Congress has managed to embarrass itself again over ‘Donate for Desh’ campaign it has been running since last month. This time the embarrassment is much more serious because the party has ended up promoting a fake website that looked almost similar to the official campaign website, but where money went to someone else instead of to the Congress party.
On Wednesday (10 January 2024), Indian National Congress released a special pamphlet ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming ‘Bharat Nyay Yatra’. In the pamphlet, QR code and URL of the ‘Donate for Desh’ website was also mentioned, except that both were wrong. URL of the official ‘Donate for Desh’ campaign is donateinc.in, but on the pamphlet, donateinc.co.in was printed and the same was used in the QR code too.
Wrong URL mentioned in the official pamphlet of the Congress party (the official document was later withdrawn and correct URL was mentioned in the modified pamphlet)
Coincidently or not, on donateinc.co.in, which is the wrong address, a website exists that has copied most of the text, images, and style from the official and ‘correct’ crowdfunding website of the Congress.
How the scamming website appears
Evidently it is a fake website deliberately targeted to scam people looking to donate to the Congress party. If a person is not alert enough, he would think that the money is going to the Congress party, but in reality, it goes to unknown people. The fake website (still active at the time of publishing this report) is accepting donations only via UPI apps.
Since the QR code and URL were given by the Congress party in an official document i.e. a pamphlet promoting Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming yatra, users would not suspect the website to be fake because it had copied almost everything from the official website. A user has to be extra alert only at the time of completing the transaction to notice that the money is going somewhere else.
Following image shows how it looked to the end user, on Google Pay, at the end time of making a donation to the Congress – the top message says one is paying to the ‘Indian National Congress’, but the banking name below gives away that it is scam because it says “Roj Cash”.
Screenshot of the transaction details
However, not everyone will be alert to notice it and suspect a foul play because they landed up on the website after scanning a QR code from an official document given by the Congress party. Media reports claim that Congress has already lost lakhs of rupees because of this mistake.
A simple google search suggests that there are some apps named “Roj Cash” that promise players money if they download, sign up, and undertake some activities. It can’t be said with certainty that this fake website intended to scam Congress supporters has been created by owners of such apps. What can be said with certainty is that it is a pure scam and many Congress supporters would have lost money.
Interestingly, the Congress party has not expressed as much anguish and complaint over such scam websites running that are literally deceiving people into believing that they are donating to the party, as they had done when they had to face embarrassment at the launch of the campaign when they had failed to book domains like donatefordesh.org and donatefordesh.com
It should be noted that on the former occasion, a user was not being scammed or deceived because the domains redirected to an altogether different website that showed nothing related to the Congress party, while the current fake website appears like an official Congress website.
Publicly available information shows that this fake website was booked by someone claiming to be from Rajasthan on 19th December 2023, which is just a day after the ‘Donate for Desh’ campaign was officially launched by the Congress party.
Despite this being a clear case of deliberate scamming, the Congress party hasn’t yet announced that it would file a police complaint against the scamsters. Nor it is clear that how did the party end up including a scamming website’s address in their official campaign document.
On 8th January, 39-year-old Suchana Seth, CEO of Mindful AI Lab and resident of Bengaluru was arrested by Goa Police for allegedly killing her four-year-old son. Investigations have revealed that she was arrested because of a traffic jam on the Goa Bangalore highway. Seth had left the rented serviced apartment in Goa with the body of her son stuffed in a bag.
She was arrested only because there was a traffic jam of 4 hours when she was going from Goa to Bangalore.
Seth’s journey was delayed due to a four-hour traffic jam caused by an overturned truck at Chorla Ghat. This bottleneck occurred at the convergence of the borders of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. A truck had overturned causing the highway jam.
The driver was quoted by Indian Express saying, “We started from Goa at 12.30 am. The trolley bag was unusually heavy, but I loaded it in the boot space just as she had asked me. Since there was a traffic jam near Chorla Ghat because a truck had overturned, I even offered to drop her at the airport by an alternate route. I was told that she was in a hurry and she needed to reach Bengaluru urgently. But she refused to go to the airport. I did not say anything further, I was getting paid for the trip.”
Suchana Seth got late because of this traffic jam, as per reports. The police called the cab driver and asked him in Konkani language to stop the vehicle near a police station without informing Suchana Seth and inform the police back. Suchana Seth had no clue where the cab driver was taking the car. When the car was stopped near the police station, she was shocked. Before she could do anything, the Karnataka police caught her. When Suchana’s bag was searched, the body of her son was found in it.
The Karnataka police immediately detained her and informed the Goa police. The Goa police reached the Aimangala police station in Chitradurga in Karnataka and arrested Suchana Seth. Had there not been a 4-hour traffic jam, perhaps Suchana Seth would have reached Bangalore and disposed of the son’s body. The traffic jam on the Goa-Bangalore highway failed her plan.
Seth has been kept on a 6-day police remand by the court. Suchana’s husband Venkataraman also arrived in India from Indonesia on Tuesday evening. The police will call him for questioning within the next two to three days. A day before the incident took place in Goa’s service apartment, Venkataraman made a video call to Suchana to talk to his son. At that time, Suchana Seth had said that he could meet his son. But the very next day, she strangled the son to death.
Why did Suchana Seth go to Goa?
Suchana Seth and her husband were facing marital disputes, as per reports. When the matter reached the court, the mother got the custody of the son. Since then, Suchana did not allow her son to meet her husband Venkataraman, as per some reports. Venkataraman filed an application in the court for this. The court ordered that Venkataraman would be able to meet his son every Sunday. Some media reports have stated that the CEO was demanding over 2.5 lakh rupees of monthly maintenance from her husband.
The murder and the arrest
On 6th January, Suchana Seth arrived in Goa from Bangalore accompanied by her 4-year-old son. Having pre-booked a service apartment in Hotel Sol Banyan Grande in the Candolim area, she promptly checked in and provided her identification at the reception. Over the next two days, on 6th and 7th January, she explored Goa with her son. However, on the night of 7th January, she allegedly killed her child.
The hotel staff had alerted police after they noticed blood stains in a pillow and the management realised that the child was not accompanying her mother when she checked out.
Early on 8th January, she arranged for a cab and departed, raising suspicion among the service apartment staff who noted that her son was conspicuously absent during the checkout process.
Then, the police contacted Royjohn D’Souza, a cab driver from North Goa’s Anjuna instructing him to discreetly take Suchana to a nearby police station without informing her. Complying with the instructions, the driver took her to a police station in Karnataka. Medical examination of the child’s body has reportedly revealed that he was smothered, possibly with a pillow.
In Ecuador, several hundred soldiers patrolled the capital Quito, where residents were traumatised as an upsurge in violence shook the entire nation. After years of increasing dominance by international cartels using its ports to transport cocaine to the US and Europe, the small South American nation has found itself at the centre of a crisis. This time, the escalation of violence was triggered after Ecuador’s most dangerous gang leader, Jose Adolfo Macias, also known as “Fito”, escaped from the prison. The leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang was serving a 34-year jail sentence.
President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency for 60 days and a night curfew on 8th January, but the gangs responded by declaring “war” and threatening to kill civilians and security forces.
Gang members have also provoked several prison riots, set off public explosions, and carried out attacks in which at least 14 people have died. According to reports, 125 guards and 14 administrative staff were taken hostage across five different jails in Ecuador, with 11 later released.
On 10th January, President Daniel Noboa issued orders to “neutralise” criminal gangs after the attackers wearing balaclavas stormed and opened fire in a TV studio and threatened civilians and security forces with random executions. Just over two months after taking charge, Noboa announced the country to be in “internal armed conflict.”
⚠️ Unknown gunmen burst into Ecuador's state TV newsroom
4 senior police officers have reportedly been kidnapped following Adolfo Macias leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang escape from prison.
Drug cartel members holding multiple Ecuadorian police officer hostage visuals… pic.twitter.com/v7q0dnosgQ
“I have signed the executive decree declaring Internal Armed Conflict and identified the following transnational organised crime groups as terrorist organisations and belligerent non-state actors: Águilas, ÁguilasKiller, Ak47, Caballeros Oscuros, ChoneKiller, Choneros, Covicheros, Cuartel de las Feas, Cubanos, Fatales, Gangster, Kater Piler, Lagartos, Latin Kings, Lobos, Los p.27, Los Tiburones, Mafia 18, Mafia Trébol, Patrones, R7, Tiguerones. I have ordered the Armed Forces to carry out military operations to neutralizs these groups,” President Noboa wrote on X.
He firmado el decreto ejecutivo declarando Conflicto Armado Interno e identifiqué a los siguientes grupos del crimen organizado transnacional como organizaciones terroristas y actores no estatales beligerantes: Águilas, ÁguilasKiller, Ak47, Caballeros Oscuros, ChoneKiller,… pic.twitter.com/rVfSTFmHlG
According to local media, some of the attackers were as young as 16 years old. This attack in particular sparked widespread panic, with many people abandoning work and closing their businesses.
Within hours of Noboa’s announcement on Monday, Ecuador witnessed a wave of nationwide attacks, including one in which gangsters held several police officers hostage. Following the kidnapping of the officers, the perpetrators released a terrifying video in which one was coerced to read a message to the president.
“You declared war, and you will get war,” read the frightened officer. “You declared a state of emergency. We declare police, civilians and soldiers to be the spoils of war.”
Ecuador cartels kidnap police and make them read statement saying: "You declared war, you will get war. You declared a state of emergency. We declare police, civilians and soldiers to be the spoils of war."
According to police, at least ten people have been killed in several incidents of gang attacks: eight in Guayaquil and two “viciously murdered by armed criminals” in the nearby town of Nobol.
“We are at war” announces Ecuadore President
“We are at war, and we will not surrender in the face of these terrorist groups,” Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said on Canela Radio on 10th January, estimating that 20,000 criminal gang members are operating in the country.
“We are making every effort to recover all the hostages. We are doing everything possible and impossible to get them safe and sound,” he said, after officially designating 22 gangs as terrorist organisations and declaring them legitimate military targets.
Since the declaration of the state of emergency, 329 people have been arrested, the majority of whom are members of gangs such as Los Choneros, Los Lobos, and Los Tiguerones, according to armed forces commander Jaime Vela at a press conference on Wednesday evening.
?? | ÚLTIMA HORA: Jaime Vela, jefe del Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas de Ecuador, informa sobre la detención de 329 terroristas y la eliminación de 5 en operativos tras el decreto de conflicto armado interno.
In response to a query regarding terrifying videos that were making the rounds on social media and showed prison staff being subjected to severe violence, including being shot and hanging, Vela said, “There is no hostage who has been murdered.”
Security forces patrolled hospitals, public transportation, and newsrooms throughout Ecuador. The government has ordered teachers and students to hold classes remotely until Friday.
Ecuadorean soldiers frisk a man while on patrol in the streets of Cuenca, Ecuador, on January 9 (Image source: AFP)
Curfew in Ecuador
Following the escape of the high-profile prisoner and subsequent prison riots, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a nationwide state of emergency for 60 days on January 8. The nationwide curfew is in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., with exceptions for certain essential workers and people travelling to and from airports with scheduled flights during curfew hours.
A deserted street in Ecuador amidst the curfew (Image source: SkyNews)
18 million people are living under the curfew in the country as the authorities hunt for ‘Fito’ and other gangsters.
Violence in Ecuador triggers reaction across the region
The violence has elicited reactions from across the region, with Peru declaring a state of emergency on Tuesday along its northern border with Ecuador, and Brazil, Colombia, and Chile expressing support for Noboa’s government. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s main creditor, China, has temporarily closed its embassy and consulates until further notification.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, condemned the violence. “We are committed to supporting Ecuadoreans’ security and prosperity and bolstering co-operation with partners to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he wrote.
We strongly condemn the recent criminal attacks by armed groups in Ecuador against private, public, & government institutions. We are committed to supporting Ecuadorians’ security & prosperity & bolstering cooperation w/partners to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The surge in violence in Ecuador began in February 2021 with a massacre inside the country’s most “violent prison”, Literol Penitentiary, in which at least 79 people died. Another massacre inside the prison occurred in September of last year, killing 116 inmates and beheading several of them. According to reports, 18 clashes occurred inside prisons over the last three years, killing over 450 people. From 2018 to 2022, the country’s murder rate nearly quadrupled and a record 220 tonnes of drugs were confiscated last year.
Authorities in Ecuador claim that gangster Fito’s Los Choneros gang is behind an upsurge in violence that has been linked to drug trafficking and escalated to another level last year with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. According to authorities, the gang has ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
Ecuador violence impacts markets
The increase in violence, as well as the government’s response, has grave repercussions for public safety, human rights, and Ecuador’s international reputation. The situation has also had a detrimental effect on financial markets, with Ecuadorian bonds losing value as concerns about the country’s stability grow.
According to LSEG data, the 2035 bond fell 1.125 cents to 36.25 cents on the dollar, the 2030 bond fell 1 cent to 48.25 cents, and the 2040 bond fell half a cent to 32.5 cents. Spreads in JPMorgan’s EMBIG index widened 83 basis points to 2,039 basis points, reversing all of the year’s gains in a rally that began in mid-December.
On 5th January, the unused cabin door of a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane fell off mid-air, causing a stir across the aviation industry. Though no passenger on the Alaska Airlines plane was seriously injured, the incident sparked debate over safety on the Boeing planes. As the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of most Boeing 727 Max 9 aircraft for inspection, a separate debate about the company has been going on social media.
It has come to light that for the past two years, Boeing has been making changes in the company to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
For those unaware, DEI is an umbrella term for policies, strategies, programs, and practices implemented by a company in its mission to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment to accommodate the employees’ ethnicity and sexual orientation. Billionaire Elon Musk and Project 21 Chairman Horace Cooper are among those who openly criticised Boeing for prioritising diversity over security.
In a series of tweets on social media platform X, Musk suggested that the focus on diversity hiring could impact air travel safety.
In one of the posts, Musk wrote, “Do you want to fly in an aeroplane where they prioritised DEI hiring over your safety? That is happening.” Musk was quoting an X user, James Lindsay, who posted a portion of Boeing’s annual incentive plan for 2022 that talked about adding DEI as focus areas for deciding employee incentives. DEI was not part of the company’s plan in 2021.
Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety? That is actually happening. https://t.co/FcTyzZD0uW
Upon further research, and Fox News’ Laura Ingraham mentioned it on “The Ingraham Angle”, it came to light that Boeing had set a goal to achieve diverse interview slates for at least 90% of manager and executive openings. The company’s annual GEDI report suggested that they exceeded the target, with 92% of interviews slated being diverse. It resulted in a notable 47% diverse hires at the management and executive levels. The company has further increased the bar, expecting 92.5% of the interview slates to be diverse.
The report further suggested that there has been a spike in employees of different ethnic groups while White representation has decreased by 3%. Interestingly, Boeing was never a “White” company. The diversity among the employees was always there. However, since the pro-DEI movements in the US, it appears that the company has decided to focus more on the race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation rather than hiring the best candidate.
Boeing has already admitted to the “mistake” that led to the recent incident. On 9th January, Boeing’s president and chief executive, Dave Calhoun, said the company acknowledged the mistake. He said, “We’re going to approach this number one, acknowledging our mistake. We’re going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way.” He added that the company would work with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the matter and find out the cause of the accident.
Over 170 Boeing 737 Max-9s were grounded globally following the mishap where a door was blown off mid-air in an Alaska Airlines flight.
An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to Portland International Airport after a section of the fuselage suddenly blew out of the plane Friday evening with a big boom and a rush of air through a gaping hole.https://t.co/GxzCvAsNqDpic.twitter.com/WgAYEXqXTA
According to a BBC report, United Airlines found during the inspection that there were installation issues with the door. The company said, “Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug – for example, bolts that needed additional tightening.” Notably, most aircraft in question are operated by either United Airlines or Alaska Airlines.
However, it is too early to reach a conclusion on what could be the reason behind the issue with the aircraft. The Boeing 737 Max 9 involved in the recent incident was delivered to Alaska Airlines in October 2023. It was in service for only eight weeks. Following the incident, 170+ planes have already been grounded, leading to cancellations of several flights. Boeing is not new to controversies over safety concerns. Following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, the 737 Max series was grounded for around two years.
The Federation Of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has appealed to producers to cancel their shooting schedules in Maldives and choose alternate locations in India. A statement has been released by the film body in this regard. FWICE is a film industry worker’s union in Mumbai.
"The Federation of Western India Cine Employees" has appealed to film producers to boycott Maldives & shoot at Indian locations.
The statement comes amid the deteriorating ties between India and Maldives after 3 Maldivian ministers used derogatory language for India and PM Modi after he urged people to visit Lakshadweep islands.
The controversy sparked by the 3 Maldivian ministers, now suspended, has caused massive embarrassment for the island nation which has appealed to China to send more tourists in the wake of cancellations from Indian tourists.
FWICE too has now joined the list of Indians calling for the boycott of Maldives. The body in its press release condemned the remarks by the 3 Maldivian ministers.
It stated, “In view of the growing row between India and Maldives over the derogatory statement issued by three ministers of Maldives, the FWICE which is the oldest and largest Federal body of the workers, technicians and artists working in the media and entertainment industry, strongly condemns the most irresponsible and ridiculous remarks of the ministers of Maldives passed on globally respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.”
“In solidarity with the nation and its wide culture, the members of FWICE have decided to boycott Maldives for their shooting locations. Instead, the FWICE appeals its members to choose similar locations in India for their shooting purpose and contribute towards developing the tourism in India,” it added.
FWICE has advised all producers in India and across the world not to plan any shootings or production activities in the Maldives. “We all stand in strong support towards our Prime Minister and our Nation,” it concluded.
The statement was signed by chied advisor Ashok Pandit, a Kashmiri Pandit activist and filmmaker; President BN Tiwari; General Secretary Ashok Dubey and Treasurer Gangeshwar Srivastav.
Maldives has been a highly-preferred destination for filmmakers and Indian tourists alike. The island nation receives around 200,000 Indians annually meaning that the boycott, which is now reaching an industrial scale, will significantly impact its economy.
The Maldivian government was forced to suspend three of its ministers namely Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoon Majid for their remarks insulting Indians and PM Modi. The ruling coalition government in Maldives has historically been anti-India and pro-China. Reports suggest that the 2023 election contested by the Progressive Alliance was based on an anti-India rhetoric.
The residents, teachers, and parents of students are fuming over the authority’s decision to house 2000 ‘illegal immigrants’ in a High school, in New York City’s Brooklyn. The City Hall administration has shifted the immigrants from a controversial tent shelter at Floyd Bennett Field to James Madison High School. The authority claims that the move comes amid concerns that a massive migrant tent at Floyd Bennett Field would collapse from heavy downpours and strong winds.
Consequently, the illegal immigrants started moving shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday (9th January). They were ferried in more than two dozen school buses which lined up at the field after students were asked to leave and not come to school on Wednesday (10th January). The 500 families totalling around 2000 immigrants will be occupying the school’s gymnasiums and auditorium ‘overnight’ as per the officials.
(The ‘illegal migrants’ were ferried in more than dozens of school buses, Image Source – New York Post)
#BREAKING Migrants received last minute notice telling them to evacuate from Floyd Bennett Field tent city to James Madison Highschool, they are expected to come back tomorrow at 5am to Tent City.
2,000 migrants have been EVACUATED from Floyd's Bennett Field shelter "Tent City"… pic.twitter.com/Jdp725s4x5
City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said, “To be clear, this relocation is a proactive measure being taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals working and living at the centre.”
Mamelak added. “The relocation will continue until any weather conditions that may arise have stabilised and the facility is once again fit for living.”
However, the move triggered a massive outrage with locals expressing that the illegal immigrants could be lodged in schools for months. Additionally, locals argue that after schools, city officials could start lodging illegal immigrants in their homes, a fear which was also aired by Elon Musk while reacting to the latest developments.
This is what happens when you run out of hotel rooms. Soon, cities will run out of schools to vacate. Then they will come for your homes. https://t.co/MQ159OlOXc
“This is what happens when you run out of hotel rooms. Soon, cities will run out of schools to vacate. Then they will come for your homes”, Elon Musk posted on X reacting to a video of busloads of illegals arriving at the school.
They have not been vetted and have criminal records: Locals lambast officials
The people living in the neighborhood of the James Madison High School launched a scathing attack on the city officials. They fear that the pretext of storm to lodge illegal immigrants in schools is a ‘test run’ for times to come and the immigrants could continue to stay in the schools for months.
A resident who identified himself only as Rob was quoted by NY Post, “This is f—ed up. It’s a litmus test. They are using a storm, a legitimate situation, where they are testing this out. I guarantee you they’ll be here for the entire summer. 1,900 people is getting thrown into my neighbourhood, half a block from where I live and we don’t know who they are.”
He added, “They’re not vetted. A lot of them have criminal records and backgrounds and we don’t even know.”
An angry mother harangued the immigrants as they deboarded a school bus asking whether they would feel good that the students had been kicked out of school adding that she hoped they had a good night’s sleep.
The woman, who only identified herself as Michelle, screamed at the buses, “How do you feel? Does it feel good?”.
She continued, “How does it feel that you kicked all the kids out of school tomorrow? Does it feel good? I hope you feel good. I hope you will sleep very well tonight!”
REPORT: Brooklyn high schoolers who attend James Madison High School are being kicked out of class and will have to go remote as "asylum seekers" are taking over their school.
Another resident said, “How do you feel stealing American tax money?”
Reacting to the city officials’ takeover of schools for housing ‘illegal immigrants’, netizens slammed the US government for bludgeoning immigrant crisis and expressed their fear of impending law and order problems.
Based on unconfirmed reports, some users shared concerns that the authorities have begun to ask residents to be ready to lodge immigrants in their homes as they did on previous occasions. Reacting to it, Elon Musk reiterated his warning.
In another tweet, Musk said, “They’ve run out of hotel rooms, are kicking kids out of school for illegal housing, and now they want your homes too.”
They’ve run out of hotel rooms, are kicking kids out of school for illegal housing and now they want your homes too https://t.co/Cro82sGjq9
Additionally, Council member of the 48th District of New York City, Inna Vernikov released an official letter describing the development as “unacceptable”. Vernikov called on the government to stop using public schools as a shelter ever again.
BREAKING: @JMHSBklyn has informed parents that tomorrow classes will be remote. Why? Because a group of 2,000 illegal aliens are being transferred to NYC and will be sleeping in the school’s gym.
Americans are being deprived of an education to cater to illegals.
The letter stated, “Our public schools are meant to be places of learning and growth for our children, and were never intended to be shelters or facilities for emergency housing. There are approximately 4,000 students who attend Madison High School. Their parents are rightfully concerned. This will agitate local residents, disrupt the entire school environment, and place a tremendous burden on our families, students, school administrators, and staff.”
(Councilmember slams the City officials demand an immediate stop on using public places like schools for housing migrants, Sourced from X handle libsoftiktok)
It added, “As an elected official representing this community, I demand a full stop to using our public schools as a shelter ever again. I urge my colleagues in government to join me in this effort.”
The controversial tent that houses illegal immigrants
It is important to note that the 2,000-bed tent facility at Floyd Bennett Field which was built on the deserted runway of Brooklyn Airport had faced similar issues in the past because of extreme weather. In December 2023, it saw heavy rain and gusting, 55-mph winds that shook metal bolts and hinges loose from the ceiling.
Regarding the problems, Venezuelan migrant Reibi Rodrigues said, “The wind was so strong, it looked like the tents were going to give way and be blown apart. When we told security we were afraid of an imminent collapse, they told us the door was open and we could leave when we wanted. But where were we going to go?”
City Hall officials stated that they had an evacuation plan in place and were ready to execute if needed. However, according to them, there was no flooding reported at the former federal airfield during the December rainfall. They added that they were unaware of bolts and hinges falling from the top of the tents.
(Video Courtesy – CBS New York)
It is important to note that the Shelter has been controversial since its inception. In November, the initial group of migrants relocated to the vacant airfield in Brooklyn following negotiations between Governor Kathy Hochul and the White House. The agreement allowed for the establishment of a tent city at the site. While some critics expressed concerns about the isolated location, city officials went ahead with their plan because of the overwhelming influx of thousands of migrants into New York City.
According to critics, Councilwoman Joann Ariola, the shelter is a waste of taxpayers’ money and it was ‘common sense’ that it would face extreme weather conditions.
According to reports, around 70,000 migrants are currently under the city’s supervision out of the 162,000 who have arrived in the five boroughs since the spring of 2022 from the US border.
The city erected migrant tents at Randall’s Island in Manhattan and the former Creedmore Psychiatric Center in Queens. However, as of Tuesday, officials maintained that these locations are less exposed and are not deemed susceptible to severe weather conditions.
Democrat Mayor Adams stated that while the tents at the other two sites are “anchored” to the ground, the ones at Floyd Bennett Field are only held down by “heavy stones.”
Democrat Mayor Adam’s 60-day limit order worsens lodging crisis
Additionally, the chaotic scenes in New York City worsened further on Tuesday when several migrant families who were lodged in a Manhattan hotel were served eviction notices in line with Mayor Eric Adams’ 60-day limit order. As per reports, around 4,800 eviction notices have been sent to migrant families in shelters. Apparently, as per the order, immigrants can stay for 60 days at a place and then they will be lodged at another place.
Notably, the Democratic Mayor Adams had imposed the limit in October for homeless migrant families. According to Adams, the move was necessary to relieve a shelter system overwhelmed by asylum-seekers crossing the southern U.S. border.
The 60-day limit on shelter stays had been imposed to ease the pressure on New York City’s strained shelter system. After eviction, the migrants can reapply for shelter and the city administration provides them an alternate accommodation.
Those evicted from the Manhattan hotel may find accommodation at the Roosevelt Hotel, another midtown facility repurposed as a centre for incoming migrants. According to city officials, migrant families can submit new applications for an additional 60-day stay in the shelter system at this location.
A 40-year-old mother from Colombia, Mayra Martinez is among those evicted from a hotel accommodation given by the US government.
She said her three children have mixed feelings about leaving the Row. The family had been living at the hotel for more than a year and had saved up enough to rent a three-bedroom apartment in nearby Newark, New Jersey, as reported by AP.
The Pakistan Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence of former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who passed away last year, Geo News reported.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah conducted the hearing.
On December 17, 2019, a special court awarded the death sentence to the former ruler under Article 6 of the Constitution after a case of ‘high treason’ was filed against him during Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) tenure for his “unconstitutional” decision to impose an emergency in November 2007.
On Jan 13, 2020, the Lahore High Court (LHC) declared the verdict, given by the special court formed to hear the high treason case under Article 6, “unconstitutional”. Following this, the Lahore HC verdict was challenged by the Pakistan Bar Council and several senior lawyers including Taufeeq Asif, according to Geo News.
On Wednesday, the court announced the reserved verdict on the appeal filed by the former ruler against the death sentence that was handed to him and declared it ineffective for non-compliance.
“Pervez Musharraf’s heirs did not follow the case even on multiple notices,” the SC remarked while rejecting the former president’s appeal.
Musharraf’s counsel, Salman Safdar, said that he tried contacting Musharraf’s family after the court decided to hear the appeal but the family never responded to him.
The court also declared LHC’s judgment “null and void” and remarked that the Lahore HC’s decision was against the law.
Notably, the top court’s decision came despite the military ruler’s passing away on February 5, 2023, Geo News reported.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Hours after the party officially declined the invitation to attend Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha on 22nd January, several Congress leaders have come out in the open to slam the grand old party for taking such a “political decision”. In a sharp criticism of his party, Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam went on to describe it as a “suicidal decision”.
He stressed that he is heartbroken by the fact that Congress declined the invite to the grand consecration ceremony in Ram Mandir. Taking to X, he wrote, “Rejecting ‘Invitation’ of Shri Ram Mandir is a very unfortunate and suicidal decision, I am heartbroken today.”
श्री राम मंदिर के “निमंत्रण” को ठुकराना बेहद दुर्भाग्य पूर्ण और आत्मघाती फ़ैसला है,आज दिल टूट गया. @INCIndia
Congress MLA from Porbandar who had earlier served as state party Chief and Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, Arjun Modhwadia, asserted that Bhagwan Ram is our beloved and revered deity, adding that Congress should not have taken such a political decision on the matter of faith.
The Gujarat Congress MLA wrote, “Lord Shri Ram is Aradhya Dev. This is a matter of faith and belief of the countrymen. Congress should have stayed away from taking such political decisions.”
UP Congress Chief Ajay Rai, however, resisted from commenting directly on the party’s decision to reject the invite or criticise it when the media asked for his response. Nonetheless, he took a different line from his party and colleagues who have refrained from visiting Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he stressed that he along with the party’s UP unit will take a dip in Saryu on 15th January, Makar Sankranti.
VIDEO | "Our stand has been clear since beginning. The UP Congress leaders will take a dip in Saryu and visit Ram Lalla on January 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti," says UP Congress chief @kashikirai after Congress leadership decline invitation to Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha… pic.twitter.com/AVwINPNN1n
Speaking with PTI, Ajay Rai said, “Our stand has been clear since the beginning. The UP Congress leaders will take a dip in Saryu and visit Ram Lalla on January 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.”
Notably, earlier in the day, the Congress party stated that their supremo Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will not attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha event on 22nd January. In a statement, Jairam Ramesh, the General Secretary (Communications) of Congress announced that the three top leaders of the party have declined to attend the event because it is a ‘BJP-RSS event’.
“Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and RSS has been brought forward for electoral gain. While abiding by the 2019 SC judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge, Smt Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event”, the statement shared by Jairam Ramesh read.
It is notable here that Congress has always been opposed to the Ram Mandir, even going to the extent of denying the existence of Lord Ram. Congress leader Kapil Sibal was a part of the legal battle against the construction of Ram Mandir, representing the Sunni Waqf Board, and over decades, the Congress has used all political, vocal, and ideological tools to deride those who were working to get a Temple constructed at Ram Janmabhoomi.
It is notable here that Former prime ministers Dr Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda have also been invited. Heads of all leading political parties and former President Pratibha Patil have also been invited to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
4 years after the historic Supreme Court verdict and after centuries of waiting for Hindus, finally the Ram Mandir is ready at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and Ram Lalla’s idol will undergo Pran Pratishtha in the temple on January 22.
In a major development, on 10th January the Lok Sabha privileges committee summoned senior officers including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary of Jharkhand and senior police officials for cases against Dr Nishikant Dubey, the Bharatiya Janta Party MP in the lower house from Godda constituency. It was issued after Dubey submitted a request in connection to ‘breach of privilege’ and ‘violation of protocol norms’ on 8th January.
The parliamentarian posted about the same on social media and wrote, “The Jharkhand government is unnecessarily implicating me in false cases and not allowing me to work as an MP. So far, 42 cases have been registered against me in the last 4 years. The privileges committee of the Lok Sabha asked the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, the DGP, the Home Secretary, the Deoghar District Deputy Commissioner and the Deoghar Superintendent of Police to appear before it on 12th January.” The officials have been asked to appear along with him. Notably, he has been called to provide information regarding the matter on the same day.
Dubey posted two letters issued by the Lok Sabha Privileges and Ethics Committee, to administrative officials and the other to police officials.
The first letter has been issued to Jharkhand Chief Secretary L Khiangte, Home Secretary Shri Avinash Kumar, Jharkhand and Deoghar district’s Deputy Commissioner Vishal Sagar. The letter states, “Notice of question of serious breach of privilege/violation of protocol norms dated 8 January 2024 given by Dr. Nishikant Dubey MP against senior officers of Jharkhand for committing unprecedented ‘breach of privilege and violation of protocol norms’ and blatant misuse of official position by officials of Jharkhand Administration.”
हेमंत सोरेन जी के इशारे पर काम करने वाले,मुख्य सचिव,गृह सचिव व उपायुक्त देवघर भी दिल्ली बुलाए गए pic.twitter.com/C6nQUEkkaf
It states, “The undersigned is directed to state that the Committee of Privileges has directed that Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, DGP, Jharkhand, and Shri Ajit Peter Dungdung, Superintendent of Police, Deoghar, Jharkhand be asked to appear before the Committee for oral evidence on the above subject matter on Friday, 12 January, 2024 at 1600 hours in Committee Room ‘2’, Parliament House Annexe Extension, New Delhi.” The summoned officials have been asked to send the confirmations by 11 January.
The second letter has been issued to Jharkhand DGP Ajay Kumar Singh and Deoghar district SP Ajit Peter Dungdung for the same reasons. The letter reads, “Notice of question of serious breach of privilege/violation of protocol norms dated 8 January 2024 given by Dr Nishikant Dubey MP against senior police officers of Jharkhand for committing unprecedented ‘breach of privilege’ and ‘violation of protocol norms’ and blatant misuse of official position by officials of Jharkhand Administration.”IT
झारखंड सरकार मुझे बेबहज झूठे केसों में फँसाकर मुझे सांसद के तौर पर काम नहीं करने दे रही है ।मेरे उपर अभीतक 42 केस पिछले 4 साल में दर्ज हुआ ।लोकसभा के विशेषाधिकार समिति ने 12 जनवरी को झारखंड के मुख्य सचिव,DGP,गृह सचिव,देवघर ज़िला उपायुक्त,देवघर पुलिस अधीक्षक को बुलाया है।मुझे भी… pic.twitter.com/VbxHNctwFv
It added, “The undersigned is directed to state that the Committee of Privileges has directed that Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, DGP, Jharkhand, and Shri Ajit Peter Dungdung, Superintendent of Police, Deoghar, Jharkhand be asked to appear before the Committee for oral evidence on the above subject matter on Friday, 12 January 2024 at 1600 hours in Committee Room ‘2’, Parliament House Annexe Extension, New Delhi.”
It further directed, “The Ministry of Home Affairs are accordingly, requested to ensure that the officials referred to above, appear before the Committee of Privileges, Lok Sabha on the date and time indicated above. Necessary confirmation, in this regard, may please be sent to this Secretariat latest by 11 January 2024.” The official notification was undersigned by Sanjeev Kumar Jindal who is the Joint Secretary CS (Centre-State division).
The summons were issued after MP Nishikant Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 8 January, accusing senior officials of Jharkhand including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP and the district SP of breach of privilege and protocol norms. He alleged everyone in the state was misusing their positions to target him.
On Wednesday afternoon, Chief Minister Manohar Lal visited Bittu Bajrangi’s house to offer condolences on the death of his brother, Mahesh Panchal. He expressed sympathy to Bittu Bajrangi and the family, offering his support.
Sudarshan News journalist Sagar Kumar shared pictures of Manohar Lal Khattar’s visit to Bittu Bajrangi’s house on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mahesh Panchal, brother of the Hindu activist Bittu Bajrangi, passed away on Monday, January 8, in AIIMS Delhi. He had been battling for his life for over a month after assailants poured thinner on him in Dabua Colony of Faridabad, Haryana and set him on fire. The incident happened on December 13th last year.
Within hours, Mahesh Panchal was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition. He had sustained severe burn injuries which were estimated to be around 60%.
Leftist media and Mohammed Zubair peddle lies claiming Panchal faked his attack
According to media sources, the attackers initially confirmed Bittu Bajrangi’s brother Mahesh Panchal’s identification. ‘Are you Bittu Bajrangi’s brother?’ they asked Mahesh Panchal. When Mahesh answered yes to this inquiry, they poured thinner on him and lit him on fire. Mahesh dived into a drain right away to douse the fire and walked to his house since no one came to help him. When Mahesh eventually arrived home, Bittu Bajrangi took him to the hospital.
While Mahesh Panchal was battling for his life with 60 per cent burns on his body, the leftist media houses and the usual suspects, including Alt News cofounder Mohammed Zubair, resorted to peddling lies and raising aspersions on the veracity of the attack on Bajrangi’s brother.
A week after the assault, the Hindustan Times published an article where it claimed that Mahesh Panchal had faked the assault on himself. The article authored by Leena Dhankhar was titled: “Cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi’s brother faked assault: Police” quoted the Faridabad police as saying that he had suffered burns after allegedly falling into a bonfire and that there was no proof to suggest that his injuries were sustained in a murder attempt.
Fact-checking’ website Alt News’ out on bail co-founder Mohammed Zubair had jumped at the opportunity. As soon as the HT report was out claiming that Bittu Bajrangi’s brother faked the assault, Zubair shared the information widely on social media and propagated it as truth.
Zubair published multiple posts on social media against Bittu Bajrangi and his brother since the fake news was published by the Hindustan Times. In a post on X, he wrote, “Cow vigilante #BittuBajrangi’s brother faked assault: Police.” He shared the link to the HT report in the post. However, the “fact checker” did not care to confirm if Faridabad Police gave any such statement or not.
