Nepali human rights activists protest in front of Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu, calls for de-escalation
Kathmandu [Nepal], May 9 (ANI): About a dozen Nepali human rights and peace activists on Friday protested in front of the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu, calling for the de-escalation of increasing tensions with India.
The activists who held a protest at a distance of 100 meters from the embassy gate held placards and banners with slogans to de-escalate the situation, as well as requesting Pakistan to stop harbouring terrorism.
'Two weeks ago, a terror attack was made in Pahalgam (India) which claimed lives of 26 innocent people which included a Nepali citizen, that was a terrorist act; we condemned that was the crime against humanity. We would like to request that Pakistan first take action against those involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. Why does Pakistan protect those terrorists? It's our second question. We would like to request Pakistan, take action-not provide shelter to terrorists and take concrete steps to de-escalate tension,' Krishna Pahadi, the founder of Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) told ANI.
Apart from holding the protest, the activists also had planned to submit a memorandum to the Pakistan Embassy officials which as per them has been denied.
'Today we are here in front of the Pakistan Embassy and they denied to accept our letter to submit a memorandum. An email from the Pakistan Embassy that they are not going to accept the memorandum but suggested to send via e-mail,' Pahadi told ANI.
'What we have said (in that memorandum) is that we condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Terrorism is not accepted. Pakistan should take action against terrorism,' the peace activist added further.
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan has been deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on Friday criticized Pakistan for intentionally shelling gurdwaras, churches, and temples along the Line of Control (LoC), describing the attacks as 'a new low even for Pakistan.'
'During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students of the school, who unfortunately lost their lives and their parents sustained injuries.'
'Several school staff and locals took refuge in an underground hall of the school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school was fortunately closed, otherwise, more losses would have occurred. Pakistan is targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan,' he said.
Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities.
Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
'In my personal opinion, Pakistan started this. That is also the act of war, the Pahalgam attack that was the act of war, we condemn the terrorism, we have no sympathy for the terrorist organisation. So Pakistan should give the impression to the International community first, stating, 'We are going to start action against terrorism', that kind of message we are expecting from Pakistan,' Peace activist Pahadi, also the former Chairman of Amnesty International's Nepal Section, told ANI. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Sardaar Ji 3': After demands for revoking citizenship, Diljit Dosanjh gets support from BJP, DSGMC
Jalandhar: Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh , who has been under fire for his film 'Sardaar Ji 3' starring Pakistan actor Hania Aamir, has gotten support from BJP national spokesperson R P Singh and former DSGMC chief Manjit Singh G K. In a post on his X account on Friday R P Singh described Dosanjh as "a national asset and a global ambassador of Indian culture" as he slammed the Federation of Western India Cine Employees for demanding action against the celebrity. "FWICE's call to revoke his Indian citizenship over an inadvertent and pre-incident film shoot is not only unfair but shockingly disproportionate. The film featuring a Pakistani actress was shot before the Pahalgam attack. If there is anguish, it can be expressed through a boycott or by urging that the film not be screened in India. But attacking Diljit's patriotism and demanding such an extreme step is simply irrational," he wrote. R P Singh pointed out that the Indian cricket team played a match against Pakistan just days before the Pahalgam massacre. "Did FWICE or others object then? TV news channels routinely invite Pakistani guests to boost TRPs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Should those anchors now relinquish their citizenship too? Let's not cheapen nationalism or weaponise patriotism. FWICE should reconsider its stance—such targeting of our own talent only weakens our moral standing," he added. Punjabi actor and BJP culture cell convener Hobby Dhaliwal, too, extended support to Diljit at a press conference at the party's Chandigarh office. Dhaliwal said that Diljit was not just an artist but a globally respected face of Punjabi culture. "At a time of national tension, attempts are being made to defame him with baseless allegations. This is unfortunate and condemnable," he said. "Diljit is the son of this soil. Punjab stands with him—and India too," Dhaliwal said, while being flanked by Punjab BJP media cell in-charge Vineet Joshi. He expressed regret that certain elements were now demanding the cancellation of his citizenship and a ban on his films. He felt the demand was not only unjustified, but politically motivated and entirely baseless. "Every citizen is patriotic, but using this as a pretext to target a single artist is wrong. BJP stands firmly with Diljit Dosanjh," he added. Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjit Singh GK too issued a statement in his support and questioned what he called the "selective targeting" of Diljit. He said the way Diljit was being targeted appeared like an "undeclared emergency". "He represented the country and Punjab, and has become an icon," G K said. He also questioned the silence of the present DSGMC leadership. On the other hand, singer Mika Singh came under attack from the X handle @Tractor2twitr_P, which is popular for its stance on pro-farmer issues in Punjab and Haryana. "Weeks before the Uri attack, @MikaSingh flew to Karachi to sing at the wedding of a billionaire who was a close aide of Parvez Musharraf, the mastermind of the Kargil war. Today he is lecturing @diljitdosanjh for acting alongside a Pakistani artist in a film produced, directed, and cast by someone else," read a post on the handle.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
This 'F' word is pushing India backword, can't defeat China due to..., why is 6400000000000 scaring India
This 'F' word is pushing India backword, can't defeat China due to…, why is 6400000000000 scaring India Indian states are going to increase their spending on social welfare schemes. It is estimated that these states will spend about 2 percent of their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), or Rs 6.4 lakh crore in 2025, much more than the previous year's spending. Several states have introduced schemes such as monthly income for women and free travel in government-run buses. These welfare schemes have increased the expenses of the states. This has raised concerns as this level of spending is expected to impact India in many ways. Will India Be Able to Beat China Economically? Notably, to beat China economically, India will have to take visionary steps beyond just spending on social welfare. According to a report by rating agency Crisil, spending huge amounts on welfare schemes has reduced states' ability to spend on infrastructure development and other development works. Crisil analysed the budget of 18 major states which account for nearly 90precent of the total GSDP. The central government, on the other hand, also spends huge amount on several welfare schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Kisan, PM Awas Yojana and PM Poshan. The central government has allocated Rs 86,000 crore for MNREGA that too only for this year. What Kind Of Warning Is This? Crisil has warned that increased state spending on welfare programs, particularly those targeting women, children, and marginalised groups, will widen their revenue deficits. This surge in spending, consistent with previous years at 1.4 to1.6 percent of GSDP between FY19 and FY24 will likely curtail states capacity for capital investment. The rise in expenditure is attributed to pre-election initiatives, including income support schemes and free public transportation for women. What Is Needed To Defeat China? To overtake China economically, India has to take concrete and far-sighted steps rather just spending on social welfare schemes. Focus on productive investments India should focus on creation of world-class infrastructure like roads, railways, ports, power, digital connectivity. These developments will reduce logistics costs and boosts industries. Investments in education, healthcare, and skills development is also needed to create a skilled and healthy workforce. India has to work on increasing public and private investment in research and development. This will promote innovation. Notably, China has invested big in this. Development of the manufacturing sector China's robust manufacturing sector significantly contributes to its economic growth. India's economic progress requires bolstering initiatives like 'Make in India' by streamlining manufacturing establishment, offering tax benefits, and enhancing global supply chain integration. Emphasis on exports China has an export-oriented economy. India also needs to expand its export base in high value-added goods and services. Policy stability A stable policy environment is essential to attract investors. Improving the ease of doing business will automatically reduce red tape. Financial discipline Both the states and the Centre must keep the fiscal deficit under control. This will reduce debt and increase revenue.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Manhattan's progressive man
In a stunning political upset that has caught the eye of political observers and could potentially upend the Democratic Party in the U.S., a new progressive star has emerged: Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the presumptive winner of the New York City mayoral primary. For an Indian progressive uninitiated in American politics, the name Zohran Kwame Mamdani will invoke references to two familiar figures. The 33-year-old is the son of noted postcolonial theorist and academic Mahmood Mamdani, who has written extensively on the legacy of colonialism in Africa, and acclaimed film director Mira Nair. His middle name is, of course, a reference to Kwame Nkrumah, the Ghanaian Pan-Africanist revolutionary leader. But now the younger Mamdani has become a name to be reckoned with on his own accord. By defeating a formidable establishment figure — former Governor Andrew Cuomo — in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary race, Mr. Mamdani has catalysed sharp discourse within the fractured and soul-searching Democratic Party, still reeling from stinging defeats in the presidential and Congressional races in 2024 that heralded the Trump 2.0 era. New York is largely a Democratic stronghold, and the winner of the primary typically goes on to win the mayoral race. In the November Mayoral election, Mr. Mamdani will take on the incumbent, the unpopular Eric Adams, who is expected to run as an independent. Mr. Mamdani's political career is relatively short — he was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020. In the State capital of Albany, he joined a small group of lawmakers affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a progressive and socialist organisation that was formed in 1982 but truly took flight during Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in 2016. Since then, it has emerged as a major leftist pressure group operating both within and outside the Democratic Party. Mr. Mamdani's victory is reminiscent of a similar triumph in New York when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (fondly known as AOC) won a Congressional election in the city's 14th district in 2018. While Mr. Mamdani's legislative record is relatively modest in terms of Bills passed, his colleagues acknowledge that his work helped shift the Assembly's ideological emphasis to the left. If elected, Mr. Mamdani would be the city's youngest Mayor since 1917 and the first Muslim to hold the post. Mr. Mamdani's victory was no mean feat. He had to overcome the challenge posed by a candidate with extensive political experience — former two-term New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo has deep establishment ties and was endorsed by multi-billionaire Michael Bloomberg and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, among others. He was also backed by a super Political Action Committee that raised $25 million to bankroll his candidacy. The fact that Mr. Cuomo had resigned from his gubernatorial duties a few years ago after being embroiled in sexual harassment cases did not deter him from attempting to obscure this record while running a conventional campaign that featured attack ads targeting Mr. Mamdani's identity and views. Grassroots mobilisation Mr. Mamdani overcame these challenges by relying on massive grassroots mobilisation — reportedly 50,000 volunteers organised by the DSA's New York Chapter conducted a door-to-door campaign that reached an astounding 1.5 million doors. Focusing on one key issue — 'affordability' in New York's high-cost economy — Mr. Mamdani pledged to address this through a series of concrete measures. These included freezing rents for nearly a million New Yorkers in rent-stabilised apartments, providing free city buses (based on a pilot programme he had helped start as a lawmaker), creating city-owned grocery stores that would keep food costs low by buying wholesale and operating on city land, and providing childcare for infants and toddlers. The focus on livelihood-based 'bread-and-butter economic issues' helped his campaign build a broad coalition of support, including in neighbourhoods that were won by Donald Trump in the 2024 elections. Notably, Mr. Mamdani's message was tailored to redirect working-class frustration away from the Right's targets — immigrants and marginalised groups — toward a different culprit: billionaires. The endorsements by the doyen of the American democratic Left, Bernie Sanders, and its key public figure, AOC, also bolstered his candidacy. Interestingly, Mr. Mamdani managed to register a strong win while unapologetically taking a pro-Palestine position, accusing Israel of committing 'apartheid and genocide in Gaza', supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and openly embracing his Muslim identity. This stood in sharp contrast to the Democratic Presidential campaign in 2024, where candidate Kamala Harris tacked to the right of centre, refused to halt arms sales to Israel, and did not allow a Palestinian voice to speak at the Democratic Convention. In many ways, Mr. Mamdani's campaign — focused on welfare issues while celebrating his identity as the son of immigrant parents and a practising Muslim — represented everything the Trump administration has demonised during its current tenure. Seen in this light, Mr. Mamdani's victory could possibly be the biggest win for the democratic socialist movement that has taken root in U.S. cities since Mr. Sanders's national campaign. It offers a boost to a demoralised American Left caught between the right-wing populism of Mr. Trump (which has attracted segments of the traditional working class) and what critics see as the vapid centrism of the Democratic Party establishment that refuses to change course, particularly on foreign policy. Inevitably, the question arises: Is Mr. Mamdani's win a blueprint for future success for the beleaguered Democratic Party? His campaign — combining modern social media tools with traditional door-to-door campaigning — managed to generate broad support across a sprawling urban metropolis, offering lessons for other Democratic mobilisations in similar environments across the U.S. A freewheeling, accessible style is clearly a more effective approach than the carefully scripted strategy that cost Democrats in 2024. Road ahead Yet, challenges remain. Republicans are already working to brand Mr. Mamdani as the radical face of the Democratic Party, while the media establishment that supports the GOP has sought to use his identity to tarnish his record, with one Republican Congress representative's fundraising appeal branding him as a 'Hamas Terrorist sympathiser'. His brand of democratic socialism may indeed prove a difficult sell in the small towns and red bastions of middle America. Ultimately, Mr. Mamdani's victory may be less a simple blueprint to be copied and more a mirror held up to the Democratic Party. It has forced a reckoning, proving that a campaign centred on economic justice and unapologetic principles can generate a powerful movement. The question for party leadership is not whether they can perfectly replicate a New York City race, but whether they are willing to embrace the grassroots energy, class-based populism, and bold vision that this stunning victory represents. The future of the party may well depend on their answer.
