As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the pran pratishtha of the murti of Lord Ram in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in January next year, several Muslim leaders have now requested PM Modi to lay the foundation of the mosque in Dhannipur village when he visits Ayodhya on 22nd January 2024.
Jamiat-i-Ulama Hind president at Ayodhya, Mufti Hisbullah Badshah Khan said that PM Modi is the prime minister of not just Hindus but also of the Muslim community in India. He asserted that when the prime minister is coming to inaugurate the temple of Hindus then he should also lay the foundation stone of the mosque.
“Modi is India’s PM. He is for Hindus and Muslims both. If he is coming to inaugurate the ‘ibadatgaah’ (place of worship) of Hindu brothers, then he should also lay the foundation for the masjid,” Mufti Hisbullah said.
Meanwhile, Athar Husain, the secretary of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, the Ayodhya Masjid Trust said that the trust would welcome PM Modi if comes to lay the foundation stone of the mosque in Dhannipur village in Sohawal block nearly 20-25 km away from the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple.
“We wanted to build a free cancer hospital, a mosque, a community kitchen and a research centre dedicated to Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah Faizabadi, the hero of the 1857 freedom struggle. The PM’s presence can serve our goal. We will welcome him,” Husain said.
“Modi is not the PM of any particular community,” former Ayodhya litigant Iqbal Ansari stated. “He is doing everything for the temple; he should do the same for the masjid.”
Ansari also expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the mosque’s construction, stating that while Lord Ram’s idol is scheduled to be installed in the temple in January, the mosque’s foundation stone has yet to be laid. He further asserted that the trustees of the Ayodhya Masjid Trust should be replaced.
Mohammad Ismail Ansari, President of the Indian Muslim League expressed his “heartfelt wish” to inaugurate the Dhannipur Mosque also.
Essentially, the Muslim side’s insistance that PM Modi inaugurate a mosque after the Pran Pratishtha as well seems to stem out of their insistance that the Prime Minister has to prove his ‘secular’ credentials by inaugurating a mosque as well.
Notably, on 25th October, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the inauguration of Ram Mandir. The temple trust also announced that the consecration of the Shri Vigraha of Lord Shri Ramlala Sarkar at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya will be done by PM Modi on January 22 next year.
As reported earlier, the Mandir trust has decided to commence the consecration of Ram Lalla after Makar Sankranti on January 14, and it will be followed by the 10-day ritual of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (blessing) of Ram Lalla. According to the Chief Priest of Ram Mandir, Acharya Satyendra Das Ji Maharaj, the rituals will be held from January 15 to January 24.
A war of words has ensued in Tamil Nadu over a petrol bomb being hurled outside the Raj Bhavan in Chennai on 25th October. The Raj Bhavan in a press statement released on Thursday, October 26, stated that the police did not register Raj Bhavan’s complaint on the attack.
“Police did not register Raj Bhavan’s complaint on the attack. Suo Moto diluted the attack as an act of simple vandalism and in a hurry got arrested accused remanded to jail at midnight waking up the magistrate and preventing detailed interrogation which could expose those behind the attack. Fair investigation is killed before it begins,” the statement from Raj Bhavan read.
The statement was posted on X, formerly Twitter, tagging the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and Home Minister’s Office (HMO).
This statement came following a detailed press release by the official residence of Governor RN Ravi on 25 October, hours after the attack. It stated that “some miscreants armed with petrol bombs tried to barge into through the main gate no. 1 of the Raj Bhavan”.
“Even when security personnel of Raj Bhavan attempted to subdue the attacker, another petrol bomb was hurled, which resulted in severe damage to the main entrance to Raj Bhavan. Somehow, one of the assailants was overpowered by the Security,” the statement read.
The Raj Bhavan stated that a police complaint was filed to the Commission of Police, Greater Chennai Police, by the Deputy Secretary to the Governor and Comptroller requesting to register a case under section 124 IPC and other relevant provisions of the law.
Detailed press release by TN Raj Bhavan shared on X
It alleged that there have been threat attempts previously, too, “intended to overawe the Governor and restrain him from discharging his Constitutional duties. However, complaints lodged with the police have been inconsequential due to police inaction”.
Recalling an incident on 18th April 2022, the Raj Bhavan alleged in the statement that the Governor was physically attacked with sticks and stones while he was on his way to attend a scheduled function at the Dharmapuram Adhinam. “The complaint was lodged by Raj Bhavan, but the FIR was not registered and no action was taken against the assailants.”
In the complaint letter to the police which was attached with the press release, the Raj Bhavan stated that verbal attacks and threats to the Governor have been made mostly by leaders and workers of the DMK and its allies in their public meetings and through their social media.
Countering the charges, the Tamil Nadu DGP said that “Raj Bhavan’s statement that the petrol bomb exploded and that the petrol bombs were hurled by more than one person is totally contrary to the truth”.
“Also, a statement by the governor’s office that the governor’s convoy was attacked in Mayiladuthirai and the complaint given by the governor’s office and it’s not filed, are also against the truth. Actually, the governor’s convoy was not attacked but his follow-up vehicle was and a case was filed in that incident and 73 persons were arrested,” DGP Shankar Jiwal said.
Jiwal said that a fair and complete investigation will be conducted regarding the incident and that all footage from CCTV has been retrieved. The DGP, however, also said that the complaint that more than one person was involved was untrue.
On 25th October, a man reportedly hurled a petrol bomb outside the main gate of the Raj Bhavan in Chennai. Initial reports had said that two petrol bombs were hurled, which was later dismissed by the state police.
Raj Bhavan was attacked today afternoon. Miscreants carrying bombs tried to barge in through the main gate. However, alert sentries prevented and assailants hurled two petrol bombs inside Raj Bhavan and escaped.@PMOIndia@HMOIndia@PIB_India@DDNewslive@ANI@PTI_News
The police had filed a case against the accused, who was reportedly interrogated to determine the motive behind the attack. The accused was identified as a history sheeter named K Vinoth who was involved in an attack on Tamil Nadu BJP headquarters.
A case was reportedly registered against him under sections 436, 353, 506(ii) IPC, Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 4 of the TNPDL Act.
The controversy comes at a time when the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi have been at loggerheads over several administrative issues including MK Stalin government’s anti-NEET bill and appointments to the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) in recent days.
On Friday (27th October) morning, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi returned to India from yet another ‘secret trip’ abroad. The development comes just months ahead of crucial Vidhan Sabha elections in several States.
As per a report by ANI, Rahul Gandhi reached the Delhi International Airport from Uzbekistan on Friday morning. In a video shared by the news agency, the Congress MP could be seen exiting the airport and sitting in his convoy.
It is notable here that Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visits are always shrouded in mystery. Besides political speculations, there is often little to no news about his foreign travels.
The Congress scion has a history of going on vacations without informing the public during election season or at times when his party needs him the most.
Rahul Gandhi and his secret trips
In April 2022, after poll strategist Prashant Kishor had rejected Congress’ offer to join the party, Rahul Gandhi became untraceable again. Reports mentioned that Gandhi went missing for over 10 days and had gone unreachable, leaving the party to act alone in action during the crisis.
Earlier in December 2021, the Wayanad MP had gone for a personal trip to Italy ahead of the campaigns and rallies for then-upcoming Assembly elections in five states scheduled for 2022. He had forced the party to postpone his already scheduled rally in Punjab and had flown to Italy for a ‘personal visit’.
Just before Diwali 2021, Rahul Gandhi vanished again, reportedly to London. On November 5 of that year, it was reported that Gandhi was on a ‘long vacation’.
He returned after almost a month, just before the winter session commenced in the Parliament. At that time, the BJP took a dig at Gandhi and questioned his trip to London.
In September 2021, while the Congress party in Punjab was facing a crisis with Amarinder Singh’s resignation, the Gandhi family was vacationing in Shimla.
In December 2020, he left for Italy on the 136th foundation day of his party. His party leaders could not settle on one explanation and further made themselves a target of media questions.
In October 2019, fifteen days before the assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, Gandhi had left, reportedly for Bangkok. In June of that year, before the counting of votes of the parliamentary elections, Rahul Gandhi skipped an important meeting held by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and flew to London for a holiday.
Congress scion left SPG cover behind for his ‘mysterious’ foreign trips
In November 2019, BJP leader Rajnath Singh quizzed Rahul Gandhi about his decision to not take Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel along with him on his foreign trips.
“In the last two years, Rahul Gandhi was out for 72 days on six foreign trips, but didn’t take SPG cover. Why didn’t he take SPG cover? We want to know what Rahul Gandhi is trying to hide by not taking SPG along on foreign tours when he is a SPG protectee,” he had inquired.
Such a deliberate move is reportedly a violation of the SPG Act. In light of repeated violations of security rules both in India and abroad, his SPG protection was revoked in 2019 and was provided Z+ CRPF security cover.
Rahul Gandhi and his meetings with anti-India elements abroad
Rahul Gandhi was on a 10-day USA tour, where he spoke at the National Press Club, Stanford University and also, to ‘think tanks’, allegedly discussing relations between India and USA.
The Hudson Institute tweeted images of Rahul Gandhi in deep conversation with these “think tanks”. Sunita Vishwanath was seated alongside Rahul Gandhi at this event at Hudson Institute. Sunita Vishwanath is the co-founder of HrHR, which has also signed this letter against Narendra Modi alongside IAMC.
Investigating Info-warfare and Psy-war OSINT Disinfo Lab had conducted an investigation revealing that the ‘Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR)’ had been promoting the misleading narrative of ‘Hindu Vs Hindutva’. The same organisation was also seen endorsing the ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ event.
Hudson was honored to host @RahulGandhi to discuss the state of US-India relations and further cooperation between both nations. ???? pic.twitter.com/fIUJhS4ooX
— Hudson Institute (@HudsonInstitute) June 1, 2023
As per Disinfo Lab, HfHR was formed in the year 2019 by two Islamist advocacy groups named Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI). Interestingly, the three organisations had formed another outfit called the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA).
As per an article in The Hindu, the Alliance for Justice and Accountability had been at the forefront of leading demonstrations against the visit of PM Modi to Houston on September 22, 2019.
According to Disinfo Lab, the co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights, Sunita Vishwanath, also runs an organisation named ‘Women for Afghan Women’, which is funded by the Soros Open Society Foundation. Earlier, OpIndia reported in detail how George Soros had been fuelling a dangerous anti-India narrative through media and ‘civil society.’
Prominent Indian politician Shri Rahul Gandhi, during his proposed #RahulInUSA tour,would attend several public events. He may not know, but some ‘coordinators’ who are claiming to be associated with events are Pak Jamaat-e-Islami & Muslim Brotherhood-linked fronts
In September this year, Rahul Gandhi was seen with anti-India Italian leftist politician Fabio Massimo Castaldo. Fabio Massimo Castaldo is the person in a red tie seen on the extreme right in the second photograph of the X post by the Congress party’s official X handle.
Fabio Massimo Castaldo’s association with Pervaiz Iqbal Losar – an ISI asset in Europe – puts Rahul Gandhi’s intent to visit the European Parliament under suspicion. It is, therefore, necessary to know more about Fabio Massimo Castaldo and his alleged ISI friend Parvaiz Iqbal Losar.
Fabio Massimo Castaldo is a former member of the European Parliament. The Italian leftist politician is friends with Pervaiz Iqbal Loser who is a Europe asset of the Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Fabio Castaldo with Rahul Gandhi
Loser has been working to peddle anti-India propaganda on the Kashmir issue and lobbying against India’s interests in Europe. One of the old X posts by Fabio Massimo Castaldo is a testimony to this. Rahul Gandhi also met MEP Pierre Larrouturou during his September trip.
MEP Pierre Larrouturou was one of the key figures behind the anti-India resolution passed in the EU parliament in July over the Manipur issue. In a long social media rant, Pierre Larrouturou even made it clear that the EU resolution was specifically timed to target PM Modi’s France visit.
Pierre Larrouturou, representing the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, took the lead in proposing the resolution titled ‘India, the situation in Manipur’.
Very honored to welcome @RahulGandhi to the European Parliament today ??
He is one of the great figures of Indian democracy and has been fighting for years against the ultra-nationalism of the Modi government.
Alviina Alametsa, who Rahul Gandhi met in Brussels, was also one of the MEPs who were behind the resolution. Alametsa has been a vocal anti-India campaigner in Europe.
In January this year, she participated in a discussion with Prashant Bhushan and Shahrukh Alam, hosted by The London Story, an organization that has been linked to ISI.
In July 2023, speaking in the EU plenary, Alametsa stated that external observers must be allowed into Manipur to ‘monitor’ the situation and bring a peaceful resolution. She claimed that the status of human rights and press freedom is deteriorating in India and called for interference in India’s internal affairs.
My deepest condolences to those affected by the violence and human rights violations in Manipur. We must end the violence and find a peaceful resolution to the situation. Here is my complete address to the European Parliament on the situation. pic.twitter.com/bqtoXTw8CR
Alviina Alametsa has been relentless in her campaigning against India, writing columns, lobbying, and campaigning against Indian interests in the EU. In January 2021, she wrote an article in the EU Observer calling for EU’s support for interfering in the ‘human rights’ situation in India.
In her India-centric interactions and narrative, Alametsa has been using platforms to promote or support all anti-India voices, from Teesta Setalvad to Sanjiv Bhat, and Stan Swamy.
Congress scion called for ‘foreign interference in India’ during his trips abroad
The instances of Rahul Gandhi seeking ‘foreign help’ for his political gain in India are numerous. After losing election after election, failing to win the trust of the Indian people democratically, he has started declaring to global Leftists that India is a country deep in chaos, where democracy is declining and only he can restore it.
In April 2021, speaking at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, Gandhi insisted that the US government establishment should ‘say more’ about ‘what is happening in India.
In 2022, at the ‘Ideas for India’ conference in the United Kingdom, Rahul Gandhi had sought foreign intervention again. During his controversial address, Rahul Gandhi signaled his desire for foreign intervention two times.
Not only was Rahul Gandhi demanding foreign intervention into India & attacking our sovereignty on foreign soil but look at this now! Apparently he was sharing stage with Kamal Munir a Pakistani while he was undermining India & Indian institutions
The first one is during the mention of the Russia-Ukraine issue, and the second one is when he criticized Indian diplomats for being unwilling to take orders from Europeans. In the same conference, he had even compared Ladakh to Ukraine, insinuating that it needs a US intervention.
The same George Soros pledged USD 1 Billion to change the regime in India. His foundation provides post-graduate scholarships in “programmes that represent a long-term response to ongoing social and political transformations in the countries served.”
Soros has recently openly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group. Congress is also playing up the Adani controversy and their leaders, making people wonder if Congress is working in tandem with foreigners interested in regime change, with the 2024 general elections right around the corner.
On Friday (27th October) Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Congress party was deliberately withholding “material information” from the Election Commission. He also announced that legal action would be taken against Congress. This comes after the Election Commission issued a notice to Sarma on Thursday for allegedly making ‘communally charged’ statements and making unverified and distorted statements against a Congress leader in Chhattisgarh.
Taking to X, CM Sarma said that Congress did not inform the Election Commission that their candidate from Kawardha is a Muslim named Mohammed Akbar. He asserted that legitimate criticism of political opponents does not amount to communal politics.
“Congress has withheld the material information from the Hon’ble Election Commission that Mohammed Akbar is their candidate from Kawardha Constituency. Therefore, legitimate criticism of a candidate does not amount to communal politics. Cong will have to face the legal consequence of not revealing this crucial fact in their representation. I have full faith in the collection wisdom of the Hon’ble Election Commission,” Sarma posted.
Congress has withheld the material information from the Hon’ble Election Commission that Mohammed Akbar is their candidate from Kawardha Constituency.
Therefore legitimate criticism of a candidate does not amount to communal politics.
The Assam CM made these comments in response to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh who shared the Election Commission’s notice to CM Sarma in his X post and called him a “serial offender” accusing him of making “obnoxious hate speech” on 18th October in Chattisgarh.
“Yesterday, the Congress party brought to the attention of the Election Commission of India serious electoral malpractices by senior leaders of the party in power. The ECI has observed prima facie the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Assam CM for his obnoxious hate speech on the 18th of October in Chhattisgarh. He is actually a serial offender,” Jairam Ramesh posted on Thursday.
Yesterday, the Congress party brought to the attention of the Election Commission of India serious electoral malpractices by senior leaders of the party in power. The ECI has observed prima facie the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Assam CM for his obnoxious hate… pic.twitter.com/zGgNJBl50X
“We hope that the ECI will follow through and take this case to its logical conclusion. Politicians, especially those holding Constitutional positions, cannot and should not be allowed to get away with such blatant violations of the Model Code of Conduct. It is the only way to stop the poisoning of our public discourse and protect the sanctity of our elections and democracy itself,” the Congress leader continued.
During a public rally on 18th October in poll-bound Chattisgarh’s Kawardha assembly constituency, BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “When one Akbar comes, he brings a hundred Akbars along with him. Don’t forget that. This is why you should say goodbye to such people otherwise they will malign the land of Maa Kaushalya.”
The Assam CM further lambasted the Congress party over the issues of love jihad and religious conversions. “Today the tribals of Chattisgarh are provoked and encouraged for religious conversion. And when you raise your voice against this, Bhupesh Baghel says we are secular.
“Love Jihad started during the Congress rule in the country. Tribals in Assam and Chhattisgarh are encouraged daily to get converted (to Christianity). When people raise voices against the act (in Chhattisgarh), Bhupesh Baghel says he is secular,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
“Is killing Hindus your concept of secularism? This country belongs to Hindus and it will continue to be of Hindus. Do not teach us the language of secularism. Building a masjid for Babar after demolishing the Ram temple is not called secularism” Sarma said, blasting the Congress party for its appeasement policies,” Sarma added.
In Uttarakhand, the State Information Commission has included the Waqf Board under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act). With this, mosques, dargahs and madrasas will now have to give all the information about income and properties.
Information about the status of Waqf properties worth billions of rupees in the state, their income-expenditure and how the process of work is being conducted will now be made public. Around 2,200 waqf properties are registered with the Uttarakhand Waqf Board.
According to the Waqf Act of 1995 (amended in 2013), the Uttarakhand Waqf Board is responsible for overseeing the Waqf properties. However, there has been a consistent lack of transparency in the system. As a result, the management of Waqf properties has avoided appointing public information officers. Following the recent directive, this practice will no longer be continued.
The issue of waqf properties being exempt from the Right to Information Act was brought to light following an RTI application submitted by advocate Danish Siddiqui, a resident of Nagar Panchayat Piran Kaliyar. In July 2022, Siddiqui requested information from the Uttarakhand Waqf Board regarding various activities at the Piran Kaliyar Dargah.
In response, he was informed that there was no designated public information authority in Piran Kaliyar, thus preventing the release of information on the matter. As the situation persisted beyond the initial departmental appellate officer level, the case was eventually escalated to the Information Commission.
During the appeal proceedings, State Information Commissioner Yogesh Bhatt sought a comprehensive explanation from the officials of the waqf board, emphasising the need for clarification on aspects such as the Waqf Act and the extent of control over waqf properties. Subsequently, it was established that all waqf properties are indeed under the purview of the board, and the chief executive officer is authorised to conduct inspections, and assessments, and obtain any necessary documents related to waqf properties. It was concluded that all waqf properties were under government authority.
Information Commissioner Yogesh Bhatt also solicited responses from both former and current chief executive officers in relation to the case. Subsequently, directives were issued to bring the administration of the Piran Kaliyar Dargah within the ambit of the RTI Act. As a result, a Public Information Officer has been assigned to this role.
Furthermore, mandates have been put in place to enforce the RTI Act across all other Waqf administrations. The Information Commission has mandated the formulation of a manual in accordance with Section 4 of the Right to Information Act within a span of six months. Additionally, there has been a call to establish a legal framework for the dissemination of information.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Delhi on Thursday sentenced 10 years of imprisonment to Syed Maqbool, one of the accused in the Indian Mujahideen conspiracy case.
Maqbool was previously convicted on September 22, 2023, by the special judge of the NIA special court in the national capital. He is the fifth accused among the total of 11 against whom sentence has been pronounced.
A resident of Maharashtra’s Nanded, Maqbool was arrested in the case on February 28, 2013, for his active involvement with members of Indian Mujahideen based in Pakistan and India and involvement in the crime and conspiracy.
NIA investigation revealed that the accused maintained close ties with key figures of the Indian Mujahideen, including Riyaz Bhatkal, who is based in Pakistan, and Imran Khan and Obaid-Ur-Rehman, who are located in India. “They hatched a conspiracy to carry out explosive attacks at various locations within India, with Hyderabad being a primary target. Extensive reconnaissance of important sites, including those in Hyderabad, was also conducted.”
The case pertains to the conspiracy hatched by the members of the Indian Mujahideen, a group responsible for organizing a series of devastating blasts across the country, said the NIA.
These acts of terror include the Varanasi blasts on March 7, 2006; the Mumbai serial blasts on July 11, 2006; the Uttar Pradesh courts serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad, and Lucknow on November 23, 2007; the Hyderabad twin blasts on August 25, 2007; the Jaipur serial blasts in 2008; the Delhi serial blasts in 2008; the Ahmedabad serial blasts on July 26, 2008; the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore in 2010; and the Hyderabad twin blasts in 2013.
Earlier, on July 12 this year, four accused, namely Danish Ansari, Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, and Obaid-Ur-Rehman, were found guilty under sections 18, 19, 38(2), and 39(2) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case. They were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.
In March 31st this year, charges were formally framed against the aforementioned accused individual, along with ten others, including Yasin Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar, Zia-Ur-Rehman, Tehsin Akhter and Hyder Ali. The sentencing was done by the learned NIA Special Court in New Delhi under sections 121 and 122 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as sections 17, 18, 19, 21, 38, 39, and 40 of the UA(P) Act.
The trial in this case, pertaining to the remaining six accused persons named above, who face a range of charges under the IPC and the UA(P) Act, is ongoing.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Thursday, October 26, a court in Qatar awarded a death sentence to eight ex-Indian Navy officers. These officers, who were arrested in Doha on August 30, 2022, have been languishing in the Qatar jail for over a year on charges of espionage and spying. The Qatar authorities accused them of spying for Israel.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reacted strongly to the verdict saying that India is “deeply shocked.” MEA added that it would continue to extend all consular and legal assistance to secure the release of the eight former Indian Navy officers.
One of the jailed officers, Commander Purnendu Tiwari (Retd), is the managing director of the firm that was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2019. The award was handed over by none other than the then-President Ram Nath Kovind.
The other detained Indians are Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, Amit Nagpal, Rajesh Gopakumar, and Saurav Vashisht.
Qatar’s intelligence agency had picked them up from their homes in the middle of the night on August 30. They were put in solitary confinement. For months after their arrest, the Qatar authorities never specified the charges that had been pressed against them. Only recently did they confirm that the Indian Navy personnel, who were held in solitary confinement for long spells, have been charged with the offence of spying for Israel on the country’s advanced submarines.
The Qatar State Security, the state intelligence agency, had claimed that it had intercepted electronic communications establishing that the naval officers were spying on the submarine programme. The agency had, however, not shared the information with India.
Reports that the former Indian Navy officers may have been “framed” by Pakistani intelligence agencies surfaced in April of this year. The case of Kulbhushan Yadav, a former commander of the Indian navy who was abducted from Iran and imprisoned in Pakistan on suspicion of spying, is said to have been used by the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI to convince the Qatari authorities against these eight decorated ex-Indian Navy officers.
Ever since the officers were taken into custody by the Qatari authorities, the Indian embassy has been doing everything within its power to get them released. They have been helping the family members have frequent visits, and they have been offering the Navy officers legal and consular support. When discussing India’s stance on the eight former Indian Navy officers who were arrested, MEA spokesperson Bagchi emphasized that the Center was doing “everything in its power to support these Indians.”
Today, following the announcement of the death penalty, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed shock and vowed to explore all available legal options to secure the release of its citizens.
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over her ‘envelop’ remarks in Rajasthan related to PM Modi’s temple visit. The notice has been issued under clause 2 of part I ‘General Conduct’ of the Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, which prohibits criticism of opponents by invoking their private lives.
The action by the poll panel came after the BJP filed a complaint with the EC alleging that Priyanka Gandhi had violated the Model Code of Conduct while addressing a public rally at Dausa in Rajasthan on October 20, 2023. In that meeting, Priyanka Gandhi said that she saw on TV that when an envelope of donation made by Modi at a Devnarayan temple was opened, it had only Rs 21.
The BJP on Wednesday made a representation to the Election Commission of India and demanded action against Priyanka Gandhi, accusing her of “invoking the personal religious devotion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” to make false claims during her poll campaign. “Today we met members of the Election Commission regarding a statement by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on October 20 that violated the Model Code of Conduct and RP Act. We want to ask ECI if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is above the Model Code of Conduct. We demand ECI to take action against her,” Law Minister Arjun Meghwal had said.
Making the allegation which has already been proven false, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra added that she has seen the news and is not aware if the claim is true or not. She then used it to launch an attack on the BJP, saying that “envelopes” are shown to the public by the party but nothing is found in them after the elections.
The notice says that the poll panel has received a complaint alleging that she made false statements in respect of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in her speech.
The EC notice said that her statement was examined in light of the provisions of Model Code of Conduct and the speech has been found to be prima facie violative of the aforesaid provisions of MCC. The EC notice asks Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to respond by 5 PM on 30 October, showing cause why appropriate action for violation of Model Code of Conduct should not be taken against her.
It is notable that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates in Rajasthan by the EC on 11 October.
The false claim about PM Modi’s ‘envelope’
The allegations by Priyanka Vadra refer to comments by priest Hemraj Poswal of Devnarayan Temple in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, who claimed that when PM Modi had visited the temple in January this year, he had put an envelope in the donation, and later the envelope was found to have just ₹21. The priest had opened an envelope in front of the camera, claiming that it was the one put by PM Modi in the donation box in front of him. When he opened the envelope, ₹21 was found inside it.
Several Congress leaders and others had used the video of the priest’s claim to attack PM Modi. Congress leader Dheeraj Gurjar even went on to claim that PM Modi “deceived” the Gurjar community as he offered merely Rs 21 in the donation box.
However, it has been established that the entire claim by the priest was false, as visuals from PM Modi’s visit to the temple show that he didn’t use any envelope while putting money inside the donation box. PM Narendra Modi had put some cash in the box, without any envelope, and it is impossible to tell the amount as the cash donated in such donation boxes gets mixed.
Priest Hemraj Poswal was present behind PM Modi when he had put cash without any envelope in the box, but despite that, he went on to claim that a white envelope was used by the PM. And Priyanka Gandhi Vadra repeated that lie in an election rally after the lie was already busted.
On Thursday, October 26, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at the residence of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallickat Salt Lake in Kolkata for his alleged connection in a case of corruption linked to ration distribution. As ED continues to search the WB Minister’s residence, West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lashed at the central agency threatening it with police action if the senior Trinamool leader was harmed in any way.
Jyoti Priya Mallick who is currently serving as forest minister in Mamata Banerjee’s government earlier held the food minister portfolio.
TMC minister Jyotipriya Mallick unwell, will lodge FIR against BJP if anything happens to him during ED raids: Mamata Banerjee
Speaking in a press conference at her Kalighat residence Mamata said, “BJP is in engaged in a devious strategy under the guise of ED raids on opposition leaders nationwide ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It will not help them to win. Jyotipriya Mallick is in poor health. He is suffering from high blood sugar. We will file an FIR against the BJP and the ED if any harm befalls him during searches at his residence.”
Referring to the raid at Mallick’s house, Mamata hit out at the BJP by saying, “What atrocities and lawlessness are occurring? BJP is playing a dirty game. I want to know whether they there has been even one such raid at the residence of any BJP leader? Neither they nor we will remain in power forever. New generation will come up to take over. But they are leaving blunders for the next generation.”
BJP targets Mamata Banerjee was discriminating against TMC MP Mahua Moitra
The moment Mamata Banerjee stepped in to support her cabinet minister, the BJP cornered her for her perceived discrimination against Mahua Moitra, another TMC leader who has recently been under investigation in connection with the cash-for-query scam.
Notably, the TMC supremo has not spoken a word in connection with Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra being investigated by the Ethics Committee in the alleged cash-for-query scam.
Targeting Trinamool Congress for its stoic silence in Mahua Moitra’s case, the BJP claimed Mahua Moitra has been “abandoned” and that Banerjee’s silence is an admission of her party leader’s guilt.
“TMC’s official stand on Mahua Moitra is that “We won’t comment. Said MP will defend herself” Does it mean 1)TMC accepts Mahua Moitra has made serious breaches including giving her log in to be operated from foreign soil by a rival corporate entity in exchange for kickbacks? 2) If so, then why is TMC still retaining her rather than sacking her? 3) Is the TMC afraid of taking this action because the party itself has something to hide? Perhaps people in the party knew or endorsed it? TMC must clarify,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonwalla questioned.
TMC’s official stand on Mahua Moitra is that “We won’t comment. Said MP will defend herself”
Does it mean
1)TMC accepts Mahua Moitra has made serious breaches including giving her log in to be operated from foreign soil by a rival corporate entity in exchange for kickbacks ?…
Earlier, senior BJP leader Amit Malviya, who is co-incharge of the party’s Bengal operations, said it was no surprise that Mamata Banerjee has “abandoned” Moitra.
Mahua Moitra being investigated in the cash-for-query scam
The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha, meanwhile, has called Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on October 31, over the cash-for-query allegations against her. The decision was taken after the panel held its first meeting today wherein it was concluded that the charges against Moitra are “very serious” and warrant a full investigation.
Moitra has been accused of taking Rs 2 crore in cash to ask, in Parliament, questions allegedly designed to target the Adani Group.
The enquiry was initiated after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey earlier wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker, alleging the involvement of Mahua Moitra in the ‘Cash for Query’ scandal. He further claimed that he had proof of the charges as given to him by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai.
The Trinamool Congress has distanced itself from charges facing Moitra. The party said last week it would take an “appropriate decision” after the Ethics Committee inquiry.
The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), a government-backed initiative to improve infrastructure and connectivity in India, especially in remote and underserved regions, completed six years.
It is a vital component of India’s National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on October 21, 2016, with a 10-year vision.
The first RCS-UDAN flight was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi. The scheme focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizens, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated.
So far, RCS-UDAN has facilitated the travel of more than 130 lakh passengers, demonstrating its success in enhancing air travel accessibility.
Meanwhile, over the period of 6 years, various versions of the UDAN Scheme were launched: UDAN 1.0: 5 airlines companies were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including 36 newly made operational airports), UDAN 2.0: 73 underserved and unserved airports were announced and for the first time, helipads were also connected, UDAN 3.0: In coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Routes were included. In addition to Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes, several routes in the North-East Region came under the ambit of the scheme and UDAN 4.0: Gave impetus to North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands. The operation of helicopters and seaplanes incorporated, the Ministry stated.
After the four successful rounds of bidding, the Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the 5th version of RCS-UDAN with numerous improvements based on stakeholder feedback.
UDAN 5.0 where the focus is on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircraft. Similarly, the cap of 600 km has been removed and there is no restriction on the distance between the origin and destination of the flight. This round prioritizes the routes that will connect the airports that are ready for operations or will be ready soon, which will lead to quicker operationalization of awarded routes. Consequently, Airlines would now be required to commence operations within 4 months of the award of the route, and they are welcoming this change as this helps them to better plan their operations. Additionally, if the average quarterly PLF of the route, for four continuous quarters, is higher than 85 per cent, the exclusivity for that route would be withdrawn, allowing for other airlines to also provide connectivity on the route, it added.
This was soon followed by UDAN 5.1, This round of RCS-UDAN is designed specifically for helicopter routes by increasing the scope of operations for helicopter operators, enhancing VGF and reducing Airfare Caps.
The Scheme will now allow operations on routes provided that at least one origin or destination is in a priority area and at least one origin or destination is a heliport, thereby enhancing the potential range of connectivity. VGF caps have been enhanced to improve viability for operators and airfare caps have been reduced to make flying more affordable for passengers respectively.
Currently, bidding for UDAN 5.2 is underway to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country, achieve last-mile connectivity, and provide impetus to the tourism sector through small aircraft (<20 seats). The Scheme will provide greater operational flexibility to the small aircraft operators, by allowing them to operate a maximum of 40% of annually quoted RCS seats and a minimum of 10 per cent of annually quoted RCS seats in any given quarter, the Ministry said.
The Ministry further said that RCS-UDAN is contributing to the growth of the civil aviation industry as four new and successful airlines have come up in the last 6 years. The scheme has helped airline operators to start up and develop a sustainable business model.
Additionally, it’s providing opportunities to small regional airlines FlyBig, Star Air, and IndiaOne Air to scale up their businesses and their successful run is evidence of the fact that the scheme is creating an amiable ecosystem conducive to airline business.
The scheme’s incremental expansion has generated an escalating demand for new aircraft, concurrently broadening the spectrum of aircraft deployed. This augmentation encompasses a comprehensive range of aircraft and encompasses helicopters, seaplanes, 3-seat propeller planes, and jet planes, it stated.
Presently, a diversified fleet, including Airbus 320/321, Boeing 737, ATR 42 and 72, DHC Q400 and Twin Otter, Embraer 145 and 175, and Tecnam P2006T, is actively serving on the RCS routes.
The heightened demand for aircraft is substantiated by Indian carriers’ orders, which exceed 1,000 aircraft slated for delivery over the next 10-15 years, representing a significant augmentation of India’s existing fleet, which currently comprises approximately 700 planes operated by various airlines, it said.
RCS-UDAN is not solely dedicated to offering last-mile connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities; it also stands as a prominent contributor to the burgeoning tourism sector. UDAN 3.0 introduced tourism routes connecting several destinations in the Northeast region, while UDAN 5.1 is dedicated to expanding helicopter services in hilly regions to stimulate tourism, hospitality, and local economic growth.
This initiative has successfully connected destinations such as Khajuraho, Deoghar, Amritsar, and Kishangarh (Ajmer), which have substantial relevance in religious tourism. The entire Northeast region’s tourism industry is experiencing a considerable upsurge due to the introduction of Pasighat, Ziro, Hollongi, and Tezu airports, fostering greater accessibility, the Ministry 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)
