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Israel and Hezbollah exchange ‘heaviest strikes’ since October 7th Hamas terror attack, Israeli jets destroy thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers

OpIndia Staff
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Israel and Hezbollah exchange ‘heaviest strikes’ since October 7th Hamas terror attack, Israeli jets destroy thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers

On Sunday (25th August), Israel and Islamic terror group Hezbollah exchanged their “heaviest strikes” since the 7th October 2023 Hamas terror attacks on Israeli territories. In the early hours of the morning, Israel carried out what it described as pre-emptive strikes across Southern Lebanon to foil Hezbollah’s plan for a “large scale” attack on Central and Northern Israel.

Following massive Israeli airstrikes on Sunday morning, Lebanon-based Hezbollah returned fire with a barrage of drones and rockets across the border. However, Israel said that it suffered “very little damage” because of the Hezbollah’s attacks. Nonetheless, the heavy exchanges across the Israel-Lebanon border mark an escalation in the Middle East conflict that had been feared in the aftermath of the 7th October terror attacks. 

The recent escalation unfolded after hundreds of Israeli fighter jets struck several Hezbollah camps in Lebanon late at night on Saturday (24th August), as an act of “self-defence“. Israel said that its attack was a preemptive strike on “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket and missile systems. According to the Israeli Defence Forces, these sites were about to launch a major attack on Israeli targets. 

The Israeli airstrikes struck sites across the outskirts of almost 30 small towns in southern Lebanon, damaging electricity and water infrastructure, the Washington Post reported citing state-run Israeli media. The Israel Defense Forces said that it struck additional Hezbollah targets later on Sunday.

Immediately after the Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah said it had launched 320 Katyusha rockets (the terror outfit’s primary weapon against Israel) to target 11 Israeli military bases and barracks. 

The Shia terror outfit described the retaliatory strikes as “phase one” of a multi-stage attack saying that it was the revenge for the killing of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur last month. Hezbollah alleged that he was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. Israel had blamed Shukur for the killing of 12 children in a rocket attack in the occupied Golan Heights. However, it did not comment on the Shukur killing. 

Hezbollah also dismissed the Israeli military’s statement that their strikes on Sunday thwarted a larger attack. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, will deliver a speech later in the day to address the recent hostilities with Israel, the group announced earlier today. Later, the Hezbollah announced it had concluded its offensive. 

Regarding Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes, Israeli officials said that most of the barrage from Hezbollah was intercepted by air-defense systems. According to them, more than 150 rockets and drones were involved in the Hezbollah’s attack. They added that they were still assessing the damage but said that there were no immediate reports of injuries. 

(Israeli air force destroys a Hezbollah drone in northern Israel, Image Credit – JALAA MAREY / AFP – Getty Images)

During a press briefing, IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said that they were still in a situation of the aftermath of the attack but claimed that there was, “very little damage.”

Furthermore, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli forces were “determined to do everything possible to defend our country”. He added, “Whoever harms us – we will harm them.” 

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that Israel was “acting to protect its citizens and territory” and “does not seek all-out war” in the Middle East. 

Israel also stated that Lebanese civilians had been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah was operating.

The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East: Israel-Hezbollah war

It is pertinent to note that there have been almost daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in the wake of the 7th October Hamas terror attack. The Hamas terror attack killed over 1,200 civilians and soldiers in Israel and 250 individuals including Israeli and foreign nations were kidnapped and dragged to Gaza.

Following the 7th October terror attack, Iran-backed Shia terror outfit, Hezbollah joined Hamas, another Iran-backed Islamic terror outfit, in targeting and launching attacks on Israel. Strikingly, both Hamas and Hezbollah are proscribed as terrorist organisations by Israel, the UK, and several other countries.

However, tensions have been running high in the region in the wake of a series of assassinations that are believed to have been carried out by Israel. These include the killing of high-level officials in Lebanon and Iran, including Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur last month and then Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh. 

Hezbollah had promised to avenge Shukr’s killing. Furthermore, Iran had also threatened to launch retaliatory attacks against Israel in the wake of Ismail Haniyeh’s killing in July. Haniyeh was visiting the city for the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian when he was killed. Hamas and Iranian officials had blamed Israel for the assassination, but Israel declined to comment on these operations.

Amidst the mounting tensions and apprehensions of an “all-out” war in the Middle East, the U.S. and its allies have been working to avoid a larger regional war in the region since the 7th October Hamas terror attack.

After substantially ‘dismantling’ Hamas, Israel goes after Hezbollah; details about the Shia terror outfit

Hezbollah is a Shia political party and militant organization which has been proscribed as a terror outfit by several countries for its involvement in terror activities and terror attacks in Israel and elsewhere. It was formed in the early 1980s when Lebanon was wracked by civil war. Its name means “Party of God.” 

It was created with Iranian support and it has set a mission to expel Israeli forces from Lebanon while resisting Western influence in the Middle East region.    

It brands itself as a Shia “resistance movement” within Lebanon that believes in the country’s right to self-determination. However, according to reports, it pledges its allegiance to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

The terror outfit’s current leader, Hassan Nasrallah, joined Hezbollah in 1982. Earlier, he was a member of the Amal Movement. It was a Shia militia that was one of the many groups vying for power during the Lebanese civil war. Incidentally, Hezbollah also has lawmakers sitting in the Lebanese parliament.

Former general secretary of student wing of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League dies while attempting to flee to India from Bangladesh

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Former general secretary of student wing of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League dies while attempting to flee to India from Bangladesh

Ishak Ali Khan Panna, a former General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and a member of the Pirojpur District Awami League, died on Saturday while attempting to flee to Meghalaya, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

Panna suffered a heart attack after slipping from a hill in Shillong, his nephew, Laikuzzaman Talukder Mintoo, Chairperson of the Chirapara Par Satoria Union Parishad and Organising Secretary of the Kaukhali Upazila Awami League, confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

Jasim Uddin Khan, a relative of the deceased, told the Dhaka Tribune that he last spoke to Panna three days ago. Panna mentioned that he had returned to Dhaka on July 25, two days after staying at his residence on Shahid Fazlul Haque Road in Pirojpur town.

Jasim said he later learned that Panna had died in Sylhet after crossing into India through the Tamabil border.

According to sources quoted by the Dhaka Tribune, Panna was accompanied by a leader from the central committee of the Awami League, originally from Chittagong, and another leader from the Jhalakathi Chhatra League during his escape.

The Chhatra League is the student wing of Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League.

In a significant operation on Friday, vigilant troops of the BSF Meghalaya successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt along the International Border in the East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, according to an official press release from the Border Security Force (BSF) Meghalaya.

During the operation conducted on Thursday, four Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, along with two Indian facilitators, were apprehended.

The apprehended illegal Bangladeshi migrants and their Indian accomplices have been handed over to the concerned police station for further legal action.

In its continuous efforts to curb illegal crossings and smuggling activities along the Indo-Bangladesh border, the BSF Meghalaya has reinforced its border control measures and adopted a multi-tier dominance strategy to prevent such activities.

In light of the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, the BSF Meghalaya has assessed and heightened security along the Indo-Bangladesh border, implementing a multi-tier dominance strategy.

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

Kolkata rape and murder case: Prime suspect Sanjoy Roy takes U-turn before polygraph test, claims he has been framed

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata rape and murder case: Prime suspect Sanjoy Roy takes U-turn before polygraph test, claims he has been framed

On 25th August, Sanjay Roy, the prime suspect in the Kolkata rape and murder case, took a U-turn, claiming he was innocent. Roy is the prime accused in the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The horrific incident has sparked nationwide protests as doctors and the general public demand a safer environment for doctors and women in the country.

Roy initially confessed to the crime after his arrest. However, hours before a scheduled polygraph test, he reversed his stance, claiming innocence in the case. Roy has asserted that he was framed in the case. He is currently held in solitary confinement under tight security with CCTV surveillance

As per reports, he has been changing his statements after confessing to the crime earlier. During the interrogation by CBI, the accused claimed that he did not go to the seminar room on the day of the incident. Then he said that he didn’t see anyone in the seminar room. But when asked how his Bluetooth headsets were found at the crime scene, he had no answer. He also could not explain the multiple scratch marks on his body.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that he had a habit of watching pornography. Hindustan quoted an unnamed CBI official who stated that Roy had confessed to the crime and provided a detailed account of the incident without showing any remorse.

Apart from Roy, polygraph tests are to be conducted on six other individuals, including Dr Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college. So far, 15 people have been questioned by the CBI in connection with the case, including ten police officials.

Rape and murder of female doctor at RG Kar Medical College

On 9th August, the female doctor’s body was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College, with subsequent examinations confirming that she had been raped. Her body bore 16 external and 9 internal injuries, and there were signs of bleeding from her eyes and private parts, indicating the brutal nature of the assault.

The rape and murder case of the 31-year-old trainee female doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital has sparked nationwide protests to seek justice for the deceased victim. Hospital administration, Police, and the West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee have been facing massive public ire over the initial handling of the case and the subsequent ‘transfer’ of the controversial Hospital principal, Sandip Ghosh. Both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court made several scathing remarks about the developments in the case, particularly ones revolving around Sandip Ghosh.

FIR filed against 12051 people including Jharkhand BJP chief, union minister and others over clashes with police during BJYM rally in Ranchi

ANI
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FIR filed against 12051 people including Jharkhand BJP chief, union minister and others over clashes with police during BJYM rally in Ranchi

An FIR was registered on Saturday against 12,000 unnamed, and 51 identified individuals, for allegedly being involved in a clash with police personnel during a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) rally in Ranchi, officials said.

“FIR registered against 12,000 unnamed, and 51 identified individuals, for allegedly being involved in a clash with police personnel during a BJYM rally. Those named are BJP state president Babulal Marandi, former Union minister Arjun Munda, MoS Defense Sanjay Seth, spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo and others,” Ranchi Police said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jharkhand unit took out a ‘Yuva Aakrosh Rally’ in Ranchi against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government on August 23 (Friday).

All BJP Jharkhand leaders, senior leaders, Union Minister Sanjay Seth, former Union Minister Arjun Munda, Babulal Marandi and other leaders participated in this youth protest rally.

Union Minister Sanjay Seth said that corruption is at its peak in Jharkhand, youth are not getting employment, and women’s safety is the biggest issue. The Hemant Soren government will have to answer all these.

Assembly elections are going to be held in Jharkhand this year and BJP has fully prepared to corner the government.

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

Bal Buddhi, divisive man, a disaster, needs mental health check-up: BJP leaders mock Rahul Gandhi for caste profiling Miss India winners

OpIndia Staff
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Bal Buddhi, divisive man, a disaster, needs mental health check-up: BJP leaders mock Rahul Gandhi for caste profiling Miss India winners

Continuing his caste rhetoric, yesterday (24th August), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that no SC, ST, or OBC woman has ever won the Miss India contest. Incidentally, it is a beauty pageant that is organised by private entities and doesn’t have reservations. Nonetheless, the Congress leader made this remark about the Miss India winners while alleging that 90% of Indians don’t have representation within the system and demanding a nationwide caste census, sparking a fresh controversy. He claimed that he had checked the list of Miss Indias and could not find a SC, ST or OBC name in it. Soon, netizens slammed Rahul Gandhi for doing caste and religious profiling of beauty contests. 

Several BJP leaders also took a jab at the Gandhi scion while pointing out that his remarks were not only factually incorrect but also wreaked casteism and were an attempt to divide the country. Some of the BJP leaders pointed out the factual inaccuracy in his bizarre commentary. Others said that he was now asking for reservations even in beauty contests adding that the Congress leader could soon do it also in the entertainment and sports fields. A few of the BJP leaders lambasted Rahul Gandhi dubbing his intellect as infantile (Bal Buddhi), and divisive or stressing that he needed a mental health check-up. 

Notably, it all started yesterday afternoon. While addressing an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Rahul Gandhi said, “…I checked the list of Miss India to see if there would be any Dalit or tribal woman in it, but there was no women from Dalit, tribal or OBC. Still the media talks about dance, music, cricket, Bollywood but does not talk about farmers and labourers.” 

Reacting to his remarks, BJP leader and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju lashed out at Rahul Gandhi describing him as ‘Bal Budhi’ and a ‘divisive man’. Saying that the Congress leader was now asking for reservations in Miss India competitions, films, and sports, Rijiju described it as a ‘Bal Budhi’ issue. He also charged Rahul Gandhi’s supporters for being equally responsible for the same. 

Rijiju wrote, “Now, He (Rahul Gandhi) wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports! It is not only issue of “Bal Budhi”,  but people who cheer him are – equally responsible too!” 

The Union Minister noted that while the ‘Bal Budhi’ can be a source of entertainment, he asked the Congress leader to not ridicule backward classes as part of their ‘divisive strategy’.

Rijiju further criticised Rahul Gandhi stating, “Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji can’t divide our country…But he can’t see 1st Tribal President, OBC PM, Record Numbers of SC/ST Cabinet Ministers!” 

In a scathing attack, he made another post in which he called Rahul Gandhi a ‘divisive man’ adding that they won’t allow another partition to make him the country’s Prime Minister. 

Kiren Rijiju asserted, “His grandfather divided India to become Prime Minister, but we will not allow another partition of India to make this divisive man the Prime Minister.” 

In another tweet, the Union Minister reminded the Congress leader that Miss India is a private beauty contest. He said, “Rahul Gandhi Ji,  Governments don’t select Miss India, Govts don’t select athletes for Olympics, and Govts do not choose actors for Films!” 

Reacting strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said that the Congress leader needed treatment and a mental health check-up. He argued that the Gandhi scion was habitual of enjoying power and since he has been out of power, he is acting akin to a fish out of water. He added that Rahul Gandhi gets rattled when someone asks him about his caste identity and claims that he is being abused.  

Tiwari said, “Rahul Gandhi needs treatment, his mental health check-up needs to be done. The most worrying is that he wants to know the caste of everyone but he doesn’t want to reveal his. When it was asked to him, he said that he has been abused, then asking other people’s caste would also be abuse. Every kid has talent in the country. Since he was in habit of being in government, and since he is out of power, he is reacting as if a fish has been taken out of water.” 

Speaking with ANI, Manoj Tiwari said, “The biggest question is, why does he want to divide the country into castes?… He also needs to tell everyone what caste he belongs to…”

BJP leader Kapil Mishra said that Rahul Gandhi was running away from the main question and that is “Who snatched away the work of Dalits, tribals, and OBCs, who took over their work?”

Mishra asked, “Today every job like barber, tailor, plumber, painting, craftsmanship, AC repair, car repair, fruit and vegetable supply, bakery, has been taken over by a particular religion. Rahul Gandhi is making Hindus fight among themselves but is running away from the real question. Make Hindus fight in the name of reservation but don’t talk about those who took away the real jobs. How will this work.”

Additionally, several BJP National Spokespersons, party functionaries, and state leaders also lashed out at Rahul Gandhi.

Karnataka BJP leader Sunny Raj said that Rahul Gandhi is a disaster, and people who cheer him are equally responsible too. He tweeted, “Now, Rahul Gandhi wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports.”

Some BJP leaders reminded him that as recently as two years ago, a tribal contestant won a beauty pageant against the false claims of the Congress leader. They also charged Rahul Gandhi of dividing the country on caste lines. 

BJP leader from Maharashtra, CT Pallavi asked, “As a woman, I find this statement so SEXIST, so offensive. Rahul Gandhi says that in Bollywood or in the list of Ms India, you will not see a Dalit or an Adivasi or an OBC. Does he mean to say that these girls are NOT beautiful or NOT intelligent?”

BJP National Spokesperson Pradip Bhandari wrote, “Not long ago, just 2 years back, a tribal girl from Chhattisgarh, Miss Riya Ekka, won the Miss India title. Rahul Gandhi’s plan is divisive and it’s full of falsehood.” 

Shehzad Poonawala slammed the Congress leader saying, “Rahul Gandhi is now down to caste profiling & religious profiling of Ms India winners (which is a private competition/ event)…What is clear is that Rahul Gandhi is neither serious nor truthful about this issue. By the way who made the first Adivasi as President of Bharat – NDA”

Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots: Court grants 10-day interim bail to former RJD Youth Wing Leader Meeran Haider, who accepted he orchestrated riots in Delhi with support of PFI

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots: Court grants 10-day interim bail to former RJD Youth Wing Leader Meeran Haider, who accepted he orchestrated riots in Delhi with support of PFI

On 24th August, the Karkardooma Sessions Court in Delhi granted interim bail for 10 days to Meeran Haider, an accused in the larger conspiracy related to the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots of 2020. Haider was a Jamia student and leader of the RJD youth wing. He was arrested in April 2020 in connection with the Delhi riots case on allegations of coordinating efforts to incite violence during the riots.

Meeran had filed a bail plea in the court, requesting bail on humanitarian grounds due to the passing of his sister’s premature child. His lawyer submitted to the court that Meeran’s sister was without the support of other male family members, as her husband works in the UAE. Furthermore, the lawyer submitted that Meeran had been in continuous custody since 1st April 2020, and had not sought interim bail before.

The prosecution, in its reply, stated that the facts mentioned in the bail plea had been verified. They further mentioned that the sister’s husband was, in fact, in India but was leaving for the UAE on Sunday.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpayi found it justified to grant the applicant the desired relief. The application was allowed, and Meeran was granted interim bail for ten days.

The court imposed several conditions on Meeran. He should not get in touch with any of the witnesses nor tamper with any evidence. He must provide his mobile number to the investigating officer and keep his phone operational throughout the period of interim bail. Additionally, the court stated that during the interim bail period, the accused shall not talk to or give any interviews to the media, including social media.

The regular bail plea is pending before the Delhi High Court, as the trial court had previously rejected Meeran’s regular bail plea.

Role of Meeran Haider in anti-Hindu Delhi riots

Meeran Haider was a PhD student at Jamia Millia Islamia University. He was arrested in April 2020 in connection with rioting and criminal conspiracy related to the anti-Hindu riots in northeast Delhi. Meeran Haider made some shocking revelations regarding the anti-Hindu riots that took place in 2020.

Meeran was the president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal youth wing’s Delhi unit and a member of the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC). He revealed that the anti-Hindu riots were planned after the Jamia violence and that he was tasked with gathering a crowd for the protests and demonstrations in Delhi and overseeing other arrangements.

During questioning by the Delhi Police, he disclosed that the riot was sponsored by the Popular Front of India (PFI). Meeran told the police that he had personally received Rs 5 lakhs to engineer the riots. The Muslim-dominated areas of Delhi, such as Zafarabad and Seelampur, were chosen, and Meeran and others were assigned the task of collecting knives, petrol, stones, and other materials.

Meeran Haider said he had prepared a register before the riots to maintain a record of all funds being collected for the purpose. He mentioned that the money received as ‘Zakat’ was used to purchase gadgets, weapons, and other items required to carry out the task.

The accused told the police that he traveled to various states to mobilize support, incite people against CAA-NRC, and mentally prepare them for the riots. He claimed to have personally supervised the anti-government demonstrations at at least 20 sites in Delhi. Haider also revealed that he already knew Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi, the two main facilitators of the Delhi anti-Hindu riots.

Speaking on how the horrific attack on Hindus in Delhi was pre-planned, Meeran said that after the Jamia violence and the ‘success’ of the Shaheen Bagh protest, they decided that protests should be held in more Muslim areas of Delhi where there was resentment against the Centre over CAA-NRC.

Discussing the strategy devised to conduct one of the worst communal riots in Delhi in decades, Meeran said it was divided into three phases: protests, roadblocks, and riots.

He divulged that members of DU’s Pinjra Tod group, like Natasha and Devangana, were secretly associated with this movement and were tasked with delivering inflammatory speeches. He was given the responsibility to mobilize the crowd at protest sites such as Shaheen Bagh, Khureji, Seelampur, Jaffarabad, Turkman Gate, Kardampuri, Mustafabad, and Indralok. Meeran reportedly also ran WhatsApp groups to incite riots in Delhi.

He revealed how he roamed around all these places, collected information, and passed it on to the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) to help devise further strategies.

Meeran Haider confessed to knowing many members of the PFI (Popular Front of India), who provided money to incite the communal riots in Delhi, including PFI activists Sajid Mujid and Mohammad Sihad of Kerala, who sent Rs 20,000 to him for the riots.

Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and its comparison with National Pension System: How will government employees benefit from UPS – Know point-by-point

OpIndia Staff
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Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and its comparison with National Pension System: How will government employees benefit from UPS – Know point-by-point

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees, marking a significant step towards ensuring an assured pension for central government workers. This scheme is expected to benefit 23 lakh central government employees. It will come into effect from 1st April 2025. Central government employees have been given the option to choose between NPS (National Pension Scheme) and UPS. 

Here are the salient features and a comparative study of the three pension schemes. 

Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)

According to the Union government, the new initiative launched by the NDA government combines the salient features of both the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and National Pension Scheme (NPS), thus named as Unified Pension Scheme. It will work like the OPS with the added benefits of the NPS. 

The UPS introduces various benefits, including the fact that government employees will receive a guaranteed pension amounting to 50 percent of the average basic pay earned during the last 12 months before retirement. To avail this benefit of the UPS, government employees must complete a minimum of 25 years of service. 

Government employees who served for at least 10 years will receive a proportional pension. A key feature of the scheme is that government employees will get a guaranteed minimum pension of ₹10,000 per month if they retire after serving for at least 10 years. 

Additionally, the scheme includes a provision for the family pension that ensures surviving spouses or family members receive 60% of the employee’s pension immediately after the employee’s death.

The UPS offers flexibility by allowing current and future employees to choose between the NPS and the new scheme, UPS. However, once a choice is made, it is final. Furthermore, state governments can also implement the newly launched UPS initiative and if they adopt the same model, the scheme could potentially cover up to 90 lakh employees. 

UPS not only guarantees a pension but also incorporates inflation indexation. The dearness relief component will be based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW).

After retirement (superannuation), government employees will also receive a lump sum payment, in addition to gratuity. This lump sum amount will be calculated – as one-tenth of their monthly earnings, which include their salary and dearness allowance – at the time of retirement for every six months of service completed. Importantly, this payment will not affect the amount of the assured pension.

Notably, there will be no increase in the employee contribution under the new scheme. They will contribute 10% of their salary to UPS. Instead, the government will raise its contribution from 14 percent to 18.5 percent to facilitate the implementation of the UPS.

It is however important to note that the UPS does not apply to private employees. They can invest in NPS. 

National Pension System (NPS)

The NDA government, led by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, implemented the National Pension System (NPS) scheme in 2004. It replaced the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). However, it faced massive opposition.

Under the provisions of NPS, the employee contribution is 10% of their basic salary and DA, while the government contributes 14%. 60% of the pension amount was tax-free which could be withdrawn in a lump sum. The rest of the 40% pension amount attracted tax as per the tax bracket. 

The pension received under NPS depends on the employee’s contribution made during the employment period. This amount was linked to the stock market etc., and the amount received from it also depends on the market performance. 

Any individual can open an account in NPS. The minimum contribution is Rs 500. There are two types of accounts – Tier-1 account and Tier-2 account. The Tier-1 account is mandatory and it is exempted from tax. Whereas, the Tier-2 account is optional and you can draw funds from it anytime but it doesn’t enjoy the benefit of tax exemption. 

After retirement, any employee can withdraw 60% of the total pension amount from NPS as a lump sum accumulated amount. The remaining amount can be used to buy an annuity to pay a regular pension. 60% of this amount is tax exempted. 

Old Pension Scheme (OPS)

In the Old Pension Scheme, there was a provision to give monthly pensions based on the last salary of the employees. There was no employee contribution as the government used to bore its expenses. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government replaced it with the NPS. However, there have been frequent calls for the re-implementation of OPS.

OPS applies only to those government employees who have joined the service before 1st January 2004. In OPS, the pension amount also includes changes in Dearness Allowance (DA) from time to time. DA is linked with inflation. The amount received under this scheme is exempted from tax. 

After retirement, the employees could withdraw 50% of their last salary as a pension. However, the government has discontinued this scheme. 

Nonetheless, another noteworthy provision of UPS is that the scheme applies to central government employees who have already retired and have opted for the NPS. If they opt for UPS instead of NPS, they will receive arrears for the previous period, with interest calculated at Public Provident Fund (PPF) rates. It will cost an outlet of approximately Rs 800 crore to the government. 

Which scheme is better among the three

OPS was the best scheme because the employees did not have to make any contribution for pension and the government bore all its expenses. However, some other benefits were added to the NPS. 

Now, the Union government has estimated that the UPS will be beneficial for 99 percent of the currently working central employees. In such a situation, it is important to know which is better between NPS and the newly announced pension scheme, UPS.

Under the UPS, employees will get a fixed pension amounting to 50% of the average basic pay earned during the last 12 months before retirement. Whereas, in the NPS, the pension amount depended on the amount invested in the market. 

For employees who served for more than 10 years but less than 25 years, their pension amount will be decided based on proportionate allocation of the period, but this system is not available in NPS.

Under the provisions of the UPS, in case of an employee’s death, the dependent will get 60% of the pension amount as an assured family pension. 

Furthermore, the minimum pension amount in the UPS is Rs 10,000 per month, whereas there is no such provision in NPS.

Another added advantage of UPS is that it is linked to the inflation indexation. In case the retail inflation rate increases then the pension amount will also increase accordingly. Pension, family pension, and minimum pension will be determined based on Dearness Allowance. Whereas in NPS, the pension amount depends on the market performance. 

In this new pension scheme introduced by the Modi government, a lump sum amount worth 10% of the basic salary will be given for every six months during the service period. This will be in addition to gratuity. Additionally, the government contribution to UPS will be 18.5 percent, which is higher than the contribution in NPS which stands at 14%. 

30 organisations issue deadline to Miya Muslims to leave upper Assam within 7 days after the Dhing rape case, Congress MLA challenges them

OpIndia Staff
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30 organisations issue deadline to Miya Muslims to leave upper Assam within 7 days after the Dhing rape case, Congress MLA challenges them

Following the horrific rape of a minor girl in Dhing in Assam by three youths from the Muslim community, sentiments against Miya Muslims have risen in Assam. Amid the protests against the rape case, several organisations have now issued an ultimatum to Miya Muslims to leave upper Assam within 7 days. Notably, Miya Muslims refer to Muslims of Bangladeshi origin, as against indigenous Muslims in Assam.

As many as 30 organisations in Upper Assam, the districts in eastern Assam, have come together to issue the deadline to the Miya Muslims to leave the region within 7 days. Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad said, “The whole incident has been committed by Miya Muslims. Miya Muslims have now become a cancerous disease in Assam. There are many Mia Muslims in Lower Assam. They are involved in crimes like rape, robbery, drug trafficking. People are upset.”

The organisation added that they are concerned that incidents like lower Assam will take place in upper Assam also. They asked the govt to expel Miya Muslims from upper Assam as soon as possible. “We have set a deadline of 7 days. After 7 days, the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad will take measures to evict them even by using force. We have made it clear that they must leave within seven days. This is our last word.”

30 nationalist organisations have come together to issue the deadline, which includes All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU), Asomiya Yuva Manch, Asomiya Mahila Manch, Bir Lachit Sena, All Assam Adivasi Students’ Union, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Chhatra Mukti Sangram Samiti, Assam Sabbas Tribal Students’ Union, Garia Maria Desi Jatiya Parishad, Chutia Jati Yuva Sammelan, All Assam Chutia Students’ Union, All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, Tai Ahom Youth Council, All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, Tai Ahom Youth Council  All Moran Students Union, Ahom Sena and others.

They also asked the businesses to terminate Miya Muslim workers.

Amid the demands, Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal triggered a controversy by challenging the organisations saying that they can’t evict Miya Muslims from upper Assam. He said that while he condemns the Dhing rape incident, the entire community can’t be held guilty for the same.

Mandal also claimed that Miya Muslims are contributing to the community by doing labour works in various sectors. He claimed that alleged hateful comments by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and others have encouraged such demands.

RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case: CBI conducts searches at premises of former Principal in Kolkata amid corruption probe

ANI
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RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case: CBI conducts searches at premises of former Principal in Kolkata amid corruption probe

The anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches on Sunday at multiple locations connected to former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and his relatives in West Bengal’s Kolkata.

According to CBI sources, searches were underway at 15 locations across the city related to Dr Ghosh and his relatives.

A CBI team also reached the residence of Dr Debashish Som, Demonstrator of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on Sunday morning, they said.

These actions follow a complaint filed three days earlier by Akhtar Ali, former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, alleging corruption and irregularities at the institution and specifically naming Dr Debashish Som.

On Saturday, the CBI filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Dr Sandip Ghosh based on directives from the Calcutta High Court. The investigation was initiated after a single bench of the High Court ordered the CBI to probe the alleged corruption at the medical college.

Earlier, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the Calcutta High Court visited the CBI office at Nizam Palace and handed over crucial documents related to the case. Acting promptly on this information, the CBI filed the FIR and submitted a copy to the Alipur Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court on Saturday.

The Calcutta High Court has granted the CBI three weeks to submit a progress report on the investigation, which is to be presented on September 17.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the security of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to be handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) while hearing the suo motu case concerning the rape and murder of the trainee doctor.

The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

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

Actor Siddique resigns as General Secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists amid resurfaced sexual assault allegations

OpIndia Staff
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Actor Siddique resigns as General Secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists amid resurfaced sexual assault allegations

On 24th August, Malayalam actor Siddique resigned from the post of General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). He resigned over allegations of sexual assault levelled against him by a female actor. The resignation has been submitted to Mohanlal, president of AMMA.

In a statement, Siddique said, “Yes. I have tendered my official resignation to the president of the organisation, Mohanlal. Since there were allegations against me, I have decided not to continue in the post and resigned.” The allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled in 2019 by a Malayalam actor. The issue has sparked again following Justice Hema Committee’s report highlighted widespread cases of sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.

In a statement, the victim said, “There was this Malayalam film which was being screened at the Nila theatre. He called me for a discussion about the film at the Mascot Hotel. That’s how I went there. This happened when I was 21.”

She added, “His approach, just like others, was to call me ‘daughter affectionately’. At that time, I didn’t realise this was the approach he had. I didn’t know this would happen. I went to that hotel with a very professional approach. I realised only later, after I became an adult, that such a film never existed. He sexually abused me in that hotel. It was a trap. Whatever he is saying now is completely false.”

She further said, “What he has done to many survivors, including me, as I said, is rape. I know I am speaking to the media and understand how the survivors who are listening to this are feeling right now. But if I have to speak openly, then let me tell you that this is how he behaved with me.”

“He touched me without my permission. He physically assaulted me, kicked me and trapped me. The face he has put on now is that of a liar. When he says all these are a criminal offence, he is one. I hope he has a mirror in his home. If not, I would be happy to gift him one. I am very sure he lies to himself every day. The price I had to pay was my dreams, my time and lots of mental issues I had to go through. Nobody should have to go through all this. Because when I knocked on the doors of justice, nobody gave it to me. Be it anyone, any system, I never got it,” she added.

Several AMMA members welcomed Siddique decision to give resignation. Vice President of AMMA Jayan Cherthala said it was not appropriate for him to continue in the position as such serious allegation have cropped up against him once again. Actor Anoop Chandran said he sent an email to Mohanlal in the morning seeking Siddique’s resignation. “The continuation of a person, facing serious allegations, in the post is actually an insult to the entire organisation. So I said in the email that if Siddique was not ready to step down on his own, the executive committee should be prepared to oust him,” he told media.

Actress Mala Parvathy called decision of actor Siddique “morally and ethically correct”. She said, “The actor’s resignation is inevitable…it is an appropriate decision. If that victim woman showed the courage to come in front of the society and detailed the trauma she underwent publically, we should understand the intensity of pain and humiliation she had suffered.”

Justice Hema Report exposed challenging circumstances faced by women in Malayalam film industry

On 20th August, the Kerala government came under heavy criticism for or holding up the release of the Hema committee report, featuring startling information about how women are treated in the Malayalam film industry. The report was made official on 18th August.

This study, which bears the name of the committee’s chair, Justice K. Hema (Retd.), is an important document that highlights the challenging circumstances that women in the film industry face. The committee was established in response to the 2017 sexual assault of a well-known actress, which caused public indignation and prompted calls for structural reform in the business.

The study emphasized the serious obstacles that women encounter in the Malayalam film business, such as pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination based on gender, and an unfriendly workplace. The most startling discovery was that women who experience sexual harassment or assault frequently choose not to speak up for fear of being branded as “troublemakers” or being shunned by the business.

Testimonies from other women in the industry, who detailed their terrifying experiences, are included in the report. A scenario that was particularly unsettling featured an actress who was made to rehearse a scene in which she was hugged by an actor who had previously molested her. The actress suffered severe physical and psychological damage from having to endure 17 takes. Her performance was critiqued by the producer, who failed to recognize or comprehend the emotional agony she was experiencing.

The study emphasized how few basic amenities, like women’s restrooms and changing areas on movie sets, are available to women in the business. The substantial salary gap that exists in the Malayalam cinema industry between male and female actors was also highlighted by the survey.

The committee discovered that the sector frequently rejects women who dare to speak out against harassment or discrimination. They are called “problem-makers,” which negatively impacts their chances of getting a job and makes them feel alone in the workplace. The industry’s culture of backlash against female employees who speak for themselves is a contributing factor to the ongoing harassment and abuse of these workers.

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