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Cash for query case: Lokpal orders CBI probe against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, reveals BJP MP Nishikant Dubey

OpIndia Staff
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Cash for query case: Lokpal orders CBI probe against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, reveals BJP MP Nishikant Dubey

On Wednesday (8th November), BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that the anti-corruption body Lokpal has ordered the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) to investigate the cash-for-query scam involving Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.

Taking to X, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that Lokpal has directed CBI to investigate Mahua Moitra’s alleged corruption. “Lokpal today, on my complaint, ordered a CBI inquiry into the corruption of accused MP Mahua ji by mortgaging national security,” Dubey posted.

Soon after, TMC MP Mahua Moitra took to X to respond to “media calling” her saying that CBI should file an FIR against businessman Gautam Adani and his firms for alleged scams and then they may count her shoes.

“For media calling me- my answer: 1. CBI needs to first file FIR on ₹13,000 crore Adani coal scam. 2. National security issue is how dodgy FPI owned (inc Chinese & UAE ) Adani firms buying Indian ports & airports with @HMOIndia clearance. Then CBI welcome to come, count my shoes,” Moitra posted.

In another post, Mahua Moitra took a jibe at MP Nishikant Dubey whom she earlier called a “Jharkhandi pitbull” as she wrote, “Very happy to know Modiji’s Lok Pal exists – & been spurred into action by specially bred pit bulls. Also Godi Media – why not ask Lok Pal’s office to release statement on referral. Bit humiliating for LP office to outsource such important announcements to canine farms, eh?

Notably, the anti-corruption panel is yet to issue an official statement regarding the purported order to CBI to probe TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s alleged corruption pertaining to the cash-for-query scam.

The development comes after Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai filed a complaint with CBI, accusing Mahua Moitra of corruption, bribery and taking lavish gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking Lok Sabha questions targeted on the businesses of Adani Group, Hiranandani’s rivals. Based on Dehadrai’s complaint, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey submitted a formal complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking an inquiry against Moitra. He urged the Speaker for her immediate suspension.

In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai for IndiaToday Mahua Moitra admitted sharing her parliament login ID and password with businessman Darshan Hiranandani saying that “it is in no way against the rules.”

Later, the Ethics Committee of parliament summoned Mahua Moitra for questioning on November 2. The meeting, however, ended abruptly after the TMC MP stormed out. While leaving the meeting, Moitra accused the panel of asking “filthy and personal questions”. The committee, however, refuted her claims saying that she did not cooperate and left to avoid answering more questions.

Should Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal resign or govern from jail if arrested by ED: AAP to hold a ‘referendum’

OpIndia Staff
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Should Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal resign or govern from jail if arrested by ED: AAP to hold a ‘referendum’

On 7 November, the Aam Aadmi Party announced that it would hold a “referendum” in the national capital, Punjab and other regions of the country to decide whether Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should step down from office in the event that the Enforcement Directorate arrests him in connection with the excise policy case, or go on leading the government from behind bars.

The development came as a part of multiple decisions that were taken after AAP municipal councillors and the party supremo held a 1.5-hour discussion concerning the Enforcement Directorate summons that was issued to him regarding his involvement with the scam. This occurred one day following a similar gathering he arranged for party MLAs.

AAP leader and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in-charge Durgesh Pathak revealed, “AAP will hold street meetings in Delhi and across the country, and will go from house to house to hold a referendum. The CM listened to the councillors. He assured us that he would consider this matter. In the meeting, the CM mentioned that he would also discuss this matter with the AAP’s organization in Punjab and across the country.”

He added, “After that, a decision will be made on this issue. Along with this, in today’s meeting, it was decided that referendums will be conducted in Delhi and the entire country on the same matter. People will be engaged in a public dialogue to decide whether Arvind Kejriwal should resign as Delhi CM or run the government from Tihar jail. AAP councillors and MLAs will gather people’s opinions by conducting campaigns across the country.”

According to him, the council members requested that if the AAP president is jailed, he lead the government from a prison cell. This proposal was also expressed by the MLAs. “All councillors requested the CM that he should not think about resigning. If the Modi government’s ED dares to arrest the CM, then he has to run the government from jail.”

He stressed, “AAP councillors and MLAs will run a campaign throughout the country and hold a referendum. They will visit every house to hold a dialogue with citizens. We will tour the national capital and hold street discussions on whether the CM should resign or run the government from Tihar Jail.” The AAP leader added that the chief minister mentioned that he is going to meet with Punjab AAP leaders before making a decision on the matter after the councillors requested him not to step down.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the AAP of dramatics over the ED summons. “For the last two days, AAP has been trying to create an impression that Kejriwal is a living martyr, but AAP leaders should know that Delhi residents know that Kejriwal is involved in the liquor scam. It appears that karma is haunting Kejriwal as he knows that the money trail of the scam will land at his doorstep, so he is now calling his elected representatives to meetings to keep the flock together,” charged Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

The AAP legislative group in Delhi convened a meeting on 6 November to reaffirm their support for Arvind Kejriwal. They stressed that in the event that he is apprehended by the police, the Delhi government would be operated out of Tihar Prison and cabinet meetings would take place there.

Delhi Liquor Policy Scam

The Delhi Liquor Policy’s accusations stemmed from a report that Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena received from Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in July 2022 which highlighted purported procedural errors in the policy’s formulation. According to the audit, former deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia’s “arbitrary and unilateral decisions” as the Excise Minister caused “financial losses to the exchequer” that were estimated to be worth more than Rs 580 crore.

The statement claimed that “kickbacks received by the AAP Delhi government and AAP leaders” from owners and operators of alcohol businesses in return for preferential treatment, including license fee extensions and discounts, waivers of penalties, relief from Covid-19-related disruptions, etc., were used to “influence” the early 2022 Punjab and Goa Assembly elections. Manish Sisodia was arrested as a result of the CBI being referred the report.

Following the filing of an FIR by the CBI against him and fourteen other accused, including AAP communications chief Vijay Nair, the ED informed a court in March that the purported proceeds of crime exceeded Rs 292 crore. The agency arrested Delhi Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh last month in relation to a money laundering case linked to the scam.

On 30 October, the ED asked Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on 2nd November in relation to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021–2022. However, he ignored the summons, labelling them as “illegal” and proceeded to Madhya Pradesh for the upcoming elections to speak at a rally. He alleged that the national anti-money laundering agency was working with the BJP to damage his reputation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had already called him in relation to the matter in April of this year.

KEONICS corruption: How chairman Priyank Kharge blamed contractors & outgoing govt, denied graft charges against MD who was later suspended

OpIndia Staff
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KEONICS corruption: How chairman Priyank Kharge blamed contractors & outgoing govt, denied graft charges against MD who was later suspended

The Karnataka government has suspended the managing director of Karnataka Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS) a day after he was accused of demanding 10 to 12 per cent in bribe in exchange for clearing bills amounting to about Rs 300 crores. The accusation was made the president of KEONICS contractor’s association Vasant Bangera against the MD, Sangappa, an IAS officer.

Interestingly, Sangappa’s suspension comes despite Karnataka Minister and KEONICS chairman Priyank Kharge reportedly denying the allegations of corruption in the state-owned enterprise. On 7th November, Kharge reportedly said that the accusation of 12 per cent bribe in exchange of clearing bills for the work done was baseless.

Kharge shifted the blame on the previous BJP government saying, “As per my knowledge, there is no such bribery case that happened in KEONICS during the rule of our government. It is true that there was widespread corruption and irregularities in KEONICS in the past four years and the Auditor General of India has objected to it. In my two reviews, I have found irregularities to the tune of over ₹250 crore.”

He said that considering this background, officials have been directed to take into account the Auditor General of India’s report and follow the rules before making any payment.

“In this background, the officials are directed to take into account the Auditor General of India’s report and follow the rules before making any payment. As per the rule in force, the payment for the work done cannot be made without third-party inspection and we are just following it,” Kharge said.

Furthermore, the minister blamed the contractors saying that their demand cannot be accepted. He said, “Some people are objecting to it. We cannot accept their demand. As you know, there are instances of contractors quoting ₹10,000 for a CCTV whose market price is just ₹1,000. There are also instances where contractors have quoted 20 times higher than the actual price for a product. Can we accept it? We have simply told the contractors to wait for some time by assuring them the payment after third party inspection of the work is done.”

Kharge added that the state will look into the allegation of bribery if documentary evidence is provided. “All these irregularities happened during BJP rule. After we came to power, we were not awarded a single work. Now, we are asked to pay the bills for the work awarded and completed during the BJP rule. BJP leaders must have accepted the bribes while giving the works to the contractors. I will shortly collect all the information and expose it before the people of the State,” he said.

There is no shame, no INDI Alliance leader speaking against such insult of sisters & mothers: PM Modi on Nitish Kumar’s ‘sex education’ in assembly

ANI
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There is no shame, no INDI Alliance leader speaking against such insult of sisters & mothers: PM Modi on Nitish Kumar’s ‘sex education’ in assembly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a strong attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his derogatory remarks against women in relation to population control and said crass words were uttered in the state assembly and there was “no shame”.

Addressing an election rally here, PM Modi did not name Nitish Kumar but referred to his remarks made on Tuesday. He also attacked the INDIA alliance over Nitish Kumar’s remarks and asked women in the gathering if leaders of the opposition bloc could do any good for them or respect them.

“People of INDI alliance are roaming, playing tricks to dislodge our government, a leader of INDI alliance said indecent words in the assembly in which mothers, sisters were present. No one can imagine. There is no shame. Not only this, no leader of INDI alliance was prepared to speak a word against such dangerous insult of sisters, mothers,” PM Modi said.

“Those who have such attitude, can they ever do your welfare? Sisters and mothers, can they do your welfare, provide you respect, honour you,” he asked.

Several women in the gathering waved “no”.

Slamming the JD-U leader, PM Modi said such remarks also besmirch the country’s reputation.

“How unfortunate for the country. How much you will fall and you are insulting the country,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said he will never shy away from doing whatever he can for the honour of women and to enhance their respect.

The Bihar Chief Minister on Tuesday sparked a controversy after he used derogatory language in the state assembly to explain the role of education and the role of women in population control.

Nitish Kumar was speaking during the winter session of the Bihar Assembly. The Chief Minister made the remarks while underlining the need for girls’ education to check population growth.

Following an uproar over his remarks, Nitish Kumar on Wednesday apologised and said he is taking back his words.

“If my words were wrong, then I apologise for that. If anyone got hurt by my words, I take them back,” Kumar told reporters.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed in the Bihar Assembly as Opposition members rushed to the well raising slogans against Nitish Kumar over his objectionable remarks on birth control the day before.

Nitish Kumar’s remarks have evoked strong condemnation from BJP leaders.

His remarks also drew outrage from the National Commission for Women (NCW), which asked him to tender an unconditional apology.

In a scathing riposte to the Bihar Chief Minister, Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai said that the Bihar Chief Minister has lost his “mental stability.”

“It’s objectionable; Nitish Kumar has lost his mental stability the way he spoke about women. Tejashwi Yadav’s statement in its support is also objectionable. Nitish Kumar is no longer worthy of holding the position of CM. You have destroyed the culture of this country. He should apologise and detach himself from politics,” Rai said.

Defending Nitish Kumar, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said on Tuesday that it was wrong to misinterpret the Chief Minister’s remarks as he was speaking about sex education.

“Let me tell you one thing. It is wrong if someone misinterprets it. The remarks of the CM were regarding sex education. People are hesitant whenever the topic of sex education is discussed. This is now taught in schools. Science and biology are taught in schools. Children learn it. He said what should be done practically to stop the increase in population. This should not be taken in a wrong manner. It should be taken as a sex education,” Yadav said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘I take back my words’: Nitish Kumar pulls out after ejaculating vulgar statement inside Bihar assembly

OpIndia Staff
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‘I take back my words’: Nitish Kumar pulls out after ejaculating vulgar statement inside Bihar assembly

On 8th November, the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar pretended to apologise for vulgar remarks inside the assembly. Speaking to the media, CM Nitish said, “I said something in the Assembly, and there is so much criticism over it. If what I said was wrong, I apologise for it. I take back my words. If someone is criticising me, I take back my words and apologise for it. If someone keeps criticising it, I facilitate them.”

Nitish Kumar’s statement sounded like he was not ashamed of his statement but is throwing a cursory apology because some people criticized him for it.

The matter was raised in the Bihar Assembly as well. When the opposition raised objections over the statements of CM Nitish, he said, “Why are you creating a stir? I have already clarified this in the media. You all were present in the house. Everyone agreed yesterday [to what I said]. The decision was taken with everyone’s agreement.”

He added, “I did a good thing yesterday. All of you agreed to it yesterday. But you must have gotten instructions to criticise me. I take back my words. Whoever is criticising me, I facilitate them.”

Education Minister Tejashwi Yadav defended CM Nitish’s vulgar remarks

Earlier, Bihar’s education minister, Tejashwi Yadav, defended CM Nitish’s remarks in the Bihar Assembly. He said, “It is essential to ensure the Chief Minister’s statement regarding sex education is not misinterpreted. It is now taught in schools as part of the curriculum. Science and Biology are part of the school’s curriculum. However, people still feel hesitant when discussing the topic. The CM’s statement was about the practical measures to address the issue of population growth. It should not be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Instead, it should be seen as a comprehensive part of sex education.”

CM Nitish Kumar’s remarks in the Bihar Assembly

On 7th November, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar used bizarre language and vulgar hand gestures to claim that only educated women are capable of preventing pregnancy because they make their husbands ejaculate ‘outside’.

CM Nitish said, “When men and women get married, the men’ do it’ every night, especially in winters. If the girl is educated, she will not let him ejaculate inside. She will make him ejaculate outside. So eventually, the population will come down.”

The controversy erupted at the time when India is heading towards the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Nitish Kumar, who has switched between being a part of NDA and supporting the I.N.D.I Alliance of opposition parties, which includes Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, is being considered as a potential PM candidate for the alliance. However, the alliance has been plagued with controversies and reports of differences among participating parties, raising questions about its survival till the General Elections. It remains to be seen whether the alliance will crumble like a house of cards or weather the storm.

PM Modi wishes Former Deputy PM LK Advani who turns 96: The Rath Yatra he spearheaded, which has born fruit today in the form of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya    

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi wishes Former Deputy PM LK Advani who turns 96: The Rath Yatra he spearheaded, which has born fruit today in the form of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya    

On 8th November 2023, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India and BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani turned 96 years of age. Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to the BJP co-founder who spearheaded the Rath Yatra movement for the construction of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Former BJP President Advani is also attributed for playing a key role in catapulting BJP from a two-seat party to a national party that has been in power for the last nine-and-a-half years and counting. 

On his birth anniversary, PM Modi lauded his party mentor for the monumental contributions that have strengthened the nation. PM Modi added, “His visionary leadership has furthered national progress and unity. I wish him good health and a long life. His efforts towards nation-building continue to inspire 140 crore Indians.”

Lal Krishna Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi city of undivided India. He hails from the Sindhi community. At the time of partition, he came to India and over the years played a pivotal role as the backbone, first of Jan Sangh and then the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Strikingly, 33 years ago, i.e. in 1990, Advani took out a Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya with an aim to unite Hindus and demand the construction of the Ram temple on the birthplace of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram. As scheduled, he left Somnath on 25th September and was slated to reach Ayodhya on 30th October 1990 traversing through different states.

The responsibility of this Ratha Yatra was entrusted to Narendra Modi who as we know later went on to serve as Gujarat Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014 and has been the Prime Minister of India since 2014. 

Back in the 1990s, BJP worker Modi used to be the organisational general secretary of Gujarat BJP. Incidentally, the Rath Yatra marked Modi’s arrival at the national level. 

Meanwhile, it was also the time when leaders who emerged from the Jaya Prakash Narayan-led movement, the JP movement, in the likes of Lalu Yadav were worried that the effect of the movement had waned or ended and their vote bank might tank considerably. The noose of their divisional reservation politics was getting loose. 

As a result, several leaders like Lalu Yadav found refuge in the twisted interpretation of the word ‘Secularism’. Using the trope of secularism, he put a grinding halt on Advani’s Rath Yatra before it could reach its final destination. 

However, this coercive step against the Rath Yatra had serious consequences as it led to the fall of Prime Minister VP Singh’s government. But it was not a happenstance as the Rath Yatra had such a massive appeal that devotees used to shower flower petals in every nook and cranny the Yatra traversed through. In fact, people’s devotions were so attached that some even used to apply soil from the place where the chariot passed by onto their foreheads as a mark of devotion. 

Political journalists and pundits in Delhi who had over the years narrowed their vision sitting in their echo chambers were left astonished. While they had seen rallies of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, were even witnessed the charisma of Indira Gandhi and her popularity. But they had never seen any Rath Yatra where people would apply soil beneath the chariot on their forehead, it was a different devotion altogether for the Yatra. 

As stated above, the entire responsibility of this Rath Yatra was on Narendra Modi, currently India’s Prime Minister. Hemant Sharma in his book ‘Yudh Mein Ayodhya’ has described Modi as the strategist and architect of this Rath Yatra. He was the first person to formally give information regarding the route and program of the yatra on 13th September, 1990. It is said that the only person who had every detailed information about this yatra was Modi.

Despite witnessing the deep devotional connection of Hindus with the Yatra, the secular brand of Politicians went ahead to stall the yatra in a brazen attempt to appease their Muslim vote bank and project themselves as the biggest benefactor of the largest minority community.   

According to ‘Yudh in Ayodhya’, on 19th October 1990, a meeting was held at Sundernagar Guest House of ‘Indian Express’. Advani had left the Rath Yatra in Dhanbad to attend the meeting. Reportedly, the meeting was held on the initiative of the then Prime Minister VP Singh. Advani said that he does not want to topple the government. Advani asserted that if the government brings an ordinance and hands over the disputed structure to the VHP or its representative, the BJP will support it. 

However, political pundits believe that VP Singh did not want Mulayam to become the sole messiah of Muslims and hence on his instructions Lalu Yadav arrested Advani in Bihar. Hemant Sharma in ‘Yudh in Ayodhya’ writes that VP Singh killed two birds with one stone – Advani was arrested and Mulayam was defeated.

Nonetheless, Advani’s Rath Yatra had such a profound impact that kar sevaks from all over the country started gathering in Ayodhya. Karsevaks were adamant that the temple would be constructed no matter how much force the then-state government applied.

In the chain of events, on 30th October 1990, indiscriminate firing was meted out on the kar sevaks in Ayodhya which claimed the lives of all the kar sevaks including the Kothari brothers. According to some accounts, a dying Kar Sevak wrote ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the road with his blood. 

After the start of the yatra, on one side Advani projected himself as the servant of faith of crores of Hindus of the country who was standing against leaders like VP Singh, Mulayam Singh, and Lalu Yadav who were competing among themselves to garner as many Muslim votes as possible.

Two years after the Rath Yatra, kar sevaks went on to raze the disputed structure over the Ram Janambhoomi site to the ground. They kept fighting for their rightful land in the court of law. A Bhavya Shri Ram Mandir is currently being built in Ayodhya. It will be ready for devotees to take Shri Ram’s darshan post on 22 January 2024. 

In hindsight, political pundits assert that Lal Krishna Advani, the late Ashok Singhal, and the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee were awakening Hindu self-respect in a generation that had been trampled for decades under the boots of Nehruvianism and Indira’s communism which were concocted with secularism. 

ED questions Congress leader Pawan Bansal in the National Herald case: All you need to know about the case

OpIndia Staff
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ED questions Congress leader Pawan Bansal in the National Herald case: All you need to know about the case

On Wednesday (8th November), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned senior Congress leader Pawan Bansal in the National Herald case. He arrived at the agency Headquarters in Delhi around noon for interrogation in the money laundering case.

According to the reports, Bansal had also visited the ED office on 7th November.

However, Bansal, 75, was last interrogated by the agency in April 2022 in connection with a money laundering case involving alleged financial misconduct in the Congress-backed Young Indian, which owned the National Herald newspaper.

The former Union minister was interrogated as the managing director of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and the Congress’ interim treasurer. The National Herald is owned by Young Indian Pvt Ltd and published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

The agency in the year 2022 filed a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd based on a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

The National Herald Scam and its history so far

National Herald was started by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938 to convey the concerns of Congress’ liberal brigade. Following India’s independence, it metamorphosed into the mouthpiece of the Congress party.

The Associated Journals Limited (AJL) was the publishing company of the National Herald newspaper. It was also involved in the publication of the Urdu newspaper Qaumi Awaz and the Hindi paper Navjivan. By April 2008, AJL was in huge debt and owed the Congress party a whopping sum of Rs 90.26 crores.

The party had sanctioned loans to the company from time to time at 0% interest to keep it afloat. When it became unsustainable, AJL formally drew curtains over the printing and publication of its newspapers in 2008.

Debt owed to Congress party transferred to Gandhi-owned company

Another company by the name of Young Indian Limited (YIL) was created in 2010 as a private, not-for-profit charity under Section 25 of the Companies Act of 1956. The Gandhis (including Rahul and Sonia) owned 83.3% of the shares in YIL (as per Income Tax records).

Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes owned 15.5% and 1.2% of the shares respectively. YIL paid Rs 50 lakhs to the Congress party and transferred the debt of Rs 90.26 cr owed to it by AJL to itself.

Given that AJL was not in a position to clear its debt, Young Indian Pvt Limited acquired a majority of its share equities and eventually the whole company. As such, all assets of the Associated Journals Limited were incorporated into the Gandhi-owned Young Indian Limited.

This included real estate assets, worth over 2000 crores, which are located in posh localities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, and others. After acquiring AJL, Young Indian Limited announced that the publication of newspapers was not the objective of the not-for-profit charity.

Nonetheless, in 2016, YIL relaunched the 3 newspapers, including the National Herald, in a digital format.

In 2011, Swamy claimed that YIL was floated by the Gandhis to acquire the real-estate assets of AJL. He also accused Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi of defrauding their party and approached the trial court in 2013.

He claimed that YIL was able to write off debt totaling Rs 90.26 crores for just Rs 50 lakhs. Swamy said that the decision of the Congress party to extend loans to AJL for commercial purposes was illegal.

Notably, the agency in the year 2022 filed a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd based on a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

Congress is Barbadi ki guarantee, their CMs do Satta and generate black money: PM Modi in MP’s Damoh

OpIndia Staff
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Congress is Barbadi ki guarantee, their CMs do Satta and generate black money: PM Modi in MP’s Damoh

On Wednesday (8th November), Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh slammed the Congress party calling it a “Barbadi ki guarantee”. PM Modi accused Congress of indulging in corruption as he said in Chattisgarh Congress is involved in ‘betting’ alluding to the Mahadev app case and Rajasthan the infamous “Red Diary” allegedly containing details of corruption by Congress leaders. The Prime Minister said that “Congress is a party of Scams, Greed, Infighting, Deceit and Self-Development at the cost of the people of India.”

“Congress has absolutely deprived the people of MP. The betting scandal of Chhattisgarh, the Red Diary of Rajasthan, and the false promises of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh are other examples of the same. Congress means ‘barbaadi ki guarantee’. In 2018, they [Congress] promised a loan waiver to farmers, the farmers waited for 15 months but got nothing. In Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, Congress made a series of false promises. The Congress party knows that the youth of Madhya Pradesh don’t trust them due to their track record of corruption….Congress got power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, but their CMs are involved in ‘satta’ [betting] and generating black money,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi further urged the people to beware of the Congress party. He also said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is controlled by a remote. PM Modi asserted that when remote works Kharge speaks against Sanatan Dharma but when the remote is not working, he talks about Pandavas, the five warrior heroes of Mahabharat.

“This is the time to remain beware of the Congress party. It is that party that snatches money belonging to the poor, indulges in scams, and divides the society for chair; for Congress, the development of a state and the nation is not important…Congress president is controlled by a remote. He can’t do much. When the remote works, he abuses Sanatan (Dharma). Yesterday, when the remote was not working he spoke about Pandavas and said there are five Pandavas in BJP. We are proud that we are walking on the path laid by the Pandavas,” PM Modi said.

On the issue of corruption, PM Modi slammed the Congress party calling it a “well-oiled machinery that indulges in systemic corruption significantly looting the people of India.”

PM Modi added that the BJP Government on the other hand has facilitated corruption-free governance for the people of India and has ensured last-mile saturation of schemes and money being spent accurately for their overall development.

Asserting that he is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi said, “The entire state of MP and its people, including the poor & downtrodden, have me in their heart, and the reason is that Modi is at their service all the time. Even after several decades of Congress rule, poverty had remained a constant phenomenon in the country. Congress is based on falsity and does not possess the intent to alleviate poverty, empowering all,” PM Modi said adding that it is only the BJP Government that has ensured the development and empowerment of everyone.

PM Modi further criticised Congress for threatening to approach the Election Commission alleging violations of the model code of conduct following his announcement that the free ration Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme would be extended for an additional five years.

“They [Congress] are talking about approaching the ECI and complaining against Modi. How could he [PM Modi] talk about giving free ration to the poor? What does Modi think of himself? Do whatever you want, I will accept whatever punishment comes my way but I will not leave the work for the poor,” PM Modi said.

Punjab: Gym owner who came back from Qatar shot dead in his home, wife arrested for planning murder with boyfriend

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Gym owner who came back from Qatar shot dead in his home, wife arrested for planning murder with boyfriend

A 35-year-old man was reportedly shot dead at his home in Gharyala village, which is part of Tarn Taran district’s Patti sub-division. The police took cognizance of the event and arrested his wife, Baljit Kaur in the case. The prime accused has been identified as one Mahavir Singh who is yet to be arrested. The police are making efforts to nab him.

According to the reports, it is believed that the wife of the deceased knew Mahavir Singh (24) of the Lakhna village. She confessed that she knew Mahavir Singh who happened to kill the deceased on 7th November.

The deceased person has been identified as Ranjit Singh, who ran a gym in the village. According to police, the deceased returned from Qatar about seven months ago after spending seven to eight years there. He was working in Qatar and sending money to his family from there previously. 

The deceased was the father of two children, a boy and a girl.

The incident is said to have happened at around 1 am. on 7th November when Ranjit Singh was fast asleep at his home. “At around 1 am, two unidentified persons barged into our house and opened fire, killing my son on the spot,” said Malook Singh, the father of the deceased person.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-Patti City Jaspal Singh also commented on the issue and confirmed that the prime accused Mahavir Singh was known to the wife of the deceased. “As per the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the victim’s house, the accused entered the home at around 1:06 am and remained there till 1:20 am. When we questioned the deceased’s wife, she disclosed that she knew the prime accused Mahavir Singh (24) of Lakhna village. As per our initial investigations, Mahavir and one unidentified person committed the crime,” the DSP said.

The primary accused is yet to be arrested and the police are making efforts to nab him. However, the wife of the deceased person, Baljit Kaur has been arrested by the police. The police said that the reason behind the murder would be known after the investigation.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act against Mahavir, Baljit Kaur, and one unknown person at Patti City police station. Investigations are underway.

US House of Representatives censures Rashida Tlaib over her anti-Israel comments

OpIndia Staff
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US House of Representatives censures Rashida Tlaib over her anti-Israel comments

The lone Palestinian American member of the House of Representatives and Democratic Congresswoman from Michigan Rashida Tlaib has faced severe criticism from her peers due to her divisive words and actions over the Israel-Hamas conflict that broke out in October 2023.

A majority of Republicans were joined by lawmakers from her own party who voted in favour of the official public censure, which was passed by a vote of 234 to 188 on the night of 7 November. 

She was charged with “promoting false narratives regarding the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel” in the resolution which was introduced by Republican Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia. The legislator had “levied unbelievable falsehoods about the attack on October 7 and our greatest ally, Israel,” based on him. The punishment is a rung below expulsion.

She is infamous for her relentless support of extremist elements and for regularly expressing anti-Israel sentiments on social media which ended up offending her colleagues and Jewish outfits. Her usage of the genocidal phrase “from the river to the sea” which is interpreted as antisemitic and advocates the eradication of Israel as well as her claim that President Joe Biden “supported the genocide of the Palestinian people” attracted the most condemnation. However, he has called for brief ceasefires in order to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians from the strip.

Rashida Tlaib also carried a sign that read “Stop US Aid to Israel’s Occupation” at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Capitol. She infuriated her colleagues by refusing to apologise for holding Israel accountable for a deadly hospital explosion in Gaza that was later determined to have been caused by a rocket launched by the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

However, she broke down in tears as the US House moved forward with a resolution to censure her over anti-Israel comments while another pro-Islamist Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tried to comfort her as she defended her views on the conflict.

She held up a picture of her grandmother who lives in the West Bank and claimed that her dissent was focused on the Israeli government and its actions rather than the Jewish people and she was standing up for the human rights and dignity of the Palestinian people who have suffered under Israeli occupation and embargo. She argued that her demands were for a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians and not the destruction of the Jewish state.

“I can’t believe we have to say this but Palestinian people are not disposable. We are human beings just like anyone else. My city, my grandmother like all Palestinians just wants to live her life with the freedom and human dignity we all deserve. Speaking up to save lives no matter faith, no matter ethnicity should not be controversial in this chamber. The cries of the Palestinian and Israeli children sound no different to me. What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinian children sound different to you all,” Rashida Tlaib asked and added, “We cannot lose our shared humanity.”

She asserted, “Let me be clear, my criticism has always been of the Israeli government and Netanyahu’s actions. It’s important to separate people and governments, Mr. Chair, no government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticising the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent and it’s being used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation.”

She was subjected to a censure resolution for her disparaging remarks on Israel for the second time. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the first resolution last week which was defeated by House Democrats with support from a few Republicans and was rejected by a vote of 222-186.

She was surrounded by several of her progressive Democratic colleagues and declared earlier in the day that she would not be “silenced” and accused others of misrepresenting what she had voiced. She spoke in favour of the expression “from the river to the sea,” and claimed that it is “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate.”

She alleged, “Seventy-one per cent of Michigan Democrats support a ceasefire. So, you can try to censure me, but you can’t silence their voices. President Biden must listen to and represent all of us, not just some of us.” 

Notably, Censures are very rare. There have only ever been 25 House members censured in history, and Rashida Tlaib has assumed the position of becoming the 26th. She is notorious for her unrelenting support of anarchists and jihadists.

Recently, hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators flocked to the Cannon Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on 18 October demanding a “ceasefire” in Gaza amid the ongoing dispute between Israel and Hamas terrorists. The Congresswoman addressed the Jewish Voice for Peace protestors with an inciting speech before their rallies outside the Cannon House office building.

She claimed that Israeli soldiers assaulted the hospital despite mounting evidence to the contrary, in reference to the recent parking space fire at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza which was started by a rocket misfire from within Gaza and for which Hamas falsely claimed responsibility for Israel. She also denounced US President Joe Biden for siding with Israel in its fight against Hamas. She has continuously taken a firm anti-Israel stand since the beginning of the war.

According to Israeli officials, since the unprecendent attack on 7 October at least 1,400 people have died and 6,900 more have been injured in Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by the terrorist outfit Hamas alleged that over 10,000 people have died and up to 26,000 have been injured in the neighboring Gaza Strip, where the Israel Defense Forces are intensifying their operations, however, these figures were not verified by any independent source.

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