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India or North Korea? Odisha decides to impose crazy restrictions on Hindu festivals in the name of COVID-19

Jinit Jain
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India or North Korea? Odisha decides to impose crazy restrictions on Hindu festivals in the name of COVID-19

With less than a 1 per cent active ratio and about a 1.8 per cent test positivity ratio, the Odisha government has announced a set of severely crazy restrictions to prevent Hindu devotees from celebrating their festivals. At a time when the infections are steadily declining, the Naveen Patnaik government issued directives to the state authorities, asking them to observe muted celebrations of the Hindu festivals in the name of curbing the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the festival season approaches, the BJD government in Odisha has allowed Durga Puja, Ganesh Puja and all other festivals’ celebrations, but without a congregation of devotees. The directive is applicable till November 21 this year.

The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) issued guidelines in this regard on Monday. The guidelines were issued after the Union Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan urged the states to actively consider the imposition of local restrictions and to curb mass gatherings.

“In light of this order, and given upcoming festivals such as Muharram (August 19), Onam (August 21), Janmashtami (August 30), Ganesh Chaturthi (September 10), Durga Puja (October 5-15), where large public gatherings are expected, it is advised that states may actively consider the imposition of local restrictions in public observation of these festivals and curb mass gatherings,” Bhushan said in his letter.

After Union Health Secretary’s exhortation, the Odisha government displayed an unmatched alacrity in enforcing restrictions that are among the strictest in the entire country.

“It is directed that congregations for the celebration of Ganesh Puja, Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja, Kali Puja and other similar festivals shall not be allowed in public throughout the state. However, religious rituals in churches/ temples/ mosques/ places of worship will continue as usual with a limited number of persons with strict adherence to Covid protocols,” the order said.

The SRC further added that to conduct puja in puja pandals or mandaps, the organisers will have to seek permission from the District Magistrate or any other officer authorised by him/her.

According to the official privy to the new strictures, the restrictions are imposed because the congregation of people for celebrating festivals have the potential of turning into potent coronavirus hotspots and where enforcing COVID appropriate behaviour becomes difficult as a large number of devotees come in contact with each other to celebrate pujas.

As per the stringent restrictions introduced by the state government, no more than 7 persons, including the organisers (Kartas) and priests and support staff would be allowed to be present at the puja pandal/ mandap. The persons present at puja pandal/ mandap shall follow all Covid protocols of social distancing, mask usage, personal hygiene and sanitation issued by central or state government/ local administration in letter and spirit.

The Crazy Covid restrictions in Odisha

This is perhaps the first time that the size of the idol that each pandal/mandap will have is also being regulated by the Odisha government. One of the preposterous guidelines issued by the government says the idol size could not be greater than 4 feet. It ordained puja pandals/mandaps be covered on three sides and the 4th side is covered in such a way as to not allow any public view of the idols. The guidelines also include that there would be no darshan for public devotees.

The guidelines also included an additional provision that mandated organisers and persons involved in conducting the puja to abide by other restrictions imposed by local administration or appropriate authority.

Furthermore, there shall be no immersion procession this year around. The idols will be immersed in artificial ponds created by the local administration for this purpose. In addition to this, the guidelines also call for the banning of all religious procession of any kind by any religious community. It is also extended to Muharram celebrations in the state. Neither will there be any feast associated with any puja/festival during the said period of restrictions, the guidelines said.

It is worth noting that the total active cases in the state stand at 10,011. The active ratio, which provides the prevalence of the contagion among the population, is around 1 per cent. Similarly, the test positivity ratio, which gives the percentage of COVID-19 tests that came positive, is also hovering at around 1. 8 per cent levels. As far as vaccination is concerned, 9.6 per cent population of Odisha is fully vaccinated and around 32 per cent population has received at least one dose of vaccination.

The problematic aspects of the Covid-19 restrictions

Despite ebbing caseloads and increasing vaccinations, the state government in Odisha has presided over one of the craziest restriction regimes in the entire country. The absurdly strict guidelines not only impinge on the religious traditions associated with various festivals but also deprive devotees of their freedom to profess their religion as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Devotees visiting pandals/mandaps for the darshan of their respective Gods is an age-old tradition, followed for centuries. By denying them from visiting pandals, imposing regulations on the idol size of deities, the state is essentially interfering in the religious practices of its citizens on the pretext of controlling the outbreak.

Such strict restrictions also have a devastating impact on the economy, which is already faltering due to coronavirus-induced lockdowns. The festive season adds much-needed fillip to the economic activities, with devotees spending on puja paraphernalia and other things to celebrate their festivals. It provides an impetus to the overall economy. But, by imposing strict restrictions, the state government is condemning its citizens to continue living under severe economic distress.

As such, COVID-19 is here to stay, with the virus mutating into newer variants. In such a scenario, complete and absolute lockdown as witnessed during the start of the pandemic last year cannot be applied for eternity. Nor should India follow oppressive states such as North Korea or China in absolute lockdown to tackle the contagion. Instead, such measures only add to the growing economic difficulties and take a toll on the psychological well being of the masses. The state should, therefore, strive for achieving normalcy while exercising caution and enforcing reasonable restrictions without going down the path of aping dictatorial regimes as done by the Odisha government.

Dasna temple priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati came to attend Jantar Mantar protest a few hours before the attack: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Dasna temple priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati came to attend Jantar Mantar protest a few hours before the attack: Report

As per the latest reports, Dasna temple priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati had come to attend the Jantar Mantar protest, where allegedly inflammatory slogans were raised on August 8. A few hours later, the priest was attacked at Dasna temple, Ghaziabad.

Sachin Gupta, correspondent, Hindi Daily Dainik Bhaskar, wrote in a tweet, “A big update in attack on a priest in Ghaziabad temple… Swami Nareshanand Saraswati came from Bihar to attend the protest under the leadership of Ashwini Upadhyay at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Controversial slogans were raised against a particular community in the protest. He was attacked a few hours after the protest.”

OpIndia sources confirmed that it is true that Swami Nareshanand came to attend the protest and meet Dasna priest Swami Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, but he did not attend the protest. In one of the videos, one person identified as Uttam Malik had said that he was a follower of Yati Narsinghanand. It cannot be ruled out for sure whether the social media videos of alleged inflammatory sloganeering had anything to do with the attack on Dasna priest.

OpIndia also reached out to Iraj Raja, SP (Dehat), Ghaziabad, to get more information on the case. He said, as of now, the information has not been confirmed by the Police regarding if Swami Nareshanand attended the protests or not, and the investigation is underway.

The attack on a priest in Dasna

On August 10, unidentified assailants entered the premises of Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh tried to kill Hindu priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati. Reports suggest that the incident took place at around 3:30 am in morning. The assailants scaled the wall of the temple and entered the premises. Swami Nareshanand Saraswati was sleeping at that point in time. The accused stabbed him in the stomach and neck region with a sharp weapon, leading to profuse bleeding and blood loss. The Hindu priest was rushed to the Yashoda hospital on receiving information about the attack. His condition is now said to be critical.

Jaipur: Ragpicker Shehzada Salim steals antique Murtis and jewellery from Jain and Shiv temple, had entered temple to ‘drink water’

OpIndia Staff
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Jaipur: Ragpicker Shehzada Salim steals antique Murtis and jewellery from Jain and Shiv temple, had entered temple to ‘drink water’

The Ramganj police have arrested one Shehzada Salim alias Dadda in connection with the theft of antique idols, jewellery and other valuables from a Shiv and Jain temple in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Salim, who is a ragpicker by profession, stole 7 idols made of Ashtadhatu (octal metal), more than 3 kg of silver ornaments and other valuables from the temple.

The incident came to light when the devotees reached the Jain temple located in the Ucha Kuan area of Haldiyon Ka Rasta, in the morning to offer prayers.

According to reports, the accused pulled out a screwdriver from an autorickshaw parked near the Jain temple and used it to break the locks of the temple at around 3 in the morning. After, stealing here, the accused went to the Shiv temple nearby and stole the idols and other valuables from there too.

The Jain temple authorities have said that one of the idols was almost 300 years old. Rajiv Tholiya, one of the temple administrators said that one of the stolen idols was found during excavation and placed in the temple in 2011.

A devotee named Rajendra Jain told TOI that the Jain temple, which is known locally as Ladi Bai temple is nearly a century old.

DCP (North) Paris Deshmukh said that the accused Shehzada Salim lives near Gulzar Colony located near the Galta Gate area. He said that he is a regular offender, who carries out a recce of the areas which he identifies to carry out the theft, on the pretext of picking up garbage.

ACP (Ramganj) Sunil Prasad Sharma informed that the accused has multiple cases registered in his name at Brahmpuri and Galta Gate police stations.

The police said that after they got the information about the theft on Sunday (08 August 2021), they checked the CCTV footage of the area to identify the accused. The police then shared the details of the accused with their informers, who in turn, informed than that Salim has been spotted on Delhi road. A police team left for Delhi road immediately and arrested the accused.

While the police already recovered 5 stolen idols from Shehzada Salim, efforts are on to recover the rest of the stolen items from the accused.

According to Dainik Bhaskar’s report, Additional DCP Sumit Gupta told that on Saturday (7 August 2021), the accused had entered the temple on the pretext of drinking water, when the idols caught his side and he concocted the plan to steal them.

Along with Salim, the police have also arrested one Rahul Sindhi, who bought the stolen idols from Salim.

According to ACP (Ramganj) Sunil Prasad Sharma, a similar theft was reported from another temple located in the same area. A bronze idol was stolen from this particular temple. Now, the police are trying to find out whether Shehzada Salim was involved in this theft too.

It is worth noting that even before this incident, in the last 2-3 months, there have been incidents of theft in major Jain temples in the city.

BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, five others formally arrested over alleged communal sloganeering at Jantar Mantar

OpIndia Staff
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BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, five others formally arrested over alleged communal sloganeering at Jantar Mantar

Supreme Court lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay along with five others have been formally arrested by the Delhi Police in connection to alleged inflammatory sloganeering in Delhi’ Jantar Mantar.

They were earlier detained by the Delhi Police for alleged ‘communal’ and ‘inflammatory’ sloganeering while protesting at Jantar Mantar. The sloganeering was caught in a video which later went viral on social media causing a furore. 

As per reports, Upadhyay was summoned at 3 am for examination by the Connaught Place police station. Speaking on the detention a police officer informed, “In late-night operation, they all have been detained and now legal documents work is going on before making their arrest. Upadhyay reached Connaught Place police station at around 3 am and joined the investigation.”

The other detained persons have been identified as Deepak Singh Hindu, Vineet Kranti, Preet Singh and Vinod Sharma, who is the head of Sudarshan Vahini. “Deepak Singh Hindu, who claims to be the president of an outfit called the Hindu Force, was detained from his house in Northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar. A team was stationed outside Deepak’s house and he was picked up around 12.40 am when he returned home,” informed the official. 

While Upadhyay refused any involvement in the matter, DCP of New Delhi Deepak Yadav informed that the people who gathered at Jantar Mantar had no permission. “It has come to our due notice that some people raised inciting and objectionable slogans as well. We have also received a video and have registered FIR in the case. We are carrying out further investigation into the matter. Necessary action will be taken at the earliest.” he said.

Upadhyay disassociates himself from sloganeering

The former BJP spokesperson has reportedly disassociated himself with the people who raised the communal and anti-Mulsim slogans. Upadhyay in a video said that no communal sloganeering took place till the time he was at the protesting site.

He also claimed that he is not sure of the authenticity of the video and cast aspersions of it being fake or doctored. In case the video is true, Upadhyay has demanded strict action against the perpetrators. 

“It is an attempt to malign our Bharat Jodo Andolan (protest against the colonial-era laws,” alleged Upadhyay in the video. 

Further in a letter to the Delhi Police Upadhyay also said that his rally was attended by more than 5000 people. If a group of 5-6 people, stand in one corner of the expanse and raise communal slogans, then he or his men cannot be held accountable for it, wrote the BJP leader in his letter to the Delhi police.

The rally was from 10 to 12 pm whereas the sloganeering happened around 5 pm, said BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay.

Video claiming anti-Muslim slogans raised at event organised by Ashwini Upadhyay in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar goes viral

A video showing a group of people shouting inflammatory slogans and threatening Muslims has been doing the rounds on social media with claims that it is from the event which was organized by the BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay in Jantar Mantar against ‘Colonial-era laws’ on Sunday.

Meanwhile, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan infamous for flaring communal tensions himself, has written to the Delhi Police demanding strict action and arrest of BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay. 

Note: Report updated with latest information

‘Journalist’ Tavleen Singh ties herself in knots over the COVID vaccine certificate, has a history of complicated relationship with filling forms

OpIndia Staff
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‘Journalist’ Tavleen Singh ties herself in knots over the COVID vaccine certificate, has a history of complicated relationship with filling forms

Ever since her son’s OCI status was revoked by the Indian government, journalist Tavleen Singh has made it her habit of nitpicking over trivial things, just to take on the Modi government and belittle the country as incompetent and inept. This time around, it was something as insignificant as the size of the vaccine certificate issued by the Centre that had her outraged.

Ms Tavleen Singh has been fussily pedantic about the size of the vaccine certificates issued by the government. Earlier yesterday, dissing against the size of the vaccine certificates, Singh pontificated on Twitter that India needs to urgently reduce their size, adding that most countries have cards just bigger than Aadhaar cards that are portable and easy to carry around. “Why do we need a sheet of A4 size paper?” she asked

To this tweet, one of the users took a sly dig at the journalist, informing her to use the latest WhatsApp certification started by India’s health minister. He further suggested Singh to keep a soft copy of the vaccine certificate on herself so that she would not have to carry physical copies of certificates everywhere.

But, as has been the case with Ms Singh of late, she refused to heed to the sensible suggestion. Instead, she ploughed on her with assertion, saying: “Try using it at an international airport. And, by the way, our vaccination certificates are a fine example of Third Worldism”.

While Ms Singh might be a Luddite, finding her way with technology difficult and cumbersome, India’s vaccination certificates are by no means emblematic of Third Worldism, not by a long shot. Another Twitter user took a stab to disabuse her of the notion that vaccination certificates issued by India are difficult to carry as compared to those issued by the Western countries, including the United States.

The user shared the image of a physical vaccine certificate issued by the United States government alongside the digital copy of the vaccine certificate issued by the Indian government. The user pointed out that the US government still relies on handing out physical copies of vaccine certificates while the Indian government has gone a step further and started giving out online and easy-to-carry online certificates.

But, Ms Singh, having tied herself in knots, dug her heels in and continued to maintain that Indian vaccine certificates are inferior as compared to the western ones. “Actually this was my point. What exactly are you trying to say? Are you saying that a large piece of paper is better?”

Ms Singh deliberately chose to ignore the fact that India’s vaccine certificates can be carried digitally on mobile devices as against physical certificates issued by western countries, which are prone to forgery and misplacement. She could not acknowledge the fact that not only India’s vaccination certificates were far more secure, convenient and wieldy than their western counterparts, but they also represented the country’s stunning technological advancement.

In fact, the CoWin platform, India’s indigenously developed vaccine distribution online platform, which also includes vaccine certification, is one of the most sought-after technology across the world. As many as 50 countries, of Central Asia, Latin America and Africa have contacted the Government of India for augmenting their vaccination programmes.

Aatish Taseer’s OCI cancelled for lying about his father’s Pakistani origin

However, for Ms Singh, it is still a symbolism of “Third Worldism”. She and her family members have always blamed the government and dissed India for their own inadequacies and their own lack of understanding about basic things. Earlier in 2019, her son’s OCI card was revoked because he had concealed that his late father was of Pakistani origin in his PIO (Person of Indian Origin) application. But Ms Singh and Taseer had then brazened out their stand, refusing to acknowledge their mistakes and instead blame the government for being vindictive to cancel Taseer’s OCI status.

While it cannot be said with certainty, but Ms Singh’s persistent fault-finding might be because she is still smarting the indignity of her son’s OCI status being cancelled for lying about his father’s identity in his application.

Uttar Pradesh: Dasna temple priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati stabbed, condition critical

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Dasna temple priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati stabbed, condition critical

On Tuesday (August 10), unidentified assailants entered the premises of Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh tried to kill Hindu priest Swami Nareshanand Saraswati.

As per reports, the incident took place at around 3:30 am in the morning. The assilants scaled the wall of the temple and entered the premises. Swami Nareshanand Saraswati was sleeping at that point of time. The accused stabbed him in the stomach and neck region with a sharp weapon, leading to profuse bleeding and blood loss. The Hindu priest was rushed to the Yashoda hospital on receiving information about the attack. His condition is now said to be critical.

While speaking about the incident, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati’s acquaintance Anil Yadav said that Swami Nareshanand Saraswati had come to Dasna from Samastipur in Bihar on (August 7). The Hindu priest, a disciple of Mahant Yati Narasimhanand Saraswati, stayed at the Dasna Devi temple. It has now come to light that the Mahant was sleeping in the room, adjacent to that of Swami Nareshanand Saraswati, and that he was on the hit list of the assailants.

Swami Nareshanand Saraswati was stabbed in the neck and stomach

Mahant Yati Narasimhanand Saraswati had received several death threats in the past, following which the police was tasked to ensure his security and that of the temple. Although a team of Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) was stationed outside the temple, they were informed about the matter only after 20 minutes of the incident. They are tasked to protect the temple and and check the incoming devotees for any possible threat.

Blood splattered at the crime scene

Negligence of PAC team questioned, CCTV cameras found switched off

According to Anil Yadav, the attack on Swami Nareshanand Saraswati only highlighted the negligence of the PAC guards, who are in-charge of the temple security. Following the attack, a complaint was lodged at the Masuri police station. SP (Dehat) Iraj Raja took cognisance of the matter and initiated a probe in the case. He informed that the police are now analysing the CCTV footage installed within the temple premises. However, the cameras were found to be switched off.

In its defence, the police claimed that the victim was sleeping outside and not in his room, which made him vulnerable to the fatal attack. The SP said that they are investigating whether the culrpits were outsiders or lived in the adjoining areas. The cops have initiated a probe in the case and has assured to nab the culprits at the earliest.

Assassination plot against Yati Narsighanand Saraswati foiled

Earlier in May, the Delhi Police uncovered an assassination plot against Dasna Devi Temple head priest Yati Narsighanand Saraswati with the arrest of a 24-year-old Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist from Delhi’s Paharganj area. Besides one .30 bore pistol along with two magazine and 15 live rounds, the police recovered a Bhagwa kurta, a Kalava, a Mala and a Chandan-tika from the terrorist.

The accused, identified as Mohd. Dar alias Jehangir, who hailed from Pulwama, was allegedly paid Rs 41,000 to bump off the head priest of the Dasna Devi Temple. He was picked up from Hotel Shiva in Paharganj about 10 days ago, but the arrest was kept under wraps. During the interrogation, Dar reportedly told the police that one Abid from Pakistan recruited him to work for the Jaish-e-Muhammad terror outfit. He said he worked as a carpenter near his hometown where he met Abid in December 2020. Abid told him he was from the JeM and the duo met again in April 2021.

“They continuously chatted with each other on Whatsapp. In February, Dar came to Delhi with his sister and her father-in-law for the treatment of his nephew, who had heart disease. Once he returned to Kashmir, Abid entrusted him with the task of assassinating Dasna Devi Temple head priest Yati Narsighanand Saraswati,” a police officer privy to the details of the interrogation said.

Punjab: Teenaged girl plans her fake kidnapping to meet her friend, triggers panic

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Teenaged girl plans her fake kidnapping to meet her friend, triggers panic

A teenage girl studying in class 6 in a government school in Punjab, planned her fake abduction to meet her friend. The incident occurred in the Bhamian Kalan area of Punjab’s Ludhiana district on August 9 (Monday). According to Punjab police, the girls planned the entire act on a Whatsapp group.

The girl, as usual, went to school on Monday, where she convinced her classmate to help her plan the fake abduction. She asked the latter to inform her parents that five people abducted her from outside the school.

Meanwhile, the girl’s parents started panicking when she did not come back home until Monday afternoon. They started looking out for her. When they reached their daughter’s friend’s house in search of her, the classmate, as per plans, cooked up a story. She told the girl’s parents that she had been kidnapped. The worried parents then approached Jamalpur police.

The Jamalpur police sprung into action and went on the lookout for the ‘kidnapped’ girl. They also interrogated the ‘abducted’ girl’s classmate, who eventually told the police the truth.

The student was later discovered at a friend’s residence in Happy Colony. Within three hours, she was given over to her parents.

Speaking about this shocking incident, Kulwant Singh, the Jamalpur’s Station House Officer said: “During the course of the investigation, we found that the girls had made a plan on a WhatsApp group to meet. The exposure to mobile phones at a very young age due to the lockdown has distracted the children. We appeal to the parents to keep a tab on their children’s activities on social networking sites”.

Pinky Karmakar, the 2012 London Olympics torchbearer, is not an athlete: All you need to know about the latest ‘controversy’

OpIndia Staff
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Pinky Karmakar, the 2012 London Olympics torchbearer, is not an athlete: All you need to know about the latest ‘controversy’

On August 10, reports surfaced in mainstream media that Pinky Karmakar, the torchbearer of the 2012 London Olympics, is now working as a daily wage worker at a tea garden in Dibrugarh. In a statement to ANI, she said, “I didn’t get any facilities. I don’t understand why. I was selected by UNICEF. My dreams have been shattered.”

Now-deleted report by ANI on Pinki Karmakar.

The reports further suggested that she actively participated in social activities when she was 18-years-old and used to teach women in her locality. She also took part in several sports activities in school and was selected by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) Sports for Development (S4D) program. Under the program, she went to take part in London Olympics as a torchbearer.

The misinformation of Pinky Karmakar being an athlete

The news was picked by several mainstream media agencies who projected her as an athlete. One website called Inside Sport called her a flag bearer and published a report titled “From high of Neeraj Chopra’s Gold, Olympics Shame for India – 2012 Olympic Flagbearer- Pinky Karmakar found working as a daily wager in Assam”.

Misleading title by Inside Sport. Source: Inside Sport

The misinformation is rooted in a report in the Times of India from August 8, where the newspaper covered her ordeal. TOI mentioned that she was welcomed back to India after London Olympics as a medal winner. TOI quoted her saying, “I had big dreams, but now there is nothing left to hope. After my mother’s death, I had to drop out of college due to acute financial hardship and start working as a labourer in the tea garden.”

However, after realising that the story was perhaps misleading and causing misinformation, the news agency ANI withdrew the same.

The difference between flag-bearer and torchbearer

During Olympics, there are flagbearers, and then there are torchbearers. Though both have their own importance, there is no similarity whatsoever between them. According to the Olympics, Flagbearers are like the captains of the team who carry the national flag of their country at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. A flagbearer is always an athlete who is participating in any one or more of the events at the Olympics.

On the other hand, torchbearers are people who carry the Olympic Flame as Torchbearers to the stadium. They do not have to be athletes, and anyone with a notable background can be one. In Tokyo Olympics, Takashige Sho, a magician, was one of the torchbearers. In 2008 Olympics, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan was one of the torchbearers. In the same Olympics, Football star Bhaichung Bhutia had refused to participate as a torchbearer to show support to the Tibetan cause.

Torchbearers do not represent their home country

TOI quoted Pinky who claimed that she was promised “remuneration” for representing India at the torch relay. She claimed, “Till date, I have not received anything. The truth is that the daughter of a labourer has remained a labourer.”

Technically, torchbearers do not represent any country, but they represent the spirit of the Olympic Games and the host country. According to the Olympics, the torchbearers for every Olympics are selected by the host country’s Olympics association. For example, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay Prefecture Task Forces (PTFs) and the four Presenting Partners of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay selected around 10,000 torchbearers for the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Also, Torchbearers are supposed to take care of their own expenses including travel.

Keeping the said point in mind and the fact that UNICEF was the one who selected Pinky as the torchbearer for London Olympics 2012, it is odd that the people are blaming the Government of India for the difficulties she is facing in her life.

Pakistan appoints new chief for CPEC affairs, said to be a China-favourite

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan appoints new chief for CPEC affairs, said to be a China-favourite

Pakistan on August 03 ousted Asim Saleem Bajwa, a retired army general and replaced him with Khalid Mansoor as the new head of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Pakistan component of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The move is being seen as an attempt by Pakistan to appease China as Mansoor is reportedly a favourite of Beijing. 

Welcoming Mansoor in his new position, Pakistan’s Planning Minister Asad Umar Tweeted, “I welcome Khalid Mansoor to the team as SAPM for CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) affairs. His vast corporate experience, with extensive work with Chinese companies and his direct involvement in leading some of the biggest CPEC projects makes him an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC.”

As per a Nikkei Asia report, Mansoor in his 32-years of career has worked at top management positions in many energy-related companies including Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company and Hub Power Company Limited, the latter of which has been involved in CPEC projects. 

China was unhappy with delays

Reports suggest that the change of chief was because of Beijing’s displeasure at the slow progress of CPEC projects in the country. A number of projects under the CPEC, including those in the power sector, are currently facing delays leading to discontentment.

The multi-billion-dollar economic cooperation projection has not been able to complete the projects over the last three years including the five energy projects. Energy projects form the single largest component of CPEC.

Since Bajwa assumed office as CPEC authority chairman, the apex body (chaired by both Pakistan and China jointly to take decisions regarding the project) had held no meetings. 

China’s favorite man on the job

Reportedly, an official working with the Pakistan government revealed that even though Bajwa had developed a good working relationship with China, Beijing wanted someone in the job who was more familiar with Chinese companies and working culture.

“Khalid Mansoor, who has worked with many Chinese companies including directly leading CPEC projects, fits the bill as China’s favourite man for the job,” said the official.

China’s upper hand in CPEC

The move has been objected to by certain business communities in Pakistan who felt Bajwa was doing a splendid job and had a great grip on the matter. Meanwhile, some experts see this as giving an upper hand to China in the CPEC project and letting it dictate terms to Pakistan. 

This change in leadership also comes after nine Chinese engineers were killed in a bomb attack on a convoy transporting Chinese personnel to the Dasu Hydropower project in Pakistan’s Kohistan district last month.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the most ambitious projects of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. The project was announced with great fanfare in 2015 and was said to be a ‘gamechanger’ for Pakistan’s economy. 

‘The answer to almost every question about China is India’: Ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott heaves praises on PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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‘The answer to almost every question about China is India’: Ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott heaves praises on PM Modi

On Monday (August 9), former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott emphasised how India can become the democratic superpower that can substitute the ‘belligerent China.’

In an article in The Australian, he remarked, “With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible.” Abbott pointed out the significance of a ‘swift deal’ between India and Australia and how it can bring prosperity for both nations. He added that such a deal can be a signal to other democratic countries to ’tilt away from China’.

Tony Abbott conceded that his assumptions about China in 2014 turned out to be wrong and that it had been using trade as a ‘strategic weapon.’ He believed that inviting China into global trading networks would eventually lead to its political liberalisation. “…But the current capricious boycotts of Australian coal, barley, wine, and seafood show that, for the Beijing regime, trade is used as a strategic weapon,” he emphasised.

Screengrab of the article by Tony Abbott

The ex-Australian Prime Minister lamented how China took advantage of the ‘goodwill and wishful thinking’ of Western nations to steal their technology and undermine their industries. He conceded that the Communist nation has become more powerful than the erstwhile Soviet Union. He added, “The pandemic has put up in flashing neon lights the extent to which the world has become dependent on Chinese imports, including in critical supply chains, that can be turned on and off like a tap. But the answer to almost every question about China is India.”

“Although currently not as rich as China, as a democracy under the rule of law, and as the world’s second-largest producer of steel and pharmaceuticals, and with its own version of Silicon Valley, India is perfectly placed to substitute for China in global supply chains, Abbott concluded. He then went on to highlight the ‘natural partnership’ between the two nations. He pointed out, “Unlike others with India, we don’t have to live down a fraught history.”

He stated, “Our challenge is to overcome India’s traditional protectionism, and the tendency to see trade talks as a zero-sum game, in order to seal a deal that will make the world safer for democracy.” Abbott conceded that if the Australian businesses and officials made the same bilateral effort with India that they once made with China, then it could have helped establish a ‘family’ relationship.

Tony Abbott praises PM Modi for improving bilateral ties with Australia

The ex-Australian Prime Minister remarked, “India and Australia are like-minded democracies whose relationship had been under-developed, at least until Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister. Under Modi, India has revived the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, and the first in-person Quad summit is expected before the end of the year. Under Modi, India has invited Australia to join the annual Malabar naval exercises that will soon involve India, the US, Japan, Australia and also the UK’s visiting carrier strike group led by the Royal Navy’s new flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth.”

He added, “Australia could readily replace China as a key source of the rare earths and other strategic minerals that India will need, under PM Modi’s “Make in India” program, if it’s to replace China as a source of manufactured inputs at scale. With a spectacular infrastructure program now underway, as well as sweeping privatisation, India should be a place for Australian investment funds to secure long-term stable returns.”

Abbott was the Australian PM from 2013 to 2015.

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