The Canadian Parvasi - Issue 107

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The International News Weekly INDIA August 16, 2019 | Toronto 10 PM: ‘Population explosion a worry’, govt schemes needed to control it Continued from page 01 The PM dwelt at length on the decision to revoke J&K’s special status and bifurcate it, and underlined that two-thirds support in both Houses of Parliament reflected that the move enjoyed wide support and was a task waiting to be done as old approaches to resolving issues had failed. “Today, I can say with pride that every Indian can say we are one nation, one Constitution. And this one dream of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has been realised,” the PM said. Taking a swipe at Congress, he said, “The country asks them: if Article 370 or 35A were so necessary, then despite such a majority, why didn’t you make it permanent? Why did you leave it as temporary? This means that even you know what happened was not right, but you did not have the courage to rectify it or the political will,” Modi said. “The new system in place is for direct benefit of the people on the ground. Now everyone living in J&K can directly question the Centre.” He said the discriminatory provisions of Article 35A, which flow from Article 370, restricted the rights of women and deprived Dalits and tribals of political reservation. Modi referred to reading down of Article 370 and passage of the legislation to ban triple talaq as reflecting the government’s resolve neither to keep problems pending nor to nurture them. “India does not want to wait too long for incremental progress. A high jump is needed, our thought process has to be expanded,” he said while speaking of the government’s plan to invest Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure-building. “People’s trust in us has given us new strength. The 2019 mandate shows hopelessness has given way to hope,” he said. PM Links Family Planning To Nation-Building New Delhi: The mention, perhaps the first ever, of “population explosion” in a prime minister’s Independence Day speech marks the return of focus on an issue which was seen as a big national priority in the early 1970s before the excesses committed during the Emergency discredited what was known as the “family planning” programme. Subsequent governments diluted the exercise, and it was rechristened “family welfare” before it came to be seen as redundant because of the “demographic dividend” narrative that took hold in the wake of the reforms of 1990s. The wheel seemed to have turned full circle when Prime Minister Narendra Modi put it on his agenda on Thursday. Modi said the issue was not tackled all these years because of political considerations. “Dear countrymen, our nation has reached a phase when we should be transparent about everything. Time has now come that we should take challenges heads on. Sometimes, decisions are taken keeping in mind political advantage but they come at the cost of growth of our future generation,” he said. He suggested that the problem had been dodged so far with an eye on political advantage. “The time has now come that we should take (such) challenges head on,” he said-.Modi was all praise for citizens who have chosen to restrict the size of their families. “In our society, there is a section which is very well aware of the consequences of uncontrolled population growth. They deserve our accolades and respect. This is an expression of their love for the nation. Before having a baby, they take a well-considered decision whether they will be able to take care of their child’s needs,” the PM said. Further emphasising his point, he said, “Not only do they (small households) contribute to the welfare of their family but also to the good of the nation. People who have played this huge role need to be honoured, and by setting them as examples we need to inspire the segment of society still not thinking on these lines. We need to worry about population explosion.” The concern over growing numbers has also been the trigger for unease over the “influx” of foreigners and the demand to document citizens by drawing an all-India national register of citizens. In 2017, the UN’s World Population Prospect predicted that India’s population was set to surpass China’s in 2024. The country’s population is projected to touch 1.5 billion in 2030. India accounts for 18% of the world’s total population. As per census data, the decadal growth rate has declined from 21.15% in census 2001 to 17.64% in census 2011, while crude birth rate has fallen from 23.1 to 19. The total fertility rate has reduced from 2.6 to 2.2. The TFR is higher in some northern states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Fertility rate among Muslims is coming down, as with other communities, but remains higher. Treat wealth creators with respect, says Modi in outreach to industry Asks People To Buy Products Made In India New Delhi: While asking citizens to opt for Made-in-India products, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reached out to businesses and called for treating wealth creators with respect in what was seen as an attempt to bridge the trust deficit between the government and industry, which has grown in recent months. “Those who create wealth for the nation, those who contribute to the nation’s wealth creation are serving the nation. We should not suspect them and we should not treat them with disdain. It is important that those who create wealth in the country should be given respect and encouraged. They should be given pride of place. If wealth is not created, it will not be distributed. If wealth is not distributed, then the poor cannot benefit. Therefore, wealth creation is critical for a country like us and we want to encourage that. To me, those who are engaged in creating wealth are the country’s wealth,” the PM said in his Independence Day speech. His statement comes barely six weeks after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s words of encouragement in her maiden Union Budget speech. Modi also used the speech to reiterate his backing to ‘Made-in- India’ goods as he asked citizens to prioritise locally-made products. While underlining the need to boost exports, including an emphasis on district-level focus, the PM said, “We have to proceed with the Make-in-India mission that we took up. Why should Made-in- India product not be our priority? We should decide that we will give priority to what is produced in my country. We have to focus on local products for a lucky tomorrow.” In fact, exports, which have been one of the big laggards in recent years and are seen to be dragging the overall manufacturing sector, was a key theme. “Our country has to increase exports. India can’t just be a market for the world. We also have to attempt to reach global markets,” Modi said. The PM also said the $5 trillion GDP target may appear tough but it could be achieved over the next five years and will help in fulfilling the aspirations of all Indians. He said the economy should use the stable and predictable regime to its advantage, especially when the government had managed to strike a balance between moderate inflation and growth.
The International News Weekly August 16, 2019 | Toronto 11 With dancing & drum beats, Ladakh celebrates ‘1st I-Day’ Leh: Winter is almost knocking on the door but on Thursday morning standing in Leh’s main market, you could only feel spring in the air. Men and women dressed in traditional goucha and kuntop hurried towards the city’s Polo Grounds with children and tricolours in tow. A bright yellow banner announcing “Union Territory of Ladakh celebrates its first Independence Day” summed up the mood. Overnight, banners had sprung up thanking PM Modi, and commemorating the four youngsters who laid down their lives agitating for UT status. Rinching Dolma brought along her 82-yearold mother, sister and eight-year-old son from their village in Stok, 10 km from Leh city, to watch the function. “Today is a special day and we really wanted to be part of this,” she said. The family had woken up at 5 am to finish their household chores before heading for the Polo grounds. Her son Tanzing Somchuk was dressed in army fatigues and was planning to get his face painted with the colours of the flag. Rinchin Norbu, 71 years, had travelled 160 km from Nubra Valley with 10 family members. “In 70 years, we never got anything until now,” he said. His neighbour and an army veteran Nawang Losang hoped that UT status would mean better jobs. “My daughter has finished MA and is at home without a job. I hope this decision will help our children get better jobs,” he said. The crowds grew stronger by the hour, with people standing on rooftops, on vehicles, clicking selfies and singing along as local school children participated in the march past and performed to patriotic Restrictions in J-K to be eased gradually: Chief Secretary J&K : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam on Friday announced that restrictions in J&K will be eased in a gradual manner in the next few days. He said government offices were fully functional on Friday and schools will reopen next week on an areawise basis. He also said that telecom connectivity will be gradually eased in J&K, “in a phased manner”, keeping in mind the “constant threat of terrorist organisations”.Terror groups carry out attacks in J&K to create fear and block development, he added. The Chief Secretary said that preventive detentions will be continuously reviewed. The chief secretary also said 12 districts in Jammu and Kashmir were functioning normally while there was limited restrictions only in five districts. He also reiterated that no loss of life, major injury has been reported during the last 12 days in Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday vowed to become the voice of Kashmir and raise the issue at every global forum, including the United Nations, as he questioned the silence of the international community on the situation in the region. Addressing a special session of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad, Khan said that if a war breaks out between Pakistan and India, the world community will be responsible. “The world’s eye is on Kashmir and on Pakistan...I will be the ambassador who raises Kashmir’s voice at every international forum,” he said. Khan, who was in Muzaffarabad to observe Pakistan’s Independence Day in solidarity with the Kashmiris after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, termed the Indian move as a “strategic blunder.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 8 defended the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as a historic step to usher in a “new era”. He said Article 370 has yielded nothing but separatism, corruption, family rule and was used by Pakistan as a tool to spread terror in the border state. Prime Minister Modi promised all-round development, early and transparent elections and an end to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. India on Friday said time has come for Pakistan songs like Challe Re from the film Uri. Slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Hind rent the air. BJP leader Ram Madhav, who attended the flag hoisting ceremony, told TOI that the decision to make Ladakh an independent UT was a gift for the region. “Focus of the centre will be on faster development and we will address the concerns of the region, whether it is Kargil or Leh,” said Madhav, who is planning to meet eminent citizens to understand their concerns. Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LA- HDC) chairperson Gyal P Wyangal ended the ceremony by breaking into a traditional Ladakhi dance which drew loud cheers from crowds. Namgyal also posted a video of himself waving the Indian flag and dancing on the street with members of the public. He tweeted, “The residents believe firmly in the principal of environmental conservation. Following this norm, to accept the new reality and stop interfering in its internal affairs. In his speech, Khan said Prime Minister Modi has “committed a strategic blunder, he has played his last card. It will cost a lot to Modi and the BJP, because they have internationalised the Kashmir issue.” “Whatever was done during the curfew by India, we will tell the international community that you are responsible. Whichever forum we get, I will be the ambassador and bring up Kashmir at every forum,” Khan said. Prime Minister Khan also said that Pakistan will they have taken a pledge of no crackers even for the celebrations.” Wyangal, who was the chief guest, said that a 70-year-old demand had been fulfilled by the Centre. “Our development has been neglected at the expense of J&K. We know that will change now,” he said. The event also saw large number of visitors from Pune and Mumbai. Microbiologist Suniti Dikshit from Mumbai was carrying with her 500 rakhis for the jawans. “We are visiting Ladakh as part of a group of 160 people. We have been sightseeing in the past few days. Today we wanted to be part of the Independence Day festivities,” she said. She and her friends were wearing colours of the flag. Tax consultant Manjushree Patwardhan said they were all excited to be part of the first I-Day celebrations of Ladakh as UT. ‘India planning military action in PoK’: Pak PM Imran Khan respond with full force if India launches any aggression against his country. “The Pakistan Army has full knowledge...India has made a plan to take action” in PoK, he said. “You take action and this is my message: every brick will be countered with a stone,” Khan said. “We will respond to whatever you do; we will go till the end.” “Our message to international organisations that were formed to prevent wars is that if this war takes place, you will be responsible,” Khan said. He claimed that the whole world, including the entire Muslim population in the world, was looking towards the United Nations. “You will see the numbers in which the public will come out during the United Nations General Assembly in September,” he said, referring to the upcoming annual session of the world body.
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The Canadian Parvasi - Issue 107

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