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Union Government calls special 5-day session of Parliament from September 18, Rahul Gandhi says ‘it shows panic because of Adani report’

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Union Government calls special 5-day session of Parliament from September 18, Rahul Gandhi says ‘it shows panic because of Adani report’

After the Modi government has called for a “special session of Parliament” to be held from September 18 to 22, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that maybe it is an indicator of a ‘little panic’.

“I think maybe it is an indicator of a little panic. The same type of panic that happened when I spoke in Parliament House, the panic that suddenly made them revoke my Parliament membership,” a Congress leader said in Mumbai. 

“So, I think it is panic because these matters are very close to the Prime Minister. Whenever you touch the Adani matter, the PM gets very uncomfortable and very nervous,” he added. 

Targeting the BJP-led government over fresh allegations concerning the Adani group,  Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of “being quiet” and said the least that should be done is a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe.

Addressing a press conference here, Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of “protecting one person” and asked “why he is he not forcing an investigation”.

Gandhi referred to the G20 Summit being hosted by India and the reports on the Adani group in two British papers and said the allegations impact perception about India.

“…It is very important that the Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi clears his name and categorically explains what is going on. At the very least, A JPC should be allowed and a thorough investigation should take place. I don’t understand why the PM is not forcing an investigation? Why is he quiet and people who are responsible are put behind bars? This is raising very serious questions for the PM just before G20 leaders come here…It is important that this issue is made clear before they (G20 leaders) arrive,” Rahul Gandhi said during his press conference in Mumbai.

Earlier today, the government decided to call a Special Session of Parliament from September 18 to 22 and it will have five sittings.

The information was given by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.

“Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to having fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament,” Joshi said on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).

He attached a picture of the old parliament building and the new building, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

The monsoon session of parliament, which concluded last month, was held in the old Parliament building.

The announcement of the Special Session came as a surprise in political circles with the parties gearing up for assembly polls in five states later this year.

The winter session of Parliament usually begins in the last week of November. 

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

Punjab Police arrests six associates of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda for planning attacks in the state

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab Police arrests six associates of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda for planning attacks in the state

Punjab Police has made a breakthrough and arrested six supporters of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and associates of Pakistan-based gangster turned-terrorist Harinder Singh Rinda. Their names are Roshan Kumar, Saurab Kumar, Vikram Kumar, Amrinder Singh alias Billi, Arshveer Singh and Sunny and all are residents of Patiala.

All of them have been charged with a variety of crimes, including murder, attempted murder, extortion, dacoity and interstate trafficking in firearms. 20 cartridges and five pistols have been recovered from them. This is the third ISI-backed group caught in August. Two groups were apprehended earlier on August 15. Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP) for Punjab, provided the aforementioned information.

The accused intended to orchestrate a significant terror attack to create havoc in Punjab. He credited Mohali Police for the major development.

He informed six members of the Harvinder Singh Rinda alias Rinda gang had been nabbed. Arshveer Singh stabbed two youths to death in Patiala in April of this year and has been on the run ever since. They intended to commit more murders most of which were target killings.

The senior official mentioned, “One of the arrested persons was involved in a double murder case at Patiala in April ’23 and has been absconding ever since. Preliminary investigation reveals that the arrested accused were planning to commit sensational crimes in the state. Seizure of 5 Pistols & 20 live cartridges (was also done).”

The top cop further added that on the basis of credible information police teams from the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) working under the general direction of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Promod Ban caught all six while they were driving their Hyundai Verna car in the Zirakpur neighbourhood of the Mohali district.

According to Assistant Inspector General (AIG) AGTF Sandeep Goel, early investigations demonstrated that the accused were preparing to commit high-profile crimes in the state. Delhi Police Special Cell previously apprehended Sunny and Arshveer Singh in January of this year and 18 pistols were found on them. He revealed that after being released on bond both began engaging in illicit activities once more.

The Punjab police filed a new FIR on 27 August at  Zirakpur police station under sections 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt, or restraint), 384 (extortion), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal), 148 (rioting), and 149 (offence committed in pursuit of common object) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 25 (6) and 25 (7) of the Arms Act.

These terrorists who had escaped from Punjab to Pakistan are members of the Harvinder Singh Rinda Group and carried out terrorist acts in Punjab at its direction. Police came to know about them during the investigation of the double murder case in Patiala. A case has been registered against them in the Mohali police station of the Anti-Gangster Task Force. They would be presented in court and their remand would be sought.

Tarn Taran Police apprehended two associates of Harwinder Singh Rinda earlier in June as part of Punjab Police’s investigation into the gangster-terrorist nexus. Arshdeep Singh and his brother Wattandeep Singh, both residents of the village Kulla, were identified as the captured culprits.

UP: Hindu girl converts to Islam to marry Muslim man, asked to become wife of father-in-law too, tortured and thrown out for refusing

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Hindu girl converts to Islam to marry Muslim man, asked to become wife of father-in-law too, tortured and thrown out for refusing

In the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, a shocking case of love jihad and torture has come to the fore wherein a Hindu girl from Lucknow was converted to Islam by her Muslim man named Abu Hamid Ansari and after that, she was asked to become his father’s wife too after they had a Nikah. Upon refusing to give in to their bizarre demand, the woman was brutally assaulted by her husband’s family members and was thrown out of the house as well.

In a video statement posted by Sudarshan News, the victim alleged that her husband had assured her that she would not be harassed or tortured after she converted to Islam and performed Nikah with him in 2020. A Sudarshan News report also shows the Nikahnama of the victim and her husband. The family lived in Aligarh and then shifted to Bareilly. The woman said that her marriage was a case of love jihad and it was solemnised by deceit because she was lured into converting to Islam and marrying the Muslim man by assuring that she would not be harassed

However, after performing Nkah with the use of deceit, as claimed by the victim, her husband’s father Abu Huraira Ansari told her that he would not keep her at his home as his daughter-in-law but as his own wife. Her husband also forced her to become the wife of her father-in-law too.

She added that her father-in-law tried to force her to comply with his demands, however, she refused to become his wife. Following this, Abu Hamid’s family, including his father Huraira, brother Sayeed, whom the victim accused of being the mastermind, another brother Abu Sufiyan, sister Habeeba, mother Sayeeda Khatoon and others brutally thrashed her and expelled her from their home.

The victim also accused her in-laws and other members of the family of provoking her to commit suicide saying that she cannot not harm them.

“I told him that I belong to Hindu culture and in our culture we don’t have four wives or four husband type norms. After this, I was beaten up badly, by his (Abu Hamid) father, brother, and sisters, and I was mentally tormented beyond my tolerance levels. They asked me to go away, commit suicide but said we will neither accept you in our family nor will I be able to do anything against them and will just keep wandering door to door,” the Hindu girl said while revealing that all the ten members of the family were involved in financially, mentally and physically torturing her. She added that the two daughters-in-law belonging to the family suggested that they may have been cousins of their husband prior to their nikah.

According to the victim, she went to the clinic in Khushboo Colony owned by her husband’s brother Abu Sayeed Ansari, at around 9 p.m. on August 26, 2023, however, she did not enter the clinic, the victim claimed that a person named Mohammad Imran who worked at the clinic run by the Ansaris had followed her to Dohra Road as she was leaving, and threatened her saying that she has troubled his employers.

It is notable that Bareilly in recent times has become a hotbed of anti-Hindu crimes specially love jihad. OpIndia has reported numerous love jihad cases emerging from Bareilly. In most of such cases the pattern is similar, and involves Muslim accused pretending to be a Hindu and luring Hindu girls into marrying them, converting them to Islam and torturing along with blackmailing them with private videos etc when they refuse to fulfill their demands. In the abovementioned case, however, the accused not only converted the victim to Islam and performed nikah with but also allegedly tried to pressure her into becoming his father’s wife as if the Hindu woman is nothing more than an object of pleasure and a slave.

‘Not Gyanvapi’: Shivling fountains installed in Delhi before G20 Summit stirs outrage, Netizens draw comparison with Gyanvapi Shivling

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not Gyanvapi’: Shivling fountains installed in Delhi before G20 Summit stirs outrage, Netizens draw comparison with Gyanvapi Shivling

On Wednesday, August 30, several Hindu Netizens descended on the microblogging site X, formally Twitter, to express their vexation over the Shivling-shaped fountains installed at Dhaula Khan road in the national capital as part of the ongoing beautification of Delhi ahead of the G20 Summit.

Many X users expressed their outrage at the Shivling being utilized as a decorative item in the nation’s capital despite its enormous religious significance to Hindus. Several others compared it to the Gyanvapi Shivling, calling it a mockery of their faith and religion. They recalled how Islamists and the usual gang of leftist liberals had similarly disregarded the Shivling found submerged in the wuzukhana in Varanasi’s Gyanvapi by terming it a fountain.

Reacting to a video of the Shivling-shaped fountains installed at Delhi’s Dhaula Khan road by popular X user Megh Updates, a user going by the handle @rajasthan612627 wrote, “Is this symbolize in support of Muslim claim on Gyanvapi by calling the shivling there fountain? Watch out Delhi.”

“Shivling is not a fountain……….unless of course you’re Muslim & fighting to keep Gyanvapi so you need to spread this lie!” wrote another angry X user @SaffronQueen_

Another user @harish3912 also shared a similar opinion on how the decision to install Shivling-shaped fountains was an insult to Hindus and an affirmation of the narrative that was peddled by the Muslims and the liberal gangs calling the Shivling found in Gyanvapi a ‘fountain’.

X user @Kafir2424 also shared similar opinions. “This is intentionally done to mock Hindus and to prove narrative of Muslims claim that the Shivling found in Gyanvapi premises js a fountain,” he lambasted.

“Remove this abomination at once. The Shivling is not a decoration piece, its not a fountain, remember the argument at Gyanvapi.??”, wrote another irate X user named @govindam34.

Shivling found in wuzukhana of disputed structure at Gyanvapi

It may be recalled that last year in the month of March, a Shivling was found submerged in the wuzukhana, the place where people who offer namaz, the Islamic prayer, clean their dirty hands and feet and gargle water as a cleansing ritual, inside the complex where the disputed structure called ‘Gyanvapi mosque’ is. The mosque was constructed after destroying the Hindu temple of Kashi Vishwanath. The centuries-old Nandi inside the new complex right next to the disputed structure also points towards where the Shivling was found in the wuzukhana.

Upon discovery of the Shivling, the judge ordered the sealing of the complex and forbade those offering prayer in the masjid from cleaning their dirty feet and hands where the Shivling had been found.

As reports emerged that a Shivling was found inside the controversial site, Hindus felt vindicated of their long-held belief about the presence of the Shivling inside the structure, while the left-liberals, Islamists expectedly suffered a huge meltdown on the microblogging site Twitter.

Besides suffering meltdown, the Islamists, ‘liberal-secular’ intellectuals indulged in making casual ‘Hinduphobic’ remarks and mocking Hindu deities in an attempt to discredit the recent discovery of the Shivling inside the disputed structure of Gyanvapi masjid in Varanasi. Many usual suspects, often having a notorious past of chiding Hindus for being unapologetic and proud of culture and heritage, took to X, formally Twitter to mock Hindus for celebrating the presence of Shivling inside the disputed structure.

G20 Summit

Meanwhile, the New Delhi G20 Summit, which will bring an end to a series of meetings over the course of the year, is going to be held in New Delhi on 9-10 September this year. The 43 Heads of Delegations- the largest ever in G20-will be participating in the final G20 Summit.

During the summit, representatives will engage in discussions about diverse economic reforms.  The G20 presidency is a very important opportunity for India, as it gives India an opportunity to become a major player on the global stage. The summit will be concluded with the adoption of a G20 Leaders’ Declaration.

Rahul Gandhi resumes attack on PM Modi using report on Adani by group funded by George Soros and Ford Foundation, repeats already debunked lies

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi resumes attack on PM Modi using report on Adani by group funded by George Soros and Ford Foundation, repeats already debunked lies

After a panel appointed by the Supreme Court found that there was no regulatory failure concerning alleged price manipulations in Adani stocks, more hitjobs have emerged against the Adani group claiming that there are ‘hidden investors’ in the group. Today global left-wing media houses like the Financial Times and Guardian claimed that the Adani family secretly invested in the Adani group shares, calling it a ‘family linked to PM Modi’.

Expectedly, Kerala MP Rahul Gandhi used these reports to directly attack PM Narendra Modi, alleging that the prime minister was directly involved in this ‘scam’, and asked PM Modi to come clear on the issue. He also reiterated the Congress party’s demand for a JPC probe in the alleged share price manipulations of the Adani group.

However, Rahul Gandhi repeated several lies that have been debunked earlier, including the falsehood that a Chinese national is involved in the price manipulations.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that Indian money is sent abroad and that is used to buy Adani shares, which inflates the share price. He further claimed that the conglomerate is using this ‘inflated share price’ to ‘buy infrastructure’ in India. Adani Group has won bids to operate airports and ports and develop the Dharavi slum in Mumbai, but according to Rahul Gandhi, this means Adani is buying those properties.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that Gautam Adani’s brother Vinod Adani is behind the ‘price manipulations’, and two foreigners, Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli and Chang Chung-Ling ‘from China’ are his business partners. The Congress leader asked how a ‘Chinese national’ is involved in Adani when the Adani group is infrastructure development and defence deals.

The Congress leader further made a grave allegation that a SEBI official was made the director of Adani-owned NDTV because SEBI gave a clean chit to Adani in price manipulation charges. He was referring to the appointment of Former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha as an Independent Director and Non-Executive Chairperson of NDTV.

He mentioned the words ‘foreign newspaper’ several times, implying that if foreign newspapers are claiming something, that must be true, even if SEBI and the Supreme Court-appointed committee find nothing wrong.

He made the bizarre claim that 1 billion Dollars went out of India, inflated Adani Group’s share price, and that price was used to buy infrastructure. Rahul Gandhi said that India’s reputation is at stack when the country is hosting the G20 summit, and alleged that PM Modi is protecting only one person and only one company is buying all of India’s assets.

Rahul Gandhi made several false charges during his press conference. The biggest lie was that a Chinese national was involved with the Adani group. The fact is, that Chang Chung-Ling is a citizen of Taiwan, and he is not a Chinese national. China claims Taiwan to be its territory, but the fact remains that Taiwan is a separate independent country. Calling a Taiwanese man Chinese is supporting the Chinese claim on Taiwan.

It is true that Chang Chung-Ling is involved in a company called PMC Projects, which has links with the Adani group. But as Taiwan has friendly relations with India, there is nothing wrong if a Taiwanese national on a valid visa works for an Indian company. Interestingly, the Financial Times mention that Chang Chung-Ling is from Taiwan, and the Guardian does not mention his nationality, but Rahul Gandhi kept claiming that he is Chinese.

Moreover, in the Hindenburg report, it was alleged that the PMC project did nothing and it was just a front of the Adani Group to route money. The report says that there are no signs that “PMC Projects does anything separate and apart from functioning as an arm of the Adani Group”. In fact, a probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in 2014 had also found that PMC Projects was a “dummy firm” used by the Adani Group. There is no evidence of any infrastructure work done by PMC, with which Chang Chung-Ling is involved.

A look into the works carried out by the Adani group also shows that PMC project is not involved with any infrastructure project. The company only had investments in mutual funds of an approximate value of Rs 6 crore in 2021, clearly not enough to win bids for any major project. But Rahul Gandhi has been alleging that the ‘Chinese-owned company’ has been building critical infrastructure like ports, airstrips, railway tracks and electricity lines, which is nothing but a big lie.

Rahul Gandhi’s claims that some Indian family used their own money to inflate the share prices of Adani enabling the company to ‘buy assets’ is also completely baseless and makes no sense. First, Adani Enterprises and its subsidiaries have not bought any assets, they have won bids to build and operate infrastructure projects. Plus, they have not won every project they bid for, they have lost tenders too, which is normal. For example, Adani had lost an important coal import tender by CIL, and another coal tender it had won was also cancelled. But Rahul Gandhi keeps talking about a few projects won by the Adani group outbidding others to claim that Adani is buying Indian assets.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that Former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha was made NDTV director because SEBI gave a clean chit to Adani. But UK Sinha retired as SEBI Chairman in February 2017, and there is no report of any clan chit given by SEBI to Adani during his term. Moreover, SEBI has not given any clean chit to Adani group, and it is still probing the allegations of price manipulations. It is SEBI that has got a clean chit from the Supreme Court-appointed committee, which concluded that there on failure on the part of SEBI. But for some reason, Rahul Gandhi is calling it clean chit to Adani, and then claiming that a former SEBI chairman who had nothing to with the probe was ‘rewarded’ for the clean chit that does not exist.

Notably, just a few days ago, OpIndia had predicted that Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) is planning a shakedown of India’s financial markets, following the footsteps of US-based short seller ‘Hindenburg Research’. OCCRP is funded by the likes of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF), the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, groups with history of funding anti-India activities.

Interestingly, before the press conference of Rahul Gandhi began, OCCRP posted on X that Rahul Gandhi would be holding a press conference based on its report.

The group tweeted, “In response to our latest investigation, @RahulGandhi, a leader of India’s largest opposition party, will hold a press conference about the Adani Group, one of India’s top conglomerates. It is scheduled for 5 p.m. IST.” with a link to YouTube link of the event.

Omar Abdullah had claimed estranged wife Payal was cruel to him, refused to pay for monthly expenses: Read background as court orders Rs 1.5 lakh maintenance

OpIndia Staff
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Omar Abdullah had claimed estranged wife Payal was cruel to him, refused to pay for monthly expenses: Read background as court orders Rs 1.5 lakh maintenance

On Thursday, August 31, the Delhi High Court ordered former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to pay Rs 1.5 lakh per month to his estranged wife Payal Abdullah as maintenance. The Court additionally asked him to pay Rs 60,000 per month for his son’s education.

This is after his estranged wife Payal Abdullah, who was Payal Nath before marrying Omar Abdullah, challenged the trial court’s order on April 26, 2018, which asked Omar to pay Rs 75,000 per month to Payal Abdullah and Rs 25,000 to their son till he becomes 18 in proceedings under the provisions of section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Payal stated that the maintenance granted was insufficient and that their sons were not old enough to take care of their own bills and must rely on their parents to fund their education and everyday living expenses.

Reportedly, Abdullah has filed an appeal with the Delhi High Court against this ruling. He contended that he has never shirked from the responsibility of his sons and has been paying for the maintenance of the children anyhow.

Omar Abdullah announced separation in 2011

The issue between Omar and Payal has been ongoing for several years now as the former claimed that their marriage had broken irretrievably and that the latter committed cruelty upon him. The saga began in September 2011 after the then Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah announced his separation from Payal Abdullah, to whom he had got married in the year 1994.

Amid the announcement, speculations were rife that Omar was planning to remarry or that his closeness to a television anchor had led to problems in his relationship with Payal. Ruling out the rumours then, Abdullah had said that the speculation about motives and about his future course of action was unfounded and untrue and that they had caused hurt to all concerned with the decision. “The stories about my remarriage are completely false and concocted. It is a pity that while repeating these lies, no effort was made to ask me whether any of this is true,” he added.

Omar and Payal met when they were employed at The Oberoi Hotel in Delhi. Omar was a young marketing professional in the same hotel chain at that point in time. On September 1, 1994, they got married under the Special Marriage Act and welcomed two boys, Zahir and Zamir.

Payal is a Delhi native with family roots in Lahore, Pakistan. Her father, Major General Ram Nath, was an army officer.

Payal and Omar Abdullah with their two sons (Times of India)

Omar filed for divorce based on the grounds of cruelty in marriage

Almost a year after the announcement of separation, Omar Abdullah in the year 2012 filed for divorce from Payal Abdullah based on the ground of cruelty in marriage. However, the woman contested the divorce plea with her lawyer Amit Khemka claiming that cruelty in marriage was a baseless argument.

A trial court in 2016 dismissed Omar Abdullah’s divorce plea saying that he failed to prove “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” and his claims of “cruelty or desertion” by his estranged wife.

Eviction notice issued to Payal Abdullah

Later the Estate Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir government issued an eviction notice in June 2016 to Payal Abdullah asking her to vacate the sprawling bungalow on Akbar Road in Lutyens’ Delhi. The bungalow at 7, Akbar Road was first allotted to Omar Abdullah in 1999 by the Ministry of Urban Development when he was an MP from Jammu and Kashmir. He retained the house when he became the CM in 2009. But after his term as CM was over in 2005, he no longer had the right to stay in the house. But his wife, who had separated from him by that time, continued to live in the Lutyens bungalow and refused to vacate it.

Payal then approached a Delhi Court in July 2016 seeking a stay on the eviction notice. She contended that the said property was allotted to her husband by the central government and that the Estate Officer of the J&K government had no right to demand the eviction.

Payal’s lawyer Amit Khemka further said that if Payal and her sons are entitled to alternate government accommodation, the Centre shall not evict them until the same is provided to them. He also argued that the lady and both her sons had ‘Z’ category security and Z + security respectively and that it was impossible to accommodate around 100 security men deployed to guard the lady and her sons in a small apartment.

However, the trial court dismissed her appeal against the estate office of Jammu and Kashmir’s eviction order and ordered her to vacate the government house. After that, she challenged the verdict in the Delhi High Court. But she didn’t get any relief from the High Court also.

On August 17, 2016, the Delhi High Court ordered Payal Abdullah to vacate the Akbar Road bungalow. The court maintained that the said bungalow had been designated for the state Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. “The entitlement of the petitioners (Payal and her sons) to retain this accommodation is wholly illegal. It is a government accommodation. Petitioners have no claim or right upon it,” Justice Indermeet Kaur said.

Payal had also contended that she might not get the same level of government protection in her small apartment in the city. However, the Center reported to the court that there was no imminent threat to her and that the protection was provided as a result of the general threat perceived by Kashmiri terrorists for being a member of the Abdullah family. The Centre also stated that the security threat was not as high in Delhi as in Jammu and Kashmir.

The estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was evicted on August 23 that year. The Court also stated in the eviction order that government security would continue to be provided to Payal and her sons.

The eviction was executed in 2016

It is notable that during Payal’s court battle to retain the house, Omar Abdullah had said that he is no longer in occupation of the premises and the estate office is free to take whatever steps are considered necessary for taking the property over.

Court dismissed Omar Abdullah’s divorce petition, saying there was no evidence to prove that Payal had committed cruelty upon him

Meanwhile, the family court in Delhi on August 31, 2016, dismissed Omar Abdullah’s divorce petition, saying refusal to part ways does not amount to cruelty in marriage. The Court also stated that the politician failed to prove the ‘irretrievable breakdown of the marriage’. It also noted that there was not even a shred of evidence to prove that Payal had committed cruelty upon him.

“The petitioner (Omar) has not been able to explain a single circumstance to show that the supervening circumstances have erupted which has made it impossible for him to continue his relationship with the respondent (Payal). Rather, evidence shows that they were in continuous contact till the filing of the divorce petition…there is not an iota of evidence in regard to the circumstances which have prevailed to prompt the petitioner to file the divorce plea,” then Principal Judge Arun Kumar Arya was quoted as saying.

Payal demanded Rs 15 lakh monthly maintenance

Post eviction, Payal Abdullah moved a city court seeking maintenance of Rs 15 lakh per month from her husband arguing that she and her children had become homeless and penniless after eviction from the government residence. She filed a petition demanding Omar to pay Rs 10 lakh in maintenance to her and Rs 5 lakh per month to her sons. She also added that eviction had made them vulnerable to security threats.

The petition further stated that she had been forced to shuttle to space at the home of her friends or aged parents post-eviction and that she had suffered a lot of torture and harassment. Payal also said that Omar’s unreasonable withdrawal from matrimony on absolutely unjustifiable grounds had caused her immense distress.

Payal noted that she was never interested in separation and alleged that she and her sons had been neglected by Omar since the year 2013. “He refused to maintain us in any form despite having sufficient means to do so,” the woman said demanding compensation for tarnishing her image in the public.

Omar refused saying Payal earned a significant amount to lead a lavish life

The case continued as Omar Abdullah refused to pay his estranged wife maintenance saying that she earned a significant income to lead a lavish lifestyle and therefore was not entitled to any maintenance. “She (Payal) has greater means than respondent (Omar) which has been tried to conceal,” Omar’s counsel stated in the Court.

However, refuting the claims, Payal’s counsel Jayant K Sud stated that Payal was completely dependent upon her father. “The allegations of Omar that she is a director of three companies are also false because they are lying defunct and were actually started by him. Payal always contributed her best to uphold the institution of marriage and was never interested in separation. She was hoping that he would come back and perform the responsibilities of a father and husband,” the counsel was quoted as saying.

Image- India Today

Trail Court awarded Rs 75,000 per month maintenance; Payal challenged

The trial court April 26, 2018, then awarded provisional maintenance of Rs 75,000 per month to Payal Abdullah and Rs 25,000 to their son till he turned 18 in proceedings under the provisions of section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Payal then challenged the order and stated that the maintenance granted was insufficient and that their sons were not old enough to take care of their own bills and must rely on their parents to fund their education and everyday living expenses.

Later in April 2020, the Court issued a circular demanding both parties in the case to agree to a final hearing in the case. Omar in November 2020 challenged the said circular claiming that his wife was not cooperating with the final hearing that had been pending from the year 2017. The Delhi Court dismissed the said plea and stated that lack of cooperation from his estranged wife was not a ground for challenging the High Court’s earlier order.

Due to the restricted functioning of the Court during the COVID-19 spread, the court issued a circular saying that the final hearing of pending matters would be entertained only if both parties agreed. But Omar alleged that the case was getting delayed due to a lack of cooperation from his estranged wife.

Court ordered Omar Abdullah to pay Rs 1.5 lakh monthly maintenance

The court eventually on August 31 this year directed the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister to provide his estranged wife a monthly maintenance of Rs 1.5 lakh. Justice Subramonium Prasad additionally ordered Abdullah to pay 60,000 per month for his son’s education.

Notably, Abdullah has again filed an appeal with the Delhi High Court against this ruling.

Amazon manager murder: Who is main accused Mohammad Sameer, Bollywood-inspired gangster who was wanted for 4 murders before turning 18

OpIndia Staff
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Amazon manager murder: Who is main accused Mohammad Sameer, Bollywood-inspired gangster who was wanted for 4 murders before turning 18

One of the five perpetrators who killed 36-year-old Amazon manager Harpreet Gill in the alleyways of Bhajanpura in northeastern Delhi on the evening of 29 August after an argument is the gang leader Mohammad Sameer aka Maya bhai. While the search for three other individuals continues, gang leader Mohammad Sameer was caught today along with one of his associates, 18-year-old Bilal Gani alias Mallu.

A look at the Instagram account of Mohammad Sameer, king_maya_302, gives us an insight into his criminal mind. He is seen flaunting weapons, alcohol and ammunition with pride on social media. Mohammad Sameer’s page points out his mobster mentality which he regularly glorifies through his posts and captions. His bio says- Naam – badnam, address – kabristan, umr – jeene ki, shauk – marne ka

Notably, he is charged as the prime accused in the murder of the Amazon manager as well as booked in four other murder cases before the age of 18.

Background of the Maya Gang

Mohammad Sameer adopted the identity “Maya” after being inspired by Vivek Oberoi’s portrayal of the character in the film ‘Shootout at Lokhanwala’. He had allegedly already committed four murders by the time he was considered an adult. He is the leader of the “Maya Gang” in Delhi which is mostly comprised of juveniles.

Sameer’s associates are involved in robberies, shootings, and even killings in the Bhajanpura area. Locals believe that despite frequently being imprisoned for their crimes, they manage to evade justice since they are under the age of 18. They had grown to be a nuisance to the public and the police over the past few years.

With 2,200 followers and the number 302 in his Instagram account, which is a reflection of the Indian Penal Code section for murder, Mohammad Sameer indulged in a blatant display of his criminal behaviour on Instagram.

His Instagram story highlights are replete with footage of him being arrested, police swarming his place and news articles about his infamous antics. He made the decision to ride out on two bikes on the night of August 29, while partying at a house with four of his gang members, Bilal Gani alias Mallu, Sohail alias Bawarchi, Mohammed Junaid alias Biryani and Adnan alias Don.

The gathering was apparently held to honour his recent birthday when he had turned 18 years old. He held a gun in his possession throughout.

When the gang and Harpreet Gill got into a heated altercation on a narrow road in Subhash Nagar in Delhi, the culprits opened fire and shot them in the head at close range. The two were taken to a hospital where the latter is receiving treatment but Harpreet Gill was pronounced dead by the doctors at Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital.

According to the police, the other three assailants have been identified as 23-year-old Sohail alias Bawarchi, 23-year-old Mohammad Junaid alias Biryani and 19-year-old Adnan alias Don.

India assuming a pivotal role in the world economic system under PM Modi’s leadership: All you need to know about India’s G20 Presidency

श्रवण शुक्ल
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India assuming a pivotal role in the world economic system under PM Modi’s leadership: All you need to know about India’s G20 Presidency

The G20 Summit is held annually under a rotating presidency, which currently rests with India for 2023. The group does not have a permanent secretariat and is supported by the previous, current, and future holders of the presidency, known as the troika. In 2023, the troika consists of Indonesia, Brazil, and India. Indonesia President Joko Widodo handed over the G20 Presidency to India at the closing ceremony of the 17th intergovernmental summit in Bali in November 2022.

India officially assumed the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022, and since then it has been hosting meetings in cities including Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Indore, Jodhpur, Khajuraho, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Rann of Kutch, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, and Udaipur.

The New Delhi G20 Summit, which will bring an end to a series of meetings over the course of the year, is going to be held in New Delhi on 9-10 September this year. The 43 Heads of Delegations- the largest ever in G20-will be participating in the final G20 Summit.

The G20 Summit is a forum for international economic cooperation and represents 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade and two-thirds of the global population. The G20 presidency is a very important opportunity for India, as it gives India an opportunity to become a major player on the global stage.

The G20 summit is an annual meeting of the leaders of the world’s major economic countries, which was first organized in the year 2008 in Chicago (USA). These summits bring together representatives from 20 major countries to discuss the global economy, finance, trade, investment, climate change and other important global issues. The G20 summit has helped in the stability and prosperity of the global economy.

Which countries are included in the G20?

The G20 Summit, or Group of Twenty Summit, is an international forum for governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. The G20 represents a mix of the world’s major advanced and emerging economies. The 19 individual member countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Names of leaders participating in G20 summit

  • Prime Minister of India: Narendra Modi
  • President of the United States: Joe Biden
  • President of China: Xi Jinping
  • Prime Minister of Japan: Fumio Kishida
  • Chancellor of Germany: Olaf Scholz
  • Foreign Minister of Russia: Sergey Lavrov
  • Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: Rishi Sunak
  • President of France: Emmanuel Macron
  • Prime Minister of Italy: Mario Draghi
  • Prime Minister of Canada: Justin Trudeau
  • Prime Minister of Australia: Anthony Albanese
  • President of Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro
  • President of Argentina: Alberto Fernandez
  • President of Indonesia: Joko Widodo
  • President of South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa
  • Saudi Arabia: Mohammed bin Salman-Crown Prince
  • President of Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
  • President of Mexico: Andres Manuel López Obrador

Besides, representatives of other international organizations will also participate in the upcoming G20 Summit.

Why is India hosting the event?

G20 is a group of the world’s largest economies, and India is going to become the world’s third largest economy in no time. India, as a member of the G20, has the right to participate in discussions on the global economy and other important issues. The G20 summit in India is also an important economic opportunity for India.

During the summit, India will provide a platform to attract leading businesses and investors from the world. India is hoping to take advantage of this opportunity to boost its economy and create employment opportunities.

Overall, India will benefit greatly from the G20 summit. It will give India the chance to become a significant player on the international stage, boost its economy, and create employment opportunities for its citizens.

India became a member of G20 in 2008. The G20 is a grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies, representing approximately 80% of the world economy. India was the 8th country to become a member of the G20.

What is India’s standing in the G-20?

India makes use of the G20 to increase its influence in the world economic order and work with other nations to address global issues. India participates in the G20 and focuses on subjects including economic development, health, and climate change. India is a trustworthy and accountable G20 member. India is dedicated to attaining the G20’s objectives and supports the group’s guiding principles and values.

India will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in 2023. After this summit is over, the presidency of the G20 will go to Brazil.

During its chairmanship, India focused on encouraging G20 country cooperation to address global concerns. In order to address challenges like climate change, health, and economic development, India collaborated with the G20 nations. The international community has given India’s G20 chairmanship positive reviews. Through the G20, India has improved its standing and influence on the international stage.

How is India’s position going to be on global platforms after G20?

India is likely to maintain its strong position on international forums after the G20. India has prioritized encouraging G20 country cooperation to address global concerns while holding the G20 presidency. India has collaborated with the G20 nations to advance causes like economic development, health, and climate change. The world community has expressed support for India’s G20 presidency. India would keep working to boost its status as a prominent player in international fora beyond its G20 Presidency. India would prioritize encouraging global cooperation to address challenges on a global scale.

India has a few important aspects that can help it improve its standing in international forums. India has a considerable economic impact on the world as the fifth-largest economy in the world. India, a democratic nation, is dedicated to maintaining world security and peace. India is a global cultural powerhouse with a strong global presence. In order to improve its standing in international forums, India can benefit from these aspects. By encouraging international cooperation to address global concerns and by amplifying its voice in the global economic order, India will support world peace and security.

What are India’s G20 Priorities?

The G20 Presidency also heralds for India the start of “Amritkaal,” a 25-year period commencing from the 75th anniversary of its independence on August 15, 2022, leading up to the centenary of its independence.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which translates to “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” is the theme of India’s G20 presidency. It is inspired from the Maha Upanishad, an old Sanskrit scripture. The theme fundamentally highlights the importance of all life—human, animal, plant, and microorganism—as well as their interdependence on Earth and across the universe. The theme also exemplifies LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which highlights the importance of environmentally sustainable and responsible lifestyle choices, both at the individual and national level, in creating a cleaner, greener, and bluer future.

  • Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE: The opportunity to lead G20 comes at a time of compounding existential threat, with the COVID-19 pandemic having exposed the fragilities of our systems under the cascading impacts of climate change. In this regard, climate change is a key priority for India’s presidential Presidency, with a particular focus towards not only climate finance and technology but also ensuring just energy transitions for developing nations across the world.

Understanding that the issue of climate change cuts across industry, society, and sectors, India offers the world LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) -a behaviour-based movement that draws from our nation’s rich, ancient sustainable traditions to nudge consumers, and in-turn markets, to adopt environmentally-conscious practices. This ties closely with India’s G20 theme: ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future.

  • Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth: An accelerated, resilient and inclusive growth is a cornerstone for sustainable development. During its G20 Presidency, India aims to focus on areas that have the potential to bring structural transformation. This includes an ambition to accelerate the integration of MSMEs in global trade, bring in the spirit of trade for growth, promote labour rights and secure labour welfare, address the global skills gap, and build inclusive agricultural value chains and food systems etc.
  • Accelerating progress on SDGs: India’s G20 Presidency collides with the crucial midpoint of the 2030 Agenda. As such, India acknowledges the detrimental impact of COVID-19, which changed the current decade of action into a decade of recovery. In line with this perspective, India wants to focus on recommitting G20’s efforts to achieve the targets laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure: As G20 Presidency, India can foreground its belief in a human-centric approach to technology, and facilitate greater knowledge-sharing in priority areas like digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, and tech-enabled development in sectors ranging from agriculture to education
  • Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century: India’s G20 priority will be to continue pressing for reformed multilateralism that creates a more accountable, inclusive just, equitable and representative multipolar international system that is fit for addressing the challenges in the 21st century.
  • Women-led development: India hopes to use the G20 forum to highlight inclusive growth and development, with women’s empowerment and representation being at the core of India’s G20 deliberations. This includes a focus on bringing women to the fore, and in leading positions, in order to boost socio-economic development and achievement of SDGs.

Health: The G-20 countries contain the majority of the world’s population, so it is an important forum for promoting global health. Encouraged G20 countries to take action to improve access to health care, prevent infectious diseases, and promote innovation in health care.

Poverty Alleviation: The G-20 countries are expected to play an important role in reducing global poverty. Encouraged G20 countries to take action to reduce poverty by improving access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities.

Counter-Terrorism: India is committed to global counter-terrorism efforts and has been active in discussions on countering terrorism financing and promoting international security.

International Relations: The G-20 is an important forum for promoting global peace and security. Encouraged G-20 countries to take action to resolve conflicts, promote international cooperation, and strengthen global security.

Besides G20, India is a member of several important global groups and organizations, including but not limited to:

  1. United Nations (UN): India is a member of the United Nations and actively participates in various UN bodies, including the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council (as an elected non-permanent member for the 2021-2022 term), and various UN specialized agencies.
  2. BRICS: India is a member of BRICS, a grouping of major emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. BRICS aims to promote cooperation on economic, political, and security issues among its member countries.
  3. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): India is a full member of the SCO, a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization. The SCO focuses on regional stability, security, and economic cooperation.
  4. ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): India participates in the ARF, a regional security forum in Asia that addresses security issues and promotes dialogue and confidence-building measures.
  5. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): India is a founding member of SAARC, which brings together South Asian countries to promote regional cooperation in various fields, including trade, economic development, and cultural exchange.
  6. Commonwealth of Nations: India is a member of the Commonwealth, an organization of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. The Commonwealth promotes political, economic, and cultural cooperation among its member states.
  7. World Trade Organization (WTO): India is a member of the WTO, an international organization that deals with global trade rules and negotiations.
  8. International Monetary Fund (IMF): India is a member of the IMF, an organization that promotes international monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability, and balanced growth of international trade.
  9. World Bank Group: India is a member of the World Bank Group, which provides financial and technical assistance for development projects and programs around the world.
  10. Group of 77 (G77): India is a member of the G77, a coalition of developing countries that advocates for their collective economic interests in various international forums.
  11. IBSA: India is a member of IBSA, a grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa. IBSA is an important economic and political grouping, and India works to promote global economic growth and improve the global order through IBSA.

Through all of these organizations, India aims to improve its standing and influence on the international scene. India is dedicated to developing collaboration to address global issues and advance peace and security around the world.

Please note: This is a translation of an article originally written in Hindi. The original report can be read here.

Bengal Congress leader Kamru Choudhury says Raksha Bandhan was introduced by Rabindranath Tagore to promote Hindu-Muslim brotherhood

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal Congress leader Kamru Choudhury says Raksha Bandhan was introduced by Rabindranath Tagore to promote Hindu-Muslim brotherhood

On 31st August 2023, Kamru Choudhury – a Congress leader from West Bengal – posted from his X (formerly Twitter) handle that the festival of Raksha Bandhan was introduced by Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. He claimed that the Raksha Bandhan festival started in India when Rabindranath Tagore initiated it to enhance the brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims in India after the Partition of Bengal.

Kamru Chowdhury posted, “Raksha Bandhan was introduced by Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore as a message of Universal Brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims after the Partition of Bengal. Why is Kanoongo Gaslighting?”

Kamru Chowdhury posted this in response to Anand Ranganathan’s post wherein he quoted the letter written by the NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) chairman Priyank Kanoongo to the states to make sure that no students in any school get harassed for wearing Rakhi on their hands during Raksha Bandhan festival. Anand Ranganathan wrote, “The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to all States to make sure children are not beaten, harassed, discriminated against, or subjected to corporal punishment on account of wearing a Rakhi during Raksha Bandhan celebrations. This is India in 2023.” Kamru Chowdhury’s remarks about Raksha Bandhan came in response to this post by Anand Ranganathan.

What did the NCPCR chairman say in his letter?

NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo said in his letter, “Over the years, it has been observed by the Commission through various news reports that children are subject to harassment and discrimination by the school teachers and other staff on account of the celebration of festivals. It has been noticed that schools do not allow children to wear rakhi, tilak or mehendi in schools during the festival of Raksha Bandhan and subject them to harassment, both physical and mental. It may be noted that corporal punishment is prohibited in schools under Section 17 of the RTE Act, 2009.”

He added, “Therefore, it is requested to issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities and ensure that schools do not observe any such practice that may expose children to corporal punishment or discrimination.”

It is notable that in many schools – especially the ones run by Christian missionaries – Hindu students are not allowed to wear Rakhi on their hands or apply tilak on their foreheads. In one such incident that recently took place in Bareilly, the teacher in the Holy Family Convent School cut the Rakhi and Kalava tied on the hands of Hindu students with scissors saying that ‘Hinduism shall not be preached here’. While Anand Ranganathan welcomed the initiative by the NCPCR chairman to guide the states to ensure that no such discrimination takes place, Kamru Choudhury came up with his bizarre claims that the festival of Raksha Bandhan was introduced by Rabindranath Tagore during the freedom struggle to strengthen the ties between the Hindu and Muslim communities.

In fact, the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan has been celebrated for the last thousands of years. References and mentions of Raksha Bandhan are seen in Hindu epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat. It is also described in multiple Puranas. Celebration of Raksha Bandhan is therefore a purely Hindu religious practice. But Kamru Choudhury propagated from his X handle that Rabindranath Tagore started this festival to promote Hindu-Muslim unity and brotherhood during the partition of Bengal.

Raksha Bandhan and Partition of Bengal

It is notable that Raksha Bandhan is a religious practice, it was also used as a tool during the first partition of Bengal in 1905 to showcase harmony and brotherhood among Hindus and Muslims. The partition of Bengal was declared on 20 July 1905. The order of partition was passed in August 1905 and came into effect on October 16, 1905. When the partition of Bengal was declared, it was the month of Shravan according to the Hindu Calendar. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of this month. Rabindranath Tagore was leading the protest against this decision of the British government. He appealed to people that on 16th October 1905 when this partition will be implemented, Raksha Bandhan be celebrated. He urged Hindus and Muslims to tie rakhis on each other’s wrists to express harmony and solidarity among each other.

Rabindranath Tagore made this appeal to the people because the partition of Bengal by the British viceroy Curzon was a decision taken to broaden the differences in the Indian people along religious lines. Largely influenced by religious considerations, Curzon instigated the partition of Bengal. This decision was made after a meeting held in Assam in June 1905, where viceroy Curzon engaged with a Muslim delegation that asserted the notion of establishing a distinct state to preserve their distinct identity.

Curzon then separated the east Bengal, Assam and Sylhet regions predominantly inhabited by Muslims from the west Bengal, Bihar and Odisha regions which had a Hindu majority. Inspired by Tagore’s appeal, numerous Hindus and Muslims from Kolkata, Dhaka, and Sylhet – who were against the partition – came ahead to tie Rakhis to each other to protest the partition of Bengal.

What Tagore did was a symbolic use of a Hindu festival against the decision of the British government. But Kamru Choudhury has now claimed that Rabindranath Tagore introduced the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Moreover, the NCPCR letter is asking schools not to punish students for wearing rakhi, which is a fact and several such incidents have been seen in many schools. But the Congress leader jumped in to claim that Tagore introduced the festival to promote Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and asked why the NCPCR chief was gaslighting, which makes no sense as the child rights body has not said anything against any religion.

Pakistan’s economy hits rock bottom, but President Alvi focuses on increasing his salary, complains that Chief Justice is getting more

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan’s economy hits rock bottom, but President Alvi focuses on increasing his salary, complains that Chief Justice is getting more

On Wednesday, 30th August 2023, Pakistani media reported that Pakistan‘s president Dr Arif Alvi is seeking an increase in his salary. Pakistan’s president has officially requested two salary increases: the first to be effective from July 1st, 2021, and the second to take effect from July 1st, 2023.

Currently, Pakistan’s President, Dr Arif Alvi, receives a monthly salary of PKR 846,550. He is seeking a two-stage increment, with the first step raising his salary to Rs 1,024,325 per month starting from July 2021, and the second step increasing it further to Rs 1,229,190 per month starting from July 2023.

In August 2023, a letter was sent by the President’s Secretariat to the Secretary Cabinet through the President’s Military Secretary. The letter expressed the President’s intent for a modification to be made to the Fourth Schedule of the President’s Salary Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Act, 2018. This proposed amendment is regarding the increase in the president’s salary.

The letter said, “In Pursuance of para 3(2) of President’s Salary, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Act 2018, published in the Gazette Notification (Part I), the remuneration of the President shall be a symbolic one rupee higher than the salary of any holder of Public Office in relation to affairs of the Federation. Accordingly, the pay of the honorable President was fixed @ Rs846,550/- per month in 2018 as reflected in the Fourth Schedule of the Act ibid.”

It added, “It is highlighted that the salary of the Chief Justice of Pakistan being a holder of Public Office was increased twice in the last 2 years through Presidential Orders. Pay of Chief Justice of Pakistan was fixed @ Rs1,024,324/ per month w.e.f 01 July 2021 and subsequently @ Rs 1,229,189/ per month w.e.f. 01 July 2023. Salary of the President was not enhanced in relation to the laid down principle of one rupee higher than the salary of any holder of public office i.e. Chief Justice of Pakistan.”

Upon receiving the case, the Cabinet Division forwarded it to the Law Ministry. Subsequently, on August 18, the Law Ministry recommended to the Cabinet Division that the process for increasing President Alvi’s salary be pursued.

The Law Ministry of Pakistan said, “The Federal Government by virtue of section 3(2) of the same Act has the power to amend that Schedule by way of a notification in the official gazette henceforth in relation to the issue at hand the Federal Government is competent to amend the Fourth Schedule by way of gazette notification and no amendment in the Fourth Schedule is required via an amending Act to effectuate a revision in the salary of the President.”

Additionally, the Finance Division was consulted regarding the matter, and on August 22, it also voiced its endorsement for the suggested salary augmentation for the president, to be achieved by amending the Fourth Schedule of the President (Salary, Allowances & Privileges) Act, 1975.

The issue is anticipated to be brought before the cabinet for its approval. In addition to securing the sought-after raises, the president is also set to receive a substantial sum in arrears, as the two-stage salary increments are set to be retroactively applied from July 2021 and July 2023, respectively.

Pakistan’s President seeking a salary rise when the country is seeing its economy hit a historic low is an interesting scenario. Recently Pakistan witnessed widespread public outrage against the rise in the electricity tariffs. This increase was agreed with the International Monetary Fund for a $3 billion bailout. In several cities across Pakistan, citizens have hit the streets to call for respite from the recent surge in electricity prices. This outcry comes in the wake of grappling with unprecedented inflation rates, ranking as the highest in Asia.

In response to widespread protests, Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar directed government officials to devise strategies aimed at lowering power bills. The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement on Sunday, August 27 evening, indicating Kakar’s instructions. During a meeting convened following the protests, Kakar reassured that the government would exercise caution and avoid making hasty decisions that could negatively impact the nation.

On Wednesday, 30th August 2023, Pakistan’s interim Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar said that the country’s financial condition was worse than anticipated and the government did not have fiscal space to provide subsidies. She made this statement during the meeting of the Senate’s standing committee on Finance on Wednesday. She asserted that the interim government in Pakistan had inherited the IMF program and thus it was non-negotiable.

It’s noteworthy that Pakistan’s decision to unexpectedly freeze fuel prices last year led to the suspension of a loan program with the IMF.

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