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Uttar Pradesh: Mother-daughter burned to death during demolition drive, SDM, Lekhpal and JCB driver arrested after govt order

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Mother-daughter burned to death during demolition drive, SDM, Lekhpal and JCB driver arrested after govt order

Note: The following report was based on initial reports in the media. However, more details emerged after publishing of this report. The FIR in this case mentions that as per the complainant, when their house was demolished in presence of the officials, SDM Janeshwar called upon people to come and set the house on fire. As per the complaint, the fire was lit by Lekhpal Ashok Singh and the SDM had said that no one should remain alive. As per Shivam, he somehow managed to get out of the burning house but even then SHO Dinesh Gautam mercilessly beat him up along with his colleagues. As per the FIR, Shivam’s mother and sister could not come out of the burning house and were burnt alive.

On February 14, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government initiated action against the SDM, Lekhpal and police officials over the death of mother and daughter during a demolition drive in the village Madauli under the Rural Police Station area, district Kanpur. As per reports, the mother and daughter immolated themselves during the demolition drive on February 13.

An FIR under Sections 302, 307, 436, 429, 323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Rura Police Station, district Kanpur Dehat against Ashok Dikshit, Anil Dikshit, Nirmal Dikshit, Vishal, JCB driver Deepak, SDM Maitha Gyaneshwar, Kanoongo, Lekhpal Ashok Singh, SO Dinesh Kumar, 10-12 unnamed, and 12-15 police officials.

Mother and daughter immolated themselves

As per reports, 45-year-old Pramila Dikshit and her 20-year-old daughter Neha died in the incident. The district administration, revenue officials and police had gone to the village Madauli in the Rura area to remove encroachment on ‘Gram Samaj’ land. Reports suggest that some of the villagers had filed multiple complaints against one Krishna Gopal Dixit’s family, alleging they encroached on the ‘Gram Samaj’ land.

Krishna Gopal Dixit’s wife Pramila repeatedly warned the officials to back off or else she would take extreme steps. However, the police and administration did not pay heed and continued the demolition drive. A video of her warning the police has gone viral on social media.

Soon after, she immolated herself. The police officials and her husband rushed to save her, but by that time, the burning roof made out of straw had fallen on the victims. Dixit and SHO Dinesh Gautam sustained burn injuries as they tried to save the duo.

In a statement, Kanpur Dehat Police stated that there were complaints of land encroachment at the place. SDM Metha led the team to remove encroachment when the incident happened. Based on the family’s son Shivam Dikshit’s complaint, an FIR under Sections 302, 307, 436, 323 and 34 has been filed against Ashok Dikshit, Anil Dikshit, Nirmal Dikshit, and others. Investigation in the matter is underway.”

Following the incident, some officials ran from the scene. The aggrieved family members allegedly attacked the officials and pelted stones at the police, after which the team members fled the spot. Additional Director General of Police Alok Singh and Divisional Commissioner Raj Shekhar visited the village and promised strict action against the accused. The family members of the victims have demanded FIR against SDM, Lekhpal and others.

As per the latest reports, the driver of the JCB, the Lekhpal and the SDM have been arrested in the case.

Varanasi Airport refutes Congress allegations that Rahul Gandhi’s plane was denied landing permissions, says flight was canceled by the operator

OpIndia Staff
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Varanasi Airport refutes Congress allegations that Rahul Gandhi’s plane was denied landing permissions, says flight was canceled by the operator

The Varanasi Airport on Tuesday refuted allegations leveled by Congress leader Ajay Rai, who said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plane was deliberately denied landing permission by the airport authorities due to government pressure. The Airport authorities said that the flight was canceled by the charter jet company carrying Gandhi, and that the Varanasi Airport was not at fault. “Please correct your statement as the flight was canceled by the operator,” Varanasi Airport tweeted.

Congress leader Ajay Rai, on February 14, alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s plane was denied permission to land at the Varanasi airport late at night on Monday, February 13, owing to government pressure. He alleged that the authorities cited President’s visit to the city as an excuse and denied permission.

“Gandhi’s plane was scheduled to land at the Babat airport here on his return from Wayanad in Kerala. But the airport authority did not allow his plane to land here due to pressure from the govt. They said there is a traffic jam here and deliberately did not give permission,” Rai claimed as he accused the airport of disallowing the scheduled landing.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government is ‘scared’ of Rahul Gandhi and that is why they denied permission for his plane to land at Varanasi’s airport. The prime minister of the country has been anxious ever since Rahul Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Now, they are troubling Rahul,” Rai further asserted.

However, Varanasi airport director Aryama Sanyal issued a statement saying that there was no prior information about Gandhi’s arrival. She also denied allegations that the authorities had refused permission for Gandhi’s plane to land. “The air traffic controller was told that the plan to land at the airport has been canceled,” Sanyal said.

According to the reports, Gandhi was scheduled to visit Prayagraj for a function at the Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital on Tuesday. Reports mention that he also wanted to visit Varanasi to offer prayers at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Reportedly, President Droupadi Murmu also visited Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Monday evening after she offered prayers at the Kotwal Baba Kaal Bharav temple in Varanasi.

Turkish nationals accuse Syrians of looting damaged shops as earthquake rekindles past grievances

OpIndia Staff
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Turkish nationals accuse Syrians of looting damaged shops as earthquake rekindles past grievances

The recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria has not only brought disaster in its wake but has also spawned resentment among certain Turks towards the millions of Syrian refugees in the country, who are being blamed by some for looting in the midst of the chaos and devastation.

In Turkey, a Muslim-majority country, xenophobia against Syrians has been on the rise, especially in the aftermath of the earthquake, as the Turks picking up their lives from the rubble have blamed Syrian refugees of ransacking them and exploiting the natural disaster to carry out their loot.

In earthquake-affected towns and cities, some Turks have accused Syrians of stealing from damaged shops and homes, a report published on Reuters said. On Twitter, there has been a trend of anti-Syrian slogans such as “We don’t want Syrians,” “Immigrants should be deported,” and “No longer welcome.”

Syrian earthquake victims sheltered in emergency camps were reportedly kicked out of the shelter homes, while a Syrian man who established a shelter in the city of Mersin exclusively for his compatriots, experienced racist insults amid the plundering witnessed by Turks. 

The accusations nevertheless expose the mirage of the ummah that Muslim countries, including Turkey and Syria, often hanker to in their bid to mobilise the Muslim world. 

A Syrian man, who preferred not to be named, lamented that they stopped visiting rescue sites due to being yelled at and shoved around when others heard them speaking Arabic. He further mentioned that people continuously accuse them of looting to create discord.

The official death toll resulting from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has surpassed 37,000, and it is expected to increase as the likelihood of finding additional survivors dwindles.

Several areas have experienced delays of several days in providing food and emergency shelter to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. In addition, there have been reports of looting, and some foreign aid teams suspended their work temporarily due to a worsening security situation, according to residents and aid workers.

The Justice Minister of Turkey announced the law enforcement officials had arrested 48 people for looting without saying where they were from. President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to deal sternly with looters.

Notably, tensions have been on the rise between Syria and Turkey, two neighbouring countries with Muslim majority, ever since the civil war broke out in Syria in 2011. Turkey has welcomed almost 4 million Syrian refugees and provided them with a home. The majority of these refugees are located near the Syrian border in the south of the country. In the city of Gaziantep, which was severely impacted by the earthquake, approximately 500,000 Syrians reside, making up 25% of the population.

Although resentment towards Syrians is not a new phenomenon, the earthquake has exacerbated existing tensions. The latent grievances underscore the differences that exist between countries in the Arab world, even though they put up the charade of unity under the banner of Islam.

Even as Turkey continues to face acute economic distress, it has spent over $40 billion in the past decade to accommodate Syrian refugees. Some Turkish people regard Syrians as low-cost labour who have taken over jobs and used services, and the subject of Syrian refugees was anticipated to be a crucial issue in this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

Social media platforms have been yet another forums where anti-Syrian sentiments are actively fuelled.

“Quake survivors are welcome to stay in my Ankara home for a year, on condition that they are not Syrian,” read one of the many tweets offering conditional help to quake victims. 

Mustafa Ali, a former Syrian opposition politician, is operating an impromptu shelter in Mersin that accommodates roughly 250 Syrians. He reported that he reached an agreement with local authorities to keep them separated from shelters intended for displaced Turkish citizens.

He stated that the differences in culture, way of life, and language could potentially resolve many of these issues due to the separation.

‘Unki fursat ka sawal hai’, MHA Amit Shah takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi for ignoring election campaigns in states

OpIndia Staff
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‘Unki fursat ka sawal hai’, MHA Amit Shah takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi for ignoring election campaigns in states

On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the assembly elections scheduled in three north-eastern Indian states of Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. Shah said that Gandhi was engaged in the Bharat Jodo Yatra but that would hardly affect the elections as he has ‘no time’ to visit the states even once.

During an exclusive interview with ANI journalist Smita Prakash, Shah said that there are elections in the three states and the results of these upcoming state elections will show the impact of Bharat Jodo Yatra. “There are elections in Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. He hasn’t visited the states even once. Ana na ana unki fursat ka sawal hai lekin parinam to ana chaiye na. The country will itself see how many people support Congress,” Shah said when asked whom BJP considers as its principal opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Shah added that it was in the hands of the people to show who they support and who will be the principal opposition of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 2024 elections. He indicated that Bharat Jodo Yatra would have no effect on the ruling party and its politics. He also stated that Congress, in these three states, had formed new alliances to win against BJP and it shows that Congress is scared of the BJP. “BJP isn’t scared of anything like Bharat Jodo Yatra. They think BJP is scared but that is their misunderstanding,” he added.

The Home Minister also said that Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya were all ruled by Congress earlier but now people there are hoping for BJP to win. “People there want development. And BJP is giving them what they want. I visited a poor individual’s home in Tripura today. He showed that now he has electricity, running tap water, cooking gas, a toilet, etc. He also showed me his Ayushman Bharat card. People are getting benefits under the BJP govt and this will continue,” he assured.

Talking about the alliance of Congress with Communists, Shah said, “They are scared of BJP.” Shah added that he has done several rallies and roadshows in Tripura ahead of the elections.

Elections in Tripura are scheduled to be held on 16 February 2023 to elect all 60 members of the Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, elections are scheduled to be held in Nagaland and Meghalaya on 27 February this year.

Terrorism-related figures are at their lowest today: Amit Shah speaks to ANI about security issues, elections and allegations levelled by Opposition

OpIndia Staff
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Terrorism-related figures are at their lowest today: Amit Shah speaks to ANI about security issues, elections and allegations levelled by Opposition

On Monday (February 13), Union Home Minister spoke about an array of issues ranging from foreign propaganda, and domestic and cross-border terrorism to upcoming elections in State Assemblies in an interview with Smita Prakash of ANI at Agartala.

During the interview, Amit Shah said that the Popular Front of India was banned for promoting religious fanaticism in the country. He emphasised that the decision to ban the organisation was made without any consideration for vote bank politics.

“We have banned PFI successfully…PFI promoted radicalism and religious bigotry. They were in a way trying to prepare raw materials for terrorism. So many documents have been found which show that their activities were not good for the country’s unity and integrity,” he further pointed out.

Amit Shah added, “I said that there were various kinds of cases against the PFI cadre. The Congress government tried to close the cases but the court stopped it. What is there to be upset about? You should not have done it and if you do, you will have to listen…We decided to ban it, rising above the vote bank politics.”

Home Minister speaks about Hindenburg Research report controversy, BBC documentary

While speaking to ANI, the Home Minister also responded to the Opposition’s claims about collusion between the Adani Group and the Modi government, which were raised after the publication of the infamous report by Hindenburg Research.

He remarked, “The Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the matter. As a minister, if the Supreme Court is looking at the matter it is not right for me to comment. But in this, there is nothing for the BJP to hide and nothing to be afraid of.”

Amit Shah asked his political rivals to approach the courts instead of making unsubstantiated claims. He said, “Even at the time when Pegasus issue was raised, I had said go with proofs to the court…They only know how to create noise.”

He pointed out, “Those who approached the court, the court took cognisance of Pegasus and also delivered its judgment. The investigation was also done.”

While rejecting the propaganda-laden documentary by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on PM Modi, he said, “The truth emerges despite a thousand conspiracies around it. They are after Modi since 2002. But every time, Modi Ji comes out stronger & more popular.”

Amit Shah speaks about North East development under the BJP govt

The Home Minister said that in the past, the Northeast region was notorious for blockades, strikes, bombings, and insurgency. However, the region is now benefiting from the development of transportation infrastructure such as roads, railways, and airports.

Home Minister Shah said that the North-east region in India is experiencing peace due to the government’s successful negotiations with various radical groups. Over 8,000 militants have surrendered and integrated into the mainstream.

“In a span of less than 8 years, PM Modi has visited the Northeast 51 times. Since independence, no PM has visited the region this frequently. Every 15 days one of the Cabinet ministers has to visit the region,” Amit Shah said.

He further informed, “In the last 9 years, the local languages of the Northeast have strengthened, even primary education being imparted in the regional languages. BJP govt has strengthened the identity of Northeast.”

Union Home Minister on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir

Amit Shah said it was previously communicated that Statehood would be reinstated following the elections in the Union Territory.

He added that the process of compiling a voter’s list in the Union Territory is almost finished, and it is now up to the Election Commission to decide on the scheduling of the elections.

“Since the time terrorism started in Jammu & Kashmir, the terrorism-related figures are at their lowest today. Crores of tourists and yatris are visiting J&K now. This is a huge change,” he told ANI.

The Union Home Minister added, “Since 1950, it was on our agenda to remove Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir. Now with the manner in which development work is going on in J&K, and the way terrorists and terror attacks are decreasing, this is being proved. You can see data.”

Amit Shah talks about the menace of domestic terrorism

Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed that left-wing extremism has almost been eradicated from Bihar and Jharkhand, and the security vacuum in Chhattisgarh has been filled.

This is a significant achievement, as the total number of casualties among both locals and security personnel has fallen below 100 for the first time in two decades.

Shah has also noted that the government is closely monitoring the Khalistan issue and has had discussions with the Punjab government. There is good coordination between the different agencies involved, and Shah is confident that they will not allow it to grow.

BJP leader predicts victory in upcoming elections

Amit Shah also expressed his confidence about winning the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Tripura, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

“BJP will form the government with full majority in Karnataka. In the last 2 months, I’ve visited the state 5 times. I’ve sensed the pulse of people of the state and witnessed PM Modi’s popularity there -BJP will get a huge mandate in Karnataka,” he told ANI.

“Even the people of Mandya are now shifting from dynastic parties and accepting BJP’s politics of development. This is a good sign for Karnataka. I believe that there is no competition in the 2024 elections, the country is wholeheartedly moving forward with PM Modi,” he also added.

According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP will increase both its seats and vote share in Tripura. He has also mentioned that the Congress and Communist parties have come together, recognizing that they are unable to defeat the BJP alone. Shah is confident that the BJP will secure a full majority and form the government in Tripura by noon on counting day.

The “Chalo Paltai” slogan was introduced to transform the situation in Tripura, which the BJP has successfully accomplished. Previously, during the Left’s tenure in the state, government employees were paid under the 5th Pay Commission.

However, the BJP implemented the 7th Pay Commission without increasing the fiscal deficit. Shah has stated that the BJP has eradicated violence in Tripura and taken strict action against cross-border drug trafficking in the state.

Income Tax Dept carries out a survey at BBC office in Delhi: Here are the three things for which the UK state-sponsored media house is under fire

OpIndia Staff
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Income Tax Dept carries out a survey at BBC office in Delhi: Here are the three things for which the UK state-sponsored media house is under fire

The Income Tax Department is carrying out survey at the BBC office in Delhi, ANI reported.

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is the state-sponsored media of the United Kingdom. Some reports suggest the phones of the employees are seized as well.

The BBC survey was carried out at the BBC premises in view of the BBC’s deliberate non-compliance with the Transfer Pricing Rules and its vast diversion of profits. Transfer Pricing essentially ensures that the transaction between ‘related’ parties is at a price that would be comparable if the transaction was occurring between unrelated parties.

According to sources, there has been persistent non-compliance with the Transfer Pricing rules for years. The sources have informed that BBC has been served several notices by the IT department, however, they have persistently been non-compliant. They have also been allegedly diverting their profits.

The key focus of these surveys is to look into the manipulation of prices for unauthorised benefits, including tax advantages. These surveys have been undertaken due to BBC’s persistent non-compliance with the norms, making it a repeat offender.

In this case, BBC has been:

  1. Non-compliant under transfer pricing rules;
  2. Persistent and deliberately violative of transfer pricing norms; and
  3. Deliberately diverted a significant amount of the profits and have not followed the arm’s length arrangement in the case of allocation of profit

BBC has frequently come under fire for its biased reportage. You can read more about the recent problematic reportage here and here.

Jamia Violence: Delhi HC issues notice to Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar and others, says trial court’s remarks won’t affect the case

OpIndia Staff
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Jamia Violence: Delhi HC issues notice to Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar and others, says trial court’s remarks won’t affect the case

On Monday, the Delhi High court issued a notice in response to the Delhi Police’s appeal against the discharge of Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar, and eight other accused in the 2019 Jamia violence case. Several respondents received notices from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma after they arrived in court on prior notice in some cases.

According to the reports, the High court summoned the trial court record (TCR) in digitized form. It refused the observations made by the trial court and stated that the observations would not have an impact on any further police investigations or the trial of any accused in the matter.

On February 4, as the trial court released the defendants, it issued some grave observations. The ASG, speaking on behalf of the Delhi Police, said that the remarks were flawed and would harm future investigations.

The matter was listed for further hearing on March 16. ASG Sanjay Jain contended that the trial court’s findings were flawed and harmful to further inquiry. ASG stated that there was an FIR, along with one main charge sheet and three supplemental charge sheets. According to him, the trial court discarded the third chargesheet based on incorrect legal reasoning.

“It is not a question of dissent. It is about an unlawful assembly turning into a riot. Am I to be governed by my conscious or by the Law? This is a very dangerous trend that people who were part of unlawful assembly are being discharged with such an order”, the ASG stated before the HC with regard to the trial court’s remarks (by ASJ Arul Varma that “dissent is simply an extension of the invaluable fundamental right to free speech and expression under Article 19 of the Constitution of India”.

Meanwhile, the defence attorney for Asif Iqbal Tanha said that the extra charge sheet was produced to fill in any gaps in the inquiry. She said that there are boundaries to be drawn between peaceful demonstration and dissent. The individuals listed on the second charge sheet were Jamia Milia Islamia University students, therefore their presence there was not unusual.

The urgent listing of the case was approved by the Delhi High Court on Friday. However, the petition was given an urgent listing on Monday by the division bench, which was presided over by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma. Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General, brought up the issue and pleaded with the bench to list it immediately.

Delhi Police, as per the reports, moved to the HC against the discharge granted to Sharjeel Imam and other accused in the Jamia Violence case. The Police stated in their petition that the Impugned Order is non-est, invalid, and against established legal precedent. “The trial court, while not considering and weighing the evidence on record, proceeded to discharge the respondents at the stage of framing of charges,” the petition stated adding that the trial court erred by making erroneous conclusions that are at odds with the evidence in the case to support its conclusion that the respondents had a cause for discharge.

“It is submitted that a bare perusal of the Impugned Order would reveal that the trial court has proceeded to make observations on the merits of the matter. It is also submitted that at the stage of discharge, the Trial ought to have only merely to sift the evidence in order to find out whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused,” the plea read.

“It is further submitted that while exercising its judicial mind to the facts of the case in order to determine whether a case for trial has been made out by the prosecution, the trial court ought not to enter into the pros and cons of the matter or into a weighing and balancing of evidence and probabilities which is done at the stage of the trial,” it added.

Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar, and the other eight accused in the Jamia Milia Islamia University violence case were discharged by Delhi’s Saket court on February 4. However, the court ordered that Mohd. Iliyas alias Allen is charged in the case.

‘The accused were used as scapegoats in the case’, opined the trial court which also added that the police did not have any proof against the accused. In December 2019, there was violence at Jamia and in the surrounding vicinity in Delhi. The violence erupted as the protesters clashed with the police over the CAA.

A case was registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station in connection with the violence in December 2019 with police naming 12 persons as accused in the case. Delhi police charged the accused with rioting and unlawful assembly while also booking them under IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 333, 308, 427, 435, 323, 341, 120(B) and 34.

Separatists who believe in ‘democracy’ and against ‘hate’? The Hindu ties itself up in knots trying to fan-boy on Rahul Gandhi’s Kashmir BJ Yatra

S. Sudhir Kumar
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Separatists who believe in ‘democracy’ and against ‘hate’? The Hindu ties itself up in knots trying to fan-boy on Rahul Gandhi’s Kashmir BJ Yatra

Just a couple of days back, we published a detailed article on how The Hindu’s coverage of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a great case study of how to be more loyal than the King! The article was written with the assumption that The Hindu is done with the coverage of the BJ Yatra. However, The Hindu has shredded that assumption to pieces. Not fully content with how they praised Rahul Gandhi, they publish this opinion on Feb. 13th. 

Article by The Hindu

The word “catharsis” means “the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.” The premise of the article is that Kashmiris have embraced the BJ Yatra like never before and therefore – “In the groundswell of support for Rahul Gandhi, there is a message for Delhi”.

But what is the message for Delhi? We were told that “By walking with Mr Gandhi, Kashmiris sent out the political message that they believe in principles such as democracy, plurality, civility and a detestation for hate politics, despite the popular depiction of them as Islamists.” 

That is a glowing description of those who walked with Rahul Gandhi. Those who walked apparently believed in certain principles “despite the popular depiction of them as Islamists”. Now, why would that be the popular depiction? The author himself provides an answer for this, inadvertently, in another section of his article.

We are told that “There has been such a groundswell of support only during militants’ funerals or separatist leaders’ speeches in south Kashmir.” Whoa! Now, whoa! In his attempt to worship Rahul Gandhi, have the author and the newspaper actually ended up demonising him further? Did they just compare the crowd that joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra to the crowd that used to join the militants’ funerals or separatist leaders’ speeches? 

“Separatist leaders’ speeches” are filled with, well, separatism. Separatism is the exact opposite of “Jodo”. Why then does a crowd that wants to separate, join a yatra that claims to unify? How does the author want the reader to understand this hypocritical argument? 

Attending militants’ funerals essentially means support for terrorism. It’s not as if people just walked along with the dead bodies in these funeral processions. Anti-India slogans were raised during these funerals. Now, do you understand why the “popular depiction of them as Islamists”? If you hail separatism and mourn terrorists, why then would the world think of you as a citizen who has “detestation for hate politics”? Do the author and the paper really think that their readers are so gullible, that they can write anything and get away with it? Or is the author (and the paper) saying that the same crowd that embraced separatism has now embraced Bharat Jodo? And in that case, shouldn’t the credit go to Modi and not Rahul?!

Since the author believes so strongly that Rahul Gandhi gained massive popularity in Kashmir, he tells us that this support is because “Mr. Gandhi seems to have been a medium of catharsis for Kashmiris, who have stopped expressing themselves since 2019 in the face of many clampdowns.”

Stopped expressing themselves? Here are three reports from The Hindu itself, by the same author – on how Kashmiris’ have embraced their newfound freedom; how they are becoming prosperous; on how they are finally getting to even watch movies in theatres after 23 years (You can ignore the “dark hall” comment – Kashmiris couldn’t even go to theatres and watch movies for 23 years!). 

Article by The Hindu

Are all of these not ways of expressing themselves, of how they have embraced the new situation? Or according to the author, is the only way to express themselves by mourning terrorists and embracing separatists? 

We are told that Rahul Gandhi came to Kashmir in August 2021 and “Barely anyone remembers the statements he made that year.” Well, can you really blame the people for this? His speeches have always remained the same ever since he entered politics in 2004! However, why did the author bring this up? Because he now tells us that the speech, he gave in January 2023 as part of the BJ Yatra is different from the speech he gave in August 2021. How? “this time, his speech from the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium was live-streamed on social media.” I was reading further to see if any stats will be provided on viewership or activity on SM platforms. Nothing is written. The author bluntly ends the statement there! The only different thing from 2021 to 2023 was that a speech was live-streamed and therefore it is an indication of being popular! 

After such a mumbling yet a glowing tribute to Rahul Gandhi, can you guess how the author ends the article? “All the political pundits will agree that Mr. Gandhi’s sudden and rare popularity in Kashmir may not necessarily translate into any upswing in votes for him if elections were to be held in the region.”

The already confused reader will now perhaps want to tear up the paper in frustration! The extreme levels of worshipping that the author exhibited in this article will even put some (p)sycophants in the Congress party also to shame. We are told that “The eyes of many women welled up with tears on seeing him.” We were also told that people men stopped their cars and came and hugged him. In fact, these points are repeated twice in the article, lest we forget! If women cried and men hugged him on a scale that was never seen before, why then wouldn’t they vote for him? After all, we were told that they strongly believe in the “principles of democracy”! 

Kerala govt, once against Adani taking over airport operations in the state capital, raises Rs 400 crore for Adani Ports under Vizhinjam agreement: Details

Gopal Tiwari
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Kerala govt, once against Adani taking over airport operations in the state capital, raises Rs 400 crore for Adani Ports under Vizhinjam agreement: Details

The Kerala state government has raised Rs 400 crores to the Adani Ports according to the Vizhinjam agreement. This decision is taken by the state’s leftist government as the construction of the breakwater at the upcoming Vinzinjam post is underway.

According to the agreement the state government was bound to give the sum to the enterprise after the latter completes 30% of the breakwater work. The company was seeking the same from the government for the past few weeks but the state government could not honor the commitment to the port builder as the government is caught in a debt trap and the financial situation is continuously worsening. Finally, Pinarayi Vijayan’s government took a loan of Rs 400 crores from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to abide by the agreement.

India’s one of the deepest ports will start operations of its first phase in March 2023. The project costs Rs 7525 crores out of which Rs 1635 crores was given as a grant to the Adani Ports which was the lone bidder for this port project in which the state government has put in 500 acres of land. Once completed, this port will be a station for India’s 80 percent of cargo trans-shipments.

Pinarayi Vijayan’s government had earlier opposed the Adani group

It is notable that Pinarayi Vijayan’s government had opposed the Adani Group at the time of taking over the airport operations in the state capital. The state government raising Rs 400 crores to abide by the agreement it signed with the Adani Port is thus in sharp contrast with the earlier approach of the government toward the Adani group.

It was in 2019 that the southern state witnessed a notable centre-state conflict over the issue of the privatization of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The Airport Authority of India’s (AAI) decision to choose a private company to manage the Thiruvananthapuram airport was immediately challenged by the KSIDC in a High Court filing. It claimed that the action was not “in the public interest” in its writ suit on March 5, 2019. As a result, auction bids were invited for the process.

Pinarayi Vijayan’s government lost in the auction for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

On June 13, 2019, the Thiruvananthapuram airport was put up for auction. Kerala government established a special purpose entity under KSIDC (Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation) named TIAL (Trivandrum International Airport Limited) to participate in the bid and requested the right of first refusal when competitive bidding was announced. TIAL was given the edge, which meant that it would win the bid even if its quotation was less than the top offer as long as the difference was less than 10%. Kerala lost because Adani’s offer was 25% more than TIAL’s. Adani had quoted a Rs 168 per passenger fee, and KSIDC Rs 135. The lowest bidder GMR, which runs the Delhi and Hyderabad airports, quoted Rs 63.

However, handing over the port to the Adani group did not come immediately. In the meanwhile, Pinarayi Vijayan and his government left no stone unturned to showcase how the Adani group handling the airport operations is against the interests of the people of Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to the Prime Minister in this regard in 2019. In this letter, Vijayan not only voiced his disagreement but also questioned the bidding process.

In this letter, the Kerala Chief Minister wrote, “The growing public resentment would make it difficult for the state to back a private agency. The absence of a prior experience clause in the tender document was surprising. Instead, an experience in infrastructure development alone was asked for. That the Adani Group, which had no experience in airport development, had won six bids makes the entire process suspicious. Public resentment is growing against the takeover of the airport by a private company. That the same company has won the bid for six airports including Thiruvananthapuram has only intensified the anger.”

The Kerala government passed a resolution

The Kerala Assembly unanimously approved a motion on August 24, 2020, calling the Centre, in an aggressive manner, to refrain from handing over the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to the Adani Group. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who proposed the motion, said that the Centre had disregarded the Kerala government’s repeated objections to its decision to transfer control of the airport to a private company.

At this time, Pinarayi Vijayan said, “For the last two years the state has been opposing the move. I have written twice to Prime Minister Modi. Still, it was handed over to a private entity ignoring the state’s protest. The Kerala Assembly unanimously urges the Centre to reconsider its decision. Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of the opposition in the Kerala Assembly, backed the Vijayan resolution but said the state government was surreptitiously aiding Adani Enterprises.

Pinarayi Vijayan finally takes a U-turn

On 14th October 2021, the Adani group took over the airport. The arrival of Adani didn’t appear to bother either the Chief Minister or the Opposition, who had supported the Chief Minister’s adamant approach in 2020. In the 15th Kerala Assembly, there was never even a passing mention of the takeover. It appeared as though the government was just waiting for Adani to land safely before ending their protests.

Further, when it was discovered that Cyril Amarchanddas Mangaldas, the consultant the TIAL selected for the airport proposal, had close ties to the Adani Group, the government’s elevated opposition appeared hollow. Ramesh Chennithala, the then-leader of the opposition, said that this was a plot to aid the Adani group.

The Adani group was supposed to take over the airport on 18th July 2021. It later requested to extend the timeline by three months. But on 13th July 2021, that is, days before the original timeline, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the monsoon session of the Kerala assembly which was going on at that time, MLAs of the ruling party CPM asked the chief minister, “Have you discussed the need for the center to drop its move to hand over the airport to Adani, which would go against Kerala’s interests?” The chief minister answered, “Did not discuss.”

As the Kerala state’s leftist government raises money to abide by the agreement with India’s one of biggest business houses, it becomes evident to recall how it once had its own reservations against the same business group and how it gradually went on to accommodate the corporate player first in the airport and now in the Vizinjam port with its protests against Adani group turning insignificant and the enterprise takes over the operations of the port. The Adani group has constantly come under attack by political parties like Congress and even the Left. However, wherever these parties are in power, they have worked closely with the conglomerate to further the development of their respective states. For example, while Rahul Gandhi continuously attacks the Adani group, the Congress govt in multiple states has awarded several projects to the conglomerate. Essentially, this proves that the entire rhetoric against prestige business conglomerates of India by the Congress party and other political parties is just that – rhetoric, while they have also been working closely with these business houses for the development of their states.

Property worth Rs 94 lakh of Sazia, accused in fake currency racket seized in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh

ANI
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Property worth Rs 94 lakh of Sazia, accused in fake currency racket seized in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh

The property of a man, accused of being involved in printing fake currency notes, was confiscated by Uttar Pradesh Police in the Amroha district. 

According to police, the property worth Rs 94 lakh was seized on the order of the district magistrate. The owner of the seized property, Sazia alias Sanju, was accused of printing fake currency notes as well as smuggling and money fraud through issuance fake cheques. 

“The property of the accused was confiscated on the orders of the district magistrate. It was sealed by the police,” said Santosh Kumar, the naib tehsildar. 

“A case was registered against the accused at Amroha Nagar police station. On the orders of the district magistrate, SHO of Amroha Nagar, Harishvardhan Singh, arrived along with his team and sealed the property,” he added. 

Announcements were made in the locality by police via loudspeakers and beating of drums, so that no one buys the property, said police. 

“The property owner was part of a gang involved in printing of fake currency notes and withdrawing money through fake cheques. The property was sealed and a public announcement was made in the locality so that no one buys the property. The property will remain in the possession of the state government until the case is decided,” said Rajiv Kumar, ASP Amroha.

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

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