National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has arrived in Jeddah to participate in a summit of national security advisers and other officials being hosted by Saudi Arabia on Saturday to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Doval was welcomed at the Jeddah Airport by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam.
“Shri Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisors’ meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam,” the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Twitter.
Shri Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisors' meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam.@MEAIndia@IndianDiplomacypic.twitter.com/wmLQ10f17l
— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) August 5, 2023
The meeting is being organised in the coastal city of Jeddah to discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plan for peace amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday confirmed India’s participation in the summit.
“India will participate in this event and our participation is in consonance with our long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
“Yes, India has been invited to a meeting being hosted by Saudi Arabia on Ukraine in Jeddah,” Bagchi said while replying to a question at a press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Russia’s state-run Tass news agency reported Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov as saying: “Russia will keep an eye on this meeting” but would need “to fully understand what goals are being set.”
The Wall Street Journal, on July 29 first reported on the summit citing “diplomats involved in the discussion”, and said the talks would take place on August 5 and 6, in the city of Jeddah, with some 30 countries attending.
WSJ also said that Ukrainian and Western officials are hopeful that the efforts could conclude in a peace summit later this year where global leaders would sign up to shared principles for resolving the war.
For the Jeddah summit, the 30 invitees include Chile, Egypt, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia, according to WSJ.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on Sunday that officials from several countries would take part in the Saudi Arabian summit but did not say when or in which city the meeting will be held, reported Al Jazeera.
Yermak wrote on Telegram, that discussions will take place on the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which “contains 10 fundamental points, the implementation of which will not only ensure peace for Ukraine, but also create mechanisms to counter future conflicts in the world”.
“We are deeply convinced that the Ukrainian peace plan should be taken as a basis because the war is taking place on our land,” Al Jazeera quoted Yermak as saying.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has always maintained that the conflict must be resolved by dialogue and diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said, “India is ready to do whatever it can for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War which began in 2014. The invasion has killed tens of thousands on both sides. Russian forces have been accused of mass civilian casualties and of torturing captured Ukrainian soldiers.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Saturday (August 5), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) sentenced former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to three years in prison after being found guilty in the Toshakhana gifts case.
The court has also disqualified Khan from contesting elections for a period of 5 years. The ex-cricketer has also been fined PKR 1,00,000 (~ ₹29,390) by the IHC.
According to Pakistani journalist Wajahat Kazmi, an arrest warrant has been issued against Imran Khan by the Islamabad High Court. The Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad police has also been directed to immediately arrest the former Prime Minister.
The court has issued arrest warrant for Imran Khan after sentencing him three years in prison. IG Islamabad Police has been directed to immediately arrest him after the Toshakhana verdict.
Imran Khan had been accused of retaining gifts, received by the Office of the Prime Minister from other countries, either for free or at throwaway prices.
As per a report published by The Express Tribune, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi retained 112 valuables that were gifted to the PM’s Office between August 2018 and December 2021. The duo obtained 52 of the items worth PKR 800200 without ‘paying a single penny’.
The former Pakistani Prime Minister retained the remaining 60 valuables worth over PKR 141 million by paying a total of PKR 38.17 million. The Express Tribune reported that a PKR 85 million Graff wristwatch gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was retained by Khan for a sum of PKR 20 million.
He also paid just PKR 754,000 for a Rolex watch valued at PKR 3.8 million. The details of all gifts received by Imran Khan, during his tenure as the Prime Minister, were maintained by a department of the Cabinet Division known as Toshakhana.
Tax returns and earnings of Imran Khan, graphic via Fact Focus
In an exclusive report published by Fact Focus, it came to light that Imran Khan earned more from Toshakhana gifts in 2 months than he did in the first 66 years of his life.
“The tax record establishes that he and his wife Bushra haven’t declared the value of all the Toshakhana gifts they retained…The total worth of all his properties and assets as declared by him in his latest tax return (FY 2021) is PKR 141 million. The total value of Tosha Khana gifts retained by him was PKR 142 million,” the report by Usman Manzoor in Fact Focus stated.
Besides the non-declaration of Toshakhana gifts in tax filings and the firm resolve to withhold information, Imran Khan has been accused of selling valuables that he received as Prime Minister.
Imran Khan has however defended his decision to retain valuables from Toshakhana by claiming “Mera Tohfa, Meri Marzi (My gifts, my choice).” He claimed that he had paid 50% of the value of the gifts. He further justified his decision by comparing the Toshakhana gifts to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) flats allotted to the Pakistani army officers.
On August 4, 2023 (Friday), OpIndia accessed the FIR filed in the brutal killing of Bajrang Dal activist Pradeep Kumar. Kumar was the third Hindu who fell prey to Islamist violence that convulsed Haryana on July 31 following an attack on a Hindu precession in the Nuh district.
The FIR was filed by Pawan Kumar, another Bajrang Dal activist who was accompanying Pradeep Kumar when he was attacked and killed. Pawan Kumar, in his complaint named one Javed Ahmed as the prime accused. OpIndia in its report gave ample evidence to prove that the accused Javed Ahmed is a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party.
AAP leader Javed Ahmed led the Islamist mob which killed Pradeep Kumar during Nuh violence: What does the FIR say
Notably, in the FIR filed in the Bajrang Dal activist Pradeep Kumar’s murder case, whom Islamists ruthlessly killed on the intervening night of July 31 (Monday) and August 1 (Tuesday), while he was returning from the police station during the Nuh violence, the complainant, Pawan Kumar, stated that the mob had launched the vicious attack on Pradeep Kumar and other Bajrang Dal members accompanying him, on Javed Ahmed’s orders.
Pawan Kumar further stated that Javed Ahmed, who was leading the mob shouted- “Kill them all, I will take care of the consequences.”
“Responding to the clarion call made by Javed Ahmed, 20-25 Islamists armed with iron rods, stones, guns and other weapons rushed towards us and started thrashing us,” he added in the FIR.
Since the FIR only mentioned the name of the accused, OpIndia, in its effort to try and get some more information about him, spoke to the complainant Pawan Kumar.
Pawan Kumar confirmed to OpIndia that Javed Ahmed in no other than the Aam Aadmi Party leader from the Sohna constituency in Haryana. He said that he was the one who had orchestrated the crowd and instigated them to launch a murderous attack on Pradeep Kumar and other Bajrang Dal activists.
Pawan Kumar continued, “The Islamist mob responded to his clarion call and charged at us and other defenceless Hindus present there while shouting ‘Allah hu Abar’ and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.”
When we asked Pawan Kumar if he was certain that the AAP leader was leading the Islamists, he responded in the affirmative. He claimed that he recognises him very well since he has often seen him and his family members moving around through the lanes of Haryana’s Sohna district.
This is not the first time, though, when an Aam Aadmi Party leader’s name has emerged as the prime accused of instigating and orchestrating violence. A basic Google search could break open Pandora’s box that would reveal how several such AAP leaders’ hands have been soaked in the blood of hundreds of innocent people who have fallen prey to their hate politics.
Ironically, when Aam Aadmi Party first entered politics in 2012, they positioned themselves as champions of peace and brotherhood and crusaders against corruption, but over time, the party leaders have done exactly the reverse. Be it the 2020 anti-Hindi Delhi riots or the 2022 Jahangirpuri riots or the 2015 attack on the Delhi Burari police station, AAP leader’s names have emerged as the masterminds behind each such anti-India, anti-Hindu plot.
Former AAP leader Tahir Hussain involved in 2020 Delhi anti-Hindu riots
On the 24th and 25th of February 2020, India’s national capital Delhi saw large-scale anti-Hindu riots which marked the culmination of the hostility, hatred, and anger spread by the anti-CAA protests by the Islamists in Shaheen Bagh and other areas. Shahdara, Maujpur, Bhajanpura, Brahmapuri, and other parts of northeast Delhi witnessed violence perpetrated by the Islamists. 53 people died in these riots while more than 200 people were left injured.
The damage to the property in these riots had been enormous. An Intelligence Bureau Constable was murdered in the riots along with a Head Constable of the Delhi Police. A Hindu man Dilbar Negi was burnt to death after his hands and legs were chopped off by Jihadis.
Investigation into the case revealed how Tahir Hussain, a politician of the Aam Aadmi Party and sitting councillor in EDMC played a pivotal role in the incident. A charge sheet filed by Delhi Police has revealed that Tahir Hussain orchestrated the anti-Hindu riots in February 2020 in the national capital. He is also accused of leading a mob from his house and masjid which led to IB officer Ankit Sharma’s murder.
OpIndia had earlier reported how Tahir Hussain confessed in a disclosure statement that he chose his house as a launchpad for the riots. It is alleged that he, along with his followers, threw stones, acid packs, petrol bombs and more from the roof of Hussain’s house at the crowd. Given that his house was a high-rise building and was under construction at that time, it was easy to collect stones and bricks without raising any suspicion.
While gearing up for the riots and collecting ammunition to teach Hindus a lesson, Tahir Hussain instructed his supporters to be “ready for anything and in every manner” and also ensure that all the CCTV cameras in the area were broken (so the evidence of the riots could not be captured).
In his confession, Tahir Hussain also said that the extremist Islamic group Popular Front of India (PFI) helped him in the planning and arranging of funds.
Besides, Tahir Hussain, Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan had also emerged as the key instigator leading to the 2020 Delhi anti-Hindu riots. In December 2019, Amanatullah Khan was spotted at the venue where the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act turned violent in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.
In March 2020, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan came out in defence of Tahir Hussain. He raised the issue of Muslim victimhood to assert that Tahir Hussain was innocent and was being framed by the government because of his faith.
Jahangirpuri riots and AAP’s involvement
On April 16 2022, a Hanuman Jayanti procession was attacked by Islamists in the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi. The procession was moving peacefully but was stopped by one Ansar Sheikh and his accomplice near the Jama Masjid. They initiated an argument, which quickly escalated into stone-pelting, resulting in a stampede in the procession. According to the FIR, the police attempted to take control of the situation, but Islamists disregarded the orders and set vehicles on fire. They also pelted stones and glass bottles at the Hindu devotees. Later, a video of an Islamist named Sonu Chikna, firing shots at the procession, went viral on social media.
Ansar Sheikh was named as the main conspirator of the violence that erupted in New Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area.
A day after Ansar was sent to police custody, several proofs emerged of his association with the Aam Aadmi Party. In fact, several pictures surfaced on social media, which showed Ansar being garlanded by people. He was seen wearing the cap of the Aam Aadmi Party.
AAP leader MLAs convicted in 2015 rioting, instigating mob case
On February 2, 2015, a mob barged inside the Burari police station in north Delhi and assaulted several policemen with the objective of assault, rioting and damaging public property.
Last year, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court convicted two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, Akhilesh Pati Tripathi and Sanjeev Jha, along with 15 others, for being part of a mob that attacked policemen at Burari police station in north Delhi in 2015. The court said that both AAP leaders had played a major role in provoking and instigating the crowd.
AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha
The MLAs were part of a mob that attacked policemen at Burari police station in Delhi in February 2015 over allegations that the police is not acting in a kidnapping case. Police said that the mob was asking them to hand over the accused persons to them so that they themselves can act against the accused. When denied, the mob attacked the on-duty police officers.
The court noted that the 2 MLAs were not only a part of the mob, but they were actively provoking and instigating the crowd.
The prosecution witnesses claimed that both the MLAs and their supporters were saying that “policewalo ko sabak sikhane ka samay aa gaya hai”, the court order read.
On Friday, August 4, Bombay High Court judge Rohit B Deo resigned from his post citing personal reasons. Reportedly, the second-senior most judge at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court was heard saying in the courtroom that he cannot compromise on his self-respect. Justice Rohit B Deo gained attention in October last year after he acquitted former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba in a case for his links with Maoists.
While announcing his resignation, Justice Rohit B Deo apologised to everyone present in the courtroom on Friday saying that he is sorry if he has hurt anyone.
“I apologise to each and every one of you who are present in court. I scolded you because I want you to improve. I don’t want to hurt anyone of you because you all are like family to me and I am sorry to tell you that I have submitted my resignation. I can’t work against my self-respect. You people work hard,” Deo said.
One of Justice Deo’s most recent decisions was to stay the implementation of a government resolution authorising the Maharashtra government to cancel punitive action against contractors working on the Samruddhi Expressway Project.
In January this year, Justice Rohit B Deo heard a case submitted by Lalan Kishore Singh, a wager and activist, challenging a notice issued by the Nagpur Police. The daily wager was summoned for questioning after filing an RTI Act application requesting information regarding the security offered at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur. The government pleader apologised to the petitioner in court and assured the bench that no further action would be taken against him by the police. Based on this statement, the Court dismissed the petition.
GN Saibaba’s acquittal
In October 2022, the Division Bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justices Rohit B Deo and Anil Pansare acquitted GN Saibaba who was booked under UAPA due to procedural lapses.
Back then, the court stated that, while the charges against the accused are severe and terrorism poses a significant threat to the country, a civil democracy cannot ignore procedural safeguards provided to the accused. “Every safeguard, however minuscule, legislatively provided to the accused must be zealously protected,” the bench said last year.
It is notable that in March 2017, the Gadchiroli Sessions Court convicted and sentenced GN Saibaba and seven others to life in prison for their involvement with the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), an offshoot of the CPI(Maoist). Saibaba and the others were seen posing with Naxal literature, and the court stated that they meant to distribute the literature in Gadchiroli in order to urge others to join the Naxalites.
Supreme Court set aside Bombay HC order acquitting GN Saibaba
In April of this year, the Supreme Court overturned Saibaba’s acquittal and remanded the case to the Nagpur bench for reconsideration by a different panel. The Supreme Court also urged the High Court to rule on the case within four months.
The High Court’s October 14, 2022 order granting Saibaba’s appeal against a 2017 trial court decision convicted and sentencing him to life in prison was challenged in the case that resulted in the verdict. The Maharashtra government argued that, in light of Section 465 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, failing to obtain sanction cannot result in acquittal.
Justice Rohit B Deo’s term was set to end on December 4, 2025, but in an unprecedented move, he announced his resignation.
On Friday, 4th August 2023, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) resumed its investigation of the Gyanvapi structure in Varanasi with the aim of determining whether it was constructed atop a Hindu temple after getting the go-ahead from the Supreme Court. During this phase, the top archaeology organisation utilised videography and photography to document various artefacts such as a trident (trishul), swastika, bell, and flower-like symbols found engraved on the walls and pillars of the Gyanvapi complex.
The ASI team continued its survey operations on the consecutive second day on Saturday, 5th August 2023. The team is surveying the structure in two phases today. It will first examine the building from 8 am to 12:30 pm. It will continue the work after a break, surveying it from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.
#WATCH | Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrive at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi as a scientific survey of the complex continues today pic.twitter.com/dDlyahBQmo
The ASI has formed four teams for the survey on Saturday. Two teams started checking the western wall of the complex. One team was deployed for investigation in the eastern wall and the other in the north wall and its adjoining areas. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is being used around the outer walls of the building. During the survey, 9 people from the Muslim side and 7 people from the Hindu side are present in Gyanvapi.
However, the Mosque committee refused to hand over the key to the basement today. While the mosque caretaker Ejaz Ahmed gave the key to the main gates of the mosque, the tehkhana was not opened and the key was not given. Muslim side’s lawyer Mumtaz Ahmed said ‘why should we give them the key to the basement, they will open wherever they to open’. He said that the ASI started the work without giving any notice to them, and they will move to court against it.
Reportedly the basement is filled with garbage and it was to be cleaned today before work could be done there. However, now the Muslim side is going back to court again alleging that the survey is illegal as they didn’t get any notice.
On Friday – the initial day of the survey, the archaeologists meticulously examined the symbols adorning the walls, domes, and pillars of the disputed Gyanvapi structure. Each design’s construction style and historical significance were thoroughly documented during this comprehensive investigation, which also encompassed the engravings found on the domes and pillars. To maintain peace and order in the vicinity of the Gyanvapi complex, the district authorities deployed a substantial number of security personnel.
The survey continued for approximately seven hours on its first day, during which the ASI meticulously recorded the layout and took images of the various structures within the Gyanvapi complex. To gather precise data, dial test indicators were strategically positioned on all four corners of the complex, enabling the measurement of depth and height for different sections of the site.
A team of 37 members from the ASI was joined by additional experts from IIT, forming a combined team of 41 individuals. This team was further divided into four groups to commence the survey. On Saturday, the survey entered its second day, with the Muslim side expressing their willingness to cooperate.
One of the four petitioners in this case said, “Yesterday, videography was done by the ASI. There are chances that the survey of underground places (tehkhana) may be carried out today. One can see various symbols on the structure. Through Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), all the idols that were submerged inside may be discovered. The survey will start at 9 am on Saturday. Yesterday was a big day for celebration for us. The survey will continue now. The Muslim side will cooperate with us today.”
Mumtaz Ahmed, the lawyer for the Muslim side, said on the ASI survey, “We are satisfied with the ASI survey. Until yesterday we were not participating in the survey but today we are participating and assisting the ASI team.”
On Friday, 4th August 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC) challenging the ASI survey of the disputed structure at the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi. A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Friday morning arrived at the Gyanvapi structure premises adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi and started a scientific survey of the complex amid tight security. Notably, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday, 3rd August 2023, allowed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey of the Allahabad High Court dismissed Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee’s plea, challenging the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the disputed structure.
In a shocking development, Atiq Ahmed’s lawyer, Vijay Mishra, has been arrested outside Hotel Hyatt Legacy, Lucknow, in connection with the murder of Umesh Pal. He recently made headlines for his involvement in the crime and was gifted an iPhone and used FaceTime to communicate with the now-deceased gangster and his brother Ashraf alias Khalid Azim.
Mishra was charged with revealing Umesh Pal’s location from Prayagraj court before he was killed on 24 February 2023 along with two other police personnel. He was held in accordance with multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code sections, the Explosives Act, the Criminal Law Amendment Act, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
He would reportedly be taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh Police and the cops will search through his phone to recover the chats. According to police sources, both the mafia and his notorious brother provided iPhones to individuals working with them while orchestrating the murder of Umesh Pal. They further added that Asad Ahmed, son of Atiq Ahmed, had FaceTime IDs so everyone could communicate conveniently.
Umesh Pal and two police officers who had been assigned to his security were shot dead in February. He served as a key witness in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal. The primary accused in the case, Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf, were gunned down by three youngsters on 15 April outside a hospital in Prayagraj while being transported for a medical examination by police.
The report further stated that the gunmen and other accomplices in the assassination received iPhones in addition to Asad Ahmed and Vijay Mishra. Police submitted a charge sheet against eight individuals in the gruesome killing of Umesh Pal last month. Atiq Ahmed, Rakesh alias Nakesh alias Lala, Arshad Katra, Niyaz Ahmad, Iqbal Ahmad, Shahrukh, Akhlaq Ahmad, and Khan Shoulat Haneef were all named as accused in the charge sheet.
The mobster’s second attorney Khan Saulat Haneef told the police in May that the criminal-turned-politician had presented him with an iPhone so he could use the FaceTime application to communicate with him, his brother and his son.
The trio’s FaceTime ID had been discovered by law enforcement on the iPhone as well. While looking through a chat history that had been retrieved after interviewing the counsel, the police uncovered a log of transactions totalling several crores. Moreover, he disclosed to the police that Umesh Pal was killed as a result of a phone argument between Atiq Ahmed and the latter.
A Catholic priest in Goa was arrested on 4 August after he made a statement during a sermon pertaining to the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. According to the authorities, Father Bolmax Pereira was accused of violating the Indian Penal Code’s provisions for offending religious emotions.
The case was reportedly filed at 10 p.m. at Vasco police station. Furthermore, complaints were also submitted to Cuncolim and Canacona in south Goa police stations. The perpetrator had already apologised, but stated that his comments about the Maratha ruler of the 17th century had been “taken out of context and misinterpreted.”
Bajrang Dal demanded his arrest and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant promised legal action would be taken against him. The priest from a church in Chicalim, outside of Vasco, was captured mentioning that “Chhatrapati Shivaji cannot be considered as a God” in a recent video. His opinion was denounced by a number of right-wing organisations in the state, including Bajrang Dal.
He later apologised for the controversy surrounding his utterance and the “misunderstanding” that ensued over the name of the Maratha warrior in the press release he issued late on the night of 3 July.
It read, “The purpose and intent of making a mention of the great national hero and valiant warrior during the sermon was to tell devotees and viewers that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was revered by people across the country and abroad cutting across religions, castes, creed, languages. Hence, attributing him (Shivaji Maharaj) to only one religion would reduce his stature and greatness among the people of other faiths.”
He expressed dismay at learning that his sermon had been “maliciously omitted” and only one portion of it had been “selectively taken out of context” while the other part highlighted Shivaji Maharaj’s bravery and valour in defending his people and kingdom from invaders. The deletion of that particular aspect of his views, he claimed, was carried out with the intention of provoking rage and sowing discord among the communities.
“If any individual or organisation has been hurt due to this episode and misunderstanding, I express my deepest regret and hope and pray that the long-lasting bond between communities that have existed for centuries is maintained and grows stronger,” he alleged.
In the meantime, a large group of Bajrang Dal workers marched to the Vasco police station on 4 July night and asked for his arrest. Their agitation at the police station created tension in the vicinity.
The outfit’s Goa co-convener Viraj Desai asserted, “An FIR should be filed against the priest for hurting our religious sentiments. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is no less than God for us.” They continued to protest despite promises that a First Information Report would be lodged, according to Vasco police station inspector Kapil Naik.
CM Pramod Sawant assured the priest will face legal repercussions. He further added that the situation in Vasco was under control and the superintendent of police and other officials were present there. Some demonstrators persisted in their outrage outside the police station after the case had been initiated, while another group dispersed.
The matter even came up during the Goa assembly’s current Monsoon session. While the CM brought up the priest’s observation Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai argued that since the latter has offered an apology, the controversy should be put to rest.
On Friday, 4th August 2023, the Lok Sabha took up for discussion the Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure on Special Occasions Bill 2020. Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill introduced the private member’s bill in January 2020. The new bill aims to impose limits on the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served at weddings, in addition to capping the amount spent on gifts to newlyweds.
The primary objective behind this legislation is to curb “wasteful expenditure” associated with such occasions.
Furthermore, the proposed bill suggests redirecting the focus from extravagant gifts towards making donations to support the underprivileged, such as the poor, needy, orphans, weaker sections of society, or non-governmental organizations engaged in charitable activities.
Jasbir Singh Gill, the Member of Parliament representing Khadoor Sahib in Punjab, stated that the Bill aims to put an end to the culture of extravagant weddings, which often places a significant financial burden, particularly on the bride’s family.
While explaining the motive behind this bill, he said, “I came across stories of how people had to sell their plots, properties and opt for bank loans to solemnize marriages in a lavish manner. The cut in wasteful expenditure on marriages could go a long way in checking female foeticide, as a girl child then would not be seen as a burden.”
Gill revealed that the idea for the Bill came to him when he attended a wedding in Phagwara back in 2019. At the event, he witnessed an excessive display of 285 trays with dishes, out of which around 129 trays remained untouched and went to waste, with not even a spoonful of food taken from them. This observation prompted him to draft the Bill.
The proposed Bill sets limits on wedding guests from both the bride and groom’s families, capping the number at 100. It also restricts the number of dishes served to 10 and imposes a maximum value of Rs 2,500 for gifts. Additionally, the Bill advocates for directing contributions toward those in need, such as the poor, needy, orphans, and weaker sections of society, or donating to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) instead of extravagant gifts.
Gill added, “I implemented this in my family first. There were 30 to 40 guests when I married off my son and daughter this year.”
The statement of objects and reasons of the Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure on Special Occasions Bill 2020 introduced by Gill reads, “These days, it has become fashionable to spend like feudal on special occasions such as marriages and festivals. The guest list is very long and the food menu layout is vast which leads to a lot of wastage. Not only this, a lot of wastage occurs at the time of distribution of marriage cards or post-wedding gifts. Similarly, a lot of wastage occurs on festivals due to practices of exchanging gifts. That also deserves significant attention.”
It further says, “On weddings, the practice of a vast food layout, decoration, bands, music and the number of guests invited has become a status symbol and a symbol of a show-off. Analogously, on festivals, the thoughtless exchange of gifts is very wasteful. Festivals must be a time to remember the almighty and do good to society. But often, the core concept of festivals gets lost in the show-off that many do, by exchanging fancy gifts. That money could instead be donated and smaller gifts distributed.”
Giving a view of food wastage, it says, “In fact, on special occasions, food waste and loss has been rapidly increasing in India. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), every year around 1.7 billion tonnes, or almost one-third of food produced for human consumption, is lost or wasted globally.” Referring to Global Hunger Index 2019, the bill states that India is ranked 102 of 117 countries.
It adds, “The NFHS4 (2015 &16) estimated 46.8 million under-five children in India are stunted and this represents one-third of total stunted children across the globe. Food loss or waste also amounts to a major squandering of resources, including water, land, energy, labour and capital and it also needlessly produces greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming and climate change. It is high time for our country to stand up against this unmeaningful and wasteful expenditure. So we should decide that not more than one hundred guests and not more than ten dishes should be allowed. Hence this Bill.”
The attempt to regulate and limit the extravagant expenses incurred on “big fat Indian weddings” is not new. In December 2017, BJP’s Gopal Chinayya Shetty, the Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North, introduced a private member bill with the same intention. The bill aimed to prevent and prohibit excessive expenditure on weddings and related ceremonies across the country.
Prior to that, in February 2017, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan introduced The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill, 2016. This bill also sought to restrict the number of wedding guests and dishes served and proposed that those spending above Rs 5 lakh on a wedding contribute 10% of the amount to support marriages of girls from poor families.
However, the chances of these private member bills being passed in Parliament are typically low. According to data from PRS Legislative Research, a think tank, only 14 such bills have been passed by both Houses of Parliament since 1952.
On Thursday (August 3), the US-based Rockefeller Foundation lambasted The Washington Post for a misleading report on India and its solar power systems.
The leftist propaganda newspaper published a contentious article titled, ‘India joins rush to renewables, but sites rural solar systems fall off the grid’ on July 31, 2023.
Written by one Karishma Mehrotra, the article claimed that India has severely failed in its transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar power.
“India’s experience is a cautionary tale for a world that is racing into renewables, installing solar energy systems at a breakneck speed with scant planning for how to maintain them in the years to come,” the article read.
Screengrab of the article by The Washington Post
The Washington Post claimed that out of 4000 solar mini-grids installed in India, 3300 are owned by a subsidiary of the Rockefeller Foundation. It then went on to claim that only 5% of those grids, which are also financed by the Indian government, are in an operational condition.
“About 4,000 solar mini-grids have been installed in India, of which 3,300 are government financed and owned, according to information collected early this year by Smart Power India, a subsidiary of the Rockefeller Foundation, and provided to The Washington Post. Only 5 percent of the government grids are operational, the group found,” the paper alleged.
It then claimed that solar-powered villages in the Indian States of Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha have failed miserably. “In Jharkhand, at least 90 percent of the state’s more than 200 mini-grids are defunct, according to a consultant for the renewable-energy authority, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment freely about the mini-grids,” the paper said.
Over the past three decades, India has installed thousands of mini solar grids, mostly in remote villages. But maintaining these systems has proved to be more than the government can handle, leaving deserted panels and batteries far and wide. https://t.co/2ykosXDJJK
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 31, 2023
The Washington Post had blamed the supposed failure of solar power systems on a lack of local technical expertise and funds for maintenance.
“Jharkhand, for example, holds onto 10 percent of the contract price after installation and releases the balance in annual installments to pay for maintenance. But this sum may not cover the cost of traveling to remote areas, so the technical crews often desert their contracts after installation,” the paper said.
“Moreover, the government, in trying to keep electricity affordable for its customers, often lacks the revenue needed to pay for upkeep. Private providers have a better record in maintaining the systems because their revenue models are stronger,” it concluded.
Response of Rockefeller Foundation
On Thursday (August 3), the Rockefeller Foundation slammed The Washington Post over its contentious piece and informed that the paper did not bother to respond to a letter sent to its Editor.
In a tweet, it said, “Two days ago, we submitted a letter to the editor about this article making clear it not only misses context but also the real facts. Unfortunately, the @washingtonpost has yet to print it or even respond.”
Two days ago, we submitted a letter to the editor about this article making clear it not only misses context but also the real facts. Unfortunately, the @washingtonpost has yet to print it or even respond. https://t.co/Wa6cwCPai5 1/8
— The Rockefeller Foundation (@RockefellerFdn) August 3, 2023
The American private foundation said that the 100% rural electrification achieved by the Modi government resulted in the redundancy of the first-generation solar systems.
“First, these first-generation solar systems were degraded because they were made redundant by an aggressive rural electrification effort launched in 2016 by the current government, that achieved almost 100% electrification,” it said.
The Rockefeller Foundation informed, “Second, the article incorrectly implies that mini-grid solutions have failed, without recognising that the improving electrification landscape & positive regulatory environment have actually paved the way for successful commercial mini-grid operators that complement the grid.”
Second, the article incorrectly implies that mini-grid solutions have failed, without recognizing that the improving electrification landscape & positive regulatory environment have actually paved the way for successful commercial mini-grid operators that complement the grid. 3/8
— The Rockefeller Foundation (@RockefellerFdn) August 3, 2023
It added, “Companies such as Husk Power System, OMC Power, Tata Power, and Hamara Grid, have raised over $150M of private capital, operating over 1,000 mini-grids that serve homes and entrepreneurs in rural India with reliable, productive-use clean energy.”
“Third, much was learned from the first generation of government funded mini-grids, like the need to be far more responsive to communities, and the importance of serving local businesses,” the Rockefeller Foundation said.
Third, much was learned from the first generation of government funded mini-grids, like the need to be far more responsive to communities, and the importance of serving local businesses. 5/8
— The Rockefeller Foundation (@RockefellerFdn) August 3, 2023
“Far from failing, India’s effort to provide electricity from both grid-based and distributed renewable energy is a success that should be replicated globally…Indeed it offers a model for public and private sector innovation that can put developing economies on a high energy, low carbon growth pathway,” it said.
Indeed it offers a model for public and private sector innovation that can put developing economies on a high energy, low carbon growth pathway. 7/8
— The Rockefeller Foundation (@RockefellerFdn) August 3, 2023
The Rockefeller Foundation informed that it has been working on mini solar grids in India since 2009. “We’re proud to be a partner to those in India seeking to unlock opportunity for those often left behind without triggering climate catastrophe,” it concluded.
Three army jawans, who were injured during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, succumbed to their injuries, officials said.
“The three injured jawans succumbed to their injuries. Search operations are ongoing,” the Army said in a statement.
The jawans were undergoing treatment at a hospital, Jammu and Kashmir Police informed on Friday.
Earlier in the day, officials said the encounter broke out in the high reaches of the Halan forest area in Kulgam district.
“Army and Kulgam Police are carrying out the operation. Three jawans were injured and shifted to a hospital for treatment,” an official said earlier.
Earlier, on Friday, the Kashmir Zone Police informed that the encounter had broken out in the Halan forest area of Kulgam district, adding that the Army and Kulgam Police were on the job.
“An encounter has started at high reaches of Halan forest area of #Kulgam district. Army & Kulgam Police are on the job. Further details shall follow,” the Kashmir Zone Police stated earlier in a tweet.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
