<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-legislature-officially-kills-controversial-extradition-bill-257668">Hong Kong protesters</a> plan to rally on Thursday evening to show solidarity with people demonstrating in Spain's wealthiest region of Catalonia over jail sentences handed out to nine separatist leaders.</p>

<p>The protests in Catalonia share some noticeable comparisons with the demonstrations in Hong Kong, where millions have taken to the streets for five months to vent their anger over what they see as Beijing's tightening grip on the city.</p>

<p>Most protesters in Hong Kong want greater democracy, among other demands, although a small minority are calling for independence, a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing.</p>

<p>Independence is also a highly divisive issue in Catalonia, which, like Hong Kong, has more than 7 million inhabitants, its own language, parliament and flag.</p>

<p>Some demonstrators waved the Catalonian flag at a protest in Hong Kong on Sunday, while activists in Spain's northeastern region have adopted some of the tactics used by people in the Chinese-ruled city.</p>

<p>Students in Catalonia have boycotted classes, while protesters there have focused on strategic targets to cause maximum disruption, including the international airport serving Barcelona - similar to strategies used by Hong Kong activists.</p>

<p>Catalonian demonstrators are angry at what they see as attempts to thwart their desire for greater autonomy from the rest of Spain, fears that resonate with many protesters in the former British colony of Hong Kong.</p>

<p>Some Hong Kong protesters are going online ahead of the demonstration to urge people not to attend, saying it is too provocative and risks denting international support for their cause.</p>

<p>Hong Kong authorities formally banned a group promoting independence from China in September last year, the first outlawing of a political organisation since the handover.</p>

<p>Under the terms of the 1997 handover from Britain, Hong Kong was allowed to retain extensive freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China under a "one country, two systems" formula, including an independent judiciary and right to protest.</p>

<p>However, many Hong Kong residents are angry at what they see as a relentless march towards mainland control.</p>

<p>Hong Kong's legislature formally withdrew on Wednesday planned legislation that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, a bill that triggered the unrest, but the move was unlikely to end the protests because it met just one of the pro-democracy demonstrators' five demands.</p>


Hong Kong protesters plan to rally on Thursday evening to show solidarity with people demonstrating in Spain's wealthiest region of Catalonia over jail sentences handed out to nine separatist leaders.

Hong Kong protesters plan to rally on Thursday evening to show solidarity with people demonstrating in Spain's wealthiest region of Catalonia over jail sentences handed out to nine separatist leaders. The protests in Catalonia share some noticeable comparisons with the demonstrations in Hong Kong, where millions have taken to the streets for five months to vent their anger over what they see as Beijing's tightening grip on the city. Most protesters in Hong Kong want greater democracy, among other demands, although a small minority are calling for independence, a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing. Independence is also a highly divisive issue in Catalonia, which, like Hong Kong, has more than 7 million inhabitants, its own language, parliament and flag. Some demonstrators waved the Catalonian flag at a protest in Hong Kong on Sunday, while activists in Spain's northeastern region have adopted some of the tactics used by people in the Chinese-ruled city. Students in Catalonia have boycotted classes, while protesters there have focused on strategic targets to cause maximum disruption, including the international airport serving Barcelona - similar to strategies used by Hong Kong activists. Catalonian demonstrators are angry at what they see as attempts to thwart their desire for greater autonomy from the rest of Spain, fears that resonate with many protesters in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Some Hong Kong protesters are going online ahead of the demonstration to urge people not to attend, saying it is too provocative and risks denting international support for their cause. Hong Kong authorities formally banned a group promoting independence from China in September last year, the first outlawing of a political organisation since the handover. Under the terms of the 1997 handover from Britain, Hong Kong was allowed to retain extensive freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China under a "one country, two systems" formula, including an independent judiciary and right to protest. However, many Hong Kong residents are angry at what they see as a relentless march towards mainland control. Hong Kong's legislature formally withdrew on Wednesday planned legislation that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, a bill that triggered the unrest, but the move was unlikely to end the protests because it met just one of the pro-democracy demonstrators' five demands.

Hong Kong protesters to rally in support of Catalan activists

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<p>Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the opposition leader visited Barcelona on Monday to meet police struggling with Catalan separatist violence in a crisis that could be a game-changer in next month's general election.</p>

<p>The visit came as Sanchez faces mounting criticism over his handling of the crisis, which erupted a week ago when the Supreme Court sentenced nine separatist leaders to long jail terms over an abortive 2017 independence bid.</p>

<p>Over the past week, nearly 600 have been people hurt, two of whom remain critical, as protesters have torched cars, burnt barricades and lobbed rocks at police who have hit back with tear gas and rubber bullets.</p>

<p>The nightly violence has dominated the news in Spain and made headlines around the world, but so far, Madrid has shown little appetite for direct intervention, despite repeated calls for regional president Quim Torra to condemn the unrest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And it has done little to help the ruling Socialists, with a string of surveys on Monday showing rising support for the conservative opposition Popular Party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If an election was to be held today, the Socialists would win 117 seats in the 350-member parliament, down from 123 in the April elections, while the PP, would take 103 up from 66 in April, according to a poll in eldiario.es&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Oust Torra, rescind autonomy&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In an address at the police headquarters, Sanchez acknowledged the crisis was not yet over but warned the government would not back down.</p>

<p>"It is evident that the radicals who engage in violence have decided that Barcelona will be their theatre of operation to broadcast their grievance to those at home and abroad," he said before meeting wounded officers in hospital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While it's true that the crisis isn't over, we have to keep trying. They want to make it worse but we are much more persistent, much more determined."</p>

<p>PP head Pablo Casado used his visit to Barcelona to demand the government "intensify its operations" against the troublemakers, urging it to ensure the "immediate return of security... to the streets of Catalonia".</p>

<p>Sanchez has repeatedly come under fire from his opponents for taking a soft line on the separatists, with the resolutely anti-separatist Ciudadanos on Sunday demanding Madrid oust Torra and suspend Catalonia's autonomy, as it did in 2017.</p>

<p>So far, Sanchez has refused to speak to Torra despite his call for "unconditional" talks, an apparent attempt to secure agreement for a legal referendum on independence -- a non-starter for Madrid, which claims the Constitution does not allow it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>'Stop telling lies'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Speaking to Britain's Guardian newspaper, Sanchez's deputy Carmen Calvo said Torra should "stop telling impossible lies."</p>

<p>"The independence movement’s biggest problem politically is that they’ve lied to the Catalan people," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They told them the split was possible, that the right to self-determination exists in a democracy like Spain -- which is a total lie.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There’s no right to unilateral separation in this democracy nor any other."</p>

<p>Sanchez government denies the current unrest is political in nature, with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Monday describing it as "basically a crisis of public order."</p>

<p>Although Barcelona returned to relative calm at the weekend, some 500 activists Monday rallied in the city centre demanding Sanchez "sit and talk" while the radical CDR called on protesters to gather in the evening outside the interior ministry armed with paint-filled balloons.&nbsp;</p>


Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the opposition leader visited Barcelona on Monday to meet police struggling with Catalan separatist violence in a crisis that could be a game-changer in next month's general election.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the opposition leader visited Barcelona on Monday to meet police struggling with Catalan separatist violence in a crisis that could be a game-changer in next month's general election. The visit came as Sanchez faces mounting criticism over his handling of the crisis, which erupted a week ago when the Supreme Court sentenced nine separatist leaders to long jail terms over an abortive 2017 independence bid. Over the past week, nearly 600 have been people hurt, two of whom remain critical, as protesters have torched cars, burnt barricades and lobbed rocks at police who have hit back with tear gas and rubber bullets. The nightly violence has dominated the news in Spain and made headlines around the world, but so far, Madrid has shown little appetite for direct intervention, despite repeated calls for regional president Quim Torra to condemn the unrest. And it has done little to help the ruling Socialists, with a string of surveys on Monday showing rising support for the conservative opposition Popular Party. If an election was to be held today, the Socialists would win 117 seats in the 350-member parliament, down from 123 in the April elections, while the PP, would take 103 up from 66 in April, according to a poll in eldiario.es Oust Torra, rescind autonomy In an address at the police headquarters, Sanchez acknowledged the crisis was not yet over but warned the government would not back down. "It is evident that the radicals who engage in violence have decided that Barcelona will be their theatre of operation to broadcast their grievance to those at home and abroad," he said before meeting wounded officers in hospital. "While it's true that the crisis isn't over, we have to keep trying. They want to make it worse but we are much more persistent, much more determined." PP head Pablo Casado used his visit to Barcelona to demand the government "intensify its operations" against the troublemakers, urging it to ensure the "immediate return of security... to the streets of Catalonia". Sanchez has repeatedly come under fire from his opponents for taking a soft line on the separatists, with the resolutely anti-separatist Ciudadanos on Sunday demanding Madrid oust Torra and suspend Catalonia's autonomy, as it did in 2017. So far, Sanchez has refused to speak to Torra despite his call for "unconditional" talks, an apparent attempt to secure agreement for a legal referendum on independence -- a non-starter for Madrid, which claims the Constitution does not allow it. 'Stop telling lies' Speaking to Britain's Guardian newspaper, Sanchez's deputy Carmen Calvo said Torra should "stop telling impossible lies." "The independence movement’s biggest problem politically is that they’ve lied to the Catalan people," she said. "They told them the split was possible, that the right to self-determination exists in a democracy like Spain -- which is a total lie. There’s no right to unilateral separation in this democracy nor any other." Sanchez government denies the current unrest is political in nature, with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Monday describing it as "basically a crisis of public order." Although Barcelona returned to relative calm at the weekend, some 500 activists Monday rallied in the city centre demanding Sanchez "sit and talk" while the radical CDR called on protesters to gather in the evening outside the interior ministry armed with paint-filled balloons.

Catalan crisis looms large over Spain's November election

<p>Pro-independence protesters obstructed major roads and a high-speed railway line in Spain's Catalonia region on Monday, one year after a banned referendum on secession that was marred by police violence.</p>

<p>Hundreds of activists, many covering their faces with scarves, occupied high-speed railway tracks in Girona, north of the Catalan capital of Barcelona.</p>

<p>Central streets in Barcelona and Lleida were blocked, as was the AP-7 motorway which leads to the French border, and A2 linking Barcelona to Madrid, images on Catalan TV showed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The high-speed rail service linking Figueres, Girona and Barcelona "was interrupted" since the "tracks in Girona are occupied," Spanish state-owned rail operator Renfe said on Twitter.</p>

<p>The protests were called online by a grassroots group calling itself the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs), founded to help stage last year's banned referendum and now demanding a clean break with the Spanish state.</p>

<p>The group tweeted a picture of a red, yellow and blue Catalan separatist flag on the track of the station in Girona as protesters stood around it.</p>

<p>Twenty-four people were injured and six detained on Saturday during a rally -- and a counter demonstration -- in Barcelona by police paying tribute to colleagues deployed to prevent the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.</p>

<p>The Catalan government, then led by Carles Puigdemont, on October 1, 2017, pushed ahead with a referendum on independence for the region despite it having been deemed illegal by the Spanish courts. The vote was marred by a violent police crackdown on polling stations.</p>

<p>Even if it was illegal and therefore non-binding, 2.3 million people cast their ballots out of 5.5 million eligible voters, 90 percent of whom voted to break from Spain. Opponents of independence largely boycotted the vote.</p>

<p>After the Catalan government declared independence on October 27, Madrid swiftly sacked the Catalan government, prompting several key figures to flee abroad, including Puigdemont. Others were jailed.</p>


Pro-independence protesters obstructed major roads and a high-speed railway line in Spain's Catalonia region on Monday, one year after a banned referendum on secession that was marred by police violence.

Pro-independence protesters obstructed major roads and a high-speed railway line in Spain's Catalonia region on Monday, one year after a banned referendum on secession that was marred by police violence. Hundreds of activists, many covering their faces with scarves, occupied high-speed railway tracks in Girona, north of the Catalan capital of Barcelona. Central streets in Barcelona and Lleida were blocked, as was the AP-7 motorway which leads to the French border, and A2 linking Barcelona to Madrid, images on Catalan TV showed. The high-speed rail service linking Figueres, Girona and Barcelona "was interrupted" since the "tracks in Girona are occupied," Spanish state-owned rail operator Renfe said on Twitter. The protests were called online by a grassroots group calling itself the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs), founded to help stage last year's banned referendum and now demanding a clean break with the Spanish state. The group tweeted a picture of a red, yellow and blue Catalan separatist flag on the track of the station in Girona as protesters stood around it. Twenty-four people were injured and six detained on Saturday during a rally -- and a counter demonstration -- in Barcelona by police paying tribute to colleagues deployed to prevent the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. The Catalan government, then led by Carles Puigdemont, on October 1, 2017, pushed ahead with a referendum on independence for the region despite it having been deemed illegal by the Spanish courts. The vote was marred by a violent police crackdown on polling stations. Even if it was illegal and therefore non-binding, 2.3 million people cast their ballots out of 5.5 million eligible voters, 90 percent of whom voted to break from Spain. Opponents of independence largely boycotted the vote. After the Catalan government declared independence on October 27, Madrid swiftly sacked the Catalan government, prompting several key figures to flee abroad, including Puigdemont. Others were jailed.

Pro-independence protesters in Catalonia block roads, railway line: Reports

<p>Today many citizens either don&rsquo;t understand the value of independence or are not inclined to value the national symbols. In these times of apathy, it is important to remember the struggle of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
To understand his contribution to the nation we need to have a deep understanding of our own history. For the most part of the last millennia, India was subjected to foreign rule. The main reason attributed to this state of affairs was our lack of unity. The land was divided into many kingdoms and invaders were quick to exploit this political fragmentation.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Invasions left a trail of destruction and death. MA Khan in his book, I<em>slamic Jihad: A Legacy of Forced Conversion, Imperialism and Slavery</em>, writes, &ldquo;... in 1398 the Mongol warlord Tamerlane declared jihad against India. When he reached Delhi he had hundred thousand prisoners. Before attacking Delhi he killed all of them (page 281)&rdquo;.<br />
<br />
He wasn&rsquo;t alone. In 1761, 60,000 to 70,000 Maratha soldiers died fighting the Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali in the third battle of Panipat.</p>

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<h5>The reason we(India) were subjugated by the foreign powers was our lack of political unity that could provide a cohesive resistance to any foreign invasion.</h5>
</blockquote>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The reason we(India) were subjugated by the foreign powers was our lack of political unity that could provide a cohesive resistance to any foreign invasion." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
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<p>Similarly, in 1739 Iranian invader Nadir Shah resorted to the massacre in Delhi that left close to 30,000 dead.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Death, destitution and starvation due to misrule by the British colonial rulers is today well documented.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The reason we were subjugated by the foreign powers was our lack of political unity that could provide a cohesive resistance to any foreign invasion.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Small kings ruled their principalities without any consideration to the larger needs of the nation and the threats our motherland faced.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
But today things have changed. A resident of Kerala joins the Indian army and readily lays down his life in Jammu &amp; Kashmir to safeguard the interests of the country. Men and women from every corner of India lay down their lives in varied theatres of action to save the integrity and unity of our nation.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Patriotism and belief in the integrity and unity of a nation are the most important glue that holds the modern nation-state together and for this, we have only Sardar Patel to thank for.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In 1947 when India became independent Sardar Patel was given the charge of the home ministry. At that time India had 565 princely states. The British wanted that they should remain independent so that India remained weak and fragmented.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
But Sardar Patel saw through their game and thwarted any attempts to rupture India&rsquo;s unity. Among the princely states, he had two greatest challenges - Hyderabad and Jammu &amp; Kashmir. He used his political genius to convince the Nizam of Hyderabad to join the Indian Union.</p>

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<h5>If you want to understand how grave the situation was at the time of Independence then you must watch what is happening in Spain&rsquo;s Catalonia province today.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=If you want to understand how grave the situation was at the time of Independence then you must watch what is happening in Spain?s Catalonia province today." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
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<p>Kashmir, however, was a different ball game. Even though he was the home minister he was kept away from dealing with Kashmir which was an issue close to the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
It is because of Sardar&rsquo;s exclusion from the affairs of the state of Jammu and Kashmir that the issue is still posing a serious problem for the country.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
If you want to understand how grave the situation was at the time of Independence then you must watch what is happening in Spain&rsquo;s Catalonia province today.</p>

<p>The province has declared itself independent and the Spanish government is at its wit&rsquo;s end figuring out how to tackle this crisis perpetuated by the secessionists.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
It was the same situation in India but with 565 Catalonias demanding independence, ready to secede any moment. In such a dangerous atmosphere maintaining the unity of a new nation would really have been a great challenge for the &ldquo;iron man&rdquo;.</p>


Sardar Patel's political strategies were the reasons behind India's unification after independence from colonial rule

Today many citizens either don’t understand the value of independence or are not inclined to value the national symbols. In these times of apathy, it is important to remember the struggle of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. To understand his contribution to the nation we need to have a deep understanding of our own history. For the most part of the last millennia, India was subjected to foreign rule. The main reason attributed to this state of affairs was our lack of unity. The land was divided into many kingdoms and invaders were quick to exploit this political fragmentation. Invasions left a trail of destruction and death. MA Khan in his book, Islamic Jihad: A Legacy of Forced Conversion, Imperialism and Slavery, writes, “... in 1398 the Mongol warlord Tamerlane declared jihad against India. When he reached Delhi he had hundred thousand prisoners. Before attacking Delhi he killed all of them (page 281)”. He wasn’t alone. In 1761, 60,000 to 70,000 Maratha soldiers died fighting the Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali in the third battle of Panipat. The reason we(India) were subjugated by the foreign powers was our lack of political unity that could provide a cohesive resistance to any foreign invasion. × Similarly, in 1739 Iranian invader Nadir Shah resorted to the massacre in Delhi that left close to 30,000 dead. Death, destitution and starvation due to misrule by the British colonial rulers is today well documented. The reason we were subjugated by the foreign powers was our lack of political unity that could provide a cohesive resistance to any foreign invasion. Small kings ruled their principalities without any consideration to the larger needs of the nation and the threats our motherland faced. But today things have changed. A resident of Kerala joins the Indian army and readily lays down his life in Jammu & Kashmir to safeguard the interests of the country. Men and women from every corner of India lay down their lives in varied theatres of action to save the integrity and unity of our nation. Patriotism and belief in the integrity and unity of a nation are the most important glue that holds the modern nation-state together and for this, we have only Sardar Patel to thank for. In 1947 when India became independent Sardar Patel was given the charge of the home ministry. At that time India had 565 princely states. The British wanted that they should remain independent so that India remained weak and fragmented. But Sardar Patel saw through their game and thwarted any attempts to rupture India’s unity. Among the princely states, he had two greatest challenges - Hyderabad and Jammu & Kashmir. He used his political genius to convince the Nizam of Hyderabad to join the Indian Union. If you want to understand how grave the situation was at the time of Independence then you must watch what is happening in Spain’s Catalonia province today. × Kashmir, however, was a different ball game. Even though he was the home minister he was kept away from dealing with Kashmir which was an issue close to the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It is because of Sardar’s exclusion from the affairs of the state of Jammu and Kashmir that the issue is still posing a serious problem for the country. If you want to understand how grave the situation was at the time of Independence then you must watch what is happening in Spain’s Catalonia province today. The province has declared itself independent and the Spanish government is at its wit’s end figuring out how to tackle this crisis perpetuated by the secessionists. It was the same situation in India but with 565 Catalonias demanding independence, ready to secede any moment. In such a dangerous atmosphere maintaining the unity of a new nation would really have been a great challenge for the “iron man”.

Spain needs a leader like Sardar Patel to tackle Catalan crisis

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Hong Kong protesters to rally in support of Catalan activists

Catalan crisis looms large over Spain's November election

Pro-independence protesters in Catalonia block roads, railway line: Reports

Spain needs a leader like Sardar Patel to tackle Catalan crisis