Home Blog Page 2373

Sixth-grade student kidnapped in Bihar for ₹40 lakh ransom, recent surge in kidnappings stir memories of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ‘Jungle Raj’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Sixth-grade student kidnapped in Bihar for ₹40 lakh ransom, recent surge in kidnappings stir memories of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ‘Jungle Raj’

It appears that the era of kidnapping and ransom is returning to Bihar, during the JDU-RJD alliance in the government. In the latest such incident, a sixth-grade student named Tushar Kumar was abducted in Patna, the capital of Bihar, on Thursday. A 40 lakh ransom was demanded by the captors over WhatsApp. They made the call using the young boy’s cellphone. The police have opened an investigation after receiving the complaint and registering a case.

The incident took place in the Kanholi village, which lies near the Bihta police station. The family members of the student received a call over the messaging app WhatsApp from the kidnappers seeking Rs 40 lakh in ransom. Furthermore, they threatened to kill the family if they alerted the authorities about the incident.

The boy is the only son of Raj Kishore Pandit, a middle school teacher, in nearby Shrirampur. The father said, “Tushar left the house wearing a black T-shirt about 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, but they had no idea where he went. After a while, he spoke to his mother and let her know that he was returning home. They then received a call from his mobile demanding 40 lakh. The phone is presently switched-off.”

Station in-charge Sanovar Khan confirmed the information concerning the kidnapping. He added that the boy’s phone is currently off since Thursday evening, and is being continuously monitored via surveillance.

Paliganj Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Awadhesh Saroj Dixit, the in-charge officer assigned to the case, noted that a written report of the kidnapping of a child had been received at the police station around 11:00 p.m. on Thursday. “His father filed a written grievance,” he said. He also went to meet the family.

“There is information of asking for money through WhatsApp call, which is being verified,” he added and informed, that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) team has also been constituted in relation to the case. “Technical help is being utilized by the police to take further action,” the officer conveyed.

Similar cases in the recent past

Recently, the family of Dr. Sanjay Kumar, head of the pharmacology division at Patna’s Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), reported him missing. He is also related to comedian and actor Shekhar Suman.

Madhubani DPO Rajesh Mishra, a resident of Muzaffarpur, went missing last month. He left the house alone, according to reports, and when he didn’t return until the evening, his family went out in search of him. When they were unable to locate him, they proceeded to the Ahiyapur police station and filed a complaint. 

Early this month, Suman Sourav, senior manager of a mobile company was abducted from the Patna junction of the Danapur division. His mobile number was used to send a WhatsApp message to his mother Sarita Devi, warning her to deposit 25 lakhs to his account in two days, otherwise, she would lose her son.

Even the leaders of the ruling coalition aren’t safe in Bihar. Just a few days ago, Sunil Rai, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, was kidnapped in Bihar’s Saran area by unknown people. He was taken from outside his office near the market committee under the jurisdiction of the Muffasil police station by a group of unidentified individuals. Sunil Rai was rescued by Saran police in the Chhapra district on 15 March and two kidnappers were arrested, identified as Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Alamtab Khan.

Last year, Bihar Law Minister and RJD leader, Kartik Kumar, who was accused in a 2014 kidnapping case, had to resign amid protests by the opposition.

Lalu Yadav’s Jungle Raj

The 15-year Lalu Prasad Yadav administration was known as the ‘Jungle Raj’ because the state’s economic and social standings fell below those of other Indian states. Bihar’s law and order was at its lowest point, abduction was on the rise, and private armies sprang up everywhere during his government rule. Murder, rape and kidnapping became a full-fledged industry. Although Rabri Devi, his wife, served as the state’s CM for 8 of these 15 years, he was the mastermind behind her tenure.

Even leaders, bureaucrats and elected representatives weren’t safe. Everyone, from businessman to common people, lived in fear. It was a reign of terror for the residents of Bihar. While the state’s safety and security was continuously crumbling Lalu’s government was busy in minting money through scams. Politicians, mafias, and authorities have never had such a criminal nexus in the history of independent India.

Now, Janata Dal (United) is sharing power with the party after ditching BJP in August last year. The rising cases of kidnapping, poor state of law and order and spike in crimes, is a clear indication that state is devolving into its old days of ‘Jungle Raj.’

Economic crisis in Pakistan results in a shortage of life-saving medicines

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Economic crisis in Pakistan results in a shortage of life-saving medicines

Expressing grave concerns over the shortage of different medicines including life-saving drugs, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) demanded the government to ease the process of opening letters of credit (LCs) for drug manufacturers, Dawn reported.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, the PMA said that it had already warned the government that the failure to open letters of credit (LC) for the import of raw materials would result in an acute shortage of medicine. 

The PMA demanded that the government take appropriate measures immediately to save the lives of innocent people in the country, the Dawn reported.

The drug makers have blamed the financial system for the crisis in the healthcare system by claiming that commercial banks are not issuing new Letters of Credit (LCs) for their imports.

The deteriorating economic crisis has badly affected the health care system, the pharmaceutical industry is struggling to replenish its supplies amid a shortage of essential life-saving drugs and other surgical instruments.

Faced with chronic shortages of medical equipment and anaesthetics, doctors at major hospitals are forced to stop performing surgeries, Pakistan Tribune reported.

The lack of forex reserves in the country has affected Pakistan’s capacity to import the required medicines or the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) used in domestic production.

As a result, local pharmaceutical manufacturers have been forced to slash their production as patients suffer in hospitals. Doctors are forced to not perform surgeries due to the shortage of drugs and medical equipment.

As per Pakistan media reports, the operation theatres are left with NIL stock of anaesthetics needed for sensitive surgeries, including for heart, cancer and kidney. The situation might also result in job losses in hospitals in Pakistan, further increasing the miseries of people.

Pakistan medicine manufacturing is highly import-dependent with almost 95 percent of the drugs requiring raw materials from other nations, including India and China. For most of the drug manufacturers, the imported materials have been held up at the Karachi port due to a shortage of dollars in the banking system.

The drug manufacturing industry has said that the cost of making drugs is constantly increasing due to rising fuel costs and transportation charges and the sharp devaluation of the Pakistani rupee.

Recently, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) called for the intervention of the government to prevent the situation from turning into a disaster. However, the authorities rather than taking immediate steps are still trying to assess the quantum of the shortage.

Drug retailers in Pakistan’s Punjab have said that government survey teams carried out field visits to determine the shortage of crucial medicines. The retailers revealed that the shortage of some common but important drugs is impacting the majority of the customers. These medicines include Panadol, Insulin, Brufen, Disprin, Calpol, Tegral, Nimesulide, Hepamerz, Buscopan and Rivotril, etc.

Earlier in January, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) Central Chairman Syed Farooq Bukhari said that some 20-25 per cent of pharmaceutical production stands sluggish at present, The Express Tribune reported.

He further said, “The worst medicine crisis would erupt in the country if current policies (ban on imports) remain in place for the next four to five-week.

Earlier this month, the Pakistan government and the IMF staff concluded the ninth review of the USD 6.5 billion bailout package without a staff-level agreement. The Pakistani government had hoped that they would be able to convince the IMF about implementing the conditions in a gradual manner. However, Islamabad’s hopes were dashed during the IMF mission’s 10-day visit to Pakistan.

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

Son of terrorist killed in Kashmir caught in Katihar after suspicious movements, Pakistani numbers found on phone of Nasir Waza

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Son of terrorist killed in Kashmir caught in Katihar after suspicious movements, Pakistani numbers found on phone of Nasir Waza

On Wednesday, 15th March 2023, Bihar police arrested a youth suspiciously roaming in the Shaheed Chowk of Katihar. The arrested youth is identified as Nasir Yusuf Waza, the son of a notorious terrorist Yusuf Waja who was killed in Kashmir in an encounter. Nasir Waja entered Bihar from the Nepal route. Several Pakistani phone numbers have also been found on his mobile phone. Police are investigating further in this case.

Nasir Waja was caught doing recce near Shaheed Chowk in Katihar. Locals claimed that he roamed from Shaheed Chowk to the Nagar police station area for several hours. This made people suspicious of him and the police were informed. During the initial interrogation, Nasir Waja said that he is a resident of Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

Some papers from Finland have been recovered from Nasir Waja. These papers showed that he had lived in Finland for many years. He is also married there. He returned to India in 2021. Police are trying to ascertain the motive for his visit to Katihar. Efforts are also being made to trace the places he visited in Katihar. According to police, he was in contact touch with Pakistani phone numbers saved on his phone.

Nasir Waja told in the investigation that he spent several hours at Katihar railway station. Investigations have revealed that Nasir Waja was going to West Bengal from Katihar. Air and railway tickets have also been recovered from him. In this case, the Bihar Police have also contacted the Jammu and Kashmir Police and sought information regarding Nasir’s family members.

Law enforcement agencies are also trying to find out why he went to Finland after his father terrorist Yusuf Waja was killed in an encounter. Information about how he reached Katihar and how long he was staying here is also being obtained.

Katihar SP Jitendra Kumar said, “A youth has been arrested under suspicious circumstances. In the interrogation, it has been found that he is from Kashmir. Something can be clearly said in this matter only after interrogation.”

According to reports, after reaching Katihar from Nepal, he was going to Kolkata by train, but he missed the train. Therefore he checked into a hotel at Shaheed Chowk in the Nagar police station area.

It is notable that suspected terrorists are repeatedly caught in Bihar in the recent past. Earlier, on 3rd February 2023, in a joint operation with the Bihar police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted an extensive raid in the Kuwa village under the Chakia police station in Motihari, Bihar, and took eight people including three PFI members into custody. Popular Front of India (PFI) is a banned Islamic organization.

‘Mother’s love in Norway no different from mother’s love in India’: Norwegian ambassador says Rani Mukerji’s ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway’ has ‘factual inaccuracies’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Mother’s love in Norway no different from mother’s love in India’: Norwegian ambassador says Rani Mukerji’s ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway’ has ‘factual inaccuracies’

Rani Mukerji’s Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway hit the theatres on Friday, March 17. Norwegian Ambassador to India Hans Jacob Frydenlund has reacted to the movie calling it ‘factually incorrect.’

Sharing a screenshot of the Op-ed he wrote for the Indian Express, Hans tweeted, “It incorrectly depicts Norway’s belief in family life and our respect for different cultures. Child welfare is a matter of great responsibility, never motivated by payments or profit. #Norwaycares.”

In the op-ed written for the Indian Express, Hans stated that given Rani Mukerji’s acting ability, it is tough to be unmoved by it, and movie-goers may walk out of the theatres thinking of Norway as an uncaring country.

Criticising the movie makers for a negative portrayal Norway, Hans said that the cultures of the two countries might be different but human instincts are the same. “A mother’s love in Norway is no different from a mother’s love in India,” stated the Norwegian Ambassador to India adding that it is important for him to put forward the Norwegian perspective. 

Hans stated that the film has ‘factual inaccuracies’ and the story is a ‘fictional representation of the case’ and that he needs to put forth the ‘Norwegian perspective’.

He said that in the film, cultural differences (between India and Norway) have been shown as the primary factor in the case, which is ‘completely false’. He also ‘categorically’ denied that ‘feeding with hands and sleeping in the same bed would be the reason for placing in alternative care’.  

Referring to the real-life case that inspired the film, Frydenlund wrote, “The film projects cultural differences as the primary factor in the case, which is completely false. Without going into any details of this particular case, I categorically deny that feeding with hands and sleeping in the same bed would be the reason for placing children in alternative care. Not in this case and not in any case.”

Giving his own example, Hans stated, “as a father of three, have beautiful memories of the time my children were growing up, of feeding them with my hands, of reading bedtime stories to them as they cuddled and slept in the same bed with us.”

Going forward, he added, “Yes, we have different cultural practices. Yes, we might have different parenting traditions in Norway. But our human instincts are not different. A mother’s love in Norway is no different from a mother’s love in India.”

He also said that he has been in India for nearly four years and experienced “first-hand the deep-rooted pride Indian take in their cultural heritage and rightly so’. He also spoke about how Indians celebrate ‘annual events such as the Bollywood Festival Norway, Oslo Durga Puja and the Mela festival’.

Adding that he hoped the movie would not dissuade Indians from visiting Norway, Hans added, “I sincerely hope this movie will not discourage Indians from coming to Norway. I hope this film will be seen for what it is and I trust the viewers to understand that this is a fictional representation. For those involved, there is no denying that the experience was traumatic.”

Helmed by Ashima Chibber, the trailer of Rani Mukerji starrer Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway begins with a shot of Mrs Chatterjee (Rani) blissfully going about her days in Norway with her husband and two children, Shubh and Shuchi. But, the family is soon in crisis when officers from the country’s child protection authority rush in unannounced and take their children away. What ensues is a fight of the Indian mother against the entire legal system and administration of a foreign country, Norway, to get back her kids.

Story of Sagarika Bhattacharya, the inspiration behind Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway

The film is inspired by the 2011 true story of NRI couple Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya. The couple had gotten married in 2007 and moved to Norway to start their new life.

In 2010, the couple welcomed Avigyan, followed by Aishwarya the following year. Avigyan was apparently diagnosed with “autism-like” symptoms in his early childhood and was placed in a family kindergarten near the family’s house. The family was apparently under Norway’s child welfare service also called Barnevarne’s surveillance for months, and in May 2011, officials removed the couple’s children from their care under the guise of poor parenting and placed them in foster care as per a local Norwegian court’s directive.

They objected to Sagarika hand-feeding the baby, comparing it to forced feeding. They also had issues with children sharing a bed with their parents, which is fairly prevalent in Indian households. They also charged Sagrika with slapping her toddler, as well as the children not having enough room to play in the house and having “unsuitable” clothes and toys.

What followed was two years of upheaval and arduous custody fights, the intervention of the Indian government, multiple protests, and a harsh spotlight on a variety of topics, including cultural differences, racism, the reception and treatment of mental health in women and children, and more.

The CWS, in February 2012, announced that the children would be handed over to Arunabhas Bhattacharya, the children’s uncle and an unmarried dentist. Meanwhile, Sagarika and Anurup’s marriage had broken down.

After the intervention of the Government of India, the Norwegian court overseeing the case allowed the children to return to India in April of that year, under the condition that they reside with Arunabhas.

But still, Sagarika’s battle was far from over. She petitioned the Child Welfare Committee in Burdwan (West Bengal) to have her children transferred to her care. She said that her husband’s parents were unwilling to allow her to visit her children and that the children were being neglected. This claim was backed up by the Child Welfare Committee in their report. Sagarika was certified as psychologically fit to raise her children in November 2012.

According to a report published by NDTV, despite the verdict, police officers refused to let Sagarika reconnect with her children. Sagarika was reunited with her children in April 2012, after months of back and forth between police authorities, the Child Welfare Committee, and the Kolkata High Court.

‘Subjecting India’s choices & challenges to international scrutiny is dishonourable’: Varun Gandhi takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi after declining Oxford Union invite

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Subjecting India’s choices & challenges to international scrutiny is dishonourable’: Varun Gandhi takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi after declining Oxford Union invite

On Friday (March 17), BJP leader Varun Gandhi took a dig at his cousin brother, Rahul Gandhi, for seeking foreign intervention in India’s internal affairs during his Cambridge University talk.

Varun Gandhi, who represents the Pilbhit constituency in Lok Sabha, informed on social media that he has turned down an invitation to speak on India’s political affairs at the University of Oxford.

“I have declined the invitation for a debate at the Oxford Union. India’s polity regularly offers us a space to critique & provide constructive suggestions to improve our policies,” he said in a tweet, posting an Indian Express report informing that he has declined the invite.

“Subjecting India’s choices & challenges to international scrutiny, for me, is a dishonourable act,” he further emphasised. The archive of the tweet can be accessed here.

Varun Gandhi was invited to speak on the motion ‘This House Believes Modi’s India is on the Right Path’, and the invite was sent to him by Matthew Dick, president of the Oxford Union. “I am pleased to extend an invitation for Mr Gandhi to speak in an upcoming debate of ours. The motion is This House Believes Modi’s India Is On The Right Path,” the invitation letter stated.

It further said, “Against the backdrop of ever-strong popularity among voters, it is imperative to discuss whether the BJP’s direction under Modi has been more polarising than unifying. The question then becomes: what (or who) is the right path for India as it forges ahead into the future?”

However, Varun Gandhi declined the invite saying that such issues should be raised “within India to Indian policymakers”. He had also said that he believed the topic was one “with a predefined conclusion”. “Such comment must be offered within India to Indian policymakers. I see no merit or integrity in vocalising internal challenges in an international forum,” he wrote in his letter to the university informing about his decision to not attend the event.

“I believe the chosen topic is not one that offers much scope for debate or dispute,” Varun Gandhi added. Talking about the topic, he said that the country has been “on the right path for development and inclusiveness”.

The development comes weeks after Congress scion Rahul Gandhi courted controversy for defaming India abroad and pleading with foreign powers to meddle in India’s internal political affairs.

Rahul Gandhi and his anti-India propaganda

While delivering a lecture to the MBA students of Cambridge University on February 28 this year, Rahul Gandhi spoke about the Hathras case, the Pulwama attack and the Pegasus row to peddle his anti-India propaganda.

While delivering a presentation, he lied that the Israeli spyware Pegasus was being used to monitor his phone. Rahul Gandhi claimed that terrorists saw him in Kashmir but could not cause harm as he was promoting the idea of non-violence and peace.

Rahul Gandhi even compared the BJY to Gandhi’s Dandi March, drawing equivalence with the freedom struggle against the British, painting himself as carrying the legacy of Gandhi (they are not related), of fighting against tyranny.

He randomly called out a Sikh man from the audience and claimed that Sikhs have been rendered second-class citizens in India by the Narendra Modi government.

Despite being well aware that the global Khalistan movement has been trying to brainwash the Sikh community, he exploited the opportunity at Cambridge University to present a distorted image of India to the world.

During an interactive session, organised by the Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA), Rahul cried foul over the lack of foreign intervention to safeguard democracy in India.

Is Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport another Chinese debt trap? Concerns raised over steep interest rates

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Is Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport another Chinese debt trap? Concerns raised over steep interest rates

The Pokhara International Airport in Nepal inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on January 1 this year is becoming a matter of concern as the airport has since its inauguration received not even a single international flight. The country fears that the project might become another expensive venture which fails to provide returns.

A recent article by Adhiraj Regmi in Khabarhub discusses the issue.

The Pokhara International Airport project replaced the existing Pokhara Airport, which was commissioned in July 1958 to boost the country’s civil aviation sector and contribute to economic and social development, as well as tourism. While it is anticipated to handle one million passengers a year and also serves as the aerial gateway to the Himalayan and Annapurna regions in Nepal, the project could be accomplished only after China’s bank agreed to fund the construction of the Airport.

China is Nepal’s largest foreign lender and has made significant investments in the nation’s infrastructure. Nepal agreed to a $215 million loan from China’s Exim Bank in 2017 to help finance the development of the Pokhara International Airport. According to the Khabarhub article, despite the public and government authorities’ early enthusiasm, the airport’s bleak operating outlook and lack of readiness have contributed to the pessimism.

While the loan was initially welcomed by Nepal for providing it with a much-needed boost in the construction of its infrastructure, several serious questions have been raised over the loan’s conditions. Chinese loans have famously high-interest rates and based on certain estimates, the rates may even be significantly, even multiple times more than those offered by foreign lenders. This may result in long-term increases in Nepal’s interest payments, which might substantial strain on the nation’s resources.

Asian Development Bank backed out of the project

As previously noted, the new airport has been built to offer more flight options to local, national, and international travellers. It aims to promote tourism in the Pokhara region, one of Nepal’s most well-known tourist attractions. Initially, the Asian Development Bank was willing to fund the project after JICA performed a feasibility analysis and suggested it be built in phases.

Further, because of the many detours and conflicts of interest involved, the previous administration planned to build the massive project all at once. ADB then abandoned the project as a result of the government’s approach.

One claim concerns the position and functioning of Barshaman Pun, a former Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation in the Nepalese government. Pun and the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to offer a $215 million financing for the Pokhara International Airport project. Several opponents stated that because the MOU was struck during Pun’s tour to China, the loan was given without going through a formal procedure of competitive bidding.

The controversy revolving around the Chinese loan

China has been making significant investments in Nepal’s infrastructure, and as a result, Nepal now seems to be more dependent on Chinese funding for its development initiatives. China is Nepal’s biggest foreign financier, and Nepal has launched further infrastructure projects with Chinese support in addition to the Pokhara International Airport project.

Chinese loans are blamed for having interest rates that are considerably higher than those of other international investors. The interest rate charged by the Chinese government is over 300% more than what the western countries charge. Moreover, loans from China have payback terms that are about 15-20 years shorter. The cost of borrowing on the loan is much greater than the rates on loans offered by other international financial organizations, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

The World Bank and ADB would lend money to Nepal at an interest rate of 0.25 to 0.75%. Also, the Japanese financing for the Nagdhunga-Thankot project carries a low-interest rate of 0.01% and a 40-year payback schedule with a 10-year grace period. The Chinese financing for the Pokhara airport project, however, has a higher interest rate of 2% and a 25-year payback period.

The Communist regime in China has been infamous for pushing developing nations into its vicious debt trap by lending out money for investment projects and later using it to ensnare the sovereignty and strategic assets of the nation. As of 2021, the country had lent out $1.5 trillion to 150 countries, far more than that of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Reportedly, if Nepal had looked into alternative financing possibilities, it could have been able to acquire a loan at a cheaper interest rate. The high-interest rates are a major worry for Nepal since they might eventually result in a heavy debt load.

A sizeable sum of foreign cash would be needed for loan repayment, which Nepal might not be able to produce. Further, Nepal may potentially need to raise taxes or reduce public expenditure to repay the debt, which might hurt the country’s economy. According to research, 42 of the 165 nations (since 2000) have obtained financing from China equivalent to or higher than 10% of their GDP.

The Uganda airport incident

Due to the Ugandan government’s failure to repay a debt, Chinese lenders, the Export-Import Bank of China, have taken control of the country’s assets, including the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.

The financing conditions and repayment schedule were identical to those for the Pokhara International Airport. Uganda attempted to renegotiate the agreement, but the Chinese government rejected its most recent trips and requests to change the initial provisions. As a result, Uganda is forced to give up control of its sole international airport.

One of the clauses that Uganda attempted to amend was the need for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority to seek approval from the Chinese lender for its budget and strategic plans. The agreement gave Exim Bank the sole authority to approve withdraws of funds from the UCAA accounts. Another problematic clause was that any dispute between the parties would be resolved by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.

As many as 13 such clauses were deemed unfriendly to Uganda by people with knowledge about the matter. Apart from having the power to approve annual and monthly operating budgets, which it could reject, the Exim Bank of China also had attained the right to inspect the government and UCCA books of accounts.

The railway project in Kenya

A similar instance is said to have happened in Kenya where China funded the building of a railroad line between Nairobi and Mombasa. There are worries about increased costs because the project’s financing was granted without going through a competitive bidding procedure.

Also, the Kenyan government later released three unforeseen contracts using which, a railway, a passenger and a freight service were funded, designed and built by China. The Standard Gauge Railway, a USD 4.7 billion rail project that originates in Kenya’s coastal area and was started six years ago, has been the subject of several criminal investigations, crippling the nation’s economy with debt.

Specialists on China and Africa claimed that given the secrecy surrounding Chinese loan arrangements, the findings released by Kenya in the contract were exceptional. Kenya also owes China an inordinate amount of bilateral debt since China is its main commercial partner.

Chinese loans are criticized for being frequently granted without transparency or accountability, which some claim can result in corruption and inefficiency. There are worries that the projects may not have the anticipated economic advantages and that the loans may not be utilized efficiently.

Hambantota Port Capture

Sri Lanka struggled to repay the $1.1 billion loan it received from China for the development of the Hambantota port. In order to fulfil its financial commitments, Sri Lanka ultimately had to turn over the administration of the port to China on a 99-year lease.

The Hambantota port, with its strategic location near busy Indian Ocean shipping routes, was touted as good for Sri Lankan commerce. But it wasn’t profitable, and the government is said to have defaulted on those Chinese loans. Considering that the Hambantota port has come to represent China’s debt-trap diplomacy, many nations are hesitant to accept Chinese financing for their development initiatives.

Inadequate revenue streams to pay off the loans

The inadequacy of the revenue sources available to repay Chinese loans is one of the primary issues. At Pokhara International Airport, the primary source of revenue is landing fees and passenger charges. This income, however, probably won’t be enough to pay the loan’s debt servicing expenses.

Concerns have also been raised over the airport’s capability to accommodate up to 1.5 million passengers annually. Given the current status of Nepal’s tourist sector, several experts have argued that this projection may be too optimistic and problematic.

The possible effect of these loans on Nepal’s capacity to sustain its debt is another issue. The World Bank estimates that Nepal’s public debt was 34.4% of GDP in 2019, which is low when compared to other developing nations.

However, Nepal’s growing reliance on Chinese financing for infrastructure development might result in a sharp rise in its debt load, which could have detrimental effects on its macroeconomic stability. Even if this is still within reasonable limits, adding more debt with a high-interest rate might pressure the economy.

This may lead to less money being spent on social welfare programs and more money being raised through taxes and loan repayment costs. Moreover, Chinese finances often come with conditions such as the use of Chinese contractors and equipment. This might result in project inefficiencies and expense overruns, which would produce inferior results.

Similar problems have plagued Chinese-funded projects in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other nations, with delays and cost overruns resulting in poor returns on investment. In the current case also, China CAMC Engineering secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in 2014, two years before the Chinese bank executed the loan to the country.

Chinese loans come with a lack of transparency

It has been observed that China finances development projects for various nations but offers no transparency. It withholds the conditions of its loans, which increases the challenges of the recipient nations to evaluate the risks involved in taking on the debt.

International financial institutions have also criticized the absence of transparency in Chinese finances, claiming that it makes it more difficult for them to aid nations that are having trouble repaying their debts. There also have been reports of corruption and lack of transparency in the procurement process of these projects, which might drive up their costs and diminish their efficacy.

The Pokhara International Airport’s location is situated near Chhinne Danda in the western Nepali city of Pokhara’s Kaski District, 800 meters above sea level. The property is conveniently located along the Prithvi Highway and approximately three kilometres east of Pokhara’s current domestic airport (Kathmandu-Pokhara). It aims at boosting the country’s civil aviation sector and contributing to economic and social development, as well as tourism. However, the country needs to be careful to make sure it does not fall into the debt trap of other nations that have had difficulty repaying Chinese loans for infrastructure projects.

2.5 tonnes of missing Uranium found, had gone missing from Libya

OpIndia Staff
-
0
2.5 tonnes of missing Uranium found, had gone missing from Libya

In a significant development, 2.5 tonnes of natural uranium, which had gone missing from Libya, has been found near the border of Libya with Chad. Earlier, the uranium that was declared by Libya to have been stored at a site in southern Libya, was not there when International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors came for a visit.

During their visit, IAEA inspectors found that 10 drums containing approximately 2.5 tons of natural uranium in the form of UOC (uranium ore concentrate) previously declared by (Libya) as being stored at that location were not present at the location,” Reuters cited Director General Rafael Grossi as saying.

A media official for the Libyan National Army (LNA), General Khaled Mahjoub, said that they were able to find the ten missing barrels of uranium ore concentrate just 5 kilometres away from the warehouse where they were originally stored in the southern part of Libya.

Mahjoub said that rebels from the neighbouring state may have stolen the large blue drums from the warehouse believing they had weapons or ammunition in them, but upon realising that they contained something else, they must have abandoned them.

Libya had obtained uranium enrichment centrifuges and atomic bomb designs during the late 90s but relinquished its nuclear weapons program in 2003, in a move aimed to repair its relations with the West. Eight years later, a West-backed insurrection led to the killing of the Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi and the subsequent fall of Libya into chaos. Libya has since been recovering from the damage, but the country remains divided and torn due to the civil war.

The discovery of the missing uranium has underscored the need for stronger international cooperation and measures to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. The IAEA has urged all countries to strengthen their efforts to secure nuclear materials and prevent their proliferation.

The discovery of the missing uranium near the border of Libya and Chad has raised concerns about the security of nuclear materials in the region. The IAEA and Libyan authorities are working closely to investigate the incident and ensure that the uranium is secured. The incident has also highlighted the need for stronger international cooperation to prevent the proliferation of nuclear materials.

Umesh Pal murder case: STF arrests Qayyum Ansari from Kapilvastu who helped Asad Ahmed and other shooters escape to Nepal

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Umesh Pal murder case: STF arrests Qayyum Ansari from Kapilvastu who helped Asad Ahmed and other shooters escape to Nepal

On 16th March 2023, the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police arrested one Qayyum Ansari from Kapilvastu in Nepal who helped Asad Ahmed to escape to Nepal. Asad Ahmed is the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son and is a prime accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. The Special Task Force (STF) received inputs that Umesh Pal’s shooters have reached Nepal. Following these inputs, Qayyum Ansari was arrested.

Qayyum Ansari, a close aide of Atiq Ahmed, was arrested by the STF late in the evening on Thursday, March 16, from Kapilavastu in Nepal on charges of crossing the Nepal border with Asad, Muslim Guddu, Sabir, and Arman. He is accused of giving the assailants shelter in Nepal and giving them a car. He is being interrogated by the STF. In the interrogation, STF has got many important clues.

According to reports, Qayyum Ansari had escorted the shooters from Siddharthnagar to the Nepal border. After his arrest, the STF took him to Bardpur in Siddharthnagar district, where he was questioned. After this, he has been shifted elsewhere.

Qayyum Ansari is a resident of Mauaima in Prayagraj. He is a businessman in Nepal. He has a petrol pump named Ansari Diesels at Chandrauta in the Kapilvastu district of Nepal. A team of 4 STF officers caught Qayyum Ansari.

According to the police, Qayyum Ansari has underworld connections and had earlier been questioned by the STF in connection with other cases.

Prayagraj police are looking for five shooters involved in this case. They are Asad Ahmed – son of Atiq Ahmed, Guddu Muslim – the bomber seen in the initial CCTV footage of the murder, and three shooters Arman, Ghulam, and Sabir. UP Police and STF deployed a total of 22 teams to trace and catch these five miscreants.

So far, STF has conducted raids in Nepal and Thailand to nab the shooters. STF teams have raided 500 places in 13 states including West Bengal, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Punjab, and Maharashtra. 3 dedicated teams are working for each shooter. Three teams have been deployed for call details and surveillance, while four teams are engaged in linking the link of important information found during interrogation and search. In the latest information, the location of these shooters was found to be in Nepal, after which the police have arrested Qayyum Ansari who allegedly helped the killers of Umesh Pal escape to Nepal.

Meanwhile, Prayagraj police (Crime Branch) are interrogating the SIM seller caught from the Nawabganj area. The Crime Branch nabbed him from Kaudihar town where his mobile shop is located. Before the incident, Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed, had purchased 16 new mobile phones and an equal number of SIM cards which were distributed among the shooters. Atiq’s wife Shaista Parveen had also given Rs 1 lakh each to all the criminals for expenses.

In the latest video of the murder incident that surfaced, injured Umesh Pal can be seen fighting a shooter. Reportedly, the man is Asad, the son of Atiq Ahmed. Umesh Pal ran toward his house through a narrow lane even after being shot. At the corner of the lane, a shooter is seen in this video clip.

The shooter attempted to get hold of Umesh Pal as he wanted to shoot Pal in his head. Umesh Pal resisted and escaped the clutches of the assailant and ran away. The attacker then shot bullets into other parts of Umesh Pal’s body. Police personnel is also seen running toward the home.

The face of the attacker is not clearly seen in this video but it is seen that he is wearing black clothes. From the earlier CCTV footage of the incident, it is clear that the attacker is Asad Ahmed. Police are also checking for more CCTV footage in the area.

Umesh Pal and his two police security guards Raghvendra Singh and Sandeep Nishad were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj on February 24.

Reportedly, the person seen with a pistol in his hand is Asad Ahmed, the son of mafia-politician and former MP Atiq Ahmed, identified as the master conspirator of the murder of Umesh Pal. The Prayagraj police are taking forward the investigation on the basis of this new video.

Atiq Ahmed is currently locked in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad for orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a real estate businessman, Mohit Jaiswal, from the Deoria jail. Atiq is also the prime accused in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, who was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. Notably, Umesh Pal was the prime witness in this case.

Conman posing as PMO official visiting J&K arrested: How Congress ecosystem continues to insult and vilify Gujarat and Gujaratis

Jinit Jain
-
0
Conman posing as PMO official visiting J&K arrested: How Congress ecosystem continues to insult and vilify Gujarat and Gujaratis

The pathological hatred of PM Modi seems to have had a detrimental effect on the psyche of the Congress party and its supporters, with their nurtured ecosystem going to great lengths, even becoming paradoxical, in their efforts to undermine the central government. While accusing the Modi government of being against diversity, the Congress ecosystem has been steadily othering, insulting, and defaming those who refuse to align with their divisive agenda and throw their weight behind the Modi regime.

Therefore, when the police recently arrested a conman from Gujarat who posed as a member of the PMO entrusted with the responsibility of looking for improvement in hotel facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress ecosystem and its elements fell over themselves to defame Gujarat and Gujaratis over the incident.

Kiran J Patel’s Twitter account is verified and boasts more than a thousand followers. However, Patel falsely presented himself as an additional director for strategy and campaigns in the Prime Minister’s Office during a trip to various tourist destinations in Kashmir, including Gulmarg. He claimed that he was there on behalf of the government to assess and improve hotel facilities in the region. Shockingly, Patel managed to deceive the authorities and was even granted Z-plus security cover, a bulletproof SUV, and luxurious accommodation at a five-star hotel in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Patel was arrested by vigilant security officials on his third visit to the Kashmir Valley on March 3. He had been staying in a five-star hotel in Srinagar and had been falsely presenting himself as an “additional secretary” in the government, which allowed him to receive special treatment such as security coverage and other amenities.

Congress ecosystem insults Gujaratis after the arrest of a Gujarati man for posing as PMO official in J&K

Before long, social media was rife with posts on how a man hoodwinked security officials and got free accommodation in the Valley. However, for the Congress ecosystem and its supportive trolls, it was yet another occasion to further their contempt and hatred toward Gujarat since the man in question hailed from Gujarat.

Congress supporter @RoflGandhi_, who amassed a considerable following on Twitter by deriding Rahul Gandhi and Congress initially, took to the microblogging platform to insult the Gujarati community after the arrest of conman Kiran Patel, stating that the ‘consistency of Gujarat in producing frauds is amazing’.

“This is Kiran Patel, a Gujarati conman. He visited Kashmir posing as a high ranked PMO officer, he was provided a Z security cover, a 5 star stay at The Lalit Srinagar and also held several key meetings for months. The consistency of Gujarat in producing frauds is amazing,” the Congress troll tweeted, in line with the party’s constant efforts to insult and ridicule the Gujarati community.

Jas Oberoi, a columnist with Newslaundry and a history of appalling bigotry, also took to Twitter to attack Gujarat and Gujaratis over the Kiran Patel incident.

“This man was arrested today because he posed as a delegate from the PM office & made a fool out of Kashmir police & administration. He stayed in a 5-star hotel for days & had a good time at the govt’s expense. You can guess the state he hails from. I’m sure,” tweeted Oberoi, the oblique reference to Gujarat being apparent.

Others, too, joined in attacking Gujarat and Gujarati after the security officials arrested Kiran Patel for pretending to be a PMO official.

How Congress and its ecosystem’s continues to vilify Gujarat and Gujaratis

The fact that a stray incident is used to defame and slander an entire community underscores the contempt and hatred harboured by the Congress ecosystem for Gujarat and the Gujaratis. While Congress and its supporters routinely pontificate about their opponents on inclusiveness, they felt no qualms in stereotyping an entire community based on a single incident, even though Kiran Patel’s Gujarati roots had no links to his deception.

However, the attempt to humiliate and attack Gujarat and Gujaratis over an isolated incident is a predictable Congress hack of undermining a state and its population that has consistently rejected its anti-development and pro-minority appeasement politics. For over 27 years, Congress failed to establish itself in Gujarat as BJP returned to power in every assembly election, most recently in December 2022 when the saffron party formed a government with an unprecedented mandate.

As Gujarat has given a wide berth to the Congress, its ecosystem has studiously endeavoured to defame and vilify the state, with questions being routinely raised on the state’s development model and socio-religious conditions of its people.

Of late, Congress ecosystem and party leader Rahul Gandhi have trained their guns in portraying Gujarat in a bad light since PM Modi also hails from the same state and in the absence of any credible agenda to target the Centre. Congress party’s foremost leader, Rahul Gandhi, and leaders below him, routinely make jibes against businessmen Ambani and Adani to attack the Modi government.

Adani and Ambani being Gujaratis, provide yet another opportunity for the Congress ecosystem to vilify the entire community even as they struggle to mount a persuasive campaign against PM Modi and the BJP government. Rahul Gandhi, his deputies, and his loyal footsoldiers on social media have often attacked the businessmen with no evidence to back their claims that the Centre has exhibited favouritism to them.

The Gandhi scion had tried to implicate PM Modi of favouring Ambani in the Rafale deal but the Supreme Court of the country gave a clean chit to the deal, asserting that the allegations lacked merit and that there were no irregularities in the purchase of the fighter jets. But Congress loyalists continue to believe their supreme leader that there was wrongdoing in the Rafale deal, even though the highest judicial authority of the country has given a clean chit to the purchase agreement.

Therefore, the recent attempt to broadly generalise Gujarat as the land of frauds and criminals by the Congress ecosystem nothing but underscores the party’s deep-seated hatred of the Gujaratis for opposing their polarising politics and exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right of electing the party of their choosing.

PM Modi hails from Gujarat and is in many ways the ambassador of the state. Therefore, the Congress ecosystem, which has tried in vain to raise aspersions on PM Modi’s moral character and implicate him in contrived corruption cases, has now moved on to defame the entire Gujarati community and use the association to pull the Prime Minister down.

Punjab: Two minor girls flee home to meet gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, click photos outside Central Jail to impress friends

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Punjab: Two minor girls flee home to meet gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, click photos outside Central Jail to impress friends

On Wednesday, March 16, the Bhatinda police in Punjab informed that two minor girls ran away from home and reached Bathinda Central Jail to ‘meet’ jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The minor girls were reportedly taking selfies outside the jail when they were caught and handed over to the District Child Protection Department by the jail administration.

The matter came to the fore after the Bhatinda police received a letter from Bathinda central jail in which the administration of the jail wrote that two minor girls clicked photos outside the jail premises. Both are residents of Jharkhand.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh said the family members of the minor girls have been called, and both the girls have been sent to Safi Center after getting medically examined.

“The whole matter is being investigated. The family members of both the minor girls have been summoned. Both minors have been sent to Safi Center after getting medically examined. If anything comes up in the probe, legal action will follow,” said Gurpreet Singh.

Speaking on the matter, Ravneet Kaur Sidhu, Child Protection Officer in Bathinda, said the girls were taking selfies outside Bathinda Central Prison and wanted to share them with their friends, adding that they were influenced by Lawrence Bishnoi on social media.

“The minor girls reached Bathinda after lying at home about where they were headed. Both had spent a night at Bathinda railway station as well. After interrogating the girls, we learned that the purpose of taking selfies outside Bathinda Central Jail was to show them to their friends. They have all been influenced by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on social media. Bishnoi is lodged at Bathinda jail,” said Ravneet Kaur Sidhu.

Bishnoi is one of the main accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case. He is also under investigation from NIA.

Recently, an interview of the dreaded gangster, who is currently lodged in Bathinda jail, went viral. It was aired on March 13 by ABP News. The Punjab Police authorities have denied the channel’s claims that the interview was shot inside the prison. It is unclear when the interview was recorded. OpIndia could not verify if the interview was recent or recorded while Bishnoi was in Bathinda prison.

1...2,3722,3732,374...7,638Page 2,373 of 7,638