NEW DELHI, 4 September 2020, TON: "With a Heavy Heart, this is to inform you that my father Shri Pranab Mukherjee has just passed away despite the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital and prayers, duwa, and Prarthana's from people throughout India! I thank all of You, " his son Abhijit Mukherjee tweeted. 

Pranab (84) tested positive for Covid-19 and underwent brain surgery at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10, and had been in coma and ventilator support since then.

When the Congress-led  (UPA) came into power in 2004, Mukherjee won a Lok Sabha seat (the popularly elected lower house of Parliament) seat for the first time.

From then until his resignation in 2012, Mukherjee held several key cabinets portfolios in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government – Defence (2004–06), External Affairs (2006–09) and Finance (2009–12) – apart from heading several Groups of Ministers (GoMs) and being Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha. After securing the UPA's nomination for the country's presidency in July 2012, Mukherjee comfortably defeated P. A. Sangma in the race to Rashtrapati Bhavan, winning 70 percent of the electoral-college vote.

Bangladesh on Wednesday observed one-day national mourning in respect to the memory of former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.

Marking the day, the national flag was hoisted half-mast all government, semi-government and autonomous offices, educational institutions and all government and non-government buildings and at all missions abroad. Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen signed the condolence book in memory of Pranab Mukherjee at the Indian High Commission here.

Samiur Rashid, Department of CSE, International Islamic University of Chittagong.

Another suicide case was reported at Indian Army 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar. The Duty Medical Officer (DMO) says, “nothing unusual has happened as it is a routine matter”. He claimed that it is a normal practice that every day two to three cases of attempted-suicide are reported since decades, even before his posting at Base Hospital. He explained that the suicide cases pertaining to specifically Indian Army are usually one to two per month while with regard to Para Military Forces it is four times.

Yesterday too, in an unbelievable incident, Assistant Sub Inspector Amrit Bhardwaj, resident of Bharlipur village of Assam, serving at 33 Battalion CRPF was found dead if he has committed suicide at Battalion headquarters at Kotli. Witnesses informed that he returned from night duty and was fine but they were told next day morning that he committed suicide. One witness said that he saw Amrit Bhardwaj which bore four bullet marks.

Suicidal tendencies among the Indian Army and Para Military Force (PMF) personnel deployed in disputed State of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir is on the rise. Every year, the number is gradually increasing. In the last ten years, between 2010 and 2020, over one thousand cases were reported due to many reasons but generally speaking most of them committed suicide or made an unsuccessful attempt after having ordered by their command and seniors to open indiscriminate firing of Kashmiri civilians in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Subedar Kumar, who survived a suicide attempt informed TON correspondent in August 2020, “Hindu Dharam does not allow killing of even animals but I was ordered to open fire on Hindu traders and their dead bodies pricks my conscience. I could not resist the dead bodies”. One of the major reasons is, of course, extrajudicial killings and fake encounters. There are at least three cases last year where stoppage of routine casual leave forced them to shoot themselves. One such last year’s suicide attempt case said, “I did not avail leave since over six months and I had pressure from my house to leave the job if leave is not granted”.

Focusing on suicide cases of Central Reserve Police Force (CRFP) this year, on 12 August 2020, Inspector Damodar from 141 battalion, who was posted at the Shergadi area of Srinagar shot himself with his service rifle but survived.

Another incident took place on 26 July this year when a CRPF personnel posted in Srinagar shot himself dead.

On 19 July, a CRPF personnel committed suicide by shooting himself dead inside the unit lines at Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar.

On 6 July, two Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel were killed in in district courts in Kulgam. It was alleged that they killed themselves by their service rifles after engaging in an argument. However, witnesses present at that claimed that facts are quite different but they cannot disclose as intelligence agencies would eliminate them and their families.  

Similarly, on 12 May, under mysterious condition in two different cases in Anantnag district, two CRPF personnel committed suicide by shooting themselves with their service rifles. m Kashmir’s Anantnag district. In the first incident, Assistant Sub Inspector CRPF Fateh Singh committed suicide by shooting himself with service rifle at Akrun Mattan, Islamabad district Interestingly, it is being claimed that Fatah Singh left behind a suicide note which read, “I am afraid, I may have contracted Corona.” However, there was no evidence for the same as reported by his colleagues. In the second incident Assistant Sub-Inspector CRPF, Bengali Babu resident of Madhya Pradesh committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at his 49th battalion camp in Srinagar.  

On 21 March, another CRPF personnel posted outside Civil Secretariat Srinagar had committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle.

The increasing suicidal tendencies in disputed Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir State cannot be ignored. These are just few months cases and that too confined to CRPF. Someone should ask the next to kin of these personnel how they are feeling. These personnel who joined the forces to serve their country returned their home wrapped in coffins. One wonders how long these personnel would be ordered against their conscience to kill innocent people in fake encounters and extra judicial killings. Did their love ones send them to the forces to come back in coffins and get compensation for their lives? It is high time that the United Nations Organizations, European Union UNHCR, and other international 0rganizations including International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch.

Another suicide case was reported at Indian Army 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar. The Duty Medical Officer (DMO) says, “nothing unusual has happened as it is a routine matter”. He claimed that it is a normal practice that every day two to three cases of attempted-suicide are reported since decades, even before his posting at Base Hospital. He explained that the suicide cases pertaining to specifically Indian Army are usually one to two per month while with regard to Para Military Forces it is four times.

Yesterday too, in an unbelievable incident, Assistant Sub Inspector Amrit Bhardwaj, resident of Bharlipur village of Assam, serving at 33 Battalion CRPF was found dead if he has committed suicide at Battalion headquarters at Kotli. Witnesses informed that he returned from night duty and was fine but they were told next day morning that he committed suicide. One witness said that he saw Amrit Bhardwaj which bore four bullet marks.

Suicidal tendencies among the Indian Army and Para Military Force (PMF) personnel deployed in disputed State of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir is on the rise. Every year, the number is gradually increasing. In the last ten years, between 2010 and 2020, over one thousand cases were reported due to many reasons but generally speaking most of them committed suicide or made an unsuccessful attempt after having ordered by their command and seniors to open indiscriminate firing of Kashmiri civilians in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Subedar Kumar, who survived a suicide attempt informed TON correspondent in August 2020, “Hindu Dharam does not allow killing of even animals but I was ordered to open fire on Hindu traders and their dead bodies pricks my conscience. I could not resist the dead bodies”. One of the major reasons is, of course, extrajudicial killings and fake encounters. There are at least three cases last year where stoppage of routine casual leave forced them to shoot themselves. One such last year’s suicide attempt case said, “I did not avail leave since over six months and I had pressure from my house to leave the job if leave is not granted”.

Focusing on suicide cases of Central Reserve Police Force (CRFP) this year, on 12 August 2020, Inspector Damodar from 141 battalion, who was posted at the Shergadi area of Srinagar shot himself with his service rifle but survived.

Another incident took place on 26 July this year when a CRPF personnel posted in Srinagar shot himself dead.

On 19 July, a CRPF personnel committed suicide by shooting himself dead inside the unit lines at Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar.

On 6 July, two Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel were killed in in district courts in Kulgam. It was alleged that they killed themselves by their service rifles after engaging in an argument. However, witnesses present at that claimed that facts are quite different but they cannot disclose as intelligence agencies would eliminate them and their families.  

Similarly, on 12 May, under mysterious condition in two different cases in Anantnag district, two CRPF personnel committed suicide by shooting themselves with their service rifles. m Kashmir’s Anantnag district. In the first incident, Assistant Sub Inspector CRPF Fateh Singh committed suicide by shooting himself with service rifle at Akrun Mattan, Islamabad district Interestingly, it is being claimed that Fatah Singh left behind a suicide note which read, “I am afraid, I may have contracted Corona.” However, there was no evidence for the same as reported by his colleagues. In the second incident Assistant Sub-Inspector CRPF, Bengali Babu resident of Madhya Pradesh committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at his 49th battalion camp in Srinagar.  

On 21 March, another CRPF personnel posted outside Civil Secretariat Srinagar had committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle.

The increasing suicidal tendencies in disputed Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir State cannot be ignored. These are just few months cases and that too confined to CRPF. Someone should ask the next to kin of these personnel how they are feeling. These personnel who joined the forces to serve their country returned their home wrapped in coffins. One wonders how long these personnel would be ordered against their conscience to kill innocent people in fake encounters and extra judicial killings. Did their love ones send them to the forces to come back in coffins and get compensation for their lives? It is high time that the United Nations Organizations, European Union UNHCR, and other international 0rganizations including International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch.

LONDON, 02 September 2020, TON: University of Oxford stood number one in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, Stanford University in the second number and Harvard University in the third position. In the top ten positions United Kingdom got one while rest nine slots were won by the United States of America.

This year 63 Indian universities qualified for the ‘Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021’. The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore has ranked first among the Indian institutes, followed by Indian Institute of Technology Ropar and Indian Institute of Technology Indore in second and third positions, respectively.

It is interesting to note that last year 56 Indian universities qualified for the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 while there is an addition of 14 new universities this year, making record of 63 Indian universities as qualified.

SRINAGAR, 02 September 2020, TON: The Indian Cabinet on Wednesday approved Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, declaring Hindi and English beside Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri as five official languages.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announcing the approval said, “the Bill will be introduced in Parliament soon.” "Inclusion of Hindi and English as official languages in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been carried out under the pressure of New Delhi to accommodate illegal immigrants. 

Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government has accepted the long pending demand of the region for the inclusion of Dogri, Hindi and Kashmiri as officials’ languages and it is fulfilment of a long-pending public demand of the region. However, Kashmiris have strongly reacted to the Cabinet’s decision claiming that New Delhi has stabbed on the back of Kashmiris as India directly threatened Muslim identity and Islam while it is an attempt to eliminate “Kashmiriyat”.

If we recall, the top Pakistani Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Geelani said last year to promote tourism, “I welcome you to sylvan and salubrious Kashmir valley. Whatever your faith, whatever language you speak and to whatever region you belong to, we are bound by a common bond, the bond of humanity. You are our honoured guest, respecting and protecting guests is not only our moral obligation but an article of faith.” However, Kashmiris had no idea what Indian would do with the Kashmiris.

SRINAGAR, 2 September 2020, TON: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has launched a new book, "India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders". His book contains interviews of 20 of the next-generation youth politicians and highlights various aspects of Kashmiri politics. Former Indian puppet Kashmiri leaders said he was detained when the government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated the Jammu and Kashmir State into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on 5 August 2019.

Responding to slogans from across the Line of Control about his book, Omar Abdullah said, “Let me make it clear that we are not anyone’s puppets, neither New Delhi’s nor of anyone across the border. We are answerable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and will work for them.” He said, six political parties including National Conference, Congress, and the Peoples Democratic Party had on August 22 issued a statement titled “Gupkar Declaration-II” and promised to fight against the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The parties described the Centre’s decision to alter the region’s status under Article 370 of the Constitution as “grossly unconstitutional” and a “measure to disempowered” people of the former state.

Last week he issued a statement that criticised the Centre for revoking the special status granted to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and said that New Delhi does not believe in the Constitution. He said, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, who is still under detention, was “suffering” because she did not cooperate with the Centre in the abrogation of the special status”.

Omar Abdullah who was taken into custody Indian custody on 5 August last and was charged under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in February was released on 24 March 2020, said in his book that although his 232-day detention period has made him bitter, resentful and angry but it won't change his time-tested stand that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. He writes that Jammu and Kashmir has been treated very, very badly and every single promise made has been broken.

Omar Abdullah in October 2019, issued a statement that he was pressurized during detention that if he signed a bond pledging silence “for the foreseeable future” on all developments in the state, he would be released immediately. Media reported his statement, “the magistrate came with his rubber stamp and his pen, assuming that i would sign it quite happily and run away. And he gave me the bond and said you sign this and you can leave, and the bond says that I will remain silent on all developments in J&K subsequent to August 5, 2019 for the foreseeable future. Which is basically tantamount to saying I will no longer be a politician. I said no, I am not going to sign this bond because to sign it silences me for the future.”

DECCA, 27 August 2020, TON: In the recent meeting between the high officials of Indian Border Security Force and Bangladeshi Border Guard Bangladesh, it was decided to hold biannual talks between the Director Generals of respective organizations from September 13 to18 at the headquarters of the Bangladeshi force at Pilkhana, in Dhaka. 

Director General Border Security Force Rakesh Asthana in a recent statement said that he is hopeful is resolving the issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi from India as well as narcotics smuggling by Bangladeshi citizens in India and abroad. Indian side is expected to take up the issue of joint border security management, fencing of unfenced areas. On the other hand, media sources quoted Director General Border Guard Bangladesh, Major General Mohammad Shafeenul Islam saying that Indian agencies are pushing illegal Bengalis of Indians origin from West Bengal into Bangladesh to disturb law and order situation.

Director General Border Security Force Rakesh Asthana has taken the charge from Director General Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) S S Deswal, who was holding the additional charge of Border Security Force since March 2020. Rakesh Asthana will remain Director General BSF till his retirement on 31 July 2021. During his previous appointment he held additional charge of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).  

WASHINGTON,23 August 2020, TON: Presidential candidate and his Vice President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have greeted Hindu community on “Ganesh Chaturthi” and expressed hope for a new beginning. Biden tweeted, "To everyone celebrating the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi in the US, India, and around the world, may you overcome all obstacles, be blessed with wisdom, and find a path toward new beginnings." But Indian in US and back home are not happy and much concerned. Many people fail to understand the question on the lips of every second Indian, “Harris is Indian while Sonia Gandhi an Italian?” Sonia Gandhi is President of Indian National Congress and rumors have spread that she is considering resigning. Is this India’s internal affair or have something to do with forthcoming elections in United States relating to Joe Biden and Kamala Haris? Joe Biden has moved two steps forward by declaring “Will back India against threats on border”. Is this a “Trojan Horse” and repetition of  1813 Charter Act provisions which removed the ban on missionary activity and establishment of a Churches in India. 

President Donald Trump is a strong candidate for White House in the 3 November 2020 presidential elections in the United States. In the last week of June 2020, White House Deputy Press Secretary Ms Sarah Matthews in a statement to media said, "President Trump is incredibly grateful for the widespread support he has received from the people of India and from millions of Indian-Americans across the United States." It is now an open secret that traditionally Indian -America vote is for the Democratic Party but quickly the Indians and Pakistan origin are switching towards Republicans and President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump have understanding the the investments in each other countries and in addition, India has become an important US’ multilateral partner around the world.

To counter, President Trump growing popularity in Pakistan and India, US forthcoming election rival, Joe Biden has played his Indian card to choose Ms Kamala Harris, a Senator having Indian origin background from mother side and married to a Jewish Los Angeles lawyer as his vice President to divide Indian votes. Ms Kamala Harris a fine lady made a good dent in President Trump popularity but not in the minds of those who were already in President Trump’s camp, forming 55% of total Indian-American votes. Other reports say Trump has 50% and not 55%. Interestingly, Joe Biden’s move has been supported by Indian National Congress Party back in India where former President of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi tweeted on 29 April 2020, “I'm dismayed by the "unfollowing" of our President & PM by the White House. I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take note.” 

Fair and transparent elections are much desired but as thing are being unfolded there are some quite suspicious thing coming up, which no one will like to share at present. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is much upset over nomination of Ms Kamala Harris as she claims to be of Indian origin of Christian-Jewish faith. Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, “the government would not make any statement on the development, as it could be seen as interference in the US’ internal politics.” If we recall, PM Modi quoted US President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan “Abki baar Trump Sarkar” in his speech. New Delhi is worried because Kamala Harris has remained a tough critic of India’s internal policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She was quoted to have repeatedly said, “We’ve to remind the Kashmiris that they’re not alone in the world”. 

Bharatiya Janta Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other like minded groups, in recently different formal and public meetings were much perturbed as President Trump never interfered in their religion and regarded Hinduism as religion of peace but Joe Biden and Ms Kamala Harris were reportedly targeting mass conversions of faith. This might be apprehensions of the Hindu religious groups and common Hindu, who struggled to get rid of European occupation which costed tens of thousand conversions from Hindus to Christianity.  Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had also tweeted on the announcement, calling it a “moment of pride for Indians, especially for the people of Tamil Nadu”, as Ms. Harris’s mother belonged to Chennai. 

It is on record that after meeting the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in January 2015, US President Barack Obama urged India not to stray from its constitutional commitment to allow people to freely "profess, practice and propagate" religion. Eric Metaxas in his show recently said that Kamala Harris has “no core values” and is only driven by ambition and power and also said she is an “evil protean figure”. President Trump tweeted last December, “have a Radical Left nonbeliever, who wants to take your religion & your guns, than Donald Trump as your President. No President has done more for the Evangelical community, and it’s not even close. You’ll not get anything from those Dems on stage. I won’t be reading ET again!” One wonders American withdrawal from Afghanistan has already been announced by President Trump but what Joe Biden announcement means about American presence in India, “Will back India against threats on border”.

TRIPOLI, 21 August 2020, TON: Libya’s U.N. recognized government of Fayez Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), on Friday announced a cease-fire across the country and called for demilitarizing the strategic city of Sirte in an initiative supported by the rival parliament in the east. This seems to be a major breakthrough in the recent months.

In a separate statement, Aguila Saleh, speaker of the rival eastern-based House of Representatives, supported Sarraj’s proposal of demilitarization of Sirte, an idea floated earlier this month by the United States as a compromise to prevent an escalation

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said in a tweet that the cease-fire announcement was an “important step toward restarting a political process that favors stability in the country and well-being among its people.”

Libya was plunged into foreign imposed war, when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 in which foreign forces landed in Libyan soil, armed rebels forces and toppled legitimate ruler  Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.  Despite, peace talks and UN recognized Fayez Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, opponent foreign powers helped Libya’s former military commander Khalifa Hiftar, an American national, who now controls major oil export terminals since January.

Despite all previous efforts to secure lasting peace or at least a cease-fire failed to produce results. But this time there is a possibility of progress on neutralizing heavy foreign interference in the conflict, especially by France, US, Russia, Italy, UAE, Qatar and Turkey. In case the conflict is not resolved there are chances of direct military confrontation between US, Russia, UAE and Egypt on one side and Turkey on the other.  Nevertheless, the US is playing a double role and its strategy at time confuses the international stakeholders.

JEDDAH, 21 August 2020, TON: The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied an impression of tension in relations between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stating that the two countries have always enjoyed unique relations deep rooted in historic, religious, cultural and social ties.
Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zahid Hafeez Choudhry said in a statement that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have not only closely cooperated with each other at international fora but have always stood by each other at times of need.
Pakistan values Saudi Arabia’s important role in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has an abiding commitment to defending the sanctity of Harmain Sharifain. And Pakistan remains firmly committed to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia. The statement added that the people of Pakistan have special reverence and affection for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Frequent high-level visits and close leadership level contacts have been the longstanding tradition of the brotherly relations between the two countries.

 It is highlighted that Riyadh is irked by criticism from Islamabad that Saudi Arabia has been lukewarm on the Kashmir territorial dispute. The fact remains that Saudi Arabia has contributed a lot for the cause of Muslim countries, especially Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Royal leadership is always committed to raise the voice of Muslim brethren countries in all the regional and international forums.

The recent visit of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa in which he was accompanied by Inter Services Intelligence Director General Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed,  was termed as fruitful, according to Pakistani military officials. General Qamar Javed Bajwa held meeting with His Excellency Prince Khalid Bin Salman, Deputy Defense Minister, His Excellency General (Staff) Fayiadh bin Ha’med Al-Rowaily, Chief of General Staff and His Royal Highness Lieutenant General (Staff) Fahad bin Turki Al Saud Commander Joint Forces, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In the latest development, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks on the subject in his recent media engagement and COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s just concluded visit to Saudi Arabia testify to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister His Excellency Prince Faisal bin Farhan ruled out any relation with Israel until the Palestinian issue is resolved, “Peace must be achieved with the Palestinians on the basis of international agreements as a precondition for any normalization of relations. The announcement has shut the mouth of many critics and adversaries of Saudi Arabia who doesn’t leave any stone un-turned to defame Arab leadership.

Pakistan is and Islamic Republic and its constitution provides in Article 40, “Strengthening bonds with Muslim World and Promoting International peace. The State shall endeavour to preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unity, support the common interests of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America, promote international peace and security, foster goodwill and friendly relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.