COMMUNITY CELEBRATE MUSEUM MONTH WITH PAMA THIS MAY

Quick Police Response Results In Multiple Arrests And Foiled Robbery Attempt

BRAMPTON– This May, Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) welcomes a new multi-media exhibition featuring the work of Sikh-Punjabi artist Simranpreet Anand as part of our Museum Month celebrations. Join us for a full line-up of other exciting workshops, activities, and events all month long!

SHEESHE ‘CH THARE? | A CRACK IN THE MIRROR

April 29 – September 3

Guest Curated by Sajdeep Soomal

This exhibition is a survey of multi-media work by artist Simranpreet Anand who has been deeply influenced by her experience as a young Punjabi-Sikh Canadian. The exhibition includes works made in collaboration with Ethnomusicologist and scholar Conner Singh VanderBeek.

This exhibition was developed by the Reach Gallery Museum where it previously premiered. It is readapted for its PAMA presentation.

Art Gallery Opening Reception

Saturday, May 6, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Join us for the opening of crack in the mirror and an artist talk with Simranpreet Anand and Conner Singh VanderBeek, alongside curator Sajdeep Soomal.

This event is free, but registration is required.

Register now to reserve your spot.

Workshops, Activities and Events

DIY Studio Time

Saturdays and Sundays

Explore exhibitions and connect with your family over self-guided art projects that inspire creativity. Do-it-yourself studio time activities change every month.

May’s activity: Create a blossoming flower reveal inspired by the season.

Intergenerational Storytelling Workshop with Brampton Library (18+) Thursday, May 4, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

This interactive workshop will introduce the practice of reflective writing and give participants an opportunity to take part in communal storytelling. This workshop is offered in collaboration with Brampton Library and local multidisciplinary artist Jeyolyn Christi. Free admission. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.

Register with Brampton Library here.

Native Plants + Art Workshop with Brampton Library and TRCA

Thursday, May 11, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Join Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), PAMA and Brampton Library for this unique plant and art workshop just in time for Mother’s Day! Learn about native plants then decorate a pot for your plant. Registrants will receive a complimentary plant to go along with their painted pot. A wonderful gift or keepsake. Free admission. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.

Click here to register with Brampton Library.

All ages welcome, and guardians must accompany children.

Mother’s Day Tea with Botanical Art Workshop

Saturday May 13, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Celebrate an early Mother’s Day in our historic spaces with tea, finger sandwiches and sweets from Totally Tea, paired with a botanical art workshop!

Public: $45 (includes general admission), members $40, pre-registration is required.

Reserve your spot now.

Sunday FUNday

Sunday, May 26, 1 – 4:30 p.m.

Drop in and engage with art through a special instructor-led activity!

May’s activity is all about celebrating Museum Month. Let your imagination run wild and design your own work of art or artifact that you would like to see in the museum. Recommended for children 5-12, guardians must accompany children. This drop-in is included with general admission. Members are free.

About PAMA

PAMA is a place to explore and learn about Peel Region’s culture and heritage, as well as use conversation, questions and stories to help make new and fascinating connections to the surrounding community. Throughout the year, PAMA offers a variety of workshops and programs for all ages, families and adults. With so many different programs to choose from, PAMA has something for everyone. Operated by the Region of Peel, PAMA is located at 9 Wellington Street East in Brampton. Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn more.

REGION OF PEEL – Peel Regional Police have charged three young persons regarding an attempted robbery at a pharmacy in Mississauga and recovered a stolen vehicle. On April 25, 2023, it is alleged that three young persons attended a pharmacy near Lorne Park Road and Lakeshore Road in Mississauga. All three suspects had their faces covered to disguise their identities and made efforts to gain access to the front security doors. Working inside the pharmacy, the victims secured the doors and contacted the police. Following a quick, coordinated and efficient police response, uniformed officers located the suspects a short distance away, operating a vehicle reported stolen earlier this month from York Region. All three suspects were arrested and held pending bail hearings. Three 15-year-old male youths from Mississauga have been charged with the following alleged offences: Attempt to Commit an Indictable Offence, Wearing a Disguise with Intent and Possession of Stolen Property. One of the youths was also charged with Failing to Comply with a Release Order stemming from previous outstanding robbery charges. This remains an ongoing investigation, and investigators anticipate that further charges may be laid. A general provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Y.C.J.A.) prohibits the release of the name of a Young Person, and, therefore, the identity of the Young Person charged in this investigation is protected. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact investigators with the Central Robbery Bureau at (905)453-2121 ext. 3410. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.

WE URGENTLY NEED BAIL REFORMS, SAYS DOUG FORD AS ONTARIO INVESTS G $112M TO STRENGTHEN BAIL SYSTEM

SCARBOROUGH — The Ontario government is investing $112 million to immediately strengthen the province’s bail system and ensure that high-risk and repeat violent offenders comply with their bail conditions. The funding will be used to support new technology, establish violent crime bail teams, expand the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad and provide prosecutors with the resources they need to conduct complex bail hearings. “As the country and our province face rising crime rates and people are feeling increasingly unsafe in their communities, this funding will help ensure anyone out on bail is following the rules and high-risk, repeat offenders are kept in jail,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We can’t have a justice system where violent criminals are arrested one day and back out on the streets the next. We’re doing our part to fix a broken bail system and look forward to working with our federal partners to finish the job.”

Specifics of the investment include:

* The creation of a new Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension Grant $24 million will be made available over three years to help the OPP and municipal and First Nations police services establish dedicated bail compliance teams. Teams will also assist prosecutors with gathering evidence and assessing public safety risk during the bail hearing stage.

BADAL, TOWERING LEADER OF PUNJAB POLITICS, CREMATED WITH STATE HONOURS

SCO DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEET: RAJNATH HOLDS BILATERAL TALKS WITH RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met his Russian counterpart Ser gei Shoigu in the national capital on the sidelines of the Sha nghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meet.

The Ministry of Defence said that during the meeting, both the ministers discussed various matters related to regional peace and security. Singh and Shoigu held wide-ranging discussions on several issues of bilateral cooperation, including defence and industrial partnerships. The two ministers also discussed the participation of Russia's defence industry in the 'Make in India' initiative, and ways to further accelerate it. It has been learnt that both expressed satisfaction "at the continued trust and mutual respect between India and Russia, particularly in the defence sector, and reiterated their commitment towards strengthening mutual partnership".

Meanwhile, during the meeting, Shoigu slammed the US and groupings like Quad while showing inclination towards China. India is part of Quad, which also comprising Australia, Japan and the US. The Russian Defence Minister said that "a front is being set up to stop China". He said that tensions around the 'so-called' Taiwan issue have been deliberately raised.

Shoigu said "the supporters of Washington are pursuing their strategic agenda of provoking other countries for a military confrontation with other countries, especially Russia and China".

At the conclusion of the SCO meeting, SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming also met Rajnath Singh. Various activities undertaken by India under its chairmanship were discussed.

The Defence Minister told the Secretary-General that India is committed to contribute constructively to the implementation of the SCO's mandate. Rajnath Singh also held bilateral talks with the Defence Ministers of Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting.

He held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Defence of Uzbekistan, Lt Gen Bakhodir Kurbanov; Defence Minister of Belarus, Lt Gen Victor Khrenin; and Minister of Defence of Kyrgyzstan, Lt Gen Bekbolotov B. Asankalievich. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "The entire gamut of defence cooperation with the three countries was reviewed during the meetings, with a focus on identifying beneficial avenues for furthering bilateral ties. Issues of mutual interest were also discussed."

PEOPLE LIKE BAGESHWAR DHAM CHIEF SHOULD GO TO JAIL: RJD

PATNA, (IANS) RJD leaders have reacted strongly to the upcoming visit of self-styled godman Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, the chief of Bageshwar Dham, a pilgrimage site in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, who is scheduled to hold a five-day spiritual camp in Patna soon. RJD's state unit chief Jagadanand Singh said that people like Shastri should be put behind bars.

"It is extremely unfortunate that he (Shastri) is not in jail. The BJP is lining up communal hooligans in Bihar. The people of this country have great faith in saints, but the BJP is destroying that. How can a hooligan turn into a saint? It has never happened in our country before," Singh said. "Dhirendra Shastri advocates turning India into a Hindu nation. I firmly believe that people's comments should be within the purview of the Constitution. Such saints are dangerous for the society," Singh added. State minister and RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav said: "If Dhirendra Shastri is coming here to stoke communal tension, I will stage a protest at the airport. He can enter Bihar only if he sends across the message of Hindu-MuslimSikh-Christian brotherhood."

Earlier this month, Shastri had drawn the ire of Maharashtra Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil for his "I don't consider Saibaba as

God... He may be called a saint or fakir" remark.

"A criminal complaint should be filed and action should be taken against him for his irresponsible statement," Patil had said.

'EVIDENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES..': COURT DENIES SISODIA BAIL IN ED'S EXCISE POLICY CASE

NEW DELHI, (IANS) A Delhi court on Friday denied bail to AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Delhi excise policy case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), holding that that the evidence, prima facie, "speaks volumes" of his involvement in commission of the offence.

Special Judge M. K. Nagpal denied the relief, noting the "serious nature of allegations made and role played by Sisodia in the criminal conspiracy, his connection with the activities relating to generation or acquisition and use etc of the proceeds of crime and the oral and documentary evidence collected in support of the same".

"Hence, this court is not inclined to grant bail to the applicant in this case of economic offences having serious repercussions upon the general public and society at large as the evidence collected during investigation speaks volumes of his involvement in commission of the said offence."

The judge also said that the purported medical condition of Sisodia's wife was not a reason to grant him bail in this case. Additionally, he stated that it was impossible to rule out the potential of Sisodia influencing key witnesses in the case.

The judge noted that the alleged offence against Sisodia was a "serious economic offence of money laundering" and that he has not been accused of committing the offence in his personal capacity, but rather in his official capacity as a public servant overseeing the Excise Ministry and serving as Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister.

"The seriousness or gravity of the offence and its nature or category, the capacity of applicant in which it was committed, the manner of its commission and also certain other factors like impact of the offence as well as the possible impact of release of applicant on society etc. are the factors which go against the applicant and force this court to decide against his release on bail in the present case," the judge said. Judge Nagpal pronounced the order on Friday after having reserved it on April 18.

'WHY PARADED BEFORE MEDIA', SC SEEKS STATUS REPORT ON STEPS TAKEN AFTER ATIQ-ASHRAF MURDERS

NEW DELHI, (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday directed Uttar Pradesh government to bring on record steps taken and inquiries which have been initiated into the killings of Atiq Ahmed and his brother, while they were taken for medical check-up in police custody, and also shot a volley of questions to the state government in connection with the lapse of their security.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the UP government, said the killers came in the guise of news photographers. A benc h comprising Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and Dipankar Datta asked how did they know? Referring to the shooting of Atiq and his brother live on TV, the bench questioned why they were not taken into the van till the hospital, why were they made to walk and paraded before the media? The UP government counsel submitted that as per orders of the court, they have to be taken for medical test every two days, so the press knew and the government has appointed a commission to examine the matter and urged the court to not issue notice in t he matter and the government will produce records.

The bench said that the petitioner is claiming there is a pattern, maybe the commission can take a sample case, and there was a nother encounter. The UP government counsel said Atiq and the family were involved in criminal activities for a long time.

The bench also sought a report from the UP government on the police encounter of Atiq Ahmad's son, Asad in Jhansi. Asad was kil led in an encounter by a special task force (ST) team of the UP Police on April 13. The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing after three weeks. The top court was hearing a plea seeking a probe into the killings of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf. The plea sought a direction for setting up of an expert co mmittee headed by a former apex court judge to investigate the killings. Advocate Vishal Tiwari moved the apex court seeking an independent expert committee and also sought an inquiry into the 183 encounters that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh since 2017.

Ahmad and his brother were shot dead by three assailants, posing as journalists, while they were being escorted by police personnel to a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj for a check up on Saturday night.

The plea sought guidelines to safeguard the rule of law by constituting an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge and also to inquire into the 183 encounters which had occurred since 2017 as stated by the Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (Law and Order). The petitioner also sought a probe into the murder of Ahmad and his brother under police custody and stressed that "such actions by police are a severe threat to democracy and rule of law and lead to police state".

BADAL (PUNJAB) (IANS) Cutting across party lines, the tallest leader of state politics and the Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who always valued and practised secular credentials, was cremated with full state honours at his native village of Badal in Muktsar district in southwest Punjab. His death at the age of 95 on Tuesday evening marked the end of an era of 70 years in Punjab's politics.

In political circles, Badal, the country's oldest politician -- next only to BJP veteran L.K. Advani -- was known as the 'Baba Bohr' (banyan tree) of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

He is survived by son and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and daughter Parneet Kaur and grandchildren. He lost his life-partner, Surinder Kaur, in 2011.

His son lit the pyre. As the bugle sounded, a pall of silence descended at the cremation ground before police personnel fired shots into the air as a mark of respect to the departed leader. The elderly Badal entered politics at the age of 20 when he got elected as the sarpanch of Badal in 1947, the village that remained his native place despite being election as the Chief Minister five times. And for the villagers the veteran leader was their sarpanch till he breathed his last.

The cremation was held at the family's kinnow farm where a raised platform was erected for performing the last rites. The farm was raised by the elderly Badal himself.

Scores of dignitaries from all political spectrum and supporters flooded his native place early in the morning where former Chief Minister's body was kept to catch a last glimpse of the late leader. Amid 'Shabad Kirtan', his body, kept in a flower-decked tractortrailer, was taken in a procession to the nearby agricultural field for a state funeral.

A stoic Sukhbir Singh Badal, often consoled by his 'estranged' cousin Manpreet Badal, along with his wife Harsimrat Kaur and his three children acknowledged the tributes of hundreds of people, some tearful, who came to pay respect to the elderly Badal, whose mortal remains were brought from Chandigarh on late Wednesday evening at their residence.

Under the helm of senior Badal, SAD made history in 1997 by becoming the first non-Congress party to complete its first full term in office since Independence.

It repeated its feat in 2007 and 2012 in alliance with the BJP.

BJP national President J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and Som Parkash, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Ministers Bhagwant Mann and Ashok Gehlot, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda, National Congress leader Omar Abdullah, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, former union minister Praful Patel, among others, attended the cremation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached Chandigarh to pay his last respects to the patriarch where his body was kept for public to pay their respects.

Modi had, on Tuesday, described the demise of Badal as a "personal loss" and said he was a colossal figure of Indian politics who contributed greatly to the nation. Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a letter to Sukhbir Badal, expressed his deepest condolences and acknowledged his contributions for the welfare of farmers and weaker sections.

For local villages, the elderly Badal was their mass leader who had always remained attached with his roots despite his political aura. "I am the third generation of my family who has been associated with bade (elder) Badal saab since he won the first election (of sarpanch)," remarked an emotional local villager Davinder Bhullar.

BADALS GETS CLEAN CHIT FROM SC IN SAD'S DUAL CONSTITUTION CONTROVERSY CASE

NEW DELHI, (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday quashed cheating and forgery proceedings in connection with the controversy over the dual constitution of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) against the party's late patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal. Parkash Singh Badal, also a five-time former Chief Minister of Punjab, died at a private hospital in Mohali on Tuesday. He was 95. On April 11, the Supreme Court had reserved the judgment on a plea filed by the Badals and Daljit Singh Cheema, challenging the proceedings pending before Punjab's Hoshiarpur court in the alleged case of forgery and cheating filed against them, in the controversy over dual constitution of the SAD.

Pronouncing the judgment, the Justice M.R. Shah-led bench said: "No ingredients made out, criminal proceedings quashed, clear case of abuse of law... We set aside summoning order".

The petitions were filed by Badals and Cheema, in connection with a complaint filed by a Hoshiarpur resident Balwant Singh Khera. In 2009, Khera had filed a criminal complaint before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The complaint accused SAD of submitting two different constitutions, i.e., one with the Gurdwara Election Commission (GEC) and the second with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seek recognition as a political party.

Senior advocates K.V. Viswanathan and R.S. Cheema appeared for the Badals, and advocate Sandeep Kapur for Cheema.

The petitions were filed by Karanjawala & Co. and the brief was led by Nandini Gore and Sandeep Kapur and others. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for Balwant Singh Khera. During the hearing, the top court asked the counsel for the original complainant how the offences mentioned in the private complaint were made out in the instant case.

The top court orally observed that prima facie offences of forgery, cheating, falsifications of documents etc., were not made out.

WHY IS BRIJ BHUSHAN SHARAN SINGH NOT BEING ARRESTED DESPITE POCSO ACT CHARGES: SIDHU

'WHAT DID YOU DO TO STOP CORRUPTION IN K'TAKA', RAHUL ASKS PM MODI

BENGALURU, (IANS) Continuing his attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the poll-bound state of Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain all the action he took to stop corruption in the state.

Addressing a huge public rally in Hassan, Rahul Gandhi said: "The BJP first stole your government and then, through the government, it stole money from you. Now, the PM gives speeches here. But the truth is that he knew about all the corruption that took place in Karnataka in the last three years.

"If even a six-year-old child in Karnataka knows it, the PM must also be aware of it. So, I ask him -- what action have you taken to stop corruption in Karnataka in the last three years? And, against how many people did you take action?" Rahul Gandhi questioned.

"Ask any kid of Karnataka -- what is the name of the government? He will tell you '40 per cent Sarkar'. Everyone knows this. The Contractors' Association wrote to the PM telling him about the 40 per cent commission; he may have read the letter but didn't give any reply. Dingaleshwar Swami ji says that 30 per cent commission was taken from his mutt, and he was given a 10 per cent discount," he said.

Rahul Gandhi further said: "In the Mysore Sandal soap scandal, a BJP MLA's son was caught with cash. There were scams in recruitment of Police Sub-Inspectors, Asst. Professors, Asst. Engineers. There was a Cooperative Bank scam.

"Modi ji, please talk about these issues in your speeches. You come here and say that 'Congress attacked me'. Please also tell what you did for Karnataka in the last 3 years. Here, the question is not about the PM. It is about Karnataka's youth, farmers and women," he said.

Posing another question to PM Modi, the former Congress president said: "Modi ji, what action did you take when violence took place at KarnatakaMaharashtra border? How did you help Karnataka in the matter of the water dispute between Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka?

"When we give speeches, we take the names of our leaders. Like I showed respect to Congress leaders before starting my speech. We talked about Siddaramaiah ji, Shivakumar ji, Kharge ji, Parameshwar ji. You (addressing the PM) come to Karnataka but don't talk about your leaders. You don't even take the name of Yeddyurappa ji or Bommai ji. Take the names of BJP leaders also in your speeches, they will feel good. Respect them as well," he said. Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress has laid out a roadmap for Karnataka for the next five years.

"We have brought out these schemes after talking to the public. Congress is going to give 5 revolutionary schemes to the people. We are going to put the money, looted from them by the BJP, back in their pockets," he said. "BJP leaders love the number 40. They took a 40 per cent commission in every work. Make them remember this '40' number. For 3 years, they made you remember the '40' number. Give them 40 seats in elections and Congress has to be given at least 150 seats because if we get less than 150 seats, the BJP will again try to 'steal' the government. Teach a lesson to the BJP," Rahul Gandhi told the people.

MANISH SISODIA PLANTED EMAILS TO COVER DELHI EXCISE SCAM, CLAIMS ED

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a bid to cover the conspiracy in the excise policy scam allegedly planted emails, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed in the third supplementary chargesheet, sources told IANS.

"To cover the conspiracy and to provide legitimacy to their hidden agenda, Manish Sisodia even went to the extent of planting mails which furthered his agenda and the changes he wanted to make in the policy which reflects his malafide intention," the ED has claimed.

The ED said that its PMLA investigation so far has revealed that the Delhi Excise Policy, 2021-22 was brought by the leadership of the AAP, specifically by Manish Sisodia, to continuously generate and channel illegal funds to themselves.

The ED had mentioned in it's previous chargesheet that the excise policy was formulated with deliberate loopholes to facilitate illegal and criminal activities. The policy promoted cartel formations through the backdoor, awarded exorbitant wholesale (12%) and a huge retail profit margin of 185% and incentivized other illegal activities on account of a criminal conspiracy by Manish Sisodia and other leaders of the AAP to extract kickbacks from the liquor businesses.

The Excise Policy 2021-22 was formulated in secrecy and in connivance with the major beneficiaries. The substantive provisions of the policy were made without any deliberation, either with the GoM or with the excise department. Calling for comments and suggestions from the public was only an eyewash. "The conspiracy of the GoM to give the wholesale business to private entities and fix a 12% margin (to get 6% kickback from it) is clear from the statement of C. Arvind wherein he disclosed that there was no discussion in the GoM meetings about giving wholesale to private," the ED has mentioned in the chargesheets.

Aap Questions Sgpc Chief For Seeking Votes In Jalandhar Bypoll

JALANDHAR, (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday raised questions over Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami campaigning for the Akali Dal-Badal candidate in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha byelection.

Senior AAP leader and Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the SGPC's job is to propagate Sikhism, not to promote any political party. Therefore, the SGPC chief should not do anything to hurt the dignity of his position, he added.

He said the top leadership of the Akali Dal, for whom Dhami is campaigning, has faced serious allegations like sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and firing at Sikh sangat.

By propagating such a party, he has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh sangat, Dhaliwal said.

Questioning the SGPC head, he said: "Why does he remain silent on the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the incident of firing on Sikh sangat in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan?" Dhaliwal said Dhami has not spoken anything on this matter till date and always kept his silence, while both these incidents have hurt the Sikh sangat deeply. He said the duty of the SGPC is to provide religious and social education to the children of Sikh community and to protect Sikh culture. "It is wrong to use such an organisation for political gains." He appealed to the SGPC chief that he should fulfill his responsibility honestly as per the laws of the SGPC and should stay away from political activities.

TIES WITH CHINA ABNORMAL, PAK BACKS CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM: JAISHANKAR

NEW DELHI, (IANS) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that India is trying to ensure that its ties with all nations advance further without exclusivity. "Whether it is the US, Europe, Russia, or Japan, we are trying to ensure that all these ties advance without seeking exclusivity," he said in an address at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.

He was on a visit to Dominican Republic from April 27 to 29.

The Union Minister noted that China falls in a somewhat different category due to the boundary dispute and the currently abnormal nature of the ties with that country. That is a result of a violation of agreements regarding border management by them, he added.

While elaborating on India's priority of cooperating with its neighbours, Jaishankar said that while India has seen a dramatic expansion in connectivity, contacts, in cooperation across the region, the exception to this has been Pakistan, in view of the cross-border terrorism that it supports. "To the north, India has been similarly pursuing a strategy of connecting to Central Asia more effectively and this has taken the form of structured engagements across multiple domains.

"These concentric circles of priority give you a conceptual sense of Indian diplomacy and one that we have pursued very assiduously over the last decade. But at a higher level, we are also practising the approach of engaging all significant centres of power, such multi-alignment reflects the reality of multi-polarity," he further noted.

Jaishankar also mentioned that each engagement has its own particular weight and focus.

He said the rise of China and India in a parallel timeframe is also not without its competitive aspects.

The Dominican Republic was the last stop of Jaishankar's four-nation tour of North and South America.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Coming out in support of protesting wrestlers and saying the fight is for honour and dignity of every women, senior Congress leader Navjot Sidhu on Monday questioned that why accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Sharan Singh wasn't arrested despite a case was registered against him under the "non-bailable POCSO Act".

Also he sought the BJP MP's custodial interrogation. Two first information reports (FIRs) were registered against him after the intervention of the Supreme Court.

"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice. Why was the FIR delayed? Not making the FIR public reflects that the FIR is mild and not corroborative to the complainant's complaint," he told the media after meeting the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar here. Sidhu also questioned the "motive" behind protecting Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

"Intent is questionable and motive is to protect the accused. Are things being swept under the carpet? Why is the officer who delayed the FIR not being tried under Section 166 of the IPC as he was duty bound to register an FIR which is mandatory in case of a cognizable offence?" The first FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh pertains to allegations levelled by a minor, which has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning outraging modesty. The second FIR has been registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints by adult complainants under relevant IPC sections pertaining to outraging of modesty. "Cases registered under POCSO Act are non-bailable... why no arrest so far? Is the law different for the high and mighty?" former Indian cricketer Sidhu questioned in a tweet.

"Why does the man in question continue to be in the position of influence and dominance which can make and break anyone's career? "With him at the helm of affairs, a fair investigation is impossible. The nation understands that committee formations are merely delay and deflect. The only way forward to a meaningful investigation and to uncover the truth is 'custodial interrogation', without it a fair investigation is meaningless. "The fight is for the honour, integrity and dignity of every woman," added Sidhu.

FARM WOMEN UNION TO BOYCOTT AAP, BJP IN JALANDHAR BYPOLL

JALANDHAR, (IANS) The Mahila Kisan Union, a member of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, on Tuesday announced to boycott the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP during the by-election in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency as they failed to safeguard the interests of farmers and labourers. The union said they have cheated the peasants at every step and did not implement the demands of the farmers even after agreeing to them. "Both the political parties should be taught a lesson by giving them a crushing defeat in this election." Mahila Kisan Union president Rajwinder Kaur Raju said the world is aware of oppressive policies of the BJP and its leaders during the farmers' protest against implementation of "black agricultural laws". Even after accepting written demands of the farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet implemented them and not given any relief to about 750 farmers, who died during the year-long agitation. The entire farming community and farm labourers were opposing the pro-corporate party.

AFTER MORNING RESIGNATION, SHARAD PAWAR AGREES TO 'RETHINK' IN EVENING

MUMBAI, (IANS) Barely six hours after his move to step down as party chief kicked up a dust storm, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday agreed to do a 'rethink' and announce his final decision in the next few days, his nephew Ajit Pawar said here. "We all leaders have met him and convinced him on the issue. Pawar

Saheb has agreed to re-consider. Let's give him 2-3 days to make his decision," Ajit Pawar told mediapersons.

Apparently, annoyed by the spate of protests after his move to quit, Pawar, 83, told his senior leaders that "if they are stubborn, I am even more adamant". He also frowned at the agitations, sit-in protests, indefinite hunger strikes, resignations of various officebearers from across the state, people writing letters in blood, etc. Ajit Pawar said that the party work will continue as usual and nobody's resignation shall be accepted, putting the lid on the political storm that rocked national politics since noon on Tuesday. Sharad Pawar and other leaders again appealed to all their party workers sitting near the Y.B. Chavan Auditorium and other parts of the state to call off all their protests and go home peacefully.

RAGHAV CHADHA, 3RD AAP LEADER, NAMED IN ED SUPPLEMENTARY CHARGESHEET IN DELHI LIQUOR SCAM

CONGRESS WANTS TO HOLD LORD HANUMAN 'CAPTIVE', SAYS PM IN POLL-BOUND KARNATAKA

VIJAYANAGARA (KARNATAKA), (IANS) Reacting strongly to the Congress's promise of banning Bajrang Dal if voted to power in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the grand-old party wants to hold Lord Hanuman "captive". While addressing a huge public rally in Vijayanagar, he said, "Congress had kept Lord Sri Ram in captivity (in Ayodhya). Now, they are preparing to keep Lord Hanuman captive too." Prime Minister Modi further alleged that Congress does not like lord Hanuman. "I bow to the people of Vijayanagara kingdom. I am in the land of Lord Hanuman. At the same time, Congress is claiming in its manifesto that they will lock up Bajrang Bali and impose a ban on those who raise the slogans of Jai Bajrang Bali," he said. Modi said Congress was sensing trouble if there are people who chant Jai Bajrang Bali. "Earlier, Congress kept lord Ram in captivity as it did not like him. Now, they are up to keeping Hanuman captive and the party is nursing deep hatred towards Hanuman, who is a devotee of Prabhu Shri Ram," he said. "They (Congress) are announcing that they will ban Bajrang Dal. They have planned to tame Bajrang Bali (Lord Hanuman). We revere Sri Ram and Hanuman equally," he added.