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Maharashtra: Inayat Pardeshi, a writer at The Wire Marathi, arrested for torturing and beating his own mother to death

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Inayat Pardeshi, a writer at The Wire Marathi, arrested for torturing and beating his own mother to death

On 5th June 2023, Marxist leader Saroj Kamble, the wife of another Marxist leader Ranjit Pardeshi died at her residence in Dhule of Maharashtra. On 22nd June 2023, it was revealed that her son Inayat Ranjit Pardeshi had allegedly beaten her to death.

Notably, Inayat Ranjit Pardeshi is a communist writer who writes for various leftist propaganda portals including The Indie Journal and now dysfunctional The Wire Marathi.

The web archive links of some of the articles written by Inayat Pardeshi can be found here.

Articles by Inayat Pardesh in Wire Marathi, archived version

Saroj Kamble, who resided in Dhule, passed away at her residence on June 5, 2023. She lived with her husband, Ranjit Pardeshi, and their son, Inayat, in the Kazi Plot area near Eighty Foot Road in Dhule. Saroj Kamble was working at Punjab National Bank, and her husband was a professor. Both she and her husband retired five years ago. Unfortunately, Ranjit Pardeshi had been bedridden due to various health issues.

During this time, Inayat, the son of the Marxist couple, discovered that his mother was planning to remarry. Inayat Pardeshi started to develop doubts about his mother’s character. Inayat Pardeshi began to harass his mother, thinking that he might not inherit the entirety of her property if she remarried. He reportedly harassed and assaulted her before she died on June 5, 2023.

After Saroj Kamble and Ranjit Pardeshi retired, Inayat Pardeshi took on the responsibility of caring for them, as the household expenses were sustained by the pensions received by the Marxist couple. However, Inayat Pardeshi became distressed when he realized that his parents’ property would not be passed down to him. Seeking ownership of the property, he approached his mother, but she refused to comply with his demands.

Frustrated by this refusal, Inayat Pardeshi began to harass his mother. This continued for three months until Saroj Kamble reached her breaking point. In April, she sought refuge with her sister, Sudha Katkar, who resides in Kalyan. Saroj spent the entire month there to escape the torment. Unfortunately, Inayat Pardeshi’s cruelty knew no bounds, and he visited Kalyan and continued to harass his mother. As a result, Saroj Kamble returned to her home in Dhule. In Dhule too, Inayat continued subjecting his mother to inhumane torture. He often resorted to physically assaulting her, slapping her, and causing horrible injuries.

Image of Inayat Pardeshi’s mother with her injuries, pictures via newstown.in

It was found that Saroj Kamble’s death was not natural and her son Inayat Ranjit Pardeshi tortured her to death. On 17th June 2023, the Azad Nagar police in Dhule City registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the IPC against Inayat Pardeshi after 12 days. Saroj Kamble’s sister Sudha Katkar lodged a complaint at the Azadnagar police station. In her complaint, she mentioned that knowing that Saroj Kamble was an elderly woman and could die if she was beaten up, Inayat repeatedly beat his mother Saroj Kamble with kicks and punches. She added that Inayat Pardeshi is responsible for Saroj Kamble’s death.

Inayat Pardeshi had tried to pretend that the death of his mother was natural. He was also in a hurry to finish the funeral early. But some activists suspected Saroj Kamble’s unnatural death and informed the police. When Inayat Pardeshi was opposing the post-mortem of Saroj Kamble’s body, the police had taken Saroj Kamble’s body down from the mortuary and sent it for post-mortem. The result of the post-mortem was not made public.

According to reports, Inayat Pardeshi would heat the utensils in the kitchen and burned his mother’s skin. He would also force her to consume the urine of his bedridden father Ranjit Pardeshi.

Following the registration of a case, the Dhule police formed two teams with the objective of locating Inayat. These teams were dispatched to Nashik and Malegaon. However, despite their efforts, Inayat managed to evade capture, and the teams were unable to apprehend him.

On Wednesday afternoon (June 21), Inayat Pardeshi surrendered at Azadnagar police station in Dhule. He was then arrested by the police. After his arrest, the police completed his medical examination and other procedures by evening. He was produced before a Dhule court on Thursday.

When Saroj Kamble died under mysterious circumstances, only Prof Ranjit Pardeshi and Inayat Pardeshi were in the house located in front of Nataraj Talkies, Kazi Plot in Dhule. Inayat allegedly contacted many people on his mobile phone before and after Saroj Kamble’s death. Therefore, Inayat Pardeshi’s mobile CDR may turn out to be an important link in this overall case.

Meanwhile, Saroj Kamble’s husband Ranjit Pardeshi, who is in critical condition due to a serious illness, has been admitted to Nashik for treatment on 22nd June 2023. Inayat Pardeshi had left Dhule on June 14 with his father Ranjit Pardeshi after realizing that a case can be registered against him at any moment and he may be arrested. No one was told where he had gone. Later, he moved to Malegaon. It later became clear that Inayat Pardeshi had gone to his paternal uncle.

Inayat Pardeshi is a communist writer. He has written for leftist propaganda portals. He used to write for The Wire Marathi when it was working. The Wire Marathi shut down in October 2022. Inayat Pardeshi also writes for the Marathi leftist propaganda portal The Indie Journal. He was known for his views against the so-called Brahminical patriarchy. He had also posted many photographs on his Facebook account where he is seen with his mother. He wrote in the caption of one photograph – Maa is my Jannat which means my mother is my heaven.

PM Modi gifts lab-grown diamond to First Lady Jill Biden– All you need to know about the growing market of ‘green diamonds’

Anurag
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PM Modi gifts lab-grown diamond to First Lady Jill Biden– All you need to know about the growing market of ‘green diamonds’

On June 21 (local time), Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted First Lady Jill Biden a 7.5-carat lab-grown green diamond with earth-mined diamonds’ chemical and optical attributes. The diamond is placed in a Papier mâché – the box known as kar-e-kalamdani. The laborious paper pulp preparation known as sakthsazi in Kashmir combines the intricate painting process known as naqqashi to create the magnificent papier mâché.

Lab Grown Diamonds, also known as green diamonds, caught the eye of the media on February 1, 2023, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reduced basic customs duty on seeds used in their manufacturing. She said, “India is a global leader in cutting and polishing of natural diamonds, contributing about three-fourths of the global turnover by value. With the depletion in deposits of natural diamonds, the industry is moving towards Lab Grown Diamonds (LGDs), and it holds huge promise. To seize this opportunity, I propose to reduce basic customs duty on seeds used in their manufacture.”

Gujarat Government also has a series of initiatives for LGD manufacturers. For example, in November 2022, Gujarat Government waived off charges paid for high-tension electricity lines used by the LGD industry. A press release from November 2022 noted, “A basket of incentives has been offered, including concessions in power cost, interest cost and tax, R&D support to develop indigenous technologies for LGDs, skill development support to encourage skill upgradation for the existing workforce etc.  In a bid to reduce electricity tariff, 35% of the charges paid to distribution licences for LT/HT service lines up to Rs. 5 Lakhs can also be availed by industrial units. Another incentive offered is the 100% reimbursement of employer contribution of EPF up to 12% of basic pay or up to Rs. 1800 per month, whichever is lesser, for a period of 10 years.”

India is known for its prominent presence in the diamond industry. Surat, known as the world’s diamond capital, is believed to be the place where nine out of ten diamonds are polished. The $22 billion worldwide diamond market is an opportunity for LGDs. In recent times, these diamonds are gaining popularity because of the technological advancements. The consumer is becoming aware of such diamonds, which has increased the demand. Above all, these diamonds are eco-friendly and fit well into the budget.

Diamond polishing in Surat. Bing AI-generated image.

As per reports, mining a single carat of diamond releases around 57 KG of carbon into the environment, making it a serious problem. In comparison, only a few grams of carbon are released per carat in the case of LGDs. In 2019, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was seen wearing LGD earrings that were grown in just five days, as reported by BBC.

One of the major issues with these diamonds is that they are often marked as “fake”. In reality, they are 100 percent real diamonds that are not formed in nature over millions of years but grown in a lab using the latest technology. The produced product has the same chemical, thermal, optical and physical characteristics as mined diamonds. In simple terms, they can be compared to the concept of test-tube babies and naturally grown babies. The end result is the same, with different “processes” involved.

The best aspect of these diamonds is that as no mining is required, they do not cause any damage to the environment. There is no cost involved related to mining and distant transportation either. As a result, the customer ends up paying around 50 per cent of the cost of mined diamonds. Interestingly, the cost is expected to decrease as technology becomes more advanced and cheap.

The government’s initiative to push for lab-grown diamonds will also increase demand, bringing competition in the market and helping bring down the price. Antwerp-based World Diamond Centre told the Sunday Guardian that producing one carat of LGD required $4,000 of capital earlier. However, today it can be done between $300 and $500.

Indian bride wearing diamond jewellery. Bing AI-generated image.

There are two methods of creating LGDs. The first method is Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), and the second is High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). India is currently the largest producer of LGDs produced using the CVD method and covers around 25 percent of the market share. Diamonds produced using the CVD method are Type IIA quality certified by all leading diamond certifying bodies.

For those who are unaware, Type IIA quality diamonds are the rarest of mined diamonds. Only 2 per cent of all the mined diamonds fall under this category. China is the largest producer of LGDs produced using the HPHT method. Such diamonds are inferior in quality and do not have the same hardness as mined or CVD LGDs. Furthermore, HPHTs are known to contain metal impurities.

Though media has been catching up to the LGDs recently, it is interesting to note that LGD exports in Financial Year 2023 until February this year were 45 percent higher compared to last financial year. In FY’23, India exported LGDs worth Rs 12,000 crore, while it was Rs 8,719 crore in FY’22. Reportedly, there are around 8,000 polishing units in India. Out of these, one-fourth have already started polishing LGDs. Around 15 percent of diamond polishing units exclusively deal in LGDs.

As the technology is capital-intensive and time-consuming when it comes to producing high-quality diamonds, there are speculations that the price may rise for LGDs in the future. However, with growing demand and government initiatives in the field, production may steadily increase in the coming years. The LGD jewellery industry is estimated to be $10 billion, expected to grow to $50 billion by 2030.

The blood diamonds

The diamond mining industry is clouded by blood, greed and conflict. Mines worldwide, especially in Africa, see a lot of conflicts. A Time report suggested that Mwanza and Rodriguez are home to 65 percent of the world’s diamonds. Until 2003, it was surrounded by reports of conflicts and forced labour. The diamond industry established an international certification system known as Kimberley Process to reassure customers that the diamonds they bought were conflict-free.

However, the loopholes in the system let the region remain a war zone. Despite Kimberley Process in place, it has been reported that the diamond mines have funded a genocidal war that has killed thousands since 2013 in the Central African Republic (CAR). As per the UN Panel report, around 1,40,000 carats of diamonds worth $24 million were smuggled out of CAR despite being suspended in 2013. While companies like Tiffany have strict regulations to ensure no blood diamonds enter their stores and around 22 countries have signed Kimberley Process, it is not possible to stop blood diamonds from entering the market any time soon.

Greta Thunberg trolled as her ‘end of humanity in next five years’ prediction made in 2018 crosses 5 years

OpIndia Staff
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Greta Thunberg trolled as her ‘end of humanity in next five years’ prediction made in 2018 crosses 5 years

Five years ago on June 21, the infamous self-proclaimed environment activist Greta Thunberg made a strange and haunting prediction that humanity would go extinct by 2023. While nothing of that sort seems to have happened, Greta is being trolled on social media.

Yesterday, netizens marked a five-year anniversary of her statement making fun of her prediction which obviously has gone wrong. “A top climate scientist is warning that climate change will wipe out all of humanity unless we stop using fossil fuels over the next five years,” the tweet made by Thunberg in the year 2018 read.

Mocking the activist, one of the Twitter users said that it had already been 5 years and still everyone was alive. He also appealed the people to respond if they were alive too. “Today is the 5th anniversary of Greta’s “in 5 years all of humanity will be wiped out” prediction. Retweet if you are still alive,” one of the tweets read.

The other one meanwhile stated that the statement was made by Thunberg 5 years ago and that now the tweet stands deleted. Five years ago Greta Thunberg tweeted that climate change will wipe out all of humanity unless we stop using fossil fuels over the next five years. The tweet is now deleted,” he said.

One handle mocked the ‘climate cult’ for getting all their predictions wrong. “I’m sorry to say – all humanity has been wiped out today according to Greta Weirdo. But at least the climate cult keeps their perfect record of ZERO predictions coming true ever,” he tweeted.

“Enjoy your final minutes, because, according to Greta Thunberg and her top climate scientist humanity will be wiped out at 11.18 am today, because we didn’t stop using fossil fuels five years ago,” another user commented.

However, one of the users happened to defend the activist and said that she did not mean what she actually tweeted. “Thunberg did not say the world was going to end in 5 years, she said that if we didn’t stop using fossil fuels in 5 years that world would become unlivable,” he said.

Earlier on March 12 this year Greta Thunberg deleted her old 2018 tweet where she had said humanity would go extinct by 2023 because of climate change. She failed to provide any explanation for deleting the tweet. As reported earlier, it was available at least till March 7, 2023, as captured by Archive.org but later the tweet went ‘extinct’ while humanity still seems to be thriving.

The activist who was propped by the media as some sort of ‘saint’ for climate activism cults, is best known for running wild with theories and pushing people, especially youngsters who admire her, to believe that they can bring change “by protesting and creating drama” rather than working on a solution. She has a history of running propaganda and joining hands with dubious organizations.

For example, Greta tried to meddle in India’s politics by supporting protests against now-repealed agriculture laws. She accidentally published a link to a toolkit that was developed to paint a bad picture of the Indian government on an international platform. Several arrests were made in the matter, and it is sub-judice.

Recently, Greta was caught filming a staged arrest during a protest. More details of the incident can be read here. OpIndia’s reports on Greta Thunberg can be seen here.

J&K: 2 doctors terminated for faking postmortem reports in Asiya Neelofar death case to falsely implicate army officials of rape and murder

OpIndia Staff
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J&K: 2 doctors terminated for faking postmortem reports in Asiya Neelofar death case to falsely implicate army officials of rape and murder

On Thursday, June 22, the Jammu and Kashmir government terminated the services of two doctors Bilal Ahmad Dalal and Nighat Shaheen Chilloo who collaborated with Pakistan to falsify the postmortem reports of Asiya and Neelofar who died in 2009 in the Shopian district. The two girls aged 17 and 22 respectively had reportedly died after accidental drowning on May 29th 2009. However, it was claimed back then that Asiya and Neelofar were raped and murdered by the Indian Army soldiers. 

Reportedly, the doctor duo intended to falsely implicate the Indian army officials of murdering and raping the two girls. Dr Bilal Ahmad Dalal and Dr Nighat Shaheen Chilloo wanted to spread disaffection against the Indian armed forces. It has come to the fore that several people in the then Jammu and Kashmir government led by National Conference leader Omar Abdullah were aware of the accused doctor’s actions. 

The death of Asiya and Neelofar back in 2009 had triggered violent protests led by Majlis-e-Mashwarrat. The situation could return to normal only after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe found that the two sisters Asiya and Neelofar were neither raped nor murdered.

CBI back in 2009 had reportedly filed a chargesheet against six doctors, two civilians, five lawyers and the brother of the victim for fabricating evidence. It was alleged that the lawyers had coerced two civilians to turn witnesses. The CBI has also rejected the Majlis’s claim of rape and murder saying that the two women decided to cross the Rambiara river in Shopian as they were getting late. However, the two drowned in the river and died.

To back up its assertion, CBI produced statistics from the state irrigation department indicating that the Rambiara river recorded increased water discharge in that specific month in 2009.

Notably, the two teams of doctors which conducted the postmortem of the deceased girls had lied in their reports. The first team had claimed that Asiya died of cardio vascular arrest and Neelofar of neurogenic shock. The second team of doctors from Pulwama claimed sexual assault on both the girls.

The CBI investigation questioned the entire operation, claiming that doctors had assembled a piece of the heart and labelled it as lung components. Furthermore, the second team of doctors tampered with the vaginal swab samples. It didn’t belong to one of the women. Dr Nighat Shaheen failed to inform the CBI of where she obtained the samples. Moreover, the DNA tests on the 47 officials whose samples were gathered came up negative as well.

Back in 2010, India Today had published a report wherein they claimed to have accessed the call recordings of the doctors involved in the postmortem of Asiya and her sister-in-law Neelofar. According to the report, Dr Nighat Shaheen who was a part of the second team of doctors, “had concluded that the girls were raped without even examining their vaginas.”

Dr Nighat Shaheen and the other doctors had falsely stated in the report that Asiya’s hymen was ruptured. Later, when the doctors of AIIMS conducted the autopsy and concluded that Asiya’s hymen was intact.

Bareilly: Shehnaaz embraces Hinduism after husband gives triple talaq for her devotion towards Lord Krishna, marries Hindu friend Pawan

OpIndia Staff
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Bareilly: Shehnaaz embraces Hinduism after husband gives triple talaq for her devotion towards Lord Krishna, marries Hindu friend Pawan

In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim woman named Shehnaaz converted her religion from Islam to Hinduism and took the name ‘Arohi.’ She then married her Hindu friend Pawan at the Agastya Muni Ashram as per Hindu customs.

According to reports, Shehnaaz is a devout Krishna bhakt since childhood. Her previous husband had reportedly given her triple talaq due to her devotion towards the Hindu deity.

Shehnaaz and Pawan are both residents of Dhakni Rajpuri village in Faridpur. Pawan who claims to have known Shahnaz since childhood, said that Arohi aka Shehnaaz was a ardent devotee of Lord Krishna since she was a child. Her family members would often be at odds with her and even get angry when they saw her devotion to Lord Krishna, but they were unable to persuade her to stop worshipping the Hindu deity.

Shehnaaz’s family believed that getting her married would be the only way for them to stop her from doing this. So they arranged to get her married to a Muslim man in 2018. One day, her husband caught her worshipping the Hindu deity. Furious at this, he gave her triple talaq and threw her out of the house. Shehnaaz returned to her parent’s house in Dhakni Rajpuri village in Faridpur, but here too, she faced constant taunts and insults. Shehnaaz began staying very upset.

One day she met Pawan, her childhood acquaintance, and narrated her entire ordeal. From this point on, Pawan and Shehnaaz’s bond grew, and soon the two fell in love with each other and decided to get married as per Hindu customs.

The moment Shehnaaz’s family members learned of this, they expressed reservations. The duo, however, secretly left the house and went to the Agastya Muni Ashram in Madinath. When Pawan revealed everything to Pandit KK Shankhdhar and stated his desire to marry Shehnaaz, the Hindu saint first performed a purification ceremony. Subsequently, some rituals were performed to revert her to Hinduism. She changed her name to Arohi and after that, she married her Hindu partner Pawan as per Hindu customs and traditions.

Kerala: Mujeeb Rahman sets Keezhattur panchayat office on fire over exclusion from the free housing scheme

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Mujeeb Rahman sets Keezhattur panchayat office on fire over exclusion from the free housing scheme

In a shocking incident that unfolded on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, a 46-year-old man identified as Mujeeb Rahman resorted to extreme measures after discovering that he had been excluded from the Kerala government’s free housing scheme, Life Mission, in the current quota. Frustrated by the news, Mujeeb Rahman took drastic action by setting the Keezhattur panchayat office on fire, causing significant damage to the premises. The entire incident was captured on camera, highlighting the severity of his actions.

The distressing video footage shows Mujeeb Rahman dousing the panchayat office with petrol, deliberately targeting the files, computers, and furniture within the premises. With a matchbox in hand, he proceeded to ignite the inflammable liquid, engulfing the office in flames. Seeking an escape from the dire consequences of his actions, Mujeeb Rahman locked himself in the bathroom and attempted to end his own life by slashing his wrist.

Upon receiving information about the incident, police promptly arrived at the scene, apprehending Mujeeb Rahman and subsequently transporting him to a nearby hospital for medical attention due to a minor injury. The Melattur Police Station has registered a case against him, holding him accountable for his destructive behaviour. Unfortunately, the fire caused irreparable damage, resulting in the loss of crucial documents and equipment estimated to be worth over 25 lakhs.

Expressing profound shock and dismay, Jameela Chaliyathodi, the president of Keezhattur Gram Panchayat, lamented the irreversible harm inflicted upon the Panchayat Office by Mujeeb Rahman.

“Our office, equipped with 22 computers, has suffered a significant loss. According to the fire services, at least 16 computers have been completely destroyed, along with invaluable documents,” stated a female representative from IUML, highlighting the severity of the damage caused. She further revealed that Mujeeb Rahman had been given a thorough explanation by the ward member of the panchayat regarding his exclusion from the Life Mission list.

Jameela explained, “In order to prepare the Life Mission project list, the panchayat must consider multiple factors and prioritize individuals such as widows, patients with incurable illnesses, and those with disabilities.” Consequently, Mujeeb Rahman’s name had been listed at number 104, rendering him ineligible for immediate assistance.

Disheartened by this revelation, Mujeeb Rahman reacted angrily, resorting to derogatory language against several panchayat members. Jameela added, “Mujeeb Rahman would have been included in the subsequent list set to be sanctioned in six months.”

As PM Modi visits Washington DC on his first State Visit to the USA, here is how Mann Ki Baat helped the global audience in understanding what India stands for and its developmental change

Shraddha Pandey
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As PM Modi visits Washington DC on his first State Visit to the USA, here is how Mann Ki Baat helped the global audience in understanding what India stands for and its developmental change

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day state visit to the United States. PM Modi’s historic visit comes at a time when his flagship radio programme Mann Ki Baat recently completed its 100th episode. With Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated the magic that can be done when the power of radio is amalgamated with the vision of a country’s leader. PM Modi through his monthly radio programme connects with the common people in India and listeners abroad. He shares his ideas, vision, and some interesting stories he comes across with the general masses. The Prime Minister often highlights the grassroots change-makers to inspire the citizens to become ambassadors of positive change and contribute to nation-building. 

Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari, and Swahili, in addition to 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by over 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. 

According to a recent research performed by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), 76% of Indian media practitioners opine that PM Modi’s radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has played a vital role in introducing citizens to the “real Bharat”. The programme has started a trend in which people are becoming more aware of and appreciative of things in different parts of the country. 

PM Modi breaking the stereotypes with his “Mann Ki Baat”

Breaking the prevalent stereotypes, one such being that the issue of climate change is the political left’s ‘thing’ especially in the West, PM Modi through his Mann Ki Baat programme has championed the cause of climate change and sustainable development. 

For instance, in the 101st episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi raised the issue of water conversation and management. He lauded several startups such as KumbhiKagaz and Fluxgen working in this area. He also talked about 50,000 Amrit Sarovars that have been constructed to preserve water. The interesting part about his “Mann Ki Baat” is that he not only talks but also interacts with his listeners bringing the leader and his people closer. 

Back in 2018, PM Modi urged the people through his 44th Mann Ki baat, to avoid using low-grade polythenes and plastics in a bid to curb plastic pollution. 

In his book Collective Spirit, Concrete Action: Mann Ki Baat and Its Influence on India, former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati chronicles how PM Modi used his Mann Ki Baat programme to connect with the citizens. 

Speaking about the criticism of PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme being called “one-way” show, Shekhar termed the criticism exaggerated. He asserted that PM Modi often interacts with the change-makers during his programme.

“In the fourth episode of the programme, he (PM Modi) did a joint podcast with Barack Obama. The ideas for the programme are crowd-sourced through digital platforms, social media and people writing in from across the country,” Shekhar said.

PM Modi connecting India and the world through the “Mann Ki Baat”

An interesting aspect of the Mann Ki Baat programme is that topics of discussion are not just India-centric rather it incorporates issues that matter to the world as well. 

In the context of the Mann Ki Baat broadcast, Shashi Shekhar talked about India emerging as a global leader. “The subjects of the broadcast are not just about India but he (PM Modi) also involves the large Indian diaspora living in countries like the United States and other countries across the world. He also had global leaders like President Obama participating in it,” Shekhar adds.

The ex-Prasar Bharati CEO goes on to talk about one episode of the Mann Ki Baat broadcast wherein there was a discussion about former Kenyan Prime Minister Laila Odinga’s daughter Rosemary Odinga. It is pertinent to recall that Rosemary Odinga had lost eyesight after surgery for a brain tumour. It was the Ayurvedic treatment she had received in India that helped her regain her eyesight. After regaining her eyesight, Rosemary and her father returned to their homeland and spread awareness about Indian medical treatments, particularly Ayurveda. 

The former Kenyan Prime Minister back then had discussed with PM Modi about bringing Ayurvedic treatment methods to Africa.

During one of the Mann Ki Baat episodes, PM Modi lauded the team at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eyecare Hospital in Ernakulam that treated the Kenyan leader’s daughter. To relieve pain in one’s life with our traditional system is something all Indians should be proud of. The utmost misery of losing eyesight had troubled my good friend Raila Odinga & his family, but the treatment in Ayurvedic Eye Hospital brought back light into their life. They went to several foreign countries and world-renowned hospitals, but her eyesight couldn’t be restored. Finally, they heard from a friend about Ayurvedic treatment. Initially, they were hesitant, but finally, they arrived in India and completed the treatment. Remarkably her eyesight was restored, and she could lead a normal life”. “Mr Odinga personally met me and told the story, he was particularly keen on opening a branch of this Ayurvedic treatment in Kenya to make it available for citizens of his country”, PM Modi had said in one of February last year’s Mann Ki Baat episode.

On the significance of Indo-US ties and the positive impact of PM Modi’s visit to the US, Shekhar opined that the convergence of two large democracies like India and the US is certainly good. He also highlighted the technological exchange between the two countries over the past few decades. 

Furthermore, Shekhar pointed out that, unlike the Chinese authoritarian and dictatorial model of development, India is a vibrant democracy and that within such a democracy bringing developmental change requires “a lot of creativity, patience and persuasion so to be able to do that through this broadcast is an interesting story to look at because this could be an example to a lot of developing countries on how to go about developmental change.”

Pakistan: Higher Education Commission withdraws notice banning Holi, earlier it had said celebrations would ‘erode’ nation’s Islamic identity

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Higher Education Commission withdraws notice banning Holi, earlier it had said celebrations would ‘erode’ nation’s Islamic identity

The Pakistani Higher Education Commission rescinded its divisive ruling on Thursday, June 22, one day after it forbade Holi festivities in all educational institutions nationwide. On Wednesday, the HEC prohibited Holi celebrations at all colleges and universities in Pakistan, asserting that the celebration was responsible for the “erosion of the nation’s Islamic identity.”

“It is clarified that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is highly respectful of all religions, faiths, and beliefs, and the associated festivals and celebrations observed in the country. The message communicated in this regard is in no way intended to hurt the sentiments of any individual or group,” the HEC said today in the clarification notice.

Withdrawal notice by HEC Pakistan

“The portrayed impression and disseminated connotation that HEC has ‘banned’ celebration of any festivities is out of context to the spirit of the communication made, as HEC has emphasised upon the Higher Education Institutions (HEls) in the country to focus upon the core reason of their existence i.e., academic excellence, research quality and harnessing the talent of the youth towards a structured, disciplined, and responsible citizen as per the nation’s ideology,” the statement added.

In a statement, the HEC further said that its prior notice prohibiting Holi festivities in universities had been “taken out of context” and that it was “pleased to withdraw” the notification because it had unintentionally led to misinterpretation of its intended message.

The HEC had issued the notice after students of Quaid-i-Azam University were seen celebrating Holi on the campus, and videos of the event had gone viral. According to the reports, the event was held by the Mehran Students’ Council, a non-political cultural organisation of the university.

The HEC on Wednesday issued a notice stating that activities such as the celebration of Holi portray a complete disconnect from Pakistan’s sociocultural values. It is further claimed that the “fervour” displayed in the Holi celebrations at a university (in an apparent reference to the Holi celebrations at Quad-i-Azam University) has ‘affected’ the image of Pakistan.

“Unfortunately, it is sad to witness activities that portray a complete disconnect from our sociocultural values and an erosion of the country’s Islamic identity. One such instance that has caused concern was the fervour exhibited in marking the Hindu festival of Holi. This widely reported/publicized event from the platform of a university has caused concern and has disadvantageously affected the country’s image,” the notice stated.

Earlier on March 6 this year, exhibiting their hatred for Hindus, the Islamists of Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) had also attacked Hindu students celebrating Holi inside Punjab University in Lahore. The said attack had left 15 Hindu students injured. 

GE Aerospace signs MoU with HAL during PM Modi’s US visit to produce jet engines in India for fighter planes

ANI
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GE Aerospace signs MoU with HAL during PM Modi’s US visit to produce jet engines in India for fighter planes

In a major announcement coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, GE Aerospace on Thursday announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force.

The agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India. GE Aerospace said in a release that it continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorization for this. The effort is part of the Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 programme.

The US company said that the MoU with HAL to produce fighter jet engines for IAF is a major milestone amidst PM Modi’s official state visit to the United States and a key element in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.

The announcement about the MoU came ahead of PM Mod’s bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on Thursday.

“This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL,” said H Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace.

“We are proud to play a role in advancing President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s vision of closer coordination between the two nations. Our F414 engines are unmatched and will offer important economic and national security benefits for both countries as we help our customers produce the highest quality engines to meet the needs of their military fleet.”

GE Aerospace said more than 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered globally.

The release said GE Aerospace has operated in India for more than four decades with wide engagement in the industry including engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing. In addition to potential new work in India, a number of US facilities that currently support work on the F414 engine will see additional volume as a result of the announcement, it said.

In 1986, GE began working with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL to support the development of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with F404 engines.

Subsequently, GE Aerospace’s F404 and F414 have been part of the development and production programs of LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk2 programs.

In total, 75 F404 engines have been delivered and another 99 are on order for LCA Mk1A. Eight F414 engines have been delivered as part of an ongoing development program for LCA Mk2, the release said.

“Today’s agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier commitment to build 99 engines for the Indian Air Force as part of the LCA Mk2 program. It puts the company in a strong position to create a family of products in India, including the F404 engine that currently powers the LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk1A aircraft and GE Aerospace’s selection for the prototype development, testing and certification of the AMCA program with our F414-INS6 engine.

“In addition, GE will continue to collaborate with Indian government on the AMCA Mk2 engine programme,” it said.

The release said GE’s presence in India includes its research and technology centre, the John F Welch Technology Centre at Bengaluru, which opened in 2000 and its Multi-modal Factory at Pune, which opened in 2015.

It said GE Aerospace and its joint ventures have an installed base of more than 40,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines, and the business is playing a vital role in shaping the future of flight.

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

Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate teams raid Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary’s relative

OpIndia Staff
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Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate teams raid Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary’s relative

On Thursday, June 22, teams of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department raided the Begusarai residence of builder Ajay Kumar Singh, who is the brother-in-law of Bihar Finance Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Vjiay Kumar Choudhary. 

Ajay Singh, also known as Karu Yadav, is connected to JD(U) state president Lalan Singh. Singh reportedly runs an iron bar-making factory. The raid took place at Ajay Singh’s residence in Begusarai district’s Sri Krishna area in Nagar police station precinct.

Income Tax Department and ED officials launched raids on the builder’s home at 6:00 a.m. The exact specifics of the raid are undisclosed. The Begusarai authorities sent a significant number of police officers to avert any unfortunate incidents.

Reportedly, the officials arrived at Karu Singh’s residence in six vehicles during the early hours of Thursday. Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary is yet to react to the raids conducted at his relative’s residence.

ED raids at 24 locations connected with JDU and RJD leaders

Earlier this month, Ed conducted raids at 24 locations in Bihar and Jharkhand in connection with a case pertaining to the sand trade. ED raided locations reportedly connected with JDU MLC Radha Charan Sah also known as Seth Ji, RJD’s Jagnarayan, Satish Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Sanjay Singh and Subhash Yadav. The raiding teams searched the premises in Patna, Danapur, Aurangabad, Bhojpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Hazaribagh among others. The aforementioned people were reported to have a connection with Broadson and Aditya Multicom, which undertakes the government’s work related to sand. It was reported that the ED seized several crucial documents. 

I-T raids at JDU MLC Radha Charan Sah’s premises

In February this year, the income tax officials raided multiple locations in the Arrah district of Bihar connected with the JDU MLC Radha Charan Sah. The raids were conducted in an alleged multiple crore tax evasion case pertaining to irregularities in the sand trade. 

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