After 19 opposition parties led by Congress announced that they will boycott the inauguration of the new parliament building by PM Narendra Modi on 28 May, the ruling alliance NDA has issued a statement strongly condemning the move. In a statement issued by the constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), they said that they “unequivocally condemn the contemptuous decision of 19 political parties to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building scheduled for Sunday, 28th May.”
The NDA statement said, “This act is not merely disrespectful; it is a blatant affront to the democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation.”
Saying that the Parliament is a hallowed institution, the beating heart of our democracy, and the epicentre of decision-making that shapes and influences the lives of our citizens, the NDA parties said that “such flagrant disrespect towards this institution betrays not only intellectual bankruptcy but a disturbing contempt for the very essence of democracy.“
The audacity of these opposition parties to preach about parliamentary decency and constitutional values is, in the light of their actions, nothing short of laughable. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds – they boycotted the special GST session presided over by the then President of… pic.twitter.com/xA9GaiM64A
The NDA says that the audacity of these opposition parties to preach about parliamentary decency and constitutional values is, in the light of their actions, nothing short of laughable. Calling out the hypocrisy of the opposition, the statement says that they had boycotted the special GST session presided over by the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee and skipped the ceremony when he was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
It further adds how the Congress extended a late courtesy call to Ramnath Kovind after his election as President, and the disrespect shown to current president Droupadi Murmu. “The staunch opposition to her candidature is not just an insult to her but a direct affront to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of our nation,” it says.
Further giving examples, the statement mentions the emergency imposed by Congress govt and frequent misuse of the Article 356 of the Constitution.
The NDA further says, “It is painfully apparent that the Opposition shuns Parliament because it represents the will of the people – a will that has repeatedly rejected their antiquated and self-serving politics. Their preference for semi-monarchic governments and family-run parties shows an aversion to vibrant democracy, an ideology incongruent with the ethos of our nation.”
The statement adds, “What these Opposition parties are perpetrating is a disgrace to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Sardar Patel and the legacy of countless others who served this nation faithfully. Their actions tarnish the values these leaders upheld and worked tirelessly to instil in our democracy.”
The NDA parties implored the opposition parties to reconsider their decision, saying that if they do not, the 140 crore people of India will not forget this “egregious insult to our democracy and to their elected representatives”.
The statement was ended by saying, “Their actions today will echo through the annals of history, casting a long shadow over their legacy. We urge them to think about the nation and not individual political gains.”
The statement has been signed by representatives of BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), National People’s Party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Jananayak Janata Party, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, Apna Dal – Soneylal, Tamil Manila Congress, AIADMK, IMKMK, AJSU, and Mizo National Front.
In a recent development, the Valmiki community residing in Mandal has written a letter to the Taluka Development Officer (TDO), expressing their desire to migrate due to a recent tragic incident. The incident involved two Valmiki youths who were brutally attacked by Muslim youths. The Valmiki Samaj, in their letter, cites the growing influence of anti-social elements within the local Muslim society as the primary reason behind their decision. Furthermore, they have highlighted concerns about the potential threat to their lives.
On May 2, 2023, two individuals, namely Samir Salim Adi and a minor companion, viciously attacked two youths who had intervened to prevent them from making an offensive joke. Tragically, one of the youths sustained serious head injuries, while the other suffered severe fractures.
The police promptly apprehended both assailants in connection with the case. In response to this disturbing incident, the local Hindu community and various organizations rallied together, submitting petitions to various authorities, including the Ahmedabad district collector, urging for stringent punishment to be meted out to the accused.
The court granted bail to one of the accused, the juvenile (son of Mehboobbhai Adi), leading to his release. Meanwhile, the court is currently deliberating on the bail application of Sameer Salim Adi, the other accused. However, the Valmiki community has raised objections to this bail plea. Additionally, community members have come forward, alleging that they have been receiving threats from certain leading and powerful individuals within the local Muslim community.
The Valmiki community in Mandal seeks permission to migrate
The Valmiki community of Mandal has sent a letter to Taluka Development Officer (TDO) seeking permission for migration. “We have been living for years in Mandal at the old Valmiki colony, where the Muslim community population lives in and around the entrance of the Valmiki colony, and the Valmiki community has been troubled for years by them,” the letter said.
The letter further adds, “Adjacent to the colony, individuals from the Muslim community have erected shops without obtaining prior permissions from the panchayat. These shops remain operational throughout the day and extend their operating hours late into the night. Disturbingly, the children and young girls belonging to the Valmiki community face verbal abuse and derogatory comments pertaining to their caste when they visit these shops to make purchases.”
In the letter addressed to the TDO, the victims highlighted the distressing situation where certain individuals from the local Muslim community subject the Valmiki community to relentless torture. This torment has become so severe that it has compelled the Valmiki community to consider fleeing their own colony. Furthermore, the perpetrators continuously instigate quarrels as a pretext to launch attacks on the Valmiki community.
The continued torture inflicted upon them not only jeopardizes the well-being of individual families but also poses a significant threat to their very existence. Consequently, the Valmiki community finds themselves left with no choice but to contemplate mass migration as a means to escape the physical and psychological torture they endure.
Threats of mowing down a car
In order to gather additional information regarding the matter, OpIndia reached out to Bhavin Siresia, a prominent leader representing the Valmiki community. As per Siresia’s account, the victims are currently facing coercion to retract the police complaint that was filed subsequent to the previous incidents of assaults.
In a letter addressed to the TDO, Rahul Siresia, one of the victims, expressed that the accused individuals from the Muslim party were exerting pressure on the victim’s family to withdraw the case. Moreover, the family has been receiving death threats from different people. Disturbingly, threats have also been made to blow up the family’s vehicle while travelling on the road. These grave circumstances have instilled such fear in the family that they are reluctant to leave their house. Consequently, they are seeking permission to relocate. OpIndia has obtained a copy of this letter.
As it happened
On Tuesday, May 2, at approximately 6 pm, a 10-year-old boy visited a shop located near the entrance of Valmiki colony. While there, he became the target of ridicule by a group of Muslim youths present, including Sameer Salimbhai Adi and the minor son of Mehboobbhai Adi. Witnessing this incident, two Dalit youths who were standing nearby intervened and requested the group to refrain from mocking the child. This led to a heated altercation between the two factions.
During the incident, the minor accused and Sameer, who had initially engaged in the quarrel, became agitated and proceeded to physically assault the Dalit youths, employing casteist slurs. Shockingly, the minor offender wielded a large stone and struck Rahul, a young member of the Valmiki community, on the head, resulting in grave injuries. Meanwhile, Sameer Salim Adi attacked Haresh with a wooden stick, inflicting severe harm upon him as well. Seizing the opportunity, the two accused hastily fled the scene, amidst the commotion caused by local bystanders. Throughout their escape, they continued to intimidate and issue threats to the victims.
Following the victim’s complaint regarding the assault on the Valmiki community youth, the Mandal police took action and filed a case against the minor accused and Sameer Salim Adi. The charges against them include offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), viz. 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), and 114 (abettor present when the offence is committed). Additionally, sections 3(1)R, 3(1)S, 3(2)(5-A) of the Atrocity Act and section 135 of the G.P. Act were invoked. OpIndia has obtained a copy of the First Information Report (FIR).
Ever since it was announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly constructed Parliament House on 28 May, opposition parties have started to allege that it is an insult to the president saying the new parliament should be inaugurated by the president. 19 opposition parties including the Congress party, which has been opposed to the Central Vista project from the beginning, have said that they will boycott the ceremony.
Now notorious propaganda peddler masquerading as fact checker Md Zubair has jumped into the debate by peddling blatant fake news. The Alt New cofounder tried to ‘fact check’ BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, but actually posted fake claim.
Responding to the Congress allegations of insult to the president, BJP leader and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said yesterday that former PM Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament annexe in 1975, and after that former PM Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament library in 1987. “If your head of government can inaugurate them, why can’t our head of government do the same,” Puri had asked while talking to ANI.
#WATCH | In August 1975, then PM Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 PM Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library. If your (Congress) head of government can inaugurate them, why can't our head of government do the same?: Union Minister Hardeep… pic.twitter.com/syv8SXGwIS
“From criticising the new Parliament Building and questioning its very necessity despite many of them advocating for it before but not executing it, Congress president and other worthies are now shifting the goalpost by generously misquoting an article a day from the Constitution!” Puri also tweeted.
However, the Congress party tried to dismiss Puri’s comments by saying that the inaugurations of the Parliament annexe and Parliament library were not as significant as the new parliament building. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor called them subsidiary buildings. He tweeted, “But those were subsidiary buildings, dear @HardeepSPuri – an Annexe and a Library. This is a whole new Parliament! Doesn’t the Constitution say the President is its head, convenes Parliament & prorogues it? So shouldn’t she inaugurate it rather than the PM?”
But those were subsidiary buildings, dear @HardeepSPuri – an Annexe and a Library. This is a whole new Parliament! Doesn’t the Constitution say the President is its head, convenes Parliament & prorogues it? So shouldn’t she inaugurate it rather than the PM? https://t.co/SUIrHtPZgC
Responding to the Congress claim of “subsidiary buildings”, Amit Malviya tweeted that “the Congress is free to belittle their leaders’ accomplishments,” and asked “whose fault is it if Congress leaders were constrained by their vision and content building incremental infrastructure or worse lending their name to even the smallest installations in the precinct of the Parliament?”
Malviya also pointed out that Jawaharlal Nehru had unveiled portraits in the Lok Sabha chamber and the Parliament hall, and Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of Atal tunnel in 2010 and inaugurated the Bandra – Worli Sea link and the Railway Coach Factory in Rae Bareli in 2019, despite holding no public office and was not part of the government.
The Congress is claiming that Indira Gandhi inaugurating the Parliament Annexe on 24th Oct 1975 and Rajiv Gandhi laying the foundation stone for the Parliament Library in 1987 are not as significant as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the New Parliament…
In this argument between Congress and BJP leaders, Md Zubair of Alt News decided to jump in, claiming that BJP leaders were lying that Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament annexe in 1975. He tweeted, “Hello @amitmalviya On 4 August 1970, President VV Giri laid the foundation of Parliament House annexe,” in an apparent attempt to fact check BJP. He also posted a link to a report saying that former president Giri had laid the foundation stone of the Parliament House annexe.
However, ‘fact checker’ Zubair actually published fake claim, because the incident he mentioned is different from the incident mentioned by BJP. Minister Puri and other BJP leaders said that Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament annexe in 1975, and Md Zubair said former President VV Giri laid the foundation of Parliament House annexe.
Both the statements are true, and one statement does not negate the other. Because Md Zubair may be unaware that laying foundation of a structure and inaugurating that structure are completely different events. Construction of a structure is marked by laying its foundation stone, and its completion is marked by its formal inauguration. Which is why the foundation stone of the parliament annex was laid in 1970, and it was inaugurated five years later in 1975.
Congress leaders misquote constitution to claim president is head of the parliament
Congress leaders including Shashi Tharoor also claimed that President is the head of the parliament, and therefore the president should inaugurate the parliament. Tharoor claimed that as per Articles 60 and 111 of constitution of India. But this is also another false claim, because these Articles of the Indian constitution do not say that the president is the head of the parliament.
Yes @kharge Sahib is right. Articles 60 and 111 of the Constitution of India make it clear that the President is the head of parliament. It was bizarre enough that the PM performed the ground-breaking ceremony & puja when construction began, but totally incomprehensible (&… https://t.co/fuan2AyMJm
The Article 60 describes the process of the president taking the oath before becoming president, and Article 111 describes the process of passing of bills by the parliament and the president assenting to the same. As per Article 111, after bills are passed by both houses, they are sent to the president for assent. The president can return a bill, but if the parliament passes the bill again, the president has to give assent to it. The president can’t decline a money bill. Therefore, the president has no authority over the parliament and is not the head of the houses.
Therefore, these two articles, 69 and 111, do not say that the president is the head of the parliament, as claimed by Shashi Tharoor.
Puri had also tweeted responding to this claim, “From criticising the New Parliament Building & questioning its very necessity despite many of them advocating for it before but not executing it, Congress President & other worthies are now shifting the goalpost by generously misquoting an article a day from the Constitution!”.
From criticising the New Parliament Building & questioning its very necessity despite many of them advocating for it before but not executing it, Congress President & other worthies are now shifting the goalpost by generously misquoting an article a day from the Constitution! pic.twitter.com/GUwexamcZy
Congress leader Manish Tewari then tried to fact-check Puri, by falsely claiming that another Article of the constitution says that president heads the parliament. Responding to Hardeep Singh Puri’s tweet, he claimed that President is the head of the parliament as per Article 79 of the constitution.
Article 79 “Constitution of Parliament “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the council of States and the House of the People”If I am misquoting then @HardeepSPuri is reading A different Const. https://t.co/71PxwNPHns
He posted Article 79 by saying, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” Tewari even added, “If I am misquoting then Hardeep Puri is reading A different Constitution.” But actually, not only he was misquoting the article, he didn’t read the article that he himself posted.
This article states, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” It makes it clear that the parliament consists of three components, the Council of States (upper house or Rajya Sabha), the House of the People (lower house or Lok Sabha), and the President.
The Article makes it absolutely clear that President, Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha are three constituents of the Parliament, and nowhere it says that the President have primacy over the other two. The president is a part of the parliament, not its head.
In a major impact of the report published by OpIndia, Mohammad Ashfaq, deputy registrar of the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) located in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore, has been expelled from his job. In January 2023, OpIndia published a detailed report on his illegal conduct of classes, misinterpretation of Hindu characters and an utterly arbitrary way of managing and operating the institute.
The investigation against Ashfaq was launched after OpIndia’s report and it resulted in his removal from his job. Along with this, the additional charge of the Deputy Director of the Disabled Sports Center in Gwalior has also been taken away from him.
After the report of OpIndia, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) launched an agitation for the dismissal of Mohammad Ashfaq in the state. Sehore MLA Sudesh Rai also wrote a letter to Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar Khatik demanding strict action. NIMHR comes under this central ministry. Several financial irregularities of Ashfaq in the institution also came to fore during the investigation. Later on May 22, 2023, the director of NIMHR issued an order for the dismissal of Mohammad Ashfaq. It stated that “Ashfaq was appointed to the post of deputy registrar on May 30, 2022 on a two-year probation period. Now it has been decided to terminate his service with immediate effect.”
Letter against Ashfaq was sent to PMO
In a letter addressed to the PMO, students at the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) had made some serious accusations against Mohammad Ashfaq, the institution’s deputy registrar. In the letter dated December 16, 2022, Mohammad Ashfaq was accused of insulting the historical epic Mahabharata by poking fun at some of the characters while lecturing the students about mental health. Furthermore, students had accused him of unilaterally running the institute like a ‘madarsa’ and forcing his Islamic beliefs on the students. He had also been accused of harassment.
The letter further stated that the students at the institution were under ‘mental pressure’ due to Ashfaq. “Immediately pay attention to the institute, otherwise it will become a complete jihadi base. He (Mohammed Ashfaq) threatens to spoil our future, so sending this letter to you without signing. You save this national property from Jihadis,” the letter roughly read.
Speaking to OpIndia, Mohammad Ashfaq admitted that he conducted classes even though he was primarily a deputy registrar. Ashfaq, however, refuted the allegation levelled against him, terming them incorrect.
OpIndia reported the matter first in January, 2023
After hearing the children’s complaint, there was much hush on the matter at hand. Even the main stream media failed to report on the terrible event. On January 23, 2023, OpIndia released a report outlining the institution’s condition. Mohammad Ashfaq admitted to taking the class during the conversation we had, but he refuted the other claims. He said that some students were unable to take the exam because of poor attendance, and that they must have complained.
But when we spoke with several of the pupils at the institution and some past and present employees, the information that emerged confirmed that this institute is being managed in accordance with the regulations in force. Additionally, it was discovered that the institute had no such environment prior to the hiring of Mohammad Ashfaq.
After OpIndia’s report, a Delhi-based PMO investigative team travelled to Sehore. Ashfaq was questioned. The Vigilance team began looking into the claims of financial misappropriation made against him. He lost his additional duty for the Gwalior center. Following this, national media outlets and neighbourhood newspapers began covering the story. Local governmental officials and student organisations like ABVP also later spoke up.
About NIMHR and its courses
The National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) is the country’s only institute of its sort. It is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. It was started in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, in 2019. It is currently operated out of the old Zila Panchayat building. The institute’s new campus is being built on approximately 5 acres of land in Sekdakhedi village, Sehore district, along the Bhopal-Indore highway, at a cost of approximately Rs 180 crore. The first National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation in the country will have nine Departments and will conduct 12 courses to offer diploma, certificate, graduate, postgraduate and M.Phil degrees in the area of mental health rehabilitation.
Currently, the institute offers three courses, namely:
– Diploma in Vocational Rehabilitation Intellectual Disability (DVR-ID) – Diploma in Community-Based Rehabilitation (DCBR) – Certificate Course in Care Giving (CCCG)
DVR-ID is a one-year course, DCBR is two years, and CCCG is a ten-month course. Each course has 30 seats. The institute currently has more than 100 students. Approximately 60% of these are female students.
Its important today to speak up
Mohammad Ashfaq was charged with converting a national institution out of a fervent desire for religion into a madarsa. We are aware, however, that there are other instances of religious infiltration in several of our institutions. Meanwhile, a case in point of fostering love jihad and religious extremism as well as propaganda against the nation and the army has also come to light while students are ostensibly enrolled in a government law institution in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. We must protect each of our institutions from people like Mohammad Ashfaq. Given this, it’s important to monitor what’s happening in the institutions nearby. If you notice something strange, speak out. It is essential to speak out. OpIndia had also raised its voice. And its outcome has also created a change.
On Wednesday, May 24, Uddhav Thackeray, former chief minister of Maharashtra and president of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Wednesday slammed the central government for ‘trying to overthrow democracy and subvert the constitution.’
Thackeray claimed that the BJP, which is the duly elected central government of the country, should be called the ‘opposition.’
Uddhav Thackeray has promised us that they will support us in the Parliament and if this bill (ordinance) does not pass in the Parliament then in 2024, the Modi government will not be coming back to power: Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/1Cgi6mz6Iy
The remark was made when he met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence in Mumbai on Wednesday as part of his nationwide tour to garner support against the Centre’s ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital.
“The word opposition is misleading. Which opposition? Whose opposition? We all love our country, and in my opinion, the centre should be referred to as the opposition since they want to eliminate democracy,” he charged.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) supremo continued, “We have united to fight them and save the country and our constitution. The supreme court has made two rulings in the past few days regarding Maharashtra and Delhi. The selected should be given the highest weight in a democracy.”
“The supreme court’s decision was crucial for democracy, but the centre brought an ordinance against it. These people were elected, shouldn’t they have some sort of authority? There will come a day when there won’t be any state elections, only general polls and those just up until 2024 and the people will then decide. In light of this, we’ve all come together to rouse them (the populace) from sleep,” he added.
Furthermore, he pledged his support for the chief minister of Delhi and the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal in the parliament over the legislation the centre had introduced regarding the transfers and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital.
“Arvind Kejriwal has visited twice in recent days. Politics is fine, but we count ourselves among those who can maintain connections. Election season is set to begin next year. Our country’s democracy will end if we miss the train this time,” he remarked while addressing the media in Matoshree, Mumbai.
Central govt brings ordinance to amend GNCTD act
The centre has introduced an ordinance establishing guidelines for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) relating to transfer-posting, vigilance and other incidental matters in the national capital. This decision has been taken keeping in mind that Delhi is a Union Territory and the National Capital and the central government has to have an equal say in the administration of the territory.
The Modi-led administration adopted a statute modifying the GNCTD Act a few days after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, which declared that the Delhi administration (AAP) has power over the transfer, posting, and appointment of employees while the Central Government (LG) has control over the order, police and land.
Uddhav Thackeray’s bizarre remark where he calls the constitutionally elected federal government the ‘opposition’ is not surprising given that he and his faction members have frequently attacked the BJP administration with far more filthy, mostly extremely Hinduphobic jibes.
Uddhav Thackeray uses Hinduphobic ‘gaumutra’ jibes to attack BJP
Recently, while defending the actions of the Muslim youths who had forcibly entered the Trimbakeshwar Temple and attempted to desecrate the Shivling situated in the temple’s sanctum santorum on May 13, 2023, Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray accused BJP of engaging in what the party referred to as ‘Gaumutradhari Hindutva.’
“The threat to Hinduism comes not from Muslim youths offering ‘dhup’ (burning of incense), but from these ‘gaumutradharis,’ the party said in an editorial piece in its mouthpiece Saamana.
BJP’s Hindutva is nothing more than cow urine. Their Hindutva is devoid of logic as was seen in the way it handled the recent Trimbakeshwar incident. This Hindutva gang attempted to propagate their hatred throughout Maharashtra by sparking riots in the name of Hindutva, but this conspiracy was foiled by the calm and reasonable residents of Nashik-Trimbak, the article in Shiv Sena’s Saamana read.
Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray and its Gaumutra jibes
Last month, Thackeray used the Hinduphobic ‘gaumutra’ barb to launch yet another tirade against the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur after BJP slammed his group for joining forces with the Congress Party.
“Every time I am accused of going with the Congress and leaving Hindutva, is there no Hindu in the Congress? There (RSS-BJP) Hindutva is Gaumutradhari Hindutva,” he stated at Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi’s event to show ‘unity and strength.’
“Did our country get freedom by sprinkling cow urine? Did it happen that cow urine was sprinkled, and we got freedom? It was not so. The freedom fighters had made sacrifices, and then we got freedom,” he said during a meeting held at Khed village in Ratnagiri, in March after the Election Commission decided to hand over the Shiv Sena party symbol to Eknath Shinde’s faction after the original Shiv Sena split into two groups in 2022.
On the 21st of May 2023, Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of propaganda ‘fact-checking’ website AltNews, took to Twitter to plug a The Hindu article. He informed that a program called ‘AltED’, incubated by AltNews, conducted a session with children where they were taught a course on ‘Digital Literacy’. “altED, incubated by @AltNews, is working on a curriculum that helps children be more cognizant of the information they consume. Here, @the_hindu has covered one of our recent efforts where the students showed what they have learnt”, he tweeted.
altED, incubated by @AltNews, is working on a curriculum that helps children be more cognizant of the information they consume. Here, @the_hindu has covered one of our recent efforts where the students showed what they have learnt.https://t.co/lGbmXkkh6Y
An Archive version of the tweet can be found here.
A research associate at AltNews who goes by the name Mahaprajna quoted Pratik Singh and confirmed the development. “For two months we worked on a media and information literacy programme with the children at Naba Disha community centre run by the NGO Vikramshila. Here is a report on the Consolidation event where children shared their learning experience. #AltED#MILCurriculumForIndia“, she tweeted.
For two months we worked on a media and information literacy programme with the children at Naba Disha community centre run by the NGO Vikramshila. Here is a report on the Consolidation event where children shared their learning experience. #AltED#MILCurriculumForIndiahttps://t.co/saB7vyIzy7
This is current Mahaprajna’s ‘pinned tweet’, which clearly indicates she is extremely proud of this accomplishment, something she seems to have been personally involved in as well, given that she used the pronoun “we”.
Mahaprajna’s tweet was also dutifully retweeted by Mohammad Zubair, the co-founder of AltNews who regularly spreads fake news himself.
Retweet by Mohammad Zubair
Another individual, Anish Mukherjee also tweeted about the same. He wrote, At altED, we believe that in today’s world, media and information literacy is must-have life’s skill for all, especially for our children. We are not only building a curriculum, but making it happen in the classrooms. @AltNews“.
At altED, we believe that in today's world, media and information literacy is must-have life's skill for all, especially for our children. We are not only building a curriculum, but making it happen in the classrooms. @AltNewshttps://t.co/yqFHl9eHp3
In his Twitter bio, Anish does not identify himself as working with AltNews. However, this individual is of particular important to this story and we will delve into his work with AltNews a little later in this report.
As soon as The Hindu article was published and the AltNews coterie tweeted the article out, there were several tweets lauding the efforts of AltNews and how they were taking their wisdom to the children now.
What The Hindu report said about the training session on ‘Digital Literacy’ conducted by AltNews
The Hindu report which was shared by Pratik Sinha and others on social media was wholly based on the version of Pratik Sinha – essentially – The Hindu had printed what Pratik Sinha had told them apparently, without talking to the NGO itself, it would appear.
The Hindu report said that this was a 2-month long program held at Nabadisha Community Centre, next to Taratala Police Station in Kolkata with kids who were between the ages 12 and 14. The course revolved around ‘media literacy’ and how to identify fake news, the report said.
“The community centre is being operated by Vikramshila Education Resource Society while the media literacy programme for children was conducted by Alt News, a well-known fact-checking website“, the report said.
The report also quoted an official media release by AltED, an initiative ‘incubated by AltNews’. “Children were introduced to the concept of misinformation and its components, taught skills to identify information received from social media as right or wrong based on available cues, and further encouraged to think about sources of misinformation within the media business context and how this impacts the information digital media users receive,” a media release by AltED, an initiative incubated by Alt News said, according to The Hindu report.
“The pre-pilot programme is an activity-based curriculum designed and taught by practitioners at AltED to develop knowledge, mindset, and skills in media literacy amongst youngsters by harnessing critical thinking and empathy,” Pratik Sinha, co- founder of Alt News told The Hindu.
The Hindu report said that the kids were taught how to identify fake news and along with that, they were also taught how to identify media bias. In the report, there was a section that spoke about the Taj Mahal. Apparently, the AltNews team taught young kids between 12 and 14 years of age how Taj Mahal being called Tejo Mahalaya was ‘fake news’.
“The programme also made an attempt so that the children can distinguish between kinds of sources. For instance, a game was devised between two groups of students who delved into fake information that ‘Taj Mahal was Tejo Mahalaya (a Hindu temple)’. One group of students who were reporters had to identify the right source to fact-check the information, while the other group of students who were in the audience cross-checked the reporters on the information they brought, the report said.
Gloating, Pratik Sinha told The Hindu, “We are approaching more schools and also working on finalising the curriculum. After that, the matter of scale will come and then we will approach the government so that they can include this in their regular syllabus”.
The archived version of the report by The Hindu can be read here.
Interestingly, when one is dealing with children between the ages of 12 and 14, telling them that sources identifying Islamic structures as Hindu temples are not to be believed, one pushes an ideological bias where Islamic onslaught is completely whitewashed since children would doubt even authentic history from reliable sources which do not conform to a Left/Islamist bias.
It is this part of The Hindu’s report that made OpIndia reach out to the Vikramshila Education Resource Society which operates the Nabadisha Community Centre where this AltNews program was supposedly held.
The NGO, which appears to only work with children to help them get an education without any ideological bias whatsoever (Left or Right), says they were manipulated, with AltNews associations remaining undisclosed.
Interestingly, the NGO told OpIndia that “The purpose of the program we agreed upon was to foster self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking. It was based on these objectives that we gave our consent”. It also appears from the press release and the comments by AltNews that ‘fact-checking’ and ‘media bias’ was not meant to be the subject of the program at all.
What OpIndia found about AltNews and its supposed 2 month long program at this NGO, with kids aged between 12 and 14: Response from the Director of the NGO
OpIndia reached out to the Director of the NGO Vikramshila Education Resource Society which operates the Nabadisha Community Centre and posed a set of questions to her. We first informed her of the tweet by Pratik Sinha, who is a co-founder of AltNews and the report by The Hindu which named her NGO, the Community Centre it runs and the 2-month-long program conducted by AltNews.
Ms Shubhra Chatterji responded to the email sent by editor-in-chief Nupur J Sharma with the following statement:
We have been extremely disturbed by your mail as we were not aware of the piece that was published in The Hindu. Thank you for bringing our attention to this. I feel we have been manipulated into this kind of situation – because we extended our support to an individual called Anish Mukherjee and we were not aware of his links with Alt News or its agenda. In future, we will be more careful and will not allow any such thing to happen.
Following this statement, Ms Chatterji responded to each of the 8 questions that were posed by OpIndia. Following is a verbatim reproduction of the questions and the answers provided by Ms Chatterji, the Director of NGO Vikramshila Education Resource Society which operates the Nabadisha Community Centre:
Q1: Could you perhaps tell us the gambit of the course that AltNews was providing to children. Was there any cultural, religious and/or political aspect to this course as well?
A: We were approached by Anish Mukherjee of “Art for Play” – one of the partners of Wipro Foundation (we are also one of the partners). We had met him in one of the Wipro Forums. He requested us to give him permission to field test a course on Digital Literacy with some children in one of our community learning centres. Because of his credentials we agreed to his request – and we were not aware of any cultural, political agenda. We are a 33 year old organisation, and it is our organisational policy to keep ourselves free from any kind of political /cultural bias.
Q2: What was the process of partnering with AltNews? Were they recommended by someone or was this association spearheaded by your NGO itself?
A2: We just gave Anish verbal permission to interact with our children and try out his sessions. Our teachers were present during his interactions – and did not report any kind of political/ cultural bias in the interactions he had with the children. So your mail has come as a complete surprise to us. We would like to clarify that we DO NOT HAVE any kind of partnership with Alt News or Alt Ed – it was purely a gesture of good will to an individual who came with reliable references. And I feel we had been misguided.
Q3: Are you aware of the pronounced ideological leanings of AltNews and its founders – Pratik Sinha and Mohammad Zubair?
A3: No! Not at all! We do not know them personally. Nor we were aware of their role in the work Anish wanted to do.
Q4: Was AltNews’ ideological leaning and bias one of the deciding factors when the NGO partnered with AltNews?
A4: No! We would definitely not have agreed if we were aware. And we thank you for updating us so that we can cautious in future.
Q5: Were any steps taken to ensure that their own ideological biases don’t creep into the program and contribute to affecting how the children’s ideological bent is shaped?
A5: Our teachers were around when Anish conducted the sessions – they would have definitely reported to us if they had found something amiss. So I am assuming that any such kind of dialogue may have taken place without our knowledge and outside the formal interactions. Henceforth we will be more careful.
Q6: The Hindu report states, “The programme also made an attempt so that the children can distinguish between kinds of sources. For instance, a game was devised between two groups of students who delved into fake information that ‘Taj Mahal was Tejo Mahalaya (a Hindu temple)’. One group of students who were reporters had to identify the right source to fact-check the information, while the other group of students who were in the audience cross-checked the reporters on the information they brought”. Under the garb of media literacy, were any other cultural and religious issues touched upon by AltNews?
A6: We were very surprised to see this and we were not aware of any such discussion or session with the children. If it was done it was not in our knowledge – and we do not endorse any kind of controversial political discussion with children within our organisation. We cannot take responsibility for any such reporting as it was not in our knowledge. You may consider informing this to the concerned newspaper.
Q7: Do you believe that young children should be taught only one viewpoint of history that dismisses the existence of Hindu Temples when the historical barbarity of invaders is a documented fact?
A7: We feel children should be exposed to different and multiple view points and not a one-sided or biased view of History. However, we are an organisation that works mainly with very young children at the early childhood education and primary stage. The Naba Disha Community learning centres are run in collaboration with the Kolkata Police to provide slum children with a safe space where they can do their studies.
Q8: Does Vikramshila Education Resource Society resonate with the ideological beliefs of AltNews and endorse that ideological bent being imparted to the children under their care?
A8. No. We were introduced to Anish by people who are completely neutral and free from any ideological bias. We do not know the people behind Alt News. As an organisation, we strictly do not endorse any kind of ideological bent imparted to children.
What does it all mean: AltNews manipulated an NGO working with children, lied about association, according to the NGO
The crux of the matter can be summarised in a few lines – AltNews manipulated an organisation based in Kolkata with lies, and hidden associations and then publicly claimed credit for it, again, without the knowledge of the NGO. There are also suspicions that they blatantly lied to The Hindu about the course structure. We have also learnt that Pratik Sinha was not forthcoming while introducing himself that the program was meant to be an AltNews initiative.
Here is a summary of that the Director of the NGO told OpIndia:
The NGO was approached by one Anish Mukherjee who founded “Art for Play” to seek permission to field-test a course on digital literacy.
Since Art for Play partners with Wipro and the NGO does as well, the NGO gave verbal permission to Mukherjee to conduct this course with the children.
They agreed for him to conduct the course because of his personal credentials and because he was introduced to the NGO by reliable people.
Anish Mukherjee pparently did not disclose his association with AltNews and that the course would be conducted by AltNews.
AltNews itself had no permission to conduct the 2-month-long program.
Despite the non-disclosure, AltNews released a press note and spoke to The Hindu, saying that the program was conducted by them.
The NGO was not aware of the ideological bias that AltNews harbours.
The NGO did not partner with AltNews.
The Director says that their teachers were present when Mukherjee was conducting the course and per their knowledge, the Taj Mahal conversation never came up. This means that either AltNews is lying or that Mukherjee had this conversation with the children without the knowledge of the NGO.
The NGO also does not endorse controversial subjects like that of the Taj Mahal, or any conversation with an ideological bias of any kind, being had with the young, impressionable children.
Anish Mukherjee and the curious case of Pratik Sinha at the NGO
On Twitter, Anish Mukherjee does not mention in his bio that he is associated with AltNews.
Twitter bio of Anish Mukherjee from which he tweeted about AltEd
However, on his LinkedIn page, he mentions specifically that he is developing the “education intervention” vertical for AltNews.
LinkedIn profile of Anish Mukherjee
Interestingy, there is an image of Pratik Sinha himself present at the Nabadisha Community Centre where this 2-month program was being held.
Pratik Sinha at the Nabadisha Community Centre, picture taken by The Hindu photo journalist
When OpIndia reached out to the NGO again, OpIndia was categorically told that the NGO was not aware that AltNews was meant to conduct the program. After the NGO went back to confirm why Pratik Sinha was present at the venue, the NGO said:
“On further scrutinising, I got to know there was a couple of mail exchange between the person in charge from us and Anish, in which Pratik Sinha was copy marked along with many others since we do not sign any written MOU, this mail was not read properly and ignored. In reference to your query, our director has stated that we do not possess any information regarding AltNews’ involvement, except for what was mentioned during the closing. From what I recall, Mr Sinha made a reference to Alt News. The entire closing programme and an invitation to the press were done by Anish without our knowledge. They just invited us to the closing programme”.
Essentially, the NGO says that when the one or two emails were exchanged between the NGO and Anish Mukherjee, Pratik Sinha was marked as a recipient among many others. There was no clarification that it would be AltNews that would be conducting this program. The press release thereafter to The Hindu, The Hindu photojournalist being present there was also not agreed upon by the NGO. Pratik Sinha, according to the NGO, was present on the last day and made some tangential reference to AltNews, however, the NGO was not aware of their association with this 2-month program itself.
Being an NGO, they are also not diligent in following emails and social media. They had agreed to this program because of Anish Mukherjee and his association with Wipro on the basis of verbal discussions. They maintain that they were misled into this association with AltNews.
What is far more interesting is that this image of Pratik Sinha was taken by Debasish Bhaduri, according to The Hindu report. Debasish Bhaduri is a photojournalist with The Hindu itself. Therefore, it appears as though it was Pratik Sinha who invited the media there, which clicked his picture, without the knowledge of the NGO.
It therefore also calls into question as to whether The Hindu was complicit in this charade by AltNews and were the top editors aware of the misrepresentation.
A Missouri man of Indian origin has been arrested by police after he deliberately rammed a U-Haul truck into a security fence at a park across from the White House. He was identified as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.
He crashed into the barrier close to the north side of Lafayette Square on Monday night at 10 p.m., according to a statement from the Secret Service. He was apprehended on the scene and no injuries were reported.
He rented the vehicle in Herndon, Virginia and had a valid contract in his own name. As per U-Haul, a moving truck, trailer and self-storage rental company based in Phoenix, one must be 18 to hire a truck, and there were no issues with his rental history that would have stopped the contract from being signed.
???BREAKING: A 19-year-old from Missouri has been arrested on multiple charges including threatening to kill or harm the president or vice president, after crashing into barriers near the White House.
After the crash, the perpetrator exited the truck with a Nazi flag and started shouting as Park Police and Secret Service officers approached him. He was charged with threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice-president and their families.
He professed admiration for the Nazis and a desire to enter the White House to kill the president. He wanted to seize power and rule the country. These specifics were mentioned in an affidavit that a Secret Service agent provided.
The culprit told the authorities that the Nazi flag he had displayed at the site was one he had ordered online because he believed the Nazis had a long and illustrious history. He apparently showed appreciation for their one-world government, Eugenics (planned breeding), and totalitarian ways. Additionally, he stated that he idolised Adolf Hitler and considered him to be a strong leader.
“Preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” proclaimed Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service. The investigators are looking into every facet of the issue, which includes his prior neo-Nazi ties and mental health issues.
U.S. Park Police would file charges with investigative support from the Secret Service.
Vehicle collision at Lafayette Square: Roadways and pedestrian walkways are closed as teams investigate. pic.twitter.com/4QqNyRoa0T
Chris Zaboji (25) a witness from Washington said that the motorist struck the barrier at least twice. He was wrapping off a run near Lafayette Square when he heard the automobile striking the barrier, which caused a loud boom.
He remarked that before hearing approaching sirens, he pulled out his phone and recorded the second time the vehicle slammed into the barrier. “When the van backed up and rammed it again, I decided I wanted to get out of there,” he added.
The Secret Service and Park Police informed Joe Biden about the occurrence on Tuesday morning. “He’s relieved that no one was injured last night,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Kandula flew from St. Louis, Missouri, to Dulles, and then leased a U-Haul truck, and drove it straight to the White House. At the time of the incident, President Biden was inside the White House. No explosives or weapons were found in the truck or with Kandula, who said that he had planned the ‘attack’ for six months.
Kandula graduated from Marquette Senior High School, located in Chesterfield, Missouri, in 2022. According to a LinkedIn page that purportedly belongs to Kandula, his “career pursuit” is dedicated in the field of data analytics and has completed coursework and skills certifications.
FBI agents searched his house in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield on Tuesday after the incident. According to reports, his friend found it difficult to belive that a ‘chill’ guy like him tried to attack the White House armed with an empty truck and a Nazi flag. There was no record regarding him at the local police station, which means he was never named in any police case.
The US Secret Service keeps track of hundreds of individuals who have sent threats to the president, but it’s unclear whether Sai Varshith Kandulawas previously on their radar or whether he had ever warned the former in the past, which would have brought the Secret Service into the situation.
Multiple phone lines listed under his surname in public records were inactive, there was no counsel named for him in court documents, and attempts to get in touch with his family members who could speak on his behalf on Tuesday were unsuccessful. People reported as being connected to him at a residence in Missouri also declined to talk to the media.
Lafayette Square, which has the greatest public view of the White House, has long been one of the most well-known locations for protests in the US. In the midst of widespread protests against policing following the assassination of George Floyd in Minneapolis, federal officials walled off the area, forcing the park to close for over a year. However, it reopened in May 2021.
In the Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim man named Kunwar Asif Ali was allegedly threatened by the Imam of a mosque, for wearing a saffron-coloured (Kesariya/Bhagwa) Kurta while offering namaz. Speaking to OpIndia, Asif Ali said that the incident took place on Friday, May 19. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against the accused Imam Mahtab Hafiz.
According to the complaint filed by Asif Ali, the matter pertains to the Shamshabad police station precinct in Farrukhabad wherein the Imam of Jama Masjid in Mohalla Qazi Tola, Mahtab Hafiz threatened the complainant on Friday after he offered namaz at the mosque wearing a saffron-coloured kurta not to come to the mosque wearing saffron coloured attire.
When Asif argued that “all the colours have been created by Allah then why namaz should not be performed while wearing a saffron-coloured dress?” An enraged imam further called saffron colour the colour of Hindus and warned Asif not to offer namaz wearing saffron clothes again.
— fatehgarh police (@fatehgarhpolice) May 23, 2023
The accused imam also allegedly said that if there was Muslim rule, he would have explained the complainant ‘properly’. “Had there been a Muslim government here, you would have been explained properly. Do not come to the mosque in saffron-coloured clothes again or the consequences not be good,” Imam Mahtab Hafiz allegedly said.
Imam Mahtab of Jama Masjid is claimed to be a Farrukhabad inhabitant of Ghatiyapur. According to Asif, the imam humiliated him in front of everyone and expelled him from the mosque after these threats. The complainant has demanded action against the accused Imam, claiming that his fundamental freedom has been violated. Following his complaint, the police filed an FIR under section 506 of the IPC against Imam Mahtab Hafiz. Further legal action is being taken in the case, according to the police.
“Have been targeted three times”: Asif Ali tells OpIndia
Kunwar Asif Ali told OpIndia that he likes wearing saffron-coloured clothing. However, he has been the target of Imam and Mufti hatred three times at various mosques due to his saffron clothes. According to Asif, he was once beaten up in a mosque in Shamsabad. Asif called those who link colours with religion “haters,” adding that many Hindus wear green clothes, however, nobody from the Hindu community objects to it.
Mob set out to attack Asif Ali, returned midway dreading Yogi government
According to Asif, after an FIR was registered against the Imam of Jama Masjid in response to his complaint, a mob comprising of Muslim youths proceeded to attack him. However, knowing about CM Yogi Adityanath’s government zero tolerance policy towards rioters and that their houses would be bulldozed, the mob returned halfway. Asif Ali claimed to be a doctor and stated that he has contested the election of a councillor on a BJP ticket.
On Monday, May 22, 2023, a team of police officers from Kharagpur, West Bengal, arrived in Dibrugarh. Following a court order from the Calcutta High Court, they proceeded to exhume the body of Faizan Ahmad. Faizan Ahmad, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, was discovered dead in mysterious circumstances at the hostel in October of the previous year. He was originally from Assam.
As per the order from the Calcutta High Court to exhume Faizan’s body, the body was taken out of the grave. The High Court ordered for a second post-mortem to be conducted at Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, stating the need to determine whether his death was a suicide or not.
In October of last year, a report was made to the police regarding a foul smell emanating from a locked room in Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) Hall at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in West Bengal. Subsequently, the police responded to the scene and opened the door of the room. It was then that they discovered the lifeless body of Faizan Ahmad, a 23-year-old student studying Mechanical Engineering. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences through a tweet.
The police stated that the student who passed away was from Tinsukia, Assam. They received information that he had been missing for two days. Faizan resided in Rajendra Prasad Hall. The police were unsure of the reasons and timing for his visit to LLR Hall. An officer suggested that it seemed to be a suicide case, but the police were conducting a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the matter.
Order and observations by the High Court
On 25th April 2023, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said, “A second post-mortem is vital and necessary for arriving at the truth in this case. The body of the victim has been buried as per Muslim rites at Assam. Let the body of the victim Faizan Ahmed is ordered to be exhumed. The investigating officer in the matter shall coordinate with the Assam Police and ensure that the body and/or remains are exhumed, brought to Kolkata by the State Police and a fresh post-mortem is conducted.”
The court added, “Firstly, there are two visible injury marks, otherwise medically called Haematoma, on the back of the head of the victim and the marks have been confirmed by Mr. Sandip Kumar Bhattacharya, Ld. Amicus Curiae. The original post-mortem report does not mention the same. It is submitted by Mr. Bhattacharya that sodium nitrate a yellowish powder is normally used to preserve meat.”
The court also noted its observations on the late revealing of the death. The court said, “It is submitted that when a body decomposes, it is impossible that the fellow inmates of the hostel would not be able to detect it. There was mysteriously no smell from the body for 3 days. The presence of this chemical Emplura (Sodium Nitrate) opens up serious questions as regards the time of death and whether it may have been used to preserve the body after the death of the victim.”
The court clarified that its order should not be interpreted as questioning or criticizing the state police. It added, “This order should not be construed as casting any aspersions on the State police since they have proceeded primarily on the post-mortem report given to them. It is expected that the aforesaid exercise is conducted and completed within a period of one month from date.”
On Wednesday, May 24, a video of a local villager roughing up a Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) employee in Koppal district in Karnataka went viral on social media.
According to reports, the villager became enraged when the electrical department staff asked him to pay up his electricity bills. He allegedly slapped the GESCOM employee after he tried to cut the electricity supply for not paying the bill.
Electricity officials are attacked by local residents in Karnataka when they came for meter reading.
Residents says that they won’t pay from electricity now onwards as per Congress Guarantee
The villager who was identified as Chandrashekar Hiremat, a resident of Kukanapalli in Koppal, was arrested after the video of the incident went viral.
According to local media reports, the GESCOM employee Manjunath’s colleague recorded the attack on camera and filed a case against Chandrashekar Hiremat at Munirabad Police Station. The accused allegedly also tried to attack Manjunath’s college for recording a video.
Notably, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Karnataka. While in this case the GESCOM employee was attacked because the individual refused to pay his bill since Congress took power in the state, incidents with local villagers refusing to pay their electricity bills, citing Congress’ pre-election promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to every household if elected to power has come to light. Locals are demanding that promises made by the grand old party be honoured now that the party has taken administration in the state.
Last week, another video surfaced on the internet, wherein a group of villagers were seen allegedly refusing to pay their electricity bill citing Congress’ pre-poll ‘free- electricity’ promise. The video was said to be from Karnataka’s Jaalikatte area.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a video of the incident on Twitter On May 15, 2023.
Villagers in Chitradurga refuse to pay electricity bill. Exhort others also not to pay! They tell the bill collector that Congress had promised them free electricity, as soon as they came to power… Go take it from them (Congress), they say…
In the purported video, the locals seen sitting on a platform under a peepal tree, are heard arguing that they don’t need to pay their bills since Congress had offered them free electricity if it came to power.
“We won’t pay,” a villager is heard telling electricity bill collector Gopi.
“We will not pay. They (Congress) have said electricity is free, it will be free only,” another villager responds. To this, the bill collector says that the electricity can only be made free if the government orders the same.
Arguing with the official, the villagers asked him to talk to the Congress party about the bill.
“You collect from them (Congress), not us. We will not pay the bill,” says one villager and asks others sitting there not to pay either.
India Today on May 19, reported a similar incident from the Chitradurga area in Karnataka, where a woman refused to pay her electricity bills. She maintained that the people are entitled to the pre-poll promises from the minute they voted for Congress in the recent Assembly election.
“Let Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar pay our bills. They said they will implement the guarantee of 200 free units soon after the elections. So don’t come here. We won’t pay the bill. Once we pressed the button when voting, we were entitled to these guarantees,” the woman said, referring to Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.
“We won’t pay the current bill. No matter what, we are promised 200 units of free power and we will have it. Even if the CM is not there yet,” said another person from Koppal.
The Congress, which has lost national relevance, was clearly desperate to reclaim Karnataka from the BJP, which is why it chose to follow in the footsteps of the Aam Aadmi Party and pledged 200 units of free energy to secure public loyalty and obedience prior to the election.
The Congress made this promise when it began its statewide ‘Prajadhwani Bus Yatre’ in Belagavi ahead of the assembly polls.
Making the announcement at a party’s convention here, KPCC president D K Shivakumar said, “This is our first commitment to the people of Karnataka to brighten every house with light. Therefore, he said they will be calling the scheme ‘Gruha Jyothi Yojane’.
Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, had added that 200 units of free power every month would not be limited only to Dalits, backwards-class people, and minorities, but to every household without any discrimination.
While offering the freebies, Congress most likely assumed that if it worked for the AAP in Delhi and Punjab, it would also work for them. The freebies promised by the party to the populace may have tilted the scales in its favour, but may soon turn into a disaster for the Karnataka Congress in more ways than one. Crisis, which the grand old party decided to ignore because it was clearly desperate to reclaim power in the state.
Congress in Karnataka might use 20% of state budget to provide the freebies it promised before elections
Recent projections suggested that the annual cost of the cash payouts and electricity subsidies that Congress chose to offer to the people of Karnataka would be Rs. 62,000 crores.
Here, it’s also important to know what percentage of the state’s budget the giveaways would make up. Nearly 20% of the state budget is represented by the estimated sum of Rs 62,000 crore. The amount that might be used for significant giveaways is equal to the budget deficit from the preceding fiscal year. The fiscal deficit for 2022–23 was projected in Karnataka’s budget for 2023–24 to be Rs. 60,581 crores or 2.60% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Even if Karnataka’s economy is predicted to expand in the next years, paying the substantial freebies, which total Rs 62,000 crore, will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the state budget. In order to deliver on the promises, the government will either have to increase the collection of taxes and duties or increase borrowings.
Karnataka will turn into an ill-health State: Retired Director of ISEC
In fact, MG Chandrakanth, Retired Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), had alerted the media about the impending disaster Congress may be heading towards by promising such freebies.
“Government can raise urban property taxes, stamp duty, registration fee, tax on liquor, VAT on petrol/diesel. But they may not attempt this due to political economy issues. Hence the borrowings will increase,” he said.
Calling Congress’ promises unsustainable, Chandrakanth explained that the existing fiscal deficit is roughly Rs 60,531 crore, and by adding Rs 65,082 crore, the overall fiscal deficit will go up to Rs 1,25,613 crore.
The previous BJP administration presented a revenue surplus budget of 402 crore. According to the most recent budget, Karnataka’s total liabilities currently stand at 5.6 lakh crore, with an additional 1.7 lakh crore expected to be borrowed.
“Karnataka which has up until now been an economically healthy State will turn into an ill-health State. Increased borrowings will have a cascading effect on the present and the future government due to the piling up of public debt,” he told the media.
The state has a financial surplus, and income receipts are likely to rise, but whether this will be enough to sustain the provision of freebies for a long time remains to be seen.
While the Karnataka Congress should be seriously thinking of how to deal with the crisis that its government may encounter in the coming times, the resentment that is emerging in various parts of the state as a result of the promise of free power should also be a matter of concern for the grand old party.
