Two years ago, a new center of cultural life and leisure appeared in the capital of Kazakhstan – the Astana EXPO-2017 exhibition complex. The exhibition attracted significant flows of tourists and citizens – they loved the atmosphere of innovation and knowledge, the festive mood and the international spirit of the event.

Two years after the Astana EXPO-2017 international exhibition, its heritage – exhibition pavilions, first-class infrastructure, rich in smart solutions territory – regularly functions as a center of attraction for tourists, businessmen, investors, innovative scientists and successfully serves the capital’s economy and country.

In the final speech on the closing of the Astana EXPO-2017 exhibition, the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, noted the importance of the efficient use of the pavilions.

The management of Astana EXPO-2017 National company managed to form an innovative and business ecosystem based on the exhibition infrastructure. Today, the territory of the EXPO is a kind of city of the future, a space of “smart solutions” that is gradually being developed by investors and high-tech companies.

Such projects as the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), the International Center for Green Technologies and Investment Projects, the Astana Hub International Technology Park for IT Startups, as well as the IT University, which is scheduled to open in September this year, have already been implemented on the territory of EXPO.

A separate element of the intangible heritage of the Astana EXPO-2017 exhibition is its large-scale international promotion, which has become one of the key factors in raising the country’s profile, its tourism and business brand.

Today, two years after the exhibition, the territory of Astana EXPO-2017 provides unique conditions for business and educational tourism, as well as family vacations.

For business travelers, in addition to the totality of financial and technological institutes, the EXPO Business Center with an area of ​​35 thousand square meters operates in the territory of Astana EXPO-2017 with class A offices, and also at the end of this year it is planned to open an International Exhibition Center with an area of ​​21 thousand square meters, where the largest international and national exhibitions will be held.

Among the advantages provided to the business at the Astana EXPO-2017 venue are, firstly, the localization in the space of one architectural complex of many international and Kazakhstani companies of various profiles. Developed engineering and IT infrastructure is also important – even at the design stage, the territory of Astana EXPO-2017 was provided with advanced technologies and solutions.

Comfortable conditions for business tourists are created due to the availability of a full range of services, both legal – for example, the AIFC operates the Expat Center, in which foreign citizens can get centralized access to state and other services on a “one-stop-shop” basis – as well as social household: in the territory of “Astana EXPO-2017” there is an electrified post office, banks, restaurants, etc.

In fact, the Astana EXPO-2017 platform is an innovative ecosystem where everything necessary for a successful business and life is literally within walking distance.

This explains why it is becoming more and more popular in business circles for holding business events of various sizes. The Congress Center, which is one of the objects of the EXPO infrastructure, has hosted 180 various events during the year, the largest of which were the XI Astana Economic Forum, the World Mining Congress, and in 2020 the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference is planned. Also, the Congress Center constantly hosts concerts by domestic and foreign pop stars and cultural events of a global scale, for example, the famous COMIC CON festival of pop culture has been successfully held this summer.

No less significant is the role of the Astana EXPO-2017 exhibition complex as a center of education and innovation. Over the past two years, the main object of the EXPO sphere “Nur-Alem” has not stopped its work. A part of scientific installations from the pavilions of Kazakhstan national companies and the Energy of the Future sector moved to it, turning it into a tourist entertainment and scientific-educational center at the same time. 

In the last 2018, the sphere was visited by 400 thousand people, 40 thousand of whom were schoolchildren and students from all over the country who studied under the special project Kids & Students Future Energy. The exposition of the sphere is regularly updated with new exhibits in the field of alternative energy, open lessons and lectures are held for schoolchildren and students, shows of achievements of robotics.

A cozy park area, numerous restaurants and cafes create comfortable conditions for leisure for both adults and children. And the shopping and entertainment mall located in the immediate vicinity of Astana EXPO-2017 is also a place for shopping.

Every year, a summer concert venue is built on the territory of the exhibition complex, which hosts various events and concerts. In winter, it is replaced by an ice town, an ice rink and a Christmas tree.

Thus, “Astana EXPO-2017” today is not only a space of business activity, a territory of innovation, creativity, success and advanced technologies, but also a real “city in the city” – self-sufficient and autonomous, with its own developed social and leisure infrastructure, with a comfortable seating area and well-groomed public space.

As a populous, tropical developing country, India faces a bigger challenge in coping with the consequences of Climate Change than most other countries. Climate Change is a global phenomenon but with local consequences. There are both external and domestic dimensions to India’s Climate Change policy which has been articulated through two key documents. One is the National Action Plan on Climate Change(NAPCC) adopted on June 30, 2008. The other is India’s Intended Nationally Determined Commitments(INDC) submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) in October 2, 2015. The NAPCC has an essentially domestic focus. The INDC is a statement of intent on Climate Change action announced in the run up to the Paris Climate Change summit held in December the same year.

The NAPCC incorporates India’s vision of ecologically sustainable development and steps to be taken to implement it. It is based on the awareness that Climate Change action must proceed simultaneously on several intimately inter-related domains, such as energy, industry, agriculture, water, forests, urban spaces and the fragile mountain environment. This was the backdrop to the 8 National Missions spelt out in the NAPCC. This need for inter-related policy and coordinated action has been recognized, only several years later, in the adoption by the UN of the 17 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).  The National Missions are on Solar Energy, Enhancing Energy Efficiency, creating a Sustainable Urban Habitat, Conserving Water, Sustaining the fragile Himalayan Eco-system, creating a Green India through expanded forests, making Agriculture Sustainable and creating a Strategic Knowledge Platform for serving all the National Missions. The NAPCC acknowledged that Climate Change and Energy Security were two sides of the same coin; that India had to make a strategic shift from its current reliance on fossil fuels to a pattern of economic activity based progressively on renewable sources of energy such as solar energy and cleaner sources such as nuclear energy. Such a shift would enhance India’s energy security and contribute to dealing with the threat of Climate Change. Thus a co-benefit approach underlies India’s Climate Change strategy. The NAPCC constitutes India’s response to Climate Change based on its own resources but recognizes that it is intimately linked to the parallel multilateral effort, based on the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC, to establish a global Climate Change regime. It was India’s hope that the ongoing multilateral negotiations under the UNFCCC would yield an agreed outcome, based on the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities(CBDR), which would enable developing countries like India, through international financial support and technology transfer, to accelerate its shift towards a future of renewable and clean energy. While India has made significant progress in implementing several of the National Missions, its expectations of a supportive international Climate Change regime based on equitable burden sharing among nations, has been mostly belied. It is in this context that one should evaluate India’s subsequent NDCsubmitted on the eve of the crucial Paris Summit on Climate Change of December 2015.

Prime Minister Modi has been one of the world leaders who has taken a keen interest in Climate Change issues.  Under his leadership India decided to adopt a more pro-active, ambitious and forward looking approach in the run-up to the Paris Climate summit. This is reflected in the country’s INDC. It links India’s commitment to ecologically sustainable economic development with its age old civilizational values of respecting Nature, incorporating a sense of inter-generational equity and common humanity. The targets India has voluntarily committed itself to are unprecedented for a developing country. The energy intensity of India’s growth will decline by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 base year, which means that for every additional dollar of GDP India will be using progressively and significantly lesser amount of energy. There is confidence that based on the achievements of the National Mission on Enhancing Energy Efficiency, this target will be met.India being one of the world’s largest emerging economy, which already has a large energy footprint globally, this constitutes a major contribution to tackling global Climate Change. The INDC has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy by the year 2030 on the strength of the outstanding success of the National Solar Mission. It is reported that this capacity may well be achieved 10 years in advance. The government may raise India’s target to 227 GW for 2030. The target of achieving 40% of power from renewable sources by 2030 is likely to be achieved several years in advance. The figure is already 21% as of date. India is actively reducing the component of coal based thermal power in its energy mix. It is not widely known that the country has a very high cess on coal, of the order of Rs.400 per tonne, proceeds from which go into a Clean Energy Fund. India is also committed to not building any new thermal plants which are not of the most efficient ultra-supercritical category. 

India played a major role in assuring the success of the Paris Climate summit and Prime Minister Modi’s personal intervention in the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement was acknowledged by several world leaders. His initiative on the setting up an International Solar Alliance for promoting solar power worldwide was welcomed. 

India is advancing on a broad front to ensure a clean energy future for its people, drawing upon its ingrained civilizational attributes and putting in place a wide range of policy interventions under the legal framework of the Energy Conservation Act, covering 15 energy intensive industries and the Energy Conservation Building Code, covering all new urban infrastructure. 32 states of the Indian Union have formulated and begun implementing their own State Action Plans on Climate Change(SAPCC). There is also an active and vibrant civic society which is promoting citizens’ awareness of the threat of Climate Change and what each of us can do as individuals to meet this threat. It is hoped that India’s leadership in dealing with its own challenges of Climate Change and Energy Security will act as a spur to other countries to raise their own contributions to meeting this global and existential challenge. Failure to do so condemns humanity to an uncertain and possibly catastrophic denouement.

Mr. Shyam Saran was a former Foreign Secretary of India.

India’s Moon Shot is well on its way to the Moon and if all goes well the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) hopes to soft land a robotic craft on the lunar surface in early September. Dr K Sivan the Chairman of ISRO has described the Chandrayaan-2 (Moon Vehicle) as the `most complex space mission ever undertaken by India’. 

India has a total of fifty operational satellites that provide navigation services, weather forecasting, help smart cities, aid satellite television and even help in banking operations, today `touching lives and saving lives is the Hallmark of ISRO’ says Sivan. India has end-to-end capabilities in space making its own satellites, rockets and launching them from India. Many foreign companies use India’s rockets to launch their satellites. The South Asia satellite launched in 2017 is a unique friendly bird in the sky that helps connect India’s neighbours and India provided this communications satellite at no cost to the South Asian countries.   

Most recently on the hot and humid afternoon of July 22, 2019 at India’s rocket port the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota exactly at 2.43 pm India’s most powerful rocket the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-3 nicknamed the `Baahubali’ lifted off into the monsoon clouds carrying India’s Chandrayaan-2 satellite into space. In less than 17 minutes the 640 tonne rocket, equivalent to the weight of 1.5 Jumbo Jets, which stands as high as fifteen storey building at 44 meter in length completed its mission by putting the Chandrayaan-2 satellite in a `better than expected orbit’ said Sivan. 

Possibly the rocket was compensating for the heartburn it caused when a week earlier on July 15, 2019 the launch had to be aborted less than an hour before lift-off due to a `technical snag’. Scientists at the Indian space agency burnt the mid night oil and fixed the glitch, bouncing back with aplomb. Speaking about the rapid come back Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said `if you ask me what the two greatest lessons I have received from Chandrayaan-2, I shall say they are faith & fearlessness.’ 

Modi is a known space enthusiast who knows how to deploy space technology for effective governance of the 1.3 billion Indians, he further added ` the second important lesson is – never lose hope in the face of stumbling blocks or obstacles. The way our scientists rectified technical issues in record time, burning the midnight oil, is in itself an exemplary, unparalleled task. The world watched the `Tapasya’, the awesome perseverance of our scientists. We should also feel proud of the fact that despite hindrances, there is no change in the arrival time [on the moon] … many are amazed at that. We have to face temporary setbacks in life… but always remember- the capacity to overcome them resides within us.’ 

Earlier this year India also carried out another spectacular space experiment when on March 27, 2019 India shot down its own low earth orbiting satellite Microsat-R using a custom made missile launched from the Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal. Called an Anti-satellite weapon test (A-Sat) it was dubbed `Mission Shakti’ and according to Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which spearheaded this test said `India acted responsibly by conducting the test at a low altitude so that minimum space debris was generated’. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said `through the A-Sat, we have acquired the capability of destroying a satellite three hundred kilometres away in a mere three minutes. India became the fourth country in the world, possessing this capacity’ after USA, Russia and China who have demonstrated this lethal capability to knock down satellites in space. This was a demonstration by India that it will do all what it takes to protect its vital space assets in space. Indian satellites help the country’s economy and are a vital space borne infrastructure for New Delhi. 

Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second moon shot the first was launched in 2008 named Chandrayaan-1 and it was an orbiter where `India was the captain and several countries like USA, UK, the European Space Agency were players as India lofted their instruments all the way to moon free of cost’. Chandrayaan-1 made global history when this under $ 100 million mission made the startling discovery of the presence of water molecules on the parched lunar surface. This renewed twenty first century `back to the moon’ effort in way was spurred by Chandrayaan-1 and now USA seeks to send astronauts back to the moon in the next few years.  

Chandrayaan-2 according to Sivan `is a three in one mission’ where there is an orbiter that will go around the moon, a lander named Vikram that will attempt a soft landing near the South Pole of the moon and small six wheeled moon rover called Pragyaan. Modi says `Chandrayaan-2 is Indian to the core. It is thoroughly Indian in heart & spirit. It is completely a `swadeshi’, home grown mission. This mission has proved beyond doubt, once again, that when it comes to attempting an endeavour in new age, cutting edge areas, with innovative zeal, our scientists are second to none. They are the best… they are world class.’ 

India has sent 13 indigenously made scientific instruments that will analyse the lunar surface, map the topography search for water and measure moonquakes among other things, this time also India is carrying a small instrument for the American space agency NASA on board the Vikram Lander. 

The Indian moon rover is powered by artificial intelligence and is expected do its long march on the moon surface for about half a kilometre in its nominal life of 14 days. ISRO hopes to soft land on the lunar surface on September 7, 2019, and if it succeeds India will become the fourth country after USA, Russia and China to have the capability to soft land on another planetary body. Sivan says `there will be 15 terrifying minutes when the Vikram lander goes in for its final landing manoeuvre ’. 

This is not all, by the end of this year India has another ten space missions lined up which includes the much awaited heart stopper the demonstration of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) or the `Baby PSLV’ a low cost rocket with a short turn-around time that can hoist 500 kilograms in space. 

India also has plans to send a planetary explorer to Venus, have another robotic mission to Mars in the next few years. The mother of all missions Gaganyaan is also well on its way where, by 2022 India hopes to send an Indian astronaut into space on an Indian rocket from Indian soil. 

India is no doubt betting big on space technology. Modi says `I fervently hope that the Chandrayaan-2 mission will inspire our youth towards science & innovation. After all, science is the path to progress.’ 

Pallava Bagla 

(Mr. Pallava Bagla follows India’s space program very closely and is author of the book `Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey for Mars and Beyond’ published by Bloomsbury. He can be reached at pallava.bagla@gmail.com or Twitter: @pallavabagla )

India is a vibrant democracy, dynamic economy with a great potential as it has a population of 1.3 billion people of whom more than 65% are below the age of 35 years.  It is a young country but an ancient civilization that has successfully withstood the vicissitudes of time.  While the country has embraced modern science and technology beliefs that come from its civilizational thought are ingrained in the people.

Human Way of LIfe

Indians call their culture “Manav Dharma” or “manavasanskriti” that is human way of life, which has been madeso comprehensive that all can derive something from it.  It has never tried to convert anybody but its inclusiveness, plurality, flexibility and the power of its ideas, have taken it beyond the shores of India.  

The vitality of Indian culture lies in its catholicity by which mutually contradictory creeds live peacefully together  The Ultimate Reality is Shunya(nothing) for the Nihilists, Brahman for the Vedantist, Purushafor Sankhyaphilosophers, Ishwara for the followers of Yoga, both  Self and Not-Self, something in between for the Madhyamikas, and  “All” for others.  All prayer is to the Ultimate Power that pervades the universe by whatever name called Anekantavedaarticulates the thought that people are bound to differ in their views and judgements about the same object.  Its corollary isSyadvada or restraint  in making judgements because these can only be partial and not absolute truths.

Integral to its multiplicity and diversity is  the readiness of Indian culture to interact with other cultures and to accept and accomodatetheir aspects into itself.  There has been  much give and take between Greeks and Indians.  India welcomed Christianity within the first  century of its birth.  In medieval times, it absorbed elements of Islamic culture.  And soon after contact with Europeans, it began to absorb the best in the modern scientific civilization of the West.

Concept of a Human Being

In Indian thought,a person is seen as the microcosm of the whole or macrocosm.  Therefore, an individual can only understand his relationship with the universe and other beings by studying and understanding his own self.  Human beings share natural traits with animals motivated by instincts, or pravrittis.  But unlike animals, they have Buddhi or intelligence to discriminate between proper and improper in the exercise of natural propensities, strengthen some and weaken others while delaying the satisfaction of some others.  

According to Indian thought, human consciousness has three main aspects: awareness or gyana; desires and emotions or ichcha; and action or kriya.  All three have to be perfected through yoga – yoga being nothing but the discipline of mind and its instincts to enable an individual to understand himself, his  environment and his relation with all beings around him.  Gyana yoga widens his consciousness; bhakti yoga controls his desires and emotions and karma yoga teaches him righteous and disinterested performance of his duties in action.  This is the triune path explained in the Gita.  Other kinds of yoga include Hatha Yoga for control and perfection of body; Kundalini Yoga, to awaken the dormant and potential powers beyond consciousness; and Raja-Yoga to experience of Samadhi through gradual concentration of the mind.

The yogasdo not depend only on sensory observation but refine and perfect the processes of introspection, intuition and Samadhi or mystic experience.  They makeone ralizethat  an individual is the centre of a circle whose circumference is nowhere i.e. it is  infinite.  Also, in his deeper nature, he is identical with the deepest spirit that sustains and  pervades the universe.    In his ultimate essence he is one with the essence of the world.  Hence the  Upanishadsboldly proclaimAyamAtman Brahman or this Self is the Absolute Reality; or AhamBrahmasmi or I am the Absolute, or Tat TvamAsi or That thou art.

Interconnectedness

All creation being rooted in the same Brahman,  is necessarily interconnected although apparently isolated on the surface.  That is why Isha Upanishad states that whosoever beholds all beings in the same Self and the same Self in all beings does not hate anybody.  When a man knows that all beings are ultimately the Self and realizes this unity in experience, then there remains no delusion or grief for him.

However,  such a realisation can only come, through an awareness of the various experiences that every individual passes through because of the structure of his being.  He has three shariras or bodies.  He is the  physical body or the annamayasharira through which he functions in his waking state.  The subtle body or the Sukshmasharira is constituted by the pranas or the vital energies, sensory and motor powers or gyananendriyas and karmendriyas and the subtle elements of mind, intelligence and ego.  Through this, an individual functions both in the waking and in the dream state.  Finally,  the causal body or the karanasharir which is the deep sleep state when all cognizance comes to an end but potentialities remain.  All of us pass through all the three states everyday in our lives giving a variety to our experiences.

Karma and Reincarnation

These experiences can be used to explain the idea of karma and reincarnation.  Just as we return from deep sleep to the waking stage so also after death we come back to the world.  This is the law of karma.  The belief is that all our voluntary thoughts and acts  are rewarded or punished according to the law of justice called Rtathat operates in the cosmic order.  The universe is not a haphazard mass of elements and events, but an ordered whole according to the inflexible laws of harmony, to which all is subordinate from the vast galaxies down to the nucleus of an atom..  Cosmic justice being part of cosmic order  creates a strict balance of action and reaction.  The personality of the doer never dies.  It comes back and can evolve learning its lessons or it can continue till it learns them.  There would be chaos and rule of injustice in the universe if a person were to cease to exist without undergoing the consequences of his deeds both good and bad.  This in essence is the law of karma and reincarnation.

Four Goals of Life

There are four purushastras or goals to guide the individual through life.  These are dharma or duty, artha or wealth, kama or desire including sexual desire, and moksha or ultimate liberation from all desire.  There are many interpretations  of these terms but in essence, any thought or action that supports, nurtures, consoles, and uplifts is dharmic or right conduct.  Hence, it is human duty to attain wealth and fulfil desires but in a way that is dharmic, that is itmust sustain and contribute to the good of all.  And moksha isnot  some sterile cessation of desire but a state of perfect equilibrium, indifference to both pain and delight;  like and dislike; without any prejudices or biases aware that everything is rooted in the self same Brahman.

Conclusion

The final resolution to all ambiguities and contradictions isthe reliance on one’s own Buddhi or reason or intelligence to determine the truth or falsity of a judgement.  The greatest prayer in the Vedas, the Gayatri Mantra, that asks for inspiration for right and proper dharma so that there is harmony and balance between the aspirations of the individual and that of society.

Dr. Kavita A. Sharma is the President of South Asian University, New Delhi.

The revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy was an “historic decision” that will benefit both the region and the rest of India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday in a national address.

In the speech, which came after India stripped Indian-controlled Kashmir of its autonomy on Monday and imposed a statewide communications blackout, Modi said he was confident that the Islamist insurgency there would soon be brought to an end and the Kashmiri economy would experience economic growth and even a boom in tourism.

He did not promise that prominent Kashmiri politicians would be released from detention, nor an end to the curfew that has left most Kashmiris confined to their homes since the early hours of Monday. However he said he hoped Kashmiris would be able to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid (which begins on Sunday) without disruption.

Modi said that economic development had been stalled by Article 370, the constitutional provision that guaranteed the state’s autonomy, and that infrastructure projects would now be completed more quickly. He listed government schemes and benefits that he said Article 370 held up. And he praised security forces, including the army, paramilitary and state police for “protect[ing] the people” of the valley.

As part of the changes imposed on Monday, the Modi government redrew the political map of Kashmir, splitting the largely autonomous state into two Union Territories, imposing direct rule from Delhi. Modi said in his speech on Thursday that while one of these new territories, Ladakh, would remain under Delhi’s control, he could foresee the more populous Jammu and Kashmir becoming a state again in the future.

On Monday, Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew Article 370 and Article 35A of the Indian constitution, which allowed the state of Jammu and Kashmir to make its own laws in most areas, barring defense, communications and foreign affairs, and prevented anybody except “state subjects” of Jammu and Kashmir from purchasing land.

Below is a full Text of Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi’s address to the Nation – 8th August, 2019

My fellow countrymen,

As a country and as a family, you and us, together we took a historic decision. A system which denied due rights to our brothers and sisters of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; a system which was huge hurdle in their development has now been eradicated.

A dream which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had, a dream which Babasaheb Ambedkar had, the dream shared by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and crores of citizens, has now been fulfilled. A new age has begun in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh.

Now the rights and accountabilities of all the citizens of the country are similar. I congratulate the people Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh and each and every citizen of the country.

Friends,

Sometimes some things of the social life get so entangled with time that they are considered to be permanent. A sentiment of complacency develops and it is thought that nothing is ever going to change. A similar sentiment prevailed for Article 370.

Because of this there was no debate or talk about the damage done to our brothers and sisters, our children in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Astonishingly, nobody was able to list the benefits that Article 370 delivered to the people of Jammu-Kashmir.

Brothers and sisters,

Article 370 and 35A has given nothing but secessionism, terrorism, nepotism and widespread corruption on a large scale to Jammu-Kashmir. Both these articles were used as a weapon by Pakistan to flare up the emotions of some people. Due to this more than 42,000 people lost their lives in the last three decades. The development in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh could not be done on levels which the region deserved. After the removal of this flaw in the system, the people of Jammu-Kashmir will not only have a better present but a bright future ahead.

Friends,

Whichever government is in power, it works for the betterment of the country by enacting laws in the Parliament. No matter which party or coalition is in power, this work never stops.

There is a lot of debate both inside and outside the Parliament when laws are enacted and made, a lot of debate and brainstorming occurs and serious arguments are put up over its importance and effect. The laws that are enacted after undergoing this process are beneficial for people of the nation. However, it’s unfathomable that so many laws are enacted in the Parliament and not enacted in a particular region of the country. Even previous governments who were hailed after enacting just one law couldn’t claim that the same law will be implemented in the Jammu & Kashmir region. More than 1.5 crore people of Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of the benefits of laws that were enacted for the benefit of the people of India. Imagine children in rest of the country have a right to education while children in Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of this right. The daughters of Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of the right that our daughters had in rest of the states. In all the other states, Safai Karamchari Act was enacted for hygiene workers but the workers of Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of this. In other states, strict laws were enacted to stop atrocities on Dalits but no such laws could be implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. To protect the rights of blue-collar workforce, Minimum Wages Act was enacted and implemented in all the other states while such a law is only found on papers in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In all other states, (our) brothers and sisters from Scheduled Tribes got reservation while contesting elections while such thing is unheard of in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Friends, I am fully confident that, following abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, Jammu and Kashmir would soon come out of its negative effects.

Friends and sisters,

In the new system, the priority of the central government would be to keep state government employees and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel at par with the state government employees and police personnel of other states in terms of facilities. 

In Union Territories, the government provides many such financial facilities like LTC, House Rend Allowance, Education Allowance for children, Health Schemes etc., most of which are not provided to the employees of Jammu and Kashmir government. Such facilities would soon be provided to the employees of Jammu and Kashmir government and state police personnel following a review.

Friends, very soon the process to fill in the vacancies of central and state government will be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. This would provide adequate employment opportunities to the local youth. Besides, public sector units of the central government and big private sector companies would also be encouraged to provide new employment opportunities. Apart from the above, Army and para military forces would organize rallies to recruit local youths. The government would also expand Prime Ministers Scholarship Scheme so that more and more students can get its benefit. Jammu and Kashmir also has huge revenue loss. The central government will ensure to minimize its impact. 

Brothers and sisters, after abrogation of Article 370, the central government has decided to keep the state of Jammu and Kashmir under its administration after putting in a lot of thought process in it. It is essential for you to understand the reasons behind the decision. Ever since the state has been under governor’s rule, the administration of Jammu and Kashmir is directly under the central government. As a result the good effect of Good Governance and Development have been observed on the ground. The schemes which earlier remained only in files, have been implemented on ground. Projects pending from decades have been speeded up.

We have tried to bring transparency and a new work culture in the Jammu and Kashmir administration. As a result, be it IIT, IIM, AIIMS, various irrigation projects or power projects or the Anti-Corruption Bureau, we have been able to fasten up the work on these projects. Besides, be it the projects of connectivity, roads or new rail lines, modernization of the airport, everything is being accelerated. 

Friends,

The democracy in our country is so secure, but you will be surprised to know that there have been thousands of brother and sisters living for decades in Jammu and Kashmir who had the right to cast their vote in Lok Sabha polls but they were not allowed to cast vote in assembly and local body elections.

They are the ones who had come to India following partition in 1947. Should we have allowed the injustice to continue in the same way?

Friends,

I would also like to clarify another important point to my brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir. Your representative (electoral) would be elected by you, he would be one amongst you. The MLAs would be elected just as they were elected earlier. The forthcoming cabinet would just be as it was used to be earlier. The chief ministers would just be as they were before.

Friends, I am fully confident that, under the new system, we would collectively be able to keep the state of Jammu and Kashmir free from terrorism and secessionism. When our Jammu and Kashmir- the paradise on earth, after achieving new heights of development, attract the whole world, and when there will be greater Ease of Living in the lives of citizens, when they would ceaselessly get their rights, when all the tools of governance would speed up the work in favor of the masses, then I don’t think there would be any need to continue with the system under the union government. Yes, it would continue in Ladakh though.

Brothers and sisters, we all want assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, that a new government is formed, that a new chief minister is elected. I assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that you would get the opportunity to select your representative in a fully honest and transparent atmosphere. Just as Panchayat polls were held transparently last days, assembly polls would also be held in Jammu and Kashmir.

I would urge the Governor of the state that the setting up of Block Development Council, which has been pending for past two-three decades, be constituted as early as possible.

Friends,

I have personally experienced that those who got elected in Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh four-five months back, have been working nicely. Few months back when I visited Srinagar, I had a long meeting with them. When they came to Delhi I interacted with them for long at my home. It is because of these friends in Panchayats that the work has been done promptly on village level in Jammu and Kashmir. Be it the task of electrification in every home or making the state Open Defecation Free, the representatives in Panchayats have played a crucial role.

I am fully confident that following abrogation of Article 370, once these Panchayat members get a chance to work in the new system, they would do wonders. I firmly believe that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would conquer secessionism and move forward with new hope. I firmly believe that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would achieve their objectives with renewed fervor in an ecosystem of Good Governance and Transparency.

Friends, Family rule has not given any opportunity of leadership to any young citizen of Jammu and Kashmir in the State. Now, my these young people will take leadership of the development of Jammu and Kashmir and take it to a new height.

I appeal to the youth, sisters and daughters of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to take over command of development of their area on their own hands.

Friends,

There is every possibility of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh becoming one of the greatest tourist destinations. The environment required for this, the need of change in administration, all is being taken care, but for this I need the support of all countrymen. There was a time when Kashmir was the favorite place for shooting bollywood films. During that time perhaps there was no film produced, had it not been shot in Kashmir. Now, situations in Jammu and Kashmir will normalize; not only from India, but people from all over the world will come for shooting there. Every Film will bring with it new opportunity of employment for the people of the Kashmir. I appeal to the Film Industry of Telugu and Tamil Film Industry and people associated with it to definitely think over for investment, shooting of film, theatre and setting up of other facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.

I appeal to those who are associated with technology, administration or private sector to give priority in their policies and their decisions as to how to disseminate technology in Jammu and Kashmir. When digital communication will be strengthened there and BPO Centre, Common Service Centre will increase in numbers there, there will be enhanced opportunity of earning livelihood, and the life of our brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir will become easier.

Friends,

The decision taken by the Govt. will benefit those youth of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakhwho aspire to progress in the field of sports. New sport academies, new sports stadium, training in scientific environment will help them to show their talent in the world.

Friends, whether is it colour of kesar or flavour of kahwa or sweetness of apple or juiciness of apricot or Kashmiri shawl or the art work or be it organic products of Ladakh or herbal medicines of Jammu and Kashmir, all these need to be publicised in the entire world. I give you one example, there is a plant in Ladakh, named solo. Experts say that this plant is like a sanjivini for people living in high altitude and for security forces deployed in heavy icy mountains.

These plants have great role in maintaining the immune system of body in places with  low levels of oxygen. Just think over, should not these extraordinary items be sold in the whole world? Which Indian do not want this. And friends, I named only one plant. There are ample plants, herbal products spread over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Those will be identified. If they are sold, it will benefit people and the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Therefore, I appeal to the people associated in Industry, Export, Food Processing Sector to come forward to ensure that local products of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reach whole of the world.

Friends, After becoming a Union territory, development of the people of Ladakh becomes natural responsibility of the Govt. of India. Central Government with the cooperation of local representatives, Development Council of Ladakh and Kargil, will ensure benefits of all development schemes reaches to people at a faster pace. Ladakh has the potential to become the biggest center of spiritual tourism, adventure tourism and eco-tourism. Ladakh also has the potential to become a big centre of Solar Power generation.  Now, the capability of people of Ladakh will be utilized appropriately and new opportunities of development will come up. Now the innovative spirit of youth of Ladakh will get a boost, they will get good institutes for good education, people will get good hospitals, and infrastructure will be modernized with priority.

Friends,

It is possible, in a democracy that some people will agree to this decision and some will oppose it. I respect their disagreement and their objections. Whatever is being argued in this connection, Central Govt. is responding to that and it is trying to resolve the same.  It is our democratic responsibility. But I urge them to keep the national interest as paramount and help the government in giving a new direction to Jammu – Kashmir-Ladakh, and help the country. Moving ahead from, who voted in Parliament, who didn’t, who supported the bill, who didn’t, now we all to have come together to work unitedly in the interest of Jammu – Kashmir-Ladakh. I also want to convey to our countrymen that the concerns of Jammu – Kashmir and Laddakh are our collective concerns. These are the concerns of 130 crore citizens. We are not indifferent to their happiness or sorrows and sufferings.

The riddance from Article 370 is a reality.  But it is also true that whatever odds are being caused now because of these historic steps are being fought by them only. Our brothers and sisters of that region are patiently replying to those handful of people, who want to vitiate the atmosphere there. We should not forget that it is the patriots of Jammu – Kashmir who are strongly opposing the nefarious designs of Pakistan in perpetuating terrorism and separatism. Our brothers and sisters, who believe in Indian Constitution, deserve a better life. We all are proud of them. Today I assure these friends of Jammu – Kashmir that the situation will gradually return to normal and all their troubles too will reduce.

Friends, the festival of Eid is around the corner. I extend my greetings to all on Eid. The government is taking care that people of Jammu – Kashmir don’t face any problem while celebrating Eid. The government is extending all possible help to those friends who live outside Jammu – Kashmir and want to return back to their homes on Eid.

Friends, today on this occasion, I also express my gratitude to our friends in security forces, who are posted for the security of the people of Jammu – Kashmir. The way all administrative officials, state employees and Jammu – Kashmir police personnel are handling the situation there is really commendable. Your diligence has boosted my confidence that change can happen.

Brothers and sisters, Jammu – Kashmir is the crown of our country. We are proud that many brave sons and daughters of Jammu – Kashmir have sacrificed and risked their lives for its security. Maulvi Ghulam Din of Punch district, who had informed Indian Army about Pakistani intruders during 1965 war. He was conferred Ashok Chakra. Col. Sonam Wangchug of Laddakh district, who forced enemies to bite dust during Kargil war, was honoured with Mahavir Chakra. Kirti Chakra was conferred to Rukshana Kausar of Rajauri, who had killed a big terrorist. Martyr Aurangjeb of Punch, who was assassinated by terrorists last year and his two brothers are now serving the country after joining the Army. The list of such brave sons and daughters is very long. Several jawans and officials of Jammu – Kashmir Police have also laid their lives while fighting with terrorists.  We have lost thousands of people from other parts of the country as well. They all dreamt of a peaceful, safe and prosperous Jammu – Kashmir. We, together, have to realize their dream.

Friends! this decision will help in economic development of Jammu  – Kashmir and Laddakh along with the entire country. When peace and prosperity prevails in this important part of the globe, the efforts for peace in entire world will be naturally strengthened. 

I call upon my brothers and sisters of Jammu – Kashmir and Ladakh to come together to show the world how much strength, courage and passion we have.

Let us come together to build a new India, as well as a new Jammu – Kashmir and Laddakh.

Thank you very much!

Jai Hind!!!

The recent ‘abandoning’ of Pulwama master-mind Massod Azhar by China is being seen as a symptom of the friction emerging between Pakistan and China. However, this seems more like an effect of the differences that has already cropped up between the two countries.

The quantum of the chasm could be gauged from the fact that repeated requests from Pakistan to at least delay the ‘sanction’ for a week was not accepted by China. The May 1st sanction came immediately after the recent visit of Imran Khan to Beijing to attend 2nd Belt and Road Forum.

The Pakistani leadership was keen to avoid the perception that Imran Khan was forced to accept the condition during his visit to Beijing. However, Beijing intended to send a clear message of its unhappiness. As if to drive the point home, Imran Khan was welcomed by a Vice-Mayor rank official, probably the lowest rank welcome for any Pakistani head of government visiting China.

Pakistan had lodged its protests against China by not participating in the PLA Navy celebrations of 70 years, another first in the bilateral relations.

The frictions that started with Imran Khan ascending to power on anti-CPEC agenda have not reconciled. Imran Khan demanded a revaluation of CPEC, knowing well that China would have to concede amidst all the push-backs it’s getting on OBOR projects – from Malaysia, Philippines, to African and Latin American countries. Immediately after coming to power, he scraped Bhasa Dam and three other major power projects. China was again given a fait accompli when Imran Khan diverted about USD 175 million funds from CPEC to other projects, essentially to serve his constituency. China had to give a nod eventually to keep the facade.

However, these were still minor irritants and China could explain them away as ‘domestic political compulsions’. However, by bringing Saudi Arabia (which is considered a ‘backdoor’ for the US) into Gwadar without consulting China, Pakistan probably had given the biggest snub to its ocean-deep friend. This time Chinese had to send a message, and Masood Azhar was probably a good one. It reminded Pakistan of its vulnerability at international level. While China itself may not have many friends, Pakistan has none other than China.

China and Differences within Pak Army

It is for the first time that within Pakistan Army there has been a polarization between pro-US and pro-China camps. It is no secret that even during the worst of times for the US – Pakistan relations, Pentagon had maintained deeper interactions with Pak military. Military as an institution has its own robust culture, and given the fact that Pak military has roots in British military culture, it feels itself more aligned towards the Western/US military system than a communist modelled military of China. Professionally, the Pak military also feels itself superior to the Chinese PLA, which has not fought a war in many decades now.

However, the CPEC brought with itself economic incentives of unprecedented scale that were hard for the Pak Army to ignore. This created a new ‘loyal to China’ segment within the military, which was at cross-purposes with the pro-US lobby within. The differences have started to play out in the open now. What would have been unthinkable only a few years ago is becoming the new normal. Traditionally, Pak Army and its personnel have remained untouchables, irrespective of their misadventures. Not anymore. Due to the push and pull factors, one lobby is trying to control the direction at the cost of others, and for the first time the Generals are put under house arrests; while gag-orders have been issued against many retired generals who do not subscribe to the prevailing view of the dominant factor.

The premise of the problem seems to be the assumption on both the countries’ part that ‘the other side needs them more’; and in the process they are trying to extract maximum benefits from each other. As it is, China – Pak relations are probably one of the rare bilateral relations in history which has been surviving without having any foundation in shared values, cultures, and history. The relationship therefore has come to look more and more transactional. A relation with several fault-lines like the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China, the cases of alluring Pakistani brides to China, and the security concerns for CPEC projects; is hard to sustain if there are no super-ordinate goals. Hence the differences keep searching for vents here and there.

That the relation has deeper issues than seen on the surface is also confirmed by the opacity being maintained by both the sides, as if both of them have to hide something. Other than the jargons that have become clichés, there has been no transparency about the content, extent, and nature of the relationship. This becomes much clearer when one contrasts this with similar other bilateral relations.

While the bilateral equations are strained because of the structural problems, an added component is the increasing economic vulnerability of both the countries at the same time. Pakistan’s financial problems are already in the open and are trying to get IMF bailout. However, the US would not let it get the lifebuoy without coming transparent on CPEC finances which are obviously going into to be discomforting for China. At the same time, China itself is facing headwinds on not only OBOR but also about its economy in general. With the trade frictions with the US intensifying, China would have less and less space to keep obliging its difficult junior friend. As the thing looks now, the year 2019 might in the year when the ‘iron-bond’ might start unravelling.

The Pakistan based researchers describe themselves as independent researchers have accused Pakistan again of human rights violations in Kashmir and has called for the formation of a commission of inquiry into the allegations. The India and Pakistan came close to a third war earlier this year following the killing of over 40 Indian soldiers in a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based rebel group.

“Update of the Situation of Human Rights in Indian-Administered Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir from May 2018 to April 2019”. (UN report 08.07.19)

The report also examined the human rights situation in Pakistan Administered Kashmir and found that human rights violations there were more structural in nature; these included restrictions on the freedom of expression and freedom of association, institutional discrimination of minority groups and misuse of anti-terror laws to target political opponents and activists.

As noted in the 2018 report, the quantity and quality of information available on Indian-Administered Kashmir contrasts significantly to Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. Despite significant challenges, NGOs, human rights defenders and journalists are able to operate in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, generating documentation on the ongoing human rights violations there. Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, opinion, peaceful assembly and association in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have limited the ability of observers, including OHCHR, to assess the human rights situation there.

Since the late 1980s, a variety of Pak based armed groups has been actively operating in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, and there has been documented evidence of these groups committing a wide range of human rights abuses, including kidnappings, killings of civilians and sexual violence. Iin recent years four major armed groups are believed to be operational in this region: Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harakat Ul-Mujahidin. All four are believed to be based in Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

The 14 February 2019 suicide bombing on Indian security forces in Pulwama was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told an international news organization that Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Mohammad Masood Azhar is present in Pakistan. However, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Army denied that Jaish-e-Mohammed “exists formally” in Pakistan.

This report also refers to FATF, adding that Pakistan “does not demonstrate a proper understanding of the TF [terror financing] risks posed by Da’esh, AQ [Al Qaeda], JuD [Jamaat ud Dawa], FiF [Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation], LeT [Lashkar e Tayyiba], JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammed], HQN [Haqqani Network], and persons affiliated with the Taliban.” It urged Pakistan to address its “strategic deficiencies” and complete its action plan.

Pakistan-based armed groups that operate mostly in Indian-Administered Kashmir have also been accused of harassing and threatening nationalist and pro-independence political workers in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.

Pakistan maintained that the constitutional and legal structures of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan adequately protect the rights of its citizens. However, OHCHR’s monitoring and analysis found that these concerns remain. Both regions introduced constitutional changes, but failed to address the main elements that restrict the full enjoyment of all human rights for people living in these regions.

OHCHR highlighted that the Interim Constitution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir places several restrictions on anyone criticizing the region’s accession to Pakistan, in contravention of Pakistan’s commitments to uphold the rights to freedoms of expression and opinion, assembly and association.

Authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan also failed to amend similar provisions in the region’s governance rules that restrict the rights to freedoms of expression and opinion, assembly and association. The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and the updated Gilgit-Baltistan Governance Reforms 2019 retain the same language limiting freedom of association from the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009.

Journalists in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir continue to face threats and harassment in the course of carrying out their professional duties. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an anti-terrorism court in Gilgit-Baltistan sentenced journalist Shabbir Siham in absentia to 22 years in prison and fined him 500,000 Pakistani Rupees (USD 4,300) on charges of defamation, criminal intimidation, committing acts of terrorism, and absconding from court proceedings. On 21 November 2018, Gilgit-Baltistan authorities arrested journalist Muhammad Qasim Qasimi after he engaged in a verbal argument with a local police official. According to the International Crisis Group (ICG), Pakistani intelligence officials have also warned journalists in Gilgit-Baltistan against criticising the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are resentful because they feel CPEC projects were “designed and implemented without their input” and “will be of little benefit to them”. ICG concludes, “the state’s response to local dissent and alienation has been an overbearing security presence, marked by army checkpoints, intimidation and harassment of local residents, and crackdowns on anti-CPEC protest”.

A key concern in both Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan is that the local communities do not control natural resources of the territories as these are controlled by Pakistani federal agencies.

OHCHR has received credible information of enforced disappearances of people from Pakistan-Administered Kashmir including those who were held in secret detention and those whose fate and whereabouts continue to remain unknown.

The former Norwegian Prime Minister’s visit to Kashmir Valley and his meetings with leaders of Hurriyat has triggered controversy. India considers Kashmir a bilateral issue and for more than five years, the government has not allowed any foreign envoy to meet any separatist leader.