Monthly Archives: August 2018

Imran Khan. AFP file

London, November 14

The UK chapter of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and associated organisations called on the Indian government to challenge the atrocities of the “rogue state of Pakistan” and assist Balochistan’s freedom movement.

At a memorial event to mark Baloch Martyrs’ Day in London on Wednesday, members of the BNM as well as groups such as the World Sindhi Congress and Baloch Students Organisation Azad paid tributes to those killed in their fight for Baloch freedom over the years and branded the UK government “hypocritical” for its silence on the human rights violations in the resource-rich region.

“Over 20,000 Baloch people have been kidnapped by Pakistani security forces and many killed in the last two decades. Our message to the Indian government is that they have to raise their voice against the atrocities by the Pakistani security forces,” said Hammal Haider, foreign affairs spokesperson of the Baloch National Movement.

“India played an important role in liberating Bangladesh and it must now come forward and support our movement to gain independence from the rogue state of Pakistan, which is breeding Islamist militants and destabilising the entire region,” he said.

The organization, along with Balochistan activists, around the world annually mark November 13 as Martyrs’ Day in tribute to the martyrdom of Baloch ruler Mir Mehrab Khan and his fighters who defended the region in the face of British invasion on November 13, 1839.

Candle-light vigils, poetry sessions and tributes are held to honour the memory of all those killed in their struggle for Baloch independence from Pakistan, which it sees as an illegal occupier of its land.

In reference to the British government, Haider said, “The UK talks about human rights of the Kashmiri people and remains silent on our suffering at the hands of Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence.

“This is hypocritical, given that Balochistan was an independent country before the British colonialists created Pakistan and paved the way for Pakistani occupation of our land. They must speak out for all human rights violations.”

Lakhu Luhana, general secretary of the World Sindhi Congress, added, “It is the duty of the entire international community to speak out against the genocide in Balochistan.

“The British, the US, Indian governments all have a role to play to stop Pakistan because the implications pose a threat not only to the peace and security in the region, but also globally.”

The Baloch Martyrs’ Day event in London coincided with similar memorial events around the world, seen as a means of raising international awareness for the Baloch independence cause. PTI

Sumit Paul

The opening of the Kartarpur corridor should further strengthen the bonhomie, for Pakistan has important Sikh shrines like Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib at Hasan Abdal, an hour’s drive from Islamabad, and Lyallpur (now Faislabad) gurdwara. Though there have been recent instances of persecution of Sikhs in Pakistan, they have thus far enjoyed freedom. Otherwise, how can a Sikh still have his restaurant near the Faislabad cricket stadium, with inscriptions in Urdu/Gurmukhi and English that jhatka meat is available there! Whenever I visit Pakistan, I make it a point to visit at least one gurdwara, as I love the lyrical recitation of Japji Sahab and ardaas. Despite being an atheist, the inner tranquility and serene ambience of all shrines appeal to me. Many a time, I discuss certain aspects of Shahmukhi (Gurmukhi written in Persian Nastaliq script) with Pakistani granthis and professors of Punjabi religious history at Lahore and Sialkot universities. Persian being my mother-tongue, I can relate to the baanis of Baba Farid and others, who first uttered them in Persian, and after that in Punjabi. I remember having the tastiest langar at a gurdwara at Narayanpura in Karachi. Punjabi culture is palpable in Pakistan. Most people in Pakistan can speak Punjabi, and even when they converse in Urdu, the Punjabi accent is very strong.

Being a foodie, I love to gorge on Punjabi cuisine. I dare say, the chhole-bhatoore one gets near the telephone exchange in Lahore are the best in the universe. The forever crowded eatery is run by a Sikh gentleman, who also makes the tastiest paranthe with pudina chutney. That taste lingers, and even at Chandni Chowk or Paranthe Wali Gali, I didn’t find paranthas as delicious as made by Kirpal Singh. The late Abdul Qadir, legendary Pakistani leg-spinner, was crazy about Kirpal Singh’s rajma-chawal while Kolkata-born ghazal singer Farida Khanum relishes his aloo di tikki.

Since I visit Pakistan regularly to teach Islamic theology at its universities, I go to these places for sumptuous Punjabi fare. But, I often feel embarrassed as no Punjabi (even Muslim) restaurant owner lets me pay! The hospitality of Punjabi Sikhs is legendary. This soul-gladdening hospitality is experienced all the more deeply when you interact with the Sikhs of Pakistan. 

Till seven decades ago, we were one. Artificial boundaries have erected pickets of imtiyaaz-o-ta’assub (differences and discrimination) among the people of India and Pakistan. We have a shared history and heritage. To quote Urdu poet Jigar Muradabadi, ‘Unka jo farz hai woh ahl-e-siyasat jaanein/ Mera paighaam mohabbat hai jahaan tak pahunche’ (The political people know their duties and objectives/ All I have is the eternal message of love that I try to disseminate as far as I can). So very true.

Kartarpur (Pakistan), November 9

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan received the first batch of Indian pilgrims who entered Pakistan on Saturday through the historic Kartarpur corridor ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak.

The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first batch of over 500 pilgrims, saying it will be easy to pay obeisance at the Darbar Sahib gurdwara after the opening of the Kartarpur corridor.

Asserting that he is fortunate to be able to dedicate the Kartarpur corridor to the country, Modi said the opening of the corridor and the integrated check post will bring double happiness to the people.

The first batch of Indian pilgrims includes Manmohan Singh, Akal Takht Jathedar Harpreet Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee members and all the 117 MLAs and MPs from Punjab including ministers are also part of the first ‘jatha’.

Prime Minister Khan, who congratulated the Sikh community on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, said the historic opening of the Kartarpur corridor is a testimony to Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace.

“We believe that the road to prosperity of region and bright future of our coming generation lies in peace,” Khan said in his message on the occasion.

“Today we are not only opening the border, but also our hearts for the Sikh community,” he said.

Khan said the unprecedented gesture of goodwill from his government was a reflection of its deep respect for Guru Nanak Dev and religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

Pakistan believes that interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence would provide an opportunity to work for larger interests of the people of the sub-continent, he said.

Notwithstanding their strained ties, India and Pakistan signed an agreement last month, paving the way for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor. According to the pact, Pakistan will allow 5,000 Indian pilgrims daily to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. Agencies

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

He campaigned for the opening of Kartarpur corridor for 24 years. Though the dream project has become a reality, his efforts were not recognised.

He does not even figure on the list of over 600 persons chosen by the Punjab Government for a special award in Kapurthala on Sunday to mark the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak.

Amritsar-based Bhabishan Singh Goraya, 67, had written hundreds of representations to the Indian and Pakistani authorities for opening of the corridor. He had also erected hoardings from Dera Baba Nanak to the Darshan Sthal on the border with Pakistan where binoculars are installed for darshan of the gurdwara. He had also been performing ardas at a gurdwara near the site twice every month.

Bhabishan Singh says he never worked for the corridor for any award, “The greatest award is the opening of the corridor for people like me who prayed to see this happening in their lifetime,” he says, declining to comment on claims by some politicians in India and abroad on credit for opening of the corridor.

Bhabishan says his inspiration was late MLA Kuldeep Singh Wadala who worked relentlessly for opening of the corridor, “I started working with him,” he says, adding that he did get a call from a government official seeking details of his contribution towards the project, but it was never followed up.

He said he was hopeful of the opening of the corridor when in 2008, Pranab Mukherjee, the then External Affairs Minister, visited the Darshan Sthal and announced that the corridor would be opened soon, he recalls as he had written to Mukherjee to visit the site.

Photo for representation.

Yash Goyal
Jaipur, November 6

In an alleged honeytrap case, intelligence and police agencies on Wednesday arrested an army soldier posted on the international border in Jaisalmer district for passing on confidential defence information via Facebook and WhatsApp to a woman agent of Pakistan’s ISI.

Vichitra Behera who hailed from Odisha was under the lens of intelligence agencies for sharing secret official information, movement of army and exercise location in Pokhran with his woman friend, Additional Director General (Intelligence) of Police Umesh Mishra said in a statement.

Behera was getting cash payment for providing such dossiers to the woman and got it transferred into his bank account, Mishra added.

CID (Intelligence) was also following the ADG-Intelligence instructions to investigate the case against the soldier.

Another soldier, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, was detained yesterday and is being interrogated. Both were honeytrapped by Pakistani women.

In January this year, jawan Sombir, a victim of honeytrap, was arrested at Jaislamer military station for sending confidential information across the border.

Chandigarh, November 18

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation today allotted the work of showcasing a tableau of unique initiatives of the Model Burail Jail at the Republic Day parade on Rajpath to a company for Rs 20 lakh.

MC officials said on November 22, the company would first showcase the project to the Defence Ministry and submit its entry on the theme. A committee, which will select entries submitted by the states and union territories, will decide the fate of the same.

“Model jail tableau is not final. If the committee decides that some other thing should replace it, we will work on that,” a senior MC official said.

Burail Jail is the country’s first jail where inmates prepare food for thousands of children of anganwadis. All jail inmates have their bank accounts. It has already been declared plastic-free with ban on use of plastic items on its premises.

Instead of the traditional LPG cylinders, about 60 per cent energy needed for cooking at jail is fulfilled by biogas plants. The jail has its first exclusive outlet, Srijan, at Sector 22, where all products made by jail inmates are sold. One can get a variety of items from furniture to food products at the outlet. — TNS

Rajnath Singh. Tribune file

Bum La (Arunachal Pradesh), November 15

Despite differences in perception between India and China on the boundary issue, the armies of the two countries had been sensible enough to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Friday.

He also said that there had been no tension at LAC near Bum La.

During a visit to the forward post of Bum La on the India-China border, Singh congratulated the Indian Army for showing “great maturity” in all situations.

“I have got the opportunity to interact with jawans here. I am very happy to be informed by my jawans that at this India-China border, which is LAC, we are working very sensibly and Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) is also operating sensibly. There is no tension here at LAC that is near Bum La,” he told reporters.

“During my Bumla visit I have come to know that despite perceptional differences on the boundary issue both the Indian Army and the PLA have been sensible enough to reduce tensions on LAC,” he said in a tweet.

He also visited the memorial of Paramvir Chakra winner Subedar Joginder Singh.

“At the time of the war of 1962, he sacrificed his life and showed indomitable courage and valour,” he said in a tweet in Hindi. PTI

Kulbhushan Jadhav. — File photo

Islamabad, November 14

Pakistan on Thursday ruled out any deal with India in death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case and said any step taken to implement the ICJ’s decision will be according to its Constitution.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal’s remarks came a day after Pakistan Army said the government was considering various legal options for the review of Jadhav’s case.

Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” after a closed trial in April 2017. India has maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

In a major victory for India, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 17 ruled that Pakistan must review the death sentence given to Jadhav.

Faisal in his weekly press briefing in Islamabad said, “There will be no deal…all decisions will be as per local laws.” He said any step taken to implement the decision of the ICJ regarding Jadhav will be according to the Constitution.

During Jadhav’s trial in the ICJ, India had argued that consular access was being denied to its national in violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Rejecting Pakistan’s objection to admissibility of the Indian application in the case, the ICJ in its 42-page order held that “a continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review” of the sentence of Jadhav that had strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The bench, however, rejected some remedies sought by India, including annulment of the military court’s decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.

After much dilly-dallying, Pakistan on September 2 granted India consular access to Jadhav under the direction of the ICJ.

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.

Faisal also condemned the recent verdict by India’s Supreme Court to award the site of the Babri Masjid to the Hindus.

He said the mosque was in possession of Muslims for over 450 years.

“The Babri mosque verdict has shredded so-called secularism in India,” Faisal said.

He said Pakistan would do “everything” to highlight the “injustice” in the case.

He said about 12,000 Sikhs visited Kartarpur on the opening day of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

He also said anybody from Pakistan can to Kartarpur but the media would need special permission for coverage.

The historic Kartarpur corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab with Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan. — PTI

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Sultanpur Lodhi, November 11

A sea of devotees from across the country thronged the historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib here on Monday, a day ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

The highly revered Gurdwara Ber Sahib is where Guru Nanak gained enlightenment at the end of the 15th century.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will pay obeisance at the shrine later in the day. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will also be present.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the celebrations on Tuesday.

A majority of the pilgrims are coming from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bihar and Maharashtra. Even devotees are coming from abroad, largely from Britain, Canada and the US.

“For the past one week, we are getting an average of 4-5 lakh devotees at the gurdwara every day. Today and tomorrow, we are expecting over 25 lakh devotees,” an official at the shrine told IANS.

Ninety langars or community kitchens are running round-the-clock in the town to serve the visiting devotees.

A grand light and sound show is being conducted every evening here to sensitise the masses about the teachings and philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev. The show will continue till November 15.

Security has been beefed up and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed to manage the crowd in all the prominent places, a senior police official told IANS.

Organisers say the desire of devotees is to pay obeisance at the historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib and to have a ‘shnaan’ (dip) in Kali Bein. The devotees are feeling fortunate to have achoola’ (sip of water) from the holy Bein.

It is believed that Guru Nanak disappeared into the waters of the Bein rivulet, reappearing three days later as the enlightened Guru. The ground of Gurdwara Ber Sahib marks the spot, where Guru Nanak entered the rivulet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 9 morning paid obeisance at the Ber Sahib Gurdwara, before heading for Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor and flag off the first lot of pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

The three-storey Gurdwara Ber Sahib was built by the ruler of Kapurthala in the mid-20th century and features slender octagonal pillars, a marble sanctum and stucco designs at the entrance.

Sultanpur Lodhi, some 200 km from Chandigarh, is dotted with gurdwaras commemorating events from Guru Nanak’s life.

Along with Gurdwara Bebe Nanaki, built to honour Guru Nanak’s sister, is the Gurdwara Sant Ghat, about two km upstream of Ber Sahib, where he emerged from his three-day immersion in the Bein.

Hatt Sahib honours the grain store, where Guru Nanak was employed; and the 13 weights, used by the Guru Nanak to measure provisions are preserved here.

The prison cell, where the Guru was imprisoned under false charges is Gurdwara Kothri Sahib; and Guru ka Bagh is where Guru Nanak lived with his wife, Sulakhni, and their two sons, Baba Sri Chand and Baba Lakhmi Chand. IANS

A Pakistani national takes a selfie with Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu at Kartarpur on Saturday. Photo by writer

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Kartarpur (Pak), November 9

After lying low since his resignation as a Cabinet minister in July, Navjot Singh Sidhu was the cynosure of all eyes as he crossed over to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the Kartarpur corridor along with other devotees today.

Absent at the official function on the Indian side at Dera Baba Nanak, he was the centre of attraction on other side of the border.

Not only did he share the main stage inside the gurdwara with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Gurdaspur MP Sunny Deol, he was literally mobbed by devotees, who were a part of the first jatha that went through the corridor and those who had crossed through Attari to be a part of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.

Imran Khan credited Sidhu for the Kartarpur corridor. Earlier, as soon as Sidhu reached the Integrated Checkpost at Dera Baba Nanak before passing through the corridor, party MLAs, cutting across party lines, congratulated Sidhu on the opening of the corridor.

During his address at the inaugural ceremony, Sidhu said the completion of the corridor within 10 months was nothing short of a miracle. He thanked Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for realising the dream of the Sikh community.

“I am thanking Modi ji also, it doesn’t matter if we have political differences. I am sending a Munnabhai MBBS-style hug to you Modi sahab for this,” said Sidhu. Taking a swipe at those who had criticised him for hugging Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during Khan’s swearing-in ceremony last August, he said the hug has worked. He called for opening up the India-Pakistan border for trade, saying “Yeh dil maange more (This heart wants more).”