In a first, Chandigarh-born man to be next US Supreme Court Justice? Obama may nominate him

 

Chandigarh-born Srikanth 'Sri' Srinivasan, 48, tops the list of prospective justice to the country's highest judicial body as US President Barack Obama said he plans to fulfill his "constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor" to Scalia.

In all likelihood, this Indian-American judge may be nominated to the US Supreme Court which would make him the first from the community to achieve the feat.

Sri Srinivasan could become the first Indian-American to be on the bench of the US Supreme Court after conservative icon Justice Antonin Scalia's sudden death gave rise to speculation that Obama may nominate the judge who enjoys impeccable bipartisan support.

After Justice Antonin Scalia, the longest-serving justice on the high court, passed away, speculation has been rife that the 'moderate' judge might be nominated by US President Barack Obama.

Srinivasan, whom Obama had first nominated to the post in 2012, was a high school basketball star in Kansas before attending Stanford University, which he graduated from in 1989.

Baloch nationalists protest in front of White House

"At least 35,000 Baloch are missing. There is a grave violation of human rights on the people of Balochistan and all this is being perpetrated by the Pakistan Army and the ISI," said Mama Abdul Qadir Baloch in an interview to PTI yesterday in front of the White House.

Vice president of the Voice for Baloch Missing Person, Qadir Baloch who came from Pakistan to attend this peaceful protest in front of the White House had carried out a 3,000 km long march from Quetta to Islamabad in 2013 against human rights violations in the province.

The White House protest was organised by the Baloch National Movement (BNM) to condemn the cold-blooded murder of its secretary general, Dr Mannan Baloch allegedly by the Pakistani army in Baluchistan.

"We urge US President Barack Obama to ask the Pakistani Government to immediately stop human rights violations against the people of Balochistan. We also urge US to send NATO forces in Balochistan to save its people from the atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistan Army on us," he said.

Calling for a free and independent Balochistan that can guarantee peace and stability in the region plagued by religious extremism and terrorism perpetrated by the Pakistani army, the peaceful protestors alleged that the military is currently engaged in a bloody campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population.

"We are asking the US government to intervene and stop military aid to Pakistan as American weapons are used by them for genocide against the Baloch people," Waheed Baloch, former speaker of Balochistan Provincial Assembly said.

"Recently they killed three political leaders. There is a war going in in Balochistan. There are protests in the streets, in the mountains," he said.

Dr. Mannan Baloch was assassinated because of his unwavering struggle to end Pakistan's forceful occupation of Baloch lands, deep sea port of Gwadar, resources (natural gas, minerals, copper and gold mines) and brutal human rights violations of civilians, he alleged.

Senge Sering, president of Gilgit-Baltistan Institute, in his address supported the struggle for the independence of Balochistan.

He also condemned the brutal murder of the BNM leader Dr. Mannan Baloch.