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YEARS # 1 Indian American Weekly : Since 2006 VOL 15 ISSUE 15 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● APR 09 - APR 15, 2021 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 ● [email protected] www.theindianpanorama.news OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN U.S. imposes new sanctions on Russia Attorney Ravi Batra Expels 10 Russian Page 9 diplomats, restricts trading and blacklists 32 individuals India's worries grow as over 'election meddling, Coronavirus cases mount cyberattack' to cross 200,000 on a WASHINGTON (TIP): A reminder of single day the cold war period, the United States announced sanctions against Russia on ● India registered 2,16,642 new Thursday, April 15, and the expulsion of COVID-19 cases as of 11.15 p.m. IST 10 diplomats in retaliation for what on April 15. As many as 1,153 Washington says is the Kremlin's U.S. deaths were also recorded on the election interference, a massive day. cyberattack and other hostile activity. ● Country adds more than 1,100 President Joe Biden ordered a deaths; Maharashtra leads with widening of restrictions on U.S. banks 61,695 cases, followed by U.P. trading in Russian government debt, In a tough and decisive action, President Biden signed an executive order to impose new ● Country has so far reported a total CONTD ON PAGE 7 sanctions on Russia - File photo of 1,42,87,740 cases and 1,74,306 deaths. President Joe Biden greets Indian Americans and Sikhs on Vaisakhi WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Biden and the US first lady were joined Joe Biden led his country in greeting by several lawmakers in greeting Indian- Indian Americans, South Asians and Americans and Sikhs on the occasion of Southeast Asians on the eve of their New Baisakhi. NEW DELHI (TIP): Maharashtra Year. "Wishing a happy and healthy President Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden greeted Indian-Americans and Sikhs on reported 61,695 infections (accounting "(First Lady) Jill (Biden) and I send Vaisakhi to the Sikh community the occasion of Vaisakhi and other festivals - for nearly 31% of new cases) on April our warmest wishes to the South Asian celebrating across the country!" Indian File photo 15, followed by Uttar Pradesh with and Southeast Asian communities who American Congressman Ami Bera said. 22,339 cases and Delhi with 16,699 are celebrating Vaisakhi, Navratri, Another Indian-American lawmaker, the world!" said Congressman Frank cases. Maharashtra also recorded the Songkran and the incoming New Year Ro Khanna, tweeted, "Wishing the Sikh Pallone. Pallone and Congressman John most casualties (349) on April 15. Delhi this week. Happy Bengali, Cambodian, community in America and around the Garamendi have introduced a resolution followed with 112 deaths, while Uttar Lao, Myanmarese, Nepali, Sinhalese, world a happy Vaisakhi!" honoring the Sikh community's Pradesh registered 104 casualties. Tamil, Thai, and Vishu New Year!" Biden "Wishing a happy Vaisakhi to all those celebration of Baisakhi. CONTD ON PAGE 7 said in a tweet on Tuesday, April 13. celebrating in New Jersey and around CONTD ON PAGE 7 DIASPORA WELCOMES MODI GOVERNMENT’S SIMPLIFICATION OF OCI CARDS RE-ISSUE PROCESS Wants parity in privileges and benefits with Indian citizens in India I.S. Saluja NEW YORK (TIP): A notification posted by Press Information Bureau on April 15, 2021 at 7.02 PM (IST) speaks of a government of India decision which is expected to significantly ease the process for re-issue of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. CONTD ON PAGE 3 THE INDIAN PANORAMA EDITORIAL FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 02 -: OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA :- PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: Farmers are arrested on bogus charges. The Government Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja Hon. President of the United States machinery is making their lives difficult. VICE PRESIDENT: Dear President, The farmers are determined to protest and have the harmful Chitagam Saluja Request your support for India's democracy - One call does it. Farm Laws repealed. CHIEF EDITOR: Briefly, India has been our reliable ally in containing They have the support of a large chunk of Indian abroad Prof Indrajit S. Saluja Chinese influence worldwide, and we base that on the stability who understand how harmful the Farm Laws enacted by the CONSULTING EDITOR : and strength of Indian democratic institutions. However, these Modi government are for the farmers and the farm sector. Deepak Dwidedi, Chairman, institutions are crumbling, and we seek your help in Further to that, the right-wing groups have given three Bhaskar Group, Delhi sustaining our ally, India. choices to 230 million Christians and Muslims- convert to ASSISTANT EDITOR: One of the significant sources of potential political Hinduism, disappear, or live as second-class citizens. Bidisha Roy instability is Farmer's protests against the laws passed by the The Journalists, politicians, and social activists have been SPL. REPORTER UNO: Government of India. These laws help big corporations control detained, interrogated charged with treason for voicing their H.S. Panaser the agriculture sector of the economy, stripping the small support for the farmers. GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: farmers from their livelihood. The age-old wisdom goes like this, "one call does it." We hope Om Parkash Malik Nearly 60% of the Indian population works in the you can call Prime Minister Modi and ask him to restore the DIRECTOR Agriculture sector, contributing 18% to the national GDP; now, freedoms to the people and repeal the laws that will hurt ADMINISTRATION: all of this is peril. India's small farmers and food security. Gauri Beri Over 200,000 farmers from across India have been protesting The political stability of India is critical to our influence in for the last six months, living through the cold and brittle Asia. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: winters of New Delhi. Mike Ghouse Nearly 350 Farmers have lost their lives during these Baldev Singh / BJ Videos [email protected] Gunjesh Desai / Masala Junction ongoing peaceful protests. Jay Mandal, Mohammad Jaffer, -: LETTER TO THE EDITOR :- SnapsIndia Mohammad Shahzad, Zia Khan, Dear Prof. Saluja, own elected government, demanding their very legitimate Nisha Rani Greetings. fundamental rights, that have been guaranteed in the Indian Vaaho Photographers, Constitution but which are not being implemented and Vijay Shah - Photo Journalist. The Vaisakhi special edition, dedicated to the agitating given to the distressed farmers. All of the happenings are CORRESPONDENTS : Indian farmers, seeking revocation of the three laws, made really an unfortunate and unwarranted situation, especially SACRAMENTO: interesting reading, indeed. Your remarkable editorial has considering the fact that India has a parliamentary form of Parminder S. Aujla presented a very balanced account of the entire scenario. government and the following golden words are enshrined NEW YORK : Really commendable are the initiatives of Senators in the Preamble to the Constitution: "Sovereign, Socialist, Chitagam Charles Schumer and Robert Menendez writing to Secretary Secular, Democratic Republic". FRESNO: of State Antony Blinken and Congressman Andrew This is an unusually dark phase in the history of the Tarlochan Singh Garbarino's letter to Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Indian polity, post 1947 independent India, when the DALLAS: Similarly, several world leaders, celebrities and the public programs, policies, procedures and decisions of the of many nations have condemned the highhandedness of government are being denounced by the people. The earlier Harjit Dhesi, Amarjit Dhillon the Union government of India. such black period was the EmergencyEra in 1975 to 1977. OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS The People's Power of Peaceful Protest has been On the 26th of January 2021, all eyes were glued towards LONDON reinforced through an unprecedented agitation of such the grand spectacle, to be staged on 'The Rajpath' (implying Nirpal Singh Shergill immense magnitude. A momentous chapter in the history of the Pathway to the Seat of Power) in Delhi, where the SPL CORRESPONDENT protests, worldwide, is in the making, whereby democratic prowess of the Indian Defense Forces, during the Parade is DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: norms are being re-emphasized by the farming community showcased, in a gesture denoting National Glory & Esteem, Chandan Singh in India. while celebrating freedom and also saluting the Warrior- CHANDIGARH: "No farmer, no food" is the slogan which emanated from Defenders of the Indian populace and Indian territorial Manjit Sidhu Punjab, India, and soon it started resonating well, deeply sovereignty. LUDHIANA: and absolutely, with the populace of the entire world. A small group of protestors forced their way, into the A.S. Arora, During the agitation, the farmers, including women, historic Red Fort complex, hoisted the 'Nishaan Sahib', the R.P.Sharma children and the old, were subjected to excruciating Religious-Insignia of the Sikhs, that is visible atop every JAIPUR : tortures like baton-charge, water-cannons and tear-gas Gurdwara, around the world. The 'Nishaan-Sahib' was shells. And during the camping on several locations, on the deliberately labeled as the 'Flag of Khalistan' (an alleged Dr. Yashpaul Goyal Delhi borders, they were further bullied when basic separatist militant movement) even though the entire world DALLAS BUREAU CHIEF & VP amenities like water, electricity and internet connections is aware of the 'Nishaan-Sahib' being the Insignia of the Lovllien Kaurr were severed, in a blatant violation of human rights 551-year-old religion, which is the 5th largest, in terms of 972-330-3139 Accomplishment of the aspirations of the already numbers, and whose adherents reside globally. This saffron- [email protected] marginalized farmers is being further crushed by the colored insignia is very joyously hoisted by the Sikh The Indian Panorama excruciating pain inflicted upon them. However, their Regiment of the Indian Army, wherever it is posted. This P.O. Box No. 190067, South resilience and indomitable fortitude, facing all adversity, flag was hoisted on the ramparts of the very same Red Fort, Richmond Hill, NY 11419, shall serve as an inspiration for many to emulate.