NEW DELHI, 25 December 2020, (TON): Kisan Sena, comprising of representatives from 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh met Indian Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and claimed that the controversial three farm laws are beneficial for the farmers and requested the government not to repeal them. They warned of a bigger protest if these laws are withdrawn.

Those who were part of the delegation who supported farm laws enacted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government included Baghpat MP and former Union Minister Satyapal Singh, Kisan Mazdoor Sangh president Chaudhary Prakash Tomar, vice president Thakur Rajendra Singh, general secretary Baburam Ram Tyagi, Kisan Sena national convenor Gaurishankar Singh and other officials were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, after the news development two main groups have been created; in the twist, one is supporting the farm laws and other opposing them. There are reports that it would land into low intensity clash between both the groups, providing an opportunity to the law enforcement agencies to handle the situation amicably.

The Orient News Special

The Pakistan Foreign Office summoned on 9^th December a senior Indian diplomat to record and lodge a strong protest on recent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian forces and stressed compliance of the 2003 ceasefire understanding. Due to "indiscriminate and unprovoked firing" by the Indian occupation forces across LoC in Hot Spring Sector on 9 December, a 55-year-old woman had suffered serious injuries and the killing of innocent civilians was condemned as deplorable heinous crime “against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct.

It is noted that Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) had been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with the indiscriminate and unprovoked firing of artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. This year, India has committed 2,940 ceasefire violations, resulting in martyrdom of 27 people and serious injuries to 247 innocent civilians.

The Indian diplomat was reprimanded that by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary, India cannot divert world attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K). The Indian side was called upon that such incidents of deliberate ceasefire is the worst violations of LoC instead of maintaining peace along the LoC and the WB. India side was also urged upon to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per in the light of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The foreign office further said that the Indian government should desist from any “false surgical strikes flag operation”  to hood wink into the world’s eye’s from several of its internal issues, including  its treatment of minorities, atrocities committed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir and criticism of its policies by international institutions and media and  as it is tantamount to bring perils to the peace of whole region and Pakistan is fully capable to defend its mother land and is ready to render all kind of sacrifice for it .

 “The erosion of civil liberties, the aggression of police and the increasing politicization of the judiciary mean that people are now seriously think that India is has converted in to racism and fascism and the diaspora of Pakistan really matters due to the hegemonic designs of India.

 As matter of fact massive detention centers have been constructed in India for the millions deemed to be non-citizens under new laws. “Minorities are being killed. In occupied Kashmir, in addition to the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution, the entire population of the region has been deprived of their right to freedom of expression and opinion through protracted communication restrictions, in place for the past year. These actions are compounded by a censored media, continuing detention of political leaders and a compromised judicial system.

Therefore, the global community needs to take action in this regard. These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC, and are a threat to the stability of regional peace and security. Instead of it the government of India should address the core issues of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, caste system, gendered violence, communalism to upgrade the living standard of its citizens including the India’s health inequalities, flaring economic and social disparities and distinct cultural values had made hard measure for the poorer sections of the society and debilitated the country’s large population of daily-wage earners and migrant laborers and become an important mental health problem is resulting in isolation and stigma for vulnerable population in the country.

The economic hardship, famine, psychosocial challenges and law and order issues, which may in turn undermine the solidarity of estranged sections of the Indian society. The social and economic issues due to mass unemployment, depleted social safety nets, homelessness, increase in gender-based violence, alcoholism, hunger, loan defaults and millions slipping into poverty.  landscape will definitely lead to an increase in mental health issues such as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence and self-harm. Keeping in view the above mentioned facts the India should abandon the attitude of a hostile neighbor and live in peace full co-existence with it’s all bordering countries including pakistan.

Farmer’s leaders looked to put up pressure on Federal Government to revoke three agricultural reforms laws on Monday by beginning a 24-hour hand-off hunger strike.

Federal administration is encouraging the ranchers to participate in additional discussions to end a stop which has prompted thousands outdoors on the edges of New Delhi for over three weeks.

The fights have impeded streets interfacing the public capital with neighboring conditions of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, hitting public vehicle and the inventory of products of the soil.

The protests have blocked roads connecting the national capital with neighboring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, hitting public transport and the supply of fruit and vegetables.

Prominent protest leader, said “We are going on a 24-hour relay hunger strike, skipping meals, to press our demands of repealing three agricultural laws”.

HARARE, 8 February 2020, TON: Zimbabwe should use its God-given resources, including the skills of its people, to develop the country and stop mourning the negative impact of sanctions imposed by the West, President Mnangagwa said on Friday.

Speaking after joining Banket residents in a clean-up of Kuwadzana Shopping Centre in the town, he said students will be exposed to modern science so that they develop inventions that develop the economy. Already over 90 patents have been granted to local students since the introduction of innovation hubs at State universities two years ago and he said the inventions would result in an increase in locally produced products. He said, Zimbabweans had the capacity to overcome the effects of the illegal sanctions if they united towards a common goal and vision. 

President Mnangagwa said, “We thank them for that. We have brilliant boys and girls in this country. Going forward, we can see that our country is going to be transformed by inventions by our children and skills from our children. We are a developing country but we should not cry that we have sanctions imposed on us. We should look at what God has given us and develop our country. Those who want to come and assist us, they should do so on our own terms”. 

The President said, “We don’t want them to come and lecture us or rule us. They should rule their countries and we rule ours. This is our country. To you the school children, we will do our best as Government to make sure you are exposed to modern science and technologies because the future of this country lies in science and technology, in yourselves creating employment, jobs and products and services for the nation. The future is upon you. It’s your duty to develop our country for it to be at par with other countries.” 

KK Usman

The Orient News Research Section

The month of December is witnessing the most farce elections in the Himalayan state of occupied Jammu and Kashmir to hood wink in to the world eyes. The BJP led government is conducting local elections in 20 districts of the state to elect 280 members for the District Development Councils which will be held in eight phases. Under high alert people and freezing cold, and the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Kashmiris seized the opportunity to vote against the BJP in Indian-occupied Kashmir by polling in the first of eight-phase polls to elect members of District Development Councils.

This is the first major electoral exercise is being taken place in the area since the removal of Article 370 and Article 35A and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir state into two federal union territories on August 5, 2019. The decision to strip the region of the special status and split it into two federally-administered territories have deprived the special status of Kashmir region which allowed it to make its own rules about permanent residency, property ownership and fundamental rights.

After that Indian government imposed sweeping restrictions, ranging from curfews to blackouts the move - accompanied by a severe communication, internet blockade, and the detention of MPs, activists, journalists and community leaders - was met with protests and global criticism. It was also seen as part of the BJP's right-wing agenda - the party's divisive rhetoric and politics have long been accused of targeting the country's Muslims the enacted new laws in measures triggered widespread anger and economic ruin.

This mix of defiance, frustration and resignation is all too familiar in the Muslim-majority valley. It has long had a tense relationship with India - successive governments have failed to suppress the legitimate freedom struggle in the region without giving the Indian army powers that have led to decades-worth of allegations of human rights abuses.

Nearly six million voters across the disputed region’s 20 districts are eligible to elect 280 members of District Development Councils in a staggered eight-phase process that started on Saturday and ends on December 19 and the counting will be held after three days of the elections. The Himalayan region has been under a heavy security blanket since the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government imposed direct rule in August 2019.  It is certain that this is a lame excuse by India to show normalcy in the state and a symbolic exercise in an area that carries deep distrust for India, ostensibly to erase the impression of it being a disturbed region. Reportedly 1000 candidates from various political parties, including the BJP, are participating in the elections. India has deployed thousands of troops in addition to the more than half million forces already stationed in Kashmir, to ensure smooth conduct of elections, fearing the attacks from freedom fighters.

Some 5.76 million people are registered to vote but Kashmiris have shown little enthusiasm compared to previous elections. The most significant part of the ongoing election is that the region’s pro-India parties are severely opposing the Modi’s government after it revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status in August last year, annulled its separate constitution, split the area into two federal territories – Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir – and removed inherited protections on land and jobs.

For the first time, some seven opposition parties have allied to contest the polls together. And their goal is to fight to restore Kashmir's special status. Kashmir’s main political parties have announced a grand alliance to seek a peaceful restoration of its autonomy days after India released the last key Kashmiri political leader from a lengthy detention including Mehbooba Mufti were among scores of political leaders held under house arrest for months after the clampdown.

The parties are united in contesting the elections against the BJP and its allies in one of the most militarized regions in the world. The parties have vowed to fight for the restoration of the special status of the region under a unified banner of the People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration.

The two past political rivals the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party have formed an alliance namely as PAGD, to contest the election with the purpose of restoration of Kashmir’s special status. Both these parties have a pro-India posture in the past. with the eroding of the support of these major political parties in Occupied Kashmir India have lost its total credibility. The Kashmir’s parties have formed the alliance not to leave the open space for the BJP, reiterating “If we stay away from it then those elements will occupy this space which will be detrimental to the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s a political fight now for us. It’s not that the BJP will last forever in rule and we will not resist.

It is an open secret that everything is governed by Delhi and it is regulating and managing the affairs of the region. The BJP seems to have its own long-term Programme for changing the nature of politics in Kashmir. By conducting such tactics in form of local District Development Councils elections under the tight control of the security forces, the freedom struggle cannot be cow down and finished. According to independent Observers that limited numbers of people are participating in the elections amid coronavirus fears and security reasons to elect members of their local councils. There are two pronged strategies of the current Indian government the first one is that through these farce local bodies elections it intends to show the international community that life is back to normal here. Secondly the Indian government want to install Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led candidates in the occupied Kashmir to flash out the other political parties out of the arena to pursue and implement its own extremist polices against the will and aspirations of the people of this Himalayan state. The Kashmir dispute was required to be resolved in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and the relevant UN resolutions. It is well advised for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to refrain from such things because history is evident of the fact that nobody cannot keep such a large number of people and area without the consent and will of the local people.

By Afshain Afzal

Greatest leader of Bangladesh and Pakistan, Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman was born on 17 March 1920 at the village Tungipara, Gopalganj, known as his birthplace located in Bengal (presently District Faridpur, Bangladesh). He was a graduate of Islamiyah College, Calcutta in 1947. He became one of the most prominent student political leaders in the province and worked as General Secretary of the Islamiyah College Students Union. Since his child hood he was a diehard supporter of Bengal Provincial Muslim League. In 1943, he became member of the All-India Muslim League Council and worked under direct directions of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He was a staunch supporter of the oppressed class. After the creation of Pakistan, he worked as close aid of Quaid-e-Azam. He was too much inspired from the deeds and actions of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. During pre-partition era he used to sell pro-Pakistan weekly newspaper MILLAT on the streets of Dhaka to support the cause of Pakistan. He was one of the pioneers of East Pakistan Muslim Students League.

After the tragic death of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1948, the Awami Muslim League was formed under the leadership of Maulana Bhashani and Sheikh Mujib-ur- Rahman was among one of the founding Joint Secretaries. Maulana Bhashani was a great friend of Quaid-e-Azam since in 1934, rendered his services from Assam branch Muslim League and devoted his whole life for Pakistan movement. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman remained General Secretary of the Awami Muslim League from 1953 to 1966 and its President from 1966 to 1974. He also worked as an activist of the Suhrawardhy-Hashim faction of the Muslim League.

An initial advocate of democracy Mujib-ur-Rehman rose to the ranks of the Awami League and East Pakistani politics as a charismatic and forceful orator. Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman entered parliamentary politics first in 1954 through his election as a member of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly. He was also a member of the Pakistan Second Constituent Assembly (1955-1958). During the elections of 1965, he joined hands with Maddar-e-Millat Miss Fatima Jinnah and opposed dictatorial rule of General Ayub Khan. He and his party launched the campaign of Fatima Jinnah in East Bengal during her elections and because of him and other Bengali leaders Fatima gained more votes from East Bengal as compared to West Pakistan. He himself was elected as the Member of the National Assembly and always opposed the activities of the Pakistani establishment in the Parliament.

During the War of 1965, as loyal Pakistani he did every possible thing which could be done for Pakistani forces against India. He fully supported the cause of Pakistan which is evident from his past speeches. Many amongst the Pakistani politicians were anti Quaid-e-Azam and anti-Fatima and did not allow her to win the elections Notwithstanding, Mujib-ur-Rahman stood side by side with Fatima Jinnah as solid rock. Fatima Jinnah died in July 1967 and afterwards there was no one to protect the rights of the people of West Pakistan.

In the General elections held on 7 December 1970, the Awami League under Mujib-ur-Rehman's leadership won a massive majority in the provincial legislature, thus forming a clear majority in the 1970 national elections, despite leading his party to a major victory in the elections, Mujib-ur- Rahman was not invited to form the government. Following political deadlock, on 25 March 1971, he was arrested by the Pakistan Army in an Operation Searchlight, despite the fact that he was loyal to Pakistan. During his nine-month detention, insurgency erupted and an attempt was made by Pakistan Army to crush Bengali nationalists who were demanding their political rights. An all-out civil-war broke out between the Pakistan Army and East Pakistani nationalists in which USA played a major role in the disintegration of Pakistan by funding anti-Pakistan fifth columnist elements in refugee camps inside India and non-Muslims in East Pakistan. In the meantime, India forces also intervened and it led to the liberation of East Pakistan as an independent nation, “Bangladesh” in 1971.

He is rightly called the "Father of the Nation" in Bangladesh. He served as the first President of Bangladesh and later on as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 17 April 1971 until his assassination in a military coup d'état on 15 August 1975. His body was transported to his native village and orders were issued to bury him along with the wooden coffin but being a staunch Muslim his burial ceremonial was done in accordance with the Islamic rituals. Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman's funeral was held on 16 August 1975 in Tungipara and he was laid to rest beside the graves of his father, Sheikh Lutf-ur-Rahman and mother, Sayera Khatun. Keeping aside the conspiracy theories, the tragic death of Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman was a great loss not only to Pakistan but whole subcontinent due to his services for the supremacy of democracy and humanity. He will always be remembered as top Pakistani and Bangladeshi leader.

Despite of a common struggle and common ideology for the creation of Pakistan, the separation of East and West by 1000 miles led by tragic incidents and the consistent conspiracies by their common hidden enemies forced the two to go their own separate ways. It is an establish fact that without any interference from India, which is considered to be the main villain and Pakistan’s number one enemy had full participation in the events which culminated to fall of Dhaka. Before this dreadful event took place, alongside with it the extremists on both sides spearheaded the political thinking which had to be fallen apart. Those in the West believed that East Pakistan was quite different from them both ethnologically and linguistically. They thought that East would get out eventually and the apprehension that without the West she would not be able to survive which practically proved wrong. Those in the East thought that it was the west that earned bulk of the foreign exchange and that it is at her cost that economy of the West had been built. This ideology lead to the belief that they can very well look after themselves and it was really a turning point for eastern and western wings of Pakistan.

16 December 1971 is the darkest day in our history which reminds us the colossal loss of the fall of Dhaka where All-India Muslim League — mother party of the Muslim freedom movement — was given birth by Bengali Muslim leaders (1906).  In March 1940, All India Muslim League leadership put up its idea for self-governance for Muslims of India through a resolution a sequence of Pakistan movement that was moved by Bengal Maulvi Fazlul Haq.

16 December is a national holiday of Bangladesh with celebration and commemoration the victory of the Bangladesh forces over the Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War. On this day Pakistani troops laid down their arms and surrendered to India accepting the secession of East Pakistan. The lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were lost. The creation of Bangladesh is one of the most sensitive and indeed an unforgettable chapter in the history of Pakistan. While the trauma of partition may now be behind us, the stories of that bitter past still hunt our memoirs among anyone who lived through that era. On this day 49 years ago, Pakistan lost half of its country, its forces in the East, had to publicly surrender. It was also the largest military surrender after World War II.

The war started when Pakistan launched air strikes on 11 Indian airbases. It was perhaps the first time in which India's all three forces fought in unison. India quickly responded to Pakistan Army's movements in the west and captured around 15,010 kilometers of Pakistan territory.

The war ended after the chief of the Pakistani Forces General Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered before Indian Army to avoid further bloodshed. The war lasted for just 13 days, and is one of the shortest wars in history. The military confrontation between India and Pakistan occurred from 3 December 1971 up to the fall of Dhaka.  conflict was a result of the Bangladesh Liberation war, when Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) was fighting to seek freedom from (West) Pakistan. In 1971, Pakistani Army began to commit the barbaric genocide on innocent Bengali population, particularly the minority Hindu population in East Pakistan.

As the war intensified, the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to take action against Pakistan. She ordered Indian Army Chief to launch offensive against Pakistan following which India launched a full-scale war against its neighbor. Initially she was reluctant to launch a full-scale war against Pakistan as the country was already facing the burden due to the continuous flow of refugees from East Pakistan and entering a war meant inviting more burden.

She also appealed to world leaders to intervene and pressurize Pakistan to stop its brutalities but India did not have much time and had advantage of the then circumstances. On 6 December, she announced in Parliament that India had accorded recognition to the Bangladesh Government. On 2 August 1972, India and Pakistan signed the Simla Agreement under which the former agreed to release all the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war was sequence of it.

The surrender in East Pakistan was major blow to the nation. By the act of surrender, the image of West Pakistanis and East Pakistanis as part of efficient and excellent fighting force stood shattered.  It was the climax and aftermath result of the 24 years of neglect, jealousy and treachery involving different factors and huge egos of political and military actors. What happened on the 16 December 1971 is the reminder of the past blunders of those who were running the helms of affairs at that time. However, the way it has happened is appalling and is something that could have been avoided the bloodshed and loss of valuable and precious human life on both sides.

NEW DELHI, 14 December 2020, (TON): The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) rigging case, arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani on Sunday, The police had already arrested over dozen people including the channel's distribution head and Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh, who was recently granted bail after spending 25 days in custody.

The police had already arrested the channel's distribution head and Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh, who was recently granted bail after spending 25 days in custody. Khanchandani had applied for the anticipatory bail application before the Session Court on Friday and the plea was scheduled to be heard on Monday.

On 24 November, the SIT had filed a 1,400-page charge sheet against the previously arrested 12 accused. While filing the charge sheet, the police had clarified that this was not the end of investigation and more arrests will be made as investigation progresses.

WEST BENGAL, 13 December 2020, (TON): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's (AIMIM) has formulated a new strategy which involves shift additional focus West Bengal as compared to Bihar, where assembly polls are expected to take place in mid-2021.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi conducted a meeting this Saturday with AIMIM West Bengal party functionaries and issued instructions with regards to upcoming polls and the emerging political situation in the state as result of future alliances.

In a statement Asaduddin Owaisi said that his meeting with functionaries was a very fruitful and AIMIM West Bengal party functionaries have asked to formulate new election strategy. “I have listened to their views with regards to upcoming election and the prevailing political situation in the state and consensus has been reached”, he said.

The AIMIM won five seats in the recently concluded Bihar polls. Total 20 candidates of AIMIM contested in the elections to the 243-seat assembly in the state.