On Wednesday (10th April), the Calcutta High Court ordered a court-monitored CBI investigation to probe the allegations of Sandeshkhali locals who had levelled serious allegations of extortion, land grabbing, and institutional sexual assault against TMC strongmen Shahjahan Sheikh and his accomplices. While transferring the probe to CBI, the court emphasised the need for an impartial investigation into these allegations. Additionally, the court also directed the CBI to submit a report on the illegal conversion of agricultural land for pisciculture.
#WATCH | On the Calcutta High Court order in the Sandeshkhali case, Advocate Alok Srivastav says, "A landmark order has been passed by the Calcutta High Court today. An order has just been pronounced directed for HC monitored CBI inquiry in Sandeshkhali sexual assault, rape cases… pic.twitter.com/D3OoJyAlBL
While pronouncing the order, the court said, “Considering the complexity of the matters in Sandeshkhali, there is no doubt that an impartial investigation should be done. We are of the opinion that the state has to give proper support to whoever agency is given incharge for investigation.”
The division bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya also directed the agency to launch a portal to receive complaints from the locals and asked the District Magistrate to spread awareness about the same. The high court said, “A portal/email ID is to be launched for receiving complaints. The District Magistrate should give adequate publicity mentioning the date of release of the same in vernacular.”
“The CBI shall file a comprehensive report and also enquire and investigate the grabbing of land. The agency will have the power to enquire anyone, including common people, government departments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), etc,” the High Court added.
It further stated, “The court will monitor the whole matter closely. CCTV cameras are to be installed on a priority basis within 15 days. LED streetlights are also to be installed. Funds as required shall be given by the state.”
However, the court declined the plea to constitute an Inquiry Committee to be headed by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court, saying that instead, CBI should investigate and submit a report with regard to the allegations and complaints of the persons of Sandeshkhali. The court favoured CBI over expert committee headed by a retired HC judge because CBI is already probing an incident which recently took place at Sandeshkhali.
The division bench of the Calcutta High Court issued the order while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by women in Sandeshkhali who had levied sexual assault allegations against local Trinamool Congress leaders, apart from complaints of land grabbing and violence. The case has now been listed for hearing on 2nd May.
Last week on 4th April, the High Court slammed the Bengal government during the hearing of the Sandeshkhali violence. The court said that the entire district administration and the ruling dispensation have to owe 100 percent moral responsibility for this. The bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya made these remarks during the hearing.
Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam said, “Even assuming if one affidavit filed by the women’s lawyer in this case is correct it is shameful. The entire district administration and the ruling dispensation have to owe 100 percent moral responsibility. It is the safety of the citizens. If you go through the report of the National Commission for SC/ST, even if one percent is true then it is 100 percent shameful. West Bengal boasts of the NCRB data on the safety of women. Even if one affidavit is proven to be right, these statistics fall, the public image falls, and the opinion falls. If it falls and crumbles, you cannot be resurrected.”
Pertinent to note that, following the Court order, the CBI is already probing the 5th January attack on a team of the Enforcement Directorate. The ED team was attacked by the supporters of now-suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh while they raided his house in connection with the ration scam.
Following the incident, Shahjahan Sheikh went absconding. In his absence, a massive women-led protest erupted in Sandeshkhali where multiple women narrated instances of land grabbing, and sexual violence perpetrated against them by former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides Shibu Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.
After being on the run for 55 days, Shahjahan Sheikh was arrested by the state police on 29th February. Subsequently, he was suspended by the TMC. On court orders, the Former TMC strongman was later handed over to the CBI.
Barbadose-born singer, businesswoman, actress and songwriter Rihanna has attracted the ire of netizens after she posed as a “sexy nun” for the popular American magazine “Interview.”
In bold pictures shared online, The ‘Diamonds’ star is dressed in a mock black and white nun’s habit complete with a defined headpiece. However, her top is open revealing a greasy and braless chest with ample cleavage on display as she strikes a provocative pose with bright red lipstick and heavy makeup on her face. She can be seen making suggestive gestures in a subsequent video.
“Rihanna is ready to confess” is the title of the interview in the issue, alluding to the Catholic practice of offering confessions. As the posts which were posed on 9th April gained traction, many users called her out for her “distasteful display” of Christianity and dared her to do the same with Islam.
Internet personality Oli London slammed the celebrity and accused her of “selling her soul.” He commented, “Would you mock another religion, Rihanna? Would you wear a Hijab and do this? No, you absolutely wouldn’t. So why do you think it’s okay to mock Christians? You sold your soul.”
One person remarked that Rihanna’s actions were “ungodly and disrespectful to the Christian faith.” and added, “You can never do this with Muslim attire in a Muslim country. Show some respect to Christians.”
This is Ungodly and disrespectful to the Christian Faith. You can never do this with Muslim attire in a Muslim country.
One user asked, “Don’t you guys get tired of making excuses for disrespecting religious garments,” and questioned if such acts are only permitted against Christianity.
don’t you guys get tired of making excuses for disrespecting religious garments? or is it only allowed when it’s tied to Christianity? https://t.co/udE1fyRkMV
— plamedi’s house of commons (@MumfordAndPlums) April 9, 2024
Journalist Amy Mek also slammed the singer for being a “hypocrite.” She charged, “Rihanna disrespects Christians and Hindus, yet begs for forgiveness of Muslims.”
Rihanna's Hypocrisy: Disrespects Christians and Hindus, Yet Begs for Muslims' Forgiveness https://t.co/DYbGFF8H87
Notably, this is not the first time, the Grammy Award winner has courted controversy for disrespecting religion. She faced harsh criticism after lingerie models at her fashion show danced to a song that appeared to be a remix of an Islamic Hadith. The incident transpired in 2020 and the global star apologized for utilizing “Doom,” a song by Coucou Chloe which was released in 2016, in her Savage x Fenty fashion presentation.
The song featured Hadith concerning the end of the world and the hereafter. The Hadith, which was written by the Prophet Muhammad and people close to him, is the second most revered book in Islam after the Quran. It was reportedly adapted from a sermon delivered by Kuwaiti preacher Mishary bin Rashid Alafasy. The volatile reaction forced Rihanna and Coucou Chloe to apologize on social media after Muslims raised objections to the fact that the song incorporated a modified version of their holy scripture.
She shared, “I’d like to thank the Muslim community for pointing out a huge oversight that was unintentionally offensive in our Savage x Fenty show. I would more importantly like to apologize to you for this honest, yet careless mistake. We understand that we have hurt many of our Muslim brothers and sisters, and I’m incredibly disheartened by this. I do not play with any kind of disrespect toward God or any religion and therefore the use of the song in our project was completely irresponsible. Moving forward we will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Thank you for your forgiveness and understanding.”
Interestingly, after apologising to Muslims, Rihanna insulted Hindus in 2021 by flaunting a Ganesha necklace as she posed semi-nude, but conveniently ignored to express any apology to the global minority even after she was repeatedly criticised for her derogatory gesture.
“While the singer is clearly promoting her new Savage x Fenty line, which just got $115 million in funding, I’m baffled by what made her think it’s OK to appropriate another culture. Rihanna was wearing a necklace of a god, which is incredibly sacred to Hindus. For those who don’t know, Ganesh is a Hindu god who is believed to be the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles. I understand that many outside of the religion may not immediately understand what the big deal is, but once you learn the meaning, it’s easy to see that celebrities truly need to stop using other religious symbols as their aesthetic, because it’s getting old,” Nikita Charuza voiced in ‘PopSugar.’ She further slammed the pop icon in the piece for apologizing to Muslims for insulting their religion but not to Hindus.
On Wednesday (10th April), Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav furnished a bizarre explanation on his fish-eating video that he shared from his X handle on 9th April. He said that though the video was posted on the first day of Navratri, it was shot on 8th April and it was mentioned in his post. He said that by posting the fish-eating video during Navratri, he was checking the IQ of the common BJP workers, leaders, and supporters. Notably, he was seen having fish in this video.
Navratri started on 9th April. 9 goddesses are worshipped in this festival celebrated for 9 days. Devotees keep fast during this time and consume a vegetarian diet. Many netizens criticised the former deputy chief minister of Bihar for trying to incite Hindus. Tejashwi Yadav tried to defend himself, saying his post mentioned that the video was from 8th April, a day before Navratri began.
He said, “While making that video, Mukesh Sahni told me that people will get offended. And indeed some people got offended. I have mentioned the date in the tweet itself. The video is shot on 8th April and it is mentioned in the tweet. I was checking the IQ (intelligence quotient) of the BJP leaders and their blind supporters. And I emerged to be right in this. They never show this fierce attitude while talking on the issues like unemployment, education, health, and poverty – the issues that actually matter. But when it came to religion, everyone stepped in. Their leaders do not read. They do not understand anything. They are sheer ignorant people. They make statements out of that. Those who are raising the questions and making the statements, should have at least read the tweet. Doesn’t it clearly mention the date? It is mentioned there in the very first line. It was just a test in which BJP and its people have miserably failed.”
Patna: On the controversy over eating fish, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "In the tweet, I mentioned the date on which I posted the video. I was conducting IQ test on BJP leaders." pic.twitter.com/uIEhGTLSG8
In a video shared on X on Tuesday (9th April), Tejashwi Yadav was seen dining on fish alongside Mukesh Sahni, the chief of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), aboard a helicopter. In the video, Yadav mentioned that amidst his campaign schedule, he typically only has 10-15 minutes to spare for meals. The two leaders had fish and rotis in the helicopter. He posted on X, “Food in helicopter amidst the hustle and bustle of election! Date- 08/04/2024.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party criticised him for this gesture right on the first day of the Hindu New Year and the Chaitra Navratri festival when Hindus are fasting. BJP leader and union minister Giriraj Singh called Tejashwi Yadav a seasonal sanatani. He said, “Tejashwi Yadav is a ‘Seasonal Sanatani’, many people be it Rohingyas or Bangladeshi infiltrators came here when his father (Lalu Yadav) was in power. They do politics of appeasement wearing the mask of Sanatan.”
He added, “Lalu Yadav’s party is a private limited company. It is their company and to whom they want to give the shares become shareholders. In Bihar, be it infiltrators or Rohingyas, a large number of them have their names on the voter list. I demand a mechanism that denies them the voting rights.”
Bihar’s deputy chief minister and BJP leader Vijay Sinha said, “A few people show themselves as a son of Sanatan but can’t accept the values of Sanatan. I have no objection to food habits, but what you want to show by posting a video of eating fish in Navratri, is the politics of appeasement. One should feel proud of one’s religion, values, nation and society but demeaning them isn’t good. Secularism doesn’t mean insulting your own religion. PM Modi has clearly said ‘ab tushtikaran ki nahi, santushtikaran ki rajneeti hogi’.”
#WATCH | Patna: On RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's post on social media platform 'X' eating fish, Bihar deputy CM Vijay Sinha says, "A few people show themselves as a son of Sanatan but can't accept the values of Sanatan. I have no objection to food habits, but what you want to show… pic.twitter.com/N320hN2KVj
Mukesh Sahni, formerly associated with the NDA, recently reunited with the opposition alliance in Bihar last month. Under Sahni’s leadership, the VIP will nominate candidates to contest in the Gopalganj, Motihari, and Jhanjharpur constituencies.
In historic development on the 9th of April, the Sensex crossed the 75,000 points mark for the first time and the Nifty 50 opened above a new record high of 22,700 mark.
Up 382 points or 0.5%, the BSE Sensex opened at its all-time high of 75,124.28. In keeping with this, the Nifty 50 opened at 22,768.40 as opposed to 22,666.3 in the prior session. In May 2014, the 30-share Sensex crossed the 25,000 mark, and on January 21, 2021, it crossed the 50,000 mark.
The historic milestone aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre for the last ten years. When Narendra Modi first became Prime Minister in 2014, the Sensex celebrated the historic verdict by surging roughly 1400 points to exceed the 25,000 mark. Now, ten years later, as PM Modi is vying for a third term in the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections of 2024, the Sensex has crossed the landmark 75,000 mark.
The massive breach occurred just one day after the market valuation on the Bombay Stock Exchange surpassed Rs 400 crore.
Notably, a TOI report says that investors’ wealth has increased nearly five times over the past ten years.
On Tuesday morning, the market capitalisation of the BSE-listed companies was 401.82 lakh crore, which is the entire value of all of their listed shares. On Monday, the overall market capitalization of BSE businesses reached Rs 400.86 lakh crore, surpassing the Rs 400 lakh crore threshold. These companies added Rs 100 lakh crore to their market capitalization in a period of nine months. In July 2023, the BSE m-cap surpassed Rs 300 lakh crore.
According to reports, the top 10 Sensex gainers in 2024 who drove the Sensex rally to 75000 were Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Maruti Suzuki, State Bank of India, Bharti Airtel, NTPC, Power Grid Corporation of India, and Tata Steel.
The main laggards in this regard were HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra, Titan, Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, Nestle, UltraTech Cement, Infosys Wipro, ITC, etc.
Economic growth, fastest settlements system, fastest IPO processes and more: Last decade under Modi rule was a boon for the Indian stock market
Over the past ten years, India’s economy has grown from a $1.7 trillion market cap to a $4.8 trillion one. It has also established one of the fastest settlement systems in the world (T+1), one of the quickest initial public offering (IPO) processes involving both retail and institutional investors, and the most active derivatives trading system in terms of the number of contracts.
Industry veterans assert that all of these factors, along with a market structure that is gradually allowing small and medium-sized businesses to list on the bourses at a fair price and the emergence of retail investors as a significant investing group (through the mutual fund route), give every investor confidence to place their money in the Indian market.
The chief investment officer of Axis Securities PMS, Naveen Kulkarni, stated that although it was predicted that benchmark indices would hit a new record high in FY25, the pace of growth has been speedier than expected.
Meanwhile, Arvinder Singh Nanda, senior vice president at Master Capital Services lauded the Modi government for its policies and reforms for creating an environment conducive for market growth.
“Government policies and reforms have played a crucial role in fostering a stable environment conducive to market growth. Measures aimed at stimulating the economy, coupled with a focus on digitalization and infrastructure development, have attracted substantial investments,” Nanda was quoted by Financial Express.
On May 23, 2019, with Narendra Modi and the BJP continuing to hold sway at the federal level, the index broke the 40,000 mark. In just 35 sessions, the Sensex leaped from 45,000 to 50,000.
As OpIndia reported back then, the highest gainers in the trade in the benchmark index at that time were IndusInd Bank, SBI, L&T, PowerGrid, Yes Bank, Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, RIL, HDFC, Bharti Airtel and Axis Bank, rallying up to 7 per cent.
Be it pro-business reforms, infrastructure projects, increased financial inclusion, and political stability, the Narendra Modi-led government has delivered on all fronts thus leading to market growth. In addition, PM Modi has positively influenced the Indian stock market. This warrants recalling how PM Modi in August last year encouraged investors to invest money into Indian PSUs with the phrase “Daanv laga dijiye”. Since then, 22 PSUs’ stocks have performed exceptionally well, increasing their combined market value by 66% to ₹59.5 lakh crore.
Over the past ten years, India under PM Modi’s leadership has risen from the list of the world’s fragile five economies to the fifth largest, and it is currently on track to become the third-largest overtaking Germany.
On Wednesday (10th April), the Supreme Court refused to accept Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurveda MD Acharya Balkrishna’s second apology in the misleading advertisements case. Patanjali and its MD along with Ramdev had filed affidavits expressing an “unconditional and unqualified apology” for airing the advertisements in breach of an undertaking given to the Court in November last year.
The bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanudding Amanullah stated that the reason for issuing the “apology on paper” was because their “back was against the wall”.
The Supreme Court directed Patanjali Ayurveda and its representative to be prepared for action in the contempt case, citing the company’s alleged publication of deceptive advertisements despite their undertaking that they would desist from doing so.
“The apology is on paper. Their back is against the wall. We decline to accept this, we consider it a deliberate violation of the undertaking, be ready for something next to rejection of affidavit,” Justice Hima Kohli said.
The Supreme Court bench deemed the conduct of Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna as deliberate disobedience. “We don’t accept it (apology), we decline to accept this. We consider it a wilful, deliberate disobedience of the undertaking,” the court said.
The Supreme Court stated that the message must go out to society after senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi read aloud Baba Ramdev’s affidavit in which he expressed his “unconditional and unqualified” apology. The “contemnors” sent the affidavits to the media first, the court further noted. The judge noted, “They clearly believe in publicity.”
When Patanjali’s lawyer Rohatgi said, “people make mistakes”, Justice Kohli replied, “Then they suffer. We don’t want to be so generous in this case.” “Why should we not treat your apology with the same disdain as shown to court undertaking? We are not convinced. Now going to turn down this apology,” Justice Kohli further added.
Last week the apex court had expressed dissatisfaction with the earlier affidavit filed by the company, as the affidavit claimed that the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 was “archaic”.
During today’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that he had advised the lawyers to withdraw the first affidavit, as it was written in conditional terms and asked them to file an unconditional affidavit. He said he was curious to know what he missed in advising.
The court replied that he had done what he could, but the affidavit was not convincing and it was only on paper.
Notably, the Supreme Court also said that Acharya Balkrishna and Baba Ramdev tried to evade personal appearance before the Court by making false claims of travel abroad, accusing them of furnishing false air tickets. The court stated that flight tickets had been attached with the affidavits to claim that they were travelling abroad, but the tickets were dated 31 March, when the affidavit was filed on 30 March.
When the concerned lawyer admitted that tickets were issued on a day after the affidavits were sworn, the court stated that the fact remains that on the date when the affidavits were sworn (March 30), there was no such ticket in existence. “Therefore, the assumption is that the respondents were trying to wriggle out of their personal appearance before the Court, which is most unacceptable,” the Court said.
Supreme Court slams Uttarakhand authorities
The Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority came under fire from the top court as well for failing to take action against Patanjali Ayurveda.
“State Licensing Authority has also filed a detailed affidavit trying to explain action taken regarding objectionable ads. We are appalled to note that except pushing file, nothing has been done. In 4-5 years, State Licensing Authority remained in deep slumber,” Justice Hima Kohli said.
The bench also rebuked the Uttarakhand government saying that they deliberately kept their eyes shut.
“The letter you cited said medicines are manufactured by the undersigned companies. It says advertisements are suggestive in nature, this is in teeth of the act. They waive their thumb under your nose and tell you that ad is suggestive and you accept it. They said aim is to have people connected with ayurveda. It is as if they were the first ones to have ayurveda medicines,” the court said.
This comes after Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court and tendered an unconditional apology in regard to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurveda and said that they undertake to always uphold the majesty of law and justice.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, Baba Ramdev said, “I seek pardon for the aforesaid breach of the statement. I undertake to always uphold the majesty of Law and majesty of Justice.”
Baba Ramdev informed the top court that he sincerely regrets the lapse and he wished to assure that the same will not be repeated in future.
As reported earlier, he also undertook and ensured that the statement shall be complied with in letter and spirit and no such similar advertisements shall be issued. Baba Ramdev further tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology for the press conference held on November 22, 2023.
Acharya Balkrishna said that he undertakes to ensure that such offending advertisements shall not be issued in the future and he will be more vigilant ahead.
The court was dealing with an Indian Medical Association plea seeking to frame guidelines for prohibiting false and misleading advertisements in relation to allopathy and modern medicine.
IMA, a registered Society, has more than 3,30,000 medical doctors as its members all over the country.
The petition also raised the issue that the campaign of misguidance, misinformation and disparagement against the modern system of medicine.
IMA, in its plea, had sought to pass an order directing the Centre and others to immediately take strict and prompt action, in accordance with law, for the violation of the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 by the repeated acts of omission and commission of Respondent Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. including by publishing advertisements all over the country making illegal and prohibited claims.
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing giant Tesla is reportedly looking to set up a joint venture with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to establish an EV manufacturing arm in India. According to a report in The Hindu Business Line citing sources, the talks for a joint venture between Billionaires Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani are currently in the initial stages. This comes amid reports that Tesla is sending a team to India to look for suitable locations for their EV manufacturing plant.
A source aware of the development stated that the talks are in the initial stages and have been “ongoing for over a month”. The person added that the development doesn’t imply RIL’s entry into the automobile space. According to the report, the objective of the oil-to-telecom conglomerate is to “build capacities for electric vehicles in India”.
Another highly placed source with knowledge of the matter said, “While the role of RIL hasn’t been crystalised yet, it is expected that the Indian conglomerate may play a significant hand in establishing the manufacturing facility and the allied ecosystem for Tesla in India.”
So far, neither Reliance Industries nor Tesla has commented on reports of their talks for a joint venture.
Last year, RIL, in collaboration with Ashok Leyland, launched India’s first hydrogen internal combustion engine-powered heavy-duty truck. The same year, RIL also unveiled removable and swappable batteries for EVs.
Apart from an Electric vehicle manufacturing plant, Tesla might later also look at setting up battery plant following the ‘gigafactory’ model it has followed at its plants in California, Texas, Berlin, and Shanghai, where suppliers have set up shop next to or near the mother plant.”
Notably, Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani are going to rivals in the telecom sector. Elon Musk’s other venture Starlink, the satellite internet service, is preparing to launch its operations in India, coming in direct competition against Jio telecom of Reliance. Starlink recently has also launched new satellites capable of direct-to-cell capabilities, where the satellites work as cellular telephony towers. This means means mobile phones can connect to the satellites directly, which will be particularly beneficial in areas outsidemobile network coverage.
Tesla begins site search for $3 billion Electric Vehicle Plant in India
Last week, on 3rd April, reports emerged that Tesla Inc. had initiated its search to identify sites for building its proposed $2 billion to $3 billion Electric car plant in India. Reportedly, the EV maker is slated to send its team to India by late April to scout sites. It was said that states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu are on high priority for the company, because of the existing automobile manufacturing ecosystems in these states.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk recently confirmed his slated entry in India. In an X (formerly Twitter) Spaces session with Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, Musk said, “India is now the most populous country in the world, based on population. India should have electric cars just like every other country has electric cars. It’s a natural progression to provide Tesla electric vehicles in India.”
While the company has been looking at multiple locations, the team’s special focus is on states that already have automobile manufacturing hubs as well as ports to facilitate export, the reports added. For this, states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu are on high priority for the company.
Now, as per sources, Maharashtra could emerge as the preferred location. A source cited above said, “Tesla plans to use the facility for domestic and export purposes, and hence, it may prefer a location suitable for port facilities.”
Sources, however, added that Tesla’s talks of a joint venture with RIL are not exclusive and it may look for another domestic partner if ongoing talks don’t materialise.
Meanwhile, the Indian government had in March reduced import taxes on certain electric vehicles produced by automakers that commit to invest at least $500 million (Rs 4,150 crores) and start commercial production in the country within three years. The policy aims to position India as a global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been eyeing the Indian market for years but New Delhi has maintained that the EV maker has to commit to local manufacturing. However, the latest decision by the Indian government could pave the way for US electric car maker to make a foray into the Indian automobile manufacturing market.
On Tuesday (9th April), 5 persons belonging to one family in the Vakadi village of Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district died after they jumped into an abandoned well where a slurry of biogas was dumped by a farmer. The five persons identified as Bablu Kale, Anil Kale, Manik Kale, Sandeep Kale, Vijay Kale, and Babasahed Gaikwad jumped into the well one behind another to save the life of a cat.
According to the reports, the victims entered the well in an attempt to save one another after one of them went inside to retrieve the fallen cat at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The abandoned well belonging to the family was filled with animal excretion which generated harmful chemicals resulting in impure air enough to breathe.
At around 5 pm, Bablu Kale (23) first got down in the well to save the cat, however, his relatives saw him drowning and struggling to survive. Then all his relatives including one neighbour jumped into the well one by one to save each other.
The villagers immediately reached the spot after they saw Kale’s family members struggling to survive in the abandoned well. They immediately moved to get people out of the pit. However, they could only save Vijay Kale (35) who now has been admitted to a local government hospital.
PI Dhananjay Jadhav commented on the case and said that the other remaining dead bodies were removed at around 12.30 am Wednesday. “Vijay Manik Kale (35), one of the victims who was pulled out of the well early and shifted to a government hospital, is now stable,” Jadhav added.
According to senior officials, the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation has deployed two big suction pumps to remove the slurry and reach the victims.
Officials stated that large earthmovers had been dispatched to the site to remove the slurry and other waste items from the abandoned well. At the same time, five ambulances were stationed at the scene.
Earlier similar incidents
This is not just one kind of incident that has happened in Maharashtra. Recently, in the year 2023, 4 members including 3 from one family in Baramati died due to suffocation while cleaning a biogas plant in Khandaj village. The deceased had entered a British-era chamber that was filled with cow feces and urine. The chamber is located on the farm of Bhanudas Atole, one of the deceased.
The other deceased persons were identified as Prakash Sopan Atule, Pravin Bhanudas Atule, and Bapurao Lahuji Gavahne. Initially, Pravin Atule approached the Bio Gas tank located near their home to stir the cow dung slurry. However, after breathing the gas in the tank, he fell unconscious. As he did not return, his father, Bhanudas Atule, and other members entered the chamber one by one, passing out and falling into the pool of fluid that had gathered inside. They all perished from oxygen deprivation after inhaling gasoline inside the tank.
Earlier in November 2022, two workers died from suffocation while cleaning a sewage chamber at a private manufacturing factory of a multinational corporation (MNC) in Pune’s Ranjangaon industrial zone.
In October 2022, three workers died of apparent suffocation while cleaning the chamber of a sewage treatment plant (STP) at a private housing society in Wagholi, a suburb that has been integrated within the municipal limits of Pune.
In March 2022, four conservancy workers died from suffocation while cleaning a septic tank within a residential complex in Kadamvak Vasti near Loni Kalbhor, 14 kilometres from Pune.
Pentagon transferred thousands of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition that were seized from Iran to Ukraine, according to an announcement by the United States (US) Central command on 9th April which read, “On Apr. 4, 2024, the U.S. government transferred over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This constitutes enough material to equip one UKR BDE with small-arms rifles. These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russia’s invasion.”
U.S. Government Transfers Captured Weapons
On Apr. 4, 2024, the U.S. government transferred over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This constitutes enough materiel to equip one UKR BDE… pic.twitter.com/Ydecq6OFAo
The weapons were taken from four “stateless” vessels in the Arabian Sea by U.S. Central Command naval forces on their way from Iran to Yemen, where the Houthi movement is directly supported by sanctioned organizations, notably Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order on 1st December 2023, transferring title to the United States after the Department of Justice initiated a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions.
The post noted, “These munitions were originally seized by U.S. Central Command and partner naval forces from four separate transiting stateless vessels between 22 May 2021 to 15 Feb 2023. The munitions were being transferred from the IRGC to the Houthis in Yemen in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216. U.S. CENTCOM is committed to working with our allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal aid in the region by all lawful means including U.S. and U.N. sanctions and through interdictions.”
It is the most recent military support that President Joe Biden’s administration has given to Kyiv in its effort to reclaim land that Russia. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s unwillingness to hold a vote on $60 billion in the US Congress since 2023 in further security assistance has prevented Joe Biden from supplying Ukraine with more American weapons. The United States and its allies have been looking for new ways to arm Kyiv since the Ukrainian military is running low on weapons and ammunition, particularly heavy artillery shells.
The US Central Command highlighted, “Iran’s support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel, and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners. We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran’s destabilizing activities.”
Similar supplies of 1.1 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, taken from Iranian soldiers en route to Yemen, had been shipped by Washington to Ukraine in early October last year. On 12th March, the US revealed the first relief package worth US$300 million for Kyiv since December. The package included artillery shells, anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, however, cautioned that the funds would be exhausted in a few weeks. The US government was able to continue sending financial help despite the congressional impasse because that package was financed with money that the Pentagon saved on other expenditures.
US naval troops have been engaged in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a global security campaign spearheaded by the country, to put a halt to Houthi attacks in the main international trade lane. Additionally, several US strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen have been conducted.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming their actions are in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. This poses a danger to international security and a vital commerce route. The Houthis have attacked American and coalition warships as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea numerous times, primarily employing drones and missiles with Iranian-made parts and designs.
On Wednesday (10th April), Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally at Vellore in Tamil Nadu. In his address, he unleashed a fierce attack on the opposition parties Congress and DMK. He mentioned how Congress callously gave away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka and meted injustice to fishermen. He also criticised the two parties for their dynastic politics.
Sharing the video of the speech on his X handle, the PM wrote, “Family-run Congress and DMK can never fulfill aspirations of Tamil Nadu’s youth. People are supportive of the NDA’s positive work.”
Family run Congress and DMK can never fulfill aspirations of Tamil Nadu's youth. People are supportive of the NDA's positive work. Speaking at a rally in Vellore.https://t.co/VXTBFAPgxy
PM Modi said in his speech, “There are three main criteria to ‘succeed’ in DMK: 1). Family politics 2). Corruption 3). Anti-Tamil culture. For Tamil Nadu, it’s time to lead the journey of building a developed India. But DMK doesn’t want Tamil Nadu to open up, to move ahead, and to embrace development and prosperity. The entire DMK has become a ‘family company’. It is due to family politics of the DMK that the youth of Tamil Nadu is not getting any chance to prosper.”
DMK doesn't want Tamil Nadu to move ahead and embrace development. DMK has become a 'family-based company'.
It is due to family politics of the DMK that the youth of Tamil Nadu is not getting any chance to prosper.
Criticising the DMK government in the state over the corruption allegations, PM Narendra Modi said, “The DMK party has ‘earned’ the ‘first copyright’ on corruption. It has been badly looting the state of Tamil Nadu. It has been revealed that sand smugglers have caused a loss of Rs. 4,600 crore to Tamil Nadu in just 2 years. You can imagine, how big a ‘game of loot’ is going on here.”
The DMK party has 'earned' the 'first copyright' on corruption.
It has been badly looting the state of Tamil Nadu.
It has been revealed that sand smugglers have caused a loss of Rs. 4,600 crore to Tamil Nadu in just 2 years.
PM Modi reiterated the issue of the Katchatheevu island ceded by the Congress government to Sri Lanka. He said, “Congress and DMK have kept the people of Tamil Nadu in the dark. They callously gave away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka and meted injustice to our fishermen. The NDA government has been continuously getting our fishermen released and getting them back home. DMK and Congress deceived not only fishermen but also the entire nation.”
Congress and DMK have kept the people of Tamil Nadu in dark.
They callously gave away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka and meted out injustice to our fishermen.
The NDA government has been continuously getting our fishermen released and getting them back home.
Reflecting on the support garnered by the BJP in the southern state, he said, “Those sitting in Delhi don’t know that the land of Tamil Nadu is going to create a new history. The BJP is getting immense public support in Tamil Nadu. Today, the entire state is saying, ‘Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar’.”
Those sitting in Delhi don't know that the land of Tamil Nadu is going to create a new history.
The BJP is getting immense public support in Tamil Nadu.
Today, the entire state is saying, 'Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar'.
Voting for all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu will take place on 19th April. This will be the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and 102 constituencies across 21 states will vote in this phase.
On 9th April, Delhi Karkardooma Court heard the prosecution’s arguments in Umar Khalid‘s bail matter. Umar Khalid is one of the accused in a larger conspiracy case in the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots 2020. During the hearing, the Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad read out WhatsApp chats between Umar Khalid and several others, like AltNews, Swara Bhaskar, Sushant Singh, Yogendra Yadav, Pooja Bhatt and others, arguing that Umar Khalid, if let out on bail, would influence the social media and media narrative to his favour, thereby influencing the proceedings.
During the hearing, Prasad played a specific interview in open court. The interview was of Umar Khalid’s father, SQR Ilyas, with TheWire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani.
“I want to show you how they are playing around”, the SPP said. On a perusal of the interview, it becomes rather apparent how attempts are being made to influence the judicial process with lies and misinformation being peddled by those who wish to subvert justice in the Delhi anti-Hindu riots conspiracy case.
The interview in question was aired on the 17th of February 2024.
The interview starts with Arfa Khanum Sherwani setting the tone by calling Umar Khalid a brave young man and how he was jailed under UAPA for the conspiracy of the Delhi Riots.
She talks about how every time Umar Khalid’s bail petition is heard, the “nation” looks with hope towards the judiciary, however, every time they are disappointed since he is denied bail. In a loaded question, Arfa then asks SQR Ilyas, the former SIMI terrorist, whether he withdrew Umar Khalid’s bail petition from the Supreme Court and approached the lower court because he did not trust the highest court of the country.
The answer to this question by SQR Ilyas was laden with insinuations and lies. He says that from 2023, the bail petition of Umar Khalid was being heard in the Supreme Court and for ‘some reason or the other’, the hearing was delayed 14 times. However, he felt like every time his bail was heard, the “bench had been changed”. He further says that for the past 5-7 hearings, the same bench was hearing the case but the hearing was being adjourned every time. “We then felt after a consultation that there is a change in the atmosphere of the lower courts and therefore, instead of the Supreme Court, we should try getting bail from the lower court”, SQR says. After discussing the “changed circumstances” again, SQR says that the entire case against Umar Khalid is fabricated.
Before we discuss how SQR lies about Umar’s role in the Delhi anti-Hindu riots, it is necessary to unpack how his statements about the hearing in the Supreme Court are carefully crafted to pressure lower courts.
First and foremost, SQR mentions the 14 adjournments in the Supreme Court and insinuates that it was the Court itself that adjourned the matter for “some reason or the other”, thereby denying Umar Khalid the chance to be heard. However, the truth is far from it. 7 out of 14 times, it was Umar Khalid and his lawyer – Kapil Sibal – who had asked for the adjournment. This is a fact that is conveniently left out by Ilyas. His statement about the Supreme Court bench and the “changed environment in the lower court” is telling. OpIndia had explained earlier how the withdrawal of the SLP from the Supreme Court was a result of failed attempts at forum shopping by Kapil Sibal and other lawyers representing Umar Khalid. Umar Khalid did not want his bail petition heard by Justice Bela Trivedi. After failed attempts to forum shop, the SLP was withdrawn by Umar Khalid.
Further, one has to ask what “change in the atmosphere” was Ilyas talking about. Is he inferring that they believed that the Judge in the District Court would be “more likely” to provide bail to Umar Khalid? Or was this simply exerting pressure on the District Court, through this interview, that they were somehow morally mandated to provide bail to right a perceived legal wrong (which never really happened to begin with, except in the fantastical lies by Ilyas).
After these arguments, Ilyas goes on to cite another lie, misleading listeners, on the merits of the case. Ilyas says that the basis of the case against Umar Khalid is his Amravati speech at a program held by the Welfare Party (headed by Ilyas himself). He says that the FIR mentioned only a part of the speech, which the police said was taken from Republic TV. When asked, it was said that the portion cited (about Trump’s visit) was taken from a tweet by Amit Malviya. He essentially says that it is Umar Khalid’s lawyers who read out the full 20-minute speech in court and that no part of the speech was objectionable or related to the Delhi Riots.
There are multiple issues with this statement, which is crafted to mislead the court. Interestingly, the same argument was made in the district court by Umar Khalid’s lawyer Trideep Pais on 3rd April 2024.
First and foremost, Ilyasi claims that because the FIR (first information report) was based on a part of the speech, the FIR itself does not stand scrutiny. This point is simply bad in law. The FIR, as mentioned, is a FIRST information report – it is not a final statement of investigation. The investigation is carried out by the police after the FIR has been filed. The entire evidence against the accused is not meant to form a part of the FIR. Therefore, that the FIR did not contain the full speech of Umar Khalid does not invalidate the investigation which took place after the FIR was filed.
Further, Ilyas insinuates that the prosecution based their case only on the portion of the speech which was mentioned in the FIR and not the entire speech – which was eventually read out by the Defence in court.
This is again patently false.
In the first Supplementary Chargesheet filed by the police, the transcript of the entire 17-minute speech by Umar Khalid has been added – which is usual since the evidence is detailed in the chargesheet, not in the FIR itself. That speech almost in its entirety was about Shaheen Bagh, Muslims being under threat and how they need to teach the police and the government a lesson when Donald Trump visits India on the 24th. It is not lost on anyone that as mentioned by Umar Khalid, it was on the 24th that the riots peaked in Northeast Delhi.
Further, it is also pertinent to note that the Amravati speech is not the only charge against Umar Khalid – as claimed by SQY Ilyas.
In the chargesheet filed in FIR 114, the role of Umar Khalid in the conspiracy hatched is mentioned clearly. It says that Tahir Hussain was connected to Khalid Saifi of United Against Hate Group and through Saifi, he was also in touch with Umar Khalid. Khalid Saifi, it says, had arranged a meeting between Umar Khalid and Tahir Hussain on the 8th of January at Shaheen Bagh. In that meeting, it was decided to take ‘big action’ so the government gets shaken up on the issue of CAA and NRC and also, ensure that the international community takes notice of that action.
In the chargesheet, it is also mentioned that Umar Khalid had told Tahir Hussain not to be concerned about the funding for the riots as Popular Front of India (PFI) would provide the funding as well as logistic support. It was categorically mentioned that the riots were to take place when President Donald Trump would visit India.
In the chargesheet, as reported, here is a flowchart of the coordination between Umar Khalid, Pinjra Tod ‘activists’, Khalid Saifi and Tahir Hussain.
In the chargesheet filed in FIR 114, the role of Umar Khalid in the conspiracy hatched is mentioned clearly. It says that Tahir Hussain was connected to Khalid Saifi of United Against Hate Group and through Saifi, he was also in touch with Umar Khalid. Khalid Saifi, it says, had arranged a meeting between Umar Khalid and Tahir Hussain on the 8th of January at Shaheen Bagh. In that meeting, it was decided to take ‘big action’ so the government gets shaken up on the issue of CAA and NRC and also, ensure that the international community takes notice of that action.
In the chargesheet, it is also mentioned that Umar Khalid had told Tahir Hussain not to be concerned about the funding for the riots as the Popular Front of India (PFI) would provide the funding as well logistic support. It was categorically mentioned that the riots were to take place when President Donald Trump would visit India.
In the chargesheet, as reported, here is a flowchart of the coordination between Umar Khalid, Pinjra Tod ‘activists’, Khalid Saifi and Tahir Hussain.
From everything that is alleged in the chargesheet, it is clear that Umar Khalid was perhaps one of the masterminds who was also constantly in touch with Pinjra Tod activists who are also accused of grave sections. Khalid Saifi of UAH, who is also a close associate of Umar Khalid was coordinating with Tahir Hussain after their initial meeting in Shaheen Bagh on the 8th of January. Further, Tahir Hussain was coordinating with other rioters and instigators.
The merits of the charges against Umar Khalid will be discussed at the trial stage and the stage of cross-examination. However, for Ilyasi to claim that the Amravati speech is the only evidence cited against Umar Khalid is a lie and a clear attempt to mislead the judicial process.
Further in the interview, Ilyasi says that the same bench which gave bail to Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Asif Iqbal Tanha denied bail to Umar Khalid. This was again the “argument of parity” made by Trideep Pais in the current district court proceedings. It is pertinent to mention that in the High Court order, it is specifically mentioned that the bail order to Devangana and others is not to be used as a precedent for other co-accused (which would include Umar Khalid). In the court, the SPP made the argument that when a bench says that the order is not to be used as a precedent, it essentially means that the order is contrary to the law and is being made as an exception therefore, no other court can be asked to adhere to an order that was ab initio against the law.
Throughout these fallacious arguments, it is pertinent to note that no counter question was posed by TheWire anchor Arfa Khanum Sherwani.
This is the portion of the interview that was played in court by SPP Amit Prasad to demonstrate how SQR Ilyas, who is the father and lawyer of Umar Khalid, is using the media to make arguments in the case, in an attempt to influence not just the narrative but also the judicial process.
Further in the interview, Arfa and Ilyas keep pushing the usual tropes about Umar being targeted for being the voice of Muslims, dissenting and because of how ‘strong’ his voice was.
For this article, the tearjerking and sociological lies presented by Arfa Khanum Sherwani and SQR Ilyas have been left out. However, analysing the portion of the interview which was played in court gives a brief window into how the judicial narrative is being formed outside of the court by Umar Khalid’s battery of lawyers.
Essentially, the very arguments which were thrown out by the High Court and the predecessor district court are being repeated not just by the lawyer in the district court but also by SQR Ilyasi in his interview with TheWire. These statements are being made out of context to mislead the public opinion on the case repeatedly and lies are being perpetrated by media persons like Arfa Khanum Sherwani, wilfully, to affect the judicial process by the sheer force of public opinion.
