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Secular Connexion Séculière on the Special Humanitarian Assistance Program for Afghan Nationals

Scott Douglas Jacobsen
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Secular Connexion Séculière on the Special Humanitarian Assistance Program for Afghan Nationals

Doug Thomas is the President of Secular Connexion Séculière. Here we talk about the Special Humanitarian Assistance Program for Afghan Nationals in Canada.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What were the first realizations of the need to change the Special Humanitarian Assistance Program for Afghan Nationals?

Doug Thomas: SCS was working on getting clarification of Canada’s Less Complex Claims refugee policy that favours religious refugee applicants over atheists, apostates and other non-believers when Afghanistan was overrun by the Taliban. This puts many freethinking Afghans at risk and needing to apply for refugee status from countries like Canada. We were already working with the members of the coalition on e-petition #3638, realized that Canada’s Special Humanitarian Assistance Program for Afghan Nationals carried on with the bias toward religious refugee applicants. By the way, petition e-3638 as read in the House of Commons on February 8th so Minister Fraser has until March 25th to respond to it.

Jacobsen: What is the status of atheists and apostates in current Afghanistan?

Thomas: Under the Afghan constitution that Canada defended during the 11 years we had troops fighting the Taliban, the only legal religion is Islam. Even under the former regime, Christians, Jews, and non-believers were tolerated, but only because the regime wanted to maintain good aid relations with other countries. Atheists and apostates are now in grave danger since the Taliban does not seem to care about any relationships with other countries and is committed to absolute Sharia law including killing infidels (atheists) and apostates. Of course, this makes it difficult for atheists and apostates to even leave the country because the Taliban would rather execute them. In any case, they have to travel to Pakistan, a country that doesn’t look kindly on them either, but is at least aware that ticking off the West is not good for trade. This makes it even more important that Canada’s Special Humanitarian Program for Afghan nationals include atheists and apostates.

Jacobsen: As Canada’s policy “fails to meet Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines the observance and promotion of ‘freedom of religion or belief’,” what is the simplest change the federal government can do to meet the requirements of international human rights here?

Thomas: As we have requested, Canada’s policy must be changed to include atheists and apostates in the Special Humanitarian Program for Afghan Nationals. Otherwise, Canada’s immigration and refugee policies do not meet the spirit of our own Charter of Rights and Freedoms that guarantees the right to freedom from religion in addition to not meeting UN standards. This is a policy change and can be made at the ministerial level without changing legislation. Then it must be sent out to Canada’s immigration officers and proxy immigration officers (foreign officers that represent Canada where we do not have embassies or consulates) so they understand that the change has been made.

Jacobsen: How can individuals keep informed and updated on this and other policies at Secular Connexion Séculière?

Thomas: We try to keep information updated on our website www.secularconnexion.ca under the Federal Campaign menu item. Recently, we have start posting a notification bulletin called Now! Maintenant! on the website that gives people direct access to what is going on now. People who subscribe to SCS also get a monthly bulletin (restarting this month) to keep them informed.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Doug.

Thomas: Thanks for the opportunity to update our progress with the federal government and with our Canadian and international allies.

Photo by Benoit Debaix on Unsplash

Panjgur & Nushki: How 16 Baloch fidayeens crushed the ‘mighty’ Pak Army

Vivek Sinha
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Panjgur & Nushki: How 16 Baloch fidayeens crushed the ‘mighty’ Pak Army

Three Days. Seventy Two Hours.
Yes that’s the time Pakistan Army took to wrest back its own military bases in Balochistan from sixteen Baloch revolutionaries. In their battle against Pakistani regime, these sixteen Baloch freedom fighters did not choose a soft target, rather they attacked military bases swarming with elite SSG Commandos and combatants with automatic weapons.

On paper the Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) plan to attack and then hold on to the Frontier Corps (FC) bases in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan (POB) would have appeared too ambitious. The odds were stacked heavily against BLA fidayeens. The perception, however, changed on February 2 when news came in that BLA had easily captured FC military bases in Panjgur and Nushki. What followed over the next three days was an unending saga of bravery and raw courage of theBaloch revolutionaries that relegated Pakistan Army as loud-mouthed paper tigers.

ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) with its theatrics and Pakistan Army with sophisticated weapons, gunship helicopters, combat drones, SSG Commandos, tanks and fighter jets appeared clueless against a handful highly motivated Baloch patriots.

How else can one describe and explain the incompetence of Pakistanis who were grappling in the dark for three days to wrest back their own military base. The famed Pakistani SSG Commandos were so naïve that oftentimes they were firing on Pakistani soldiers held hostage by BLA Majeed Brigade.

It ended on February 5 with the martyrdom of all sixteen Baloch revolutionaries and over 195 Pakistani soldiers killed. Of these, around 90 Pakistani soldiers that included 55 Frontier Corps personnel, 18 SSG Commandos and 7 Elite Commandos were killed in the Battle of Nushki. Around 105 Pakistani soldiers were neutralized in the Battle of Panjgur, which includes 85 Frontier Corps personnel and 20 SSG Commandos. During the battle, Pakistani military drones and combat helicopters were also shot down.

The sixteen Baloch bravehearts who captured Pakistan Army's military bases in Panjgur and Nushki on Feb 2, 2022. Pakistan Army's SSG Commandos, gunship helicopters and heavily armed combat units took 3 days to wrest back their military bases from these sixteen BLA Fidayeens. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)
The sixteen Baloch bravehearts who captured Pakistan Army’s military bases in Panjgur and Nushki on Feb 2, 2022. Pakistan Army’s SSG Commandos, gunship helicopters and heavily armed combat units took 3 days to wrest back their military bases from these sixteen BLA Fidayeens. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)

Statistics apart, it’s the psychological victory that has provided a fresh impetus to Balochistan’s freedom struggle. The much-hyped SSG Commandos, Elite Commandos and the Frontier Corps combatants of Pakistan Army were scurrying for cover when challenged by the BLA fidayeens.

BLA released audio clips of their fidayeens making fun of the cowardice of SSG Commandos who, despite being armed to the teeth, fled away from the battle scene leaving their injured buddies at the mercy of Baloch revolutionaries. On the other hand BLA fidayeens sounded relaxed and at ease fighting the entire battalion of Pakistan Army.

BLA Majeed Brigade commando briefing the ground situation from Panjgur military base camp. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)
BLA Majeed Brigade commando briefing the ground situation from Panjgur military base camp. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)

The frontline combatants of Pakistan Army understand that they are used only as cannon fodder and sent to die in ignominy by the Rawalpindi generals. On the contrary, those sixteen BLA fidayeens knew that their martyrdom will be celebrated by entire Baloch population and songs of their sacrifices will be sung by generations to come. It’s this high moral ground that transformed into raw courage and led those sixteen Baloch to successfully challenge the entire Pakistan Army for seventy two hours.

These self-sacrificing Baloch fidayeens were not some indoctrinated Islamist radicals who had been led into a suicidal attack with bogus promise of 72 virgins and never ending luxuries of after-life in paradise. The Majeed Brigade fidayeens of BLA were Baloch patriots who undertook a well calibrated mission to draw world’s attention about Balochistan’s ongoing freedom struggle and Pakistan’s barbarism on unarmed hapless Baloch civilians.

Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson of BLA explained that the main objective of this high-intensity operation was to show the military capabilities of Baloch resistance movement to Pakistan and to the entire world.

“Baloch Liberation Army values human lives and we do not find happiness in ending any life. If Pakistan, instead of bloodshed and carnage, opts for peace then we in the presence of an international guarantor invite Pakistan to the negotiation table. We are ready for negotiations on agendas of secure withdrawal of Pakistani forces from Balochistan and complete independence of our motherland. However, If Pakistani military is hell-bent on violence then we warn it with clear words that our next attacks will be much harsher and we will go to any extent for defending our homeland. We have the full capability of taking this war to any part of Pakistan,” explained Jeeyand Baloch in clear terms.

The moot question is does the world know about genocide, cold blooded murders and rapes across Balochistan? Does the haloed United Nations even bother to pull up the Pakistani regime about its war crimes in occupied Balochistan? Have we heard any of the 5-star human rights organizations/activists make any effort to travel to Balochistan and report about Pakistani regime’s war crimes? The answer is a big NO.

In 2021, Pakistan Army launched 600 military operations against unarmed Baloch civilians and abducted over 650. More than 300 dead bodies of Baloch, killed in cold blood, were recovered from various parts of Balochistan. Over one thousand Baloch homes were set ablaze while another 1900 Baloch homes were looted by this “brave” Pakistan Army. And these figures are merely for the last year.

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has data of around 72,000 Baloch, who were abducted and ‘enforced disappeared’ during the last two decades. Thousands of Baloch continue to be ‘killed and dumped’ by the Pakistani forces. Yet the civilized world continues to sleep. The information about Balochistan has been relegated to ISI/ ISPR handouts, which effectively means deliberate spread of misinformation and disinformation.

A civilization, howsoever peace loving it may be, is forced to rebel and pick up arms when all it sees is naked violence with no one caring for its wails and travails. BLA’s February 2 attacks on Pakistan Army’s military camps at Panjgur and Nushki must be read in this backdrop.

Pent-up anger against ongoing Pakistani atrocities on Baloch people was the most lethal weapon present in the arsenal of each of these sixteen BLA fidayeens. It was this fury that led BLA to carry out the biggest attack against Pakistani regime in Balochistan’s seven decades of freedom struggle.

In response, Pakistan Army launched, yet again, an information blackout across occupied Balochistan issuing strict diktats to local media against reporting on Panjgur and Nushki attacks. A pliant Pakistani media relayed only the ISPR’s version of BLA attack.

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa should know. Mainstream media organisations are no longer the sole source of information. Narrative is set by new age mediums, which includes social media and digital media platforms. And so the truth about Battle of Panjgur and Battle of Nushki slowly trickled down.

Paeans will be sung in honour of the gallant sixteen Baloch revolutionaries. History will remember Pakistan Army for their barbarism on unarmed civilians and their cowardice when faced with a handful of well-armed Baloch revolutionaries in the Battle of Panjgur & Nushki.

BLA Majeed Brigade kills 195 Pak Army soldiers in Panjgur & Nushki

News Intervention Bureau
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BLA Majeed Brigade kills 195 Pak Army soldiers in Panjgur & Nushki

Sixteen Majeed Brigade Fidayeens (self-sacrificing unit) of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) eliminated around two hundred Pakistani soldiers in twin attacks at Panjgur and Nushki military bases. The BLA, in its statement, said that the sixteen Baloch freedom fighters (fidayeens) who participated in ‘Operation Ganjal’ battled bravely against the SSG commandos, gunship helicopters, military drones and heavily armed Pakistan Army soldiers for around 72 hours (3 days). The Pakistan Army could secure its Frontier Corps (FC) military bases at Panjgur and Nushki from sixteen Baloch Fidayeen sarmachaars only after heavy losses, both the lives of its soldiers and a big loss of face.

“More than 90 enemy personnel (Pakistani soldiers), including approximately 55 personnel of Frontier Corps, 18 SSG Commandos and 7 Elite Commandos were killed in Noshki, whereas at least 105 enemy personnel (Pakistani soldiers) were neutralized in Panjgur. This includes 85 personnel of Frontier Corps and 20 SSG Commandos. During the battle a military drone was shot, whereas a helicopter was also targeted,” said Jeeyand Baloch, Spokesperson Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Operation Ganjal

BLA’s Operation Ganjal began at 8 PM (local time) on February 2, 2022 with sixteen highly trained Fidayeens (self-sacrificing unit) of its Majeed Brigade simultaneously attacking the Frontier Corps (FC) military bases in Nushki and Panjgur in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan (POB). Nine BLA Fidayeens were involved in the Nushki attack, whereas seven Fidayeens took part in the Panjgur attack. These Fidayeens took control of Nushki and Panjgur Pakistan Army camps and eliminated more than 195 Pakistani personnel and injured several more. Three Pakistan Army officers were also killed.

“Operation Ganjal is named after martyr Ganjal alias Comrade Mazar of Lyari Karachi. Ganjal, commander of BLA in Kalat region, was also a Fidayeen. He was not only to take part in Nushki and Panjgur operations but was also nominated as its operational commander. However, on the 24th September 2021 he along with five Baloch freedom fighters embraced martyrdom while defending organisation’s camp in Kalat,” explained Jeeyand Baloch.

Pakistan Army has imposed a complete communication blockade and strict curfew in Panjgur and Nushki to save it from international embarrassment. Yet somehow this video of a Pakistani drone being shot down by BLA revolutionaries found its way out of Pakistan-occupied Balochistan (POB).

BLA further added in its statement that the main objective of Operation Ganjal was not only to show occupying Pakistani state, but also to the entire world the military capabilities of Baloch resistance movement. “This operation confirms the fact that Baloch youth can go to any extent to achieve Balochistan’s national liberation. Baloch freedom movement is a homegrown movement, and its power sources lie within Baloch public. All Baloch Fidayeens involved in Operation Ganjal were educated Baloch youth who were born in Balochistan and were following the philosophy of General Aslam Baloch who died defending the motherland. It should now be clear that this freedom movement cannot be weakened by any changes in the neighboring countries or by being labeled as a proxy movement,” detailed the BLA statement.

Jeeyand Baloch further added that Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) values human lives and “…we do not find happiness in ending any life. If Pakistan, instead of bloodshed and carnage, opts for peace then we in the presence of an international guarantor invite Pakistan to the negotiation table. We are ready for negotiations on agendas of secure withdrawal of Pakistani forces from Balochistan and complete independence of our motherland.”

BLA Majeed Brigade commando briefing the ground situation from Panjgur military base camp. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)
BLA Majeed Brigade Fidayeen briefing the ground situation from Panjgur military base camp. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)

“However, if Pakistani military is hell-bent on violence then we warn it with clear words that our next attacks will be much harsher and we will go to any extent to defend our homeland. We have the full capability of taking this war to any part of Pakistan,” added Jeeyand Baloch, Spokesperson Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

“We also want to tell the people of Punjab that you should not let the military generals use your children as cannon fodder in their wars. Pressurize your military to withdraw. Your military, in order to strengthen its occupation of Balochistan, is involved in Bangladesh style crimes including Baloch genocide, rape and plundering of Baloch resources. We also once again warn China to refrain from aiding Pakistan in looting Baloch resources and strengthening occupation of our motherland or else their interests will once again be at our target,” reads the BLA statement without mincing words.

Battle of Nushki

Operation Ganjal started at 8 PM (local time) on February 2, 2022 when two different units of BLA Majeed Brigade targeted Nushki and Panjgur headquarters of Pakistani Frontier Core (FC) simultaneously. The attack started when Fidayeen Meerain Jamaldani (alias Zagrain of Nushki) detonated his vehicle borne improvised explosive device at the gates of Nushki camp. This blast killed all Pakistani troops stationed at the entrance of the camp. Later under the leadership of Unit Commander Fidayeen Badil Baloch (alias Riyasat of Hoshaab), the remaining Fidayeens entered the enemy camp. These Fidayeens included Aziz Zehri (alias Barag of Khuzdar), Aneel Baloch (alias Balaach of Dasht Turbat), Muraad Aajo (alias Baba of Panjgur), Yasir Noor (alias Saif of Alandor Bulaida), Ibraheem Baloch (alias Kabeer of Gichk), Deedag Bahar (alias Rauf of Shapuk Turbat) and Bilal Baloch (alias Wahid) of Tejaban Kech.

Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed Brigade revolutionaries who attained martyrdom fighting the Pakistan Army at Nushki. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)
Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed Brigade revolutionaries who attained martyrdom fighting the Pakistan Army at Nushki. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)

The BLA Fidayeens (self-sacrificing unit) in Nushki killed 90 Pakistani soldiers, including two officers and destroyed a major part of Pakistan’s military camp. Dozens of Pakistani personnel were also injured.

Battle of Panjgur

At the same time on February 2, 2022 another self-sacrificing unit of BLA attacked the Panjgur military base of Pakistan Army. Just like the Nushki attack, the BLA Fidayeen Jamal Baloch (alias Chacha of Turbat) detonated his VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) at the main entrance of Frontier Corp military camp in Pangjur. The blast destroyed the front part of the camp and killed all Pakistani soldiers present at the entrance.

BLA Unit Commander Hamid Raheem (alias Zubair of Chitkan Panjgur), Fidayeen Sami Sameer (alias Shoaib of Panjgur), Iliyas Baloch (alias Qadir of Gramkan Panjgur), Asad Wahag (alias Sabzo of Keelkor), Nasir Imam (alias Hamal of Parom) and Zameer Baloch (alias Faraz of Dandaar Hoshaap) entered inside the Panjgur base camp. The remaining Pakistani personnel, instead of facing the Baloch Fidayeens, fled the camp.

Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed Brigade revolutionaries who attained martyrdom fighting the Pakistan Army at Panjgur. (Photo: BLA Media Cell)

“The objective of Panjgur unit was to take control of the enemy’s camp for maximum time possible. After enemy’s escape Baloch Fidayeens took control of the whole camp. Pakistani forces used its ground troops, including Special Services Group (SSG) Commandos and even gunship helicopters to take back the control of the camp. The enemy forces with the SSG Commandos, armoured vehicles and gunship helicopters made five large attempts to gain control. However, the BLA Fidayeens repulsed each and every attack and inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy. For 72 hours the Fidayeens managed to successfully defend their positions while fighting against elite Pakistani military units. After ground attempts were a failure, Pakistani gunship helicopters started heavy bombardment on the positions of BLA Fidayeens and after a long heroic resistance all Fidayeens embraced martyrdom,” Jeeyand Baloch, BLA Spokesperson gave a detailed account of the Panjgur attack and the fight back by Majeed Brigade Fidayeens.

BRAS (Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar) the umbrella organisation of different Baloch revolutionary groups had extended full support to Operation Ganjal. “This major, complex and strong attack not only shows the extent to which Baloch nation can go for its independence, but also highlights the importance and benefits of united and consolidated power of resistance,” BLA said in its statement.

BLA rejects ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) lies

BLA rejected ISPR statements in toto. “We consider it as a bundle of lies. Pakistani military is hiding its dead bodies due to internal pressure and embarrassment it has suffered on international platform,” BLA said confidently.

The sixteen BLA Majeed Brigade Fidayeens brought down Pakistan Army to its knees and these 72 hour Battle of Pajgur and Battel of Nushki will go remembered by generations to come. BLA resisted a much powerful military and valiantly fought the longest battle in modern Balochistan history. “Baloch nation, history and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) will never forget the ultimate sacrifices of these valiant Fidayeens. A new dawn will emerge from the sacrifices of martyrs and Baloch national emancipation will soon become a reality,” announced Jeeyand Baloch.

Pakistani SSG commandoes are afraid of us: BLA Majeed Brigade

News Intervention Bureau
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Pakistani SSG commandoes are afraid of us: BLA Majeed Brigade

The Panjgur Frontier Corps (FC) military base of Pakistan Army continues to be under the control of Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade (self-sacrifice unit), 38 hours after BLA’s attack at around 8PM (local time) on February 2.

BLA in latest statement has said that more than 70 Pakistan Army soldiers have been killed at Panjgur. This number is expected to increase as BLA Majeed Brigade continue to hold on the base and are targeting Pakistanis soldiers. More than 100 Pakistani soldiers were killed by BLA Majeed Brigade at Nushki military camp of the Frontier Corps (FC). BLA’s Nushki operation was successfully completed on February 3, but the Panjgur operation is still under way.

Baloch Liberation Army has released the transcript of telephonic talk by Majeed Brigade commando, from inside the Panjgur base camp, detailing the ground scenario to BLA’s core commander at another location in occupied Balochistan.

BLA Core Commander (asks the Majeed Brigade commando): What is the ground situation, and how are you?
BLA Majeed Brigade Commando (speaking from inside the Panjgur base camp of Pakistan Army): We are fine. We entered the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters at Panjgur on February 2.  Today it is the 4th Feb and we have completed 27 hours and the whole situation is under our control. We have won the war in our favour and have repulsed the enemy (Pakistan) in such a way that they are afraid to come before us. Helicopters have fired rockets and mortar shells at Panjgur Bazaar this evening, which may have fallen in Panjgur bazaar.

Later, some armoured vehicles tried to enter our compound, but they were targeted by our comrades. In these armoured vehicles were three (Pakistan Army) SSG commandoes, out of which two were killed by the comrades while the third one managed to escape. Armoured vehicles were also targeted and occupied by BLA comrades.

The enemy (Pakistan) has retreated so much that we have completed 27 hours but they are still afraid to face us. SSG commandoes are also afraid to come forward. The morale of our comrades is high and the situation is under control. No matter whatever tactics the enemy (Pakistan) uses, our spirits are high and we will keep the situation under control. Such tactics are not a problem for us. We are soldiers of the glorious brigade of Balochistan.

We will try to continue this war tonight, it is already 1 AM beyond midnight, and the enemy (Pakistan) has still been unable to retrieve the bodies of their fallen soldiers. We will adjust our strategy according to tactics of the enemy force.

Let the Baloch nation see that we are deep inside the enemy’s (Pakistan Army) cantonment. Despite thousands of personnel, we have made the enemy (Pakistan) helpless such that they are shelling mortars on their own base camps, sometimes in the bazaar and sometimes in the surrounding areas.

Our spirits are high and we will continue with this fight. Everyone should try to sacrifice more than their means for the land. We are witnessing the times of a powerful army and today we are strongly entrenched deep inside their stronghold which is also the regional base of ISI.

We can see the enemy personnel (Pakistani soldiers) running from one door to the other taking cover which shows their fear.

We are hopeful that Balochistan will carry on with its fight for independence in the best possible way in the future. Baloch will continue the  struggle for independence by contributing more than they  share.

Time to search for a less harmful cigarette

Shantanu Guha Ray
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Time to search for a less harmful cigarette

Heated tobacco products are meant to heat tobacco without burning it or producing smoke but are they effective on cigarette smoking and health?

In 2016 the popularity of heated tobacco products soared in Japan after the release of an electronic device called IQOS. Heated tobacco products are all over the world but scientists often ask if these are actually effective.

I found an interesting paper that covered data from 11 studies with more than 2,600 people. And the result of the studies was that people who switched from cigarettes to heated tobacco had lower levels of exposure to harmful chemicals than those who kept smoking, but higher levels of these toxins than those who stopped using tobacco altogether.

Now this lower exposure was found across a number of harmful substances linked to cancers, heart disease and respiratory problems. In short, this means switching from cigarettes to heated tobacco could reduce the odds of developing these diseases.

But do we have enough data to be sanguine. Across the world, all studies are of relatively short duration. So to genuinely understand tobacco-related diseases one needs to push in long drawn studies because it typically takes a while for people to develop tobacco-related diseases. And as long as that does not happen, no one will vouch for these short-term studies. 

But one thing is abundantly clear: The evidence shows how uniquely dangerous smoking is. Cigarettes kill half of all regular smokers who inhale toxic chemicals made by burning tobacco. Heated tobacco products are designed to avoid burning tobacco, so there is a global impression that these products pose a much lower risk.

Can heated tobacco products benefit public health if they reduce risk and, in turn, help people stop smoking normal cigarettes? And can this happen without attracting people who would otherwise avoid tobacco entirely? Honestly, there aren’t any studies focussing on whether giving smokers heated tobacco products helped them stop smoking.

What is interesting is that there are some Japanese studies looking at how cigarette sales changed after IQOS penetrated the markets. The studies, actually, found fall in cigarette sales sped up after the IQOS launch. In short, the studies suggested that heated tobacco products might replace rather than complementing cigarettes.

(Representative photo)
(Representative photo)

At the same time, there is a high possibility that sales of cigarettes fell because most people cut down without stopping altogether. After all, the biggest improvements in health come from stopping smoking altogether rather than smoking fewer cigarettes.

And it is here the E-cigarettes, or vapes, make a silent entry. These are a different breed of nicotine products that have, slowly yet steadily, become popular, especially among the millennials. So let’s compare it with cigarettes. Heated tobacco products heat tobacco leaf and then, e-cigarettes heat a liquid, typically containing nicotine. And then, there are large differences in the science and regulation of these products. E-cigarettes have filled the shelves for longer than heated tobacco, so there’s more evidence about their benefits and harms.

Unlike heated tobacco, e-cigarettes have been shown to help people stop smoking normal cigarettes. There are high chances that in the not-too-distant future, UK may even offer e-cigarettes to those keen to quit smoking. But then, the e-cigarettes must pass the necessary regulatory hurdles.

Across the world, many nations including Japan, have imposed restrictions that have essentially banned the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes, while heated tobacco products remain widely available. This may explain why heated tobacco has taken off in Japan. It’s the only potentially lower-risk alternative to cigarettes available.

Heated tobacco use remains rare in countries like the UK and US, where the e-cigarette market was already well-established by the time IQOS launched.

E-cigarettes were the first non-medical nicotine alternative to cigarettes that appealed widely to smokers around the globe. But e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco and many manufacturers are unconnected to cigarette companies. Many tobacco companies instead focused on developing heated tobacco devices, a market over which they could maintain greater control because they had the patents.

Global sales increased quickly in Japan and South Korea in 2014 with the introduction of IQOS to test markets by Philip Morris International. Thereafter, other tobacco companies introduced their own electronic heated tobacco devices. Some of the most popular today are Glo by British American Tobacco and Ploom by Japan Tobacco International.

Interestingly, bulk of the research into the safety of heated tobacco – ironically – comes from Philip Morris International, which applied for IQOS to be sold as a “reduced exposure” and “reduced risk” tobacco product in the US.

A few years ago, probably in 2019, the United States allowed IQOS to be marketed as a reduced exposure product. Their review concluded that “switching completely from conventional cigarettes to the IQOS system significantly reduces your body’s exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals”.

Now, the reduced risk application did not hold water, it failed miserably because “the evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate substantiation of either of the claims about the reduced risk of tobacco-related disease or harm”.

I think the world needs more evidence to be sure about how using heated tobacco affects people’s health.

So it is clear that the heated tobacco market is dominated by products from the cigarette industry, which has historically acted to distort science into the harm of cigarettes. And then, many e-cigarette manufacturers are unaffiliated with cigarette companies.

Tobacco giants have searched for decades for a less harmful cigarette. They have failed. Worse, their attempts to add ventilation holes to cigarette filters have added to the mess.

Tobacco giants are still trying, very hard.

BLA kills over 150 Pak Army soldiers in twin attacks at Panjgur & Nushki

News Intervention Bureau
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BLA kills over 150 Pak Army soldiers in twin attacks at Panjgur & Nushki

Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed Brigade (self-sacrificing unit) launched twin attacks Wednesday on Pakistan Army base camps at Panjgur and Nushki and have eliminated more than one hundred fifty Pakistani soldiers. The battle at Nushki is over wherein over a hundred Pakistani soldiers were killed and nine BLA revolutionaries attained martyrdom. BLA freedom fighters were still battling and defending their position at Panjgur base camp at the time of writing this report.

Local sources confirmed that BLA revolutionaries were bravely defending their position at the Panjgur base camp and had shot down two Pakistani gunship helicopters. Pakistan Army helicopters were swirling round the Frontier Corps military base at Panjgur and their soldiers were firing relentlessly at the BLA revolutionaries, but were unable to wrest back their military base.

On the other hand, the Panjgur district administration in a statement asked the people to remain in their homes in view of the battle at Panjgur. Curfew was imposed and nobody was allowed to step out. Rawalpindi has issued a gag order on local media and there has been a complete internet blockade.

Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) spokesperson Jayend Baloch addressed the media from an undisclosed location and said that a large part of the military camps at Panjgur was still under the control of the Majeed Brigade of Baloch Liberation Army.

“Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade has successfully completed its operation in FC (Frontier Corps) headquarters in Nushki,” said Jeeyand Baloch in his statement. He added that “BLA Majeed Brigade fidayees eliminated at least 100 personnel of Pakistani military including an officer, just in the Nushki FC headquaters.”

Media reporting and coverage has been banned to cover up this massive and successful attack of the Baloch revolutionaries and telecom network has been disabled across Panjgur, Nushki and Makran division of Balochistan. The ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations), propaganda arm of Pakistan Army, has activated its troll army who have begun sharing photoshopped photos and fake videos in a desperate attempt to hide their embarrassment.

Manzoor Pashteen survives Pak Army’s assassination attempt

News Intervention Bureau
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Manzoor Pashteen survives Pak Army’s assassination attempt

Pashtun leader Manzoor Pashteen survived an assassination attempt Wednesday when a Pakistan Army soldier in civilian clothes fired several shots at his car in Zhob, occupied Balochistan. Manzoor Pashteen heads the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and was on his way to Qila Saifullah district when he was attacked at Zhob.

PTM’s Balochistan coordinator Noor Bacha, who was travelling along with Manzoor Pashteen, has been hit and is currently admitted in a hospital at Zhob.

Pakistan Army soldier in civilian clothes who fired at Manzoor Pashteen’s car at Zhob, occupied Balochistan. (Photo: News Intervention)

Manzoor Pashteen was in occupied Balochistan to attend the third martyrdom anniversary of PTM leader Arman Loni, who died when Pakistani regime lathi-charged protesting Pashtuns on February 2, 2019. The Punjabi Pakistani regime and generals at GHQ Rawalpindi get jittery whenever Pashtuns protest for their rights and demands. The assassination attempt on Manzoor Pashteen is a step to muzzle the Pashtun voice.

Noor Bacha, PTM’s Balochistan coordinator sustained bullet injuries when Pakistani soldier fired on Manzoor Pashteen’s car at Zhob, occupied Balochistan. (Photo: News Intervention)

Eyewitnesses say that Manzoor Pashteen and other Pashtun leaders were detained by the Frontier Corps (FC) and were being taken to an undisclosed location. However as the news of Manzoor Pashteen’s arrest spread like wild fire a large number of Pashtun and Baloch activists started protests for his safe release.

A jittery Paki regime was then forced to release Manzoor Pashteen and at the time of writing this news report, Pashteen was back with hundreds of Pashtun and Baloch supporters and were protesting at the Malik Hassan petrol pump near Zhob.

Nervous Pak Army attacks Dasht civilians in response to BLF strike

News Intervention Bureau
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Nervous Pak Army attacks Dasht civilians in response to BLF strike

In a massive search and detention operation across Dasht, district Ketch in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan (POB), the nervous Pakistan Army has arrested several Baloch who are now ‘missing’ as their whereabouts are unknown. This crackdown came in response to the relentless attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) on Pakistani forces in Dasht.

On January 25, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) sarmachaars (freedom fighters) had completely destroyed a Pakistan Army post at Sabdan in the Dasht tehsil of Ketch district and killed 17 Pakistani military personnel. An embarrassed Pakistan Army cremated its soldiers at night in order to avoid media glare, lest its atrocities and barbarism on the Baloch population could come in the limelight.

Later on, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a visit to the area and ordered his troops to speed up the operation.

According to reports, the Paki forces have abducted more than ten Baloch from the Darchko area of Dasht to an unknown location after forcibly taking them into custody. Among those who have gone missing are Murad, Kamal and Habib aged eighty years. The youths who have been forcibly detained have been identified as Fida (son of Nazar Fida), Fida (son of Ibrahim), Owais (son of Rasool Bakhsha), Hanif (son of Firak), Niaz (son of Omid), Abid (son of Bashir) and Bilal (son of Bashir).

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) has been fighting for Balochistan’s independence against Pakistani occupation for the last several years. BLF is led by Dr Allah Nazar Baloch.

Prof. Sam Vaknin on Giftedness and IQ

Scott Douglas Jacobsen
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Prof. Sam Vaknin on Giftedness and IQ

Prof. Shmuel “Sam” Vaknin (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, LinkedIn, Google Scholar) is the author of Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited (Amazon) and After the Rain: How the West Lost the East (Amazon) as well as many other books and ebooks about topics in psychology, relationships, philosophy, economics, international affairs, and award-winning short fiction. He was Senior Business Correspondent for United Press International (February, 2001 – April, 2003), CEO of Narcissus Publications (April, 1997 – April 2013), Editor-in-Chief of Global Politician (January, 2011 -), a columnist for PopMatters, eBookWeb, Bellaonline, and Central Europe Review, an editor for The Open Directory and Suite101 (Categories: Mental Health and Central East Europe), and a contributor to Middle East Times, a contributing writer to The American Chronicle Media Group, Columnist and Analyst for Nova Makedonija, Fokus, and Kapital, Founding Analyst of The Analyst Network, former president of the Israeli chapter of the Unification Church’s Professors for World Peace Academy, and served in the Israeli Defense Forces (1979-1982). He has been awarded Israel’s Council of Culture and Art Prize for Maiden Prose (1997), The Rotary Club Award for Social Studies (1976), and the Bilateral Relations Studies Award of the American Embassy in Israel (1978), among other awards. He is Visiting Professor of Psychology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia (September, 2017 to present), Professor of Finance and Psychology in SIAS-CIAPS (Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies) (April, 2012 to present), a Senior Correspondent for New York Daily Sun, and Columnist for Allied Newspapers Group (January, 2015 – Present). He lives in Skopje, North Macedonia with his wife, Lidija Rangelovska. Here we talk about giftedness and IQ.

*Previous interviews listed chronologically after interview.*

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: You have been measured three times with a high IQ, an understatement.[1] An IQ between 180 and 190, between ages 9 and 35. You referred to this in some writings, in passing, including pages 2[2], 3[3], 4[4], 5[5], and 7[6], of epigrams, in an interview with Richard Grannon (2018), with Smashwords (2014), and on a YouTube video answering viewer questions[7]. It has been mentioned in an article by Gavin Haynes (2016), too. With the IQ scores of 185 at age 9, 180 in the army at age 25, and 190 in prison at age 35 (vakninsamnarcissist, 2018; RICHARD GRANNON, 2018), presumably on a standard deviation of 15, what was the reaction of family, friends, peers, community, even the psychometricians or psychologists administering the tests each time? 

Prof. Shmuel “Sam” Vaknin: First, let me clarify than any result above 160 (some say, 140) is not normatively validated: it is rather arbitrary and meaningless because there are so few people to compare with (the sample is way too small). Matrix IQ tests are better at validating higher results, though.

Everyone always loathed me. I am a sadist, so from a very early age, I have leveraged my IQ to taunt people, hold them in contempt, and humiliate them. This did not endear obnoxious me to anyone. My own teachers sought to undermine my academic career, peers shunned or attempted to bully me (they failed), my mother detested me, my father pendulated between being awe-struck and being repelled by me. Both my parents beat me to an inch of my life every single day for 12 years.

Jacobsen: To you, as a scientific person, what defines intelligence?

Vaknin: Anything that endows an individual with a comparative advantage at performing a complex task constitutes intelligence. In this sense, viruses reify intelligence, they are intelligent. Human intelligence, though, is versatile and the tasks are usually far more complex than anything a virus might need to tackle.

Jacobsen: What defines IQ or Intelligence Quotient?

Vaknin: The ability to perform a set of mostly – but not only – analytical assignments corresponding to an age-appropriate average. So, if a 10 year old copes well with the tasks that are the bread and butter of an 18 years old, he scores 180 IQ.

IQ measures an exceedingly narrow set of skills and mental functions. There are many types of intelligence – for example: musical intelligence – not captured by any IQ test.

Jacobsen: What defines giftedness, to you? Even though, formal definitions exist.[8]

Vaknin: Giftedness resembles autism very much: it is the ability to accomplish tasks inordinately well or fast by focusing on them to the exclusion of all else and by mobilizing all the mental resources at the disposal of the gifted person.

Obviously, people gravitate to what they do well. Gifted people have certain propensities and talents to start with and these probably reflect brain abnormalities of one kind or another.

Jacobsen: Inter-relating the previous three questions, what separates intelligence from IQ from giftedness, i.e., separates each from one another?

Vaknin: IQ is a narrow measure of highly specific types of intelligence and is not necessarily related to giftedness. Gifted people invest themselves with a laser-focus to effect change in their environment conducive to the speedy completion of highly specific tasks.

Jacobsen: What defines genius?

Vaknin: Genius is the ability to discern two things: 1. What is missing (lacunas) 2. Synoptic connections.

The genius surveys the world and completes it by conjuring up novelty (i.e., by creating). S/he also spots hidden relatedness between ostensibly disparate phenomena or data.

Jacobsen: How does genius differentiate from intelligence, IQ, and giftedness?

Vaknin: A genius can have an average IQ or even not be analytically very intelligent (not be an intellectual). Some craftsmen are geniuses. Musicians, athletes, even politicians.

Jacobsen: What happens to most prodigies, or adults with exceptionally, profoundly, or unmeasurably high IQ?

Vaknin: A majority of them end badly. IQ is a good predictor of academic accomplishments, but not much else. Character, upbringing, mental illness, genetics, nurture, the environment (including the physical environment), sexual and romantic history matter much more than IQ.

Many “geniuses” with a high IQ (Mensa types) are dysfunctional and deficient when it comes to life, intimacy, relationships, and social skills. Additionally, as Eysenck had correctly observed, creativity is often linked to psychoticism.

Jacobsen: What are the optimal things for raising gifted children and prodigies, and for resuscitating drifting adults with exceptionally, profoundly, or unmeasurably high IQ, if at all possible, to productive and healthy lives?

Vaknin: All interventions are somewhat effective only during childhood and adolescence, up to age 21. Afterwards, it is an uphill battle.

The most crucial thing is to never remove the gifted child from his peer group (as was done to me). I am also dead set against academic shortcuts.

The gifted child should follow the same path as everybody else but feed his voracious mind with extracurricular enrichment programs and materials.

Jacobsen: Who seem like the greatest geniuses in history to you?

Vaknin: The usual suspects: Einstein, Newton, Freud, da Vinci, other polymaths who had upended every discipline or field that they had turned their scintillating minds to.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Professor Vaknin.

Vaknin: The opportunity is all mine.

References

Hayne, G. (2016, September 8). I Spent a Day Trying to Get to Know a Real-Life Narcissist. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/nney4k/narcissism-interview-chosen-ones-gavin-haynes.

National Association for Gifted Children. (2019). A Definition of Giftedness that Guides Best Practice. https://www.nagc.org/sites/default/files/Position%20Statement/Definition%20of%20Giftedness%20%282019%29.pdf.

Prof. Sam Vaknin. (2020, September 19). Narcissistic Buffet: Answering Your Questions (Well, Sort of) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiHeS8fMsoE.

RICHARD GRANNON. (2018, September 12). THE SAM VAKNIN INTERVIEW – HOW NARCISSISM IS FORMED IN A CHILD GENIUS & THE HIVE MIND [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W89fG8220D8.

Smashwords. (2014, October 19). Interview with Sam Vaknin. https://www.smashwords.com/interview/samvaknin.

Vaknin, S. (n.d.a). Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 2. samvaknin.tripod. https://samvak.tripod.com/instagramvaknin2.html.

Vaknin, S. (n.d.b). Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 3. samvaknin.tripod. https://samvak.tripod.com/instagramvaknin3.html.

Vaknin, S. (n.d.c). Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 4. samvaknin.tripod. https://samvak.tripod.com/instagramvaknin4.html.

Vaknin, S. (n.d.d). Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 5. samvaknin.tripod. https://samvak.tripod.com/instagramvaknin5.html.

Vaknin, S. (n.d.e). Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 7. samvaknin.tripod. https://samvak.tripod.com/instagramvaknin7.html.

vakninsamnarcissist. (2018, June 13). [Prof. Vaknin provides some biographical information on IQ test scores]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj_r-KaAckn/?hl=en.

Footnotes

[1] Vaknin (2018) in Instagram stated, “My IQ was tested every time I got myself into serious trouble: at age 9 (result: 185), in the army (180), & in prison by an orthodox religious psychologist who made me his pet project (190). There are only 60 people in the world with IQ 185 & only 7 with IQ 190. It gets pretty lonely pretty fast. Being the sadistic asshole that I am, I am fond of saying that the gap in IQ between me & the average human is far bigger than the difference between that human & an orangutan (or a chimpanzee).” See vakninsamnarcissist (2018).

[2] “Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 2” states:

At the age of 9, I was sent to study in the Technion – Israel’s leading technological university. I have been diagnosed with 180 IQ. It was my lowest score in 3 IQ tests I have taken over the decades. There started my love affair with physics…

…At a very early age I discovered that I lack the most basic life and social skills. I had only one thing going for me: my formidable intellect (there are only 6 other people in the whole wide world with my IQ). So, I deployed it to construct a shelter, a bubble, replete with its own rigid rules and defenses intended to shield me from the life-threatening hurt that the world was inflicting on me daily. This bubble was a self-constructed mental asylum with me as the sole inmate…

…Women also feel inferior & inadequate faced with my 190 IQ.

See Vaknin (n.d.a).

[3] “Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 3” states:

These are for lesser mortals with an IQ score inferior to my stratospheric 190.

See Vaknin (n.d.b).

[4] “Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 4” states:

There were two of us. I was not alone inside my body. Physiologically, I was supposed to be twins: I have two urethras, two sets of teeth, and, at an IQ of 185, probably double the brain. It’s as though, denied their birth, this duo haunts me, an inbound, coupled poltergeist…

… My IQ – 190 – is literally off any known chart. There are only 8 people in the entire world with this level of intelligence and I am one of them.

I used to be so proud of this fact. Now I realize that I am cursed. My IQ is a rare incurable disease…

See Vaknin (n.d.c).

[5] “Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 5” states:

I have 190 IQ and I make sure that my interlocutors are well appraised of this daunting fact…

See Vaknin (n.d.d).

[6] “Sam Vaknin’s Instagram Epigrams – Page 7” states:

So, I harnessed my formidable intellect – all 190 IQ points of it – to write my user’s manual…

…After all, how does one succeed to not bore to tears someone with 190 IQ and encyclopedic knowledge?…

…They run away screaming to the waiting arms of the first man available because they find out that I am a reptile or a computer simulation or a robot with a brain who is about 10 times more potent than an average one (fact: I have 190 IQ). It is like being trapped in a futuristic sci-fi yarn with an alien life form, albeit carbon-based.

See Vaknin (n.d.e).

[7] See Prof. Sam Vaknin (2020).

[8] “A definition of Giftedness that Guides Best Practice” (2019) states:

Students with gifts and talents perform – or have the capability to perform – at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential. Student with gifts and talents:

• Come from all racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, as well as all economic strata.

• Require sufficient access to appropriate learning opportunities to realize their potential.

• Can have learning and processing disorders that require specialized intervention and accommodation.

• Need support and guidance to develop socially and emotionally as well as in their areas of talent.

• Require varied services based on their changing needs.

See National Association for Gifted Children (2019).

Previous Electronic ‘Print’ Interviews (Hyperlinks Active for Titles)

“An Interview with Professor Sam Vaknin on Narcissistic Personality Disorder”

(In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal: June 22, 2020)

“Interview with Sam Vaknin and Christian Sorensen on Narcissism”

(News Intervention: June 23, 2020)

“Prof. Sam Vaknin on the Philosophy of Nothingness”

(News Intervention: January 26, 2022)

“Prof. Sam Vaknin on Narcissism in General”

(News Intervention: January 28, 2022)

“Prof. Sam Vaknin on Cold Therapy (New Treatment Modality)”

(News Intervention: January 30, 2022)

Previous Interviews Read by Prof. Vaknin (Hyperlinks Active for Titles)

“How to Become the REAL YOU (Interview, News Intervention)”

(Prof. Sam Vaknin: January 26, 2022)

“Insider View on Narcissism: What Makes Narcissist Tick (News Intervention)”

(Prof. Sam Vaknin: January 29, 2022)

Image Credit: Sam Vaknin.

Padma Awards 2022 and the needless controversies

Prof. K.N. Pandita
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Padma Awards 2022 and the needless controversies

This year’s Padma Awards event has met with some clumsiness. Two things have happened and both have given the nation moments of anxiety. The first is the rejection of the Padma Bhushan award that the government had announced in favour of former chief minister of West Bengal, Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The second is the row over Ghulam Nabi Azad, the senior Congress leader being nominated as the recipient of Padma award.

The reasons and the background for the occurrence in each case are different. Bhattacharjee, the former chief minister of West Bengal is a committed leftist. The Left ideology, as we all know, does not theoretically recognize the concept of nationhood. It believes in class division. In a sense, it is closer to the Islamic concept of the ummah as opposed to Watan. The Indian Left has always considered itself opposed to nationalist parties, ideology and governments.

In India, the Left has always been on the side of Congress firstly for agreeing to the trifurcation of India in 1947 and secondly for its belief that the Indian Muslim minority has the first right to India’s resources. The reason for the Congress-Left bonhomie is that Congress has always carefully worn the mask of secularism and carried forward its dubious agenda under that rubric. This ideology is at the root of the Left hatred for nationalism.

The Indian Left is also fundamentally loath to the majoritarian principle on which democratic structures rest. But democracy becomes palatable if Congress emerges successful at the husting. Buddhadeb had become the chief minister of West Bengal owing to a majority vote he had polled in the assembly but he is not prepared to apply the same yardstick in the case of BJP coming to power at the center.

In the parliamentary elections of 2014 and 2019, the Left met with a humiliating defeat. Hence, a party once considered the kingmaker in India, has been sidelined and rendered ignominious. Naturally, it will keep licking its wounds till a time it hopes to regain the lost status.

The TMC in West Bengal never recommended the name of Buddhadeb for any Padma award nor did the Congress at the Centre. This means that neither of the two found any merit in the former chief minister entitling him for the award. Obviously, the Modi government caught on the wrong foot tried to play politics which did not work.

The case of eruption of an intra-party row over Padma award to Ghulam Nabi Azad is to be examined from a different trajectory. Azad has remained fanatically devoted to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty as its running boy. Whatever he is, it is because of the largesse of that house. He has nothing to claim for himself as an original or innovative thinker in the Congress hierarchy. Azad never raised finger at the Congress High Command for its heavyweight attitude before the inclusion of Priyanka Gandhi in the active politics of the party. Earlier, a time had come when another Congress show boy from Kashmir Valley had tried to outsmart Azad in establishing his proximity to the dynastic High Command. But Azad somehow managed to steer through the storm and finally get his rival neutralized and abandoned to trailers of the Hurriyat bandwagon.

Azad was one among the twenty-three senior Congress leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi to restore the democratic norm of electing the office bearers of the party. Sonia Gandhi confirmed her name as the president and her son as the vice president. After this rebuttal, Azad has been feeling very uncomfortable. He is confused and unable to say whether he is in or out of Congress. Sometimes he pretends to wear the mask of a troubleshooter and balancing factor. But what does the purging of the J&K Congress of pro-High Command elements at his behest mean? It is clear that he is awfully conscious of his constituency deficit. 

Looking in retrospect, one is tempted to say that Prime Minister Modi was unnecessarily euphoric on Azad quitting as the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha after completing his term. The exchange of modesties between the two was at best something like comical dramatics. People knew that earlier Azad had sought a one-to-one personal meeting with the Prime Minister and at one point in time Rahul Gandhi had made a vague remark that some senior Congressmen were hobnobbing with BJP.

We are not opposed to the government awarding “Padmas” to the meritorious citizens of India. We, as responsible citizens, have every right to discuss and evaluate the situations that throw up personalities in national politics. PM Modi is wrong in imagining that activists with a career like that of Azad will be an asset if they distance from the Congress and demonstrate allegiance to BJP as a major nationalist party. The government may have reasons to award Azad but the public cannot be stopped from attributing political motives to the case. And it is no wisdom to underestimate public scrutiny.

It is also important that when the career and contribution of an active politician are evaluated for the grant of an award, only the bright side of his contribution should not become the deciding criterion. The dark side of his activities should be open to the scrutiny of the members of awarding committee; one has to remember that we are to deal with human stuff and not with angels. Nobody is an angel in the realm of politics.

In the final analysis, we believe that the prestigious “Padma” awards reflecting the trust and gratitude of the Indian nation as a whole in a person of outstanding service to any aspect of Indian civilization should be shown the respect these deserve. These awards should be kept away from politics. The two awardees we have discussed would have been honoured in a real sense if their respective political party chiefs had risen above petty political considerations and formally conveyed the thanks of their party to the government for bestowing national honour to their party activists. It would have proved that the parties in question wanted to strengthen democracy in the country. We also hope that the incident will reinforce the resolve of all award winners to value the sentiments of the thankful nation and preserve the trust with honour and dignity.

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