VOIWORLD In a powerful display of solidarity, Glasgow’s Hindu community gathered at Mother Earth Hindu Temple for a special prayer meeting to mourn the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The Shaanti Path (peace prayer) ceremony was organised on short notice following the brutal attack that claimed 26 innocent lives in Kashmir on April 23. Acharya Dr Abhishek Joshi, a respected spiritual leader and advocate for Hindus in Scotland, led the prayer service. The ceremony brought together numerous concerned citizens from across Glasgow who joined to express their grief and stand in solidarity with the families affected…
Author: Shiwani Nailwal
VOIWORLD An Indian official said on Wednesday that a high-level investigation has been launched after US officials raised concerns with New Delhi about its government’s knowledge of a conspiracy to kill a Sikh separatist leader on American soil. The US provided some information, and India “takes such inputs seriously because they impact our national security interests as well, and relevant departments are already investigating the issue,” according to a statement from External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi. The US government said it raised the problem with New Delhi but would not comment on when or how US authorities became aware…
VOIWORLD Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged a man in connection with an alleged plan by an Indian government official to kill a U.S. citizen in New York City. Prosecutors said Wednesday that an Indian government official oversaw a conspiracy to murder a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City, as they presented charges against a man they said was involved in the aborted effort. The conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was discovered by U.S officials in the spring. Pannun advocates for the establishment of an independent Sikh state and is considered a terrorist by…
India’s Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and his British counterpart David Williams co-chaired the annual India-UK Defence Consultative Group (DCG) conference in New Delhi, where they discussed a variety of regional security challenges as well as defence industry collaboration. According to a Defence Ministry statement, Aramane and Williams, the Permanent Secretary of the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, reviewed ongoing defence cooperation activities, discussed the situation and potential cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, and proposed defence industrial cooperation in missile systems and electric propulsion, among other things. Increased exchanges and collaborative activities in the maritime domain were planned by both…
VOIWORLD Ahead of the 2024 general elections, the Bhartiya Janta Party and RSS leaders attended the third World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Bangkok. The three-day conclave, which began on November 24, is titled Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah (Dharma, Victory’s Abode). WHC has been described as an “expression of Hindu tenacity” as well as a “continuation of the quintessential and original yajnya (self-sacrifice) for the greater interest of Hindu society” . https://twitter.com/WHCongress/status/1728967544260972945 In his inaugural address to the third WHC in Thailand’s capital, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urged Hindus throughout the world to reach out to one another and connect with the rest of…
We had always imagined that greater European integration would imply increased cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism. But with the growth of the far right in the region, this may no longer be the case. Far-right parties are gaining popularity in Europe, while conservative parties are gaining power. In the latest, Europe has been spooked by far-right populist Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party’s (PVV) landmark election win. The Islamophobic party has promised to ban mosques and is calling for a freeze on asylum and a more restrictive immigration policy. Geert Wilders, who wants to be the Netherlands’ next prime minister, is known for his…
VOIWORLD The tenth edition of India Week Hamburg 2023 has officially commenced. The week-long event will honour India’s diversity by covering issues such as business, politics, society, science, and culture. India Week Hamburg is a week of events with 60 to 80 events including politics, society, science, business, culture, and sports. On Monday, Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher officially launched India Week Hamburg 2023. Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni delivered an address at the opening ceremony, emphasising the growing importance of the multidimensional India-Germany strategic partnership and India-Hamburg economic engagement. Dr. Phillip Ackermann, Germany’s ambassador to India, also attended the occasion. Debjani Ghosh,…
VOIWORLD In a move indicating diplomatic thaw between India and Canada, India has reinstated electronic visa services for Canadian nationals. The development comes two months after Canada accused the South Asian country of involvement in the death of a Sikh separatist in Canada. An Indian foreign ministry official said Wednesday that the electronic visa was restored. The action may help to defuse tensions between the two countries, who have traded allegations and expelled one other’s diplomats, with India imposing a visa block on Canadian citizens. The two nations embroiled in a diplomatic row after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in…
VOIWORLD The United States embassy in India has reached a new high in processing visa applications in India. In 2023, the highest number of visas were issued compared to any previous year. Due to the hectic holiday travel season, the US Embassy has predicted a continual spike in visa processing in the following weeks.“It’s official! As of this month, our India team processed more visa applications in 2023 than in any previous year. And we aren’t done yet! We’ll be serving thousands of students, workers, tourists, and more in the coming weeks, just in time for the busy holiday travel…