Tag: New Delhi

Sultan of Oman

Oman Sultan Accorded Ceremonial Reception At Rashtrapati Bhavan

By LokMarg

The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik, was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday, the second day of his state visit to India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu received the Sultan at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik then inspected a Guard of Honour by the combined defence services.

The Sultan was received by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, as he arrived at the Delhi airport on Friday for a three-day State visit.

Earlier, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi, said the visit by the Sultan of Oman will further boost the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

“His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik of Oman arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by @MOS_MEA at the airport. The visit will further reinforce the longstanding friendship and cooperation between India & Oman and strengthen bilateral ties,” Bagchi posted from his official handle on X.

The MEA noted that the maiden State visit by the Sultan of Oman marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Muscat.

The Sultan arrived in India at the invitation of President Murmu.

He will visit the National Gallery of Modern Art in the national capital on Friday and hold a meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House.

During his visit, PM Modi will also host a luncheon in honour of the Sultan. The visit will be an opportunity to explore avenues for future collaboration between India and Oman for regional stability, progress and prosperity, the MEA release stated.

Significantly, India and Oman share a long-standing friendship rooted in historical, cultural, and economic ties. Furthermore, people-to-people contact between India and Oman can be traced back 5,000 years.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1955 and were upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2008.

Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region as well, with defence cooperation emerging as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to the MEA.

Oman is the only country in West Asia with which all three services of the Indian Armed Forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and service-level staff talks.

India also extended a special invitation to the Sultanate of Oman to participate in the G20 Summit and meetings as a guest country under India’s G20 Presidency.

Oman participated in over 150 working group meetings, with nine of its ministers taking part in various G20 ministerial meetings. (ANI)

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Medical Science (AIIMS) Doctors strike

3-Day Workshop On Transgender Healthcare Begins In AIIMS Delhi

By LokMarg

A three-day workshop on transgender healthcare titled ‘Advanced Gender Affirmative Care’ began on Tuesday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

The association is being conducted in collaboration with the Association for Transgender Health in India (ATHI) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

The theme of the workshop is ‘Addressing felt-need for training and capacity building of care providers’.

The conference was attended and inaugurated by Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi.

“These courses are being conducted with the help of a certified faculty of internationally renowned trainers and professionals in Transgender Health from the Global Education Institute (GEI) of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and the University of Colorado, USA, assisted by domain experts from the Indian Professional Association for Transgender Health (IPATH),” a press release said.

The Advanced Gender Affirmative Medical Care Workshop is being held for doctors, nurses, and paramedics.

“This workshop is a pivotal step forward in equipping healthcare professionals with advanced skills to cater to the unique needs of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Recognizing the integral role of mental health in transgender care, the Advanced Gender Affirmative Care Mental Health Workshop takes a deep dive into advanced strategies and practices to enhance the mental well-being of the transgender community,” the press release said.

A Live Surgery Workshop: A Landmark in Transgender Medicine: Undoubtedly, the highlight of the workshop is the groundbreaking Live Surgery Workshop, a first-of-its-kind in India.

This workshop, conducted by internationally renowned surgeons Dr Marci Bowers, Dr Jennifer Hyer, and Dr Alex Laugani, along with Dr Maneesh Singhal, Dr Shashank Chauhan and Dr Shivangi Saha from the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi brings together a distinguished panel of Indian surgeons in the field of transgender medicine.

“It is a unique opportunity for professionals to witness and learn from experts at the forefront of transgender surgical interventions which includes the entire plethora of gender-affirmative surgeries including what is commonly known as the top surgery, bottom surgery, facial surgery and tracheal shave surgery,” the press release said.

The workshop will also have a plenary talk by Dr Marci Bowers on ‘The Evolution of Transgender Surgery Through the Ages’.

“This event is the first of its kind in this subspeciality and has become a pioneering event in Transgender Healthcare Management as we set out to reconnect with our rich cultural heritage and reclaim our position as leaders of diversity inclusion,” the press release said. (ANI)

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Security Checks Delhi G20 Summit

Security Checks Underway In Delhi For Upcoming G20 Summit

By LokMarg

Preparations and security checks are underway in Delhi for the upcoming G20 Summit that is scheduled to be held here on September 9-10.

Security checks were carried out at Raj Ghat on Thursday morning. Security personnel along with sniffer dogs conducted security checks near the Mahatma Gandhi memorial. 

During the two-day summit, several dignitaries are scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.

New Delhi Airport is all set to welcome the guests and delegates of the G20 Summit, with facilities like the international ceremonial lounge, special immigration counters, waterfalls, expressive hoardings and illuminated G20 logos.

Global leaders such as US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and many others leaders will arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport to attend the G20 summit on September 9 and 10 at Bharat Mandapam.

Delhi airport operator DIAL has prepared ceremonial lounges to receive the heads of state and other VIPs, and government officials. Special corridors have been prepared for the entry and exit of foreign dignitaries, aiming to ensure a seamless and exceptional experience.

The summit will be hosted at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country. (ANI)

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G20 Summit India

G20 Summit: India To Provide UPI Experience To Delegates

By LokMarg

Taking India’s G20 Presidency as an opportunity to showcase the country’s digital public goods to the world and its ‘Digital India’ initiative, the central government has decided to provide hands-on experiences to around 1,000 visiting foreign delegates with UPI wallets technology, besides explaining them about ease of making payments through the indigenous solution.

“Foreign delegates or participants will be given Rs 500-1,000 in their UPI wallets for doing UPI transactions,” a government official told ANI, adding it has earmarked around Rs 10 lakhs for it.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock payments instantly, using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer.

UPI payment system has become hugely popular for retail digital payments in India, and its adoption is increasing at a rapid pace.

India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing ecosystems for fintech innovation and the government and the central bank have been instrumental in driving the globalisation of India’s digital payment infrastructure. A key emphasis of the Indian government has been on ensuring that the benefits of UPI are not limited to India only, but other countries, too, benefit from it.

So far, Sri Lanka, France, UAE, and Singapore have partnered with India on emerging fintech and payment solutions.

Also, RBI had earlier this year extended Unified Payments Interface-based payments for in-bound travellers from G20 nations to make local payments while they are in India. This facility was made available in April.

India is all set to host the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9-10.

World leaders will arrive in New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit. The summit will be hosted at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Notably, India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country.

The government today also launched the ‘G20 India’ mobile app for seamless and smooth functioning with Indian and foreign delegates. The G20 India mobile app having all member countries’ language options will help delegates access UPI and navigation facilities during the summit. (ANI)

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MCD Staff

Appalled To See How MCD Rounds Up Strays, Puts Them In Torturous Enclosures

By LokMarg

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, with a misguided view to ‘sanitize’ select areas of the National Capital ahead of G20 Summit, has randomly picked up stray dogs from Pragati Maidan and T-2 Airport Terminal areas and put the voiceless animals in subhuman enclosures.

Animal lovers condemn this kneejerk reaction by the municipal body and request all concerned citizens to raise their voice against such maltreatment of the strays. The action was never shared on any public forum and on September 1, MCD personnel quietly swooped down on 47 locations to carry out the ill-advised operation.

Having gotten the wind of their intentions, the animal welfare community in fat offered its help towards the safe collection and keeping of dogs by involving local feeders in the exercise. However, the MCD took no heed of the help offered and went ahead to blatantly and illegally pick up mostly sterilised dogs.

The airport area from where dogs have never been previously picked was targeted by three teams. Some sixty harmless, sterilised and mostly very old dogs were caught and incarcerated at ill equipped centres that have neither fans nor adequate staff nor even food. Only dry kibble was provided at one centre which street dogs do not eat.

MCD’s actions raises several important questions:

1. The G20 summit is mainly centred in New Delhi zone an NDMC area so why is MCD clearing MCD areas of dogs?

2. Under the ABC Rules 23, sterilised dogs msy not be removed. The Hon SC has directed all municipal corps to strictly adhere to these rules under AWBI guidance.

3. In the absence of any written orders, is MCD staff authorised to collect any dogs from anywhere?

4. How does a short 2 day event justify the enormous cruelty and expense of such an action? Why is MCD still using wire catchers rather than nets?

5. How is MCD going to ensure the health, and safe return of so many dogs from so many different areas?

Instead of working steadily over the years to sterilise and vaccinate dogs whereby the population would have been negligible, this sham overdrive to ‘hide’ away our dogs is both unnecessary and illegal. It must be stopped.

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Foreign currency recovery at IGI Airport

Customs Recovers Foreign Currency Worth Rs 10 Cr At Delhi Airport

By LokMarg

In what is claimed to be a “biggest-ever seizure”, Customs department officials on Friday recovered foreign currency worth over Rs 10 crores from three Tajikistan nationals at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.

According to officials, the accused trio were caught while they were going to board a flight to Istanbul.
“On the basis of profiling, the officers of Airport Customs, IGI Airport, Terminal-3, New Delhi have booked the biggest-ever case of smuggling of foreign currency through any airport in India on 21 July against three Tajikistan national passengers,” the Customs department said in a statement on Saturday.

“These passengers were intended to depart for Istanbul by Flight No. TK 0717 dated 21 July from T3, IGI Airport, New Delhi,” the statement read.

“The detailed examination of the baggage and personal search of the passengers resulted in the recovery of foreign currency (USD 7,20,000/- & Euro 4,66,200/-) from the three passengers which is equivalent to Rs 10,06,78,410,” it said.

“The recovered foreign currency has been seized under section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962,” it said while adding that further investigation is under progress. (ANI)

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MEA Pakistan India

We Condemn In Strongest Terms: MEA On Khalistani Posters

By LokMarg

In response to recent incidents of several posters inciting violence against Indian diplomats and the diplomatic premises, the Ministry of External Affairs has said that it is “unacceptable” and India condemns them in the strongest terms.

Addressing a regular press briefing on Thursday, the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi said, “You must have seen posters inciting violence against the Indian diplomats. Our sense is that…these posters inciting violence against our diplomats and our diplomatic premises brought are unacceptable and we condemn them in the strongest terms. With respect to Canada, the matter has been strongly taken with the Canadian authorities, both in New Delhi and in Ottawa.”
He said that New Delhi has called on the Canadian government to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats.

“We have called on the government of Canada to take all steps to ensure the safety of our diplomats and security of our diplomatic missions in Canada,” Bagchi said, adding that it is a matter of concern that freedom of expression and speech is once again being misused by the anti-India elements based in Canada.

“It is a matter of concern that freedom of expression and speech is once again being misused by the anti-India elements based in Canada and elsewhere. We continue to press the Canadian side to ensure our diplomats can carry out their normal functions without fear and intimidation,” Bagchi added.

In the past couple of months, three major anti-India incidents involving Khalistani separatists have been reported in Canada.

Calling Canada an “extremely diverse country,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country will make sure that violence and extremism are pushed back in all its forms.

Trudeau refuted allegations that he is soft on terrorist elements. His statement comes after India summoned Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi over propaganda material, including posters, containing threats to Indian diplomats being circulated in Canada and has served a demarche to the Justin Trudeau government.

Responding to media queries on reports about comments by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the MEA spokesperson said, “We have seen some comments .. at least the media reports about comments by PM Trudeau but let me make the larger point, that the issue is not about freedom of expression but its misuse for advocating violence for propagating separatism and for legitimising terrorism..and that is what we would like to emphasize.”

He also said that there have been similar situations where these kinds of threats have been given in other countries as well.

Bagchi said, “We have also had instances, situations where these kinds of threats have also taken place, be it the US, Australia, the UK, to name a few. You would have seen External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar himself mention in the context of Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments.”

Quoting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Bagchi said that “he strongly believes that the country should not pander to vote-bank politics.”

Furthermore, he also spoke on the recent remarks by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly after posters emerged of a pro-Khalistan rally in London on July 8.

Bagchi said, “We have seen comments by UK Foreign Secretary, as you are aware, we have had problems with the security of our mission in London. We have taken up the issue of this threat against our diplomats with the UK authorities. We have noted these comments by the UK authorities but we will naturally judge them by what happens on the ground in the name of freedom of expression. We should not be giving space to those who advocate violence, propagate separatism or legitimise terrorism.”

“We have noted posters circulated in other countries, also as I mentioned,” Bagchi added.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday said that any direct attacks on Indian High Commission in London are “completely unacceptable.”

He said the UK has made clear to the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami and the Indian government that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount.

“Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable. We have made clear to @VDoraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount,” Cleverly said in a tweet.

The rally is being held in the name of Harjit Singh Nijjar aka Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada’s Surrey on June 18. The posters contained threats to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami and Shashank Vikram, Consul General of India, Birmingham.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis also responded to Cleverly’s tweet and said the UK government attaches importance to the safety of friends and colleagues. (ANI)

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IAF Chief Calls For Evolved Approach

IAF Chief Calls For Evolved Approach To Fight Tomorrow’s Wars

By LokMarg

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has highlighted the need for the IAF to adopt an “evolved approach” for the preparation of future military leaders to keep up with the “accelerated technology infusion” and “fight the tomorrow’s wars.”

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari made these remarks while delivering a keynote address at a capstone seminar organised by the Indian Air Force and Centre for Air Power Studies.
The Indian Air Force conducted the first Warfare and Aerospace Strategy Program (WASP) culminating with a Capstone Seminar at Air Force Auditorium, New Delhi.

“The impact of new technologies on the revolution in military affairs has made us to sit up and acknowledge the fact that new investments in military concepts would have to be made. The new ideas and organizational approaches must be preceded by an evolved approach to cerebral preparation of future military leaders. We are aware of the continuously rising technological and numerical edge that our adversaries have over us today. It is my firm belief that this can be neutralized by an intellectual edge the capacity of individuals to outthink, to outplan and to outsmart the adversary. This can be germinated through focused self-learning, supported by institution units of Higher education like the College of Air Warfare (CAW),” said Chaudhari at the outset of his address.

The seminar was conducted under the aegis of the College of Air Warfare and Centre for Air Power Studies. It was attended by senior officers from all three Services, air power scholars, academia from principal think tanks and premier colleges of the country.

He added, “Irrespective of the fact that the character of warfare is changing, the nature of work done by humans will continue to evolve. We need to blend formal learning with curated programs for self-learning. The impact of emerging technologies and the appreciation that machines and humans have to work in a symbiotic way has to be seen as a requirement. We may need to re-educate entire generations of officers in the next few years to bring everyone up to speed in view of accelerated technology infusion.”

Giving an example from a seminal book ‘Makers of Modern Strategy: Military’s Thought From Machiavelli to Hitler’ he said, “This is as good a definition of grand strategy as it is applicable today as it was in 1943. The interests and means to secure have undergone a radical change from then, and that is the primary reason why, as men and women in uniform, we must study, analyse and evolve strategies to fight tomorrow’s wars.”

This Capstone Seminar aims to showcase the learning objectives of WASP and help the IAF leadership to validate the desired outcomes from the program. The participants presented their papers on contemporary topics concerning the application of air power in recent conflicts and the changing doctrinal precepts that establish the dominant role of air power in national security.

The WASP was conceptualised by the IAF with the purpose of creating a pool of mid-career air power practitioners with strategic acumen and a deep understanding of warfare history and theory. It aims to enhance the doctrinal vision of the participants and cultivate their aptitude for effective arguments on strategy. It will further hone the ability of the participants to link varied thoughts and theories about whole-of-government approach to statecraft.

The course was organized at CAW which is IAF’s premier institute for Air Power Studies. (ANI)

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Attacks on Sikhs in Pakistan

India Summons Pakistan Envoy Over Attacks On Sikhs

By LokMarg

Following the recent attacks on Sikh community members in Pakistan, India on Monday summoned a senior diplomat of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and asked the authorities to investigate the case with sincerity and share the investigation report, according to sources.

India has lodged a strong protest against the incidents taking place against the Sikh community in Pakistan. It also conveyed that Pakistan should ensure the safety and security of its minorities, who live in constant fear of religious persecution.

India’s action comes after four incidents have taken place between April-June in 2023 against the Sikh community. On Saturday, a Sikh community member was shot dead after unidentified armed men opened fire at him, Pakistan-based The News International reported.

The victim was identified as Manmohan Singh who was murdered by unidentified assailants in the Kakshal locality on Saturday. “Manmohan Singh, 34, was on his way home in an auto-rickshaw on Saturday evening when unidentified armed men opened fire on him near Guldara, Kakshal,” a spokesman for the capital city police said on Saturday night.

He was taken to hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The official said senior police officials and investigation teams have rushed to the spot to collect CCTV footage and other evidence. Besides, a search operation was also launched in the vicinity to arrest the culprits, reported The News International.

Earlier on Friday, another Sikh man was shot and injured in the Dabgari area of the provincial capital. The victim was identified as Tarlug Singh son of Makhan Singh was shot in the leg by unidentified armed men in Dabgari, The News International reported. He was taken to hospital where his condition was out of danger.

In May, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. Singh, 63, received a fatal gunshot to the head, this is the third attack on the Sikh community. Police officer Asad Abbas said the bodyguard was wounded in the attack, according to Pakistan Today. Earlier in April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar.

As targeting killings against the Sikh community are on the rise in Pakistan, the minority communities and especially Sikhs are feeling insecure as the Pakistan government’s failure to protect minorities is encouraging perpetrators to act with impunity. (ANI)

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Kejriwal Slams LG Over Law And Order, Amid Robbery Case

By LokMarg

A delivery agent and his associate were allegedly robbed of Rs 2 lakh at gunpoint by four unidentified men inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel here, Delhi police said on Monday.

The incident took place on Saturday inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel when the victims were going towards Gurugram in a cab to deliver the money.
“A delivery agent and his associate were robbed at gunpoint of Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh cash by a group of unknown assailants inside the Pragati Maidan Tunnel on June 24,” the Delhi Police said.

The 1.5 km tunnel connects New Delhi with Sarai Kale Khan and Noida.

The police further said that following a complaint by the victims, a case has been registered under IPC sections 397 (robbery, or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 34 (common intention).

After the CCTV visuals of the incident surfaced on social media, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena demanding his resignation from his post.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said that the LG should make way for someone “who can provide safety and security to the people of Delhi”.

“LG shud (should) resign. Make way for someone who can provide safety n (and) security to the people of Delhi. If Central govt is unable to make Delhi safe, hand it over to us. We will show u (you) how to make a city safe for its citizens,” the Delhi CM tweeted and posted the video of the accident.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranav Tayal said in connection with the incident, the complainant, identified as Patel Sajan Kumar, who works as a delivery agent for a private firm in Chandni Chowk, gave a written complaint in which he mentioned that he along with his associate Jigar Patel was going to Gurugram to deliver the cash to a client.

“As per the complaint, the two hired an Ola cab from near Red Fort. When they entered the Pragati Maidan tunnel from Ring Road, four people on two motorcycles intercepted their cab and robbed them of the cash bag at gunpoint,” Tayal told the reporters.

Delhi Minister Atishi also took to Twitter and said, “LG sir: If you get free time from taking credit for @ArvindKejriwal’s work, then sometimes pay attention to your constitutional responsibility. It is your job to provide security to the people of Delhi. And now incidents of theft, dacoity and murder are happening in Delhi in broad daylight. Either you take the responsibility of security, or else resign.” (ANI)

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