Thousands of miles away from India, in Robbinsville, New Jersey, stands the US’s largest Hindu temple, the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham.
This majestic Mahamandir (grand temple) is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a Hindu spiritual leader of the 19th century, and was inspired by his 5th spiritual successor and renowned saint Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
His contributions have been hailed by Hindus and dignitaries of other faiths as truly transforming the lives of millions of individuals. He improved societal standards and, most importantly, the innate nature of people, eradicating them from lust, anger, greed, and envy.
The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 and is set to be inaugurated by Mahant Swami Maharaj, and dignitaries on 8 October 2023.
#WATCH | Robbinsville, New Jersey: One of the largest hand-carved Hindu temples is to be inaugurated on October 5. pic.twitter.com/sfagBOAMP1
Yagnesh Patel said, “History is being chiseled here. With the temple opening up to all visitors, they will learn Indian art and architecture, culture. This Mandir adds to the fabric of this nation. It’s not only a proud moment for many Americans to celebrate but, also when I brought my neighbour Joe, even he was very eager to know about Indian culture, Indian art, and more specifically about Hinduism. This would be one spot that we can bring them. They will not only learn about the culture, about the art, but also the devotion that over 12,500 volunteers who came together, either from three days to three years.”
The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville spread across 185 acres, is a testament to the love, dedication, and skill of over 12,500 volunteers who came together from all corners of North America to build an unprecedented landmark that will last for over a thousand years.
The Akshardham temple in Robbinsville is spread across 185 acres and built by 12,500 volunteers. (Source: News Arena India/Twitter)
Like the other Akshardham temples in India, this religious structure was designed in India by a team of BAPS swamis and volunteers. The stone was quarried in several parts of Europe and shipped to India, where it was artistically chiseled. The cargo was then shipped to the US where volunteers of all backgrounds assembled them under the supervision of volunteer artisans from India. And that’s how the Mahamandir or the grand temple came together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
As the temple is veering towards completion, round the clock, several varied generations of volunteers are meticulously adding finishing touches. The carvings demand expertise, patient effort, and attention to detail that has stretched across months.
Jena Patel, a volunteer said, “My guru and what he’s done for me, that was a reason why I was able to drop everything and come here. She was my inspiration. He has lived a very inspiring life. And it was history that we built a monument, a Mahamandir here to showcase and spread our Indian culture here. And this is a part of my identity of who I am as a Hindu American, and it was a way to be part of something big, something that will impact generations to come. And this is not just something for me, but it’s a small way to say thank you and to make an impact for a lifetime.”
Sarika Patel from New Jersey, shares her transformative journey as a volunteer at Akshardham. Through teamwork, sacrifice, and respect for humanity, she believes this monumental place will offer solace and peace to all.
For her Akshardham is a voyage of inspiration, much beyond the temple’s breathtaking tapestry of artistry. Its profound message of service to humanity resonates deeply with many like her.
Sarika Patel told ANI, “This Mahamandir is something that’s going to stand here for years and million million million years to come. Not only our kids but our kids, all the generations from now will be able to see this and we had the opportunity to make that impact for the years and 1000s of generations to come. And for that, I don’t think anyone ever would give that opportunity. Whether they were born here anywhere in the world.”
The inauguration celebration will include a week-long celebration. Several US congressmen, senators, officials with the Biden Administration, as well as, state governors plan to attend this grand ceremony.
At the temple site in New Jersey, the ground level and main mandir are getting the final touches. Work is moving towards completion swiftly. The golden pot, or Kalash, gracefully crowns the Mahashikhar, symbolizing completeness and perfection. Above it flies the flag or Dhaja, representing victory and the triumph of good over evil.
Within Akshardham, artistic stone statutes and statuettes depict the timeless tradition of Indian music, dance, and performing arts. It also pays tribute to the great sages, saints, and spiritual personalities of India and Hinduism.
The current Guinness Book of World Records holder for the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple is the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, which sits on a 100-acre complex, and the Akshardham temple in the US is all set to break its own records. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has built about 1,400 temples in India, the UK, US, Canada, Kenya, South Africa, and Australia. (ANI)
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Days after the Canadian Parliament gave a standing ovation to a 98-year-old Nazi collaborator Yaroslav Hunka, the Polish ambassador to Canada Witold Dzielski on Monday (September 25) demanded an apology from the Justin Trudeau-led-government.
In a tweet, Dzielski wrote (archive), “09/22 Canada and Ukrainian leadership at House of Commons cheered a member of Waffen-SS Galizien, notorious UA military formation of World War 2 responsible for murdering thousands of Poles and Jews.”
The Polish Ambassador to Canada said, “Poland whose best ally is Ukraine has, will never agree on whitewashing such villains. As Ambassador to Canada, I expect an apology.”
09/22 ??&?? leadership at @OurCommons cheered a member of Waffen-SS Galizien, notorious #UA military formation of #WW2 responsible for murdering thousands of Poles & Jews.
?? best ally ?? has, will never agree on whitewashing such villains! As ?? Amb. to ?? I expect an apology. pic.twitter.com/j6EkVWGg1d
Canada celebrated Nazi soldier who fought for Hitler in World War II
On 22nd September, the Canadian House of Commons gave a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, a World War II veteran who fought for “Ukrainian independence” against Russian aggressors.
This is how the speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, introduced him. The 98-year-old war veteran, however, was a member of a SS unit, the 14th SS-Volunteer Division “Galicia”, established in 1943 by the Nazis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present during the occasion.
Notably, SS was the main paramilitary group under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany and was primarily responsible for tunning Holocaust operations. 14th SS-Volunteer Division Galicia was made up of volunteers, which means that Yaroslav Hunka joined the unit on his own will, and was not conscripted.
The war criminals of World War II and Canadian connections
The members of the First Ukrainian Division have been deemed war criminals by several experts. However, Canadian inquiry into their history did not recognise them as war criminals. Interestingly, there is clear evidence that Canada housed at least 3,000 war criminals.
Canadian authorities established a commission to look into war criminals, and the commission headed by Justice Jules Deschenes submitted its report in December 1986 titled “Commission of Inquiry on War Crimes“.
As per the report, the Canadian government had allowed over 2,000 war criminals from WWII to enter Canada despite the Canadian Jewish Congress’s opposition. The commission gave Hunko’s division “clean chit” due to the lack of evidence.
2014 Nazi Hunter Steve Rambam called Canada a safe haven for war criminals. Notably, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also called out Canada in a recent statement for giving shelter to terrorists and gangsters.
On 24th September, Canadian Parliament speaker Anthony Rota apologised for celebrating a Nazi, Yaroslav Hunka, who had participated in the genocide against Jews during World War II. In his statement, Rota claimed that he was made aware of more information on Hunka that “caused” him to regret the decision to celebrate him. Furthermore, he claimed no one in the Parliament or among the Ukrainian delegation was aware of his intentions to celebrate Hunka during his address.
On September 22, in the House of Commons, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I regret my decision to do so, and accept full responsibility for my actions. Read my statement here: https://t.co/Hd9chtHFNJ
He said, “On Friday, 22nd September, in my remarks following the address of the President of Ukraine, I recognised an individual in the gallery. I have subsequently become aware of more information, which causes me to regret my decision to do so. I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them. This initiative was entirely my own, the individual in question being from my riding and having been brought to my attention. I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
Source: ourcommons.ca
Earlier, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed their concerns over the matter. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), they said, “We are deeply troubled & disturbed that a Ukrainian veteran of the infamous 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS – which actively participated in the genocide of Jews – was celebrated with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament. Canada’s Jewish community stands firmly with #Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. But we can’t stay silent when crimes committed by Ukrainians during the Holocaust are whitewashed.”
We are deeply troubled & disturbed that a Ukrainian veteran of the infamous 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS – which actively participated in the genocide of Jews – was celebrated with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament. #Canada's Jewish community stands…
Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Official Opposition since 2022, has also raised objections to celebrating Hunka in the Parliament. He pointed out that Trudeau personally met and honoured Hunka. Accusing the ruling party of recognising a Nazi veteran on the floor of the House of Commons, he demanded an apology from the PM.
It has come out today that Justin Trudeau personally met with and honoured a veteran of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (a Nazi division).
Liberals then arranged for this Nazi veteran to be recognized on the floor of the House of Commons during the visit of the… https://t.co/9JFUEqsdW8
He said, “It has come out today that Justin Trudeau personally met with and honoured a veteran of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (a Nazi division). Liberals then arranged for this Nazi veteran to be recognised on the floor of the House of Commons during the visit of the Ukrainian President. This is an appalling error in judgment on the part of Justin Trudeau, whose personal protocol office is responsible for arranging and vetting all guests and programming for state visits of this kind. No parliamentarians (other than Justin Trudeau) had the opportunity to vet this individual’s past before he was introduced and honoured on the floor of the House of Commons. Without warning or context, it was impossible for any parliamentarian in the room (other than Mr Trudeau) to know of this dark past. Mr. Trudeau must personally apologise and avoid passing the blame to others as he always does.”
Canada celebrated Nazi soldier who fought for Hitler in World War II
On 22nd September, the Canadian House of Commons gave a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, a World War II veteran who fought for “Ukrainian independence” against Russian aggressors. This is how the speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, introduced him. The 98-year-old war veteran, however, was a member of a SS unit, the 14th SS-Volunteer Division “Galicia”, established in 1943 by the Nazis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present during the occasion.
Notably, SS was the main paramilitary group under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany and was primarily responsible for tunning Holocaust operations. 14th SS-Volunteer Division Galicia was made up of volunteers, which means that Yaroslav Hunka joined the unit on his own will, and was not conscripted.
The war criminals of World War II and Canadian connections
The members of the First Ukrainian Division have been deemed war criminals by several experts. However, Canadian inquiry into their history did not recognise them as war criminals. Interestingly, there is clear evidence that Canada housed at least 3,000 war criminals. Canadian authorities established a commission to look into war criminals, and the commission headed by Justice Jules Deschenes submitted its report in December 1986 titled “Commission of Inquiry on War Crimes“. As per the report, the Canadian government had allowed over 2,000 war criminals from WWII to enter Canada despite the Canadian Jewish Congress’s opposition. The commission gave Hunko’s division “clean chit” due to the lack of evidence.
2014 Nazi Hunter Steve Rambam called Canada a safe haven for war criminals. Notably, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also called out Canada in a recent statement for giving shelter to terrorists and gangsters.
Unnao district administration took major action on Sunday to tighten its grip on the land mafia and attached movable and immovable property worth more than one billion rupees of accused Dr Naseem Ahmed.
The action was taken on the orders of the District Magistrate (DM) of Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and the announcement was made by playing ‘dhol’ in the presence of Unnao Sadar Tehsildar, CO City, and revenue personnel.
Ashutosh Kumar, CO City, Unnao said “The accused, Naseem Ahmed, is a resident of Akhalok Nagar in the Jajmau police station area of Gangaghat Kotwali of Unnao. He is accused of illegally forming a gang for financial and material gains, and of gaining financial benefits by occupying the land of poor farmers in Katri Piparkheda and surrounding areas of Gangaghat area, plotting it, and selling it illegally,”
“Ahmed has been buying and selling land in the name of his brother, nephew, and other family members. A total of eight cases are registered against him in Gangaghat Kotwali and Sadar Kotwali, in which two cases are for death threats, and other cases are for buying and selling land by preparing fake documents. Goonda Act proceedings were also initiated against him in 2022, and he was sealed for six months,” said Ashutosh Kumar, CO City, Unnao.
On Sunday, on the instructions of the district administration, property worth Rs 1 billion 22 crore 65 lakh 26 thousand lying at various places in Katri Peepar Kheda was seized against Ahmed. The property includes land, houses, and other assets. Further information is awaited.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Bharat Coking Call Limited (BCCL), is a company based in Jharkhand. It’s not private. It is a Government of India company. The company caters to 50% of the coking coal requirement of the integrated steel sector. It was established in January 1972. It currently manages 36 coal mines across the country. These mines have been classified by marking them in 13 different areas.
One of them is the Sijua region (Modidih Kaliyari). In this area, the company had to file a suit in the court under the ‘Eviction of Unauthorized Trespassers in Public Premises Act’. The list of accused in this case is very long. Their names are as follows –
Halim Ansari, Mohammad Hasin Ansari, Ahtashamul Haque, Mohammad Sajjad Hussain, Sabina Praveen, Zarina Khatoon, Mohammad Shah Alam, Mohammad Nasruddin Ansari, Amir Hussain, Mohammad Riaz Ansari, Mohammad Shahnawaz Ansari, Taj Khatoon, Kalamul Haque, Mohammad Firoz Ansari, Arshad Ansari, Soukat Ansari, Mohammad Nizamuddin Ansari, Mohammad Nasruddin Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Nasruddin Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Nasshad Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Kashad Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Kashad Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Kashad Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Kashad Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Shamshad Ansari, Saibun Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, Mohammad Shamshad Ansari, Saibun Ansari, Aftab Ansari, Aftab Ansari Mohammad Tahir Ansari, Irshad Alam, Noori Khatoon, Mohammad Washid Ansari, Mohammad Allauddin Ansari, Mohammad Imamuddin Ansari, Razia Khatoon, Nargis Naaz, Mohammad Tabrez, Ghulam Sarwar, Mohammad Kalim Ansari, Abdul Ansari, Mohammad Kamal Ansari, Zarina Khatoon, Mohammad Imran Ansari, Mohammad Kalim Ansari, Ainul Ansari, Anwar Hussain, Mohammad Saddam, Noor Alam Ansari, and Saibun Nisha.
Illegal encroachments on BCCL property; 90 per cent of accused are Muslims
These are the same people against whom this lawsuit has been filed. Notices were also issued to them, but they did not bother to give any reply. Not only that, they did not even remain present on given dates despite the Court’s order.
A case has been filed against them in the Real Estate Court in the Sijua area. Now BCCL has issued an advertisement in the newspaper. It warned that the real estate officer of the court has said that if they do not appear in the next hearing, an order will be passed against them.
They have occupied BCCL’s land and plots. They are not attending the court hearing. They are not even responding to the notice. There is a list of 50 such people, of whom 45 are Muslims which is 90 per cent of the total number of accused in this case.
What’s the recurring pattern behind names like Sajjad, Nasruddin, and Aamir repeatedly emerging in cases involving the collective possession of government property under alleged conspiracies? Why do instances of court orders to reclaim government property tend to involve individuals named Washeed, Imran, or Anwar? And why do names such as Zarina, Sabina, and Razia consistently appear in cases of unabashed occupation of government property with claims of victimhood?
BCCL has given the names of those who occupied government property through an advertisement in the newspaper. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
These individuals not only assert ownership of government property but also disregard notices and avoid court proceedings. Are they under the impression that they are above the law or do they anticipate support from a coalition of NGOs, politicians, and journalists, similar to the situation in Haldwani?
Violence when asked to vacate illegal encroachments: What happened in Haldwani?
Haldwani, often referred to as the financial hub of Uttarakhand due to its significant commercial and industrial activities, should ideally have efficient transportation and freight facilities, typically facilitated by railways in India. However, rampant encroachment and illegal occupation of railway land in Haldwani became a persistent problem, and even the police struggled to address it. This encroachment garnered support from various Muslim leaders, lawyers, and journalists nationwide.
It’s crucial to shed light on the role of journalists within this supportive network. OpIndia’s ground report uncovered an individual instructing the crowd on what to say and how to say it. Additionally, it was revealed that these actions would be featured on Aarfa Khanum Sherwani’s video show on ‘The Wire.’ When the time came to vacate the illegally occupied area, a gathering of people occurred. Women and children were involved in sit-in protests, mirroring the protests seen in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh. Videos depicting emotional individuals crying were recorded and widely circulated on social media.
And finally, there is a gang of lawyers, and NGOs, who immediately run to the Supreme Court. The same thing happened here. The Supreme Court stayed the decision to vacate the encroachment. The number of encroachers is not a hundred or two hundred, but it is 50,000.
A situation similar to the BCCL case has arisen here, where despite numerous notices, there has been no response. This encroachment issue is impeding the expansion and development projects of Indian Railways, affecting their progress. In this area, there are a total of 4,365 encroachment cases, including the construction of around a dozen mosques. The Uttarakhand High Court had issued an order to remove these encroachments in Gafoor Basti, situated in the Banbhulpura area of Haldwani. However, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted the process.
Moreover, these individuals are also involved in illegal mining activities along the Gola River, posing significant risks and causing damage to railway tracks and bridges. This unlawful mining has been ongoing since 1975. In the recent outbreak of violence, it was discovered that weapons had been stockpiled in this area, and even madrasa students were drawn into the conflict. All these strategies appear to follow a recurring pattern.
Where does the mentality of illegal occupation of government property come from?
This mentality is not limited to just Dhanbad and Haldwani; it is prevalent across various regions. When a group gathers to offer namaz on public roads, causing traffic disruptions, it emboldens such behaviour. Similarly, when a protest mob occupies roads for an extended period, as seen in Shaheen Bagh, and millions of Delhi residents are inconvenienced without any effective resolution, it fuels this mentality. The construction of dargahs on public land, including roads and forests, with offerings like chadar, further reinforces this mindset.
When there are incidents of illegal encroachment, and misuse of government property causing problems to the common people, it should not matter whether the person doing so is a Hindu or a Muslim. BCCL had said in its annual report in 2017-18 that the company had 526 acres of land that was illegally occupied. Many of these lands have also been cleared of encroachments. For the safety of the mines and for long-term operation, it is necessary to evacuate the encroachments or illegal constructions that are in the vicinity.
Under these circumstances, it would not be astonishing if Dhanbad witnesses violence similar to Haldwani, accompanied by a series of sit-in protests. Subsequently, some excited individuals may step forward to represent them, seeking a Supreme Court stay order. Such actions against encroachments may be portrayed as oppression against Muslims, with foreign media being informed of alleged discrimination against Muslims in India. The problem of unlawful encroachment may become overshadowed, transforming the entire issue into a narrative of Muslims versus the Modi government. The future developments in this case will be worth observing.
On Sunday (24 September), Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh held a meeting with the senior officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) regarding plans to extend the India-Myanmar border fencing by 70 kilometres. The aim of extending the border fencing is to curb the influx of illegal immigrants in Manipur from the neighbouring nation Myanmar.
The State Chief Secretary and BRO officials, the state police, and the Home Department were present at the meeting.
Taking to X, the Manipur CM wrote, “Held a meeting with the officials of BRO and deliberated the plan to begin construction of an additional 70 km of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. I was joined by Chief Secretary, DGP & officials from the Home Department.”
Held a meeting with the officials of BRO and deliberated the plan to begin construction of an additional 70 km of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. I was joined by Chief Secretary, DGP & officials from the Home Department.
Calling it an urgent necessity, the Manipur CM added, “In view of the rise in illegal immigration and drugs smuggling from the neighbouring country, safeguarding our porous borders has become an urgent necessity.”
Notably, the meeting regarding the extension of border fencing comes a day after the Manipur CM urged the Centre to ‘permanently close’ the Free Movement Regime (FMR). This FMR policy permits individuals from both sides of the border to travel up to 16 kilometres within the neighbouring country without any documents or visas.
The aim of the FMR policy was to facilitate trade and commerce while also permitting unrestricted movement for people from ethnically related communities in both nations. However, it has been criticised for enabling cross-border illegal activities and the influx of illegal immigration along with the smuggling of drugs and arms from Myanmar.
Manipur has a 400-km long international border with Myanmar and less than 10% of it is fenced. The remaining porous border is prone to cross-border illegal activities.
The challenging topography of the region, among other factors, makes it difficult to fence the entire border. Nevertheless, experts maintain that certain areas, where most illegal activities occur, can be more easily secured with fencing.
Earlier in July, the Manipur government started the process to collect biometrics of illegal immigrants from Myanmar. The ministry said that the campaign will continue in all districts until biometric data of all illegal Myanmar immigrants in the State are successfully captured. The campaign is targeted for completion by September 2023.
It is notable that the union home ministry has directed the states of Manipur and Mizoram to complete the process of capturing biometric data of illegal migrants by September this year.
Under the campaign, the biometric data of anyone who enters India from Myanmar will be collected. This will help the government identify illegal immigrants easily. Reportedly they will be included in a “negative biometric list” so they cannot become citizens of India later.
Additionally, the authorities completed the border fencing along 10 km of the Manipur-Mizoram border by July, this year.
It is notable that illegal immigration from Myanmar is a major cause behind the recent violence in Manipur. The Meiteis alleged that a large number of Kukis from Myanmar entered the state with the help of local Kukis, and later settled in forest lands.
It is also found that such immigrants carry out large-scale poppy cultivation on forest land. Moreover, the Manipur government in July had informed that at least 718 Myanmar nationals illegally entered the state in a week’s time alone.
On 22nd September, the Canadian House of Commons gave a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, a World War II veteran who fought for “Ukrainian independence” against Russian aggressors. This is how the speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, introduced him. The 98-year-old war veteran, however, was a member of a SS unit established in 1943 by the Nazis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present during the occasion.
A 98-year old Ukrainian who fought for Hitler's Nazis in World War II just received a huge round of applause in the Canadian Parliament
In his address, Rota said, “We have here in the Chamber today a Ukrainian-Canadian World War II veteran who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russian aggressors then and continues to support the troops today, at the age of 98. Mr. Yaroslav Hunka is in the gallery, and I am so proud to say he is from North Bay in my constituency of Nipissing–Timiskaming. He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for his service.”
Associated Press identified Hunka as a war veteran who “was in attendance and fought with the First Ukrainian Division in World War II before later immigrating to Canada” in a caption of the image that had Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau applauding Hunka in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada.
AP identified Hunka as a war veteran linked to the First Ukrainian Division. Source: AP
The First Ukrainian Division and its history
The 14th SS-Volunteer Division “Galicia” was a World War II Nazi Germany military formation made up predominantly of military volunteers with a Ukrainian ethnic background from the area of Galicia. This region was under Soviet control but had a population that didn’t support communism. When the Germans attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, they were initially seen as liberators by Ukrainians in the area.
In his book ‘The SS: Hitler’s Instrument of Terror [Archive link], Gordon Williamson gave details about the formation and fall of the First Ukrainian Division. According to the book, The First Ukrainian Division, originally named the 14th Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS (Ukrainische Nr 1), also known as the “Galicia” Division, was created during World War II in the western part of Ukraine. The division was formed in 1943 by SS-Brigadeführer Wächter, a Nazi Party leader and a high ranking high-ranking member of the SS, with as many as 70,000 volunteers coming forward to join.
It is notable that SS was the main paramilitary group under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and was primarily responsible for running Holocaust operations. 14th SS-Volunteer Division Galicia was made up of volunteers, which means that Yaroslav Hunka joined the unit on his own will, and was not conscripted.
In mid-1944, the division faced its first major combat in an attempt to halt the Soviet summer offensive. The division formed a battle group known as SS Kampfgruppe Beyersdorff for action against Soviet and Polish partisans. It succeeded initially and was praised by German military bosses.
However, Galicia faced major setbacks in subsequent battles, and the unit was almost completely destroyed, leaving only 3,000 survivors out of 14,000 troops. After the war, many lost soldiers operated as partisan units behind Soviet lines due to their solid anti-communist views.
Later, new volunteers joined the division and were dispatched to Czechoslovakia to quell the Slovak uprising and to Yugoslavia to combat Tito’s partisans. In the war’s final days, it fell under the command of the Ukrainian National Army and surrendered to the Anglo-American forces. However, due to some confusion, many members were able to avoid being forcibly repatriated to the Soviet Union.
It is safe to say that Yaroslav Hunka, who has been presented as a Canadian and Ukrainian war hero, fought for Hitler during World War II.
The war criminals of World War II and Canadian connections
The members of the First Ukrainian Division have been deemed war criminals by several experts. However, Canadian inquiry into their history did not recognise them as war criminals. Interestingly, there is clear evidence that Canada housed at least 3,000 war criminals. Canadian authorities established a commission to look into war criminals, and the commission headed by Justice Jules Deschenes submitted its report in December 1986 titled “Commission of Inquiry on War Crimes“.
According to the commission report, in February 1949, the immigration applications of the members of the Galicia division were rejected by the Canadian authorities on the groups of them being members of the German Wehrmacht or the SS. However, in May 1950, the Canadian Cabinet decided to give Ukrainians who were lodged in the United Kingdom at that time to be admitted to Canada following special security screening. The cabinet categorically said that they should “not be rejected on the grounds of their service in the German Army”.
The Canadian Jewish Congress opposed the admission of war criminals into Canada, or then termed as “prisoners of war” in the documents after the objections by the CJC, the Ministry of Immigration issued instructions to hold the immigration and assured the CJC that the individuals would be carefully scrutinised.
The CJC furnished two sworn statements, out of which one had events posterior to the hostilities, an indeterminate date, and a list of 94 suspects from the Galicia Division. Sadly, they could not bring witness statements to the table to support the allegations, giving the Ministry of Immigration a clear path to let the division members into Canada. The report noted that approximately 600 Galicia Division members were living in Canada in 1985.
‘It was acceptable to admit war criminals as Canada overall benefitted’
There are some alternate views on Canada allowing POWs. In his book, ‘Unauthorised Entry: The Truth about Nazi War Criminals in Canada, 1946-1956’, [Archive link] Howard Margolin pointed out that at one point, the preoccupation of immigration officials shifted from the threat of Nazi infiltration to the possibility of entry of communists in the country. He also argued that based on the country’s laws, Canada was not a “safe haven” for war criminals, as suggested by some experts.
He further argued that the entry of Nazi war criminals and collaborators into Canada after World War II was caused by those who entered the country using forged identities or false information about their wartime history. He added that those individuals were not intentionally admitted into Canada. Rather, their entry resulted from insufficient information or accessibility to verify their wartime activities. According to Margolian, the immigration of 1.5 million people to Canada between 1945 and 1955 was considered an overall benefit. Therefore, it was deemed acceptable to take the risk of admitting approximately 2,000 war criminals.
Clean chit to the First Ukrainian Division
In its report, the Commission gave “clean chit” to the Galicia Division. The report noted that the Galicia Division could be held collectively responsible for war crimes. Every member of the division underwent individual security screenings before entering Canada, and there was no “concrete evidence” supporting accusations of war crimes against them. These allegations were first made in 1950 and renewed in 1984 but were never proven. Simply being a member of the Galicia Division is not enough for prosecution, especially when there was no proof of involvement in or awareness of specific war crimes. Therefore, no members of the Galicia Division can be prosecuted for citizenship revocation or deportation, as Canadian authorities were aware of the facts in 1950. Their admission to Canada was not based on false representation, fraud, or concealing important information. Out of the 217 officers reported to Canadian authorities, 86 per cent never entered Canada, 11 have passed away in Canada, 2 left for other countries, 16 lack a clear case against them, and the last one could not be located. The Galicia Division members were given clean chit not because they were not involved in war crimes but because of the fact that there was no enough evidence available against them.
Jewish groups condemn the development
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, an advocacy group of Jewish Federations across Canada, said that they are deeply troubled & disturbed that a veteran of a Nazi SS division was given a standing ovation in Canadian Parliament. CIJA said that while the Canadian Jewish community backs Ukraine in the war with Russia, they can’t ignore whitewashing of war crimes committed by Ukrainians during Holocaust.
CIJA tweeted, “We are deeply troubled & disturbed that a Ukrainian veteran of the infamous 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS – which actively participated in the genocide of Jews – was celebrated with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament. Canada’s Jewish community stands firmly with Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. But we can’t stay silent when crimes committed by Ukrainians during the Holocaust are whitewashed.”
We are deeply troubled & disturbed that a Ukrainian veteran of the infamous 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS – which actively participated in the genocide of Jews – was celebrated with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament. #Canada's Jewish community stands…
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Canada-based Holocaust education and antisemitism promotion organisation, also expressed dismay over the ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, and demanded an apology from the Canadian government.
“FSWC is appalled that Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others. An apology and explanation is owed,” they tweeted.
FSWC is appalled that Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.
FSWC also issued a press release saying that it “is deeply disturbed over the Canadian Parliament’s recognition of a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.”
“FSWC is further outraged that parliamentarians in the House of Commons gave a standing ovation to the former soldier on Friday,” said the group. They added that the Canadian parliament ignored that Yaroslav Hunka “served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented.”
Canada a ‘haven’ for war criminals
In 2014, National Post quoted Nazi Hunter Steve Rambam saying that Canada was a haven for World War II war criminals and they would likely never face justice. Back in the 1990s, he posed as a university researcher and interviewed one of the war criminals, Antanas Kenstavicius. He told Rambam that he was a police chief in Lithuania, and his unit, under the supervision of Germans, rounded up 5,000 Jews. They were locked up for a week. Women among them were raped. Then, they were all lined up naked in a ditch and were shot dead. It took the police unit six days to kill them all by gunfire. In 1997, Canada finally started proceedings to deport Kenstavicius, but at that time, he was 90 years old and died on the same day. This was one of the many cases that went unnoticed due to a lack of evidence or evidence being destroyed with time.
India called Canada a ‘safe haven’ for terrorists and gangsters
On 21st September, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said that Canada has a growing reputation as a safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and organised crime. Taking a strong stance on Canada for its inaction against the criminals even after sharing the information, and making an important remark on the current diplomatic issue, Arindam Bagchi said, “If you’re talking about reputational issues and reputational damage, if there’s any country that needs to look at this, I think it is Canada and its growing reputation as a place, as a safe haven for terrorists, for extremists, and for organized crime. And I think that’s a country that needs to worry about its international reputation.”
He added, “Safe haven is being provided in Canada, we want the Canadian govt to not do so and take action against those who have terrorism charges or send them here to face justice. We’ve sought either extradition request or assistance related to that, at least more than 20-25 individuals we’ve requested over the years, but the response has not been helpful at all.”
The diplomatic relations between India and Canada have been severely strained due to the Canadian government’s expulsion of a top Indian diplomat on 19th September. The expulsion followed an inquiry into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau considers Nijjar to be a “Canadian citizen” and suspects the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in his murder despite lacking evidence. In retaliation, the Indian government expelled a Canadian diplomat. Amid the ongoing diplomatic tensions, the Canadian High Commission in India has announced a temporary adjustment in its staff presence and has requested security for its diplomats and consular officers in India. These actions have created a significant diplomatic controversy even though Canada had previously made baseless allegations.
India and the United Nations have launched a joint “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative” that aims to share India’s development experiences, best practices and expertise with partner countries in the Global South through capacity building and training programs, said a release from the United Nations.
According to the official release, the initiative was announced at an event titled “India-UN for the Global South–Delivering for Development” in New York on 23 September 2023 in the presence of the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The event also saw the participation of Dennis Francis, President of the 78th General Assembly, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa, Tandi Dorji, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan, Vince Henderson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy, Dominica, Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Guyana.
Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mauritius, Alva Romanus Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs, St. Lucia, Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Maldives, Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP, Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Commissioner for India were also present in the event.
The “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative” builds upon the extensive cooperation in development and capacity building that India already has bilaterally with its partner countries, the release said.
The India-UN initiative also complements the India-UN partnership in the form of “India-UN Development Partnership Fund” which has developed a portfolio of 75 development projects in 61 countries in the last 6 years.
As part of this initiative, the UN India team and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will partner to leverage India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation platform to share India’s development experiences and best practices across the world.
The release informed that a Joint Declaration of Intent was also exchanged on Sunday between the UN Resident Coordinator in India and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to this effect.
This Initiative will also operationalise the development-relevant deliverables of India’s G20 Presidency, including the G20 Action Plan for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs, technological transformation and building Digital Public Infrastructure, among others.
The united nations marked the initiative as a significant contribution to global efforts towards accelerating momentum for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by strengthening South-South Cooperation and reflects India’s continuing efforts to strengthen its development partnership with the Global South. The release added that the initiative carries forward the successful G20 Presidency of India which saw inclusion of the voice of Global South into the G20 agenda and entry of the African Union into the grouping.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Sunday (24 September), US space agency NASA’s OSIRIS REx spacecraft released the capsule that contains a piece of near-Earth asteroid named Bennu. As per official information, the capsule descended through space for four hours and then entered the atmosphere over California, subsequently landing about 13 minutes later in Utah.
The #OSIRISREx spacecraft has released the capsule containing a piece of asteroid Bennu. The capsule will plummet through space for four hours, enter the atmosphere over California and land about 13 minutes later in Utah. https://t.co/lK5QmILjtjpic.twitter.com/gECoNC1sHU
The sample capsule contains an estimated 8.8 ounces (250 grams) of asteroid rocks and soil from asteroid Bennu and it landed near Salt Lake City at 10:55 AM ET today (8:25 PM IST). A recovery mission has been launched to locate and retrieve the capsule.
Earlier in the day, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft reached within 63,000 miles of Earth’s surface which is about one-third the distance from Earth to the moon. From there, the spacecraft released the sample capsule at around 6:42 AM ET.
The capsule then travelled for four hours at 27,650 miles per hour and entered Earth’s atmosphere at around 10:42 AM ET (8:12 PM IST) off the northern California coast at an altitude of about 83 miles above the surface. 13 minutes later, the capsule finally landed at an area on the defence department’s Utah Test and Training Range near Salt Lake City. Parachutes were deployed to slow the capsule to a gentle touchdown at 11 miles per hour (17.7 kilometres per hour).
Notably, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security and Regolith Explorer. This seven-year mission planned to study what scientists have described as the most dangerous rock in the Solar System began in 2016 when it lifted off with an aim to collect samples from the Bennu asteroid. It then began orbiting Bennu in 2018 and the spacecraft later collected the sample in 2020 using a long sting vacuum and subsequently set off on its lengthy return trip to Earth in May 2021.
Now, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft has brought back the pristine sample collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. It’s NASA’s first time returning an asteroid sample from space. Earlier, Japan had collected around a teaspoonful of samples in two asteroid missions.
The capsule has no GPS tracker onboard so it was spotted using long-range telescopes and infrared cameras, BBC reported. Recovery and researchteams are reaching the landing site in 4 helicopters, and they will take lots of precautions before retrieving the capsule. First, they will conduct an aerial study to confirm that it is not damaged. After that, they will wait for the capsule to cool down so that it is safe to handle. The capsule reached temperatures up to 2,760° Celsius while descending through the atmosphere. The teams have been training for it for months and conducted several simulations of the capsule recovery.
A clean room has also been set up by NASA at the location to handle the capsule.
As per official information, Bennu is a carbonaceous asteroid which means that it has a lot of carbon in it, perhaps 5-10% by mass. It is expected that Scientists could see a mix of rocky fragments in a range of sizes – from a few millimetres across down to dust-sized. The material will appear very dark, almost black, and very crumbly.
(Image Source – NASA/BBC)
The asteroid Bennu was discovered in 1999. It is a ‘rubble-pile asteroid’ meaning that it is a large jumble of space rocks compressed together by gravity. It is believed that these rocks got broken off from a larger body, and are about 4.6 bn years old which means it is approximately the same time as the solar system, the Guardian reported.
The asteroid is orbiting the sun 81 million kilometres from Earth, and its surface is so loose that Osiris-Rex’s vacuum arm sank a foot or two into the asteroid. As a result, it sucked up much more sample than anticipated, and the lid of the container was jammed.
Regarding the sample, NASA said, “Pieces of 4.6bn-year-old space rock ‘act as a time capsule from the earliest days of our solar system.” The samples will be flown to a new lab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the container will be opened.
Strikingly, the asteroid is known to be rich in carbon-based substances and water-containing clay minerals. This suggests that liquid water was once present on the larger body from which Bennu formed.
Researchers believe the samples collected could help scientists understand the ingredients that went into making planets including our own. It could also help them understand how those materials came together to create environments suitable for life.
It is believed that Bennu will likely also have a lot of water bound up in its minerals, perhaps as much as 10% by mass. Similarly, akin to carbon chemistry, the delivery of water through asteroid impacts might offer an explanation for the abundant presence of H2O on our planet.
After the release of the capsule, OSIRIS-REx resumed its tour of the solar system and is now headed towards a different asteroid named Apophis for a detailed study.
A 6-month-old baby boy in the United States was nearly eaten alive by rats that bit him over 50 times while he slept in his crib this past week, On September 13, the incident occurred in Indiana. Officers from the Evansville Police Department arrived at a “rodent-infested” home after the child’s father David Schonabaum called to report that his 6-month-old son seemed to have sustained major bite injuries.
The police found that the baby’s fingers had been chewed and the infant suffered over fifty bite wounds on his forehead, cheeks, nose, thighs and foot. After his fever dropped to 93.5 degrees, the baby boy was transported to an Indianapolis hospital, where physicians gave him a blood transfusion. The normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees, according to the Mayo Clinic. As per the boy’s vitals, he had moderate hypothermia as well as hypoxemia.
According to Sergeant Anna Gray of the Evansville Police Department, the doctors told the police that due to severe blood loss, the baby required blood transfusions and his fingers were amputated due to the damage caused by rat bites.
Highlighting the neglect on the part of the wounded infant’s parents, Sgt. Gray said, “Their excuse was that they did not hear the child cry.”
Inside the victim’s room, detectives reportedly discovered clutter and trash, including discarded food items. There looked to be rodent footprints in the blood, as well as rodent faeces and several items in the room that appeared to have been chewed on by rodents, according to police. Authorities allegedly discovered rodent faeces, rat traps, and a bait box in other rooms of the house. According to police, the residence had a terrible stench in the kitchen and basement.
Meanwhile, police have arrested and jailed the baby’s father David Schonabaum, and his wife Angel Schonabaum is being held on a bond of $10,000. In an arrest affidavit, police detective Jonathan Helm stated, “All four of (the victim’s) fingers and thumb on his right hand were missing the flesh from the top of them, exposing fingertip bones. The damage to (the victim’s) index and pinky fingers was the most severe, as they were missing flesh halfway down each finger.”
The victim child’s aunt Delania Thurman told the police that her oldest child and eldest child of the Schonabaum couple told their teacher on September 1 that they were bitten by rodents. On September 5, Thurman told the Child Services Department officials that their house had a “normal” number of rats. Now, the Schonabaum couple and Delania Thurman are facing multiple charges of child neglect.
