Two US lawmakers to boycott Modi’s speech at joint session of US Congress
Washington: Two Congresswomen from the Democratic Party, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, took to Twitter to announce their decision to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s joint congressional address on Thursday. Both of them cited gross human right violations, including repression of religious minorities under the Modi government.
Rashida Tlaib mentioned that giving Modi a space at US’s capital is very shameful. She shared that Modi’s long history of human rights abuses, anti-democratic actions, targeting Muslims and religious minorities, and censoring journalists is unacceptable.
Ilhan Omar, the first African refugee to become a member of Congress, stated that the Modi government has emboldened violent Hindu nationalist groups and targeted journalists and human right rights advocates. Furthermore, she will hold a briefing with human rights group to discuss Modi’s record of repression and violence.
Reacting to this, Atif Rasheed, former vice chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, stated that a wrong picture of India is being depicted under Ilhan’s hate agenda. He said that he belongs from a religious minority in India and lives freely with religious freedom and identity in “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India”.
Meanwhile, 75 Democratic senators and members of the House of Representatives have signed and sent a letter to the White House on Tuesday urging President Joe Biden to raise issues such as growing religious intolerance, press freedom, restrictions on internet access, targeting civil groups and other human right violations in India with Modi.
Prime Minister Modi’s government has repressed religious minorities, emboldened violent Hindu nationalist groups, and targeted journalists/human rights advocates with impunity.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 20, 2023
I will NOT be attending Modi’s speech.
It’s shameful that Modi has been given a platform at our nation’s capital—his long history of human rights abuses, anti-democratic actions, targeting Muslims & religious minorities, and censoring journalists is unacceptable.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) June 20, 2023
I will be boycotting Modi’s joint address to Congress.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
