INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 51 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • December 23, 2022 Manipur: Nine school students killed, over 40 injured as bus overturns in Noney Imphal (Manipur) [India], December 21 (ANI): At least Nine school students were killed while over 40 others were injured after the bus they were traveling in met with an accident in Noney district of Manipur on Wednesday morning, the police said. Officials said that the accident took place at Old Cachar road at around 10.30 am. The victims were students of the Thambalnu Higher Secondary School located at Yairipok Top Chingtha area in Imphal East. “The students, teachers, and school staff were on their way to the Leimatak area for an annual study tour in two buses,” they said while adding that one bus was arranged for male students and nonteaching staff, and another for the girl students. Locals said that the driver of one of the buses carrying girl students lost control over the wheels at a sharp turn near Leimatak in-between Joujangtek and Tubul and the bus turned turtle. “There were around 48 women including students and teachers on board in the ill-fated bus,” said sources. Five students died on the spot while others succumbed to death while being treated at Bishnupur district hospital, they said. Those injured in the accident were immediately including villagers and passers-by had a hard time trying to rescue those stuck inside the bus. As videos of villagers helplessly trying to rescue those inside the bus were shared on social media. At least 26 injured students, teachers and school staff were admitted to a hospital in Imphal and the condition of six remained critical and have been admitted to the ICU. “Fourteen students are undergoing treatment at RIMS hospital,” they said. P r e s i d e n t Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday condoled the deaths in a tragic bus accident in the Noney district of Manipur. “Saddened to learn about rushed to the hospitals in the accident of a school Imphal in available vans bus carrying children in and other vehicles. Nine ambulances also reportedly ACCIDENT reached the spot. SEE PAGE 6 Locals of the area ENDS JANUARY 3 NX F SPORT ALL-NEW RX ES F SPORT KHUSHI JO SIRF SEASON NAHIN, SAALON CHALE Sometimes the best gifts are the experiences that keep on giving, season after season. ©2022 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
December 23, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India to host next special negotiation round for Pillars IIIV of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework New Delhi [India], December 20 (ANI): Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal along with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and other IPEF partner countries, participated in the virtual Ministerial Meeting on Economic Benefits for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday. In a statement, the Commerce Ministry said Goyal complimented partner countries for taking the initiative in right earnest. He expressed his belief that IPEF will promote inclusive development through the enhancement of trade and investment in the region. Minister Goyal extended an invitation to all partner countries for the next special negotiation round for Pillars 2-4 of IPEF to be hosted by India on February 8-11, 2023. “He urged members to focus energy on early harvest of deliverables that can benefit all the members. He was happy to note that there seemed to be a consensus among members on setting up of an investment forum consisting of private and public sector stakeholders to encourage investment in clean energy sector, during recent round at Brisbane, Australia,” the Commerce Ministry said in the statement. The Minister shared his views on some of the common tangible benefits like capacity building; technical assistance, including sharing of expertise and best practices; investments, innovative projects, etc, expected out of this initiative. Goyal also shared with IPEF partners some of India’s specific expectations under IPEF. He said that India can contribute towards supply chain resilience in sectors like pharmaceuticals and invited support from members in semiconductors, critical minerals and clean technologies including on innovative projects which can be promoted beyond IPEF in other developing countries. He further talked about the nonpaper submitted by India on some of the ideas like mobilization of financial resources for climate action at reasonable costs. He also drew the attention of partner countries on the need for measures to counter terror financing. Further, the Minister expressed his full support to the negotiations schedule agreed at the Brisbane meeting held recently. Secretary Raimondo welcomed India’s offer to host the special negotiation round for Pillars 2-4 of IPEF and assured that the US IPEF team would work closely with India in this regard.
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December 23, 2022 INDIA THIS WEEK Friday China’s Aggression: India Caucus Co-Chairs issue statement on India-China Border clash A SMART CHOICE 7- and 15week 140+ degrees & certificates 9 Online Degrees hundreds of online classes flexible course schedule Dual Enrollment earn college credit in high school Supportive Faculty 140+ Up to 50% Savings 17:1 seamless transfer pathways to four-year schools on tuition costs compared to public four-year colleges and universities student to faculty ratio montgomerycollege.edu/educate India announces restoration of e-Visa facility for Canadian passport holders Ottawa [Canada], December 20 (ANI): The Indian High Commission in Ottawa on Tuesday announced the restoration of the e-Visa facility for Canadian passport holders. “e-Visa facility for Canadian passport-holders has been restored, with effect from 20 December 2022,” the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said in a statement. “Those Canadian passport-holders who wish to visit India for tourism, business, medical or conference purposes. may apply for e-Visa at https:// indianvisaonline.gov.in/ evisa/tvoa.html and follow instructions contained therein,” it added. The High Commission said Canadian passport-holders seeking to travel to India for any purpose, not qualifying for an e-Visa, may apply for the paper visa at https:// www.bisindiacanada. com/. “The same process is applicable to Laissez-passer travel document holders.” Moreover, the Indian High Commission said those who have applied for visas through various BLS Centres in Canada are advised to wait for the issuance of the same. “All such applications will be processed on priority. Those applicants who wish to withdraw their respective visa applications may do so by visiting the website h t t p s : / / w w w. b i s i n d i a canada.com/ and choosing the option for Application Withdrawal,” the release said. “Those who have booked appointments to apply for tourist, business. medical or conference visa at BLS Centres in Canada and would, now, like to apply for e-Visa instead, are requested to vacate/cancel their appointment slots so that the same becomes available to others seeking visa consular services,” it added. Last month, the second India–Canada Consular Dialogue was held to discuss the consular, visa and mutual legal assistance cooperation. In the Consular Dialogue, the Indian side stressed consular and visa issues, which included problems and delays in obtaining Canadian visas and work permits. Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue to work towards solving issues relating to citizen-centric issues including reducing delays in visas and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations through people-topeople exchanges. The next Consular Dialogue will be held in Canada next year. (ANI) Wa s h i n g t o n [US], December 20 (ANI): China’s unprovoked aggression in Arunachal Pradesh is a reminder that partnership with India is crucial to the national security of the US and its allies, India Caucus in the United States said in a statement. Notably, the Senate India Caucus is a bipartisan coalition that brings national attention to domestic and international issues that affect our economies and security. “China’s most recent aggression in Arunachal Pradesh is yet another reminder of why a strong security partnership with India is crucial to the national security of the United States and our allies. This event marks yet another act of the PRC’s threats to Indian territory, including China’s premeditated aggression on the line of actual control in 2020 which saw the death of approximately 20 Indian troops,” the India Caucus statement read. In the statement, India Caucus applauded the inclusion of Section 1260 in the FY23 Final Conference Report to strengthen military cooperation in critical areas like intelligence gathering, fifth-generation aircraft, and emerging technologies to deter China’s aggression and encroachment in the Indo-Pacific region. This statement came in the backdrop of the December 9 clash where People’s Liberation Army troops contacted the LAC in the Tawang Sector which was contested by Indian troops firmly and resolutely. This face-off led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides.In a statement in both houses of Parliament, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “On December 9, 2022, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo. The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops firmly and resolutely. The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts.” He further said “the scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides”, and clarified that “there are no fatalities or serious casualties on our side.” “Due to the timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers went back to their locations,” Singh said. As a follow-up of the incident, the Minister further said, the local commander in the area held a “flag meeting with his counterpart on December 11, 2022, to discuss the issue in accordance with established mechanisms”. “The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” Singh said. (ANI)
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December 23, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Over 82,000 hectares of state’s land encroached on by neighbouring states: Assam govt G u w a h a t i (Assam) [India], December 21 (ANI): The Assam government on Wednesday said in the state assembly that over 82,000 hectares of the state’s land have been encroached on by its neighbouring states. Replying to a written query by Congress MLA Debabrata Saikia, Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora said that, a total of 82,751 hectares of Assam’s land have been encroached on by its four neighbouring states Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. According to the Assam government, Nagaland encroached on 59490.21 hectares of Assam’s land followed by 16144.01 hectares of land by Arunachal Pradesh, 3675.78 hectares of land by Mizoram and 3441.86 hectares of land by Meghalaya. and its counterparts of Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya have formed regional committees and government-level discussions are going on. “Both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments have formed 12 each regional committees to resolve the inter-state boundary dispute issue. The Assam and Meghalaya governments have also formed regional committees and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between both The Assam Minister further said that since January 2021 four violent incidents were taken place along From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- December 23, 2022 Nativity, a Christmas Poem John Donne 1572–1631 Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb, Now leaves His well-belov’d imprisonment, There He hath made Himself to His intent Weak enough, now into the world to come; But O, for thee, for Him, hath the inn no room? Yet lay Him in this stall, and from the Orient, Stars and wise men will travel to prevent The effect of Herod’s jealous general doom. Seest thou, my soul, with thy faith’s eyes, how He Which fills all place, yet none holds Him, doth lie? Was not His pity towards thee wondrous high, That would have need to be pitied by thee? Kiss Him, and with Him into Egypt go, With His kind mother, who partakes thy woe. the bordering areas of Assam-Meghalaya, Assam-Mizoram, AssamNagaland and AssamArunachal Pradesh border. The Minister also said that to resolve the border dispute issues with the neighbouring states, the Assam government INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352, Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online governments in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the border dispute issue in six dispute areas. On the other hand, to resolve the boundary dispute issue with Mizoram, governmentlevel discussions are going on,” Atul Bora said in the written query reply. On the other hand, the opposition Congress and AIUDF criticized the Assam government and said that the Assam government has totally failed to protect its own land. (ANI) ACCIDENT “Anguished by the loss of lives in Manipur’s Noney district due to a tragic bus accident. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover soon. The Manipur government is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a tweet. “An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the bus accident. The injured would be given Rs50,000: PM @narendramodi,” the PMO said. CM N Biren Singh expressed his grief and concern over the victims and announced ex-gratia and monetary assistance. “Government will bear the Medical expense; Cash relief of Rs 5 lakhs for the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those with serious injury, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries,” he said while talking to the media at Raj Medicity. (ANI) Manipur: Nine school students killed, over 40 injured as bus overturns in Noney FROM PAGE 1 Noney district of Manipur. The loss of precious young lives is distressing. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for speedy recovery of the injured,” Tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nine students died while around 40 others were injured in a school bus accident on the Old Cachar Road in the Noney district of Manipur on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi consoled the death of the students. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakhs to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those injured in the accident. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Health Minister Sapam Ranjan and other top government officials MLAs and Ministers visited Raj Medicity and RIMS where the injured were undergoing treatment. Remember: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ” JESUS CHRIST
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December 23, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu takes oath as 15th chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mukesh Agnihotri as deputy CM Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 11 (ANI): Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday took oath as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Mukesh Agnihotri, former leader of the opposition, also took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Governor RV Arlekar administered the oath of office to them at a formal function being organized at Ridge Maidan in Shimla on Sunday. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Himachal Pradesh was attended by top leaderships of Congress including President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. A four-time MLA, Sukhu, 58, is a former chief of Congress in the state and has been part of NSUI and Youth Congress. He is a grassroots politician who has risen from the ranks and has wide organizational experience in the hill state. He was the party’s state unit president from 2013 to 2019 and spoke his mind even if it was not to the liking of the party’s tall leader Virbhadra Singh, a six-time Chief Minister. Sukhu has been in favor of promoting and grooming younger Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh. Affable and approachable, Sukhu has a wide network in the hill state due to his long years in the organization. He is a loyalist of the Gandhi family, and Sukhu belongs to a middle-class family. He was active in politics from his student days and fought elections as an NSUI candidate. He was president of NSUI and the Indian Youth Congress in the state. He fought and won elections for Shimla Municipal Corporation. Sukhu won the assembly election for the first time in 2003 from Nadaun. He has become the second chief minister from Hamirpur district after BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal. Congress won the assembly polls in the state and got 40 seats. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said that he is thankful to the Congress and Gandhi family for electing him as the Chief Minister. Sukhu, 58, lauded Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi after his election and said the party will fulfil its poll promises. He said the new government will “bring change”. Sukhu said that he is happy that despite being from an ordinary family he will be the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. “I am happy that I am going to be CM despite being from an ordinary family. I am thankful to the Congress party and the Gandhi family for giving me this opportunity. My mother never stopped me from being in politics. I have reached here today because of her blessings,” said Sukhu. The party’s choice of Sukhu was however seen as a major setback to Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh, who had openly raised slogans demanding that she should be made the Chief Minister. On being asked about Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh’s discontentment, Sukhu had said that there was no such discontentment. (ANI) Cabinet will be formed after Vidhan Sabha session: Himachal Pradesh CM New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the cabinet would be formed after the Vidhan Sabha session. “The cabinet will be formed after the Vidhan Sabha session,” Sukhu told reporters when asked about the state cabinet. “We had come to thank party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. All 40 of our MLAs and our state chief have also come. He gave us the mantra to serve the people. He also thanked the people of the state,” Himachal Pradesh CM said after meeting the party’s national president in Delhi. Sukhu and state Congress president Pratibha Singh met with the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge in the national capital today. Earlier this week, Sukhu made numerous announcements in the first cabinet meeting. Highlighting the implementation of 10 guarantees, Sukhu said that the old pension scheme (one of the key poll agendas) would be brought back. At his first cabinet meet on Monday a day after taking oath, Sukhu also brought up the rent and food expenses of MLAs. “We have decided that in Himachal Bhawan & Himachal Sadan, rent and food expenses for MLAs will be the same as for common people. Earlier, common people paid the full amount and MLAs got these facilities at subsidised rates, but that won’t happen anymore,” said CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Sukhu on Sunday took oath as the new chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Mukesh Agnihotri, former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, also took oath as the deputy chief minister of the state. The swearingin ceremony was attended by top leaders of Congress, including national president Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Rahul Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Congress won the Assembly polls in the state, bagging a total of 40 seats. (ANI) Congress government will establish new dimensions of development in state New Delhi [India], December 17 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the Congress government in the hill state will establish new dimensions of development in the coming five years. He was addressing a felicitation function organized by the Indian Youth Congress and National Students Union of India here to honour him. Sukhu was part of both Youth Congress and NSUI. He called upon Youth Congress and NSUI to work hard with utmost devotion and discipline so that the Indian National Congress could regain its eminence in different states. The Chief Minister also paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion. Sukhu said that all office-bearers and workers should give up despair and convey the policies of the Congress party to the masses with full energy and dedication. He said that the future belongs to the Indian National Congress and everyone should learn from past defeats and move forward. “Today’s struggle will lay the foundation of a strong future of the Indian National Congress. Only those who have the ability to struggle can overcome challenges,” he said. Sukhu said that it is the ideology of the Congress which has given a common worker the post of Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and referred to his journey from a class representative of the college to chief of Congress in Himachal. He said he had come to the offices of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India to remember the beginning of his political career. He urged the youth to never forget their beginning and roots. “In the coming five years, the Congress Government of Himachal Pradesh would establish new dimensions of development in the state. While the state government would fulfil all its promises, a transparent, sensitive and clean administration would be provided to the people,” the Chief Minister said. Sukhu also shared the memories of his political life on the occasion. (ANI)
FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2022 9 Sale Ends 12/30/2022 Stop feeding dry fruits to ‘friends’: Rahul Gandhi advises PM Modi on inflation New Delhi [India], December 20 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over growing inflation and advised him to stop entertaining “friends” and start attending to the public who have been suffering due to the price rise. Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and said in Hindi, “Big announcement by the Rajasthan government to give LPG gas cylinders for Rs 500, which is half the price of the one set by the Central government. Prime Minister Ji, stop feeding dry fruits to the friends, and serve the people suffering from inflation (‘mitro’ ko mewa khilana band kijie, mehangai se trast janta ki sewa kijie)”. The Congress leader is currently in Rajasthan amid his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is observing its last day in the Congress-ruled state. The foot march will enter Haryana on Wednesday. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday announced a scheme for providing cylinders to the poor in the state at the reduced rate of Rs 500 each. “The state government is continuously taking public welfare decisions to provide maximum relief to the poor. In this direction, the state government is now developing a scheme to provide LPG cylinders to the poor at a cheaper rate,” Gehlot tweeted. He said under this scheme, the people under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) will get 12 cylinders in a year at the rate of Rs 500 each. “With the implementation of the scheme, from April The property tax is around 1, 2023, at the rate of Rs Rs 1.40 lakh and the water 500 per cylinder, BPL and tax is around Rs 1 crore”. poor people enrolled for More details awaited. (ANI) the (central government’s) Taj Mahal gets Rs 1 crore water bill Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 20 (ANI): The Agra Municipal Corporation has served notices on the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asking it to pay property tax and water bills for the iconic Taj Mahal, officials said. According to officials of the ASI, a notice for water tax and one for property tax has been issued. The ASI has been asked to pay around Rs 1.40 lakh and Rs 1 crore as water tax. ASI’s Superintending Archaeologist(Agra circle) Raj Patel told ANI, “A notice for water tax and one for property tax has been issued. ‘Ujjwala’ scheme will be able to get 12 cylinders in a year. This will reduce the financial burden on the common man in this era of inflation,” he said in a subsequent tweet. CM Gehlot also informed that the state government is also planning to provide kits containing kitchen items to the needy. “The senior officials are preparing a roadmap to implement the scheme in the state. Along with this, a plan will also be made by the state government to provide kits of kitchen items to the needy people,” he said in another tweet. Last week though, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that inflation has come down and expressed confidence that it will reduce further. Replying to a debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants 2022-23 in Lok Sabha on December 14, Sitharaman said “inflation is
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