Month: March 2023

Superstar Rajinikanth, on Friday, was spotted attending India and Australia’s first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Rajinikanth was invited by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to attend the match.
A few pictures were posted on MCA’s Twitter handle. In the image, Rajinikanth is seen enjoying the game in the company of MCA president Amol Kale.

“Thalaiva in the house…The President of Mumbai Cricket Association, Mr. @Amolkk1976 in conversation with the Superstar @rajinikanth during the #INDvAUS game at the Wankhede,” MCA captioned the post.

Fans became excited to see Rajinikanth at the match.

“Woah…Thalaiva in the house,” a social media user commented.

Actor Ajay Devgn is also expected to attend the live match, where he will be seen promoting his upcoming film ‘Bholaa’.

Expressing his excitement on witnessing the game of cricket, Ajay took to Instagram and wrote, “Muqabla hoga sabse zabardast World Cup jeetne wali team aur World ki number one team ka – main aa raha hoon dekhne, only on Cricket Live.#INDvAUS #RoadToWorldCup #MastercardCricketLive.”

The India-Australia ODI series started on 17 March in Mumbai. The hosts will also be without their regular captain Rohit Sharma for the first game but he is set to return for the last two games. In his absence, Hardik Pandya is leading the side in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium. India won the toss and decided to field first.

India playing eleven: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami.

Australia playing eleven: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa. (ANI)

Expressing grave concerns over the shortage of different medicines including life-saving drugs, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) demanded the government to ease the process of opening letters of credit (LCs) for drug manufacturers, Dawn reported.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, the PMA said that it had already warned the government that the failure to open letters of credit (LC) for the import of raw materials would result in an acute shortage of medicine.
The PMA demanded that the government take appropriate measures immediately to save the lives of innocent people in the country, the Dawn reported.

The drug makers have blamed the financial system for the crisis in the healthcare system by claiming that commercial banks are not issuing new Letters of Credit (LCs) for their imports.

The deteriorating economic crisis has badly affected the health care system, the pharmaceutical industry is struggling to replenish its supplies amid a shortage of essential life-saving drugs and other surgical instruments.

Faced with chronic shortages of medical equipment and anaesthetics, doctors at major hospitals are forced to stop performing surgeries, Pakistan Tribune reported.

The lack of forex reserves in the country has affected Pakistan’s capacity to import the required medicines or the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) used in domestic production.

As a result, local pharmaceutical manufacturers have been forced to slash their production as patients suffer in hospitals. Doctors are forced to not perform surgeries due to the shortage of drugs and medical equipment.

As per Pakistan media reports, the operation theatres are left with NIL stock of anaesthetics needed for sensitive surgeries, including for heart, cancer and kidney. The situation might also result in job losses in hospitals in Pakistan, further increasing the miseries of people.

Pakistan medicine manufacturing is highly import-dependent with almost 95 per cent of the drugs requiring raw materials from other nations, including India and China. For most of the drug manufacturers, the imported materials have been held up at the Karachi port due to a shortage of dollars in the banking system.

The drug manufacturing industry has said that the cost of making drugs is constantly increasing due to rising fuel costs and transportation charges and the sharp devaluation of the Pakistani rupee.

Recently, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) called for the intervention of the government to prevent the situation from turning into a disaster. However, the authorities rather than taking immediate steps are still trying to assess the quantum of the shortage.

Drug retailers in Pakistan’s Punjab have said that government survey teams carried out field visits to determine the shortage of crucial medicines. The retailers revealed that the shortage of some common but important drugs is impacting the majority of the customers. These medicines include Panadol, Insulin, Brufen, Disprin, Calpol, Tegral, Nimesulide, Hepamerz, Buscopan and Rivotril, etc.

Earlier in January, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) Central Chairman Syed Farooq Bukhari said that some 20-25 per cent of pharmaceutical production stands sluggish at present, The Express Tribune reported.

He further said, “The worst medicine crisis would erupt in the country if current policies (ban on imports) remain in place for the next four to five-week.

“Earlier this month, the Pakistan government and the IMF staff concluded the ninth review of the USD 6.5 billion bailout package without a staff-level agreement. The Pakistani government had hoped that they would be able to convince the IMF about implementing the conditions in a gradual manner. However, Islamabad’s hopes were dashed during the IMF mission’s 10-day visit to Pakistan. (ANI)

Kareena Kapoor Khan and her family are having a good time in Africa. On Friday, she shared a picture clicked by her husband-actor Saif Ali Khan.

Taking to Instagram stories, Kareena treated fans with a picture featuring a group of Zebras.
Sharing the picture, she wrote, “Good morning from Africa”.

She added the camera emoticon and wrote “by my gorgeous Saif Ali Khan.”

On Wednesday, she posted a relaxed photo of herself on Instagram. Donning a blue denim jacket, Kareena seems to languish the leisurely hour. She captioned the frame, “What you doin?

Nothing…just hanging with my new friends… In the frame, wild animals are seen grazing in the field in the backdrop.

Kareena often posts pictures from her vacation diary, which garners likes and shares in large numbers from netizens.

The star couple tied the knot on October 2012 in a private ceremony in Mumbai and was blessed with Taimur in 2016 and later in 2021 they became parents to Jeh.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena will be seen in Rhea Kapoor’s ‘The Crew’, which also stars Kriti Sanon, Diljit Dosanjh and Tabu. She also has Sujoy Ghosh’s next thriller film which is based on the book The Devotion Of Suspect X. It also stars Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat.

Saif, on the other hand, will be next seen in an upcoming pan-India film ‘Adipurush’ alongside Kriti Sanon and south actor Prabhas.

Apart from that he also has the Hindi version of the popular Nordic drama series ‘The Bridge’ in his kitty. (ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said crucial information has been revealed by Manish Sisodia during his custody while seeking extension of former Delhi’s deputy chief minister’s remand in connection with the Excise Policy case.

ED further said, in view of the findings, we have issued summons to Rahul Singh, ex-Excise Commissioner, the then Excise Commissioner for March 20 (who was first issued summons for March 15 but had taken adjournment of at least 4 days as he is suffering from viral infection and fever). C Aravind, the then Secretary, Deputy CM for March 21, Dinesh Arora for March 17; and Amit Arora for March 20 have already been issued, said ED.
The above findings and persons need to be confronted with Manish Sisodia, said ED.

The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Friday noted the submissions of both sides reserve the order on remand application of ED. The order will be passed in sometime today.

Appearing for Sisodia, Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur opposed the remand application of ED. “This change of phone was part of the CBI remand and is now the part of ED application. Personal liberty is paramount. The court is the custodian of our liberty. My liberty is at your hand. During 7 days of custody, they had only 4 people to be confronted. Confrontation need not custody,” the lawyer added.

Appearing for ED, Advocates Zohaib Hossain submitted that huge mail data, and mobile data all of that are being forensically analyzed. The mobile phone was changed the day when LG wrote to the CBI, which was used by Sisodia for a long time.

Counsel for ED further submitted that the statements were confirmed by the recovery of the data received from the computer of the arrestee. Mobile data, email data, and cloud data were also received during the interpretation, ED said.

Earlier, ED said, the act of pro-active destruction of evidence leads to only one inference that Manish Sisodia made conscious efforts to destroy evidence of the offence of money laundering, said Enforcement Directorate while seeking remand of Manish Sisodia in connection with the Excise Policy case.

Appearing for ED, Advocates Zohaib Hossain and Naveen Kumar Matta had earlier submitted that even in the statement given by Manish Sisodia on March 7 and March 9, he has been untrue. “On being asked about his association with Dinesh Arora, who handled the transfer of kickbacks from the South Group to Vijay Nair, he gave an answer contrary to what has been revealed by independent persons/stakeholders.

Sisodia was on Friday presented before the court at 2 pm after the end of his remand period in the case, granted earlier by the same court.

The ED earlier also told the court that Manish Sisodia had purchased SIM cards and mobile phones in other people’s names.

There was a conspiracy behind framing the excise policy. The conspiracy was coordinated by Vijay Nair, along with others and the Excise policy was brought out for extraordinary profit margin for wholesalers, ED argued in the court.

ED told the court that the margin of 12 per cent of wholesale profit margin to private entities was never discussed in the GoM meeting.

The probe agency had also apprised the court about the meeting between Vijay Nair and K Kavitha (BRS MLC).

ED stated that accused Butchibabu Gorantla disclosed a political understanding between then Dy CM Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha who also met Vijay Nair. Butchibabu is the former auditor of K Kavitha and is presently on bail.

Countering Sisodia’s lawyer’s arguements, the ED lawyer told the court that if the policy is a matter of executive then there would not be a coal scam or a 2G scam.

Earlier, Sisodia was arrested last week by ED in money laundering in connection with the excise policy case.

He was arrested during his Judicial custody in Tihar Jail, where he was lodged in.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9 arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case, after hours of questioning at Tihar Jail.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in the liquor policy case on February 26 and was sent to 14-day judicial custody on March 6.

The ED also made another arrest in the case earlier, as it took Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai into its custody.

The ED, on Thursday, summoned Bharatiya Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) MLC and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha for questioning in the liquor policy case.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI earlier in its ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court sent him to Judicial Custody till March 20. (ANI)

With the continuous demand of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in London on democracy in India, party MP Shashi Tharoor has said that the Wayanad MP never demanded foreign forces to save our democracy.

“Rahul Gandhi never demanded foreign forces come to our country to save our democracy. He hasn’t said anything he should apologise for. It’s nonsense,” Tharoor told ANI on Friday.
“Democracy, in our country, is in danger and everyone should know about it. I didn’t hear anything wrong in it”, added Congress MP Tharoor.

Further talking about the Parliamentary Budget session, Tharoor said, “It is the Government’s responsibility to run the Parliament. The budget session is ongoing, there’s a need to pass Finance Bill.”

“When there are such important matters, you are not allowing Parliament to function over a non-issue,” added Tharoor.

Earlier today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge responding to BJP national president J P Nadda’s attack on Rahul Gandhi terming him as a “permanent part” of the “anti-nationalist toolkit” stated that the BJP, which had never taken part in the country’s freedom movement were anti-nationals.

Talking to ANI, Kharge said, “They (BJP) themselves are anti-national. They never took part in India’s freedom movement, worked for the Britishers and they are calling others anti-national? They are doing this to deviate from issues of unemployment and inflation. Can Rahul Gandhi ever be anti-national? Are people who debate about democracy anti-national?”

Further Kharge stated that Congress and Rahul Gandhi will respond to Nadda’s salvo in Parliament.

“I condemn JP Nadda’s statement. There is no point of apologising. We will give a strong reply to this in the Parliament. Rahul Gandhi Ji will himself reply on this, that’s why they (BJP) are scared. Why are they not giving him a chance to speak in Parliament,” he said. (ANI).

Previously, BJP National President JP Nadda launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK and said that he has become a permanent part of the “anti-nationalist toolkit”.

“It’s unfortunate that the Congress party is indulging in anti-national activities. After being repeatedly rejected by the nation, Rahul Gandhi has now become a permanent part of this anti-nationalist toolkit,” Nadda told ANI.

Meanwhile, the parliament has faced repeated disruptions with both BJP and opposition parties sticking to their stands. The BJP has been demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK while the Opposition members have been pressing for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group. (ANI)

Read More Article: http://13.232.95.176/

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made Delhi Police wait for hours when they went to hand over a notice to the Wayand MP seeking information on the sexual harassment victims that he mentioned in his speech during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir this January.

”On March 15, a team of Delhi Police team waited for three hours to give notice to Rahul Gandhi on his statement made in Srinagar regarding an alleged sexual assault with women. Even after waiting for three hours, Rahul Gandhi did not meet the police team,” sources told ANI.
“Senior officers of the Delhi Police again visited his residence on March 16 to give notice to him which was personally received by him after one-and-a-half hours,” they added.

On Wednesday, Delhi Police issued a notice to the Congress leader asking him to share details about the victims of sexual harassment whom he mentioned in his speech in January this year in Srinagar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Delhi Police took cognizance of the social media posts and sent a questionnaire.

Referring to his experiences during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and to the problems faced by women, Gandhi had spoken of a girl coming to him and talking about the atrocities faced by her.

“In one particular case, I asked a girl, she had been raped, I asked her should we call the police, she said that don’t call the police then I will be shamed,” Gandhi had said, according to police.

Congress attacked the government and said it was rattled by Rahul Gandhi’s questions on the Adani-Hindenburg row.

“A government rattled by Rahul Gandhi’s questions on PM Modi and Adani’s relationship hides behind its police. Forty five days after Bharat Jodo Yatra was completed, Delhi Police has, via a notice, sought details of women who met him and spoke about harassment and violence they may have faced,” Congress said in a tweet.

The party said that it will respond to the notice in due course in accordance with the law.

“This notice is yet another proof of a govt in panic and their latest salvo to weaken democracy, women empowerment, freedom of expression and the role of the opposition. Images are self-explanatory,” it said.

Congress and several other opposition parties have been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the Hindenburg-Adani issue. The BJP has upped the ante against Rahul Gandhi and Congress for his remarks on Indian democracy in the UK and sought an apology. (ANI)

Read More Article: http://13.232.95.176/

North Korea said that Thursday’s launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasongpho-17 was a “stronger warning” to the US and South Korea for their provocative and aggressive large-scale war drills, North Korea said in a press release.

In the state news agency, KCNA, North Korea said, “Under the grave situation in which the most unstable security environment is being created in the Korean peninsula due to the frantic, provocative and aggressive large-scale war drills conducted by the US and the south Korean puppet traitors against the DPRK, the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) saw to it that a launching drill of the ICBM Hwasongpho-17 was conducted on March 16.”
This statement came after North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday.

“The launching drill of the strategic weapon serves as an occasion to give a stronger warning to the enemies intentionally escalating the tension in the Korean peninsula while persistently resorting to irresponsible and reckless military threats in defiance of the DPRK’s severe warning, and give an understanding of the concern about the armed conflict which has come to a threatening reality, and to more clearly show the practical will of the Party and government of the DPRK to counterattack with overwhelming offensive measures anytime,” the statement added.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un guided the launching drill of an ICBM unit on the spot.

Leading officials of the WPK Central Committee and commanding officers of the Missile General Bureau watched the launching drill in the presence of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un.

The drill was aimed at confirming the mobile and normal operation and reliability of the DPRK’s nuclear war deterrent.

“The ICBM Hwasongpho-17, launched at the Pyongyang International Airport, travelled up to a maximum altitude of 6 045km and flew a distance of 1 000.2 km for 4 151s before accurately landing on the preset area in the open waters of the East Sea of Korea,” according to the statement.

North Korea further assured that the launching of the drill had no negative impact on the security of neighbouring countries.

The drill confirmed the war readiness of the ICBM unit and the exceptional militancy of the DPRK’s strategic forces and strictly verified their reliability.

In the statement, Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction and said that the drill clearly proved once again the conviction and guarantee of the operating systems of the nuclear strategic forces undergoing rapid development.

“Noting that our action orientation and line to cope with the long-term security environment of the state and the enemies’ threat remains unchangeable, he stressed the need to strike fear into the enemies, really deter war and reliably guarantee the peaceful life of our people and their struggle for socialist construction by irreversibly bolstering up the nuclear war deterrent,” the statement read in KCNA.

“Saying that we will continue to make the US and South Korea, which show open hostility towards the DPRK and frequently stage large-scale military drills in and around the Korean peninsula, find themselves being reckless, he mentioned our policy for counteraction against the enemies that is to make them realize themselves that their persistent expanded anti-DPRK military moves will bring an irreversible, grave threat to them,” the statement added.

Reiterating the solemn declaration of the WPK and the DPRK government that they would react to nuclear weapons with nukes and frontal confrontation in kind, Kim Jong Un called for strictly maintaining the rapid response posture of the strategic forces to cope with any armed conflict and war.

The nuclear strategic forces of the DPRK will make perfect preparations for carrying out their important mission anytime. (ANI)

Read More Article: http://13.232.95.176/

Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the United Kingdom, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said the Wayanad MP defamed the nation on foreign soil.

Addressing the BJP’s Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra at Hubli in poll-bound Karnataka, Irani said the Congress leader insulted his motherland and the people of this Assembly constituency won’t give a single vote to his party.
“On one hand we have our PM and on the other is that person from the Gandhi family who was defeated by the people of Amethi. He defamed the nation on foreign soil. Today, the BJP is taking a pledge that the Congress, which insulted our motherland, will not get a single vote from this constituency,” she said.

She added that the leaders, who bring infamy to their homeland on foreign soil, should be exposed and opposed.

“The election represents a fight to uphold the country’s honour in the eyes of the world. While we in the BJP believe see our country as our mother, some leaders in the Opposition are leaving no stone unturned to abuse and insult our motherland on foreign soil. We should oppose such people,” said Irani.

Rahul Gandhi hit the headlines during his recent UK trip, claiming that India’s democracy was “under attack” during a lecture at the prestigious Cambridge University.

“Everybody knows and it’s been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space,” Rahul said.

“The institutional framework which is required for a democratic Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy,” he added.

The remarks by the Congress MP gave fresh ammunition to have a go at him in the ongoing second part of the Budget session of Parliament.

The saffron party has been disrupting sessions in both Houses of Parliament demanding that Rahul tender an apology over his remark.

Hitting out at Rahul over his remark, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference in Delhi that the Congress leader was misleading the country and must apologise for his disrespectful remarks about India.

Prasad said that Rahul Gandhi has a habit of “criticising” and “demeaning” Indian democracy.

“Rahul has made it a habit to defame Indian democracy, criticise it and demean it. He has insulted Indian democracy and must apologise for his remarks,” Prasad said.

“How long will Rahul Gandhi continue to mislead the country and our 140 crore people?” the BJP leader said.

“Rahul Gandhi has not expressed any regret about what he had said. BJP keeps its sound stand that he must apologise. If Congress doesn’t get votes, it’s because of its inability & misdeeds. It doesn’t give their party leaders the right to shout against India and disrespect India,” Prasad said further. (ANI)

Read More Article: http://13.232.95.176/

The founder of Dal Khalsa and former pro-Khalistan leader Jaswant Singh Thekedar has lauded the work undertaken and accomplished by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the country’s Sikh community, saying that he admires the community and has done a lot for its people.

In an interview with ANI, Thekedar said, “Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has done a lot for Sikhs and Sikhism. He loves our community. He has done a lot — ended the blacklists, opened Kartarpur Corridor, and talked about Chhote Sahibzadas (the sons of Guru Gobind Singh).”
He said the Central government led by PM Modi has worked to meet major demands put forward by members of the Sikh community.

“The government has worked on major demands, and only a few demands and left to be fulfilled. All will be good if they agree to meet these demands,” he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had met prominent Sikhs from across the country at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for taking steps for the welfare of the Sikh community, and especially for honouring Chaar Sahibzaade through his decision to declare December 26 every year as Veer Baal Diwas.

Each member of the delegation honoured Prime Minister Modi with ‘Siropao’ and ‘Siri Sahib’.

PM Modi said people in many regions of the country are not aware of the contribution and sacrifice of Chaar Sahibzaade. He recalled that whenever he got an opportunity to speak in schools and in front of children, he always spoke about Chaar Sahibzaade.

The decision to observe December 26 as Veer Baal Diwas will go a long way in making children from different corners of the country aware of them, PM Modi said.

He thanked the leaders of the Sikh Community for visiting him, saying that the doors of his house were always open for them. He recalled his connection with them and the time spent together during the course of his stay in Punjab.

He also praised the spirit of service of the Sikh community, saying that the world needs to be made more aware of it. He said that his government was fully committed to the welfare of the Sikh community. He talked about several steps taken by the government in this regard.

He discussed the special arrangements that were made to bring back Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan with full honour while also talking about the steps taken by the government through diplomatic channels to open up the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

In February last year, Prime Minister Modi met members of a Sikh-Hindu Delegation from Afghanistan at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence. They honoured and thanked him for bringing Sikhs and Hindus safely to India from Afghanistan by virtue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the delegation saying that they are not guests but are in their own house, adding that India is their home. He talked about the immense difficulties faced by them in Afghanistan and the help provided by the government to bring them to India safely.

He also talked about the significance of the CAA and its benefits for the community while assuring them of his government’s continuous support in future as well to resolve all issues and difficulties faced by them.

Prime Minister Modi also talked about the significance of the tradition of honouring Guru Granth Sahib, in light of which special arrangements were made to bring back Swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan. He also brought up the immense love that he has received from Afghans over the years and fondly recalled his visit to Kabul.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who was also part of the delegation that met PM Modi, thanked him for sending help from India for bringing back the community safely, saying that when no one stood with them, Prime Minister Modi ensured constant support and timely help.

Other members of the delegation also thanked PM Modi for standing up for them in times of distress. They said that they had tears in their eyes when they heard him talking about making special arrangements to bring back the ‘Swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India with proper reverence.

They also thanked him for bringing into force the CAA, which they said will be of immense help to the members of their community.

On Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan leader and chief of ‘Punjab Waris De’ who made headlines following clashes with the police at Ajnala in Amritsar on February 23, Thekedar said he knows “nothing about Khalistan”. He added that Singh will not succeed in his plans.

“Amritpal is not a Khalistani, he knows nothing about it. But he has certainly made a lot of money in the name of Khalistan. I don’t think he will succeed in his plans going forward,” the former pro-Khalistan leader said.

On Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, he said it does not use an asset for a lifetime and will pick another person as soon as it is determined that the previous person is no longer of any use.

“When he (Amritpal Singh) was in Dubai, he was clean-shaven. He is not a (traditional) Sikh. He does not know anything about Sikh history. I must add that several more like him will crop up in the coming years. Because the ISI doesn’t run its assets for a lifetime. When they feel that a person is no longer of any use, they replace him with others who are in line,” Thekedar said.

He added that Pakistan would not let a separate Khalistan be carved out as it is aware that the pro-Khalistanis have their eyes on Lahore next.

“Pakistan knows that if a country of Sikhs comes into being, they will target Lahore next. They will come to Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib. They won’t let this happen. It is Pakistan, not India, which is the real enemy of Khalistan,” he said.

The former pro-Khalistan leader cautioned the Punjab government of the Aam Aadmi Party against going soft on pro-Khalistan elements, saying that the regime under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was, in effect, helping the revival of the Khalistan movement by not taking timely action.

“This Punjab government is not capable of dealing with this (threat of revival of the Khalistan movement). There is not a single person in the administration who handle this. I feel that by not taking timely action, they are only aiding the revival of the Khalistan movement,” he said.

Suggesting that the Centre consider agreeing with the demands of the Khalistan leaders, he said it would stop the movement from growing further.

“Their demands for the release of Sikh political prisoners, and removal of Sikhs from Section 25B-2 could be met. It won’t bring any harm to the country if the government were to meet these demands. If the government accedes to their demands, this movement could be nipped in the bud. Every issue has a political solution. The government can also consider putting together a committee comprising former Khalistan leaders. Through such moves, the government can bring the Khalistan movement to an end,” he said. (ANI)

Read More Article: http://13.232.95.176/