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New Zealand to ban TikTok on parliament-linked devices after the UK banned the Chinese app on govt phones, both cite security concerns

OpIndia Staff
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New Zealand to ban TikTok on parliament-linked devices after the UK banned the Chinese app on govt phones, both cite security concerns

In a move to strengthen security protocols, New Zealand’s Parliament has officially decided to ban the use of TikTok on all the devices linked to Parliament or its MPs The decision was made due to concerns over potential security risks posed by the Chinese social media platform. This comes a day after the UK banned TikTok on government-issued phones.

TikTok will be banned on all devices with access to New Zealand’s parliamentary network by the end of March, said Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero. The announcement comes after a review of security procedures was conducted by the Parliamentary Service. It was found that TikTok’s data collection and privacy policies could potentially compromise sensitive information that is shared and stored on Parliament’s devices.

Parliamentary Service General Manager, Rafael Gonzalez-Montero stated that “We take the security of Parliament’s information systems and data very seriously. After careful consideration, we have decided to ban the use of TikTok on all parliamentary-linked devices to minimize potential risks.”

Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero further said that TikTok will be banned on all devices with access to New Zealand’s parliamentary network by the end of March. The Members of the New Zealand Parliament were told via email that “the Parliamentary Service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand parliament environment”.

This decision of the Parliamentary Service of New Zealand will impact all parliamentary staff and MPs who use TikTok on their work devices. They will no longer be able to access the app or use it on their devices.

Apart from this, New Zealand’s defence force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have already implemented bans on TikTok on work devices. A defence official said that the move was a “precautionary approach to protect the safety and security” of personnel.

TikTok has been a popular social media platform among young people globally, with millions of active users daily. The app is known for its short-form videos and trendy challenges that have gone viral on various social media platforms.

This move by New Zealand’s Parliament to ban TikTok on their devices follows similar actions taken by other countries. India was the first country to ban Tiktok, many countries later followed suit. India banned the app citing security concerns related to user data privacy and national security. The ban in New Zealand came just after a day the UK government banned the app from all Government devices with immediate effect.

“The security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices. The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review,” UK Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said in a statement. “Restricting the use of TikTok on government devices is a prudent and proportionate step following advice from our cyber security experts,” he added.

The UK government fears that sensitive data kept on official phones could be accessed by the Chinese government through the app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

Oliver Dowden said that now the users of government devices will be able to access third-party apps only from a pre-approved list. However, the ban does not extend to the personal devices of the govt officials. While the govt has not banned TikTok from the use by the public, minister Dowden said that people should always “consider each social media platform’s data policies before downloading and using them”.

The move by the British govt came after it had asked the National Cyber Security Centre to look at the potential vulnerability of government data from social media apps and the risks around how sensitive information could be accessed and used.

TikTok said it was disappointed with the decision and denied any security risk associated with the app. It said that it believes the recent bans are based on “fundamental misconceptions” and driven by wider geopolitics, adding that it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts and rejects spying allegations. The Chinese govt has said that the decision was based on political considerations rather than facts. The move “interferes with the normal operations of relevant companies in the UK and will ultimately only harm the UK’s own interests”, the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement.

The US government has also asked its officials to delete the app from their phones before the end of March. The US government has threatened a full-scale ban if Chinese owners in the app do not divest their stakes.

Several countries have either banned or temporarily blocked access to TikTok over concerns about data privacy and security. Here is a list of some of the countries that have banned TikTok:

India: In June 2020, India banned TikTok and several other Chinese mobile apps citing national security concerns.

United States: In September 2020, the US government issued an executive order to ban TikTok citing national security concerns, although the ban was later put on hold. Currently, the US government is pushing TikTok to dissociate itself from the parent company ByteDance and divest.

Bangladesh: In June 2020, the Bangladesh government banned TikTok for spreading “obscene” content and “spreading falsehoods.”

Pakistan: Pakistan has banned Tiktok several times but the bans were lifted amid Chine government pressure. In October 2020, Pakistan banned TikTok for failing to filter out “immoral” and “indecent” content.

Indonesia: In July 2021, Indonesia temporarily blocked access to TikTok over concerns about “negative content.”

Canada: Tiktok is banned on government phones in Canada, the ban was implemented citing security concerns.

Iran: In January 2021, Iran banned TikTok over concerns about the spread of “immoral content.”

Belgium: Belgian federal government employees are not allowed to use TikTok on their work phones, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on recently

It remains to be seen whether this move by the New Zealand Parliament will influence other organizations to take similar measures. For now, it is clear that the country’s Parliament is taking proactive measures to safeguard its sensitive information and data from potential security threats.

Green carpet laid out for Arvind Kejriwal over garbage mounds as he visits Bhalswa landfill site for inspection, BJP calls him ‘Raja Saheb’

OpIndia Staff
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Green carpet laid out for Arvind Kejriwal over garbage mounds as he visits Bhalswa landfill site for inspection, BJP calls him ‘Raja Saheb’

On Thursday, March 16, Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was greeted with a green carpet at the Bhalswa landfill site in the national capital. Kejriwal had apparently visited the site to inspect the bio-mining work being carried out to remove the garbage piled up at the site.

Sharing pictures of Kejriwal’s visit to the Bhalwa landfill site, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari took a dig at the AAP supremo by calling him ‘Raja Saheb’. The BJP leader tweeted in Hindi, “When he visits the garbage site, he walks on the green carpet because he is a king…AAP’s charades are limitless @ArvindKejriwal ji.”

BJP leader Amit Malviya also shared the picture of Kejriwal walking on a green carpet specially laid out over the garbage mounds for the AAP supremo and used a dialogue from the Bollywood film to take a dig at him. He wrote, “Green carpet welcome at a landfill site for Arvind Kejriwal… Look at your shoes, they are special. Don’t put them on the ground, they will get dirty.”

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kumar also expressed shock at the green carpet welcome accorded to the AAP chief during his visit to a garbage site. Sharing a similar picture, Kumar wrote, “Wow Maharaj… you were once a common man. Now, look at @ArvindKejriwal ji’s style – when he reached Bhalswa to inspect the landfill site, a #GreenCarpet was laid out for sir to walk – lest the shoes would have gotten dirty.”

Meanwhile, after visiting the site, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the garbage mounds in northwest Delhi’s Bhalswa landfill will be cleared by March next year.

“Presently, the landfill held around 5 million tonnes of waste. Over the last two-and-a-half years, 3 million tonnes of waste was removed, but the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which is now under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will work at a faster pace. We are targeting the removal of another 3 million tonnes of waste by December this year,” Kejriwal said after inspecting the bio-mining work at the landfill.

Kejriwal added that while the initial target was to remove 6,500 tonnes of waste per day from Bhalswa, bio-mining work gathered pace and 9,000 tonnes of garbage was processed on Wednesday. “By March-end, around 12,000 tonnes of waste will be removed every day. With the speed at which the work is progressing, the area will be cleared of all garbage by March 2024,” he said.

Notably, Delhi alone generates 11,332 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste every day and only treats 47.2% of it, mainly for energy. The remaining waste ends up in Delhi’s three landfills in Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalaswa. This means that 5500+ tons of waste are added to landfills every day.

Interestingly, during Delhi’s municipal election, the removal of landfills was at the top of AAP’s political agenda. During a visit to ‘Okhla-landfill,’ then-Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia spoke passionately about his plans to eliminate these landfills from the city’s landscape. After winning the MCD elections, AAP’s biggest challenge now is to remove the mountain of garbage that has amassed in these three landfills, pushing the national capital to the brink of a massive environmental disaster.

‘We don’t need madarsas’: Assam CM Sarma says Congress leaders are the new ‘Mughals’ who want to destroy India’s Hindu culture

OpIndia Staff
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‘We don’t need madarsas’: Assam CM Sarma says Congress leaders are the new ‘Mughals’ who want to destroy India’s Hindu culture

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that over 600 madarsas have been shut down in the state because his government believes in establishing universities, schools and colleges rather than funding religious institutions. He was addressing a rally at Belgavi’s Shivaji Maharaj Garden in poll-bound Karnataka, on Thursday.

He asserted that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh pose a threat to the civilization and culture of the northeastern state.

He stated, “People from Bangladesh come to Assam & create a threat to our civilization and culture. I have closed 600 madrassas and I intend to close all madrassas because we do not want madrassas. We want schools, colleges and universities. The new India does not need madrasas.”

Last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader emphasised that Assam has turned into a hub of ‘jihadi operations’ after five ‘jihadi’ modules with connections to Al Qaida-affiliated terror outfits in Bangladesh were busted in the state. 

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for restoring temples and denounced Congress for attempting to undermine the nation. “Once upon a time, the ruler of Delhi used to talk about demolishing temples but today under PM Modi’s rule, I am talking about building temples. This is new India. Congress is working to weaken this new India.”

He also called out the grand old party for its objection to Ram mandir in Ayodhya. “When Ram mandir is built, they (Congress) have a problem. Congress is representing the new Mughals today.”

He spoke against the domination of Mughal empire in Indian history. “The Congress and Communists showed that India’s history was all about Babur, Aurangzeb, and Shahjahan.” He added, “I want to tell that India’s history was not about them but about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh.”

The CM shed light on historical events and remarked that continuous effort was made to annihilate the ‘Sanatan culture’ under Aurangzeb’s reign. “Many people were forcefully converted to Islam. At that time Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took birth and he showed that Bharat Mata can give birth to a son like him who can challenge Aurangzeb.”

Referring to India as ‘Hindu,’ he proclaimed, “Aurangzeb was not able to destroy our ‘Sanatan’ culture. Today India is ‘Sanatan’ and ‘Hindu’ and will continue to remain so.”

He accused communist historians of attempting to prove that Mughals ruled over all of India. “It was not true that Aurangzeb had captured entire India.” He mentioned, that the Mughal emperor never had control over South India or the North East.

Govt announces 10% reservation, age limit relaxation, and exemption from physical test for ex-Agniveers in CISF

OpIndia Staff
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Govt announces 10% reservation, age limit relaxation, and exemption from physical test for ex-Agniveers in CISF

A week after announcing a 10 percent reservation for former Agniveers in Border Security Force (BSF), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday, March 16 announced a similar reservation for ex-Agniveers in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). 

The ministry amended the Central Industrial Security Force Security Wing (Subordinate Ranks) Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ to implement a 10 percent reservation for ex-Agniveers in the CISF.

“In exercise of powers conferred by section 5 read with clause 9(a) of sub-section (2) of section 2 of the Central Industrial Security Forces Act, (50 of 1968), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to further amend the Central Industrial Security Force Security Wing (Subordinate Rank) Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ Post Recruitment Rules 2010,” the MHA notice states.

The Home Ministry also notified relaxation in the upper age limit by up to five years for the first batch.

For the candidates in the first batch of ex-Agniveers, the upper age limit may be relaxed by up to five years. According to a notice released by the ministry of home affairs, 10% of the open vacancies must be reserved for former Agniveers.

The upper age limit will be flexible by up to three years for the following batches of ex-Agniveers, it stated. Ex-Agniveers will not be required to take the physical efficiency test.

“The upper age limit shall be relaxable up to five years for the candidates of the first batch of ex-Agniveers. Ten percent of the vacancies shall be reserved for ex-Agniveers,” the MHA notification reads.

Reservation for ex-Agniveers in BSF

The union ministry of home affairs recently announced that 10% of all vacancies at the Border Security Force will be reserved for the Agniveers after their terms in the army under the Agnipath scheme is over. As the tenure of the Agniveers in the Agnipath is 4 years, this will ensure that ex-Agniveers will have the opportunity to join the BSF after their tenure.

Agnipath Scheme

On June 14, 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with the chiefs of three armed forces, launched the Agnipath scheme for the recruitment of youth in the armed forces. Those who get enrolled in the armed forces under this scheme are called Agniveers. Enrollment under the scheme is open for both men and women for a four-year period, including the training.

The Agnipath scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the armed forces for a short period of four-year. As per the press release by the Defence Ministry, the scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed forces. While 25% of the Agniveers will be absorbed into the army permanently after the 4-year term, the rest 75% will retire.

As the 2024 elections come nearer, Congress begins demonisation of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant

Dibakar Dutta
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As the 2024 elections come nearer, Congress begins demonisation of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant

On Wednesday (March 15), West Bengal Congress leader Kamruzzaman Choudhury courted controversy by comparing the Hindu religious chant of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to ‘Hail Hitler.’

While reacting to a tweet by BJP spokesperson Keya Ghosh about Hindus preparing for celebrating the Ram Navami festival in the state, a rattled Chowdhury dubbed the sacred chant a ‘war cry.’

“Jai Sri Ram is the new “Hail Hitler”. A slogan of pride has been reduced to an intimidating war cry,” he had claimed. The archive of the tweet can be accessed here.

The vicious attempt was to link ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to ‘Hail Hilter’, a Nazi chant dedicated to eulogising Adolf Hitler who oversaw the killing of over 6 million Jews.

Tweet by Congress leader Kamruzzaman Choudhury

At the time of writing, it had been over 40 hours since the tweet was posted by the Congress leader. Despite mocking the sentiments of Hindus, Kamruzzaman Choudhury or the Congress high command did not bother to offer an apology or delete the contentious tweet.

The concerted attempt to demonise ‘Jai Shri Ram’

It must be mentioned that the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ means ‘victory to Lord Rama’ and does not demonise any religion, let alone call for war or subjugation of adherents of other Faiths. However, it has been subjugated to a vitriolic campaign for the past several years for political gains.

This includes raking up of cases, falsely alleging weaponisation of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to commit crimes against ‘religious minorities’ in India. OpIndia has documented how the sacred Hindu chat was defamed by falsely linking it to criminal incidents.

Ahead of the 2024 polls, the Congress ecosystem is leaving no stone unturned in slandering the Hindu faith. It is aware that there will be no consequences for its bigotry as Hindus believe in peaceful co-existence. Lord Ram has been a deity who has been revered across the pantheon of Hinduism for ages.

For Congress leader Kamruzzaman Choudhury to essentially reduce the chant of Hindu reverence of Shri Ram to a ‘war cry’ (as done earlier by the likes of BBC and Wikipedia) is not just motivated by appeasement politics but also aimed at demonising the faith of the Hindu community.

It is now a clear indicator that such attempts to tarnish the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant as a supposedly hate-filled slogan by the Congress ecosystem will continue unabated in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi Police arrest YouTuber Prince Dixit after his video celebrating birthday with a car rally on NH24 went viral

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police arrest YouTuber Prince Dixit after his video celebrating birthday with a car rally on NH24 went viral

On Thursday, March 16, Delhi police took cognizance of a video going viral on social media where some people were seen standing on roofs of cars at National Highway 24 in Delhi’s Pandav Nagar. The people seen in the video were celebrating the birthday of YouTuber Prince Dixit. 

As per reports, prince Dixit has been apprehended by the police.

“Cognizance of the matter has been taken. We are inquiring into it to identify the offenders and to get the details of the time of the incident. Appropriate legal action shall be taken against the offenders,” Delhi Police said in a tweet.

Though viral now, the video was posted on Prince Dixit’s Instagram account in November last year. The YouTuber and his friends can be seen standing on the seats of the moving cars while driving at high speed, with loud music playing in the background.

According to Delhi police, Prince said that this video was shot on his birthday, November 16, 2022, while travelling from NH24 to Shakarpur. Prince and his supporters were standing on the cars. He also admitted that he had broken traffic rules and appealed to his YouTube subscribers to refrain from doing so.

Police are looking for those friends of Prince Dixit who along with him were creating a ruckus on the road on 16 November 2022.

Recently, two YouTubers Jorawar Singh Kalsi and Gurpreet Singh were arrested in Gurugram for throwing currency notes on the Golf Course road in Haryana from a moving Baleno car. The video of the incident wherein the accused persons were recreating a scene from a web series titled ‘Farzi’ went viral on social media. According to the police, the currency notes hurled in the viral video had ‘Manoranjan Bank of India’ written on them.

Britain set to display Koh-i-noor at the Tower of London as a ‘symbol of conquest’

OpIndia Staff
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Britain set to display Koh-i-noor at the Tower of London as a ‘symbol of conquest’

On May 26 this year, the historic diamond Koh-i-Noor (mountain of light) will be put up for display as a ‘symbol of conquest’ at the Tower of London. The new exhibition, which has courted controversy since its announcement, reportedly will explore the history and origin of the diamond in utmost detail.

India has time and again demanded the repatriation of the Koh-i-Noor diamond from the United Kingdom, which currently sits in the crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her 1937 coronation.

During the exhibition, the colonial past of the 105.6-carat diamond would be explained and the manner it was ‘given’ (taken away) to Britain in 1849. Koh-i-noor had changed several hands over centuries and was possessed by Mughals, Afghan Emirs, Iranian Shahs, and Sikh rulers before being taken away by the British.

While speaking about the development to CNN, Tower of London’s media manager Sophie Lemangnen informed, “(The exhibit) references its long history as a symbol of conquest, which has passed through many hands.”

The controversial diamond, which is now part of Crown Jewels, was originally unearthed in central Southern India. Reportedly, the East India Company seized Koh-i-Noor from Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1849 and handed it over to Queen Victoria.

The diamond was then recut in 1852 by the royal jeweller, Garrad of London, to improve its brilliance. The story of Koh-i-Noor will be retold at the exhibition through a short film and a combination of projections and objects.

The event comes at a time when King Charles and his Queen consort Camilla are set to be crowned in Westminster Abbey in May this year. The keeper of the Jewel House, Andrew Jackson, said that the exhibition will provide visitors with a richer understanding of the jewels’ collection.

“We look forward to expanding the stories we are telling about the Crown Jewels,” he emphasised.

Cyclone Freddy hits Southeast Africa, leaves over 300 dead in Malawi

ANI
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Cyclone Freddy hits Southeast Africa, leaves over 300 dead in Malawi

Tropical Cyclone Freddy left over 300 people dead after it ripped through southeastern Africa’s Malawi, CNN reported citing the landlocked country’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs said the cyclone had killed as many as 326 people. The devastation in the wake of the tropical storm left survivors trapped and fighting for survival.

The authorities further stated that over 30 people from Chilobwe, one of the hardest-hit areas, have died and dozens remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.

People could be seen on Monday using shovels, even bare hands, to search for the people in the rubble.
Speaking to CNN, Dorothy Wachepa, a mother of four, said she woke up to a deafening noise “resembling the sound of an aeroplane.”

“It was around 12 and I heard the sound accompanied by shouting from people upland,” she said.
What followed was a torrent of muddy water, accompanied by rocks and trees, sliding down the mountain. All her possessions were washed away.

“Everything is gone. I was doing a small-scale business selling vegetables because my husband died in 2014. I’ve been supporting the children from the little that I have,” she added, reported CNN.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar from Cyclone Freddy.

He said India stands with the people of the affected countries in tough times.

On Tuesday, the Malawi Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change said the cyclone was “weakening but will continue to cause torrential rains associated with windy conditions in most parts of Southern Malawi districts”.

“The threat of heavy flooding and damaging winds remains very high,” the weather report said.
In Mozambique, at least 10 people were killed and 13 injured in the Zambezia province, CNN reported, citing state broadcaster Radio Mozambique.

Cyclone Freddy has broken records for the longest-lasting storm of its kind after making landfall in Mozambique for a second time, more than two weeks after the first.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Conman poses as Additional Director (PMO), gets Z-plus security and bulletproof SUV, arrested by Jammu & Kashmir Police

OpIndia Staff
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Conman poses as Additional Director (PMO), gets Z-plus security and bulletproof SUV, arrested by Jammu & Kashmir Police

Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a man who was posing as a top official of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The conman, identified as Kiran Patel, son of Jagdish Patel, a Gujarat resident posed as Additional Director ‘Strategy and Campaign’, in the Prime Minister’s office. By deceiving the administration, he also managed to obtain Z-plus security cover, a bulletproof SUV, and official accommodation at a five-star hotel in Jammu & Kashmir. Kiran Patel was reportedly staying at the Hotel Lalit in the valley.

The fraudster, however, was arrested on March 3 after the Jammu and Kashmir police received information about him. A case has been registered against the accused at Nishat police station under sections 419, 420, 467, 468, and 471 IPC of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to the FIR, “the said individual has intentionally induced people to do and omit to do activities, under a well-conceived strategy for getting monetary and material gains, by using deceit, forgery, and impersonation to dupe gullible people.”

Security personnel have seized fake identification cards of “PMO” from his possession.

Fake ID card recovered from conman Kiran Patel’s possession

According to reports, the ‘fraudster’ visited a number of locations in Kashmir, including Doodpatri in the Budgam district of central Kashmir. An SDM rank officer was with the “fraudster” when they arrived at Doodpathri.

Even some of the IAS officers were in awe of Patel as he was dropping names of high-ranking bureaucrats and political leaders in New Delhi, according to reports. Patel said that he had been assigned a mandate by the government to identify buyers for apple orchards in south Kashmir.

It’s interesting to note that the ‘conman,’ Kiran Patel, claims to hold a Ph.D. from Commonwealth University in Virginia, an MBA from IIM Trichy, an M Tech in Computer Science, and a BE in computer engineering as well.

PM Narendra Modi has done a lot for Sikhs and Sikhism: Former pro-Khalistan leader

ANI
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PM Narendra Modi has done a lot for Sikhs and Sikhism: Former pro-Khalistan leader

The founder of Dal Khalsa and former pro-Khalistan leader Jaswant Singh Thekedar has lauded the work undertaken and accomplished by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the country’s Sikh community, saying that he admires the community and has done a lot for its people.

In an interview with ANI, Thekedar said, “Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has done a lot for Sikhs and Sikhism. He loves our community. He has done a lot — ended the blacklists, opened Kartarpur Corridor, and talked about Chhote Sahibzadas (the sons of Guru Gobind Singh).” He said the Central government led by PM Modi has worked to meet major demands put forward by members of the Sikh community.

“The government has worked on major demands, and only a few demands and left to be fulfilled. All will be good if they agree to meet these demands,” he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had met prominent Sikhs from across the country at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for taking steps for the welfare of the Sikh community, and especially for honouring Chaar Sahibzaade through his decision to declare December 26 every year as Veer Baal Diwas.

Each member of the delegation honoured Prime Minister Modi with ‘Siropao’ and ‘Siri Sahib’.

PM Modi said people in many regions of the country are not aware of the contribution and sacrifice of Chaar Sahibzaade. He recalled that whenever he got an opportunity to speak in schools and in front of children, he always spoke about Chaar Sahibzaade.

The decision to observe December 26 as Veer Baal Diwas will go a long way in making children from different corners of the country aware of them, PM Modi said.

He thanked the leaders of the Sikh Community for visiting him, saying that the doors of his house were always open for them. He recalled his connection with them and the time spent together during the course of his stay in Punjab.

He also praised the spirit of service of the Sikh community, saying that the world needs to be made more aware of it. He said that his government was fully committed to the welfare of the Sikh community. He talked about several steps taken by the government in this regard.

He discussed the special arrangements that were made to bring back Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan with full honour while also talking about the steps taken by the government through diplomatic channels to open up the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

In February last year, Prime Minister Modi met members of a Sikh-Hindu Delegation from Afghanistan at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence. They honoured and thanked him for bringing Sikhs and Hindus safely to India from Afghanistan by virtue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the delegation saying that they are not guests but are in their own house, adding that India is their home. He talked about the immense difficulties faced by them in Afghanistan and the help provided by the government to bring them to India safely.

He also talked about the significance of the CAA and its benefits for the community while assuring them of his government’s continuous support in future as well to resolve all issues and difficulties faced by them.

Prime Minister Modi also talked about the significance of the tradition of honouring Guru Granth Sahib, in light of which special arrangements were made to bring back Swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan. He also brought up the immense love that he has received from Afghans over the years and fondly recalled his visit to Kabul.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who was also part of the delegation that met PM Modi, thanked him for sending help from India for bringing back the community safely, saying that when no one stood with them, Prime Minister Modi ensured constant support and timely help.

Other members of the delegation also thanked PM Modi for standing up for them in times of distress. They said that they had tears in their eyes when they heard him talking about making special arrangements to bring back the ‘Swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India with proper reverence.

They also thanked him for bringing into force the CAA, which they said will be of immense help to the members of their community.

On Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan leader and chief of ‘Punjab Waris De’ who made headlines following clashes with the police at Ajnala in Amritsar on February 23, Thekedar said he knows “nothing about Khalistan”. He added that Singh will not succeed in his plans.

“Amritpal is not a Khalistani, he knows nothing about it. But he has certainly made a lot of money in the name of Khalistan. I don’t think he will succeed in his plans going forward,” the former pro-Khalistan leader said.

On Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, he said it does not use an asset for a lifetime and will pick another person as soon as it is determined that the previous person is no longer of any use.

“When he (Amritpal Singh) was in Dubai, he was clean-shaven. He is not a (traditional) Sikh. He does not know anything about Sikh history. I must add that several more like him will crop up in the coming years. Because the ISI doesn’t run its assets for a lifetime. When they feel that a person is no longer of any use, they replace him with others who are in line,” Thekedar said.

He added that Pakistan would not let a separate Khalistan be carved out as it is aware that the pro-Khalistanis have their eyes on Lahore next.

“Pakistan knows that if a country of Sikhs comes into being, they will target Lahore next. They will come to Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib. They won’t let this happen. It is Pakistan, not India, which is the real enemy of Khalistan,” he said.

The former pro-Khalistan leader cautioned the Punjab government of the Aam Aadmi Party against going soft on pro-Khalistan elements, saying that the regime under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was, in effect, helping the revival of the Khalistan movement by not taking timely action.

“This Punjab government is not capable of dealing with this (threat of revival of the Khalistan movement). There is not a single person in the administration who handle this. I feel that by not taking timely action, they are only aiding the revival of the Khalistan movement,” he said.

Suggesting that the Centre consider agreeing with the demands of the Khalistan leaders, he said it would stop the movement from growing further.

“Their demands for the release of Sikh political prisoners, and removal of Sikhs from Section 25B-2 could be met. It won’t bring any harm to the country if the government were to meet these demands. If the government accedes to their demands, this movement could be nipped in the bud. Every issue has a political solution. The government can also consider putting together a committee comprising former Khalistan leaders. Through such moves, the government can bring the Khalistan movement to an end,” he said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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