Tag: Jammu&Kashmir

FREEWHEELING

About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the story, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a run from 23 April 2025 to 21 May 2025. Superpower India; a New Pope; Old Wars; Eurovision, and the Met Gala 2025.

India: Pahalgam Terror

It was a beautiful, quiet Tuesday afternoon on 22 April 2025, cool breeze in the air, in India’s ‘mini Switzerland’, Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, about 95 km east of Srinagar in India’s Jammu & Kashmir State. It was a full-blown tourist season. Hundreds had flocked to the accessible-by-foot-only spot, either on foot or climbing-up a pony for a ride. Honeymooning couples were doing Instagram reels, and children were frolicking on the lush green grass.

Suddenly, a group of gun-wielding and body-camera mounted Islamic (as identified later) terrorists, wearing Army fatigues, emerged from the dense pine forests surrounding the scenic spot. They approached the group of unsuspecting tourists and started firing indiscriminately, triggering fear and confusion. The men folk were rounded up: made to stand in a line, names asked, and their pants pulled down (to check for circumcision). They were told to recite the Kalma (a formal declaration of Islamic faith) and when they couldn’t, proving they were not Muslim, and that they were Hindu, the men were shot dead at point-bank range, leaving out the women. Recounted a woman survivor, after the killing of her husband she asked the attackers to kill her too. One of them responded -“I won’t kill you. Go tell this to Modi”.

By the time the Police/Army arrived the terrorists had vanished. It was about 20 minutes of unalloyed mayhem: one of the bloodiest Islamist attacks on Hindus in India- 26 men killed in cold blood. The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Pakistan-based and sponsored, Laskhar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the bloody attack.

India was quick of the retaliatory-block spewing a volley of ‘potential energy’ loaded measures to strangulate and bring Pakistan to book. The Indus Water Treaty (IWT)-said to be unfair to India from the beginning-signed in 1960 was suspended indefinitely; Pakistan’s Diplomatic mission in India was downgraded reducing the level of official engagement; Pakistan’s military diplomats and Intelligence Officials declared as persona non grata; the Wagah-Attari Border was closed and the ceremonial beating the retreat parade was suspended; all currently valid Pakistan visas were revoked and Pakistanis asked to leave India within 24 hours; Indian airspace was closed for Pakistani commercial aircraft; trade ties snapped; shipping ties suspended; postal ties kept at abeyance; and a crackdown was launched on Pakistani origin digital and broadcast content.

The World Bank-brokered IWT allocates the waters of 6 rivers in the Indus Basin. India controls the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi) with unrestricted use, while Pakistan has primary rights over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), though India can use them for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower. With the suspension of the IWP, Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, key agricultural hubs, would face severe water shortages followed by reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and economic losses. The Wagah border crossing, near Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan), is a key trade and cultural link, famous for its daily flag-lowering ceremony. Closing the vital trade route will particularly impact trade in agricultural products and cement.

Meanwhile, India prepared for kinetic action and launched a very appropriately named ‘Operation Sindoor’. Sindoor is the vermilion, married Hindu women wear on the forehead, near the hairline, to signify that they are married.

Operation Sindoor: India Rises

On 7 May 2025, in a focused, measured, and non-escalatory manner, India’s Armed Forces struck nine places of Terrorist infrastructure-indoctrination, training and logistics facilities-inside Pakistan. Military facilities of Pakistan were deliberately not targeted with India demonstrating superb restraint in selection of targets and method of execution in its first kinetic response to the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

About 100 terrorists were smoked out of their dens and killed. But this was just the beginning. Pakistan vowed revenge, on the grounds that it has been attacked. The question of what will Pakistan attack in India was the ‘Elephant In The Room’ – with India having ‘no terror bases to boast’.

India then sent another strong and significant message by holding a Press Briefing to disseminate outcomes of the action by the Armed Forces. Two lady Officers, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, along with the Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri engaged with the media. The women took the lead, sharing details of the military’s precision strikes on terror targets in Pakistan. And they became instant hits on social media. It was a spectacular performance and my chest swelled with pride.

The next day, on 8th May, Pakistan retaliated with a massive drone swarm attack across India’s western states. India’s multi-layered air defence network-domestically built and augmented by Israeli and Russian systems-effortlessly neutralised nearly all of them. With this unwarranted attack, Pakistan had crossed a line. Should not they fight the terrorists rather than India? And Pakistan Army Officers were seen attending the funerals of the dead terrorists! Does India need more evidence of Pakistan’s complicity?

Then on 9th May, India took the fight to Pakistan, with additional strikes on six Pakistani military airbases and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) coordination hubs.

Meanwhile, India went on a war mode waking up its territorial forces and doing mock war drills across major cities. It declared that any further attack will be treated as an ‘Act of War’ and the response will be swift and brutal. India’s Prime Minister gave the Army Forces a free-hand to strike Pakistan at a time and place of their choosing. The Navy- targeting Karachi-the Army and the Air Force- other parts of Pakistan- were fully mobilised to beat the living daylights of Pakistan.

India not only defended its own airspace with a robust, layered architecture, but also in successfully penetrating the Chinese-made systems fielded by Pakistan. It’s a reminder that defence is not about what you buy—it’s about what you integrate. And after differentiation, India has integrated well.

On 10th May, an overwhelmed and bewildered Pakistan pleaded for a temporary halt in firing, which India thoughtfully accepted. India did not call it a ceasefire: the military referred to it as a ‘stoppage of firing’-a semantic but deliberate choice that reinforced its strategic control of the situation. Then, India declared that any further talks with Pakistan will be only on two issues: (1) Terror, and (2) the return of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) to India.

After just four days of calibrated military action and precision strikes, it was objectively conclusive that India achieved a massive victory. Operation Sindoor met and exceeded its strategic aims-destroying terrorist infrastructure, demonstrating military superiority, restoring deterrence, and unveiling a new national security doctrine. This was not a symbolic force. It was decisive power, clearly applied.

India handled this crisis without seeking international mediation. It enforced a doctrine on sovereign terms, using sovereign means. And it was not about occupation or regime change. It was a limited war executed for specific objectives.

Initially, I was disappointed by the quick ‘stoppage of firing’. I thought that India should have gone deeper, for the kill, ‘finishing Pakistan’ and retaking POK. But then, strategic success isn’t about the scale of destruction-it’s about achieving the desired political effect. India was not fighting for vengeance. It was fighting for deterrence. And it worked.

India’s restraint cannot be seen as weakness: it is evolved maturity. It imposed costs, redefined thresholds, and retained escalation dominance. India didn’t just respond to an attack. It changed the strategic equation. India also showcased ‘Made in India’ weaponry, which performance exceeded expectations (and killed the doubting Thomases). The Indian armed forces, under the leadership of veteran commanders, employed a powerful combination of air strikes, drone warfare, cold intimidation by a ready-to-strike Nadu, and ground intelligence to ensure maximum impact with minimal collateral damage.

In an age where many modern wars spiral into open-ended occupations, ‘forever wars’ or political confusion, Operation Sindoor stands apart. This was a demonstration of disciplined military strategy: clear goals, aligned ways and means, and adaptive execution in the face of unpredictable escalation-that too will a nuclear Power. India absorbed a blow, defined its objective, and achieved it—all within a contained timeframe. That kind of clarity is rare in modern war. The world could learn.

India showcased its ability to strike any target in Pakistan at will—terror sites, drone coordination hubs, even airbases. Meanwhile, Pakistan was unable to penetrate a single defended area inside India. That is not parity. That is overwhelming superiority. And that is how real deterrence is established.

Once the dust and the smoke settled, it was apparent that Pakistan had suffered Himalayan losses, and India had probably struck its nuclear bases, which unleashed a radioactive fear causing them to beg for an immediate ‘stoppage of firing’.

India easily won the war, but Pakistan made some ground in establishing a false narrative – which was lapped by foreign media and a few inside India- about Indian jets being downed, despite the Indian Air Force declaring that all Pilots returned safety to their respective bases.

The world with that deer-caught-in the headlights look woke up to a different India. Many countries tried to down-play India’s surgical war victory. And thanks to Pakistan’s devilish response, India got a fabulous opportunity to test its strategies, indigenous weapon systems, intelligence gathering and modern warfare techniques. Pakistan just woke up a sleeping Giant. And it’s never going to be the same again.

Other Wars

On 13th May, the terrorist Hamas released the last known living American Hostage in Gaza, Elan Alexander, 21, ending an 18 month ordeal that began on 7 October 2023. This decision by Hamas coincided with US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East. Probably to please him?

A native of New Jersey, Alexander was serving in the Israeli military near the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas. With this release, there are still 58 hostages out there. And Israel has decided to capture and fully control the Gaza Strip by mounting an unprecedented attack with the goal of ‘total victory’, to end the War.

Meanwhile, the Palestine Authority Leader of the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas unloaded on Hamas, yelling, “Sons of dogs—hand over the hostages!” In a rare public rebuke, Abbas demands Hamas release captives, disarm, and cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. He also slammed Hamas for giving Israel the excuse to destroy Gaza and warned of a new Nakba (ethnic cleansing of Palestine Arabs).

In the Russia-Ukraine war, both countries, goaded by the US President, are struggling to meet to find peace and end the war. A cease-fire hangs in the air, but the tough customer that Russia is, it would probably be on its terms.

Habemus Papam! We Have a Pope

On 7 May 2025, under the domed ceiling of the Michelangelo painted Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, 133 Cardinals gathered to vote and elect the Catholic Church’s 267th Pope. Of the 135 eligible Cardinals, two-from Spain and Kenya-could not attend due to health reasons. 89 votes was required to obtain the two-thirds majority to elect a new Pope.

Once inside the Chapel, each one of the Cardinals took an oath of secrecy with one hand resting on a copy of the Gospel. This precludes them from ever sharing details of how the new Pope was elected.

Since the Conclave began in the afternoon, on Day One, only one set of Ballot Papers was distributed to the Cardinals, which ended-up in a black smoke off the Chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The morning session of Day Two began with two ballots and once again black smoke emerged signifying that no Pope was elected – this after three rounds. Then after lunch, after the fourth round of voting white smoke appeared in the evening, signifying the election of a new Pope. Habemus Papam. That was awfully quick!

Then it was announced that the 69 years old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, accepting to be Pope, and choosing the name of Leo XIV would be the next Pope – the first American Pope. Keeping with tradition, the new Pope stepped onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica and greeted the world with the blessing, ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (to the City-of Rome-and the World) followed by a message in Latin and Spanish.

The new Pope-known as Bob to his friends- also the new Bishop of Rome – was born on 14 September 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.

Prevost grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, studied and earned a Degree in Mathematics at the Villanova University in Pennsylvania. He also studied Philosophy. In August 1981 he took his solemn vows and went on to receive his theological education-a Diploma-at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquina, where he was ordained a priest on June 1982. Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984 and thereafter spent decades as a missionary. He speaks multiple languages and plays amateur tennis besides reading, walking, and travelling-to new and diverse places.

Prevost spent 20 years in Peru, where he is a naturalised citizen and served as a Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015 to 2023. He is a dual citizen of the US and Peru.

The late Pope Francis made him an Archbishop in January 2023 and created him a Cardinal in September that year, assigning him the Diaconate of Saint Monica, which he officially took possession of in January 2024.

The choice of regnal name aligns him with a lineage of Pope known for strong leadership and doctrinal clarity.

The newly-minted Pope looks fresh and full of energy, and I’m hoping he spreads the right Word across the world.

Music and Gala

Austrian Singer Johannes Pietsch (stage name JJ), 24, won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest held in Basel, Switzerland on 17 May 2025, Saturday with the song ‘Wasted Love’, which features operatic, multi-octave vocals with a techno touch, coming from JJ’s classical music training. JJ said that his song is about failed romance conveying the message that ‘love is the strongest force on planet Earth, and love persevered’. He is the first Eurovision winner with Filipino ancestry, and to be identified as homosexual.

Israeli musician and pop music singer Yuval Raphael, 24, was placed second for the song, ‘New Day Will Rise’, but topped the Eurovision Public Vote. Her performance was marred by tensions over Israel’s participation amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Over the past year the European Broadcasting Union, which conducts the Eurovision, steadfastly refused any and all calls for Israel to be barred from the competition.

Fashion’s biggest night out, The 2025 Met Gala was held on 5 May 2025 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, United States, with the theme, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ focussing on black dandyism and its various iterations. The dress code of, ‘Tailored for You’ centred on menswear challenged designers to reinterpret tailoring traditions for their female clients. It sought to examine the importance of clothing and style to the formation of black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.

Celebrities included Zendaya, Demi Moore, Diana Ross, Rihanna (showing off her third baby bump), Colman Domingo, Formula One Star Sir Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, Dapper Dan, Kylie Jenner, Halle Berry (in a stunning sheer mermaid gown with an endlessly plunging neckline and strategically placed stripes), Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, Cynthia Erivo, Cardi B, Pop legend Madonna (in a cream tuxedo and cigar combo)… to list a few. Punjabi musician Diljit Dosanjh, in a first appearance, emulated an early Indian dandy of the 20th century. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan walked in with a cane and statement jewellery hugging his neck.

A slick array of blazers, pants, and ties abounded. Whether shorts suits formal tailcoats, or vests worn without jackets, suiting dominated the night in all different forms and iterations. Zendaya’s Louis Vuitton three-piece cream suit and wide-brimmed hat was a standout tailored look. A few gowns and skirt looks also stole the show. A memorable one was American rapper Andre Lauren Benjamin (Andre 3000) showing-up with a black and white piano strung to his back and a black trash bag as a purse.

Overall, it proved to be one of the most stylish, memorable Met Gala carpets in history.

The most popular star was a 28-year-old debutant, Lalisa Manoban, K-pop star Lisa, best known for her stint with the band ‘Blackpink’ who ruled the roost, with a staggering USD 21.3 million in Media Impact Value (MIV). This means that her red carpet appearance at the Gala earned her USD21.3 million through just social media.

Lisa appeared dressed in a Louis Vuitton (Lisa is Global Ambassador for the brand) outfit, a black bodysuit with an eyelet long-sleeved jacket over the top. She paired the bodysuit with a pearl and gold waist chain, a pair of Vuitton branded tights and a black and white bowler bag. Lisa faced some backlash for featuring American civil rights activist Rosa Park’s face on her underwear. But the controversy did help Lisa trend on social media for a considerable amount of time, potentially leading to her topping the Power Rankings this year.

More stylishly tailored and precision stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Freely wear Freewheeling.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-29

About: the world this week, 14 July2024 to 20 July 2024: India fights; Donald Trump fights; Israel fights; Reservations shake & stir Bangladesh and India’s Karnataka; Air India’s Gold; EU Leaders place themselves; Spains reigns in Wimbledon and the Euro-cup.

Everywhere

India: Mounting Body Bags

Terrorists from across the Border-read as Pakistan-are still on the prowl in India’s State of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and the number of dead Indian Jawans is mounting. This week, four Indian Army soldiers including an officer were killed in an exchange of gunfire during an encounter with terrorists in the Dessa area, Doda District, J&K. Counter-terrorism activities are underway, and it’s time India visibly acts to prevent these attacks, than just express ‘routine sympathy’ for those martyred.

America: Die Another Day

Last Saturday, former US President Donald Trump was at a Republican Party Campaign Rally at Butler, Pennsylvania, when he trumped death and ducked to live another day. A bullet grazed his right ear while he danced his head in his trademark speaking gesture-that saved him. It was a failed assassination attempt. Time magazine summed it up best with the headline, ‘Man of the Ear’.

A 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks drove 70 km from his home in Bethel Park with an AR-15 rifle, climbed-up a warehouse at the venue, and took shots at Trump, while roof-top snipers seemed slow to spot him. When bullets wizzed past him, and after one kissed his ear, Trump went down on his knees holding a bloodied ear, while the Security Service body-blanketed him. A spectator, a 50-year-old volunteer fire-fighter chief, Corey Comperatore, was killed when he dived on his family to protect them-he died a hero. Two others were injured.

Trump emerged from the bottom of the stage, with a fist thumping, ‘fight’-only after finding his shoes, which came loose in the melee. And overnight it became an iconic photo with China quick to copy it on T-Shirts and sell them like hot cookies.

The would-be assassin, Crooks was killed: shot dead by a Sniper, while still on the roof. A clear motive is yet to be established.

Crooks, a ‘high honours’ graduate with an associate degree in engineering science, working in a local nursing home kitchen as a Dietary Aide, at a short drive from his home. The AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle used was purchased by Crook’s father about six months ago, and dad allowed the son to use it, like he had many times before. And Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition on the day of the rally. He had a membership of the gun club in his area for at least a year. He had registered himself as a Republican voter but has made a USD 15 donation to a Democratic Party cause.

On the day of the shooting, Crooks drove his Hyundai Sonata to the rally and parked it outside the rally venue, with an explosive device hidden in the trunk of the car that was wired to a transmitter he carried. He had a bicycle, which he used to scout around the rally site and finally to reach the chosen position. He then scaled an air-conditioning unit of an adjacent building from the ground and pulled himself up onto the roof. He got up eight shots at Trump, about 400 feet away.

The AR (ArmaLite Rifle)-15, is a weapon of war, designed to be lightweight, easy to fire and carry in the field. It’s also a central symbol in the US gun debate; the most popular, and ubiquitous firearm in the US, with close to 25 million in civilian hands.

Law enforcement says, Crooks was identified as suspicious an hour before the shooting and Secret Service deemed him a threat 10 minutes prior to Trump going on stage. But allowed Trump to go ahead, anyway.

All eyes are on the Secret Service to explain how it could have suffered its biggest security failure since President Ronald Reagan was shot at in 1981. As a former president and presidential candidate, Trump receives Secret Service protection by law. And when it comes to campaign rallies, security sweeps around the event’s perimeter are typically routine. The Secret Service’s counter-sniper and counter-assault teams were at the Rally. Yet, a gunman was able to fire his weapon within 400 to 500 feet of where Trump took the stage, leaving many shocked and fearful that there could be more acts of political violence ahead of the November Elections. Of course, a President of the US is given over a thousand times more security than an ex-President. But the security-lapse is alarming and raises many red flags!

Later, turning-up with a neatly bandaged right ear, Trump announced his running-mate and Vice Presidential candidate as the 39 years old James David Vance. Eight years ago, in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, JD Vance was a bitter critic of Donald Trump. Publicly calling him an ‘idiot, and said he was ‘reprehensible’. Privately, he compared him to Adolf Hitler. He has since come-around.

Vance, was born in southern Ohio. And rose from poverty to become US Senator and now, a Vice Presidential candidate. Vance defeated Democratic Party Nominee Tim Ryan in the 2022 US Senate Election in Ohio State.

After serving in the Marine Corps, attending Yale Law School, and working as a venture capitalist in San Francisco, Vance rose to national prominence thanks to his bestselling 2016 Book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’. In that memoir, he explored the socioeconomic problems confronting his hometown and his upbringing in Appalachia. And attempted to explain Trump’s popularity among impoverished working class white Americans.

He met his future wife Usha Chilukuri at Yale and married her in an interfaith Wedding ceremony in 2014: they were blessed by a Hindu Pandit, along with a Bible reading by Vance’s best friend. The couple have three children: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel.

Usha is a daughter of Indian immigrants, from a family of academic achievers. Her great-aunt, Shanthamma Chilukuri, 96, is celebrated as India’s oldest active professor. She teaches Physics and lives in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh State, commuting 60 km on most weekdays for her classes at Vizianagaram. And says, teaching is her passion and purpose in life. Usha’s family hails from Vadduru Village in Andhra Pradesh but moved to Chennai when her maternal grandfather took up a teaching assignment at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

At the end of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump accepted his Party’s nomination as Presidential candidate. During his acceptance speech, he rolled out a Rambo threat to the terrorist Hamas, “We want our hostages back. And they better be back before I assume Office, or you will be paying a very big price”. Great words indeed!

Israel: Fierce Battle

Last Saturday, news swirled about the possible killing of Muhammad Deif, the second in command of the Terrorist Hamas, in a deadly air-strike by Israel on the compound where intelligence indicated he was hiding. However, Israel has not confirmed whether it indeed killed Hamas’s elusive military leader. Israel seems confident he was at that location to meet with Khan Younis brigade commander Rafa’a Salameh. But it could be possible that Deif left, for some reason, minutes before the strike.

Israeli forces continued pounding areas in the central Gaza Strip, killing and are eliminating tens of Hamas terrorists almost every day. This Tuesday, the military said it had eliminated half of the leadership of Hamas’ military wing and killed or captured about 14,000 fighters since the start of the war, around half the fighting force estimated by the Israeli military. Israel says over 320 of its soldiers have been killed in Gaza. And the fighting goes on.

European Union(EU): Leaders Elected

Ursula von der Leyen, 65, of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) was re-elected as President of the European Commission following a secret ballot among Members of European Parliament (MEP). She secured the backing of 401 MEPs at a vote in Strasbourg on Thursday – 41 more than required. Von der Leyen, was first elected in 2019. And will now serve another five years at the helm of the EU.

Von der Leyen is German, and worked as a Physician and Research Fellow before becoming a Politician. She is married to Physician Heiko von der Leyen – a Professor and CEO of a medical engineering company. The couple have seven children.

As head of the EU’s executive branch, the President sets the EU’s policy agenda, political direction, and priorities, leads a cabinet of commissioners and represents the EU at international meetings and summits.

The other two big EU jobs will be filled later this year by Antonio Costa, a former Socialist Prime Minister in Portugal, who will head the European Council, which represents the 27 EU governments; and by Estonia’s Kaja Kallas who has stepped down as Prime Minister to become the EU’s foreign policy chief.

Bangladesh: Reservations – Shaken

Bangladesh is on the boil. Thousands of students armed with sticks and rocks clashed with armed police in the capital Dhaka this Thursday. And mobile internet services were cut to quell anti-quota protests that have killed at least 16 people this week.

The nationwide agitation, the biggest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was re-elected for a fourth time, is fuelled by high unemployment among the youth, with nearly a fifth of the 170 million population out of work or education.

Students have been holding rallies demanding change to a system which reserves a third of public sector jobs for the families and relatives of veterans of the country’s war for independence from Pakistan in 1971 -categorised as war heroes. Some jobs are also reserved for women, ethnic minorities. Government jobs are highly coveted in Bangladesh because they pay well. In total, more than half of the positions-amounting to hundreds of thousands-are reserved for certain groups. And takes the quota system to a whooping 56%.

The students are arguing that the system is discriminatory, demanding a merit-based approach to jobs.

India’s Karnataka Reservations – Stirred

Meanwhile, in India’s State of Karnataka, The State Government brought a bill, cleared on Monday, which requires Private Companies to prioritise local hires for 70 % of non-management roles, 50%of management-level jobs, and 100% reservation at certain lower levels. By every sound of the Bill, it appeared to be glaringly illegal and would not pass the Constitution test. And surely the Courts will chuck it out. But still, India’s Grand Old Party-The Indian National Congress-which rules the State, made a scene of it.

But then, there was a thunderous uproar, with many Bengaluru Companies saying they will move their business out of the State. And the nearby state of Andhra Pradesh began ogling at the opportunity, and turned on an infectious charm, with come hither looks. Karnataka suddenly found its tail settling between the legs and made a hasty retreat.

“The bill intended to implement reservation for Kannadigas in private sector institutions, industries and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A final decision will be taken after comprehensive discussion in the next cabinet meeting”, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Wonder where wisdom lies?

Air India: Gold

This week, an Air-India passenger flying on a normal flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to New Delhi on flight AI-992 raised suspicion with his continual refusal of in-flight food and drink during the over five hours flight. The airline must have felt slighted that its on-board cuisine wasn’t tickling enough for the man. An alert flight-attendant found this unusual and informed the Captain. And on landing the Passenger was placed under severe watch by Customs. On interrogation, he admitted to concealing gold in his body. He had about 1097 grams – with about INR 69 lakh – of the precious metals hidden in four capsules in his rectum. Indians love their gold, for sure. Never mind where it comes from.

Sports: Tennis and Football

Wimbledon

The Ladies Final saw Czech Barbora Krejcikova outplay Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, to win her first Wimbledon Singles Ladies Title. With the victory, Krejcikova emulated her late friend and coach Jana Novotna, who was Wimbledon Champion in 1998 and died from ovarian cancer in 2017, at the age of 49.

For Jasmine Paolini, 28, it was her second straight Grand Slam final defeat, after falling to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in straight sets in last month’s French Open.

In the Gentlemen’s Finals, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz beat Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6, to win the Wimbledon Singles Title, and now owns 4 Grand Slam Titles (1 U S Open, 1 French Open and 2 Wimbledon) at age 21. He also retains the title he won last year. He outclassed seven-time champion and 24 Grand Slam Title holder Djokovic. Alcaraz is also only the sixth man to win the French Open and the Wimbledon back to back.

Novak Djokovic says of Carlos Alcaraz, “He played every single shot better than I did: the way I felt on the court today against him, I was inferior on the court. He was a better player. That’s it. He played every single shot better than I did. I don’t think I could’ve done much more… he wasn’t allowing me to have free points on my serve. He played with a lot of variety. I’ve never seen him serve that way. I’ve never seen him serve that fast. He must’ve had a really good serving practice day, yesterday. He really outplayed me… he was better than me in every aspect of the game.”

Carlos Alcaraz received the trophy from a classy Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, who came back from her time-out, sizzling in a purple dress. And with daughter princess Charlotte fondly looking over her. The Royals received a standing ovation.

Eurocup 2024

Spain beat England in the European Football Championship, hosted by Germany from 14 June to 14 July 2024. The tournament involved 24 teams, with Georgia making their European Championship debut.

Spain had 65% possession to England’s 35% and double the passes made. England got a lucky draw with Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and got lucky again in semi-finals beating Netherlands, but were finally outplayed by brilliant Spain.

Spain struck late, to win with a 2-1 victory over England on Sunday in Berlin to capture the trophy for a record fourth time. It was an intense first-half as Spain dominated, but England soaked in the pressure, and held them to a 0-0 scoreline. In the second-half, Spain struck early as Neco Williams scored in the 47th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead. But Cole Palmer equalised in the 73rd minute, bringing England back to the game. Spain substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored a late winner in the 86th minute as his side won, 2-1.

More earful stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. ‘Fight’ with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-50

About: the world this week, 10 December to 16 December 2023; the United Nations tries for a cease-fire; India’s new State Chief Ministers; Jammu & Kashmir; and smoke in India’s Parliament.

Everywhere

The United Nations, Israel, and America

Late last week, the United Nations (UN) Security Council met to discuss and pass an immediate, cease-fire Resolution in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. The Security Council consists of 5 permanent members, and 10 non-permanent (elected for a two-year term by the UN’s General Assembly) members. Only the permanent members have a veto, and for a resolution to be adopted all permanent members must vote in agreement. And a Resolution passed by the Security Council is binding.

The meeting was convened after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter which says, he may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Security Council failed to adopt the cease-fire Resolution, put forward by the United Arab Emirates, due to a veto by the United States, following a debate earlier in the day. Thirteen Security Council members voted in favour while the United Kingdom abstained.

The US told the UN Security Council: “We do not support this resolution’s call for an unsustainable ceasefire that will only plant the seeds for the next war.”

The US and Israel opposed the ceasefire, saying it would only benefit Hamas, which Israel has vowed to annihilate in response to the deadly 7th October cross-border massacre of Israeli civilians.

Later, the United Nations, while still trying to build a consensus, adopted a non-binding resolution in the General Assembly: 153 votes for to 10 against, with 23 abstentions, to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. The same vote in October had got 120 for, 12 against, and 45 abstentions.

More than 17,700 Palestinians have been killed during the latest Israel-Hamas war. And as humanitarian concerns continue to rise, Israel and Hamas do not appear any closer to resolving the conflict than they were at the start.

Meanwhile, in America, over last weekend, University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) President, Liz Magill resigned. It comes almost a week after she, along with the Presidents of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), participated in a congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. And was unable to confirm that, ‘calling for the genocide of Jews’ would violate University policies on bullying or harassment. Harvard has said its President will not step-down, on account of this testimony. MIT is still thinking.

India’s New State Chief Ministers

This week, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rolled-out its choice of Chief Ministers (CM) for the three States it overwhelmingly won when votes were counted and results declared last week.

In the State of Chhattisgarh, the BJP picked Vishnu Deo Sai, 59, a prominent tribal leader, as the next CM: he was elected as leader of the BJP’s legislative party. Sai comes from a family of former Jan Sangh -a precursor to the BJP- leaders, where two elder brothers of his father were MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly). He started his political career as a village Sarpanch and rose to become Union Minister – Minister of State Steel & Mines – in an earlier BJP Government. He is a four-time Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and also the Chhattisgarh BJP President for about 4 years.

In the State of Madhya Pradesh, the BJP chose Mohan Yadav, 48, the Ujjain South MLA, as Chief Minister. The BJP legislature party elected him to replace Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the four-time outgoing CM. Mohan is a three-time MLA and worked as the Higher Education Minister in the outgoing Government. The party also named two Deputy Chief Ministers, Jagdish Devda, and Rajendra Shukla – the first time the State has such a combination.

Then, as if two surprises weren’t enough, the BJP came-up with a third: choosing first-time MLA, Bhajan Lal Sharma, 55, as Rajasthan’s next Chief Minister, ending days of speculation.

Bhajan Lal worked as the General Secretary of the BJP Rajasthan Unit, for four consecutive terms. In the year 2003, he contested the Assembly Elections for the first time from Nadbhai, Rajasthan. However, he finished fifth and lost his deposit with a vote share of 6.28%. This time, he won from the Sanganer Constituency. Diya Kumari, a member of the Jaipur royal family, and Prem Chand Bairwa were added as Deputy Chief Ministers in Rajasthan – in this surprising new CM + 2 Deputies ‘combo-offer’ of the BJP.

Jammu & Kashmir

The State of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has a deep troubled history going back to the time of India’s independence. In August 1947, the British partitioned India into the present-day India, and Pakistan, on religious lines – Hindu and Muslim respectively – before handing over governance and leaving. Freedom, it was, from colonial rule of 89 years, which began in the year 1858.

India, at that time, consisted of 562 Princely States, which had to be brought under the Indian Union by signing an Instrument of Accession-voluntarily, by a polite nudge, tough coercion, or even brute force. It was a Himalayan task successfully and deftly accomplished by the unforgettable ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and his Home Ministry team.

The State of Jammu & Kashmir had a majority Muslim population and was ruled by a Hindu King, Maharaja Hari Singh. There was a tussle between India and Pakistan for possession of this State, and finally, after initial dithering, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947-making it a part of India. The Maharaja was hesitant to join any side, had ‘independent’ ideas, and signed only after Pashtun tribals, aided by Pakistan, invaded J&K and India agreed to help on the condition of accession. The Schedule appended to the Instrument of Accession clearly gave the Indian Parliament power to legislate for J&K on only three subjects – defence, external affairs, and communications.

Later, when the Constitution of India was written and came into force on 26 January 1950, Jammu & Kashmir was mostly exempted from the Indian Constitution – by Article 370, which was a ‘temporary provision’ that provided special status to the State.

J&K was allowed a Constituent Assembly for framing its constitution and restricting the legislative authority of the Indian Parliament. And the future of the State was to be determined by a ‘reference to the people’. Temporary also meant that except Article 1, which declared India as a ‘Union of States’, and Article 370 itself, no part of the Indian Constitution would apply to J&K. Article 370 itself could not be amended or repealed—unless the Constituent Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir consented.

After a five-year process, on 17th November 1956, the Constitution of J&K was made and adopted with a declaration: ‘The State of Jammu and Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India’. On the same day, having completed its task, the Constituent Assembly of J&K dissolved itself.

Over the years there was unusual, persisting violence in J&K, mostly ‘angry’ Pakistan sponsored terrorism from across the border and supported by parties inside J&K, enjoying the special status. And a portion of J&K was occupied by Pakistan-Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK)-which India could not get back despite a War. India had to settle with a ‘temporary’, Line Of Control (LOC) drawn by the United Nations, which was called to resolve. The UN also passed a Resolution that Pakistan must vacate POK, which was never implemented. The Indian Army had a permanent presence in the State due to the volatile situation.

The present Indian Government embarked on a mission to get the bits and pieces of J&K’s history together. It had to navigate a minefield of officialese in documentation and interpretation, to fully integrate it with India, and pushed hard for a solution, culminating in Jammu & Kashmir’s complete integration with India in 2019. And its actions were legally approved by the highest court of India, this week, this year.

On 5 August 2019, the Government revoked the 70-year-old special status, or autonomy, granted to J&K under Article 370, bringing it into the fold of mainstream India, just like any other State. Jammu & Kashmir no longer has its own Constitution, flag, or anthem, or its people provided dual citizenship, as a result of the repeal of Article 370. J&K now abides by all legislation made by India’s Parliament. This was a decisive action by the Government, which no other Government attempted, or could not do, since India’s Independence.

On 6 August 2019, The President of India formally issued an order under the power of Article 370, overriding prevailing Orders and nullifying all the provisions of autonomy granted to J&K. The Home Minister introduced a Reorganisation Bill in Parliament, to divide J&K into two union territories to be governed by a Lieutenant Governor and a unicameral legislature. The resolution seeking the abrogation of Article 370 and the bill for the state’s reorganisation was debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament -Rajya Sabha, the upper house, and the Lok Sabha, the lower house – in August 2019. The original State of Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. That is how it stays today.

The Government’s decision was challenged by Parties opposed to the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of J&K, in the Supreme Court (SC) of India. This week, the SC, after hearing arguments, pronounced its verdict – a historic one – to complete the last remaining unfinished business of partition and legalise the Government’s actions. There is no going back.

The SC unanimously upheld the Government’s 2019 decisions to scrap the special status for Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370, and also approved bi-furcation of J&K. The question of relegating J&K to the status of a Union Territory was left for another discussion, as the Centre has promised to restore its statehood as soon as possible.

The five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud held that the President’s exercise of power under Article 370(3) to abrogate this Article was not mala-fide; that Article 370 was meant for constitutional integration and not for the disintegration of J&K with the Union of India; that the Article was temporary in nature, and that there was no need to hold consultations or collaborate with the elected Government of J&K before ceasing its operation; and that J&K didn’t retain any element of sovereignty when it joined the Union of India.

I’m glad the Supreme Court approached the complex issue in a clear Top-Down manner: Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India – last words by its now dead Constituent Assembly. All other word-play, Articles, procedural aspects, and other angles, in which this could have been done, does not matter, and at best is a subject of academic discussion.

Smoke in the Eyes

It was on 13 December 2001, when India’s Parliament came under a sudden and unexpected terrorist attack. Five armed terrorists drove their vehicle into the Parliament premises and began shooting, resulting in the deaths of six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, and a gardener. All the five terrorists were killed by security forces. No lawmakers were hurt.

This year, on 13th December, on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament Attack, the New Delhi weather was getting awfully cold with the onset of winter. And Parliament was in session in a spanking new Parliament building, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and security. It was a business as usual day. All was quiet on the Parliament front.

Then suddenly inside Parliament two people jumped into the well of the Lok Sabha from the Visitors Gallery, armed with yellow coloured smoke canisters, which they set-off. Meanwhile, outside Parliament two others began chanting slogans after releasing red coloured smoke from similar canisters. The canisters used were over-the-counter colour smoke release canisters, often used in Indian festivals.

The two – one could be seen monkey jumping over the desks – inside were quickly subdued, bashed-up, and manhandled by muscular Members of Parliament and handed over to the Security staff. The two outside were promptly arrested and led away by Police.

The stunning breach of an iron-clad Parliament security system took some time to sink-in, even while the yellow smoke, inside, and the red smoke, outside, settled down and dissolved in the much polluted New Delhi air.

The investigations began at a fantastic speed and the Police began knocking doors across the country. It came to light that an almost pan-India Facebook Group called the ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Club’ had been working on the plan for about a year, timed with the anniversary of Parliament Attack. And the plan to breach parliament security began with obtaining Parliament Visitors Passes – in this instance issued by the ruling BJP’s Member of Parliament from Mysuru, Karnataka. Looks like the motive of the Group was to highlight the unemployment problem in the country, inspired by Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara. At lease one of the Group had done a recce during the Budget Session of Parliament, when they learnt that security personnel did not not ask visitors to take off their shoes or check them. The smoke canisters were cleverly hidden in specially-made thick-soled shoes.

The members of the Group: Manoranjan from Mysuru, Sagar Sharma from Lucknow, Neelam Azad from Haryana, Amol Shinde from Maharashtra, and the believed-to-be kingpin Lalit Jha, a Teacher from Bihar, arrived in Delhi by separate means, and were hosted by one of their associates, Vikram and his wife, in Gurugram, early in the week. On the day of the episode, Sagar collected the passes from the MP’s Office and the Group – except Vikram – met at India Gate. Amol handed over one canister to each member. All of them then deposited their mobiles with Lalit Jha, before the intrusion. He fled the Parliament area soon after, when a man-hunt was launched to nab him.

In the middle of the week, Lalit Jha was arrested after he turned himself in at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, accompanied by another key suspect, Mahesh Kumawat.

The array of slogans bellowed by the Group, Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Long live mother India), Jai Bheem (Victory to Ambedkar), Tanashahi Nahin Chalegi (Dictatorship does not work), have been battle cries of diverse groups who have been often at odds with each other. And the slogans do not follow any particular pattern. Details are awaited on the actual motive and the real persons behind the Group.

The sensational episode has exposed loop-holes in what is claimed to be one of the strongest security arrangements in the country. Whatever, this should serve as yet another wake-up call for security agencies.

More sensational stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Keep the smoke out of your eyes and stay with World Inthavaaram.