Modi Launches $5 Billion Projects for Kashmir
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's tallest railway bridge connecting the restive Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, marking his first visit to the region after days of missile and drone attacks with Pakistan brought the two nuclear-powered nations close to a war. (Source: Bloomberg)
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Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bidding war erupts over document that ‘proves Tibetan independence'
When Sir Basil Gould attended the enthronement of Tibet's new Dalai Llama in 1940, it was obvious history would be unfolding before his eyes. But 85 years later, the British diplomat's own papers are at the centre of a purported attempt to control the past. Documents written by Sir Basil that are said to prove the independence of Tibet became engulfed in a bidding war in London this week, as followers of the Dalai Llama sought to keep them out of Chinese hands. The document was part of a cache sold by Sir Basil's family at Bonhams on Thursday. It described how Tibet exercised 'de facto independence in internal and external affairs' before China tightened its grip in the 1950s – a claim seized on by campaigners, who say it runs counter to the Chinese narrative that the region has never been free. Among the bidders was a former representative of the Dalai Llama, who wanted to preserve the documents for the region's historical record. But the lot ultimately sold for more than £14,000 to an anonymous buyer. It came amid fears from Tibetan campaigners that Chinese buyers could be trying to snap up Sir Basil's estate and keep parts of it from the public eye. Tenzin Rabga Tashi, from the London-based campaign group Free Tibet, said: 'This is what it means when not only have you lost your country, but your history is sold to the highest bidder. 'In telegrams, letters and photos, the Basil Gould collection documents vividly the gathering darkness of 1940s Tibet before China's invasion. 'Even so, the sale to unknown bidders online does not negate the irrefutable evidence of Britain's unique connection with Tibet as an independent country.' Serving as a British trade agent in Gyantse, Tibet, from 1912 to 1913, Sir Basil went on to become a British political officer in Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet for a decade from 1935. He attended the enthronement of the Dalai Llama, taking a young artist called Kanwal Krishna with him who captured the event with a series of watercolours. Other lots sold on Thursday included a portrait of the Tibetan leader during the ceremony. The painting, which sold for £152,800, was also among those that Tibetans were keen to keep from Chinese hands ahead of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday next month. Another lot – a collection of 40 watercolours from Krishna's 1939 to 1940 visit to Lhasa with Sir Basil – sold for £457,600. In a video promoting the sale, Giles Peppiatt, head of fine art at Bonhams, said: 'These are extraordinarily rare images and to have these images from a first-hand source is unprecedented. 'The Gould collection shows a remarkable insight into Tibet in the 1940s and most importantly shows us the principal characters in the divination, in the search and the enthronement of the 14th Dalai Llama.' Today Tibet is recognised as part of the People's Republic of China, known as the Tibet Autonomous Region. China claims to have held control over Tibet since the 13th century. However, many dispute this narrative, with independence advocates arguing the country in fact had long periods of freedom to run its own affairs. The document in question, which archivists understand was written by Sir Basil, appears to support this view. The Telegraph understands that it describes how '... since 1912 the Tibetan government… continuously exercised de facto independence in both internal and external affairs'. The paper goes on to say that the Chinese Republic declared that Tibet was part of China. It added that the British took a 'middle line' and informed the Chinese that they upheld the autonomy of Tibet 'while admitting the suzerainty of China'. The writer then goes on to describe how a compromise was later reached in which Tibet was divided into Inner and Outer Tibet –with some degree of Chinese control 'contemplated for Inner Tibet', while Outer Tibet was to be autonomous. The document was auctioned off as part of a larger lot described as 'a large box of papers, letters, manuscripts and other ephemera relating to Tibet'. A proof copy of Sir Basil's 1957 book, The Jewel in the Lotus: Recollections of an Indian Political, which detailed his time in Tibet, was also included in the lot. After a bidding war that lasted more than five minutes, the item was eventually won by an anonymous online bidder – for a final total of £14,080 once auction charges were added. Sonam Tsering Frasi, a former representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration to the UK and northern Europe, was among those who unsuccessfully attempted to secure the lot. Speaking to The Telegraph following the auction, Mr Frasi, 70, said: 'All of these archive materials are important to us as Tibetans because they belong to the Tibetan people and it relates to what happened before the Chinese people [came]. 'So this paper has an independent British government's thinking [and] attitude [about] what was happening on the ground in Lhasa.' He added: 'Tibet was an independent country. But that doesn't fit with the Chinese narrative.' Mr Frasi said: 'There was definitely a concern about trying to keep these out of Chinese hands because we don't know who is online bidding. 'My suspicion is that there were Chinese bidders and there might be lots of records in there that will show the thinking of British-India with regards to Tibet autonomy.' He added: 'These papers – the danger is that they would not surface at all or they would be spun around to say something else.' Bonhams does not reveal whom successful bidders are. A spokesman would not approach the winner on The Telegraph's behalf, saying this would have gone against its privacy rules. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'They're worried': Liberal MP plans to raise concerns about Modi visit to Carney
OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says he intends to raise concerns to Prime Minister Mark Carney about the decision to invite India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada as part of a meeting of G7 leaders later this month. Sukh Dhaliwal represents the Surrey, B.C., riding that was home to Sikh activist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom Canada said in 2023 was killed by agents acting on behalf of the Indian government. Nijjar was gunned down outside a temple in June 2023. India has denied the accusation but had considered Nijjar to be a terrorist. Nijjar was a prominent activist in the Khalistan movement, which has pushed to establish a separate Sikh state in India's Punjab province. The accusation from former prime minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 sparked a wave of tension in the Canada-India relationship, including last fall when the RCMP said it believed Modi's government was linked to violence unfolding in Canada, including organized crime and murders. A breakthrough appeared on Friday when Modi confirmed he would be attending the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, at Carney's invitation. Since then, Dhaliwal says he has received dozens of calls and more than 100 emails from constituents expressing concern. 'They're worried. They're worried about their safety, they're concerned about the justice in Mr. Nijjar's case, as well,' he told National Post in an interview late Friday. Dhaliwal said he has heard from other Liberal MPs also expressing concern, but said he would not divulge details to protect their privacy. He said he intends to raise the concerns he has been hearing from constituents with Carney or members of his team, and will be in Ottawa next week for the ongoing sitting of Parliament. 'He's willing to talk,' Dhaliwal said of the prime minister. 'He's willing to listen to his MPs, that's what he has promised because he has always said that he's interested in the voice from the grassroots, not the message coming from the top to the grassroots.' 'I will certainly raise this with him or his team.' A statement from Carney's office in response to questions from National Post didn't directly address Dhaliwal's concerns, but said 'Canada's sovereignty and national security is paramount.' 'As Prime Minister of the fifth largest economy and the world's most populous country, Prime Minister Modi was invited to participate in these critical discussions,' the statement reads. The prime minister also defended his decision to invite Modi to the G7 at a Friday press conference earlier in the day. He said it was a matter he discussed with other G7 countries and, given that the group plans to discuss issues ranging from energy security to critical minerals and infrastructure, 'there are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions.' Carney said India is central to a number of supply chains and has the fifth largest economy in the world and the largest population. 'So it makes sense.' Modi said in a statement on social media that 'India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests.' Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre backed the decision for Modi to attend, saying Canada needs to work with India on security and trade. Meanwhile, the World Sikh Organization, which advocates for Sikh Canadians, denounced the decision, with its legal counsel, Balpreet Singh, saying it amounts to a 'betrayal.' Carney declined to say on Friday whether he believed Modi was involved in Nijjar's assassination, saying it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the matter given the fact that legal proceedings were underway. Four Indian nationals have been charged in his death. Dhaliwal said he does not support the decision to have Modi in Canada, but said he should offer a 'commitment that his government or his agents of India, will never, ever intervene into the lives of Canadians.' India's prime minister should also agree to 'full cooperation' in the investigation into Niijar's death. Last fall, Canada and India expelled each other's diplomats after it cited RCMP evidence linking Indian government agents to crimes in Canada. Canada had requested that India waive diplomatic immunity to allow police to investigate, which the federal government said did not happen. Carney said on Friday that he and Modi in their discussion agreed to 'law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue. He also noted that 'some progress' had been made on issues of 'accountability.' Dhaliwal said the RCMP has been clear in its concerns about the links between the Indian government and violent crimes taking place in Canada. He also pointed to Justice Marie-Josée Hogue's report into foreign interference that named India as one of the top countries attempting to meddle in Canada's democratic process. The invitation to Modi touches on issues of the rule of law and fundamental rights, he added. 'We cannot sacrifice those values.' National Post staylor@ Mark Carney defends inviting Modi to G7, prompting shock from Sikh organization Carney prepared to sit over the summer to pass new bill to fast-track major projects Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Indian Delegate Says Pakistan Must End Terror Camps Before Talks
A senior Indian lawmaker said his government should not hold talks with Pakistan after their worst military confrontation in decades until action is taken to close down what he called terrorist training camps in the country, and that the US should not be involved as a mediator. Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a team of officials dispatched to capitals around the world to present India's perspective on last month's conflict, said the idea of any external mediation was unacceptable because it implied equivalence.
