Chandigarh, Apr 13 () Baisakhi festivities in the streets and rush of devotees in gurdwaras were missing across Punjab on Monday as people largely celebrated the festival indoors amid a curfew in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.<p>Baisakhi is one of Punjab's biggest festivals and it marks the foundation day of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. It also marks the start of harvest season.</p><p>The Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of Sikhism's holiest shrines, saw very few devotees turn up to offer prayers.</p><p>Normally, nearly two lakh devotees visit the Golden Temple on the occasion of Baisakhi.</p><p>The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, has also deployed task force staff to discourage people from assembling.</p><p>SGPC Chief Secretary Roop Singh said the committee has never stopped anyone from coming to the Golden Temple but one should not violate the government orders.Barricades have been put up at all roads leading to the Golden Temple to prevent overcrowding, a police official said.</p><p>A similar scene was witnessed at the Takht Kesgarh Sahib in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, where the Khalsa Panth was founded in 1699.</p><p>Managements of several other gurdwaras across Punjab and state capital Chandigarh politely refused to let devotees inside. They appealed to them to offer prayers at homes and listen to 'Gurbani' by tuning in to their YouTube channels.</p><p>"In the morning, 'sangat' (devotees) came to pay obeisance but we requested them to offer prayers at their homes and also asked them to listen to 'kirtan' on our YouTube channel.</p><p>"We have shared a link of the video of 'kirtan' with devotees on our WhatsApp group," said an official of Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib in Chandigarh's Sector 34.</p><p>He said normally, 60,000 to 70,000 devotees visit the shrine on Baisakhi every year.</p><p>"It is for the first time that we could not enter the gurdwara," a disappointed devotee said.</p><p>The management of a gurdwara in Ludhiana said it will reach out to those on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus on the occasion of Baisakhi.</p><p>"We will distribute 'langar' among frontline workers, including policemen and medical staff," a gurdwara official said.</p><p>Earlier, the Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) had asked members of the Sikh community to offer prayers at home on Baisakhi and directed Sikh organisations not to organise religious gatherings on the festival in the view of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p>On Sunday, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had also appealed to people not to step out of their homes on the occasion of Baisakhi.  TEAM CHS VSD  DIVDIV

Low-key Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab amid COVID-19 lockdown

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Volunteers from the Salvation Army stepped in to feed truck drivers stranded in <keyword id="92486" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kent">Kent</keyword> in Monday night.</li><li>The charity organisation intervened amid warnings that there were insufficient food supplies.</li><li>An industry email to Boris Johnson's government seen by Business Insider criticised the "critical failure" to provide welfare to the HGV drivers stuck in England after <keyword id="6354785" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="france">France</keyword> closed the freight border.</li><li>The number of lorries stuck in the county of Kent surpassed 1,500 on Tuesday.</li><li>The Road Haulage Association's Richard Burnett said the treatment of affected drivers was "absolutely shocking."</li></ul><p>The Salvation Army stepped in to feed truck drivers who were stuck on England's motorway on Monday evening amid growing criticism of the UK government's treatment of heavy-goods vehicle (HGV) drivers stranded in the county of Kent.</p><p>The charitable organisation confirmed to Business Insider on Tuesday afternoon that some of its volunteers worked from early evening until midnight to provide truckers with meals after Kent County Council asked for its help.</p><p>Over 900 lorries were parked on the M20 motorway on Monday night, according to Highways England, after France's decision on Sunday to ban UK travellers from crossing the English Channel brought the vital trading route to a standstill.</p><p>That number exceeded 1,500 on Tuesday morning, forcing Boris Johnson's UK government to turn an old airport in Manston, Kent into a lorry park for drivers trying to get to the ports of Dover and Felixstowe. Local media showed vast lines of stranded trucks along the major approaches to the port.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—BBC Three Counties Radio  (@BBC3CR) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1341316851075309568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a></blockquote><p>French President Emmanuel Macron took the emergency step of stopping UK travellers - including hauliers transporting goods - from entering France in order to contain the spread of a highly-infectious, new variant of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> discovered in the south of England.</p><p>A spokesperson for Prime Minister Johnson on Monday said that stranded lorry drivers would receive "welfare provisions" including toilet facilities and food &amp; drink. A UK government official told Business Insider that each driver arriving at the Manston site would get a two-litre bottle of water, and that food and drink would "be available."</p><p>However, Business Insider has seen an email sent to Johnson's government this morning by logistics industry leaders, criticising the government's "critical failure" to provide HGV drivers with sufficient hot food. The Salvation Army intervened to feed up to 200 HGV drivers due to a shortage of food supplies, the email to the Department for Transport said.</p><p>This follows <a href="https://twitter.com/Annaisaac/status/1341370908993343489?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that there was just one food van available to drivers at Manston Airport.</p><p>The Salvation Army confirmed that it fed drivers on Monday night, with Territorial Emergency Response Officer Adrian Clee telling Business Insider: "The Salvation Army has been working with the emergency services to provide welfare support for a number of stranded lorry drivers caught up in severe traffic delays on the M20.</p><p>"The South East Division was last night asked by Kent County Council to support the police as part of Operation Stack, where freight vehicles are parked along the carriageway because of delays at Eurotunnel or the Channel ports as a result of Covid-19 restrictions."</p><p>He added:"A small team of staff and volunteers from The Salvation Army's South East Division, using their incident response vehicle, worked for four to five hours up to midnight to deliver bagged meals to Kent Police for distribution to drivers in need."</p><p>"Our emergency response teams are well known for supporting people in times of hardship and are often called on by the emergency services to provide food, drink and support at large incidents. Salvation Army volunteers have been pleased to roll up their sleeves to support drivers caught up in the delays."</p><p>Richard Burnett of the Road Haulage Association told Business Insider that the treatment of HGV drivers since the border closure had been "absolutely shocking."</p><p>"Drivers may well have provisions in their cabins but they're going to run out," he said. "The prime minister and secretary of state last night were saying that they were doing a great job. Well, they're not."</p><p>Members of Kent's Sikh community <a href="https://twitter.com/RaviSinghKA/status/1341379881301647363?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they also stepped into provide meals to 800 drivers stuck on the M20 motorway.</p><div type="image" title="Grant Shapps" height="600" width="1200" msid="79888094" hostid="261"></div><p>Business leaders today expressed frustration with the UK government's handling of the border crisis.</p><p>The Food &amp; Drink Federation's Ian Wright told Members of Parliament that the chaos "should have been avoided" and called on the UK government to compensate businesses who have suffered financial losses as a result of "that failure of authority."</p><p>Transport Secretary Grant Shapps earlier this evening <a href="https://twitter.com/grantshapps/status/1341448832182345729?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> that Britain had been "good progress" in its talks with the French government about re-opening the border, but that "hauliers must still NOT travel to Kent this evening."</p><p>Rachel Reeves, the opposition Labour Party's Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told Business Insider tht "we must see decisive action instead of more dither and delay from this government."</p>

Salvation Army volunteers fed some of the 1,500 truck drivers stranded in Kent after France closed its border with Britain

New Delhi, Apr 22 () Describing religion as "probably the most powerful means for mobilising human conscience to serve common good", over 20 spiritual gurus of different faiths on Wednesday jointly urged people to "come together as a singular force" to overcome COVID-19 pandemic.<p>They also strongly condemned unscientific beliefs and practices being propagated in the name of religion, exposing thousands to the virus and vitiating "public discourse with half-truths, falsehoods, conspiracy theories and doomsday narratives". </p><p>"Today, the spread of coronavirus provides a testament to the oneness and inter-connectedness of the human family where the well-being of one is dependent on the well-being of all.</p><p>"As the past few weeks have shown, among the biggest obstacles that stand in our way as we strive to find a way out of this crisis, is the tendency to be selfish or self-centred whether as an individual, a community or a nation," the statement said, </p><p>"This tendency has proven to be a dangerous and life-threatening delusion," it added.</p><p> As many as 22 leaders and representatives of various religious and interfaith organisations in the country issued the joint statement on the constructive role religion should play in uniting people of all faiths in the fight against coronavirus, said  the Baha'i office of public affairs, that initiated this initiative.</p><p> The statement was issued in response to the urgent need for all religions in the country to "speak with one voice" in emphasising the importance of unity, service to the common good and the need to follow scientific prescriptions at such a difficult time, the Baha'i office of public affairs said.</p><p> Calling for clarity of thought, the religious leaders emphasised that true religion is in harmony with science and reason and it does not endorse superstitious and fanatical  beliefs.</p><p> Discussing the principle of oneness of religion, they said this principle provides "the foundation on which people of all religions can learn to draw upon a common spiritual heritage to fight collective challenges" and to reject religious prejudices which, as recent events in the country have shown, can flare up during times of crisis and aggravate social tensions.</p><p>"To be religious then is to be an active servant of humankind here and now, to use one's talents and capacities to address contemporary challenges and to contribute to the well-being of all without distinction," the religious leaders said. </p><p> No greater embodiments of this spirit of selfless and sacrificial service can be found than those doctors,  health workers, policemen, media persons and government functionaries who, at great risk to their personal lives, are carrying out their duties," they said in a joint statement.</p><p>"Finally, a word of clarification is in order about the cases of religious fanaticism, superstition  and contempt for science that are being expressed in the name of religion in the context of the pandemic," it said. </p><p>"These have done incalculable harm not only by exposing thousands to the virus but also by vitiating public discourse with half-truths, falsehoods, conspiracy theories and doomsday narratives which hang as a thick cloud of gloom over the hearts and minds of  people and obscure clarity of thought," the statement said. </p><p>"Our faith in an all-loving creator and in the nobility of the human race convinces us that humanity will emerge from this ordeal stronger and more united, with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and inter-connectedness," the religious guru said in the statement. </p><p> The statement has been signed by noted representatives of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Bahá'í, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh communities and interfaith organisations including Swami Chidanand Saraswati of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram;  Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam, All India Imam Organisation; Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi and Rabbi Ezekiel Malekar  of the Judah Hayam Synagogue.</p> Swami Shantatmananda, of the Ramakrishna Mission, Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj of the Bhartiya Sarv Dharm Sansad, Acharya Lokesh Muni of Ahimsa Vishva Bharati, Paramjeet Singh Chandok of the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Swami Agnivesh, Geshe Dorji Damdul of Tibet House and the Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs are also among the signatories.  AKV  RAXRAX

Come together as singular force to overcome COVID: Religious leaders ask communities

Chandigarh, April 12 () Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder on Sunday appealed to the people of the state not to step out of their homes on Baisakhi, which will be celebrated on April 13, and follow the ongoing lockdown imposed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.<p> He also asked them to pray from their homes at 11 am on Monday for the state's victory over the deadly COVID-19 "enemy" and the safety of children.</p><p> In a message on the eve of the festival, the chief minister said Baisakhi would be "different" this year as the celebrations will lack traditional fervour because people will not be able to venture out of their homes and gather in large congregations.</p><p> It is necessary for all to stay at home in this difficult time and observe the occasion with prayers for the total elimination of COVID-19 from the state, he said in a statement here.</p><p> "Let us pray to Waheguru (almighty) to keep us and our Punjab in Charhdi Kala, to keep us safe and happy always," urged the chief minister, pointing out that even the Akal Takht and SGPC had appealed to the people not to congregate or gather outside to celebrate Baisakhi this year.  The Akal Takht had asked people from the Sikh community to offer prayers at home on Baisakhi and directed Sikh organisations not to organise large gatherings on the festival in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.  Baisakhi, which falls on April 13 or 14 every year, is a major festival in Punjab as it marks the foundation day of the Khalsa panth' (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.</p><p> It also marks the start of harvest season. On this day, people throng gurdwaras to pay their obeisance.</p><p> Expressing hope and confidence that Punjab would be victorious over the pandemic, Singh appealed to the people to do their duty in this battle, just as lakhs of frontline warriors were doing to keep them safe and protected.</p><p> He thanked the doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, other health and sanitation workers, the police, the revenue staff, the religious organisations, the NGOs and everyone else engaged in fighting the battle on the frontline, putting their own lives on the line.</p><p> He thanked the SSPs and the DCs for managing the situation "effectively and efficiently", and expressed confidence that they would all continue to work relentlessly in the coming days in the interest of Punjab and its people.</p><p> Pointing to the global COVID-19 crisis, the chief minister said the situation was relatively better in Punjab, and in fact across India, due to the early lockdown/curfew and its strict enforcement.</p><p> It was important to continue with these stringent and difficult measures, despite the inconvenience and frustration being caused to everyone, he added.</p><p> Underlining the need to continue with such strict restrictions, he cited various studies and expert opinions and said, "If we do not implement the lockdown in the coming days, then the situation can get out of control."</p><p> The numbers being projected by the experts in the absence of isolation/lockdown are scary, he pointed out.</p><p> Though, there were some problems with the supply chain at the beginning of the clampdown, things were now on track and would improve further in the coming days, said the CM, assuring full support to everyone in the state in this hour of crisis.</p><p> He promised the migrant labourers and other poor/needy people that his government will continue to take care of them, and ensure that not a single one of them will go hungry, till the COVID crisis ends.</p><p> Singh said all arrangements were in place for harvesting wheat which is set to commence on April 15 and promised another season of smooth procurement, in line with his government's track record.</p> Underlining the need to give serious thought to the way ahead, the chief minister said the Task Force set up to work out the curfew/lockdown exit strategy will submit its report within 10 days, and a high-powered committee, to be headed by a leading finance expert, would work on ways for economic and industrial revival of the state post COVID-19.  CHS VSD  RHLRHL

COVID-19: Pb CM asks people to stay indoors on Baisakhi

<br />PM Narendra Modi released the <keyword id="123247" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="commemorative-coins">commemorative coins</keyword> of Rs 150 denomination to celebrate Mahatma Gandhiji’s 150<sup>th</sup> birthday. The event took place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on October 2, 2019 when the Prime Minister reached the Sabarmati Riverfront to participate in the proceedings of the Swacch Bharat Divas program.<br /><br /> <b>The event at Ahmedabad</b><br /><br /> Dropping in at the Sabarmati Ashram, the holy seat from where the father of the nation launched most of his freedom fight related activities, Narendra Modi wrote in the visitor’s book, "I'm satisfied that on the occasion of #GandhiAt150, we're witnessing the fulfillment of his dream of 'Swachh Bharat'. I feel lucky that on this occasion when India has successfully stopped open defecation." During the occasion, Narendra Modi addressed 10,000 sarpanchs. He declared India ‘open defecation free’. The event also saw announcements about the war against plastic and the success of the Swach Bharat Mission. <br /><br />
  
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<br /><br /><b>What are commemorative coins? </b><br /><br />Commemorative coins are released to mark some special events. These coins sport a distinct design to talk about the occasion on which they are issued. Most of the commemorative coins are treated as collectibles and they are in fact a bountiful treasure for the coin collectors. Some countries issue commemorative coins for regular circulation too.<br /><br /> <b>Some other commemorative coins by the Modi government</b><br /><br /> The release of the new commemorative coin falls in line with two other commemorative coins released under the BJP government. In January 2019, Modi released a commemorative coin of Rs 350 denomination marking the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, one of the most prominent leaders of the Sikh community. In yet another important event that took place last year, PM Modi launched a commemorative coin of Rs 100 in honor of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister.<br /><br /> <b>Honoring the Mahatma</b><br /><br /> A few days before the 150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary of the Mahatma, the UN (United Nations) released a postal stamp to mark the event. The Indian government conveyed its respect to Gandhiji by releasing the commemorative stamps and coins in Ahmedabad. In a joint venture, India Embassy and LaPoste of France launched a postage stamp with the image of Mahatma Gandhi marking the 150<sup>th</sup> birthday of India’s legendary leader.<br /><br />
  
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<br /><br /> <b>Types of commemorative coins</b><br /><br /> There are three different kinds of commemorative coins. The regular issue coins are meant for day to day commercial use and they are issued in the same design for many years. Circulating commemorative coins are also meant for day to day commerce use, but their design will be used only for a limited time. Usually the purpose of these coins is to draw the attention of the world to a particular person or event. Non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) are commemorative coins that are still legal tender and can be used to buy goods and services. However, they are not intended for this regular use. They are actually viewed as souvenirs. Often these coins are made in silver or gold.<br /><br /><b>Commemorative coins are not legal tenders unless notified</b><br /><br /> As per the general understanding, the lower denomination coins are used in general circulation. The higher denomination coins are meant for collection purposes and they usually contain some silver in them. Usually they are found with some coin dealers with marked up prices. As per the law, commemorative coins are not legal tenders unless notified.<br /><br /> <b>India’s first commemorative coin</b><br /><br /> The first commemorative coin in India was issued in 1964 with the image of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India to commemorate his birth anniversary. <br /><br /><strong>See Also:</strong> <a data-type="tilCustomLink">Life Changing Quotes by Mahatama Gandhi</a><br />

Know everything about Commemorative Coin that PM Modi released on Mahatama Gandhi's 150 birth anniversary

<ul><li><strong>Over 100 British lawmakers, including several of Indian origin, have suggested that authorities list Sikhs as a distinct ethnicity in the <keyword id="6735351" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="2021-UK-Census">2021 UK Census</keyword>. <br /></strong></li><li><strong>This might be a great step towards giving the community a fair access to all public services in the country.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>More than 83,000 Sikhs chose to write “Sikh” next to the option of ‘any other ethnic group’ rather than ticking any of the choices under the question on ethnicity.</strong></li></ul><br />The numerically strong Sikh community in the UK will now be listed in the 2021 British census as a distinctive ethnicity, different from Indian or British Indian identity.<br /><br />The <keyword id="6735350" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="UK-State-Authority">UK State Authority</keyword> has acknowledged it as a major step towards giving the community a fair access to all public services in the country. The data is used for <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/british-sikhs-to-get-ethnicity-status-in-2021-census-says-report/1254900/">resource allocation</a> by the central and local government to inform policy development and help organisations meet and monitor their statutory obligations.<br /><br />Over 100 British lawmakers, including several of Indian origin, have asked authorities to allow Sikhs to be a whole different ethnicity. In the most recent Census of 2011, more than 83,000 refused to tick any of the choices given under the question on ethnicity. They rather chose to write Sikh next to the option of ‘any other ethnic group’.<br /><br />However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is a little <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sikh-to-be-recognised-as-ethnic-category-in-2021-uk-census-report-1888048">sceptical </a>about how the public will react to this change and about whether all the 430,000 Sikhs in the country will approve of it. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs, chaired by Preet Kaur Gill, the UK’s first female Sikh MP, has offered to write to gurudwaras to assist the ONS with its public consultation regarding this decision. <br /><br /><div type="image" title="04-01" tempid="508686" msid="65117651" hostid="261"></div>
<br /><br />As far as unique identification is concerned, this is not a first for the community. Sikhs were identified as a separate religion back, in 2001. They had also been legally recognised as an ethnic group in <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/74/pdfs/ukpga_19760074_en.pdf">UK's Race Relations Act 1976</a> under British law to prevent discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin in the fields of employment, provision of goods and services, education and public functions. Using this as the basis of their demands, the campaigners believe that being recognised by the Act gives them the right to identify themselves separately.<br /><br />While preparing for the 2021 census, which is largely expected to be an online affair, the ONS ran a test on the 2017 census with 'Sikh' included as an option under the question about ethnicity. This was mostly done in areas with large Sikh populations - Hounslow in West London and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region of England. The test found that almost a quarter of those who specified Sikhism as their religion also chose Sikh as their separate ethnic identity.<br />

Sikhs will be listed as separate distinctive ethnicity in 2021 UK census

<p>State-run Chinese media agency Xinhua News is facing increasing backlash over&#xa0;a propaganda video, in which it takes inflammatory jabs at Indians, specifically the minority&#xa0;Sikh community.</p><p>The video, called the "7 Sins of India," features&#xa0;a Chinese actor who is shown wearing&#xa0;a turban and a fake brown beard as he recites monosyllabic lines in a mocking Indian&#xa0;English accent.</p><p>The video was published on Wednesday from a chat show&#xa0;discussing an ongoing border dispute between the two countries. India and China have been embroiled in a military stand-off in&#xa0;the Doklam area since June.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Both Indian and international news outlets, including the BBC and the Washington Post have slammed the video as being flagrantly racist.&#xa0;</p><p><span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-40957719">The BBC</a> </span>described&#xa0;the anchor's tone<span>&#xa0;as "amused yet indignant," while Indian newspaper <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/doklam-standoff-chinese-media-releases-racist-video-parodying-indians/story-eQCqrkLsrcueW7hA1zmrjO.html">Hindustan Times</a> called it "</span>an apparent attempt at parodying a Sikh --&#xa0;speaking the way Indians are perceived to speak English."</p><p>The video has also elicited huge social media backlash, in India, China as well as the world over:</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>&#xa0;</p><div><iframe width="480" height="290" scrolling="no" src="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/c/embed/adc2bd7c-8357-11e7-9e7a-20fa8d7a0db6" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>FYI <a href="https://twitter.com/XHNews">@XHNews</a>: It's not okay in the 21st century to have someone dress up in a turban, mock an Indian accent. Shocking from official agency. <a href="https://t.co/1oC0MsOG59">pic.twitter.com/1oC0MsOG59</a></p>- Ananth Krishnan  (@ananthkrishnan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/897830177203404800">August 16, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Propaganda is not enough for Xinhua, it now also makes racist videos about India. This is really unbelievable coming from state news wire. <a href="https://t.co/doU7bPO8J1">https://t.co/doU7bPO8J1</a></p>- Jojje Olsson  (@jojjeols) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/898027323651309569">August 17, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>This is poorly produced, racist &amp; distasteful. No tact. Air your grievances maturely, not like a vindictive child <a href="https://twitter.com/XHNews">@XHNews</a>. You can do better</p>- Ryan Pino  (@Ryan_Pino213) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/898000018535309312">August 17, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-amazon-warehouse-prime-now-2017-7">Amazon has an oddly efficient way of storing stuff in its warehouses</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/EtpSuVJz-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

People are outraged about a 'racist' video that a Chinese state media agency made about India

<strong><br /></strong><ul><li><strong>A report by the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon states that 123 South Asian <keyword id="70933" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="immigrants">immigrants</keyword> are being detained at Oregon’s Sheridan federal prison in the <keyword id="6356955" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-states">United States</keyword> (US). </strong></li><li><strong>Reports indicate that these migrants fled to the US seeking asylum against <keyword id="1139178" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="religious-persecution">religious persecution</keyword>. </strong></li><li><strong>Prisoner accounts reveal that the immigrants are kept locked up for 23 hours at a time and impeded from meeting their lawyers.</strong></li></ul><keyword id="6354862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="trump">Trump</keyword>’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy has created a wave of unrest along US borders, but what’s not been talked about yet is how it has impacted Indian immigrants as well. According to a statement made by the <a href="http://www.apano.org/blog/2018/06/18/apano-call-to-action-123-immigrants-detained-in-sheridan-or/">Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)</a>, apparently, 123 immigrants who came to the US seeking asylum were detained and put into jail instead. <br /><br />These immigrants are primarily South Asian who speak Hindi and Punjabi but reports indicate that a few maybe Chinese speakers as well. According to Valarie Kaur, a Sikh community activist, at least 52 of the detainees are Indian, 13 are from Nepal and 2 are from Bangladesh. <br /><br />
  
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: At least 70 South Asians reportedly separated from their families &amp; detained in Sheridan, Oregon (52 from India, many who speak Punjabi, 13 from Nepal, 2 from Bangladesh). Need translators. Contact <a href="https://twitter.com/APANONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@APANONews</a>. Please RT to spread the word. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FamiliesBelongTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FamiliesBelongTogether</a></p>&mdash; Valarie Kaur (@valariekaur) <a href="https://twitter.com/valariekaur/status/1008808309648850944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Indians were the <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/indian-migration-to-the-us.pdf">third largest</a> group of the US immigrants after Mexicans and the Chinese in 2015.<br /><br />As per <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/06/immigration_crackdown_brings_1.html">The Oregonian</a>, members of the congressional delegation went to tour the detention center and received accounts of how the migrants were locked up for 23 hours at a stretch and kept from reaching their lawyers. <br /><br />Most of them are victims of religious persecution on account of being Sikh or Christian and these migrants don’t even know where their wives and children are currently being kept. <br /><br /><strong>Trend reversal<br /></strong><br />Between the beginning of the current millennium and 2015, the Asian population in the US grew by 72%. In fact, the <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/indian-migration-to-the-us.pdf">inflow of Asians</a> had grown to such an extent that it was speculated they would overtake the Hispanic population by 2055 to become the largest immigrant group in the US.<br /><br />The Indian population, specifically, has doubled in the same span of time from nearly 3 million to 4 million. Even among the Asian group, Indians form the second largest faction after the Chinese. <br /><br />The numbers reflect that it’s possible for the ‘zero-tolerance’ policy to potentially have a cascading effect. Even the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-signs-order-targeting-h-1b-visa-program-2017-4">H-1B visas</a>, half of which used to be awarded to Indians, have become more difficult to attain. Not to mention that Trump’s administration already has plans in the pipeline to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/spouses-of-h-1b-visa-holders-may-lose-work-permits-in-the-us/articleshow/63898572.cms">rescind the H4 rule</a> that lets the dependants of H-1B visa holders gain employment. <br /><br /><em>(Representative image)</em><br />

Trump’s zero-tolerance policy hits Indian migrants fleeing religious persecution

<ul><li>A 30-seconder was played during the Super Bowl on February 07 to support the farmers protesting against the new Farm Laws. </li><li>The ad is created by Teji Video. </li></ul>A 30-seconder was screened during the Super Bowl in the USA’s Central Valley in support of Indian farmers protesting against the government’s new Farm Laws. <br /><br /><keyword id="1617007" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Super-Bowl-Ads">Super Bowl ads</keyword> are occasionally political but mostly funny, happy and light. This ad, funded by the Sikh community in the Central Valley, stood out as it highlighted the farmers' protests that have been going on since November in India. <br /><br />It starts by requesting India to ‘take back the <keyword id="6123679" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farm-bills">Farm Bills</keyword>’ and quoting <keyword id="97527" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Martin-Luther-King-Jr">Martin Luther King Jr</keyword>, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." It also features several scenes from ‘the largest protest in history,’ reminds the audience that 160+ people have died in the last 6 months and highlights how the Farms Laws are a violation of Human Rights. <br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="KissanEktaMorch" handlename="Kisan Ekta Morcha" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1339862481271844869/KUAOdODJ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="220" retweetcount="78" status="Fresno City community put that ad during the Super Bowl. This is great work by community to aware people regarding… https://t.co/QfdmUQ3tcO" createdat="1612764059000" id="1358657054546685952"></div><br />According to Reuters, around 100 million viewers were expected to tune in on February 07 to watch the game between Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. As per SportingNews.com, a 30-second commercial for Super Bowl 54 in 2020 cost about $5.6 million, which is slightly more than the last-month going rate of commercials in 2021. And this year, with a combined TV and digital audience of more than 100 million viewers in the United States, it's the highest-profile advertising space. <br /><br />The ad is created by Teji Video. <br /><br />    <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLAaYvqC237/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLAaYvqC237/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; 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This ad was played during the Super Bowl in support of the ongoing farmers' protest in India

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47108198.cms" /><br />
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy and political ideology being mismatch have raised new question mark in US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report. As reported by The Economic Times, USCIRF has slammed the BJP Government on the 'Ghar Vapasi' campaign and the violence against Christians. The only respite for Modi is his statement in mid-February in support of religious freedom, which has been deemed by USCIRF as "positive development".<br />
<br />
The annual report of USCIRF mentions, since Modi has come to power, religious minority communities have been subject to "derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)" and "numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups" such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).<br />
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In a chapter on India, the report reads, “The states of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan tend to have the greatest number of religiously-motivated attacks and communal violence incidents. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and religious leaders, including from the Muslim, Christian, and Sikh communities, attributed the initial increase to religiously-divisive campaigning in advance of the country's 2014 general election.”<br />
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“Religious minority communities frequently accuse the RSS, VHP and other Hindu-nationalist groups and individuals of intolerance, discrimination, and violence against them, the report adds. Moreover, religious minority communities voice concern that high-ranking BJP members protect or provide support to these groups. In light of these concerns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in support of religious freedom made in mid-February 2015 was a positive development," the USCIRF report further read.<br />
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As per the news report, USCIRF report adds that the Muslim community in India also has experienced increased harassment and violence. "It faces significant hate campaigns perpetrated by Hindu nationalist groups and local and state politicians that include wide- spread media propaganda accusing Muslims of being terrorists; spying for Pakistan; forcibly kidnapping, converting, and marrying Hindu women; and disrespecting Hinduism by slaughtering cows. Additionally, the Muslim community reports that its mosques are monitored and young boys and men are detained indiscriminately under the pretext of countering terrorism. Muslims also complain that most Indian states violate their religious freedom by restricting or banning cow slaughter, which is required for Muslims during Eid al-Adha," the report has said.<br />
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In what may sound rough to Modi’s liking for the US, the financial daily report, the USCIRF has further urged the US government to urge the central Indian government to press states that have adopted anti-conversion laws to repeal or amend them to conform with internationally recognised human rights standards and make clear US opposition to laws that restrict freedom of thought and association. It has further asked the US to urge Indian government to publicly rebuke government officials and religious leaders that make derogatory statements about religious communities, as per the USCIRF report.<br />
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(Image: Reuters)<br />
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The US didn’t like India’s ‘ghar
wapsi’

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47927206.cms" />

	
		<br /> <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is not only about larger-than-life stories and running around trees. The film industry has been entertaining us for decades with heart-warming stories, but what really doesn’t work well with the Indian audience are the movies with religion-based scripts. They rub the Indian audience in a wrong way. Take for instance the recent case of ‘Mohalla Assi’, a film based on religious issues that hasn’t been released but is already facing the ire. And this is not happening for the first time when religious overtones of a film have created celluloid controversy. Here are five such flicks, which made headlines due to their sensitive contents and were tagged ‘outrageous’. <br />
		 

<strong>Mohalla Assi</strong><br />
<br />
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47927146.cms" /><br />
<br /> Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, this Sunny Deol-starrer movie is in news due to its abusive language and portrayal of Lord <keyword id="33379" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shiva">Shiva</keyword> in poor light. Following a petition, a court has recently restrained the makers of the film from releasing on July 3 till further orders. The court has observed that it might “hurt religious sentiments of the people” and said it should not hit theatres till the alleged offensive scenes and dialogues are edited. The film is based in the locality of Assi Ghat in the holy city of Varanasi. It is, reportedly, based on 2004 Hindi novel 'Kashi Ka Assi' written by Kashinath Singh. The movie also stars Ravi Kishan, Sakshi Tanwar in lead roles.<br />
 <br />
<strong><keyword id="6396827" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="PK">PK</keyword></strong><br />
<br />
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47927161.cms" /><br />
<br /> Many cases were registered against this <keyword id="6354633" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rajkumar-Hirani">Rajkumar Hirani</keyword> film ever since its first poster was unveiled that had a nude <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword>, posing with a transistor. The movie, a satire on religious beliefs and superstitions, was released across India on December 19, 2014. Aamir Khan played an alien and unravels the ugly face of human greed. Hindutva groups took offence to certain scenes and dialogues while others criticized ‘PK’ that it “unnecessarily” mocked Hindu beliefs and rituals. Police lodged complaints against the film under Sections 153-A, 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, it did not affect the box office collection of ‘PK’, which has crossed Rs 650 crore mark. The film also stars <keyword id="6357860" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Anushka-Sharma">Anushka Sharma</keyword>, <keyword id="21678" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="sushant-singh">Sushant Singh</keyword> Rajput, Boman Irani, and <keyword id="7645" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sanjay-Dutt">Sanjay Dutt</keyword>. <br />
 <br />
<strong>Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela</strong><br />
<br />
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47927177.cms" /><br />
 <br /> This <keyword id="6358308" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="sanjay-leela-bhansali">Sanjay Leela Bhansali</keyword> film was mired in controversy from the time its title was announced. The original name of the movie was ‘Ram-Leela’, but was changed to ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, following a petition. According to the petitioner, actor <keyword id="106133" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ranveer-Singh">Ranveer Singh</keyword>, who played the role of Ram in the film, was a womanizer and his role was a character assassination of Lord <keyword id="52950" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rama">Rama</keyword>. A case was later filed against Bhansali, Ranveer Singh and <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword> for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the people and promoting communal disharmony. However, the film was released on November 15, 2013 and collected over Rs 200 crore on the box office. <br />
 <br />
<strong>Son of Sardaar</strong><br />
<br />
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47927188.cms" /><br />
 <br /> Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the film was tagged as objectionable by the Sikh community due to a Lord Shiva tattoo on actor <keyword id="4230" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ajay-Devgan">Ajay Devgan</keyword>’s chest and a couple of allegedly outrageous dialogues. He played the role of a Sikh protagonist in the movie. Being a producer, he assured the <keyword id="54270" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shiromani-Gurdwara-Parbandhak-Committee">Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee</keyword> (SGPC) that the objectionable elements would be removed before its release. The actor also promised that a print of the film would be sent to the SGPC before the release. The movie was released on November 13, 2012 and also stars <keyword id="62210" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sonakshi-Sinha">Sonakshi Sinha</keyword>, <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword> and Sanjay Dutt.<br />
<br />
<strong>OMG-Oh My God</strong><br />
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47927200.cms" /><br />
<br /> This Akshay Kumar-starrer was a mix of satire, fable and fantasy that brings audience’s attention towards the commercialisation of religion. Although the movie insists on the existence of God, it was not like by Hindutva groups. The story was an adaptation of a successful Gujarati play, which also became a hit in Hindi and Marathi languages. Directed by Umesh Shukla, the movie was released on September 28, 2012. An FIR was later lodged against the director, producers and actors of the film for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the people. The movie also stars actors <keyword id="6357914" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Paresh-Rawal">Paresh Rawal</keyword> and <keyword id="14672" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mithun-Chakraborty">Mithun Chakraborty</keyword>.<br />
<br />
(Images: YouTube, Indiatimes)<br />


5 movies that made headlines for the wrong reasons, thanks to religious content

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/599700c2f1a850bb028b5dfe-800/modi xi.jpg" alt="modi xi" data-mce-source="Denis Balibouse and Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters" /><p class="source"><span>Denis Balibouse and Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Tensions between China and India have heated up over a remote frontier region in the Himalayas</strong></li><li><strong>The region is of strategic importance, and neighboring Bhutan is now caught between</strong></li><li><strong>The ongoing standoff suggests tensions between the two powers could continue to grow in the coming years</strong></li></ul><p>While everyone's been watching the chaos spilling out of the White House, a border standoff between two nuclear powers has been festering for two months.</p><p>China and India have rubbed up against each other in the Doklam territory - called Donglang in Chinese - a remote frontier region located at a convergence point of India, India's ally Bhutan, and China.</p><p>The extended standoff appears to be one of the more significant in recent years, and comes at a time of weakening relations between the two powers. Analysts at BMI Research said the standoff suggests strains between China and India could continue in the coming years.</p><h2>What happened in the Doklam territory?</h2><p>In mid-June, Bhutan <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/dolam-plateau-china-india-bhutan.html?mcubz=0&amp;_r=0">found</a> Chinese troops attempting to extend a road through a plateau in the Doklam territory. The region is claimed by both Bhutan and China due to contradictory phrases in an <a href="http://treaties.fco.gov.uk/docs/pdf/1894/TS0011.pdf">1890 border agreement</a> between Great Britain and China's Qing dynasty, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/dolam-plateau-china-india-bhutan.html?mcubz=0&amp;_r=0">according to the New York Times</a>.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Reuters" title_caption="Map locating Donglang, a disputed area between China, India, and Bhutan." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5996f720f1a850060a8b5ca9-960/rts1a6fh.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5996f720f1a850060a8b5ca9-966/rts1a6fh.jpg" alt="china india border dispute" data-mce-source="Reuters" data-mce-caption="Map locating Donglang, a disputed area between China, India, and Bhutan." /></a><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Map locating Donglang, a disputed area between China, India, and Bhutan.</p></div><p></p></div></div>India, which has no claim to the territory but supports Bhutan's claim, sent troops to stop the construction.</p><p>China has since accused India of "<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40478813">trespassing</a>" and said that India has interfered with "<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40478813">normal activities</a>" on its side of the border. India responded by saying it got involved in order to help its ally, Bhutan.</p><p>Tensions have continued to simmer over the past several weeks, with both sides putting <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40478813">more</a> troops on the border. </p><p>On August 15, Indian and Chinese troops <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-of-chinese-indian-troops-fighting-with-stones-at-himalaya-border-2017-8">clashed</a> near Pangong Lake, a tourist attraction in the mountain region of Ladakh. A <a href="http://theprint.in/2017/08/19/visuals-show-india-china-clash-at-ladakh-was-serious-troops-injured/?utm_source=The+Sinocism+China+Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=031a1e1137-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_08_21&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_171f237867-031a1e1137-29652241&amp;mc_cid=031a1e1137&amp;mc_eid=f4df4b6d0d">video</a> of the skirmish shows both sides throwing rocks and punches.</p><p>That same week, state-run Chinese media Xinhua News <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/people-are-outraged-about-a-racist-video-india-china-xinhua-news-7-sins-of-india">published</a> a propaganda video called the "7 Sins of India," which took inflammatory jabs at Indians, and specifically at the minority Sikh community. <span>Both Indian and international news outlets, including the BBC and the Washington Post, slammed the video as being racist. </span></p><p>Bhutan, which doesn't have formal diplomatic relations with China, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/03/asia/bhutan-india-border-dispute/index.html">issued a formal statement</a> accusing Beijing of building the road inside its territory and violating a 1998 agreement.</p><h2>Why do India and China care so much about a remote strip in the Himalayas?</h2><p>India has maintained that it is acting on behalf of Bhutan since the two have long maintained close relations.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="BMI Research" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59974247f1a850a81a8b5d77-960/unnamed.gif"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59974247f1a850a81a8b5d77-800/unnamed.gif" alt="unnamed" data-mce-source="BMI Research" /></a><p class="source"><span>BMI Research</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>But New Delhi is also seeking to protect its sphere of influence, BMI Research says.</p><p>The Doklam plateau is "vital" to India's security interests because of its proximity to a key stretch of land called the Siliguri Corridor, the BMI analysts said.</p><p>Known as the "Chicken's Neck," the narrow strip of land connects India's northeastern Seven Sister States - which make up an area <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=seven+sister+states+square+area&amp;oq=seven+sister+states+square+area&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57.6319j1j1&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">slightly bigger</a> than the <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.TOTL.K2?year_high_desc=false">United Kingdom</a> - to the rest of the country.</p><p>If Beijing had a presence on the strip, it could theoretically cut off the northeastern states from the rest of India during a future conflict. It might also be able to exert more influence on Bhutan.</p><p>Council of Foreign Relations senior fellow Ely Ratner <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/03/asia/bhutan-india-border-dispute/index.html">told CNN</a> the dispute also reflects the challenges Beijing will face in its pursuit of regional and global leadership.</p><h2>Bhutan is caught between nuclear powers</h2><p>Bhutan provides a strategic buffer for India. The two countries have cooperated closely in foreign policy since signing a treaty in 1949, and India has continued to pay and train Bhutan's troops. </p><p>In <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6341143.stm">2007</a>, they signed a revised friendship treaty, which gave Bhutan greater freedom in foreign policy and military purchases.</p><p>Bhutan has reportedly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/world/asia/squeezed-by-an-india-china-standoff-bhutan-holds-its-breath.html?mcubz=0">more recently</a> been looking to China, in part because of the appeal of its tourism money. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/world/asia/squeezed-by-an-india-china-standoff-bhutan-holds-its-breath.html?mcubz=0">reports</a> that while Indian tourists don't need visas to enter Bhutan, Chinese tourists have to pay $250 per day in advance for vacation packages - which is no small sum for a country whose GDP per capita was $2,751 in <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/bhutan/gdp-per-capita">2016</a>.</p><p>Many Bhutanese interviewed by the NYT seemed more concerned about India than China. "Some note that one effect of India's move - intended or not - has been to undermine border negotiations with China that could have cleared the way for closer economic ties," Steven Lee Myers reported.</p><h2>Not the first border tensions between India and China </h2><p>China and India have seen border tensions flare up from time to time in recent decades.</p><p>In 1962, India suffered a defeat to China in a one-month long <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_War">war</a> over a disputed border area. The conflict followed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1959_Tibetan_uprising">1959 Tibetian uprising</a>, after which India granted asylum to the Dalai Lama.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/599ae9aff1a8502b008b62dd-1000/johnkennethgalbraithandjawaharlalnehru.jpg" alt="Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and john kenneth galbraith" data-mce-source="Wikimedia via JFK Library" data-mce-caption="United States Ambassador to India John Kenneth Galbraith and Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru conferring at the time of the Sino-Indian border conflict. The photograph was taken by the United States Information Service (USIS) and sent to President John F. Kennedy with a letter from Ambassador Galbraith dated November 9, 1962." /><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia via JFK Library</span></p><p class="caption">Then-Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru conferring with US Ambassador to India John Kenneth Galbraith at time of Sino-Indian border conflict, November 9, 1962.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Fast forward to 2014: Narendra Modi was seen as the most pro-China Indian prime minister since 1962, and he reportedly came into office with "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-pushes-hard-in-border-dispute-with-india/2017/07/06/52adc41e-619b-11e7-80a2-8c226031ac3f_story.html?utm_term=.8cd64eb9c287">high hopes of building Sino-Indian relations</a>."</p><p>But the two countries have irked each other with various diplomatic moves, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-pushes-hard-in-border-dispute-with-india/2017/07/06/52adc41e-619b-11e7-80a2-8c226031ac3f_story.html?utm_term=.8cd64eb9c287">as the Washington Post reported</a>.</p><p>Among other things, India refused to join China's "One Belt, One Road" project, which plans to create a better connection between China and Pakistan, while China poured billions of dollars in investment into Sri Lanka and Nepal, which India considers to be its allies.</p><h2>Looking forward...</h2><p>Neither country wants to show weakness by withdrawing. As the analysts at BMI Research explained in a note to clients two weeks ago:</p><p style="padding-left: 60px;">"The Communist Party of China (CPC) cannot afford to show signs of weakness while preparing for the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-political-uncertainty-2017-2016-12">19th National Party Congress in late 2017</a>, especially since the public is aware that India sent its troops to the border before making any diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute. The Modi administration will also be unwilling to back off as it presents itself as an advocate of a strong India, and a sudden withdrawal of its troops may be harmful to its public image. Moreover, India could use this incident to sign more weapons deals with the US, which would help it to secure its eastern flank against China in the future."</p><p>The analysts argue that the standoff could continue into the winter, after which both sides might have to withdraw because of the weather. After that, they continued, it would be "possible" for diplomatic negotiations to begin. </p><p>"Given the dangers of this escalating rivalry, we believe that India and China will seek to obtain a mutually beneficial way to end the standoff and could use the onset of colder temperatures as a plausible excuse," the analysts said.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-bottom-line-stock-market-records-apple-tesla-tech-earnings-jim-glassman-economy-2017-8">THE BOTTOM LINE: New record highs for stocks and a deep dive into Apple's iPhone</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/4Rs0mxkk-xjRU7l6Z.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

A border standoff between 2 nuclear powers has been festering for months

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55376fbd6da8115e0784b11a-507-380/gurbaksh-chahal-18.jpg" border="0" alt="Gurbaksh Chahal"><p class="caption">Gurbaksh Chahal, CEO of Gravity4.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Last year was tough for Gurbaksh "G" Chahal, the troubled founder of RadiumOne, who was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/radiumone-ceo-chahal-avoids-jail-time-2014-4">ousted from the firm by his own board after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence charges.</a>&#xa0;<p>It looks like 2015 will be permeated with more legal issues for Chahal, who is now the CEO of another ad-tech startup, Gravity4.&#xa0;</p><p>Gravity4's former senior vice president of global marketing Erika Alonso sued Chahal and his company on Tuesday,&#xa0;<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/04/21/gurbaksh-chahal-gravity4-lawsuit-gender-discrimination-illegal-surveilllance/">Forbes reports</a>.<span></span></p><p><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/262654227/Erika-Alonso-complaint"><span>Alonso</span>&#xa0;claims</a> she was harassed, discriminated against because of both her age and gender, and that she was secretly and illegally spied on during her job interview there. According to the complaint, Chahal searched for and hired a female CEO in order to shed his "gender-biased image." You can read the entire complaint in full below, <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/21/gravity4-gurbaksh-chahal-lawsuit/">courtesy of TechCrunch.</a></p><div><div>https://www.scribd.com/doc/262654227/Erika-Alonso-complaint</div></div><p>In response to the suit, <a href="http://gravity4.com/blog/a-open-letter-from-our-chief-of-staff-head-of-global-recruiting-and-chairman-ceo/">Gravity4 published a blog post on Tuesday</a>, authored by the company's chief of staff Michelle Louangamath and director of global recruiting Staci King, both female. In it, Louangamath says that Alonso's suit is a "sad desperate cry for publicity because of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ellen-pao-trial-verdict-2015-3">the recent Ellen Pao case</a>."</p><p>King says that the company does not hire based on gender, age, or ethnicity, that the company does not operate any surveillance equipment in its office for interviewing purposes, and that there are a number of "false accusations" in the suit.</p><p>Chahal also comments: "<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As Chairman and CEO of Gravity4, I am shocked at these allegations, as they're simply baseless, false, and can not be supported by facts. We are very clear on knowing what the motives were on having this case filed, and look forward to defending it and clearing the name of Gravity4 based on actual facts."</span></p><p>"I applaud all of my hard-working employees regardless of their age, gender, or race that have grown Gravity4 to become my biggest success yet, in just these 9 months."</p><h2>More bad news for "G"</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/535ff00beab8ea994035333b-1200-800/82729907.jpg" border="0" alt="gurbaksh chahal"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images/Charley Gallay</span></p><p class="caption">Gurbaksh Chahal.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Nevertheless, the complaint against Chahal is extremely damaging to his reputation. It not only claims he was extremely unprofessional in his relationship with Alonso, but that he sought revenge on his former company RadiumOne.</p><p>The allegations come after Chahal was accused of beating his girlfriend multiple times at his home one evening last summer (<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The prosecution dropped felony charges, but he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, domestic assault, and domestic violence, after a plea bargain. He was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to complete a 52-week program that included domestic-violence intervention and to perform 25 hours of community service.) </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It also doesn't help his case denying that&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/radiumone-trouble-with-financing-rumors-2015-3">anonymous tips sent to reporters last month suggesting RadiumOne was in a dire financial state and has just "three months of cash left</a>" came from him. RadiumOne Bill Lornegan has denied the company is in financial trouble. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Several days after the anonymous emails were sent - and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/radiumone-trouble-with-financing-rumors-2015-3">Business Insider received a call from G Chahal's cell phone number from a woman purporting to be one of the anonymous sources, but denying that she knew Chahal</a> - two board members resigned. Sources told Business Insider the board members were stepping down because they were <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/radiumone-trouble-with-financing-rumors-2015-3">tired of Chahal's drama</a>.</span></p><h2><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The case against Chahal and Gravity4</span></h2><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/553771aa69beddfe6f8fddb5-959-479/gravity4.jpg" border="0" alt="Gravity4"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gravity4/photos/pb.651041631652665.-2207520000.1429696840./793069607449866/?type=3&amp;theater">Facebook/Gravity4</a></span></p><p class="caption">Gravity4's office</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Alonso is suing Chahal and Grabity4 on the grounds of: gender discrimination; age discrimination; harassment; retaliation; failure to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; and unlawful electronic eavesdropping.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>The issues started before Alonso even joined the company, according to the suit. Alonso claims that when she was called for an interview with Gravity4 last November, she was brought to a conference room where she was grilled by the interviewer for her thoughts on Chahal's criminal history, and whether she thought he had really assaulted his girlfriend. According to the complaint, Alonso later discovered that the room had been bugged with cameras and microphones and that Chahal had been secretly watching the interview, texting questions to the interviewer.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>The suit also alleges that the company's president at the time, Wayne Powers, indicated to Alonso that Gravity4 was seeking to hire a woman to assist the company in rebuilding the brand, which had been damaged by Chahal's conduct being reported in the media.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Things got worse after Alonso decided to join the company. The suit alleges that Chahal and Gravity4 discriminated against Alonso because she was a female, above the age of 40. It claims that the company said that as a woman, she should "appeal" to female reporters, that Alonso was "unduly" criticized, while male employees and those younger than her were lauded, that she was forced to keep pace with men by doing shots of hard liquor, and that she was fired because she was not part of the "boys club" at Gravity4.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here's one scene detailed in the suit:</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When Alonso indicated that she was not comfortable with drinking hard liquor, and asked if she could join them with a glass of wine, Chahal aggressively insisted that she "do shots." at which point she agreed, as a new employee in a high-pressure situation with her new employer. This was not the only instance in which Chahal strong-armed Alonso into drinking shots of hard alcohol. This happened again once she was employed by Gravity4 on December 17, 2014, December 18, 2014, January 7. 2014, and January 8, 2015, all at company dinners and parties.</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The forced consumption of hard alcohol disproportionately affected Ms. Alonso, a petite woman.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The suit claims Alonso noticed a "constant theme of revenge against Chahal's previous employer, RadiumOne, which is a direct competitor to Gravity4. It claims:</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Chahal habitually made statements disparaging RadiumOne, including, but not limited to, calling RadiumOne employees "a**holes" and stating, "I can't wait to get those fuckers" Upon information and belief, the latter comment related ot his attempts to purchase RadiumOne, despite the company's rejection of purchase offers from Chahal and/or Gravity4.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/553770efecad04d4188fddba-802-802/harmeet%20dhillon.jpeg" border="0" alt="Harmeet Dhillon"><p class="source"><span>Twitter/pnjaban</span></p><p class="caption">Harmeet Dhillon is Erika Alonso's attorney.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>According to the lawsuit, Chahal bragged that he had the several-thousand-member contact list of RadiumOne (sensitive, potentially trade secret information), and he had instructed employees to send Gravity4 press releases to all the contacts on the list - but removing any RadiumOne employees, so his former employer would become suspicious.</span></p><p>Alonso says she realized she had been terminated from the company on or around January 30, 2015, when her e-mail was abruptly disconnected and her photo was removed from Gravity4's website. At around that time she also received a letter from Gravity4's external human resources company, letting her know her contract had been terminated.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Defending Alonso in court is Harmeet Dhillon, a high-profile attorney who has a history of taking on cases for domestic violence and civil rights victims. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/04/21/gurbaksh-chahal-gravity4-lawsuit-gender-discrimination-illegal-surveilllance/">As Forbes notes:</a></span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">She is vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party and experienced domestic violence herself at the hands of her first husband. She has done legal work to defend Sikh civil rights, and she and Chahal are both Sikhs - something that she said did not affect her decision to take on the case. But she added that his domestic violence case was "a source of embarrassment" for the local Sikh community. "He is an individual, but this is not consistent with the values we are taught," she said.</span></p><div><div><p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;">   <a title="View Erika Alonso complaint on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/262654227" style="text-decoration: underline;">Erika Alonso complaint</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/262654227/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" scrolling="no" id="doc_73094" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div><p class="embed-spacer"></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/90-second-shower-trick-workday-productivity-2015-4">This showering trick will make you more energized for the workday </a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="t0bjNsdDokkJ-oDSLH3bmKmFcUUnij8J" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 't0bjNsdDokkJ-oDSLH3bmKmFcUUnij8J',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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