Independence Archives - Lokmarg

Terrorism Started At The Moment Of Our Independence: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 23rd December 2023

Advocating the necessity to counter cross-border terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that India has grappled with this issue since its independence, taking a pointed jab at Pakistan.

Jaishankar underlined the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a pivotal moment for terrorism in India.

“…Terrorism started at the moment of our independence when so-called raiders came from across Pakistan…What has changed in this country today, I think the Mumbai 26/11, to me, was the tipping point,” Jaishankar said, while addressing the media.

He said that if somebody is practicing cross-border terrorism, response becomes the most important factor in countering that.

“A lot of people were very confused till they saw the true graphic impactful phase of terrorism of 26/11. Now, what we need to do first is we need to counter. I know that people who said, oh, we had a very smart strategy of turning the other cheek. I don’t think that’s just the mood of the nation. I don’t think it makes sense. I don’t think it makes strategic sense. If somebody is practicing cross-border terrorism, you must respond, you must extract and impose a cost out there…,” the EAM went on to say.

While speaking at the 3rd convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University in Lavad, Gandhinagar earlier today, the EAM had said that Terrorism has long been a particular challenge for India.

Addressing the media during the 3rd convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University in Lavad, Gandhinagar, Jaishankar acknowledged that terrorism has long been a significant challenge for India. He expressed the ongoing commitment to delegitimize and counter terrorism, emphasizing the evolving dynamics influenced by technological advancements.

“Terrorism has long been a particular challenge for India. And our mission is to de-legitimize it, and to counter it remains unrelenting. And, as the world has seen, it is a domain that draws particular energy from technology, and from technology advancements,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar elucidated on the multifaceted nature of counterterrorism efforts, mentioning the expansion of India’s interests to contribute to the security of others. This could manifest through immediate neighborhood support or extend to broader areas like financial, health, and energy assistance, encompassing the Global South.

“Counterterrorism therefore challenges both our capabilities and our imaginations. As our interests expand, we have to strive to also contribute to the security of others. This may be in the immediate neighbourhood, or it may be in terms of financial , health and energy support to them, or it may be for a larger contituency like the Global South,” he added.

India and Pakistan’s relations were never normal since the formation of the latter country. India has repeatedly raised its concern over Pakistan’s support of cross-border terrorism and has asserted that terror and talks cannot go together.

Following the Indian government’s decision in August 2019 to abolish Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate it into two Union territories [J&K and Ladakh], the Pakistan government, then led by Imran Khan, expelled India’s ambassador to Islamabad and halted bilateral trade. (ANI)

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Jan 22 Next Year Is As Important As Au 15: Ram Temple Trust Chief

By LokMarg 22nd December 2023

Ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, General Secretary of Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust Champat Rai on Friday compared January 22 next year to that of India’s independence — August 15, the day it was liberated from the foreign yoke.

“January 22, 2024, is as important as August 15, 1947; it is equally important as getting Kargil back, and as much as the detention of one lakh soldiers was important in 1971,” Rai told ANI.

He further said that there is a feeling of satisfaction among the people of Ayodhya over the construction of the temple which has become an ‘instrument to unite India’.

“There is a feeling of satisfaction. The people of Ayodhya, small princely states of the neighbourhood, priests, teachers and all the saints from all over India after 1983, started getting associated with it. The subject which was limited only to Ayodhya, became the subject of the respect of the entire country,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life.

Apart from political and religious leaders, Bollywood actors, including Amitabh Bachchan, have been invited to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22, next year.

Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds great spiritual, historical and cultural significance for the people of India.

The trust has also invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony.

Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, next year, a week before the main ceremony.

A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav.

A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration of the Ram Temple.

According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people.

Local authorities are gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors around the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony and are in the process of implementing enhanced security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees. (ANI)

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Sara’s Saree-Clad Look From ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’

By LokMarg 23rd January 2023

The first look of actor Sara Ali Khan’s upcoming film, ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan,’ which is a thriller-drama inspired by true events, has been unveiled on Monday.

Sara took to her Instagram handle and shared the film’s teaser along with the caption, “An ode to the unsung heroes. an ode to India’s freedom struggle. So privileged, honoured and excited to be telling a story that we truly believe deserves to be heard. Jai Hind.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnvsh9QASA-/

The video transports viewers to a bygone era where a tense, yet extremely focused, young girl expertly assembling a radio-like device in a dimly lit room can be seen. The camera gradually reveals that the young girl is none other than Sara Ali Khan in a never-seen-before, non-glamorous avatar.

As she begins to speak on the radio, her voice is imbued with courage and determination; she shares the message of independence with the entire nation via her underground radio station, until she is interrupted by the incessant banging at the door.

A thriller-drama inspired by true events, Ae Watan Mere Watan, follows the intrepid journey of a college girl in Bombay who goes on to become a freedom fighter.

This fictional tale is set against the backdrop of the Quit India Movement in 1942. It is a story about the courage, patriotism, sacrifice and resourcefulness of the youth of the nation.

A Dharmatic Entertainment Production, the movie is being produced by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta, with Somen Mishra serving as the co-producer.

Directed by Kannan Iyer and written jointly by Darab Farooqui and Kannan Iyer, the film will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. (ANI)

Putin Signs Independence Decree Of Zaporizhia, Kherson

By LokMarg 30th September 2022

In a major move by Russia, President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognizing the so-called “independence” of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, media reports said.

The decree will be followed by Russia formally proclaiming the annexation of Ukrainian territory by hosting a ceremony in Moscow, reported Al Jazeera. “I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence” of Zaporizhia and Kherson in southern Ukraine, reported Al Jazeera citing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two regions are set to be incorporated into Russia along with the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday. This comes after, as the West calls it, a sham referendum.”

In the referendum in the Russian-occupied regions, Russia said that it has received a majority in its favour. Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in the month of February and soon after recognised the ‘independence’ of Donetsk and Luhansk in the same month.

Moreover, the UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a resolution that would seek to condemn Russia for its referenda in four regions under Russian control but claimed by Ukraine, media reports said.

The US-sponsored resolution would call on all countries not to recognise the change in the status of the four regions, CNN reported. The resolution, which is also backed by Albania, would reaffirm the UN commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from a “threat or use of force” is a violation of the UN charter and international law.

“In this moment of peril, I must underscore my duty as Secretary-General to uphold the @UNCharter. The charter is clear. Any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the Charter & international law,” Guterres tweeted.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of the annexation of Ukrainian territories and called it illegal under international laws, media reports said. Describing Russia’s move as an act of ‘land grab’, the top US diplomat said that the US will never recognise the annexation by Moscow.

“The Kremlin’s sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine,” Blinken said in a statement.

Earlier, Kremlin said that Russia will hold a signing ceremony on Friday to incorporate the annexed four occupied regions of Ukraine.

“Tomorrow in the Georgian Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace at 15:00 [1200 GMT] a signing ceremony will take place on the incorporation of the new territories into Russia,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. (ANI)