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Operations in two German airports disrupted after climate activists glued themselves to runways, several flights cancelled and diverted

OpIndia Staff
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Operations in two German airports disrupted after climate activists glued themselves to runways, several flights cancelled and diverted

Several hours of flights were cancelled at two German airports on 13 July as a result of a protest by climate activists, who glued themselves to the runways and taxiways of the airports, demanding more aggressive government action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The activists were linked to the German group “Last Generation”, causing major disruptions at Hamburg and Düsseldorf airports.

The group posted visuals of their action on Twitter.

According to reports, on the first day of the city’s school break, when 50,000 travellers and 330 flights were scheduled to depart from Hamburg airport, several members of “Last Generation” invaded the grounds of the airport at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) and glued themselves to the runways and taxiways. As a result, ten arrivals reportedly had to be diverted to other airports while 17 arrivals and 19 departures were cancelled.

An airport security fence was breached by nine climate activists, who then glued themselves to the tarmac, as stated by the group. A police operation at the scene had grounded planes since 6:10 am, explained a representative for the airport. They claimed, “For safety reasons, air traffic had to be temporarily suspended.”

At 9:25 am, demonstrators were still impaled on the airport’s tarmac in a few different locations, and the security fence stayed destroyed in four separate areas. “In Hamburg, the closure of the airport will certainly continue for some time. Until just now, the jackhammers were still rattling here,” a reporter mentioned.

It seems the authorities used jackhammers to remove the activists along with the glued part of the tarmac. This is because climate activists generally use superglue, which makes it difficult to remove them physically.

In the morning, the main security checkpoint and the check-in desks were temporarily shuttered, as people waited in the jam-packed terminals to find out when flights would resume. The check-in desks and security gates have both been now accessible.

Members of Last Generation also broke through a security fence at the Duesseldorf Airport and obstructed a taxiway, the path to the runway, by glueing themselves to the tarmac. This delayed several planes before operations were able to restart. Seven people had made it onto the runway in the morning.

The outfit announced that they had broken through a fence to gain access to the runways, preventing aircraft movement at the airport all morning. Photos posted by the group showed that the activists used bolt cutters to cut metal fences to gain access to the runways.

There were significant restrictions on flight operations, and there were numerous emergency personnel on the scene. The activist group shared a video of police vehicles and two protestors still clinging to the tarmac at around 10 am. They wrote, “The disruptions at Hamburg and Düsseldorf airports continue.”

Landings in Düsseldorf had to be redirected to Cologne Bonn airport because of the security operation. However, on the airport’s north runway, partial service was restored.

The activists demanded rapid action to reduce emissions in the transportation industry, including abolishing tax concessions for aviation paraffin. They also accused the German government of lacking a plan to address the climate catastrophe.

The seven activists in Düsseldorf were detached from the ground using solvents, and they along with their 3 helpers were detained. The activists will face charges of disturbing the peace, coercive behaviour and dangerous interference with aviation, according to the police.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing, who has recently opposed various initiatives to reduce emissions from air and road travel, emphasised, “The Last Generation isn’t protecting the climate, they’re engaged in criminal activity.”

The activists, according to him and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, both members of the Free Democratic Party, are dividing society by preventing people from flying for “well-earned holidays.”

“High time to look around the world”: Bombay High Court bats for lowering the age of consent for sex, says POCSO has criminalised consensual relationships

OpIndia Staff
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“High time to look around the world”: Bombay High Court bats for lowering the age of consent for sex, says POCSO has criminalised consensual relationships

The Bombay High Court recently said that it was past time for our country and the Parliament to be aware of what was happening across the world after observing that various nations around the world have lowered the age of consent for minors to engage in consensual sexual relationships.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has led to an increase in criminal cases where the accused are punished even though the adolescent victims insist that they were in a consensual relationship, which has alarmed the court.

On July 10, Justice Bharati Dangre issued a ruling to that effect, noting that numerous nations have lowered the legal age of consent for minors to engage in consensual sexual encounters.

“Sexual autonomy encompasses both the right to engage in wanted sexual activity and the right to be protected from unwanted sexual aggression. Only when both aspects of adolescent’s rights are recognised, human sexual dignity can be considered to be fully respected,” the order said.

The court’s comments followed an appeal by a 25-year-old man contesting a special court’s judgement convicting him in February 2019 for raping a 17-year-old girl.

The couple insisted that their relationship was consensual. The girl testified before the special court that she had a Nikah with the accused guy since, in accordance with Muslim law, she was regarded as a major.

The evidence on file had unmistakably established a case for consensual intercourse, according to Justice Dangre, who revoked the conviction judgement and declared the man innocent.

The age of consent necessarily must be distinguished from the age of marriage as sexual acts do not happen only in the confines of marriage. The judicial system must take note of this important aspect, the high court said.

“The age of consent in India was 16 from 1940 till 2012, when the POCSO Act raised the age of consent to 18 years. Most countries have set their age of consent in the range of 14 to 16 years”, the court said.

Justice Dangre further noted that in Germany, Italy, Portugal and Hungary, children in the age group of 14 are considered capable of giving consent to sex. In London and Wales, the age of consent is 16 and in Japan, it is 13

“In India a girl under 18 is expected not to indulge herself into a sexual activity and if she does, being an active participant in the activity, her consent is immaterial and is not a consent in the eyes of law. As a result, even if a boy aged 20 indulges with a girl aged 17 years and 364 days, he would be found guilty of committing rape upon her despite the girl clearly admitting that she was equally involved in the act of sex. It is high time our country is also cognizant of happenings around the world,” Justice Dangre said in the judgment.

The court stated that although the POCSO Act was designed to combat child sexual exploitation, it has nonetheless created a grey area because it has unquestionably led to the criminalization of consensual adolescent and teenage relationships.

The court ruled that while all children had the right to be protected against sexual assault, that protection should also allow young people to push their boundaries, exercise their rights, and take necessary risks without putting them in danger.

It asserted that by requiring a large amount of time from the judges, police, and child protection system, the criminalization of romantic relationships had taken hold of the criminal justice system.

Pakistan: 9 soldiers killed in militant attack on military garrison Balochistan, five attackers and a civilian also killed

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: 9 soldiers killed in militant attack on military garrison Balochistan, five attackers and a civilian also killed

On 12th July, 15 people, including nine soldiers, were killed in a militant attack on a garrison in southwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border. Earlier, it was reported that four soldiers were killed while five soldiers were admitted to the hospital in critical condition. They succumbed to death due to the injuries. A total of five militants were also killed in the attack.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the militants launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, following which four soldiers were martyred and five others were injured.

Reports suggest that a group of heavily armed militants attacked the garrison in the Zhob and Sui areas of southwestern Balochistan province. Dawn News quoted Deputy Commissioner Zhob Azeem Kkar saying that a civilian woman was also killed in the attack as she got caught in the crossfire. Another five civilians were injured in the attack.

Five militants in the group attacked the garrison in the Zhob districts located at the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The attack took place in the early hours of 12th July. Pakistan Military’s statement read, “Soldiers checked the initial attempt of terrorists to sneak into the facility on duty.” During the exchange of fire between the soldiers and the militants, the attackers was contained in a small area and got killed.

Dawn reported that Balochistan CM Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the attack on the Zhob garrison. Similarly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also issued a statement condemning the attack. Despite claims of a crackdown on terror infrastructure fearing Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) greylisting, terror attacks have only seen an uptick in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Reportedly, a little-known militant group, Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group issued a statement taking responsibility for the attack on Pakistan’s Army base in the Balochistan Northern area.

In its statement, TJP claimed that it would release pictures and videos of its fighters who took part in the attack.

Three soldiers were killed in Sui

In another attack, three soldiers and two militants were killed in the Baluchistan district of Sui near Pakistan’s main natural gas pipelines. Reports suggest that it was unclear who was behind the attack. Local officials said they had initiated an operation to arrest the militants who managed to flee the scene after the shootout.

Incidences of terror attacks in the recent past

Earlier this month, the police and Levies checkposts in the Dhana Sar area of Balochistan’s Sherani subdistrict were attacked by some terrorists. Around four security personnel were killed in the terror attack. A Pakistani think tank Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, released a report earlier this month. In its report, the think tank highlighted that terror and suicide attacks have increased alarmingly in Pakistan. In these attacks, around 389 people have lost their lives across the country. 

A report in Dawn, further added that in June, a police official was killed, and two more were injured in a suicide attack on a police van in Balochistan’s Turbat. Similarly, in another attack in June, two soldiers were killed when the security checkpost in the Kech district along the Pakistan-Iran border was under attack. In June, ISPR Director General Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressed a press conference. In the PC, he said that the security forces conducted 13,619 intelligence operations this year. In these operations, around 1,172 terrorists were killed or arrested. He said, “On a daily basis, over 77 operations are being carried out by armed forces, police, intelligence agencies, and other law enforcement agencies to rid of the menace of terrorism.” He also added that around 95 soldiers have been killed in these operations.

ISRO scientists visit Tirupati temple ahead of Chandrayaan-3 launch, upset self-styled “astrophysicists” of Twitter

OpIndia Staff
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ISRO scientists visit Tirupati temple ahead of Chandrayaan-3 launch, upset self-styled “astrophysicists” of Twitter

On 13th July 2023, ISRO scientists visited Venkatachalapathi Temple and Sri Chengalamma Temple in Tirupati ahead of the scheduled Chandrayaan-3 launch on 14th July 2023. The scientists performed puja rituals and prayed to the deity for the success of the moon mission of India.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath said while interacting with the media after the puja, “Chandrayaan-3 will start its journey tomorrow. We are hoping that everything goes right and it lands on the moon on August 23.”

Soon after the ISRO scientists visited the temples, ‘self-styled astrophysicists’ on Twitter became active and started sermonising the lessons of scientific temperament to the ace researchers in the country. Raju Parulekar tweeted, “Scientific temperament!”

Vivek Iyer posted, “Top scientists of the country indulging in the oldest, unscientific tradition.”

Comrade Arjun tweeted, “He who trusts god more than science is in the business of gambling, not space research.”

Sumant Banerji posted, “Terrible optics. Science & religion are separate domains.”

Putiin Shetty wrote, “Never heard Nasa scientists going to church before their space missions. Somebody’s probably recruiting Buffoons I knew it, did not have to look far away.”

Hartosh Singh Bal tweeted, “If you have to pray to get science to work, you are not a scientist, you are just someone who prays that science works.”

The less-known temple visiting tradition of ISRO scientists

IRS officer Dr Kiran Kumar Karlapu took to Twitter to provide lesser-known information about the tradition of visiting temples before a mission launch. He posted, “This has been a tradition for decades. A visit to the Tirumala Venkateswara temple along with prayers at the Chengalamma temple in Sullurpeta is a must for the ISRO scientists before any launch. Chengalamma is considered the Kshetrapalika (protector of the local lands) for Sriharikota.”

This is not the first time that ISRO scientists prayed in a temple for the success of a space mission. ISRO scientists have prayed in the temple before launching their missions even in the past.

Chandrayaan 3

ISRO is going to launch India’s 3rd lunar mission on 14th July 2023 at 2:35 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. On Tuesday, 11th July 2023, ISRO successfully rehearsed for landing Chandrayaan-3 on the moon. The Chandrayaan-3 mission is the next phase of Chandrayaan-2, which will land on the lunar surface and conduct tests. It will have a propulsion module, a lander and a rover. The focus of Chandrayaan-3 is on landing safely on the lunar surface. New equipment has been created for the success of the mission. The algorithm has been improved. The focus has been on the reasons why the Chandrayaan-2 mission could not land on the lunar surface.

The mission will take off from the Sriharikota facility at 2:35 pm on 14th July 2023 and land on the moon on August 23 or 24 if everything goes according to plan. Earlier on Wednesday, an encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 was attached with LVM3 at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The successful completion of this mission will make India the fourth country in the world to make a soft landing on the moon after USA, Russia and China.

Delhi: Patients of Sushruta Trauma Centre shifted to LNJP Hospital due to Yamuna flood, water reaches Red Fort

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Patients of Sushruta Trauma Centre shifted to LNJP Hospital due to Yamuna flood, water reaches Red Fort

As the Yamuna River overflowed its banks following non-stop rains, water inundated the premises of a government-run trauma centre in north Delhi, leading authorities to evacuate approximately 40 patients to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Thursday 13th July 2023.

Among those being relocated from the Sushruta Trauma Centre, situated at Metcalf Road opposite Chandiram Akhada in north Delhi, were three intensive care unit (ICU) patients, according to a senior official.

Due to the flooding, the main gate of the trauma centre was submerged, resulting in the need for immediate action. “The main gate of the trauma centre has been flooded, causing water to enter its premises,” stated another official.

Doctors coordinated the transfer of approximately 40 patients, including three ICU cases, to LNJP Hospital, a Delhi government-run facility in central Delhi. The process began with one ICU patient being shifted by 2:30 PM, and the remaining patients were being transported in ambulances, confirmed a senior doctor.

Dr Suresh Kumar, MD, Lok Nayak Hospital, said that the patients were shifted from the trauma centre as a preventive measure because there is a risk of power disruptions due to flood, which will be dangerous for critical care patients. He added that the trauma centre has been kept open for emergency patients and doctors and other staff are still present there.

The water level of the Yamuna River in Delhi rose to an alarming 208.48 meters on Thursday morning, resulting in the flooding of nearby streets, public infrastructure, and both government and private establishments.

This has caused immense hardships for the residents living in close proximity to the river.

In a distressing turn of events, the area around iconic Red Fort was also submerged by floodwaters around 3 PM on the same day, with drone footage capturing the incident going viral on the internet. The entire area behind the Red Fort has submerged in water overflow from Yamuna, with strong currents of water flowing on the Ring Road.

On 13th July, the Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the 208 mark and swelled to 208.46 metres at around 7 AM. The highest flood level of Yamuna was recorded on Wednesday at around 1 PM on 12th July at 208.08 metres. Forty-five years ago, Yamuna touched the 207.49 metres mark, and since then, it never reached such heights. The rising level of water in Yamuna has resulted in waterlogging in low-lying areas at the ITO and Kashmiri Gate.

The Sushruta Trauma Centre, initially established in 1998 as an annexe of LNJP Hospital, falls under the overall administrative and financial control of the medical superintendent of the hospital, as stated on the official website of the centre. Later, the trauma centre was declared an independent institution.

It is noteworthy that LNJP Hospital, where the patients are being relocated, is facing its own set of challenges. The condition of the Delhi government-administered hospital has raised concerns, particularly regarding its ability to accommodate and pay its existing staff, let alone the influx of additional patients from the trauma centre.

Technical staff members at LNJP Hospital have reported not receiving their salaries for the past seven months. The 47 staff members, responsible for managing operation theatres, ventilators in the COVID-19 ICU wards, and providing anaesthesia to surgical patients, claim that they have not been paid since January this year, as the hospital administration has failed to fulfil their financial obligations.

These technical staff members were initially deployed to support the ICU patients and assist at the COVID-19 centre established in Ramlila Maidan. However, despite their crucial services during the pandemic, the Delhi government has not recognized their contributions.

Days after introducing Twitter rate limit over data scraping concerns, Elon Musk sues 4 Texas companies for indulging in it

OpIndia Staff
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Days after introducing Twitter rate limit over data scraping concerns, Elon Musk sues 4 Texas companies for indulging in it

Twitter owner and CTO Elon Musk is apparently in no mood to spare the data scrappers, as the company has filed a lawsuit against four entities in Dallas County over alleged data scrapping from the Musk-owned social media platform. X-Corp—Musk’s company that operates Twitter partially blamed these people/entities for the recent issues with Twitter. 

The said lawsuit was filed on July 6 against four accused identified as John Doe 1, John Doe 2, John Doe 3, and John Doe 4 or by the IP addresses. The defendants are accused of “widespread unlawful data scraping.”

In response to a tweet about the said lawsuit, Musk wrote today, “Several entities tried to scrape every tweet ever made in a short period of time. That is why we had to put rate limits in place.”

Data Scrapping

The lawsuit filed by X-Corp explains data scraping as “a form of unauthorised data collection that uses automation and other processes to harvest data from a website or a mobile application.”

According to the lawsuit, “Scraping interferes with the legitimate operation of websites and mobile applications, including Twitter, by placing millions of requests that tax the capacity of servers and impair the experience of actual users.” Online platforms may become less stable as a result of the technology employed by data scrapers to send enormous amounts of queries and avoid detection, which might also negatively affect the experience for legitimate users.

It was further argued that Twitter’s servers were heavily burdened by the volume of automated sign-up requests coming from the four defendants’ IP addresses, which were considerably beyond what any single individual could send to another person.

In addition to the time and money invested in the investigation, the lawsuit claims that these activities amount to “unjust enrichment” at the expense of X Corp. and have hurt both the company and the user experience. 

The accusations made against the defendants were brought in Dallas County, Texas, according to the lawsuit, since it was claimed that they had “committed acts… with entities that maintain data processing facilities in Dallas County, Texas… including, on information and belief, unlawfully scraping data associated with Texas residents.”

Twitter also raised concerns over how the scrapped data including personal information of its is repackaged and sold.

“Twitter users have no control over how data-scraping companies repackage and sell their personal information,” the lawsuit read.

Twitter on its measures to prohibit data scraping

Moreover, the suit mentioned that the company has taken several technological measures to curb data scrapping. It also cited the recently introduced limits on how many tweets each user can view in a given day. 

Notably, on July 1, Elon Musk announced that the social media platform has temporarily restricted the number of tweets a user can see per day. As per the information provided by Musk via his tweets, Blue Verified users can see up to 10,000 tweets per day, while unverified Twitter users can only see a thousand tweets per day. If a user is new to Twitter, only 500 tweets per day are permitted.

In addition to this, Twitter recently began blocking unregistered users from browsing through the social media platform. Elon Musk in reply to a tweet stated that it is a “temporary emergency measure” as he claimed that data pillaging is degrading the service for all users. 

Lastly, X Corp. sought that the defendants pay compensatory damages to the court, including the forfeiture of any profits they may have made; the precise amount of these damages would be decided at trial. 

‘Seema Haider must return to Pakistan’: Mumbai Police receives Urdu message threatening ‘26/11-like attack’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Seema Haider must return to Pakistan’: Mumbai Police receives Urdu message threatening ‘26/11-like attack’

The Mumbai police are on the lookout for a person who vowed to carry out another ‘terrorist attack’ similar to 26/11 if Pakistani national Seema Ghulam Haider, who entered India illegally to be with a man she fell in love with, did not return to her home country.

The Police believe that the threat message was a hoax call but are still trying to trace the details of the sender. The message was received on the WhatsApp number of the Mumbai Police helpline number. “If Seema Haider does not return, then India will be destroyed. Prepare yourself for the return of the 26/11 like (terrorist) attack. And the government of Uttar Pradesh will be responsible for this,” the message in Urdu read.

Earlier this month, the Greater Noida police detained Sachin Meena, 22, and his father for providing refuge to the woman who entered India illegally. However, the three were recently granted bail by a judge.

Haider is said to have met Meena on the PUBG gaming platform and they instantly fell in love. Haider, a resident of Rind Hajana village in the Sindh province of Pakistan is said to have entered India illegally through Nepal with her four children in order to be with Meena. She had been residing with Meena in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida without a valid visa for about a month.

The Mumbai police are searching for the individual responsible and have also notified their Uttar Pradesh police associates. According to officials, no case has been reported yet.

The unusual circumstances surrounding Haider’s entry into India and her past have led to suspicions that she is a spy for Pakistan’s ISI intelligence service. The couple has vehemently refuted the accusations, though.

Before this, a group of dacoits operating out of Pakistan had threatened India and the Hindus living within. The Baloch dacoits had warned in the video that bloodshed would occur if Haider failed to return to her homeland. The dacoits could be heard threatening to rape and kill Hindus living in Pakistan in the video, which had gone viral on social media.

Further, there have been many instances in the past in which the Mumbai Police have been threatened saying that terrorist attack would occur in Mumbai. Recently, a man from Jaunpur, UP, was arrested for sending WhatsApp messages to Mumbai police’s helpline number and threatening to set off bombs across Mumbai and Pune. The accused had also demanded Rs 2 lakh to stop the blasts. Investigation in the case revealed that accused identified as Darvesh Rajbhar was in a dire financial condition, and made the threats to make some quick money from the police.

Also, similar incident was reported in May this year. The Mumbai Police was threatened on Twitter by unknown person who claimed to blast the city. The police then had identified the person and take him into custody for interrogation.

As 2024 looms closer, we need less discussions of Mughal history and more debate on modern Indian history, especially the years of Congress rule

Ganesh R
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As 2024 looms closer, we need less discussions of Mughal history and more debate on modern Indian history, especially the years of Congress rule

We often hear from liberals that BJP and its “bhakts” focus too much on Mughal era history. After a bit of thought, I must say I agree with them. It is not my intention to whitewash or deny the atrocities of the Islamist era but simply to turn our attention to more recent history.

Because the crimes and misdemeanors of this era are not necessarily physically violent, but their impact has been equally devastating. But the biggest factor is that this era is not dead and buried. It threatens to come back to inflict even more devastation, unlike the Mughal era that is not going to be back at least in all probability.

Being a secular era, the devastation has been on all Indians, not just Hindus. Other than a few well-connected sycophants and ‘Labharthis’ of course. We will come to that later. 

First a bit of background. 

We are entering the election season soon, assuming of course that India ever leaves it. BJP is entering the arena with several handicaps. Soros has set aside a billion dollars, no less, for regime change. He can buy and has bought the services of a lot of coolies as the English once found out to their profit. The entire leftist cabal knows this is their final chance to impose pax Beijing-ana and get the pogrom moving in earnest.

BJP’s twin challenges

Furthermore, BJP does not have the luxury of not standing on its track record. Liberal regimes are exempt from any scrutiny of their track record. Their mere existence or survival is certified as doing a good job. When was the last time Ravish Kumar worried about the problems of Bihar? They have been all solved unless a way can be found to blame Modi. That is how we lasted 60+ years of dynastic rule, not because they solved even one of India’s myriad problems, but rather made it worse. Kashmir and China border are good examples.

When Congress fought elections in 2004, it was not standing on its record, as one would logically expect it to. Instead, media crooks and the “eminent intellectual” army borrowed from Politburo were busy writing articles attacking Modi, questioning the Gujarat model. In other words, speaking truth to the opposition of the day. Just as CNN or NYT does today. Well, that is exactly what they will do next year: question Modi. But then that is now speaking truth to power. Why can’t we learn tricks from them?

In this scenario, BJP faces twin challenges – how to spread the word on its own achievements, both in isolation and in comparison, which by most measures is far better than the dynasty’s. It must do it all alone because the entire media is ganged up against it. Do you think BBC or NYT will write about the banking sector’s recovery and credit Modi? Or for that matter Wire, Quint, or The Hindu?

As it did in 2019 on the Rafael deal, it must face an avalanche of vicious venomous lies spread by the Stalinist propaganda ecosystem. All greased by Soros billions and woke left elite West’s promises of Op-ed chances and academic gigs for more dollars.

It is BJP’s job to project its own track record and highlight its achievement without too much bragging. Remember “India shining”? It must stay humble but put forth its argument clearly. Be it on infra, exports, PLI, GST, war on corruption, welfare schemes, foreign policy whatever. It must sell the wisdom of investments that will pay off in the medium and long term to today’s youth. That was ABVs failure, and we lost ten years to loot. That is not the focus of this article though I will say it is not doing a good job of that. If they don’t it will be the political equivalent of pissing in your dark suit. A nice warm feeling and no one notices.

The second and arguably bigger challenge is to convince Indians that the ‘CONLEFT’ ecosystem that seeks a return to power has done so badly that we are still paying the price for its incompetence and hence cannot be handed back the controls.

The banking sector, after much hard work, has bounced back. The economy too is doing well without fiscal loosening. Any return will doom us to another decade or more of dacoity, depravity, and misery, waiting for another Vajpayee or Modi to emerge. Can we and our children afford that?

Remember, our votes are not for some mysterious Mahdi that will descend from heaven. It’s not like a bottle cast away in the ocean with the hope that some message will land on some friendly shore. It is either to Modi or to some sort of coalition controlled by the CONLEFT continuum. To put it simply, controlled by the left. That is the choice before us. That is what we must evaluate. In 2014, we didn’t vote for “anything but Congress”. We voted for Modi.

We need to look at India’s post-independence history more than we do at Mughal history

This is where more recent history comes in. And my original statement that we must forget the Mughals and instead read and write more about recent history. I mean post-war history or post-independence history. 

In doing so, we must also benchmark ourselves and our economy and governance against countries in our part of the world: not Germany, UK, or even Japan. We must benchmark against very similar economies because that is not just fair it is also perhaps the only way to measure relative performance. Yes, there can be excuses and explanations some rational and some made up. But the starting point is always a comparison. 

How many Indians, many of whom are voting for the first time, are even old enough to remember the loot era? How many stood in long queues for a bag of rice or waited 5 years for a phone connection? Or booked scooters or HMT watches and waited years for it? The corrupt dacoit ecosystem romanticizes this era as if it was fun standing in the queue for essentials, waiting for the dial tone or reading with candles and dying of simple diseases.

How many even know of the dramatic progress achieved by our near and far neighbors who were also Asian, people of color, colonized, poor, and deprived when the race started off? This is where benchmarking comes in.

A few brave souls, especially Prof Abhishek Banerji have been posting and writing about how much India and Indians lost in the CONLEFT era. How India not just remained poor but got a lot worse, relatively speaking.

But those are voices in the wilderness. The larger RW ecosystem as well as BJP’s own motor mouths are too focussed on Mughals, Bollywood, Ayodhya, cow etc., to bother. 

Today we talk about the benefit of hindsight. But a prescient genius like Nani Palkhivala (and a few others) pointed out decades ago about the Southeast Asian tigers like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Korea and begged the CON regime to relax controls and reform. It fell on deaf ears. Entire generations grew up in depravity and shortages thanks to Nehruvian socialism even as the dynasty sent its Shehzadas to London or Doon school.

Why does it matter today? Because the exact same dynasty wants its entitlement back and is talking the exact same language of socialism and “anti-poverty”. In collusion with the same left economists that gave us a 90% tax rate, inflation, and a banking sector reduced to nothing through loot and plunder and pervasive shortages.

The familiar excuse of ‘Why discuss this now?’ doesn’t apply. Because it’s the past that is sought to be brought back- the India “I grew up in” as if that was a land of milk and honey. I am perfectly happy to stop discussing the past if Congress will stop using them as franchises to be milked.

Their track record needs to be told, retold, and recalled again and again. If not we are allowing them to lie and fool us into empowering them again.

The exact same demonization, by fascist dynasts, commission agents and dalals, of Indian businessmen that create jobs is going on. Who benefits? 

Efforts are on to sabotage Make in India by the entire ecosystem including the NRI charlatans and enablers of dynastic dacoity. Notice the joy with which palace servant quarters greeted the recent announcement of Vedanta-Foxconn? Thankfully even before they could raise their toast of ‘first flush’ and say bottoms up, it turns out Foxconn wants to proceed by itself. 

Notice also the vicious assault on PLI that is producing billions in exports and thousands of jobs at very low cost. Notice the cheer when a Vande Bharath train loses the front plate after an animal hit on the tracks? 

We can forget the past if the present Dynasty or its ecosystem has shown any contrition and promises not to repeat its sins and stops its association with the poisonous Hindu hating left. On the contrary, all signs point otherwise. From Priyanka Vadra’s proud assertion of her IG heritage to the dynasty setting off its rabid sycophant army on anyone daring to question the family’s past misdeeds. Do they permit a rational or logical discussion at all?

In other words, the present iteration of the dynasty wants to absorb the worst of everything from its past– Nehru’s socialism, Rajiv’s intellectual strength, IG’s fascist emergency mindset, SG’s collaboration with fringe left, poverty rhetoric, anti-business noise, and so on. Their advisors and hangers on are cut from the worst possible cloth: closet or proud Marxists, Maoists, and assorted Hindu-hating loonies borrowing from the JNU-left cesspool. This is the ecosystem that wants it’s hands on the till again. So the past does matter.

To give but one example, Rajdeep Sardesai will praise Nehru almost every day but attack BJP or the RW for criticising Nehruji, saying why are we talking about it now! Pehle aap!

What did socialist madness and dynasty corruption do to India: the young generation has to be aware of it

Do our 18–25-year-old voters for whom even the loot of UPA is unfamiliar, as they were mere kids then, deserve to know the post-war history of socialist madness and economic mismanagement? And how others marched ahead with more sane policies and good governance while we wallowed in corrupt loot and babu control in the name of socialism? 

World Bank data on GDP growth

I know this point needs much more elaboration than one random snapshot. But just to highlight the importance of what I am trying to say, I have posted a summary of the economic growth of a few Asian countries between 1970-90. Those are the lost years for older Indians like myself and their fathers and mothers. The green cells show growth of over 7%. Red is for <4%. Indonesia has just 2 red years, we had 10. Thailand had none! Malaysia had 13 green years, we had 4! Remember Malaysia just emerged from race riots and a painful separation from Singapore. Yet they did better.

Korea is almost entirely green. They were sending workers to the Middle East doing low-end jobs. No longer. We still do. This is exactly what Palkhivala was saying almost tearfully begging the Indian government to wake up and smell the u know what.

Just a glance will show how depressing it is. The so-called reforms era kicked off in India, thanks to World Bank pressure, in 1991. We are doing somewhat better. But what is lost is lost. It will be worse if we bring that exact same gang back to rule over our lives.

Don’t we want to read more of such history? Yes, battalions of palace coolies aka liberals and eminent intellectuals, some happily sitting in New York or Boston will rush to defend the indefensible. Remember- they are the beneficiaries of the plunder era. They want it back. But facts will speak for itself. Look at the oil shock years – did these countries that did well not need oil? Did Thailand produce it? Or Korea? I don’t know!

Between now and May 2024 we must read a lot more of this sort of history, with facts and figures. As important as it is to raise awareness of Modi Sarkar’s good work in reviving the economy from the UPA loot era damage and banking system disaster, it is equally important to make younger Indians understand that the choice before them is too dreadful to even contemplate. The Congress Prince Rahul Gandhi controlled by likes of Aiyar and Jairam and beholden to Karats and Yechuris in the Politburo, their all-weather allies and the MOU will not be something we Indians can recover from for another 50 years. It will be, as the Tamil saying goes, a garland in the hands of a monkey.

So to repeat, forget the Mughals, let us focus on recent history! All hands on deck!

Patna: BJP leader killed, Lok Sabha MP severely injured, as Bihar Police lathicharges a protest march against the state government

OpIndia Staff
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Patna: BJP leader killed, Lok Sabha MP severely injured, as Bihar Police lathicharges a protest march against the state government

On Thursday, July 13, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders took out a march to protest against the Bihar government over the posting of teachers and the employment issue in the state. Patna police used lathi charge at the gathering in which BJP leader Vijay Kumar Singh, died at Dakbangla Chauraha in the city. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Former deputy chief minister of Bihar and senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi also tweeted about the tragic incident.

The police also physically assaulted BJP MP from Maharajganj, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, who suffered grave injuries to his head. The demonstrators were subjected to severe lathi-charge due to which they received multiple injuries.

The police in its defence, claimed that they tried to stop the march at the Dak Bungalow crossing, which inflamed the situation. The protesters were stopped from heading towards the restricted VIP area by the police using force.

According to the police, the dissenters blocked traffic at the crossing by sitting for a protest which led to the lathicharge.

The police also used water cannons and tear gas shells on the protesters while trying to disperse them.

Ramkripal Yadav, former deputy chief minister, and Sushil Kumar Modi were among those who questioned police brutality. They declared that the behaviour was unacceptable and that those accountable should face punishment. They stated that individuals who committed the lathi charge need to face legal repercussions.

They emphasised, “We’ve already stated that the Nitish Kumar administration will need to respond to these inquiries. We attempted to bring up these issues in the house as well, but no one responded, so we took to the streets.”

Leader of the opposition of Bihar Legislative Council, Samrat Choudhary alias Rakesh Kumar also asked, “Why did the police lathi-charged the peaceful march?”

Reshuffling international institutions, bridging Global South with North, India’s vision for Indo-Pacific and more: PM Modi’s interview with French newspaper

OpIndia Staff
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Reshuffling international institutions, bridging Global South with North, India’s vision for Indo-Pacific and more: PM Modi’s interview with French newspaper

On July 13, 2023, during his state visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted a rare interview to the French newspaper Les Echos. He stressed India’s role as a bridge between the Global South and the Western world, advocating for a reshuffle of international institutions and emphasizing the need for inclusion of India in the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Modi highlighted major economic reforms since 2014, aiming to make India a developed economy by 2047. He cautioned against the universal appeal of Western values, emphasising the importance of considering diverse philosophies. The Prime Minister also mentioned Indian soft power through cinema, music, Ayurveda, and Yoga.

PM Modi also discussed the Indo-French strategic partnership in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasising President Emmanuel Macron’s agreement on the international order. PM Modi’s interview provided insights into India’s aspirations for global influence, inclusive diplomacy, and reshaping the international order. It, therefore, becomes necessary to take a close look at the answers given by the Prime Minister in this interview.

PM Modi advocated regaining the rightful position of the largest democracy

When asked about India’s status on the world scene as the most populous country, Prime Minister Modi responded by stating that India’s population gives the country a unique advantage. He emphasised that India’s youthful population, coupled with its openness, democratic values, and technological adaptability, will be an asset to the world in the coming decades. The Prime Minister highlighted the contributions of the Indian diaspora to the prosperity of their adopted countries. He further mentioned that India’s success as the world’s largest democracy, with its social and economic diversity, will demonstrate the efficacy of democracy and the possibility of harmonious coexistence amidst diversity. PM Modi also expressed the expectation for adjustments in the international system and institutions to acknowledge and accommodate the world’s largest democracy.

When asked about India’s rightful position in the world, Prime Minister Modi clarified that it is more about regaining that position. He highlighted India’s historical contributions to global economic growth, technological advancement, and human development. The Prime Minister expressed confidence in the Indian people, their optimism for the future, and their eagerness to reclaim their rightful place in the world.

According to PM Modi, India’s demographic dividend, democratic foundation, and civilisational spirit will guide the country’s path forward. He emphasised India’s responsibility to address global challenges, promote global peace and prosperity, and amplify the voices of the vulnerable. India brings its unique perspective to the global discourse, advocating for peace, fair economic order, and global cohesion, he said.

PM Modi stressed India’s deep-rooted belief in multilateral action and cited examples such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and India’s initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. He also mentioned India’s contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine supply to over 100 countries and sharing the CoWin digital platform. PM Modi underscored that India is recognised globally as a force for good and essential for unity, cohesion, peace, and prosperity amidst current global turmoil.

PM Modi underlined that India’s soft power rests on its civilisational heritage, including yoga, Ayurveda, and contributions in science and spirituality. He said that the country’s cultural appeal, showcased through cinema, music, and dance, has gained international recognition. He emphasised that India’s commitment to sustainable practices and democratic values fuels its global standing.

With a consistent voice for peace and an inclusive world order, India’s rise is welcomed due to its values of openness, harmony, and coexistence. The country’s adherence to international law further strengthens its soft power. India’s rich heritage, vibrant democracy, and commitment to peace serve as the pillars of its global influence, he said.

Modi underlined importance of strengthening Indo-US ties

“We have witnessed a remarkable rise in the India-US relationship in recent years,” stated Prime Minister Modi. He highlighted the widespread support for deepening ties from various stakeholders in both countries, including government, parliament, industry, academia, and the people. PM Modi emphasised the excellent rapport he has personally enjoys with US leadership across administrations. He recalled that during his State Visit to the United States, he and President Joe Biden agreed on the potential for their partnership to be the defining alliance of the century.

The Prime Minister underlined the shared goals of advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, strengthening global supply chains, promoting green energy transitions, enhancing defense industrial cooperation, and revitalizing multilateral institutions. He stressed the alignment of interests, vision, and commitments between India and the US, which allow them to play a constructive role in shaping the global order and addressing global challenges effectively.

PM Modi stressed the need to hear the Global South seriously

Prime Minister Modi mentioned that India does not seek to assume the position of a leader for the “Global South.” He highlighted the importance of collective strength and leadership for the entire Global South, rather than any individual country asserting dominance. PM Modi stated that the Global South’s rights have been long denied, leading to a sense of anguish and a lack of representation in decision-making. He underlined the need to respect the true spirit of democracy and grant equal rights and respect to the Global South.

PM Modi envisioned India as a strong shoulder and bridge for the Global South, providing support and building linkages with the Global North. He emphasised the importance of strengthening this shoulder and bridge to enhance the linkages between the North and South, enabling the Global South to become stronger.

Prime Minister Modi outlined his plan to increase the presence of the Global South in international institutions. He highlighted the Global South Summit held during India’s G20 Presidency, where 125 countries participated and unanimously expressed the need for India to advocate for their causes.

As part of India’s G20 Presidency under the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” PM Modi aimed to bring the priorities and interests of the Global South to the forefront of G20 deliberations and decisions. He proposed granting permanent membership to the African Union in the G20.

PM Modi emphasised that advocating for the Global South does not imply an adversarial relationship with the Global North. Instead, it is about advancing the vision of a united world and preventing fragmentation. He mentioned that President Macron shares this view, as demonstrated by his hosting of the New Global Financing Pact Summit.

Modi opined on India’s bid to UN security council

On the issue of India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council, Prime Minister Modi said that it goes beyond the credibility of the UN; it is about addressing the larger issue of outdated multilateral governance structures. He pointed out that the world has undergone significant transformations since these institutions were established, with changes in the global economy, technological advancements, and the rise of new powers.

PM Modi questioned the representation of these institutions in today’s world and their ability to fulfill their intended roles. He highlighted the lack of representation for entire continents such as Africa and Latin America in the UN Security Council, as well as the absence of the world’s most populous country and largest democracy as a permanent member.

He said that the skewed membership of the Security Council leads to opaque decision-making processes, hindering its effectiveness in addressing present-day challenges. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged that most countries have clear views on the necessary changes in the Security Council and the role India should play. He commended France for its consistent position on this matter.

PM Modi envisioned India as a developed economy by 2047

Prime Minister Modi stated that he envisions India becoming a developed country by 2047, marking the 100th anniversary of its independence. He described India as a vibrant and participative federal democracy, where all citizens had secure rights and a positive outlook on their future. Modi added that India would emerge as a global leader in innovation and technology, emphasising its commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the economy would provide ample opportunities and act as a catalyst for global growth, driven by skilled talent. He stated that India’s progress would showcase the power of democracy and contribute to a more balanced multipolar world, grounded in international law and multilateralism.

Prime Minister Modi stated that the world had progressed due to the contributions of various thought processes, efforts, and philosophies from all corners of the world. He emphasised the importance of letting go of outdated notions and embracing new ideas for quick progress. PM Modi did not view Western or Eastern values as superior to one another but underlined the need to appreciate and adopt what was good from all parts of the world.

He referred to the ancient Vedas that advocated for noble thoughts to come from all sides, highlighting the openness and inclusivity of Indian philosophy. India’s G20 theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” reflected the idea of global unity without imposing a single philosophy.

Modi highlighted his people-centric approach to economic development, stating that the implementation of inclusive policies and the use of digital technology had led to improved last-mile connectivity, benefiting millions of individuals. He stressed the empowerment of disadvantaged communities through measures such as housing, sanitation, and financial services. The Prime Minister also noted the transformative impact of India’s digital revolution, which had enabled universal banking, real-time digital payments, and the direct distribution of benefits to millions of people.

He acknowledged the focus on key areas, including ease of doing business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the development of a robust startup ecosystem, resulting in India becoming the world’s third-largest startup hub. PM Modi underlined the government’s commitment to predictable policies, technological advancements, quality education, and infrastructure development, which had contributed to India’s rise as the fifth-largest economy globally. Additionally, he highlighted India’s engagement with the world, dedication to climate commitments, and aspirations to become a developed economy by 2047.

Modi expressed his views on China, Indo-Pacific region, Ukraine-Russia conflict and more

Modi stated that India’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region is driven by the vision of “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR). While peace is essential, it is not guaranteed. India advocates for peaceful resolutions through dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for sovereignty, international law, and the rules-based international order. This approach contributes to regional and global peace and stability, he said.

Modi stated that he had engaged in conversations with President Putin and President Zelensky regarding the Ukraine war. India’s stance has been consistent, addressing the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Modi expressed India’s readiness to support genuine efforts towards ending the conflict, while highlighting the importance of respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, and the UN Charter.

He also expressed deep concerns about the impact of the conflict on the Global South, including the compounded challenges faced by countries already affected by the Covid pandemic. Modi acknowledged the urgency to end the conflict and address the difficulties faced by countries in the South.

25 years of India-France strategic partnership

Modi expressed gratitude to France and President Macron for inviting India as the guest of honor for the 14th July National day celebrations, marking the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership. He described the relationship as strong, trusted, and consistent, with mutual trust and confidence stemming from shared values and vision.

Modi highlighted the partnership’s significance in sensitive areas such as space and defense, lauding the geopolitical consequence of the relationship. He also mentioned his special emphasis on the strategic partnership since taking office in 2014 and the close collaboration with French leadership, including President Macron, for the global good.

Modi highlighted the strengthening cooperation between India and France in various fields, including economic, social, cultural, and people-to-people contacts. Trade has almost doubled since 2014, with significant collaboration in clean energy, digital infrastructure, and defense. The two countries have launched initiatives on solar energy, biodiversity, plastic waste reduction, and disaster resilience. Cooperation in international forums, such as the United Nations, climate change, and counterterrorism efforts, has intensified, he said.

Modi expressed gratitude towards President Macron, noting their shared thinking and compatibility in working together. The partnership is deemed vital for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, positioning France as one of India’s foremost global partners, he added.

Modi said that India and France’s strategic partnership plays a crucial role in shaping the Indo-Pacific region. They work towards a free, open, inclusive, secure, and stable Indo Pacific, focusing on defense, security, economic, connectivity, and sustainability initiatives. Their collaboration extends beyond India’s defense capabilities and aims to support the security needs of other countries. The partnership opens avenues for regional cooperation and extends to the Pacific region. Additionally, the involvement of the European Union further strengthens the collective efforts for connectivity and regional stability. This comprehensive partnership contributes to prosperity and peace in the region, he said.

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