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“This isn’t the time for ‘whataboutery’, ego or anger”: Opposition VP candidate Margaret Alva to Mamata Banerjee after TMC decided to abstain from voting

OpIndia Staff
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“This isn’t the time for ‘whataboutery’, ego or anger”: Opposition VP candidate Margaret Alva to Mamata Banerjee after TMC decided to abstain from voting

Congress leader Margaret Alva, who is the opposition candidate for the vice-presidential election, has slammed Trinamool Congress for deciding to abstain from the polls. Yesterday TMC had said that it will abstain from the polls as the party was not consulted while selecting the opposition candidate.

The decision was taken by TMC after a party meeting chaired by party chief Mamata Banerjee. The party was unhappy that it was not consulted while choosing Margaret Alva as the candidate from the opposition for the poll of vice president.

Reacting to this decision of Trinamool, Margaret Alva today took to Twitter to criticise the party for the decision, saying it is disappointing. She added, “this isn’t the time for ‘whataboutery’, ego or anger. This is the time for courage, leadership & unity.”

Calling Mamata Banerjee the epitome of courage, Alva added that she believes that the Bengal CM will stand with the opposition.

Margaret Alva will be contesting against NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankar, the current governor of West Bengal. The election will take place on 6th August, and votes will be counted on the same day. In the election for the Vice-President, the members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha vote, including the nominated members of the upper house.

TMC’s decision to abstain from the election comes after a surprise meeting Jagdeep Dhankar had with Mamata Banerjee and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on 13th July at Summer Raj Bhawan in Darjeeling in North Bengal. The meeting was held days before Dhankar was announced as the NDA candidate.

While both the CMs had said that it was a courtesy call, many had raised curiosity on the unusual meeting. And after the announcement of Jagdeep Dhankar as the candidate for the vice president, it was speculated that the election was discussed in the meeting.

Udaipur: Business in the area where Kanhaiya Lal was killed reduces by 90%, most of the shops remain shut as customers stay out of the area

OpIndia Staff
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Udaipur: Business in the area where Kanhaiya Lal was killed reduces by 90%, most of the shops remain shut as customers stay out of the area

Almost a month after a Hindu tailor named Kanhaiya Lal was murdered by two Islamic radicals in Rajasthan’s Udaipur for supporting Nupur Sharma, several reports have surfaced saying that the business in the area where the incident occurred on June 28 has reduced by 90 percent. Kanhaiya Lal was murdered in the Maladaas street area which is known as one of the crowded markets of Udaipur.

According to the Dainik Bhasker report, there are a total of 15 shops on Maladaas street in Udaipur which generated good business until June 28. After the murder of the Hindu tailor, almost 13 of the total 15 shops prefer to remain shut. People including the customers and the shopkeepers are scared to even enter the street for business.

Kanhaiya Lal was killed by two Islamic radicals named Mohammed Riyaz and Mohammed Ghous for extending support to ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma after her alleged ‘blasphemous’ remarks. The Islamists, who had entered the shop pretending to be customers, slit Kanhaiya Lal’s throat and stabbed him around 26 times on his body, especially on the neck. They also shot the murder on a video and released it on social media platforms. After the incident, the killers had released a video claiming responsibility for the act. The duo had also threatened PM Modi of murder.

One of the tailors named Mahavir from the Maladaas street who owns the ‘Latest Tailors’ shop spoke to Dainik Bhasker. He said that his shop is close to deceased Kanhaiya Lal’s shop and mentioned that people were scared to enter the area after Kanhaiya’s murder.

“It has been more than 20 days, but people are still scared. Two people work in my shop. One of them is sick. The second one is scared after the massacre. He informed me that he doesn’t want to work here. His family is not allowing him to leave the house for work. Everyone is scared and shocked to see a policeman standing in uniform outside our shop. Policemen stand outside the shop for two rounds every day”, he added.

According to another businessman named Mayank Lodha who is a gold trader in Udaipur, the customers call the shopkeepers to ask about the market situation before leaving their houses. “Before the customer comes, they call and ask about the condition of the market. They decide to come here only after knowing that everything is normal”, he said. He also added that after Kanhaiya Lal’s murder several other businessmen also received death threats which increased the level of panic in the city.

However, SP Vikas Sharma informed the media that now the market is completely normal. He stated that the Police personnel deployed at Malda’s street talks to the business owners daily. “Three businessmen have received death threats after Kanhaiya Lal’s murder. Investigation in all three cases is underway to discover the identity of the callers. The police are also taking the help of cyber cell”, he added assuring that there is no need for any customer or businessman to survive in fear.

The curfew-like situation continues to scare the citizens of Udaipur even after 24 days of the brutal murder.

Hate crime in Rajasthan: Tensions prevail in Alwar as a group of Muslim youths thrash a Sikh man, chop off his hair

OpIndia Staff
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Hate crime in Rajasthan: Tensions prevail in Alwar as a group of Muslim youths thrash a Sikh man, chop off his hair

Tensions simmered in Milkapur village in Alwar, Rajasthan, after 4-5 Muslim youths allegedly harassed and assaulted one Gurbaksh Singh, a former granthi of a Gurudwara located in the area. The miscreants reportedly accosted the victim, beat him up, threw red chilli powder in his eyes, and chopped his hair, something Sikhism prohibits its followers from doing. 

Several members of the Sikh community came to the streets and staged a dharna outside the Alwar PS in Rajasthan to protest against the harassment meted out at Gurbaksh Singh on the night of Thursday, July 21.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the victim, Gurbaksh Singh narrated what transpired with him on the night of July 21. He alleged that around 9 pm on Thursday, he was on his way from his home in Milakpur to Alavada to buy medicines when he was allegedly waylaid by the miscreants. The youths asked him to stop his bike and park it on one corner of the road. They then dragged Gurbaksh Singh to a deserted corner and threw red chilli powder in his eyes.

Gurbaksh Singh further recalled that the miscreants pinned him down, put a knife on his neck and were about to kill him but suddenly stopped and confirmed his name. The petrified Gurbaksh Singh introduced himself and told them that he was the former Granthi of a Gurudwara in Milakpur.

Upon learning that the victim was a Sikh, the miscreants decided against killing him and called one of the man named ”Jumma”, who asked them to instead cut off his keshas (unshorn hair), which is prohibited under Sikhism. The miscreants then fled leaving Gurbaksh Singh in an injured state.

Around 15 minutes later, when Gurbakh Singh regained consciousness and got a hold of himself, he narrated the ordeal to some locals who took him to the community health centre for treatment. The villagers reported the incident to the local police station.

After getting the information, Alwar Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam, Additional SP Sarita Singh, ADM Akhilesh Peepal, Shivaji Park Police Station incharge Ramniwas Meena and Ramgarh Police Station incharge Surendra Kumar reached the community health centre to meet Gurbaksh Singh.

The victim gave the police all the details of the incident. The police, in turn, assured to launch an investigation in the matter. The enraged villagers, meanwhile, gheraoed the police station and demanded an expeditious investigation into the incident. They demanded that the miscreants who had fled the scene of the crime after the incident, be apprehended quickly and dealt with strictly.

This incident comes on the heels of the recent brutal beheading of a Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan by two Islamists Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad for supporting Nupur Sharma on social media.

Following the murder of Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur on June 28, his killers Mohammed Riyaz Akhtar and Mohammed Gos escaped the scene on a bike with number 2611.  26-11 is the date of the Mumbai Terror Attack. The killers were nabbed by the Police 130 KM away from Udaipur at Bhim Highway. This case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

BBC and fake news: British broadcaster to pay a large sum in damages to the former nanny of Prince William, Harry for false claims of her ‘affair’ with Prince Charles

OpIndia Staff
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BBC and fake news: British broadcaster to pay a large sum in damages to the former nanny of Prince William, Harry for false claims of her ‘affair’ with Prince Charles

On Thursday (July 21), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) tendered an apology and assured to compensate a former nanny of the British Royal family for falsely claiming that she had aborted her child after an affair with Prince Charles.

The nanny, identified as Alexandra “Tiggy” Pettifer, had served as the personal assistant to the Prince of Wales’ family between 1993 and 1999. She looked after Prince William and Prince Harry after Prince Charles had separated from Princess Diana in 1992.

Reportedly, false allegations about an ‘affair’ between Prince Charles and his personal assistant were made by BBC journalist Martin Bashir to land an interview with Princess Diana in 1995. Pettifer had sued the national broadcaster of the UK for the harm caused by the scandalous portrayal of her life.

It was in that explosive interview that the late Princess Diana disclosed intimate details of her failed marriage to Prince Charles.

In May 2021, an inquiry committee set up by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to look into the allegations made by Charles Spencer, brother of former British Princess Diana, ruled that BBC journalist Martin Bashir had used deceit to secure an interview with the former Princess in 1995. Charles Spencer said the BBC reporter linked these events to Diana’s death. 

The statement issued by the BBC

Following a hearing at the High Court in London on July 21, BBC Director-General Tim Davie issued an apology and assured to not telecast the said interview on BBC’s channel ever again.

“The BBC has agreed to pay substantial damages to Mrs Pettifer and I would like to take this opportunity to apologise publicly to her, to the Prince of Wales, and to the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, for the way in which Princess Diana was deceived and the subsequent impact on all their lives,” he stated.

“It is a matter of great regret that the BBC did not get to the facts in the immediate aftermath of the programme when there were warning signs that the interview might have been obtained improperly. Instead, as the Duke of Cambridge himself put it, the BBC failed to ask the tough questions,” he added.

Tim Davie apologised for letting the audience and the Royal Family down. “Had we done our job properly Princess Diana would have known the truth during her lifetime,” he emphasised.

The BBC Director General further said, “It does of course remain part of the historical record and there may be occasions in the future when it will be justified for the BBC to use short extracts for journalistic purposes, but these will be few and far between and will need to be agreed at the executive committee level and set in the full context of what we now know about the way the interview was obtained. I would urge others to exercise similar restraint.”

Statement by the former nanny of the British Royal Family

Alexandra “Tiggy” Pettifer was successful in settling her claim against the BBC after a long legal battle. In a statement, she said, “I am disappointed that it needed legal action for the BBC to recognise the serious harm I have been subjected to.”

The former nanny added, “Sadly, I am one of many people whose lives have been scarred by the deceitful way in which the BBC Panorama was made and the BBC’s subsequent failure to properly investigate the making of the programme.”

She has expressed grief over the distress caused to the British Royal family. “I know first-hand how much they were affected at the time, and how the programme and the false narrative it created have haunted the family in the years since. “Especially because, still today, so much about the making of the programme is yet to be adequately explained.”

MP: AIMIM candidate wins local polls in Khargone, where Islamists had attacked Ram Navami procession

OpIndia Staff
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MP: AIMIM candidate wins local polls in Khargone, where Islamists had attacked Ram Navami procession

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen candidate Aruna Upadhyay won local body polls from ward 2, Khargone, a town that saw Islamists attacking the Ram Navami procession earlier this year.

After her victory, Upadhyay thanked AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for granting her party ticket to contest from the seat. 

“I am grateful to Owaisi Sahab for giving me the ticket to contest from ward no 2, Khargone. People wanted change, so they voted for me. I will look into the issues of water, electricity and ration card,” Upadhyay said while talking to the media. 

It is worth noting that Upadhyay won in a town where Islamists had gone on a rampage against Hindu devotees, including women and children, who were part of Ram Navami procession. 

Islamists attack Ram Navami procession in Khargone

On April 10, on the occasion of Ram Navami, one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals, violence broke out in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone. Islamists attacked the Shobha Yatra processions. Hindu devotees came under attack by an Islamist mob while the Ram Navami procession passed through a lane adjacent to a mosque in Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. 

In the riots that erupted at this time, Islamist rioters attacked Hindu houses and targeted Hindu women. While the mob of Islamist rioters broke into the lanes of Khargone, the miscreants taunted Hindu women saying, “Where is your Ram? We Ravans are here to abduct you.”

The cops resorted to firing tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. During the orgy of violence, a total of 24 people were injured, including six police personnel. Even the Superintendent of Police (Khargone) had sustained bullet injuries. Keeping in mind the volatile law and order situation, a curfew was imposed in the area.

Uttar Pradesh: Retired railway supervisor Abdul Jameel of Fatehpur embraces Hinduism, takes new name Shravan Kumar calling it ‘Ghar-Wapsi’

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Retired railway supervisor Abdul Jameel of Fatehpur embraces Hinduism, takes new name Shravan Kumar calling it ‘Ghar-Wapsi’

On Thursday 21st July 2022, a man named Abdul Jameel in Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh quit Islam and embraced Hinduism at the Sankat Mochan Mandir amidst the holy chants of Vedic Mantras along with all the rituals according to the Sanatan Dharma. He will now be known as Shravan Kumar. Abdul Jameel – a retired government servant – said that he developed an interest in the Sanatan Dharma over the last many years.

Abdul Jameel originally hails from Sadabad tehsil of Hathras district and currently lives in Deviganj mohalla of Fatehpur. Abdul Jameel, 66, who retired as chief reservation supervisor after serving in the railways for 38 years, said he had faith in Sanatan Dharma since childhood.

Jameel said that for about two years, he had a desire to convert to Hinduism. A few days ago, he met the regional general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and developed a friendship with him. After that, he spoke his mind and adopted Hinduism.

He said as he became Shravan Kumar, “There is a lot of discrimination in the Muslim religion. So much so that even siblings don’t trust each other. People are greedy and even kill each other for their property. I was upset with all these things. I decided that I would convert to Hinduism. I worship Lord Ram and he is my deity. I felt very good when for the first time I chanted Vishnu-Vishnu and performed havan puja.”

He said he did not change any religion, but had returned to his original Sanatan Dharma. Describing Lord Ram as his role model, Shravan Kumar – formerly Jameel – said that Lord Ram is the ancestor of the whole of India, and people should happily accept this fact.

Jameel said that he was not pressurized to become a Hindu. According to him, his ancestors were Kshatriyas. His great-grandfather’s name was Puttu Singh. His father’s name was Abdul Hamid Beg. He told that two generations back, his family was connected to Rajputs.

Around two months ago, Abdul Jameel’s brother-in-law Babar knew that Jameel is going to accept Hinduism. Babar tried to prevent him from doing so. As Abdul Jameel did not agree to stay back in Islam, Babar beat him. Abdul Jameel told him that his faith is now associated with the Sanatan Dharma and no one can change it now.

Abdul Jameel said, “When my brother-in-law Babar alias Mustakim knew that I am converting to Hinduism, he locked me at home and he beat me. I believed in my deity, Lord Ram. I perform his puja at my home for the last three months.”

Abdul Jameel who is now Shravan Kumar said that he is not afraid of anyone now and that if anyone tries to threaten him, he will lodge a complaint at the police station. He has also met the district magistrate and asked for security.

Abdul Jameel has three daughters and a son. His elder daughter is married. Another daughter is an engineer while the third daughter is an MBBS doctor. His wife Arjumand Bano lives with the daughters in Lucknow. His son Mohammed Shameel is doing a course for pilot officer in Delhi. According to him, there is immense social pressure on the family right now.

Abdul Jameel told that he started his job in railways on 30th October 1978. First, he was posted as a reservation supervisor in the Fatehpur district where he lived for 20 years. After that, he was transferred to Shikohabad where he worked for 18 years before retiring in 2014.

Rajasthan: Rizwan Ashraf who crossed border to kill Nupur Sharma belongs to terrorist group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, has criminal record

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Rizwan Ashraf who crossed border to kill Nupur Sharma belongs to terrorist group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, has criminal record

The Rajasthan Police on Friday made shocking revelations against a Pakistani national who was apprehended from the Hindumal border in Rajasthan’s Srigangagar district after crossing illegally to the Indian side. The Police said that the accused who was identified by the BSF as Rizwan Ashraf belonged to a far-right Islamic extremist political party in Pakistan named Tehreek-e-Labbaik.

“Tehreek-e-Labbaik, a Pakistani organization has made plans to kill Nupur Sharma. Rizwan who is a Pakistani terrorist was also influenced by Tehreek-e-Labbaik. As per their plan, he wanted to enter India from across the border,” said S Sengathir, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) of Rajasthan.

The Police also said that Ashraf was also arrested earlier by the Pakistan Police in Lahore for dismantling the statue of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in August 2021. According to the reports, the Police, IB, BSF, and Military Intelligence Officers are all investigating to discover the local connections established by Ashraf in Rajasthan’s Srigangagar.

The accused was arrested by the BSF from the Hindumal border in Srigangagar district on after crossing the border illegally to the Indian side. The BSF stated in the case that the accused had crossed the border on July 16 and was apprehended after he was spotted roaming around near the fencing. The patrol squad became suspicious and interrogated him. He was carrying an 11-inch long knife, religious books, clothes, food and sand in a bag. He had said that his name is Rizwan Ashraf, and he is from Mandi Bahauddin city located in Northern Punjab of Pakistan.

However, he did not respond adequately and failed to cooperate with the military officers. Rajasthan SP Anand Sharma while elaborating the details said that when he was thoroughly searched by the officers, two knives, one of them being 11-inch long, were discovered from him. Besides, religious texts, maps, clothing, and food items were discovered. Rizwan Ashraf, 24, is a resident of Kuthiyal Shaikh, Pakistan.

During questioning, the accused admitted to being a resident of Mandi Bahauddin in northern Pakistan. He informed officials that he crossed the border with the goal of assassinating suspended BJP spokesman Nupur Sharma for making derogatory statements about Prophet Muhammad. He was on his way to Ajmer Dargah before executing the claimed murder.

He was interrogated by a combined team of intelligence organizations, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and the Military Intelligence Agency and was later handed over to the Police. The Police reportedly on Friday revealed that the accused belonged to Tehreek-e-Labbaik and had a past criminal record. Further investigations in the case are underway.

India Today Group sacks Kolkata based General Manager Indranil Chatterjee for ‘extremely derogatory post’ against President-elect Draupadi Murmu

OpIndia Staff
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India Today Group sacks Kolkata based General Manager Indranil Chatterjee for ‘extremely derogatory post’ against President-elect Draupadi Murmu

The India Today group has terminated the services of its Kolkata Based Deputy General Manager Indranil Chatterjee over offensive comments against president-elect Draupadi Murmu. The media group expressed regret for the ‘extremely derogatory post’ by their Kolkata based sales staff, saying that the post was hurtful and against the basic principles of human decency.

In the Facebook post that had gone viral yesterday, Indranil Chatterjee had commented that he can’t accept Draupadi Murmu as India’s president because she is Adivasi. Saying that he is old fashioned and proud about it, he had said that just like does not support gay marriage, he also does not support an ‘Adivasi President’.

He had written, “Few chairs are not meant for “All” & have a dignity attached to them. Do we allow a sweeper to perform Durga Puja? Can a Hindu teach at a Madrasah? These are nothing but cheap socio-political gimmicks of the ruling party in creating a Rubber Stamp Constitutional Head, so that laws can be passed easily showing middle finger to the Opposition parties.”

Indranil Chatterjee had added that election of Draupadi Murmu to the post of president of India is an insult to past presidents like souls like APJ Abdul Kalam, Pranab MuKherjee, S. Radhakrishnan, Zakir Hussain, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Rajendra Prasad and others. “Baba Indra is against Medieval Age Caste Politics. Strictly my personal opinion,” he had added at the last.

Indranil deleted his Facebook account after his post became viral and created massive outrage on the social media. Following the outrage and bad PR the post was bringing to the organisation, India Today group today decided to sack him.

The statement issued by India Today Group Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Bhatia said that when Indranil was asked for an explanation for the post, he “admitted to his momentary lapse of judgement”. He apologised unconditionally and said he had already deleted the post within a few minutes, the statement added.

However, Indranil Chatterjee was sacked from his job by the media house because it was grave breach of code of conduct. “This was a grave breach of the India Today Group’s Code of Conduct. The employee’s services were terminated with immediate effect last night”, the statement informed.

The media house further added, “The India Today Group does not condone such actions. We uphold the highest standards of ethics and professional decorum.”

Notably, Draupadi Murmu won the presidential election over Yashwant Sinha yesterday to become the country’s next president. She was born to a Santal Tribal family on June 20, 1958, in the village of Uparbeda, district Mayurbhanj in Odisha. From 2015 until 2021, she served as Jharkhand’s honourable governor. She was the first female governor of the state as well as the first tribal leader to hold the position in an Indian state.

‘Uddhav Thackeray had refused to provide security to Eknath Shinde after Naxalites threatened him’: Shiv Sena MLA Suhas Kande 

OpIndia Staff
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‘Uddhav Thackeray had refused to provide security to Eknath Shinde after Naxalites threatened him’: Shiv Sena MLA Suhas Kande 

In an explosive revelation, Shiv Sena MLA Suhas Kande said former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had asked the then Home Minister Shamburaj Desai not to grant additional security to Eknath Shinde after Naxalites threatened him.

“When Eknath Shinde received death threats from the Naxalites, both the Home Ministers (state and cabinet) considered giving him Z Plus security. But Uddhav Thackeray called Shambhuraj Desai at 8.30 am and told him not to provide security to Eknath Shinde,” Suhas Kande said in an interview with ABP Majha. 

Challenging Aaditya Thackeray, who is on a Manmad tour, Kande said he would resign if the former Maharashtra Environment minister responds to his questions. 

“Why was a Marathi man not provided with security even though he was receiving death threats while fighting against Naxalites? On the contrary, why was Z Plus security given to those who were against Hindutva?” Kande asked.

Kande further added that he plans to meet Aaditya Thackeray and ask these questions to him. He said he is from Shiv Sena and a true follower of Balasaheb Thackeray, so if Thackeray refuses to meet him, he will hit the streets and launch protests against it. 

“Aaditya Thackeray has come to Manmad only once so far. He has has not contributed even one percent in the development of Manmad, I. Can Aaditya Thackeray show she has granted any project here for the development of the city? Come to Manmad city or Nandgaon constituency and show project of your tourism department,” he challenged.

He further added, “Aaditya Thackeray has forgotten that people elected us on the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and on the issue of Hindutva. We are Balasaheb’s staunch Shiv Sainiks and Hindutvavadis. As Uddhav Thackeray says, I am ready to resign and get re-elected, but before that Aaditya Thackeray should answer my question. If he takes my question, I will resign.”

Two and a half years after forming the government in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and an overwhelming majority of the party MLAs mutinied against Uddhav Thackeray, citing the party’s betrayal of Hindutva. The rebellion resulted in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, after which Eknath Shinde became the chief minister of Maharashtra with the support of the BJP.

Quid pro quo by AAP minister Manish Sisodia: LG recommends probe into ‘undue financial favours to liquor licensees’ worth crores

OpIndia Staff
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Quid pro quo by AAP minister Manish Sisodia: LG recommends probe into ‘undue financial favours to liquor licensees’ worth crores

Based on a report from the Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has recommended an investigation into the controversial Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The report alleges breaches of the GNCTD Act of 1991, the Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) of 1993, the Delhi Excise Act of 2009, and the Delhi Excise Rules of 2010. The liquor mafia was also granted a benefit of Rs 144 crores, according to the report.

The Chief Secretary’s report, which was sent to both LG and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, “indicate substantively of financial quid pro quo at the top political level, wherein the Minister In-charge of the Excise Department, Manish Sisodia, took and got executed, major decisions/actions in violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications.”

“Sisodia also allegedly extended undue financial favours to the liquor licensees much after the tenders had been awarded and thus caused huge losses to the exchequer,” the report further added.

It is noteworthy that the Excise Department decided to waive Rs. 144.36 crores of the tendered licence fee for the liquor market only, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, even as migrants were leaving the city due to a lack of basic subsistence income, street vendors were struggling to make a living, and all other business establishments were at risk of shutdown.

According to the report, this was done solely to enrich private liquor merchants set to provide financial rewards to those at the top levels of government, including Manish Sisodia, Minister in Charge of Excise & Finance.

This move follows an official statement issued earlier this month announcing that the Delhi government had renewed the licences of those providing country liquor in the national capital by one month. Licensees will be required to pay a pro-rated licencing cost for the extension.

The Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22 of the Kejriwal government has come under fire for giving unauthorised financial favours to licensees of alcoholic beverages after bids were called, causing enormous losses to the exchequer. The policy, which was opposed by civil society, religious groups, educational institutions, and Parents’ Bodies, was introduced in the midst of the Delta wave of the Covid pandemic and went into effect on November 17, last year, with retail licences awarded to private bidders for 849 vends spread across the city divided into 32 zones. Manish Sisodia, the Minister in Charge of the Excise Department, is expected to come under the CBI’s investigation in this inquiry.

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