Narendra Modi in Israel to meet 'friend' Netanyahu

Netanyahu, left, hugs Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

Indo Israel Relations: Timeline

• 1950: India formally recognises Israel
• 1992: India establishes full diplomatic relations with Israel
• 2002: Israel Space Agency and Indian Space Research Organisation sign deal on space cooperation
• 2006: India-Israel agreement for agricultural cooperation signed
• 2017: Joint-development programme for missile defence system for $2.5bn

 

By

Saif Khalid

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Israel on a three-day historic visit - the first by an Indian prime minister. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992.

 

India recognised Israel in 1950 nearly two years after the Jewish nation declared independence, but it took New Delhi 67 years to establish diplomatic ties with the Middle Eastern nation.

 

Earlier on the day of the meeting, Indian English language daily The Times of India published a joint editorial opinion article written by Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu highlighting the collaborations between the two countries.

 

"India and Israel are walking hand in hand into the future as partners," the editorial said.

 

Ties between the two nations have become more "visible" since Modi became prime minister in 2014 and Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said the "landmark"  visit will focus on issues of economic development, innovation, agriculture, water and establishing a better connection between the  people of the two countries, as well as defence.

 

Modi is set to hold talks with Netanyahu, whom he calls his friend and is likely to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

On the agenda

Modi's trip comes weeks after India approved a defence deal with Israel worth $2bn.

 

The Indian prime minister has been pushing for defence cooperation with Israel, which has agreed to collaborate and support his "make in India" initiative. The trip will focus on "Expanding business and investment collaboration on the ground. In addition, I hope to get insights into Israel’s accomplishments in technology and innovation through on-site visits," Modi wrote on his Facebookpage.

 

READ MORE: The beginning of an Israel-India 'romance'?

 

"We already have quite a significant collaboration in defence technology and cybersecurity, but now we need to go to new areas," Vijay Chauthaiwale, head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) foreign policy department, told Al Jazeera.  

 

"It may be in the areas of agriculture and water conservation, innovation and startup culture. It coincides very well with the startup action plan of Modi," Chauthaiwale siad.

 

PR Kumaraswamy, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, also agrees that "much of the focus would be on non-political and non-security issues such as agriculture and water management", saying that Israeli technology can help India to attain food security.

 

Yet, India-Israel bilateral trade has grown from a mere $200m in 1992 to nearly $5bn last year.

Agriculture has emerged as one of the main areas of cooperation and Israel has helped to set up nearly 15 centres of excellence across India, which lend new technology to farmers to enhance crop produce.

 

OPINION: India dithers on the Palestinian question

 

Apart from discussing bilateral relations with his counterpart, Modi also includes on his agenda addressing the Indian diaspora community of more than 80,000 Jews of Indian origin who reside in Israel.

 

"I am particularly looking forward to interacting with the large, vibrant Indian diaspora in Israel that represents an enduring link between our two peoples," Modi wrote on his Facebook page before his arrival in Israel.

 

While matters of business and counterterrorism might be the focus of the trip, analysts and media in the two countries say defence deals will also be on the agenda.

A complex relationship

Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP has pushed for closer ties with Israel as opposed to previous governments, which kept the relationship more discreet.

 

"People [in India] were not openly admitting the relationship. You have a girlfriend but you are not ready to bring her to your family," Kumaraswamy, the JNU professor, said.

 

Yet since the BJP came to power in 2014, Modi has met Netanyahu twice on previous occasions in New York and Paris.

 

The two countries have become closer allies for various reasons over the past 25 years and have maintained high-level military cooperation. 

 

In the past decade India has bought more than $10bn worth of arms from Israel, more than any other country.

 

OPINION: India's forgotten solidarity with Palestine

 

Vijay Prashad, editor of the publishing house Leftword Books, says the Congress party (which headed the previous government), for instance, was the one which initiated the normalisation of relations with Israel to forge better relations with the US as part of a pragmatic foreign policy.

 

"They [Congress party] were told that the road to friendship with Washington was via Tel Aviv," Prashad told Al Jazeera.

 

"The BJP perhaps has more programmatic push. They [BJP and Israel] share some ideas on anti-terrorism, identifying Islam with terrorism," he said.

BDS objections

But not everyone in India thinks fondly of the closer ties between the two countries. Activists from Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in India and pro-Palestinian voices have criticised the Modi government's open embrace of the Israeli government.

 

They accuse Israel of imposing apartheid-like conditions on Palestinians and building illegal settlements on private Palestinian land in contravention of international laws.

 

Established in 2005, BDS is a grassroots movement calling for a boycott of Israeli goods, divestment from Israeli firms operating in occupied territories and imposition of sanctions in order to pressure the Israelis to prevent human rightsabuses against Palestinians.

 

"Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel is a dramatic signpost of how far India has shifted: from support of the Palestinian struggle against occupation, to total involvement and complicity with Brand Israel," Githa Hariharan, who is a supporter of BDS movement in India, told Al Jazeera.

 

"India has, over recent years, got more and more implicated in the Israeli war machine that occupies, kills, and discriminates, through apartheid policies against the Palestinians in the [occupied] West Bank and Gaza, as well as its own Arab citizens."

 

Hariharan also pointed at "the striking parallels between Zionism and Hindutva". The ideology of Hindutva, which calls for supremacy of Hindus over others, guides Modi's BJP, which has turned a blind eye to the recent lynching of dozens of Muslims by cow vigilantes.

 

"At present, this link is sharp: both Zionism and Hindutva practise exclusionary politics; both believe in and aspire to states based on religious identity," she said.

 

READ MORE: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions: What is BDS?

 

In a break from the diplomatic past, Modi is not visiting the seat of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

 

Kumaraswamy, author of the book India's Israel Policy, does not believe that New Delhi is abandoning one for the other, saying the "prime minister is going to say Israel is not going to influence the Palestinian issue and that Palestinians are not going to influence India's Israel's policy".

 

Previously, India had sympathised with the Palestinian cause and sided with the Arab nations, with which it maintains close economic ties. These include the seven million-plus Indian nationals who work in the Middle East, mainly in the Gulf countries, and send more than $30bn back home as remittances. India also imports more than 60 of its petroleum needs from the Gulf.

 

"We want to build a strong relationship with Israel at the same time as we support the Palestinian cause. And we are not shy about it," he said.

BJP's Chauthaiwale reiterated that India's stand on the Palestinian cause is not in question. 

In an interview with an Israeli newspaper, Israel Hayom, Modi affirmed New Delhi's support for the "two-state" solution. The Indian prime minister said that the Indian embassy won't be shifted from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, staying clear from the Netanyahu government's claim over Jerusalem as its capital.

 

Yet, some remain unconvinced. Critics say the government stand vis-a-vis Palestinians is shifting. In the wake of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza in 2014, the Modi government's response was restrained, and prevented a parliamentary resolution condemning the Israeli violence.

 

It abstained from voting at the UN human rights council that condemned Israel for the Gaza violence.

 

"All official Indian talk of Palestine and support to Palestine is shameful lip service," Hariharan, one of the convenors of the Indian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, thinks.

 

"How else can we view the massive buying of arms from Israel? How else can we view India's significant military ties with Israel…?"

 

Prashad from Leftword Books agrees. "Where is the space, then, to say that Palestine is occupied?"

 

Source: Al Jazeera News

Qatar- The 13 demands in full

Qatar- The 13 demands in full

1 Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there. Expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran. Only trade and commerce with Iran that complies with US and international sanctions will be permitted.

2 Sever all ties to “terrorist organisations”, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, al-Qaida and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Formally declare those entities as terrorist groups.

3 Shut down al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations.

4 Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including Arabi21, Rassd, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and Middle East Eye.

5 Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence in Qatar and end any joint military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar.

6 Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, the US and other countries.

7 Hand over “terrorist figures” and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin. Freeze their assets, and provide any desired
information about their residency, movements and finances.

8 End interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs. Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Revoke Qatari citizenship for
existing nationals where such citizenship violates those countries’ laws.

9 Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Hand over all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for those opposition
groups.

10 Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years. The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.

11 Consent to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once per quarter during the second year. For the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored
annually for compliance.

12 Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries militarily, politically, socially and economically, as well as on economic matters, in line with an agreement reached with Saudi
Arabia in 2014.

13 Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid.
 

Cardinal George Pell: Vatican official charged with multiple sexual offences

File Photo: ENB Poster George Pell

===============================================
Cardinal George Pell: Vatican official charged with multiple sexual offences
Thursday 29 June 2017
Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic and the third-ranking official in the Vatican, has been charged with multiple sexual offences by police.

The charges were served on Pell’s legal representatives in Melbourne on Thursday and they have been lodged also at Melbourne magistrates court. He has been ordered to appear at the court on 26 July.

“Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges … and there are multiple complainants,” Victoria police’s deputy commissioner Shane Patton said. The charges were “historical sexual assault offences”.
 
In a statement released by the Catholic archdiocese of Sydney 90 minutes after the charges were announced, Pell announced he would “return to Australia, as soon as possible, to clear his name”.
Pell is the highest-ranking Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic church’s long-running sexual abuse scandal.

Pell’s statement, issued at 4.30am Rome time, said: “Although it is still in the early hours of the morning in Rome, Cardinal George Pell has been informed of the decision and action of Victoria police. He has again strenuously denied all allegations.

“Cardinal Pell will return to Australia, as soon as possible, to clear his name following advice and approval by his doctors who will also advise on his travel arrangements.

“He said he is looking forward to his day in court and will defend the charges vigorously.”

It is so far unclear just what allegations Pell has been charged with. Pell was due to make a further statement in Rome later on Thursday.

Detectives from Victoria police’s Sano taskforce, established to investigate allegations that emerged during a parliamentary inquiry in Victoria and the later royal commission, interviewed Pell in Rome in October about allegations against him.

Last year, citing ill health, Pell declined to return to Australia to give evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in person last year and instead gave evidence by videolink from Rome.

The royal commission, ordered by then-Australian prime minister Julia Gillard in 2012 and formed in 2013, is due to deliver its final report by 15 December.

In February the Australian Senate called on the cardinal to return home “to assist the Victorian police and office of public prosecutions with their investigation into these matters”.

Pell dismissed the parliamentary resolution as “an interference on the part of the Sko t of whether the pope, who has claimed that the church ought to have zero tolerance for sexual offenders, will be willing to cast out one of the most powerful officials in the Vatican

When Pope Francis was asked about allegations against Pell last year, he told reporters: “It’s true, there is a doubt. We have to wait for justice and not first make a mediatic judgment – a judgment of gossip – because that won’t help. Once justice has spoken, I will speak.”

Patton told the media conference: “During the course of the investigation in relation to Cardinal Pell, there has been a lot of reporting in the media and speculation about the process that has been involved in the investigation and also the charging.

“For clarity, I want to be perfectly clear, the process and procedures that are being followed in the charging of Cardinal Pell have been the same that have been applied in a whole range of historical sex offences whenever we investigate them.
 
“The fact that he has been charged on summons, we have used advice from the office of public prosecutions and also we have engaged with his legal representatives is common and standard practice. There has been no change in any procedures whatsoever. Advice was received and sought from the office of public prosecutions, however ultimately, the choice to charge Cardinal Pell was one that was made by Victoria police.

“Cardinal Pell, like any other defendant, has a right to due process and so therefore, it is important that the process is allowed to run its natural course.”

Patton said as the matter was now due before the court, police would be making no further comment.
Victoria’s director of public prosecutions, John Champion, released a statement saying he would be involved in “conducting these criminal proceedings”.

“I will be required to do so in a manner that is fair and just to all parties, including the alleged offender,” he said.

The Guardian UK
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George Pell charged with sexual offences: a timeline of the cardinal's life

1941 Born in Ballarat, Victoria on 8 June. He was later educated at Loreto convent and St Patrick’s College in Ballarat.

1960 Pell begins studying for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College in Werribee.

1963 Continues studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.

1966 Ordained a Catholic priest in the Vatican. Further studies at Urbaniana University Rome and then at Oxford follow, where he is awarded a doctorate of philosophy in church history.

1972 Pell returns to Ballarat as an assistant parish priest.

1973-1984 Episcopal vicar for education in diocese of Ballarat; founding member of Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.

1981-1984 Principal of Institute of Catholic Education (now merged with Australian Catholic University).

1984 Administrator of Bungaree parish.

1987 Auxiliary bishop of Melbourne serving under Archbishop Frank Little.

1990 Member of the church’s powerful congregation for the doctrine of the faith, a position he would hold until 2000.

June 1996 Appointed archbishop of Melbourne by Pope John Paul II.

October 1996 Announces Melbourne Response protocol for handling child sexual abuse complaints in Melbourne archdiocese. It offers support and counselling to victims of sexual abuse but caps compensation payments.

March 2001 Appointed archbishop of Sydney by Pope John Paul II. In Sydney Pell oversees the Catholic church’s widely condemned Towards Healing program. Pell says the program is intended to deal with child sexual abuses cases within the church in a sensitive manner, expedite compensation and avoid long litigation.

2003 Pope John Paul II makes Pell one of 31 new cardinals. He is also awarded the Centenary Medal by Australian government.

2005 Pell takes part in papal conclave that selects Pope Benedict XVI. He is also appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.

2006 Pell leads Sydney’s successful bid to host 2008 World Youth Day.

2007 Appointed to council of cardinals on organisational and economic problems of the Holy See.

2013 Appointed by Pope Francis to group of eight cardinals to advise on government of the universal church and study plan for revising apostolic constitution of Roman Curia.

2013 Pell takes part in the papal conclave that elects Pope Francis.

2013 Gives evidence to Victorian parliamentary inquiry into handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations in Melbourne.

2014 Appointed the prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, making him effectively the Vatican’s treasurer and widely reported to be the third most senior figure in the church hierarchy.

March 2014 Gives evidence to royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in Sydney.
 
August 2014 Second royal commission appearance via videolink from the Vatican, to Melbourne hearing on the Melbourne Response.

February-March 2016 Third royal commission appearance, via videolink from Rome hotel conference room to Sydney; hearing on church’s handling of child abuse allegations in Ballarat diocese and Melbourne archdiocese.

29 June 2017 Charged with multiple, historical child sex offences, set to appear in the Melbourne magistrates’ court on 18 July. Pell strongly denies the allegations.

With Australian Associated Press

President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India in Joint Press Statement

 

 

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 26, 2017
Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India in Joint Press Statement

Rose Garden
5:31 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much.  Prime Minister Modi, thank you for being here with us today.  It’s a great honor to welcome the leader of the world’s largest democracy to the White House.

I have always had a deep admiration for your country and for its people, and a profound appreciation for your rich culture, heritage and traditions.  This summer, India will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its independence, and on behalf of the United States, I want to congratulate the Indian people on this magnificent milestone in the life of your very, very incredible nation.

During my campaign, I pledged that if elected, India would have a true friend in the White House.  And that is now exactly what you have -- a true friend.  The friendship between the United States and India is built on shared values, including our shared commitment to democracy.  Not many people know it, but both American and the Indian constitutions begin with the same three very beautiful words:  We the people.

The Prime Minister and I both understand the crucial importance of those words, which helps to form the foundation of cooperation between our two countries.  Relations between countries are strongest when they are devoted to the interests of the people we serve.  And after our meetings today, I will say that the relationship between India and the United States has never been stronger, has never been better.

I’m proud to announce to the media, to the American people, and to the Indian people, that Prime Minister Modi and I are world leaders in social media -- (laughter) -- we’re believers -- giving the citizens of our countries the opportunity to hear directly from their elected officials, and for us to hear directly from them.  I guess it’s worked very well in both cases.

I am thrilled to salute you, Prime Minister Modi, and the Indian people for all that you are accomplishing together.  Your accomplishments have been vast.  India has the fastest growing economy in the world.  We hope we’re going to be catching you very soon in terms of percentage increase, I have to tell you that.  We’re working on it.

In just two weeks, you will begin to implement the largest tax overhaul in your country’s history -- we’re doing that also, by the way -- creating great new opportunities for your citizens.  You have a big vision for improving infrastructure, and you are fighting government corruption, which is always a grave threat to democracy.

Together, our countries can help chart an optimistic path into the future, one that unleashes the power of new technology, new infrastructure, and the enthusiasm and excitement of very hardworking and very dynamic people.

I look forward to working with you, Mr. Prime Minister, to create jobs in our countries, to grow our economies, and to create a trading relationship that is fair and reciprocal.  It is important that barriers be removed to the export of U.S. goods into your markets, and that we reduce our trade deficit with your country.
 
I was pleased to learn about an Indian Airlines recent order of 100 new American planes, one of the largest orders of its kind, which will support thousands and thousands of American jobs.  We’re also looking forward to exporting more American energy to India as your economy grows, including major long-term contracts to purchase American natural gas, which are right now being negotiated, and we will sign them.  Trying to get the price up a little bit.

To further our economic partnership, I’m excited to report that the Prime Minister has invited my daughter, Ivanka, to lead the U.S. delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India this fall.  And I believe she has accepted. 

Finally, the security partnership between the United States and India is incredibly important.  Both our nations have been struck by the evils of terrorism, and we are both determined to destroy terrorist organizations and the radical ideology that drives them.  We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism.  Our militaries are working every day to enhance cooperation between our military forces.  And next month, they will join together with the Japanese navy to take place in the largest maritime exercise ever conducted in the vast Indian Ocean.

I also thank the Indian people for their contributions to the effort in Afghanistan, and for joining us in applying new sanctions against the North Korean regime.  The North Korean regime is causing tremendous problems and is something that has to be dealt with, and probably dealt with rapidly.
Working together, I truly believe our two countries can set an example for many other nations, make great strides in defeating common threats, and make great progress in unleashing amazing prosperity and growth.

Prime Minister Modi, thank you again for joining me today, and for visiting our country and our wonderful White House and Oval Office.  I enjoyed our very productive conversation this afternoon, and look forward to its continuation tonight at dinner.  The future of our partnership has never looked brighter.  India and the United States will always be tied together in friendship and respect.
Prime Minister Modi, thank you very much.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

PRIME MINISTER MODI:  (As interpreted.)  President Donald Trump and First Lady, Vice President, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen of the media:  Right from the opening tweet to the end of our talks, President Trump's welcome, which was filled with friendliness, his warm welcome to the White House by himself and the First Lady, I would like to thank both of you from the bottom of my heart for this warm welcome.

I would also like to give a special thanks to you, President Trump, for having spent so much time with me, for having spoken such kind words about me and my country.  And I would like to tell you that I'm eager to welcome your daughter to India for the Entrepreneurship Summit. 
 
President Trump, I'd once again like to thank you for the time that you have spent with me.  I'd like to give you special thanks for that.

My visit and our talks today will mark a very important page in the history of the collaboration and cooperation between our two nations.  The talks between his Excellency, President Trump, and myself today have been extremely important from all points of view, for several reasons:  Because they were based on mutual trust; because of the convergence and similarities they revealed in our values, and our priorities, and in our concerns and interests; because they focused on the highest levels of achievement in our cooperation, and mutual support, and partnership; because our two countries are global engines of growth; because the all-around or comprehensive economic growth and joint progress of both countries and both societies is the main objective for both the President and myself, and will remain so; because the top priority for both President Trump and myself is to protect our society from global challenges like terrorism; and because our aim is the strengthening of India and the USA -- two great democracies in the world -- friends.

Our robust strategic partnership is such that it touches upon almost all areas of human endeavor.  In our conversation today, President Trump and I have discussed all dimensions of India-U.S. relations at length.  Both nations are committed to a bilateral architecture that will take our strategic partnership to new heights.

In this relationship, in both countries, increased productivity, growth, job creation, and breakthrough technologies -- an engagement towards all these are, and will remain, strong drivers of our cooperation, and will give further momentum to our relationship.

     We consider the USA as our primary partner for India's social and economic transformation in all our flagship programs and schemes.  I am sure that the convergence between my vision for a "new India and President Trump's vision for "making America great again" will add new dimensions to our cooperation.

I am very clear about the fact that India's interests lie in a strong, and prosperous, and successful America.  In the same way, India's development and its growing role at the international level are in the USA's interest. 
 
One of our common priorities will be the development of trade, commerce, and investment links.  And in this regard, in the technology, innovation, and knowledge-economy sectors, the expansion and deepening of cooperation is also among our priorities.  Towards this end, we shall take steps to further strengthen our successful digital partnership. 

Friends, we are not just partners by chance.  We are also partners in dealing with current and future challenges that we may be faced with.  Today, during our meeting, we discussed the serious challenges of terrorism, extremism, and radicalization, which are the major challenges facing the world today.  And we have agreed to enhance our cooperation in fighting against these scourges.  Fighting terrorism and doing away with the safe shelters, sanctuaries, and safe havens will be an important part of our cooperation.

With respect to our common concerns on terrorism, we will also enhance our sharing of intelligence, and exchange information to deepen and expand our policy coordination as far as possible. 

We also spoke at length on regional issues.  The increasing instability, due to terrorism, in Afghanistan is one of our common concerns.  Both India and America have played an important role in rebuilding Afghanistan and ensuring its security.  In order to attain our objectives for peace and stability in Afghanistan, we will maintain close consultation and communication with the U.S. to enhance coordination between our two nations.

In the Indo-Pacific region, in order to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, this is also another objective of our strategic cooperation in this area.  The increasing possibilities for enhancing cooperation in order to protect our strategic interests will continue to determine the dimensions of our partnership.  We will continue to work with the USA in this region.

With regard to security-related challenges, our enhanced and growing defense and security cooperation is extremely important.  We have spoken at length on this subject as well.
 
The strengthening of India’s defense capabilities, with the help of USA, is something that we truly appreciate.  We have also decided to enhance maritime security cooperation between the two nations.  President Trump and I have also spoken about strengthening bilateral defense technology and our trade and manufacturing partnership, which we believe will be mutually beneficial to us.
We also discussed international issues and our common strategic interests.  In this context, we are extremely grateful for the continued support of the United States for India’s membership of international institutions and regimes.  We truly appreciate the support, because this is also in the interest of both our nations.

President Trump, I thank you for your feelings of friendship towards India and myself.  I deeply appreciate your strong commitment to the enhancement of our bilateral relations.  I am sure that under your leadership, our mutually beneficial strategic partnership will gain new strength, new positivity, and will reach new heights, and that your vast and successful experience in the business world will lend an aggressive and forward-looking agenda to our relations.
 
In this journey of India-America relations, I think I would like to thank you for providing great leadership.  Be assured that in this joint journey of our two nations towards development, growth and prosperity, I will remain a driven, determined, and decisive partner.

Excellency, my visit today and the extensive talks I have held with you have been very successful, very fruitful.  And before leaving this mic, I would like to invite you to India, along with your family.  And I hope that you will give me the opportunity to welcome you and host you in India. 

And at the end, once again, I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome extended by you and the First Lady to myself and my delegation, from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  
PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much, everybody.  I appreciate it.  Thank you.

END               
 5:51 P.M. EDT

கூலி முறை ஒழிக!

13 ஆவது திருத்தத்துக்குக் குறைந்த அதிகாரமே நமது கோரிக்கை-சம்பந்தன்

 

13ஆவது திருத்தத்தை நாம் ஒருபோதும் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளவில்லை. இதனை பலமுறை தெரியப்படுத்தியும் உள்ளோம். மங்கள முனசிங்க அறிக்கை, சந்திரிக்கா அம்மையாரின் தீர்வுப் பொதி, மகிந்த காலத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்ட சர்வகட்சிக் குழு, இவற்றில் அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு தொடர்பில் வலியுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவற்றின் அடிப்படையிலான அதிகாரப் பகிர்வை நாம் ஏற்கத் தயாராக இருக்கின்றோம் என்று இரா.சம்பந்தன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

கூட்டமைப்புடன் சு.க. நேற்றிரவு முக்கிய பேச்சு

அரச தலைவர் மைத்திரிபால சிறி சேன தலைமையிலான சிறி லங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சிக்கும், தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்புக் கும் இடையே நேற்றிரவு இரண்டரை மணி நேரம் நடை பெற்ற பேச்சு சுமுகமாக - இணக்க மாக முடிவடைந்துள்ளது. புதிய அரசமைப்பு உருவாக்க விடயத்தில் முன்னேற்ற கரமான நிலைப்பாடு எட்டப்பட்டுள்ளதுடன், இரு தரப்பும் பேச்சுக்களில் திருப்தி வெளியிட்டுள்ளன.

புதிய அரசமைப்பு உருவாக்க விவகாரத்தில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள தேக்க நிலை - தடங்கலைச் சீர் செய்வதற்காக, தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்புடன் பேச்சு நடத்துவதற்கு சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சி கோரிக்கை விடுத்திருந்தது. இதற்கமைவாக நேற்றுப் பேச்சு நடைபெற்றது. அரச தலைவரின் இல்லத்தில் நேற்றிரவு 8 மணிக்கு ஆரம்பமான பேச்சுக்கள் இரவு 10.30 மணி வரை நீடித்தது.

தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் சார்பில் வழிநடத்தல் குழுவில் பங்குபெறும், கட்சியின் தலைவர் இரா.சம்பந்தன், நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் எம்.ஏ.சுமந்திரன் ஆகியோர் பங்கேற்றிருந்தனர். சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சி சார்பில், அரச தலைவர் மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேன, அமைச்சர்களான நிமல்சிறிபால டி சில்வா, சுசில் பிரேமஜயந்த, தயாசிறி ஜயசேகர, துமிந்த திசாநாயக்க, மகிந்த அமரவீர, லக்ஸ்மன் யாப்பா அபேவவர்த்தன, டிலான் பெரேரா, வடக்கு மாகாண ஆளுநர் ரெஜினோல்ட் குரே ஆகியோர் கலந்து கொண்டுள்ளனர்.

பண்டா - செல்வா உடன்பாடு

தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தலைவர் இரா.சம்பந்தன், கூட்டத்தின் ஆரம்பத்திலேயே சில விடயங்களைச் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார். பண்டா - செல்வா உடன்பாடே, தமிழர் பிரச்சினை குறித்து முதலாவதாகச் செய்து கொள்ளப்பட்ட உடன்படிக்கை என்பதை அவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சியின் நிறுவுனரான பண்டாராநாயக்கா, தந்தை செல்வாவுடன் செய்து கொண்ட உடன்படிக்கையை நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருந்தால் இன்று இவ்வளவு தூரம் நாட்டில் பிரச்சினை ஏற்பட்டிருக்காது என்றும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

13ஆவது திருத்தத்தை நாம் ஒருபோதும் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளவில்லை. இதனை பலமுறை தெரியப்படுத்தியும் உள்ளோம். மங்கள முனசிங்க அறிக்கை, சந்திரிக்கா அம்மையாரின் தீர்வுப் பொதி, மகிந்த காலத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்ட சர்வகட்சிக் குழு, இவற்றில் அதிகாரப் பகிர்வு தொடர்பில் வலியுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவற்றின் அடிப்படையிலான அதிகாரப் பகிர்வை நாம் ஏற்கத் தயாராக இருக்கின்றோம் என்று இரா.சம்பந்தன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

ஒற்றை ஆட்சி இல்லை

புதிய அரசமைப்பு ஒற்றை ஆட்சி என்ற சொல் நீக்கப்படக் கூடாது என்று வழிநடத்தல் குழுவில் வலியுறுத்தியிருந்த சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சி நேற்றைய பேச்சுக்களின் போது தனது நிலைப்பாட்டில் தளர்வை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு, கூட்டாட்சி என்ற சொல் பதத்தை புதிய அரசமைப்பில் உள்ளடக்க வேண்டும் என்பதைக் கைவிடுவதால், ஒற்றை ஆட்சி என்ற சொல் உள்ளடக்கப்படுவதை கைவிடுவதாக சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சி தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

ஆங்கிலத்தில், யுனைர்ரரி என்ற வார்த்தையைப் பயன்படுத்துவதில்லை என்று முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஏக்கிய ராஜ்ஜிய என்பது ஒரு பிளவுபடாத - பிரிக்கமுடியாத நாட்டை மாத்திரமே குறிக்கும். அது ஆட்சிமுறையைக் குறிக்காது என்றும் தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இடைநடு நிலைப்பாடு தேர்தல் முறைமை கலப்பு முறையாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சி வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளது. தேர்தல் முறைமை தொடர்பில் கூட்டமைப்புக்கு ஆட்சேபனை இல்லை என்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நிறைவேற்று அரச தலைவர் அதிகார முறைமை தொடர்பிலேயே நீண்ட நேரம் பேச்சு நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. அரச தலைவர் மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேன,

 

“நிறைவேற்று அதிகார அரச தலைவர் முறையை நீக்குவதாக மக்களுக்கு நான் வாக்குறுதி கொடுத்துள்ளேன். எனது நிலைப்பாடும் அதுதான். ஆனால் கட்சி, இதற்கு எதிர்மாறான நிலைப்பாட்டில் உள்ளது. நிறைவேற்று அரச தலைவர் முறையை நான் நீக்க முடியாது. மக்களும், நாடாளுமன்றமுமே அதனைச் செய்ய முடியும்” என்று தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

நிறைவேற்று அரச தலைவர் முறைமை என்ற ‘லேபிள்’ தேவையா? என்று நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் எம்.ஏ.சுமந்திரன் கேட்டுள்ளார். அதற்கு சுதந்திரக் கட்சியினர் அப்படித் தேவையில்லை. அரச தலைவரிடம் சில அதிகாரங்கள் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளனர். இறுதியில், நிறைவேற்று அரச தலைவர் முறைமையை முற்றாக நீக்குவது என்றும் இல்லாமல், தொடர்ந்து அதனை அதே வடிவத்தில் வைத்திருப்பது என்றும் இல்லாமல், இரண்டுக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட - நடு நிலைப்பாட்டை எடுப்பதற்கு சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சி இணங்கியுள்ளது.

யு.என்.பி, ஜே.வி.பி பேச்சு

புதிய அரசமைப்பு உருவாக்கத்துக்கான இடைக்கால அறிக்கையில், நிறைவேற்று அதிகார அரச தலைவர் முறைமை தொடர்பில், சிறிலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சியின் நிலைப்பாடு உள்ளடகப்பட வேண்டும் என்று அந்தக் கட்சி தெரிவித்துள்ளது. அதற்கு கூட்டமைப்பு இணக்கம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

இதற்கு அமைவாக, ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி மற்றும் மக்கள் விடுதலை முன்னணியுடன் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு விரைவில் பேச்சு நடத்தவுள்ளது. பெரும்பாலும் வழிநடத்தல் குழுவின் அடுத்த அமர்வுடன், இடைக்கால அறிக்கை நாடாளுமன்றில் சமர்பிக்கப்படும் என்று தெரிய வருகின்றது.

நன்றி:உதயன் 24-06-2017

India and the First World War

India and first world war

போயர் யுத்தம்: போலிச் சுதந்திரமும் போக்கிரி காந்தியும்

 

Meet Sergeant Major Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
 Manimugdha S Sharma
| TNN | Oct 2, 2014, 09.11 PM IST

NEW DELHI: British steamer SS Kinfauns Castle had reached the English Channel from Cape Town in South Africa in August 1914 when one of the passengers received important news: the British Empire was at war with Germany. Upon reaching Britain, he would declare unconditional support to the British war effort and propose to raise an Indian volunteer unit. He was barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi*

(*Born: 2 October 1869, Porbandar, India Assassinated: 30 January 1948, New Delhi, India ENB)
























Historians and political pundits have forever struggled to explain why the apostle of peace and non-
violence had rendered support to the British Empire in the First World War*(*28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.ENB)

Some say Gandhi was a loyalist who had great faith in the British; some say Gandhi was an opportunist who tried to use the Great War to extract political concessions from Britain. Gandhi himself struggled to explain it and gave contradictory statements to justify his stand right up to the mid-1920s. But until the end of the war, Gandhi understood Britain's cause to be a righteous one and worth fighting for.

 "We have to understand that Gandhi was a politician back then, and like all politicians, he did contradict himself several times. But at that time in India, there was no demand for total independence or 'poorna swaraj' but dominion status. So it wasn't just Gandhi but most political leaders of that time, cutting across party lines, supported in varying degrees the British war effort," says military historian Squadron Leader Rana T S Chhina (Retd).

 By late August, 1914, it had become clear to Gandhi that the Indian Army would be deployed on the Western Front and there could be many Indians wounded needing medical care.

So Gandhi proposed to raise an Indian ambulance corps that was soon sanctioned by the British war office. It was not the first time that Gandhi had appealed to Indians to join a British war: during the Second Boer War in 1899-1902 and Zulu War in 1906, Gandhi, then in South Africa, had raised an Indian ambulance corps in which he served as a sergeant-major of the British Army. In the next five months, Gandhi managed to inspire many Indians to join the corps, some of whom later served in hospitals in Southampton and Brighton where Indian war casualties were treated. In this cause, he was aided by his wife Kasturba and Sarojini Naidu, who also drew up a resolution for unconditional support to the British Empire.

Gandhi himself took nursing classes, though he soon fell ill with pleurisy and couldn't himself tend to the Indian wounded. "Gandhi is considered to be an icon in Indian military medicine. We still have a photo of him in military uniform at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune," says Brigadier MSVK Raju (Retd), formerly the head of psychiatry at AFMC.

In the next few years, Gandhi continued to espouse the cause of the British, though he also fought British imperialism through Champaran satyagraha in 1917 and the Kheda satyagraha in 1918. In fact, after Kheda satyagraha ended, Gandhi aggressively started campaigning for the war as a recruiting officer of the empire. This time, Gandhi wasn't recruiting non-combatants but fighters. Other leaders like Gopalkrishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mohammed Ali Jinnah also endorsed the empire's cause in varying degrees.

 According to UK-based author Vedica Kant, who is in India for the launch of her first book, 'If I die here, who will remember me? India in the First World War', Gandhi was different from other leaders. "Like others who demanded or expected concessions from the British in return for support to the war, Gandhi, right from the beginning, gave unconditional support. Gandhi was also instrumental in expanding the recruiting bases of the Indian Army to Gujarat and other places: places that didn't have the so-called martial races as identified by the British. By 1918, the empire was in dire need of men and they had to look to Gujarat, Bengal, Madras etc for recruiting," Kant says.

 One of the many recruiting centres in Gujarat was set up at Pollen Dharamshala in Godhra (now mostly remembered for the Sabarmati Express burning incident of 2002). There, on April 16, 1918, a large gathering of Thakores of Rewa Kantha Agency and Panch Mahals, and common people heard Gandhi present a report on his recruiting work. He said Kaira area had contributed the most in Gujarat. Gandhi then donated a sum of Rs 102 from his own pocket for the war effort. At the end of the day, Rs 4,500 had been collected for the war; Rs 1,000 more came from a ticketed concert held in the evening. The government, in gratitude, awarded bonuses to both recruits and recruiters.

Then on June 26, 1918, Gandhi addressed a mass gathering in Borsad taluka and said, "Voluntary enlistment is the right key to self-government, to say nothing of the manliness and broadmindedness it confers. The honour of our women is bound up with it inasmuch as by enlisting ourselves, we shall acquire that capacity for self-defence, the absence of which at present makes us unable to protect our women and children... The opportunity for military training now open to us all will not present itself in the future... A man who is afraid of death is constitutionally incapable of passive resistance. For a proper appreciation of the true significance of passive resistance the power of physical endurance needs to be cultivated.

























After the alone can practise 'ahimsa' who knows 'himsa' not in the abstract but in fact."

he war, though, following the British government backtracking on its assurances of granting self-government to India and coming up with repressive measures, Gandhi lost faith in the empire. He and many others started seeing the Indian soldiers who volunteered for the war as mercenaries.

"That's where we went wrong. The Indian Army fought with the consent of the Indian leadership. And that's why our soldiers cannot be called mercenaries. Now, people today may not like it that so many Indians fought for the empire, but you can't just write them out of history," Kant says.

 It was this politics between the British and Indian leaders that robbed the Indian soldier of his rightful place in history.

(Write to this correspondent at manimugdha.sharma@timesgroup.com)

 

புதிய ஈழம்: ENB செந்தோழர் பச்சையப்பனுக்கு ஈழச் செவ்வணக்கம்

புதிய ஈழம்: ENB செந்தோழர் பச்சையப்பனுக்கு ஈழச் செவ்வணக்கம்: தோழர் பச்சியப்பன்  மறைந்தார். ``அவரின் இலட்சியம் மறையவில்லை. பாலக்கோடு - தமிழக உழைக்கும் மக்கள் மத்தியில் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கின்றத...

கட்சித் தோழர் பச்சியப்பனுக்கு கழக மக்கள் சிவப்பு அஞ்சலி!

கட்சித் தோழர் பச்சியப்பனுக்கு

கழக மக்கள் சிவப்பு அஞ்சலி!

தோழர் பச்சியப்பன் மறைந்தார்.

அவரின் இலட்சியம் மறையவில்லை. பாலக்கோடு - தமிழக உழைக்கும் மக்கள் மத்தியில் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கின்றது, அவரும் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கின்றார், என்றும் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டே இருப்பார்! பச்சியப்பன்  வித்துடல் கூட, எங்கே புரட்சித் தீயை பற்ற வைத்து விடுமோ என்று அஞ்சி ஆளும் வர்க்கத்தின் நக்சல் ஒழிப்பு பிரிவு இரங்கல் நிகழ்ச்சியைக் கூட வேவு பார்த்தது, வெட்கக் கேடானது.

போலிச் சுதந்திரம், போலி ஜனநாயகத்தை எதிர்த்து நாட்டின் விடுதலைக்கு, நிலப்பிரபுத்துவ  ஒடுக்குமுறையை எதிர்த்து கிளர்ந்தெழுந்த நக்சல்பாரி், தன்னியல்புப் புரட்சி இயக்கத்தில் தன்னை இளம் வயதில்  இணைத்துக் கொண்டு போராடிய போர் வீரர் தோழர் பச்சியப்பன் .

புரட்சிகர இயக்கத்தை ஒடுக்க  தமிழக காவல்துறை தொடுத்த பல்வேறு விதமான அடக்கு முறைகளை எதிர்த்து கதிகலங்க வைத்த களப் போராளி பச்சியப்பன் .

1980 ஆம் ஆண்டுகளில் நக்சல் ஒழிப்பின் ஒரு பகுதியாக, காவல்துறை தோழர் பாலனைக் கைது செய்து  படுகொலை செய்த, பாலக்கோடு சீரியம்பட்டி பொதுக் கூட்டத்தை தலைமையேற்று நடத்தியவர் தோழர் பச்சியப்பன்.

நக்சல்பாரி இயக்கத்தின் நரோத்தினிய* - தன்னியல்புத் தனிநபர் பயங்கரவாதப் பாதையை, விமர்சன சுயவிமர்சனம் செய்து மார்க்சிய லெனினிய வழியிலே,இந்திய மக்கள் ஜனநாயகப்  புரட்சியினை நிறைவேற்றப் போராடும் ம.ஜ.இ.க வின் முன்னணி செயல்வீரர், பிரச்சாரப் பீரங்கி.

தோழர் பச்சியப்பன் கலைப்புவாதம், திருத்தல்வாதம் , தொழிற்சங்கவாதம் போன்ற பல்வேறு விதமான மார்க்சிய விரோத போக்குகளை எதிர்த்துப் போராடிய பாட்டாளி வர்க்க போர் வீரன்!

இவ்வாறு தன் வரலாற்றுக் கடமையை நிறைவேற்றி விடைபெற்ற தோழர் பச்சியப்பனின் இறுதி ஊர்வலத்தில்  ம.ஜ.இ.க தோழர்கள்,கழக மக்கள்,உற்றார் உறவினர், நண்பர்கள் பெருந்திரளாக பங்கேற்று  சிவப்பு அஞ்சலி வீர வணக்கம் செலுத்தினர்.

தோழர் பச்சியப்பனின் இறுதி ஊர்வலக் காட்சிகள்;

 

தோழர் பச்சியப்பன் நாமம் நீடூழி வாழ்க!

கழகப் பணி தொடர்க!

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* நரோத்தியம்: ரசியப் புரட்சிகர இயக்கத்தில் 1860-70 ஆம் ஆண்டுகளிடையே தோன்றிய ஒரு குட்டி முதலாளித்துவப் போக்கு.நரோத்தியவாதிகள் எதேச்சாதிகார முறையை ஒழிக்கவும் நிலப்பிரபுக்களின் நிலத்தை விவசாயிகளுக்கு கொடுக்கவும் விரும்பினார்கள்.அவர்கள் தம்மைத்தாமே சோசலிஸ்டுக்கள் என்று கருதினார்கள்.ஆனால் அவர்களது சோசலிசம் கற்பனாவாதமானது......மக்கள் என்பதற்கு ரசிய மொழியில் நரோத் என்பர்.இதனால் நரோத்தியவாதிகள் என்ற பெயர் பெற்றனர். 1880-90 ஆண்டுகளில் நரோத்தியவாதிகள் ஜாராட்சியுடன் சமரசம் செய்து கொள்ளும் பாதையில் இறங்கினர்.பணக்கார விவசாயிகளின் -குலாக்குகளின்- நலன்களைவெளியிட்டனர்.மார்க்சியத்தை எதிர்த்துப் போராடினர்.

( லெனின் தேர்வு நூல்கள் 12(4) பக்கம் 274-5)