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Campaigning in elections not a fundamental right, bail to Kejriwal for electioneering will be discriminatory: Enforcement Directorate to Supreme Court

OpIndia Staff
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Campaigning in elections not a fundamental right, bail to Kejriwal for electioneering will be discriminatory: Enforcement Directorate to Supreme Court

On Thursday, May 9, Enforcement Directorate filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court opposing interim bail for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of Kejriwal on Wednesday, May 10. The Delhi CM is in custody since March 21, after he was arrested in the Delhi Excise Policy Scam.

A day ahead of the bail hearing, ED filed the fresh affidavit in which it emphasised that no political leader has ever been granted interim bail for campaigning even if he is not contesting polls. “The right to campaign for an election is not a fundamental, constitutional or legal right. To ED’s knowledge, no political leader has been granted interim bail for campaigning even though he is not the contesting candidate,” the affidavit read.

Notably, Arvind Kejriwal is trying to use campaigning for the elections as the reason to get interim bail from the Supreme Court. Earlier, the Delhi CM had used same excuse to dodge ED summons when he skipped the summons in the name of campaigning for assembly elections in 5 states late last year.

Saying that granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal will be discriminatory in nature, ED said that no politician could be arrested and kept in judicial custody if they are granted interim bail for poll campaigning.

The ED mentioned in the affidavit, “Around 123 elections have taken place in the past three years and if interim bail is granted for election campaigning then no politician can be arrested and kept in judicial custody since elections take place all year round.”

It also said that Arvind Kejriwal or any other politician cannot cannot claim a special status higher than that of an ordinary citizen in the name of election campaigning as it would be discriminatory.

Haryana: JJP supremo Dushyant Chautala renews offer of support to Congress to try and bring down incumbent BJP government

ANI
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Haryana: JJP supremo Dushyant Chautala renews offer of support to Congress to try and bring down incumbent BJP government

Amid the political crisis in Haryana brought on by the withdrawal of support to the BJP government by three Independent MLAs, former deputy chief minister and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) supremo, Dushyant Chautala, wrote to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Thursday, seeking his urgent intervention in ending the prevailing political deadlock and impose President’s Rule if the incumbent was unable to prove its majority in the Assembly.

In his letter, Dushyant urged the Governor to seek a floor test at the earliest and impose President’s Rule if the government failed to prove its majority in the House.

“Given the developments and the clear stance of the party, i.e., JJP, which does not extend its support to the present government and is open to backing any other political party for government formation, it is evident that the incumbent government no longer commands a majority in the legislative assembly,” Dushyant wrote to the Governor.

Earlier in the day, the JJP chief renewed his offer of ‘outside support’ to the Congress in bringing down the incumbent BJP government, saying that the Governor is vested with the power to order a floor test, adding that if the government doesn’t have the majority, he should enforce President’s Rule in the state without wasting a second’s time.

Speaking to ANI, the former deputy CM said, “The government that was formed two months ago is now in a minority after two MLAs, who supported them–one from the BJP and the other an Independent MLA–resigned. Three Independent MLAs, who were with them, also withdrew support and conveyed the same to the Governor. The JJP has clearly stated that in the event of a No Confidence Motion against this government, we will support it. We have also written to the Governor, clearing our stand. Now, the onus is on the Congress to take this step (seek a floor test). They have to decide if they would do what’s necessary to corner and bring down this government.”

On May 7, the Haryana government suffered a big jolt after three independent MLAs withdrew support from the Nayab Saini government, pushing the dispensation into a minority. The three MLAs were Randhir Golan from Pundri, Dharmpal Gonder from Nilokheri and Sombir Singh Sangwan from Charkhi Dadri. All of them decided to extend support to the Congress.

However, the BJP appeared confident of retaining power, with former chief minister Manhora Lal Khattar claiming that several leaders of the Congress and the JJP were in touch with his party.

The development came amid the Lok Sabha polls and within two months after Nayab Saini took over as CM, replacing Khattar. In the House of 90 members, the BJP has 39 MLAs, the Congress 30, the Jan Nayak Janata Party has 10, the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) has one, and the Indian National Lok Dal has one, along with seven Independents.

The BJP, which had 41 MLAs initially, were reduced to 39 after the Karnal and Rania seats fell vacant following the resignation of two MLAs.

Six of the seven Independent MLAs support the incumbent BJP earlier. However, with three Independents withdrawing support, the BJP, at present, has the support of only three Independents and one HLP MLA, taking its strength in the Assembly to 43 MLAs.

All 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state would go to the polls in the penultimate phase, on May 25.

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

US Embassy issues advisory warning about terror threat at Karachi Port in Pakistan, asks officials to restrict access to concerned areas

OpIndia Staff
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US Embassy issues advisory warning about terror threat at Karachi Port in Pakistan, asks officials to restrict access to concerned areas

On Tuesday (7th May), the US Embassy in Pakistan issued an advisory highlighting a threat of terror attack on Karachi Port in Pakistan. The Embassy asked the US government officials to restrict their access to the airport given the threat of a terrorist attack.

“The US Consulate General Karachi is aware of a threat of a terrorist attack at Karachi Port. In response to such situations, the US Embassy and Consulates sometimes restrict access to certain areas for official US government personnel.  Karachi Port is temporarily restricted for official US government personnel,” the advisory read.

The advisory further asked the officials to avoid crowded places in Pakistan and keep a low profile. “Be aware of your surroundings. Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists/Westerners,” it added.

Earlier, the US Embassy in Russia had also issued an advisory warning about imminent plans by terrorists to attack Moscow in March 2024. This alarm came after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that a planned synagogue shooting by a group associated with the Islamic State’s Afghan arm (ISIS-Khorasan) had been foiled.

“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,” the embassy said issuing an alert to the US officials.

The embassy asked all US citizens living in Russia to leave immediately but did not disclose detailed information regarding the nature of the threat. The caution advised avoiding large gatherings, especially concerts, for the next 48 hours and remaining careful in crowded locations.

The FSB revealed that an ISIS-Khorasan cell working in Russia’s Kaluga region had planned to attack a synagogue with guns. Reportedly, the attack happened on 22nd March at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow causing bloodshed. 

Later the Embassy also issued a travel advisory asking US citizens to avoid travelling to Russia given the threat posed by the terror attack.

 

Air India Express crisis: 30 staffers sacked over sick leave, ultimatum issued to others as 86 flights were canceled, operations halted until 13 May

OpIndia Staff
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Air India Express crisis: 30 staffers sacked over sick leave, ultimatum issued to others as 86 flights were canceled, operations halted until 13 May

The 30 cabin crew members of Tata Group-owned Air India Express were “terminated from their jobs with immediate effect” for taking unannounced sick leave on May 7. The mass sick leaves resulted in the cancellation of over 100 flights since May 7th night, affecting about 15,000 customers.

The remaining cabin crew members who reported sick were given an ultimatum by Air India Express to go back to work by 4 pm on 9th May or else they would be fired. Senior Air India Express staff members’ mass leaves have compelled the airline to suspend flights until 13th May.

A few hours prior to their flights, up to 327 senior crew members reported feeling “sick” and turned off their phones. The situation has forced the cancellation of at least 74 (85 per some reports) flights that were planned for 9th May. Meanwhile, the airline declared that it would be running 283 flights on the same day operating on 20 of the routes that are part of Air India Express.

A notification by Air India Express informed, “We will be operating 283 flights today. We have mobilised all resources and Air India will support us by operating on 20 of our routes. However, 74 of our flights stand cancelled and we urge our guests booked to fly with us to check if their flight is affected by the disruption before heading to the airport. If their flight is cancelled, or delayed beyond 3 hours, they may opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any fees on Tia on WhatsApp (+91 6360012345) or on airindiaexpress.com.”

Air India Express sacked some crew members

On the evening of 8th May, thirty crew members got notifications of termination. The sources also stated that a meeting between the airline management and the striking crew members is scheduled for 9th May at 2:00 pm in Delhi, at the request of Regional Labour Commissioner Ashok Perumalla. The airline stated that the crew members’ action “pointed to a pre-mediated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason”.

In the email notice of termination it sent to the affected employees, it added that the widespread sick leave “violated the Air India Express Limited Employees’ Service Rules as are applicable” in addition to breaching the relevant laws.

According to the statement, the crew members were scheduled to fly on 7th May informed the Scheduling team at the last moment that they were unwell and accordingly reported sick. “It is noted that at around the same time, an overwhelming number of other cabin crew members have also reported sick and not reported for their duties. This clearly points to a pre-mediated and concerted abstentation from work without any justifiable reason,” the statement adds.

The airline asserted that as a result, “a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which caused tremendous inconvenience to our esteemed passengers.” The press release further read, “Your act amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the company.” “You will no longer be considered an employee; you will no longer have access to official emails, servers, and other communication; and you and your dependants shall not be eligible for any employee-related benefits provided by the company,” the airline mentioned when it laid off the staff members.

The reason behind the dispute

Air India Express is a fully-owned subsidiary of Air India, a division of the business conglomerate Tata Group, which is experiencing network-wide disruptions as a result of certain cabin crew workers reporting sick, reportedly in protest of the carrier’s revised human resources (HR) rules. The airline was being mishandled and there was a “lack of equality in treatment,” according to a letter that the 300-strong Air India Express Employees union submitted to the Tata group and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran previously.

The Air India Express Employees organization (AIXEU) is a legally recognized organization that represents approximately 300 senior members of the cabin crew. The union had further claimed that employee morale had been impacted by the airlines’ mismanagement of its problems. A number of media outlets reported that employees are being offered lower-level positions even after they pass the interviews. Another significant factor contributing to the complaint is the alteration of important components of their compensation package.

An employee reported that the cabin crew was not receiving the necessary help. She added that in addition to having to share rooms during layovers, there is a lot of stress and that the allocated hotel rooms occasionally lack sufficient amenities. Among the concerns being raised by a portion of the older cabin staff are room sharing, inadequate assistance, the new pay scale and what they perceive to be unfair treatment of the more seasoned staff members.

Another member of the cabin crew expressed that people who have been with Air India Express for a long time are receiving different treatment than those from AIX Connect and that the management of the airline was unwilling to investigate their complaints. Additionally, AIXEU claimed that the employees’ morale has been impacted by the mishandling of the affairs.

The staff members are also protesting the merger of AI Express with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) by the management of the Tata Group as the company is proceeding with its intention to combine its two airlines in addition to hiring more cabin crew to assist its growth. The airline normally operates more than 350 flights every day, but if circumstances require, it can potentially operate up to 400 daily flights.

Regional Labour Commissioner slammed Air India Express

Regional Labour Commissioner Ashok Perumalla criticized Air India Express for its poor management in an email message dated 3rd May and conveyed that the union’s concerns were legitimate. He declared that no responsible decision-makers had been sent by the airline management to any of the conciliation proceedings. It was clear that there had been mismanagement and flagrant labour code violations. “The HR (human resources) department tried to mislead the conciliation officer with the wrong information and an idiotic representation of legal provisions,” he observed, adding that a high-ranking committee should be appointed to handle the employee complaints.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, would be consulted by the regional labour commissioner in the ongoing conciliation process concerning the conflict between Air India Express management and some cabin crew members. Numerous airports, including Bengaluru, Calicut, Delhi and Kochi, experienced flight difficulties. Both domestic and international services including those for multiple Gulf nations have been negatively impacted. 14 of the carrier’s flights were cancelled at Delhi airport alone on 7th May between 4 am to 4 pm.

Low-cost carrier Air India Express is the second Tata Group airline to witness employee protests in recent months. Due to staff shortages, Vistara, its joint venture with Singapore Airlines, also had to cancel flights last month. Later, after pilots reported absenteeism in large numbers, Vistara was forced to reduce its operations. Moreover, a thorough report about flight delays and cancellations has also been demanded by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation from the airline.

ED plans to file preliminary chargesheet against Arvind Kejriwal in excise policy case, agency calls him ‘kingpin’ of the scam

OpIndia Staff
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ED plans to file preliminary chargesheet against Arvind Kejriwal in excise policy case, agency calls him ‘kingpin’ of the scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) plans to file a preliminary chargesheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his involvement with a money laundering case involving the now-scrapped liquor policy. This is the first time Kejriwal would be mentioned as an accused in the case.

The ED’s move will coincide with Kejriwal’s interim bail plea in the liquor policy case at the Supreme Court on Friday (10th May). In the chargesheet, the ED would make reference to Kejriwal as a ‘kingpin’ and main conspirator in the liquor policy case. The investigating agency stated to have discovered a money trail leading back to Kejriwal.

On Wednesday (8th May), Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who presided over the Supreme Court bench, directed Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represents the ED, to have his submissions ready by Friday (10th May). 

“We will issue an interim order (for interim bail) on Friday. The major issue regarding the challenge to arrest will also be heard on the same day,” Justice Khanna stated.

Kejriwal did not receive any relief from the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with the bench of Justices Khanna and Dipankar Datta rising without issuing an order allowing him interim release to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.

The bench stated that if Kejriwal is released on interim bail, he should not perform his official duties because it would create a conflict of interest. “We do not want interference at all in the working of the government,” it said. Supreme Court said if elections were not there then it would not have given any interim relief.

Kejriwal’s name appeared several times in the charge sheets submitted by the ED in the excise policy case. The agency alleges that the accused worked with Kejriwal to develop the excise policy, which resulted in disproportionate gains for them in exchange for payments for the Aam Aadmi Party.

The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21. He is currently detained in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

Importing terrorists, slacking on law and order, fraud ‘student visa’ industry are Canada’s own problems: How Trudeau govt’s India blaming is pathetic cover up for own mistakes

Shraddha Pandey
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Importing terrorists, slacking on law and order, fraud ‘student visa’ industry are Canada’s own problems: How Trudeau govt’s India blaming is pathetic cover up for own mistakes

It has come to light that two of the three persons accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar entered Canada on student visas. Kamalpreet Singh and Karan Brar arrived in Canada from India’s Punjab on student visas in 2019.  Brar started studying at Calgary’s Bow Valley College on 30th April 2020. He moved to Edmonton on 4th May 2020.

A spokesperson for the college verified that Karan Brar had enrolled in the Hospital Unit Clerk programme in 2020. The program lasted eight months, however, Karan Brar continued to stay in Canada even after his studies had ended. This raises serious questions over why the Canadian authorities allowed Brar, who arrived on a student visa, to stay in Canada even though was not studying anything for years.

In a 2019 video, Karan Brar said that he applied for a student visa through EthicWorks Immigration Services in Bathinda, Punjab, and received it within days. The average Canada student visa processing period is 7 to 9 weeks. The video was shared to the Facebook page of EthicWorks Immigration Services, however, it has now been deleted.

Student visa business that the Canadian economy thrives on and the incompetence of Canadian agencies

As of December 2023, Canada had over a million international student visa holders. According to the Canadian government, international education contributes $22 billion to the Canadian economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs. Recently, Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma pointed out that Canada at present has around 427,000 Indian students who inject close to $18 billion into the Canadian economy. Speaking at the recent Council on Foreign Relations Montreal (CORIM) conference, Verma also talked about how the shady visa agents and education “outlets” are duping Indian students and said that “Brand Canada got a bad name in education.”

Besides providing substandard education in exchange for high tuition fees, Indian students also fall victim to fraudsters. Last year, one such agent was arrested in Jalandhar who gave fake offer letters to his victims. Over 700 Indian students faced deportation threats in Canada last year after the fraud agent was arrested. It was shocking that the Canadian agencies, including Canadian Border Security Agency, allowed many of these students to study and complete their degree on the very same ‘fake offer letters’.

It is alarming that Canadian agencies like Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and CBSA have in many instances failed to determine whether International students carried fake or forged documents and approved their studies.

Nijjar failed to get Canadian citizenship twice, yet lived and died in Canada

It is, however, not shocking that people like Karan Brar arrived in Canada on a student visa and stayed there for years even after their study had been completed. Notably, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was allegedly shot dead by the three arrested accused, including Karan Brar, had submitted forged documents and performed a marriage of convenience to obtain Canadian citizenship. The Khalistan Tiger Force chief Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey by two unidentified assailants on 18th June 2023.

Interestingly, Nijjar arrived in Canada in 1997 with a false identity. He arrived at Pearson Airport in 1997 using a fraudulent passport in the name of “Ravi Sharma”. In his first attempt, Nijjar submitted an affidavit to the immigration officials in June 1998 that his life was in grave danger in India. The officials, however, found that the affidavit was fabricated. The officials categorically said they did not believe Nijjar was ever arrested and tortured by the police.

As this plan didn’t work out, Nijjar took a “plan B” path to get Canadian citizenship, and just eleven days after immigration officials refused his claims, he married a woman from British Columbia who sponsored him to immigrate as her spouse. It was reportedly found that Nijjar’s supposed wife was sponsored by a different husband in 1997. Despite his best efforts, the authorities back then rejected Nijjar’s application. Later, Nijjar challenged the decision in court in 2001 and lost. Even though Nijjar’s applications to gain Canadian citizenship were rejected, he claimed to be a Canadian citizen.

Trudeau government’s blame game against India to divert public attention from its own mistakes

Months after Nijjar’s killing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, notorious for mollycoddling Khalistani terrorists and allowing their anti-India activities on Canadian soil unchecked for his political gains, accused the Indian government of assassinating Nijjar. Trudeau tried to scapegoat India for his own government’s incompetence. The Canadian PM had the audacity to blame the Modi government in India for his own policy of importing terrorists, slacking on law and order to offer student visas, and failing to monitor if international students overstayed in the country even as their studies had been completed.

Trudeau’s government has openly supported Khalistani terrorists, protecting and enabling them to continue their anti-India activities. This explicit backing for Khalistani terrorists has been a huge thorn in the India-Canada relationship, driving bilateral relations to rock bottom.

Canadian authorities have even allowed Khalistani terrorists to intimidate and harass Indian diplomats in Canada. Several terrorists and wanted criminals from India have been staying in Canada and carrying out their criminal activities with active backing and sanctuary from the Trudeau government.

The Trudeau government launched a tirade against the Indian government over Nijjar’s killing even though it had no credible evidence beyond rhetoric. The Trudeau government was quick to blame India, however, it should answer as to why it allowed Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020 to live and gave him space to become politically strong in Canada.

The Indian government has also time and again warned the Canadian government to refrain from granting visas to people of criminal background, however, the warnings fell on deaf ears. Following the arrest of Kamalpreet, Karan Brar and Karanpreet Singh in the Nijjar assassination case, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings from New Delhi. He added some people in Canada, with ‘pro-Pakistan leanings’, have organised themselves politically and taken the shape of an influential political lobby.

Interestingly, the Khalistan sympathisers in Canada have been fostered and protected by the Trudeau government even when they engage in anti-India and anti-Hindu activities including attacks and vandalism of Hindu temples by Khalistanis. In the name of freedom of speech and the right to protest, Justin Trudeau has genuflected before the Khalistani separatist terrorists. Be it allowing anti-India protests wherein the Indian tricolour is insulted, hateful and provocative sloganeering is done to allowing Khalistani terror groups to conducting farcical ‘referendums’ challenging India’s sovereignty, the Liberal Party has given a free pass to the Khalistanis to thrive on Canadian soil even at the cost of ruining diplomatic ties with India.

While Hardeep Singh Nijjar employed illegal methods to gain Canadian citizenship and it is to this day not clear if he was even a legitimate citizen of Canada, Justin Trudeau, while attacking India last year, had called him a “Canadian citizen” and even expelled an Indian diplomat triggering India to give a befitting response. PM Trudeau’s admiration for Khalistani terrorists is widely known. In fact, Trudeau has Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) as its alliance partner. Singh is known for his pro-Khalistan and anti-India views. The NDP leader has also been vehemently accusing the Indian government of Nijjar’s killing, even though the Canadian police have not given any evidence regarding India’s link to the murder.

It may be out of political compulsion to appease Khalistani terrorists and a requisite coverup, that the Trudeau government decided to blame India for Nijjar’s assassination. However, people obtaining student visas, staying in the country even when their education was completed, or submitting forged documents and still managing to get clearance from the Canadian authorities and end up indulging in criminal activities as in case of Nijjar’s murder is Canada’s own problem. The Canadian government cannot blame India for its own failures.

Instead of blaming the Indian government to deflect attention from its own failures, the Liberal Party-led government should focus on fixing its own mistakes. As warned by EAM S Jaishankar, Canada should refrain from giving visas to people with criminal linked to organised crime besides ensuring that the Canadian security agencies do not let student visa holders overstay in the country.

Tamil Nadu: Whistleblower D Ferdin Rayan hacked in Tirunelveli, had complained about illegal constructions, illicit stone mining under the DMK govt

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Whistleblower D Ferdin Rayan hacked in Tirunelveli, had complained about illegal constructions, illicit stone mining under the DMK govt

Social activist and whistleblower D. Ferdin Rayan (36) was brutally attacked in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, on 4th May, using a sharp-edged weapon. He is a resident of Samathanapuram. He was attacked while travelling to the badminton court at the Anna Stadium complex in Palayamkottai. The perpetrator, who is still at large, inflicted grave injuries on the victim before absconding from there. Rayan cried out for assistance and people rushed to the spot but the culprit got away before anybody else could stop him. Palayamkottai High Ground police have registered a case and are searching for the accused.

Rayan was severely injured and was sent to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital right away to receive emergency treatment. Fortunately, doctors have determined that his condition is stable and he is not in danger at the time. The incident is reportedly the result of his persistent whistleblowing, per the authorities. According to them, he used to file petitions with Corporation officials to prevent unauthorised construction in Tirunelveli City and appeal to other relevant officials to stop illegal stone quarrying in the area.

He gained admiration and contempt for his tenacity in exposing fraud and unethical behaviour at the Corporation, Electricity Board, Mines Department and other governmental organizations. The exploitation of natural resources, especially illicit mining, has been strongly opposed by him. His steadfast dedication to transparency and the public good has made him a nuisance to those engaged in unlawful actions.

Rayan had driven from his house at around 5:40 am on the day of the attack to the badminton club located behind the Corporation office. However, unknown people riding a motorcycle stopped him outside the Corporation headquarters and targeted him with machetes, slashing his head, back and limbs. He drove his car into the Corporation compound while sustaining serious wounds and bleeding profusely. He called for help and passersby responded but the attackers left the scene before they could be caught.

Rayan, a well-known fisherman and native of Kadalpuram in Thoothukudi has been leading the charge in exposing wrongdoing and corruption in the Tirunelveli region. Rayan has courageously employed the Right to Information (RTI) Act as the state president of the Bharathavar Association to reveal official malfeasance and to pursue legal action to address grievances. Significant information has come to light as a result of his efforts, including the horrifying state of a hospital close to Sarah Tucker College, which was severely lacking in infrastructure and basic amenities. He presented the Madras High Bench in Madurai with the proof which led to an order for the hospital to be sealed.

Furthermore, he has uncovered other unjust constructions, highlighting that more than 122 buildings were built without the necessary permits, costing the government a substantial amount of money. In addition, he unveiled the illegal operation of stone quarries and a fraudulent contract for road laying, despite the district’s denial of authorization after a North Indian child was killed in an accident. He contested the execution of an Rs. 1,000 crore Smart City project in the Tirunelveli district, arguing that construction took place without the necessary approvals, as part of his quest for justice. His activism has not, however, been without backlash. He has received threats cautioning him against getting involved in such affairs.

Similar attacks on other whistleblowers

Assaults against activists and whistleblowers in Tamil Nadu’s southern regions have increased alarmingly in recent weeks. Congress district official KPK Jayakumar Dhansigh was the most recent victim. His attacker is still at large and his body was discovered charred a few days after he was reported missing, leaving the details of his death unclear. An attack was carried out on Tirunelveli lawyer Brahma, who was recognized for taking legal action against substandard hotels and hospitals.

Tenth-standard-educated villager Balakrishnan, from Agram village in Thoothukudi, reported illicit sand mining in the Murappanadu-Tamirabarani river and received threats to his life. His safety was secured by the prompt involvement of judges Kirubakaran and Pugalendi from the Madurai bench. He is currently under round-the-clock security from armed police. VAO Lourdsamy was brutally murdered in his office for daring to file a complaint against the unlicensed quarrying of sand.

Facing personnel shortage, Ukraine passes bill to recruit convicted prisoners into the military, murderers and rapists excluded

ANI
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Facing personnel shortage, Ukraine passes bill to recruit convicted prisoners into the military, murderers and rapists excluded

Ukraine’s parliament has made a significant decision amidst the nation’s pressing need for military personnel, passing a bill that would allow certain prisoners to enlist in the armed forces.

The move comes as Ukrainian forces confront a critical shortage of manpower, exacerbated by ongoing Russian advancements on the battlefield, Al Jazeera reported.

Wednesday’s legislative move signifies a notable shift in Kyiv’s stance on the issue. Previously, Ukrainian authorities had staunchly opposed such measures, frequently condemning Moscow for employing prisoners to bolster its military ranks.

The bill’s passage through parliament is a pivotal step, awaiting final approval from the chairperson of parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before implementation.

“The parliament has voted yes,” affirmed MP Olena Shuliak, leader of President Zelenskyy’s party, via a Facebook announcement. She elaborated, stating, “The draft law opens the possibility for certain categories of prisoners who expressed a desire to defend their country to join the Defence Forces.”

Under the proposed legislation, participation in mobilisation would be voluntary and restricted to specific prisoner categories. Notably excluded from eligibility are individuals convicted of sexual violence, multiple homicides, severe corruption, and former high-ranking officials, clarified Shuliak, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Eligible prisoners must have less than three years remaining on their sentence to apply for mobilisation, with the assurance of parole rather than a pardon if enlisted.

However, despite the bill’s passage, the organization Protection for Prisoners of Ukraine expressed disappointment with the approved text. The head of the NGO, Oleg Tsvily, voiced concerns over perceived discrimination within the legislation, noting the elimination of leave for mobilized prisoners and uncertainties regarding their duration of service.

“We support the idea behind the law, but the text that was passed is discriminatory,” Tsvily lamented. He further expressed apprehension about the potential formation of “special units” for mobilized soldiers, fearing possible mistreatment of prisoners akin to reported practices by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia.

The recruitment of prisoners into military service has been a contentious issue since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with allegations of coerced enlistment and promises of presidential pardons for service.

This recruitment strategy was spearheaded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, notably captured on film touring Russian prisons to enlist soldiers for his Wagner Group.

As Ukraine continues to confront intensified Russian aggression, efforts to bolster military recruitment have escalated.

Recent measures include heightened penalties for draft evasion and a reduction in the draft age from 27 to 25, reflecting the nation’s determination to fortify its defences against ongoing threats Al Jazeera reported. 

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

‘Bakwas ki hai,’ people associated with Gandhi family should think before doing anything: Robert Vadra on racist rant by Sam Pitroda

ANI
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‘Bakwas ki hai,’ people associated with Gandhi family should think before doing anything: Robert Vadra on racist rant by Sam Pitroda

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s husband Robert Vadra has rubbished Sam Pitroda’s ‘racist’ remark and expressing surprise at how such an educated person could make these types of comments.

Vadra also said that he completely disagreed with what the former Overseas India Congress chairman stating that the latter should have been more responsible with his remarks.

“When you are associated with this (Gandhi) family, with great power comes great responsibility, you have to think before taking any step. I disagree with what Sam Pitroda has said. ‘Bakwas ki hai’. How can someone so educated say something like this? He was very close to Rajiv Gandhi but he should be a little more responsible. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are making efforts but because of his one statement, the BJP gets a chance to raise unnecessary issues,” Vadra told ANI.

“You come here and talk about the mistakes of this government, point out the shortcomings. But you are sitting on the sofa and saying anything, which is complete nonsense. I am very happy that he has retired. I wrote to him yesterday that all this is wrong,” Vadra said.

Vadra has also criticised Smriti Irani, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Amethi stating that she used his name in a wrong way by showing his picture with Adani.

“I have met a few people to know the reality of the ground. Amethi, Raibareli or Muradabad–wherever I have gone, people believe that I should come into active politics. I lived among the people of that area since 1999, campaigned for Sonia Gandhi and then made her win with a huge majority in 2004. My relations with the people of Amethi and Raebareli have been strong and they think that their MP used my name in the wrong way by showing my picture with Adani,” Vadra said.

He also mentioned that he had challenged Irani for proof but she did not reply.

“I am a member of the Gandhi family and people from across the world want to meet us. I have met Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela. I challenged Smriti Irani that I have a lot of information about you but I didn’t say anything wrong. I told her to prove anything against me regarding Adani but she did not reply. People of Amethi felt that if Smriti Irani misused my name, then I should challenge her because she has not made any progress,” he said.

Further, reacting to Prime Minister Modi’s “Adani-Ambani” remark on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra said all allegations should be investigated.

“These seem to be baseless allegations. The whole country knows that if you look at all the ports, roads and airports, only Adani will be visible. There are two to three industrialists to whom you are handing over all the things of the country. PM does not talk about real issues. Sometimes he imitates Rahul, sometimes he calls him “Shehzada,” Vadra said.

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

Canadian bank faces money-laundering probe over allegations of drug traffickers using the bank to launder money from sale of Fentanyl in USA

OpIndia Staff
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Canadian bank faces money-laundering probe over allegations of drug traffickers using the bank to launder money from sale of Fentanyl in USA

On 2nd May, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Canada’s TD Bank is being probed in a money laundering case. Following the report, the stock price of the Bank dropped by 1%. As per the report, the Justice Department was investigating the bank’s finances and the focus of the investigation into the bank’s internal controls was on how the crime groups from China and drug traffickers used the bank to launder money from the sale of fentanyl in the US.

The investigation into the bank’s operations was initiated after investigating agencies uncovered an operation in New Jersey and New York, where hundreds of millions of dollars were laundered via TD and other banks. This money was earned by the drug traffickers from the sale of illicit narcotics. Prosecutors alleged that TD employees received bribes from the criminals.

In the past couple of decades, TD has become one of the largest regional banks in the US with a series of acquisitions of other financial institutions. In early 2024, TD Bank bought Tennessee’s First Horizon in a USD 13.4 billion deal. Regulators, however, have suspicions that the money laundering activities could have helped speed up the deal.

The sale of First Horizon Bank was barred by the regulators over concerns of suspicious customer transactions. Since then, TD has been quiet on the status of the investigation.

Last year TD disclosed that the bank’s operations were under investigation. However, it was only revealed recently that the focus of the probe was on money laundering operations by drug traffickers and criminals. On 30th April, the bank stated that there were three ongoing investigations against TD in money laundering matters in the US. USD 450 million has been set aside by the bank to resolve one of these investigations and there is a possibility that the bank may face more penalties.

In another statement on 3rd May, Bharat Masrani, CEO of TD, said, “Criminals relentlessly target financial institutions to launder money and TD has a responsibility and an obligation to thwart their illegal activity. I regret that there were serious instances where the Bank’s AML program fell short and did not effectively monitor, detect, report or respond.”

As of now, the US Justice Department is investigating how Chinese drug traffickers allegedly used TD and other banks’ operated to launder at least USD 653 million from fentanyl sales.

On 2nd May, the Canadian Bank regulator fined the bank equivalent of USD 6.7 million as it failed to report suspicious activities and document risks related to terrorist activities and money laundering.

Speaking to The Star, National Bank analyst Gabrial Dechaine said that total penalties in money laundering cases might cost TD Bank as much as CAD 2 billion. Explaining how such activities take place in the banks, Calgary-based anti-money launching compliance and investigations consultant Stephen Scott asserted that it only takes one person per branch to initiate such illegal activities. “It comes down to training and hiring the right people,” he said.

Last week, Canada’s financial-crime watchdog Fintrac also issued a penalty against TD amounting to CAD 9.2 million as it failed to comply with anti-money-laundering and terrorist financing measures. Other banks that were fined by the watchdog were CIBC and RBC with CAD 1.3 million and CAD 7.5 million respectively.

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