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‘I take back my words’: Nitish Kumar pulls out after ejaculating vulgar statement inside Bihar assembly

OpIndia Staff
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‘I take back my words’: Nitish Kumar pulls out after ejaculating vulgar statement inside Bihar assembly

On 8th November, the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar pretended to apologise for vulgar remarks inside the assembly. Speaking to the media, CM Nitish said, “I said something in the Assembly, and there is so much criticism over it. If what I said was wrong, I apologise for it. I take back my words. If someone is criticising me, I take back my words and apologise for it. If someone keeps criticising it, I facilitate them.”

Nitish Kumar’s statement sounded like he was not ashamed of his statement but is throwing a cursory apology because some people criticized him for it.

The matter was raised in the Bihar Assembly as well. When the opposition raised objections over the statements of CM Nitish, he said, “Why are you creating a stir? I have already clarified this in the media. You all were present in the house. Everyone agreed yesterday [to what I said]. The decision was taken with everyone’s agreement.”

He added, “I did a good thing yesterday. All of you agreed to it yesterday. But you must have gotten instructions to criticise me. I take back my words. Whoever is criticising me, I facilitate them.”

Education Minister Tejashwi Yadav defended CM Nitish’s vulgar remarks

Earlier, Bihar’s education minister, Tejashwi Yadav, defended CM Nitish’s remarks in the Bihar Assembly. He said, “It is essential to ensure the Chief Minister’s statement regarding sex education is not misinterpreted. It is now taught in schools as part of the curriculum. Science and Biology are part of the school’s curriculum. However, people still feel hesitant when discussing the topic. The CM’s statement was about the practical measures to address the issue of population growth. It should not be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Instead, it should be seen as a comprehensive part of sex education.”

CM Nitish Kumar’s remarks in the Bihar Assembly

On 7th November, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar used bizarre language and vulgar hand gestures to claim that only educated women are capable of preventing pregnancy because they make their husbands ejaculate ‘outside’.

CM Nitish said, “When men and women get married, the men’ do it’ every night, especially in winters. If the girl is educated, she will not let him ejaculate inside. She will make him ejaculate outside. So eventually, the population will come down.”

The controversy erupted at the time when India is heading towards the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Nitish Kumar, who has switched between being a part of NDA and supporting the I.N.D.I Alliance of opposition parties, which includes Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, is being considered as a potential PM candidate for the alliance. However, the alliance has been plagued with controversies and reports of differences among participating parties, raising questions about its survival till the General Elections. It remains to be seen whether the alliance will crumble like a house of cards or weather the storm.

PM Modi wishes Former Deputy PM LK Advani who turns 96: The Rath Yatra he spearheaded, which has born fruit today in the form of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya    

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi wishes Former Deputy PM LK Advani who turns 96: The Rath Yatra he spearheaded, which has born fruit today in the form of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya    

On 8th November 2023, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India and BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani turned 96 years of age. Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to the BJP co-founder who spearheaded the Rath Yatra movement for the construction of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Former BJP President Advani is also attributed for playing a key role in catapulting BJP from a two-seat party to a national party that has been in power for the last nine-and-a-half years and counting. 

On his birth anniversary, PM Modi lauded his party mentor for the monumental contributions that have strengthened the nation. PM Modi added, “His visionary leadership has furthered national progress and unity. I wish him good health and a long life. His efforts towards nation-building continue to inspire 140 crore Indians.”

Lal Krishna Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi city of undivided India. He hails from the Sindhi community. At the time of partition, he came to India and over the years played a pivotal role as the backbone, first of Jan Sangh and then the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Strikingly, 33 years ago, i.e. in 1990, Advani took out a Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya with an aim to unite Hindus and demand the construction of the Ram temple on the birthplace of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram. As scheduled, he left Somnath on 25th September and was slated to reach Ayodhya on 30th October 1990 traversing through different states.

The responsibility of this Ratha Yatra was entrusted to Narendra Modi who as we know later went on to serve as Gujarat Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014 and has been the Prime Minister of India since 2014. 

Back in the 1990s, BJP worker Modi used to be the organisational general secretary of Gujarat BJP. Incidentally, the Rath Yatra marked Modi’s arrival at the national level. 

Meanwhile, it was also the time when leaders who emerged from the Jaya Prakash Narayan-led movement, the JP movement, in the likes of Lalu Yadav were worried that the effect of the movement had waned or ended and their vote bank might tank considerably. The noose of their divisional reservation politics was getting loose. 

As a result, several leaders like Lalu Yadav found refuge in the twisted interpretation of the word ‘Secularism’. Using the trope of secularism, he put a grinding halt on Advani’s Rath Yatra before it could reach its final destination. 

However, this coercive step against the Rath Yatra had serious consequences as it led to the fall of Prime Minister VP Singh’s government. But it was not a happenstance as the Rath Yatra had such a massive appeal that devotees used to shower flower petals in every nook and cranny the Yatra traversed through. In fact, people’s devotions were so attached that some even used to apply soil from the place where the chariot passed by onto their foreheads as a mark of devotion. 

Political journalists and pundits in Delhi who had over the years narrowed their vision sitting in their echo chambers were left astonished. While they had seen rallies of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, were even witnessed the charisma of Indira Gandhi and her popularity. But they had never seen any Rath Yatra where people would apply soil beneath the chariot on their forehead, it was a different devotion altogether for the Yatra. 

As stated above, the entire responsibility of this Rath Yatra was on Narendra Modi, currently India’s Prime Minister. Hemant Sharma in his book ‘Yudh Mein Ayodhya’ has described Modi as the strategist and architect of this Rath Yatra. He was the first person to formally give information regarding the route and program of the yatra on 13th September, 1990. It is said that the only person who had every detailed information about this yatra was Modi.

Despite witnessing the deep devotional connection of Hindus with the Yatra, the secular brand of Politicians went ahead to stall the yatra in a brazen attempt to appease their Muslim vote bank and project themselves as the biggest benefactor of the largest minority community.   

According to ‘Yudh in Ayodhya’, on 19th October 1990, a meeting was held at Sundernagar Guest House of ‘Indian Express’. Advani had left the Rath Yatra in Dhanbad to attend the meeting. Reportedly, the meeting was held on the initiative of the then Prime Minister VP Singh. Advani said that he does not want to topple the government. Advani asserted that if the government brings an ordinance and hands over the disputed structure to the VHP or its representative, the BJP will support it. 

However, political pundits believe that VP Singh did not want Mulayam to become the sole messiah of Muslims and hence on his instructions Lalu Yadav arrested Advani in Bihar. Hemant Sharma in ‘Yudh in Ayodhya’ writes that VP Singh killed two birds with one stone – Advani was arrested and Mulayam was defeated.

Nonetheless, Advani’s Rath Yatra had such a profound impact that kar sevaks from all over the country started gathering in Ayodhya. Karsevaks were adamant that the temple would be constructed no matter how much force the then-state government applied.

In the chain of events, on 30th October 1990, indiscriminate firing was meted out on the kar sevaks in Ayodhya which claimed the lives of all the kar sevaks including the Kothari brothers. According to some accounts, a dying Kar Sevak wrote ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the road with his blood. 

After the start of the yatra, on one side Advani projected himself as the servant of faith of crores of Hindus of the country who was standing against leaders like VP Singh, Mulayam Singh, and Lalu Yadav who were competing among themselves to garner as many Muslim votes as possible.

Two years after the Rath Yatra, kar sevaks went on to raze the disputed structure over the Ram Janambhoomi site to the ground. They kept fighting for their rightful land in the court of law. A Bhavya Shri Ram Mandir is currently being built in Ayodhya. It will be ready for devotees to take Shri Ram’s darshan post on 22 January 2024. 

In hindsight, political pundits assert that Lal Krishna Advani, the late Ashok Singhal, and the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee were awakening Hindu self-respect in a generation that had been trampled for decades under the boots of Nehruvianism and Indira’s communism which were concocted with secularism. 

ED questions Congress leader Pawan Bansal in the National Herald case: All you need to know about the case

OpIndia Staff
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ED questions Congress leader Pawan Bansal in the National Herald case: All you need to know about the case

On Wednesday (8th November), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned senior Congress leader Pawan Bansal in the National Herald case. He arrived at the agency Headquarters in Delhi around noon for interrogation in the money laundering case.

According to the reports, Bansal had also visited the ED office on 7th November.

However, Bansal, 75, was last interrogated by the agency in April 2022 in connection with a money laundering case involving alleged financial misconduct in the Congress-backed Young Indian, which owned the National Herald newspaper.

The former Union minister was interrogated as the managing director of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and the Congress’ interim treasurer. The National Herald is owned by Young Indian Pvt Ltd and published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

The agency in the year 2022 filed a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd based on a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

The National Herald Scam and its history so far

National Herald was started by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938 to convey the concerns of Congress’ liberal brigade. Following India’s independence, it metamorphosed into the mouthpiece of the Congress party.

The Associated Journals Limited (AJL) was the publishing company of the National Herald newspaper. It was also involved in the publication of the Urdu newspaper Qaumi Awaz and the Hindi paper Navjivan. By April 2008, AJL was in huge debt and owed the Congress party a whopping sum of Rs 90.26 crores.

The party had sanctioned loans to the company from time to time at 0% interest to keep it afloat. When it became unsustainable, AJL formally drew curtains over the printing and publication of its newspapers in 2008.

Debt owed to Congress party transferred to Gandhi-owned company

Another company by the name of Young Indian Limited (YIL) was created in 2010 as a private, not-for-profit charity under Section 25 of the Companies Act of 1956. The Gandhis (including Rahul and Sonia) owned 83.3% of the shares in YIL (as per Income Tax records).

Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes owned 15.5% and 1.2% of the shares respectively. YIL paid Rs 50 lakhs to the Congress party and transferred the debt of Rs 90.26 cr owed to it by AJL to itself.

Given that AJL was not in a position to clear its debt, Young Indian Pvt Limited acquired a majority of its share equities and eventually the whole company. As such, all assets of the Associated Journals Limited were incorporated into the Gandhi-owned Young Indian Limited.

This included real estate assets, worth over 2000 crores, which are located in posh localities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, and others. After acquiring AJL, Young Indian Limited announced that the publication of newspapers was not the objective of the not-for-profit charity.

Nonetheless, in 2016, YIL relaunched the 3 newspapers, including the National Herald, in a digital format.

In 2011, Swamy claimed that YIL was floated by the Gandhis to acquire the real-estate assets of AJL. He also accused Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi of defrauding their party and approached the trial court in 2013.

He claimed that YIL was able to write off debt totaling Rs 90.26 crores for just Rs 50 lakhs. Swamy said that the decision of the Congress party to extend loans to AJL for commercial purposes was illegal.

Notably, the agency in the year 2022 filed a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd based on a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

Congress is Barbadi ki guarantee, their CMs do Satta and generate black money: PM Modi in MP’s Damoh

OpIndia Staff
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Congress is Barbadi ki guarantee, their CMs do Satta and generate black money: PM Modi in MP’s Damoh

On Wednesday (8th November), Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh slammed the Congress party calling it a “Barbadi ki guarantee”. PM Modi accused Congress of indulging in corruption as he said in Chattisgarh Congress is involved in ‘betting’ alluding to the Mahadev app case and Rajasthan the infamous “Red Diary” allegedly containing details of corruption by Congress leaders. The Prime Minister said that “Congress is a party of Scams, Greed, Infighting, Deceit and Self-Development at the cost of the people of India.”

“Congress has absolutely deprived the people of MP. The betting scandal of Chhattisgarh, the Red Diary of Rajasthan, and the false promises of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh are other examples of the same. Congress means ‘barbaadi ki guarantee’. In 2018, they [Congress] promised a loan waiver to farmers, the farmers waited for 15 months but got nothing. In Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, Congress made a series of false promises. The Congress party knows that the youth of Madhya Pradesh don’t trust them due to their track record of corruption….Congress got power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, but their CMs are involved in ‘satta’ [betting] and generating black money,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi further urged the people to beware of the Congress party. He also said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is controlled by a remote. PM Modi asserted that when remote works Kharge speaks against Sanatan Dharma but when the remote is not working, he talks about Pandavas, the five warrior heroes of Mahabharat.

“This is the time to remain beware of the Congress party. It is that party that snatches money belonging to the poor, indulges in scams, and divides the society for chair; for Congress, the development of a state and the nation is not important…Congress president is controlled by a remote. He can’t do much. When the remote works, he abuses Sanatan (Dharma). Yesterday, when the remote was not working he spoke about Pandavas and said there are five Pandavas in BJP. We are proud that we are walking on the path laid by the Pandavas,” PM Modi said.

On the issue of corruption, PM Modi slammed the Congress party calling it a “well-oiled machinery that indulges in systemic corruption significantly looting the people of India.”

PM Modi added that the BJP Government on the other hand has facilitated corruption-free governance for the people of India and has ensured last-mile saturation of schemes and money being spent accurately for their overall development.

Asserting that he is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi said, “The entire state of MP and its people, including the poor & downtrodden, have me in their heart, and the reason is that Modi is at their service all the time. Even after several decades of Congress rule, poverty had remained a constant phenomenon in the country. Congress is based on falsity and does not possess the intent to alleviate poverty, empowering all,” PM Modi said adding that it is only the BJP Government that has ensured the development and empowerment of everyone.

PM Modi further criticised Congress for threatening to approach the Election Commission alleging violations of the model code of conduct following his announcement that the free ration Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme would be extended for an additional five years.

“They [Congress] are talking about approaching the ECI and complaining against Modi. How could he [PM Modi] talk about giving free ration to the poor? What does Modi think of himself? Do whatever you want, I will accept whatever punishment comes my way but I will not leave the work for the poor,” PM Modi said.

Punjab: Gym owner who came back from Qatar shot dead in his home, wife arrested for planning murder with boyfriend

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Gym owner who came back from Qatar shot dead in his home, wife arrested for planning murder with boyfriend

A 35-year-old man was reportedly shot dead at his home in Gharyala village, which is part of Tarn Taran district’s Patti sub-division. The police took cognizance of the event and arrested his wife, Baljit Kaur in the case. The prime accused has been identified as one Mahavir Singh who is yet to be arrested. The police are making efforts to nab him.

According to the reports, it is believed that the wife of the deceased knew Mahavir Singh (24) of the Lakhna village. She confessed that she knew Mahavir Singh who happened to kill the deceased on 7th November.

The deceased person has been identified as Ranjit Singh, who ran a gym in the village. According to police, the deceased returned from Qatar about seven months ago after spending seven to eight years there. He was working in Qatar and sending money to his family from there previously. 

The deceased was the father of two children, a boy and a girl.

The incident is said to have happened at around 1 am. on 7th November when Ranjit Singh was fast asleep at his home. “At around 1 am, two unidentified persons barged into our house and opened fire, killing my son on the spot,” said Malook Singh, the father of the deceased person.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-Patti City Jaspal Singh also commented on the issue and confirmed that the prime accused Mahavir Singh was known to the wife of the deceased. “As per the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the victim’s house, the accused entered the home at around 1:06 am and remained there till 1:20 am. When we questioned the deceased’s wife, she disclosed that she knew the prime accused Mahavir Singh (24) of Lakhna village. As per our initial investigations, Mahavir and one unidentified person committed the crime,” the DSP said.

The primary accused is yet to be arrested and the police are making efforts to nab him. However, the wife of the deceased person, Baljit Kaur has been arrested by the police. The police said that the reason behind the murder would be known after the investigation.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act against Mahavir, Baljit Kaur, and one unknown person at Patti City police station. Investigations are underway.

US House of Representatives censures Rashida Tlaib over her anti-Israel comments

OpIndia Staff
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US House of Representatives censures Rashida Tlaib over her anti-Israel comments

The lone Palestinian American member of the House of Representatives and Democratic Congresswoman from Michigan Rashida Tlaib has faced severe criticism from her peers due to her divisive words and actions over the Israel-Hamas conflict that broke out in October 2023.

A majority of Republicans were joined by lawmakers from her own party who voted in favour of the official public censure, which was passed by a vote of 234 to 188 on the night of 7 November. 

She was charged with “promoting false narratives regarding the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel” in the resolution which was introduced by Republican Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia. The legislator had “levied unbelievable falsehoods about the attack on October 7 and our greatest ally, Israel,” based on him. The punishment is a rung below expulsion.

She is infamous for her relentless support of extremist elements and for regularly expressing anti-Israel sentiments on social media which ended up offending her colleagues and Jewish outfits. Her usage of the genocidal phrase “from the river to the sea” which is interpreted as antisemitic and advocates the eradication of Israel as well as her claim that President Joe Biden “supported the genocide of the Palestinian people” attracted the most condemnation. However, he has called for brief ceasefires in order to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians from the strip.

Rashida Tlaib also carried a sign that read “Stop US Aid to Israel’s Occupation” at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Capitol. She infuriated her colleagues by refusing to apologise for holding Israel accountable for a deadly hospital explosion in Gaza that was later determined to have been caused by a rocket launched by the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

However, she broke down in tears as the US House moved forward with a resolution to censure her over anti-Israel comments while another pro-Islamist Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tried to comfort her as she defended her views on the conflict.

She held up a picture of her grandmother who lives in the West Bank and claimed that her dissent was focused on the Israeli government and its actions rather than the Jewish people and she was standing up for the human rights and dignity of the Palestinian people who have suffered under Israeli occupation and embargo. She argued that her demands were for a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians and not the destruction of the Jewish state.

“I can’t believe we have to say this but Palestinian people are not disposable. We are human beings just like anyone else. My city, my grandmother like all Palestinians just wants to live her life with the freedom and human dignity we all deserve. Speaking up to save lives no matter faith, no matter ethnicity should not be controversial in this chamber. The cries of the Palestinian and Israeli children sound no different to me. What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinian children sound different to you all,” Rashida Tlaib asked and added, “We cannot lose our shared humanity.”

She asserted, “Let me be clear, my criticism has always been of the Israeli government and Netanyahu’s actions. It’s important to separate people and governments, Mr. Chair, no government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticising the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent and it’s being used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation.”

She was subjected to a censure resolution for her disparaging remarks on Israel for the second time. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the first resolution last week which was defeated by House Democrats with support from a few Republicans and was rejected by a vote of 222-186.

She was surrounded by several of her progressive Democratic colleagues and declared earlier in the day that she would not be “silenced” and accused others of misrepresenting what she had voiced. She spoke in favour of the expression “from the river to the sea,” and claimed that it is “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate.”

She alleged, “Seventy-one per cent of Michigan Democrats support a ceasefire. So, you can try to censure me, but you can’t silence their voices. President Biden must listen to and represent all of us, not just some of us.” 

Notably, Censures are very rare. There have only ever been 25 House members censured in history, and Rashida Tlaib has assumed the position of becoming the 26th. She is notorious for her unrelenting support of anarchists and jihadists.

Recently, hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators flocked to the Cannon Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on 18 October demanding a “ceasefire” in Gaza amid the ongoing dispute between Israel and Hamas terrorists. The Congresswoman addressed the Jewish Voice for Peace protestors with an inciting speech before their rallies outside the Cannon House office building.

She claimed that Israeli soldiers assaulted the hospital despite mounting evidence to the contrary, in reference to the recent parking space fire at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza which was started by a rocket misfire from within Gaza and for which Hamas falsely claimed responsibility for Israel. She also denounced US President Joe Biden for siding with Israel in its fight against Hamas. She has continuously taken a firm anti-Israel stand since the beginning of the war.

According to Israeli officials, since the unprecendent attack on 7 October at least 1,400 people have died and 6,900 more have been injured in Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by the terrorist outfit Hamas alleged that over 10,000 people have died and up to 26,000 have been injured in the neighboring Gaza Strip, where the Israel Defense Forces are intensifying their operations, however, these figures were not verified by any independent source.

West Bengal: Body of a BJP leader found hanging with his hands tied behind his back in Bankura, party blames TMC goons

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Body of a BJP leader found hanging with his hands tied behind his back in Bankura, party blames TMC goons

On 8th November (Wednesday), tensions have been running high in West Bengal’s Bankura after the mysterious death of a BJP leader whose body was found hanging from a tree with both his hands reportedly tied behind his back. The incident took place in Nidhirampur village of Gangajalghati police station in Bankura. Subsequently, the deceased was identified as BJP leader Subhodeep Mishra alias Deepu (26). 

He was the candidate of BJP in this year’s village panchayat elections. As per media reports, locals found his body hanging on a tree in the primary school premises near the house this morning. His family alleged that the BJP leader was killed and hanged on a tree. The local residents staged a protest around the police demanding the arrest of the culprits. 

Taking to X, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari alleged that TMC goons have murdered BJP leader Subhodeep Mishra and hung his body from a tree with his hands tied. Highlighting that Mishra had been BJP’s candidate in Panchayat polls, Adhikari added that Subhodeep was murdered as the TMC thieves and goons couldn’t digest his growing popularity and stance against corruption. 

Accusing District Police units of acting as TMC Cadres in uniform, the LoP emphasised that the role of the Superintendent of Police; Bankura District Police should be investigated thoroughly in this matter. 

He also attached an earlier order issued by the SP adding that the order seemed to be political in nature and not administrative. Further, he demanded a CBI investigation into the case arguing that Police could tamper evidence and protect the culprits who belong to the ruling TMC party, in order to please their political masters.

In his post, Adhikari said, “The role of the Superintendent of Police; Bankura District Police, in this incident must be investigated thoroughly. Annexed herewith is an Order issued by the SP last month. It seems he wanted to gain direct control by over reaching the limitations of his post. This order seems to be political in nature and not administrative. District Police units are nothing but TMC Cadres in uniform. Their only job is to ensure TMC party’s existence continues as long as possible.” 

He added, “I demand CBI investigation as Police would do their best to tamper evidence and protect the culprits who belong to the ruling TMC party, in order to please their political masters.”

Additionally, following the mysterious death of BJP leader, Saltora BJP MLA Chandana Bauri rushed to the spot. She stressed that Subhodeep was a well-known face in the area. She also alleged that the local Trinamool leader threatened to kill him when he came home. Shubhodeep did not return home for the last one week because of that fear, she added as reported by ABP Ananda. 

However, the ruling party TMC rejected BJP’s allegations. Denying party affiliation with the alleged murder, TMC leaders made a counterclaim that the mysterious death was due to family unrest. Trinamool leader Nimai Maji said, “This incident is nothing but suicide.” The police are investigating the incident to find out the exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, some media reports have alleged that ‘extra marital affair’ could be the reason for the alleged murder. Seemingly working on this line, the Police started investigating the incident and arrested a married woman. As per media reports, so far Gangajalghati Police have arrested the alleged lover of the deceased BJP leader, her husband, Deor, and 3 others in this case.

Corruption in the name of green hydrogen and lithium: Portugal govt falls after PM Antonio Costa faces criminal investigation over major scandal

OpIndia Staff
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Corruption in the name of green hydrogen and lithium: Portugal govt falls after PM Antonio Costa faces criminal investigation over major scandal

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on 7 November, shocking the generally placid politics of the European Union member state after his cabinet became embroiled in a broad corruption investigation. The 62-year-old leader who has led the country’s Socialist party since 2015, maintained his innocence and alleged that “in these circumstances, obviously, I have presented my resignation to the president of the republic” in a nationally televised speech.

He made the announcement following his meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa who accepted the resignation. The development transpired hours after police apprehended his chief of staff Vitor Escaria during raids on many governmental buildings and other locations as part of the inquiry into corruption in his administration’s handling of lithium mining and hydrogen projects.

Antonio Costa insisted that he had a clear conscience but he would not run for the prime ministerial position for the fourth time. He remarked, “The dignity of the functions of prime minister is not compatible with any suspicion about his integrity, his good conduct and even less with the suspicion of the practice of any criminal act.”

The president is going to have to decide whether to dismiss parliament and hold fresh elections or to allow the former premier’s party which holds a majority in parliament to form a new government. Carlos Cesar, the president of the Socialists, declared that his party was ready for “any scenario” while Luis Montenegro, the head of the main opposition Social Democrats proclaimed that he was ready for an early election and stressed, “The degradation of the government necessitates that no more time is wasted.” 

In a statement, the president revealed that he would address the country on 9 November following the Council of State meeting and that he would be meeting with representatives of the political parties represented in the Portuguese parliament on 8 November and another meeting of his advisory board, the Council of State, on the next day.

According to the state prosecutor’s office, the Supreme Court is conducting an inquiry into how individuals allegedly carried out illegal activity while using the prime minister’s name and involvement. It stated that the head of the environmental agency Nuno Lacasta and Joao Galamba, the minister of infrastructure were already arrested after being identified as perpetrators.

The former PM expressed gratitude towards his for their support and shed a few tears. “I totally trust the justice system. I want to say, eye to eye to the Portuguese, that no illicit or even reprehensible act weighs on my conscience,” and pointed out that he did not exist “above the law.” It was alleged that the culprits used his name and authority to “unblock procedures” related to the deals.

The prosecutor’s office issued a press release on 7 November saying that Vitor Escaria, the mayor of Sines and three other people had arrest warrants issued by an investigative judge because they posed a risk of flight and to safeguard evidence. The judge is looking at accusations of wrongdoing, government corruption and influence peddling in relation to concessions for lithium mines close to Portugal’s northern border with Spain as well as proposals for a green hydrogen plant and data centre in Sines, on the south coast.

The Sines Town Council, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of the Environment along with private residences and workplaces were among the locations searched by the authorities. The European Union is pushing and significantly funding the continent’s green drive which includes Portugal’s lithium mines and green hydrogen projects. Antonio Costa has been a significant supporter of the initiatives and a close associate of Pedro Sanchez, the acting prime minister of Spain.

After the Socialists won a resounding victory in the previous year’s elections, he appeared destined to hold onto power for a number of years in Portugal. However, in December 2022, a furore over a 500,000-euro ($533,000) compensation payout to a board member of the state-owned flag carrier TAP Air Portugal caused his infrastructure and housing minister to resign. Furthermore, the junior infrastructure minister also quit.

Since his party won the polls last year, several prominent elected officials have stepped down from their roles. He maintained he was unaware that he was being investigated by the police. He opined, “This is a phase of my life that comes to an end.” Later this month, parliament was scheduled to vote on the budget bill for 2024. There are concerns that the political unrest may affect both the passage of the budget and the start of the privatisation process of TAP, the national airline of Portugal.

Political analyst Adelino Maltez highlighted, “It is inevitable that there will be elections after the sudden death of the government.” Lisbon University’s Antonio Costa Pinto acknowledged that a sudden election was the most likely scenario, but he did not rule out another Socialist leader assuming power.

The highly observed yield differential between Portugal’s 10-year government bond and the benchmark German Bund for the eurozone increased to 69 basis points from 65 bps on 6 November while the country’s stocks experienced a roughly 3% decline.

Projects Probed

Vitor Escaria was among the five persons caught as part of the inquiry, per the prosecutor’s office which had disclosed that various government buildings and his offices had been examined. Additionally, it unveiled that Nuno Lacasta, the president of the environmental agency APA and Joao Galamba, the minister of infrastructure and former energy secretary were formal offenders and would appear before a judge.

Prosecutors are digging into claims of influence peddling and graft in the lithium exploration concessions of Barroso and Montalegre in northern Portugal, as well as a mega data centre investment and a hydrogen plant project in the port of Sines. They said that the Supreme Court would investigate Antonio Costa’s potential involvement in the agreements and that they had learned that the suspects had “unblocked procedures” connected to the deals by using his name and power.

Antonio Costa declared himself “fully available to cooperate” with law enforcement. The prosecutor’s office mentioned, “At stake may be facts capable of constituting crimes of malfeasance, active and passive corruption of politicians and influence peddling.”

Portugal has been viewed as crucial to Europe’s aspirations to control more of the battery value chain and reduce reliance on imports because of its estimated 60,000 metric tons of lithium reserves.

Savannah Resources (SAVS.L), a London-based company, and Lusorecursos, a local company received environmental approval earlier this year from APA to harvest battery-grade lithium in Montalegre and to construct their own mine in Barroso. According to a statement from Savannah Resources, the company and its employees were not the focus of the inquiry, but it was assisting the police who paid visits to certain of its facilities. It further stated that work at the Barroso Lithium Project proceeded unhindered.

Locals and environmentalists have been very opposed to lithium developments. Portuguese anti-mining groups issued a unified statement demanding the “immediate cancellation” of all lithium projects and cited the recent events as evidence that mining procedures had not been executed transparently.

Karnataka govt suspends KEONICS MD, accused of demanding bribe in exchange for clearing bills worth Rs 300 crores

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka govt suspends KEONICS MD, accused of demanding bribe in exchange for clearing bills worth Rs 300 crores

The managing director (MD) of Karnataka Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KEONICS), Sangappa, who has been accused of demanding a bribe in exchange for the release of clearing payments, has reportedly been suspended by the Karnataka government.

The action comes a day after it was reported that the President of KEONICS contractors’ association has charged Sangappa with demanding a 10 to 12 per cent bribe in exchange for clearing bills worth Rs 300 crore.

Vasant Bangera, President of KEONICS contractors’ association alleged that Sangappa justified his demand by claiming that he spent Rs 3-4 crore for the MD post and needed to provide money to officials at the top.

Interestingly, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge occupies the topmost position as the chairman of KEONICS, as is listed on its website too. Republic Kannada quoted Bangera asking why should he pay the bribe when he has committed no wrong.

Sangappa is a 2016 batch IAS officer who was appointed as MD of KEONICS in September this year. On 4th November, contractors staged protests outside KEONICS MD Sangappa’s office due to payments that have been outstanding for the past eight months.

Contractors have reportedly alleged that Rs 150 crore payment is outstanding. These contractors arrived for the protests from different parts of the state demanding that the outstanding payment be released and tenders be resumed.

Moreover, one of the contractors also attempted suicide by consuming poison. The contractor, named Syed, is reportedly awaiting a pending payment of Rs 60 lakh. While Syed was saved, other contractors warned that they would only be left with the option to consume poison if their demand was not met.

Charges of commission have also been levelled against Sangappa. Over 450 contractors are reportedly awaiting payment from KEONICS. Sangappa had said that the pending payment would be released by the 21st of October but the dues reportedly remain outstanding.

The money was supposed to be released on 15th September. The contractors have accused Sangappa of delaying the commission payment by preparing and signing the cheques only to cancel them later.

‘The threat of terrorism needs to be eliminated’: Israel envoy Naor Gilon says terrorists from Iraq, Syria came back to live in Kerala

Siddhi Somani
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‘The threat of terrorism needs to be eliminated’: Israel envoy Naor Gilon says terrorists from Iraq, Syria came back to live in Kerala

On Tuesday (7th November), the Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilan stated that the state of Kerala in India houses terrorists who have escaped from Iraq and Syria. While talking exclusively about the Israel-Hamas war in a Times Now interview, Gilan said that it is important we make sure that the threat from the terrorists is eliminated.

“Americans and their allied forces fought with the terrorists in Iraq and Syria to eliminate them and ended up dispersing them to various countries like Europe, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Kerala in India. They killed many but many came back to their own countries,” he said.

The diplomat also indicated that the number of terrorist deaths in Gaza and the number of persons killed in the attack by Hamas in Israel should not be compared. This is because Israel is fighting the terrorists in Gaza in retaliation while Hamas has attacked and targeted civilians in Israel. “They (Hamas) penetrated into Israel and killed people in beds, raped women, burned babies, killed parents in front of their children, and vice versa. What Israel is doing is killing terrorists in Gaza. The numbers cannot and should not be compared,” he said.

“It’s not about punishment. It’s about making sure that this threat is eliminated. It’s not only about Israel. If there is the perception that the Jihadists are winning especially against Israel which is considered probably the strongest military in the region it will give backwind to many such attacks in different parts of the world,” he was heard saying.

India facing the threat of terrorism

It is important to note that the United Nations in the year 2020 declared that there are significant numbers of ISIS terrorists in the state of Kerala and Karnataka. The report also stated that the state exported terrorists to ISIS and that around 180-200 terrorists had been sent to ISIS from India.

NIA has been investigating cases where radical Islamist organizations have actively targeted non-Muslim women in romantic alliances with Muslim men, converted them, brainwashed them, and sent them to join their terrorist husbands working for ISIS.

India has witnessed terrorism in a variety of forms, with varying goals and locations. ISIS is a one-of-a-kind terrorist organization. It is the first organization to enlist up to 34,000 attackers, roughly two-thirds of whom are not from Iraq or Syria, its primary operating areas. Reportedly, ISIS not only imports fighters from all over the world, but it also exports terror. 

Kerala’s ISIS story

It has been observed that the Islamists in Kerala also convert non-Muslims to Islam for Jihad. As reported earlier, NIA has long been investigating the connection between Lov Jihad, terrorist recruitment, and radicalization in Kerala. Kerala has the most number of radical Muslims working for ISIS in war-trodden countries. 

The NIA recently arrested several Islamists and terrorists from the state of Kerala while it conducted raids against the Islamist terrorist organization named the Popular Front of India (PFI). Several incriminating documents were also recovered from the terrorist hubs.

The Islamic State has long sought to establish a “Khorasan Caliphate” in India. The terrorist organization first came to the attention of Indian intelligence agencies in 2013, when reports from Syria suggested that there were some Indians among the ranks of the IS attackers, who were then making military and territorial gains in Syria.

Since then, several Indians have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State, and approximately 100 of them have been apprehended by the agencies either on their way back from Syria or while preparing to join the terrorists there. Many people have also been arrested for planning an attack in India after being inspired by the IS.

In a written reply to Parliament in 2019, then-Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy stated that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police forces had filed cases against ISIS operatives and sympathizers, and had arrested 155 accused from across the country.

The Indian security establishment has taken a cautious approach to the issue of IS influence on Indians. Hundreds of IS recruits or potential recruits have been counseled, compelled to take part in the deradicalization program, and then released with a warning.

According to a 2019 report by the Observer Research Foundation, “India was thought to be fertile ground for the recruitment of foreign fighters for the Islamic State (IS) by analysts.” Further according to a US State Department’s report titled “Country Reports on Terrorism 2020: India,” there were 66 identified Indian-origin attackers affiliated with ISIS as of November 2020.

The intelligence agencies have revealed that individuals from southern India make up roughly 90% of this small number of Indian recruits. According to the ORF report, the majority of India’s IS recruits came from Kerala, which accounted for “40 of the 180 to 200 cases” across the country. The majority of Kerala recruits who joined the IS either had jobs in the Gulf or had returned from there with an affinity for the IS’s extreme ideology.

The state of Kerala is deeply ingrained with radical Islam. The sheer number of radicalization, conversion, and recruitment centers in operation is still far from making national headlines or attracting mainstream media attention. However, there is no denying that it has been a ticking time bomb.

The recently released movie named ‘The Kerala Story’ rightly exposes how the Muslims in the state of Kerala are radicalized and how they further trap non-Muslims while on the path of jihad. Both the central and state governments must take it seriously and devise effective solutions to combat the problem.

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