The Prime Minister Modi's statement during his recent visit to Ukraine that, “India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace”. and India aways advocates diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Today India's role on the global stage continues to grow, India could play a role of a peacemaker in facilitating dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine in bringing to an end this two years old conflict, India enjoys good ties with both Russia and Ukraine's PM Modi can "freely communicate with Putin, Zelenskyy, and the Americans who are supporting Ukraine with weapons and money". In his meeting with Zelenskyy, the prime minister expressed his willingness to contribute personally to finding a peaceful resolution.

After Putin, now Italian PM Meloni has suggested that India can play a role of mediator in resolving this two years old Russia-Ukraine conflict. this conflict, which erupted in February 2022, has resulted in devastating human and economic losses, till there is no clear end in sight.

The visit by India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to Russia which is followed the prime minister's summit with Putin six weeks ago and with Ukraine President Zelensky is a step forward to discuss and take forward peace efforts in resolving this two years old ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict,

Let us hope and pray that India's efforts in bringing peace bears fruit and this two yer old conflict will end soon.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

Sir — The Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, and the Indian consul-general in Edinburgh were stopped from entering a gurdwara in Glasgow (“UK India envoy scoots gurdwara snub”, Oct 1). The diplomats’ vehicle was accosted at the parking lot. This is a matter of grave concern. The UK authorities should have taken adequate measures to ensure the security of the visiting envoy in light of the ongoing spat between India and Canada and the rise in threats from extremist elements.

This incident, along with the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco in July, is a stark reminder that religious extremists are expanding their bases in Canada and other countries.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

Sir —It was a historical decision taken by the Government of Abu Dhabi, UAE, to allow the use of Hindi as the third language besides Arabic and English in its judicial system.

This move will certainly help Indian expatriates in the case of any litigation proceedings. A bilingual judicial system assures clarity and transparency.

Hindi speaking expatriates can lodge claims and submit grievances in their mother tongue now.

The opening of the Kartarpur corridor between India and Pakistan on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev is a welcome step. Both the governments have agreed to link the Sikh shrine of Dera Baba Nanak sahib and the shrine of Kartarpur sahib. This will help reduce the travel time for pilgrims visiting the gurdwara from four hours to just 15 to 20 minutes. People from India and Pakistan belong to the same ancestry and share the heritage, food and language. It is hoped that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor will facilitate a positive and purposeful dialogue. This will help both countries save money spent on buying weaponry and this can be diverted for useful purposes for the betterment of the people of both nations.

The decision by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka is not correct as it has been taken due to the political pressure by some Tamil parties.

Dr Singh should have attended the conference and strongly taken up the issue of the atrocities on Sinhalese Tamils during the civil war. Such action would have conveyed India’s unequivocal stand that further rights violations would not be tolerated by India, the largest commonwealth nation.

Since Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, a very seasoned politician, is attending the Colombo conference instead of Singh, he should deliver a tough message on the human right violations by the Sri Lankan army. India should convey the message that if the atrocities on the Tamil minorities do not end, it would take up the matter at the UN.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

This refers to Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor’s very timely article “Gulf economic unity is long overdue.” (Nov. 21) The GCC countries should give a serious thought toward formation of the economic cooperation bloc and the idea of formation of United Gulf States. This is a very good idea which will reap long-term benefits.

Mr Khalaf Al-Habtoor is a prominent public figure not just in the UAE but also in the whole Arab world. His suggestions therefore hold water and deserves to be discussed among GCC members at highest level. The GCC countries have the advantage of having considerably young leaders who are educated and understand the significance of unity among neighboring nations. The Gulf countries have spent enough fund in educating the population. Besides, they have abundance of natural resources.

Therefore, the very idea of a United Gulf States, propounded by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, will give them a voice on the global level, which is a road map for a prominent economic global power. The idea will succeed as the region is bound by common language, culture, heritage, faith and traditions, besides they all have nearly the same problems, issues and adversaries. Once United Gulf States is formed, they will have a big say in OPEC as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE are major oil-producing nations and their combined stand can reap long-term economic benefits with increased diplomatic say at global platforms.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

(i) Disturbing trend in UK
(Stopping Indian envoy from entering Gurdwaras in UK is a disturbing/Condemnable incident).

Sir, The incident that occurred September 29th involving High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami being prevented from entering Gurdwara in Glasgow, Scotland is deeply disturbing and candomble event, during the event, some radical elements not only blocked the envoy's entry but resorted to threat and abuses, they even tried to open the envoy's locked car, which was fortunately locked from inside, but due to timely intervention of organisers with the timely intervention from the organisers who physically intervened, a bigger incident was avoided, UK, being aware of potential threats from such radical elements should have taken adequate security measures for the visiting Indian envoy.

It is essential to acknowledge That the Khalistani lobby has limited support in India idea has very few takers among Sikhs in India, The majority of the Sikhs in India live peacefully and have significantly contributed the nation's progress in various fields, Defence, Trade etc, Sikhs in Armed force have played a significant role in defending the nation from external threats fro the countries like china and Pakistan. are in the forefront in defending the nation, whether it's against China or Pakistan, only a small fraction of radical elements resort to violence to pursue their objectives.

Recent incidents in Scotland as well as the July attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco serves as a stark reminder that these extremist elements, although numerically continue to exist, have grown more emboldened. These incidents are not isolated and are part of a concerning trend with these extremist elements expanding their trend in countries like in Canada, US, UK and Australia, Situation demand serious attention from the international community.

(ii) Security risk, The Telegraph, 3rd Oct, 2023, L.E
(Stopping Indian envoy from entering Gurdwaraa in UK is a disturbing/Condemnable incident).

Sir, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami an Indian council General was stopped by some radical elements from entering the Gurdwara in Glasgow Scotland and Indian councilor General In Edinburg were stopped from entering a Gurdwara in Glasgow (UK Indian envoy scoots Gurudwara Snubs Oct, 01, 2023), The Diplomats vehicles were stopped at the parking lot, this is a matter of grave concern, UK authorities should have taken adequate measures to ensure the security of the visiting envoy in the light of ongoing between India and canada and the rise in the threat of the extremist elements.

This attack along the Indian consulate in San Francisco in July is a stark reminder that religious extremists are expanding their bases in Canada and in other countries.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.