Diplomacy’ played on the ‘Visa Chessboard’/ Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Diplomacy’ played on the ‘Visa Chessboard’

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 28th OCTOBER 2023—- It was a week of throwing the VISA dice. There was no ‘blind’ turn on the Global chessboard of nations but sure-shot international diplomacy at play. The visa intrigue was not easy to solve though.

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Month after suspension, India resumes visas for Canadians, only in some categories

India resumed visa services in certain categories for Canadian citizens, nearly a month after being suspended in the aftermath of Canada’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and a week after 41 Canadian diplomats left India, in accordance with New Delhi’s demand. While tourist visas and e-visas are still held in abeyance, the Indian High Commission in Canada announced that it would begin accepting applications for visas for entry, business, medical, and conference purposes. Officials said that applications from Canadians in these categories would be accepted at Indian missions in other countries as well, which had also been suspended in the decision of September 21.

“After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it was decided to resume visa services for certain categories,” the Indian High Commission in Ottawa stated.  Emergency situations would continue to be addressed. Tourism and e-visa services have not yet resumed; the move comes days after Canadian diplomats left in accordance with New Delhi’s demand.

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Indo-Canadian Spat Visa Suspension

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) call for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ on October 29^th in Surrey

Amidst an unfriendly exchange between New Delhi and Ottawa over the unsubstantiated accusations of Indian agents involved in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force Head Hardeep Singh Nijjar- a designated Terrorist by India. Matters reached a level when India scrapped the issuance of any fresh visas to Canadian citizens. This hardly had any effect on Indian citizens, especially students, businessmen, or those holding Indian passports as they could come to India owing to their citizenship rights in India. While, those of Indian origin, who have taken on Canadian citizenship, could freely visit India by using their OIC (Overseas Indian Citizen) cards. The main segment affected was the natural Canadian citizens. Last week, 41 Canadian diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond October 20.

Nijjar, who was the organization -Sikh Force for Justice’s principal in British Columbia, was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in Surrey. While India designates Nijjar as a terrorist, the accusations against him by India were never tested in a Canadian court.

Meantime the pro-Khalistan elements in Canada continue to target India’s senior-most diplomats, as well as its missions, he said, ‘Although they are small in numbers’.

In a recent show of strength, Pro-Khalistanis carried posters ascribing Indian HC Sanjay K Verma, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar as -‘Enemies of Canada’ at car rallies to India’s High Commission in Ottawa and Indian Consulates in both Toronto and Vancouver this Saturday. The pro-Khalistan groups are emboldened by the fact that the law of the country gives them free reign in the name of freedom to issue threats and formulate separatist and divisive agendas against India. On October 29th the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) gave a call for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ in Surrey- the hotbed of Khalistan propaganda in Canada. This clearly shows that Canada is not serious about the security of Indian diplomats and mission staff. Although Canada has provided personal security details to Indian diplomats while also enhancing coverage of the missions, it doesn’t seem serious.

The issuing of visas by India was suspended on September 21. India-Canada relations hit rock bottom on September 18^th after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18 in British Columbia.

In the fallout of these unsubstantiated allegations by the Canadian PM, both countries expelled a diplomat. Last week, 41 Canadian Diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond Friday (October 20). Canada described that act as a “mass expulsion” of its diplomats, while India had argued that it wanted ‘parity’ in the size of the mission.

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US issues visa waiver for Israeli citizens  

Travellers from Israel can travel to America for 90 days without a visa. The United States of America launched a ‘visa waiver’ recently allowing Israelis to visit the United States for 90 days without applying for a visa.

The US announced adding Israel to the visa waiver program, thus adding it to a select group of 40 countries mostly European and Asian countries, whose citizens could travel to America for three months without a visa.

America had said that Israelis can start traveling to America without a visa from November 30. The Department of Homeland Security said the program had become operational.

For visa-less travel to the US, the Israelis must have a biometrically enabled passport. Those who do not have such a passport must still apply for a U.S. visa, the department said. This process may take up to 72 hours following which they can travel to America

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Canada’s visa slowdown in India

Mounting diplomatic tensions between Canada and India have led to the visa services at the offices of the consulate general of Canada in Chandigarh being temporally suspended and currently only operating in New Delhi. This is worrying especially for Punjab where Canada scored as the top educational destination of choice.

The halt in its in-person visa services in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chandigarh has put Indian students in dilemma, and contemplate applying for study visas to other educational destinations in the world.

The high housing cost and cost of living in Canada have also discouraged parents from pursuing Canada. Hence Australia and Britain are the likely gainers for serious students and not those who were applying to Canadian universities with the end goal of gaining Canadian citizenship.

On the quieter front, private banks in India have given an informal direction to their loan officers to hold back educational loan applications and deliver loans to those students applying for study visas in Canada.

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Visa-less to Sri Lanka for Indians

The Sri Lankan cabinet approved the issuance of free tourist visas to Indian passport holders, Foreign Minister Ali Sabri stated on Tuesday.

The move is expected to aid Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild the tourism sector to pay off the huge accumulated debt. The Sri Lanka cabinet has approved the proposal to grant with immediate effect free visas to travellers from six other countries including India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Surprisingly, no European country is on the Sri Lankan visa-free list and neither is the United States of America. The visa-less policy has started as a pilot project in Sri Lanka and will continue till March 31^st when it will presumably be reviewed.

The aim is that increased travel of visitors from these seven nations is expected to increase tourist arrivals in the island country to over 50 lakh in the coming years, said the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry. Many island nations especially were deeply affected by the aftereffects of the pandemic while Sri Lanka is seen to be making efforts to climb out of an economic trough. The tourism arrivals after this new policy are expected to marginally cross the 15 lakh mark. However, the move is being seen as one that opens up exciting possibilities for seamless travel between the two neighbouring countries. 

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Israel refuses visa to UN over remarks “justifying Hamas attack”, says Israel  

Israel refused to issue visas to UN representatives after remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appeared to justify Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel. Israel was reportedly learned to have said -” The time has come to teach the UN a lesson, calling it a “HUGE setback” for the UN & its propagandists.

Israel called for the resignation of UNSG Antonio Guterres after he told the Security Council ‘Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum’.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen, who participated in a Security Council ministerial meeting on the Israel-Gaza situation in the UN, canceled a scheduled meeting with UN Secretary-General on Tuesday afternoon at UN headquarters. The Secretary General later said his statement was misrepresented denying that he justified terror attacks against Israel.

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Some visa-free locations for Indians:

Indian passport holders can travel to as many as 57 countries without a visa. Ten of them are:

Nepal- Mount Everest, is known for its picturesque villages, vibrant cities, stunning farmlands, and mountaineering sites. Indian citizens do not require a visa to enter Nepal nor do Nepalese require any visa for India. Nevertheless, those from other countries require a visa valid for six months from the date of issue.

Barbados- known to be the ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’ is renowned for having some of the most stunning beaches in the world.

Bhutan- Its proximity to India requires it merely to possess a  valid passport or identification to travel to India. If the visit is for a week in Bhutan, it is exempted from any visa for Indians.

Hong Kong – is one of the most famous regions in China, with a blend of stunning natural and architectural features. Indian passport holders can be here without a visa for a maximum of 14 days.

 Seychelles– An archipelago of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean is an ideal eco-friendly trip. It is a visa-free country but requires a permit on arrival from its Immigration Department. This permit is valid for 30 days.

Haiti – the Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation. An Indian passport holder, may enter and remain  in the country for up to 90 days without a visa

Mauritius– an island nation in the Indian Ocean is famous for its white sand beaches, stunning lagoons, and coral reefs. Indians can stay in Mauritius for 90 days visa-less

Dominica, a mountainous Caribbean island nation, enjoys warm, tropical weather. Indian Nationals on business or pleasure are exempt from any visa requirement for a period of six months here.  

Maldives – a South Asian country is one of the many island destinations to soak up the sun, enjoy balmy weather, and spend luxuriously in exotic resorts. Indian passport holders do not require any form of visa for 90 days for the purpose of tourism.

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Israel ready to buy information, throws Leaflets over Gaza /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Israel-Hamas/Palestine War

Israel ready to buy information, throws Leaflets over Gaza

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 26^TH October 2023—Notwithstanding efforts by world bodies including the United Nations to find a resolution to the Israel-Hamas/ Palestine War, the Israeli army stepped up its social presence and intensified efforts to track down hundreds of its Israeli citizens held hostage by Hamas on October 7^th during the on-going war. Israel’s army, the ‘Israel Defense Force (IDF)’ offered rewards for information on a mass scale relating to hostages held captive by Hamas, by anyone in Gaza. IDF aircraft dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip from Tuesday onwards- assuring Palestinians and any others of financial rewards and a ‘better future’ for their children in lieu of information on hostages held by Hamas.

The leaflets read in both English and Persian/Urdu script – “If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area. The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality. The contact details are: Secure phone call: *8619 Whatsapp, Telegram, Signal @ +972503957992.

Undeterred over its losses, Israel is using any and everything possible in its relentless effort to track and bring back its hostages. Its virtual platforms including Twitter now ‘X’, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal etc are continuously being bombarded with information. “It is simultaneous on-spot, quick, real-time, and lightening information service using social networking platforms to keep all platforms, updated about everything,” says an Indian defense expert in the field of cyber security.           And added –“The IDF’s ‘X’ handle gives out minute-to-minute information and broad bases it. The virtual handle immediately spots and calls out falsifications, and tailored information from the rival sides of Hamas and Palestine. Counters and cross-questions the information floated by rival supporters.           Many of its videos are posted minutes after the action. Its posts also include “voice intercepts”, videos, and Photos as proof for various statements and rumours floating around. Many times in the day and at odd hours IDF’s Spokesperson LTC Jonathan Conricus takes on LIVE sessions on ‘X’ and other social platforms simultaneously”. The IDF also carried the message of the Leaflets as a post on IDF’s ‘X’ Wall.

The Israeli military said it would ‘invest maximum effort’ for those providing any information on hostages. It also promised and assured ‘complete confidentiality’ and a financial reward for those coming forward with relevant information in the leaflets giving its contact details.

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85yr-old released Hostage reveals ‘Intelligence lapse’ for October 7^th attack by Hamas

Four women abducted were released by Hamas recently. Two American hostages were released first namely Judith and Natalie Raanan- mother and daughter holding dual citizenship of US-Israel.

Two Israeli women were released on humanitarian grounds according to Hamas which included Yocheved Lifshitz (85) and 79-year-old Nurit Yitzhak Cooper. Yocheved Lifschitz the 85-year-old released hostage- said she was kidnapped with her husband Oded . “I was hustled over a motorcycle and sped over fields, beat her with sticks broke her ribs. Describing her ordeal in Hebrew, Lifschitz words were being translated by her daughter -“We walked several kilometers in Gaza and reached a huge tunnel network that looked like a spider web. Lifschitz was speaking to reporters from Tel Aviv in the lobby of a Ichilov hospital where she is being treated and said she had “been through hell” describing the ‘hell’ of the harrowing Hamas Attack and terrifying capture, although she said,  her captors treated her well during captivity. Both women’s husbands remain in captivity.

 Lifshitz a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz in her informal testimony recounted her time in captivity. Finding chinks in Israeli Intelligence she was critical of the Israeli Army and revealed-“The lack of knowledge in Shin Bet (Israeli Army) harmed us very much. We were warned three weeks ahead of it. They showed us masses reaching the road. They sent fire balloons to burn our fields and the army somehow didn’t take it seriously. A catastrophic lapse in security that left so many Israelis exposed”.

Describing the attack she said –“And suddenly on Saturday, October 7^th morning when all was quiet there was this heavy bombardment and under that cover, the mob broke through the multibillion-dollar huge barrier fence on the border, entered  Kibbutz and came in large numbers.”

During her captivity, she said -“Hostages slept on mattresses in tunnels and were given pita bread, cheese, and cucumber. It was clean and the doctor visited many women there. She also had a good word about her captors who she said treated her ‘nicely and medic and doctor was provided and medication was there if needed and they were polite’. No wonder the 85-year-old turned around and shook hands with one of her captors before being escorted to her freedom. And said she did that because –“they treated us gently and met all our needs!” Experts call it a case of “Stockholm Syndrome” where a fugitive feels trust and affection in cases of Kidnapping or Hostage by a victim towards their captor. 

At least 222 were taken hostages and 1400 Israelis were killed by Hamas on October 7 according to the Israeli military spokesperson

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Israel refuses visa to UN, asks UN Secretary-General to first apologise publicly, then resign

Israel refused to issue visas to UN representatives after remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appeared to justify Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel. Israel was reportedly learned to have said -” The time has come to teach the UN a lesson, calling it a “HUGE setback” for the UN & its propagandists.

Israel called for the resignation of UNSG Antonio Guterres after he told the Security Council ‘Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum’.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen, who participated in a Security Council ministerial meeting on the Israel-Gaza situation in the UN, was programmed to meet Secretary-General Guterres later on Tuesday afternoon at UN headquarters.  Cohen canceled his meeting with Guterres after remarks by the UN chief angered Israel- accusing him of “tolerating and justifying” terrorism. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s comment to the Security Council that attacks by Hamas “did not happen in a vacuum” was retorted by an angry Israel, that called for the UN chief’s resignation and apology.

Guterres commenting on the situation in the Middle East said that it was growing more dire by the hour and the war in Gaza was raging and risks spiralling throughout the region. The UN chief said it is “important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation”.   “They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have been vanishing,” he said in the meeting, also addressed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres said.

In a post on social network X’, Cohen said he “will not meet with the UN Secretary-General!” “After the October 7th massacre, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet!”

Later talking to reporters at the UN Security Council stakeout, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan lashed out at UN Secretary-General Guterres, saying his remarks in the council were “unfathomable”.

“You, Mr Secretary General, have lost all morality and impartiality. Because when you say those terrible words that these heinous attacks did not happen in a vacuum, you are tolerating terrorism and by tolerating terrorism, you are justifying terrorism.”

Erdan said –“Hamas beheaded babies, burnt families, raped women, and abducted kids, babies, and Holocaust survivors, but the Secretary-General is blaming Israel -the victim!”.

“This is a pure-blood libel. And I think that the Secretary-General must resign because from now on every day that he’s here in this building unless he apologizes immediately, we called him to apologize, there is no justification to the existence of this building,” Erdan said.        “The UN building was established to prevent atrocities. How can the Secretary-General, with his words, justify in any way the terrible atrocities that happened to our innocent civilians?” he asked

Cohen, addressing reporters at the Security Council, said: “There were no two sides” – “There is only one side to support. Therefore, I decided to cancel my meeting with the Secretary-General”. “We are fighting for Israel but we also fighting for the entire free world. Otherwise, the West will be the next. But we are determined to do everything to eliminate Hamas “totally”.

A visibly fuming, Erdan, said the meeting with the UN Secretary-General had to be canceled “Because I’ve been serving here for the last three years and I saw and I felt the impartiality of the Secretary-General and how he gives the feelings that he doesn’t really care, for the suffering of the Israeli civilians”.

A spokesperson for Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said: “The Secretary-General will meet with family representatives of hostages held in Gaza. They will be accompanied by a representative of the Israeli Permanent Mission to the United Nations.”

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Son of founder member of Hamas breaks silence, spills out the workings of Hamas / Rashmi Talwar/ Greater Jammu

Son of  founder member of Hamas breaks silence and spilled out explicitly about the workings of Hamas

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 22^ND OCTOBER 2023—-

Author, Mosab Hassan Yousef son of Sheikh Hassan- one of the founding members of Hamas, in an interview broke his silence and spilled out explicitly about the workings of Hamas- a designated terrorist organization by most of the world, with Fox News Brian Kilmeade.

In 2010, Mosab wrote a book “Son of Hamas”- A gripping account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices. Thereafter a documentary was made on his life called “Green Prints”.

Mosab, who was born in 1977, grew up in the West Bank where his father Sheikh Hassan was a founding member of Hamas. He was groomed to take a senior role before he turned on the terrorist group in prison. He then started spying for Israel and later converted to Christianity and ultimately was granted asylum in the US.

“Give us some insight into Hamas and how they operate and how they were able to pull off what they did on October 7^th ?” Mosab began with –“I was born at the heart of Hamas leadership and I know them very well; They don’t care for Palestine people or human life. “I saw their brutality first-hand in 1996 when I spent about a year and a half in Megiddo Prison. They killed so many Palestinians at that point, and this is when I decided that I could not be with this movement.”

“I had to be honest with myself. Even though Hamas gave me advantages- I was like a prince in that world, but I did not like them,” he continued. “I turned against even my own blood, because I hated Hamas, and today, 25 years later, they are the rulers of Gaza, and we see what they are capable of doing. We saw what happened on October 7^th. In fact, I asked a question what if they become a ruling party at some point what they will do.”

His remarks come almost two weeks after the terror group carried out a massacre of Israelis murdering and dismembering civilians, including children, and taking hostages.

Mosab continued – “Hamas is not a national movement. Hamas is a religious movement with a goal to establish an Islamic state. They don’t care for nationalism. Actually, they are against nationalism. They are using the Palestinian cause only to achieve their goals. The long-term goal is transforming the Middle East and the world into an Islamic state.”

And added –“The real culprit behind the scenes is Iran – the real master in this picture. Hamas does not serve the Palestinian people, Hamas serves Iran. Those are the masters of Hamas. So they lie about nationalism, that they are a national movement. They are using Palestinian people as a human shield.”

Now they have retreated back to Gaza. A ground incursion is about to happen, would you recommend Israel do this and what will they find when they go in? Brian asked.

Mosab answered -“First of all we need to evacuate civilians as much as we can. You know this is an ugly war and Israel did not start it. Hamas did! He stated in no uncertain terms.

“We need to encourage civilians to go into Egypt, possibly women and children, maybe men over 50 years old. Need to get them out of the picture. Then the Gaza Strip needs to be cut into two – North and South. It is the Northern part, where most of the tunnels are. We need to have a siege long enough to deplete the enemy and starve them” Mosab said and added.

SON OF HAMAS

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“After that, we may need to explore using GAS. This sounds horrible but I don’t see any other option as the tunnels are interconnected.” And “This has to be done at the right time we can’t just rush into it. Most importantly we need to get the civilians out of the picture”.

The anchor inserted –“Mosab you also say it’s almost impossible for us to give $100 million aid to the Gaza strip, and keep it away from Hamas?”

Mosab continues – “After destroying tunnels we need to finish Hamas Rule in Gaza on priority. Then, to replace the regime with the Palestinian Authority,  or the Egyptian Government, or the Arab League Force. We need to replace their rule in Gaza. After that, we can talk about Aid. As of now sending any aid would be a mistake!”

“So, you also believe that this isn’t about the Palestinians fighting for their rights and their sovereignty what is the real mission of Hamas? What do they really think of the Palestinian people? Was another query.

You know, the long-term goal of Hamas is transforming the Middle East and The World into an Islamic State. This is Hamas’s agenda and they are not hidden by the way.

“So Hamas is serving foreign agendas?”

“We are talking about Iran and Russia lately. Hamas serves those parties and Iran pays them close to a Billion Dollars annually” says the son of the Hamas leader

And continued – “Iran is the real master in this picture. Hamas doesn’t serve Palestinians Hamas serves Iran! They lie about Nationalism and they use Palestinians as a shield. We need to free Gaza from Hamas and this is what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people the greatest favour by bringing the Hamas down. Palestinian people want to live a normal life. They don’t want missiles, in the most populated areas on earth to be launched from under hospitals and from the crowded areas and going suicidal and endanger the life of the entire population of Gaza. WHO DOES THAT? You got to be insane to do that!

When asked by anchor –“ People around the globe are protesting for Hamas, they are saying Israel to back off and stop the airstrikes well, what do you say to those protestors?

I cannot convince the entire world of the truth. Right now people are emotional they hate to see children dying. Even though Hamas is killing the people at the hospital and we have evidence of that, they still blame Israel, people can blame whoever they want but now we have to focus, on public opinion is very important. Unfortunately, it’s not the time to win public opinion. It’s time to win the war against the most brutal terrorist organization today.

 Later on, when they look back at the situation, they will understand what we were doing. We should not be afraid of public opinion we have to explain as much as we can but now we have to concentrate on our goals”. The anchor commended  Mosab –“That’s why your perspective is so vital and unique you grew up in Hamas family, you broke from it and spoke to stop the violence.”

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India sends aid to Palestinian people through Egypt

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 22^ND OCTOBER 2023—-

Embracing global togetherness and an inclusive policy towards humanity India flagged off humanitarian Aid for the people of Palestine today. The Government of India in its embrace of its unique people-centric gesture of – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’– The world is one village, on Sunday, sent aid to Palestine.

An Indian Air Force C-17 carried nearly 6.5 Tonnes of Medical Aid and 32 Tonnes of Disaster Relief Material for Palestine in the Gaza Strip amid a continuing war between Hamas and Israel, which will reach Gaza via Egypt. The flight departed for El-Arish airport in Egypt. The relief material will be sent via the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that –“Relief material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items”.

The humanitarian step was greatly appreciated by Twitterati of all strata including India’s majority Hindu community who always attempts to be in the forefront of extending help and support in the testing times of adversity even to countries and people who have inimical relations with its people. Indians’ generosity could be judged by its Covid vaccine generosity despite having an overwhelming population of its own.  India extended its hand far beyond its borders, providing medical aid and essential supplies to 150+ countries during the COVID-19 pandemic consolidating its commitment to global well-being.

Another recent example is India was the frontrunner for providing aid to Turkey during its devastating earthquake in February, despite having a bit of strain in its relationship. India always extended a helping hand to nations in their moments of need, embodying hope and unity and many of them lauded India’s step.

In a comment, a Twitterati wrote – “By unequivocally expressing solidarity with Israel against terror attack and by also providing humanitarian relief to Palestinian citizens caught in the crossfire, India has demonstrated a mature, nuanced diplomatic stance worthy of the mature democracy that India is”.

Meantime, in view of the ongoing developments in Israel and Palestine, Helplines continue to assist Indians at @MEAIndia, in addition, to  @indemtel & @ROIRamallah to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance at its 24-hour Control Room floated by the Ministry of External Affairs In for all Indians in distress stuck in Israel or Palestine expanses.

WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh

Indo-Canadian: India rejects the implementation of parity in diplomatic strength, as a violation of International law / Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

INDO-CANADIAN

India rejects the implementation of parity in diplomatic strength, as a violation of International law

Rashmi Talwar

October 20^th 2023—–

In a scathing statement, India rejected any attempt by Canada to portray it in bad light or insinuate that India had violated any International law. A number of career diplomats and experts in International relations have expressed their points of assent and dissent on Twitter X platforms over the last many days. However, in the absence of any formal clearance from the Indian Government of a violation probability or improbability, the negative narrative was gaining steam.

Today, the Indian Foreign Office scotched all rumours and half-truths with the release of a formal official statement. In it, Delhi wrote in no uncertain terms that it was not violating any International Law by giving the marching orders to the Canadian diplomats and demanding parity in numbers in consonance with the number of Indian diplomats in Indian Missions in Canada. Delhi even expressed its ire and accused Canadian diplomats of their continued interference in the internal affairs of India and thus justified its demand to reduce their presence in the country’s mission offices.

Below is the verbatim statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Parity in Canadian diplomatic presence in India

We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India.

The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.

We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation.

Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following:

“In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission.”

We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms.

New Delhi

October 20, 2023

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Canadian FM faces a volley of questions on evidence sharing about  ‘Indian agents’ involvement in the killing of designated Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada

Canadian Foreign Minister Melaine Joly faced criticism for evading a direct question regarding the sharing of evidence with the Indian government on its alleged involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. During a press briefing, Melaine failed to clarify whether evidence was provided to India or not. She instead clarified in a roundabout way saying-  “We had numerous conversations with India before the (Canadian)  PM went in front of the house (Canadian Parliament) and made his declaration!”

“But did you show them the evidence, you are basing your claim on, you are not answering the question?”

And Melaine answered –“Through these different conversations the Indian officials were made aware of the “credible allegations” and so based on that,  India has decided to take their own decisions which are “precedent–setting” including  revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats  which is not only ‘unprecedented’ but also contrary to ‘International law’ so in that sense because this is so unprecedented, so many countries’ diplomats around the world are in danger, we decided not to reciprocate.”

Joly was caught totally off guard when repeatedly asked – “But you’re not answering the question directly on that point?” Joly asserted –“I have answered your question – you asked me a question whether we had a conversation and presented evidence, I told you there were meetings and information was shared.”

Question: “You (Joly) personally went to Washington and spoke to the Indian Foreign Minister, if you could confirm that to us; what is the tenor of the diplomatic conversation  (with India) is it still ongoing or is it over?

To which Joly answered –“Well, I always believe in diplomacy and so much that diplomacy is best when it is kept private. So I will continue to do that (Keep it private) and I know that my colleague as Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dr S Jaishankar) can count on me to make sure that we continue to engage and I ask for full cooperation.”

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Delays in Visas for Indians: Canada

Canada on Thursday stated a slowdown in its visa applications for Indians, as 41 Canadian diplomats were removed from India in the midst of the continuing logjam between the two countries.

This was following India’s intent to unilaterally remove immunity for all 41 Canadian diplomats but 21, in Delhi by October 20^th. Ottawa informed that ‘Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was reducing its number of employees in India to five from 27. “The statement from IRCC stated to continue to accept and process applications from India but reduced staffing levels were expected to impact processing times”.  Authorities however assured that the Canada-based IRCC staff will do the day-to-day work required in the country.

In early October India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in India failing which their diplomatic immunity will be withdrawn. This is being seen as a further escalation of the diplomatic spat over the murder of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, shot outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey BC Canada on June 18^th.

Two months after this killing Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau on September 18th alleged a “potential link” between the killing and  Indian government agents. India promptly dismissed the accusations as absurd and motivated. However, the issue which was on a diplomatic level was brought openly on the floor of the Canadian Parliament by its PM which triggered a diplomatic pandora between the two countries. Which led to expulsions of each other’s senior diplomats. Stung by ‘baseless and evidence-less’ allegations India subsequently further suspended all visa services for Canadian nationals and asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country. Adding that after October 20, India will remove all diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats in the Canadian Mission locations in India”

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WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh

Gujarat ATS Arrests Pak Hindu Spy, Sly-spy got fathers in defense services to upload photos with children via emotional msg Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

BREAKING NEWS

Gujarat ATS Arrests Pak Hindu Spy 

Sly-spy got fathers in defense services to upload photos with children via emotional msg

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 20^TH October 2023—–Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a Pak spy (54 years) Labhsankar Maheswari from Tarapur, from coastal Gujarat through inputs by Military Intelligence (MI).

In July MI officials, got a whiff of something fishy from a WhatsApp number 90xxxx6792 who was later found to be a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). The spy used the WhatsApp application, to compromise Android mobile handsets of Serving Defence Forces. These defence personnel were mostly having wards studying in different Army Public Schools (APS) across the country. He targeted these personnel, through WhatsApp messages luring them to install certain malicious Android applications (“.apk” files) in the garb of a Nationalist campaign named – “Har Ghar Tiranga” just before Independence Day.  

The WhatsApp user (purportedly a Pakistani Intelligence agent sitting in Pakistan), posing as an APS official sent the national-pride message with the malicious application to such targets with the patriotic text message encouraging them to install the application and upload their ward’s photo with the national flag on the application, to participate in the competition. MI smelled a rat detected a nefarious campaign and started pursuing the caller. The last cellular use of the mobile number 90xxxx6792 was detected in Gujarat where MI officials sought assistance from ATS Gujarat Police. After exhaustive technical analysis and groundwork by Gujarat Police ATS, the spy named Labhsankar Maheshwari was identified.

Labhsankar was found to have facilitated the Pakistani agency in acquiring the Indian WhatsApp number by passing the account creation OTP on the said number to the Pakistani agency.

With further assistance, the Air Force Intelligence (AFI) accurately identified the targeted Android mobile device and brought it for cyber forensics examination by the Gujarat Police ATS. A cyber forensics examination by FSL Gujarat revealed that the WhatsApp number- 90xxxx6792, was being used and operated from Pakistan. It was being used to target and hack mobile devices especially those belonging to Indian Defence personnel and acquire critical information about them, their whereabouts, their families, and other parameters.

It is also suspected that the Pakistani agency managed to acquire a significant amount of information pertaining to students of Army Public Schools (and their guardians) through old or existing vulnerabilities through their usage of websites or Android applications. For instance -the “DigiCamp Mobile Application” is available on the websites of all Army Public Schools and is mostly used for paying fees to APS. These schools come under the ‘Army Welfare Education Society (AWES)’, a private body supported by the  Indian Army.

Gathering rock-solid evidence and additional information through ground verification, the Gujarat Police ATS lodged an FIR, under sections of IPC and Indian IT Act, at ATS, Ahmedabad against Labhsankar Maheshwari on Wednesday and arrested him on Thursday from his house in Tarapur, Anand district, Gujarat.

It was found that Labhsankar Maheswari, originally a Pakistani Hindu had come to India in 1999 with his wife, for fertility treatment. Initially, he was staying at his in-laws house in Tarapur. The in-laws had shifted to India beforehand. While putting up at Tarapur,  he kept applying long term visas and with support from his in-laws established himself as a successful businessman with a grocery store, multiple rented-out shops and stores, and later his very own house in Tarapur. 

The couple, however, lived without any children. Subsequently, they were granted Indian citizenship in 2006. In early 2022, Maheshwari visited his parents in Pakistan. It is suspected that he was cultivated and groomed during his visa processing, and during his one and half month stay in Pakistan at the house of his parents. It is believed, it is since this trip he has been in communication with the Pakistani Intelligence Agency.

Apart from facilitating the creation of the WhatsApp account, Maheshwari later sent the SIM card to Pakistan and provided other assistance to the Pak Intelligence Agency including transferring money to some other suspected espionage conduits on behalf of the Pakistani agency.

The investigation is still on and more details are expected to spill out shortly, informed the authorities

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WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh.wordpress.com

1200 persons evacuated from war-torn Israel- Palestine in 5-flights, Jemima Imran Khan tweets

Former PM Pakistan Imran Khan with his x-wife Jemima Goldsmith and their 2 sons Suliman Isa Khan and Kasim Khan in happier times

Israel-Palestine War 

1200 persons evacuated from war-torn Israel Palestine in five flights, 18 Nepalese saved, Jemima Imran Khan tweets

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 19th OCTOBER 2023—-India’s ongoing ‘Operation Ajay”  evacuated 1200 persons including 18 Nepalese, in five flights from Tel Aviv from the warzone of Israel and Palestine (Hamas), since they started on October 12^th; six days after the Israel (Hamas )Palestine war started on  t7^th October. “Some of the Indians are in the Gaza and West Bank areas and we shall try to come to their rescue as well”, informed Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

No Indian casualty till now has been reported. Only one suffered injuries and, her condition is now stable.

While condemning the horrific bombing of the Al-Ahil hospital in Palestine and serious and continuing concern over civilian casualties, and the humanitarian situation, the Foreign Office spokesman said –“On humanitarian assistance, India has been supporting Palestine and Palestine refugees through significant contribution to UN Relief with a total of $29.53 million contributed between 2002 and 2023. The Indian annual contribution has been increased from 1.25 to 5 million in 2018 and we have pledged 5 million for the next two years.

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Jemima Goldsmith x-wife of former Pak PM Imran Khan caught between two warring faiths, Jewish-Christian and converted Muslim  ….Tweets on X

Imran Khan with his wife Jemima and two-year-old son Sulaiman arrive at the Churchill Inter-Continental Hotel in London )

Jemima Goldsmith, the first wife of former Pak PM Imran Khan, from 1995 –to 2004, moved to Pakistan after her marriage and was later hounded for her Jewish roots when Imran- the former Cricket Captain of the Pakistan Team,  jumped into politics leading his  Tareek-E –Insaf Party. Jemima, today jumped into the Twitter now ‘X” pool of words and pooled her past experiences openly with the Twitteretti crowd, on the open platform.

Jemima was an Anglican Christian before she converted to Islam for her marriage to Imran. However, in Pakistan, she claimed to have been made acutely aware of her Jewish roots since her paternal grandfather was a German Jew. “‘ Imran’s political opponents used and abused her roots to muddy Khan’s chances in Pak Politics’ Imran had said in one Televised interview.

Caught between the crossfires of two opposing (rather three different faiths)  and Khan’s political ambitions, Jemima the British Millionaires’ divorced Khan in 2004 and moved with her two sons back to Britain.    

In light of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine (Hamas), Jemima tweeted, finding herself compelled to engage in a verbal duel opening up about her experience with both religions as the bloody faith-related war raged on and wrote:

“I realize that Twitter spats don’t help anyone. I have found it hard to disengage – I have Jewish and Muslim family members & friends, whom I deeply love. I have lived in a Muslim country for ten years and have been to Gaza and the West Bank and I also have a historic family connection to Israel. I have personally had (and continue to receive) countless death threats on account of my Jewishness & faced decades of anti-semitic abuse. The father of my children was shot, according to his would-be -assassin, because of his “proximity to the Jews” – ie. me. Meanwhile, my children have faced Islamophobia in the UK (& anti-semitism in Pakistan!).  

Perhaps because of these experiences, I passionately believe that political tribalism is the enemy, not just of reasonable discourse but of peace. It’s why I’m so in awe of the bravery & integrity of those Israelis who despite having lost relatives in the last few days, have made some of the most powerful statements against the ongoing bombing of Gaza. I pray their voices are heard. Killing and maiming thousands more innocent children will not save terrorized hostages, nor will it bring peace and, like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan post 9-11, will likely only create more terrorism and a less safe world for all of us.”

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WRITER CAN BE REACHED AT rashmitalwarno1@saanjh

First Chartered Rescue Flight by India under ‘Op Ajay’ reaches Israel / Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

India RESCUE

First Chartered Rescue Flight by India under ‘Op Ajay’ reaches Israel

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR OCTOBER 12, 2023—–

As many as 230 Indian passengers readied themselves for the first “Ops Ajay” rescue and evacuation chartered flight tonight from Israel, that would land them in safety to their home countries from the war zone of the Israel-Hamas-Palestine War. This is the first batch that would be evacuated out of the conflict zone and flight parameters are fervently being worked out for more flights for stranded Indians. This is the first group of Indians to be notified of evacuation.

India is in touch with Tel Aviv, Israel for the safe rescue of 18000 of its nationals that are stuck in the Israel-Palestine war zone. Special charter flights and necessary arrangements under the operations are underway till the filing of this report. “We don’t rule out other flights including using Indian Air Force planes for evacuation “, said the Ministry of Affairs spokesperson  Arindam Bagchi addressing a press conference today.

India has launched Ops Ajay in a phased evacuation of its citizens from Israel. External EAM spokesman said the Indian embassy continues to compile lists of its citizens and has given a call in Israel to its citizens to contact its embassies in Tel Aviv and Ramallah and register themselves urgently.

Has the Israeli embassy contacted India regarding a return flight to bring back its Israelis to their home country in the same return flight?” “Only the Israel embassy can answer this, but no barter flight modalities are worked out till now with Israel”, MEA said. On how worrisome was the situation?” The MEA said there was a call out by the Indian embassy to its citizens to follow the advisory issued by Tel Aviv strictly.  He admitted to the MEA being concerned over the injury of one Indian citizen and was in touch with the person in hospital and denied any casualty of Indian so far.

About security concerns, the MEA said “Obligations under Vienna conventions” are being followed to evacuate safely our citizens.  Concerning any weapons or support to Israel the MEA said India has received no such demands or feelers from Israel.  

On the Evacuation of those on the high-density conflict sites like the Gaza Strip and the West Bank the MEA said there were a dozen or 13 people in the West Bank and 3-4 in the Gaza Strip and we are in touch, there are constraints,  but we will take them if they request assistance. “How does India see Hamas?”-  “It should be clear that we see this (Hamas ) as a terrorist attack! How does India see the situation in Palestine? He said “India policy in this regard has been longstanding and consistent.  India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders side by side at peace with Israel. That remains our position to date.”

How do we see developments that are happening including the violence the PM raised some issues? “I like to add there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law; There is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations that sums up India’s position.”

Meantime the Ministry of External Affairs has established a 24/7 control room in Delhi to oversee the operation. Separate emergency helplines and Tel Aviv and Ramallah are operational to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine. India’s efforts aim to assist over 18000 Indians in Israel including a small number of students, caregivers, diamond traders, and IT professionals.

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Russian Prez Putin concerned over loss of civilian lives in Israel Hamas war: Let Men fight

“Leave woman and children alone!” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on day 6th of October 12th of the Israel-Hamas war.

Urging both sides to minimize loss of civilian lives, in retaliation to Hamas atrocities on Israeli soil, as Israel Defense force continued to pummel Palestine terror assets in Gaza, the Russian Prez urged both sides to aim for minimum loss of civilian population including women and children in an ‘X’ video post.   

“What’s happening is terrible. We understand that the level of violence is very high on both sides but nonetheless, no matter how high it is, we need to aim to minimize the losses to the civilian population, to minimize casualties among women, children, and elderly people. “If men decide to fight, let them fight each other. Leave the women and children alone, this applies to both sides”, the Russian boomed.  

Russian President’s remarks come at a time when a terrorist group Hamas indiscriminately massacred children in Israel which was confirmed by US President Joe Biden. The Palestine side also alleges similar atrocities on women and children by Israel.

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India’s Recent Rescue Operations

India has undertaken successful evacuation operations including Operation Ganga” to evacuate Indians from Ukraine, and “Operation Kaveri” to bring back Indian nationals from Sudan during times of civil unrest there. A third ”Operation Ajay” for Israel Palestine  is added to the list no

Hamas launched a “surprise attack” on Israel on October 7 with a volley of rockets into Israel. Israel declared war on Palestine thereafter. As many as 2100 were killed in the Israel-Hamas War. About 18000 Indians are stranded in the war zones.

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84 countries supporting Israel, 20 countries with Palestine-Hamas

As many as 84 countries of the world are supporting Israel and  20 countries with Palestine-Hamas. However, 28 United Nations member states still do not recognize Israel. Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with two of its Arab neighbors Egypt and Jordan after signing peace treaties in 1979 and 1994 respectively. In 2020 Israel signed agreements with four of the Arab League including Bahrain, UAE, Sudan, and Morocco. Egypt was the first Arab country to establish ties with Israel.

Palestine has the support of Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Kuwait, Turkey, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Bangladesh, Brunei, Sudan, Algeria, Malaysia, and others. Israel is supported by many Western countries including the “5 eyes” USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand Israel. Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Hungary, Czech Republic, Europe, and Japan.

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Kashmiri Woman in Palestine seeks evacuation, FO seized of the matter

A Kashmiri Lubna Nazir Shaboo seeks evacuation from Palestine. India received a distress call from a Kashmiri woman Lubna, Nazir Shaboo on a social media video. Lubna claimed she was stuck in Gaza where Hamas struck Israel with rockets amid a raging war between Israel and Hamas. Lubna, an academic, and a resident of Srinagar is married to a Palestine and has reached out to India’s Foreign Office (FO) for rescue from the Gaza Strip he has come under Israel’s siege cutting off water, electricity, and food to the region besides plugging all exit points of the territory.  The government is seized of the matter said Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Indian FO during a press conference today. He said as many as a dozen or 13 Indians are stuck in the Gaza Strip and about 3-4 are stranded in the West Bank side.

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The writer can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

Day of viral videos puts Canadian PM Trudeau in an embarrassing position /Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Day of viral videos  puts Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in an embarrassing position

Day of viral videos  puts Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in an embarrassing position

Putin Labels Canadian Speaker an ‘Idiot’ over #Nazigate

Rashmi Talwar

Amritsar 6^th Oct 2023—-

Even as reports filtered in about the pullout of Canadian diplomats from India to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, following the Indian Foreign Office’s adamant stand on the repatriation of 41 Canadian diplomats from India, Russian President Vladimir Putin labelled Canada’s former speaker ‘Anthony Rota’ an idiot!

    “If he didn’t know that Hitler and his henchmen fought against Russia during WWII, It just means he didn’t study in school and has no basic knowledge, And, if he did know ‘Yaroslav Hunka’ was a Nazi and calls him a hero of Canada and Ukraine then he is a villain!” Putin put down the Canadian speaker in a video that went viral on ‘X” today heaping more embarrassment on Canada.

The Russian President lashed out reacting to #Nazifest that unfolded days earlier when Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Volodymyr Zelensky gave war criminal Yaroslav Hunka, a standing ovation on the floor of the Canadian Parliament before embarrassing revelations about him fighting for the  Nazis, tumbled out.

The Canadian speaker stepped down from his position after the huge embarrassment for Canada in its Parliament, surfaced.

link:

https://x.com/eOrganiser/status/1710183103795466292?s=20

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Canadian, refused a handshake with its PM Trudeau

In another video, a Canadian citizen refused to shake hands with a smiling Canadian PM Justin Trudeau –“ I am not shaking your hand – you f**ked this country”.  “How did I mess up this country?” Trudeau is asking the man in the video clip.  To which, the citizen says, “Can anybody afford a home in this day in Canada? You ruined the whole country. You are sending aid to Ukraine, to a guy who slaughtered his own country.”

Under Canada’s lenient refugee policy, more than 80,000 Ukrainians have entered Canada which has raised the heckles of Canadians who are facing the highest inflation rate in food, lifestyle and housing.

link:

https://x.com/ShreeShankar96/status/1710492461716660675?s=20

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Video trends of Trudeau admitting to smoking marijuana

In another embarrassment to Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau was seen in a video admitting to the use of marijuana in the past .” A very rare user of Marijuana  I think about five or six times in my life I took a puff. And one of those puffs was three years ago when I was an MP.” the Canadian PM is saying quite openly. 

This adds a bit of credibility to the statement of Deepak Vohra, a former Indian diplomat who was labelled to have made ‘bizarre claims’ against the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, saying when Trudeau came to India for the G20 this month to Inda, his plane was apparently “full of cocaine”. He further claimed that because he (Trudeau) was high on drugs, as he did not come out of his room for two days leaving him unable to attend G20 programmes. The Indian diplomat made these claims during a Television debate, where he said that sniffer dogs had smelled cocaine on Trudeau’s plane.

Vohra also ripped the Canadian PM over his “credible allegations” statement, in his parliament address. Trudeau used the words “credible allegations “against Indian agents involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjer. “It can either be ‘credible’ or it can be ‘allegations’. He took a jibe and said -I also have a ‘credible rumour ‘ to make in this case that Trudeau is crazy! It is a ‘credible rumour’, the former diplomat was known to have spat out.

Trudeau had said that the Canadian government had ‘credible allegations’ that the Indian government agents were behind the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian, on Canadian soil. Harjit is a Khalistani terrorist designated by India.

link:

https://x.com/mekarora/status/1707363029380383038?s=20

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NIA, hot on the heels of Khalistanis indulging in Anti-India propaganda / Rashmi Talwar/

NIA, hot on the heels of Khalistanis indulging in Anti-India propaganda,

Two videos insulting the Indian flag emerge on X

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 5^TH Oct 2023—

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) is seized of the matter of two videos trending on Twitter now ‘X’, that show Khalistani activists insulting the Indian flag in full public view.

NIA is looking for local Indian connections of those in the video

One of the videos comes from the United Kingdom (UK) and the other from Canada.

In the video from the UK, the Khalistanis are pouring a liquid calling it urine on the Indian flag and making fun of India’s national pride.

In the second video from Canada the group is more vocal and uses a ‘Dhol’ and is seen kicking the Indian flag rolled as a turban.

Both the videos are extremely hurtful to Indians all over the world. Naresh, an Indian in the USA contended that the USA, Canada, UK’s so-called free speech and expression are greatly being misused to denigrate friendly countries. The ‘FIVE EYES’ UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada should take notice and bring some norms of decency and respectful behaviour towards other countries.

Gurinder Singh, in Canada a grocery outlet owner, was of the similar view that elements spewing, cultivating and spreading hatred should be pulled up by respective governments, afterall a country is responsible for the behaviour of its own citizens!

video links

Is this a New Canada? Our Justinder Trudeau and NDP support this. pic.twitter.com/pg1Grp1wb7

— sidh (@sidhgenius2014) September 26, 2023

CANADA

Fαttu tαttus of Bhindiwale pouring Gaumutra over the Indian flag in UK, and inviting the British PM #RishiSunak to drink it. Then they utter Wahe Guruji's sacred name with their filthy mouths. #KhalistaniTerrorists have lost their marbles and gone berserk. pic.twitter.com/tzbGnpQg7S

— Alpaca Girl🇮🇳 (@Alpakanya) October 3, 2023

United Kingdom

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American Comic Andrew Schulz roasts Canadian PM brings house down with laughter

American stand-up comedian Andrew Schulz Hezi mercilessly roasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over Canada’s diplomatic standoff over the killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an Indian-origin- Canadian citizen, on Canadian soil.

In his unique and somewhat skewed humour, Andrew said I saw a headline about –“A Punjabi! Separatist! Assassinated! In Canada and- “I said ‘Oh No! They got Justinder !!!…’, ‘How did they get Justinder ?’ in his latest hilarious take off that brought the full stadium into the throes of loud laughter  (PM Justin Trudeau, seen as a  sympathiser, protector and ally of Khalistanis in India is adorably called ‘Trudeau Singh’, ‘JustInder’, and many such delightful names in India and abroad)

Andrew has 510,000 followers on Twitter now ‘X’.

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Canada develops cold feet over escalated standoff with India. Now wants ‘diplomatic’ and ‘private’ talks /Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

Canada develops cold feet over escalated standoff with India.  Now wants ‘diplomatic’ and ‘private’ talks with New Delhi over downsizing of Canadian missions 

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 4^TH October 2023—

When the Indian Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar boomed –“Let’s not normalize what is happening in Canada!” It seems the world, particularly Canadians, Indians, and watchers of International affairs, and foreign missions world over, listened, intently, nodded, and applauded India’s stand. “There is today, a climate of violence, an atmosphere of intimidation, and activities, such as smoke-bombs thrown at Indian missions, mission officials denied entry in a place of worship, individuals were targeted and intimidated, there were posters put up” –  Do you consider this is normal? Questioned the FM and no one could deny these observations. 

Meantime, on the other side of the net,  Canadian PM Justin Trudeau seemed to have toned down after India’s diplomatic offensive of declaring persona non grata, 41 of Canada’s diplomats in India after October 10. “We are going on in extremely challenging times with India now and that’s why it’s so important for us to have diplomats on the ground working with the Indian government there supporting Canadian families.” Said the Canadian PM –“And we have to continue to engage responsibly and constructively with the Indian government!” he added when queried over the new state of affairs that Canada finds itself after New Delhi gave an ultimatum for equi-sizing of Canadian diplomatic strength in India with that Indian missions in Canada. As many as 62 Canadian diplomats are stationed in India compared to India’s 20 diplomats in Canada.

Interestingly, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly too seemed to have softened down and put across the Canadian plan of action to tackle the impasse diplomatically. “First and foremost we are in contact with the government of India, and we are taking the security of Canadian diplomats very seriously and we will continue to engage ‘privately’ because we feel that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain ‘private’. We are in constant cooperation for any way to stop the expulsion of Canadian diplomats.

On a query that India has asked for downsizing nearly two-thirds of Canada’s diplomatic strength in consulates in India, how would that impact Canada and Canadian citizens and businesses? She repeated the lines -“We continue to engage and it is important that we do so. But as I said a number of times, these conversations take place diplomatically and privately.”

The stress on ‘diplomatic and private’ talks is ironic considering that a diplomatic flashpoint was reached over a very ‘untactful handling’ of the Canadian PM’s blame game on India in full attention of the Canadian Parliament’s floor, over the killing of a ‘terrorist’ Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated terrorist by Government of India, whose extradition plea by India had been successively and deliberately ignored on flimsy grounds by Canada.

Experts feel- “ If a diplomatic and sober stand was chosen by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in the first place to take up the case of Hardeep Nijjar’s killing, instead of declaring it in the Canadian Parliament, albeit that too without ‘placeable’ evidence  it would have not had such a tidal effect between the two countries .”

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‘5-eyes’ diplomatic presence in India

*How many Canadian Embassies/Consulates are there in India? Canada currently maintains 7 diplomatic representative offices in India including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and New Delhi

* The US Embassy in Delhi coordinates the activities of four consulates in India — in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad – ensuring a strong U.S.-India relationship throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest U.S. diplomatic missions in the world, a reflection of the importance the United States places on its relationship with India.

* Consular Assistance in India is provided by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and Australian Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

* New Zealand mission Offices operate in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh.

* British High Commission Offices are located in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai. It also has an office at Bangalore covered by the Deputy High Commission in Chennai.

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Author Rashmi Talwar can be reached at email: Rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com

Government contemplating cancellation of OCI cards, asks Canada to repatriate its 40 diplomats from Indian High Commission / Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

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Harman, London’s Sikh Restaurateur calls foul as Khalistani Sikhs vandalize his car, seen in a Viral video/ Rashmi Talwar /Greater Jammu

Harman, London’s Sikh Restaurateur calls foul as Khalistani Sikhs vandalize his car, seen in a Viral video

Rashmi Talwar

Amritsar 1^st Oct 2023—As soon as Major Gaurav Arya (retd), having a following of 1.6 Million uploaded videos on his X social networking platform, about Harman Singh Kapoor, a UK-based Sikh Restaurateur,  thousands of comments likes, and replies flooded his wall. In the video recorded in the UK by a neighbour of Harman is seen appealing to Arya to highlight his case as he has been facing death threats for the past 8 months after posting anti-Khalistan posts on his Facebook group with a following of about 2.5 K.

Harman and his wife Khushi are owners of  Rangrez Restaurant in London UK       

Photo caption: Harman Singh Kapoor’s  Vandalized car splashed with Red Paint 

“I have been under threat from Khalistanis for the past 8 months,” said Harman showing his car splashed with red paint and a bullet mark on the windscreen in the video. At least three attempts have been made on my life and also on my family. My family gets death and rape threats regularly but I and my family refuse to bow down in front of Khalistanis.

Harman was attacked by Pro Khalistan radicals days after the Indian High Commission in London was vandalized by them. Recently he uploaded “The Canadian PM was first in the world to put allegations on another country without evidence!” And adds – “Trudeau is harbouring criminals for his vote bank and these Khalistanis that he is protecting will one day carry out riots in Canada!”

“I had to go underground into hiding with my family because of these threats from Khalistan is at that point I thought of putting an end to the whole issue and saving the family but then my kids just 16 and 17 years old said that we won’t be able to see ourselves in the mirror if we surrender thus …..We will keep fighting I have been living in the UK for the last 46 years but then ” Dil mein hai Hindustan”. 

His family and wife Khushi have allegedly been attacked 3-times. They have been threatened on social media and have received intimidation calls.

Harman alleged the attackers asked him to remove the post and raise slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Hindustan Murdabad”. They also told him to burn India’s flag or else he would be killed.

“I wonder if these people are asking for ‘Khalsa Raj’ or ‘Gunda Raj,” Harman said. Harman Kapoor says the so-called ‘liberal’, ‘free speech loving’ UK government has taken no notice of this kind of harassment in this country. The alleged threats were made despite repeated assurances by the police of safety and special safeguarding measures. Harman says that UK Police have done nothing and that the Khalistanis are running amok. Anything could happen to him or his family at any time.

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 Photo caption: Harman Singh Kapoor with his flashy clothes and Turban 

A flamboyant Sikh couple Harman who has resided in the UK for 46 years cannot be missed with fancy branded ties such as LV, Dior, Michael Kors, and Burberry over his turban, brightly branded flashy shirts rings gold chains, fancy glares. He and his wife often make spoofs of Khalistanis on their Facebook page, appearing in their fancy outfits. His Facebook page names and shames Khalistanis out to denigrate India. Two of them were Kuldeep Singh Mankoo and Tejinder Gill, allegedly of the “Khalistani” Gang.

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