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Turkish MP Hasan Bitmez, who suffered a heart attack after declaring Israel will suffer ‘Allah’s wrath’, dies in Ankara hospital

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Turkish MP Hasan Bitmez died in Ankara on Thursday (14th December). He suffered a heart attack on 12th December while concluding his speech with a statement that ‘Israel will suffer Allah’s wrath’ for attacking Gaza. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca informed the media about his death. Fahrettin Koca said that the 53-year-old MP from the opposition (the Islamist Felicity Party) died in Ankara City Hospital.

On 12th December, Turkish MP Hasan Bitmez gave a speech about Israel’s war with Hamas to the Assembly and finished by saying “Israel will suffer and it will not escape the wrath of Allah. I salute you all.” He had a heart attack and collapsed soon after.

What did Hasan Bitmez say in his last speech?

On Tuesday, the Turkish Member of Parliament delivered a speech during the General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament, expressing criticism of the Turkish government’s approach to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for continuing trade with Israel amid the war. He said, “You allow ships to go to Israel and you shamelessly call it trade. You are Israel’s accomplice.” He put up a banner on the podium that read “Murderer Israel; collaborator AKP (Erdogan’s AK Party)”.

Hasan Bitmez added, “You have the blood of Palestinians on your hands, you are collaborators. You contribute to every bomb Israel drops on Gaza.” Then referring to Israel, he said, “You will not escape the wrath of Allah.” For this, he quoted a poem by Turkish writer Sezai Karakoc, that said, “Even if history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent. They think that if they get rid of us, there will be no problem. However, if you get rid of us, you will not be able to escape the torment of conscience. Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of Allah.”

As Hasan Bitmez collapsed near the podium, other parliamentarians rushed to his help. MP Dr Turhan Comez – a surgeon by profession – began to administer CPR to Hasan Bitmez. While the CPR was still being given, Hasan Bitmez was taken out of the assembly house on a stretcher. He was then admitted to the intensive care unit at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital where he was given an angioplasty. but he could not survive. He died on Thursday.

Having graduated from Cairo’s Al Azhar University, Bitmez served as the chairman of the Centre for Islamic Union Research. His parliamentary biography indicates previous association with Islamic non-governmental organisations. MP Bitmez, who was married and had a child, has a background rooted in Islamic studies.

Notably, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on 7th October 2023. Since then, Israel has declared an all-out war against the terrorist organisation. Israel has launched an attack on the Hamas terrorists hiding in the Gaza Strip. Thousands have been killed in this war against terrorism so far.

‘We are committed to bringing UCC and implementing CAA’, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

On (Thursday) 14th December, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the program Agenda Aaj Tak. In the interview he gave to Rahul Kanwal in this program, he said that the BJP government is committed to bringing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Amit Shah said that CAA is the law of the country and it will certainly be implemented.

We are committed to bringing the UCC: Amit Shah

Rahul Kanwal asked Amit Shah when a nationwide Uniform Civil code was on the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party and why it is implementing the law state by state. Amit Shah said, “You need not present the UCC in front of the people of India as if it is only an agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party. UCC was a mandate given by the constituent assembly to the executive pillar of the country and the parliament. In the directive principles of the state policy in Article 44 of the constitution of India, our constituent assembly had mentioned a few things that it could not implement immediately after independence. Those things are covered in the directive principles of the state policy in Article 44 of the constitution of India. And the Uniform Civil Code is one of those things.”

He added, “It is a whole different story that the Congress party kept it aside due to its vote bank politics. However, the constituent assembly consisted of a majority of Congress leaders only. There were the topmost Congress leaders in the constituent assembly. They only have made this provision. But it is the Bharatiya Janata Party that has been consistently following it up because a common law for citizens from all religions is the prime feature of any state that calls itself to be secular. But the Congress forgot this thing. It painted this issue in a different ideological colour due to its vote bank politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party does not believe in such things.”

Amit Shah said, “Right from 1950 (the Bharatiya Jan Sangh days), our election manifestos include the promise that we will try our best to bring the UCC. Now, you have said that we are bringing it state by state. The Common Civil Code is a huge social and legal change. Everyone’s opinion is needed for it. If one, two, or three states do it, if committees are formed, hearings are done, lakhs of people are heard, and their opinions are taken, then it forms a basis to form the law. Its legal scrutiny is also possible. And I believe that the mature output of this process will automatically be accepted by the whole country. The Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi is committed to bringing the UCC. We will not back out on this issue anywhere.”

CAA is the law of the country: Amit Shah

About the Citizenship Amendment Act, Amit Shah said, “CAA is the law of the country. It is an instrument to do justice to our brothers and sisters from the Hindu faith and the other 6 religious minorities who were persecuted in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries mentioned. I want to assure the people of the country that the CAA is the law of the country and it will certainly be implemented. CAA will not take away anybody’s citizenship.”

Amit Shah added, “A false propaganda was peddled among the minorities and especially the Muslims in India that the CAA would take away their citizenship. No one’s citizenship is cancelled by the CAA. The CAA is not the law to take away anyone’s citizenship. It is a law that gives citizenship. It will be implemented. You will get to know when it will be implemented. You need not worry. It will be implemented at a proper time and it is a certain thing.”

Rakesh Tikait denies claims that farmer unions will protest to get Neelam Singh released, says ‘SKM, BKU have nothing to do with it’

Rakesh Tikait – the leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – said on Thursday (14th September) that both the farmer unions have nothing to do with the intruders who attacked the parliament on 13th December. He condemned the incident and denied the claims in various media reports that the farmer unions would protest to get the parliament security breach case accused Neelam Singh released. Neelam Singh is one of the 7 accused arrested so far in this case. She was nabbed while releasing a gas canister and raising slogans outside the parliament.

Rakesh Tikait posted from his X handle, “The incident that happened at Parliament today is highly condemnable. The news published in the media in the name of United Kisan Morcha is completely baseless. SKM or BKU has nothing to do with it.”

In a video address, Rakesh Tikait denied the claims made in various media reports that the BKU and SKM will protest to get Neelam Singh released. These claims surfaced in various media reports because Azad Palwa, a member of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and a farmer leader, also visited Neelam Singh’s house. He demanded Neelam Singh’s release and said he would also call a meeting of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha on the next day (14th December) in this regard. He said that if Neelam is not released soon, then a big step will be taken.

In his video statement, Rakesh Tikait said on 14th December, “The incident that took place in the parliament on 13th December wherein the security breach took place and some persons entered there. Some people said that if the intruders are not released then the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha will protest. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha does its agitations in a Gandhian manner. SKM does what it says. These claims can be someone’s personal opinion or statement that ‘if they are not released, SKM will protest’. It can be his statement. This is not an authentic statement of any of the SKM leaders.”

There were also some media reports that Neelam’s mother has claimed that if she is not released soon tne BKU will march to Delhi.

He added, “Whatever we decide, we take that decision in our meeting only. Whenever we will hold a meeting, we will give our clarification in this regard there only. This is not our statement. Whatever these youths have done, it is their decision. It is about their personal ideology. BKU and SKM have nothing to do with it.”

On Thursday, 14th December, a Mahapanchayat was organized in Haryana’s Jind, where local leaders demanded the release of Neelam Singh.

Security breach in parliament

On the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, a major security breach occurred when two intruders entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitor gallery during Zero Hour. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered an inquiry into a Parliament security breach incident. Seven accused have been arrested in this case so far. Lalit Jha, a person who had absconded from the Parliament premise with the mobile phones of other accused persons, was arrested last night by the Delhi Police.

A person named Vishal and his wife, at whose house the accused were staying in Gurgaon, have been arrested too.

On Thursday, police sources said that the main conspirator in Wednesday’s Parliament security breach is someone else, as per the initial investigation. Later, the conspirator Lalit Jha was also arrested by the Delhi police. The accused had conducted a recce outside the parliament beforehand. Police sources mentioned that all accused were associated with a social media page ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Club.’ 

SC to hear Mahua Moitra’s challenge to expulsion a day after CJI Chandrachud asked her to email her plea for urgent hearing, promised to look into it

The Supreme Court will on Friday (15th December) hear TMC leader Mahua Moitra’s plea challenging her expulsion as Lok Sabha MP in the cash-for-query case. On Wednesday, Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Moitra, mentioned before a bench headed by CJI the plea of Moitra for urgent listing.

This comes two days after the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Wednesday (13th December) assured Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra that he would look into the listing of her plea against her expulsion from Lok Sabha in a cash-for-query case. 

CJI had assured the senior advocate that he would look into the listing aspect at lunch during the day. “The matter may not have been registered… If an email was sent, then I would look at it right away. Please send it,” the CJI said. 

Moitra was expelled from the House on 8th December following a discussion on the report submitted by the Ethics Committee which was tabled in the House.

The report based on the probe on “unethical conduct” of the TMC MP had recommended that Moitra be expelled from the Lok Sabha and called for an “intense, legal, institutional inquiry” by the central government in a “time-bound manner”.

As per the report, Moitra visited the United Arab Emirates four times from 2019 to 2023 from where her Parliament login was accessed several times.

As per sources, the Committee noted that Moitra’s actions left “irrepressible impact on the national security.” It had noted that the TMC leader’s conduct is unbecoming of a member of Parliament.

Moitra had accepted expensive luxury items as gifts and illegal gratification from a businessman to further his interests. The businessmen allegedly used her Parliamentary login to list questions against Adani.

A CBI is probing allegations of corruption and bribery where she has herself admitted that she had given her login credentials to businessman Darshan Hiranandani to pose questions on her behalf.

The questions were related to Hiranandani’s business interests and were targeted at his rival Adani Group. Hiranandani has admitted to paying cash, lavish gifts to Moitra, and having access to her Lok Sabha login credentials.

Reacting to her expulsion, Moitra said the expulsion was equal to a hanging by a “kangaroo court”. Moitra staged her outburst in a long address outside the Parliament.

Parliament security breach mastermind Lalit Jha arrested, had fled to Rajasthan

Lalit Mohan Jha, the mastermind behind the entire conspiracy in the Parliament Security breach case, had fled from the spot after making a video of the incident and spent the night with two friends in Rajasthan’s Nagaur, following which he came to Delhi, police said.

“Lalit Jha reached Nagaur in Rajasthan by bus. There he met his two friends and spent the night in a hotel. When he realized that the police were searching for him, he came back to Delhi by bus,” the Delhi Police said according to a preliminary investigation.

Lalit Jha is the key accused in Wednesday’s Parliament security breach which incidentally took place on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.

Jha was arrested by the Delhi police following a massive manhunt on Thursday. According to the Delhi Police, “Lalit Jha came to the police station on his own after which the police arrested him and started an interrogation.”

Moreover, he had fled from the spot after making a video of the incident and spent the night with two friends in Rajasthan’s Nagaur, following which he came to Delhi, police said.

“Lalit Jha reached Nagaur in Rajasthan by bus. There he met his two friends and spent the night in a hotel. When he realized that the police were searching for him, he came back to Delhi by bus,” the Delhi Police said according to a preliminary investigation.

According to the Delhi Police, “Lalit Jha came to the police station on his own after which the police arrested him and started an interrogation.”

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Thursday granted seven days custodial remand of all four accused persons arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach matter.

Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur on Thursday allowed all four accused Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde and Neelam Devi to Mumbai, Mysore, and Lucknow to probe and find actual motives behind their act.

According to the Delhi Police, the accused persons had purchased special shoes from Lucknow and canisters from Mumbai. This was a well-planned conspiracy and attack on the Parliament of India.

Police lawyers further submitted that the accused carried a pamphlet and declared Prime Minister Modi as a missing person and said the person who found him would be paid with money from the Swiss Bank.

The accused persons showed the Prime Minister like a proclaimed offender. Police informed the court that it had registered the FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and had also added sections of stringent 16 (terrorism) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) of the UAPA Act.

All four accused were produced by the Special Cell of Delhi police, which sought their 15-day custodial interrogation. The four accused persons — Neelam, Amol, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan — were produced before the Patiala House Court while Delhi Police filed a remand plea.

Sharing details of the incident, in which two unidentified men jumped into the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour from the visitors’ gallery and set off smoke cans that they hid in their shoes.

Delhi Police stated in an official release, “All accused yesterday entered the Parliament using visitor passes and jumped from the gallery, which resulted in the hindrance during the Parliament proceedings.”

Thereafter, police stated in their plea that the accused needed to be taken to Lucknow, Mumbai and Mysore for custodial interrogation.

Meanwhile, police sources on Thursday said the four persons arrested in connection with the security breach in Parliament have taken common responsibility for the incident, adding that they were giving “rote answers” to the investigation team of the Delhi Police Special Cell in the matter. (ANI)

(With input from agencies)

Bengal BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar alleges link between Parliament security breach mastermind Lalit Jha and TMC leader Tapas Roy

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 The BJP’s West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday alleged a close link between TMC leader Tapas Roy and the accused mastermind of the Parliament security breach, identified as Lalit Jha.

Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, the BJP state chief shared a photograph in which the TMC leader is purportedly seen alongside the absconding mastermind.

The BJP leader also called for an investigation into the alleged links of the TMC leader with the accused.

“Lalit Jha, the mastermind of the attack on our Temple of Democracy, had been in close association with TMC’s Tapas Roy for a long time… Isn’t this proof enough for an investigation into the connivance of the leader?” Majumdar posted from his X handle.

While Opposition members raised a ruckus in both Houses of Parliament over the massive security breach on Wednesday, Delhi Police claimed a “well-planned conspiracy” behind the incident on Thursday.

While Delhi Police moved the Patiala House Court, seeking a 15-day remand for the four accused persons in the security breach case, the latter granted a remand of 7 days to the Special Cell.

Labelling the security breach as a fallout of a “well-planned conspiracy”, Delhi Police said it was an “attack on the Parliament of India”.The four accused persons — Neelam, Amol, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan — were produced before the Patiala House Court while Delhi Police filed a remand plea.

Sharing details of the incident, in which two unidentified men jumped into the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour from the visitors’ gallery and set off smoke cans that they hid in their shoes.

Delhi Police stated in an official release, “All accused yesterday entered the Parliament using visitor passes and jumped from the gallery, which resulted in the hindrance during the Parliament proceedings.”

“They used smoke canisters which they carried into the parliament veiled in their shoes,” the police added.

Police sources on Thursday said the four persons arrested in connection with the security breach in Parliament have taken common responsibility for the incident, adding that they were giving “rote answers” to the investigation team of the Delhi Police Special Cell in the matter.

Earlier, the absconding accused in the Parliament Security breach case, Lalit Jha, was alleged to be the mastermind behind the entire conspiracy.

Police said they will be able to throw more light on the conspiracy once Lalit Jha is apprehended.

Earlier, the Lok Sabha secretariat suspended eight security personnel on Thursday over security lapses leading to the major security breach in the new Parliament building on Wednesday.

The security breach happened on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on the Parliament.


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

Ram Mandir trust denies media reports on appointment of Mohit Pandey as chief priest, says Satyendra Das will continue till new priest is selected after training

The consecration of the grand and divine Ram temple being built in Ayodhya is to take place on January 22, 2024. Amid this it has come to the fore from the media reports that Mohit Pandey, a resident of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, has been selected as the chief priest of the Ram temple. Several media outlets reported that applications from 3000 priests were accepted, from which 50 were chosen, Mohit Pandey’s name was among them, and he was chosen as the chief priest. He has been a student of Dudheshwar Ved Vidyapeeth.

However, Kameshwar Chaupal, a member of ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ Trust, has termed these reports as wrong through a Facebook post. He said that no chief priest had been appointed for the Shri Ramjanmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. He also requested that people not pay attention to false news. Kameshwar Chaupal told OpIndia that Satyendra Das is the priest of the Ram temple and that no new priest has been appointed.

He stated that no chief priest had been named. According to Kameshwar Chaupal, 21 people were chosen following the interview. They have yet to receive 6 months of training. Following that, the decision will be made on the basis of merit. Satyendra Das, according to Kameshwar Chaupal, is indeed elderly, but he is currently performing the duties of chief priest, and no one has been named as his successor.

Champat Rai, General Secretary of the ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ Trust, also spoke to OpIndia about Mohit Pandey’s appointment as chief priest. He stated that why believe in social media reports that continue to operate under any name and can use anyone’s name? He said that whoever wants to can use his name.

It is notable that Satyendra Das has served as the chief priest of the Ram temple for the past 32 years. He has been worshipping Ram lalla in the makeshift temple. He was appointed nine months before the Babri structure was demolished in December 1992. He had said that while worshiping, he felt that one day a temple of Ram Lalla would be built. Notably, Ram Lalla will remain in the tent where he has been for years until the consecration. Satyendra Das was initially paid Rs 100 per month, but this was later increased to Rs 13,000 per month.

Satyendra Das has been a teacher by profession and he continued to run the household through this job. His name was decided by former BJP MP Vinay Katiyar and former VHP chief Ashok Singhal. He had good relations with Hindu leaders. He was also included among the Bairagis who had installed the statue of Ram Lalla in Ram Janmabhoomi in 1949. He left home in 1958, took the degree of Acharya in 1975 and the very next year he became a Sanskrit teacher. Even at the time of Babri demolition, he was with Ram Lalla and had taken the idol safe away from the then situation.

Parliament security breach: The accused tried disrupting the last session as well, plan was dropped because they could not arrange passes

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While the Lok Sabha was in session on 13 December, there was a serious security breach in Parliament when six people planned the assault. Two of them, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D were able to get into the Lok Sabha building while Neelam Singh and Amol Shinde remained outside the premises.

According to sources, the police investigation into the issue has shown that four of the accused individuals attempted to break Parliament security during the last session as well, reported India Today. Amol Shinde, a 25-year-old Maharashtrian Dalit man admitted to authorities that they had intended to assault Parliament security and cause chaos in the previous session. He was one of the two protesters who carried cans that released yellow smoke outside the Parliament building. Neelam Azad was the other individual nabbed outside parliament.

Sources claimed that Anmol Shinde stated that they were unable to proceed with the previous plan since visitor passes could not be acquired at that time. One of the accused, Sagar Sharma obtained visitor credentials for access during the Winter Session of Parliament from Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pratap Simha.

When the lawmaker met House Speaker Om Birla on 13 December, he informed him that the Manoranjan D’s father lived in his Mysuru constituency and had asked for a pass to see the new Parliament building. He further told Om Birla that other than this, he did not have any more information.

Lalit Jha, the sixth accused in the case was the brains behind the conspiracy. They all met through the “Bhagat Singh Fan Club” social media page. The Delhi Police, however, think that the case involves more than six individuals. There is an ongoing investigation into the matter. Police have already apprehended the four people along with Vishal Sharma alias Vicky and his spouse Vrinda Sharma who kept them in their house in Gurugram while Lalit Jha is on the run.

Delhi Anti-Hindu riots: Karkardooma court denies bail to Shahrukh Pathan booked for pointing gun at policeman

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Shahrukh Pathan, who pointed a gun at a policeman during the anti-Hindu riots in North-East Delhi in 2020, was refused regular bail by a Delhi court on 14th December. The court stated it observed no need to grant him bail and Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat of Karkardooma Court noted, “Considering the conduct of the accused Shahrukh Pathan in jail during his judicial custody, his conduct prior to his being arrested, conduct during court proceedings and most importantly, the allegations against the accused which are being supported by the eyewitnesses and also the video footage, on any of the counts on which bail can be considered, the court sees nothing to set him enlarged on bail.”

The judge highlighted that Shahrukh Pathan was seen firing at the head constable at the location in a video that was captured by a journalist during the rioting and went viral on social media. “The video and the deposition of the witnesses also shows the entire conduct and the manner in which accused Shahrukh Pathan attacked and fired at HC Deepak Dahiya.”

The court proclaimed, “In all the footage shown, the accused Shahrukh Pathan can be seen constantly arguing with the Jail Staff.” This came about when the perpetrator filed an application claiming that jail staff had physically and verbally abused him. It mentioned, “In fact, to add to the conduct of the accused, Tihar Jail Authorities had also pointed out that earlier while being in judicial custody, a mobile phone was recovered from his possession inside the jail for which a punishment ticket was handed to him.”

The court also revealed that the accused behaved aggressively while incarcerated and even committed acts of violence. It remarked, “Another instance of 10.02.2023 was highlighted by the Jail Authority and CCTV footage was shown by Law Officer Abhijeet Shankaran and was played in open court to allege that the accused Shahrukh Pathan with another co-inmate was again found outside his ward where he was mingling with 3 other hardened prisoners/criminals but was supposed to be in high-Risk Ward and from the shadow, he could be seen intentionally thrashing and beating up a UTP Bunty and then bandaging him. The said Bunty, thereafter on the next day made a complaint to the Jail Inspecting Judge that he and Shahrukh Pathan had been badly beaten, tortured and harassed by the Tihar Jail Superintendent and it was only on the production of this CCTV footage in the court, that the said application was not pursued.” OpIndia has a copy of the judgement.

Shahrukh Pathan faces charges for several offences, including inciting unrest and encouraging animosity between various groups through unlawful assembly. The instance resulted in an FIR filed in 2020 at the Jafrabad Police Station. The case concerns an occurrence during the riots in which he was seen aiming a revolver towards a police officer.

It was submitted under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 153­A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion etc), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (Disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) 307 (Attempt to murder), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 120­B (Criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code along with Section 27 (Punishment for using arms, etc) of Arms Act. Proceedings under sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 188, 153A, 283, 353, 332, 323, and 307 of the India Penal Code were pressed against him in December 2021.

Charges against him and the other culprits in the FIR were framed by the trial court in December 2021. Additionally, it found a man guilty of harbouring Shahrukh Pathan in violation of Section 216 of the IPC even though he had freely entered a guilty plea to the allegation brought against him.

On 7th October, he was released on bail in a case involving injuries to multiple police officers and a gunshot wound to Rohit Shukla amid the conflict between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) demonstrators. Nevertheless, he stayed in jail since he had not requested bail in the case brought against him for pointing a gun at a cop.

The judicial underlined that Shakrukh Pathan had given a co-accused a note including a phone number during a judicial procedure. It added that he had once vanished from the jail and that he had been seen fighting and clashing with both guards and other prisoners as well as possessing a cell phone. The Court refused his request for bail due to these factors, the gravity of the accusations made against him and the existence of a recording showing him pointing a gun at a police officer.

While I.N.D.I.A. Bloc parties continue to attack Gautam Adani, JDU-RJD-ruled Bihar to receive Rs 8,700 crore investment from Adani Group

On Thursday, the Adani Group announced a significant commitment to amplify its investments in Bihar, aiming to increase the conglomerate’s financial commitment to the state tenfold. Pranav Adani, Managing Director (Agro, Oil and Gas) of Adani Enterprises, shared during the Bihar Business Connect 2023 event that the group plans to boost its current investment in the state from Rs 850 crore to a substantial Rs 8700 crore.

Additionally, Adani expressed the group’s intention to venture into new sectors where they currently lack a presence in the eastern state. Pranav Adani said at this event, “We will invest in three additional areas and generate 10000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.”

According to a report by ANI, the Adani Group aims to raise its godown storage capacity from 1 lakh square feet to 65 lakh square feet, with an investment of Rs 1200 crore. Two large-size godowns will come up in the state, one of which will be set up in the capital city of Patna. Moreover, the Adani Group aims to enhance its storage capacity in Purnea, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Kishanganj, and Araria through a substantial investment of Rs 900 crore.

Continuing his speech, Pranav Adani emphasised the group’s plans to extend its city gas network into Gaya and Nalanda, earmarking an approximate investment of Rs 200 crore. Additionally, Adani Wilmar, the FMCG arm of the conglomerate, is set to establish its presence in the state. He said, “Initially, we will start with the wheat processing unit, a solvent extractor unit, and a co-generation power unit.”

The group has outlined its commitment to allocate Rs 800 crore for the establishment of paddy processing plants in Sasaram and Rohtas. Moreover, the Adani Group representative disclosed during the event that an investment of Rs 2500 crore is earmarked for the construction of cement manufacturing plants in Warisaliganj and Mahabal. He said, “Our target is to produce 10 million tonnes of cement annually, and our investments are expected to generate about 3000 jobs.”

The third area in which the conglomerate wishes to enter is smart meter manufacturing. He said, “Now Bihar is shifting towards smart meters. We will install more than 28 lakh smart meters across Siwan, Saran, Gopalganj, Vaishali, and Samastipur to bring in automation in the power sector.” The investments in smart meter manufacturing would be about Rs 3100 crore.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has criticised Adani in the past

Notably, the Bihar government of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav has criticised the Adani Group in the past and now it is welcoming the investments by the businessman in the state. In July 2016, Tejashwi Yadav said, “Vijay Mallya has run away after looting white money from the country. Adani’s nephew has also done the same.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is at the forefront of attacking Gautam Adani.

In March 2023, the Enforcement Directorate claimed that it seized one crore rupees in “unaccounted cash” and detected proceeds of crime worth ₹600 crore after raids against RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family in a money laundering case. Rejecting the assertions as ‘baseless propaganda,’ Tejashwi Yadav stated that investigative agencies are pursuing him as if he were the “real Adani,” referring to the businessman Gautam Adani. He essentially implied that Gautam Adani is the one who commits fraud and the agencies are probing him.

Now, in the Bihar Business Connect 2023 event, his government is accepting the declared investment of the Adani Group in the state. This is not the first time that opposition parties have attacked the businessman claiming that PM Modi and the BJP government in the centre favour him in different ways, and then the same opposition parties welcomed the Adani Group in the states ruled by them.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also a vocal critic of Gautam Adani and his business. but when it came to bringing investments in her state, she welcomed the same business group. Now, Bihar ruled by RJD and JDU has joined the same league.