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Indian govt took ‘very decisive’ steps to deal with coronavirus, structural reforms working well: IMF chief

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Indian govt took ‘very decisive’ steps to deal with coronavirus, structural reforms working well: IMF chief

Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund on Thursday praised Modi government for taking “very decisive” steps to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences.

Speaking at a global media roundtable on Thursday, the IMF Managing Director predicted a ‘less bad’ outlook for India in the upcoming World Economic Update due to the effective steps taken by the Modi government. The Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva also asked the country to do more this year to support an accelerated transformation of the economy.

“When I called on everybody to stay tuned for January 26, that applies very much to India. You would see a picture in our update that is less bad. Why? Because the country actually has taken very decisive action, very decisive steps to deal with the pandemic and to deal with the economic consequences of it,” Georgieva said.

The International Monetary Fund is scheduled to release its World Economic Update on January 26.

Restrictions, lockdown along with policy support worked well: IMF chief

Speaking about India, the IMF chief opined that it was a very dramatic lockdown for a country of this size of the population with people clustered so closely together.

“Then India moved to more targeted restrictions and lockdowns. What we see is that transition, combined with policy support, seems to have worked well. Why? Because if you look at mobility indicators, we are almost where we were before COVID in India, meaning that economic activities have been revitalised quite significantly,” she said.

She said the steps taken by the Modi government on the monetary policy and the fiscal policy side is commendable. It is actually slightly above the average for emerging markets, she added.

According to Kristalina Georgieva, India has outdone emerging markets, which on average have provided six per cent of the GDP. “Good for India is that there is still space to do more. If you can do more, please do,” Georgieva said.

She added that 2021 is the year to use and use it wisely in a more targeted manner to support an accelerated transformation of the economy. The IMF chief said that it was amazing to see how much faster structural change takes place and policymakers ought to be leaning forward in this environment to support this structural transformation and to cushion the impact it has on those that are on the losing side of it.

India has an appetite for structural reforms, says IMF top Economist

Georgieva said that she is impressed by the appetite for structural reforms that India is retaining. “We welcome that. No question those reforms, and actually that applies very much to South Africa… will determine competitiveness in the future. We need higher productivity. We need more vibrant and inclusive economies. And they are not going to fall from the sky. There have to be reforms that support them,” she said.

Appreciating the fact that Modi government does not give up on structural reforms, she said, “And I’m saying, yes, do it! Because the world change is accelerating and economies have to be agile and adaptable to change. We have to be constantly leaning forward.”

At the same time, she emphasised that one of the aspects of India’s reforms that are still lagging is on gender equality.

“I want to just stress it is scary to see how we are losing ground on gender equality over these months so fast. Women are front line workers…They are often in the informal economy, help cannot easily reach them, so they are hit, she said. ….once people start losing jobs, who is to lose jobs first? [Again] women are on the front line. Labour market participation in India for women has been low. It is shrinking…I know the government is paying attention, it is moving in that [direction], but there is so much space to tap into the productive potential of women and the entrepreneurial potential of women,” Georgieva said.

In its October outlook, the IMF has projected India to contract by a massive 10.3 per cent in 2020. However, India is likely to bounce back with an impressive 8.8 per cent growth rate in 2021, the global financial institution had said.

After ED summons, Sanjay Raut’s wife pays back ‘interest-free’ loan taken from PMC Bank scam accused’s wife

OpIndia Staff
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After ED summons, Sanjay Raut’s wife pays back ‘interest-free’ loan taken from PMC Bank scam accused’s wife

The Enforcement Directorate has revealed that Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha repaid a Rs 55 lakhs of ‘friendly loan’ she had taken from a bank scam accused’s wife soon after the investigative agency summoned her to seek an explanation.

According to the reports, Varsha Raut, the wife of Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut submitted documents to the ED through a relative, claiming that she paid loans taken from the bank from funds generated from the film ‘Thackeray’ penned by her husband. Varsha was one of the producers of the movie. The interest-free loan was taken a decade ago.

Earlier, the ED, which is investigating money laundering case in the PMC Bank-HDIL loan scam, had issued her four summons from November last year. However, Varsha Raut had failed to present herself before the officials. On January 4, she finally appeared before the ED.

Varsha Raut was summoned by ED over the Rs 55 lakh transaction with the wife of another accused in the scam, Pravin Raut. It is believed to be the same transaction where she allegedly took a loan to buy a property.

PMC scam and Raut’s link to the irregularities

The Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank is one of the largest cooperative banks, which was put under scrutiny by the Reserve Bank for fraud and misreporting of bad loans. Later, the bank had admitted that one large account, HDIL was the main reason for the current crisis.

The ED is investigating a money laundering case based on an FIR lodged by city police’s Economic Offences Wing against Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan of Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), PMC Bank chairman Waryam Singh and its managing director Joy Thomas, and others for causing a loss of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank and making gains for themselves.

The HDIL has been accused of siphoning off Rs 95 crore of PMC Bank’s loan funds through Pravin Raut, who is a former director of Guruashish Constructions, an HDIL subsidiary. Recently, the ED had also attached Pravin Raut’s assets worth Rs 72 crore.

According to ED, Pravin Raut paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri from the proceeds. Out of this money, Madhuri had transferred Rs 55 lakh (Rs 50 lakh on December 23, 2010, and Rs 5 lakh on March 15, 2011) as an interest-free loan to Varsha. The amount was allegedly used by Varsha Raut to buy a flat in Dadar (East).

Varsha Raut had financial links with the accused

The investigation further revealed that Varsha and Madhuri are partners in another firm – Avani Construction. Varsha had reportedly received Rs 12 lakh from this entity as a loan on a contribution of a mere Rs 5,625. The loan amount of Rs 12 lakh is still outstanding, according to the ED.

During the interrogation, the ED has reportedly asked Varsha Raut to provide them with details of companies where she was a joint partner along with Madhuri. However, it has been now revealed that Varsha has sent those documents to the ED through a relative.

“The officials are examining the submitted document and accordingly will decide if there is a need to call Varsha again for a further statement,” said an official.

The ED is also inquiring about a former Shiv Sena MP whose association received Rs 1 crore from PMC Bank and the role of a heavyweight politician in the extended suburbs whose trust received over Rs 1,000 crore from HDIL. The money was defrauded from PMC Bank.

Did China promote ‘Coronavirus lockdowns’ to cripple world economy? Lawyers, activists, ex-US Brigadier general want UK, USA spies to investigate

OpIndia Staff
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Did China promote ‘Coronavirus lockdowns’ to cripple world economy? Lawyers, activists, ex-US Brigadier general want UK, USA spies to investigate

Amidst the rising cases of the Wuhan Coronavirus, several sceptics have requested spies from the United States and the United Kingdom to investigate whether China deliberately promoted the idea of ‘lockdowns’ to cripple the world economy.

In an 11000-worded letter, a US lawyer named Michael Senger has accused the Chinese regime of promoting national lockdowns to hurt rival economies. Hailing the lockdown policies as a ‘fraud’ of an unprecedented level, Senger and other co-signers requested the Intelligence agencies to initiate an investigation in this regard. The letter stated, “We are writing this letter to request that a federal investigation be commenced and/or expedited regarding the scientific debate on major policy decisions during the Covid-19 crisis.”

“In the course of our work, we have identified issues of a potentially criminal nature and believe this investigation necessary to ensure the interests of the public have been properly represented by those promoting certain pandemic policies,” it further added. The letter urged the Intelligence agencies in the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Australia to probe how China tricked the world using faulty data into believing that lockdowns were the way forward.

Coronavirus lockdowns and its impact

The outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus had led to global economic shrinkage by a whopping 5% and a loss of 40 crore jobs. “Given the gravity of the decisions being made, we cannot ignore the possibility that the entire ‘science’ of Covid-19 lockdowns has been a fraud of unprecedented proportion, deliberately promulgated by the Chinese Communist Party and its collaborators to impoverish the nations who implemented it,” the letter said.

Besides, Michael Senger, the letter urging Intelligence agencies to probe China’s role in promoting Coronavirus lockdowns, had the assent of renowned figures such as ex Australia government economist Sanjeev Sabhlok, Canadian politician Randy Hillier, British Human Rights activist Maajid Nawaz, and retired US Brigadier General Robert Spalding. They pointed out how the lockdown bankrupted lacs of families and deprived children of food and education. The letter reiterated that lockdowns were premised on CCP policies instead of science. “Thus, the public supports lockdowns because the alternative — that they might have been implemented without good cause — is a possibility too evil for most to contemplate,” they claimed.

Allegations against the World Health Organisation

The Chinese regime has received backlash on social media as well as from world leaders for mishandling of the pandemic that led to over 2 million deaths. At the same time, WHO has come under the scanner for allegedly working in tandem with the Chinese Communist government to cover up the outbreak.

It is interesting to note that while WHO initially was sceptical of the ‘unprecedented’ lockdown in Wuhan province in China initially, it actively encouraged other nations to follow China’s example in the following months. WHO had earlier conceded that lockdowns could bring social and economic life to a standstill. Earlier, the United States President Donald Trump shared a letter the White House wrote to World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief Dr Tedros Adhanom stating that the organisation will not receive any funding from the US until and unless it shows independence from Chinese influence in next 30 days.

As SFJ asks farmers to raise Khalistan flag at India Gate on R-Day, Rakesh Tikait announces march from Red Fort to India Gate

OpIndia Staff
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As SFJ asks farmers to raise Khalistan flag at India Gate on R-Day, Rakesh Tikait announces march from Red Fort to India Gate

Just weeks ahead of the Republic day celebration in the country, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said that protestors will carry out another procession from Red Fort to India Gate on January 26 and also hoist the tricolour at Amar Jawan Jyoti.

According to the reports, the self-proclaimed ‘farmer’ leader Rakesh Tikait claimed that the march will be a ‘historic scene’ where from one side they will have ‘kisan’ and the other side ‘jawan’.

Tikait said the farmers union leaders will attend the ninth round of talks with government representatives, including Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State Som Prakash. However, he added that that the protestors would continue to hold talks with the government and also carry out their protests at various Delhi borders.

Interestingly, Tikait’s announcement comes two days after Khalistani terror organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) had announced a reward of Rs. 1.8 crores for hoisting the Khalistani flag on India Gate on the Republic Day.

In a letter issued by SFJ, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu gave a call to the Punjab farmers protesting on Singh border to raise Khalistani flag at India Gate on January 26 and receive a reward of Rs. 1.8 crores.

On January 11, SFJ released an incriminating video on its YouTube channel to provoke Sikh individuals living in India especially those who agree with the Khalistani movement. Pannu in the video asked the Sikh Youth to hoist Khalistani flag on India Gate and remove Indian flag India Gate as well as from every corner in Delhi. He said, “On January 26, Sikhs should roam in Delhi on their tractors and remove every tricolour. The Indian flag is the symbol of suppression that Sikhs have faced in India. Every Indian flag must be removed and crushed.”

Pannu further added that whoever hoists Khalistani flag on India gate will be rewarded with Rs. 1.8 crores. If the Indian government arrests the person under Indian Law, his organization says it will help the person(s) move out of India and settle down in the UK. He said that Sikhs have taken over Delhi as the Indian government has enacted three black laws.

Khalistan terror group’s involvement in the farmer protestors

It is not an unknown fact that the banned Khalistan terror outfit has already hijacked the farmer protests to incite people to fight against the Modi government. On January 12, the central government had told the Supreme Court that they have credible input from the Intelligence Bureau that there is the presence of Khalistani supporters in the farmers’ protest.

Several protesting ‘farmers’ have resorted to violence and have shouted slogans supporting Khalistan during the protests. With pro-Khalistan and anti-Indian slogans being raised during the ‘farmer protest’ along the Haryana-Punjab border, questions are also being raised over the alleged involvement of SFJ in instigating Punjab farmers to protest against the Modi government under the pretext that the three farm bills are ‘anti-farmer’ in nature.

It is important to note that the Khalistan organisation SFJ, funded by Pakistan, had earlier declared a grant of $1 million for farmers in Punjab and Haryana in lieu of their support for Khalistan.

Rakesh Tikait repeated attempts to instigate protestors

Self-proclaimed farmer leader Rakesh Tikait’s ultimatum to the government and subsequent threats to take out a procession in Delhi on the Republic Day comes weeks after he had threatened to block the expressways connecting Delhi if the talks with the government fail to deliver any results favouring them.

He had issued a warning saying that they would resort to ‘Chakka Jam’ or blocking of roads if the government did not agree on their terms with respect to the three farm laws. Earlier, he had told the media that they do not intend to end the agitation anytime before the year 2024.

ASI approves underwater research project to determine how and when the Ram Setu was formed

OpIndia Staff
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ASI approves underwater research project to determine how and when the Ram Setu was formed

The debate about whether the Ram Setu is natural or a man-made bridge is going on from years. Now, after the Central Advisory Board on Archaeology, a body that comes under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), approved the proposal for an underwater exploration project to determine how and when the Ram Setu was formed, research on the subject is likely to begin this year, reports TOI.

Ram Setu, also known as Rama’s Bridge, Adam’s Bridge, Nala Setu and Setu Band is a chain of shoals between Pamban Island (Rameswaram Island) off the south-eastern coast of India and Mannar Island off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.

The study which would be conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Goa, will focus on the process behind the formation of Ram Setu and also whether there are any submerged habitations around Ram Setu.

“The historicity and the date of ‘Ramayana’ remain a debatable subject among historians, archaeologists and scientists. It is proposed to carry out scientific and underwater archaeological studies to understand the nature and formation of the Ram Setu and its surrounding area,” the proposal note says.

The research vessels of NIO named Sindhu Sadhana or Sindhu Sankalp will be used in this project to collect samples of the sediment situated at 35 to 40 metres below the water level.

“The proposed study will be based on archaeological antiquities, radiometric and thermoluminescence (TL) dating for geological time scale and other supporting environmental data,” Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, Director, NIO, told TOI, furthering that “Radiometric technique will be used to ascertain the age of the structure which is reported to consist of coral or pumice stones. Corals contain calcium carbonate that will help us find the age of the structure and of course the period of Ramayana.” 

Congress does not believe in the existence of Shri Ram nor the historical veracity of the Ram Bridge

Ram Setu has been embroiled in controversy since 2005 after the then Congress-led government proposed the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project and Manmohan Singh inaugurated the project. The project proposed a shipping canal across the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and the Palk Straits to link the Arabian Sea with the Bay of Bengal. For this, a channel, passing through the limestone shoals of Adam’s Bridge (which is also known as Rama’s Bridge, Ram Setu, and Ramar Palam), was to be dredged in the Sethusamudram sea between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

However, the project was opposed by environmental groups as well as some Hindu groups and national parties like the BJP as they said that the project would damage the Ram Setu.

In 2007, the Congress Party, which does not believe in the existence of Shri Ram, had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court to argue that Ram Setu which is believed to have been built by Lord Ram, lacked scientific and historical veracity. However, ten years later, Modi government scrapped UPA’s stand on Ram Setu and decided to leave the Ram Setu untouched.

The affidavit incidentally came close on the heels of a research-based programme in the US-based Discovery Science channel which showed that the Setu is man-made and not natural. Moreover, studies of Oceanography has also suggested that the bridge is 7000 years old. And the carbon dating of beaches near Dhanushkodi and Mannar Island roughly matches the dates of Ramayana.

Big tech Unites: If censorship wasn’t enough, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales wonders why Twitter and Facebook didn’t censor Trump sooner

OpIndia Staff
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Big tech Unites: If censorship wasn’t enough, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales wonders why Twitter and Facebook didn’t censor Trump sooner

A week after Facebook and Twitter suspended the accounts of US President Donald Trump permanently, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has said that these actions have come too late. He blamed the social media giants for allowing Trump to allegedly spread misinformation for a long time, saying the president was being abusive to people.

In an interview with AFP, Jimmy Wales said, “With Donald Trump, they did a poor job of dealing with him for a very, very long time.” He added, “He was clearly spreading disinformation, he was clearly being abusive to people.”

Wales said that Twitter and Facebook had consistently “struggled with misinformation, disinformation” allegedly peddled by Donald Trump. He asserted that the responsibility for the unprecedented events in Washington DC rested “100 percent at the feet of Donald Trump”.

The Wikipedia founder, who has known bias towards the left like the Twitter and Facebook executives, said that the Social Media platforms will struggle due to their business model. “They have a business model that says, ‘We need as many eyeballs as possible, we need as many page views as possible’. Now it’s also damaging for their brand. So they have to deal with that. But I think they’re going to struggle,” he said.

After the supporters of Donald Trump had stormed the Capitol Hill in Washington DC last week, Facebook and Twitter had permanently suspended the accounts of Donald Trump, accusing of him inciting violence. After that, several other platforms have banned Donald Trump and his supporters from their sites. These include Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitch etc. Several other platforms like Reddit, TikTok, Pinterest, Discord etc have restricted content related to Trump.

Rahul Gandhi visits Tamil Nadu only 5 days after returning from Italy: Is he breaking quarantine rules?

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi visits Tamil Nadu only 5 days after returning from Italy: Is he breaking quarantine rules?

Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, who had returned to India on Sunday from his international trip to Italy, was spotted participating in Pongal celebrations and having lunch with people in Madurai on Thursday. In a desperate attempt at image makeover, he had also attended the Jallikattu festival, despite the track record of the party in opposing the tradition tooth and nail.

However, on seeing Rahul Gandhi amidst a public gathering just after 5 days from his arrival to India, netizens questioned whether the Congress scion had been flouting quarantine and social distancing guidelines. Advocate Chandni Shah inquired, “Aren’t you suppose to quarantine yourself, Mr Rahul Gandhi, after returning from a trip outside India? No obligations towards Covid-19 rules? Or is it your favourite tune to jeopaπdize the Nation and it’s a citizen in whatsoever manner and dance upon it?”

Other users wondered whether the Congress dynast was exempted from quarantine, unlike the common public. “Why did Rahul Gandhi not quarantine himself like all others returning to India do? Or had he gone to get himself vaccinated overseas? Why this ‘law does not apply to me’ attitude?” another user asked.

Twitter user Hari Mallabadi wondered whether Rahul Gandhi observed a 14-day quarantine period. He asked, “Why was he not stamped for quarantine since he came from a European country? Rules are only for general public? Not for VIPs?”

What does the rules say?

As per reports, Rahul Gandhi returned to India on January 10 while his visit to the State of Tamil Nadu took place today (January 14). While it has just been 5 days, the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare calls for 14-day quarantine (or self-monitoring) period either at home/institutional facility. However, there are certain exceptions to the rules.

Home quarantine for 14 days can be granted, in place of institutional quarantine, only in case of certain situations such as pregnancy, death of family members, serious illness or if individuals are parents of children who are below the age of 14. Such individuals must communicate the same at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to boarding. The decision taken by the government authority will be final in the case.

Similarly, individuals travelling to India from abroad can be exempted from institutional quarantine if they submit a negative RT-PCR (Real-Time Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction) report on the online portal. The individual should take the test within 3 days of boarding and also provide a declaration reinstating the authenticity of the report. Such individuals might also submit the certificate at the airport or take an RT-PCR test at the airport itself to seek exemption from institutional quarantine.

As discussed above, home quarantine can be availed and institutional quarantine can be avoided, post thermal screening, in case of pregnancy, death of family members, serious illness or if individuals are parents of children who are below the age of 14. Assuming that this is not the case with Rahul Gandhi, he might still get an exemption from quarantine altogether if he has a negative RT-PCR certificate. Such a certificate is valid only if the test was conducted with 72 hours of his boarding the flight. And all individuals, who are exempted from quarantine, are thus advised to undertake self-monitoring instead.

As such, it is quite possible that Rahul Gandhi might have furnished his negative RT-PCR certificate to the government portal to claim such an exemption to travel to Madurai. However, even in this case, a self-monitoring of one’s health is required. While netizens have questioned whether Rahul Gandhi had been violating quarantine protocols, nothing can be said with certainty at this point.

Having said that, it is important to note that the Congress scion was seen surrounded by Congress workers on several occasions, while openly flouting the social distancing guidelines. Such a spectacle was witnessed when he sat to have his lunch. While Rahul Gandhi might not be required to undergo quarantine, the violation of social distancing rules was indeed a glaring one.

Firangi lord Rahul Gandhi realises the glory of Hindu festival after witnessing it, makes superb U-turns while making zero sense

Sanghamitra
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Firangi lord Rahul Gandhi realises the glory of Hindu festival after witnessing it, makes superb U-turns while making zero sense

Congress Prince Rahul Gandhi had visited Madurai today and had attended Pongal celebrations and a Jallikattu event. It was a massive self-goal in itself as it was the Congress which had tried and tried, using every possible method to ban the Jallikattu festivities when it was in power. It was only after the Tamil Nadu government passed an ordinance with the express support of the Modi government that the sport got back its legal status in Tamil Nadu.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘visits’ are always stereotypical like a Bollywood movie. As he was having the ‘Tamil’ experience tour, Congress’ state unit had done everything possible to give Rahul Gandhi a ‘Tamil’ experience. He was first seen eating rice with his hands, on banana leaf, sitting with a row of Tamil women who thankfully paid no attention to the Italian saheb trying to eat rice like Jhalmurhi.

Firangi lord finally said ‘ok’ to Jallikattu

After the Jallikattu viewing part was over, Rahul Gandhi addressed the media. As expected, the firangi lord gave his verdict about the brown people playing the brown people sport. Turns out, firangi saheb liked it, and he was even benevolent enough to say that he thinks it is ok if brown people play this sport, because he has come to realise that it is not as “barbaric” and “brutal” and all the other bad things that Congress leaders had called it. Firangi lord was also feeling kind, so he ‘allowed’ Tamils to celebrate their festival as they have been doing for centuries. How very kind and compassionate of him.

Rahul Gandhi addressing the media about Jallikattu

But that was not all. Firangi lord is so kind and good that his kindness knows no bounds. Rahul Gandhi not only said it is ok to play Jallikattu, he even admitted that he was wrongly told that bulls are harmed. He acknowledged that bulls are not harmed in Jallikattu.

Wait a minute. So Congress carried out its long campaign against Jallikattu without knowing or bothering to know that?

Rahul Gandhi has just admitted that the Congress government’s relentless campaign and efforts to get Jallikattu banned was just a glitch, a minor error that has been omitted and rectified by a Gandhi family scion’s kind verdict. Years of politics, attacks, bad-mouthing, slanders and shaming campaign against a Hindu tradition is just supposed to be forgotten now because Rahul baba has decided to change his mind and support it.

Here is what the Congress has done to get Jallikattu banned:

In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forest under the Congress-led UPA government had banned the use of bulls in the festivities. However, under the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act No 27 of 2009 the festival continued. In 2014, the Supreme Court of India then struck down the state’s law and banned Jallikattu. Since then, the people of Tamil Nadu have been fighting for their traditional event. Between 2014 and 2017, Jallikattu was held but it was deemed against the orders of the apex court.

Notably, in 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed a bill with the support of the Prime Minister of India that exempted Jallikattu from Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960). First legal Jallikattu celebration was held on February 1, 2017, in Madurai district. Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh are the Congress leaders who had repeatedly called Jallikattu ‘brutal’ and ‘barbaric’. Ramesh had later even criticised the BJP’s efforts to let the festivities continue. He had called it a ‘barbaric practice’ and had said the BJP was supporting some local leaders to appease them ahead of the elections.

But no issues, we are supposed to forget all that because firangi lord has just okayed it.

‘Suppressing Tamil spirit’ is the new ‘RTI and women empowerment’

Not just entertainment and a sudden bout of kindness, watching Jallikattu in Madurai today has also inspired Rahul baba to discover some new vocabulary. The new magic words are ‘suppressing the Tamil spirit’. In his media statement, Rahul Gandhi used the words ‘suppress’ and ‘Tamil spirit’ like five times in 1.5 minutes. For some of us, it was the unpleasant reminder for the (in)famous interview with Arnab Goswami before the 2014 elections, where for almost every question, Rahul baba’s reply was ‘RTI and women empowerment’.

But, thank God for small mercies. At least he has not tried to speak Tamil.

NCP leader Nawab Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan sent to NCB custody till January 18 after his arrest in drug case

OpIndia Staff
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NCP leader Nawab Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan sent to NCB custody till January 18 after his arrest in drug case

A court Thursday sent Sameer Khan, who was arrested in a drugs case, to the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau till January 18. Sameer Khan is the son-in-law of NCB leader and Maharashtra Minority Affairs and Skill Development Minister Nawab Malik, who had ‘predicted’ that Republic Editor Arnab Goswami will commit suicide after getting frustrated with numerous cases filed against him by the Maharashtra govt.

Before being produced in the court earlier in the day, he was taken for a medical check-up. Sameer Khan was arrested yesterday after long hours of questioning at the NCB office in Mumbai. He was summoned after the agency found an online monetary transition between Khan and British national Karan Sajnani, which the NCB believes was a payment for drug purchase.

Karan Sajnani and two others were arrested with 200 kgs of banned drug last week. The other two persons arrested along with Sajnani were Rahila Furniturewala and her sister Shaista Furniturewala. Rahila Furniturewala is former manager of activist and film actress Dia Mirza.

Following the arrest of Sameer Khan, NCB has intensified the probe in the drugs case. Multiple teams of the NCB are conducting raids in Mumbai since last night.

NCB which has been probing the alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus ever since the untimely demise of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has made several arrests in connection with the case. Recently, Mumbai’s renowned ‘Muchhad Paanwala’ was arrested in connection with the drug case. Komal Rampal, sister of Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal, was also interrogated by the NCB office in Mumbai on Monday for interrogation in the case.

Arjun Rampal was also probed in a drug-related case. He was questioned by the NCB on November 13, after raids were conducted at his residence on November 9. His girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades was later questioned for six hours on the same day. 

Pakistan notoriously constructs 150-m long tunnel along the Indo-Pak border in Kathua, second in the last two months

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan notoriously constructs 150-m long tunnel along the Indo-Pak border in Kathua, second in the last two months

The Indian security forces once again thwarted the nefarious attempt by Pakistan to infiltrate into the Indian territory. During an operation on Wednesday morning, the BSF team detected a 150-meter long cross border tunnel near the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.

The tunnel was detected during anti-tunnel drive following intelligence inputs about the possibility of the existence of an underneath tunnel along the border in Samba and Kathua districts.

BSF Inspector-General (Jammu Frontiers) N S Jamwal said the tunnel, found at Hiranagar sector’s Bobbiyan village on Wednesday morning, had a 3 feet diameter opening and was nearly 25-30 feet deep. He said the tunnel originates in Pakistan and opens nearly 20-30 meter inside the barbed wire fence on the Indian side.

The IG BSF said that “It shows Pakistan’s hand in the tunnel which has started from Shakargarh in Pakistan. This district is notorious for such kinds of activities especially for launching militants across the border.”

This is not the first time that a tunnel has been found. Earlier, also Pakistan has attempted to sneak into India through secret tunnels. However, Indian security forces have foiled Pakistan’s efforts time and again. 

Tunnel which had its starting point in Pakistan was used by terrorists eliminated during Nagrota encounter

In November last year, a tunnel was discovered near the international border between India and Pakistan at the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel was reported to be 150 meters long and was reportedly used by the terrorists who were eliminated during the Nagrota encounter. On December 1 2020, the Indian security forces entered as far as 200 meters inside Pakistan territory to find the starting point of the tunnel. Reports suggested that the security forces had recovered mobile phones from the four terrorists killed during an operation in Nagrota that helped in uncovering the tunnel.

The tunnel was covered in thick bushes carefully and meticulously concealed with soil and wild growth. The security forces found sandbags that were used to strengthen and reinforce the mouth of the tunnel. Those bags had markings of Karachi, Pakistan. The tunnel was made by skilled personnel with proper engineering effort.

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