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Jairam Ramesh slams Modi govt for quoting Manusmriti, but Ambedkar quoted it too for drafting the Hindu code bill: Is Jairam now suggesting Ambedkar was against the constitution?

Shraddha Pandey
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Jairam Ramesh slams Modi govt for quoting Manusmriti, but Ambedkar quoted it too for drafting the Hindu code bill: Is Jairam now suggesting Ambedkar was against the constitution?

From mollycoddling anti-Hindu elements, enacting laws like the Places of Worship Act to prevent Hindus from reclaiming their temples to rejecting the existence of Lord Ram, Congress has never shied away from expressing their disdain for India’s Hindu majority. In a latest, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has objected to the Union Labour Ministry’s draft Shram Shakti Niti (2025) taking inspiration from Manusmriti.

Taking to X on 29th October, Jairam Ramesh insinuated that the Shram Shakti Niti draft taking inspiration from Manusmriti, a foundational Hindu legal code, somehow marks India’s departure from constitutional values.

“The Modi Govt’s draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 released earlier this month for public feedback explicitly claims that the Manusmriti embeds” the moral basis of labour governance within India’s civilisational fabric, centuries before the rise of modern labour law,” Ramesh wrote.

“This return to the principles of the Manusmriti is in keeping with the RSS’s most cherished traditions. After all it had attacked the Constitution of India soon after it was adopted – on the grounds that it did not derive inspiration from the ideals and values of Manu as embodied in the Manusmriti,” he added.

Intensifying his attack on the BJP, Jairam Ramesh told news agency ANI, “When the Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949, the RSS launched a fierce attack on it, saying that this Constitution is not the Indian Constitution because it is not based on the values of the Manusmriti and draws no inspiration from it. Modi and the RSS are one, and the draft of the Modi government says that the Shram Shakti Niti draws inspiration not from the Constitution of India but from ancient texts like the Manusmriti. This is highly objectionable and against our Constitution…The caste system and casteism in our country are the contributions of the Manusmriti, and you will formulate a labour policy from that text. This is an insult to our Constitution.”

The mention of Manusmriti in Shram Shakti Niti draft rattles Congress, party cries ‘insult to constitution’ while Dr BR Ambedkar himself took inspiration from Manusmriti for Hindu Code Bill

Notably, the draft policy “Shram Shakti Niti 2025” aims to address the challenges for India’s labour force, which is going through a “profound structural transformation” with steady rising productivity and enterprise growth. However, it is still having issues pertaining to wage disparity, gender imbalance, and skill mismatch which hinder inclusive development.

The draft’s Civilizational Ethos and Guiding Principles section highlights labour as a sacred duty and social value. It elaborates on how in the Indic worldview, labour/work or Shram is not merely a means of livelihood but a contribution to the broader order of dharma (righteous duty).

To emphasise this point, the draft states, “Ancient texts such as the Manusmriti, Yajnavalkyasmriti, Naradasmriti, Sukraniti, and Arthashastra articulated this ethos through the concept of rajadharma, emphasising the sovereign’s duty to ensure justice, fair wages, and the protection of workers from exploitation. These early formulations embedded the moral basis of labour governance within India’s civilisational fabric, centuries before the rise of modern labour law.”

While the Congress party has persistently been engaged in targeting Hindu faith and beliefs, this time, the grand old party used Dr BR Ambedkar’s name for the same. Jairam Ramesh accused BJP of ditching the values of ‘Ambedkar’s constitution’ and returning to the principles of the Manusmriti, in a bid to paint the BJP as casteist and regressive. However, the Congress leader forgot that even BR Ambedkar leaned on the principles of Maharishi Manu and his Manusmriti while drafting the Hindu Code Bill.

Only if Congress leaders cared to read an actual copy of the constitution instead of waving that small and blank red constitution book, and read the writings of Dr Ambedkar, they would have known that despite his many disagreements, Ambedkar took inspiration from Manusmriti while drafting the Hindu Code Bill in 1949.

The legislation aimed to provide equality by ‘reforming’ Hindu personal laws including those governing inheritance, marriage, and succession. BR Ambedkar had contended that giving women rights in property was stated by Smritikars such as Rishi Manu. During the constituent assembly debate on 24th February 1949, he said [pdf].

“There is no doubt about it that the two Smritikars whom I have mentioned Yagnavalkya and Manu, rank the highest among the 137 who had tried their hands in framing Smritis. Both of them have stated that the daughter is entitled to a one-fourth share. It is a pity that somehow for some reason custom has destroyed the efficacy of that text: otherwise, the daughter would have been, on the basis of our own Smritis, entitled to get one-fourth share.”

He further blamed the Privy Council for prioritising customs over laws, in the absence of which Manusmriti would have empowered women and their inheritance rights years ago.

“I am very sorry for the ruling which the Privy Council gave. It blocked the way for the improvement of our law. The Privy Council in an earlier case said that custom will override law, with the result that it became quite impossible to our Judiciary to examine our ancient codes and to find out what laws were laid down by our Rishis and by our Smritikars. I have not the least doubt about it that if the Privy Council had not given that decision, that custom will override text, some lawyer, some Judge would have found it quite possible to unearth this text of Yagnavalkya and Manusmriti, and women today would have been enjoying, if not more, at least one-fourth of the share of their property.”

While upholding the views of Rishi Manu, BR Ambedkar emphasised:

“However, this is the position, namely, so far as the daughter’s share is concerned, the only innovation that we are making is that her share is increased and that we bring her in the line with the son or the widow. That also, as I say, would not be an innovation if you accept my view that in doing this we are merely going back to the text of the Smritis which you all respect.”

It is ironic that the party which strangled democracy by imposing national emergency to hold on to power has the audacity to accused others of ignoring or undermining the constitution. While Jairam Ramesh claims that Manusmriti introduced caste system and casteism in the society, the ancient text did not prescribe or promote birth-based caste and related privileges or discrimination, rather, it talks about a Guna and Karma-based social order. Had the ancient Hindu text been entirely divisive and casteist, Ambedkar would not have relied on its wisdom to draft the Hindu Code Bill, decades after he reportedly burnt the copies of Manusmriti publicly.

Far from rejecting the text outright, Dr Ambedkar strategically invoked Manusmriti to demonstrate that progressive reforms found their roots in Hindu tradition. Ambedkar was not like a typical present clout hungry Congress politician but a scholar who was open-minded enough to take inspiration even from sources he may have criticised in the past. By wielding Ambedkar as some sort of unassailable shield against the BJP’s imaginary regressive and casteist pivot, Jairam Ramesh’s salvo inadvertently paints Dr Ambedkar as an opponent of the very constitution he is accredited to have played a key role in drafting.

If taking inspiration from religious scriptures which some may find regressive was such a sin, the ‘secular, liberal and progressive’ Congress should oppose those who follow a religious text which essentially commands killing of and discriminatory treatment of those who the book deems ‘infidels’, and those who openly chose their religious text over ‘Babasaheb’s constitution’. However, forget calling them regressive or anti-constitution, the Congress party goes to the extent of bringing up the anti-Hindu, Communal Violence Bill 2011 and even gift 123 government properties.

120 Indian soldiers fought Chinese military in freezing temperatures: Read about the Rezang La battle that inspired film ‘120 Bahadur’, and why Ahir community is protesting

विशेषता
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120 Indian soldiers fought Chinese military in freezing temperatures: Read about the Rezang La battle that inspired film ‘120 Bahadur’, and why Ahir community is protesting

Recently, actor-producer Farhan Akhtar’s upcoming film “120 Bahadur” got embroiled in a major controversy. On Sunday (October 26, 2025), hundreds of members of the Ahir community took out a massive protest march on NH-48 against the film. The protest led by the United Ahir Regiment Front resulted in a kilometre-long traffic jam.

Protesters believe the film’s title, ‘120 Bahadur,’ does not accurately portray the sacrifice and unique identity of these 120 brave Ahir soldiers. The movie is based on the Battle of Rezang La Pass in Ladakh, a legendary saga from the 1962 India-China War. In this battle, 120 Ahir soldiers of ‘C’ Company of the 13th Kumaon Regiment displayed extraordinary bravery and risked their lives.

The protestors are demanding that the movie’s name be changed to “120 Veer Ahir” to accurately reflect the community’s unique contributions. They threatened that it the name of the movie is not changed, they would not allow the film to be released in all states, including Haryana, where majority of the Ahir community resides. The movie and this protest has once again brought the historical and emotional story of Rezang La into national focus.

India-China War 1962: Strategic Importance of Rezang La

The 1962 Sino-Indian War is a painful chapter in Indian history, but the Battle of Rezang La emerged as a symbol of the Indian Army’s indomitable courage and valour. The roots of this conflict began to grow in 1961 when India faced a threat to its territorial integrity because of Chinese encroachments, especially after China started building a strategic road through Indian territory, connecting Xinjiang and Tibet.

To counter this situation, then-Prime Minister Nehru made a decision, which came to be known as the “Forward Policy”. Nehru instructed the Indian Army to establish and hold small outposts along the disputed border, including at positions right across the Chinese positions. This policy led to an escalation of tensions along the border. China, under the guise of the diplomatic slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai”, was rapidly building up its military strength. Finally, on October 20, 1962, the tension at the border escalated into a full-blown war when China launched a simultaneous devastating attack on several Indian posts.

Leh’s last defense wall

By November 1962, the Indian Army had retreated to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. All preparations were now focused on defending Leh. The most important point for Leh’s defense was Rezang La. Rezang La was no ordinary place. It was a pass located at a very high mountain at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet (about 5,500 meters).

This pass protected the Chushul Valley. If China had reached the Chushul Valley, the route to Leh would have been open. Therefore, crossing Rezang La was crucial for China, and for India, securing this pass at all costs was the final and most important challenge.

Defenders of Rezang La: The 120 warriors of ‘Charlie Company’

The challenging task of defending Rezang La was entrusted to ‘Charlie Company’ of the 13th Kumaon Regiment, under the command of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati. The company consisted of 120 brave soldiers, most of whom belonged to the Ahir (Yadav) community of Haryana. They had very little equipment to fight the battle: old rifles and mortars, but their greatest strength was an unwavering determination not to surrender. These soldiers were prepared to face this extremely difficult challenge.

November 18, 1962: The snowy night when the Chinese attacked

It was around 3:00 a.m. on the morning of November 18, 1962. Cold winds were blowing, and the temperature was minus 25 degree centigrade. Lance Naik Hukum Singh and four soldiers were stationed at a small listening post. Through the dense fog, they spotted hundreds of Chinese soldiers stealthily moving up the hill.

The Chinese were marching in thousands, supported by their heavy mortars. Hukum Singh’s brave soldiers immediately reported this to their main company. Hukum Singh knew he was facing hundreds of enemies, yet he refused to retreat. Hukum Singh said, “The longer we hold off the enemy and kill them, the better chance our company has of winning”. As soon as Hukum Singh gave the order, their guns began to fire. The first line of the Chinese army was completely taken by surprise by this sudden attack.

Iron till the last breath: When soldiers fought with bare hands

As the Chinese launched a major offensive on the Indian front, Major Shaitan Singh stood firm. The enemy attacked from three sides and tried their best to surround the Charlie Company. However, the Indian soldiers responded with a heavy barrage of bullets. Naib Subedar Suraj’s 7th Platoon was attacked by around 400 Chinese soldiers. Mortar shots from the Indian troops inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese. Nevertheless, the Chinese soldiers continued to advance, unconcerned about their fallen comrades.

At one point, some Ahir soldiers ran out of ammunition. Even then, they didn’t stop; they began fighting the enemy with their bare hands. Two soldiers even ran towards the Chinese machine gun post, but were martyred. A strong Ahir soldier grabbed a Chinese soldier, lifted him up, and threw him off the cliffs of Rezang La. Unfortunately, Naib Subedar Suraj was hit in the head by a bullet shrapnel, and he uttered “Keep fighting, keep the name of 13 Kumaon high” as he lay his life for the nation.

Commander’s Courage: Major Shaitan Singh’s Greatest Sacrifice

Even as bullets rained down all around him, Major Shaitan Singh remained steadfast. He constantly moved from one post to another. His focus was to keep the soldiers’ morale up, repair broken defenses, and ensure targetted firing at the enemy. However, he was seriously wounded in a machine gun explosion.

Paramveer Major Shaitan Singh

But Major Shaitan Singh refused to move from his position and get treatment. He ordered his men to leave him where he was and continue the fight. His last words were, “Tell the battalion how bravely the company fought”. Three months later, his body was found in the snow at the same spot. For his supreme courage, superb leadership, and the ultimate sacrifice for the country, he was posthumously awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.

History of Rezang La: A tale of frozen fingers on the trigger

The fierce battle of Rezang La was over by 8 a.m. In just five hours of fighting, the ‘Charlie Company’ of 13 Kumaon added a rare valorous chapter to India’s military history. All of Major Shaitan Singh’s men fought to their last breath. Out of 120 brave soldiers, 114 were martyred. Only four survived. In 1963, when the snow melted and the bodies of the soldiers were discovered, it was a shocking sight. Most of the soldiers’ bodies were found clutching their guns. They had suffered many deep wounds from bullets and bayonets.

A small Indian contingent inflicted heavy losses on the Chinese. According to Major General Jagjit Singh, about 500 Chinese soldiers were killed. The battle exhibited an example of the grit and determination of Indian soldiers. The Battle of Rezang La remains a symbol of indomitable courage for the country till day.

The Pride of Rezang La: Salute to the Martyrs

The Battle of Rezang La is one of the shining examples of courage in the country’s history. A war memorial has been built at Rezang La to honor the supreme sacrifice of these martyrs. On November 18, 2021, which marked the 59th anniversary of the battle, the memorial was renovated and inaugurated by the country’s Defense Minister. The memorial continues to narrate the story of the sacrifice of 120 brave Ahir soldiers and the unmatched courage of the Indian Army.

(The article is a translation of the original article published on OpIndia Hindi.)

India’s Maritime Renaissance

Narendra Modi
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India’s Maritime Renaissance

Yesterday, I was in Mumbai to attend the Maritime Leaders Conclave as part of the ongoing India Maritime Week 2025. Mumbai, as we all know, has a strong link with India’s maritime sector. There are historical linkages with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and today, it has a vibrant port infrastructure and is a key trading centre for our nation. I met key CEOs and interacted with leading stakeholders of the sector. In these interactions, it was gladdening to see the optimism towards India in furthering port-led development.

We became disconnected from our roots

India’s proud maritime heritage is well known. We were always known for shipbuilding and coastal trade. We are the land of the Cholas and the Marathas, whose naval might, trading impact and strategic brilliance became pathways of progress and power. Their vision showed us how the oceans can serve as bridges of opportunity.

However, a decade ago, when we assumed office, India’s maritime sector was filled with outdated laws and limited capacities. This was not acceptable to us. And, with a focus on infrastructure, reforms and public participation, the sector has witnessed many transformations over the last eleven years. Today, the sector stands transformed as a symbol of modern infrastructure, global trust and national pride.

Maritime Growth That Redefined Scale

These facts speak for themselves…

India’s port capacity has doubled from 1,400 to 2,762 MMTPA.

Cargo handling rose from 972 to 1,594 MMT, including 855 MMT in FY 2024–25.

Vessel turnaround time has been reduced from 93 hours to 48 hours.

Net surplus increased ninefold from Rs. 1,026 crore to Rs. 9,352 crore. The operating ratio improved from 73% to 43%, marking a new era of efficiency.

This is not all. At the core of every ship and port are our skilled seafarers.

India’s seafarer workforce has grown from 1.25 lakh to over 3 lakh, now accounting for 12% of the global seafaring workforce. India is today among the top three suppliers of trained seafarers in the world.

Shipping and Waterways – The New Engines of Growth

India’s shipping power is expanding across coasts and rivers.

Indian-flagged vessels increased from 1,205 to 1,549, and fleet gross tonnage grew from 10 MGT to 13.52 MGT. Coastal shipping cargo nearly doubled from 87 to 165 MMT.

Inland waterway cargo grew by 710%, from 18 MMT in 2014 to 146 MMT in 2025. Operational waterways expanded from 3 to 32, while ferry and Ro-Pax services carried 7.5 crore passengers in 2024–25.

Modern Ports, Green Future

Our vision for the Maritime sector places topmost importance on sustainability and innovation.

Vizhinjam Port has become India’s first deep-water transhipment hub. Kandla Port hosts the nation’s first green hydrogen facility. JNPT has doubled its capacity and attracted the largest FDI in port history.

The Vadhvan Port project in Palghar, Maharashtra, with an investment of around ₹76,000 crore, will be among the world’s few deep-draft ports at 20 meters. Its seamless railway and highway connectivity, proximity to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway and the Western Freight Corridor will transform the region’s economic landscape, creating new opportunities for logistics, warehousing and trade.

Reform, Perform, Transform

Reform has powered India’s progress at sea.

Five landmark bills, from the Bills of Lading Bill to the Indian Ports Bill (2025), have modernised maritime governance, simplified trade, empowered states and aligned India with global standards.

To accelerate this growth, the government has approved a Rs. 70,000 crore umbrella package for the maritime sector.

The Shipbuilding Assistance Scheme, Maritime Development Fund and Shipbuilding Development Scheme will attract over Rs. 4.5 lakh crore in investment and help produce more than 2,500 vessels. This initiative will position India among the global leaders in shipbuilding and maritime innovation.

Come, invest in India

I can say with confidence that India offers the perfect harbour for investments.

We have a very long coastline.

We have strategic global trade routes,

We have world-class ports,

And, we have an ambitious vision for Blue Economy growth.

We have infrastructure, innovation and intent.

Thanks to our youth, our ecosystem is primed for innovation.

Come aboard!

This article was written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on LinkedIn and has been republished here with due credit. The original article can be read here.

Indian-origin businessman beaten to death in Canada: The chilling rise of racist and violent attacks on Indians in Canada

Shriti Sagar
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Indian-origin businessman beaten to death in Canada: The chilling rise of racist and violent attacks on Indians in Canada

A 55-year-old Canadian-Indian businessman, Arvi Singh Sagoo, was attacked viciously by a stranger in Edmonton, Canada, after he confronted the latter for peeing on his vehicle. The shocking attack occurred on 19th October, and Arvi died five days later, on 24th October.

According to Global News, Arvi had gone out for dinner with his girlfriend that night. When they came back to their car early the next morning, they saw a man pissing on it. “Hey, what are you doing?” Arvi asked the stranger, as his brother later told the media. The man reportedly replied, “Whatever I want,” before walking up to Arvi and punching him hard in the head.

Arvi collapsed on the ground, unconscious. His girlfriend immediately called 911 for help. Paramedics arrived within minutes and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was placed on life support. Sadly, despite doctors’ efforts, he died on October 24.

Police later identified and arrested 40-year-old Kyle Papin, charging him with aggravated assault. Edmonton police confirmed that Papin did not know Arvi and that the attack appeared to be random and unprovoked.

Fundraiser launched for his children

One of Arvi’s close friends, Vincent Ram, launched a fundraiser to support his two children. “This fundraiser aims to ensure that Arvi’s kids have the resources and support they need during this difficult time,” the campaign description reads. The funds will be used for funeral expenses, daily needs, and to create a foundation for the children’s education and future.

“This isn’t just about financial help,” the post continues. “It’s about showing that the community stands with them as they face life without their father. Please keep Arvi and his family in your prayers.”

Another Indian businessman was murdered in Canada

Just days before Arvi’s killing, another Indian-origin businessman, 68-year-old Darshan Singh Sahsi, was murdered on Monday morning (27th October) in front of his home in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada. TheLawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder. Sahsi was shot dead while sitting inside his pick-up truck by an unidentified assailant.

A CCTV footage of the incident showed the 68-year-old businessman getting into his pick-up truck, and seconds later, a masked man got out of a silver sedan parked nearby and walked to Sahsi’s truck. The masked man aimed a gun at the driver’s side window of the truck and fired multiple shots through the closed window. He ran back to the sedan and drove away. The entire incident happened within a few seconds. The team of Police that arrived at the scene found Sahsi in a critical condition. 

Subsequently, Goldy Dhillon, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, admitted that the Ludhiana-born businessman was killed by the gang as he was involved in the drug trade and refused to give them money.

Sahsi, who hailed from Rajgarh village in Ludhiana district of Punjab. He moved to Canada in 1991 and worked odd jobs for some time. Later, he bought the stakes in a dwindling textile recycling unit, Canam International, and revived it into an international company.

Punjabi singer Teji Kahlon was shot earlier this month

Just days earlier, three men identifying themselves as gangster Rohit Godara’s aides uploaded a video confessing to shooting Punjabi singer Teji Kahlon in the stomach.

In a post on social media, the associates of the Godara gang claimed that Kahlon was supplying arms and was conspiring to attack their gang.

Taking to Facebook, Godara members named as Mahender Saran Dilana, Rahul Rinau, and Vicky Phalwan claimed Kahlon was injured in the shooting. “We carried out the shooting in Canada at Teji Kahlon. He was shot in the stomach. If he understands, fine; if not, next time we will finish him,” they said.

Bullet kills an Indian student in Canada

On 25th April this year, Mohawk College student Harsimrat Randhawa, 21 years old, was killed at a bus stop. She was an innocent bystander in a shoot-out between two cars, a black Mercedes SUV and a white car. She was shot in the chest by one of them, and she died on the spot despite attempts by paramedics.

Randhawa had arrived in Canada with hopes and aspirations. Her killing put the Indian student community in Canada in a state of shock and raised concerns about public safety.

Security guard shot Dead in Edmonton

In December 2024, 20-year-old Indian student Harshandeep Singh was gunned down and murdered while employed as a security guard in Edmonton, Canada. Singh was discovered dead in a stairwell after three people attacked him and shot him, and the two suspects have since been charged with first-degree murder.

A CCTV video of the incident depicts three individuals harassing and pushing the 20-year-old student downstairs, with one of them shooting him from behind.

Immediately after shooting Singh with what seems to be a humongous weapon, the three culprits leave the scene.

Stabbed to death at his own house: Gurasis Singh case

In another such incident, 22-year-old Gurasis Singh was stabbed to death in hisrented apartment in Sarnia, Ontario, on 1st December 2024. Singh had been in Canada for four months, seeking higher education, when he was murdered.

The assault occurred during the early morning hours and was said to have begun as a fight with a neighbour. But Gurasis’ father is convinced his son was attacked in his sleep. The alleged perpetrator, 36-year-old Crossley Hunter, has been charged with second-degree murder. The Sarnia police say the stabbing occurred in the kitchen of the residence where Gurasis resided.

Surge in hate crimes against Indian-origin people in Canada

These back-to-back attacks are indicative of a concerning trend. In recent years, hate crimes and targeted violence against South Asian, specifically Indian-origin, communities all over Canada have seen a steep increase.

Hate crimes against South Asians in Canada rose by 227% between 2019 and 2023, reports a recent study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a London-based think tank that tracks extremism and hate. The report also discovered that the deployment of anti-Indian and anti-South Asian slurs on social media increased by a whopping 1,350% over the same four years.

Between May 2023 and April 2025, over 26,600 posts on social media platforms contained anti-Indian hate speech, including derogatory slurs like “pajeet.” These numbers were far higher than posts targeting any other ethnic community in the country.

The ISD report also said that hateful content online often portrays Indians as “dirty,” “dangerous,” or “unskilled.” In recent years, this anti-Indian rhetoric has intensified, particularly during political debates and elections, with extremist groups using it to stoke division.

Between 1st March and 20th April, 2025, in the lead-up to Canada’s federal election, more than 2,300 posts spreading anti-South Asian hate were shared online, generating over 1.2 million engagements. The rise in hate speech has not only led to online harassment but also coincided with real-world violence targeting immigrants from India and neighbouring countries.

The ISD report identified Diagolon, a far-right extremist network formed in 2020, as a key source of this online hate. The group, led by Jeremy MacKenzie, promotes racist, anti-government conspiracy theories often masked as “jokes” or satire to avoid accountability. These narratives, experts say, are fueling prejudice and radicalisation in Canadian society.

Lack of permission, breach of regulations, shady management and more: Ahmedabad school’s probe report finds many discrepancies after murder of Hindu student

OpIndia Staff
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Lack of permission, breach of regulations, shady management and more: Ahmedabad school’s probe report finds many discrepancies after murder of Hindu student

A committee established by the District Education Officer has presented its comprehensive report in the aftermath of a Hindu student’s murder by a Muslim junior at the Seventh Day School in Ahmedabad. The findings indicated negligence on the part of the institution’s administration and violations of multiple regulations. Consequently, it has called for government intervention. The Education Officer has forwarded this report to the state government which will now proceed with further actions.

The inquiry uncovered that the school did not adhere to government regulations necessary for its recognition and failed to secure approval for additional classrooms. Essential permissions were also lacking for modifications to the management and the school facilities as well as discrepancies were identified in the school’s operations. The probe further disclosed irregularities in the process of obtaining minority school status.

Absence of various permissions

The investigation discovered that the current location of the school was leased by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, in 2003. While the school had obtained permission for some classes in the 1980s, this is not the same location and the committee was not provided with the basis for allowing classes at this site. Thus, it has concluded that the school appears to be illegal.

Moreover, the school later incorporated more classes which require prior consent from the board as outlined in the regulations. Nevertheless, it did not take the required steps to obtain this approval. According to the rules, any changes to management, trust or school property necessitate approval from the relevant board but no such documents were presented in this case.

Likewise, the school must also obtain prior permission from the board to run two shits, however, the institution did so without the needed authorization.

The inquiry additionally uncovered that the particular trust or society managing the school was not made known. Documentation submitted to the committee indicates several names, including the India Financial Association of Seventh-day Adventists, the Council of Seventh-day Adventist Educational Institutions and the Ashlock Education Trust, as the entities overseeing the school. Consequently, it remains ambiguous which trust or society is accountable for its operations.

The investigation also unveiled that the school failed to adhere to specific regulations necessary for acquiring minority status. According to the report, the Ashlock Education Society submitted an application for a minority status certificate in September 2020 at the office of the Ahmedabad District Education Officer.

The society is registered in Pune and was awarded “minority status” by the Maharashtra government on 14th March 2013, which is only applicable within the state. The report indicates that the institution did not adequately present its minority educational institution status for the primary section leading to the rejection of admission for 25% of children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds which constitutes a breach of the RTE (Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education) Act.

Infringement of lease agreement: Consent secured by different trust, administration via another body

The report also mentioned that the school has violated the lease terms. The land on which the school runs was leased by the Municipal Corporation to The India Financial Association of Seventh-day Adventists for educational purpose. However, it is being operated by other organizations. Therefore, the land was leased by a different organization and the school is under the management of separate entity.

The inquiry further emphasized breaches of fee regulations and legal standards, pointing out that the organization reported a rental amount of Rs 159,000 in the documents provided to the Fee Regulatory Committee, whereas the Municipal Corporation had actually leased the land for Rs 10,000.

Additionally, MBA as well as Bachelor of Science and Arts colleges function on the school premises. As per regulations, it is essential to secure a NOC from the appropriate board for this purpose. The school received a NOC from ICSE in 2022, but it failed to acquire the same from the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board.

Additionally, certain irregularities have come to light, including the stipulation that selling books on school grounds is considered a profitable venture. However, the audit report confirmed that books were being sold.

Recommending government intervention

The committee expressed in its report that, after reviewing all pertinent issues, it is evidently clear that the school has not adhered to the conditions of accreditation. Moreover, the report claimed that fraudulent actions have been undertaken by providing misleading information, thereby damaging the credibility of the Education Department, FRC, parents, and students.

The committee, therefore, recommended that in the best interests of the more than ten thousand students attending the school, the government should assume control of its administration or assign it to another trust. The education officer has delivered this report to the state government and further decisions could be made in the future.

School surrounded by controversy following the murder of Hindu student

Nayan Santani, a tenth-grade Hindu student, was fatally stabbed by a Muslim student at the same institution in August. This incident incited outrage among parents and resulted in serious accusations against the school. Previous incidents were also unearthed leading to charges of administrative misconduct.

Afterward, the District Education Officer initiated an investigation. The Gujarat High Court provided no relief and instructed it to aide with the probe despite the school’s plea. The committee has now completed its report and the issue is currently under review by the District Education Officer and the government.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal : India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee and a legacy of valour – Know about the inspiration behind upcoming film ‘Ikkis’

Anurag
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Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal : India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee and a legacy of valour – Know about the inspiration behind upcoming film ‘Ikkis’

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was born on 14th October 1950 in Pune, Maharashtra. His family had a proud military linage. He was the elder of two sons born to Brigadier ML Khetarpal and Mrs Maheshwari Khetarpal.

Arun’s great-grandfather had fought the British as part of the Sikh Khalsa Army. His grandfather served in the British Indian Army during World War I. Growing up, Arun listened to the inspiring stories from his father about the military background of his family.

Arun Khetarpal’s family. Image: Honourpoint

Arun received his schooling at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, in the Kasauli hills of Himachal Pradesh. He was a standout student in both academics and sports. He also imbibed the school’s motto, “Never Give In”, as a personal creed. This steadfast resolve, nurtured from childhood, would later define his character on the battlefield.

Into the ranks – training and commission

Arun followed in his father’s footsteps and his own childhood dream of joining the Army. In June 1967, he joined the National Defence Academy where he joined the 38th Course as part of Foxtrot Squadron. His leadership qualities shone during the course and he became the Squadron Cadet Captain of the batch.

After graduating from NDA, he went to the Indian Military Academy (IMA) for advanced military training. Khetarpal earned his commission as an officer in the Indian Army on 13th June 1971. He was posted to the 17th Poona Horse Regiment of the Armoured Corps. Arun was now a second lieutenant in a cavalry unit known for its gallant history and laurels. The Poona Horse was and is one of India’s most decorated armoured regiments.

The young officer did not get much time to settle into peacetime duty. Within six months of his commissioning, the subcontinent was under the shadow of war clouds. In early December 1971, hostilities with Pakistan erupted into full-scale conflict. At that moment, Arun was away on a Young Officers’ training course in Ahmednagar, but duty urgently called him to the front lines.

He swiftly rejoined his regiment, ready to face his first war. Just weeks past his 21st birthday, Arun even exuded confidence on the way to battle. He famously carried his golf clubs along. When asked if he would play golf on the battleground, he said, “Sir, I plan to play golf in Lahore. And I am sure there will be a dinner night after we win the war, so I’ll need the Blue Patrol dress as well.”

The remarks, which were passed to a fellow officer, were light-hearted at the core as he stood at the New Delhi railway station waiting for his train. His mother, present at the station, bade him farewell. The atmosphere belied the gravity of what lay ahead.

First battle, final stand – the 1971 Indo-Pak War

When the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 broke out, the 17 Poona Horse was deployed in the western sector as part of the 47th Infantry Brigade, also known as the “Black Arrow” Brigade. It was tasked with offensive operations in the Shakargarh Bulge, near Sialkot. In mid-December, the brigade established a bridgehead across the Basantar River in Pakistani territory under heavy enemy resistance.

The area was strewn with mines and fiercely contested, as it was of vital strategic importance. A Pakistani breakthrough at this point could sever road links to Jammu and threaten Indian Punjab. By 15th December 1971, Indian troops had secured a foothold. However, clearing paths for the tanks was still underway when the enemy launched counter-attacks.

Image:gallantryawards

On 16th December, Pakistani armoured forces of the 13th Lancers regiment, equipped with US-made Patton tanks, counter-attacked the Indian bridgehead at the village of Jarpal under cover of a smoke screen. Their aim was to pierce the Indian defences and collapse the bridgehead.

The Poona Horse squadron holding Jarpal was reportedly under intense pressure and urgently requested reinforcement. When 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal, who was with A Squadron in reserve, heard the distress call over the radio net, he did not hesitate and volunteered to move forward with his own troop of tanks to reinforce the embattled squadron. Arun led from the front in his Centurion MK7 tank, aptly named Famagusta after a historic battle honour of his regiment.

As Arun’s small contingent charged into the fight, they came under heavy enemy fire while crossing the Basantar River. Pakistani soldiers had dug in with recoilless anti-tank gun nests and machine-gun bunkers that were still holding out.

For Arun and his fellow men, time was of the essence. If the Pakistani armoured thrust was not blunted quickly, the Indian bridgehead could collapse. Arun displayed fearless initiative and threw caution to the winds. He ordered an immediate assault on the enemy strong points impeding their way. His tanks roared forward, literally charging the Pakistani bunkers.

In that daring move, Arun’s troop overran the enemy defences, crushed gun positions and even captured enemy soldiers at pistol-point from atop his tank. In the course of these close-range engagements, one of Arun’s fellow troop commanders was killed by enemy fire. However, Arun pressed on relentlessly.

His aggressive action and bold leadership succeeded in neutralising the enemy fortifications. He broke through to link up with B Squadron just in time, as the Pakistani tanks momentarily fell back after their initial probing attack, likely startled by the ferocity of the Indian response.

However, the fight was far from over. The Pakistani armoured forces regrouped quickly and launched a fresh squadron-strength attack. Their main effort was directed at the sector held by 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal and the two remaining Indian tanks commanded by Captain V. Malhotra and Lt Avtar Ahlawat. What unfolded next was one of the fiercest tank engagements of the war.

Indian tank crews were heavily outnumbered and outgunned, but they stood their ground. A furious duel at close range ensued amid exploding shells and burning hulks. Khetarpal and his comrades destroyed multiple enemy tanks in rapid succession. In this pitched battle, a total of ten Pakistani tanks were hit and destroyed, four of which were personally knocked out by 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal’s own gunnery skill.

The enemy’s superior numbers were telling, though. Lt Ahlawat’s tank took a direct hit and was forced out of action, and Captain Malhotra’s tank suffered a jammed main gun, which left it unable to fire. For a crucial half-hour, Arun Khetarpal stood alone in the path of the Pakistani onslaught, effectively the last tank operating in his sector, yet unflinching in the face of overwhelming odds.

With immense courage, the 21-year-old officer continued the fight solo. His tank Famagusta became a one-tank army, duelling an entire squadron of enemy armour. Arun’s resolve was absolute. Not a single enemy tank would be allowed to break through on his watch.

Amid this battle, Famagusta was struck by an enemy shell and caught fire. Arun was wounded in this attack. His squadron leader apprehended the danger and ordered him to abandon the burning tank. Arun refused to retreat. Over the radio, he sent back a now-immortal message, “No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working, and I will get these bastards.”

He then removed his radio headset to avoid further orders to fall back and pressed on with the fight. True to his words, despite being grievously injured, Arun kept firing. He destroyed one more Pakistani tank at point-blank range.

By now, the engagement had essentially become a duel, with Arun’s lone Centurion taking on the last of the attacking Pattons within 100 metres. At that moment, his tank was hit by another armour-piercing round, this time directly in the turret. The second impact proved fatal, and Famagusta was silenced. 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal was mortally wounded. The young officer held the line to his last breath and succumbed to his injuries on his tank.

Khetarpal’s heroic stand saved the day for India at Basantar. By the time he fell, the Pakistani attack was broken. Not a single enemy tank had managed to get past his position. The enemy was denied the breakthrough they desperately sought. His extraordinarily valiant stand inspired the remaining Indian troops, who fought on and repelled the Pakistani forces on all fronts.

The Battle of Basantar ended in a decisive Indian victory. On the same day, 16th December 1971, Pakistan’s Eastern Command formally surrendered in Dhaka, leading to the creation of Bangladesh and bringing the war to a close. But that triumph came at a heavy price. India lost many brave soldiers in the 13-day conflict, including Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who laid down his life on the battlefield of Basantar at the age of 21.

Legacy of a Hero

For his “dauntless courage, dogged determination and supreme sacrifice”, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour for gallantry. His intrepid valour saved the day, stated the official citation; the enemy’s armoured thrust was decisively blunted and not one enemy tank got through his sector.

The young officer had exemplified the very highest ideals of service, displaying “leadership, tenacity and exceptional courage in the face of the enemy” far beyond the call of duty. At just 21 years of age, Arun Khetarpal became and remains the youngest ever recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.

Arun Khetarpal’s legacy has lived on in multiple ways. He earned the nickname “Sher e Basantar”, meaning Tiger of Basantar, in honour of his ferocity and fearlessness during that battle. The Army’s officers and men continue to draw inspiration from his story of raw bravery under fire. The commander of the Pakistani tank unit that day, Major Khwaja Naser, is believed to have fired the fatal shot at Khetarpal’s tank.

Even he came to respect the fallen Indian hero. Decades later, Arun’s father, Brig ML Khetarpal, met the Pakistani officer who had been on the other side of the gunsight. Their poignant meeting demonstrated the mutual admiration that true soldiers can hold beyond the divide of wartime enmity.

The Centurion tank Famagusta (hull number IC 202), which Khetarpal refused to abandon, was later recovered and lovingly restored. It stands preserved at the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar as a proud relic of his heroism.

Image: immortalsacrifice/FB

Memorials to Second Lieutenant Khetarpal exist beyond the battlefield as well. In 2021, on the 50th anniversary of the war, a new war memorial was unveiled at Veer Bhoomi Park in the Samba district of Jammu (near the Basantar battleground) to honour Arun Khetarpal and other local 1971 heroes.

At the National War Memorial in New Delhi, a bronze bust of Arun Khetarpal stands in the Param Yodha Sthal gallery among India’s greatest war heroes, ensuring that his story is recounted to future generations. His alma mater, NDA Khadakwasla, also commemorates him as one of its brightest and bravest ex-cadets.

Image: salute2soldier

Fifty years have passed but the saga of Arun’s bravery continues to inspire India. Now, his life story is set to reach an even wider audience through cinema with the upcoming film titled Ikkis, which means 21, directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Maddock Films. Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, is playing the role of Arun, alongside veteran actor Dharmendra playing Brig M. L. Khetarpal, in this biographical war drama.

2012 Park Street gang rape convict Naser Khan molests a woman in Kolkata: Read how West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee is becoming increasingly unsafe for women

Aditi
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2012 Park Street gang rape convict Naser Khan molests a woman in Kolkata: Read how West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee is becoming increasingly unsafe for women

Park Street gangrape convict, Naser Khan, has been accused of molesting and attacking a woman at a five-star hotel in Kolkata. The incident happened on Sunday (26th October) around 4:15 am in the Hyatt Regency at Bidhannagar. An FIR was filed at Bidhannagar South Police Station against Naser Khan and his nephew Junaid Khan on the charges of voluntarily causing hurt, criminal force and assault and solitary confinement of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. 

According to the complaint filed by the victim, she was hanging out with her husband, brother and some friends at the Play Boy club inside the Hyatt Regency. The accused arrived and picked a fight with them, attacked them with beer bottles and tried to touch her inappropriately. “When my brother tried to protect (me), they started throwing glass bottles at us. We tried to run away from the hotel to safety, but Junaid Khan called around 20 boys and started attacking us,” the victim reportedly stated in the complaint.

“I called 100, dialled the number to get instant help, but they blocked all the doors. A few boys started pushing me and touching me in a very bad way in my private area. I have attached the medical report, and you can find all the attacking videos on the CCTV of the restaurant club,” she added. The police have not made any arrests so far.

Vicitm kept hiding for about half an hour and was rescused by the police

The victim said that she had kept hiding in the club’s liquor room for about half an hour after the accused sexually assaulted and attacked her. She said that she was rescued by the police from the liquor room. The police have not made any arrests in the case so far.

Who is Naser Khan

Businessman Naser Khan was among the five people convicted of gangraping a 40-year-old Anglo-Indian woman, Suzette Jordan, inside a moving car in the posh Park Street area of Kolkata in 2013. The woman, mother of two daughters, was abducted by the accused in a car in front of a nightclub in February 2012, and was gangraped for hours inside the moving car before being dumped near a road crossing, a couple of kilometres from where she was picked. Naser Khan, who was given a 10-year sentence, was released from jail in 2012, a little over a year before his sentence was to end, on the grounds of “good behaviour”.

Rampant cases of sexual violence in West Bengal and victim blaming of CM Mamata Banerjee

Cases of sexual violence against women have been on the rise in West Bengal despite the state having a woman Chief Minister. The situation is exacerbated by the callous attitude displayed by CM Mamata Banerjee and the TMC politicians towards the victims of such incidents. Instead of ensuring accountability and adopting measures to curb sexual violence against women in the state, the woman Chief Minister either blames the victims or dismisses the incidents as a conspiracy against her government.

Recently, CM Mamata Banerjee put the blame on the victim of sexual violence in a gangrape case that happened in West Bengal’s Durgapur. A second-year MBBS student from Odisha was gang-raped by Apu Bauri, Firdos Sekh, Sekh Reajuddin and two others in a jungle area on Friday (10th October) night in West Bengal’s Durgapur. Ironically, while expressing shock over the incident, CM Mamata Banerjee blamed the victim for the rape. She said that women should not be allowed to go outside college at night and that women should protect themselves. This was not the first time the Chief Minister downplayed a heinous offence like rape. Similar insensitivity was displayed by CM Mamata Banerjee, after the 2012 Park Street gangrape incident, which she dismissed as a concocted incident and a conspiracy to malign his government. Such insensitivity and the lack of accountability displayed by the Chief Minister emboldens the criminals and adds to the plight of the victims.

In another recent case, which happened a month before the Durgapur gangrape case, a young woman was raped by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker and his aide in Haridevpur locality of Kolkata after the accused invited her to celebrate her birthday. The accused kept the victim locked in a room the entire night and took turns to rape her. This was preceded by another gangrape case in July this year, where a 24-year-old female student was gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College, Kasba, in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, by three men. The horrifying incident happened less than a year after the gruesome RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, in which a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was brutally raped and killed while on duty inside the medical college.

In 2013, during a debate in the West Bengal legislative assembly about the rising cases of rapes in the State, the CM had insinuated that it was due to an increase in the population of the State. She had also blamed modernisation, an increase in shopping malls and multiplexes, for rising rape cases. Even during the 2024 Sandeshkhali unrest, Mamata Banerjee attempted to downplay the harassment and sexual exploitation of women at the hands of Trinamool Congress goons by calling it a “minor incident”.

NCRB data exposes an alarming state of women’s safety in the TMC-ruled state

The grim situation regarding women’s safety in West Bengal was exposed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for the year 2023. The “Crime in India” report of the NCRB revealed that West Bengal recorded 34,691 cases of crimes against women under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL). While this marks a marginal decline from 34,738 cases in 2022, the number is one of the highest in the country. The statistics translates to a crime rate of 71.3 cases per lakh female population.

The NCRB data also shows that West Bengal alone accounted for 27.5% of all acid attacks in the country in the year 2023. In 2022, West Bengal recorded 48 acid attacks with 52 victims, out of 202 cases nationwide. In this crime category, the TMC-ruled state is leading the country since 2018. In addition to that, the recorded 7 cases of murder with rape/gangrape, 350 dowry deaths and 419 incidents of abetment to suicide of women in 2023.

Kidnapped in Tehran: How Indians with US-Canada-Australia dreams are falling victim to illegal immigration agents and being held hostage by crime syndicates

Shraddha Pandey
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Kidnapped in Tehran: How Indians with US-Canada-Australia dreams are falling victim to illegal immigration agents and being held hostage by crime syndicates

The “abroad dream” of many Indians is turning into a nightmare. While many Indians are adopting illegal routes to build a dream life in abroad, their desperation is being exploited by criminals. A case of the kidnapping of four Gujaratis who were going to Australia from Gujarat via Delhi has come to the fore.

The four Indians were taken hostage in Iran’s capital Tehran while they were taking illegal route to Australia. The kidnappers sent a video of the hostages to the agent who sent them to Australia and their families, demanding a ransom of crores of rupees. As the matter came to light, BJP MLA from Mansa Jayanti Patel wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking help. It has now been reported that all four Gujaratis have been released and have reached India.

On 19th October, Priya Chauhan, Ajay Chaudhary, Anil Chaudhary and Nikhil Chaudhary of Bapupura village in Mansa left for Australia. They were taken from Delhi to Thailand, from there to Dubai and from there to Iran’s capital Tehran via Emirates Airlines. After reaching Iran, they were put in a taxi and taken to an unknown location. 

From thereon, they were taken hostage and brutally tortured. Two videos of the kidnapped Indian nationals surfaced online. In a video, it was revealed that two youths were being stripped naked and beaten. In addition to these two videos, the kidnappers also shared a photo of a couple, in which their hands and mouths were tied. Based on this video and photo, a ransom of ₹2 crore was demanded from the families of the victims.

It was only after the BJP MLA and the Union Home Ministry swung into action that the kidnapped Indian nationals could be rescued and brought back to India.

Dunki route, kidnappings for ransom: The saga of desperation and deception

This, however, is not a first case of Indian nationals getting kidnapped while attempting to illegally reach a foreign country. In July 2023, a similar case was reported wherein a Gujarati couple, Dr Pankaj and Nisha Patel, who were taking a “Donkey route” to the United States of America were kidnapped in Iran by a person named Wasim. The couple was tortured and the kidnappers demanded a Rs 10 lakh ransom from their agent.

In September 2024, a 26-year-old man named Himanshu from Kerala was kidnapped in a similar fashion in Iran. It was only after his family paid Rs 20 lakh ransom that the youth was released. Himanshu came in contact with an agent named Aman Rathi from Haryana’s Karnal. Rathi lured Himanshu with a promise to obtaining him a work visa in Australia.

Himanshu was then taken to Noida and given a 15-day training course. Following this, he was sent to Jakarta in Indonesia. Three weeks later, he returned to Delhi only to be sent to Iran. Himanshu was kidnapped after reaching Chabahar. The Indian national was assaulted and tortured by Pakistani human traffickers, who demanded Rs 1 crore. After negotiations, Rs 20 lakh was agreed upon and was paid by Himanshu’s family to secure his release.

In June this year, three Indians identified as Husanpreet Singh from Sangrur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar, and Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur disappeared shortly after reaching Tehran. agent from Hoshiarpur had promised to route them to Australia for employment opportunities via Dubai and Iran, assuring temporary shelter in Tehran. However, the family members said that the men were kidnapped on arrival, with abductors demanding Rs 1 crore ransom and sharing a disturbing video showing the captives tied with yellow ropes and bleeding. Last contact with the missing Indians was made on 11th May. The Indian trio could be rescued after Indian government intervened and Iranian police swung into action.

In a recent case, a Punjabi family were kidnapped by a cross-border gang masquerading as immigration agents. On 4th October 2025, Dharminder Singh, his wife Sandeep Kaur, and their 12-year-old son returned home after giving Rs 80 lakh ransom including jewellery to secure their release.

The family from Punjab’s Rahon came in contact with an agent who told them that they could settle in Canada via Iran if not directly from India.

“The agent said we did not need to worry and pay them after reaching Canada, and that he would take care of expenses until then,” said Dharminder (43), a farmer who takes land on contract. “The total cost is Rs 26 lakh for the entire family, but payment only after reaching Canada,” Dharminder Singh quoted the agent as saying.

On 25th September, the Singh family flew from Chandigarh to Kolkata to Dubai and then to Tehran. They waited at the Imam Khomenei International Airport for the taxi driver sent by their agent. He arrived and drove the Indian nationals to a remote location. Later, they took the passports and mobile phones of the Indian family. The victim family found out that they were kidnapped by a gang connected to the underworld operating out of Pakistan. The Pakistani gang demanded a ransom of Rs1.5 crore.

The Singh family had to arrange Rs 80 lakh, give jewellery and sell land to secure their release from the captivity of the Pakistani gang.

It is essential to note that there has been a surge in cases wherein fraudulent agents lure desperate people with overseas employment, lucrative careers, and better lives in Australia, Canada and US promises. Besides being kidnapped by human traffickers, other ransom-seeking gangs, many desperate Indians ready to adopt illegal means to reach their ‘dream destination’, are being targeted by fraudulent agents within the country.

Recently, Punjab Police busted an illegal immigration racket and rescued five youths from Libya. The modus operandi in this case was no different: Lure desperate people with promises of better life and opportunities abroad, convince them to take illegal route, kidnap and torture them on the pretext of sending them to their desired country and then demand ransom.

Legitimate dreams but illegitimate routes are landing desperate Indians into the quagmire of deception, betrayal, torture, financial loss and most importantly, the risk of losing their lives. The cases discussed above are just the tip of the iceberg, many such incidents also go unreported.

At the heart of this menace is the “Dunki route”. Dunki is a term in Punjabi which means to jump from one place to another. Over time, it has come to describe the illegal route taken by people who want to enter another country without proper documents. 

Many agents lure Indians to send them abroad through the Dunki route. Those who choose the path of Dunki, their passport and visa are first made. The agents who work the often illegal routes take money and get a visa for a European nation or a country in Latin America. 

On most occasions it is a tourist visa. With this, the people of Dunki route are evacuated from India. They are made to travel in Nepal, Dubai and any other country for a few days and a complete story of their journey. Many want to reach America or Canada or Australia to seek asylum. Besides, the agents who work the often-illegal routes take money and get a visa for a European nation or a country in Latin America. The cost often ranges from Rs 25-50 lakh per person along with the risk of being caught and arrested by law enforcement agencies, kidnapped and forced into criminal activities or modern-day slavery and of being killed.

Similar criminal syndicates operate in Myanmar and other countries. Thousands of Indians are duped of fake job advertisements and promises of call centre and data entry type jobs in Southeast Asia, paying Rs 1-3 lakh upfront. There have been many cases wherein Indians lured into this trap had their passports seized, and were confined to guarded “scam farms”. Not only Indians but people of other nationalities have also been forced into working at these scam farms to run online frauds like investment scams or dubious crypto schemes.

Refusal to comply results in torture, starvation or organ trafficking threats. The victims are given daily quotas or targets and failing to achieve which means they have to endure beatings and other forms of physical and mental torment. In the recent past, India rescued hundreds of its nationals from Cambodia and Thailand.

As OpIndia reported back in December 2023, in addition to being a centre for the trafficking of crystal methamphetamine, the northern Shan State in Myanmar is also home to numerous other illicit operations in outposts along the Chinese border.

Last July, eight Indian nationals, who were engaged in work at a scam centre in Hpa Lu of Myawaddy, were saved and handed over to the relevant Myanmar police and immigration authorities.

It was reported that several kidnapped Indian nationals were being forced by an armed group to commit online fraud. Their families complained to the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking intervention for their release.

A group operating in Myawaddy, pressured over 300 Indians, including at least 60 from Tamil Nadu, into participating in cybercrime activities. These victims were subjected to threats, torture and compelled them to work more than 15 hours daily. They further stated that when they refused to take part in unlawful activities, they faced physical violence and electric shocks.

There is a vicious cycle wherein the utopian dream of living abroad and an incurable desperation to realise this dream makes many Indians easy prey to predators, who turn their hopes into horror. The vulnerabilities and willingness to traverse any lengths to reach US, Canada, Australia or any European country are drawing Indian nationals into the trap of kidnapping-for-ransom gangs, job and online scams, and modern bondage.

People should do extensive research on agents, ask for recommendations, and refrain from paying any money until they have clear, validated contracts. Additionally, raising awareness about these scams is crucial, and anyone who suspects they or someone they know might be a victim should report it to authorities immediately. In order to put an end to this menace, the government must also step up crackdowns, launch awareness programs, and push allied nations to increase cooperation. Indian people also need to stop chasing mirages and adopting illegal means for the same.

Mahagathbandhan’s Bihar manifesto: Jobs for all families, Free 200 units electricity – Populist economics that outspends the state’s entire budget

अर्पित त्रिपाठी
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Mahagathbandhan’s Bihar manifesto: Jobs for all families, Free 200 units electricity – Populist economics that outspends the state’s entire budget

On 28th October, Mahagathbandhan, the alliance between RJD, Congress and others, launched its manifesto in Patna for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections. The manifesto reads like a wish list drafted without a calculator. At the core of it lies a promise that every family in Bihar will have one member employed in a government job. Though a superficial timeline of 20 months has been given, the alliance has not promised to give jobs to all in 20 months.

According to the 2023 caste survey, there are around 2.7 crore families in Bihar. Even if the alliance were to fulfil half of that, the number would be staggering. At this point, there are around 20 lakh people in government jobs in Bihar. Creating an additional 2.5 crore positions, even at the minimum pay scale of Rs 18,000 per month, would require a monthly outlay of Rs 45,000 crore and an annual expenditure exceeding Rs 5.5 lakh crore. This single pledge alone nearly doubles Bihar’s total 2025-26 budget size of Rs 3.16 lakh crore.

Cash allowances that bleed the exchequer

Another populist pitch promises Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 monthly allowances for every unemployed graduate and postgraduate, respectively. If half of Bihar’s graduates were to rely on this income support, the government would need around Rs 900 crore per month or Rs 10,000 crore annually. Again, this would be additional to the already inflated job promise.

Health insurance that duplicates existing national schemes

The manifesto also offers Rs 25 lakh health insurance coverage for 94 lakh poor and lower-middle-class families. Though the Centre already provides Rs 5 lakh cover under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, this announcement was made by Mahagathbandhan. A rough calculation based on national claim data suggests that even with modest usage, say 47% of eligible families claiming Rs 12,000 each per year, the state’s burden could exceed Rs 5,000 crore annually.

Free power, costly politics

The promise of 200 free electricity units per household adds another major strain. Assuming only the 94 lakh poor families avail of it, and with the state’s lowest domestic tariff being Rs 7.42 per unit, Bihar would spend about Rs 1,400 crore every month and Rs 16,000 crore every year. Combined with the jobs, stipends, and insurance plans, the state’s projected financial liability crosses Rs 5.8 lakh crore, almost twice its current budget.

Karnataka and Himachal show what follows

Similar experiments have recently turned states like Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh into fiscal cautionary tales. The CAG’s 2023-24 report found that Karnataka’s Congress government’s five “guarantee” schemes increased spending by Rs 36,538 crore, about 15% of total expenditure, while revenue rose barely 2%. The fiscal deficit ballooned to Rs 65,522 crore, forcing the government to borrow Rs 63,000 crore from markets. Himachal, too, is now slashing salaries and withdrawing freebies after facing a budgetary crunch.

Bihar’s economy can’t afford romantic socialism

If implemented, the Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto would leave Bihar financially crippled before any of its promises materialise. Borrowing to fund recurrent expenses could push the state into a debt trap, discourage private investment, and repeat the fiscal chaos witnessed in Congress-ruled states. Grand alliances may survive on grander rhetoric, but Bihar’s finances cannot.

Ultimately, these pledges may win applause at rallies, but not in the treasury. The manifesto may be politically loud, yet economically, it is dead on arrival.

Viksit Bharat with 6G Vision: Modi govt’s 6G roadmap for India to lead global telecom innovation by 2030

Anurag
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Viksit Bharat with 6G Vision: Modi govt’s 6G roadmap for India to lead global telecom innovation by 2030

India is getting ready for its big digital leap that is 6G. The country’s vision for this future technology is simple, yet powerful. It should be affordable, sustainable, and available to everyone. The idea behind 6G Vision is to make India a global leader in communication technology and not just a user of it. The Government of India has brought together industry experts, researchers, and universities to work hand in hand so that the 6G Vision can become a reality by 2030, embedded in the roadmap of Viksit Bharat, a developed India, by 2047.

What is 6G

6G is the next-generation mobile network technology that will take over from 5G in the coming years. The wireless technology promises lightning-fast internet that is capable of transferring information in just one microsecond, which will be 1,000 times faster than 5G.

It means there will be no delays, no buffering, and no waiting. 6G technology will provide much-needed connectivity in sectors including medicine, driverless vehicles, gaming, virtual reality, and more. What makes 6G truly revolutionary is how it will work with artificial intelligence to manage where and how data is stored or processed. In simple terms, the network will think for itself, making it smarter, quicker, and more efficient than anything seen before.

India’s 6G vision and mission

India took a major step in this direction in March 2023 when it released the Bharat 6G Vision document. It sets the goal of making India a global leader in 6G research, design, and deployment by 2030. The focus is clear, technology must reach every citizen, whether in cities or remote villages. To make that happen, the government has funded research across over a hundred institutions, created dedicated 6G testbeds, and approved several innovation projects. These steps mark India’s shift from being a consumer of telecom technology to becoming a creator and exporter of it.

The 6G mission has a two-phase timeline. The first phase, which started in 2023 and will end by 2025, focuses on research, IP creation, and early 6G standardisation groundwork. It also includes proof-of-concept trials, testing platforms, and pre-standardisation work. In the second phase, running from 2026 until its launch in 2030, the development of globally viable 6G concepts and use cases, testbeds for commercialisation, and regulatory, ethical, and public awareness frameworks will be explored.

The Bharat 6G Alliance

The Government of India has launched the Bharat 6G Alliance to bring industry experts, telecom operators, universities, and research centres together under one umbrella. The aim of the Alliance is to build Made-in-India 6G technologies that can compete with the best in the world. The Alliance is also working with international partners including NextG Alliance in the US, 6G IA in Europe, and the 6G Flagship programme in Finland along with similar initiatives in other countries. These global tie-ups are helping India exchange ideas, set common standards, and develop secure, reliable systems for the future.

Building self-reliance and innovation

During the India Mobile Congress 2025, the International 6G Symposium became a turning point in showcasing India’s growing strength in telecom innovation. The spotlight was on India’s homegrown 4G stack, a proud symbol of self-reliance and the foundation for 6G development. The government has ambitious plans, it expects the telecom sector to add nearly USD 1.2 trillion to India’s GDP by 2035 and aims to secure at least 10 per cent of global 6G patents. The satellite communication market is also expected to triple by 2033, making India a strong player in space-linked communication networks. The broader goal is to ensure that India moves from being a follower to a trendsetter in the global 6G revolution.

Government efforts shaping the 6G future

There are several government initiatives in place that are already helping India get ready for the 6G era. There are over government-established 5G labs in universities to encourage students and start-ups to collaborate on telecom innovations.

These labs give young engineers the tools to experiment, test ideas, and build the base for 6G. Another major initiative is the Telecom Technology Development Fund, which was launched in 2022. It supports Indian research and start-ups in the field. So far, the government has approved over 100 projects worth Rs 310 crore, focusing on improving connectivity in rural areas and creating India’s own telecom solutions.

A Technology Innovation Hub at IIIT Bangalore is also leading research into futuristic communication systems like reconfigurable intelligent surfaces and O-RAN Massive MIMO, technologies that will power the 5G-Advanced and 6G era. Together, these initiatives reflect a clear direction: India wants to build a secure, inclusive, and future-ready digital ecosystem that benefits everyone, not just a few.

India’s 6G journey is more than just a technological upgrade. It’s about self-belief, innovation, and global collaboration. From setting up research hubs and alliances to forging international partnerships, every step reflects India’s determination to lead, not follow. The Bharat 6G Vision is a promise, a promise that the future of communication will be made in India and shared with the world.

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