Home Blog Page 6740

‘2016 Rafale deal achieved objectives of better price, delivery and terms’: MoD spokesperson rubbishes The Hindu report

OpIndia Staff
-
0

The Hindu today published a story authored by N Ram, a foremost member of the family that owns the paper. In the article, which lifted content revealed by another journalist and passed them off as a The Hindu ‘exclusive’, N Ram made some fantastical claims deriding the Rafale deal. After the article was published, the Ministry of Defence spokesperson has issued a detailed response to the article. In the point by point response, MoD spokesperson has rubbished the claims made. 

The full statement has been reproduced below:

1. The article is factually inaccurate. It does not adduce any new arguments. All the issues have been answered in detail by the Government at various fora and most recently by the Raksha Mantri in an open debate in the Parliament.

2. The deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in 2016 achieved the objectives of a better price, better delivery period and better terms compared to the earlier proposal.

3. The pricing details which are of confidential nature and covered by the Indo-French security agreement of 2008 were shared with the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. The Supreme Court has gone through the details of pricing and commercial advantage. The Supreme Court has not found anything adverse in the deal and has refused to order an investigation as sought by the Petitioners. The CAG has been given access to all the files related to Rafale deal. It is best to await the report of an authoritative agency like the CAG.

4. The author has rightly pointed out that the cost of the basic aircraft in the 2016 deal was better than the offer of 2007 after considering escalation even though several media reports and political parties keep comparing the cost of the basic aircraft of 2007 with the cost of fully loaded aircraft in 2015.

5. The India Specific Enhancements were part of the requirements of the Indian Air Force to achieve tactical superiority over our adversaries. These were part of the 2007 bid and continued to be part of the 2016 deal. The cost of the India Specific Enhancements was on a fixed basis in the 2007 bid which was negotiated down in the 2016 deal. However, to compare the cost for the MMRCA contract which never materialized with the cost of the 36 aircraft procured in 2016 is fallacious. The author while indicating the price of ISE as 1.4 Bn Euro in 2007 has failed to include the in-built escalation factor that would have worked between 2007 and 2015.

6. Surprisingly, in the headline of the article, the author has compared the un-escalated price of 2007 with the price of 2016 without considering the escalation factors inherent in the price bid. Later, hidden deep in the article itself it is stated that the price is 14.2% higher compared to the escalated price as probably this figure does not attract as much attention as a 41.4% higher price.

7. The author has also missed the main advantage in terms of price obtained by the Government in 2016 deal which was mentioned by the Raksha Mantri in Parliament.

8. This change from a firm and fixed price to a flexible rate was possible only because the deal was structured under an IGA. This factor is expected to lead to a substantial commercial advantage over the delivery period of 36 Rafale aircrafts.

9. A negotiation, especially, between two countries is a comprehensive deal and by selectively picking certain aspects while ignoring others, creates doubts by vested interests on a matter of vital national security. This has been repeatedly pointed out by the Government and accepted by the Supreme Court.

10. The issue of dissent within the Indian Negotiated Team has also been answered by the Raksha Mantri in the Parliament. In the highest traditions of the Civil Service, all views are aired and recorded and a collegiate decision taken after considering such opinions. Decisions on the deal were taken after due process of inter-ministerial consultation.

11. The issue of benchmarking and the offer of EADS to give a 20% discount are related. Even the UPA Government had rightly rejected the EADS offer of 20% discount in 2012 after opening of bids as violative of procedure. Consideration of this offer by the Government would have again made the Government subject to charge of violating basic procedure. It is best to avoid the pitfalls of a corporate battle which has been going on since 2012 which has adversely affected the capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The controversy should be put to rest in the interest of national security.

Congress leader discovers a new low yet again, after mocking Amit Shah’s diagnosis, says he doesn’t have swine flu at all

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress leader discovers a new low yet again, after mocking Amit Shah’s diagnosis, says he doesn’t have swine flu at all

Despite facing flak over his recent remarks against BJP President Amit Shah, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member BK Hariprasad has yet again issued a controversial statement claiming that he has received reports stating that BJP President Amit Shah does not have any flu, reported ANI.

According to ANI, BK Hariprasad claimed that he knew few people belonging to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and went on to say that he has received reports regarding Amit Shah not suffering from any flu.

“We have a report that he (Amit Shah) doesn’t have any flu, we also know people in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), they said he is not admitted because of the flu. Let me get the facts then I will get back to you,” said Congress Rajya Sabha MP.


On Thursday, BK Hariprasad, who is a Congress MP from Karnataka had mocked BJP President Amit Shah’s health condition, as he had said that Shah was suffering from ‘suar ka zukam’. He had warned Amit Shah of facing a more graver disease than swine flu (H1N1 flu) if Karnataka govt is destabilised after Amit Shah had taken to social media to inform his followers that he has been diagnosed with H1N1 flu.

Hariprasad had reportedly asserted that Amit Shah is currently suffering from Swine Flu due to panic, and if he is eyeing Karnataka, he will be suffering from a disease far worse than this. The remark comes in the wake of the speculations of a few Congress MLAs turning rebel and switching over to the BJP camp.

West Delhi: Man, wife and son stabbed to death by Mohammad Azad, in full public view

OpIndia Staff
-
0
West Delhi: Man, wife and son stabbed to death by Mohammad Azad, in full public view

A 35-year-old woman, her husband and their minor son were brutally stabbed by one Mohammad Azad on Wednesday following a quarrel over what is believed to be a minor issue. Sunita and her husband Veeru had succumbed to their injuries and as per latest reports, their son Akash too breathed his last on Friday morning.


According to the Police, the incident was triggered by an incident on the 14th of January. “The incident was triggered on January 14 when a bottle of Sunita’s daughter identified as Neha, fell from the balcony and hit Mohammad Azad, standing on the road. Later Azad and Veeru indulged in a heated argument but they were separated by some locals”, the Joint Commissioner of Police Madhup Tiwari said. “Today Azad misbehaved with Sunita over the same issue. Sunita later narrated the entire issue with Veeru and Akash following which the fight began,” the officer added.

“Azad took out a knife from his residence and first stabbed Akash. When Sunita and Veeru tried to save their son, Azad stabbed them too,” he stated. The Police are currently investigating the entire matter and is ascertaining the truth behind the event.

chilling details of the incident have since surfaced in the case. Veeru and Sunita’s married daughter Khushboo, who is reportedly five months pregnant, had to run with her two youngest siblings calling for help from neighbours to save her parents and brother. Though the incident occurred in full public view, none of the neighbours had come forward to help the family. Instead, neighbours allegedly kept making videos of the incident with their mobile phones.

As per reports, the accused has been arrested on Thursday and the weapon used for murder has been recovered by the Police. “During interrogation, the accused revealed that he was at loggerheads with the victim’s family on some petty issue. On January 16 a quarrel had taken place between them and when the victim’s family came to his house, he became agitated and lost his control. He took out a meat chopper from his house and stabbed Sunita, Veeru and Akash in full public view as his neighbours watched in horror,” the DCP, West District, Monika Bhardwaj.

In a further twist of events, the accused’s daughter has claimed that he was abusing her sexually for the past three years. “The man’s daughter was afraid that he would kill her too. She was being violated for long, but had kept quiet because of his violent behaviour,” said the DCP.

Incidentally, the murder spree occurred in West Delhi, the same region of the capital city where Ankit Saxena was brutally murdered by her Muslim girlfriend’s family last year.

Odisha: Congress MLA resigns after party suspended him for praising non-Congress Chief Minister

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Odisha: Congress MLA resigns after party suspended him for praising non-Congress Chief Minister

MLA from Sundargarh constituency in Odisha, Jogesh Kumar Singh has submitted his resignation from Congress party after he was suspended for his alleged anti-party remarks. He also resigned from the legislative assembly. This has come days after Jharsugda MLA Nabha Das, declared defection to BJD. Jogesh Kumar Singh had openly praised CM Naveen Patnaik for his “extraordinary work”, and also decided not to attend upcoming President Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Odisha.


“Jogesh Singh has given statements which are against the party. He had categorically stated that he will not be attending the meeting of AICC president Rahul Gandhi in Odisha on January 25,” PCC disciplinary committee convenor, Ananta Sethi told media. He added that they served the MLA a show-cause notice, to which no answer was received.

The suspension could not have come at the worst time, since the party is fighting the battle of existence in the state since the year 2000, and many of its leaders are defecting to incumbent Biju Janta Dal. Jogesh Kumar has asserted that neither his any statements were against party nor did he indulge in any anti-party activities.

“I am surprised as I have not done or spoken anything against the party. Is praising State’s Chief Minister who was awarded best administrator award wrong?” Singh was quoted by reports. He also said that his decision not to attend Rahul Gandhi upcoming rally in the state on 25 January, was taken even before the declaration of the rally.

“I had already finalised public meetings in my constituency much before Rahul’s itinerary was finalised. Besides, I have to attend my close friend’s wedding on January 25. If my refusal to attend Rahul’s meeting enraged the party, I have nothing to say,” Jogesh Singh was quoted by Times of India. He has also rubbished claims of the party that, he was sent a show-cause notice and that he did not give back a reply.

This is not the first time that national party is facing such a crisis. In the run-up to 2014 general elections, two Odisha Congress leaders Anup Sai, legislative party secretary and Bhupinder Singh, Leader of Opposition, had defected and joined the BJD. Similarly, Nayagarh district president of Congress Kumar Hemendra Singh had also joined BJD and had accused that time vice-president of Congress Rahul Gandhi of turning a blind eye towards the party’s grassroots-level workers.

Along with Jogesh Singh, another party leader and MLA from Salepur Prakash Behera had also praised CM Patnaik development works in the state. He is also speculated to quite the party and join BJD. However, Ananta Sethi has said that MLA Behera, has so far not indulged in any anti-party activity, but added that leaders who indulge in same will not be spared.

MLA Jogesh Kumar Singh had declared that following his suspension, he will resign from the party and also from his MLA post. However, he has not responded to speculations that he will join BJD soon.

The elections to the Odisha Assembly will take place concurrently with Lok Sabha elections later this year.

RLP’s Hanuman Beniwal disrupts the first session of Rajasthan Assembly, stops the Governor from delivering address

OpIndia Staff
-
0
RLP’s Hanuman Beniwal disrupts the first session of Rajasthan Assembly, stops the Governor from delivering address

Rajasthan MLA Hanuman Beniwal and two other MLAs of his Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) tried to disrupt the proceedings of the first session of the Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday. Beniwal and the other two MLAs entered into the Well of the House and interrupted the address of the Governor.

As Governor Kalyan Singh read out few lines from his address despite the disruption, Beniwal climbed on to a platform near secretary’s desk and continued to interrupt the speech. Beniwal demanded that the government should procure moong daal from farmers. On the request of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, the Governor tabled the speech and left the House as per the protocol.

As per reports, Beniwal even passed insensitive comments over the Governor’s health and even on former CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Beniwal reportedly said to the Governor, ” You do not even remember the name of the CM, instead of wasting time here, why don’t you get yourself treated?”

Leader of Opposition Gulab Singh Kataria condemned the incident calling it petty behaviour. Opposition leaders demanded action against Beniwal. Following which, speaker CP Joshi reportedly stated that the assembly is run on principles and such behaviour will not be tolerated in the future.

Hanuman Beniwal was earlier a member of the BJP. He formed the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party in the month of October last year. His party’s lies were called out by cricketer Virender Sehwag when they published an advertisement claiming that Sehwag was going to an event of the RLP.

HD Kumaraswamy: The eternal whiner

Jinit Jain
-
0
HD Kumaraswamy: The eternal whiner

Ever since the Congress-JDS alliance formed a government in the southern state of Karnataka, there has been a perpetual spree of lament on the governance issues of the state expressed by the incumbent Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

In a recent development, HD Kumaraswamy answering a question raised by an India Today scribe said, “If I had got the clear majority, I would have given a better government to Karnataka.” When asked if his remarks are made on the differences between Congress and JDS, Kumaraswamy quickly rubbished them claiming that his statements are made on the functioning of the coalition government. He also added that If he had gotten the majority, he would have implemented his vision for the state, which is not possible under the coalition government.

This is not the first instance when Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy has bemoaned about his situation of leading a straitjacketed coalition government. A few days back, HD Kumaraswamy wailed that he is working like a clerk and not like a CM due to Congress interference. Earlier in July 2018, expressing his unhappiness over the coalition government Kumaraswamy had cried saying he was unhappy and swallowing the poison of a coalition government.

This leads one to believe that the alliance between Congress and JDS has been an opportunistic alliance. What is, however, disturbing for the people is to see a CM of a state continuously whining about his wretched situation instead of taking concrete steps to end his misery. It appears that the lure of power is resisting Kumaraswamy from calling the quits from the alliance and bearing the slights thrown at him by the Congress party.

HD Kumaraswamy should respect the faith the people of Karnataka have shown in him and take effective measures to bring to fruition his vision of Karnataka. He should no longer disappoint his people by acquiescing to Congress hegemony and later lamenting on it as an attempt to push the blame of incompetence on the coalition government. Being the CM of the state, he is in the saddle to take decisions he deems appropriate for the public welfare.

The onus of the accountability squarely lies with Kumaraswamy and he cannot escape it by pushing the blame on his coalition partners through his unfortunate laments. Kumaraswamy should openly oppose Congress dominance and send them a message that his self-esteem is inviolable.

Times Group’s communal propaganda: Supporting desecration of Sabarimala while publishing ‘Convert to Islam’ op-ed

K Bhattacharjee
-
0
Times Group’s communal propaganda: Supporting desecration of Sabarimala while publishing ‘Convert to Islam’ op-ed

The Times Group is a rather amusing media group in the sense that it caters to people from both sides of the political spectrum through different channels. It owns Times Now with its overt ‘nationalist’ slant and Mirror Now with explicitly leftist tendencies.

One issue, however, where both these channels were on the same side was the Sabarimala verdict. They unanimously supported the desecration of the abode of Bhagwan Ayyappa.


However, Times Group appears to have an extremely contrasting opinion when it comes to Islam. The Kochi edition of its newspaper, Times of India, published an article with effusive praise for the religion with the headline “Convert to Islam“.

Times of India article headlined “Convert to ISLAM”

In the article, the author K.E.N. Kunjahammad writes, “Fraternity among human beings and equality before God form the basis of Islam. In his final sermon, Prophet Muhammad categorically dismissed racial supremacy when he said that “all mankind is from Adam, and an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab over an Arab … except by piety and good actions.””

He further states, “The idea of justice ingrained in Islam motivated liberation struggles all over the world. Much before Guru’s emergence, Islam had provided energy for many subaltern movements in Kerala. It was Islam that propelled Tipu Sultan’s revolutionary intervention in agrarian relations in Kerala which had a lasting impact in the social life of Malabar.”

The Times Group’s stance on Islam appears to be markedly different from its opinions on the traditions of the Hindu Sabarimala Temple. The article, in fact, comes across as da’wah or the Islamic practice of inviting non-Muslims and Muslims to understand the teaching of Islam and inform them about prophet Muhammad and convert them to a ‘purer faith’.

The article also heaps praises on religious conversions. It says, “The possibility of conversion also offers bargaining power for the oppressed class. The concept of Ummah or universal brotherhood is a potential concept in Islam that could have broken all artificial divisions among human beings.”

Participating in da’wah while actively supporting the desecration of a Hindu Temple appears to be extremely communal propaganda on part of the Times Group.

Times of India has repeatedly displayed a bias against Hinduism. The Times of India reported that in Maharashtra, a ‘godman’ forced his male devotees into ‘unnatural sex’. As per the report, one Asif Noori, a 38-year-old self-styled godman was arrested in Buldhana district in Maharashtra days after video and audio clips of allegedly forcing male devotees into unnatural sex went viral on social media. However, the newspaper, while tweeting the same report, used a misleading image to report the crime. The image of a sketch of a sadhu was used for a crime where the accused is a Muslim.

On another occasion, Vivek Agnihotri was approached for an interview by Times of India but for some reason, the interview was never published. Agnihotri says he never got a forthcoming answer and he was just told it was against ‘policies’ of Times of India, which he found rather strange. Agnihotri, the author cum filmmaker has been vocal about the Urban Naxal phenomena that have come to the fore recently. In his book, Urban Naxals, Vivek talks extensively about how the Naxals have an entire urban network that often goes unnoticed because they are disguised as activists, lawyers, etc.

Sabarimala: Kerala govt says 51 women entered shrine, panel slams VIP treatment by police

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Sabarimala: Kerala govt says 51 women entered shrine, panel slams VIP treatment by police

A massive controversy is set to erupt as Kerala Communist government has revealed to the Supreme Court that it had allowed fifty-one women under the age of 50 to enter the Sabarimala temple after the contentious September 28 verdict of the apex court.

According to the reports, the startling revelations from the Pinarayi Vijayan led Communist government came while the Supreme Court was hearing a petition by left-wing activists Bindu and Kanakadurga, who had gone to the apex court seeking round-the-clock security, claiming threats to their life.

The Kerala government released the information of digitised records of all those women, including their names and other details who had entered the shrine. The state government said these women used the virtual queue system of the Kerala Police to book slots.

“Over 7,000 women in the age group of 10 to 50 years had registered online to enter Sabarimala in this season; of them, 51 women have already entered the temple without any issues, and scanned their tickets after they returned from the Sannidhanam,” reportedly said GN Prakash, the counsel representing Kerala government.

The Kerala government submitted records to the Supreme Court stating that over 16 lakh devotees have registered online to visit Sabarimala via ‘Digital Queue Management System’ managed by the Kerala police. Out of them, nearly 8.2 lakh devotees have already visited the shrine. It further added that 7564 women in the age group of 10 to 50 years have registered online, and 51 of them have visited so far.

In the meanwhile, Pratheesh Viswanath, the lawyer and VHP activist who has been on the forefront of the protest against the communist government’s excesses to break the temple traditions, stated that the numbers presented by the Kerala government are based on fake age-data and most of the women who have entered the shrine were above 50.

He claimed that the Kerala government is faking the data to ‘sabotage’ the review petition filed in the apex court against its September 28 judgement.


However, in another embarrassment for the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala, a High Court-appointed monitoring committee has slammed Kerala Police for taking unauthorised steps to facilitate the entry of the two CPIM female activists Bindu and Kanakadurga.

The committee in its report has said that the arrangements made by Kerala Police in order to facilitate the entry of Kanakadurga and Bindu were ‘unauthorised’.  In its report, the HC-appointed committee also observed that the two women entered the shrine were treated like VIPs by the Kerala police and were made to enter inside the temple through staff gate which is out of bounds for pilgrims.

The committee has questioned the Kerala police on the issue and asked why the police made special arrangements for the two women and took them through the unauthorised route.

The Kerala government aided by its state police force had deliberately allowed two women belonging to Communist party to enter the shrine and violate the age-old customs practised at the Sabarimala shrine. The desperate act of Kerala government to defame Hindus was met with massive anger and protest across the country.

The left-wing goons aided by the Kerala government have begun to inflict serious violence on Hindu devotees and the BJP cadre. A country-made bomb was hurled on Saturday at BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan’s ancestral house at Vadiyil Peedikia near Thalassery and an RSS office in Kannur was set ablaze by unknown assailants. Chandran Unnithaan, an Ayappa devotee and member of Sabarimala Karma Samithi had died after stone pelting by CPIM workers.

The Kerala government led by Pinarayi Vijayan has been facing massive protests after it deliberately allowed politically motivated ‘activists’ to enter the shrine and violate age-old customs. Earlier, lakhs of devotees, especially women, lit lamps and stood on roads and highways in a peaceful protest, covering a distance of 795 km on 26 December to show their solidarity with Hindu devotees who are fighting for the preservation of age-old Hindu customs.

Himachal Pradesh: Two Congress factions hurl chairs at each other as new state president assumes office

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Himachal Pradesh: Two Congress factions hurl chairs at each other as new state president assumes office

Supporters from two factions of the Congress party got into a brawl in Himachal Pradesh as soon as the new state president, Kuldeep Singh Rathore assumed office in Shimla.

It was reported that the workers exchanged blows and flung chairs at each other at the Himachal Pradesh Congress headquarters in the presence of Virbhadra Singh, Rathore, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, AICC office-bearer Rajni Patil and some party MLAs. Eyewitnesses claimed that at least two workers were injured in the scuffle.

The clash allegedly took place between the supporters of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh and outgoing state unit president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The internal dissent between the state’s party unit laid bare when both Virbhadra Singh and Sukhu have made veiled attacks against each other at meetings and through press statements after the party announced the appointment of a new state president.

Though no arrests had been made till late evening, five Congress workers were booked on the complaint of one of the injured worker, Rajeev Rana, police said. The FIR listed sections 323, 506, 147, 148 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to rioting, criminal intimidation and causing injury.

Trouble began when two separate groups of workers owing their loyalties to Virbhadra Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, respectively, started indulging in provocative sloganeering to demonstrate their respective strengths. The loyalists of rival factions hurled abuses at each other even as senior leaders on the dais made efforts to pacify them.

Kuldeep Rathore, the new Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president, while speaking to reporters expressed his disapproval and regret about the incident, “What happened at Congress Bhawan should not have happened. Appropriate action will be taken against those involved after identifying them,” he said.

At the public meeting earlier, Rajini Patil, the Himachal Pradesh in-charge at the All India Congress Committee and Kuldeep Rathore, the new Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president had warned that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the party.

“No party leader or worker should think that the party would not take action against them if they continue to go to the media, breaching party discipline,” Patil had said, without naming anyone.

Though the outgoing state unit president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu did not attend the public meeting, Rathore praised the outgoing president and said that Sukhu had supported his appointment.

He also thanked Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his elevation and claimed the Congress would win all four parliamentary seats in the state.

Indian Express and Hindustan Times reject article asking uncomfortable questions about Shah Faesal

Raju Das
-
0
Indian Express and Hindustan Times reject article asking uncomfortable questions about Shah Faesal

IAS officer Shah Faesal made national headlines when he resigned from the service earlier this month. The young officer said that he is resigning “to protest against the unabated killings in Kashmir and lack of any sincere reach-out from the Union Government”. The UPSC entrance test topper had also complained about “marginalization and invisibilization of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces reducing them to second-class citizens”. Basically, he was reflecting the views similar to the views of Kashmiri separatists. His comments were a big irony because he himself is a victim of terrorism in the valley, his father was brutally killed by terrorists, and now his thoughts are in alignment of the thoughts of his father’s killers.

Jammu and Kashmir is known for such paradox when it comes to terrorism. While on the one hand, the state participates in democratic process like voting in elections, the state also sees massive participation in the funeral procession of terrorists killed by security forces. Highlighting such paradoxes, Observer Research Foundation’s (ORF) associate fellow Khalid Shah has written an article, taking Shah Faesal’s turnaround as an example. The article is critical of Faesal, as the victim of the ‘sentiment’) is now positioning himself as a sympathiser of the champions of ‘resistance’ who promote gun, militancy and violence.

The article was sent to two prominent newspapers for publishing, but both of them refused to print it. The article was rejected by Indian Express and Hindustan Times.


Khalid Shah examines how both the terrorists and the victims of the same terrorists are martyrs in Kashmir. He also describes how while thousands attend funeral processions of terrorists, the victims of terrorism are forgotten quickly.

The rejection of the article by two prominent newspapers shows how mainstream media work to build a narrative. As the article didn’t suit the narrative they want to peddle, they refused to publish it. Khalid Shah has asked some very uncomfortable questions, how the victims of terrorism eventually become supporters of the same ideologies that drive the terrorists, which seems to too hot for the mainstream media to handle. But in the age of the internet, no views can be suppressed, no matter how uncomfortable it is, and the article can be read here.

1...6,7396,7406,741...7,672Page 6,740 of 7,672