Praises have been sung about the great display of Shivaji’s military might when on 10th November 1659 the Maratha king thrust his tiger claws into the body of Bijapur sultan Afzal Khan killing the tyrant once and for all. The ‘Wagh Nakh’, meaning tiger claws, is set to return to its homeland in Maharashtra from the United Kingdom.
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is set to visit London this month to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Victoria and Albert Museum for the return of the heritage weapon. The ‘Wagh Nakh’ is on display in the same museum.’
The weapon, which was in the possession of Shivaji Maharaja’s descendants in the Satara court, was given to an East India Company officer James Grant Duff. After his service, Duff took the tiger claws to Britain, and the weapon was further donated by his descendants to the museum.
Mungantiwar said that it is likely that the Wagh Nakh might be back in time to celebrate the anniversary of the day when Shivaki killed Afzal Khan.
“We have got a letter from the UK authorities saying they have agreed to give us back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja’s Wagh Nakh. We might get it back for the anniversary of the day when Shivaji killed Afzal Khan, based on the Hindu calendar. Some other dates are also being considered and the modalities of transporting the Wagh Nakh back are also being worked out,” the Maharashtra minister said.
He added that besides signing the MoU, the possibility of the return of legacy objects like Shivaji’s Jagadamba sword will also be looked at. “The fact that the tiger claws are on the way back is a big step for Maharashtra and its people. The date of Afzal Khan’s killing is November 10 based on the Gregorian calendar but we are working out dates based on the Hindu tithi calendar,” Mungantiwar said.
According to the government resolution issued by the cultural affairs department, Mungantiwar, principal secretary of culture Dr. Vikas Kharge, and Dr. Tejas Garge, director of Maharashtra directorate of archeology and museums will visit V&A and other museums in London.
Maharashtra will reportedly spend around Rs 50 lakh for the three-member team’s six-day visit from 29th September to 4th October.
What is the ‘Wagh Nakh’ or tiger claws?
The story of the origins of Wagh Nakh can be traced to the Dhanur Veda, a vast subject dedicated to the field of weaponry, combat, and military science at large. Wagh Nakh is an ‘Amukt Shastra’ (अमुक्त शस्त्र) according to the Agni Purana, an ancient guide text referred to forging weapons in the Maratha empire.
‘Amukt Shastra’ literally means a weapon that can be worn as a part of the body. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj chose this particular weapon because the meeting with Afzal Khan was a close meeting with several strategic restrictions agreed upon by both sides. The Wagh Nakh was also the most effective weapon from the point of view of Afzal Khan’s tall built.
However, Shivaji Maharaj knew his adversary Afzal Khan too well and knew that Khan might betray and violate the terms of the meeting, which he ultimately did. Hence Shivaji Maharaj, as per folklore, designed the Wagh Nakh himself so as to be armed with a hidden weapon for when Afzal Khan attacks.
The Wagh Nakh serves as a remarkable testament to ancient India’s military might. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha king revered across India, is believed to have personally conceived and designed this concealed weapon for a specific mission, harnessing the knowledge and techniques preserved in the Agni Purana. It remains a testament to India’s rich heritage of weapon craftsmanship and strategy.
The Wagh Nakh is made of steel and has four claws mounted on a bar with two rings for the first and fourth fingers. State officials define the weapon as a first-loading, claw-like dagger designed to fit on the knuckles. It can be concealed under and against the palm and has 4 sharp curved blades fixed on a crowbar or glove. The weapon is designed to perforate the skin, muscle, and even the bone.
Moreover, like many pointed weapons, the tips of the tiger claws were usually laced with poison so that in case the injury caused by the weapon wasn’t enough, the poison would spread in the body and kill the enemy. This also ensured to reduce the kill time and early death of the enemy.
It is believed that Shivaji Maharaj revived the Wagh Nakh from the ancient text Agni Purana. This was a turning point in the history of Hindu civilisation as the Chhatrapati enabled the restoration of such warfare technology which was hidden in the annals of time.
How did Shivaji kill Afzal Khan using the tiger claws?
The glories of Shivaji’s victory in this one-on-one battle are sung to this day all across India but more particularly in Maharashtra, MP, and Karnataka.
Afzal Khan was taller and had a bigger built than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Maratha king was clear that a backup was needed should Afzal Khan betray him in the guise of the peace meeting and needed a potent weapon that would ensure Khan’s death.
For this purpose, the Chhatrapati studied human physiology. He identified such parts of Khan’s body which were well within his reach for attack. He identified two such areas – the abdominal area and the liver. He chose to arm himself with an Amukta Shastra, the Wagh Nakh, to tear his abdomen, followed by an attack with a sharp knife to draw his intestine out. Wagh Nakh when worn by a fighter looks like a set of rings in the fingers.
Afzal Khan had made it his life’s mission to defeat and kill Shivaji, the Maratha king who through his excellent strategic thinking and combat skills always managed to defeat and escape Afzal Khan. A perplexed and desperate Khan, commander of the Adilshahi dynasty in the Bijapur Sultanate, had treacherously killed Shivaji Maharaj’s elder brother when he was 13. Afzal Khan is also responsible for the destruction of several Hindu temples.
Khan’s strategy was to bring Shivaji into the open in the Deccan plains against the rocky plateau where Shivaji had an advantage and overpower him since they outnumbered the Marathas. Armed with over 20,000 Adilshahi cavalry and 15,000 infantry over 6,000 light cavalry and 3,000 light infantry of Marathas, Khan and Shivaji met on the foothills of Pratapgarh.
Shivaji sent out an emissary to Khan that he did not want to fight and wanted peace. The Maratha king knew his adversary too well and had come prepared. They decided to meet unarmed with just 10 bodyguards each, who would stay within an arrow’s distance from the two men. A towering figure, Khan hugged Shivaji, but in a treacherous move, tried to kill him with a sword, as Shivaji had expected.
But the Chhatrapati’s armor saved him from harm. Shivaji armed with the Wagh Nakh (tiger claws) disemboweled Khan. A hand-to-hand combat ensued where the Marathas, though having been outnumbered by Adilshahi forces, emerged victorious. An apt visual representation of how Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzal Khan has been made in the Marathi movie “Sher Shivraj”.
In yet another attack on a Hindu temple in Canada, the Khalistani terrorists vandalized the Shree Mata Bhameshwari Durga Devi Society in Surrey British Columbia. As seen in the pictures emerging on social media, anti-India graffiti with the slogan “Punjab is not India” was sprayed on the walls of the Hindu temple.
Taking to X, Sameer Kaushal, News Director at Radio AM600 in Richmond, BC, posted that the Surrey police has been alerted about the incident. “SurreyBC Shree Mata Bhameshwari Durga Devi Society, a Hindu temple, has been vandalised with black spray paint. These kinds of cowardly attacks are on the rise to create terror amongst the community. @SurreyRCMP has been notified,” Kaushal wrote.
Notably, this is the second incident wherein the Khalistani terrorists targeted a Hindu temple in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia. On August 12, two Khalistan supporters defaced a temple in Surrey with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti. The Khalistani terrorists had placed posters at the entrance of the temple in a bid to terrorise the Hindu community. The poster advocated for a referendum pertaining to “the assassination of Hardeep Nijjar” and investigating India’s role in the terrorist’s assassination.
Attacks on Hindu temples in Canada
On February 17, unknown miscreants defaced a Ram temple in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti.
On January 31, the Gauri Shankar Mandir was desecrated by Khalistani extremists in Brampton city in Ontario province of Canada. The walls of the temple were defaced with anti-India graffiti by Khalistanis associated allegedly with the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The vicious slogan of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ was found spray-painted on the outer wall of Gauri Shankar Mandir.
In September 2022, some Khalistani terrorists defaced BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto with anti-India slogans. Several videos circulating on social media showed slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ painted on the walls of the temple.
In February 2022, six Hindu temples were attacked in Toronto.
On Friday, September 8, social media users went into a frenzy after pictures and videos emerged showing former India cricket captain MS Dhoni playing golf with former USA President Donald Trump. The rendezvous reportedly occurred at the invitation of the former US President.
Hitesh Sanghvi, a Dubai-based businessperson, was the first to share a photo of Dhoni playing golf with Trump at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey on his Instagram account.
No sooner, the photograph of the duo in their golfing attire, with Dhoni’s trademark long hair and Trump’s familiar red MAGA cap began to circulate widely on social media platforms including X, the excitement of Dhoni’s fans peaked.
“Former US President Donald Trump hosted a Golf game for MS Dhoni. – Thala fever in USA….!!!” a user @invicibl39 wrote on X, formerly Twitter, sharing the video of the duo playing golf.
“Goat playing Golf,” another Dhoni fan wrote. The acronym G.O.A.T. stands for “greatest of all time,” especially used to praise exceptional athletes, musicians and other public figures and celebrities.
“Thala Dhoni playing Golf with Former USA President Donald Trump !!” another MS Dhoni ardent admirer wrote, sharing the video where the duo is seen playing a friendly round of golf.
Notably, the word ‘Thala’ means ‘head or ‘leader’, in the Tamil language. Since Dhoni was the Captain of the India cricket team, he is often referred to as ‘THALA DHONI’ by his fans.
According to reports, Dhoni has been holidaying in the USA. On his US trip, he was invited by the former president of the United States Donald Trump to play a game of golf.
The photo surfaced a day after Dhoni was spotted attending the quarter-final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev at the US Open 2023. During a break, when Alcaraz was drinking fluids and getting ready for the game to resume, the camera caught Dhoni in the stands. The presenters also focused on Dhoni, who was seen conversing with two friends and sharing a laugh.
On 7th September 2023, India Today held a live debate on their show ‘To The Point’. In this show, India Today’s anchor Preeti Choudhry and Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai heckled the Bharatiya Janata Party’s spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala. Preeti Choudhry discourteously shouted at him and misquoted his words while Rajdeep Sardesai lost his mind and took personal jibes at the BJP leader calling him a ‘low level’. Preeti Choudhry – the anchor of the show – also said that Shehzad Poonawala is on the debate to get cheap popularity.
The debate was about the yet undisclosed agenda of the upcoming special session of the parliament called on 18 September 2023.
In his X post, Shehzad Poonawala accused Rajdeep Sardesai of misbehaving with him off the camera after the debate while leaving the studio.
Continued interruptions
Throughout the debate, Shehzad Poonawala was interrupted when he started to talk. When he would give a rebuttal to the interruption and come back to the original point of discussion, he was denied time to put his views citing that only he was talking continuously. Preeti Choudhry and Rajdeep Sardesai both interrupted Shehzad Poonawala multiple times and did not allow him to complete the original issue he was addressing after he answered the objections raised by them.
Rajdeep Sardesai in the opening remarks was allowed ample time to put his position that the Narendra Modi government in the centre had violated the conventions if not the rules of the constitution or the parliament while calling the session. He contended that it has been the tradition of the parliament to communicate the agenda of the session seven days before the session date. After Rajdeep Sardesai completed his talk, Shehzad Poonawala asked at the very beginning of his rebuttal that he expected no interruption by anyone. However, Rajdeep Sardesai interrupted him within a few seconds.
‘Two-minute fame’ and ‘Low Level’ jibes
As the discussion was heated by repeated interruptions by Rajdeep Sardesai Shehzad Poonawala countered him for every point he raised. But before Poonawala could complete his point, anchor Preeti Choudhry cut his talk in between and tried to take the debate ahead. When Shehzad Poonawala objected to this, Preeti Choudhry said that he had come to the show for ‘two minutes of fame’. Shehzad Poonawala cleared that he goes only to the debates where his party sends him to put the stand and Preeti Choudhry’s show would be the last place he would go to seek the two minutes of fame she was talking about.
Preeti Choudhry started shouting at Shehzad Poonawala after this fierce rebuttal. At the same time, Rajdeep Sardesai called him ‘low level’. Shehzad Poonawala, during this debate, had pointed out that if Rajdeep Sardesai is quoting the convention of disclosing the agenda of the session seven days prior to the session date, the upcoming special session was 11 days away and he could wait as the parliamentary affairs minister will communicate it at an appropriate time. Rajdeep Sardesai then shifted his stance and said that it was expected that the agenda be shared at the same time the session was announced, and claimed that it has been the convention so far.
Misquoting Shehzad Poonawala at the end of the debate
During all the heated talks, Preeti Choudhry also discourteously showed Shehzad Poonawal a ticking stopwatch when he asked for a proper time to answer the interruptive claims by Rajdeep Sardesai. She also said that her show is very small and if Shehzad Poonawala continues to talk any further ‘he is welcome to leave the debate’. Concluding the show, she said that the BJP spokesperson has asserted that his party will share the agenda of the upcoming session 7 days before the session starts and the accountability of the same lies with him; whereas Shehzad Poonawala had nowhere said so in the debate.
He was just bringing it to Rajdeep Sardesai’s notice that what he calls the convention of communicating the agenda to various parties before the session commencement is generally told a week before the session. Besides, Shehzad Poonawala had quoted many occasions when Congress governments did not share the agenda till the session started. However, Preeti Choudhry misquoted Shehzad Poonawala at the end of the debate. It is notable that none of the two India Today ‘journalists’ objected to Sanjay Jha calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a fascist and dictatorial during Jha’s short turn which he could get because of the continuous interruption of the two and Shehzad Poonawala’s quick rebuttal to their interventions in between.
Shehzad Poonawala calls out India Today’s chief
Shehzad Poonawala took it to X and posted the whole video with a detailed description of the events in the caption. He also asked India Today’s chairperson Aroon Purie and India Today’s news director Supriya Prasad a few questions. He wrote, “Dear Aroon ji, 1) Can your journalist, for any reason, call me cretin and low level? Let us assume I am completely wrong- even then is this justified? Is it a crime for me to keep the version my party trusts me to? 2) Can your anchor say I am here for two minutes of fame when my party has chosen to send me? The same anchor does not stop Sanjay Jha once for making the most despicable comments on PM Narendra Modi but if I defend my party and leader I am abused? 3) Can your anchor twist my words and misquote me blatantly at the end? 4) If somebody interrupts every fifteen seconds and I call out their pro-Congress tilt. Is this what is being justified by abusing and shouting at me? Merely because I wish to factually rebut allegations thrown at my party?”
Putting the entire debate I had this evening on @IndiaToday out- no edits, no cuts- full debate. Do watch & see
THE DEBATE ENDED WITH ABUSES HURLED AT ME BY @sardesairajdeep – CALLED ME CRETIN, LOW LEVEL
In this post, Shehzad Poonawala also accused Rajdeep Sardesai of misbehaving with him off the camera. He wrote, “After the debate, when cameras go off, Rajdeep hurls abuses at me- calls me a cretin and low level. (Shouts at me along the hallway and elevator even as I tell him I do not wish to talk) – I am sure other cameras have captured this. Rajdeep in the past has asked Sambit Patra to shut up, allowed Supriya Srinate to call me a goon on national TV and justified it. (Videos are available)”
Preeti Choudhry wrote on her X handle, “A heartfelt apology to the viewers of – To The Point – sadly today we became what we despise – a shouting match! For those few who do watch our ‘very small show’ regularly, you do know this is not how I conduct my debates – we live.. we learn but I also promise always to stand up and stare down a bully! Cause that’s the only way I know.” Without naming Shehzad Poonawala, she called him a bully when actually it was Preeti Choudhry who was shouting at him and raising her voice in the guise of moderating the debate.
A heartfelt apology to the viewers of – To The Point – sadly today we became what we despise .. a shouting match! For those few who do watch our ‘very small show’ regularly 🙂 you do know this is not how I conduct my debates – we live.. we learn but I also promise always to…
Shehzad Poonawala’s post was reshared by many X users exposing how India Today’s ‘journalists’ ganged up to bully the BJP spokesperson. However, no clarification in this regard is given by the chairperson or the news director of the media group.
The world is looking towards India, quite literally. New Delhi is set to host the Group of Twenty (G20) Heads of State and Government Summit on 9th and 10th September. The 18th G20 Summit will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies across India under its presidency.
A G20 Leaders’ Declaration is expected to be adopted at the conclusion of the New Delhi Summit, stating leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings.
Bharat Mandapam, also known as the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex, is the venue of the G20 Summit in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. It was inaugurated on 26th July by PM Modi.
The timing of India’s G20 Presidency couldn’t have been more significant in that India has also hosted and participated in key global summits at the same time. India was president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in December 2022; with the new year, India convened the Global South Summit; in May 2023, India attended the G7 and Quad in Japan.
Nataraja statue made of Ashtadhatu (eight metals) is installed at the Bharat Mandapam. It is 27 feet tall and weighs 18-ton. It was sculpted by the renowned sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapaty of Swami Malai in Tamil Nadu.
It also hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and participated in the BRICS summit in South Africa. This goes on to show that India’s aspired growth is gaining momentum.
What is the G20?
The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. In 2008, it was upgraded to the level of Head of State/Government in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis of 2007. In 2009, it was designated the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”.
The G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating Presidency. It consists of two parallel tracks: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track. Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors lead the Finance Track while Sherpas lead the Sherpa Track after Finance Track.
The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. The G20 initially focused largely on broad macroeconomic issues, but it has since expanded its agenda to inter-alia including trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption.
The theme
The theme of India’s G20 Presidency is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. It is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.
Another key focus of the theme is LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) highlighting the Modi government’s dedication to climate change and environment by encouraging environmentally sustainable and responsible choices. The G20 website describes India’s Presidency as the beginning of “Amritkaal”, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on 15th August 2022 leading up to the centenary of its independence.
Who will attend and who will not?
Members of the G20 include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, and European Union; Heads of States and Governments along with delegates will be in attendance.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping will reportedly give the global event a miss. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will be attending in place of Jinping. Reports claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin will also not be attending the Summit. In a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28th August, Putin reportedly cited his “busy schedule” and the “special military operation” in Ukraine for not being able to attend the G20 Summit.
Delegates attend Ganga Aarti in Varanasi hosting the 4th Culture Ministers’ Meet
Nations that are not part of the G20 but have been invited by India include Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, the regular international organizations invited to the Summit include United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Besides, heads of regional organizations invited include the African Union (AU), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and ASEAN. India is also inviting some international organisations as guests including International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
4 Sherpa meetings held
India hosted the first G20 Sherpa meeting in Rajasthan’s Udaipur from 4-7 December 2022. The meeting set India on course for its Presidency as it outlined its priorities and agenda for the same. A first-panel discussion was also held here on Sustainable Development Goals, technological transformation, green development, and LiFE; accelerated, inclusive, and resilient growth; multilateralism and food; fuel and fertilizers; women-led development, tourism, and culture.
1st Sherpa Meeting hosted in Udaipur from 4-7 December 2022
The second G20 Sherpas meeting took place in the village of Kumarakom in Kerala from March 30 to April 2 this year. The four-day gathering saw over 120 delegates from G20 Members, 9 invitee countries, and various international and regional organizations. The second meeting saw two key side-events namely Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Green Development.
2nd Sherpa Meeting in Kumarakom in Kerala held from 30 March to 2 April this year
DPI saw stakeholders like NASSCOM, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL). The event saw an address by distinguished global figures from the Digitech industry. India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant led discussions with the G20 Troika including India, Indonesia, and Brazil.
The third Sherpa meeting was held in Hampi, Karnataka from 13-16 July 2023 where members released a declaration covering the G20’s six priorities. These include Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), green development, multilateral development banks (MDBs) reforms, digital public infrastructure, gender equality, and incorporating the outcomes from the various working groups.
Delegates welcomed for the 3rd Sherpa Meeting held in Hampi, Karnataka from 13-16 July
India also proposed the African Union’s membership to the G20 in this meeting. “The African Union, comprising of 55 nations, if admitted, would further amplify the voices from emerging countries and the global south in G20 forum,” a press release on the meeting read.
The fourth and final Sherpa meeting began on 3rd September in Haryana’s Mewat and concludes today, 7th September, two days ahead of the G20 Summit. The meeting has laid down the final agenda for the upcoming 2-day Summit. Climate change and energy have been the key focus of the meeting. Moreover, the agendas of the G20 Summit will be decided in this meeting.
G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that the PM has instructed that the communique should be inclusive. “I can assure you that it would be inclusive, decisive, ambitious, and action-oriented…we will go ahead with PM’s vision. G20 will have a multiplier impact on international and domestic tourism…Every person that has come is saying that they never had an experience like India…There are many issues like crypto and AI that need international cooperation, and we are working on that…”
India – The Voice of the Global South in the G20
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has helmed the G20 with the “Voice of Global South” into a new world order. On 12th January 2023, about a month after taking over the G20 Presidency, India virtually hosted the “Voice of the Global South Summit” with an aim to “shape the emerging global order”.
In a hard-hitting opening statement, PM Modi said, “Most of the global challenges have not been created by the Global South. But they affect us more. We have seen this in the impacts of COVID pandemic, climate change, terrorism, and even the Ukraine conflict. The search for solutions also does not factor in our role or our voice.”
The Prime Minister called for a global agenda of “Respond, Recognize, Respect, and Reform”. “In the last Century, we supported each other in our fight against foreign rule. We can do it again in this Century, to create a new World Order that will ensure the welfare of our citizens. As far as India is concerned, your Voice is India’s Voice. Your Priorities are India’s Priorities,” the PM said.
Modi’s message has echoed far and wide especially looking at the representation India has made for Africa in the global discourse. India has proposed to make the African Union a permanent member of the G20. In an interview with PTI last week, PM said that India’s affinity to Africa is natural. “We have had millennia-old cultural and commerce ties with Africa. We have a shared history of movements against colonialism. As a youthful and aspirational nation ourselves, we also relate to the people of Africa and their aspirations.”
The Modi government, in the run-up to its G20 Presidency, has advocated for the inclusion of Africa at the global stage. In 2018, PM Modi during his address at the Ugandan Parliament declared that Africa is India’s top priority. For a continent that continues to be exploited for its resources by the West, India has leveraged its position as a rising alternative to China in Asia to underline the significance of anti-colonial nations.
On the issue of debt restructuring especially for the Global South under India’s Presidency, the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) was initiated earlier this year. Three meetings of the GSDR have been held so far and the parties – including co-chair IMF and World Bank – have agreed on urgently improving information sharing, including on macroeconomic projections and sustainability assessments at an early stage of restructuring.
BRICS too has pitched for the voice of the Global South to be amplified at the G20 Summit. PM Modi in his statement in the BRICS Leaders’ Meeting said that the alliance should place its priorities on the agenda and activities of G20. The same was reiterated in the joint statementreleased at the summit.
PM Modi with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the BRICS summit (Source: Narendra Modi/Twitter)
The statement read, “We look forward to the successful hosting of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi under the Indian G20 Presidency. We note the opportunities to build sustained momentum for change by India, Brazil and South Africa presiding over the G20 from 2023 to 2025 and expressed support for continuity and collaboration in their G20 presidencies and wish them all success in their endeavors. Therefore, we are committed to a balanced approach by continuing to amplify and further integrate the voice of the global South in the G20 agenda as under the Indian Presidency in 2023 and the Brazilian and South African presidencies in 2024 and 2025.”
Moreover, PM Modi called for the BRICS to be the voice of the Global South. He underlined India’s close partnership with Africa and reaffirmed India’s commitment to support Africa in its development journey under Agenda 2063. It must be mentioned that the first head of state to arrive in the national capital for the G20 summit is Nigerian President Tinubu.
President Tinubu of the West African country of Nigeria is the first Head of State to arrive in New Delhi for the G20 Summit (Source: G20 India/Twitter)
How China’s expansionist aggression in the Indo-Pacific and trade wars with major Western powers presents an opportunity for India
12 member nations of the G20 are stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific region including South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, US, and Mexico. The countries have a direct Indo-Pacific coastline. With China’s expansionist aggression in the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea, concerned countries are turning to India which has shown promise with its steps to protect the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
India’s plans to shore up the defense capabilities of Indo-Pacific countries, BrahMos sale to the Philippines, coastal surveillance vessels to Vietnam, and logistics agreements with many countries have displayed India’s strategic prowess. These deals and developments are rather a culmination of India’s global diplomacy with strong bilateral ties at its foundation.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Indonesia for the 20th ASEAN-India summit and the 18th East Asia summit comes two days before the G20 Summit. PM in his remarks at the ASEAN-India Summit said that India completely supports ASEAN’s centrality and its outlook on the Indo-Pacific. India has also contributed to the ‘ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum’ by organizing a panel discussion on digital public infrastructure and its importance for enhancing digital transformation and inclusivity.
PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the ASEAN meet in Jakarta, Indonesia (Source: Narendra Modi/Twitter)
“ASEAN region has a significant place in India’s Indo-Pacific initiative,” the PM said in his address in Jakarta. Modi reiterated that “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” is the theme of India G20 Presidency, thereby projecting to the ASEAN that India is already on the path which the region is pursuing through its theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”.
PM Modi at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit (Source: Narendra Modi/Twitter)
Not only regional allies but European powers too are increasingly relying on India giving a big boost to the latter’s free and open Indo-Pacific initiative. In July this year, India and France agreed to intensify maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
In August, Italian Ambassador to India Vincenzo De Luca said that the two countries would sign a bilateral defence pact. Italian vessel ITS Morosini also arrived in Mumbai last month as part of its five-month naval diplomacy campaign across the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) was a key focus during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to India in February this year. The above-mentioned developments gathered pace after the Modi leadership launched initiatives like ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) which was announced by the Prime Minister in 2016 with an aim to “actively pursue and promote our geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, in particular the Indian Ocean.”
Besides the Indo-Pacific, India’s unmatchable fight against COVID-19 and its post-COVID economic recovery under the Modi leadership has helped the country make its case with regional blocs like ASEAN. Modi’s remarks at ASEAN vis a vis the G20 and ASEAN themes show that India is not a mere alternative to China in Asia but a force in its own right to be reckoned with.
In fact, Mission SAGAR – under the SAGAR initiative – was launched to deliver COVID-19-related assistance to the countries in the Indian Ocean region. Essentially, with Mission SAGAR, the Modi government hit two birds with one stone so far as its foreign policy is concerned.
India has not succumbed to the pressure of making G20 all about Russia-Ukraine and has pushed for a peaceful resolution through dialogue while also signaling to the West that its regional concerns are just as much a priority
The mainstream media already seems to have declared the G20 Summit a failure based on their self-defeating coverage of how the West wants India’s Presidency to issue a strong statement on Russia-Ukraine. But even if the EU and G7 have tried and pushed to make G20 all about the Russia-Ukraine war for their own interests, which displays a rather colonial attitude, India adopted a rational and all-inclusive approach. In this regard, India not only brokered dialogue between all stakeholders but has at the same time not given into it entirely so as to keep its own regional and global interests a priority.
As far as the Russia-Ukraine war is concerned, India kept all channels open for dialogue and through its policy made it clear to the West that this is not India’s battle to fight by refusing to taking sides. Reports quoting Indian officials at the G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank chiefs in February said that India was crystal clear about its G20 Presidency policy in this context. A report by Reuters quoted an official saying that sanctions on Russia were not a G20 issue. “G20 is an economic forum for discussing growth issues,” the official reportedly said.
In July, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant reportedly said that the Ukraine war was not on India’s list of priorities for outcomes from its presidency. The message was a clear signal that India will not let go of the opportunity to display its global leadership. Prime Minister Modi in an interview with a French daily, Les Echos, said that India’s stand has been clear, transparent, and consistent on the Ukraine war. “I have said that it is not an era of war. We have urged both sides, to resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy. I told them that India is ready to support all genuine efforts that can help bring this conflict to an end.”
India’s approach did get the Western powers on edge even as it has extended humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has called for peace talks several times. In a manner of speaking, India’s larger foreign policy built on bilateral relations was at its finest when EAM took on the West for its double standards and the Prime Minister on the other hand said that today’s era was not the era of war at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in September 2022.
To sum it up, India has held a persistent approach and policy on the Ukraine war. Its repeated attempts to broker talks between Russia and Ukraine, while also not letting the stakeholders’ position derail its policy shows that India has indeed drawn the world’s attention to Asia. India’s role has undoubtedly become consequential in more ways than one; it holds the reigns to changing the global dynamics.
Other focus areas covered effectively under India’s Presidency
Among the other key areas India has focussed on in its Presidency is infrastructure under the theme “Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient” under the G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG). Discussions were centered around laying the foundations for an urban infrastructure that is sustainable, in view of the challenges posed by climate change, and also digitally advanced.
Global financial issues also remained a key point of the G20 discourse. Crypto, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) reforms, and debt restructuring were also discussed in the context of post-pandemic economic recovery. For India, the key focus during its Presidency has been to create financially viable models that attract private sector investments.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar addressing delegates on Day 3 of the B20 Summit
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in an op-ed underlined that the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meetings “focused on innovative themes and best practices for the restoration of land, maintenance of water security, and fostering collaborative partnerships to combat climate change.”
He highlighted India’s contribution to the same with the ban on single-use plastics, notifying extended producer responsibility and e-waste management rules, achieving ethanol blending targets ahead of schedule, and the work on the development of the Green Credit program integrating the principles of Mission LiFE into economic activities.
Besides this, initiatives taken by India – including the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the National Green Hydrogen Mission – have made India the torchbearer in combatting climate change. Notably, India’s greenhouse emissions rate dropped by a staggering 33% in 14 years with the rise in renewable energy generation and an increase in forest cover.
Education, healthcare, agriculture, energy, tourism, and culture are among the many subjects covered in the past nine months. Several G20 working group meetings were conducted in cities across several states including Varanasi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Indore, Mumbai, Guwahati, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and more.
As part of a Familiarisation Programme, a media delegation from #G20 countries took a journey on the #VandeBharat Express between Gandhinagar and Mumbai. The delegation were amazed at the indigenous engineering and hospitality of the train ride. #G20Indiapic.twitter.com/cIsPCcbmG9
Over 200 meetings have been organized in and around 60 cities across India, the widest geographical spread in any G20 Presidency. A new Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), a new Engagement Group “Startup 20” and a new Initiative Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable (CSAR) have been operationalized in India’s G20 Presidency. The 11 Engagement Groups provide a platform for dialogue among the private sector, academia, civil society, youth, and women, as well as institutions including the Parliaments, audit authorities, and urban administrations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message ahead of G20 Summit
PM Modi on Thursday (7th September) published a blog titled “Human-Centric Globalisation: Taking G20 to the Last Mile, Leaving None Behind”. Setting the tone for the upcoming Summit, he said that “a shift away from a GDP-centric view of the world to a human-centric view is needed.” The second point, he said is that the world is recognizing the importance of resilience and reliability in global supply chains.
PM Modi addressing the inaugural session of the 4th Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Varanasi
“Third, there is a collective call for boosting multilateralism through the reform of global institutions. Our G20 Presidency has played the role of a catalyst in these shifts,” the PM wrote. The PM called for the democratization of climate action “to impart momentum to the movement”.
Speaking about the importance of including millets in order to ensure food and nutritional security, he said, “Due to the impact of climate change, ensuring food and nutritional security will be crucial. Millets, or Shree Anna, can help with this while also boosting climate-smart agriculture. In the International Year of Millets, we have taken millets to global palates.”
The Prime Minister spoke about how women have played a central role in making India the fastest-growing economy in the world.
#G20India A presidency of healing, harmony and hope!
As we move closer to the #G20 Summit in New Delhi, here's an overview of new initiatives undertaken during India’s G20 presidency to address Global Challenges. pic.twitter.com/8JzoL72xM1
“That India is the fastest-growing large economy is no accident. Our simple, scalable, and sustainable solutions have empowered the vulnerable and the marginalized to lead our development story. From space to sports, economy to entrepreneurship, Indian women have taken the lead in various sectors. They have shifted the narrative from the development of women to women-led development. Our G20 Presidency is working on bridging the gender digital divide, reducing labor force participation gaps, and enabling a larger role for women in leadership and decision-making,” Modi wrote.
The key message in the blog written by the Prime Minister in the run-up to the G20 Summit was, “For India, the G20 Presidency is not merely a high-level diplomatic endeavor. As the Mother of Democracy and a model of diversity, we opened the doors of this experience to the world.”
The opposition parties have often chastised the BJP-led government for supposedly creating fewer job opportunities for the country’s youth. Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, has repeatedly criticized PM Modi, claiming that the national government, led by the BJP, makes false promises to India’s youth regarding massive employment opportunities. He has also on several occasions accused PM Modi of ‘snatching’ away jobs from youths. Recently, in the year 2021, Gandhi criticized PM Modi, claiming that the PM would discuss everything but unemployment. He further stated that the government only works for a few industrialists and not for ordinary individuals.
In addition, when India welcomed eight cheetahs in 2022, Gandhi took a jab at the Prime Minister, claiming that while eight cheetahs had arrived, no job opportunities had arrived in the previous eight years. Furthermore, the Congress had in mind to mark September 17, Modi’s birthday, as “National Unemployment Day.”
Apart from Rahul Gandhi many opposition leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, CPI General Secretary D Raja, etc. have also spoken against PM Modi and accused him of allegedly keeping up over the issue of poverty and unemployment in India. On September 6, the newly formed I.N.D.I.A alliance also wrote to PM Modi and said that they wanted certain issues such as unemployment, price rise, and Manipur violence, among others, to be discussed.
The first Rozgar Mela was organized in October 2022
However, the government led by PM Modi has always made massive efforts to fulfil the promises made by it to the citizens. This set of promises includes providing and opening crores of job opportunities for able youngsters of India.
PM Modi has always owned a long-term vision when it comes to generating and providing employment opportunities. He believes that when the country is heading towards becoming self-reliant, India just can’t afford to remain stagnant. While prioritizing generating employment, PM Modi on several occasions has pressed on buying local products, building new startups, and becoming ‘Aatmanirbhar’.
As per the Prime Minister, if people use local goods for the next 25 years, then the country will not have to face the issue of unemployment. Also, building new startups might open huge employment opportunities for the youth.
Apart from this, the central government also has launched the ‘Rozgar Mela’, a recruitment drive for 10 lakh personnel. The event was first launched in the month of October 2022 and during the event, around 75,000 youngsters were issued letters of appointment, as stated by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
In June 2022, PM Modi had asked various government departments and ministries to conduct the recruitment of 10 lakh people on a mission mode in around 12-18 months from then. As directed by the Prime Minister all Ministries and Departments began working towards filling up existing vacancies against sanctioned posts in Mission Mode.
Poster released by the Government for PM Rozgar Mela 2023
What is Rozgar Mela?
The Rozgar Mela is an initiative towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vow to give top emphasis to job creation. The Rozgar Mela serves as a catalyst for increased job creation and meaningful possibilities for youth empowerment and engagement in national development. To be more specific, it is an employment strategy that facilitates the meeting of job seekers and employers.
The appointed individuals under the said initiative in October 2022 were supposed to join the government at various levels viz Group – A, Group – B (Gazetted), Group – B (Non-Gazetted), and Group – C. Further, the appointments under this initiative were made for the post of Central Armed Force Personnel, Sub Inspector, Constable, LDC, Steno, PA, Income Tax Inspectors, and MTS, among others.
The new appointees under Rozgar Mela have the chance to impart knowledge through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online module on the iGOT Karmayogi platform with over 400 e-learning courses available for ‘anywhere, any device’ learning.
Before the year 2022, the government organized Rozgar Melas ensuring a parallel growth in the private and industrial sectors as well. As per the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), in the year 2019, more than 700 Rozgar Melas were organized and around 93 thousand candidates were selected by the private companies in the said initiative.
8 editions of Rozgar Mela conducted in the year 2023
In the current year around 8 Rozgar Melas have been organized by the Central Government in 45 locations across India since January 2023. In January this year, PM Modi distributed around 71,000 recruitment letters to youngsters under the PM Rozgar Mela 2023. As per reports, the newly appointed recruits were provided positions such as junior engineers, locomotive drivers, technicians, police inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables, and stenographers, within the Income Tax department and with various government-run education and health-related organizations, as well as in PA roles.
PM Modi while addressing the attendees during the first Rozgar Mela of the year 2023 had said that “providing jobs to 71,000 youngsters was like providing good life to around 71,000 families.” The PM also congratulated the individuals who obtained government jobs during the event.
In February 2023, PM Modi distributed another 71,000 appointment letters to the Rozgar Mela organized in the state of Uttarakhand. PM Modi remarked during his virtual address that large-scale investments in Uttarakhand helped to create new job possibilities for the youth in the state. “This is the Amrit Kaal of unprecedented opportunities for the country’s youths,” stated PM Modi during his virtual address.
“Large-scale investments in the infrastructure sector in Uttarakhand are not only boosting connectivity to remote villages but also creating new employment and self-employment opportunities for youths near their homes so the state’s youths return to their villages,” PM Modi was further quoted as saying.
Further, in March 2023, PM Modi addressed the Rozgar Mela organized in the state of Gujarat and said that around 1.5 lakh youngsters in the state of Gujarat had obtained government jobs in the last 5 years. “When the wheels of development are in motion, employment opportunities are created in every sector. Experts from all over the world believe that India will become the biggest manufacturing hub in the coming years. The holistic approach of development by the government is generating employment on a large scale,” he was quoted as saying.
Addressing the Gujarat Rozgar Mela. Best wishes to the newly inducted appointees. https://t.co/1ZqmkxiHVR
The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of preparing a large number of qualified workers for the country’s new opportunities, stating that India has the potential to become the world’s third-largest economy. In order to ensure that every sector of society benefits from skill development, the Prime Minister stated that the government will provide equal opportunities to Dalits, the disadvantaged, tribals, and women from all regions.
Rozgar Mela organized in 45 places across India
In April 2023, the government distributed around 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in Government departments under Rozgar Mela. The appointment letters were issued for the posts of Train Manager, Station Master, Sr. commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Inspector, Sub Inspectors, Constable, Stenographer, Junior Accountant, Postal Assistant, Income Tax Inspector, Tax Assistant, Sr Draughtsman, JE/Supervisor, Assistant Professor, Teacher, Librarian, Nurse, Probationary Officers, PA, MTS, among others.
Posts to be filled during Rozgar Mela 2023
Rozgar Mela was also held on May 16, 2023, in 45 places across the country as part of the Prime Minister’s resolve to give top priority to job creation. On the occasion, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur handed over appointment letters for various posts to 28 youths in Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur urged them to work for the government with complete dedication and integrity in order to eradicate corruption in government departments. He advised students to enter the government service to serve the nation rather than only pursue a government job.
“New employment opportunities have been created in the private sector along with the government sector in the country. The State Governments are also being encouraged to do the work of filling up the vacant posts. The government’s focus is now on employment,” he added.
The central government has set a target of providing 10 lakh jobs in government services, under which job fairs are being organized at the national level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By May this year, around 2,88,000 appointment letters had been handed over across the country in these Rozgar Melas.
Letters in June issued on the day when Tiranga was accepted by the Constituent Assembly for the first time in 1947
On June 13, another event of Rozgar Mela was organized in which PM Modi distributed around additional 70,000 recruitment certificates. In the month of July, too, more than 70,000 appointment letters were given to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organizations.
The new recruits were scheduled to serve in various Ministries and Departments across the country, including the Department of Revenue, Financial Services, Posts, School Education, Higher Education, Defence, Health and Family Welfare, Central Public Sector Undertakings, Water Resources, Personnel & Training, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, among others.
The event was organized in 45 places across the country. Also, the appointment letters were issued on the day when the Tiranga was accepted in its current form by the Constituent Assembly for the first time in 1947.
The Prime Minister expressed his delight that the new recruits were receiving their appointment letters for government services on such a historic day, and he encouraged them to carry the country’s name forward. He also emphasized the opportunity to contribute to the aim of Viksit Bharat came as a result of the new recruits’ hard work and perseverance at a time when India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
And, the latest, the 8th edition of the Rozgar Mela 2023 was organized in the month of August in which the Prime Minister distributed around 51,000 recruitment certificates. Through this event, the Ministry of Home Affairs recruited personnel in various central armed police forces (CAPFs) such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Shashtra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as well as Delhi Police.
The Rozgar Mela is a step in fulfilling Prime Minister Modi’s promise of generating jobs. It is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for increased job creation in the coming year.
While oppositions claim that the unemployment rate in India is soaring to its all-time high, future historians will note that during his nine years as Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi has worked to prioritize generating jobs and institutionalizing the government recruitment procedure by instituting the practice of holding regular Rozgar Melas and enacting reforms like the elimination of interviews to ensure transparency in hiring.
At the same time, the PM has also helped the Startup movement and educated the public about alternative employment opportunities outside of the government. This led to a 300-fold increase in start-ups to about 100,000 companies, more than 100 unicorns, and India’s ranking as the third-best start-up ecosystem in the world. This also has led to an increase in the opening up of crores of private employment opportunities to the youth of the nation.
On Wednesday, September 7, Shivanthi Sathanandan, the second vice chairwoman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) said that was beaten and carjacked in front of her young children. Ironically, Sathanandan who once advocated for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department is now calling for stricter crime laws.
.@Shivanthi Sathanandan, the vice chair for the Democrat Party @MinnesotaDFL in Minnesota, virulently advocated for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department even as neighborhoods in the city were burned to the ground by #BLM–#Antifa rioters.
The DFL leader lamented the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, demanding that the four accused young men be taken into custody and prosecuted. Sharing a picture of her bloodied face, Sathanandan wrote, “Four very young men, all carrying guns, beat me violently down to the ground in front of our kids.”
Sathanandan said that she sustained cuts, and bruises and was left with a broken leg after four young men armed with guns attacked her outside her home while her 4-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son screamed for help. The incident took place on Tuesday at around 7:45 p.m.
An enraged Sathanandan continued that she the accused may have done a similar thing before and that yet they are roaming freely on the streets.
“These men knew what they were doing. I have NO DOUBT they have done this before. Yet they are still on OUR STREETS,” Sathanandan wrote.
While Shivanthi Sathanandan now calls for the prosecution of those who attacked her, she had once vowed to ‘dismantle‘ the Minnesota Police Department accusing them of “systematically failing the black community” and is now suggesting measures to curb crimes in the city.
A 2020 Facebook post by Shivanthi Sathanandan calling for the dismantling of the Minnesota Police Department
“I’m now part of the statistics. I wasn’t silent when I fought these men to save my life and my babies, and I won’t be silent now. We need to get illegal guns off of our streets, catch these young people who are running wild and creating chaos across our city and HOLD THEM IN CUSTODY AND PROSECUTE THEM,” Sathanandan stated in her Wednesday post.
“Look at my face. REMEMBER ME when you are thinking about supporting letting juveniles and young people out of custody to roam our streets instead of HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS,” she added.
In a Facebook post in June 2020, however, she praised the Minneapolis School Board’s decision to end the Minnesota Police Department’s contract and wrote, “MPD should have no place in our children’s schools.”
Meanwhile, Minneapolis police confirmed the incident and said that Sathanandan’s car was later found, however, none of the accused have been apprehended.
Interestingly, Sathanandan towards the end of the said Facebook post thanked the “incredible” Minnesota Police Department for helping her during the “terrifying” incident.
“Thank you to the incredible Minneapolis 4th Precinct Officers, Mayor Frey, Chief O’Hara, Paramedics, neighbors, friends and DFL family, who all came to our aide during this terrifying experience. I’m so grateful for this community that wraps us in love,” Sathanandan added.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi started another of his frequent ‘foreign tours’ yesterday. He arrived in Brussels, the Belgian capital and the headquarters of the European Union.
#RahulGandhi is in Brussels as a part of his reach out program in Europe tour, organised by Indian Overseas Congress
On September 7, the official handle of the Indian Overseas Congress shared Rahul Gandhi’s itinerary, listing his schedule for the day. The Congress prince was scheduled to meet EU Parliamentarians in the afternoon, then ‘civil society’ in the evening followed by a press conference and a ‘diaspora meet’ later.
Rahul Gandhi is going to be in Paris, France on 8th-9th September, The Hague, Netherlands on the 10th and 11th of September, and finally Oslo, Norway, on 11th-12th September.
In Brussels, Rahul Gandhi met with EU Parliamentarians Alviina Alametsa and Pierre Larrouturou, among others. Congress shared images from the meetings where Rahul Gandhi and Sam Pitroda were seen with MEPs.
Shri @RahulGandhi at a round table with MEPs in the European Parliament, co-hosted by MEP Alviina Almetsa (Shadow Rapporteur on EU-India Relationship) and MEP Pierre Larrouturou (portfolios within Parliamentary budget, climate & employment generation).
MEP Pierre Larrouturou enthusiastically shared images with Rahul Gandhi, and praised him as a ‘great figure of Indian democracy’. “
“Very honored to welcome Rahul Gandhi to the European Parliament today. He is one of the great figures of Indian democracy and has been fighting for years against the ultra-nationalism of the Modi government. With MEPs from 7 different groups, we had a very interesting discussion on human rights, social justice, and the fight against climate change”, Larrouturou posted on X.
Very honored to welcome @RahulGandhi to the European Parliament today ??
He is one of the great figures of Indian democracy and has been fighting for years against the ultra-nationalism of the Modi government.
MEP Pierre Larrouturou was one of the key figures behind the anti-India resolution passed in the EU parliament in July over the Manipur issue.
In a long social media rant, Pierre Larrouturou even made it clear that the EU resolution was specifically timed to target PM Modi’s France visit.
Pierre Larrouturou before PM Modi’s France visit
The EU parliament held an urgent debate on the Manipur situation on 12th July 2023 in its plenary session in Strasbourg. This discussion came just before Narendra Modi’s state visit to France on the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron as the Guest of Honour at the country’s Bastille Day Parade. The discussion was scheduled under ‘Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the Rule of Law’.
Pierre Larrouturou, representing the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, took the lead in proposing the resolution titled ‘India, the situation in Manipur’.
The resolution was firmly dismissed by India. In a strong statement, taking cognizance of the EU parliament trying to needlessly interfere in India’s internal affairs, the MEA had basically asked the EU parliament to ‘mind their own business’. “The European Parliament would be advised to utilize its time more productively on its internal issues”, the statement by Indian MEA read on July 13.
Alviina Alametsa, who Rahul Gandhi met in Brussels, was also one of the MEPs who were behind the resolution. Alametsa has been a vocal anti-India campaigner in Europe. In January this year, she participated in a discussion with Prashant Bhushan and Shahrukh Alam, hosted by The London Story, an organization that has been linked to ISI.
Alvinna Almetsa’s event in India ahead of Repulic Day
In July, speaking in the EU plenary, Alametsa stated that external observers must be allowed into Manipur to ‘monitor’ the situation and bring a peaceful resolution. She claimed that the status of human rights and press freedom is deteriorating in India and called for interference in India’s internal affairs.
My deepest condolences to those affected by the violence and human rights violations in Manipur. We must end the violence and find a peaceful resolution to the situation. Here is my complete address to the European Parliament on the situation. pic.twitter.com/bqtoXTw8CR
In January this year, Disinfolab shared how FTLS, the organization that hosted Alametsa’s talk, has deep nexus with ISI and Jamaat. In a detailed thread, they shared how Alametsa has been a part of ISI’s effort to lobby against India in the EU.
How deep Pak connect of these fronts are? This year FTLS has engaged Member of European Parliament (MEP), Alviina Alametsä. Coincidently she's also engaged by Pak ISI, alongside Fabio Massimo Castaldo & Maria Arena to rake up #Kashmir issue in the EU against #India.
Alviina Alametsa has been relentless in her campaigning against India, writing columns, lobbying, and campaigning against Indian interests in the EU. In January 2021, she wrote an article in the EU Observer calling for EU’s support for interfering in the ‘human rights’ situation in India.
In her India-centric interactions and narrative, Alametsa has been using platforms to promote or support all anti-India voices, from Teesta Setalvad to Sanjiv Bhat, and Stan Swamy.
Rahul Gandhi and his meetings with anti-India forces
It has been almost a pattern. Whenever Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, at least on the occasions his meetings and travel details are shared by his party, he is seen seeking out anti-India lobbyists and politicians to meet. The meetings almost always have the same talking points, how the democracy in India is allegedly in danger, how the human rights situation is worsening, and how only he, as the leader of the Congress party, can be the ‘solution’ to all those problems in India, that he and his associates claim are arising only because of the Modi government.
Earlier this year, when he was in Washington DC, Rahul Gandhi even allowed the lies and misinformation on CAA to go unchecked. Lies that he is very well aware that led to the 2020 anti-Hindu riots in Delhi just before Donald Trump’s India visit. During his 10-day US tour, Rahul was seen deep in conversation with Sunita Vishwanath at the Hudson Institute. Sunita Vishwanath is the co-founder of HrHR, which alongside Rasheed Ahmed led IAMC, had signed a letter to President Biden asking him to cancel the State Dinner hosted for PM Modi.
A Disinfo Lab investigation revealed that the ‘Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR)’ had been promoting the misleading narrative of ‘Hindu vs. Hindutva’. The same organization was also seen endorsing the ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ event.
Currently, Rahul Gandhi’s alliance partners in India are busy spreading hatred against Hindus. Politicians in power at the state level, who are in alliance with Rahul Gandhi, are declaring that Hinduism is an ‘infectious disease’ and they would like to see it eradicated.
Rahul Gandhi has been openly seeking foreign powers to interfere in India’s internal affairs
The instances of Rahul Gandhi seeking ‘foreign help’ for his political gain in India are numerous. After losing election after election, failing to win the trust of the Indian people democratically, he has started declaring to global Leftists that India is a country deep in chaos, where democracy is declining and only he can restore it. In April 2021, speaking at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, Gandhi insisted that the US government establishment should ‘say more’ about ‘what is happening in India.
In 2022, at the ‘Ideas for India’ conference in the United Kingdom, Rahul Gandhi had sought foreign intervention again. During his controversial address, Rahul Gandhi signaled his desire for foreign intervention two times. The first one is during the mention of the Russia-Ukraine issue, and the second one is when he criticized Indian diplomats for being unwilling to take orders from Europeans. In the same conference, he had even compared Ladakh to Ukraine, insinuating that it needs a US intervention.
On Thursday (7 September), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lambasted leaders of the I.N.D.I. Alliance for brazenly attacking Sanatan Dharma and giving hate speeches against the Hindu religion.
In a scathing attack, the Chief Minister referred to these leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc as “political parasites” and categorically stated that when Ravan could not destroy Sanatan Dharma with all his arrogance, how can “political parasites” do so?
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "Attempts are being made to point fingers at the Sanatan culture. Attempts are being made to insult our heritage. But they forgot 'Jo Sanatan nahi mita tha Ravan ke ahankaar se, Jo Sanatan nahi diga tha Kans ke ahankaar se, Jo… pic.twitter.com/TiJKtmYCc2
He asserted that many of the leaders have not been able to digest the progress the country is currently making and added that they don’t like India’s rising global prestige and position.
UP CM Yogi fumed, “Attempts are being made to point fingers at our Sanatan culture. Sinister and deplorable attempts are being made to insult and trivialise our heritage. But they forgot that Sanatan, which even Ravan couldn’t destroy with all his arrogance, or didn’t buckle under Kansa and which came out unscathed even in the face of atrocities by Babar and Aurangzeb, can never be eradicated. How can these political parasites eradicate Sanatana? They should be ashamed.”
The Chief Minister further added that Sanatan Dharma is a religion of Humanity and to point fingers at it is akin to putting humanity in danger and it is nothing but an abhorrent act.
He pointed out that there is no religion, creed, or ethnicity that the followers of Sanatan Dharma didn’t help or give protection to during the worst of times. He also noted that Sanatan Dharma or its followers don’t boast of themselves as special (Vishist) or privileged, instead, it believes in ekha sat vipra vahuda vadanti (There can be multiple ways to reach the ultimate truth).
Consequently, he added that even if someone in their foolhardiness doesn’t understand it and tries to spit on the sun then they will only end up humiliating themselves.
He gave these scathing remarks against the I.N.D.I.A. leaders while addressing the public at an event organised to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami at Lucknow on Thursday (7 September).
Earlier, on Wednesday, while addressing the meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, PM Modi categorically instructed Cabinet Ministers that a “proper response” should be given in regard to Udhayanidhi Stalin’s hate speech against Sanatan Dharma.
These statements come in the wake of a spree of hate speeches by leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance who have in a deliberate ploy adopted a well-orchestrated plan to “eradicate sanatan dharma” in the refuge of “eradicating hatred”.
Unfortunately, incidences of Hinduphobia are only on the rise since the son of Tamil Nadu Udhayanidhi Stalin gave a hate speech comparing Sanatan Dharma with diseases and called for its eradication. Since then, many more DMK, Congress, and CPI(M) leaders have made deplorable and abhorrent attacks on Sanatan Dharma.
On Wednesday (6 September), a single-judge Allahabad High Court bench observed that distributing the Bible and imparting good teachings cannot be termed as an “allurement for religious conversion” under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2021.
The High Court’s Lucknow bench, presided over by Justice Shamim Ahmad, passed the order and granted bail to two accused Jose Papachen and Sheeja who belong to the Christian faith and are accused of carrying out religious conversion through allurements and other means.
It is alleged that Papachen and Sheeja, through various allurement, played a major role in the conversion of religion (from Hinduism to Christianity) of villagers who belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.
Earlier, the Special Judge S.C./S.T. Act, Ambedkar Nagar in March this year had rejected their bail application following which they moved an appeal before the Allahabad High Court.
Papachen and Sheeja were earlier booked under Sections 3 and 5 (1) of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act and Section 3(1) of the SC/ST Act. They were arrested earlier this year on the basis of a complaint filed by a BJP functionary in Ambedkar Nagar district.
Following the arguments by both sides, Justice Ahmad observed that there was no material to show that the appellants had used any undue influence or allurement to the said villagers for mass conversion.
According to the Court, the appellants were involved in providing good teachings to children and promoting the spirit of brotherhood among the villagers. Hence, the court further observed that there doesn’t appear to be the existence of any material which would suggest conversion by use of force.
Justice Shamim Ahmad also explained the scope of several Sections of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2021 and asserted that a stranger cannot lodge FIRs under the act.
Justice Ahmad added that as per the mandate of the said provision, only a person who has been converted, his/ her parents, brother, sister, or any other person who is related to him/ her by blood, marriage, or adoption may lodge a first information report pertaining to the allegation of such conversion and no one else.
The court noted that the complainant in the case was not the competent person to lodge an FIR u/s 4 of the 2021 Act.
Regarding this, Justice Ahmad said, “The complainant has no locus to lodge the present F.I.R. as provided under Section 4 of the Act, 2021 and there also appears force in the argument of learned counsel for the appellants that providing good teachings, distributing Holy Bible books, encouraging children to get an education, organising assembly of villagers and performing “Bhandara” and instructing the villagers not to enter into an altercation and also not to take liquor do not amount to allurement.”
Accordingly, the court directed that the accused be released on bail.
Evangelical ‘preachers’ are ‘Christianising’ village after village
Christian missionaries and evangelical organisations are best known for their multilevel marketing techniques. Their network comprises healthcare centres, education centres, and everything that a family living in the hinterland or below the line of poverty is in need of.
With a multi-pronged ploy, they achieve their evangelical and one true objective by firstly detaching the villagers from their roots. In fact, a well-defined and well-designed strategy to uproot the Sanatan society which is the biggest hindrance to the imperialistic goals of the evangelists is to deploy these divisive tropes –
“Tribals are not Hindus,” “Dalits are not Hindus,” “Hinduism is a conspiracy by the upper castes to oppress the lower castes and must be denounced as a religion” and many more. They even don’t shy from maligning the priest or desecrating the Gram Devata shrine’.
The slow indoctrination is coupled with a slyly crafted inculturation campaign. This inculturation includes every possible way to disguise the Gospel in local culture and traditions be it through Yeshu Jayanthi to Yeshu Kathakali.
The concept of inculturation is deeply enshrined in Christianity. It “denotes the presentation and re-expression of the Gospel inform and terms proper to a culture.”
Through techniques like ‘inculturation’ and ‘indoctrination’, evangelists have been achieving success in ‘Christianising’ village after village.
While the exact number of forced or lured conversions is hard to arrive at, according to one estimate in a limited geographical span, the missionaries converted as many as 1 lakh people and adopted 50,000 villages in a span of one year. Claiming that the pandemic lockdown was ‘godsent’, they promised to provide medical aid and two square meals amidst the financial crisis and lured the hapless villagers into the fold of Christianity.
