18th November 2024
` Nobody interested…` An Indian-American Businessman Discusses Khalistani Extremism

` Nobody interested…` An Indian-American Businessman Discusses Khalistani Extremism

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A prominent Indian-American businessman in New York, Sant Singh Chatwal said that more than 99 per cent of the Sikhs love India, and there is a very small number who support Khalistan, adding that those extremist elements who are talking about the issue have never ever been to Punjab.

Speaking to ANI, Chatwal said, “There’s hardly anybody who’s supporting Khalistan…There’s some sort of big miscommunication going on…We all Sikhs, everybody, more than 99 per cent, we love India. India is our country…Nobody’s interested in Khalistan.”

“I am very clear that there are very, very less people over here (supporting Khalistan). I don’t know who’s funding them, they have never been to Punjab. I am proud to be a Sikh. I am in this country for more than 50 years,” he added.

He also praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the Sikhs are proud of what he has done for the community.

“India under the leadership of PM Modi has done a great job. He opened the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikhs. He has done a lot for the Sikhs,” said Chatwal.

“Even with PM Modi being there, we are very proud of what he has done for Sikhs. I am openly saying, there is hardly anybody who’s supporting Khalistan,” he added.
He further said that more than 99 per cent of the Sikh community love India and consider it as their country, adding that those who talk about Khalistan, have never been to Punjab.

“I am afraid to say the people who are talking about Khalistan, have never been to Punjab. I don’t know what they are thinking about it, they are very less. Whether they are in Canada, or in America, there is no one to support them,” he said.

Speaking on India-Canada diplomatic row over killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Chatwal said, “This has become a political tension between the two countries and there’s some sort of big miscommunication going on.”

Early last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive statement accusing the Indian government of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’.
Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has suspended its visa services in Canada, following Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations of Indian involvement in the killing.

Amid strained ties, India issued an advisory for its citizens and those who are travelling to Canada to exercise “utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in the country.
Chatwal emphasised that people from the Sikh community are in prominent position in India, and have served at many prestigious positions.

“Sikhs are in very prominent positions in India. We have a Sikh as one of the ministers, Hardeep Singh Puri. Sikh ambassador Sandhu sahab (Indian envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu) is in Washington, DC,” the businessman said.

He added, “We, as a Sikh community in North America, are enjoying such a good facility. We love India, we visit India. In India, Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, and Giani Zail Singh was the President for five years. We have the Army chief, Air Force chief, Navy chief…in very prominent positions”.

US: Indian-American Democrat in Texas faces ‘racist, Hinduphobic’ messages on social media

US: Indian-American Democrat in Texas faces ‘racist, Hinduphobic’ messages on social media

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A 29-year-old Indian-American Democrat leader, Taral Patel, who is running for the post of Fort Bend County Commissioner in Texas, said that he has received racist and hate-filled messages on social media.

In a press release last week, Patelm shared a picture of some of the messages he has received on social media, where people asked him to leave America and “go to Bombay”, accused him of trying to take away people’s freedom and guns and questioned whether he was even born in the country. Some people even commented in support of Andy Meyers, the current commissioner, because he is Christian while Patel and his followers “worship animals”.

“As your Democratic candidate for County Commissioner, I am always open to criticism of my policy positions and stances on issues. However, when my Republican opponent’s supporters decide to hurl racist, anti-immigrant, Hinduphobic, or otherwise disgusting insults at my family, faith community, colleagues, and me – that crosses a line,” Patel said.

He also took a dig at former US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party instilling fear among people that immigrants will “take away their jobs” and claimed that they end up hurting “our communities”.
“Whether it was tackling the COVID crisis head on by initiating our vaccine clinics in every corner of Fort Bend, setting up warming centers during the Winter Storm, coordinating emergency responses during floods, or more, I have taken my responsibilities extremely seriously,” he further said.

Patel was born in the US and went to local schools. He previously served as the chief of staff for Fort Bend County. He says that his campaign for the post of commissioner is focused on hard work and respect for all communities.

He was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the White House Liaison for matters related to housing, urban development and resilience. He oversaw the construction of two flagship Amazon centres, establishment of affordable housing developments and campaigns against anti-human trafficking and anti-animal cruelty tax forces.

Indian-American DJ KSHMR collaborates with Raftaar on Legacy

Indian-American DJ KSHMR collaborates with Raftaar on Legacy

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As hip-hop turns 50 , Indian-American DJ-producer KSHMR and rapper-producer Raftaar have joined forces for their debut collaboration titled ‘Legacy’, the third track from KSHMR’s much-awaited Indian hip-hop album ‘Karam’.

Raftaar showcases his lyrical prowess as he raps about the importance of legacy and how a person should masterfully build towards his legacy for empowerment of future generations.

KSHMR stated: ‘Raftaar was at the top of the list of rappers in the Indian scene I wanted to work with. We went back and forth over virtual meetings, where I told him about the concept of my forthcoming album KARAM’s storyline and how each track on it tells a different piece of that story. We landed on our song being the last track of the album, a reflection on the main character’s death, which I knew Dilin could perfectly execute with his lyrical intensity.

‘I was blown away to find he’s a great producer as well. As the beat took shape, he offered lots of input as to its production and even added his own elements in Ableton. We recorded the final vocals in a Mumbai studio together and it was an honor to witness his iconic voice firsthand.’
Raftaar shared that the word legacy holds a potent value in our hip hop culture.

‘I am glad to have worked on this track with KSHMR. Whilst creating this track, I was constantly thinking about how do I want to be eventually remembered in time to come and what is the kind of heritage I want left behind to motivate a hundred other artists.
‘Legacy these days is such an overlooked concept and this track is a reminder to everyone that if you hustle hard, you don’t do it for the fame and money only, you do it to build something much bigger than yourself, something for the community.’

Indian-American curator sues Worcester Art Museum for discrimination

Indian-American curator sues Worcester Art Museum for discrimination

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An Indian-American curator, who worked with the Worcester Art Museum, is suing the establishment for “mocking” her brown skin tone and subjecting her to “hostile” work environment.

Rachel Parikh filed a 64-page lawsuit in Worcester County Superior Court last month, alleging that she was “mocked and ridiculed because she is a brown-skinned South Asian” Indian woman and “subjected to a hostile and offensive work environment”.

Parikh resigned from her job as associate curator of the arts of Asia and the Islamic world with the museum last fall, radio service WBUR reported.

In the civil lawsuit, Parikh detailed a slew of allegations against Director Matthias Waschek, as well as Parikh’s supervisor, Claire Whitner.

The complaint said Parikh endured “racism and unwelcome and offensive behaviour” on multiple occasions, including while she worked inside the museum and attended social gatherings at Waschek’s invitation, and as she sought to report the alleged incidents.

The complaint further said that Whitner, at Waschek’s request, allegedly also told Parikh about a year after she was hired to “look the part” of a curator, suggesting she “zhush up” her look and “wear makeup, perhaps little earrings, a necklace, a ruffled blouse” to work.

“WAM’s (Worcester Art Museum) employee handbook does not require curators to do any of the things that Ms Whitner stated she and Mr Waschek felt Dr Parikh must do,” the complaint read.

Parikh said comments were also made over brunch with Waschek and his husband in November 2021 and at a dinner at the pair’s home in March of 2022.

She said both men asked intrusive questions about her cultural heritage, referencing a ‘90s British television show that featured an Indian family.

More than once, Parikh alleges, the two white men imitated an Indian accent while discussing the show, WBUR reported.

A public relations firm shared a statement from Waschek in which he called the accounts of his and his husband’s actions in the complaint “patently false” and “staggering”.

An outside consultancy firm hired to probe Parikh’s claims of harassment and retaliation said in its final report in July 2022 that it could not substantiate Parikh’s claims with other colleagues, but found her statements “credible”.

“I believe the museum did its due diligence in investigating Dr Parikh’s claims. She did not bring any of these allegations to me until the day she resigned,” WBUR quoted Whitner as saying.

She called her work experiences mentally exhausting and said the stress took a physical toll.

“I buried myself in my work, because I really enjoy being a curator… But the day-to-day was incredibly difficult, because I was constantly on edge. I was just waiting for a comment to be made or something to happen,” Parikh said.

Parikh quit shortly after the investigation, saying in her notice that the museum failed to uphold its own policies, according to the complaint.

“It took me back to a place where I was, you know, a kid and being bullied for being brown, basically,” she told WBUR.

The complaint describes Parikh as “an expert in South Asian and Islamic art with a focus on works on paper as well as arms and armor”. Her parents emigrated to the US from India in 1979, and she was born and raised in Chicago.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu represents India at annual India Day Parade; meets with New York City Mayor Eric Adams

Samantha Ruth Prabhu represents India at annual India Day Parade; meets with New York City Mayor Eric Adams

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu is the most popular actress in India and she is making us proud by representing the country at the 41st Annual India Day Parade which is held in New York. The India Day Parade is being organized by a leading diaspora organization, the Federation of India Association in New York. Moreover, the actress has previously expressed her feelings about New York being very special to her which plays a very significant role in her career.

In recent pictures that surfaced on an Instagram handle, Samantha can be seen with the mayor of New York City Mayor Eric Adam as the powerhouse actor meets with the head of New York City with extreme warmth and grace. As they both look absolutely stunning, they were seen sharing smiles and making heart gestures that indeed say a lot about the great bond between the two nations.

It’s a matter of tremendous honor to see the actress who yet again has topped the list as ‘Ormax’s Most Popular Indian Actress’, this month as well, after continuing the achievement spree for almost two years now. She is undoubtedly the biggest name in actress across India. No one but Samantha is a better fit to represent India at an International forum to celebrate India’s Independence Day.

On the work front, Samantha has 2 big releases scheduled ahead with Kushi and Citadel.