War Cry of Pakistan over Kashmir

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August 15, 2019

Within a week of crying war over Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is shifting his gear now. First he spoke of “.. more Pulwama like terrorist attack” in Kashmir the day Indian Parliament annulled the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by scrapping Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Imran Khan said, “This will lead to problems in Azaad Kashmir. If they attack us, we will retaliate. Then this will further aggravate. Where is the end to this? This can lead to a conventional war,” he said.

“If a war happens, what can happen? We’ll fight till the last drop of blood… All parties will lose that war. A conventional war between two nuclear-armed nations will have global consequences,” he said, adding his country hopes for the best but is prepared for the worst.

He subsequently downgraded diplomatic mission in India by recalling its High Commissioner and suspending trade between the two countries. Pakistan also expelled Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria in Islamabad. India had already withdrawn ‘most favoured nation’ status in trade for Pakistan. If one is to believe the words of Imran Khan the diplomatic developments are precursor to war. “This is how war begins”, Khan has said. Ministers in Pakistan went a step further demanding “attack India” on Kashmir issue.

However, within a week of making a provocative statement in the National Assembly in Pakistan, Imran Khan has come to realise that war against India will be a costly affair. It has tasted war with India earlier in 1965, 1971 and in 1999 when it suffered defeat.

Problem with Pakistan or for that matter the Military junta in that country is to save face on Kashmir. All through the years, Pakistan has been waging a proxy war against India in Kashmir by sending terrorists to attack our forces in the valley. Pakistan’s strategists on Kashmir were hoping that by creating unrest in Kashmir it will engineer a mass revolt in the valley like the mass uprising it suffered in East Pakistan in 1970-71 leading to the dismemberment of Pakistan and birth of a newly independent nation Bangladesh. This did not happen in Kashmir despite Pakistan’s best efforts. The earlier attempt to raise the Kashmir issue in the United Nations calling for a ‘plebiscite’ also did not succeed.

Pakistan has now launched new ‘warfare’ against India it is a war of propaganda. Taking refuse in ‘fake news’ and ‘fake videos’, Pakistan has claimed violence in the Kashmir valley against the government decision of scrapping of Article 370. Some foreign media have carried news of violence in the valley and some news broadcaster in England carried footage of violence.

It is more than a week since Article 370 was scrapped and there are no reports of any violence in the valley. The Governor of the state Satyapal Malik and the Director General of Police of Jammu & Kashmir said on Monday that “not a single bullet was fired in the whole of the state”. The Eid was celebrated peacefully in the state that included the valley.

The new elected regime in Pakistan under Imran Khan did not stop engineering terrorist attacks in Kashmir while talking of dialogue with India on initiating a peace process.

In the given situation when Jammu and Kashmir has become Union Territory along with Ladakh much against the pronounced stand of regional political parties like National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party supported by the Congress on abrogation of Article 370.

One wonders at the wisdom of some Congress leaders who said on Monday that “Kashmir has become another Palestine”. Mani Shankar Aiyer of Congress went on to compare the situation in Kashmir with situation obtaining in East Pakistan in 1971. P Chidambaram, another Congress leader, gave a communal colour to the government decision on Article 370 when he said that the government scrapped the special status of Jammu & Kashmir because it was a Muslim majority state. Rahul Gandhi says that “People are dying in Kashmir”. Well Rahulji must tell the number of casualties because of violence in Kashmir.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi now says that Pakistan will take the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council where it will get the support of China. On August 9 Qureshi visited Beijing and held discussion with Chinese leaders on Kashmir issue.

India has dispatched it’s Minister for External Affairs Jaishankar who was in Beijing on Monday on a two-day visit to explain India’s stand in the Kashmir issue.

Not many countries will support Pakistan in the UN which is going to hold its general meeting in September next. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the UN General Assembly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported India on its decision on Kashmir. A foreign ministry statement from Moscow said, “We proceed from the fact that the changes associated with the change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is within the framework of Indian Constitution”.

White House in Washington has also made it clear that the Trump administration is not in favour of any aggression by Pakistan against India on Kashmir issue. An official statement from White House has on that revocation of Article 370 by India said, “It is an internal matter of India”.

With no support from the world leaders, Pakistan is left with mounting rhetoric on Kashmir. It will renew its attempt to create trouble in Jammu and Kashmir.

Once restrictions are lifted in Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad will approach the Hurriyat Conference leaders and also PDP and National Conference leaders to foment trouble in the valley which is showing signs of returning to normalcy.

(The writer is a Member of Rajya Sabha)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Now only Court can bail-out India from J&K crises

By

Hem Raj Jain

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August 15, 2019

The Kashmiri leaders are rightly saying that the ill-conceived act of Government of India (GoI) – to amend Article 370, repeal Article 35-A of the Constitution and to convert the State of J&K (having Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions) into two Union territories one of Jammu & Kashmir regions and other of Ladakh – is aggression by GoI which is the result of confusion of most of Indians who do not understand that as per Instrument of Accession (IoA) the State of J&K is not like any other State of India and is not an integral part of India rather its fate will be decided by plebiscite as mandated by IoA.

The major part of Indians (which is supporting said ill-conceived act of GoI) does not understand that the link between India and J&K is not through Article 370, 35-A but through IoA as these Articles came in existence much after IoA. The purpose of Article 370 and 35-A are two folds.

To ensure outsiders-free J&K to facilitate free & fair plebiscite (which has not taken place so far because of the dereliction of GoI and GoJ&K) and
Pending plebiscite, for the purpose of managing J&K politically, administratively and legally ONLY as per the wishes of the people of J&K as expressed by-laws made by legislature of J&K and as per the laws and Constitution of India applicable to J&K to the extent consented by the legislature of J&K. Therefore repeal (of Article 35-A and 370 of the Constitution) is unconstitutional, usurpation and against the spirit & letter of IoA.

This ill-conceived decision of GoI has created a crisis where J&K can become another Bangladesh as mentioned at https://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/opinion-details/3399. The politically naive Indians are thinking that J&K cannot become independent because Pakistan cannot wage conventional war against more powerful India for the ‘liberation’ of J&K but this complacency of Indians is not correct rather suicidal, as explained below:-

Hindu majority India has always under-estimated Islam hence India was partitioned in 1947 in which ~ 1 million were killed and ~ 20 million were displaced in the most gory situation. Similarly now also India is underestimating Islam because it does not understand that all other religions have two sanctioned coercive power namely military and police but Islam has one more, the Jihadis.
After UN declaration of 1948 for plebiscite, Pakistan did not vacate PoJK (a precondition for the purpose of free & fair Plebiscite) because it feared that under influence of Sheikh Abdullah the J&K will opt for India. India did not take military action for forcing Pakistan to vacate PoJK because Nehru (the follower of the doctrine of non-violence of his mentor Gandhi) did not want to use military (that was the reason Nehru did not use superior air-force of India during 1962 Indo-China war and instead preferred humiliation).
The people of J&K did not have the adequate military power to force independence in 1949 hence Sheikh Abdullah sounded many countries to support the independence of unified J&K but it did not materialize hence Nehru put Sheikh Abdullah in jail. Now also Muslims of J&K do not have the adequate military power to force independence (because now also Kashmiris do not want to go to either Pakistan or to India hence did not file a petition in J&K High Court as mentioned at https://wadikinews.com/public-interest-writ-petition-under-article-226-of-the-constitution-with-respondents-i-the-union-of-india-ii-the-state-of-jk/ ). But this ill-conceived act of GoI has changed the entire situation.
Now after said an ill-conceived act of GoI (if not stopped by Court) the non-Muslim regions of Ladakh and Jammu can & will easily be made Hindu majority areas by population transfer through economic policies and activities. The Kashmir region can & will also be gradually made Hindu majority area by well-guarded Hindu settlements, etc. and this is well understood by Pakistan & Muslim Kashmiris which Islam will never tolerate given the present scenario in communally-jingoist India which is increasingly becoming hostile to Muslims.
This will constrain Pakistan to reconcile with the idea of ‘Independent J&K’ and with the help and assistance of China (who will not tolerate increased presence of Jihadi militants and terrorists in J&K due its vulnerability in its Muslim area of Xinjiang province) and from most of the Muslim countries, NUCLEAR Pakistan will highly likely wage conventional war against NUCLEAR India to ‘liberate’ J&K (as India did in 1971 in Bangladesh) which is bound to force the international community too to recognize J&K as independent country.
The advantage of more numbers of military personnel with India can be nullified (i)- By Pakistan by battle-hardened Jihadis from all over the world (including from Al-Qaeda and ISIS) and (ii)- By China by detaining large number of Indian military personnel at Indo-China border by heating up entire Indo-China border especially in N-E where China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its territory and India’s vulnerability at Doklam from where China can cut-off entire N-E from India. — As far more military resources with India these can be provided by China and many Muslim countries to Pakistan. Hence Pakistan can go for making the whole of J&K independent through the prolonged conventional war of ‘liberation’ [Ladakh region (being claimed as its territory by China) can in a deal later-on be given to China by Pakistan as was done in case of Aksai-Chin]. Only one road to Kashmir from India (which can be cut-off by Pakistan with the help of China) will make this task of Pakistan easier.
There is a saying that one should first not the take-on enemy but the supporter of the enemy. The USA is depending to a great extent on the support of India in the Pacific region against China. Presently the USA is harassing China (rightly or wrongly which does not matter) through Hong Kong & Taiwan. Hence it is even more ominous for non-Muslims of unified J&K. Islam and China, as mentioned above, have a strong motivation for converting unified J&K into another Bangladesh. The Islam will have another Muslim country on the world map (after-all unified J&K is Muslim majority area and even Jammu was Muslim majority at the time of accession) and China will, later on, assimilate Ladakh which China is claiming as its own territory and it will also solve the problem with CPEC which India creates for China. As far non-Muslims of Jammu & Ladakh region they will either leave it (as Kashmiri Pandits did in Kashmir valley and as Buddhists did when they came from Tibet to India with Dalai Lama) and will go in India during the transition of their region into another Bangladesh or will be forced to leave it as happened to Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh after partition in 1947.

Let us hope that this J&K crisis which has been triggered by said ill-conceived acts of Government of India will be averted by High Court J&K / Supreme Court of India (by quashing these ill-conceived act of GoI) in the proceedings of the writ petitions which have been filed by Kashmiris in these Courts.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

The Spirit of Freedom

By

C K Subramaniam

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August 15, 2019

73rd Independence Day, Independence Day, 15th August , India Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi — Image Courtesy: Zee News

India is a secular country and after getting our independence on August 15, 1947, we have the right to express our views and nobody can stop us from giving valuable suggestions. Newspapers play a positive role in bringing the views of the readers by including them in Letters to the editor column. It gives an opportunity for the reader to give his frank opinion.

“India is my country and all the Indians are my brothers and sisters” goes a long way. The Government is by the people of the people and for the people and we get the freedom of speech and open your mind in public. The pen is mightier than the sword is true. National Integration is the hallmark of the Indian sub-continent.

India is a linguistic country and we have many newspapers in different languages to express your views. The hype, hoopla, and hysteria about sensitive issues figure out in newspapers and the people are given an open page, thanks to the media. For example, the spate of suicides of the farmers is being figured out prominently. Secondly, the atrocities committed against women are given pride of place. However, such types of news should not be used for increasing the sales of the publication. We in India get a boost to call shots when it is really required.

We need not get feared for exposing the right things and try to provide solutions in the right way. In cities, the platform height is abnormal and hence. By sending suggestions, the Corporation provides slopes at certain places and provided steps to climb and use the platforms. Road repairs at focal points are also taken on a war footing if you provide clippings of the damages caused to the roads during the monsoon season. The increase of slums at posh localities is also a matter of great concern and taken up before the situation goes out of hand. Gandhi Ji brought freedom for India and it is up to preserve our independence in the best way possible.

Mahatma Gandhi’s spirit for freedom struggle came from the cricketing field. Mahatma Gandhi, when requested for an autograph “played with a straight bat”, quite forgetting that he was engaged in a mighty and bloodless revolution with the British and thereby became a member of an official in England Team. How he was chosen could not probably have been explained even by the MCC selectors.

Cricket might not have affected Gandhi, but Gandhi certainly affected cricket. The political movements he led and the social changes he sought to bring about had their consequences on how the game was played in the sub-continent. Mahatma’s classmates at Alfred High School, Rajkot. This man, Ratilal Ghelabhai Mehta, remembered Gandhi as “a dashing cricketer” who “evinced a keen interest in the game as a school student. He was, it seems, good both at batting and bowling and had an uncanny understanding of the game’s uncertainties as well.

Requested for his autograph Gandhi Ji turned over the pages and put his signature as the 17th player of the MCC team led by Douglas Jardine in 1933-34. The autograph book is one of the treasured possessions of the Marlybourne Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord’s. Not only Gandhi Ji signed the autograph book but also played for the team comprising of Indians of British origin. Mahatma Gandhi played for a team of British origin against a team of Indian origin at London and scored 21 runs with three boundaries. He took one wicket also. He was wearing a pant and shirt while playing.

Gandhi Ji was not only a cricket enthusiast but he also wielded the willow. R.G. Mehta, a boyhood friend, and schoolmate wrote” It is not commonly known that Gandhi Ji was a dashing cricketer and evinced keen interest in the game. Once we were watching a cricket match together. In those days there were ding-dong battles between Rajkot city vs Rajkot Sardar (camp area). At a crucial moment, as if by intuition, Gandhi Ji said that a particular player would be out and hey presto the batsman was really out. There is no doubt that the freedom spirit of Gandhi Ji came from the cricketing field.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Letters to the Editor: 15 August, 2019

By

Web Team

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August 15, 2019

Remembering our freedom fighters

Independence Day and Republic Day are days for us to celebrate with the hoisting of our national flag, recitation of our national anthem, singing patriotic songs and organising social and cultural events.

On these days, we must also remember the sacrifices made by our various freedom fighters who bravely fought for our country’s independence and pay our due respect to them. But it’s a pity that after every Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations, the country’s national flag is strewn on the streets and people irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion blithely walk over them. Even when the national anthem is played on the radio or telecast on television, people don’t respect it. They are busy talking to their friends on their mobile phones or chatting with people around them. As Indians, we must respect our national flag, national song and national anthem.

Jubel D’Cruz

Importance of national flag

On the occasion of Independence Day every one of us will display patriotism by displaying national flag or badge made of paper or plastic tucked on our clothes. The same flag is removed and dumped anywhere in the evening. Being born in independent India, we are not much aware of the troubles gone through by our ancestors for getting freedom. We don’t tell children, the importance of national flag when we give paper flags to them; therefore, they throw them anywhere. It is necessary to explain the importance of national flag and sacrifices made by revolutionaries to children now. Insult of national flag by children, knowingly or unknowingly, will be prevented if ‘sanskar’ of maintaining honour of national flag is inculcated in children at early age and patriotism will be generated in them.

Rupa Solanki

Why oppose ‘Vande Mataram’?

Singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ on Independence Day has become a topic of discussion. Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, with personality like a sage, was inspired to write this verse with the grace of Shri Durgadevi when he was meditating. ‘Bharatmata’ has been considered the greatest of all as ‘Matru-bhoomi (Motherland)’ in this song and obeisance is paid to her with the feeling of devotion and surrender. There is also feeling of bravery that we are capable of protecting her; expressed through this song. There is boundless radiance hidden in ‘Vande Mataram’, of sacrifices made by revolutionaries and ‘Satyagrahis’ taking part in the freedom fight. It is a unique song inspired with divine energy; a piece of blazing gold that has been refined and purified through uprising of armed revolutionaries. It has the power of giving strength to fight against enemy; therefore, it has become a basic-mantra of patriotism. Even then, why is there so much indifference towards this song? Paying respect to national flag, national song and singing of those songs cannot be optional but it is the duty of every citizen of this country. Great history of revolutionaries and their legacy needs to be included in all curriculums, for generating the feeling of patriotism amongst children, youth and everyone; for creating feeling of ‘It is my country and I belong to this country’. Singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ should be made compulsory in all schools, colleges and public programs; only then true patriots will be created and everyday dawning for ‘Bharatmata’ would be ‘Vande Mataram’ Day.

Smita Dhuri

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Raksha Bandhan: A festival that promotes love and friendship

By

Jubel D'Cruz

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August 15, 2019

‘Raksha’ means protection and ‘Bandhan’ means bound. Thus ‘Raksha Bandhan‘ means the ‘Bond of Protection’.

On Raksha Bandhan day, the sisters tie a ‘rakhi’ (a silken thread) on their brothers’ wrist. This is a symbol of their love and respect for their brothers. Rakhi also signifies that the sisters pray for long life and well-being of their brothers. The brothers, in turn take a vow to always take care and protect their sisters from all evils and dangers. As a token of their love, the brothers either give cash or other gifts to their sisters.

Raksha Bandhan is one of the very significant festivals in India. This festival is celebrated by the brothers and sisters only. The brother-sister relationship is extremely special. The way they care for each other is beyond compare. One can never love or care for their friends as much as they love their siblings. The connection and bond one shares with brothers and sisters is simply matchless. No matter how much they fight with each other over trivial things, when the time comes, they stand by one another and extend their support.

The bond grows stronger as they age and go through various stages of life. They are there for each other in thick and thin. Elder brothers are highly protective of their sisters and the younger ones look up to their elder sisters for guidance. Likewise, elder sisters are extremely caring for their younger brothers and the younger ones seek their elder brother’s help and advice on various matters.

In Indian tradition, the frangible thread of rakhi is considered even stronger than an iron chain as it strongly binds brothers and sisters together in the circumference of mutual love and trust.

The festival was actually started by our Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore by tying a rakhi on a fellow countryman’s wrist. He did this to promote brotherhood and equality among the citizens of India. Since then, this festival is celebrated with great spirit and emotion by the people of India. Every year all the brothers and sisters look forward to this festival with great zeal and excitement.

Traditionally, this festival is celebrated by our Hindu brothers and sisters. In an era which is marked by movements for women’s liberation and rights, Raksha Bandhan can be celebrated as a festival that promotes brotherly-sisterly concerns and appreciates the complimentary gifts of a man and woman.

As per the Hindu calendar, Raksha Bandhan falls in Shravan maas also known as the Sawan month. It is celebrated on the last day of the Shravan mass which mostly falls in the month of August. The entire month of Sawan is considered to be auspicious as per the Hindu religion.

Raksha Bandhan is known by different names in different parts of the country. But however the essence of the festival remains the same and that is to celebrate the sacred brother-sister bond. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 15. It coincides with Independence Day.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

India celebrates 73rd Independence Day

By

Rajesh Choudhary

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August 15, 2019

India is celebrating 73^rd Independence Day today. We have many reasons to be proud. Our outstanding achievements in various fields hold our head high in international community. At present, we are one of top 10 economic and military powers. Our expertise in software technology is undoubted in the world as Sundar Pichai is leading Google. India is fast becoming the hub of medical tourism. It is the largest democratic country in the world. Success of democracy and parliamentary form of government, rule of law, and self sufficiency in many sectors including agriculture are the biggest achievements of independent India. But still we have to go far. We have to do a lot on the front of inequitable distribution of wealth, illiteracy, widespread poverty, rampant corruption, woman security and population explosion. Our achievements are definitely outstanding but our failures are also dismal. India of 2019 is totally different. It is steadily marching ahead on the path of progress.

India’s spacecraft to the moon Chandrayaan-2 on Wednesday successfully entered the Lunar Transfer Trajectory (LTT). According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), since its launch on July 22, 2019, by GSLV MkIII-M1 vehicle, all systems onboard Chandrayaan-2 are performing normal. Chandrayaan-2 will approach moon on August 20. India will become fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the moon on September 7 after Russia, the USA and China. India has become a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market. It has launched 239 satellites for 28 different countries so far. ISRO successfully launched 104 satellites by a single rocket on 15 February 2017. On March 27, PM Narendra Modi announced that the country had successfully launched an anti-satellite missile in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). With that, India became only the fourth country to test an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapon. Now, India can attack enemy’s satellites or intercepting ballistic missiles after the USA, China, and Russia.

NCP MP Majeed Memon told afternoon Voice’s reporter Nikhil Sagare, “Education, Food and Jobs to all citizens should be our top priority. Even today, youths are unemployed on large scale. It is difficult to provide education to the common man. We must solve these problems. I congratulate every country men on the auspicious day of Independence Day. We remember all those who sacrificed for this freedom. Now, it is our responsibility to preserve it.”

Today, India is seventh largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and third largest in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). As per data, India’s gross national income (GNI) at constant prices has increased more than 35 times from Rs 2.92 lakh crore in 1950-51 to 120 lakh crore in 2015-16. At current prices, the GNI stands at 150.83 lakh crore. The per capita income at current prices for 2016-17 is estimated at Rs.1.03 lakh, against Rs. 274 in 1950-51. India’s literacy rate at the time of independence was a mere 18 per cent. Today, it is 74 per cent. Food grain production in 1950-51 was 50.8 million tonnes; it is estimated to be 272 million tonnes in 2016-17. Life expectancy in 1947 was 32, now it is 68.

Actor Makarand Deshpande said, “We must ensure sanitation and development across the country. To be superpower all Indians have to be united. It is possible only when everyone will be happy. Our land is very fertile. We are very much talented. We should respect our soldiers posted on borders. At the same time, within the country everyone should always spread love and brotherhood, never shed hate.”

Now, India is a nuclear power. It changed its stand on Nuke deterrent from non-proliferation to a country with weapons-grade plutonium for up to over 110 nuclear weapons. This was a bold step to push India’s position on the world of superpowers. Now, we are claiming permanent seat in the United Nation Security Council. India is estimated to have over 800 million mobile phone users in 2019. It has become a big Smartphone market.

Dhananjay Amberkar, a resident of Andheri said, “Anna Bhau Sathe had said on August 15, 1947 on Azad Maidan ‘Desh ki janata bhookhi hai ye Azadi jhoothi ha’ (When citizens of the country are hungry this independence is false). So, our government must act in this direction. PM Modi had assured to create 2 crore jobs every year but youths are unemployed. In spite of all these, my heartiest congratulations to everybody on 73rd Independence Day. I wish India must be united”

In 1947, India inherited weak and troubled economy. We were looking for help from US and International Bank to face drought induced food crisis. At the time, Indo-US relations were straining due to India’s criticism of the American bombing campaign in Vietnam. The US withheld food grain shipments to India. But with Green Revolution in the country we could achieve self-sufficiency in the agriculture sector. With the advent of Green Revolution we not only became self-reliant but also able to export many produce to different countries. Introduction of modern machinery, hybrid seeds, etc, have also contributed to the progress in this sector.

After the war of 1962 with China, India changed its stand from peace loving country to ‘Peace with Power’. The defence budgets were increased and the military might was increased along with advanced trainings and warheads. With strength of over 1.3 million active personnel, it is world’s 3rd largest military force. India’s 2015 budget for defence puts it at 6th place in the countries’ military expenditures. Strategic impact was that India started putting its opinions at world forum more firmly.

Celebrate the Bond of Love

By

Web Team

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August 15, 2019

Raksha Bandhan is one of the main festivals in the Hindu religion. Although it is celebrated across India, it holds a special reference for those belonging to the northern and western parts of the country. As per the Hindu calendar, Raksha Bandhan falls in Shravan maas also known as the Sawan month. It is celebrated on the last day of the Shravan mass which mostly falls in the month of August. The entire month of Sawan is considered to be auspicious as per the Hindu religion.

The priests in the country announce the special time for tying rakhi on the day of Raksha Bandhan. It is time for the ladies to adorn beautiful attires and get ready for the occasion. They are mostly seen wearing ethnic ensembles with matching accessories and footwear. Men are also seen donning traditional Indian attire. The atmosphere is filled with love and joy. The ritual begins with sisters applying tilak on their brothers’ forehead. They then tie rakhi on their brothers’ wrist and exchange sweets. Sisters wish for the well being of their brothers as they carry out the ritual. Brothers give gifts to their sisters and promise to take care of them in every situation. It is not only a special day for brothers and sisters but is also a great occasion to bond with other family members.

The advancement in technology has also helped in bringing the loved ones together on this day. The siblings living in distant lands can connect with each other via video call. Those who are unable to visit each other on rakhi celebrate the festival by seeing each other virtually on phone or laptop these days.

Women are especially quite excited about Raksha Bandhan as it is time for them to shop and adorn beautiful dresses and accessories. Men, on the other hand, look forward to meeting their sisters and cousins. Raksha Bandhan is known by different names in different parts of the country however the essence of the festival remains the same and that is to celebrate the sacred brother-sister bond.

Raksha Bandhan: Historical References

Several folklores have been presented on how this festival came into being and the significance it held for various famous personalities. Here are some of the historical references of the festival:

Alexander the Great

It is said that when Alexander invaded India, his wife was extremely anxious about his well-being. She sent a sacred thread to Porus, requesting him not to harm Alexander. Keeping with the tradition, Porus refrained from attacking Alexander during the battle. He respected the Rakhi sent by Roxana. This event dates back to 326 BCE.

Rani Karnavati

The legend of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun also emphasises the significance of this sacred ritual. It is said that Rani Karnavati of Chittor, who was a widowed queen, asked for Emperor Humayun’s help by sending him Rakhi. She did so when she realised that she could not save her kingdom from Bahadur Shah all by herself. Humayun respected the rakhi and sent his troops to fight against all odds and save Chittor.

Choosing the Right Gift for Raksha Bandhan

The market is flooded with a variety of gifts around this time. From clothes to footwear to accessories to home décor items– there is so much variety in each of these that it becomes difficult to pick one among these. The brothers often seem confused about what to gift to their sisters as it is a difficult choice to make. They often roam around the market looking for that perfect gift for their sisters to light a smile on their face. Choosing the right gift is indeed a big task during this festival.

So it is not just the ladies who visit the market and shop endlessly during the time men also invest a good amount of time looking for gifts for their beloved sisters.

Another Festival That Celebrates Brother Sister Bond

Just like Raksha Bandhan, Bhai Duj is another festival that is celebrated to strengthen and rejoice the brother-sister bond. The sisters apply tilak on their brothers’ forehead on this day and pray for their well being. The brothers pledge to be by their sisters’ side at all times. They exchange sweets and the brothers present their sisters with gifts. People dress up in ethnic wear to add to the spirit of the festival. It is not just a time to bond with one’s brothers and sisters but also with other family members.

73rd Independence Day reminds us of our responsibilities towards country

By

Vinod Dixit

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August 15, 2019

73rd Independence Day, Independence Day, 15th August , India Independence Day — Image Courtesy: India.com

India will be celebrating its 73^rd Independence Day to pay tribute and remember all the freedom fighters that had contributed a lot and fought for the Independence of India. At this day India got freedom from the British rule after long years of slavery. Independence Day is celebrated to commemorate the freedom of India from the British rule in 1947. 15^th of August is the day of re-birth of the India. It is the day when Britishers left India and handed over the country to its leaders. It is the most significant day in the history of India and celebrated every year with great enthusiasm by the Indian people. We all know that Freedom is not free. It took years of efforts, non-violence and other movement by our national freedom fighter to attain Freedom.

Our PM Narendra Modi has invoked the Quit India Movement again (after Mahatma Gandhi) in order to encourage countrymen to use the same spirit to expel problems like corruption, communalism, terrorism, casteism, poverty, as well as dirt forever from the country by 2022. This day also inspires us to follow the teaching of peace and non-violence that was preached by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation and it reminds us of our duty and responsibility to the country.

Have we ever given a thought that had the British left without Partition, Hindu-Muslim antagonism would have escalated into civil war, leading ultimately to an even bloodier Partition. The civil war would have converted India into a hotbed of Hindu communalism and violence, with secularists sidelined as traitors or worse. Partition, warts and all, has been a better outcome.

Winston Churchill once said, “India is just a geographical entity. It is no more a country than the equator.”Unity in India was created after 1947 by the statesmanship of Nehru and his colleagues. Many British critics sneered that an independent India would disintegrate. Nehru proved them wrong. Leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri instilled a love for India in the hearts of their followers.

On Independence Day, one can find a number of people on television giving lectures about the nation. During these speeches, they often give vent to their patriotic sentiments. One has to be empathetic to the sufferings of one’s countrymen and stand up for their rights. India is a diverse nation; this plurality should be used to the people’s advantage. Religious conflict has to stop, and the people need to fight social evils together. We got our freedom at midnight but still look forward to the dawn. Of late, Independence Day has come to mean just a holiday to watch some Bollywood programmes on various television channels. The glory is forgotten and the memory of the freedom fighters gone with the wind.

Everyone knows that our country got freedom from the 300 years of British Rule at the stroke of midnight as India moved towards August 15, 1947. How our nation has fared over the last 72 years is something we cannot change but the future is in our hands. India’s Independence Day is a day of great significance for the people of India. Don’t we forget the importance of this day soon after the evening? Aren’t we attaching too much importance to our individual freedom rather than to the national independence? Why is there little sense of pride in the country about what our parents and grandparents managed to achieve against all odds? Today our country is a well established democratic country all over the world. Gandhi dreamed of an independent India with the non violence and peace. Let us ensure that we exercise our rights and proudly participate in our democracy so that our nation heads in the right direction. The Celebration of Independence day is the same throughout the country and this is the day when we find whole country celebrating and rejoicing but the real celebration is to worship those patriots who shed their blood for achieving Freedom.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Creative governance needed to manage water resource — Part II

By

Vaidehi Taman

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August 14, 2019

Some women and girls tied ‘rakhis’ on the wrists of jawans of the Navy, Army, and NDRF on August 11. Several members of the Muslim community from Sangli and Kolhapur had decided to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Adha on August 12 without fanfare. Around 35 people have been killed in rain-related incidents in five districts of western Maharashtra in a week, including 17 who drowned after a boat capsized near Brahmanal village in Sangli on Thursday. Four lakh people have so far been moved to safety from the flood-affected areas of Maharashtra, officials said on Sunday, adding 761 villages in 69 tehsils are affected by the deluge.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Kerala floods mounted to 76 even as rains abated on Sunday after pounding the state for days, while the situation remained grim in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat where over 100 people have lost their lives so far due to the monsoon fury. All rivers are in spate in Karnataka where the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site in Hampi, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Ballari district, has been inundated after over 1.70 lakh cusec water was released from a reservoir on Sunday morning. Tourists in Hampi have been shifted to safer places, officials said. The unprecedented deluge since last week has left 31 people dead and displaced four lakh people in 80 taluks of 17 districts in Karnataka. Continuous discharge of water from Almatti dam in Karnataka brought down the water level of the Panchganga River in Kolhapur where it was flowing above the danger mark. Kolhapur and Sangli districts have been battling unprecedented floods since the last eight days following heavy rains in Konkan and western parts of the state where over 40 people have lost their lives in the deluge.

Meanwhile, in the state of Kerala alone, at least 76 people were killed in rain-related incidents. “Several houses are still covered under 10-12 feet (3-3.6 meters) of deep mud. This is hampering rescue work. The flood situation remains grim and agencies are on high alert in six districts. Many deaths have been reported in rain-triggered landslides in Wayanad and Malappuram districts. Over five-lakh cusec of water was being discharged from Almatti dam on the Krishna River in neighbouring Karnataka to ease the flood situation in western Maharashtra. The Railways announced waiver of freight charges for transportation of relief materials to Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala, where over 10 lakh people had to be shifted from their homes to escape inundation.

The Ballari district administration in Karnataka has asked people living along the riverbanks to move to safer places as all 33 gates of the Tungabhadra Dam were opened in the wake of incessant rains. The preliminary estimate of flood-related loss in the state was Rs 10,000 crore. Heavy showers continued to lash parts of Gujarat taking the toll in rain-related incidents to 31, including 12 deaths were reported from Saurashtra region. Several parts of central Gujarat and Saurashtra and Kutch regions have been receiving heavy rains for the last three days.

Orissa has another tragedy; this state is always under casualty. The 482 km long of the coastline of Orissa exposes the State to flood, cyclones and storm surges. Heavy rainfall during monsoon causes floods in the rivers. The flow of water from neighbouring States of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh also contributes to flooding. The flat coastal belts with poor drainage, the high degree of siltation of the rivers, soil erosion, breaching of the embankments, and spilling of floodwaters over them cause severe floods in the river basin and delta areas. In Orissa, rivers such as the Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya, Vansadhara and their many tributaries and branches flowing through the State expose vast areas to floods.

In Orissa, damages are caused due to floods mainly in the Mahanadi, the Brahmani, and the Baitarani. These rivers have common deltas where floodwaters intermingle, and when in spate simultaneously, wreak considerable havoc. This problem becomes even more acute when floods coincide with high tide. The water level rises due to deposits of silt on the river-bed. Rivers often overflow their banks or water rushes through new channels causing heavy damages. Floods and drainage congestion also affects the lower reaches along the Subarnarekha. The rivers Rusikulya, Vansadhara, and Budhabalanga also cause occasional floods. The entire coastal belt is prone to storm surges. The storms that produce tidal surges are usually accompanied by heavy rainfall making the coastal belt vulnerable to both floods and storm surges. People die; livestock perishes; houses are washed away; paddy and other crops are lost and roads and bridges are damaged. Property worth crores of rupees were destroyed in the floods. People are trying to cope up with challenges, what is needed the most is human support. We all should approach fellow human and make them sustainable.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Letters to the Editor: 14 August, 2019

By

Web Team

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August 14, 2019

Rajinikanth’s statement on Kashmir

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for the government’s bold move on Mission Kashmir. He also equated the Modi-Shah combine to Lord Krishna-Arjuna. Rajinikanth makes a strong statement and it has become a popular like his punch dialogues. He went to reiterate and add hats off to Home Minister Amit Shah for ‘Mission Kashmir’ operations and my wholehearted congratulations for the feat. The way it was handed was exemplary and the speech you delivered while tabling the bill was fantastic lauding the duo for abrogating Article 370 and reorganisation of the state, stripping it of its statehood. While commending the duo, the Tamil superstar wriggled out of identifying as to who was Krishna and who Arjuna while speaking at the launch of a book on the two years in office of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. With Rajinikanth strong statement South seems to side BJP slowly.

Gundu K Maniam

Persistent potholes problems

It has been raining misery in Mumbai in the last few days. As trees come falling down, drains overflow, power lines snap and roads get inundated, motorists encounter one more danger lurking on their paths: the ubiquitous potholes. Potholes are the city’s old foes. Several deadlines have been fixed and missed, but these craters have made a comeback. Social media has been abuzz with citizens complaining about the risk they pose. We have all heard and read the idiom ‘Promise the Moon’ and it means to promise something that is extravagant or going out of the way to do something for someone.

Nickhil Mani

Incomplete SMSs by IT Department creates unnecessary tension

Income Tax Department is sending repeated SMSs on mobile-numbers of all those registered with the Department with TAN numbers for deducting tax at source cautioning about imposition of penalty of rupees 200 per day for not filing quarterly TDS statements. But such filing of TDS statements is compulsory only for those having deducted tax-at-source in some particular quarter. Such SMSs unnecessarily create panic amongst those who are not to file TDS statements because of not having deducted tax-at-source in some particular quarter. Income Tax Department should modify SMS to add that such TDS statements are to be filed by only those TAN-number holders who might have deducted tax-at-source in some particular quarter.

Moreover irrational penalty of rupees 200 per day is advantageous for those where TDS amount is much higher and interest for delayed deposit of TDS may exceed rupees 200 per day. But on the contrary, such amount of rupees 200 per day is highly excessive and reasonable for those having defaulted for deposit of some small amount of tax-deducted. Penalty of rupees 200 per day should be changed to say 3-percent per month of delayed deposit of TDS amount.

Best is to merge TAN with PAN (Permanent account Number) where PAN holders may be filing quarterly TDS statement for deposit of Tax-Deposited-at-Source by PAN holders. Filing of such quarterly TDS statements (if applicable for some quarter) may be a part of Income Tax Return and audit-reports if applicable.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Why this hue and cry over prices?

Two boiled eggs for Rs.1700 or 2 bananas for Rs 442 may sound exorbitant but it is not cost of things you eat at a five star luxurious hotel that counts but that includes the rent, ambience and the services provided by these establishments apart from hospitality given to their clientele. A coffee at these places may cost over Rs.600 but people sometimes spend 3-4 hours at these places just to have a cup of coffee over a business meeting. The hue and cry over these charges on social media is unwarranted. One should make sure what one pays before ordering than create a controversy after they are presented the bill.

Luxurious public properties have exorbitant expenses as well. Hundreds are hired to give service to few people at times. The government too collects exorbitant taxes from them which is the reason why dining at these establishments will always be expensive!

S.N. Kabra

LPG subsidy should be provided only on basis of affidavits

Subsidy for LPG is for families having combined income of rupees ten lakhs per annum with central government appealing those above the stipulated income-limit to voluntarily surrender subsidy. But instead of expecting voluntary surrender, Union Petroleum Ministry should ask to submit affidavits regarding total family-income to avail subsidy. This will drastically reduce LPG subsidy-burden on the exchequer because those not having voluntarily surrendered subsidy will then avoid filing wrong affidavits to get subsidy.

Net payable price including of all central and local taxes should be rounded in multiples of rupees ten or fifty, because delivery-persons never return balance-money. System will further reduce financial-burden on the exchequer because of LPG subsidy. At least LPG, if not petrol and diesel, can be brought under GST network for uniformity of prices throughout the country.

New-look translucent LPG cylinders made of fibre-glass ensuring tamperproof full-load supply of LPG gas per cylinders should replace old iron-cylinders with iron-cylinders discontinued to be manufactured in future.

Madhu Agrawal

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)