National
IANS Analysis: World Tibet Day – An honour of Tibetan resistance
New Delhi: Since 1998, Tibetans worldwide celebrate World Tibet Day annually on July 6, marking the birth anniversary of the 14th Dalai Lama, their revered spiritual and political leader.
Initiated by Pulitzer nominee Richard Rosenkranz and the Dalai Lama’s younger brother, Tendzin Choegyal, the day not only honours the distinctiveness and values of Tibetan culture but also aims to draw global attention to the persecution, repression, and cultural erasure suffered by Tibetans under Chinese occupation.
In the decade following China’s 1951 annexation of the Tibetan plateau, which it termed a ‘peaceful liberation from feudal serfdom,’ mass uprisings erupted across the Himalayan territory.
These were met with brutal suppression by the occupying forces, culminating in the Dalai Lama’s flight to India in 1959, followed by over 80,000 Tibetans.
Over the past seven decades, Tibetans have resisted their forced incorporation into China through protests, social unrest, and cultural preservation in the face of ‘Sinicization.’
According to the Tibetan government-in-exile, there have been over 150 cases of self-immolation by Tibetans since 2009.
The Dalai Lama holds an unparalleled status among Tibetans. The Dalai Lamas command the highest spiritual seat for Tibetan Buddhists, believed to be manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, belongs to the Gelug sect, the largest and politically predominant within Tibetan Buddhism. However, it is not just his spiritual significance that makes him an incomparable figure for Tibetans worldwide.
Since fleeing to India, he has become the most relentless, potent, and legitimate symbol of Tibetan resistance, earning international renown. He has also stood as a global pillar of peace, human rights, and universal responsibility, rooted in Buddhist philosophy, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Given the Dalai Lama’s legitimate clamouring for Tibetan rights and his international appeal, it is no wonder that the PRC has long sought to undermine his standing through official diktats and targeted propaganda campaigns.
Although he seeks meaningful autonomy within China, the CPC paints him as a violent separatist and a threat to Chinese nationhood.
As early as 1996, China formally prohibited the display and possession of the Dalai Lama’s images in Tibet, construing it as solidarity with Tibetan secessionism. In fact, the PRC, which under Mao Zedong was avowedly averse to religion, now seeks to control the Dalai Lama’s succession process.
The Dalai Lama will turn 89 this year, sparking discussions of his spiritual inheritance, despite his assurance that he will live beyond 100 years according to his visions.
Traditionally, the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is determined by search parties within Tibet and sometimes outside, based on signs and visions interpreted by top Lamas. However, since the current Dalai Lama and many Tibetans were expelled from their homeland, he has suggested that he might reincarnate outside of Tibet or name his living successor before he passes away, a method known as ‘emanation’.
The PRC, for its part, has repeatedly asserted its right to decide on the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation through the ‘golden urn’ process and has convened a committee of government-selected Tibetan monks and CPC officials to oversee it.
This has spurred concerns of a potential split within Tibetan Buddhism, as it is likely that two Dalai Lamas may be named after the current one passes: one endorsed by the exiled Tibetan community, and the other propped up by the CPC.
The precedent for this can be seen in the 1995 incident when the Dalai Lama named six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnated Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual seat in Tibetan Buddhism. Soon after, the boy was arrested, never to be seen again, while the CPC chose his replacement, whose legitimacy remains highly contested.
In addition, China has persistently engaged in spreading malicious misinformation to undermine the Dalai Lama’s international esteem. From the beginning, the PRC has promoted the narrative that Tibet, before its annexation, was ruled by a slave-owning theocracy, and the Dalai Lama was a slave owner himself.
However, most scholars contest this characterisation of pre-occupation Tibetan society. Recently, China has also exploited existing fault lines within Tibetan Buddhism, co-opting a sect that worships the deity Dorje Shugden, a practice discouraged by the Dalai Lama.
A 2015 report revealed that China has been financing and coordinating protests by this faction across North America, Europe, and Australia. These members show up wherever the Dalai Lama appears, chanting slogans calling him a ‘false Dalai Lama.’ However, in public, they deny any association with the CPC and claim they are agitating for religious freedom.
The Dalai Lama has been the target of a more recent Chinese disinformation effort. Earlier this year, a video of him hugging an 8-year-old boy and saying, “Suck my tongue,” surfaced on social media. Pro-CPC accounts spread this video widely and linked to it, accusing him of being a paedophile. The campaign did provoke a great deal of anger toward the religious leader on the internet.
Later reports, however, indicated that the boy and his mother saw the Dalai Lama’s conduct as a priceless blessing and that it was based on the Tibetan cultural practice of feeding toddlers by the mouth.
Beyond targeting the head of the Tibetan movement, China has implemented policies to reshape Tibetan society, severing the next generation from their language, culture, ways of life, and aspirations for autonomy. These efforts accelerated after the widespread Tibetan protests in 2008 before the Beijing Olympics.
The Chinese government has forcefully relocated thousands of Tibetans, uprooting their villages, and separated around 1 million Tibetan children from their families, coercing them into mandatory residential schools designed to assimilate them into Han culture.
China’s determination to erase Tibetan identity is evident. Since last year, the CPC has mandated that Tibet be referred to as ‘Xizang Autonomous Region’ in all official communications.
Confronting the existential threat of what many call ‘cultural genocide,’ a day like World Tibet Day takes on radically subversive dimensions.
The Dalai Lama, turning 89, remains the focal point for thousands of Tibetans hoping for political autonomy and cultural preservation, even as the Chinese government seeks to suffocate and manipulate an entire people into oblivion.
On World Tibet Day, Tibetans and all who value freedom, dignity, and peace will rise to celebrate nearly three-quarters of a century of struggle against occupation and oppression.
–IANS
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Jaipur, 8 July (IANS) Rajasthan Governor and Chancellor Kalraj Mishra on Monday said that Sardar Patel Police, Security and Criminal Justice University should use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for crime research.
He called upon the university to work as a ‘think-tank’ and work for excellent research in various disciplines related to criminology and effective police education.
“This university should also become a major centre of innovation in teaching criminology in India and abroad,” Governor Mishra said while addressing the 3rd convocation of Sardar Patel Police, Security and Criminal Justice University located in Jodhpur.
He said that education has a very deep relationship with the development of the individual and the society.
“We have to take forward the best structure and ideal values of education,” he said.
He said that India has been the world leader for centuries. And has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge. Nalanda and Takshila are living examples of this.
He said that this university has been named after the Iron Man Sardar Patel.
“He unified the princely states and joined the small and big princely states to make a united nation. Sardar Patel has played an important role in establishing a strong police system in the country,” he said.
He said that this university, following the ideal path shown by him, will provide personnel and officers to give India a strong police system as well as provide an excellent education in policing according to the times.
He added that the students of this university should also contribute to fulfil the resolution of ‘Developed India’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
–IANS
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Hyderabad, July 8 (IANS) The Telangana government on Monday set in motion the process for the establishment of Skill University with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy holding a meeting with industry bigwigs and top officials.
Revanth Reddy directed the officials to make arrangements on a war footing for the varsity’s establishment.
Addressing the meeting held at Engineering Staff College in Gachibowli, he asked the participants to come up with clear proposals for the establishment of the Skill University one or two days before the start of the budget session of the Assembly by month end.
The government will take an appropriate decision within 24 hours after examining the proposals, he said.
The Chief Minister stated that the main objective of setting up the university is to provide advanced knowledge and upgrade the skills of the youth.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Advisor to the Chief Minister Vem Narender Reddy also attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister proposed the establishment of Skill University within the premises of the Engineering Staff College due to its proximity to IT companies and other industries. He also asked officials to consider the constitution of a Board for the university on the lines of the International School of Business (ISB) and decided to constitute a temporary board.
He suggested the officials come up with a blueprint in advance for the courses to be offered in the university, course curriculum, industrial needs and employment opportunities to the youth.
As per the decisions taken at the meeting, the Industry Department, in coordination with the Education Department, will engage with Industry leaders and come up with a clear action plan for setting up Skill University, envisaged as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in a hub and spoke model that is self-sustainable. The hub is to be located in Hyderabad with spokes in every erstwhile district headquarters to cover all parliamentary constituencies eventually.
The industry will play a critical role in demand assessment, curriculum development, skill training as well as offering internships. The government will facilitate the setting up of the university by giving necessary regulatory approvals, and providing land and buildings. A corpus fund will be created with CSR donations from the industry.
The Deputy CM has been asked to look after the financial issues to set up the university and IT and Industry Minister Sridhar Babu will oversee the preparation of curriculum and courses. The two ministers have been asked to formulate the proposals with a fixed deadline and meet once in five days. The officials have been asked to hire a reputed consultancy to prepare all the necessary proposals and project reports for the establishment of the university.
The Chief Minister also announced the Industries Department will be the nodal agency for the university. Special Chief Secretary, IT and Industry Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Education B. Venkatesham, CM’s Special Secretary Ajith Reddy, Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Dr Reddy’s Lab Chairman Satish Reddy, Hari Prasad from Bharat Biotech, CREDAI President Shekhar Reddy and Srini Raju of I Labs were present.
–IANS
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National
Maha govt to table supplementary demands of Rs 94,000 crore plus to finance freebies ahead of Assembly election
Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) Days after the presentation of the Rs 6,12,293 crore budget for 2024-25, the MahaYuti government in Maharashtra will present supplementary demands of Rs 94,000 crore plus during the ongoing Monsoon session, mainly to finance the implementation of a slew of freebies and sops in the run-up to the Assembly elections slated for September-October.
The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, gave its approval after Finance Secretary Saurabh Vijay put up the Finance Department’s proposal in this regard.
The supplementary demands will be necessitated as the government will badly need money to allocate funds for populist schemes worth Rs 96,000 crore announced in the budget. These schemes will be financed after the state legislature passes the supplementary demands. Various schemes to be funded included Mukhamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana (Rs 46,000 crore), free higher education for girls (Rs 2,000 crore), Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana (Rs 10,000 crore), free electricity to farmers for agricultural pumps up to 7.5 horsepower capacity (Rs 14,761 crore) and few small and big schemes for various sections (Rs 20,000-25,000 crore).
The government’s move to table supplementary demands comes when Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has projected a revenue deficit of Rs 20,051 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1.10 lakh crore in the budget for 2024-25. He has also estimated the state’s public debt stock to increase to Rs 7.82 lakh crore in 2024-25 against Rs 7.11 lakh crore.
The revenue deficit is expected to be 0.47 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) while the fiscal deficit will be 2.59 per cent of the GSDP in 2024-25. Both are way below the 3 per cent limit of the GSDP as mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM).
A senior minister said: “The government is making all efforts to adhere to the Finance Commission’s recommendations and provisions of the FRBM Act. However, in the wake of supplementary demands of Rs 94,000 crore plus for the implementation of several schemes, the state’s fiscal deficit is expected to cross the 3 per cent limit of the GSDP and it may surge to a record 4.87 per cent, which will be for the first time in the state. However, the government is capable of tackling the situation as it is bullish about its rapidly rising tax revenue.”
However, another minister admitted that if the fiscal deficit crosses 3 per cent of the GSDP, then it may seriously impact the government’s cash flow which will bring many constraints in borrowing money from the market. “The government will have to focus on fiscal management in such a situation to avoid fiscal distress ahead of the coming Assembly election. This will certainly be a major challenge,” he asserted.
(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) Maharashtra government will table a Model Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2024 on the line of the Centre’s Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 during the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature.
The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde gave its approval at its meeting held on Monday.
The proposed bill will cover various aspects of prison management including security, safety, scientific and technological interventions, segregation of prisoners, special provision for women inmates, taking appropriate action against criminal activities of prisoners in the prison, grant of parole and furlough to prisoners, their education, vocational training and skill development.
It will also have provisions with regard to the reformation, rehabilitation and integration of prisoners into society.
A senior state government functionary said that the prison being a state subject, the Centre had asked to enact suitable legislation along the lines of the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023.
“The bill’s objective is to carry out administrative and technological reforms in prisons and also implement welfare programmes for prisoners and aftercare and rehabilitation services,” he said.
He added that the Union Home Affairs Ministry is providing necessary support and guidance to the state for efficient management of prisons in their jurisdictions.
According to the state government’s data, there are about 41,075 inmates in 60 jails against the combined capacity of 24,722 inmates in Maharashtra as of January 31, 2023.
Of the 41,075 inmates, 39,504 were men, 1,556 women, and 15 trans-genders. Of them, 7,949 were convicts, 32,917 undertrials, and 209 detainees. There were also a total of 606 foreign inmates in the jails
The jail occupancy in the state was 136.19 per cent in 2017, 148.93 per cent in 2018, 152.72 per cent in 2019, 128.70 per cent in 2020 and 148.80 in 2021.
In 2021, Maharashtra stood seventh in the country in terms of occupancy rate.
(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
–IANS
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Gurugram, July 8 (IANS) A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday for allegedly beating to death a 7-year-old boy and injuring a 9-year-old boy police said.
The victim was identified as Preet and his injured brother was identified as Maanu.
Police said that the victim’s grandgrandfather claimed his son had expired in 2023. After his son’s death his daughter-in-law along with his two sons and a man identified as Vineet Chaudhary was residing in the Rajendra Park area.
On Sunday, his daughter-in-law informed the complainant that Vineet brutally had beaten his children in her absence in which Preet was killed while Maanu is still admitted to a hospital.
During investigations, police appended the accused and filed a murder case against him at the Rajendra Park police station.
During interrogation, the accused said that he used to beat children in the absence of their mother. On Saturday, he had beaten the victims brutally and due to the injuries Preet died while Mannu sustained injures.
–IANS
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Police University should use AI for crime research: Rajasthan Guv- Telangana sets in motion process to establish Skill University
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