Tag: India

  • Mattress factory sealed for stuffing used face masks instead of cotton

    Mattress factory sealed for stuffing used face masks instead of cotton

    The police in India have sealed a mattress-making factory in Maharashtra for using discarded masks instead of cotton or other material to stuff its products.

    As per reports, a case has been registered against the owner of the unit with the police starting an investigation into the matter. Piles of face masks were also recovered from the premises of the mattress factory.

    The seized masks pile was burnt as per the prescribed norms.

    The illegal activity at the Maharashtra Mattress Centre was reported to the officials at a police station at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Jalgaon.

    Read more – Man digs tunnel to capture ‘jinns, churails’

    Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Gawali said: “When officials visited the premises of the factory in Kusumba village of MIDC, they found a mattress being stuffed with used masks.”

    The production of face masks in India has increased significantly from March of last year when the country was producing 1.5 crore units each day.

  • Russian president’s ‘blank cheque’ to Pakistan: What you need to know

    Russian president’s ‘blank cheque’ to Pakistan: What you need to know

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently visited Islamabad after nearly a decade and delivered an “important” message to the Pakistani leadership from President Vladimir Putin.

    “I came with a message from my president that ‘tell Pakistan we are open for any cooperation, whatever Pakistan needs Russia is ready for it’,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by a senior Pakistani official who, according to The Express Tribune, attended the closed-door meeting.

    The Russian president’s offer was dubbed by the official as a “blank cheque” as they revealed that Putin had conveyed to Pakistan through his top diplomat that Moscow would help Islamabad in any manner.

    “If you’re interested in gas pipelines, corridors, defence or any other cooperation, Russia stands ready for it,” the official quoted Lavrov as saying, explaining what he meant.

    “It is now up to us to follow up this successful visit,” the official said.

    At the joint news conference with his Pakistani counterpart, the Russian foreign minister had said Moscow was ready to supply Pakistan with “special military equipment” to enhance its anti-terrorists potential. He, however, did not provide further details.

    Relations between Pakistan and Russia have undergone transformation in recent years thanks to the new alignments and strategic realities.

    The rapprochement between the former Cold War rivals began in 2011 when Pakistan’s relationship with the US hit the rock bottom. At that time, a decision was taken to bring a strategic shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy. The shift envisaged reaching out to Russia as part of Pakistan’s efforts to diversify its foreign policy options.

    The two countries initially worked quietly to find common ground. The years-long efforts had resulted in the Russian decision to send its troops to Pakistan for the first time in history for joint exercises in 2016. Moscow even overruled the Indian objections over holding joint drills with Pakistan.

    Since then, the two countries have been regularly holding these exercises and they are looking to further deepen that cooperation.

    Pakistan is hoping that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit the country, something that would complete the Pak-Russia ties from being Cold War foes to friends.

    In contrast, Russian ties with once its solid ally India are heading in the opposite direction. The two still have good relationship but the usual warmth they expressed earlier have been missing.

  • Police arrest convict who pretended to be dead for 15 years

    Police in India’s Uttar Pradesh have arrested a wanted criminal who had escaped imprisonment for 15 years by pretending to be dead.

    According to reports, family members of the prime suspect, Aniraj Singh, had submitted a fake death certificate to the police showing that he had died in the fire tragedy in Meerut in the 2006.

    “During an inquiry, it was found that to avoid life imprisonment, he had made a fake death certificate and was working as a security guard in Uttarakhand’s Rudrapur with his wife and children,” the official said.

    Singh had come out of jail on bail for a few days in 2004 and then did not appear before the court on the scheduled day of his case hearing following which the police started a manhunt. However, authorities stopped investigations into his case after receiving his fake death certificate.

    The 2006 Meerut Fire tragedy happened on the evening of April 10, 2006. Around 67 people lost their lives in the tragedy. The fire spread through a consumer fair among about 2,000 people in Victoria Park in the city, creating panic and rush.

  • Indian sculptor pays homage to late Shaukat Ali with a bust

    Indian sculptor pays homage to late Shaukat Ali with a bust

    Renowned Indian sculptor Manjit Singh Gill has paid homage to Pakistan’s legendary singer Shaukat Ali with a big sculpture. Ali passed away on April 2 in Lahore.

    According to a report in the Indian Express, Gill’s artwork was installed at a park in Ghal Kalan village. The report added that India’s Punjab also grieved Ali’s death.

    Read more – Atif Aslam, Adnan Sami among others saddened over Shaukat Ali’s demise

    Speaking to the publication, Ali’s son Imran Ali said that the singer was battling liver cirrhosis for more than a year and was being treated for it.

    “He had recovered but four months back [but] his condition deteriorated again and his liver stopped working completely,” said Imran.

    Ali sang his first song Pagdi Utaar Chora  in 1962 and received a silver jubilee award for it.

    Meanwhile, Gill is renowned for his statues worldwide. Previously, he made a sculpture of philanthropist and humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi and Punjabi poet Bashir Husain Najmi, more popularly known as Baba Najmi.

  • Naxals group kills 22, wounded 30 Indian security forces personnel in gun battle

    As many as 22 Indian police and paramilitary forces personnel were killed and 30 others wounded in a gun battle with Maoist rebels in a central Indian state, police said on Sunday, in the deadliest ambush of its kind in four years, reported AFP.

    Some 2,000 security personnel were on the hunt for a Maoist rebel leader in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh state on Saturday when they were ambushed.

    “So far it is confirmed that 22 security personnel were killed,” Chhattisgarh police’s Additional Director General (ADG) Ashok Juneja said of the almost three-hour battle in the Maoist rebel stronghold.

    The injured personnel were admitted to two government-run hospitals in Bijapur and Chhattisgarh’s capital city Raipur.

    More than a dozen others remained missing, he said, adding that an unknown number of Maoists were also killed in the encounter.

    Juneja said the rebels looted weapons, ammunition, uniforms and shoes from the security forces who were killed.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the “sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten”, while Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on Twitter that India would “continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress.”

    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel wrote on Facebook on Sunday that Shah had assured him of “all the necessary help” from the national government against the militants.

    The toll was the worst for Indian security forces battling the far-left guerillas since 2017 when 25 police commandos were killed in the attack.

    Seventeen police from a commando patrol were killed in an attack by more than 300 armed rebels in Chhattisgarh in March last year.

    Sixteen commandos were also killed in the western state of Maharashtra in the lead-up to India’s election in 2019, in a bomb attack that was blamed on the Maoists.

    The Maoists, also known as Naxals, have waged an armed insurgency against the government for decades.

    Leaders of the hardline leftist militant group say they are fighting on behalf of the poorest, who have not benefited from a long economic boom in Asia’s third-largest economy.

  • Teammates defend flip-flop on trade with India; say PM, Commerce Minister Imran ‘wear different hats’

    Teammates defend flip-flop on trade with India; say PM, Commerce Minister Imran ‘wear different hats’

    Teammates of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan have defended his move to defer cotton and sugar trade plans with India as the PM after approving the same as the commerce minister earlier.

    Defending the move, National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf said that the premier wear two hats as both the commerce minister and the chief executive of the country.

    When asked if Imran, as the commerce minister, believed the proposal should be forwarded to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval, but differed on his own idea as the PM, the NSA didn’t respond.

    “I am not the bureaucrat here to determine the technicalities,” he said, adding that it was just irrelevant.

    Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry also went for a similar choice of words, saying that the premier “wore two hats”.

    “As the PM chairing the federal cabinet meeting he also has to take into account the recommendations of other stakeholders, including the foreign, defence and interior ministries,” the minister maintained.

    The statements come days after the federal cabinet rubbished plans to resume cotton and white sugar import from India despite Commerce Minister Imran Khan’s proposal approved by ECC headed by Finance Minister Hammad Azhar.

    The federal cabinet chaired by PM Imran deferred the proposal despite improving Pakistan-India ties, saying New Delhi should first restore the autonomous status of the troubled disputed valley of Kashmir.

  • Thief suffers heart attack after seeing huge amount of money he stole

    Thief suffers heart attack after seeing huge amount of money he stole

    A robber suffered a heart attack after seeing the huge amount of money he had stolen in Uttar Pradesh, India.

    According to details, two thieves stole over Rs1.4 million cash and other valuables after on February 16 breaking in into a public service centre owned by a man named Nawab Haider.

    The muggers were delighted when they found a huge amount of cash there and decided to divide it equally. Upon seeing the money, one of the thieves suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to a private hospital. A large chunk of his stolen money was used for his treatment.

    One of the two thieves revealed the whole incident after he was arrested and investigated by the police.

    According to the police, “The accused are habitual offenders and have several cases registered against them at different police stations. They confessed to have committed a robbery at the public service centre and fled with over Rs1.4 million cash and other valuables.”

    The muggers told the police that they were expecting to get a few thousands of rupees at the centre but were surprised after getting the huge amount of money.

  • Cabinet rubbishes ECC approval to resume cotton, sugar import from India: report

    Cabinet rubbishes ECC approval to resume cotton, sugar import from India: report

    A meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has rejected the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approval to import cotton yarn and white sugar from India, reports quoted sources as saying.

    A day earlier, the ECC had approved two summaries of the commerce and textile ministry to lift ban on import of cotton and white sugar from India.

    According to reports, there were 21 items on the agenda of the ECC meeting to be chaired by newly appointed Finance Minister Hammad Azhar. Commerce and Textile divisions had submitted five crucial summaries for approval besides others.

    At the agenda no. 16, the Textile Division summary sought permission from the ECC to lift ban on import of cotton and cotton yarn from India in a bid to bridge raw material shortfall for the value-added textile sector.

    In addition to this, another summary of the commerce ministry at agenda no. 20 also sought permission to allow import of white sugar from India through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and commercial importers.

    The resumption of import of these goods was expected to lead to partial revival of trade relations. On Aug 9, 2019 Pakistan downgraded trade relations with India in reaction to the latter’s decision to revoke Article 370 of its Constitution that granted occupied Kashmir a special status.

    In May 2020, Pakistan lifted the ban on import of medicines and raw material from India to ensure there is no shortage of essential drugs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first step of reversing of complete suspension of trade with India.

    However, Indian premier’s letter to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Pakistan Day was the first step in the right direction amid reports of UAE Royals brokering peace.

    On Tuesday, PM Imran replied to Modi’s letter, saying Pakistan also desired peaceful relations with India.

    “The people of Pakistan also desire peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India,” he said in his reply.

    “I thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day.”

  • ‘Desire peaceful relations’ – Khan replies to Modi’s letter

    ‘Desire peaceful relations’ – Khan replies to Modi’s letter

    Prime Minister Khan has responded to the letter written by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Pakistan Day, telling Modi that the Pakistani people “also desire peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India”. The letter is dated March 29, a week after PM Khan received the letter from Modi.

    PM Khan started the letter by saying, “I thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day. The people of Pakistan commemorate this Day by paying tribute to the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers in envisioning an independent, sovereign state where they could live in freedom and realise their full potential,” clearly stating that Pakistan is a place where people live in freedom.

    Letter written by Imran Khan to Narendra Modi

    PM Khan said Pakistan was convinced that “durable peace and stability in South Asia is contingent upon resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, in particular the Jammu & Kashmir dispute” . He also added that the “creation of an enabling environment is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue.”

    “Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,” PM Khan concluded, after conveying his best wishes to the Indian people in the fight against coronavirus.

    It should be noted that in Modi’s letter to Khan, the same phrase was used to end the letter.

    In the letter that Modi wrote to Khan, Modi stated that, “an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility” was necessary if both countries were to move forward.

    Social media was abuzz after the news of the letter broke, with details emerging that Pakistan and India were going to resume trade.

    Others were hopeful that maybe this time Pakistan and India might commit to a new peace.

    While some are apprehensive.

    A separate message was also sent by President Ram Nath Kovind to his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi. Indian government officials have told the Indian press that it is a routine letter sent every year.

  • تاریخ کا قرض

    تاریخ کا قرض

    مجھے یاد پڑتا ہے کہ اکثر تحریک پاکستان کا مضمون اسکولوں میں اساتذہ کچھ اس طرح شروع کروایا کرتے تھے کہ ‘تحریک پاکستان کی بنیاد اس دن پڑی جب برصغیر میں پہلا مسلمان آیا۔۔۔’ ویسے ہمارے اس خطے کے لوگ بھی عجیب ہیں وہ محمد بن قاسم سے تو اپنی تاریخ شروع کرنے پر فخر محسوس کرتے ہیں لیکن اپنے اس خطے کی قدیم تاریخ سے اپنے آپ کو پرے پرے رکھتے ہیں نہ جانے یہ شرم ہے یا ارادی عمل۔

    ہم مسلمان ہیں اور اس پر ہمیں فخر ہے لیکن جس خطے میں ہم رہتے ہیں اس کی بنا پر ہمارا یہاں کی قدیم و جدید تاریخ سے بھی ایک رشتہ ہے اور جب تک ہم اس رشتے کی ملکیت نہیں لیتے اور اپنی آنے والی نسلوں کو نہیں پڑھائیں گے تب تک ہم کیسے اس کو یقینی بنا سکتے ہیں کہ ہم کہاں سے آئے اور کہاں جا رہے ہیں۔ گندھارا تہذیب کا گہوارہ ہونے کے باوجود ہمارے بچے مغل بادشاہوں کے نام رٹ رہے ہوتے ہیں اعتراض اس پر نہیں ہے افسوس اس پر ہے کہ اس خطے کی تاریخ کو ایک خاص نظر سے دیکھنے اور ایک خاص رنگ میں رنگنے کی کوشش کی گئی ہے۔ راجہ پورس کا سکندر اعظم کے تصادم ہو یا بھگت سنگھ کا برطانوی استعمار کے خلاف اقدام۔ ہمیں تو فخر کرنا چاہئے کہ اس خطے میں رہنے والے استعماری قوتوں کے خلاف لڑنے میں، اپنے حق آزادی کو حاصل کرنے میں اس خطے کے باسی ایک تاریخ رکھتے ہیں۔ تحریک پاکستان ایک حادثہ نہیں ہے بلکہ برصغیر کی جنگ آزادی میں ایک روشن مینار ہے یہ تاریخ کے تسلسل میں ایک واقعہ ہے ایک سوچا سمجھا ارادہ!! اس خطے کی جنگ آزادی کی تاریخ میں بھی ہماری ‘پک اینڈ چوز’ کی پالیسی رہی ہے اور ایک ایسا خطہ جو ہمیشہ اپنے اندر تنوعات کو جذب کر کے ایک نیا رنگ پیدا کرنے کی صلاحیت رکھتا تھا اسے ہم ایک خاص عینک چڑھا کر دیکھتے ہیں اور اپنی آنے والی نسلوں کو بھی ایسے ہی دولے شاہ کے چوہے بنانے پر مصر ہیں۔ قومیت ایک اچھی چیز ہے لیکن جب جارحانہ اور شدت پسند قومیت بزور بازو مسلط کرنے کی کوشش کی جائے گی تو حاصل جمع ملغوبہ ہی ہو گا۔

    ابھی 23 مارچ کا دن گزرا اور یوم پاکستان ہونے کے ساتھ ساتھ یہ بھگت سنگھ کی پھانسی کا دن بھی تھا لیکن اس کی بھی ہم نے ملکیت نہ لی حالانکہ بھگت سنگھ کو پھانسی لاہور میں ہی لگی تھی مزے کی بات یہ ہے کہ 23 مارچ کا دن ابتدائی برسوں میں یوم جمہوریہ کے طور پر منایا جاتا تھا کیونکہ 23 مارچ 1956کو پاکستان ایک جمہوریہ قرار پاتے ہوئے برطانوی عملداری سے مکمل چھٹکارا حاصل کر لیا تھا اور بھگت سنگھ بھی تاج برطانیہ سے مکمل آزادی کی جدوجہد کی علامت ہے۔

    بھگت سنگھ کو آپ مذہب کی عینک سے ہی کیوں دیکھتے ہیں یہ آزادی کی اس جنگ کا ایک سپاہی ہے جس نے اس خطے میں استعمار کو للکارا اور لاہور میں شادمان فوارہ چوک پر پھانسی چڑھ گیا لیکن ہم نے اس چوک کا نام اس آزادی کے ہیرو کو خراج تحسین پیش کرنے کی کوشش کو بھی ایک مذہبی معاملہ بنا دیا۔ پاکستان اور بھارت میں امن کا راستہ بھی ہماری مشترکہ تاریخ سے ہو کر نکلتا ہے جب دونوں طرف ہم اپنے اختلافات کے بجائے مشترکات کو مقدم رکھیں گے جب دونوں طرف اس مشترکہ تاریخ پر فخر کیا جائے گا۔ آج لاہور پر ہی صرف نظر دوڑائیں تو ایک ستم ظریفی سامنے آتی ہی کہ سر گنگا رام کے کئے گئے کام سے فیض تو اٹھاتے ہیں لیکن اپنی تاریخ میں انہیں وہ جگہ دینے پر تیار نہیں جس کے وہ متقاضی ہیں۔ ہماری سائنس کی کتابوں میں جابر بن حیان اور ابن الہیشم کو تو پڑھایا جاتا ہے لیکن ماہر طبیعات سبرامنین چندراشیکھر کو نہیں جو لاہور میں پیدا ہوئے اور پھر علم طبیعات اور فلکیات میں ایسا نام پیدا کیا کہ خلا میں Chandra X Ray Observatory انکے نام سے منسوب ہے میں سوچتا ہوں کہ یہ آبزرویٹری جب خلا میں لاہور پر سے گزرتی ہو گی تو چندرا شیکھر بھی ضرور اپنی جائے پیدائش کو دیکھ کر مسکراتے ہوں گے ویسے ہی جیسے برصغیر کی آزادی کا ذکر ہوتا ہے اور اس میں لاہور کا نام آتا ہے تو بھگت سنگھ بھی مسکراتا ہو گا۔ یہ خطہ اپنی تاریخ میں بہت زرخیز ہے بس ضرورت اسکی ملکیت لینے کی ہے۔