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Ayodhya Ram Mandir supporter, Indian origin Donald Trump loyalist Kash Patel floated as the choice for post of CIA Director

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya Ram Mandir supporter, Indian origin Donald Trump loyalist Kash Patel floated as the choice for post of CIA Director

Following the dramatic win of Donald Trump and becoming the 47th President of the United States of America, name of an Indian-origin Trump loyalist, Kashyap Patel, also known as Kash Patel, is being floated for the role of Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

After Donald Trump takes office, he is expected to announce high-ranking officials for his cabinet. One of those names expected to be announced is of Kash Patel. Patel, a former Republican House staffer who has held several high-level positions in the defense and intelligence sectors during Trump’s first term. Patel has often appeared on the campaign trail to mobilize backing for the Republican candidate. He formerly served as Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller.

Lawyer by profession, Patel has his roots in Vadodara, Gujarat

According to reports, Patel was born in 1980 and has roots in Vadodara, Gujarat. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond, and received a law degree and a Certificate in International Law from University College London. Initially, he is believed to have faced challenges in setting up his law practice or securing a position at prominent law firms. This is the sole reason that he began his career as a public defender. He worked in Miami courts for nearly 9 years and handled serious cases such as murder, narcotics trafficking, and financial crimes. Eventually, Patel’s career got closely tied to Trump’s political rise.

He happened to be a part of the federal government as a terrorist prosecutor at the Department of Justice, where he supervised probes and indictments of terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. He also has experience working as the Justice Department’s liaison officer with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), cooperating on worldwide counter-terrorism activities.

Kash Patel’s support for Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

In one of his statements, highlighting US mainstream media’s biased narrative, Kash Patel said that when Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha took place in AYodhya, and PM Modi went there, the Washington newspapers covered only last 50 years of history. Patel highlighted that the media failed to cover 500 years of history, ignoring Hindus’ long fight to reclaim the Ram Temple.

Patel stressed that there was a Hindu Temple at the site of one of the quintessential Gods in the Hindu pantheon. He said that the ancient Ram Mandir at the site was toppled and Hindus had been trying for 500 years to get it back. He said that by forgetting that part of history, the newspapers were involved in a disinformation campaign harmful to India and PM Modi’s position.

Kash Patel’s career progression

In the year 2017, Patel joined the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which was chaired by Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, a strong Trump loyalist. Patel rapidly gained national heed for his work in the committee’s probe into alleged Russian intervention in the 2016 US presidential election. He helped produce the contentious “Nunes Memo,” which accused the FBI of abusing surveillance authorities during its investigation into the Trump campaign.

Despite strong condemnation from the US Justice Department, the document grabbed Trump’s attention and cemented Patel’s standing as a trusted person within the Trump administration.

During Trump’s first term, the 44-year-old held several high-profile national security positions. He joined the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in February 2020, serving as Principal Deputy to Acting Director Richard Grenell. He eventually became Chief of Staff to Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, assuming major control over the Department of Defense’s operations and transition procedures.

Patel has courted several controversies

It is crucial to note that, throughout his career, Patel has courted controversy a lot of times with some more experienced national security officials viewing him as erratic and overly eager to please the president. Near the conclusion of Trump’s first term, Patel was also considered for the position of deputy director of the CIA or FBI, but CIA Director Gina Haspel and Attorney General Bill Barr objected, claiming Patel lacked the required experience.

Patel has ever since continued to promote Trump’s policies while also pursuing commercial and media interests. He has written a memoir titled ‘Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy’, as well as children’s fiction that supports and promotes Trump. He also is on the board of directors for Trump Media and Technology Group, which controls the Truth Social media platform.

If Patel fails to get a Senate vote to become CIA director, the Trump administration will most likely assign him to the National Security Council.

Trump won surpassing Harris

Donald J Trump won the elections, becoming the 47th President of the United States of America with 312 Electoral Votes compared to Kamala Harris, who managed to win 226 electoral votes. Trump won approximately 50.9% of the popular vote (72,560,841) and Kamala got 47.6% (67,878,826). In a major upset for the Democrats, the US Senate has also a Republican majority now with 52 seats. The House of Representatives is yet to see final results which may take days. Currently, it is a very tight contest.

Akbaruddin Owaisi alludes to his infamous ’15-minutes’ remarks during rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

OpIndia Staff
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Akbaruddin Owaisi alludes to his infamous ’15-minutes’ remarks during rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

On 6th November, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi alluded to his incendiary “remove police for 15 minutes” remarks made in 2012 while addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (previously known as Aurangabad).

Referring to the campaigning time, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that there is time till 10 o’clock and it is 9:45, there are still 15 minutes left. Addressing the crowd, he said, “Hey brother, there are 15 minutes left, be patient, neither she is leaving me alone nor I am leaving her alone. She is still walking but what is the echo.”

As Owaisi signalled to his genocidal “remove police for 15 minutes” remark, the Muslim crowd cheered and applauded with some even screaming “15 minutes, 15 minutes”.

Notably, Owaisi made the inflammatory and inciteful speech against Hindus back in 2012. In his speech, he was seen taking many jibes at Hindu Gods and Goddesses while making an open challenge to Hindus for their survival if the police were to be removed for 15 minutes. He also claimed that he would see how Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister one day.

“Many of such Modis came and went. Today people are saying Narendra Modi has won Gujarat, and that he will become Prime Minister of the country one day, even we will see how that happens. And people are scaring Muslims by saying Modi is here. Modi who? Where did he come from? Dare to come to Hyderabad for one time and we will show you,” he said in his address.

“Taslima Nasreen came and now no one knows where she is. Dear Hindustan, we are 25 crore and you all are 100 crore, right? Fine. You are far ahead of us in numbers. Remove the police for 15 minutes and we will see who is more powerful.” Owaisi Junior’s remarks were received amidst thunderous applause and cheering from the audience which was gathered in large numbers. “Remove the Police for 15 minutes! Be it a thousand, a lakh or even one crore impotent(Hindus), even if they try collectively, they will not be able to give birth to a single one. These people are not able to see us face to face. When the Muslim becomes weak, only then these impotent (Hindus) arrive,” Owaisi remarked in his hateful incitement against Hindus.

In the same speech, Owaisi insinuated against Rama and his mother Devi Kausalya while making an argument against the Ram Janmabhoomi case.

Owaisi in his snide remarks against Hindu Gods said, “They use to say that after every hundred kilometres, the language changes, the culture changes, the way of life and customs change, rituals also change however it is ridiculous that here images of Gods also transform!”

Despite the Hinduphobic and inflammatory nature of his remarks, in 2022, a Hyderabad court acquitted Akbaruddin Owaisi in two hate speech cases related to his 2012 speech.

PM Modi congratulates ‘friend’ Trump on his return to the White House for the second time, Trump responds by calling Modi a ‘magnificent man’

ANI
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PM Modi congratulates ‘friend’ Trump on his return to the White House for the second time, Trump responds by calling Modi a ‘magnificent man’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday and congratulated him on his “spectacular victory” in the US elections.

In a post on X, PM Modi said he is looking forward to working closely together once again with Trump to strengthen India-US relations across domains including energy and defence.

“Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors,” PM Modi said.

Sources said PM Modi also congratulated Donald Trump on the performance of the Republican Party in the Congressional elections.

The sources said both leaders affirmed to work together for world peace.

The sources also said that President Trump stated that the whole world loves PM Modi and that India is a magnificent country and PM Modi is a magnificent man.

President Trump also told PM Modi that he considers India and him to be true friends. He said PM Modi was one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory.

Donald Trump won a second term in office in the presidential polls. He surpassed the 270-majority mark with a key win in Wisconsin.

According to CNN projections, this has taken his tally to 276 electoral college votes, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris as counting continued for the rest of the states.

Earlier, PM Modi congratulated Trump on his election victory.

“Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

This will be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the first in over 100 years. Grover Cleveland served as a non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. Trump had earlier served as US President from 2016 to 2020.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential elections for a second term and said India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership.

“Congratulations on your victory, @realDonaldTrump! Wishing you success in your second term as US President. All the best to @KamalaHarris in her future endeavours,” Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, said in a post on X.

Kharge said the relations between India and the United States are underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values and aligned interests.

“On behalf of the Indian National Congress, we extend our congratulations and best wishes to President @realDonaldTrump for his election victory. India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership, underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values, aligned interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity,” Kharge said in a post on X.

Party leader Jairam Ramesh said Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback and noted that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which America had rejoined under President Biden, is now extremely shaky.

“Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback. Undoubtedly, why and how it happened will be analysed in great detail over the next few weeks, as will the question of what this comeback means for the USA and the rest of the world. But what is certain is that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change which America had rejoined under President Biden is now extremely shaky. If the US were to withdraw again it would be disastrous,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

World leaders including Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Trump on his election victory.

Russia said it will interact with the new White House administration, firmly upholding its national interests and working to achieve its goals in the Ukraine conflict.

In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry took a dig at the outgoing Biden administration while also stating that the US “ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles” and the policy of “containing Moscow.”

“The victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election and his return to the White House after a four-year break obviously reflect Americans’ disappointment in the performance of the Biden administration and the election programme of the Democratic Party formulated by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was hastily chosen to replace the incumbent President in the race,” the statement said.

It highlighted some issues of Trump’s campaign stating that Republican candidate highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate “as a counterbalance to the White House’s globalist course”.

“Despite an overpowering propaganda campaign, which Democrats launched against Donald Trump based on the administrative resource and support from the liberal media, the Republican candidate, who relied on the experience of his previous presidency, highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate, namely, the economy and illegal migration, as a counterbalance to the White House’s globalist course,” the statement said.

It claimed there is civil discord in the US and a confrontation between Democratic and Republican states.

The statement said Moscow has no illusions regarding the President-elect, who is well known in Russia, or the new Congress, where Republicans have reportedly won control.

“The US ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of “containing Moscow.” This line does not depend on changes in America’s domestic political barometer, no matter if it is Trump and his supporters “America above all” or the Democrats’ focus on a “rules-based world order. Russia will interact with the new administration when it comes to the White House, firmly upholding Russia’s national interests and working to achieve all the goals of the special military operation,” the statement said.

“Our conditions have not changed, and Washington is well aware of them,” it added.

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

Puducherry horror: Missing 16-year-old girl found after two days, was raped by auto driver Khawaja Moinuddin and then a group of tourists

OpIndia Staff
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Puducherry horror: Missing 16-year-old girl found after two days, was raped by auto driver Khawaja Moinuddin and then a group of tourists

A 16-year-old Mumbai girl was discovered on a Puducherry beach in a severely debilitated state after she was missing for two days. The girl who was visiting her family along with her parents in Pondicherry for Diwali was reported missing two days ago after she left the house due to a disagreement with her parents on 30th October. Police searched for the girl after receiving a missing person’s complaint from her mother, a day later and found her on Puducherry Beach Road on 1st November. After her discovery, it has been revealed that she was abducted and raped, first by an auto driver named Khawaja Moinuddin (34) and subsequently by a group of tourists.

The victim was brought to JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research) hospital, where medical reports established she had been sexually assaulted. She had been staying at a relative’s house, according to police sources, and left the house around 9:10 pm following a fight with her parents. She then got into an autorickshaw when the driver Moinuddin from Kottakuppam, promised to show her the area.

According to investigations, he offered her alcohol and drove her to a guest house and then his home in Kottakuppam in Villupuram district, where he raped her after noticing her vulnerability and realizing she was unfamiliar with the place and its roads. He left her off in Auroville, the following morning.

The girl then attempted to hail a ride from a group of techies (six) who were travelling to Chennai as she wanted to meet her friend there. However, they led her to a room, held her captive and gang-raped her for two days after which they arranged for a cab to take her back to Puducherry. According to other reports, she was still intoxicated when four tourists saw her after she was dropped off close to Puducherry Beach Road. They took her to Chennai and gang-raped her before leaving her at the same spot in Puducherry.

On the evening of 31st October, her parents and other family members, who had begun a search for her, filed a complaint with the Grand Bazaar police station. Initially, a kidnapping case was filed. On 1st November, a police patrol squad discovered the girl strolling along Puducherry Beach Road. There were indications of sexual assault during the girl’s medical evaluation. Afterwards, she disclosed the specifics of her sexual violation to a Child Welfare Board team during counselling.

The police used CCTV footage in its probe and arrested the auto driver on 4th November and later three techies were nabbed, while the hunt was underway to capture others. Moinuddin, one Andhra Pradesh techie and two Odisha techies have been taken into custody by Grand Bazaar Police under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which addresses punishment for serious sexual assault and Section 137 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with kidnapping.

The tourists spotted her on Serenity Beach, became friends with her and offered to give her a ride when she mentioned that she wanted to see a friend in Chennai, according to Grand Bazaar police inspector A Jayasankar, per other reports. He disclosed that there, they took turns sexually abusing her while confining her to a room provided by their office and piled her with alcohol. They reportedly dropped her off on Beach Road in Puducherry after sending her there in a taxi on 2nd November. A tip about a girl wandering about Beach Road was received by the Grand Bazaar police and they located her after submitting a “missing girl” case in response to her mother’s complaint.

“She was weak and not in a position to explain anything. She was admitted to Jipmer where a child welfare committee team made preliminary inquiries after she recovered. She is under treatment for a personality disorder,” the police official informed.

‘CBI launched an investigation into Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship’: Petitioner to Delhi HC

OpIndia Staff
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‘CBI launched an investigation into Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship’: Petitioner to Delhi HC

The CBI has initiated an investigation into Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship, the Delhi High Court was informed on Wednesday. The case stems from a PIL under review in the Allahabad High Court filed by a BJP worker.

A bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that they wanted to avoid issuing conflicting orders and emphasised that there cannot be two parallel petitions on the same issue and allowed S Vignesh Shishir to submit an affidavit detailing developments in the Allahabad High Court following his PIL.

The case before the Delhi High Court concerns a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who requested that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) respond to his representation seeking to revoke Gandhi’s Indian citizenship. Swamy also asked the MHA to provide a status report on his submission against Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Swamy argued that the Allahabad High Court case was unrelated to his plea, as the issues differed, while Shishir disagreed, contending that Swamy’s case led to duplicative and parallel proceedings.

“I am the petitioner in the Allahabad HC case…the matter had come up for hearing on October 24. MHA has received instructions about my representation and subsequently, I have appeared before CBI and tendered my very confidential evidence and the investigation is pending. Since proceedings are in an advanced stage at Allahabad HC, this (petition before Delhi HC) is leading to multiple litigation in multiple cities…I have also filed my objections before Delhi HC as well…” Shishir submitted.

The court instructed Shishir to submit an application to be included in the Delhi petition and set the next hearing for December 6.

Swamy distinguished between the two cases, explaining that while Shishir’s petition sought criminal prosecution, his own case only argued that Gandhi was not an Indian citizen but instead a “citizen of Britain.”

Sheikh Hasina congratulates Donald Trump for winning presidential election, talks about “her commitment to working together again”

OpIndia Staff
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Sheikh Hasina congratulates Donald Trump for winning presidential election, talks about “her commitment to working together again”

In a rare public statement after she was ousted from power, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on 6 November issued an official statement congratulating Donald Trump for wining the US presidential elections. Notably, in the statement, Sheikh Hasina talked about “her commitment to working together again”, indicating her plans to return to Bangladesh and become PM again.

The statement was released by Awami League Office Secretary Biplab Barua on Wednesday on the party’s verified Facebook account, referring to Hasina as the prime minister. It said, “The President of the Bangladesh Awami League, (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina, has congratulated Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America.” It added, “She stated that his resounding election victory is a testament to his extraordinary leadership qualities and the immense trust bestowed on him by the American people.”

The statement further states, “Sheikh Hasina recalled with fondness her several meetings and interactions as Prime Minister with Donald J. Trump and Melania Trump during his first presidency. She hoped that under his second presidency, the bilateral relations between the friendly countries of Bangladesh and the United States of America would be further strengthened. She expressed her commitment to working together again to advance the bilateral and multilateral interests of both countries.”

Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to work together again with Donald Trump for bilateral and multilateral interests of both countries is significant, as it means that she has not given up on returning to Bangladesh and become prime minister of the country again.

The statement also referred to her as ‘Prime Minister’ not ‘former prime minister’, which shows the Bangladesh Awami League party considers that she is still the prime minister. This comes days after president Mohammed Shahabuddin revealed that he never received any resignation letter from Sheikh Hasina.

While it was reported that Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post before leaving the country on 5th August, now it is believed that she didn’t have the time to go to the president’s house to submit the resignation letter, and flew out of the country to India in a hurry, as angry protestors had almost reached her residence and the army asked her to leave as soon as possible. Therefore, technically she could remain the PM of the country.

Actor Vikrant Massey says he is receiving threats for the movie ‘The Sabarmati Report’ based on Godhra train carnage

ANI
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Actor Vikrant Massey says he is receiving threats for the movie ‘The Sabarmati Report’ based on Godhra train carnage

Actor Vikrant Massey’s next film is based on the real-life events of the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra, Gujarat on February 27, 2002.

On Wednesday, the film’s trailer was launched at an event in Mumbai, and surprisingly, during the media interaction, Vikrant opened up about him getting threats for being associated with the project that delves into the controversial and sensitive Godhra Train Burning incident.

“Ji Haan aaye hai or Aa rahe hai (Yes, I have been receiving theatres). But as I said ki hum kalakar hai or Kahaniyaan bolte hai. This film is purely based on facts. It is something that I am dealing with or we as a team collectively are dealing with and I think we will deal with it the way it has to be,” Vikrant shared.

The Sabarmati Report is directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan. The film also features Raashii Khanna AND Riddhi Dogra in pivotal roles.

In the film, Vikrant plays a journalist who probes the truth behind the 2002 Godhra train burning incident in The Sabarmati Report.

The Sabarmati Report is scheduled to be released in theatres on 15th November 2024.

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

Is taxi mafia to blame for the drastic fall in foreign tourist numbers in Goa? Read what is ailing India’s favourite beach destination

Shraddha Pandey
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Is taxi mafia to blame for the drastic fall in foreign tourist numbers in Goa? Read what is ailing India’s favourite beach destination

Goa, once an iconic holiday destination, is now experiencing a severe plummet, with the tourism industry and tourists reporting major declines in international visits. A social media discussion suggests that Goa is losing its allure in the midst of increasing competition from other states and foreign holiday destinations in Southeast Asia due to myriad reasons including the monopoly of the “taxi mafia”. With only three international chartered aircraft arriving in Goa on Tuesday (5th October), India’s beach paradise is struggling even during peak season, indicating that the number of foreign tourists visiting Goa is dwindling.

Taking to X, Ramanuj Mukherjee, an entrepreneur highlighted the worrying reduction in international tourists. Mukherjee compared the numbers from 2019 to 2023. Even the data Mukherjee shared suggests that from 5.5 million in 2014 to 8 million in 2023, he noted that while Indian tourists continue to visit Goa, they may hesitate as word spreads of exorbitant pricing and tourism exploitation. “Foreign tourists have already left the state. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad,” Mukherjee said.

Are tourists just a cash cow for the Goa tourism industry?

Quoting Mukherjee’s post, popular X user Madhur shared his snippets of his experience in Goa. “The Placard Guy” said that the taxi mafia in Goa is solely responsible for the dwindling tourist footfall.

Highlighting how the taxi drivers allegedly work like mafias and have maintained complete autonomy, Madhur said: “I went to pick up a friend (from Germany) from Benaulim Beach and I was accompanied by another friend (a local Goan). A taxi guy (in Benaulim) saw us, he stopped us and in no time there were 10+ taxi drivers ready to beat us up. The local Goan friend tried to explain them that this German Lady is a friend, but the Taxi mafias were in no mood to understand. I had to drop the lady back to her stay house and she had to pay ₹1800 to a taxi guy (from that area) just for 37kms. These Taxi Mafias won’t let Goa succeed ever. And sadly, nobody can do anything because they are in huge numbers, they have their monopoly. So… it’s sad to see everyone losing business due to these Taxi Mafias.

One X user Nitin also shared his encounter with rogue taxi drivers and how they justify their rude behaviour saying that otherwise they would lose business. “I faced the taxi mafia yesterday in north goa. I had a few hrs between checkout & drop to MOPA. Wanted to do a little bit of sighteeing before being dropped to manohar airport. i called a few guys whose no was provided by the hotel but all sounded rude & charged exhorbitantly. Then thru google i booked a taxi guy who showed up at the hotel. The local taxi union roughed him up and did not let him leave with us. I was forced to take taxi from the union else i would have been stranded there indefinitely. The irony is they justify being rowdy saying they wud not get any business otherwise. Each 5star hotel is handled by a union who does the same to others.

One X user Sandeep Neel pointed out that Goa’s competitors like Phuket and Bali are much cheaper than Goa despite offering better infrastructure.

One Suraj Balakrishnan emphasised the need for the Indian hospitality sector to alter its exploitative ways as he said: “A much needed wake up call for the Indian hospitality sector. You cannot keep charging exhorbitant prices for average experiences & expect tourists to keep flowing in.”

Notably, while Uber is available in Goa some X users pointed out that taxi unions do not let even the “government approved Goa Miles to operate peacefully.

One Naven Varsneya said: “This is just the start. As more south east countries easing out visa norms, with better infrastructure and food choices at 50% of the cost of Goa, all indian tourist destinations( except mandir tourism) will go through reality check.”

Another X user stressed the substandard transportation infrastructure and taxi unions operating like mafia. “The biggest issue from the point of view of even an ordinary tourist is the transportation infrastructure or the lack of it. The unions have turned into mafias there. You can strong-arm such things for a few months maybe, but in the long run, these are pure regressive policies,” Dr Abhishek Singh posted.

Meanwhile, IndiaToday journalist Shiv Aroor noted that in addition to the taxi mafia menace in Goa, local businesses act like they do a favour on tourists and the ‘system’ acting like the tourists are an “inconvenience”.

Even a Reddit user raised concerns about the decline in tourist footfall in Goa five months ago. The Redditor said that tourism numbers fell to 2017 levels in 2023, and 2024 is most likely going to be worse. The Redditor claimed to have noticed many people who opened restaurants are “shutting down or on the verge of it.”

The post stressed the alleged mistreatment of tourists by the locals and that taxis cost like an aeroplane ticket. It further highlighted poor infrastructure and electricity issues. The Redditor also criticised the behaviour of local people towards tourists.

Goa’s declining tourism, and the obvious Goa bubble.
byu/Taroman23 inGoa

Interestingly, back in 2023, an Investor named Viraj Mehta also raised similar concerns about Goa’s tourism decline to due various factors discussed here. Stressing how Vietnam and other competing holiday destinations are offering much more affordable services despite being better than Goa.

“Vietnam is the new thailand..mass affordable tours with direct flights and good value for money..We losing out to south east asian counties due to high real estate prices leading to such inflated hotel rentals..Cheaper to go to Bali/Hanoi than Goa..Strange..Solution?” Mehta posted.

While in June this year, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte claimed that Goa witnessed a 150% surge in tourist footfall in the last tourism season with over 1 crore tourists arriving in Goa, the experiences shared by the netizens suggest that it is not a rosy picture.

People are concerned about the diminishing number of international tourists, particularly those from Europe which is traditionally Goa’s crucial market, who are increasingly selecting destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bali. These destinations have competitive pricing, newer and better infrastructure, and a more diverse array of experiences to offer. There has also been a drop in chartered flights from Russia and Europe arriving in Goa adding to the decreasing count of foreign tourists in Goa.

Another major issue raised in the ongoing online discussion about Goa’s tourism sector is that many tourists are turned off by overcrowded beaches, waste management issues, and pollution in key tourist locations there. Notably, Goa’s roads, transportation system, and general infrastructure have struggled to keep up with increased demand, resulting in a negative effect on the overall visitor experience. Moreover, while popular beaches like Anjuna, Calangute, and Baga are often overcrowded and are also said to be losing their charm as pristine and tranquil destinations, Goa has not essentially diversified its tourism offerings compared to its home and foreign competitors.

Notably, many other countries have embraced wellness tourism, adventure sports, heritage tourism, gastronomy tourism, eco-tourism etc, on a grand scale. Although adventure sports, wellness tourism, and other innovative offerings are not entirely absent, Goa’s tourism remains too concentrated on beach and nightlife tourists, with limited offerings in niche segments. It is, however, pertinent to note that the government has been taking initiatives for the development of niche tourism sectors in Goa to make it a versatile destination beyond beaches. This, however, could help Goa match up to foreign tourist destinations and local competitors only if the tourists are not treated as mere cash cows but with respect. The state government should also look into the issues tourists are facing and come up with an action plan to tackle the same starting with dismantling the monopoly of taxi mafias.

Speaking to Times of India last month, Goa’s Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho admitted that Goa’s taxis are the state’s biggest problem. The minister also stressed that taxi operators are absolutely relucted to change and adapt to new trends. He added that the taxi operators held a grudge against the government for installing meters in taxis. He also revealed that the government is suffering a loss of nearly Rs 100 crore annually because of unpaid TDS and GST since most of the taxi drivers “do not contribute to government revenue”.

As several social media users pointed out, Goa has become an unjustifiably expensive destination, particularly during peak seasons. High accommodation rates and inflated prices for food, transport, and services are driving Indian tourists to more cost-effective domestic destinations, particularly as the Indian government promotes other, less-explored tourist areas such as Lakshwadeep. While there may be an increase in local visitor footfall if they are constantly exploited, the numbers will decline, which will have serious consequences for Goa, given tourism is the mainstay of revenue.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin raises North-South divide again, claims South is ‘providing generously’ to North

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin raises North-South divide again, claims South is ‘providing generously’ to North

Speaking at an event during his tour of the Kongu belt (the western and northwestern portion of Tamil Nadu) on 6th November, Chief Minister MK Stalin claimed that the economic development of the southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, has greatly aided in the growth of the country and ‘provided’ for the northern states.

Stalin credited the success to the state’s “Dravidian Model” of governance, which he characterised as inclusive, popular and driven by progressive objectives. He challenged Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) critics to grasp Tamil Nadu’s accomplishments over the previous 50 years by drawing comparisons with a northern state.

He recalled the words of the late CN Annadurai “Vadakku Vazhkirathu, Therku Theikirathu (North is full of life, South is fading)” who founded the party and declared, “Anna used to say that the North is flourishing while the South is declining. But today we have made the South flourish. To be more precise, the South is only liberally providing for the North today. This is the true fact and it can’t be denied. We have not only lifted up the South but have reached a stage where the South is providing generously to the North.”

Stalin claimed that Tamil Nadu’s development is a national model, comparing the state’s success over the previous fifty years with that of the northern states. He declared that the state now has the second-largest economy in India, is the most urbanized, is paving the way in achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, and leads in every growth metric from reducing poverty and creating jobs to building infrastructure and industrial production.

He claimed that this change was not simple. Instead, the transformation was brought about by a “people’s govt,” which had a vision, targets, and a strategy to accomplish them. He claimed that the DMK was responsible for the creation of modern-day Tamil Nadu and that the party’s goal was to realize its vision of a great Tamil Nadu, not to hold onto power. he alleged, “Capturing power is the mission to execute our vision.”

He claimed that the DMK’s Dravidian model government has been working for everyone, including those who did not vote for them and added that the DMK voters had higher expectations from the Dravidian model administration. “The Dravidian Model Government is entwined with the people’s heart no matter if they voted for us or not. That is why people are supporting us and are expecting more from me. DMK’s popularity has increased when compared between the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Parliament elections,” he added and ascribed the increase in political opponents’ criticism of the DMK to its popularity.

“Those who criticise the DMK govt should compare the status of Tamil Nadu with a northern state 50 years ago and the position now. You will understand our contribution,” he claimed. Stalin commended state energy minister V Senthil Balaji, who is now on bail, for his role in carrying out government initiatives while laying the cornerstone for a multi-storey library. “Some created hurdles for him. But he has overcome those and has made a comeback to continue his work,” he stated. Balaji was arrested in June of last year in a cash-for-jobs scam and booked under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering) Act. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September of this year.

I.N.D.I. Alliance and its leaders including Rahul Gandhi have a long history of making similar statements to create a North-South divide. They also regularly indulge in smear campaigns against North Indians, Hindi and Sanatan Dharma.

FIR registered against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly organising Chhath Puja at protected forest, damaging govt property using JCBs

OpIndia Staff
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FIR registered against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly organising Chhath Puja at protected forest, damaging govt property using JCBs

On Tuesday, 5th November, the Delhi Police filed an FIR against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for leading a mob that destroyed government property and protected forest at the DDA Park in Hauz Khas, New Delhi. The FIR was registered on the complaint of Delhi Development Authority deputy director SK Meena.

As per the FIR report filed by the Delhi Police under sections 133, 221, 329(4), and 3(5) of the BNS, 2019 and section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, Bharti forced the DDA authorities to allow Chhath Puja celebrations at the DDA park located at Rose Garden in Hauz Khas area, however, the same couldn’t be allowed given the DDA park is designated as a protected forest area under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

After this, Bharti allegedly led a mob of 20-25 unknown persons at around 10:15 am on 5th November and damaged the boundary wall of the park. “They, with a prior hatched conspiracy, reached the spot with JCB machine. The security deployed at the park tried to stop them but to no avail,” the complaint copy read.

The complaint further stated that by using the JCB machine, the Bharti-led mob destroyed public property and resorted to criminal trespass. It is also believed that Bharti instigated the mob to destory the public property and threaten the government staff on duty.

“This act not only constitutes illegal entry into the government property but also resulted in substantial damage to the flora and fauna of the protected forest area. Somnath Bharti and the mob led by him have committed violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 that mandates strict punishment,” the FIR read.

The FIR has been filed based on the complaint registered by SK Meena who is the dy director for DDA. He stated that no non-forest activity is allowed in the area which is designated as forest land, and the DDA park in Hauz Khas is protected under the Forest Act, 1980. “DDA was not in position to allot the land for Chhath Puja,” he confirmed.

Noatbly, this is not the first time when Bharti has been booked by the police. In the year 2018, he was booked by the women’s police for allegedly misbehaving with a female employee (the anchor) of a private news channel. During a live debate on the chilli powder attack against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, tensions escalated as the anchor questioned the MLA. The discussion took a heated turn, with the MLA accusing the anchor of acting as a spokesperson for other political parties and misusing her platform. He allegedly suggested she “become a prostitute.”

In her complaint, the female journalist accused the MLA of using offensive language, stating that she was simply doing her job by questioning him when he began to verbally abuse her. “He also threatened to get the news channel shut down. Bharti’s attitude and the language he used was insulting,” she said demanding severe punishment for the AAP MLA.

In the year 2019, his wife had booked a domestic violence case against him saying that he had harrased, cheated and criminally intimidated her. The Delhi Court then charged him with the offence causing miscarriage without the woman’s consent, causing hurt by dangerous weapons and criminal breach of trust under the IPC.

In the year 2021, he was sentenced to 2 years in jail by a court in a 2016 case of assaulting the security staff at AIIMS and causing damage to hospital property. On September 9, 2016, Bharti and approximately 300 others used a JCB operator to dismantle the fence of a boundary wall at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The case was filed following a complaint by RS Rawat, Chief Security Officer of AIIMS.

In the given case, an FIR has been filed. Further details are awaited.

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