The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Delhi busted a sprawling drug trafficking network on 15th February. The NCB officials shared this information on Saturday (24th February). The operation, led by NCB officials in conjunction with the Delhi Police Special Cell, culminated in the arrest of three individuals hailing from Tamil Nadu and the seizure of 50 kilograms of pseudoephedrine, a key chemical used in the production of methamphetamine. A Tamil film producer is reportedly the mastermind of the racket and is currently absconding.
During interrogation, the three arrested individuals disclosed that they had orchestrated a total of 45 consignments over the past three years, collectively amounting to approximately 3,500 kilograms of pseudoephedrine. These shipments, valued at over Rs 2,000 crore in the international market, underscored the scale of the operation and the substantial profits involved in the illicit trade. They also had planned to conceal pseudoephedrine within seemingly innocuous food products. Furthermore, the interrogation unveiled the transnational reach of the drug trafficking network, spanning across India, New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia.
Gyaneshwar Singh, Deputy Director General of the NCB said, “After inputs from the US Drug Enforcement Administration indicated that the consignments were being sent from Delhi, a joint team of the Delhi police special cell and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was constituted. After four months of intensive technical and field surveillance, it was learnt that these operatives were in Delhi again and were trying to send another consignment to Australia.”
He added, “The NCB and Delhi Police teams dismantled the network based on information provided by Australian and New Zealand authorities approximately four months ago. They alerted about significant quantities of pseudoephedrine hidden within coconut powder being shipped from India to both countries.”
The collaborative efforts of the NCB and Delhi police led to a raid on a warehouse located in West Delhi’s Basai Darapur, where operatives of the syndicate were apprehended while concealing pseudoephedrine within a multigrain food mixture for smuggling purposes. Subsequently, three members of the gang were arrested, and law enforcement seized a total of 50 kilograms of the chemical.
Gyaneshwar Singh further said, “The mastermind of the nexus has been identified as a Tamil film producer, who is on the run. Efforts are being made to arrest him so that the source of pseudoephedrine can be ascertained.”
Pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical used in manufacturing methamphetamine, commonly known as meth or crystal meth, fetches nearly Rs 1.5 crore per kilogram in Australia and New Zealand. Under Indian law, illegal possession and trade of pseudoephedrine are punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act. Efforts are now underway to apprehend the key figures behind this nefarious racket, including the Tamil film producer who is the mastermind.
On Saturday (24th February), West Bengal Minister Partha Bhowmick defended the Police and TMC government in the wake of explosive allegations of land grabbing, sexual exploitation, and systemic rape made by multiple women in Sandeshkhali. In an attempt to downplay the allegations, he claimed that during his visit to Sandeshkhali village, not even one woman made allegations of sexual assault. Pressing media to peddle the same, he said that it has been established today that the allegations of sexual assault by multiple women in Sandeshkhali are ‘fake’.
Notably, two Ministers in the West Bengal government Partha Bhowmick and Sujit Bose visited Sandeshkhali which has seen massive protests, particularly by women since 8th February. After interacting with the locals of Sandeshkhali, Bhowmick interacted with the media persons where he claimed that the reports of sexual assault were fake.
He, however, admitted that TMC leaders did grab land belonging to the government and citizens. Partha Bhowmick distanced the party from land encroachment, saying local leaders did it. He added that lands illegally grabbed by local TMC leaders from the locals would be given back to them.
He said, “We have interacted with the locals today… Lands will be given back to those from whom it was snatched. The DM has also set up camps in several districts… No woman has raised the issue of assault… This is fake and it has been established today… Those who are bad have no place in TMC… We will again visit here…”
#WATCH | After interacting with the locals of Sandeshkhali, West Bengal Minister Partha Bhowmick says, "We have interacted with the locals today… Lands will be given back to those from whom it was snatched. The DM has also set up camps in several districts… No woman has… pic.twitter.com/bhLsNJtpVR
According to Bhowmick, TMC follows a zero-tolerance policy for bad people in the party. Responding to the demands to expel Sheikh Shah Jahan from Trinamool Congress, Partha Bhowmick claimed that there is no place for bad people in the party and said, “We (TMC) are the party which didn’t take any time in removing a big leader like Partha Chatterjee. Why will the same party find it difficult to remove this small leader?”
Responding to a media query about the failure of West Bengal Police in arresting Sandeshkhali mastermind Sheikh Shahjahan, Bhowmick blamed the Enforcement Directorate for the same. The Minister said, “It’s not in our hands.”
Earlier, TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee had also downplayed the allegations of sexual exploitation by TMC local leaders and their henchman passing off the Sandeshkali unrest as a “minor incident”.
It is pertinent to note that after TMC’s local leader Sheikh Shahjahan went into hiding in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s crackdown on an alleged ration scam, multiple women came forward in his absence, alleging mass land grabbing and systematic or institutionalised rape of Hindu women by Shahjahan, along with his two accomplices, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Prasad Hazra, and their henchmen. While Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra were arrested earlier in this case, Shahjahan is still absconding.
Meanwhile, the real extent of criminal antecedents of TMC local leaders are coming to the fore as more than 700 complaints were against Sheikh Shahjahan and others registered at the Block Development Office in just 6 days.
On Saturday (24th February), the Education Department official said a government school teacher, posted in Rajasthan’s Baran district, has been suspended for disrespecting Goddess Saraswati and hurting religious feelings. The officials added that the primary school teacher named Hemlata Bairwa was suspended on Friday following an order by Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar.
Addressing a public gathering in the Kishanganj area in the Baran district on Thursday, Dilawar said, “Some people give weightage to themselves so much, their ‘chaal’ (working style) is not yet gone and they ask what is the contribution of Goddess Saraswati in school, whoever has said so in this area, I suspend him/her.”
Following the Education Minister’s public announcement, a day later, the district education (elementary) officer of Baran issued an order to suspend Prabodhak level 1 teacher, Hemlata Bairwa. Till her suspension, she was posted at the government primary school at Lakdai village in the Kishanganj area in the Baran district. It is pertinent to note that a disciplinary action was under consideration against her and the suspension comes because of the same.
The official at the Baran district education department stated that the suspension order was issued after an initial inquiry into hurting and provoking religious sentiments against the said teacher Bairwa was over.
Notably, a dispute erupted between the primary teacher and villagers during the Republic Day function in the school on 26 January, this year. An inquiry probed the controversy where Bairwa didn’t allow the placement of a picture of Goddess Saraswati on stage during the Republic Day function at the school. The initial probe found that the teacher was responsible for hurting and provoking the religious sentiments of local people. Consequently, a suspension was issued on Friday, Baran district education (elementary) officer Piyush Kumar Sharma told PTI on Saturday morning.
According to Sharma, during this period, the teacher was also ordered to register her attendance at the directorate, of elementary education, Bikaner.
The officer said that the teacher could have averted the controversy and allowed the Republic Day function to go on smoothly, simply by agreeing with the locals and placing Goddess Saraswati’s picture, but instead, she hurt the sentiments and provoked the locals.
According to reports, Bairwa declined to put the picture of Goddess Saraswati on stage at the function alongside the pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhim Rao Ambedkar despite insistence from the locals who wanted the placement of Goddess Saraswati’s photo on the stage. The teacher further provoked the locals reportedly saying Goddess Saraswati contributed nothing to school and education.
Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday, two other government teachers were suspended and an inquiry was initiated against a third female teacher. All the teachers had been associated with the government senior secondary school Khajuri in the Sangod area of Kota district for their alleged involvement in Love Jihad, Islamic Jihad, and ties with banned Islamic outfits.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and accused it of “stalling the budget for no apparent reason” and said the people have a right to know how public funds are being used.
Highlighting that the Centre had approved the budget on February 19, LG pointed out a mysterious delay at the level of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
According to the Raj Bhavan sources, “LG asked Delhi CM to present the budget- it is stalled- no reason to delay it. The Budget session proposed by CM Kejriwal was for February 15- February 21 and the President cleared the Budget on February 19 and yet Delhi Finance Minister Atishi lying that it has to be sent to LG for presentation in Assembly. People of Delhi have the right to know what’s there in the Budget.”
Reacting to Saxena’s letters, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has said that the LG keeps criticising the elected government instead of focusing on areas like police and law and order, which he is supposed to look after.
“Every day he writes some letters. He is meant to look after police, law and order, however, he always makes remarks about the elected government (Delhi Government),” Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said that Arvind Kejriwal, as usual, is using the Vidhan Sabha for lying.
“They had asked permission to call a Vidhan Sabha session on January 31. It was approved by the LG on February 2. The notification was released on February 6. The LG gave a speech on February 15. Then they said that the budget was not ready. An approved budget from the President has been with them since February 19, but they are not presenting it. The reason is that they are shielding themselves from the agencies,” he added.
He further said that the Delhi government is using the Vidhan Sabha as a tool and doing he lowest form of politics.
“They are making all unnecessary statements from the Vidhan Sabha so that there can be no action… They are doing the lowest form of politics,” he added.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Amid the Sandeshkhali horror incident where multiple women alleged sexual exploitation, a horrifying incident of alleged rape and murder of a tribal girl has come to light from West Bengal’s Malda district. On Friday (23rd February), the body of the Class IX tribal girl who had been missing since Thursday was recovered from an abandoned brick kiln in Malda. As per reports, the deceased body’s face was smashed with some object. The victim’s family allege that the minor girl was raped and murdered. The victim belonged to a financially backward family.
According to the allegations of the victim’s family, the minor girl was raped and then murdered before her body was dumped in the brick kiln. Throughout Thursday night, they kept looking for her and recovered her body the next morning. Following the incident, the family has demanded a thorough probe into the matter and strict action against the culprits.
“We strongly suspect that she was first raped and then murdered. We demand a thorough probe in the matter,” the victim’s father was quoted saying by news agency PTI.
He added, “We demand a proper investigation into the matter. We are coming from an extremely poor financial background. But despite that I got her admitted to a local school. I wanted her to get educated.”
Meanwhile, Police have sent the body for the postmortem adding that once the exact cause of death is ascertained, it will be clear whether she was raped. A police official stated that an investigation has been initiated into the matter.
Taking cognizance of the reports of the murder and alleged rape of a minor tribal girl, NCW strongly condemned the worsening law and order situation in West Bengal. Taking to X, the commission urged immediate action, adding that NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma has sent a letter to the DGP West Bengal demanding to invoke relevant provisions, ensure swift arrest of the accused, and submit a detailed report within 4 days.
NCW strongly condemns a worsening law situation in West Bengal, a new incident has been reported where a woman's body found in Malda, West Bengal, with suspicion of rape and murder. Urging immediate action, NCW Chairperson @sharmarekha has sent a letter to the DGP West Bengal…
Against the backdrop of recurrent heinous crimes against women and children, the Bhartiya Janata party launched a scathing attack against the ruling Trinamool Congress government in the state alleging a complete failure of law and order.
BJP’s National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala tweeted, “No woman safe in Bengal
Sandeshkhali to Malda. In another case of brutal rape and murder, a class ninth student, a Tribal, was found lifeless with face smashed, in a brick kiln in Bhabuk village of Old Malda Assembly.”
No woman safe in Bengal Sandeshkhali to Malda
In another case of brutal rape and murder, a class ninth student, a Tribal, was found lifeless with face smashed , in a brick kiln in Bhabuk village of Old Malda Assembly. Report : https://t.co/8OY7xRtoW9
Slamming the TMC, he added, “This is not the first such case in Malda. Recently a half-naked body of a 25-year-old was found after rape & murder. Many such instances taking place in Bengal but Shahjahan & rapists being protected and patronised & those who speak up against it are arrested! This is TALIBANI MANSIKTA AND CULTURE (TMC).”
Pertinent to note that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the state government to give compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to two women who were stripped and beaten in the open market in Malda. In July last year, two women were stripped and beaten on charges of theft at Pakuahat in Bamangola, Malda. The police swung into action after a video went viral on social media.
A petition has been filed at the Supreme Court asking for instructions to the Union and State governments to take into account the “reasonable demands” of farmers who are protesting at Punjab-Haryana border and to guarantee their freedom of movement through public transportation across the borders of Delhi. The farmers are demonstrating for their multiple demands particularly to secure a law that guarantees the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
Agnostos Theos, managing director of The Sikh Chamber of Commerce, has filed the plea which has named the National Human Rights Commission, the Union of India, the governments of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Delhi as respondents. The petitioner highlighted that the protesters are also requesting that MSP be at least 50% higher than the weighted average cost of production as suggested by the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) which was established in 2004 and was headed by Professor M.S. Swaminathan.
He has asked the appropriate authorities to issue an order prohibiting interfering with the farmers’ nonviolent march and assembly in the national capital. The applicant has called for the removal of all barriers, the authorities not to obstruct the ‘peaceful’ march, the unblocking of social media accounts and the protection of the freedom of expression of those disseminating information about the protest.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) mentioned, “The respondent governments have employed aggressive and violent measures like usage of tear gas, rubber bullet pellets, expired shells etc., against peacefully protesting farmers, leading to serious and grievous injuries among the farmers.” The request emphasised that farmers receive no government support or relief and that they lack the medical personnel and resources necessary to treat severely wounded patients, leaving them permanently injured or, in some cases dead.
It added, “The actions taken by the respondent governments by creating fortification across the borders of the national capital, creating hostile and violent situations against its peaceful citizens, and not allowing the farmers to exercise their democratic right, has led to direct and indirect defamation of the intentions and the objective of the protesting farmers.”
The appeal also brought attention to the event involving the death of a young farmer who was allegedly shot by the Haryana Police on the Khanauri border on 21st February. The farmer died apparently from a gunshot wound to the head. “Farmers from various other states, who were coming to join the peaceful protest, through trains were forcefully deboarded from their respective trains in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and were forcefully sent to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh instead.”
It alleged that Punjabi farmers who were protesting had been imprisoned in the most rude, severe, and violent manner for trying to just drive their cars to Delhi. The motion insisted that the peaceful farmers were being treated by their government in a manner akin to that of terrorists only for exercising their constitutional and democratic rights.
The plea claimed that the rights of the farmers, as guaranteed by Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, had been violated when they were demonstrating for their demands. It also claimed that on 13th February, the farmers called for a peaceful protest in support of “Dilli Chalo,” asking that the Swaminathan committee’s recommendations be put into execution.
It highlighted, “The Respondent, Union and State governments, in anticipation of the protest by the farmer, issued threats against the people in participating in the protest, fortified the borders of the state around the city of Delhi, with iron spikes, concrete walls, etc. ensuring that farmers are not able to enter the territory of the national capital.”
The motion claimed that the respondent governments had forcibly arrested and detained farmers from the state surrounding Delhi who had come to protest for their rights even in their own private vehicles. It charged, “Similarly, farmers coming from various other states of the county, to join the protesting farmers, were detained in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and were also sent to other states, just to avoid them meeting with protesting farmers.”
It stated, “In the days leading up to 13.02.2024 borders of the national capital were fortified with concrete walls, iron spikes etc., restricting the farmers from entering the national capital without any due reasonable cause against the peaceful farmers violating their right to travel freely throughout the territory of the country as enshrined under Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution of India.”
The landmark decision in Anita Thakur v. Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir by the top court is cited, where it declared, “We can appreciate that holding peaceful demonstration in order to air their grievances and to see that their voice is heard in the relevant quarters is the right of the people. Such a right can be traced to the fundamental freedom that is guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b) and 19(1)(c) of the Constitution.”
In addition, the petitioner requested that the appropriate authorities take action against people who mistreat farmers and Sikhs, use abusive language, threaten them and create division that shatters the nation’s communal peace.
US President Joe Biden revealed that the key to his successful marriage is “good sex.” This disclosure comes from an upcoming book by Katie Rogers titled “American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden.”
Biden jests about his lasting connection relying on “good sex,” a remark that allegedly angers his wife Jill Biden. This tidbit is from Rogers’ book, exclusively excerpted by the Daily Mail. Rogers is an experienced reporter at the New York Times.
The revelation had the Twitterverse in splits, with many social media users taking jibes at the US President whose critics slam him as a politician who has slipped into senility
“Joe Biden who can’t climb the stairs without falling, says the secret to his marriage is “good sex.” Really,” tweeted one X user.
Joe Biden who can’t climb the stairs without falling, says the secret to his marriage is “good sex.” Really. pic.twitter.com/V6TvkZN9LY
This is not the first time that Joe Biden has been in the news for commenting about his sex life. In 2006 too, he commented about making love to his wife.
“I’d prefer to be at home making love to my wife while my children are asleep,” Biden once shared with a group of supporters in 2006 ahead of his second presidential bid, leading a spokesman to declare the senator as “frankly totally in love with his wife.”
The book, set to be published Tuesday, also delves into the conflicting accounts of the couple’s whirlwind romance in the 1970s following the death of Biden’s first wife and intimate details about his nearly half-century marriage to Jill.
Following massive outrage by villagers who staged a protest outside the Police outpost, West Bengal police has suspended a sub-inspector who was accused of assaulting and torturing a woman for 11 hours at the Police station. The Police officer brutally tortured the woman because he suspected that her minor son had stolen his gold bracelet.
On Wednesday (21st February), at around 3 PM, the housewife was taken to the Khanakul police station in Hooghly where she was allegedly beaten and subjected to unspeakable atrocities for 11 hours. As per reports, it is further alleged that chillies were rubbed on the sensitive parts of the body like under her eyes and private parts of her body. After the assault, the accused officer gave her some money to get medical treatment and threatened her not to tell anyone about the incident.
#WestBengal Another alleged case of brutality by Police. A officer of Khanakul PS of #Hooghly district tortured a woman. The Police picked up the woman at 3PM, left her at 1 AM.
Then the Police personnel threatened them not to tell anybody, they will bear the medical expenses. pic.twitter.com/pBea4HTwp8
Currently, the victim woman is undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Arambagh. Following the development, the accused officer identified as Tushar Mandal has been suspended by the police administration.
According to reports, there is a police outpost under Khanakul police station in Chingra Gram Panchayat of Khanaku. There is a primary school near this outpost. The victim housewife’s minor son studies there.
A few days ago, during a volleyball match being played there, the accused officer Tushar Mandal’s gold bracelet reportedly went missing. The suspicion of theft fell upon the woman’s son. Tushar Mandal was repeatedly asking the woman to return the bracelet, not believing her pleas that her son her not stolen it.
On Wednesday evening at three o’clock, he took the woman to the Khanakul police station. Even though she was released after 11 hours late at night, her physical condition was reportedly very bad, according to family members.
It is alleged that the accused police officer Tushar Mandal repeatedly pressured the housewife to return the bracelet while she kept clarifying that she did not get any jewellery. After about 11 hours i.e. at 2 am, she was left half dead. The officer reportedly gave Rs 1000 to her to get treatment and said, “Let no one know.”
She was immediately taken to Khanakul Rural Hospital at night. When her condition worsened there, she was transferred to a private nursing home in Arambagh.
The family of the woman was shocked by the alleged brutal abuse by the police which outraged the villagers and created a tense atmosphere in the region. Due to the alleged atrocities by the Police officer, the villagers protested in front of the Police outpost on Friday afternoon.
The victim said, “I don’t know anything. Who took his bracelet? He didn’t leave me despite telling me repeatedly. He beat me a lot. After that, I didn’t know anything. I had no idea. When I regained consciousness I was in a nursing home.” Her relatives Samar Bagh and Kakali Dhara said, “The manner in which he assaulted cannot be described in words.”
Based on the victim housewife’s complaint, the police officer was suspended. Additionally, a departmental investigation has also been initiated against him.
Further, Hooghly Rural Superintendent of Police Kamnshis Sen stated that an FIR has been lodged in this matter. He added that apart from the accused police officer, those who else were involved in this incident are also being investigated.
Today (Saturday, February 24), the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognisance of a complaint filed by the Hindu activist group, Kalinga Rights Forum, against a Christian Missionary named Rachel reportedly staying near the Kamtauli PS in Darbhanga, Bihar for violating tourist visa rules by preaching Christianity.
#Update :@NCPCR took cognizance of our complaint & have asked DM Darbhanga, Bihar to Probe & register FIR U/s 295A, Sec 75 of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2015 & Art 25 of Indian Constitution @HMOIndia has asked Mukesh Kumar Bihar Admin to take action against Rachel https://t.co/vXb1pw4vYJpic.twitter.com/KZkXKBc4eT
On February 15, the Hindu activist group, in a thread of posts on X, highlighted how the Christian Missionary was staying on a tourist visa and not only secretly preaching Christianity but also trying to brainwash and convert young children by denigrating Hinduism.
Wrote to @HMOIndia@NCPCR_@KanoongoPriyank ji against Christian Missionary Rachel for Violating Indian Visa Laws & Preaching christianity & Converting Minor Hindu Kids & abusing Hindu Goddess Maa Kali Living near Kamtauli PS ,Darbhanga Dist Bihar pic.twitter.com/JrylMtG0o4
Sharing videos where Rachel was seen mocking Hindu beliefs and illegally propagating Christianity, the Hindu activist group wrote, Wrote to @HMOIndia @NCPCR_ @KanoongoPriyank ji against Christian Missionary Rachel for Violating Indian Visa Laws & Preaching christianity & Converting Minor Hindu Kids & abusing Hindu Goddess Maa Kali Living near Kamtauli PS ,Darbhanga Dist Bihar.”
The Hindu activist group emphasised that the accused had broken the rules of tourist visas since anyone travelling to India on a tourist visa is not permitted to carry out missionary work and Rachel, who was here on a tourist visa, was not only openly propagating Christianity but was also trying to brainwash and encourage people to convert by mocking the Hindu faith.
“As per Indian Visa Laws of Hon’ble Ministry of Home Affairs,Govt of India,no foreign national can practice or preach religion in India & convert minor kids which is itself violation of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2015 She has violated 295A, 153A, 298,297 IPC,” Kalianga Right Forum wrote in its subsequent post.
As per Indian Visa Laws of Hon'ble Ministry of Home Affairs,Govt of India,no foreign national can practice or preach religion in India & convert minor kids which is itself violation of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2015 She has violated 295A, 153A, 298,297 IPC
The Hindu activist also shared details of Rachel’s affiliation with two foreign missionary churches namely, Kingdom Life Ministries and Iris Global Ministries.
Notably, in one of the videos shared by the Hindu activist group, Rachel is heard propagating Christianity by mocking idol worshipping that in practised in Hinduism. “Indians have a religion called Hinduism where they worship idols. The Bible teaches us that idols have eyes but they cannot see, they have ears but they cannot hear. There is only one god and where does he live…that’s right, heaven. Praying to these idols will not help these people at all. Someone needs to come and tell these people about Jesus, how many of you guys are going to come and visit me here in India,” the Christian Missionary is heard spewing venom against Hinduism and, in turn, encouraging people to convert to Christianity.
According to tourist visa norms, foreigners travelling to India are not permitted to attend religious preaching or conversion programmes. Nor are they allowed to do any missionary work on tourist visas. A special visa is required for visiting India to participate in religious programs.
Two US nationals nabbed, fined for attending Christian conversion ceremony in violation of tourist visa norms in Assam
Recently, Assam’s Sonipur Police has arrested two US citizens in Tezpur for violating tourist visa norms by attending a Christian conversion ceremony.
The US nationals have been identified as John Matthew Boone (64) with passport No. 644539186 and Michael James Flunchum (77) with passport Np. 681022887.
A $500 fine was imposed on the duo and they were released after. Boone and Flinchum had attended the inauguration of a Baptist Christian association office on 31st January.
In October 2022, the Assam government instructed the police force across districts to monitor foreigners participating in conversion activities in violation of visa norms.
They were also instructed to monitor religious gatherings and the travel documents of foreigners who attended them.
Following this, 27 Bangladeshis, Swedish and German foreign nationals were reportedly detained and deported in a month for preaching at religious events in Assam.
After three to four days of intense discussions and political upheaval, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have formally announced an alliance in Gujarat. Under this arrangement, the Congress will contest in 24 out of the total 26 seats. The remaining two seats will see AAP candidates in the fray. Before the seat-sharing agreement, AAP had already announced its candidates for these two constituencies. Umesh Makwana, the MLA from Botad, will contest from the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency, while the controversial MLA Chaitar Vasava, recently embroiled in a case, will contest from the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat on the AAP ticket.
The Bharuch Lok Sabha seat emerged as a focal point in discussions surrounding this alliance. Notably, it holds significance as the hometown of former Congress MP Ahmed Patel, who secured victories in two Lok Sabha elections in 1977 and 1984. However, since the BJP’s triumph in 1989, the party has maintained a stronghold here without any losses. Following Ahmed Patel’s demise, his children, Faisal Patel and Mumtaz Patel, entered mainstream politics, prompting speculation that the Congress might field one of them in the Lok Sabha elections. However, this scenario has now been disrupted by the Congress’s decision to ally with the AAP and give away the seat to the alliance partner.
What work did the Congress do in the Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency?
Despite the vocal objections raised by Faisal Patel and Mumtaz Patel, who hail from Bharuch, the Congress has ultimately conceded the Bharuch seat to the Aam Aadmi Party. Despite being a constituency with a Muslim majority, there could be multiple factors influencing Congress’s decision in this regard.
Since AAP’s Chaitar Vasava clinched the Dediapada seat in the assembly elections, the party has been eager to nominate him as its candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. Alongside extensive campaigning by the party’s IT cell in his favour, certain YouTube channels, ostensibly impartial, subtly or overtly promoted the narrative of ‘Chaitar Vasava for Lok Sabha’. Despite his recent involvement in a criminal incident where he was caught assaulting forest workers, the Aam Aadmi Party officially declared Chaitar Vasava as its candidate for the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, perceiving the controversy surrounding him as an opportunity amidst adversity.
The Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency has a notable Muslim population, alongside a substantial demographic of the tribal community residing in the eastern region of the constituency. Historically, the Muslim vote has been regarded as the traditional stronghold of the Congress. However, after 1984, Congress didn’t secure victory in this seat due to polarised voting patterns. In this context, the Aam Aadmi Party’s strategy here could be to garner support by portraying Chaitar Vasava as a ‘tribal representative’ to appeal to the tribal electorate.
However, a challenge arises as local Congress activists and supporters align themselves with Ahmed Patel’s children. Both Faisal and Mumtaz Patel have stated that while they may accept the decision of the party leadership if the Bharuch seat is conceded to the AAP, they will not actively campaign for or endorse Chaitar Vasava. Should this scenario unfold, it could render the alliance futile.
આગામી લોકસભા ચૂંટણીમાં ગઠબંધન હેઠળ ભરૂચ લોકસભા સીટ આપ પાર્ટીને ફાળવવામાં આવશે તો હું કે કોંગ્રેસ પાર્ટીના સંનિષ્ઠ કાર્યકરો આપ પાર્ટીના ઉમેદવારનું સમર્થન નહીં કરીએ. @INCIndia@INCGujarat
In such a scenario, there’s a risk of vote fragmentation once more. Even if the Congress opts not to field a candidate, if its supporters do not rally behind the Aam Aadmi Party, the status quo may prevail, potentially leading to a situation where the Bharatiya Janata Party emerges victorious in the direct contest between the two parties.
Furthermore, elections are multifaceted and cannot be solely determined by one issue such as caste and religion equations. It would be naive to assume that an entire Lok Sabha seat could be secured solely based on caste demographics or religious dynamics. Numerous factors influence electoral outcomes. Additionally, the BJP benefits from the formidable presence of Narendra Modi as its face in the Lok Sabha elections. Over the past decades, the BJP has entrenched itself in this constituency, garnering steadfast support from voters who prioritise Modi’s leadership, evaluate his performance, and focus on his government’s accomplishments rather than considering caste or religious affiliations or other parties. Consequently, while the Congress or the AAP may harbour aspirations for a transformative breakthrough by endorsing Chaitar Vasava, the likelihood of such aspirations materialising appears minimal.
What could be the reason behind the Bhavnagar seat being allotted to the AAP?
Regarding the Bhavnagar seat, the Aam Aadmi Party’s performance in the assembly elections was notably stronger compared to other areas. The party secured victories in two constituencies within the region – Botad and Gariadhar. In contrast, the Congress failed to clinch a single seat in the Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, and Amreli areas. This could potentially explain why the Congress has opted to give up yet another seat, as the party stands to neither gain nor lose significantly in this electoral calculus.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a significantly dominant position in this seat compared to the two other parties. The BJP has maintained an unbroken winning streak here since 1991. Bhartiben Shiyal has emerged victorious in the last two terms, witnessing an increase in her vote share from 59 per cent in 2014 to 63 per cent in 2019. In the 2019 elections, the Congress candidate managed to secure only 31.86 per cent of the votes, amounting to half the votes garnered by the BJP candidate.
Image Source: Times of India
Should the Aam Aadmi Party choose to contest the Bhavnagar seat, it lacks a prominent figure or a strong party reputation in the area. While securing victories in two assembly seats might suffice to persuade the Congress to ally, winning Lok Sabha elections hinges on different dynamics. Assembly elections revolve around distinct issues compared to Lok Sabha elections. Furthermore, if the Lok Sabha constituency encompasses a sizable area, it could lead to vote division.
Moreover, Umesh Makwana, the sitting AAP MLA from Botad who has been nominated as the Lok Sabha candidate from Bhavnagar, hasn’t particularly left a noteworthy impact in his constituency over the past eighteen months. This may not persuade those who didn’t vote for him in the Assembly elections to reconsider their stance.
Given these circumstances, it appears that the upcoming Lok Sabha election for the Aam Aadmi Party will mirror the situation of the assembly elections. During the assembly elections, there was speculation from AAP leaders and supporters about the possibility of forming the government, but such claims merely created an atmosphere. However, when the results were announced, the party only secured five seats. Furthermore, the victories were attributed to individual efforts, caste affiliations, and internal discord within other parties, rather than the overall reputation or credibility of the AAP. This sets the party apart from the established parties like BJP and Congress.
In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has ambitiously set a target of securing over 370 seats nationwide. Naturally, within Gujarat, the party aims to capture all 26 seats. While two months may seem like a substantial period in the context of the election campaign, current assessments of both local and national politics indicate a high likelihood of Gujarat once again overwhelmingly supporting Modi’s leadership, delivering all seats to the BJP.
