The Asian Star January 21 2023

www.theasianstar.com

Police in India charge two men in deaths of family who froze crossing into USA

Two men are facing a raft of charges, including human trafficking, in the deaths of four members of the same family who froze while trying to cross from Canada into the United States almost a year ago, police in India said Monday.

The pair was arrested Sunday and other suspects are wanted in Canada and the U.S., said

Premiers demand bail

Canada’s premiers are unanimously urging Ottawa to take “immediate action” to strengthen the country’s bail system.

The premiers from all 13 provinces and territories signed a letter to Prime

Deputy Commissioner Chaitanya Mandlik of the Ahmedabad crime branch in the state of Gujarat.

The two men are accused of acting as immigration agents, supplying the family members paperwork and helping them get to the U.S., he said in an interview, adding they face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt at culpable homicide,

reform

human trafficking and criminal conspiracy. “We are in touch with the Canadian Embassy,” said Mandlik. “We are in need of some documents. We need official death certificates. We will need an official post-mortem report. We will try for extradition of these two persons (working in Canada).” Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel,

in letter to Trudeau after killing of OPP officer

Minister Justin Trudeau, dated Friday, that says the time for action is now and “our heroic first responders cannot wait.”

The letter, which originated in Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office, comes amid growing calls

Muslims & Hindus should unite

Poverty is destructive of all rights. Does freedom of speech, liberty, equality, and other fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution mean anything to a person who is poor, hungry and/or unemployed ? It means nothing. And the vast majority of our people, both Hindu and Muslim are poor, hungry and/or unemployed. So they are in the same boat.

The solution to our basic problems does not lie within the present system, it lies outside it. Parliamentary democracy, which we adopted in our Constitution, runs largely on the basis of caste and communal vote banks ( as everyone knows ). Casteism and communalism are feudal forces, which have to be destroyed if

for reform after the late December killing of 28-year-old Const. Greg Pierzchala, a member of the Ontario Provincial Police. Court documents show that one of the two people facing a first-degree murder charge in his death,

Jasjeet Kaur recalls being in a deep sleep just hours after ringing in 2023 when she says she was jolted awake by banging, yelling and gunshots in her southeast Edmonton home. “All of the sudden there was just a noise. Somebody broke into the house. They just broke the door. We were scared and shattered,” she told CTV News Edmonton Thursday. That’s when Jasjeet says her husband Barinder Singh, the man the family calls “papa,” left their bedroom to see what was going on. “They

Continued on page 6

‘RRR’ bags 2 Critics’ Choice awards

India’s RRR bagged two awards at the 28th Annual Critics’ Choice Award held on Sunday in Los Angeles - the best feature film in a foreign language and the best song. Directed by SS Rajamouli, the film features Jr NTR and Ram Charan in lead roles. Bollywood actors Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn have special roles in the film that was released in multiple languages in March 2022. The Critics’ Choice awards mark the fourth major international award for the film that has scored big at the box

Richest 1% own 40.5% of India’s wealth, says new Oxfam report

India’s top 1% owned more than 40.5% of its total wealth in 2021, according to a new report by Oxfam. In 2022, the number of billionaires in the country increased to 166 from from 102 in 2020, the report said.

Meanwhile, it added that the poor in India “are unable to afford even basic necessities to survive”. The charity called on India’s finance minister to levy a wealth tax on the ultra rich to tackle this “obscene” inequality. The report - Survival of The Richest - was released as the World Economic Forum began in Davos, Switzerland.

Justice (Retd) Markandey Katju

South Asian man shot dead and daughter injured in Edmonton home invasion

Truck catches fire at Port Mann bridge

Nobody was injured but traffic brought to a crawl

A dump truck caught fire mid-span eastbound on the Port Mann Bridge just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, creating traffic delays. Const. Mike Moore of the BC Highway Patrol said no one was

injured in what’s believed to have been a mechanical fire confined to the truck’s cab.

“It’s down to the HOV lane and the turn lanes, and the right lane of the 152 lanes are open. Two lanes open in total right now, eastbound,” Moore said at 9 a.m.

Langley to recruit uncertified teachers

Teacher shortages have forced several B.C. school districts to bolster their roster of substitute teachers with uncertified teachers on call, such as coaches and community members.

In Chilliwack, a bachelor’s degree is required to apply for a TOC position, with some teaching experience preferred. Other districts ask even less. A Prince George job posting calls an undergraduate degree an asset, in addition to experience with children. “Can you really call them teachers if they’re not certified?” mused the head of the Chilliwack school board, Willow Reichelt.

With a short TOC list and high rates of sickness, Chilliwack is struggling to keep classrooms staffed, she said Thursday. While not “ideal,” uncertified teachers help fill the gaps.

Reichelt said the problem has been building for several years before reaching a breaking point this fall. Teacher retirement seemed to accelerate during COVID-19, while enrolment increased by 300 additional students in September. As a result, resource teachers and administrators have been forced to “cover” classrooms.

Katie Bartel’s daughter recently had four different teachers in one day when her classroom teacher was sick, including a music teacher and a teacher who supports kids with diverse needs.

“It’s a Band-Aid solution,” said Bartel, chair of the Chilliwack District Parent Advisory Council.

Parents are concerned their kids could be receiving a “subpar education,” she

said. In addition, students with diverse needs suffer when their support teacher is called away to teach another class.

Parents also identified issues with safety, both for students and teachers, when someone lacks the qualifications or training to manage a class of more than 20 children or teens. In the Nicola-Similkameen school district, which includes Merritt and Princeton, a posting for uncertified TOCs notes “observation of the Human Rights Code of Canada and being culturally aware to all is a requirement for this position.”

In Prince George, uncertified teachers can make $111 for a half day or $223 for a full day of work.

“I think all the teachers who are interested in teaching have been hired in the north,” said Laura Weller, chair of the Prince George and District PAC. “There are some great uncertified teachers, including community members and parents, but they don’t necessarily have the training.”

Teacher shortages are more acute in northern B.C. Weller said she hoped the recently negotiated B.C. teachers’ contract might make B.C. more attractive to teachers from other provinces. And she wants some to consider the north. “I love Prince George. I encourage people to get a nice winter jacket and give it a try. It’s a great community,” she said. In a statement, the B.C. Education Ministry said it knows there is “more work to be done” to address hiring pressures, pointing to $3.5 million spent in 2018-19 to create 250 new spaces in teacher education programs.

British Columbia’s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is looking at allegations that several Vancouver police officers tried to interfere in a car accident investigation.

It happened near the Metrotown mall in Burnaby around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, when a northbound vehicle on Royal Oak Avenue turned left onto Kingsway where it was struck by another vehicle.

The driver, a Vancouver police officer, was being questioned by Burnaby RCMP officer when her colleagues allegedly got involved.

As many as a dozen Vancouver police officers, many of them highranking, are now under investigation, Global News has learned. ources say that earlier in the day the officers had been attending an off-duty training course at the Odd Squad Productions

building, hosted by an expert from the U.K. Around midday, the officers went to Metrotown Mall to practice that training.

That’s when one officer allegedly made an illegal left-hand turn, crashing into another vehicle. Minutes later a Burnaby Mountie was on scene, along with the VPD members.

Sources say a VPD inspector tried to retrieve the phone of the member who crashed, and when the Mountie intervened, she grabbed the RCMP member’s arm.

It’s also alleged a VPD superintendent — the department’s third-highest rank — threatened the Mountie’s job and badge.

In a statement, Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner Andrea Spindler confirmed the VPD had notified the office of an “incident” between its members and the Burnaby RCMP.

Vancouver police facing allegations members tried to interfere in crash investigation

BC could feel the hardest impact of impending recession

It’s the economic event we’ve been dreading.

According to a report by Deloitte, Canada’s economy is set to cool down this year due to inflation and the public’s reluctance to spend.

“The Bank of Canada has hiked interest rates by more than we anticipated a few months ago, a trend that is chipping away at household purchasing power. Higher borrowing costs have created a headwind for businesses that want to invest, the report stated. As a result of an expensive housing market and some of the highest debt burdens in the country, Deloitte says British Columbia and central Canada will be hardest hit by this recession.

“With interest payments rising, debt-servicing costs will have the

biggest impact in these provinces, with most sectors of the economy being affected by the reduction in household purchasing power,” the report reads.

Going into 2021, the real GDP growth in BC was a strong 6.2%, within a year it slowed down considerably to 3.8% in 2022.

As we head into 2023, the province’s GDP is expected to drop yet again to -1.3% alongside Quebec and Ontario. As a result of an expensive housing market and some of the highest debt burdens in the country, Deloitte says British Columbia and central Canada will be hardest hit by this recession.

“With interest payments rising, debt-servicing costs will have the biggest impact in these provinces, with most sectors of the economy being affected by the reduction in household

Vancouver remains the most expensive city for renters in Canada: report

A new report by rental platform Zumper on median rents in Canada shows that Vancouver remains the most expensive city in the country.

According to the report released Wednesday, one-bedroom rents in the city rose 0.4 percent month-on-month to reach $2,480 in January, while twobedroom rents remained at $3,500.

The study looked at 23 cities across the country. A total of 10 cities saw rental prices rise in January, seven markets declined and six were flat. Edmonton had the largest one-bedroom rental price increase, up five percent from last month to $1,050, while St. Catharines,

Ontario saw the largest month-to-month decline, down 6.2 percent to $1,510 fell.

The report analyzed rental data from hundreds of thousands of active listings in Canada’s most populous metro areas.

Toronto is the second most expensive city for one-bedroom rentals, up 1.8 percent monthly to $2,300, while the median price for two-bedroom rentals rose 3.9 percent to $2,950. Burnaby, BC, ranked third on the list for one-bedroom rentals, falling 1.3 percent from last month to $2,200, while two-bedroom rentals were up 1 percent to $3,170.

Victoria, fourth in the one and two bedroom rentals with

Rechargable batteries responsible for half of Vancouver fire fatalities in 2022: fire department

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says that half of the past year’s fire deaths are attributed to rechargeable battery fires.

The fire department said the city had 10 fire deaths in 2022.

The fire department has issued warnings throughout the year, advising residents to make sure they do not overcharge or use damaged batteries as it can be an extreme fire risk.

Firefighters are also advising that community members only use the proper charging cables that are provided

with the battery and to keep the battery away from all flammable materials.

A good indicator that a battery may be a fire risk would be overheating, changing colours or a smell. The City of Vancouver has a list of items that use rechargeable batteries that residents should

These items include rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries.

Toddler is lone survivor of crash that killed his parents & 8-days old brother

A toddler was the only survivor in a vehicle involved in a Monday afternoon crash that claimed the lives of her parents and an eight-day-old sibling.

In a press release issued Monday, RCMP said a passenger car and a pickup truck collided just before 4 p.m. Monday on Highway 3a in Thrums, B.C.

“The preliminary investigation suggests the driver of the passenger car maneuvered their vehicle in a way consistent with a U-turn into the path of the pickup truck,” RCMP said.

By the time emergency crews arrived, bystanders were already administering first aid to the victims of the crash.

“Three of the four occupants in the passenger car; a 26-year-old man, a 25-yearold woman and an eight-day-old infant were declared deceased on scene.”The fourth passenger of the car, a two-yearold, was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover from her injuries.

Global News has learned the mother, Ashley Mulianey, father Habib and son Vince were the ones killed in the crash. Meadow was the toddler who survived. The family had gone shopping but never returned home.

In a public Facebook post, Ashley’s mother said she was FaceTiming her daughter when the crash happened.

OPINION

By Sylvain Charlebois

Grocer code of conduct could help reduce loss of trust in the sector

A grocer code of conduct is coming to Canada. The United Kingdom and Australia, where grocer oligopolies exist, have a similar code already. This is great news for consumers; in fact, it should be considered a minor miracle. It all started in 2020 when Michael Medline, Sobeys’ big boss, told the Empire Club in

Toronto that the major stores, including Walmart, Loblaws, Costco, Metro and Sobeys, were abusing their power by introducing all kinds of fees to their suppliers in a brutally random way. Medline’s announcement sent shock waves through the industry, upsetting the in-group among retailers keen to continue intimidating

the rest of the industry. At the time, Eric Laflèche and his team at Metro, for example, told some reporters to ignore this issue and that the industry was fine. Total arrogance.

Now, after just a few years of this, the public sees the major chains as public enemy number one. Our food retailers are accused of abuse and trickery daily. Grocers have now begun to realize that there might be a problem. Major grocery chains have had a lot of power, maybe too much. The famous dispute between Frito-Lay and Loblaws last year exposed the problem to the public. It was ugly, very ugly.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, the federal Minister of Agriculture, supported by André Lamontagne, Quebec’s Minister of Agriculture, took the lead by creating a working committee to develop a code of conduct for the industry to give Canada’s food processors a chance to be heard. Since then, the project has really become the responsibility of Lamontagne and Quebec. The project will establish a code that will help the industry, but above all, consumers.

The leadership of Lamontagne and MAPAQ clearly compensated for the bewildering inertia of the Ford government in Ontario. The food processing sector in Ontario is the largest part of the manufacturing sector in Canada’s largest province, which makes Ontario’s silence puzzling.

But consumers will also gain in the long run. Many Canadians are unaware that suppliers must pay grocers to do business. While the fee is justified by merchandising costs and shelf space, the types of costs you would expect, things of changed in recent years. Companies like Loblaws, Walmart, and Metro abuse the system, and some levies have been imposed quickly, incidentally, and unilaterally. It is now more difficult in Canada for food processors and independent grocers to compete.

A code of conduct for grocers should change the culture of an industry where vertical coordination and collaboration barely exist. It is also about tackling a broken business model. A code can neutralize power relations within the chain, stabilize retail prices, emphasize value and innovation for consumers, improve the security of the domestic food supply, and encourage investment in the agri-food sector.

www.theasianstar.com

# 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2

Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615

E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com

Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar

Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema......................604-715-3847

Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827

Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........604-902-2858

Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Design: Avee J Waseer

Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains, Hardam S. Mann

Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. New address: # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2

All advertising in The Asian Star is subject to the publishers’ approval and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publishers against claims arising from publication of any advertisement submitted by the advertiser.

British Columbians’ debt anxiety mounting amid inflation, interest rate hikes: surveys

A pair of new studies reveals growing anxiety about debt among British Columbians, as they deal with the twin pressures of rising inflation and rising interest rates.

Accounting firm MNP Ltd. released its latest quarterly consumer debt index Monday, which found just half of British Columbian respondents (52 per cent) were confident they could meet their expenses this year without going further into debt — down seven per cent from last quarter. The index, which is compiled from polling by Ipsos, also found three in five B.C. respondents were worried they wouldn’t be able to pay their debts due to rising interest rates.

Fifty-five per cent said they’d be in financial trouble if interest rates climbed much higher, while 65 per cent said they were already feeling the effects of rate hikes. “We’ve been expecting this for a long time, especially with interest rates rising. I think that was the final push that put consumers over the edge, and realizing and taking a closer look at their finances and seeing they were having some difficulty,” said Linda Paul, a senior vicepresident and licensed insolvency trustee with MNP.

Two in five B.C. respondents said they were $200 or less away from insolvency, while 15 per cent said they were using their credit card to pay their bills, the report found.

“A lot of British Columbians are living paycheque to paycheque today, and I think that’s just a result of the cost of living going up so high,” Paul said. “While buying more expensive groceries, putting more expensive gas in their vehicles — everything has gone up in price, so they have even less money to work with each month to pay their debts.”

Debt consultancy firm Sands and Associates released its own study Monday, drawn from a survey of more than 1,400 British Columbians who had recently declared bankruptcy or sought to restructure their debts with a consumer proposal.

President and licensed insolvency trustee Blair Mantin said the survey found a growing number of people aged 55 and older with mounting debt problems.

Just over a third of respondents to the the company’s

survey said they were carrying between $25,000 and $50,000 of debt. A majority of those respondents — 59 per cent — said credit card debt was the main source of their financial trouble, while 11 per cent reported payday loans and six per cent said issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Part of it is people have just continued to accumulate debt throughout their working life and haven’t been able to hit that debt-free state when you get into retirement, so it can be very difficult as your interest costs increase, but your pension stays the same, your income stays the same every year,” Mantin said. “And then there can be the unexpected eventualities of life especially as you get older, your health might be a little bit more fragile, perhaps some people might lose a partner later in life — those things can be completely catastrophic from a financial point of view, not to mention an emotional point of view as well.”

Just over a quarter — 28 per cent — reported their debt was a result of overextend credit due to general financial mismanagement.

Meanwhile, the survey found many were racking up debt due to factors out of their control. Twenty per cent were using credit to cover essential costs of living, while 10 per cent went into debt over health or injury related issues, eight per cent due to marital or relationship breakdown and six per cent due to job problems. Mantin said many people were finding themselves with growing debt because they did not have an three to six months of financial cushion in an emergency fund to tide them over during catastrophic life events. Many others, he said, were spending 50 per cent or more of their income just to cover shelter costs.

“When you’re spending so much money just to keep the lights on, just to survive another day, that emergency fund just doesn’t get built up and when the actual emergency happens you’re left with nothing other than the ability to rely on credit,” he said.

“It can just become a vicious cycle.”

While the surveys painted a bleak picture of British Columbians debt concerns, both trustees

Soaring grocery prices in Canada spark increase in thefts from stores: researcher

A researcher from Dalhousie University in Halifax talks about the cost of groceries in Canada and an increase in theft from grocery stores.

Sylvain Charlebois wrote an op-ed last week explaining that grocers are more worried about theft than before.

“You can expect more cameras, more surveillance and more security in general since your favorite grocer doesn’t have a choice,” Charlebois wrote in the article.

Sharing the post on social media, he said he’s had many replies from people who weren’t concerned about the rise in thefts, and some who actually cared about it.

“First of all, there’s a lot of anger against grocers, grocers, right now, and honestly there’s a track record,” Charlebois said.

“If you go back on the fixed bread price a few

years ago, no one went to jail, no one was fined. The hero pay scandal that happened during COVID and now that food inflation is above 10 percent, people are angry, they are worried and they are looking for a scapegoat. And that scapegoat is the grocery store, the grocer.”

Charlebois said industry data shows grocery stores lose between $2,000 and $5,000 a week on average, but it’s difficult to have accurate data because so many thefts are handled in-store or with security guards, and the police aren’t involved.

“So a lot of people out there think grocers are actually overcharging groceries, when in reality it’s a global phenomenon. In fact, Canada has one of the lowest food inflation rates in the world, right after Japan. But still, people are very, very angry. They’re angry at Loblaws, Galen Weston, grocers in general.”

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the law is a necessary fix that will help patients by improving oversight of the colleges. .

A new law that changes the way B.C.’s health colleges are regulated is facing backlash by some doctors who say it gives the government too much power over how 130,000 health professionals like chiropractors, dentists and doctors are disciplined. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, however, said the law is a necessary fix that will help patients by improving oversight of the colleges and make sure cases of misconduct by practitioners are made public. The B.C. Liberals, B.C. Greens, and Doctors of B.C. are concerned that the Health Professions and Occupations Act was rushed through the Legislature with limited debate in late November, catching health professionals off-guard when it became law on Nov. 24.

The law will consolidate the number of health colleges in B.C. from 15 down to six.

One amalgamation will combine the colleges for dietitians, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech and hearing professionals into one regulator for allied health professionals.

The other amalgamation will create a single college for chiropractors, massage therapists,

naturopathic physicians, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncturists. The six colleges will be monitored by a new oversight body, an independent discipline tribunal, and a revamped complaints process that Dix says will increase accountability and transparency, and protect vulnerable people.

The oversight body, the Health Ministry said, will also ensure more consistent discipline across the professions and that the public is given information about practitioners who are found guilty of misconduct. Medical professionals guilty of serious misconduct could face fines up to $200,000 or up to six months in jail.

A major complaint from physicians is that the government will now appoint college board members, a change from the old system in which board members were elected by health professionals. “I think the regulatory body has to at least speak the language of the people it’s regulating and I don’t have confidence that a governmentappointed board would do that,” said Dr. Jennifer Lush, a family physician in Saanich. She said the bill could hurt the government’s attempts to recruit and retain family doctors.

“I have heard of multiple excellent physicians who are now looking into licensure in other

Here’s why B.C. doctors are upset about changes to disciplinary colleges

gunshots were there. I heard few, but I don’t know how many,” Jasjeet recalls. She was screaming in the bedroom, pleading for help. When everything went quiet, she went to see if Singh was OK. “He was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. I tried to shake him, just asking him to wake up,” she said. At that point, she recalls looking up and seeing her youngest daughter also covered in blood. “She was standing in front of me like a statue. She just said to me…in my own language…’I also have a wound. I got a bullet shot,’” Jasjeet said. “She didn’t scream. When she got the shot, she didn’t even scream. She was frozen.”

Both Singh and his daughter Tavneet Kaur were rushed to hospital where he died. An autopsy confirmed he was killed by gunshots.

Homicide detectives “continue to pursue several avenues related to this incident and are stillworkingtoestablishmotive,”aspokesperson with Edmonton Police Service said Thursday.

EPS would not provide any further information on the case.

A burned-out white 2012 Dodge Ram truck found near 24 Street and 14 Avenue later that day is believed to be connected.

The family insists it had to be a random attack because they have no enemies in Canada or India, where they recently moved from.

‘I NEED THE ANSWER, WHY?’

“We are living simple life with simple workplaces,” Jasjeet said. A shot hit her daughter in the shoulder.

From page 1

“One of the nerves are damaged. My three fingers are not working. My ribs are broken,” Tavneet explained.

The eldest daughter was also home. She hid in a closet with the family dog.

“I came out and in a low pitch I asked, ‘Is anybody alive?’ That was my first line that I said, ‘Is anybody there?’” Prabhleen Kaur said.

“It just happened like a game. Like you were finding people in the house, killing them and just going away without taking anything.”

Jasjeet says Singh was a hard worker who had a small group of friends. He always insisted on feeding his friends when they came over.

He wouldn’t even speed in his car, she said, and often told his girls to walk away from any conflict they came upon.

She can’t think of anyone who would want to harm him or their family.

“I can never expect in my life this kind of thing happening to my family. And not in this kind of country. We considered Canada a very safe country,” Jasjeet said.

Tavneet said although she was shot, she cannot remember what happened that night, and didn’t see who shot her. She said she may have been out of bed to go to the washroom at the time.

“He was a great man. He used to cook food for me. He loved cooking,” she said through tears.

“I need the answer, why? And obviously that why will not be justified, at all.”

‘RRR’ bags 2 Critics’ Choice awards

is also among the favorites among critics all over the world.

In his acceptance speech, Rajamouli thanked all the women in his life, naming his mother Rajnandini. “To all the women in my life, my mother Rajnandani. She thought school education was overrated and she encouraged me to read comics and story books. She encouraged my creativity. My sister-in-law Srivalli, who became like a mother to me, she always encourages me to be the best version of myself. My wife Rama, she is a costume designer of my

films but more than that she is the designer of my life. If she was not there, I would not have been here today. To my daughters - they don’t do anything - their smile is enough to light up my life. Finally, to my motherland, India, Bharat. Thank you!”

Hours after the announcement, Rajamouli was delighted to meet James Cameron and shared pictures with the Avatar director on Twitter. Rajamouli revealed that the Hollywood filmmaker watched his latest film, recommended it to his wife Suzy, and watched it again with her.

From page 1

Muslims & Hindus should unite

progress, but parliamentary democracy further entrenches them, as it runs largely on the basis of caste and communal vote banks. So we have to use our creativity and find out an alternative system under which India rapidly industrialises and modernises, and our people, of all communities and sects, enjoy a high standard of living and decent lives, with employment and good incomes, proper healthcare, good education for our children, etc.

How is that system to be created ? A study of the history of nations which were transformed from feudalism to modern nations, e.g. England, France, Japan, Russia, China etc shows that this transformation was a a long, arduous and painful process, full of turbulence, turmoil, wars, revolutions, social churning, intellectual ferment, etc. It was only after going through that fire that modern societies emerged in those nations. India, too, has to go through that fire.

To create a new social order in which our people, of all communities and sects, enjoy decent lives and prosperity, will require a mighty historical united people’s struggle led by patriotic modern minded leaders determined to rapidly industrialise and modernise the nation. This struggle will be long and arduous, because there are powerful forces, both internal and external, which will fiercely oppose and resist this transformation. Tremendous sacrifices will have to be made in this struggle, and many patriots will perish in the process, but without waging this struggle we will remain where we are at present, with widespread poverty, hunger, unemployment, etc. Since poverty, unemployment etc are common to all sections of our people, they must all unite in this struggle.

That having been said, let me come to some specific questions relating to Muslims in India.

As regards lynching of Muslims, while it is to be condemned, the fact is that only a handful of Muslims have been lynched, and it is not that every second Muslim has been lynched in India. Muslims are 20-21 crores ( 200-210 millions ) in our country ( about 15% of India’s population ), and so it is only a drop in the ocean. I am not condoning it, but only putting it in the correct perspective.

Similarly, only a handful of Muslims’ houses have been bulldozed, though I agree even that was outrageous.

It is true that the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992 and the Supreme Court gave a strange verdict which, while holding this act illegal, nevertheless gave its site to the

Hindus, which verdict I have strongly criticised.

Now attempts are being made to do something similar to the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Masjid in Mathura, despite section 4(1) of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 which says that the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on 15th August 1947 will not be changed.

It is true that after 2014 atrocities against Muslims have increased, and effort has been made by the ruling party to polarise society to get votes. But how many Muslims were affected by that ? As I said before, poverty is destructive of all rights, and the Sachar Committee reported in 2006 ( that is long before the BJP came to power in 2014 ) that most Muslims are poor and backward.

So most rights of most Muslims had already been destroyed long before the BJP came to power, by keeping them poor.

I am not a supporter of the BJP, in fact I have always criticised its communal politics. But I maintain that poor Muslims, who are the vast majority of Muslims, had already been oppressed and deprived of human rights even before the BJP came to power in 2014, by keeping them poor. So the anti Muslim policy of the BJP has really affected only a small minority of Muslims, who belong to the middle class.

Even before the BJP came to power there was discrimination against Muslims in getting jobs, houses on rent, etc. This is because while the Constitution says that India is a secular country, the ground reality is very different. After all, the Constitution is just a piece of paper. The truth is that in India most Hindus are communal, and so are most Muslims. This is because secularism is a feature of industrial society, it is not a feature of a feudal or semi feudal society. India is still semi feudal, as is evident from the rampant casteism and communalism prevalent here.

As regards communal riots, it is true that mostly Muslims are at the receiving end. This is firstly because Hindus are in the majority, and secondly because in the police in most states ( as well as in the Indian army ) there is an unwritten, secret rule to recruit very few Muslims. Thus in UP, while the Muslim population is about 18%, the UP police has only about 2% Muslims. Hence in communal riots the police, which is 98% Hindu, is often biased against Muslims, which is why Muslims are often at the receiving end. The police is an armed organisation, and unarmed people cannot face an armed organisation.

It is only when the system is changed in India that Muslims will be able to live without discrimination and oppression. But they cannot change the system alone. To do that they will have to join hands with their Hindu brethren, to wage the struggle I have mentioned above

South Asian man shot dead and daughter injured in Edmonton home invasion

Randall McKenzie, had been initially denied bail in a separate case involving assault and weapons charges but was released after a review.

The documents show a warrant had been issued for McKenzie’s arrest after he didn’t show up for a court date in August.

The letter from premiers notes a growing number of calls for changes to prevent accused people who are out on bail from committing further criminal acts.

“The justice system fundamentally needs to keep anyone who poses a threat to public safety off the streets,” it reads.

“And this starts with meaningful changes to the Criminal Code, an area solely within the federal government’s jurisdiction.”

The letter notes that the matter was “the subject of an intense discussion” at an October meeting of justice and public safety ministers from across the country, held in Nova Scotia.

“This meeting led to a clear and unified call to action for the federal government to reform Canada’s bail system,” it says.

After that meeting, B.C.’s justice and public safety ministers said they had seen some movement from the federal government on the issue and it was clear that repeat offending and violent stranger attacks were a countrywide concern.

Canadian Police Association president Tom Stamatakis told The Canadian Press earlier this month that the details of Pierzchala’s death had highlighted a need for reforms.

“There are a small number of prolific and violent offenders who continue to present a danger to society when released, and we need to find common-sense reforms that will address those cases,’’ he said.

Still, others have disagreed that bail reform is the answer, suggesting that more energy should go toward addressing the root causes of offenders’ behaviour.

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said in late December that Trudeau’s government should “reverse its catch and release bail policy,” referring to a law the Liberals passed in 2019 that updated bail provisions in the Criminal Code.

The law codified a “principle of restraint” that had been reaffirmed in a 2017 Supreme Court case, which directs police and courts to prioritize releasing detainees at the “earliest reasonable opportunity” and “on the least onerous conditions,” based on the circumstances of the case.

It also gave police more power to impose conditions on accused people in the community to streamline the bail process and reduce the number of unnecessary hearings, and it required judges to consider at bail the circumstances of people who are Indigenous or come from vulnerable populations.

Asked about bail reform during a House of Commons committee hearing in early December, Justice Minister David Lametti said Bill C-75 was largely developed with the provinces and was still being implemented.

He said he is “very sensitive” to concerns about challenges associated with bail reform.

“We’re certainly there to work with the provinces,” he said.

“To the extent that Bill C-75 and the reforms

or their implementation — or perhaps their non-implementation in certain cases — might be a factor, we’ve engaged to look at that. We have tasked our deputy ministers, federal and provincial ... in order to get some more facts out and to get more detail on the problem.”

Friday’s letter from premiers suggests that a “reverse onus on bail” should be created for the offence of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.

Someone accused of that crime “should have to demonstrate why their detention is not justified when they were alleged to have committed an offence where there was imminent risk to the public,” the letter says.

A review of other firearms-related offences could be conducted to determine whether such a “reverse onus” is appropriate, it adds.

Premiers demand bail reform in letter to Trudeau after killing of OPP officer

Drugs, cash seized at temporary housing facility in 2 Victoria police operations

Multiple firearms, kilos of drugs, and cash were found and seized by Victoria police officers as they carried out a search warrant at a temporary housing facility.

On Jan. 10, Victoria police searched a unit at a housing facility on Johnson Street.

Officers quickly located two guns, one of which was loaded, and around 1.4 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine as well as cash.

One man was arrested at the scene and has been released pending charges related to firearm and drug trafficking offences, according to police.

“To seize firearms from any supportive housing location is unacceptable and to seize thisnumberoffirearmsisextremelytroubling,” said Victoria police Chief Del Manak.

“These weapons are being used to exploit some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and the level of violent crime we are seeing here is a significant risk to residents and staff. I want to reassure our community that VicPD are working closely with our partners to address these ongoing safety concerns.”

More guns were seized by police during a search warrant search.

The seizure comes three weeks after a similar search warrant was carried out at the same building, police said.

In that raid, police found two guns, two kilograms of drugs and more than $50,000 in cash.

Victoria police said they are recommending charges for a man and a woman in that case.

“Just one week after this incident, the male suspect returned to the building and threatened to shoot staff with a gun,” Victoria police staff said in a release.

“The man was arrested and no firearm was located, though he was found to be in the possession of approximately five ounces of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine and $3,500 in cash.”

Vigil held for woman who died in

crash near Port Mann bridge

A tearful vigil took place in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday at the spot of a deadly crash that happened early Sunday.

Around two dozen friends of Sherry-Anne Ramkissoon gathered at the intersection of 152 Street and Guildford Drive Tuesday evening.

Ramkissoon was on her way to work in an Uber, when a two-vehicle crash near the Port Mann Bridge took her life. Ramkissoon’s friends, who organized the vigil, described her as having a heart of gold.

“She was wonderful, always happy, always joking around, and made great food,” Ricky Prasad said.

Ramkissoon had been renting the basement

fatal

suite of Prasad’s family’s home for more than 25 years. He said she was like a sister to him. “There wasn’t a bad thing to say about her, she cared about everybody,” Prasad said.

Ramkissoon’s friends opened a GoFundMe that’s already surpassed its $10,000 goal, to help pay for her funeral and travel costs as they try to send her body back to her family in Trinidad.

Surrey RCMP told Global News that speed and alcohol are likely contributing factors in the fatal crash that took place early Sunday morning.

Police officials said one person was taken into custody but has since been released.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Drug ‘super lab’ in Abbotsford could have produced 27M lethal doses of fentanyl, say police

Three men charged after investigation in Abbotsford and Surrey that began in August 2021.

The men have been charged following the dismantling of a drug “super lab” in Abbotsford and related activities in Surrey that involved the potential for 27 million doses of fentanyl hitting the streets.

The BC RCMP made the announcement in a press release issued Tuesday (Jan. 17).

The Abbotsford News reported on Jan. 19, 2022 that BC RCMP’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) had been set up for several days at a property on Lefeuvre Road, just north of Starr Road, not far from the Aldergrove border. Police at the time confirmed they were investigating a drug super lab.

The press release Tuesday confirms that CLEAR executed two search warrants on Jan. 14, 2022 on properties in Abbotsford and Surrey, and arrested three men.

Cpl. Arash Seyed, media officer with Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC), said in the press release that evidence was uncovered that the drug operation was producing

fentanyl, MDMA and cannabis extracts. The location also contained a mobile fentanyl lab, and two boxed drug labs.

The term “super lab” is used to describe large-scale drug operations, often tied to organized crime, with the capability of producing sizable quantities of illicit drugs.

Seyed said the investigation began in August 2021 and resulted in the seizure of approximately 36 pounds of crystal meth, four kilograms of pure fentanyl, more than 700 pounds of marijuana bud, approximately $20,000 in cash, and a cache of precursor chemicals for the production of fentanyl.

Seyed said Health Canada concluded that the precursor chemicals at the Abbotsford location could have produced an additional 50 kilograms of pure fentanyl.

He said the pure fentanyl seized “could have amounted to over 27 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl,” based on reports from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that “two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal.”

Street racers crash both their BMWs after being clocked at 145 km/h in 80 zone

Two alleged street racers were lucky to escape unharmed but face hefty fines and wrecked luxury cars after crashing at high speed in North Vancouver. RCMP traffic cops spotted the two high-end BMWs driving side by side east on Highway 1 near Westview Drive at about midnight Sunday. One of the officers clocked the pair going 145 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. Police tried to catch up to the racing cars to do a traffic stop. But both cars were soon found crashed into street poles and concrete barriers after the drivers

appear to have taken the Lloyd Avenue Exit.

“Thankfully none of the occupants, or anyone else who may have been on the road, was injured,” said RCMP Const. Mansoor Sahak. “But this certainly highlights the dangers of street racing and the costly, and potentially deadly, consequences.”

Two men in their 20s were issued tickets totalling more than $1,500 for excessive speed and driving without due care. Their cars are likely to be written off due to extensive damage.

Woman charged in druggings of Lower Mainland men re-arrested on new charges while on bail

A 30-year-old woman charged in multiple incidents of Lower Mainland men being drugged and robbed during escortservice encounters has been charged in another drugging while she was out on bail.

VancouverresidentJessicaNicoleReneeKane was charged in September with manslaughter, seven counts of administering a stupefying or overpowering drug or substance, six counts of theft over $5,000, one count of theft, four counts of fraud and two counts of extortion.

The charges stemmed from incidents in Burnaby, Surrey, Langley and Vancouver that involved men using an escort service, according to police.

In February 2021, one man died after allegedly being administered a

substance during an encounter, police said. One pair of drugging and theft-over-$5,000 charges is related to an incident in Burnaby on June 19, according to court records.

Kane was released on bail on Oct. 27, with conditions banning her from sex work and from contacting nine named individuals.

On Jan. 9, however, she was taken back into custody by Vancouver police and charged with one more count of administering a drug to commit an indictable offence and one count of robbery in relation to an incident on Jan. 8 in Vancouver.

She also faces new charges of obstruction and breaching a release order out of Surrey in relation to incidents on Jan. 3, according to Court Services Online.

How will a Grocery Code of Conduct help ordinary Canadians?

Canada is working on its firstever food code of conduct aimed at improving “transparency, predictability and fair dealing” in the grocery business.

On Friday, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC) announced significant progress had been made in its development. While we cannot expect it to solve the country’s supply chain problems, it is expected to help a large number and variety of businesses.

But what exactly is it enough for Canadian consumers? Will it help us save money on grocery bills? Will it ensure our food is of high quality? And most importantly, will it hold the billionaires and corporations involved accountable if they try to take advantage of us?

Daily Hive reached out to AAFC officials to ask a few questions and get a clearer picture. Here’s what they said. How will the new food code of conduct affect or protect Canadian consumers?

The Food Code of Conduct is an important step towards improving the resilience and efficiency of the food supply chain. The main goal is not to directly balance market power, regulate fair trade, or set retail fee levels, but rather improve supply chain relationships through principles of predictability, transparency, and fair trade.

Providing clarity to business practices and setting guiding principles will improve industry relationships as the entire supply chain works together to find efficiencies that ultimately benefit consumers.

We know that a competitive grocery landscape is important, which is why the Competition Bureau is also conducting a market study of grocery store competition in Canada. We look forward to the publication of their report in summer 2023.

In addition, a fundamental review of competition law is underway to improve Canada’s competition framework and better protect consumers and the integrity of the marketplace.

When can we expect the Code to apply?

Industry leaders have made significant strides in developing a code of practice for food. The issues involved are complex and the industry is taking the time needed to reach consensus. Similar processes to develop codes of conduct in other countries extend over several years. We want to ensure that a full industry framework can be implemented quickly to enhance the strength and resilience of Canada’s food supply chain.

The industry-led process continues to progress, moving from a development phase to an implementation phase. We look forward to discussing what we can do together to support widespread voluntary adoption of the Food Code of Practice. We strongly encourage all agri-food organizations to participate in the consultations that industry will lead over the coming weeks, so that the widest possible number and variety of companies can benefit from the Code.

Industry stakeholders are close to finalizing a code of conduct that could be implemented by the end of 2023.

What does “improving transparency, predictability and fairness” mean? How will the code do all three things?

The Bund-Länder-Gebietskreis, in its first paper, heard time and again that the manner in which the more contentious fees are collected through retrospective, unpredictable and unilateral practices is of concern to providers.

Suppliers claim that these fees are charged outside of previously negotiated prices and therefore deduct directly from the supplier’s expected margin. These can range from unexpected and unexplained charges to unforeseen amounts of charges that are simply deducted from payment for goods. The proposed code of conduct draws heavily on international best practice, including the code used in the UK.

Among a number of issues, the Industry Steering Committee has identified the need to address issues such as charging, the need for written contracts and the importance of joint forecasting of supply orders.

Elections BC fines West Van mayor and four councillors for missing information in flyers

West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager and four councillors who ran as a slate supporting him have each been slapped with administrative fines for not strictly following rules about election advertising in the October civic election. Lambur were fined $150 each. New councillors Scott Snider and Linda Watt were each fined $100.

All of the fines are related to the same election material, which included about 20,000 flyers, 600 brochures and 100 “door hangers” promoting the candidates as a slate. The material was distributed

without a statement identifying the candidates’ financial agent and a phone number or email contact, as required under the act. A digital ad was also up for about two weeks before the error was identified, according to Elections B.C. Elections B.C. noted it received a complaint about the material Oct. 7, and that Sager and the other councillors called Elections B.C. to report their own mistake four days later. The investigator noted that Thompson suggested Elections B.C. not issue a fine “given the time, effort and cost to correct the error.”

18-storey rental towers in Oakridge approved by Vancouver City Council

More high-density rental housing has been approved for the Oakridge Municipal Town Centre, following Vancouver City Council’s swift unanimous approval of a rezoning application on Tuesday.

This was the new City Council’s second public hearing, and their second rezoning approval resulting in a new building development.

A pair of 18-storey secured purposebuilt rental housing buildings, each reaching a height of just over 180 ft, will replace six single-family homes at 5562-

5688 Manson Street — near the northeast corner of the intersection of West 41st Avenue and Mansion Street, just north of Oakridge Park (Oakridge Centre) mall.

Grosvenor acquires 14-acre Oakridge bus depot redevelopment in Vancouver Future hotel and condo development next to Oakridge SkyTrain changes ownership

There will be a total of 392 rental homes, including 313 market units and 79 below-market units. The unit size mix is 127 studio units, 126 one-bedroom units, and 139 two-bedroom units.

The ex-principal of a small elementary school in east Vancouver is being sued for allegedly stealing more than $170,000 in funds, some of which was intended to help the families of needy students.

‘I feel like I got duped’: Tesla price drop angers current owners

‘I feel like I got duped’: Tesla price drop angers current owners

Tricia Low, also known as Tricia Rooney, has been named in a civil suit filed by the Vancouver school board over alleged thefts of gift cards, district funding and charitable gifts to the school while she was in charge from 2017 to 2020.

Britannia Elementary — which serves about 200 students, about half of whom are Indigenous and some from families struggling to make ends meet, operates on a combination of district funding and fundraising efforts.

Low was in charge of making purchases and arranging fundraisers on behalf of the school, and was responsible for making periodic financial reports to the board.

Beginning in late 2017, the lawsuit alleges Low began using purchasing cards issued by the board intended for school expenses for personal use.

Lawyers tell bail hearing Saskatchewan sisters victims of systemic racism

Freedom still remains out of reach for two sisters who have spent nearly 30 years in prison for what they say are wrongful murder convictions after a judge reserved his decision on whether they should get bail while awaiting the outcome of a federal review.

“It’s sad that we couldn’t be free today ... but today I’m still keeping on with the hope and faith,” Odelia Quewezance said Wednesday outside Court of King’s Bench in Yorkton, Sask.

Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance were convicted of second-degree murder in the 1993 stabbing death of 70-yearold Anthony Dolff near Kamsack, Sask.

Lawyers for the sisters told court during the two-day bail hearing that the women are victims of systemic racism in the justice system and false confessions.

The Crown prosecutor argued that even if there were issues with the police investigation, there was still enough evidence to show the sisters were involved in the murder.

The federal Justice Department started a review of the case last year, saying there may be a reasonable basis to conclude there was a miscarriage of justice.

The sisters’ lawyer James Lockyear said the all-male police force that arrested the sisters did not follow a court order to have the women transferred to Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert, Sask., and instead housed them in police station cells for four days.

“That order was just ignored,” Lockyear said.

He said neglecting the order demonstrates the attitudes the sisters encountered “in a police station full of white men.”

Canadian man dies on honeymoon in Mexico

A Winnipeg woman who was on honeymoon at a Mexico resort is looking for answers after her husband was killed in an incident the night before they were to fly home.

Just 12 hours before Jesse and Stacey Ropos were set to fly home from the Catalonia Riviera Maya resort in Puerto Aventuras, Stacey was told by resort staff that her husband was dead.

“It was a gated community. It was supposed to be incredibly safe,” Stacey said in an interview with CTV News on Wednesday morning.

The couple had spent nine days at the resort, and together had “created so many memories,” she said.

On Jan. 13, their final night, Stacey said she and her husband had visited a bar at the resort. Stacey said she went up to their room to sleep, while Jesse stayed back.

A translated police report, provided to CTV News Winnipeg, alleges Jesse fought two resort guests and two security officials. The report alleges two employees at the resort restrained Jesse, with one putting him in a chokehold.

At around 3 a.m., Stacey was woken up by resort staff and was led to the hotel bar.

“As I walked up, I saw the police tape

and a woman stopped me and said, ‘I hate to tell you that your husband is dead,’” Stacey said. “I just instantly ran underneath the police tape to where he was and just started screaming for him to get up.”

Two men, aged 36 and 34, were arrested and accused of homicide. They remain in custody, and the next steps will be decided on Friday.

Stacey said she has returned to Winnipeg, and said her husband’s body is set to return today.

In a statement, a spokesperson with Global Affairs Canada said consular officials in Mexico are in contact with local authorities and providing assistance to the family.

“Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed,” the statement reads.

An Indigenous contractor is calling out David Eby’s NDP government for its discriminatory Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) and false promises after several local First Nations companies have been barred from working on the Cowichan District Hospital replacement project.

Jon Coleman, the owner of Jonco Contracting, a Cowichan Tribes member company, recently spoke out about how the NDP’s use of CBAs is preventing local Indigenous people from working on their own territory, in favour of CBA-approved contractors from outside the region. Originally contracted to work on building the hospital, Coleman has now been forced to lay off staff and return equipment hired and leased because his company is excluded from the CBA scheme.

In the statement, Coleman expressed his frustration with the fact that his company and other First Nations companies are being barred from working in their community on the unceded territory of the Cowichan Tribes. The Indian Day School survivor said that the provincial government’s actions have caused a great deal of financial stress for him and others in the community.

“Originally estimated to cost $600 million, the project’s costs have ballooned to more than $1.4

billion due to Premier David Eby’s discriminatory policy that gives special treatment to NDP-supportive unions over local First Nations employees from the Cowichan Valley,” said Greg Kyllo, BC Liberal Shadow Minister for Labour. “The BC NDP’s preferential treatment of their union donors is harming local community employment, grossly inflating costs and adding more layers of red tape and bureaucracy to our healthcare system, which is already in crisis.”

Coleman also said that despite bringing attention to this issue more than a month ago, Premier Eby’s office has still failed to respond or provide a solution to Cowichan Tribes members being barred from working at the site. By excluding them from the project unless they’re unionized, Eby is effectively forcing workers to accept pay rates inferior to what Coleman’s company pays them.

“It’s outrageous that community members of the Cowichan Tribes are being withheld from work on their own lands,” said Kyllo. “With 85 per cent of B.C.’s construction workers excluded from working on public infrastructure projects under the CBA program, it’s no surprise to see the NDP is prioritizing union kickbacks over support for local communities and First Nations.”

Former principal stole $170,000 in funds, including gift cards for needy East Van students, lawsuit claims

Indigenous contractor speaks up as NDP’s union-benefits agreement shuts out Cowichan Tribes workers

Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit is the queen of hearts and has been for decades. If you are wondering why this is the case, her latest Instagram post presents itself as proof. In the video, Madhuri Dixit is seen dancing to the popular song Ghodey Pe Sawar from the Netflix original Qala. Dressed in a white and yellow ensemble, the actress grooves to the song. In the caption, Madhuri Dixit wrote, “Balma ghodey pe kyu sawar hai?” and added the hashtags: #wednesday #wednesdaymood #ghodeypesawaar, among others. Replying to the post,

Sireesha Bhagavatula, who sang the track in the film, wrote about how elated she is to see Madhuri Dixit dance to her song. She wrote: “OH MY GOD. The best. My mom would be on cloud nine seeing this. Fav Fav,” with a slew of heart emojis.

Actress Chitrangda Singh replied saying, “You’re love,” with heart emojis.

Pakistani actress Laila Wasti said: “Aap kuch bhi karteen hain, uss ki baat hee kuch aur hoti hai. Hamesha Shaandaar!”

Community news

Join Bingo on the House on January 22nd 2023 (Sunday) from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall. Members already vaccinated at least two doses against COVID - 19 should join for Bingo & yoga, please use facemask for safety.

In Person Yoga classes for members only, on Every Monday & Every Thursday will continue by Mr. Ashwani Bansal expert Yoga Instructor from 10.00 am to 11.15 am & will help to observe & guide the seniors to do correct yoga. Pure Vegetarian lunch will be served

in the dining hall at 11.30 am to all the senior members who attend yoga class on Thursdays. Members already vaccinated at least Two doses against COVID - 19 should join for Bingo & yoga classes, please use Facemask for safety. Project funded by Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking seniors.----------------------------------

For more info call: 604 - 507 - 9945 for registration or further details.

Sonam is back in business now

After taking a maternity break, Sonam is now back in business. While she is awaiting the release of her film Blind, the actor shared that she will be soon starting to shoot for her new projects.

Married to Anand Ahuja, the Neerja actor welcomed her baby boy Vayu in August last year.

At a recent event, indianexpress.com caught up with Sonam, where she spoke about motherhood and how it gave her sleepless nights. The actor also revealed how she’s been staying away from her phone ever since she

welcomed her child, which has brought a new-found peace in life. “Honestly, as you all must have noticed, I am no longer active

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

Shraddha Kapoor fans have much to rejoice. The actress is back to entertain us with her next film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar opposite Ranbir Kapoor. The film has been making headlines ever since its super fun teaser dropped. Now, ahead of the trailer release of the film, Shraddha Kapoor has a question for all of us. Sharing an adorable, goofy image of herself on Instagram, Shraddha Kapoor said: “2023 ke pyaar mein sabse mushkil kya hai? (Is it tough to find love in 2023). A question that stuck with me after watching the trailer of #TuJhoothiMainMakkaar. Excited to read your answers.” Replying to her post, her brother, actor Siddhanth Kapoor wrote, “Ha , good you used this photo awww hehe. We are all so excited too

#tujhoothimainmakkaar.” According to a report by Filmfare, the film’s trailer will reportedly play ahead of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan in theatres. In December, the makers of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar shared a new poster featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. In it, Ranbir is seen holding Shraddha in his arms. The pose is reminiscent of the iconic Barsaat poster from 1949 that featured Raj Kapoor and Nargis. While the duo’s pose is romantic, their expressions are dramatic. Explaining why Shraddha Kapoor said: “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. Nautanki > Couple Goals.” The film has been directed by Luv Ranjan. It is Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha’s first project together. Before that, Shraddha Kapoor announced the title of the film with a teaser video. Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor are seen flirting in the clip. “And the title is... Finally here! Dekhoooo (watch it),” Shraddha captioned the post.

Bigg Boss 16, is the excitment growing up?

The equations among the contestants in the Bigg Boss 16 house are constantly changing.

Once friends, Tina Datta and Shalin Bhanot don’t see eye to eye on anything now.

As per a recent promo shared by the makers of the reality show, their fight turned ugly after Tina and Shalin made nasty remarks against each other.

The argument started in Wednesday’s episode after Shalin extended his support to new captain Nimrit Kaur, leaving Tina and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary in shock. They claimed that Shalin was the one who was planning against Nimrit becoming the captain. The duo mocked him and accused him of double standards. After being called “dogla (hypocrite),” an irked Shalin Bhanot

went on to question Tina Datta’s “dignity.” He accused her of using men as per her convenience, referring to her current bond with MC Stan after she broke ties with him.

After the accusations, Tina Datta lost her cool and raised her hand, threatening to slap Shalin Bhanot. She then referred to the actor’s unfriendly relations with his ex-wife Dalljiet Kaur and said, “Khud ki biwi ki dignity nahi rakhta... ghatiya aadmi (you couldn’t even safeguard your wife;s dignity, you are a filthy person).” Tina also made a comment on Shalin’s married life and said that one who couldn’t respect his own wife should not pass judgment on someone else’s character. Reacting to this, Shalin Bhanot told Tina Datta that she always thinks less of

Prithviraj Kapoor

Sweet Soundarya

Prithviraj Kapoor was born as Prithvinath Kapoor on November 3, 1906 – passed away on May 29, 1972.

Considered to be one of the founding figures of Hindi cinema in India. He was an actor of his class, was associated with IPTA as one of its founding members and established his own Prithvi Theatres in 1944 as a travelling theatre company based Bombay, through out India.

He was the patriarch of the Kapoor klan of four generations of which, beginning with him, have played active roles in Indian film industry, with the youngest generation still active in Bollywood. His father, Basheshwar Nath Kapoor, also played a role in his film Awara The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1969 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1971 for his contributions towards Indian cinema.

Early life and education

Kapoor family hail from Peshawar but Prithviraj Kapoor was born on November 3, 1906 in Samundri, Punjab (Pakistan). He was bron into a Punjabi Khatri Hindu family of Kapoor gotra. His father, Basheshwarnath Kapoor was police officer in Indian Imperial Police, based in Peshawar. His grandfather, Keshavmal Kapoor, was Tehsildar in Samundri, distt Lyallpur (now Faisalabad). Prithvirja Kapoor’s early childhood was spent in Samundari. He was the eldest of eight siblings, five rothers (including Prithviraj Kapoor and Trilok Kapoor, also an actor) and three sisters. Producer Surinder Kapoor, father of Anil Kapoor, Boney Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor, was cousin of Prithviraj Kapoor.

Kapoor’s childhood was largely spent in Samundari, Lyallpur, Punjab, where his grandparents and extended family have their homes and property. Later, his father transferred back to Peshawar and after some years, the family moved, while retaining ancestral home and property in

Samundari, Lyallpur. Kapoor studied initially at Khalsa College, Lyallpur and then later Edwardes College, Peshawar.

Prithviraj Kapoor began his acting career in theatres in Lyallpur and Peshawar. In 1928, he moved to Bombay, Bombay Presidency, with a loan from one of his aunts. There he joined Imperial Films Company and started acting in movies. In 1928, he made his acting debut as an extra in his first film, Be Dhari Talwar He went on to earn a lead role in his third film, titled Cinema Girl, which released in 1929. After featuring in nine silent films, including Prince Vijaykumar , Cinema Girl, Prithviraj Kapoor played supporting role in India’s first talkie film, Alam Ara (1931).

His performance in Vidyapati (1937) was much appreciated. His bestknown performances include, Mughale-Azam, Sohrab Modi’s Sikandar-eAzam (1941) (Alexander the Great). Rajkumar, Lajwanti He also joined Grant Anderson Theater Company, an English theatrical company that remained in Bombay for a year. Through all these years, Prithviraj Kapoor remained devoted to the theatre and performed on stage regularly. He developed a reputation as a very fine and versatile actor on both stage and screen.

A postage stamp was also dedicated to Prithvi Theatres and Prithviraj Kapoor in 1995.

By 1944, Prithviraj Kapoor had wherewithal and standing to found his own theatre group, Prithvi Theatres, whose première performance was Kalidasa’s in 1942. Prithviraj invested in Prithvi Theatres, which staged memorable productions across India. Their plays were highly influential and inspired young people to participate in the Indian independence movement

Big hits of 2023

Pathaan: The first big release of 2023 comes in the form of Pathaan. Featuring Shah Rukh Khan making a comeback of sorts after his last cinematic outing anticipation for the film is at an all-time high. This coupled with the immense positive and negative buzz surrounding the film, Pathaan looks set to see its collections soar. Expected to rake in Rs. 250 cr. at the box office, the film is expected open with a bang.

Jawan: Set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the year is the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan. An actioner to the core the film is helmed by southern sensation Atlee behind the camera while joining SRK on the screen will be equally big names from the south in the form of Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara. unki: With Shah Rukh Khan, coming together with Rajkumar Hirani there is

an immense buzz surrounding Dunki. In fact, the film, which is based on the concept of ‘Donkey Flight’ or illegal immigration, has the audience already talking about it. Slated to release later in 2023 Dunki tops our list as the mostawaited film of the year.

Tiger 3: The third instalment in the hit Tiger franchise will see Salman Khan returning to his role as a spy alongside Katrina Kaif. Produced by Yash Raj Films, Tiger 3 that is helmed by Maneesh Sharma promises to be an action entertainer that will surpass the previous two releases. In fact, YRF the makers of the film and the cast have gone on record claiming that they will pull out all stops to ensure the success of the film. Given its brand recall, and of course the cast Tiger 3 looks set to rake in between Rs. 250-275 cr. at the box office.

Soundarya Sharma has come into the limelight after the last episode of Bigg Boss 16.

Delhi girl, who played leading role in e film Ranchi Diaries, produced by Anupam Kher. The film was released in October 2017,

and Soundarya was nominated for the ‘Best Female Debutant’ by Zee Cine Awards and Star Screen Awards. She won the ‘Best Debutante’ at the Jharkhand International Film Festival.

One of the founding figures of Indian cimema

Largest Metro Vancouver municipalities middle of the pack in Canadian housing approvals study

A study commissioned by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association has found Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby are in the middle of the pack in Canada when it comes to building approval systems, approval timelines and government fees.

The association’s municipal benchmarking study compared 21 major metropolitan cities in Canada, with each examined under three categories — approval times, government fees and planning process. The report found that of Metro Vancouver’s three major municipalities, with the three categories combined, Vancouver rated 12th, Surrey 13th and Burnaby 17th. Vancouver rated 17th for government fees

charged,withSurreyat15thandBurnabyat8th.

For approval timelines, Vancouver rated 10th, with Surrey 11th and Burnaby 17th.

For planning process, Vancouver rated 8th, with Surrey 9th and Burnaby 16th.

In a nutshell, this means that of the three largest Metro Vancouver municipalities, Vancouver had the best planning system, while Burnaby was cheapest for builders but also took the longest for approvals.

Surrey was in the middle of the pack across the board. This report comes as B.C.

Premier David Eby has promised to step in to municipal planning matters in a bid to increase both the amount and density of housing stock — something that is at present

completely under municipal control.

Developers have long complained about howlongittakestogetapprovalsinVancouver.

Under his plan, the province will be able to issue an order-in-council allowing it to override the municipality to force through new housing projects.

Eby’s goal is to reduce the cost of housing and make more housing available to buy.

Across Canada, Edmonton did the best in the survey overall — with the best planning process and the sixth best for government charges and approval timelines. The city with the worst overall planning process (planning process, costs and approval times) was Markham, Ontario. The

city with the lowest government charges was Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and the highest was Toronto. Overall, Toronto rated 18th in the survey.

Nicole Storeshaw, a Canadian Home Builders’ Association spokesperson, said the organization hoped the study could be used as a starting point for municipalities to establish Canada-wide standards for building approval permit times and charges.

“It is an opportunity to start a productive conversation for all, identifying best practices, ways to improve processes, and opportunities for governments and industry to work together to tackle affordability and other housing challenges,” Storeshaw said.

Toronto condo developer predicts supply shortages and falling rates for 2023

Condo developer and real estate broker Brad Lamb has seen it all. Here’s what he’s predicting for the year ahead, from supply shortages to a recession in the rear-view. What can we expect out of the housing

market in 2023? The resale market will be soft until rates start to decline. Volume of monthly MLS resales will likely stay at 50 per cent of a typical year until that time. Condo pricing is holding up reasonably well and will

likely edge a little lower than the end of 2023.

Will a home price drop in 2023, make housingmoreaffordable? Anypriceadvantage is being swamped by high interest costs. After a deliberate escalation of mortgage pricing, real estate is always going to fare the worst.

What do you predict for when the interest rate stabilizes? Predicting future events is what everyone wants to see, but it is impossible to know. My prediction is that rates will start falling by mid-2023. If I am correct in that, once the Bank of Canada rate falls approximately 1.5 per cent (to 2.5 to 2.75 per cent), the market will surge back and quickly overshoot the previous peak.

What building trends do you anticipate for 2023? Condo buildings in downtown Toronto

The only trend for housing is trying to find ways to make it more affordable, which just means “smaller.”

Will the housing market “rebound” in 2023? We have a disastrous shortage

of housing in Toronto, one of the worst situations in the First World. It will never be corrected as long as Toronto continues to grow, and even if growth slows down, there is a massive 20-year supply shortage in place. House prices and condo prices will recover in 2023, probably toward the third quarter of the year. Most developers will likely get active again in the last quarter. All the lost pricing will be regained once rates start to fall. By early 2024, this fabricated recession will be in the rear-view mirror. Toronto just released a new housing plan for 2023; does it sound achievable? The goal is to build more housing (namely 285,000 over a decade). It is fine to make that the target, but the target has zero chance of being met. And gentle density will not resolve the acute shortages we have in the city. It is like putting a band-aid on a leaking dam. We need big, bold density change.

Vancouver City Council votes to close renter office

Vancouver city council has voted to close down the city’s renter office.

The office, created in 2018, provides information and resources to renters regarding their rights. Councillors from the majority ABC party voted Wednesday night to transition its work to other service providers, arguing they would do a better job.

”In order to run an efficient renters support program, we need extensive knowledge and experience, especially from a legal perspective,” said Lenny Zhou, a Vancouver ABC councillor.

“Some of this responsibility does not fall

under the city’s jurisdiction and we are not experts in these areas.” The move sparked strong opposition from the other councillors.

“Our lane is protecting the residents and the folks who live in Vancouver, and when 55 per cent of them are renting and a great deal of them are really struggling in the rental market, that’s our job. That’s my job,” said Pete Fry, a Vancouver city councillor. The move

comes alongside a $250,000 increase to the renter’s services grant program.

Canadian home prices post record drop as high rates hit buyers

Canada home prices see record drop as high rates hit buyers.

Canadian home prices fell by the most on record in 2022, as rapidly rising interest rates forced a market adjustment that may have further to go.

The country’s benchmark home price fell 1.6 per cent in December to C$730,600 (S$719,811), bringing the total decrease since February’s peak to 13.2 per cent, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Monday (Jan 16).

The decline was the biggest peak-totrough falloff since the group started compiling the data in 2005. Last year also saw the biggest price decline for a calendar year since records began, with a 7.5 per cent drop overall. With the economy in danger of entering a recession and the Bank

of Canada warning of more rate hikes to counter persistent inflation, the housing market may face continued pressure in the coming months.

A record number of buyers used floating-rate debt for purchases during Canada’s pandemic-era real estate boom, and those borrowers may come under increasing strain if mortgage costs remain high. Job losses from an economic slowdown also would make it harder for people to keep up with loan payments and stay in their homes.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predict Canada will enter a recession in the first part of this year. With the economy

in danger of entering a recession and the Bank of Canada warning of more rate hikes to counter persistent inflation, the housing market may face continued pressure in the coming months.

A record number of buyers used floating-rate debt for purchases during Canada’s pandemic-era real estate boom, and those borrowers may come under increasing strain if mortgage costs remain high. Job losses from an economic slowdown also would make it harder for people to keep up with loan payments and stay in their homes.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predict Canada will enter a recession

in the first part of this year. “As we look ahead to the crucial spring selling season, the all-important question is who will emerge from hibernation in greater force — buyers or sellers?” Douglas Porter, chief economist at the Bank of Montreal, said in a note to clients commenting on the new sales data. “We suspect that the market will still be digesting the rapid runup in interest rates and that buyers will be more reluctant to re-emerge, keeping prices under pressure for some time yet.”

The housing slump so far has largely been driven by a pullback among buyers who’ve been priced out due to higher interest rates. The number of transactions in December was down 39 per cent on a non-seasonally adjusted basis from last year, when the market was approaching its peak and before interest rates started rising.

B.C. government streamlining permit applications to build more homes

The B.C. government is making it easier for developers and home builders to get approvals to build more homes in the province.

Rather than requiring multiple provincial permit applications from different ministries with different processes to obtain approvals and construction to build more homes, the province is creating a “one-stop-shop approach” to permitting.

“Every British Columbian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Unfortunately, this simply wasn’t a priority for more than a decade,” said Premier David Eby in a release. “As we turn things

around and start to build record levels of housing, we are taking action today to remove obstacles to constructing new homes that families desperately need.”

This new permitting strategy will be established in the next few months but in the meantime, permit and authorization decisions will be expedited through a crossministry team focused solely on housing projects, the B.C. government explained

in a release. This coordinated approach will also make application reviews more streamlined for First Nations, which are consulted on each provincial authorization.

“Having dedicated resources and a cross-ministry team prioritizing housing permits means we can make significantly more progress on getting British Columbians the housing they

need,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

“Establishing a single-application approach is an investment that will deliver more housing for people faster, and this will also result in immediate and future benefits for the entire natural resources sector.”

The permitting strategy will create 42 new full-time positions. Once those positions are filled, the team can be increased to 203 positions, the province explained.

Story continues below advertisement

This latest housing announcement comes after the government introduced a new $500-million affordable rental protection fund.

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Sri Lanka’s debt negotiations with China and India “are successful,” according to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, bringing the bankrupt nation closer to clearing a major hurdle to unlock $2.9 billion from the International Monetary Fund.

The nation’s president, who doubles as finance minister, spoke before the parliament Tuesday, without providing details. Before that, a person with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News that India formally notified that it would support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan late Monday.

Sri Lanka still needs similar assurances from China, Japan and so-called Paris Club members before the IMF board can approve the loan program. Sri Lanka concluded debt restructuring talks with Japan, Wickremesinghe said last week, without sharing details.

A delegation from China is scheduled to be in Sri Lanka through Jan. 18 and

Sri Lanka nears IMF bailout as India backs debt plan

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit from Jan. 19 ahead of the island nation celebrating 75 years of Independence from British rule on Feb. 4.

On Monday, a delegation of China’s Communist Party led by Vice Minister Chen Zhou assured Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena that Beijing would stand by Sri Lanka during this crisis. “I’m confident that Sri Lanka will have good news very soon,” Chen said, according to a Jan. 16 statement.

Until recently, debt negotiations yielded little progress since Sri Lanka defaulted in May, with creditors bickering on the size of losses they are willing to accept and whether local debt should be included in the restructuring.

Sri Lanka’s end-2022 target for IMF board approval has already been missed and Standard Chartered Plc predicted delays in the process. The latest remarks

from officials offer some optimism.

“With very positive developments taking place over the past 12 hours, Sri Lanka is confident of reaching IMF board approval in

the first quarter of 2023,” Sri Lanka’s junior Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said by phone Tuesday, when asked if India had assured support. He declined to elaborate. The CSE All Share index advanced 1.3% to 8,373.07, the most in three weeks.

Though India is seeing an exponential growth in share of Russian crude oil purchase, a persistent American bureaucracy has ensured that the US became India’s fifth-largest oil supplier in the fourth quarter of 2022, displacing Kuwait.

India is aiming to pursue an oil import policy that will witness robust inflows from both the US and Russia in the foreseeable future, while stepping up efforts to diversify the crude basket even further, says a report by S&P. Although the RussiaUkraine war has given an opportunity to Indian refiners to bring in huge volumes of crude oil at discounted rates, the market share of the US has remained steady.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Karnataka government paid Rs 88 lakh to Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General of India KM Nataraj who argued on behalf of the state government in the Supreme Court case related to the hijab ban enforced in the state.

A report by the investigative digital publication The File revealed that Mehta was paid Rs 39.60 lakh and Nataraj was paid Rs 48.40 lakh for arguing the case. Tushar appeared in court nine times, while Nataraj appeared in court 11 times in the case. The two advocates received Rs 4.4 lakh per hearing as remuneration. The

Before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, over 60 per cent of the Indian crude basket was sourced from West Asia.

The rest comprised 14 per cent from North America, 12 per cent from West Africa, five per cent from Latin America and two per cent from Russia.

India has increased the number of crude oil suppliers from 27 countries in 2006-07 to 39 in 2021-22 adding countries such as Columbia, Libya, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

hijab ban case

Solicitor General of India is subordinate to the Attorney General for India and is the second highest law officer in the country. The case – Fathima Bushra vs State of Karnataka – was heard by the Supreme Court in 2022 examining a batch of appeals challenging a Karnataka High Court verdict that effectively upheld the ban on wearing hijab in government schools and colleges. The apex court announced a split verdict with Justice Hemant Gupta affirming that the state government was authorised to enforce uniforms in schools and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia calling hijab a matter of choice that cannot be stifled by the state.

Women’s panel chief Swati Maliwal ‘molested, dragged’ by ‘drunk car driver’ in Delhi

Delhi Police on Thursday said they had arrested a man in connection with an incident in which Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal alleged that she was “molested” and “drag Speaking to ANI, DCP South Chandan Chowdhary said that according to Maliwal, she was with her team outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here at around 2.45am when the arrested man, later identified as Harish Chandra, hailing from city’s Sangam Vihar and who appeared to be in an inebriated state approached her. he DCW chief in her complaint to the police alleged that the man who was driving a

white-coloured car stopped his car near where she was standing and “made indecent gestures”. He then beckoned her to sit in his vehicle, claimed Maliwal. When the DCW chief reprimanded him, the man allegedly went away but returned a short while later and repeated his actions, the police said.

“She was standing with her team at Gate 2 of AIIMS which falls under the Kotla police station area. According to her, when she was standing on the footpath, a white-coloured vehicle approached her whose driver offered her a lift and started insisting that she sit in the car.

China records first recent population decline as births plunge

China’s population shrank for the first time in decades last year as its birthrate plunged, official figures showed Tuesday, adding to pressure on leaders to keep the economy growing despite an aging workforce and at a time of rising tension with the U.S.

Despite the official numbers, some experts believe China’s population has been in decline for a few years — a dramatic turn in a country that once sought to control such growth through a one-child policy.

Many wealthy countries are struggling with how to respond to aging workforces, which can be a drag on economic growth, but some experts said the demographic change will be especially difficult to manage in an developing economy like China’s.

“China has become older before it has become rich,” said Yi Fuxian, a demographer

and expert on Chinese population trends at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported Tuesday that the country had 850,000 fewer people at the end of 2022 than the previous year. The tally includes only the population of mainland China, excluding Hong Kong and Macao as well as foreign residents.

Over 1 million fewer babies were born than the previous year amid a slowing economy and widespread pandemic lockdowns, according to official figures. The bureau reported 9.56 million births in 2022; deaths ticked up to 10.41 million.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the population figures were affected by the COVID-19 outbreak that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan before spreading around the world.

Karnataka BJP govt paid Rs 88 lakh to two advocates who argued

US 5th-largest crude oil supplier to India amid global turmoil

Cost of living to become major crisis in India within two years: World Economic Forum

The climate change crisis may be a global problem, but for India there may also be a cost of living crisis emerging, according to a report released by the World Economic Forum titled “Global Risks Report 2023”, earlier this week.

Digital inequality and a cost of living crisis coupled with natural disasters are going to be major risks in the short as well as medium term for India, the report noted.

The findings of the report couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, as a land subsidence crisis has hit Joshimath town in Uttarakhand.

CEO & Founder Rage Coffee

In the next two years, the cost of living crisis is going to be one of the biggest risks, it said.

Also, natural disasters and extreme

weather events, geo-economic confrontations, failure to mitigate climate change and large-scale environmental damage incidents, are some of the other short term risks for India, the report noted.

At the same time, on a long term basis, i.e. 10 years down the line, some major risks for India include failure to mitigate climate change and climate change adaptation, biodiversity loss, large-scale involuntary migration, and natural resources crises.

“As 2023 begins, the world is facing a set of risks that feel both wholly new and eerily familiar. We have seen a return of “older” risks — inflation, cost-of-living crisis, trade wars, capital outflows from emerging markets,

India condemns Khalistani graffiti on walls of Australia’s Hindu temples

ndia has condemned the vandalisation of Hindu temples in Australia with Khalistani graffiti and said the issue has been raised with the Australian government in Canberra and here seeking an expeditious investigation against the perpetrators.

Responding to a media query regarding alleged vandalisation and graffiti being written on Hindu temples, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam

Bagchi said, “We are actually aware of the couples of temples that have been vandalised in Australia. We condemn these incidents.

If I remember correctly, both of them are actually near Melbourne in Victoria. We strongly condemn this action. These actions have been publicly condemned by Australian leaders, community leaders, and religious associations there.”

In the latest incident, the Shri Shiva Vishnu

BBC documentary on PM Modi a ‘propaganda piece’: India

BBC documentary on PM Modi a propaganda piece, designed to push discredited narrative: India.

Amid controversy over a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India on Thursday dismissed it as a “propaganda piece”, saying it is designed to push a particular “discredited narrative” and that the continuing colonial mindset is “blatantly visible” in the series.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also wondered about the purpose of the documentary and the “agenda” behind it and said “frankly we do not wish to dignify such efforts”. The two-part BBC documentary, “India: The Modi Question”, claims it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was the Chief Minister of the state.

“Let me just make it very clear that we think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, the lack of objectivity, and frankly a continuing colonial mindset,

are blatantly visible,” he said. Bagchi was replying to questions on the documentary.

“If anything, this film or documentary is a reflection on the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of this exercise and the agenda behind it and frankly we do not wish to dignify such efforts,” he said.

Asked about comments made by former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on the riots, Bagchi said he seemed to be referring to some internal report of the UK government.

“How do I have access to that? It is a 20-yearold report. Why would I just jump on it now? Just because Jack Straw says it, how do they lend it that much legitimacy,” he asked.

“I heard words like inquiry and investigation. There is a reason why we used the word colonial mindset. We do not use words loosely. What enquiry? They were diplomats here... investigation, are they ruling the country. I do not agree with that characterisation.”

UK to launch Young Professional Scheme; no job letter needed for visa

The Young Professional Scheme, that will permit 3,000 degree holders each from the UK and India to live, study and work in the other country, will be launched on February 28, the MEA said here on Monday on the conclusion of the 15th India-UK Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) cochaired by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and UK Permanent Under-Secretary Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Philip Barton. India will be the first visa national country to benefit from this scheme which is part of the India-UK

Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021. This is in line with the Centre’s endeavour to maximise support for the youth and to ensure that they realise the benefits that are due to them, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said earlier this month.

The government’s effort is to create a better global workplace, a more secure travelling experience and a non-discriminatory treatment abroad, he had said. The Young Professionals Scheme will be valid for three years and there is no need of a job offer to apply for this visa, India’s High Commissioner

Siemens signs 3 Billion euro train deal in India

Siemens has signed a 3 billion euro ($3.25 billion) contract to supply and service freight trains in India, the German engineering company said on Monday, the biggest locomotive deal in its history.

Siemens will deliver 1,200 electric locomotives and provide servicing for 35 years under the agreement, also its biggest ever in India. The Siemens-designed, 9,000-horsepower trains with a top speed of 120 km (75 miles)/hr will be assembled in India over the next 11 years, with deliveries starting in 24 months.

“These new locomotives ... can replace between 500,000 to 800,000 trucks over their lifecycle,” said Siemens Mobility CEO Michael Peter. The order was a big step for Siemens

in India, Peter told Reuters, saying the company had previously mainly provided components and infrastructure there.

“India is looking for technology, better efficiency, and longer lifespan for its trains,” he said in an interview. “In the past India built their own trains, but they want to increase reliability and average speeds.”

The deal is the latest bumper contract won by Siemens after it signed a 900 million euro deal for a new metro line in Sydney, Australia in December.

Peter was confident about reaching Siemens’s goal of increasing revenue at the mobility business by 6-9% this year, although this contract would mainly appear as orders in 2023.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh lashes out at Union Minister’s remarks over economic slowdown

What are the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister hiding from the country, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked after Union minister Narayan Rane indicated that India may face an economic slowdown after June.

The minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) told reporters in Pune on Monday that if India faces an economic “recession”, it will happen only after June, but the Centre was making all efforts to avoid such a situation. He said developed countries were already facing an economic downturn.

“Narayan Rane, Union Cabinet Minister of MSMEs - that have been destroyed since

2014 - forecasts recession in India after 6 months. He said this in Pune to a G20 gathering. What are the PM (Narendra Modi) and FM (Nirmala Sitharaman) hiding from the country?” Mr Ramesh asked on Twitter.

Mr Rane’s comments came after inaugurating the G20’s 1st Infrastructure Working Group (IWG). India currently holds the presidency of the G20 grouping.

“As I am in the Cabinet, some information is available to us and whatever advice we get from PM Modi-ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi), on that basis, we can say that there is an economic recession in big countries. It is a reality,” he told reporters.

US trying its best to eliminate visa wait times for Indians

The US is “putting every ounce of its energy” to eliminate the long visa wait time in India, including sending a cadre of consular officers to India and opening up its other overseas embassies in as far away as Germany and Thailand for Indian visa applicants, a senior US visa officer has said.

“We’re putting every ounce of our energy towards eliminating these (visa) wait times in India,” Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa

Services, Julie Stufft, told PTI in an interview. Normalisation of visa operations around the world right now is a top priority, she said.

“We’re sending a cadre of consular officers to help our staff in our embassy and consulates in India. They’re working shifts during the day. They’re working weekends, mainly to do visitor visa interviews, which of course are now the only remaining visa type that we have long wait times for,” she said.

BJP, RSS created atmosphere of fear, hatred in country: Rahul Gandhi at Pathankot rally

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP and RSS on Thursday, accusing them of creating an atmosphere of hatred, violence and fear in the country.

Addressing a rally here on the last day of Bharat Jodo Yatra’s Punjab-leg, he alleged that the BJP was making one religion

fight against another, one caste against another and one language against another.

Targeting the central government over the demonetization and GST, Mr. Gandhi said Ludhiana used to be the manufacturing centre of small and medium enterprises and used to compete with China.

India-France naval exercise gets underway in Arabian Sea

The 21st edition of India-France bilateral naval exercise ‘Varuna’ commenced in the Arabian Sea today. Initiated in 1993, it has become a hallmark of the IndiaFrance strategic relationship.

The drill will witness the participation of indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer INS Chennai, guided missile

frigate INS Teg, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integral helicopters and MiG29K fighter aircraft.

The French navy will be represented by aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, frigates FS Forbin and Provence, support vessel FS Marne and maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique.

India mulls lowering income tax in budget 2023: Report

India is considering lowering rates under its voluntary income tax framework and could introduce revised slabs in the upcoming federal budget due on February 1, two government sources said.

A final decision would be taken by the PMO, both the sources, who did not want to be named because the talks are private, said.

The finance ministry did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comment.

While the new optional income tax scheme - announced in 2020 to make tax compliance simpler - offers lower headline

taxation rates on annual income, experts say it is unattractive to many as it does not allow exemptions on housing rentals and insurance among other things.

“Allowing exemptions and tax deductions in the new income tax regime would make it complex and this wasn’t the intention while introducing the scheme,” said one of the government sources.

Individuals can currently decide which set of rates they want to be taxed under. The government has not made data on the number of individuals availing the new tax system public.

Google leases 3.81 lakh sq ft data centre space in Navi Mumbai for 28 years

Raiden Infotech India Pvt Ltd, a Google Inc company, has taken on rent 3.81 lakh sq ft of data centre space for 28 years in Maharastra Industrial Development Corporation’s industrial estate in Navi Mumbai from Amanthin Info Parks Pvt Ltd at a starting monthly rent of Rs 8.83 crore, showed documents accessed by CRE Matrix, a real estate data analytics firm.

The agreement to sub-lease has been signed between Raiden Infotech India, the licensor Amanthin Info Parks and the MIDC that has leased the land to Amanthin Info Parks. It comes with a

rent escalation clause which states that there will be a rent escalation of 1.75 percent annually, the document showed.

Amanthin Info Parks is a company owned by Everyondr. This is a joint venture between data centre firm Yondr Group and Everstone Group.

There was no response from both the companies. The documents were registered in October 2022.

The proposed data centre in Navi Mumbai is expected to come up within two years. The property is an eight-storey building with a basement and a roof.

Bhiwani MC chief’s husband chairs meeting as ‘proxy’

Amid widespread criticism of ‘sarpanch pati’, a practice where effective political power and decision-making authority is wielded by husbands of elected panchayat women representatives, a case of a ‘chairperson pati’ has come to light in Bhiwani.

While Preeti Tanwar is the chairperson of the Bhiwani Municipal Council, her husband Bhawani Pratap Singh has allegedly been exercising undue influence on the work of his spouse. Bhawani, who is also a member of the civic body from ward number 7, is learnt to have chaired a meeting of the council today, acting as his wife’s “proxy”. Sources said the meeting was

called by Bhawani and attended by safai darogas (sanitation workers) and officials of the private firm that has been allotted the contract for cleanliness and sanitation in the town. Sanitary Inspector Sanjay Kumar said the meeting was presided over by Bhawani. The aim was to chalk out a plan for cleanliness, he said. Admitting that he had called the meeting, Bhawani maintained that the chairperson (his wife) had delivered a child about two weeks ago and was recuperating. “It wasn’t a meeting of the House and was only a routine event. I am a council member too and we get things done with mutual cooperation,” he claimed.

The vehicle of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, was today pelted with stone on the Chandigarh-Mohali border during his visit to the ‘Qaumi Insaaf Morcha’ protest site.

Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent IndianAmerican attorney and former California Republican Party Co-Chair who is running for Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman, has alleged that she is facing bigoted attacks from her fellow party leaders because of her Sikh faith and asserted that She would not give up and continue to be in the race for the top position.

Dhami had arrived at the protest site to express his solidarity with the protesters. Sources said Dhami addressed the gathering and while he was leaving in his SUV, some protesters raised slogans against him.

Harmeet Dhillon, 54, a former California Republican Party Co-Chair, is contesting against powerful Ronna McDaniel for the position. “To be very clear, no amount of threats to me or my team, or bigoted attacks on my faith traceable directly to associates of the chair, will deter me from advancing positive change at the RNC, which includes new standards of accountability, transparency,

Extortion group linked to Babbar Khalsa arrested

Khanna police arrested international extortion and targeted killing module operated by Amrit Bal-Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang.

The module has links with foreignbased terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa.

The police have arrested a total of 13 persons

till now, including target suppliers, shooters and shelter providers and seized five illegal weapons and 53 live cartridges from them.

Ludhiana Range IGP Kaustubh Sharma, Khanna SSP Harish Dayama Omparkash and SP(Investigation) Pragya Jain addressed

Sikh family alleges discrimination at Windsor Castle

Accusing two British Army guards of racially discriminating against them at Windsor Castle, a Sikh family has threatened to take legal action against the UK government.

Rapinder Kaur (36) said she, her turbanwearing husband and their two-year-old child were subjected to racial taunts by

guards during a visit to the castle last year.

The family complained to the Royal Collection Trust, which operates the palace, and the Ministry of Defence, which bears responsibility for the guards. But the family said all they have received is an email apology from a top-ranking lieutenant, and guidance that the soldiers would receive refresher training.

Pakistan

US lawmaker introduces bill seeking to terminate Pakistan’s designation as non-NATO ally

A US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in US House of Representatives that seeks to terminate Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, and require annual certification from

the president with certain conditions for Islamabad to be given such a designation.

The bill (HR 80) was introduced by Congressman Andy Biggs, who represents the fifth Congressional district of Arizona.

Millions of textile workers lose jobs amid economic crisis

About 7 million workers have been fired as Pakistan’s textile exports dwindle, putting the sector on the edge of collapse, industry representatives warn. For Ashraf Ali, a textile laborer in the Pakistan’s textile hub of Faisalabad, losing his job was as if his entire life had come crashing down around him. “I was laid off from my job from Sitara

Pakistan

Textiles, Faisalabad, due to the cotton shortage in the country. I had given 24 years of my life to this company and being laid-off was highly depressing,” Ali, a 42-year-old worker and a father of seven children, told DW.

Ali is just one of around 7 million people who have recently been fired from their jobs in Pakistan’s textile industry, according to textile associations.

Saeed’s brother-in-law

Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki, who has been listed as a global terrorist under its ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee by the United Nations Security Council

(UNSC), was more than just the brotherin-law of 26/11 attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed.

The second-in-command, as well as the head of political affairs of the terror outfit LeT

Pakistan is proof that Islamism as State policy kills the economy

Jihad as the centrepiece of State policy does not augur well for a nation’s economy. Unless one has oil. Pakistan doesn’t. Even the Arab world is realising that as the oil economy weakens and fades — as it inevitably will with new

technology and newer forms of energy — Islamist instincts need to be curbed.

Mohammed bin Salman has launched a slew of economic and social reforms in Saudi Arabia, the capital of Sunni Islam and the leader of oil producing countries.

Saudi Arabia to support Pakistan’s economy with $20 Billion

Saudi support for the Pakistani economy constituted a safety valve for its stability and continuity, allowing it to face economic repercussions.

Asharq Al-Awsat monitored recent agreements between Riyadh and Islamabad,

Military warns new PM’s govt against making ‘sweeping changes’

Fiji’s military chief warned lawmakers on Tuesday against making “sweeping changes” less than a month after contested elections that removed the government of Frank Bainimarama, who ruled the Pacific island for 16 years after taking power in a coup.

‘I feel like I got duped’: Tesla price drop angers current owners

‘I feel like I got duped’: Tesla price drop angers current owners

Fiji has a history of military coups, including two staged by current Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in 1987. Rabuka became prime minister

Govt may have changed, but military is clear that it will not go quietly

Fiji’s military commander stirred a wave of anxiety with an extraordinary statement claiming concern over the “ambition and speed” of political changes since last month’s election that could have “fateful” security consequences.

Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), said in the statement that the military played a “guardian role” under the Constitution and “new assaults” on Fiji’s democracy would “not be tolerated”.

Fiji’s Supervisor of Election suspended

Mr Saneem was suspended by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on the advice of the Constitutional Offices Commission pending an investigation into a complaint of misbehaviour received by the Commission.

In a statement tonight, Attorney General Siromi Turaga said the Commission had

resolved at a meeting yesterday (January 18/2023) that the complaint needed to be investigated by a tribunal pursuant to Section 137(3)(a)(i) of the Constitution.

“Mr Saneem is suspended pending the appointment of a Tribunal and subsequent investigation into the complaint made. Mr Saneem’s suspension

Flight from Sydney to Fiji forced to turn back after ‘potential mechanical issue’

Qantas flight to Fiji has had to turn back and land at Sydney airport, as investigations begin into a different Qantas flight that issued a mayday call a day earlier because an engine failed. QF101 from Sydney to Nadi returned to its point of departure on Thursday

morning as a “precaution” after the pilots received a message about a “potential mechanical issue”.

The flight landed about 10.30am after spending almost two hours circling over New South Wales.

revealing that Saudi support has doubled in the last four years, exceeding $21.64 billion, in a diversified portfolio including aid, support, investment, and deposits.

In recent years, successive govts faced several economic crises.

American Harmeet Dhillon says she is being attacked by fellow Republicans because of her Sikh faith

SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami’s vehicle stoned

based terrorist had more to him than just being Hafiz

Consulate general of India, Vancouver celebrated international Hindi Day on 17th January this year. Consul general honorable Mr. Manish and his entire team was present at the event. Many organizations like Indian cultural Association, Bharatiya kala sahitya Parishad, Hindi literary society, Manasvini took part in poetry recitation.

Prime minister Modi’s message was read by one of the consulate member.

Bharatnatyam, kathak and Bollywood dances kept the audiences entertained.

Vishwa Hindi Diwas was started to mark the anniversary of the first time Hindi was spoken in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 10th January, 1949. In the year 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the first World Hindi Conference. Since then, conferences have been organised in different parts of the world.

The purpose of this day is to create awareness about Hindi language and promote it as a global language around the world since 2006. Indian diaspora outside india can be connected to their roots through the rich literature, culture and heritage by one language. Spoken by over 425 million people as their first language, Hindi is one of the modern Indo-Aryan languages, which constitute a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages.

Preserving the language in this day and age is crucial as English is dominating in the field of education and technology and many more. Creating a sense of pride in speaking your own language is of prime importance. It is through language that culture and sanskaars (set of value system) is preserved and more importantly passed on to the next generation.

Seeds and Bulbs

best for those who want to guarantee they are growing something natural and chemical free. If you are looking for non-GMO seeds, racks of organic seeds, salad mixes, seed tapes, wild flower containers sprinkle for covering large areas, Art Knapps is your one-stop shop.

The majority of items listed on this page are available by the tractor scoop or bag it yourself in our supplied bags.

Brand names available off the shelf include: Marie Sharps, Dave’s Insanity line, Blair’s Death, Louisiana Gold, and House of Q.

Ready to shop for your spring

selection and healthy plants at our outdoor garden centre and nursery. From inidividual plants to large flats, shade to sun, perennial or annual; we can provide all your plant needs.

Art Knapp's Garden Centre in Surrey carries a wide assortment of bulk materials and landscape products like soil, mulch, lava rock, gravel and manure.

Art Knapp Garden Centre prides itself on supplying the

Art Knapps carries lines from Belize, Mexico, Louisiana, Jamaica, and other parts of the globe. For the daring, we even carry the infamous Trinidad Scorpion, one of the hottest sauces in the world.

Vishwa Hindi Diwas International Hindi day

Consul General Mr. Manish addressing Indian cultural groups at the event.

Vibhooti Vaishnav

Team of Consulate General of India, Vancouver

Many cultural groups participated in reciting Hindi poetry to celebrate International Hindi Day

PIANO’s two new high-rise towers with 1-, 2-, 3- bedrooms and townhomes keep you on beat. Defined by striking accentuated curves and smooth lines, reminiscent of a grand piano, this development is Surrey City Centre’s most modern addition. Utilizing its meticulously-landscaped, free-flowing terraces, PIANO creates inviting green spaces and outdoor amenities with scenic views in every direction. While a multitude of indoor amenity options are carefully curated for all of life’s tempos.