HONG KONG MUDDLE
   Date :30-May-2020

Time and Tide_1 &nbs
 
 
CHINA has enhanced its grip on the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong after its Parliament’s approval to the new controversial security law. The law is being denounced by pro-democracy crusaders in Hong Kong as it seeks to criminalise most forms of political dissent, undermine individual freedoms and put a tight leash on foreigner activities. This effectively ends the Chinese policy of “one country, two systems” as mainland China’s security agencies will get a free hand in the international trading hub. The United States has already notified the end of autonomous status of Hong Kong which is set to hit the international finance centre. Hong Kong’s future as a buzzing market looks bleak with the UK, US and the European Union planning to revoke the special economic status. Capital and financial firms have already started seeking other alternatives after this move. The US stand on Hong Kong further expands the arc of conflict between Washington and Beijing. India has to keep a close watch on the already fragile relation between the two major powers.
 
INDIAN CONNECT
 
THE discovery of a monolithic sandstone Shiv Linga from the ninth-century in the Cham Temple Complex in Vietnam yet again reaffirms the presence of Indian culture in various parts of the world. The temple complex in My Son, Vietnam is over 5000 kilometers from India but the Shiv Linga finding confirms that a civilisational connect existed centuries ago. The Cham temple was built in the 9th century and is among Vietnam’s most cherished cultural treasures. Discovery of the Shiv Linga here is in the line of findings of various relics and scriptures related to the Indian culture and Hinduism in various parts of the world. All the discoveries establish that the Indian culture enjoyed a wide spread across continents since long. Back home, where the pseudo-intellectuals with a pro-left tilt continue their tirade to distort Indian history and tenets of Hinduism, such discoveries keep exposing their designs from time to time. It is also the divine way of busting a biased propaganda to build an anti-Hindu, anti-India narrative.