Tag: Indian

New York Pennsylvania

Consulate Condoles Death Of Indian-Origin Woman In Pennsylvania Car Accident

By LokMarg

The Indian consulate in New York on Sunday expressed its ‘deepest condolences’ to the family members of an Indian-origin 21-year-old woman, Arshia Joshi, who died in a car accident in Pennsylvania on March 21.

The consulate stated that it was in touch with the family of the deceased girl and the local community leaders while assuring all possible assistance to repatriate her mortal remains to India.

In a post on X, the Indian Consulate in New York stated, “Our deepest condolences to the family of Ms Arshia Joshi, a young professional, who lost her life in a tragic car accident in Pennsylvania on March 21. May her soul rest in eternal peace.”

“@IndiainNewYork is in touch with Ms Joshi’s family and local community leaders. Extending all possible assistance to transport her mortal remains to India at the earliest,” it added.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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Bhutan Modi

Bhutan: Modi Interacts With Members Of Indian Diaspora In Thimphu

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day state visit to Bhutan, interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora and the local people of Bhutan who gathered to welcome him outside the Hotel in Bhutan’s national capital, Thimphu.

PM Modi was welcomed with a cultural performance at the Hotel and people holding Indian flags to see him.

Later on, PM greeted the other officials gathered at the Hotel.

The members of the Indian community on meeting PM Modi expressed their happiness and said that they felt honoured to meet PM Modi.

“We saw PM Modi. We were very excited to see him. He came to meet us, he greeted us and saw cultural dance. It was really a good feeling and we were really honoured to see him so closely. Thanks to the Indian embassy, and Indian community here for giving me this opportunity,” Varun Amar, who has been working in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) said.

Dr Pallavi Majumdar, working in Bhutan said that this was a big event for them and she felt privileged to be part of the event.

“This was a big event. There was a lot of anticipation that PM Modi would come to Bhutan. As an Indian community, I feel very privileged and honoured to see him as such close quarters. Felt very good,” she said.

Earlier, PM Modi received a rousing welcome from the people who turned out in large numbers to accord a warm reception in Bhutan.

In an unprecedented welcome for PM Modi in Bhutan, people lined up the streets across the entire stretch of 45 kms from Paro to the national capital, Thimphu.

It was as if a human wall was present across the entire stretch of 45 kms from Paro to Thimphu and the entire Bhutan was on roads.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received a warm reception at the Paro International Airport as he landed in Bhutan’s Paro International Airport to pay an official state visit.

PM Modi’s arrival embraced relations between Bhutan and India as Bhutanese PM Tshering Tongay gave the former a warm hug.

Later on, PM Modi was accorded a grand guard of honour at the airport from Bhutanese armed forces.

PM Modi departed for Bhutan on Friday morning and is scheduled to pay a state visit to Bhutan from March 22-23.

Ahead of PM Modi’s arrival in Bhutan, concerned authorities made elaborate preparations to welcome the leader at Paro International Airport.

PM Modi’s posters along with his Bhutanese counterpart have been put up at the airport and the venue was decorated with flowers and Rangoli (coloured artwork).

A red carpet and colourful flags to portray Bhutanese culture were also set up to welcome PM Modi.

During his visit to Bhutan, PM Modi will attend various programmes to further enhance India-Bhutan bilateral partnership.

India and Bhutan share a unique and exemplary bilateral relationship founded on mutual trust, goodwill, and understanding.

Formal diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1968, with the cornerstone being the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 and subsequently renewed in February 2007.

Over the years, high-level exchanges have played a pivotal role in nurturing the strong bond between India and Bhutan.

King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, has made several visits to India, underscoring the close ties between the two nations. His last visit to India was in November 2023.

Similarly, PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan in August 2019 marked a significant milestone, with the launch of major bilateral projects aimed at bolstering economic cooperation and connectivity.

The recent official visit of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan to India in March 2024 further reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to enhancing bilateral relations across various domains, including development cooperation and vibrant economic ties. (ANI)

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ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui

Police Detain ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui In Kolkata

By LokMarg

Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui was detained by police in Kolkata on Tuesday as he was preparing to visit Sandeshkhali.

He was seen indulging in a heated conversation with the police official, questioning his detention.

“Why am I being stopped from visiting Sandeshkhali? What is the reason behind my detention? Is there any written order?…” said MLA Naushad Siddiqui.

Earlier, in a blistering attack on the ruling TMC after it blamed legal processes for the delay in the arrest of absconding strongman and Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh Shahjahan, Congress state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday said laying the blame on the Calcutta High Court in the matter amounted to ‘contempt of court’.

“Women across West Bengal are out on the streets, crying for justice and fighting for the honour of fellow women in Sandeshkhali. Those in the TMC government should hang their heads in shame for failing to protect the women of Sandeshkhali. Laying the blaming on the High Court and the legal process (for the delay in the arrest of the accused Sheikh Shahjahan), instead, amounts to contempt of court. The government should be held in contempt for saying that the high court has tied the hands of the state police” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

On Monday, The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case.

The HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

Amid tensions over the Sandeshkhali incident, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday said that the Governor’s job is to see when the elected government takes action within the rule of law. If that is not done, then the governor will intervene.

Terming the decision by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice on Sheikh Shahjahan, as momentous, the Governor added, that there is no excuse for not arresting Sheikh Shahjahan and he will be arrested.

Sandeshkhali has been tense for a few weeks as a section of women are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. Shahjahan continues to evade arrest, with both state police and central agencies unable to trace him. (ANI)

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ICCR 'Ramayana-Mahabharata

We Can Float A Grouping Of Ramayana-Mahabharata Countries: Dr Sahasrabuddhe

By LokMarg

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)’s former President Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has said that a group of ‘Ramayana-Mahabharata’ countries can also be constituted where these holy epics are deeply engraved in the culture.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe recalled an anecdote he encountered in Azerbaijan, where he witnessed a Hindu fire Temple.

“Many times it comes to mind that we have several groupings like the G20, BIMSTEC, SAARC, and perhaps others. We can also float another grouping of Ramayana- Mahabharat countries. There are so many countries that are linked to Ramayana and Mahabharat. I was in Baku a few years ago, the capital city of Azerbaijan. Right on the outskirts of the capital city, there is a ‘Fire Temple’, which is a Hindu temple. As the saying goes, that spot is related to the story of Daksha and Sati and is now considered a Shakti Peetha,” Sahasrabuddhe said.

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also mentioned that since 2015, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations has continuously engaged with Asian and Southeast Asian countries by conducting the Ramayana Festival.

“Since 2015, ICCR has been engaging itself in the conduct of the Ramayana festival which is an international festival and we invite troops from all those countries from which Ramayana is part of their tradition: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,” he said.

Recalling his surprise at a group of artists from Brunei who also participated in the Ramayana Festival, Dr Sahasrabuddhe said, “Brunei also came. We did not expect anyone to come from Brunei since they are a 100 percent Islamic country. Our officials were a little bit surprised that a delegation from Brunei came.”

“Their group presented a skit on the theme of Jatayu Vadh. When we told them that we were not thinking that someone would come from your country, the head who was leading the artist contingent said, You are making a mistake, we have changed our religion, not the culture,” he added.

On the question of figures like Jatayu and Varuna, who hold importance in Southeast Asian countries but not so dominantly in India, Sahasrabuddhe said that research should be carried out on this aspect.

“It is interesting and it merits deeper research into why there is so much love affection reverence for the story of Jatayu and the kind of struggle he did against Ravana in his bid to save Sita,” Sahasrabuddhe said.

Dr. Vinay Prabhakar Sahasrabuddhe served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2016 to 2022 and held the position of Vice President in the BJP from 2014 to 2020. (ANI)

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modi about Hajj Pilgrimage

Hajj Pilgrimage Very Special For Muslim Women From India This Year: Modi

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Hajj pilgrimage was especially special for Muslim women from India this year, as more than 4,000 such women went on the annual pilgrimage without a Mehram (male guardian).

Addressing the nation during the 103rd episode of his monthly radio broadcast. ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi termed the Hajj pilgrimage by Muslim women from India, without their male parents or custodians, as a ‘huge transformation’.
He said he received numerous letters from Muslim women, sharing their experiences from the Hajj this year.

“I received a lot of letters (ahead of his latest ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address), which brought me great joy. These letters have been written by Muslim women, who recently returned from the Hajj pilgrimage. Their journey this year was very special in many ways,” PM Modi said.

“These are the women, who performed their Hajj rituals with any male companion or Mehram. And, such pilgrims numbered not 50 or 100, but more than 4,000. This marks a huge transformation,” he added.

PM Modi also thanked the Government of Saudi Arabia for the unique Hajj experience for Muslim women this year.

“Earlier, Muslim women were not allowed to perform Hajj rituals without Mehram. Through ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Saudi Arabia for making this possible. Women coordinators were specially appointed for women pilgrims, who went on Hajj without male companions,” he said.

According to an official statement, 4,314 Muslim women from India performed the Hajj rituals at Mecca in Saudi Arabia, this year.

The annual pilgrimage was held between June 26 and July 1.

In October 2022, the Saudi Arabian government announced that (Mehram), a male blood relative with whom marriage is not permissible, will no longer be required to accompany a woman pilgrim from any part of the world.

Saudi Removes Restrictions On Hajj Pilgrim Numbers, Age Limit

Every year, millions of Muslims around the world embark on the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca. This spiritual journey holds immense significance in the lives of believers, offering an opportunity to connect with Allah, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their faith. The heartfelt desire to be among those walking to Mina, echoing the Labaik with the crowd, and performing the rituals of Hajj is a sentiment shared by countless Muslims across the globe.

Hajj is a unique manifestation of unity, as Muslims from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and nations gather in the sacred land of Makkah to perform the rituals together.

It draws people from different walks of life towards a common purpose — setting aside their differences, and embracing one another as equals before Allah. (ANI)