‘China Used Covid-19 Crisis To Target Tibetans, Uyghurs’

A noted scholar and expert on Asian affairs has raised concerns over the gross human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet as he alleges that China’s Community regime embezzles the COVID-19 crisis to muzzle the voice of dissents.

Dr Burzine Waghmar, Staff of SOAS University of London was interacting with Tsering Passang, Convener Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities on the 9th Black Day Anniversary of Chen Quanguo’s appointment to the mastermind of Tibetan atrocities and Uyghur genocide.

On August 28, a protest outside the United Nations office in London was held to mark the anniversary of the appointment of party secretary, Chen Quanguo, on his four years completion as party secretary in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from 2016 to 2020.

And before that, from 2011 to 2016 he was a party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region. “We all know what he has done in Tibet and what he has been doing in east Turkistan,” said Tsering.

Xinjiang or East Turkistan as it is known to its indigenous inhabitants, the Uyghurs, is on China’s Westernmost front which borders eight countries. The home to 12 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, Xinjiang is strategically significant for the politburo and Chinese Communist Party.

“Not just Uyghur as a language, but any and every trace of Islamic identity is crushed in order to robotically reprogram them as Han Chinese citizens. And these children have been dislocated, removed, forcibly taken from their parents and their fathers are practically dead or disappeared for all we know and their mothers have practically become a concubine for Han Chinese man”, said Dr. Burzine.

He added, “It is no exaggeration, there is nothing sensationalist or melodramatic in pointing that out. It really must be driven home. It is not xenophobic to point that out as well. I need to point that out too because it is all very well to say that the world is out to get China during the current COVID-19 crisis and that we have seen outbreaks of xenophobia which in itself are regrettable and must be challenged. True, but that ought not to be an excuse for condoning what the Chinese have been doing pre-COVID-19 too. So, xenophobia simply does not explain the actions of the Communist party’s murderous regime, implementation policies across Xinjiang, and Tibet.”

Dr Burzine said, “The hundred-plus odd nationalities or ethnic minorities that are part of the PRC (People’s Republic of China), within which we have Uyghurs and Tibetans are all considered well by Marxist, Leninist, evolutionary social thinking as lesser citizens. Now, this isn’t given, regardless of what leftist progressive like to parade and the Maoist thought in this case, taking a cue from Marxist Leninism, that all citizens are equal and that we run an egalitarian society, well anything but that because according to the Maoist and Chinese communist party, the Han Chinese individual is first amongst equals as the citizens of the PRC. He matters and not just that he is the default category of what an ideal Chinese citizen ought to be and that Tibetans, Uyghurs among other minorities, who are shall we say less civilised ethno-socially, culturally and politically ought to emulate. Within that context, lies the politics of exclusivism. We cannot deny that”, said the scholar.

When asked about forced organ harvesting of Uyghur, Dr. Burzine, “Hair and body samples have been found taken from Uyghur too which is why I brought in the Nazi factor that Nazi’s used to take hair samples from Jews in Auschwitz, Treblinka, and other death camps and collect them for making wigs and body fats were taken from Jews and other decedents to produce soap. So my analogy with Nazis is neither blaring nor erroneous. I do back up what I say. Because this is what the CCP is doing in Xinxiang too with Uyghur body parts”.

It is estimated that around 1 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained by the Chinese government in a widespread network of prison-like facilities.

Chinese authorities call the detention camps “vocational training centres” and say their detention efforts are aimed at combating terrorism and extremism, but the evident repression of Uyghurs has been condemned internationally.

“The PRC has hijacked the global war on terror which is an otherwise entirely serious genuine trans-national operation since October 2001 and operation enduring freedom which was to get to Al-Qaeda, which has created murder and Mayhem and Afghanistan was just a state and a name but al Qaeda staging posts for terror but the Chinese have jumped on to that Bandwagon and decided to eliminate any opposition but particularly targeting the Uyghurs. Now, there have been some incidents of terrorism in Xinjiang but to take that for the Chinese Community Party and the politburo to label an entire population of 12 million of its citizens as terrorists are glaringly criminal if nothing else surely”, said Dr Waghmar.

He added, “Let’s take it in a universal context. Counter-terrorism operations occur in Great Britain, Israel, India, and elsewhere. But, that is where the state targets very particular individuals who are terrorists. The state does not in these cases go on to designate confession compatriots of those very terrorists as the problem in society and malign them maliciously.” (ANI)

Kangana Has A Message For ‘Movie Mafia’

Hours after BMC officials reportedly raided her Mumbai office, actor Kangana Ranaut on Monday said that if the “movie mafia” ends her here, she would rise somewhere else and her end would be her beginning.

The ‘Queen’ actor took to Twitter to share the message hours after thanking Home Minister Amit Shah for providing her with ‘Y’ level security as she said that she feels unsafe.

“Movie Mafia today you might break my face n my house using your powerful friends,” she tweeted.

“It will give you momentary happiness but if you are clever you will know my end is my beginning. You will end me here I will rise somewhere else … Trust me it will hurt you even more,” she added.

Days after Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut said she felt unsafe in Mumbai after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the Central government has approved ‘Y’ level security for the actor, sources said on Monday. (ANI)

Mira Plays Song on piano

Shahid Has A Message For Wife Mira On Her B’day

Bollywood’s handsome hunk Shahid Kapoor on Monday showered love over his wife Mira Kapoor as she celebrated her 26th birthday.

The ‘Kabir Singh’ actor took to Instagram to share a stunning picture of his wife and penned down a short yet lovely birthday message for her.

“Happy birthday my love. You are beautiful inside out. And I am blessed to have you in my life,” he wrote in the caption.

The couple had tied the knot in a personal wedding ceremony in New Delhi in 2015 following which they welcomed two children – Zain and Misha. (ANI)

India Now Has 2nd Highest Covid-19 Cases In World

India on Monday achieved a grim milestone after it replaced Brazil to become the second-worst country hit by COVID-19 as the national caseload crossed the 42 lakh-mark with a spike of 90,802 new cases.

The total coronavirus cases in the country reached 42,04,614 including 8,82,542 active cases, 32,50,429 cured/discharged/migrated and 71,642 deaths, as per the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to Johns Hopkins University, Brazil has 41,37,521 COVID-19 cases and the US continues to remain on the top spot in the list of worst COVID-hit countries with over 62 lakh cases.

In India, five states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, contribute over 60 per cent of total COVID-19 cases, 62 per cent of active cases, and 70 per cent of overall fatality reported due to the virus.

Maharashtra is at the top with 21.6 per cent, followed by Andhra Pradesh (11.8 per cent), Tamil Nadu (11per cent), Karnataka (9.5 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh at 6.3 per cent.

According to the Union Health Ministry, Maharashtra has 26.76 per cent of the active cases in the country, followed by Andhra Pradesh (11.30 per cent), Karnataka (11.25 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (6.98 per cent ), and Tamil Nadu (5.83 per cent).

India’s total recovered cases have crossed 32.5 lakh today and the recovery rate climbed to 77.31 per cent. After the new data released, the coronavirus Case Fatality Rate (CFR) dropped to a new low of 1.70 per cent.

India’s cumulative tests are nearly five crores (4,95,51,507) as on date and 7,20,362 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

As a result of the country-wide ramped up testing, 1,33,33,904 tests were conducted in the last two weeks alone, the Union Health Ministry said.

Today Delhi reported 2,077 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of people infected with the novel coronavirus in the national capital to 1,93,526.

A total of 32 deaths were reported in the Union Territory today, taking the toll to 4,599. Meanwhile, the count of recovered, discharged or migrated cases reached 1,68,384. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi includes 20,543 active cases.

As many as 8,368 new COVID-19 cases and 70 deaths were recorded in Andhra Pradesh. The state’s tally has now reached 5,06,493 including 97,932 active cases, 4,04,074 recoveries and 4,487 deaths.

Himachal Pradesh’s coronavirus caseload 7,489 including 2,111 active cases, 5,311 recoveries, and 54 deaths after 28 fresh cases were found.

A total of 1,013 new coronavirus cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir today, 600 from Jammu division, and 413 from the Kashmir division.

The total number of cases now stands at 44,570 in the Union Territory including 11,009 active cases, 32,760 recoveries, and 801 deaths. (ANI)

Narcotics Bureau To Quiz Rhea Again On Tuesday

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday interrogated actor Rhea Chakraborty for the second consecutive day in a drug case related to Sushant Singh Rajput case.

Her interrogation will continue on Tuesday as well. Today was the second day of Chakraborty’s questioning at NCB office in Mumbai.

“Rhea Chakraborty has been sent back to her home. She has been called back tomorrow, the interrogation will continue,” said Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy Director-General, NCB.

Chakraborty also reached Bandra Police station in the evening to follow up on her complaint at Bandra Police station against Sushant’s sister and one doctor for fake prescription.

Chakraborty has filed a complaint before Mumbai Police requesting that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered against Sushant Singh Rajput’s sister Priyanka Singh, Dr Tarun Kumar of RML Hospital, Delhi and others under IPC, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines.In her complaint to the Senior Inspector of Police, Bandra Police Station, Chakraborty stated that Priyanka Singh had sent Rajput a prescription by Dr Tarun Kumar and he “appears to have prescribed medication controlled under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 to Sushant without any consultation as mandated by law.””The drugs prescribed by the doctor (Dr Tarun Kumar) were prohibited from being prescribed electronically under the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the Esplanade Court passed an order stating that any accused related to the ‘Sushant Singh Rajput’ remand will be carried through Video Conferencing only in the present day’s situation of pandemic and past experience and to maintain Law and Order and Administration of Justice, with immediate effect.

Satish Maneshinde, Rhea Chakraborty’s lawyer has welcomed the judgment.

“It is a welcome sign in view of the pandemic Situation and the way the media is behaving. I am told one accused in the NCB case has tested positive and the manner in which they have been hounding the people concerned with Sushant Singh Rajput case is horrendous,” he said.

“Even if they are not charged with any case or serious offence, there is every chance of the persons concerned getting infected with coronavirus,” he added.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actor’s death.

The Enforcement Directorate had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actor’s death case after an FIR was filed by Rajput’s father KK Singh against Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28.

Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. (ANI)

Modi Is Anti-Kannadiga

Unplanned Lockdown Didn’t Curb Covid-19, Hurt Biz: Cong

The unplanned lockdown implemented by the Centre failed to stop COVID-19 spread and also destroyed the country’s economy said Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday.

“The unplanned and un-thought (sic) lockdown implemented by Prime Minister Modi with three hours notice utterly failed to stop COVID-19 on one hand and destroyed the economy as also lives and livelihoods of people on the other hand. In India’s history, this would be remembered ‘Tughlaqi blunder’ of Modiji’s failure of leadership,” Surjewala said at a press conference here.

The Congress leader also pointed out what he termed were the “eight points of corona chronology” in the country and said that the recent doubling in cases from 20 to 40 lakh mark, had taken place in just 29 days.

“Experts believe that if the pandemic continues to increase with the same speed, by November 30, the total coronavirus cases would touch one crore. By December 30, the total cases could increase to 1.40 crore. It is feared that the deaths due to the pandemic could reach as high as 1,75,000,” Surjewala said.

The Congress leader further questioned the Prime Minister and sought answers for “his failed leadership” and how does he propose to control the further spread of infection.

“How will the government stop the corona infection from spreading to crores of people? How will Centre check the spurt in corona deaths? How will you restore the sinking economy? Does Modi government have a solution or will it blame God?” Surjewala said.

India’s COVID-19 case tally crossed the 42 lakh-mark with a spike of 90,802 new cases in the last 24 hours.

“A total of 1,016 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. The total case tally stands at 42,04,614 including 8,82,542 active cases, 32,50,429 cured/discharged/migrated and 71,642 deaths,” the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. (ANI)

‘China Pillaging African Forests To Fund Terror’

China’s reckless pillaging of forests in Africa has left the rosewood species on the verge of extinction and helped to fund terror groups, according to experts.

Beijing has slapped restrictions on logging at home, but ironically, it is helping to fill the coffers of terrorists by resorting to illegal logging in Africa. According to official estimated, Chinese timber imports from Africa are worth nearly USD 2.2 billion a year, although the number could jump to USD 17 billion due to illegal logging, Express.co.uk reported.

Environmentalists have warned that replacing rosewood is difficult as it takes decades for trees to grow to a commercially useful size and become fully mature.

Due to corruption, black market trade is flourishing and benefitting terror groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria and Senegal.

Three years back, China had banned logging in its natural forests in a bid to stop polluting rivers and prevent flooding. However, they have not been able to stop illegally sourced timber from arriving.

China had exhausted hardwood stocks in Southeast Asia by 2010. Since then, imports of African rosewood has zoomed by 700 per cent.

Naomi Basik Treanor, from the US charity Forest Trends, was quoted as saying, “Many rosewood areas in Southeast Asia are now commercially extinct. Because African rosewood is of lower grade, it’s cheaper and in such high demand that it is now the most traded in the market. It is being pillaged.”

Nigeria had accounted for 40 per cent of all China’s hardwood imports before 2017. As per an investigation by Environmental Investigative Agency in Nigeria, illegally harvested logs amounting to USD 1 billion has been shipped secretly to China in the last four years.

The loggers paid a further USD 1 million in bribes to Nigerian officials, according to the agency. It became concerned over links to terror groups and criminal gangs and suspended all hardwood trade from Nigeria. However, not all exports have come to a halt, according to Express.co.uk.

“The level of indebtedness, which African countries have to China as a result of the Belt And Road Initiative makes it easier to persuade governments to turn a blind eye,” Naomi said.

Naomi added, “If both sides are invested there is going to be far less intervention to stop illegal trading and lot more turning the other cheek.” (ANI)

Mistreatment of Women Rampant In Pak Prisons: NGO

Pakistan’s Human Rights Ministry report highlighted the poor conditions of women in prisons as well as the massive scale of mistreatment meted out to them in jails and the need for broad and sustained reform, said US-based NGO Human Right Watch’s Asia director Brad Adams.

The report ‘Plight of Women in Pakistan’s Prisons,’ submitted to Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 26, highlighted that Pakistan’s prison laws did not meet international standards and that officials often ignore laws meant to protect women prisoners, according to a statement by the Human Right Watch (HRW).

“The Human Rights Ministry has highlighted the massive scale of mistreatment of women in prison and the need for broad and sustained reform,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “While an important step, this report can only bring change if Pakistani authorities follow its recommendations and end widespread abuse.”

Of the 1,121 women in prison as of mid-2020, 66 per cent had not been convicted of any offence and were detained while awaiting the conclusion of their trial. More than 300 women were detained in facilities outside the districts where they lived, making family visits nearly impossible.

On September 2, Khan ordered officials to carry out a Supreme Court decision compelling the release of women prisoners to reduce prison congestion and limit the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19.

The women to be released are awaiting trial for minor offences or have served most of their prison terms. Khan also asked for “immediate reports on foreign women prisoners and women on death row for humanitarian consideration” and possible release, the statement noted.

The committee, which submitted the reported to Khan, found that prison staff routinely failed to observe appropriate protections against the spread of the coronavirus. Prison staff failed to put social distancing measures in place or require prisoners and staff to wear masks.

The committee urged comprehensive medical screening for all entering prisoners.

According to the HRW, the children who accompany their mothers in prison face additional risks.

The committee found that 134 women had children with them in prison, some as old as 9 and 10, despite the legal limit of 5 years. At least 195 children were housed in prisons as of 2020.

A critical lack of funding in the prison healthcare system has meant that mothers whose children are with them in prison often lack essential health care, leaving both the women and the children at risk of contracting infections.

One prisoner reported that her child, who had a developmental disability, was not offered any support services or medical care despite the prisoner’s repeated requests during her six years of incarceration.

Pakistan needs urgent and comprehensive prison reform, with a particular focus on the rights of women, children, and at-risk prisoners, the HRW said.

“The Human Rights Ministry report is an opportunity for the Pakistan government to take meaningful steps to improve the treatment of women in prisons in the country and start a much-needed process of systemic, large-scale prison reform,” Adams said. (ANI)

J&K Mughal Gardens May Get UNESCO Heritage Site Tag

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has started preparing a dossier on the six Mughal Gardens in the Kashmir Valley in a bid to empanel them in the list of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) mandated world heritage sites.

Locals are expecting that this consideration will boost tourism in the Kashmir Valley.

The administration is keenly interested in the development of Mughal gardens. Recently Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (UT) Manoj Sinha issued orders on the upgradation of restoration work of the six Mughal Gardens including Nishat, Shalimar, Cheshmashahi, Pari Mahal, Achabal and Veerinag.

Farooq Ahmad Rather, Director, Department of Floriculture, Jammu and Kashmir told ANI, “The Department of Floriculture in consultation with known professional reworked eight gardens of Jammu and Kashmir between 2005-2011.”

Rather said, “With the help of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) survey experts of UNESCO visited the valley to see the heritage value of Mughal gardens. Later in 2011, six of these gardens were in the tentative list of Heritage sites presented by the UNESCO.”

“Currently, the Jammu and Kashmir administration with a consultation team is preparing a dossier which will be presented to the UNESCO,” said Rather.

On being asked about its benefits, Rather said, “These gardens are part of our heritage and we have to preserve the same at any cost.”

“After the historical Mughal garden makes it to the UNESCO’s heritage site list, it will attract a lot of tourists. Eventually, this will boost the tourism industry here,” Rather added.

Niyaz Ahmad Bhat, a local appreciated the steps taken by the administration. Bhat said, “It is a great step by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.

“Getting consideration from UNESCO will help in boosting the economy in Srinagar,” he added.

Gopinath Tiwari, a tourist on his third visit to Srinagar said that he comes to the Valley to visit various tourist spots. “It is always good to visit Heritage Mughal Garden every year,” Tiwari said.

“It will be good for the people here if Heritage Mughal garden gets UNESCO’s consideration,” Tiwari added.

Speaking on the issue, Mohamad Ayoub, another local said, “These gardens should be given UNESCO’s consideration. We are proud of our culture.”

“It is a matter of joy for us when tourists visit the Union Territory,” Ayoub said. (ANI)

Actor Ragini Dwivedi Sent To 5-Day Custody In Drug Case

Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi, arrested in a drugs case, was produced in court on Monday which sent her to 5-day custody, according to Central Crime Brance (CCB).

As per the CCB, one Niyaz has been arrested in connection with the case as part of the ongoing probe.

Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi has been arrested and taken into custody for her alleged involvement in a drug case, Bengaluru police had said on Friday.

“Ragini Dwivedi (Kannada actress) has been arrested and taken into custody,” Sandeep Patil, Joint CP, Crime, Bengaluru City had said in a statement.

Two more accused have been arrested in this case, police had said.

Notably, Kannada filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh, a couple of weeks back, had appeared before the CCB and revealed information about the consumption of drugs in the Kannada film industry.

The Anti-Narcotics Wing of the CCB issued a notice to Lankesh regarding his statements on media channels over the consumption of drugs in the Kannada film industry and asked him to share information.

Lankesh had earlier claimed that some budding actors do consume banned substances. He had raised these points, during the course of many interviews given to the media, after the death of a young Kannada actor, Chiranjeevi Sarja. (ANI)