FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 (PAGE 8) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Why Indian soldiers were sent SC stays historic Puri's Rath Yatra Trump signs into law bill to punish 'unarmed to martyrdom': Rahul NEW DELHI, June 18: due to COVID-19 pandemic over crackdown on Uyghur Muslims WASHINGTON, June 18: Muslims in Xinjiang, was International Cybersecurity Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned why NEW DELHI, June 18: passed with an overwhelming Policy. Indian soldiers were sent "unarmed to martyrdom" in Ladakh The Supreme Court US President Donald Trump support from Republicans and “The internment of at least a and how dare China kill them, a day after asking the Defence Thursday stayed this year's his- has signed into law a legislation Democrats in Congress. million Uyghurs and other Minister why he did not name China in his tweet and why it toric Puri Rath Yatra starting that condemns the gross human Senator Marco Rubio Muslim minorities is reprehensi- took him two days to condole the deaths of 20 Army personnel. from June 23 as also the related rights violations of Uyghur applauded the Act and said that ble and inexcusable, and the Gandhi also shared on Twitter activities due to the COVID-19 minority groups in China’s it is an important step in coun- Chinese Communist Party and an interview of a retired Army offi- pandemic, saying that "Lord restive Muslim-majority tering the totalitarian Chinese government must be held to cer who has worked in the area Jagannath won't forgive us if we where the India-China violent Xinjiang region, paving the way government’s widespread and account. This legislation is the allow" it. for imposing sanctions against horrific human rights abuses in product of a true bipartisan, stand-off took place on Monday A bench of Chief Justice S A night. senior Chinese officials. the Xinjiang Uyghur bicameral effort and I look for- Bobde and Justices Dineesh The Uyghur Human Rights Autonomous Region (XUAR), ward to its full implementation The former Congress president Maheshwari and A S Bopanna has been questioning the govern- Policy Act, 2020 holds account- including the mass internment of soon,” said Senator Jim Risch, said that in the interest of public able the perpetrators of human over one million Uyghurs and Chairman of the Senate Foreign ment over the martyrdom of Indian health and safety of citizens, this soldiers and has demanded answers rights violations and abuses such other predominantly ethnic Relations Committee. year's Rath Yatra at Puri in NGO, 'Odisha Vikas Parishad', Government for not granting any as the systematic use of indoctri- Turkic Muslims, as well as The Uyghur Human Rights from the prime minister. On Odisha can't be allowed. seeking stay on holding of the permission for holding the 'Rath Wednesday, he asked Defence nation camps, forced labour and Beijing’s intimidation and Project (UHRP) welcomed the "Lord Jagannath won't for- annual festival, an appeal has Yatra' festival. intrusive surveillance to eradi- threats against US citizens and enactment of the law. Minister Rajnath Singh why did he "insult" the Army by not give us if we allow this year's been moved by one Surendra The appeal of Panigrahi also naming China over the killing of Indian soldiers in eastern cate the ethnic identity and reli- legal permanent residents on “Uyghurs around the world Rath Yatra to go on", CJI Bobde Panigrahi of 'Bhartiya Bikash mentioned similar grounds for gious beliefs of Uyghurs and American soil. are celebrating,” said Omer Ladakh's Galwan Valley. said, adding that as such a huge Parishad' against the Orissa High deferment of Rath Yatra and "If it was so painful: Why insult Indian Army by not nam- other minorities in China, By signing the Act into law, Kanat, UHRP Executive gathering can't take place during Court order of June 9 which had said, "This time the entire coun- ing China in your tweet? Why take 2 days to condole? Why Trump said. President Trump took a historic Director. the pandemic. asked the state government to try including the state of Odisha address rallies as soldiers were being martyred," he said. However, a section of the step in the support of Uyghur “It’s the kind of news we The bench asked the Odisha decide on holding the 'Rath is presently passing through a On Thursday, he added, "How dare China kill our Act purports to limit his discre- Muslims worldwide and against have been waiting for, more than government not to allow the Yatra' festival in line with the very critical situation due to out- UNARMED soldiers? Why were our soldiers sent UNARMED tion to terminate inadmissibility China’s egregious human rights three years into the Uyghur cri- yatra or pilgrimage procession COVID-19 guidelines. break of COVID-19 pandemic in to martyrdom." sanctions under the Act, he said abuses and probable crimes sis. But the US cannot be the and the related activities any- The PIL said the religious India as well as Puri district". Twenty Indian Army personnel, including a colonel, were on Wednesday. against humanity, he said. sole nation acting to hold the where in the state to avoid the congregation of such nature, On June 9, the High Court on killed in a clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in “In some circumstances, this “As the Chinese government perpetrators accountable for spread of coronavirus (COVID- which has been specifically pro- the PIL filed by Panigrahi has eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the biggest military con- limitation could be inconsistent and Communist Party of China their crimes. Uyghurs call on 19). During the hearing, senior hibited by the state government directed that the state govern- frontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated with my constitutional authori- (CPC) continue its mass intern- countries around the world to vide its guidelines dated June 1 ment that in case it decides to the already volatile border standoff in the region. advocate Mukul Rohatgi, ties…,” Trump said. ment of at least a million work together against ethno-reli- and June 7 and the guidelines hold 'Rath Yatra' festival at Puri The clash in Galwan Valley on Monday night is the biggest appearing for the petitioner Reacting to the development, Uyghurs and other Muslim eth- gious persecution, profiling and dated May 30 of Ministry of in consistent with the Covid-19 confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clash- NGO, said that if Rath Yatra is the Chinese foreign ministry in nic minorities, the US will hold cultural genocide,” he said. Home Affairs, if allowed, will guidelines, then it must also duly es in Nathu La in 1967 when India lost around 80 soldiers allowed huge congregation of Beijing slammed the law, saying the CPC and its enablers The United States lead to catastrophic results and it consider deploying machinery or while over 300 Chinese army personnel were killed. (PTI) people will take place, exposing it “maliciously attacks” China’s accountable for their heinous Commission on International them to higher risk of infection will be very difficult on the part other means like elephants to policy in the Xinjiang region. crimes,” said Rubio. Religious Freedom thanked by coronavirus. of the authorities to control the pull the chariots. China will “resolutely hit He is the co-chair of the Trump for signing the Uyghur Govt plans customs duty The bench said it is a serious spread of the virus thereafter. The three heavily built back and the US will bear the bipartisan and bicameral Human Rights Policy Act. matter. "Thus, keeping in mind the wooden chariots of Lord burden of all subsequent conse- Congressional-Executive “It is a great day for the hike on host of products Solicitor General Tushar interests of the general public at Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and quences”, it said in a statement Commission on China (CECC), American citizens as well as Mehta, appearing for the Centre, large, it would be apposite to Devi Subhadra are traditionally after Trump signed the Act into the Chairman of the Senate Uyghur and other Turkic people NEW DELHI, Jun 18: said that it needs time till tomor- postpone the Rath Yatra festival pulled manually over a distance law. Foreign Relations’ in China who have been subject row to file the reply. which is scheduled to commence of three kilometres twice during The bill, which includes Subcommittee that oversees to ghastly human rights abuses The government is considering hiking customs duty on a num- A counsel appearing for an on June 23, 2020 and further the nine-day festival of the sanctions on the senior Chinese human rights, and is a member by the Communist Party of ber of products amid ongoing border tensions with China. intervenor said the Odisha gov- continue for a period of 10-12 Trinity at Puri. officials directly involved in the of the subcommittee on East China,” USCIRF Commissioner Discussion is on over hike in duties on goods imported from ernment has issued a notification days thereafter," the plea said. While the festival is sched- crackdown on the Uyghur Asia, the Pacific and Nury Turkel said. (PTI) China, a source said. that there shall be no public It said that if the 'Rath Yatra' uled for June 23, the 'Bahuda Although nothing has been finalised as yet, the focus would be gathering till June 30. is allowed to happen on June 23, Yatra' (return car festival) is on cutting down import of non-essential items, the source said. However, the bench said that despite State Government's pro- fixed for July 1. Chinese makers tweak strategy About 14 per cent of India's total imports are from China. it is staying the festival starting hibition on holding religious The High Court had said that Between April 2019-February 2020, India has imported goods from June 23. gathering or congregations, it is up to the state government to worth USD 62.4 billion, while exports to the neighbouring country The top court's order came lakhs and lakhs of devotees from decide whether or not to allow to project products as Indian brands stood at USD 15.5 billion. on a PIL filed by Odisha based all over the country are going to the religious festival depending The main goods imported from China include clocks and NGO seeking cancellation or gather for 'darshan' of Lord Shri on the Coronavirus situation KOLKATA, June 18: outsource from third party ven- had seen some short term watches, musical instruments, toys, sports goods, furniture, mat- postponement of this year's Rath Jagannath. prevalent on the ground. dor in India. The localization impact during the Dokalam tresses, plastics, electrical machinery, electronic equipments, Yatra, which continues for 10 to "If such a massive gathering If, however, any such deci- Chinese handset makers level is already at least 60-70 standoff in the past," a mobile who command around 70 per per cent for several handset company official said. chemicals, iron and steel items, fertiliser, mineral fuel and metals. 12 days and is attended by mil- takes place members of the sion is eventually taken, the state cent of the market share in makers, market observers said. Demands have shot up and India has time and again raised concerns over widening trade lions of devotees from across the crowd will not be able to main- government shall ensure strict India are projecting themselves We have decided to high- dealers are asking for products. deficit with China, which stood at about USD 47 billion during world. tain adequate distance, which adherence to the directives as Indian brands and selling light Made-in-India in our There has been supply con- April-February 2019-20. Two pleas have been moved will make them all vulnerable to issued by the Centre and the made-in- India products to packaging more prominently straints due to limited manufac- The move to raise duty assumes significance as the government in the top court seeking to cancel contracting COVID-19 infec- State's own orders containing ward off any possible backlash now onwards, a turing due to COVID-19, he is working on ways to boost local manufacturing and promote or postponement of the historic tion," it said. additional guidelines to prevent on their sales after the Galwan official told PTI on Thursday. said. Make in India. (PTI) 'Rath Yatra'. It sought a direction to the the spread of COVID-19 virus, violence. Realmes India CEO New models of Vivo, Besides the PIL filed by the Centre and the State the high court had said. (PTI) Korean brand Samsung, Madhav Seth, CEO in a are lined up for their VHP announces nationwide campaign which is a major competitor, YouTube series said I can launch on June 23 and June 25 Chinese firm’s contract to be terminated for ‘poor stands to gain if consumers proudly say that Realme is an on Flipkart. for boycotting Chinese goods switch their choice on national- Indian startup, which is now a A Realme official said the istic grounds. global multinational company". company's plant is running in a NEW DELHI, June 18: progress’; Rly PSU denies link to border face-off There have been protests by Realme is one of the brand limited capacity due to social The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday said it will the people in various parts of controlled by BBK Electronics distancing and production is conduct a door-to-door campaign across the country appealing to NEW DELHI, Jun 18: The move comes after 20 "If they had done their work the country after the face off at of China. It has other brands limited. people to boycott Chinese goods and mobile phones to break the Indian Army personnel including the section would have been Galwan valley in eastern like Techno, , , Chinese companies are backbone of the country. The Railways has decided to a colonel were killed in a fierce completed by this financial year,¨ Ladakh in which 20 Indian Vivo and OnePlus. meanwhile exercising caution In a statement, VHP general secretary Milind Parande said the terminate the contract of a clash with Chinese troops in the he said. Army personnel were killed by There has been no visible about its expatriates and advi- whole country is stunned over the fatal attack by China on its sol- Chinese company due to "poor Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh Sachan, however, said it was the PLA of China on June 15. change among the consumers sories have been issued about diers and it was high time that the neighbouring country was taught progress" on the signalling and on Monday night, the biggest poor performance and inability to The strategy is likely to be for Chinese products - either for not moving out unless neces- a lesson. telecommunication work on the military confrontation in over deliver the project on time that replicated by many handset mobile or any other white sary. "I appeal to the people of Bharat for a total boycott of Chinese Eastern Dedicated Freight five decades that has significantly led to the decision by DFCCIL to makers of all major Chinese goods. However, no Chinese com- goods and mobile applications so that the Dragon's backbone is Corridor's 417-km section escalated the already volatile bor- terminate the contract. brands who have their own "Till now there is no visibil- pany spoke about it officially. entirely broken and it is made spineless," Parande said. between Kanpur and der standoff in the region. PTI has sent a mail to the manufacturing lines in India or ity about any disruption. We (PTI) VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the organisation, along Mughalsarai. However, the Dedicated World Bank seeking its comment with its youth wing Bajrang Dal, will conduct a door-to-door cam- The Railways had given the Freight Corridor Corporation on the issue and is awaiting a paign in the country asking people to boycott Chinese goods and contract worth Rs 471 crore to Limited (DFCCIL), the imple- reply. World shares India’s concern mobile applications. Beijing National Railway menting agency of the project, The work entrusted with the Expressing faith in the BJP-led government, VHP leaders said Research and Design Institute of made it clear that there was no Chinese engineering major the leadership at the Centre and the country's brave soldiers are Signal and Communication link between the border face-off includes design, construction, on terror: Envoy capable enough to tackle any crisis on the border. (PTI) Group in 2016. and the contract's termination, the supply, testing and commission- UNITED NATIONS, June 18: Along with India, Norway, Office of counter-terrorism in process for which had started as ing of signalling, telecommunica- Ireland and Mexico will also join 2016," he said. early as January 2019. tion and related works for the India hopes to use its two- the UNSC as the non-permanent India has consistently under- Officials said the Chinese 417-km section. year term in the powerful UNSC members for a two-year term lined the importance of global firm was supposed to complete Officials said apart from per- to bolster the framework on ter- beginning January 1, 2021. frameworks such as the Paris- the work by 2019, but only 20 formance issues, the Chinese rorism to address issues such as Tirumurti said India hopes to based Financial Action Task percent of the work has been company had also shown reluc- the misuse of information and use its two-year term in the Force (FATF) and need for the completed so far. tance in furnishing technical doc- communications technology by UNSC "to strengthen the norma- Comprehensive Convention on "We were in discussion with uments, as per the contract agree- terrorist groups and stem the flow tive and operative frameworks on International Terrorism (CCIT) to the World Bank on the issue since ment, such as logic design of of terror financing, the country's terrorism to effectively strength- combat the terror-crime nexus. January this year as their progress electronic interlocking. envoy to the UN has said. en the multilateral system to At the UN, India has given a was very slow. We approached It also did not have engineers India has always been advo- address issues such as the misuse clarion call for strengthening the them in April telling them of our or authorized personnel at the cating a "zero tolerance" of information and communica- efforts to adopt the long-pending decision to terminate the contract. project site which was a serious approach to terrorism in all its tions technology by terrorist enti- global convention on internation- We have decided to terminate the concern, they said. forms and manifestations, India's ties, disrupt the nexus with spon- al terrorism. contract and if the World Bank The company also failed to Permanent Representative to the sors and transnational organised India proposed a draft docu- disagrees, then we will approach have tie-ups with local agencies UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti criminal rackets and stemming ment on the CCIT at the UN in the Railways to fund the section. which harmed the physical told PTI in an interview after the flow of terrorist finance. 1986, but it has not been imple- "There is no link between the progress of the work, officials India overwhelmingly won the "The world shares our con- mented as there is no unanimity termination of this contract and pointed out. election to the United Nations cern. The UN itself has recog- on the definition of terrorism what is happening at the borders. "There is no improvement in Security Council as a non-perma- nised this when it set up the UN among the member states. (PTI) It is purely coincidental," said progress despite repeated meet- nent member. Anurag Sachan, Managing ings with them at every possible "Terrorism is naturally going Chinese nationals in India fear backlash Director, DFCCIL. level," officials said. to be one of our main priorities Sachan said 60 per cent of the The Eastern Dedicated during our term on the Council," NEW DELHI, June 18: track linking work (being done Freight Corridor or Eastern DFC he said. The border clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in by another contractor) on the sec- is a freight specific railway under India, the endorsed candidate Ladakh broke the brittle quiet – and also the sense of security for tion has been completed and the construction from northern to from the Asia-Pacific States anxious Chinese nationals in India who fear a backlash with anti- delay in completion was because eastern part of India and is sched- grouping, garnered 184 votes out Chinese sentiment spiralling in the country. the Chinese firm did not do their uled to be completed by 2022. of the total 192 polled in the elec- With the high altitude violent face-off in eastern Ladakh's part of the work. (PTI) tion on Wednesday. Galwan Valley spurring hashtags such as “Boycott China” and “Teach Lesson to China” and leading to street protests, the under- currents of tension were evident. Wary of being identified, some said they had been reassured by their friends but were still apprehensive for themselves and their families. "They (Chinese families) don't want to speak to the media. They are not going out and are worried about their security and well being. Their families are also worried back home," Mohammed Saqib, secretary general of the India China Economic & Cultural Council, told PTI. He added that his Chinese friends in India been calling him since they heard news about Monday night's clashes in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed -- the worst military confrontation in five decades -- and expressed concern over growing anti-China sentiments. A Chinese national from Beijing working in Gurgaon for a Chinese mobile firm initially refused to talk, saying he did not want to speak to the media and later shared his thoughts only on condition of anonymity. "There is talk of border standoff and tensions, but we know Indians are very warm people and that is why I have told my fam- ily that all is fine here and they should not worry," he said. Another Chinese national working in Gurgaon said he and his family are feeling the stress amid the spiralling conflict between India and China, but many friends have been reassuring him. "They (Chinese in India) are under a lot of stress naturally. Such a conflict puts a lot of stress as they could bear the brunt and the same applies to Indians in China," B R Deepak, professor at the Centre for Chinese and South East Asian Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, said. (PTI)