Spoke Of Reunification Under India: Sources On Lalduhoma's Viral Old Speech

A speech given by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma in the US nearly two months ago on reunification of the Zo people, which has gone viral now, has no element of controversy as the Chief Minister spoke about reunification under India, sources in the Mizoram government told NDTV.

Lalduhoma made the comment at an event to celebrate Mizo Day in Maryland on September 2. At the outset, the Chief Minister said he came to the US after taking permission from the Ministry of External Affairs, and he shared his itinerary with them.

Lalduhoma in his address on September 2 said, "... The main objective of [the] ZORO Movement in 1988 was Zo-Reunification within India. Can the 'Zo' people in India, Burma and Bangladesh today, aspire to be re-united under India? Looking at the geopolitical realities of our time, it may not be so farfetched to think this could be a possibility one day. Perhaps, fate has this reunification in store for us in the future..."

The full text of the September 2 speech is available on the website of the Mizoram government's Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).

The Mizoram Chief Minister gave another speech on September 4, this time in Indianapolis, where he said his people have been "unjustly divided." It is this September 4 speech which has triggered a massive controversy.

READ | "We Can't Stop Border Fencing, But Will Oppose It": Mizoram Chief Minister

In his address to the Zo diaspora in the US, Lalduhoma said: "... As I approach the end of my speech, I want to let everyone here know that the primary reason I accepted the invitation to visit the United States is to seek a path towards unity for all of us.

"We are one people - brothers and sisters - and we cannot afford to be divided or apart from one another. I want us to have the conviction and confidence that one day, through the strength of God, who made us a nation, we will rise together under one leadership to achieve our destiny of nationhood.

"While a country may have borders, a true nation transcends such limitations. We have been unjustly divided, forced to exist under three different governments in three different countries, and this is something we can never accept.

"We are fortunate that we are still connected through our lands and that there are no pretenders to insert themselves in our midst and cause division - this truly is a blessing from God..."

The full text of the September 4 speech is also available on the Mizoram government DIPR's website.

READ | Sheikh Hasina Alleges Plot To Carve Out Christian Country From Bangladesh: Report

From politicians to academics, many have raised concerns over Lalduhoma's speech in Indianapolis, with questions varying from what the law says about how an elected person should conduct themselves abroad to the wildly conspiratorial claim by ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that a certain nation wants to "carve out a Christian country" by taking parts of Myanmar and Bangladesh.

"Can someone who has taken an oath of allegiance to the Indian Constitution speak in a way that suggests breaking India apart? Do the Mizoram Council of Churches and other church bodies across India support Lalduhoma's communal, divisive, and anti-national stance? Is Lalduhoma speaking for himself? Or for the external powers who want to reshape South Asia's geopolitical scene?" former two-time BJP MP Balbir Punj said in a post on X.

The following speech of Chief Minister of #Mizoram PU Lalduhoma (@Lal_Duhoma) is self-explanatory. In his speech, he shares his vision of an independent 'Christian state' encompassing Christian-majority areas in three different countries. It is easy to deduce that these countries... pic.twitter.com/hHKq9Oum9E

— Balbir Punj (@balbirpunj) November 4, 2024

Dr Arambam Noni, associate professor of political science at DM University Manipur, said ethnocentric accumulation of people for a homeland will disturb the overlapping demographic spaces.

"He seems to be sort of trying to aggravate the relationship between overlapping multiethnic demographic spaces, which can lead to conflict. He is trying to signal as if demography is going to play a big role in the making of a homeland," Dr Arambam, who has been speaking in public forums on northeast issues especially those concerning Mizoram's neighbour Manipur, told NDTV.

'Demography Is Dated Politics'

"Demography is dated politics and is sectarian in some sense. The problem with the idea of transnational, territorial and ethnic unification in post-colonial states is that no mechanisms exist to do this. The modern state system cannot entertain such an idea simply because it contravenes the historically established territorialities. However, there is no problem in developing a cultural affinity," Dr Arambam said.

"He (Lalduhoma) is saying that colonialism divided and dispersed their people in three different countries. But at the same time he is using the idioms of colonial culture to reunify the same people. This culture that he is using to connect people was an invention of colonialism," Dr Arambam said.

"Interspace tranquillity must also be kept in mind while vouching for pan ethnic homeland," he added.

Lalduhoma became Chief Minister after his Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) defeated the Mizo National Front (MNF) headed by former Chief Minister Zoramthanga in the assembly election in December 2023. The MNF, which won 26 seats in the 2018 state election, won only 10 in the December polls.

The ZPM was registered as a political party in 2019. The party won 27 seats - up from 8 seats in the 2019 polls - in the election that propelled Lalduhoma to the top post.

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All-New Royal Enfield Flying Flea Electric C6 Motorcycle Revealed

The first ever electric Royal Enfield has landed and it is called the Flying Flea C6. All future electric motorcycles will be launched under the 'Flying Flea' brand, dedicated purely to EVs. The new Flying Flea brand is inspired from the original Royal Enfield Flying Flea motorcycle of the 1940s, which was purpose-built for use during WWII when these machines were airdropped via parachute to provide lightweight and easy-to-use mobility across different terrain. The lightness and agility on the motorcycles of the old is what is said to be offered on the Flying Flea electric motorcycles.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Bear 650 Scrambler Revealed 

The Flying Flea C6 is a retro-futuristic motorcycles, replete with a round LED headlight and girder forks up front, a piece of equipment that hasn't been used in two-wheelers for a while now. What is interesting is the fact that the overall design and presence of the RE electric bike is diminutive, unlike their petrol-powered motorcycles. Something that is confirmed by the skinny 17-inch tyres on the bike. There is a forged Aluminium frame in play as well. 

This can only mean that RE wants this motorcycle to be an urban modern classic electric motorcycle with decent range, that can take on the current crop of electric two-wheelers in the market. The seat height seems to be low, and the rider triangle seems to be comfy and apt for daily commuting.   

There will be a two-seater version of the Flying Flea C6 as well. Then you also see the round TFT display as well. The EV also gets cornering ABS and traction control. We expect the Royal Enfield's EV to have a fixed battery, with a range of up to 100-150 km. Expect the motorcycle to have decent power and torque output. All specifications will be revealed at a later date.

India too has a few electric motorcycles on sale such as the Revolt RV 400, Matter Aera 5000, Oben Rorr, Ola Roadster, Raptee T30, Tork Kratos and so on and it will be interesting to see how the Flying Flea C6 is priced, compared to other electric motorcycles in India.

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Watch: Chef Makes Guinness Record For Largest Chocolate Sculpture Of Fruit

The famous chocolatier Chef Amaury Guichon has set a new Guinness World Record at his pastry academy in Las Vegas by creating the "largest chocolate sculpture of fruit", marking a significant achievement in the world of pastry art. The sculpture, confirmed to measure 66 inches by 29.57 inches, shows his mastery over making chocolate in different shapes and sizes. The official Instagram handle of the Guinness World Records shared a video where Chef Guichon talked about the complexities of working with chocolate as a sculpting medium. In the video, Chef Guichon can be seen making a half-peeled banana mould. He then puts a chocolate mould on the banana that fits perfectly atop it, showcasing his remarkable skills and attention to detail.

The chef explained that chocolate's property of existing as both liquid and solid at the same temperature is a "challenge and also an opportunity". He added that over the last decade, he has developed specialised techniques to turn chocolate, a precious and costly material, into stunning sculptures. He further talked about how while the moulds he uses are basic shapes like eggs or spheres, it is the assembly and final touches that transform them into art.

Also Read: Giant Croissant Video With 18 Million Views Leaves Internet In Sweet Shock

This record marks Chef Guichon's second Guinness World Record. His first record was for the largest chocolate sculpture of a balloon animal, wherein a balloon dog was made entirely from chocolate and sprayed pink with a cocoa butter and colourant mix.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Guinness World Records (@guinnessworldrecords)

The internet was amazed by the achievement.

One user commented under the video, "Glad he's finally getting the global recognition he deserves." 

Another user talked about Chef Amaury Guichon's Netflix show School of Chocolate and wrote, "Still waiting for another season of School of Chocolate." 

Many left congratulatory comments and praised his skills. 

A user said, "Well deserved...the guy is the best." 

Another commented, "Congratulations to him. He deserves to be there."

A few weeks ago, Amaury Guichon's creation 'Peach Cake Fan' went viral when he turned a cake into a "functional" fan. The cake, made from baked, syrup-soaked dough, had a peach-basil filling. Guichon used white chocolate to form the fan's blades and stand, along with edible silver screws, creating an entirely chocolate centre for the fan.

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Boy, 2, Attacked By Dogs While Playing Outside Home In Hyderabad

A two-year-old boy was attacked by a pack of stray dogs in Hyderabad while playing outside his home. The incident, that happened in Rana Pratap Nagar of Hyderabad's Allapur area, was captured on CCTV. 

Video shows the boy walking to his home as two dogs approach him. Frightened, he tries running inside his home when one of the dogs suddenly lunges at him, grabbing his arm and dragging him to the street. Later, two more dogs join in, attacking and biting the child. Two women rush out of their homes to help the boy after listening to him screaming and crying. They manage to scare the dogs away. 

In a similar incident, a five-year-old child was severely injured after being attacked by a pack of dogs in Chakan in Pune district in Maharashtra in September. 

In August, an elderly woman was killed by a pack of stray dogs which then ate parts of her body in Telangana's Rajanna Sircilla district.
 

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Hemant Soren Counters BJP's Infiltration Allegation With Sheikh Hasina Jibe

The release of the BJP manifesto and Union minister Amit Shah's comments on "infiltration" have drawn a sharp response from Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Mr Soren has pointed out that infiltration from Bangladesh takes place through BJP-ruled states and questioned on what basis the Centre has given asylum to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

"I would like to know whether the BJP has some sort of internal understanding with Bangladesh," he said today while addressing an election rally at Ranka in Garhwa Assembly seat.

"Please tell us on what basis you allowed the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh to land in India and seek asylum. Infiltrators from Bangladesh enter India through BJP-ruled states. They are saying it themselves," he added.

Yesterday, while releasing the BJP manifesto, Amit Shah had accused the state of giving "shelter" to infiltrators.

"You have given shelter to infiltrators. You made infiltrators your votebank. Today I would like to inform the people of Jharkhand that by putting an end to appeasement politics, the BJP will drive out infiltrators and rebuild Jharkhand from scratch," he had said. 

Infiltration, though, is secondary to the big election issue that is expected to dominate the campaign - the BJP promise of implementing Uniform Civil Code, which has created a controversy in the tribal-dominated pockets of the state. 

While releasing the BJP manifesto yesterday, Mr Shah had made it clear that the tribal population, with its diverse customs and practices, will be kept out of the purview of the Uniform Civil Code.

This has been sharply challenged by the Congress, a partner in the ruling alliance. 

"If he is speaking in the capacity of the Union Home Minister then it is wrong. If he is speaking as a leader of the BJP then fine. They are habitual liars anyway," said senior Congress leader Rajesh Thakur. "Why are you saying that tribals will be out of the purview of UCC? Because you have included them in the UCC," he added. 

The BJP's "sankalp patra" for Jharkhand includes 25 resolutions to mark 25 years of the state's formation. 

Prominent among them is the welfare scheme for women "Gogo Didi" that promises Rs 2,100 per month to women to counter Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Maiyan Samman Yojana, under which they get Rs 1000 a month. The BJP has also promised free cooking gas during festivals and 5 lakh jobs for the young people in the state.
 

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Amid Rising Attacks, Big March In Bangladesh For Hindus, Other Minorities

Hundreds marched in Bangladesh's capital Saturday to demand protections for Hindus and other minorities who say they have suffered violence and threats since the ouster of autocratic premier Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina's toppling in an August student-led uprising saw a spate of reprisals on Hindus, who were seen as disproportionate supporters of her regime.

The caretaker government that replaced her, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has acknowledged and condemned attacks on Hindus but said in many cases they were motivated by politics rather than religion.

Regular protests in the months since claim that attacks are continuing and have demanded action from Yunus' administration, an "advisory council" tasked with implementing democratic reforms and staging fresh elections.

"It's deeply regrettable that the council of advisors do not acknowledge the sufferings minorities have endured," Hindu civic leader Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari told AFP.

"I have witnessed the atrocities against them -- their temples, businesses, and homes."

Protest organisers have urged the interim government to introduce a law to protect minorities and mandate a minimum share of minority representation in government, among other demands.

Tensions have been inflamed by the filing of sedition charges this week against 19 people who participated in an earlier minority rights rally in the port city of Chittagong.

The group was accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi national flag by hoisting a saffron flag -- the emblematic colour of the Hindu faith -- to fly above it.

"Framing our leaders with false charges, like sedition, has made us sceptical of the government's intentions," protest member Chiranjan Goswami told AFP.

Hindus are the largest minority faith in mostly Muslim Bangladesh, accounting for around eight percent of the population.

Attacks have also been reported on Sufi shrines, with suspicion falling on Islamists seeking to curb alternative expressions of the Muslim faith.

Saturday's demonstration came a day after 10,000 people attended a similar rally in Chittagong.

Minority leaders have pledged to hold more protests in the coming weeks.

Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India in August as protesters flooded Dhaka's streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule.

Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents during her 15-year rule.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Why US Votes In November But Inaugurates New President In January

The United States has an electoral system and calendar unlike no other country. The nation votes in November but the new President is inaugurated in January. While many countries swiftly usher in new leaders, the US takes a more measured approach with an 11-week transition period. Although this duration may seem lengthy, it is, in fact, shorter than the four months that the Constitution originally permitted for the transfer of power from an incumbent president to their successor.

Historical context

Federal elections in the US are held on the first Tuesday in November. Initially, states had different election days, but in 1845, a law established a uniform election day nationwide. At the time, the US was predominantly agricultural, and early November proved advantageous for farmers. The harvest would be complete, yet the weather remained good for travel. Certain days were ruled out for voting. Sunday was universally recognised as a day of worship for devout Christians, while Wednesday served as a market day for farmers to sell their produce. In addition, reaching polling places often required travel, even up to a day for those living in rural areas without modern transport. With Sunday and Wednesday unavailable, Monday and Thursday were also eliminated as potential election days. As such, Tuesday emerged as the most suitable choice.

From four months to under three months

The challenges faced during the Great Depression prompted leaders to expedite the swearing-in process for newly elected presidents, reducing the lengthy four-month “lame duck” period to under three months. A “lame duck” refers to an elected official whose successor has already been chosen, leaving them politically weakened.

The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, officially moved the inauguration date to January 20, while presidential elections continue to occur in early November.

Logistical considerations

One of the main reasons for this gap is the need for a seamless transition of power. After the election, the president-elect and their team require time to prepare for governance. This includes assembling a cabinet, developing policies and addressing national issues. The time between the election and inauguration allows the incoming administration to lay the groundwork for their agenda.

The extended transition period can also be attributed to the Electoral College system, which determines the president weeks after the popular vote, as opposed to a parliamentary system where the winning party directly assumes power. While this delay means that presidents cannot take office immediately, the winner is granted access to transition funding and can receive essential briefings from the outgoing administration to facilitate a smooth handover.

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