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Nitish Kumar insults former Bihar CM and Dalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi in Bihar Assembly, says this guy knows nothing

OpIndia Staff
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Nitish Kumar insults former Bihar CM and Dalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi in Bihar Assembly, says this guy knows nothing

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who has been facing severe criticism for his vulgar remark on population control, has yet again courted controversy after he openly humiliated former Bihar CM and Dalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi in the Bihar assembly. In a video that went viral on Thursday (November 9) Nitish Kumar, in a fit of rage, hit out at Jitan Ram Manjhi saying that he became the CM due to his stupidity otherwise he knows nothing.

According to reports, while delivering his address on the Reservation Amendment Bill Majhi raised apprehensions on the caste census done in Bihar. This is when Nitish Kumar lost his cool and interrupted him mid-way and said, “He keeps saying he too has been a chief minister. He became a chief minister because of my stupidity. Does he have any sense (ye bolta hai ki hum Mukhyamantri the. Meri moorkhta ki vajah se mukhyamantri bana. Isko koi sense hai)”, Nitish Kumar yelled, causing a commotion in the House.

At this point, Nitish Kumar’s cabinet colleagues tried to calm him down and get him to sit down by pulling at his kurta, however, the Bihar CM did not relent. He continued saying, “journalists should also know the complete facts. They keep giving a lot of publicity to this man”.

Kumar further went on to scream at the BJP leaders who stood up to protest against the Bihar CM’s unparliamentary behaviour. “This man has always been wanting to remain in your company. When I dumped you a year ago, I had asked him to stay put, but he insisted that he wanted to come with me. Now he has run away. He wants to become a governor. Please oblige him,” he was heard yelling at the BJP leaders.

The chief minister who kept fuming, only took his seat after Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary told him, “After all, he had become the chief minister only because of your benediction (kripa)”.

For the uninitiated, Jitan Ram Majhi served as minister for scheduled castes and scheduled tribe’s welfare in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet. Between 2014 and 2015, he was the Bihar CM for around 10 months. However, less than a year later, Manjhi stepped down, faced with accusations of trying to engineer a split in the JD(U), which led to Kumar’s return as the chief minister. He broke ties with the JD(U) and formed his party Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and is now with the opposition BJP-led NDA.

Soon after the video went viral, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Kumar and accused him of insulting the Dalits. Sharing the video on X, the Bihar unit of BJP wrote, “Did the deranged Paltu Kumar today in the House toss the Dalit community’s turban into the air? The elderly Jitan Ram Manjhi, a distinguished former Bihar Chief Minister and prominent Dalit leader received a reprimand from Nitish Kumar. The dignity of the entire Dalit community has been tarnished. When Paltu ji made a comeback in 2013, it was apparent that he used trickery to become the CM. His hatred towards the Dalit community came out openly, Bihar BJP wrote on X in Hindi.

Notably, Nitish Kumar has changed political allegiance so many times that opponents call him a ‘turncoat’ or ‘Paltu’ in Hindi

He has lost his mental stability: Manjhi reacts to the remark made by Nitish Kumar

Meanwhile, talking to reporters outside the House later, Manjhi retorted strongly to the open humiliation he faced at the hands of Nitish Kumar in the state Assembly. He asserted that the CM has lost his mental stability and is not fit to remain in the post.

“I will complain against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the governor and Union home minister. I will demand his dismissal and clamping of the President’s Rule in the state. Only a couple of days ago he had brought shame to the state through his remarks about women. His repeated misconduct shows he is no more in a sound state of mind and cannot be entrusted to hold such an important post,” Manjhi told the media.

Later, he also took to X to express his dismay. “Nitish Kumar, if you think that you made me the Chief Minister, it is your misconception. When JDU MLAs started kicking, you left your chair and ran away out of fear. To hide your powerlessness, you can attack only a Dalit. If you have the courage, show it by speaking against Lalan Singh who has launched an operation against you,” read the roughly translated post of Manjhi on ‘X’.

In the aftermath of the ruckus that ensued due to Niash Kumar’s remarks, the House was adjourned for the day. However, before the adjournment, the Bihar Assembly passed the ‘Reservation Amendment Bill’ to raise reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes in state jobs and educational institutions to 65%. The bill that raises the reservation quota beyond the 50% limit set by the Supreme Court was unanimously passed by the Bihar Assembly.

It has to now be signed off by Governor Rajendra Arlekar before it can become a law. The proposed reservation would increase to 75% when coupled with the Center’s 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Sections.

Nitish Kumar’s comments on population control in Bihar assembly stir a row

On 7th November (Tuesday), Bihar CM Nitish Kumar courted a new controversy while speaking on population control in the state legislative assembly. While underscoring the importance of women’s education in controlling the population, Nitish Kumar’s descriptive remarks created an uproar in the assembly. The comments drew smiles, including from Nitish Kumar’s deputy Tejashwi Yadav, seated behind him, while several women MLAs appeared uncomfortable.

During the discussion, CM Nitish said that the literacy of women has increased in Bihar. He said that if the girl child remains educated then the population will be controlled.

To lay emphasis on this, Nitish Kumar said, “Agar ladki padh legi… aur jab shaadi hoga ladka-ladki mein… aur woh jo purush hai, roz raat mein jab shaadiya hota hai, uske saath karta hai na… to usi mein aur paida ho jata hai… aur ladki padh leti hai… ki humko maloom tha ki woh karega theek hai… lekin ant mein usko bheetar mat ghusao… usko bahar kar do… aur karta to hai… to usi mein… aap samajh lijiye ki sankhya ghat rahi hai”, as reported by Jansatta Hindi.(If a girl receives an education… and when the marriage happens between a boy and a girl… and the man, every night after marriage, engages in that activity with her, right? So, in that, further births occur… and if the girl gets an education… she will know that he would do it, alright… but in the end, don’t let it inside… pull it out… and if it happens… in that… you understand that the numbers are decreasing).”

Chhattisgarh: Independent candidate and former Congress MLA accuses party leaders of selling assembly election tickets for Rs 4 crore

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Independent candidate and former Congress MLA accuses party leaders of selling assembly election tickets for Rs 4 crore

On 8th November, an independent candidate from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, Arun Tiwari, held a press conference and accused Congress of selling tickets in exchange for cash for the upcoming Assembly Elections. During the press conference, Tiwari presented an audio recording alleging it was a telephonic conversation with Mayor Ramsharan Yadav. The state Congress committee has issued a notice to Yadav seeking an explanation for the accusations.

Tiwari has alleged that the Congress ticket for the Assembly elections was sold for Rs 4 crores. The allegations caused turmoil in the political arena of the poll-bound state. Replying to the allegations, Yadav claimed he has a good relationship with Tiwari and dismissed the allegations as baseless.

In a letter to Yadav seeking an explanation, Congress party’s organisational in-charge, Mahamandaleshwar Malkit Singh Gaidu, said the audio clip discussing the ticket distribution has gone viral on social media. The content of the conversation raised concerns of indiscipline that led to instructions by PCC chief Deepak Baij to issue a notice. Yadav has been asked to respond to the notice within 24 hours.

Source: Bhaskar

Tiwari is a former MLA and former Congress leader of Chhattisgarh. He accused a prominent female leader, Kumari Selja, of the Congress party of accepting money in the ticket distribution. The money exchange occurred in Rohtak, and the person who gave the money circulated the audio clip himself. It was alleged that money was paid to her via her father.

While Yadav deemed Tiwari’s actions as fearmongering, Tiwari challenged him to respond within the legal framework if he felt defamed. Tiwari further claimed that money is often exchanged for a ticket in the Congress party.

In the conversation shared by Tiwari, he talked to Yadav, which lasted around 20 minutes. The conversation started with the information exchange on money paid through Hawala that amounted to Rs 4 crores. In the discussion, they talked about political deals, the distribution of tickets and the influence of external leaders in state politics. They also discussed survey results and allocation of resources in different regions, along with the challenges faced by the party.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023

The first phase of Assembly Elections 2023 in Chhattisgarh was done on 7th November. The second phase is scheduled for 17th November. The results will be announced on 3rd December. Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh is making headlines for different scams. Recently, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel’s name came up in the Mahadev Betting App scam. The owner of the app alleged he paid over Rs 500 crores to CM Baghel. Earlier, his name mushroomed in the liquor scam that was worth multi-thousand crores.

Surat: Beautician Shahrukh molests a minor Hindu girl at Javed Habib salon, booked under POCSO Act

OpIndia Staff
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Surat: Beautician Shahrukh molests a minor Hindu girl at Javed Habib salon, booked under POCSO Act

A 17-year-old Hindu girl in Surat was allegedly molested by a 24-year-old male beautician named Shahrukh Shah at the Javed Habib salon at Shiv Kartik Enclave, VIP road. According to the police, on 5th November, the victim visited the salon with her mother.

The girl got a haircut and then decided to get a facial treatment done. Shahrukh took the girl to another cabin and during the facial, he began to touch her inappropriately.

When the victim objected, the accused pretended to pass it as a mistake only to repeat it again. The accused again touched the girl inappropriately. At this point, the minor girl barged out of the cabin and informed her mother. The mother and daughter left the salon.

“The incident took place on Sunday (5th November) when the girl went to the salon with her mother. After hair-cutting, she wanted to go for facial treatment. The male beautician took her to a different cabin. During facial, he started touching her inappropriately and when she objected, he said sorry,” Times of India quoted the Vesu police inspector RY Raval.

Later, the family decided to file an FIR with the Vesu police, which acted promptly and arrested three male beauticians of the salon. The girl identified the accused Shahrukh before the executive magistrate. It was revealed that Shahrukh’s real name is Mohammad Riyaz Hasamtullah Shah.

He is a resident of Rajipurkala village in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh. He had been working at the Javed Habib Salon for the past few months. He was employed with a salary of Rs 35,000 a month to handle and manage the salon’s operations.

The accused has been booked and arrested under Section 354A (1)(1) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Pocso Act.

Latur: Maulana Ismail Sheikh, Faim Sayyed arrested for molesting a 21-year-old woman, making her derogatory video viral

OpIndia Staff
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Latur: Maulana Ismail Sheikh, Faim Sayyed arrested for molesting a 21-year-old woman, making her derogatory video viral

On Tuesday (7th November), a Maulana from the Latur district of Maharashtra was arrested by the Police for molesting a 21-year-old woman under the guise of providing her with religious education. The accused person has been identified as Maulana Ismail Karim Sheikh, resident of Madani Chowk, Latur, and has been booked under sections 376, 377, and 67A of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the reports, the incident came to the fore after the victim woman complained about the Maulana to her husband. She said that she was repeatedly being molested by the accused at his place, at her home in Latur, and also inside the vehicles. She said that the accused threatened her and usually drove her around in a car and raped her inside the car.

The Cutout of Lokmat newspaper who happened to cover the incident

She said the videos of the incidents were also recorded by the accused. The husband of the victim woman after learning about the molestation attempted to gather evidence against the Maulana. He believed that nobly would trust the woman given the powerful position of the accused within the community.

The next time the Maulana arrived at the home of the victim to assault her, the latter recorded the video of the accused and used it to file a police complaint against him. The couple gathered the evidence on November 1. The victim and her husband then sought the help of one Faim Sayyed whom the husband knew from the community. Sayyed deceptively grabbed the clip from the victim and said that he would help the duo attain justice.

However, Sayyed uploaded the video on the social media platform and made it viral. An FIR has been filed against the Maulana and the Faim Sayyed for molesting a woman and spreading her derogatory video on social media respectively.

The primary accused in the case, Maulana Ismail Karim Sheikh has been arrested by the Police. FIR has been filed under sections 376, 377, and 67A of the Indian Penal Code at the Vivekanand Police Station. Further investigations are underway.

Bihar assembly passes bill to increase reservation for SCs, STs and backward classes to 65%, beyond Supreme Court’s 50% cap

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar assembly passes bill to increase reservation for SCs, STs and backward classes to 65%, beyond Supreme Court’s 50% cap

Bihar Assembly has passed the ‘Reservation Amendment Bill’ to raise reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes in state jobs and educational institutions to 65% on 9 November. The bill that raises the reservation quota beyond the 50% limit set by the Supreme Court was unanimously passed by the Bihar Assembly.

It has to now be signed off by Governor Rajendra Arlekar before it can become a law. The proposed reservation would increase to 75% when coupled with the Center’s 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Sections. On November 7, the Bihar Cabinet approved the initiative to enhance the state’s quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

The development came hours after the government presented the complete report of the controversial state-wide caste survey, according to which 27.1% of Bihar’s 13.1 crore residents are from the Backward Classes and 36% are from EBCs. The remaining population is made up of 1.7% Scheduled Tribes and 19.7% Scheduled Castes and 15.5% of people fall into the General Category. This implied that OBCs and EBCs make up more than 60% of the population of Bihar.

The SC applicants are now entitled to 20 per cent reservation under the amended quotas while candidates from OBCs and EBCs would receive 18 and 25 per cent, respectively. This is a major rise from the previous (combined) 30 per cent. A two per cent reservation has been suggested for candidates from the ST at state jobs and educational institutions in the state.

At present, there is a reservation of 18% for EBCs, 12% for Backward Classes, 16% for Scheduled Tribes, and 16% for Scheduled Castes. There won’t be a three per cent reservation for women from lower socioeconomic strata anymore.

The Bharatiya Janata Party brought up the subject of EWS being left out of the bill’s reservation breakdown in the state assembly. “There is no confusion in this. It is clear from the name of the bill that it is regarding amendment in reservation for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes,” claimed Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Cabinet Minister for Finance, Commercial Taxes and Parliamentary Affairs.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar‘s recommendation to increase the caste-based quota was made two days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah charged that the Bihar administration had fabricated figures for the number of Yadavs and Muslims in the caste census. However, last week the Minister of Home Affairs remarked that the BJP is still in favour of a nationwide caste census as long as adequate analysis is undertaken.

With 14.27% of the category, the Yadav community is the largest sub-group and would benefit from an 18% reservation for OBC groups. According to the survey, 42% of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families reside in poverty, and 34% of all families in the state make ends meet with less than ₹ 6,000 a month.

Less than 6% of people from Scheduled Castes had completed their education, meaning they had passed Class 11 and Class 12, according to the data as well. The opposition was accused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “trying to divide the country in the name of caste” following the report’s initial criticism.

The amendments were enacted amid protests both within and outside the Bihar Assembly over CM Nitish Kumar’s remarks this week regarding women’s education and population control. He stirred up controversy on 7 November when he addressed population control in the state legislature. His evocative comments incited a commotion in the assembly while highlighting the significance of women’s education in population control.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Nitish Kumar’s deputy, smiled at the remarks as did other lawmakers while female MLAs seemed embarrassed. The Janata Dal (United) leader later apologised for his statements and stated, “If what I said was wrong, I apologise for it. I take back my words.”

Yogi Adityanath holds cabinet meeting in Ayodhya instead of Lucknow to mark four years of the historic Ram Mandir judgement

OpIndia Staff
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Yogi Adityanath holds cabinet meeting in Ayodhya instead of Lucknow to mark four years of the historic Ram Mandir judgement

On November 9, Thursday, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath held a cabinet meeting in Ayodhya. The meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet took place at the Ramkatha Mandap (auditorium) located on the banks of the Saryu River. Yogi Adityanath created history of sorts as he is the first Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh’s history to hold cabinet meetings outside the state capital Lucknow.

This was done to make four years of the historic Ram Mandir judgement. Notably, it was on November 9, 2019, that the Supreme Court of India handed over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid land to the Hindu parties, making way for Hindu devotees to build the grand Ram Mandir at the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Ahead of the arrival of the cabinet members, there was an elaborate decoration done at the museum. Posters and huge cutouts of Lord Shri Ram and Hanuman were placed in the hall inside the Museum where the cabinet meeting took place.

Yogi Adityanath and all his cabinet members reached the Ramkatha Park in Ayodhya at around 11:00 am on a bus.

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple along with cabinet ministers. The Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues also performed the Parikrama of the temple.

They also worshipped at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex and the Shri Ram Lala Virajman temple today.

The security in Ayodhya has been tightened and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has been deployed on the streets.

ADG Police, Lucknow Zone, Piyush Mordia, said, “We have made the security arrangements for the visit of very special guests. We will try that it doesn’t affect the day-to-day routine of common people preparing for Deepawali here. Enough police force has been deployed.”

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Yogi Adityanath is the first Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh’s history to hold cabinet meetings outside the state capital.

“Similar meetings were previously held during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj in 2019, where cabinet members participated in a holy bath at the Sangam. Additionally, a cabinet meeting was conducted in Kashi. Continuing this tradition, the Yogi Cabinet will now convene in Ayodhya, the revered birthplace of Lord Shri Ram Lalla,” an official statement said.

After the meeting, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday announced that his cabinet has cleared 14 projects related to the development of Ayodhya.

“Today a new chapter has been added in the history of Uttar Pradesh. The entire cabinet of the UP government has come to Ayodhya Dham,” the chief minister said.

“An important meeting was held today regarding the development of UP. We know that 178 schemes of the Central and State Governments worth more than Rs 30,500 crore are already running in Ayodhya…”

According to Adityanath, the initial suggestion was to create an Inland Waterways Authority in Uttar Pradesh to enhance water transportation while promoting water tourism.

“We have decided to create this authority at the state level,” he said during a media briefing.

Additionally, the chief minister announced that the establishment of the Ma Pateshesri Dham Tirth Vikas Parishad and the Ayodhya Tirth Vikas Parishad had been approved. According to him, the state also passed regulations governing drone flying.

The date – November 9 – holds significance as the Supreme Court on this date in 2019 passed its historic verdict making way for Hindu devotees to have a grand Ram Mandir at the birthplace of Lord Ram.

The 5-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi case. The top 5 senior judges decided after weighing the arguments presented by all sides for 40 days. CJI Ranjan Gogoi said that the bench is the final arbitrator in the matter and he said that the court is not obligated to give a religious rationale while deciding the case.

While handing over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid land to the Hindu parties, the Apex court also ordered the union government to provide 5 acres of land at an alternate site at a prominent location in Ayodhya to the Sunni Waqf Board to rebuild the Babri Masjid which was demolished in 1992.

Now, the long wait of thousands of devotees is finally coming to an end as the date for the opening of the Grand Ram Mandir has been formally announced by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The day after Makar Sankranti (January 14) in the following year is when the trust’s lavish consecration ceremony is scheduled to begin. The new deity would be symbolically taken out from the city of Ayodhya and bathed in water from Saryu and other sacred rivers. Following this, over a dozen other religious ceremonies would be conducted before the final prayers and Vedic rituals are carried out on January 22.

On October 25, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the inauguration of Ram Mandir. PM Modi posted on X that officials of the trust met him at his residence and invited him to attend the event of Pran Pratistha at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

USA: Indian student Varun Raj Pucha passes away a week after knife attack in a gym, accused said ‘stabbed because he was looking weird’

OpIndia Staff
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USA: Indian student Varun Raj Pucha passes away a week after knife attack in a gym, accused said ‘stabbed because he was looking weird’

On Wednesday, 8th November, a 24-year-old Indian student Varun Raj Pucha who was stabbed at a gym in South Indiana in the United States on October 29 succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

Jordan Andrade stabbed Varun Raj Pucha, a computer science student at Valparaiso University, in the head on October 29 at the Planet Fitness Club in Valparaiso, Indiana.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Valparaiso University authorities informed about Varun’s tragic demise and said, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Varun Raj Pucha. Our campus community has lost one of its own, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Varun’s family and friends as we mourn this devastating loss.”

The varsity added that they are in touch with Varun’s family and will assist them in any way possible. The university is also planning a service of remembrance and memorial for Varun on campus for November 16.

“The university continues to be in contact with Varun’s family, and we will continue to offer assistance and support wherever possible as they navigate this extremely difficult time. We ask that you join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers,” the university said.

Varun was pursuing an MS in Computer Science and went to the United States in August 2022. He was supposed to return home to Telangana’s Khammam after finishing his studies next year. According to Varun’s cousin, his condition did not improve following the incident. He was unconscious at a hospital in Fort Wayne before passing.

Anile Balleboyne is one of the few relatives of the deceased student in the United States, as his parents and the rest of his family are in India. He arrived in Indiana approximately a year and a half ago, she added, in the hopes of getting a decent education.

“It’s difficult because no one expects this kind of situation for their kids. He had many dreams. He came with many dreams, to financially and emotionally support his family,” Balleboyne said.

The attacker was arrested after the incident and is now facing charges of violence with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.

Accused Andrade told police that he and Varun had never spoken before the attack, but that “someone” informed him Varun was “threatening.”

“Officers also spoke with Planet Fitness staff who indicated that Varun was a regular gym member and generally kept to himself, was quiet and reserved, nothing indicating that he was ‘creepy’,” the police said. 

Andrade claimed he stepped inside the gym’s massage area and encountered Varun, whom he did not know but regarded “a little weird,” according to authorities. He argued that he felt threatened by Varun and “just reacted”, as stated in his own words. The accused admitted to pulling out his knife and attacking the 24-year-old Indian student.

As AAP blames Haryana for pollution in Delhi, data shows Punjab has 6 times the farm fires of Haryana

OpIndia Staff
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As AAP blames Haryana for pollution in Delhi, data shows Punjab has 6 times the farm fires of Haryana

Even as farm fire incidents in Punjab have crossed the 2,000 mark in just 24 hours, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is busy trying to win the perception war on social media. Taking to X (Twitter), AAP tweeted a graph image to claim that stubble-burning incidents in Punjab have reduced by 55 per cent in 2022-23. Notably, Punjab has reportedly recorded 65.6 per cent of farm fires as compared to Haryana which has recorded 5.3 per cent of farm fires.

At the same time, the AAP-led Punjab government has instructed the police and civil administration to register FIR and take strict action against farmers burning crop residue. Punjab government data reportedly reveals that 21 districts in the state have witnessed a spike in farm fire incidents.

Farmers in Sangrur reportedly logged 466 cases of farm fires on 8th November, taking the total count to a whopping 4,070, the highest of all districts. Ludhiana has reported 96 cases on 8th November, taking the total count of farm fires to 1,089. 861 cases of farm fires were recorded in 24 hours in South Mawla which comprises Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Moga and Fazilka.

This brings the overall farm fires in Punjab to 22,981. Meanwhile, the Haryana government has reported a 38 per cent reduction in stubble-burning incidents this year as compared to 2022. In the past two years, Haryana has recorded a reduction in stubble burning by 57 per cent.

The BJP-ruled state has taken strict action against individuals responsible for farm fire, issuing 1,256 challans and fine amounting to Rs 32.55 lakh. 72 FIRs have been filed and 44 far fires were extinguished.

Moreover, the Haryana government has unveiled a new policy aimed at completely ending stubble burning. The ‘Haryana Ex-Situ Management of Paddy Straw Policy 2023’ aims to harness paddy straw for sustainable energy and eliminate crop residue burning by 2027.

The Haryana government has sanctioned 19,141 lakh crop residue management (CRM) machines to farmers at a subsidy. An area of 940 lakh acres has been registered for incentives of Rs 1,000 per acre.

Moreover, the state government has reportedly imposed curbs on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in Gurugram and Faridabad with immediate effect until November 30 or until the revocation of GRAP Stage III by the Commission on Air Quality Management, whichever occurs earlier.

Satellite imagery from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) shows Punjab covered in red dots signifying the severe levels of farm fires in the state whereas the same in Haryana appears significantly lower. The data recorded in the satellite imagery is from the past 24 hours.

Screenshot of the satellite imagery available on NASA FIRMS showing large scale farm fire in Punjab in the past 24 hours (Source: NASA FIRMS)
Screenshot of the satellite imagery shared on NASA FIRMS showing relatively lower farm fire in Haryana as compared to Punjab in the past 24 hours (Source: NASA FIRMS)

Yet, the Aam Aadmi Party has accused the Haryana government for the dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). Even as AAP is the ruling dispensation in both, Punjab – where stubble burning is at its peak, and in Delhi – where AQI currently stands at 426, it has time and again been attacking the BJP-ruled Haryana government and indulging in a political war of words.

Mahua Moitra’s conduct ‘unethical’, shared login credentials with unauthorised persons: Lok Sabha Ethics Committee in draft report suggesting expulsion

ANI
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Mahua Moitra’s conduct ‘unethical’, shared login credentials with unauthorised persons: Lok Sabha Ethics Committee in draft report suggesting expulsion

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, in its draft report, accused Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra of being involved in ‘unethical conduct’ and sharing her ID login and password with unauthorised persons, sources said on Thursday.

According to the sources, Opposition MPs have given dissent notes on the draft.

“One common ground for all the opposition MPs to submit a dissent note is that the enquiry is not fair. They have said that Darshan Hiranandani should have been summoned by the committee to ensure a free and fair enquiry in all respects,” the sources said.

Under the ‘Cash for Query’ charges made by Nishikant Dubey against Mahua Moitra, Dubey alleged that the Trinamool MP had taken bribes from Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament to target the Adani Group.

The meeting of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee which is investigating the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey is underway.

As per the sources, the draft report on Mahua Moitra’s cash-for-questions case reveals that she visited the UAE four times from 2019 to 2023 while her login was accessed several times.

“On 47 occasions, her member portal login credentials were accessed from Dubai,” according to the draft report of the ethics committee.

The Ethics Committee has sought details reports from Information Technology (IT) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding IP address and location. The committee also seeks MHA’s input on the dangers of sharing login credentials, emphasizing the legal consequences under Section IT ACT 2000.

However, the draft report suggested several findings including, “The serious misdemeanours on the part of Mahua Moitra calls for severe punishment. The Committee, therefore, recommend that Mahua Moitra, MP may be expelled from the Membership of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha.”

“In view of the highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct of Mahua Moitra, the Committee recommend for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner,” it added.

The draft report further said, “Unethical Conduct’ and ‘Contempt of the House’ by Mahua Moitra by way of accepting money – cash and kind, amenities and various other facilities by Mahua Moitra, MP from Darshan Hiranandani, Business Tycoon, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.”

“The ‘money trail’ of cash transaction between Mahua Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani as a part of ‘quid pro quo’ should be.”

The comprehensive draft report spans approximately 500 pages.

Further report stated that “Darshan Hiranandani, an Indian national with UAE residential rights.

According to sources, the committee can recommend the expulsion of Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha and can take action against Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali who is a member of the committee.

Earlier today, Mahua Moitra wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging a breach in the rules of the House claiming that the draft report of the Lok Sabha Committee on Ethics was accessed by a news channel. She alleged that since the media house was owned by the Adani group this was an issue of corporate fraud and breach of regulations.

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

Spain: Jihadi network busted, 14 Pakistanis arrested in major anti-terror operation

ANI
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Spain: Jihadi network busted, 14 Pakistanis arrested in major anti-terror operation

Police in Spain arrested 14 Pakistan-origin individuals and busted a suspected jihadist network based in the country, Euro Weekly News reported.

The arrests were made as part of an operation initiated by Spain’s General Information Commissioner’s Office after the anti-terrorist alert level was raised in the country following Hamas’ attack on Israel a month ago. Spanish Security Forces redoubled surveillance on suspects in order to avoid possible attacks, Euro Weekly News reported.

All of the detainees were of Pakistani origin and are said to have lived in Catalonia, Valencia, Guipuzcoa, Vitoria, Logrono and Lleida, according to Euro Weekly News, the largest English newspaper in Spain.

Police sources confirmed the arrests to La Razon, a local daily. Those arrested will be reportedly produced in court on Wednesday (local time).

Euro Weekly News reported that it is believed that these individuals formed a network in which jihadist messages and a high degree of radicalisation were transmitted online.

David Atherton, a journalist at The European Conservative posted on social media app X stating that these 14 Pakistani jihadists are linked to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) an Islamic extremist political party in Pakistan.

“In Spain 14 Pakistani jihadists have been arrested for terrorist activities. They lived in Catalonia, Valencia, Guipuzcoa, Vitoria, Logrono & Lleida. They are linked to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan an Islamic extremist political party in Pakistan,” he said.

A similar anti-terror operation was carried out by the Spain’s national police last month where the police caught four suspected jihadists, reported Euro Weekly News.

Those four suspects were arrested in the Granada municipality of Huetor-Tajar, Cubelles in Barcelona, and Madrid, for ‘proselytism and jihadist recruitment’, the Spanish weekly said.

Reportedly, among those arrested was a man named “Caliph” who authorities said was the “creator and administrator of several groups in which he tried to indoctrinate young people in the jihadist creed.”

A married couple who had apparently been brought together after joining one of these online social media groups was also among those held, Euro Weekly News reported. Adding to this, the fourth suspected jihadist was said to have been an ‘indoctrinated’ individual.

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

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