www.theasianstar.com Vol 20 - Issue 2
BC man at centre of Indian police probe denies conspiracy involving Rihanna & Greta Thunberg A B.C. man is defending his reputation after being hurled into the headlines of every major national news network in India on allegations that he says are absurd. Mo Dhaliwal is accused of being involved in an alleged international conspiracy to divide India with the help of celebrities like pop singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg, both of whom tweeted in support of farmers protesting the country’s new agriculture laws. “I’m told by my relatives in India that I’m on every channel and it’s just been constant,” Dhaliwal told Global News. “There are TV debates and entire panel conversations trying to uncover this really convoluted conspiracy that we are behind the Republic Day protests in India. It’s pretty incredible.” Dhaliwal co-founded the Poetic Justice Foundation last March. The nonprofit created a website called AskIndiaWhy. com to draw attention to the farmers’ protest movement. He and the organization are now the subjects of an investigation by Delhi police who say they are the centerpieces in a driving division in India. “They’re drawing incredibly huge conspiracy theories right down to accusing us of personally paying Rihanna $2.5 million for a tweet, which is ridiculous and not even worthy of any sort of rebuttal,” Dhaliwal said. The attention may also stem from his speech outside the Indian consulate in downtown
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Saturday, February 13, 2021
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BC marks one-year anniversary of first confirmed case of COVID-19 Thursday marks one year since B.C.’s first confirmed case of COVID-19. A man in his 40s tested positive on Jan. 28, 2020, after returning from Wuhan, China — the original epicentre of the virus that led to more than 100 million cases around the world and more than 2.1 million
deaths. More than 65,000 people in B.C. have been infected in that year, with 1,172 people dying from complications related to the disease. This week, Premier John Horgan called on British Columbians to give a little bit more to stop the spread.
Indian PM Modi promises Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supply Covid-19 vaccine sought by Canada Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he received a call from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau where the two leaders spoke about vaccine for coronavirus disease and other important issues. “Was happy
to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important Continued on page 7
PM Modi & President Biden phone call emphasises on Climate, Democratic values in first talk President Joe Biden signaled he would seek to deepen the close US relationship with India in his first talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he added climate change and “democratic” values to the agenda. Biden’s telephone call marked a continuation of the upbeat tone of his predecessor Donald Trump,
who paid a state visit to India a year ago on his last foreign trip as his administration saw a partner in its tough stance on China. But Biden also raised climate change, which the new US leader has elevated to a top priority amid the planet’s rapidly warming temperatures. Continued on page 6
Here’s why COVID-19 numbers have dropped among South Asian population in BC Community organizers in British Columbia are being credited with helping to bring down the spread of COVID-19 within the South Asian community. “There’s been a huge amount of commitment from our partners ranging
from Gurdwaras, schools, community agencies, businesses [and] media outlets to really support and come together to ensure there’s culturally appropriate messaging and culturally appropriate advice,”