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Foreign Envoys Joined India’s Culture At Gujarat’s Navratri Festival

By LokMarg 2nd October 2022

Several foreign envoys to India, including from Denmark and Afghanistan, joined External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in celebrating the massive Navratri festival underway in Vadodara in Gujarat and praised India’s rich culture and heritage.

They shared their excitement after participating in the festivities, which saw thousands of people perform Garba, a popular dance form held during the Navaratri. With the presence of foreign delegates, the well-organized event likely bolstered India’s soft-power image across the globe.
“I am so full of joy and happiness. “I wish all Indians across the world a happy Navratri and may the light break the darkness,” Danish Ambassador Freddy Svane said.

“It’s so fantastic, so amazing, it is just awesome. This is incredible India indeed, I just love it,” said the High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana to India, Gilbert Shimane Mangole.

At the event on Saturday, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also performed an ‘aarti’ of Maa Durga.

“It is a matter of pride that we have come here with officials of different countries. As the Navratri festival is on, they will spend the day enjoying festivities. They are excited to see the development here,” Jaishankar said after meeting the delegates and ambassadors.

Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov also attended the festivities and called himself “Russie Rajdoot”. “Bohot shaandar Mahotsav hai (It’s an incredible festival),” he added.

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji, Kamlesh Prakash, was amazed to participate in Garba. He said, “Garba shows why people in Gujarat are happy, Modi magic is of course there to galvanize people like a magnet.”

“India and Tanzania have a special connection as most Indians living in Tanzania come from Gujarat, so this is a special moment for me,” said Tanzanian High Commissioner Anisa K Mbega.

“I thank all Gujaratis from the people of Afghanistan for giving us such love and respect,” said Afghanistan’s Ambassador Farid Mamundzay.

The Navratri festival celebrates the victory of good over evil as Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura. The 10th day of Sharad Navratri is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.

During the nine-day festival, devotees worship Maa Durga’s nine incarnations to seek her blessings for a prosperous and joyous life. During these nine days, people observe fast, recite shlokas, wear new clothes, and offer ‘bhog’ to the goddess.

This year, Navratri started on September 26 and will conclude on October 5. (ANI)

Canada: Don’t Travel To Areas In India Bordering Pak

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

In what appears to be a bizarre travel advisory, Canada has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan that share a border with Pakistan due to the “presence of landmines” and an “unpredictable security situation.”

“Avoid all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in the following states due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance: Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan,” the advisory states.
The travel advisory put out by the Canadian government on its website, which was last updated on September 27, also asks its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the “threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.”

This advisory excludes traveling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.

It also urges people to avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur “due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency.”

Incidentally, India had on September 23 issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to probe these crimes.

“There has been a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-Indian activities in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs and our High Commissions/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action,” the MEA said in a statement.

The statement also stressed that “the perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada.”

“In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant,” the statement added.

The advisory also said Indian nationals and students from India in Canada may also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in.

“Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any requirement or emergency,” the advisory said.

This advisory after India termed the so-called Khalistan referendum conducted by separatist groups as a “farcical exercise”. (ANI)

SRK Gets Relief From SC In 2017 Stampede Case

By LokMarg 26th September 2022

The Supreme Court on Monday granted relief to Shah Rukh Khan as it upheld Gujarat High Court which quashed the case against him related to the 2017 stampede in Vadodara Railway Station.

A bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice CT Ravikumar rejected the plea filed by a complainant against Shahrukh Khan.
The complainant had challenged a Gujarat High Court order. The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the order passed by the High Court of Gujarat quashing the complaint filed by the complainant against the actor.

On April 27, 2022, Gujarat High Court ordered quashing the criminal case against Shah Rukh Khan for allegedly causing a stampede at Vadodara Railway Station while promoting his film Raees in 2017. The actor along with his production team was traveling from Mumbai to Delhi to promote their Hindi feature film ‘Raees’.

The complainant, Jitendra Madhubhai Solanki had filed a private complaint against Khan before the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Vadodara, alleging his presence at the Vadodara Railway Station coupled with him throwing T-shirts and smiley balls at the crowd assembled at the station led to the alleged stampede.

On an application preferred by Shah Rukh Khan seeking a quashing of the said complaint, the High Court of Gujarat had to vide order dated April 27, 2022 quashed the complaint filed against Khan.

The Petitioner was represented by Senior advocate Vijay Kumar while Shah Rukh Khan was represented by Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, briefed by a team from Karanjawala and Company Advocates led by Ruby Singh Ahuja and Sandeep Kapur, Senior Partners. (ANI)

Kejriwal Greeted With Modi-Modi Chants In Gujarat

By LokMarg 20th September 2022

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was greeted with chants of “Modi-Modi” as he arrived at the Vadodara airport in Gujarat.

Later, the chants of “Kejriwal-Kejriwal” were also heard.
Kejriwal is on a day-long visit to the poll-bound state of Gujarat where he will address a town hall meeting in Vadodara.

Kejriwal, on being confronted with the chants of his political opponent and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name, could be seen smiling while moving towards the mediapersons.

However, he did not speak at the spot and said he would interact at the press conference.

Reacting to the incident, BJP’s Priti Gandhi tweeted, “Arvind Kejriwal being accorded a warm welcome in Modi’s Gujarat!!”

The AAP is looking to set foot in Gujarat where the party could not open its account in the previous Assembly elections. After a massive victory in Punjab, the party is looking to spread its wings to other parts of the country.

In his attempt to reach out to the people of Gujarat, Kejriwal has paid multiple visits to the state leaving no stone unturned in hitting out at the BJP’s 27-year rule and lauding the Delhi model promising to implement the same if the party comes to power.

Kejriwal has promised the people of the state a slew of “guarantees” which he claims will be fulfilled.

Earlier on September 13, during his visit to Ahmedabad, the AAP leader had alleged that the BJP is trying to make Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi as the “Prime Minister through the backdoor” and “successor” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kejriwal was responding to a question about BJP leaders stating that social activist Medha Patkar would be AAP’s chief ministerial candidate in the Gujarat assembly polls.

“I have heard that BJP will make Sonia Gandhi as the PM candidate after PM Modi. Ask them what they have to say on this. Ask them that Kejriwal has alleged that you are going to make Sonia Gandhi PM candidate and the successor to PM Modi at the national level. What do they have to say on this? The BJP is trying to make Sonia Gandhi the PM of the country through the backdoor. Ask them this question,” Kejriwal had said.

Kejriwal alleged that the BJP “has not done anything” for the development of Gujarat and claimed it has “no programme for the next five years”.

Kejriwal also claimed that the Congress party is “finished” in Gujarat. “Congress is finished. You should stop taking their questions. People no more care about their questions,” Kejriwal said in response to a query. (ANI)