greater opportunities for Indians to live and work in Britain. 

It is understood that Britain also wants to tap into the wealth of India's middle classes and their appetite for premium British products.

Britain hopes that India can become a customer of its green technology and that service trade can also be strengthened.

ends 

India slams US congresswoman Ilhan Omar's visit to Pak-occupied J&K 

New Delhi 

India on Thursday slammed US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's visit to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 
"This visit is condemnable," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here. 

"We have noted that US Representative Ilhan Omar has visited a part of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said adding, if such a politician wishes to practice "her narrow-minded politics at home, that may be her business". 

But, the MEA spokesman made it clear - "....violating our territorial integrity and sovereignty in its pursuit makes it ours. This visit is condemnable".

The MEA spokesman also condemned all terrorist attacks such as the one in Afghanistan.

"We are looking at the developments there," he said. 

Omar was born in Somalia and she represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives as a Democrat.

An experienced Twin Cities policy analyst, organiser, public speaker and advocate, Omar was sworn into office in January 2019, making her the first African refugee to become a Member of Congress, the first woman of colour to represent Minnesota, and one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress.

She has attracted controversies for her remarks and tweets on Kashmir earlier also.

ends 

NNPG asks CM Rio, Naga legislators to step down :::: Decisive and Determination: Can Modi achieve Peace ?

Notably, veteran Naga leader S C Jamir, who also served as Gujarat Governor during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister, have been meeting the Prime Minister and insisting on not to delay the peace parleys.

"I have been telling the Prime Minister about the realities of the situation and I think it will be better that things should be expedited. After all, for how long we can go on negotiating," Jamir had told this writer in November last year (as reported by IANS also).

Talking about the Prime Minister's style of functioning and ability to take key and tough decisions, Jamir had said: "The Prime Minister has the guts, that is an advantage. The Naga issue has its complexities. I have seen many Prime Ministers, but one good quality with him is, he takes decisions and it is very important".

The statement is reported in local media including Kohima-based 'Eastern Mirror'

Eastern Mirror Link

New Delhi

This can be termed as the 'ultimate pressure' on the Nagaland politicians - the council of ministers and legislators. 

The pro-solution Naga National Political Group (NNPG) headed by convener N Kitovi Zhimomi on Wednesday, April 20, gave a clarion call for their en masse resignation "to enable an inclusive transitional arrangement".  

Incidentally, the state cabinet is likely to meet at Kohima on Thursday, April 21.

Kitovi - Now calling the shots !

The strongly worded statement has been issued hours before Kitovi and other NNPG leaders are slated to hold a vital meeting with the centre's new peace emissary A K Mishra in Chumukeidima near Dimapur on Thursday, April 21.

"On 1st April 2022, the state Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio and 'opposition-less' UDA Chairman Mr. T.R Zealiang reaffirmed to Working Committee, NNPGs of their commitment to Naga people that they were ready to pave the way for solution. Now, with a five year tenure slated to end in months, 

"We believe it will be in the interest of Naga people to translate words into action. Our great hope in the days ahead is that the august House and members of Nagaland Assembly collectively will look at new direction, as primary stakeholders for the future, will put in papers en-masse to enable an inclusive transitional arrangement for implementation of the Indo-NagaAgreement, for an enduring peaceful coexistence." 

This resignation, the NNPG leaders said, will be a practical stance to prove who are, and who are not, "for honorable and acceptable future of our children and grandchildren."  

The statement signed by N Kitovi Zhimomi, convener of NNPG and other leaders Zhopra Vero, Y Wangtin Naga, Z Hozheto Chophy, Kiumkukam Yimkhiung, Toshi Walling and Isak Sumi, also charge that over the months the elected state government and elected MLAs did not discharge their responsibilities as effectively as expected.

"Has the facilitator become a political harlot, in the arms of anti-solution elements?," the statement says. 

In this context, the NNPG, which is keen to ink the final Peace pact with the Government of India stated that "the 60 elected members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, representing 60 constituencies of Nagaland, must take a public stand.

"Enough consultations with Nagaland tribes, civil societies and Naga negotiating groups have taken place. There has been a number of committees and platforms to facilitate and assist the negotiators. 

Despite the best efforts, the stalemate persist. 

To the misfortune of Nagas, all politicians are blessed, or rather cursed, with three tongues. One for themselves, the other for their party and the third for their future".  

The NNPG had inked Agreed Position with the centre on Nov 17, 2017.

It cautioned that the lip-service and dilly dallying will no longer be entertained.

"The 2018 election slogan of "Election for Solution" cannot berepeated in any manner. We will not accept a recycled slogan. The will-full collective betrayal by political parties will naturally lead to serious repercussions. the NNPGs will take appropriate decision at an appropriate time," it cautioned.

"The treachery and deceit against the people of Nagaland have a price to pay".

Decisive and Determination: Can he make it ?

The NNPG statement says - "The wisdom of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi will matter most in the coming days" and carefully hastened to add - "Hurting the Naga sentiment is insulting the core Naga pride and this should not happen again in our lifetime".

ends

Link in national media

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