On June 20, in Ajmer, Rajasthan, Afzal Shah kidnapped an underage girl who was playing outside her home and absconded with her. However, the next morning on 21st June, Afzal was arrested at Ajmer railway station. Afzal Shah had arrived in Ajmer from Madhya Pradesh around a week back, and he was taking the girl back to Madhya Pradesh with him. During interrogation, the accused revealed that he abducted the minor because he wanted to marry her.
According to media reports, the case pertains to the Christian Ganj police station area of Ajmer in Rajasthan where the 34-year-old Afzal threatened the victim and abducted her. The family started looking for the girl when she didn’t return home. The culprit was apprehended by the police as they reached the railway station after getting information about the girl’s whereabouts. The cops have opened an investigation and filed a case into the matter based on the complaint of the girl’s father, a resident of Makarwali Road.
The complainant stated that his daughter was playing outside their residence but she did not return home. The family members then went around the neighbourhood in search of her. They called their relatives and asked them but could not locate her. The complainant (girl’s father) went to the bus stand in the morning while his other children went to the railway station in search of the girl. Meanwhile, complainant’s elder son learned that the girl was sitting at Ajmer railway station. He rushed there immediately and also notified the authorities. They then rescued the girl and nabbed the perpetrator.
According to the complainant, Afzal Shah grabbed his daughter and threatened to murder her if she screamed before taking her with him. The Christian Ganj police station has initiated an inquiry and registered a case against the offender under the abduction provisions in response to the complaint. Reportedly, there are cases against Afzal Shah in Madhya Pradesh as well.
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in West Bengal unleashed its ‘Khela’ (game) of violence immediately after the conclusion of the last phase of Lok Sabha elections, which were held on 1st June this year.
TMC, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has maintained its sordid record of weaponising political violence against rival political parties – a grim situation reminiscent of the 2021 Vidhan Sabha election and 2023 Panchayat election in the State.
Thousands of BJP workers have been forced to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge and temporary shelter in party offices. Harassment, assault and unspeakable atrocities against the Opposition continue unabated in West Bengal even after 3 weeks since the onset of violence.
"Don't just regret Mamata ji, take action": BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad who led a five-member fact finding team demanding security for victims who fled from their home following post poll violence to meet Governor CV Ananda Bose, reports@joymalabagchipic.twitter.com/nI117eno49
Besides targeted attacks using deadly weapons and crude bombs, TMC goons and party leaders alike resorted to other forms of intimidation against people who dared to vote for the BJP in the State.
In the meantime, the BJP has formed a 4-member fact-finding committee to probe the extent of post-poll violence in West Bengal. The Calcutta High Court has also taken cognisance of the matter and has directed the Mamata Banjerjee-led-government to ensure the safe return of BJP workers to their homes.
As political violence continues to ravage the State, OpIndia takes a deep look at the timeline of attacks on political rivals by TMC goons.
Chronology of attacks by TMC against political rivals
On Friday (21st June), the wife of an Indian Secular Front (ISF) worker was assaulted by Trinamool Congress miscreants in Bhangar in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
As per reports, the accused mercilessly thrashed the woman and cut her hair. After the victim fell unconscious, the TMC goons left her on the spot and fled the crime scene. She was later admitted to a local hospital.
A day earlier, the dead body of a BJP worker named Sanjay Beda was returned home in Debra village in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal.
He was killed 4 days ago on 17th June this year amid the ongoing post-poll violence in the State. The deceased’s family members have demanded strict punishment for the accused.
On Wednesday (19th June), the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of ‘BJP West Bengal’ informed that a mob of 20-30 armed TMC goons murdered the father of a BJP worker named Shashanka Maity. The incident took place in Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district.
In Arjunnagar, under the Bhupatinagar police station in the Kanthi organizational district, Trinamool miscreants beat a BJP worker's father Gourhari Maity to death.
Shashanka Maity, an active BJP worker from Dhaipukuria village in the Arjunnagar region, has been in hiding since… pic.twitter.com/8C5qevqq9P
Shashanka had reportedly been hiding since the election results were announced on 4th June 2024. According to ‘BJP West Bengal’, the accused ambushed his house and assaulted his mother, wife, and sister-in-law.
When his father Gourhari Maity intervened, the armed TMC goons attacked him brutally leading to his death. There have also been testimonies of victims who suffered sexual violence at the hands of the ruling TMC leaders.
For instance, on 17th June, BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya shared a short video clip of a woman who broke down in tears while speaking about how a TMC leader in the Sitai Assembly constituency (Cooch Behar) raped her for working for the BJP.
A woman narrates her ordeal and breaks down as the fact finding team visits Coochbehar to meet victims of post poll violence. After TMC won the seat, the Anchal Pradhan, in Sitai Assembly, raped her, just because she chose to work for the BJP. Mamata Banerjee has legitimised rape… pic.twitter.com/xL0dTByP60
“Mamata Banerjee has legitimised rape as a tool of political violence. Sheikh Shahjahan is not the only monster in TMC,” he said in his tweet.
On the same day, visuals surfaced on social media about a BJP worker injured at the hands of TMC miscreants in Udaynarayanpur in Howrah district of West Bengal.
The victim, identified as Anupam Santra, was admitted to Ulberia Hospital with serious injuries. The local BJP leadership met him at the hospital, following the incident.
It had also come to light that miscreants associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress tried to destroy the livelihood of people who supported the BJP in Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district.
On 16th June, Republic Bangla reported that local TMC goons forcibly shut down the shops and e-rickshaws (Toto) belonging to BJP workers. Forced by circumstances, they filed a complaint with the police.
“You cannot drive your vehicles here. They told us,” recounted a BJP worker.
TMC has forcefully closed the shops and other businesses of BJP workers in Sandeshkhali and is trying to starve them just because BJP got lead from here.
The crime of these BJP workers is that they actively campaigned for BJP and voted for Narendra Modi in Loksabha Elections pic.twitter.com/fw4Iz97hLx
Amid the rampant post-poll violence in the State, a crude bomb was found outside the office of the BJP in Kolkata. West Bengal has been the hub for ‘crude bomb’ cottage industry for quite some time now.
Crude bomb found outside BJP’s 6, Muralidhar Lane office, in the heart of Kolkata, just before the high profile fact finding committee formed by @JPNadda ji, looking into the post poll violence, comprising of a former Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, DGP of UP, among others, was… pic.twitter.com/hb3JcWdZ7v
— Amit Thakur ??( Modi Ka Parivar) (@Amit_Thakur_BJP) June 16, 2024
On 16th June, TMC goons thrashed BJP workers and attacked their houses with bricks and crude bombs. They also vandalised bikes and other vehicles. The incident took place in Goaljan town in Murshidabad district of the State.
In the meantime, the residents of the Kulti neighbourhood in Asansol city had accused the ruling TMC government of cutting water supply in the area following the 2024 Lok Sabha election results.
According to locals, the government sent several water tankers to mitigate the water shortage in the area in the run-up to the crucial elections. They informed that the number of water tankers were reduced drastically after the election results.
At the same time, the availability of piped water in a day had declined from 30 minutes to a maximum of 15-20 minutes. Forced by circumstances, the residents of Kulti launched an agitation against the Mamata Banerjee-led-government to demand immediate redressal of water crisis.
The victims blocked the Asansol Barakar GT Road using fallen trees and set up barricades. They were joined by BJP MLA (Pachim Bardhaman) Ajay Kumar Poddar.
While speaking about the matter, he remarked, “Water is life. People in the area are not getting water…As a result, people are forced to hit the streets. This protest is not being carried out on the behest of any political party. Earlier four water tanks used to come daily. Now, it has been reduced to one.”
"I have sanctioned 4 cr for Mathabhanga 1 block, 10 cr for Mathabhanga 2 block.
Not a single penny is sanctioned for Coochbehar town, Dinhata town and Mathabhanga town as they gave lead to BJP "-
Coincidentally, West Bengal Minister Udayan Guha announced on 14th June that areas which did not vote substantially for the TMC would not receive money for development work.
He later tweaked his statement to assert that people who voted for the TMC would get preferential treatment over those who voted for the rival BJP.
“Let the people in the city first have the realisation that you need to give something to get something in return,” Udayan Guha cautioned BJP voters.
On 14th June, a BJP worker informed that he was abducted by Trinamool Congress members to their party office and beaten black and blue. The incident took place in Durgapur.
The victim had campaigned for former party MP and State President, Dilip Ghosh, in the run-up to the elections. He had refused to join the TMC, which reportedly irked the local party leadership. Following the assault by TMC members, the BJP worker filed a complaint with the local police.
On 9th June, ETV Bangla reported that a Congress worker named Akmal Sheikh was killed by TMC goons in Gopalpur village in Malda district. He was abducted by the accused, taken to a mango orchard and thrashed brutally.
The victim sustained grave injuries during the attack. He was later admitted to the district hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
While speaking about the matter, Malda MP Isha Khan Choudhury remarked, “We have received information that miscreants of the ruling party, led by their regional president, have committed this crime. I demand the immediate arrest of the culprits.”
On 8th June, The Indian Expressreported that BJP workers had been forced to flee their villages and homes to escape violence orchestrated by the ruling TMC government.
A BJP worker named Prasanta Haldar informed, “Election season mane amader ghor chharar season (election season for us means the season of leaving home).” He had sent his wife and children to a relative’s house. In the meantime, he has sought refuge along with 50 others at the BJP office in Baruipur.
Another party worker named Mamoni Das informed The Indian Express that TMC goons forced her out of her home in Matherdighi village in South 24 Parganas. Mamoni, who serves as the VP of the BJP Baruipur, informed that 50 TMC goons gheraoed her house on the day of Lok Sabha election result (4th June).
Similarly, TMC goons harassed another BJP worker named Bikas Roy and took away his e-rickshaw. They also ambushed his residence and issued threats. The plight of BJP workers in Kolkata was no different. About 100 of them were housed in a building near BJP’s West Bengal headquarters.
A 31-year-old Shanu Pramanik told The Indian Express, “After results were out on June 4, our houses were ransacked by TMC goons. I ran away before they could barge in. We then hid at our relative’s place, and at around 3 am today, we left and reached here at 1 pm.”
Another BJP worker named Bishnu Dhali was quick to flee his home and avoid being attacked by TMC goons. “But they severely beat up my aunt. They also ransacked our house, he added.
BJP workers stage protest in Medinipur, image via ETV Bharat
Hooligans associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress attacked the house of a BJP leader named Shubojit Roy in Medinipur with crude bombs, following a victory rally on 7th June this year. He filed a police complaint but no action was taken against the accused.
Dismayed by the situation, he protested against the attack and set up a road blockade. Soon after, the police arrested him along with a female party worker.
Subhojit Roy had informed that his aged mother was at the house when TMC hooligans targeted the building with crude bombs.
Police officer Varunkumar Bagh attacked in Goaghat
Besides political rivals, the TMC goons also did not spare the law enforcement authorities. A police officer, identified as Varunkumar Bagh, was attacked with bricks when he tried to stop TMC’s onslaught against BJP workers in Goaghat in the Hoogly district of West Bengal.
Reportedly, TMC hooligans assaulted BJP workers for not removing their party flag from the area post elections. When the central foces and the local police went to pacify the situation, the accused attacked them as well. A police car was also vandalised by TMC goons.
Besides Varunkumar Bagh, 5 BJP workers were also injured in the targeted attack.
Outrageous! The TMC State General Secretary shamelessly boasts about dumping garbage in front of a Kolkata housing society for daring to vote against them.
Is this what 'serving the people' looks like? Pure thuggery and intimidation. pic.twitter.com/fF9EwauH29
On 7th June, an X (formerly Twitter) user ‘Subham’ informed that the people of a housing society in Kolkata were being punished by the TMC government for voting in favour of the BJP.
The user stated that garbage was being dumped outside ‘Sunrise Heights’ in the Beleghata neighbourhood of Central Kolkata as 543 residents of the housing complex voted against TMC.
Soon after, the State General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, Nilanjan Das, confirmed the development on X (formerly Twitter).He dubbed the action of dumping garbage outside the housing society as a ‘non-violent means of revenge.’
The BJP has slammed the TMC for his outrageous actions. Following outrage on social media, Nilanjan Das deleted his controversial tweet.
Aftermath of post-poll violence in Barasat
On 5th June, the BJP office and houses of several party workers were vandalised in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The accused TMC goons were armed with guns and iron rods.
On learning about the matter, the police and the central armed forces reached the crime spot. After they left, the goons returned to further ransack the area.
Around the same time, the houses of BJP workers were targeted with crude bombs in Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district. A BJP agent’s house was also vandalised in Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas district.
A video of a Hindu woman dating back to 3rd June, narrating the atrocities committed by TMC goons on BJP workers, recently went viral on social media.
She was heard saying in Bengali, “My husband was a polling agent of the BJP. They had also filed a case (fabricated) against my husband.”
“He has been missing since yesterday. The men in the village are not at their homes. They have been hunted down by TMC goons and beaten mercilessly,” she further added.
“Those who had to bear this will be crippled for life. The men were brutally thrashed and stomped on the ground,” the woman pointed out.
She emphasised, “Please ensure that our message reaches Mamata Banerjee – Give us poison (bish) so that we can die peacefully. Else abduct all of us. We do not want to live anymore,”
“We have infants at our house. There is no food at our house. We cannot go to the market and put rice in the mouths of our children,” the woman continued.
“What is the purpose of our existence? It is better that we die,” she said while crying inconsolably. The whereabouts of the woman’s husband, who happened to be the polling agent of the BJP, remains unknown.
On 2nd June, a BJP worker was killed in the Nadia district as a result of post-poll violence.
Conclusion
There seems to be no end in sight to the orgy of violence, harassment and intimidatory tactics unleashed by the goons associated with the ruling Mamata-led-TMC government.
The law apparatus in the State has failed to safeguard lives and prevent the displacement of thousands of people for fear of political violence.
While the Calcutta High Court’s proactiveness in the matter is well appreciated, it must also take into account the complicity of the State machinery in the Khela of post-poll violence.
TTV Dhinakaran, Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) General Secretary, termed the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy as the “failure of the DMK government” and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the matter.
“This is a failure of the DMK government. DMK functionaries are responsible for these deaths. Due to this incident, for three months there would be a complete ban on this spurious liquor but after that, it would be back to older times. CM Stalin is scared to face people; hence, he hasn’t met the victims until now. AMMK demands a CBI inquiry into this,” Dhinakaran said.
The death toll in the Tamil Nadu Hooch tragedy has risen to 56, according to the district administration’s report released on Sunday.
As per the information shared by the District Collectorate, Kallakurichi, there were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
In Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer), Pondy, 17 patients are alive and three have been declared dead, while in Vilupuram Medical College, four people are alive and four have been declared dead.
Most deaths occurred at Kallakurichi Medical College, where 31 people are dead and 108 are alive. At Salem Medical College, 30 people are alive, whereas 18 have been reported dead.
“There are 160 people who were admitted to the above-mentioned hospitals and 56 people are dead,” according to official data.
The Tamil Nadu government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. The inquiry will be led by retired Madras High Court judge Justice B Gokuldas. Justice Gokuldas will submit a report within three months.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased victims, and Rs 50,000 each for the persons under treatment.
The CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police, which was handed over charge of investigating the tragedy, commenced a probe under SP Shantharam.
As per the Kallakurichi Collector, seven people have been arrested in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Sunday (23rd June), wrestler Bajrang Punia was formally issued a “notice of charge” by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for refusing to give his urine sample for a dope test earlier this year. Consequently, NADA has again provisionally suspended him, a month after his initial suspension. Notably, a disciplinary panel had revoked his suspension because the anti-doping agency had not issued him a ‘notice of charge’. However, NADA has now issued the same and provisionally suspended him.
Speaking with India Today, Bajrang Punia’s lawyer, Vishuspath Singania said, “Yes we have received the notice and will certainly respond to it. Last time also, we had attended the hearing, and this time also we will file our reply. He hasn’t done anything wrong, so will fight.”
OpIndia had earlier reported that Punia was provisionally suspended last month after he refused to provide his urine sample to NADA during the selection trials in Sonepat on 10th March this year. Notably, on 10th March 2024, Punia suffered a crushing 1-9 defeat against Rohit Kumar in the men’s freestyle 65kg semifinal. After losing the bout, Punia refused to give his urine sample for a dope test and stormed out of the premises of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The NADA officials tried to take a sample from Bajrang Punia for a dope test, but he left even without competing for the third-fourth place bout.
Punia, who had previously shared a video alleging expired dope collection kits a couple of months ago, refused to comply with the dope control officer’s (DCO) order on the pretext that NADA officials were yet to respond to his concerns. The DCO’s report noted that he left despite being informed that refusal to provide a dope test would result in a notice for violating anti-doping rules. The DCO’s report said, “Punia, surrounded by his supporters, continuously repeated his statement and immediately left the venue refusing to give dope sample.”
However, Punia’s lawyer, Vidhusphat Singhania, successfully got Punia’s provisional suspension lifted when the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) determined that NADA had made an error by not formally charging him with a violation of anti-doping rules.
As per a report in Tribune, the latest order was issued by NADA on Thursday and he has been asked to respond to the latest suspension by 11th July.
While Punia had received temporary relief, the ADDP had allowed NADA to officially charge him with refusing to hand over his urine sample. In its order on 31st May, ADDP had stated, “If NADA decides to issue a notice of charge to the athlete, the matter be expeditiously listed before the hearing panel for final hearing.”
Now, Bajrang Punia has time to respond until 11th July against the notice.
A shocking murder case took place in Indore where BJP leader Monu Kalyane was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday (23rd June). He served as the city President of BJP’s Yuva Morcha and was a close aide of Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.
According to reports, two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at him around 2 AM near the Chimanbagh area in Indore. Monu was putting up flags and posters for the Bhagwa Yatra when the assailants attacked him. One bullet hit his chest, and he was immediately rushed to MY Hospital in critical condition but was declared dead. Following the incident, some people vandalized and set fire to the homes of the accused in the morning.
The incident unfolded in the Chimanbagh area of the MG Road police station jurisdiction. According to the police, accused Piyush and Arjun killed Monu Kalyane due to an old enmity. Currently, both the accused are absconding and the search for them is ongoing.
Monu Kalyane was an influential person in the politics of Indore Assembly constituency number 03. He was considered to be a close associate of former MLA Akash Vijayvargiya, son of Kailash Vijayvargiya.
According to Police, the incident took place around 2 AM near Ganesh Mandal in Chimanbagh. Monu, son of Rajendra Kalyane, a resident of Usha Phatak, was putting up flags and banners with his brother and friends. He was preparing to lead the Bhagwa Yatra from Chimanbagh to Rajwada on Sunday.
(Image Source – Naiduniya)
According to the police, two youths named Piyush and Arjun arrived at the Chimanbagh intersection on a bike. While sitting on the bike, they engaged Monu in a discussion. During this time, Arjun, who was sitting pillion, took out a pistol and fired repeatedly at Monu Kalyane. He then fled from there with Piyush. The assailants also fired at Monu’s friends who were present at the Chimanbagh intersection, but they survived.
As per reports, one bullet hit Monu in the chest, and another grazed his right arm. His companions took him to MY Hospital in critical condition where he was declared dead.
The accused are also residents of the Chimanbagh area. Monu used to lend money at interest, and a dispute over these transactions is emerging as the motive behind the murder. Upon receiving information about the murder, police officers arrived at the scene and raided the homes of the accused, but they were not found. The police are actively searching for them, and police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any potential conflicts.
Following Monu’s murder, Akash Vijayvargiya, son of Kailash Vijayvargiya and former MLA of Indore’s Assembly constituency number 03, reached Monu’s house with his supporters and met his family to console them.
The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) foiled a new cross-border terror network on 22nd June which was operating under the name “Shahadat.” The module head Mohammed Habibullah was also arrested by the authorities. The officials have uncovered a connection between the terror module and members of “Ansar Al Islam”, an Al-Qaeda affiliated group that is outlawed in Bangladesh.
According to official, the Task Force has taken Mohammed Habibullah, the module’s leader (Ameer), into custody from his Paschim Bardhaman home. Police sources mentioned that he is a second-year student pursuing computer science.
Watch: The West Bengal Special Task Force arrested Mohammad Habibullah in West Burdwan's Kanksa area, suspecting his affiliation with the militant group Shahadat, which is linked to Ansar-al-Islam and potentially Al-Qaeda. Shahadat reportedly uses a secret messaging platform… pic.twitter.com/9SgGWTpboy
According to reports, the terrorist, a young man named Mohammed Hasibul Sheikh was nabbed from Mirpara in the Kanksha police station area of the West Burdwan district. A special police squad from West Bengal stormed a home in Mirpara, within the jurisdiction of the Kanksha police station under the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate, at around three o’clock and captured him.
The arrested individual was questioned by senior officers from the Asansol Durgapur Police and Special Task Force at the Kanksha police station after his arrest. He will reportedly be brought to Kolkata afterwards. The major development transpired after a specific tip following which the personnel approached his residence and caught him.
The group’s members primarily used the coded messaging application “BiP” to communicate. According to the SIT authorities, they operate covertly with the intention of doing activities that would undermine the integrity and sovereignty of both India and Bangladesh. A case has been filed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The CPI(M) government of Kerala, facing an acute liquidity crisis, has made a new request for financial support from the Modi government. The state, which is suffering the brunt of the economic mismanagement of the Congress and Left governments, has asked for a special package of Rs 24,000 crore from the centre in the upcoming 2024-25 union budget.
The Kerala govt claims that it will overcome its financial crisis with the help of this package. Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal made the demand in a pre-budget meeting held in New Delhi on 22nd June.
Balagopal said that facing significant liquidity stress due to the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and repeated floods. He claimed that the Kerala govt is finding it tough to manage its finances to meet its obligations due to factors such as reduced share from the divisible pool, lower revenue neutral rate post-GST implementation, cessation of GST compensation and Revenue Deficit Grants, and new restrictions on the borrowing limits.
The Kerala finance minister added that despite taking possible measures to enhance its own tax revenue and non-tax revenue, the state is “going through a very serious liquidity crunch”. He also claimed that Kerala is contributing towards aspects like start-up and innovation, human development index (HDI) and sustainable development goals (SDG) etc, and therefore it should be granted the special package of ₹24,000 by the centre.
“Considering the state’s contribution in varied spheres in keeping up the national pride which include but not limited to HDI, SDG, start up and innovation, a special package of at least Rs 24,000 crore may be announced in the Union budget 2024-25 to tide over the current liquidity stress by scheduling it over a period of 2 years from 2024-25,” he said in the meeting.
Kerala was one of the states that attended the meeting with other states prior to the presentation of the new government’s comprehensive budget. According to Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal, assistance should be provided to his state for a period of two years so that it can combat the economic downturn.
Kerala has also asked for Rs 5,000 crore in addition to Rs 24,000 crore for the development of Vizhinjam Port. Minister Balagopal said that apart from direct investment by the centre in the port project, centre should grant ₹5,000 to the state govt so that the state govt can fulfil its part of the development of the port along with the surrounding region.
The finance minister also requested another ₹5,000 crore for other infrastructure projects like a Tunnel Road link between Calicut and Wayanad. He also requested the centre for an early clearance of the semi-high-speed railway project Silverline.
Kerala has further requested permission to borrow more money from the market in order to help the state’s Left government cover its expenses. The state’s financial collapse has also been attributed to its inability to borrow. Kerala has also made other requests from the centre, aside from this.
Just one month ago, the centre granted Kerala relief of Rs 21,253 crores after which the state has asked for another economic aid of Rs 24,000. The Modi administration allowed Kerala govt to borrow an additional amount of Rs 21,253 crores in May. The relief will continue till December 2024.
Karnataka also demanded a package of Rs 11,000 crores
Congress-ruled state Karnataka, which spent Rs 52,000 crores on election guarantees in the financial year 2024-25, is also seeking a special package of Rs 11,000 crores from the central government. Congress-led Karnataka has asked the Modi administration to release Rs 11,495 crore for the state. Karnataka recently hired an American agency to increase the state’s revenue. for an amount of Rs 9.5 crore for a period of 6 months.
The Congress government has already used the Rs 11,000 crore fund released earlier for SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) to reduce the financial strain caused by free schemes in the state. It has also recently started considering a rise in the price of water and bus fares. The Congress government also recently increased the price of petrol and diesel in Karnataka.
On 22nd June, it was reported that a Bangladeshi national identified as Minar Hemayat was arrested by Surat SOG in Gujarat. Hemayat was living under a forged Hindu identity. Notably, multiple Bangladeshis have been apprehended recently in India by Maharashtra ATS revealing some of them even voted in the recent Lok Sabha elections using forged documents. The arrest has highlighted the growing concern over illegal Bangladeshis living under false identities in various parts of India.
Minar Hemayat is a Bangladeshi Muslim. He was arrested in the Una area of Surat. Police recovered multiple forged documents under the Hindu identity of Shuvo Sunil Das. Several Bangladeshi documents including birth certificates, school admission and leaving certificates, Bangladeshi national ID cards, and other documents were also recovered from the accused. The Indian documents included a school leaving certificate from West Bengal, an Aadhar card, a residency permit card for Qatar, an Indian passport, and a house rent agreement.
Reports suggest that Hemayat came to India from Bangladesh via the Satkhira border in West Bengal in 2020. He got access to the forged documents under a Hindu identity in the Nadia district of West Bengal ruled by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress party. Using the forged documents, he obtained an Indian passport and worked in Doha, Qatar from 2021 to 2023. He then moved to Surat to work in construction.
Source: OpIndia Gujarati
Earlier, four Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended in Mumbai by Maharashtra police and ATS. They created fake documents and used them to get fake voter ID cards. They voted in the Lok Sabha elections as well. Investigations revealed that these Bangladeshi nationals got their fake passports from Gujarat and used them to secure jobs abroad. Some of the individuals travelled to Saudi Arabia using forged Indian documents. The recovery of fake documents highlighted the broader issue of illegal immigration and forging fake identities within India.
The arrests and initiation of multiple investigations in different states have highlighted there is need for stronger measures to curb illegal immigration and document forgery. Such incidents pose a high risk to national security and have the potential to harm the integrity of legal and electoral systems.
Former United States President Donald Trump surprised everyone on 21st June when the Republican presidential candidate proposed granting automatic Green Card to foreign students who graduate from US colleges. The proposal was shared during the “All-In” podcast. The aim of the question about immigration posed to Trump was to get his views on retaining high-skilled workers in the country which has become a major issue for the tech industry in the US.
.@realDonaldTrump on granting automatic Green Cards to college graduates:
"… What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a Green Card to be able to stay in this country."
During the podcast, angel investor Jason Calacanis asked Trump about the support measures he would provide to retain more high-skilled workers in the US, specifically in the tech industry. Responding affirmatively to his query, Trump stated, “What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years.” The proposal by the presidential candidate aims to allow graduates to live and work permanently in the US which would offer a pathway to them to get citizenship eventually.
Donald Trump shifted from anti-immigrant stance
The proposal from Trump marks a significant shift from previous anti-immigrant policies by the Trump administration during his presidency from 2017 to 2021. Several measures were taken aimed to curb the US companies’ use of skilled foreign workers on H-1B visas which is a key visa option for international students who want to stay in the US after completing their studies.
Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration attempted to force tens of thousands of foreign students to leave the US in case their colleges were offering online classes. However, the steps taken by the Trump administration faced lawsuits and strong opposition from colleges and universities leading to the administration rescinding the order.
How will it affect Indian students
Indian students constitute one of the largest groups of international students in the US. The proposal, if it comes into effect in case Trump becomes President for the second time, will be proven highly beneficial for the Indian students. If we look at the stats, the Institute of International Education (IIE) says that in the 2022-23 academic year, over 200,000 Indian students enrolled in US Institutes. It was a 35% jump from the previous fiscal year. The quality of education, extensive research facilities and reputation of American Universities often attract many Indian students.
If implemented, Trump’s proposal will make it easier for Indian students to stay in the US after completing their studies. It will provide them opportunities to become a significant contributor to the economy and culture of the US. There are a lot of visa restrictions that Indian students face at this time, including forced departure back to India when studies are completed, which would be removed significantly.
Skepticism and criticism of Trump’s proposal
Though there are potential benefits of Trump’s proposal, immigration advocates and political opponents are not buying what Trump suggested. The Biden campaign has questioned the sincerity of his proposal as he has opposed immigration in the past. Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said, “Every chance Donald Trump got in office, he made it his mission to rip apart immigrant families for his political gain. Trump’s empty promise is both a lie and an insult, especially to the countless people that have been permanently damaged by his first term in office.”
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, said, “I almost have to laugh because his administration adopted multiple policies aiming to restrict student visas and make it harder for people to stay in the country after graduating.” He also highlighted the contradictions between his current proposal and previous efforts.
Clarification from Donald Trump’s campaign
Notably, Trump’s campaign responded to the scepticism his proposal was facing and clarified that it would only apply to the graduates who undergo the “most aggressive vetting process in U.S. history”. The students who can make significant contributions to the US would get the benefit of the proposal. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s campaign press secretary, emphasised that the proposal would not affect American wages or workers. She said it would exclude “all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters, and public charges.”
Economic and social impact
If the proposal gets implemented, it has the potential to significantly impact the economy and social structure of the US. By retaining highly skilled graduates, the US could benefit from their expertise and contributions to various industries, especially the tech industry. This could enhance innovation, drive economic growth, and maintain the country’s competitive edge globally.
For the students from India, it could provide a more secure and stable future in the US. It would encourage students to pursue higher education in American institutions and further strengthen the cultural and educational ties between India and the US.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, this issue will likely be a critical point of discussion, with implications for the future of US immigration policy and its global standing.
On Saturday, June 22, Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting took place where several key decisions were taken by the council. Several key decisions were taken at the Council meeting to provide relief to taxpayers and ease the compliance burden on businesspersons. Among the decisions taken was the decision to reduce GST on milk cans from 18% to 12% and make it uniform.
Irrespective of the fact whether milk can is made out of steel, iron or aluminium, it will now attract a uniform GST rate of 12% instead of 18% earlier.
GST Council has recommended to prescribe a uniform rate of 12% on all Milk Cans meaning steel, iron, aluminum which are irrespective of the use. They are called milk cans but wherever they are used that will be the rate applicable so that no disputes arise out of it.
— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) June 22, 2024
Shortly after the decision was announced, a social media narrative started to subtly push the agenda that a new 12% tax has been introduced on milk cans by Modi government.
This reduction of GST on milk cans is being projected as if it is a new tax introduced by Modi 3.0, while hiding the fact that there is an actual reduction on GST in this case. Several other Modi government detractors also shared this news of 12% GST on milk cans without adding the context that it has been reduced from 18%, and that now it has been made uniform for all types of cans.
Notably, this GST of 12% is also just on milk cans, not on the milk that we all buy. However, the way fake news and propaganda travels, don’t be surprised if you see videos on the channels of YouTubers that Modi government is now taxing milk at 12%, and subsequently make its way to Rahul Gandhi press conferences.
Interestingly, GST rates are decided by the GST Council which involves Finance Ministers of all states, including the states ruled by the opposition, so blaming Modi government alone for tax rates doesn’t make sense in the slightest. However, in this case, it makes even less sense (if that is possible), as GST Council actually reduced tax rates on the milk cans.
