The World Sikh News – The Good Doctor Is Worried About When Democracies Commit Suicide

Dr Dharamvira Gandhi former Member of Parliament from Patiala – Punjab – estranged from Aam Aadmi Party and known for his indepen­dent stances, has now openly issued a clarion call to “the progressives and all the secular-modernist liberals” to vote for the Congress in the upcoming Punjab elections to save democracy.

His article, “When Democracies Commit Suicide” has been doing the rounds on social media. Senior Journalist SP Singh makes a considered intervention in the debate, pointing out where the good doctor missed certain nuances in his line of argument.

To read the full long but interesting article click on the link below:

The Good Doctor Is Worried About When Democracies Commit Suicide

The Tribune – Tracing Himachal’s illegal drug trade

A multi-agency crackdown is finally taking shape to stem the diversion of NDPS drugs into open market, and rampant abuse

Ambika Sharma

Every third drug in the Indian domestic market is manufactured in Himachal Pradesh and the state’s pharmaceutical industry is pegged at Rs 8000 crore.

Of the 625 manufacturers in the pharma hubs, 139 have been given licences to produce pharma-opioids/psychotropic substances, listed in the schedule of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In the absence of any nationwide survey to gauge an estimate of genuine users of these narcotic and psychotropic drugs, meant for therapeutic purposes, the pharmaceutical companies continue to upscale manufacturing to cater to the ever-increasing demand for recreational purposes.

This illegal diversion for the nefarious use of a sizeable chunk of pharma-opioids has besmirched the image of Himachal’s pharma hubs, which prided themselves in manufacturing Covid vaccines and medicines in recent months.

The latest case of a Baddi-based wholesale trader, Zannet Pharmaceuticals, indulging in illegal sale amounting to Rs100 crore of narcotic drugs like Nitrazapem, Codeine and Etizolam through fake bills and firms has exposed the chinks in the open-ended licensing policy.

That the trader’s wholesale drug licence had been cancelled in Punjab in 2018-19 and the Rajasthan drug control administration did not bother to provide details regarding the firm to the local authorities expose glaring loopholes in the system.

Several such cases have also surfaced in Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb in Sirmaur district, facilitating the illegal entry into the market of pharma opioids like Tramadol in Punjab and other states, with sales running into crores.

There are 14 NDPS drugs which are manufactured for therapeutic use, of which three — Alprazolam, Codeine and Tramadol — are widely misused for recreational purposes and by addicts, as per the seizure pattern of the police.

Licence loophole

Instead of devising a stringent licensing system that ensures restricted and controlled production, the open-ended system results in units manufacturing tablets coming out with scheduled NDPS drugs as well.

The absence of effective inter-state and inter-departmental coordination further fuels sales, as departments like State Taxes and Excise and Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence have little or no coordination with the Drug Control Authority (DCA).

The DCA did wake up after the anomalies came to fore during cases unearthed recently in Baddi, Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib.

To read the full article click on the link below:

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/tracing-himachals-illegal-drug-trade-349284

Outlook India – The German authorities have detained a Jaswinder Singh Multani, allegedly belonging to the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)

An organisation suspected to be behind the recent bomb blast in Ludhiana district court complex, based on intelligence inputs from India, officials said on Tuesday.

The man, identified as Jaswinder Singh Multani, was detained in a city in Germany after intelligence inputs were shared with the authorities in Berlin highlighting his alleged role in planning terror attacks in India, the officials said.

Multani, against whom two FIRs have been registered in Punjab, was picked up and kept under detention and was being questioned on the inputs provided by Indian agencies to the authorities in Berlin through diplomatic channels.

Multani’s detention comes five days after a bomb blast occurred at the Ludhiana court complex on 23 December that killed Gangandeep, a dismissed policeman who was allegedly planting the bomb, and injured two others.

An extensive investigation is on to see the radicalisation of people in Punjab, which is being promoted from across the border in Pakistan by some of the so-called leaders of Khalistan.

To read the full article click on the link below:

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/ludhiana-court-blast-sfjs-jaswinder-singh-multani-arrested-in-germany-after-india-shares-inputs/407206

FirstPost – Hindu pilgrims from India, UAE, USA to visit century-old shrine in Pakistan, vandalised by radicals, on 1 January.

The pilgrims will arrive in Peshawar on 1 January to visit the Samadhi of Paramhans Ji Maharaaj at Teri at the invitation of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

Peshawar – Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa – Pakistan, 30 December 2021. A group of 250 Hindu pilgrims from India, the UAE and the USA is scheduled to visit this week a century-old shrine in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which was vandalised by a radical Islamist party last year, according to a media report on Thursday.

The Hindu pilgrims will visit the shrine of Paramhans Ji Maharaaj, a saint who died at Teri village in Karak district of the province in 1919. The temple was established in 1920.

A number of Hindu pilgrims from India, the United Arab Emirates and the United States will arrive in Peshawar on 1 January to visit the Samadhi at Teri at the invitation of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), the Dawn newspaper reported.

This is the second time that the Council has invited Hindu pilgrims from other countries so that they can see for themselves the existence of a tolerant and pluralistic society in Pakistan, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the PHC’s patron, told the newspaper.

The Council has arranged the programme in collaboration with Pakistan International Airlines, the report said. Fifty-four Hindus from India, Canada, Singapore, Australia and Spain had visited the country last month.

The group was led by Shri Satguru Ji Maharaaj Ji, the fifth successor of Paramhans Ji Maharaaj.

In December last year over 1000 people led by some local clerics belonging to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) instigated the villagers to demolish the temple and as a result, people led by local seminary students attacked the temple.

On the orders of the Chief Justice of Pakistan the temple was restored. The apex court also ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government in October 2021 to recover Rs 33 million (USD 1,94,161) from the culprits involved in vandalising the century-old shrine.

Earlier in 1997, the shrine was first attacked and severely damaged, and the PHC head Vankwani had approached the apex court in 2015 seeking help to restore the holy place and restart the annual pilgrimage to the place.

Pakistan Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad had celebrated Diwali this year at the temple last month to express solidarity with members of the Hindu community and to welcome pilgrims from other parts of the country.

According to Vankwani, the PHC invited the chief justice only to give a message to hate-mongers that the state is determined to foil their nefarious designs.

https://www.firstpost.com/india/hindu-pilgrims-from-india-uae-us-to-visit-century-old-shrine-in-pakistan-vandalised-by-radicals-on-1-jan-10246451.html

The Telegraph – Silchar: Goons ask Hindus to leave Christmas event

We don’t have any formal complaint till Sunday evening but we have identified and detained two of the five youths: SP

Umanand Jaiswal

Guwahati – Assam – India, 27 December 2021. A five-member group claiming to be Bajrang Dal cadres on Saturday evening disrupted a Christmas event organised outside the Presbyterian Church in Assam’s Silchar, asking the Hindus attending the celebration to vacate the venue.

Silchar SP Ramandeep Kaur Dhillon told The Telegraph that the youths asked the Hindus at the venue to leave and celebrate their own festivals. “There was no scuffle or damage to property. They had no issue with the Christians gathered there but told the Hindus not to take part in the celebration.

They were there for about five-seven minutes,” Dhillon said, adding that two 17-year-olds have been detained, on Sunday.

The venue is located around 2km from the Silchar police station and 1km from the Tarapur police outpost.

“We don’t have any formal complaint till Sunday evening but we have identified and detained two of the five youths. We have also not found any link with Bajrang Dal but will take the case to its logical end,” Dhillon said.

The youths had later released a video claiming they were Bajrang Dal members and had nothing against Christians and Christmas celebration, but wanted Hindus to stay away from it.

Shuvo Ranjan Das, convener of the Bajrang Dal in Silchar, told this newspaper that “some young boys did something” but they did not belong to his organisation. “The police also inquired about the boys… We don’t support such acts,” Das said.

Local residents told The Telegraph that Christmas celebration on Church Road was an annual event and they looked forward to it. Silchar is a Hindu-majority town with a Christian population of a few thousands.

To read the full article click on the link below:

https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/silchar-goons-ask-hindus-to-leave-christmas-event/cid/1844952

The Tribune – Channi in driver’s seat: Punjab CM drives bus as he flags off 58 new buses

Fifty-eight new buses added into the state fleet

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh – Panjab – India, 29 December 2021. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday drove a new Punbus for a short distance as part of induction of 58 new buses into the state fleet.

A total of 842 modern vehicles are being added into the state fleet in one go for the first time ever at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

Channi said the last two months had witnessed the transport department’s revival as a result of stringent action against erring bus operators and tax evaders.

The chief minister also announced free bus travel facility for all college and university students. The decision will benefit lakhs of students across the state in ensuring education to them. “We are also constructing and renovating 105 bus terminals to further strengthen the overall infrastructure,” the CM said.

Crackdown on those running the state transport as a mafia has resulted in significant enhancement of department revenue, said Channi, who was accompanied by Transport Minister Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.

The CM asserted that no one would be allowed to fleece commuters and a transparent, efficient and effective transport mechanism is his government’s top priority.

Lauding Warring for his efforts in the last three months, the Chief Minister said the new buses are a gift to the people of Punjab, especially women for whom the government has already made travel free.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/cm-charanjit-channi-rides-punjab-roadways-bus-as-he-flags-off-new-buses-355881

Birmingham Mail – Inspiring moment: Sutton Coldfield Sikh was called to the Bar in traditional robes

“It’s a very rare thing to see someone wearing traditional robes instead of a suit so it’s a big moment.”

Watch the inspiring moment a Sikh man is called to the bar – wearing his traditional robes.

Lovejoyt Singh 24 completed the first stages of law training and was able to wear his Sikh attire during a special ceremony at Temple Church, London.

He said the moment, which went viral after being filmed on 25 November was “such a privilege”.

Lovejoyt, from Sutton Coldfield, said: “In this profession, you often don’t see anything beyond the realms of tradition.

“It’s very rare to see someone wearing traditional robes – normally everyone just wears black suits and ties.

Watch the inspiring moment a Sikh man is called to the bar – wearing his traditional robes.

The inspiring video shows Lovejoyt wearing traditional Sikh robes, known as baana, as he collects his certificate.

He said the moment which went viral after being filmed on 25 November was “such a privilege”.

The future barrister was called to the Bar during a special ceremony at Temple Church, London, on 25 November. (Image: Simrita Kaur / SWNS)

“But after all these years of hard work, my community is very proud of what I have achieved so being called to the bar in my robes is a privilege.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/inspiring-moment-sutton-coldfield-sikh-22592492

The Hindu – Congress has performance and vision: Sunil Jakhar

Congress will fight Punjab polls with a ‘collective leadership’, says former State president.

Vikas Vasudeva

Chandigarh – Panjab – India, 29 December 2021. With the Punjab Assembly election only a few months away, the ruling Congress, which has been facing turmoil within its State unit amid power tussles, is staring at the stiff task of retaining power.

Former Punjab Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar says that before getting into any kind of electoral battle, an assurance that all sections of society are equal needs to be extended by the Congress to a section of Punjab’s people, which is at present anxious amid certain senior leaders’ remarks that only a Sikh must be the Chief Minister of the State.

The Congress high command has given you charge of the 2022 poll campaign committee. How you do intend to steer the campaign?

The campaign could be built around either a personality or the ideology or performance or vision. We have the performance and the vision. And as far as the personality or leadership is concerned, the party ‘high command’ has already clarified that they intend to go with a ‘collective leadership’ this time.

The party’s in-charge for Punjab affairs Harish Chowdhary had made it clear that this election is not going to be built around ‘one particular person’.

The last campaign [2017] was around Captain Amarinder Singh, but it won’t be on that line this time. It’s going to be a joint Congress. We will be fighting on our performance; a lot of development has been achieved in the State.

The Congress high command has given you charge of the 2022 poll campaign committee. How you do intend to steer the campaign?

The campaign could be built around either a personality or the ideology or performance or vision. We have the performance and the vision. And as far as the personality or leadership is concerned, the party ‘high command’ has already clarified that they intend to go with a ‘collective leadership’ this time.

The party’s in-charge for Punjab affairs Harish Chowdhary had made it clear that this election is not going to be built around ‘one particular person’. The last campaign [2017] was around Captain Amarinder Singh, but it won’t be on that line this time. It’s going to be a joint Congress. We will be fighting on our performance; a lot of development has been achieved in the State.

What, according to you, are the key hurdles for the Congress in the upcoming poll?

To read the full article click on the link below:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-has-performance-and-vision-sunil-jakhar/article38062180.ece

The Nation – Sialkot lynching case: Court remands 18 suspects in police custody

A court on Tuesday remanded 18 more suspects arrested in the Sialkot lynching case in police custody for investigation.

Sialkot – Panjab – Pakistan, 28 December 2021. Police produced the suspects before a judicial magistrate as the anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge hearing the case was on leave. The magistrate handed over the suspects to the investigation officer and directed him to present them along with other suspects before the ATC on 03 January 2022.

A total of 85 suspects arrested in the case will be presented in the ATC on 03 January 2022.

Priyantha Kumara, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan national, was lynched by a mob of workers at a factory on 03 December, where he was working as manager. A first information report (FIR) was registered against hundreds of unidentified men, including workers of the factory.

Scores have since been arrested and are facing investigation. The Punjab government and the prosecution team in December decided to conduct the jail trial of the high-profile case due to security concerns.

The decision was reached during a meeting of government officials and the prosecution team to ensure law and order situation and avoid any untoward incident.

The jail management has been instructed to make all the arrangements for the jail trial.

https://nation.com.pk/28-Dec-2021/sialkot-lynching-case-court-remands-18-suspects-in-police-custody

The Tribune – Our three Chandigarh councillors were offered money by BJP, alleges AAP’s Raghav Chadha

Day after good show by AAP in Chandigarh MC poll, Chadha addresses a press conference

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh – Panjab – India, 28 December 2021. A day after the Aam Aadmi Party won 14 seats in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation poll, its leader Raghav Chadha on Tuesday alleged that their three elected councillors were offered between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 75 lakh by the BJP.

He alleged that it was being done under the leadership of BJP’s Gajendra Shekhawat.

He was addressing a press conference here.

He told reporters that the Aam Aadmi Party would install secret cameras in the houses of its councillors and also ask them to record all phone calls so that they could expose the BJP.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/our-3-chandigarh-councillors-were-offered-money-by-bjp-alleges-aaps-raghav-chadha-355484