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Internet applauds IAS officer for administering CPR on a conscious man in viral video, however, doctors disagree with his method

OpIndia Staff
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Internet applauds IAS officer for administering CPR on a conscious man in viral video, however, doctors disagree with his method

On 18th January 2023, Chandigarh’s health secretary, IAS officer Yashpal Garg posted a video in which he could be seen administering CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) to a conscious man who had earlier collapsed in the office of Chandigarh housing board. After the person recovered, he was taken to the hospital where he was treated further. The video of this incident has since gone viral on social media.

The IAS officer has been roundly applauded for saving the man’s life, except by doctors. The doctors active on social media have noted that this was not the proper way to administer CPR.

Yashpal Garg tweeted, “Today a valuable human life could be saved by the timely CPR process in Chandigarh Housing Board.”

According to journalist Naina Mishra, Yashpal Garg said, “I had no training in CPR but saw a video on TV News Channel when a patient was sitting in front of the Doctor who was prescribing medicines. Suddenly the patient collapsed on the Chair.”

She shared in the next tweet that the IAS officer later visited the hospital to check on the patient. “Just met him. His wife, son, and brother were with him. He is in CCU of GMSH-16 and now all tests are normal. Being discharged shortly”, said Yashpal Garg.

While Yashpal Garg was praised by many people on social media for this act, medical practitioners and experts criticised him for not following the proper method of administering CPR. Dr. Aviral Vatsa tweeted, “Please please, don’t jump on people’s chests like this. Can do more harm than good. These things benefit only if needed & done in a proper way. Please learn from proper courses, credited online resources, and not reports of TV channels.”

Dr. Anuj Tiwari wrote, “THIS. IS. NOT. CPR! CPR is performed when the patient has no pulse and is not in awake Patient People should check facts before using the word CPR. It will send out a wrong message.”

Another doctor Dr Vanathi Sethupathi wrote, “This is not CPR. Please don’t attempt this. A conscious person does NOT need another person jumping on their chest like this.”

Doctor Dipshikha Ghosh wrote, “Glad the man is all right but this is unwarranted CPR. This video is reason enough for everybody to be trained in delivering CPR and knowing when to do so. CPR does save lives but only when done correctly. Pressing on somebody’s chest violently when they’re awake is not CPR.”

In between all the seriousness, some could look at the funny side of things. Twitter user Greeshma wrote- That ‘CPR’ video, brings to mind a scene of a Dog dry humping his master who is sitting on a reclining chair.

While the “patient” may not have required the CPR that was administered to him by the IAS officer, and whatever was administered to him may not be CPR anyway, it is good to know that the person is fine now and out of danger.

London mayor Sadiq Khan accused of manipulating public consultation results on expansion of Ultra Low Emission Zone by excluding negative votes

OpIndia Staff
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London mayor Sadiq Khan accused of manipulating public consultation results on expansion of Ultra Low Emission Zone by excluding negative votes

On January 17, Conservative Party London Assembly Member Nick Rogers lodged a formal complaint with the Greater London Authority Monitoring Officer against London Mayor Sadiq Khan after internal communication seemed to contradict remarks made by Khan on the issue of Khan’s involvement in expanding Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across all of Greater London.

The mayor has decided to expand London’s Ultra-low emission zone, which will impose a daily charge of £12.50 on vehicles that do not comply with the emission norms and enter the outer limits of the city. It has been alleged that Sadiq Khan manipulated public consultation on ULEZ by deliberately excluding thousands of votes opposing the move.

Khan and his deputy Seb Dance, a former Member of the European Parliament, when pressed repeatedly by Tory assembly members at public sessions, informed the London Assembly that they had not been informed in advance about the ULEZ consultation findings.

An internal email, however, demonstrates that the Mayor was privately consulted on the ULEZ survey findings on September 29th, before to their formal publication. More than 200 pages of confidential correspondence and documentation from the Mayor’s top advisers and TfL (Transport for London) directors during the last weeks of the ULEZ consultation process were recently released. 

The Conservatives believe that the Mayor’s administration intervened in the consultation process, skewing the findings and decreasing the percentage of those opposed to Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ extension. According to the reports, given the decision to extend the ULEZ to outside London, vehicles will have to pay £12.50 a day to drive in the city if their vehicle is older than 2015 for diesel and 2005 for petrol.

The records also indicate that thousands of replies were omitted from the final ULEZ consultation findings after an intervention by the Mayor’s senior advisers. The intervention reduced total opposition in the final vote by three percentage points, from 62 per cent to 59 per cent.

Around 5,200 votes from motoring groups were discounted by officials, which allowed mayor Sadiq Khan to declare that there was no overwhelming dissent to the proposal to expand the ULEZ.

Rogers accused Khan of “falsely and dishonestly” tampering with the findings and accused him of “severe misconduct” for violating the integrity of the consultation and unfairly rejecting thousands of valid comments. “The Mayor must now explain himself to Londoners, who participated in this consultation in good faith. This behaviour cannot stand and must be addressed by the appropriate authorities,” he said.

London minister Paul Scully also commented on the issue saying, “These findings are very concerning. If the Mayor is going to push through such a punitive and unpopular policy, he has to have a grip on the detail. The London Assembly is responsible for the oversight of the Mayor of London. It can and should investigate this further.”

However, spokesperson of Khan maintained that Khan was not informed on its progress and only made decisions after the final report. “The real scandal is that toxic air leads to the death of thousands of Londoners every year, which is why the Mayor took the difficult decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide. The Mayor made the decision after considering TfL’s full final report on the consultation responses,” he said.

“The consultation was not a referendum, however, TfL made a number of modifications to the scheme following feedback received in the consultation. This included addressing cost of living concerns with a £110m scrappage scheme for low-income Londoners and extending the exemptions for disabled Londoners,” he added.

According to him, TfL takes its responsibilities to hold thorough and legally compliant consultations very seriously, with an independent consultant putting together the final analysis and report, and any claim that TfL or the Mayor tried to influence the ULEZ consultation findings is just false. “As part of a rigorous consultation process, it was right for TfL to seek responses from as wide a range of Londoners as possible, including young Londoners, whose lives will be affected by air pollution for years to come,” the spokesperson of Khan was quoted as saying.

Reportedly, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also criticised Sadiq Khan for imposing a tax on a public which does not want it. “Expanding this zone is not something that communities want and I look forward to working with him to urge the Mayor to properly consider and respond to all these views and stop this unfair tax,” he said at Prime Minister’s Question Hour on Wednesday.

Reports mention that at least two London councils are presently opposing to Transport for London deploying the cameras required to police the ultra-low emission zone on their roadways. Politicians on all sides agree that the issue will play a significant role in the next mayoral election, when Khan seeks a record third term.

Islamist organisation IAMC attacks Lieutenant Governor of Maryland for “promoting Hindutva” as she takes oath on Bhagwad Gita

OpIndia Staff
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Islamist organisation IAMC attacks Lieutenant Governor of Maryland for “promoting Hindutva” as she takes oath on Bhagwad Gita

Aruna Miller, a 58-year-old Indian-American created history by becoming the first Indian-American to be elected the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, a state located next to the US capital Washington DC. Aruna, a former delegate to the Maryland house, took oath as the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.

Aruna Miller chose to take her oath to the office on a copy of the Bhagwad Gita, the 700-verse Hindu scripture. Meanwhile, the radical Islamist outfit Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) got irked by it and chose to attack her for her “Hindutva links”.

In a tweet, IAMC said, “Protest against Hindutva at the inauguration of Maryland Governor @iamwesmoore and Lt. Governor @arunamiller. The protestors are demanding that Lt. Gov. Miller apologize for her ties to Hindutva and donate the Hindutva money received during the campaign to charities.”

The radical Islamist organisation wants Aruna Miller to apologise for her “hindutva links” through a staged protest.

The main problem for IAMC, which is linked to Jamaat-e-Islami is that Aruna Miller took the oath of office on a Bhagwad Gita, becoming the first Lieutenant Governor in the USA to do so. Her open acceptance of the Hindu faith has irked the radical Islamists at IAMC and now they are trying their best to paint her as an extremist just because she follows her Hindu faith.

This is not the first time we have seen such behaviour. Tulsi Gabbard has been repeatedly attacked for following her Hindu faith in the west, but this is the first time we have seen such attacks on an elected Lieutenant Governor of a US state.

Notably, elected representatives in the USA regularly take oath on a Bible, including the incumbent President Joe Biden, but the likes of IAMC don’t see any religious fanaticism there, but a woman taking oath on Gita has brought out their bigotry.

Meanwhile, about her faith, Miller said, “Hinduism is not just a religion, I think it’s more of a culture. We are seekers of peace and making sure that good things happen in the world and to others as well.”

However, Miller’s message of peace is unlikely to find resonance with the radical Islamists at IAMC.

UK PM Rishi Sunak says he does not agree with PM Modi’s characterisation by BBC documentary quoted by Pakistani-British MP

OpIndia Staff
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UK PM Rishi Sunak says he does not agree with PM Modi’s characterisation by BBC documentary quoted by Pakistani-British MP

On Thursday, 19th January 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed the villainous portrayal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a BBC documentary. Responding to Imran Hussain, a Pakistani-British Muslim MP, who quoted the characterization showcased by BBC in its documentary series while asking a question to the British PM in the British parliament, the PM said that he does not agree with the characterization of his Indian counterpart in the documentary.

Imran Hussain asked, “Mr. Speaker, last night the BBC revealed the foreign office knew the extent of the involvement of Narendra Modi in the Gujarat massacre that paved the way for the persecution of Muslims and the other minorities we see in India today. With the senior diplomats reporting that the massacre could not have taken place without a climate of impunity created by Modi and he was in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s own words directly responsible for this violence, given that hundreds were brutally killed and the families across India and the world including here in the UK are still without justice, does the Prime Minister agrees with his diplomats in the foreign office that Modi was directly responsible and just what more does the foreign office know of his involvement in this grave act of ethnic cleansing?”

To this, PM Rishi Sunak replied, “Mr. Speaker, the UK government’s position on this has been clear in long-standing and has not changed. Of course, we don’t tolerate persecution anywhere, but I am not sure I agree at all with the characterization the honourable gentleman has put forward.”

UK’s National broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series documentary on BBC Two channel attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.

India on Thursday denounced the controversial BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.

Addressing a weekly media briefing External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said this documentary show, based on some internal UK reports, shows the colonial mindset. “We think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias and the lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are belatedly visible,” Bagchi said in response to the question on the PM documentary series.

It is notable that several courts in India including the Supreme Court have ruled on multiple occasions that the Gujarat riots were brought under control quickly and there is no evidence that the state govt had asked police to not take action against the rioteers.

Karnataka govt clarifies that no ban imposed on sale of condoms and contraceptives to minors, says pharmacies only asked to counsel minors

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka govt clarifies that no ban imposed on sale of condoms and contraceptives to minors, says pharmacies only asked to counsel minors

After media reports that the Karnataka govt has banned the selling of condoms and contraceptives to minors, the state government’s drug control department clarified that there is no ban in the state on selling oral contraceptives and condoms to minors. However, the state government said that it is asking pharmacists to counsel minors who purchase condoms and contraceptives. Earlier, many media reports had claimed that the department has issued a circular regarding the alleged ban after an incident in which condoms and oral contraceptive pills were found in school bags during routine checks.

The reports had stated that drug control department instructed the pharmacies to not sell condoms, oral contraceptives or any anti-depressant to people below the age of 18 years. Bhagoji T Khanapure, Drugs Controller of Karnataka, had said, “Technically, the government is promoting condoms to prevent sexually transmitting diseases and also for population control. However, it is not for teens or school kids. Hence, the circular strictly says that medicines should not be sold for underage teens.”

However, now the department has denied the reports of ban and claimed that the media misinterpreted its circular on the matter.

According to a report by The News Minute, Bhagoji T Khanapure said clarifying the matter, “We have not issued any circular to that effect. This has been reported wrongly in the media. What we are trying to do is create awareness by telling pharmacists to counsel minors who want to purchase condoms and oral contraceptives.”

Vice president of the Karnataka Registered Pharmacists Association Ravi Shankar also said that they have not received any circular or notice from the Drugs Control Department regarding the ban on the sale of condoms, contraceptive and other specified medicines to minors.

Parents, teachers, and authorities were alarmed and concerned following the event that occurred in November of last year when pupils were found to be in possession of condoms, birth control pills, cigarettes, and lighters. The Associated Management of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) requested city schools to regularly examine pupils’ school bags after the incident.

According to Ravi Shankar, vice president of the Karnataka Registered Pharmacists Association, the Drugs Control Department has not issued any notices or circulars prohibiting the sale of condoms and other specific medications to minors.

On the other hand, media outlets like Hindustan Times, and Bangalore Mirror peddled the news that the Karnataka government has banned the sale of condoms, oral contraceptives, and anti-depressants to those below 18. Bangalore Mirror quoted Bhagoji T Khanapure, Drugs Controller of Karnataka saying, “Technically, the government is promoting condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and also for population control. However, it is not for teens or school kids. Hence, the circular strictly says that medicines should not be sold to underage teens.”

Arunachal Pradesh: Muslim miscreants deface Parshuram Kund wall with Islamic symbols during Makar Sankranti mela, steal donations from the temple

OpIndia Staff
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Arunachal Pradesh: Muslim miscreants deface Parshuram Kund wall with Islamic symbols during Makar Sankranti mela, steal donations from the temple

Every year, thousands of pilgrims attend Arunachal Pradesh’s famous Parshuram Kund Makar Sankranti fair, often known as the Kumbh Mela of the Northeast. However, this year’s festival, which was held from the 12th to the 16th of January 2023, saw many incidents of theft, raising concerns among locals.

According to reports, the Mahant Baba Harisharan Das of Parshuram temple lodged a complaint regarding these incidents with the police on January 16, 2023.

In his complaint, the Mahant said that when he woke up in the morning and sat outside his room, he saw some suspicious persons entering the temple. He immediately called other disciples and walked towards the temple. Before the Mahant reached the temple, a miscreant ran away with the donation money. Two other miscreants were, however, apprehended by the locals. When they were searched and their identity was checked, they turned out to be belonging to the Muslim community. Following this, there was widespread anger amongst the local people.

Another objectionable and despicable incident that came to light during the four-day celebration was the defacement of a wall near the sacred bathing ghat of Parshuram Kund with Islamic symbols. According to reports, some unknown miscreants painted Islamic symbols like stars and the moon on the wall near the Ghat.

It is worth noting that this year, the majority of the safai karamcharis employed to look after the cleaning of the ghat and its surroundings are Muslim Community members. To get access to the festival grounds, the administration has issued them with authorised identity cards.

Such incidents have raised concerns amongst the locals and the pilgrims. These people have requested that the person who hired the cleaners and the contractor that deployed them be identified. The inhabitants of the area have called for a high-level investigation into the incident.

Similarly, there are several other incidents that occured throughout the festival that must be investigated. According to tradition, after taking a bath, pilgrims participating in the yatra throw away some of their wet garments. These Muslims would pick up the strewn clothing. This year, though, there have been multiple reports of fresh clothes missing from the ghat.

In addition, there were more incidents of pickpocketing at the fair this year than in previous years. In fact, locals have claimed that the cleaners’ families sit as beggars on the ghat. When pilgrims visit the fair, these people have been spotted collecting and loading some of their personal belongings like clothes and food items unintentionally left behind by them in automobiles and disappearing.

Parshuram Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to sage Parshuram located on the banks of the Lohit river near Tezu in the Lohit district. A large number of Hindu devotees visit the site during Makar Sankranti in January and take a holy dip in the sacred kund of the river. It is notable that Lohit is one of the three rivers that form the mighty Brahmaputra river, the other two being the Dihang river and the Dibang river.

Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde Government accepts demand of Hindu activists, will celebrate Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary at state level

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde Government accepts demand of Hindu activists, will celebrate Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary at state level

On 19th January 2023, the Maharashtra state government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis nodded to include the name of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the list of great men whose birth anniversaries are celebrated by the government at state level. A request in this regard was made in August 2022 by a group of Hindu ideologues and activists in Maharashtra including Shefali Vaidya and Tushar Damgude.

Sharing this on Facebook, Tushar Damgude wrote, “In August, we had requested the Government of Maharashtra to celebrate the birth anniversaries of the great personalities Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa, Raje Umaji Naik at the government level. Today, the name of Sambhaji Maharaj in that list was approved.”

Tushar Damgude added, “The birth anniversary of Ahilyadevi Holkar is already being regularly celebrated at the government level. By mistake, her name appeared in the requested list. It is a humble request to the Government of Maharashtra that the birth anniversary of “Rashtraguru Bhagwan Baba” should also be celebrated at the official level along with other great personalities.” It is notable that Bhagwan Baba was a Warkari Saint in 20th-century Maharashtra. He encouraged tribals like Vanjaris and others to get educated and be a part of mainstream society.

In the letter requesting the state to include more names on the list, the activists mentioned, “It is well known that many great men sacrificed everything for the freedom of the country, and Veer Savarkar is one of the most prominent ones out of them. It is a matter of great regret for all of us as Indians that such a great personality is not included in the official list of great men of Maharashtra. The recently formed government in Maharashtra claims to be the ideological legacy of Savarkar. In view of this, on behalf of all the Indian citizens, we make a humble request that Swatantryaveer Savarkar should be included in the government’s list of great men of Maharashtra.”

The letter added, “On behalf of all the Indian citizens, we make a humble request that the names of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa (1st), and Revolutionary Umaji Raje Naik, among the great people who worked to shape this country as Hindustan, should be included in the list of birth anniversaries to be celebrated by the Government of Maharashtra.”

The names of nine persons were recommended to the previous Maharashtra government in December 2020 to ensure that their birth anniversary is celebrated at the government level. Then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray rejected five of them and added four new persons. Of the four names approved, one name is that of his own father and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and the other was that of his grandfather Prabodhankar Thackeray.

The names of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Guru Nanak Singh, Guru Gobind Singh, Mata Ramai – the first wife of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and the great revolutionary Lahuji Vastad Salve – all these names were recommended in the same year, but they were ignored. The matter has come to light from the information sought by petitioner Tushar Damgude in an RTI in this regard in 2022.

At that time, Tushar Damgude had said, “It is even sadder that in Maharashtra, known by the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the name of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is abandoned by the party which is founded in the name of Shivaji Maharaj and calls itself a proponent of Hindutva. The general public all over India knows the great achievements of the above persons in the formation of modern Hindustan. Therefore, at least I can’t understand what exactly the Maharashtra government thought is behind the exclusion of those individuals.”

‘Khalistan Zindabad’, ‘Referendum 2020’ and other pro-Khalistan slogans painted on a wall in Delhi, removed later

OpIndia Staff
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‘Khalistan Zindabad’, ‘Referendum 2020’ and other pro-Khalistan slogans painted on a wall in Delhi, removed later

On Thursday, January 19, A wall in Delhi’s Paschim Vihar was defaced with pro-Khalistan and the so-called Referendum 2020 slogans. The anti-national slogans were, however, removed later. 

The slogans spray-painted on the wall read, ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ in Punjabi, ‘Referendum 2020’, ‘SFJ’, and ‘Vote For Khalistan’ in English.

Speaking on the matter Suman Nalwa, PRO, of Delhi Police said “Some people had painted anti-national, Khalistan-related graffiti at some locations in Delhi. This is not a security-related issue. Legal action will be taken in this matter.”

“Delhi Police is ensuring that no wrong activities take place ahead of Republic Day. This doesn’t affect our security. Since SFJ is a banned organization it is trying to make itself known, they want to be in the news,” Nalwa added.

It is notable that the Narendra Modi government had in 2019 banned the Khalistan terror outfit ‘Sikhs For Justice’  under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 

In February 2022, the government also blocked applications, websites,s and social media accounts linked with the outlawed terror outfit. 

Sikhs For Jusitce founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu was declared a terrorist under UAPA by the Indian government in 2020. SFJ has released countless videos and statements in the past provoking the Sikhs living in India. From luring them to hoist Khalistani flags on government buildings on Independence day to threatening leaders against celebrating Independence Day or Republic Day, SFJ has been trying to create unrest in Punjab and neighboring states.

Furthermore, in January 2021, SFJ had announced a prize for anyone who would hoist the Khalistani flag on Red Fort on Republic Day. In the guise of farmer protests, the ‘attendees’ of the ‘tractor rally’ had barged into Delhi and hoisted two flags with a Sikh holy symbol on Red Fort, which was perfectly in line with what SFJ wanted.

Tibetans welcome UN probes into China’s colonial boarding school in occupied Tibet

ANI
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Tibetans welcome UN probes into China’s colonial boarding school in occupied Tibet

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and Tibetans in-exile have welcomed the UN human rights experts’ communication raising concern over the Chinese government’s colonial-style residential schools and its assimilationist impact on Tibetan cultural and national identity.

Four UN Special Rapporteurs voiced their concerns about China’s assimilationist policies threatening the existence of Tibet’s language, culture, and religion. 

“We would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s Government information we have received concerning what appears to amount to a policy of acculturation and assimilation of the Tibetan culture into the dominant Han Chinese majority, through a series of oppressive actions against Tibetan educational, religious and linguistic institutions, in contradiction with the right to freedom of religion and belief, the right to education and cultural rights of the Tibetan people,” UN Special Rapporteurs wrote in a letter to then-Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in November last year.

These UN experts raised serious concerns over China’s vast network of colonial boarding schools in Tibet while also asking several questions to China about its “policy of acculturation and assimilation of the Tibetan culture.

Human rights group estimate that nearly one million Tibetan children, ages ranging from 4 to 18, are currently forcibly enrolled and placed in Chinese boarding schools in Tibet away from their families, depriving them of the opportunity and the space to learn and acquaint themselves with their own religion, culture, and language.

Tenzin Lekshay, spokesperson of the Tibetan government-in-exile said there is a very systemic practice that China has been enclosing to assimilate Tibetan people and Tibetan culture under the framework of second-generation policy which intends to marginalize the Tibetan language and Tibetan culture.

“Therefore, the colonial boarding schools, there are a lot of reports coming out which says that over a million Tibetan children are put up in boarding schools where they were introduced Mandarin courses and they were taken away from the Tibetan language and Tibetan culture so it was being very restrictive and they were not allowed to go to their parents during vacations,” he added.

Lekshay said the Tibetan children are facing psychological and emotional traumas. And therefore, he said UN expert concerns are timely CTA welcomes concerns shown by the special Rapporteurs and we felt that China needs to consider the voice of the people.

Gompo Dhondup, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress also welcomed the United Nations’ interference and their concern about the Chinese continued assimilation into mainland China.

“From the very beginning we urge the United Nations and international agencies to look after the systematic Chinese assimilation especially in the Chinese colonial education system so we showed our dissatisfaction and meanwhile we requested the international community to raise voices in support of Tibetans to call up so-called colonial boarding schools so now we highly welcome the support shown by the United Nations,” 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)

‘BBC documentary on PM Modi is propaganda piece to push discredited narrative’: Govt of India

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‘BBC documentary on PM Modi is propaganda piece to push discredited narrative’: Govt of India

India on Thursday denounced the controversial BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.

Addressing a weekly media briefing External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said this documentary show, based on some internal UK report, shows the colonial mindset. “We think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias and the lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are belatedly visible,” Bagchi said in response to the question on the PM documentary series.

UK’s National broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.

Prominent Indian-origin UK citizens condemned the series. Prominent UK Citizen Lord Rami Ranger said the “BBC caused a great deal of hurt to over a billion Indians.”

The MEA spokesperson said the documentary is a reflection of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. He even raised questions on “the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it.”

“The documentary is a reflection of the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it; frankly, we do wish to dignify these efforts,” he added.

Referring to apparent remarks made by former UK Secretary Jack Straw in the documentary series, Bagchi said “He (Jack Straw) seems to be referring to some internal UK report. How do I have access to that? It’s a 20-year-old report. Why would we jump on it now? Just because Jack says it how do they lend it that much legitimacy.”

“I heard words like inquiry and investigations. There is a reason why we use the colonial mindset. We don’t use words loosely. What inquiry they were diplomats there…investigation, are they ruling the country? Bagchi asked. 

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