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Palestine can wait

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Palestine can wait

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The relatively new India-Israel bonhomie makes much sense, both economically and strategically for India, and politically for PM Modi

By Sujit Bhar

This is a tricky issue, especially tricky for India, traditionally an Arab (read Palestine) backer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Israel in July, the first Indian PM to do so, and he will not be stopping over in Palestine. That’s a rather unusual thing to do for a ‘friend’, when you are visiting a neighbour. One believes even the Arabs know the meaning of ‘atithi debo bhava’ and they would have reciprocated well.

The history of India-Palestine relationship cannot be overstated, starting from Mahatma Gandhi’s assertion that it wasn’t fair a land of and for the Arabs was forcibly sliced away and handed over to the Jews, who believed the Old Testament said this was their land.

India was always for the “Palestinian cause” trying to project its influence in multilateral forums. The draft resolution on “the right of Palestinians to self-determination” was co-sponsored by India and placed at the 53rd UN General Assembly. On the other hand, India recognised Israel only a year after its formation. India-Israel relations were on the upturn from 1992 and there have been no letup since. President Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel in October 2015.

There has been a safety valve put in place, though. It has been reported that India would possibly host Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before Modi’s visit to Israel. There will be a great deal of ironing out of kinks at that time and, fingers crossed, the Israel visit of Modi will not be affected by bad blood.

Let us look at this objectively. Gandhi’s views – it was also the view held by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru – on Arab self-determination was on political lines. It not only protected India from the larger influence of the US, but also helped the country produce a counter-balance to Pakistan and a larger than life image as founder of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM).

Technically, NAM is a closed chapter, defence compromises being overtaken by economic considerations. In the new world order, sentiments of the past can cause a negative draft. Now it’s the human face versus the business face of a nation. Let us face the practical world.

Sooner or later, Modi will meet US President Donald Trump, and there will be discussions and deals to sign if Israel is happy. Like it or not, the Trump-Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister) relationship is going to flower. India has huge defence partnerships going with Israel, and there is a possibility that US aircraft manufacturer Boeing would be interested in moving some of its manufacturing bases to India. Airbus has.

Think of the possibilities for Modi. He has not been able to create the jobs he had promised the country in 2014. What he has created instead is race-caste hatred, the debilitating frustrations and joblessness of demonetisation and an atmosphere of fear and apprehension. He has delivered exactly what he had promised to remove.

Therefore, the face-saver. Israel, and hence the US, can offer opportunities in manufacturing that can produce a decent number of jobs and a technical base that the country has failed to produce even after 70 years of Independence. Remember, the only brand that India can proudly claim Intellectual Property Rights to around the world today is probably the BrahMos missile system (the fastest in the world, with Russia) and the PSLV space vehicle.

This digression was necessary to bring some perspective to the issue. While we cannot crudely say thanks, but no thanks to Palestinian overtures, it would be up to Palestine to realise that the vital necessities of a nation can often override humanitarian overtures.

Here’s the rub. Modi needs the jobs, the industry, the recognition, the export capabilities he craves, and to top it all, he wants to be remembered as a great statesman. How logical the last aspiration is, only time will tell, but if he fails to put food on Indian tables, and seal their backyards safely, he is in for a shock outcome sooner rather than later, whatever the Uttar Pradesh polls might indicate.

One would not want to look at this from narrow, personal perspectives, but that possibly is what it is.

India has drawn huge advantages from Israeli technology advances, especially in the agricultural and defence sectors. They are now cooperating in cyberspace security issues that would be the key point of worry in the coming years. Modi wants to take it further. And in doing so if he can jump to the US, why not?

It was a great relationship Modi had with former US President Barack Obama. They had tea in the gardens and talked about cooperation and Obama managed a $ 10 billion defence deal out of it. What did India get? Not even a sanction against Pakistan. The humanitarian angle simply does not exist. India still has the market advantage, and technology has to be a big input in setting up industry for Make In India.

Frankly, Modi’s Make in India has suffered at the very concept stage. Make what, and for whom? The Indian domestic market is big, but oversupplied in the low-tech region. High-tech is Intellectual Property-dependant and such technology is mostly imported. Indian cannot survive on low tech-mass production any more. Nobody is buying.

In a recent, ambitious policy statement, it was announced that India would go for a Rs 10,000 per month minimum wage limit. There has been no talk as to how this would be possible in the unorganised sector. If the unorganised sector is left out – it employs 70 percent of all employable Indians, contributing over 40 percent to India’s GDP – what is the point of this exercise? And the low-tech factories across unorganised setups will never be able to afford this level of payment.

Conversely, Israel needs a market that is receptive not only of its technology, but also of its ideology. The India market is a good fit. There is great scope for cooperation, and sorry Palestine, you lose out on all counts.

Frankly, let’s not make a mountain out of this Israel-Modi molehill. The nation deserves to survive and prosper. The world is a little different now from the heady 70s, and there is opportunity to grab. The economic realities are in the face, we cannot avoid them.

Palestine can wait.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

UP Police arrest Karni Sena activist for objectionable remarks against Akhilesh Yadav in Aligarh

Circle Officer Abhay Kumar Pandey reported that Chauhan’s past conduct revealed a troubling history, with over six prior cases registered against him since 2016.

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UP Police have arrested Mohan Chauhan, a member of the Karni Sena, who made the controversial announcement of a bounty on Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman last week, after his inflammatory statements against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Chauhan was taken into custody at his home within the Jawan police station jurisdiction, as officials deemed his remarks a potential threat to peace. The local police acted on a complaint submitted by Laxmi Dhangar, the district president of the Samajwadi Party, on April 16.

Circle Officer Abhay Kumar Pandey reported that Chauhan’s past conduct revealed a troubling history, with over six prior cases registered against him since 2016.

His most recent actions included a public declaration of a ₹25 lakh reward for the head of MP Suman, who recently made headlines for labelling 16th-century Rajput king Rana Sanga a “traitor.” This comment stemmed from Suman’s assertion that Rana invited Babur, the Mughal dynasty’s founder, to overthrow Sultan Ibrahim Lodi.

In a video that circulated widely on social media, Chauhan claimed that Suman would face repercussions for his remarks and suggested he would be willing to take matters into his own hands if given the opportunity.

Moreover, a complaint regarding Chauhan’s rhetoric directed at Suman had been previously lodged by Aarti Singh, the Aligarh chief of the SP Mahila Sabha, at the Gandhi Park police station on March 29. Following the investigation, the case was reassigned to the Jawan police station, where Chauhan resides.

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India News

Zikra, woman don from Delhi, sent to 2-day police custody in Seelampur murder case

The incident has raised alarm in the Seelampur community and adds to a growing concern regarding youth violence in the area.

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In the Seelampur case, Zikra, a woman don from Delhi, was remanded to two days of police custody on Saturday after her arrest linked to the brutal murder of a 17-year-old boy named Kunal.

During a court hearing, police expressed the need for Zikra’s detention to aid in identifying additional suspects involved in the crime and to locate the murder weapon, according to reports. Investigators have suggested that Kunal was fatally attacked by Zikra’s cousins, Sahil and Dilshad, both of whom are currently evading capture.

The background of the conflict dates back to November, when Zikra’s cousin, Sahil, was assaulted by two individuals named Lala and Shambhu, who were reportedly friends of Kunal. Although Kunal witnessed the incident, his youth precluded his inclusion in the police report. In a bid for revenge, Zikra and Sahil targeted Kunal, culminating in the tragic altercation that claimed the teenager’s life.

In response to the escalating violence, the Delhi Police have mobilised ten dedicated teams to track down the remaining suspects. Officers are actively analysing CCTV footage to determine escape routes and are conducting raids throughout the sprawling city in search of the accused.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has publicly addressed the incident, assuring the public that justice will be served in the case of Kunal’s death. “I have been in touch with the Police Commissioner regarding this heartbreaking case. Kunal suffered fatal injuries from knifewounds and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital,” Gupta stated during a press briefing.

However, the victim’s mother has voiced her frustration and anxiety, claiming she has not received any updates from law enforcement and alleging that officials may be inadvertently aiding the suspects’ escape.

The incident has raised alarm in the Seelampur community and adds to a growing concern regarding youth violence in the area.

Zikra’s notoriety stems from her criminal past; she is a resident of Seelampur and had recently been released from prison after serving time for violations under the Arms Act. Known for her bold demeanour and always carrying a firearm, Zikra had cultivated a reputation in the underbelly of the city’s criminal scene.

Prior to her arrest, she worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the spouse of imprisoned gangster Hashim Baba. Reports indicate Zikra was attempting to establish her own gang following Zoya’s incarceration in a drug-related case, potentially exacerbating tensions in the area.

As the investigation unfolds, questions linger not only about the nature of the crime but also about the underlying social issues that have led to such violence among youth in the community.

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Entertainment

Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko arrested in drugs case

However, Aloshious expressed frustration over the media leak of Chacko’s name and indicated her willingness to withdraw the complaint.

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Kerala Police arrested Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko on Saturday for suspected drug consumption, authorities confirmed. According to officials, a medical examination and further legal proceedings are underway.

Chacko faces charges under Sections 27 (consumption of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances) and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, according to reports.

The arrest follows an incident where Kochi city police issued a notice to Chacko on Friday, summoning him for questioning. The notice was linked to an alleged escape from a hotel during an anti-drug raid. As Chacko was not at his Thrissur residence, the notice was handed to his family.

A senior police officer clarified, “The notice was issued because the incident falls under the Ernakulam North Police Station’s jurisdiction.” Chacko was directed to appear before the Ernakulam North Police Sub-Inspector on Saturday to explain his actions during the raid.

Hotel raid and alleged escape

On Wednesday night, the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) conducted a raid at a hotel near Kaloor around 10:45 pm, targeting a suspect in a drug-related case. Although the suspect was not found, police discovered Chacko’s name in the hotel’s guest register. When officers approached his third-floor room, he allegedly fled the scene.

CCTV footage and a viral video reportedly show Chacko escaping the hotel upon noticing the police. While no drugs were found during the raid, preliminary evidence points to Chacko as the individual who fled. No case has been filed directly related to the hotel incident due to the absence of recovered substances.

Recent Controversy

Chacko recently faced scrutiny after actor Vincy Aloshious accused him of “inappropriate behaviour” on the set of the unreleased film Soothravakyam. Aloshious had initially shared her concerns on Instagram, alleging misconduct by a co-actor under the influence of drugs. She later named Chacko in a formal complaint to the Film Chamber and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

However, Aloshious expressed frustration over the media leak of Chacko’s name and indicated her willingness to withdraw the complaint.

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