Senior Pakistani journalist and a close friend of outgoing PM Imran Khan, Mohsin Baig, recently dropped a bombshell when he revealed that American Consulate paid the rent of Khan’s house for 8 years.
Speaking on a Pakistani news channel, Baig said, “I am saying this on national television, and he can sue me if he wants to, but I want to tell you all that Imran Khan has been fooling people in the name of an American conspiracy. The American Consulate used to pay his house rent for eight years. He is the real American agent.
"American consulate paid rent of Imran Khan’s house for 8 years. He's the real American agent." There is NEVER a dull moment. pic.twitter.com/04dSTgaTRp
He further added, “If Imran thinks I am a liar, he should file a defamation suit against me. He is a liar.”
Imran Khan fuels ‘foreign conspiracy’ theories to delegitimise protest against his government and undermine new regime
The revelation came months after Imran Khan had alleged US involvement in dethroning his government. Khan had claimed ad nauseam that Donald Lu, assistant secretary of the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, met Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington in March and told him that Khan should be dismissed from power in the no-confidence vote.
However, the United States vehemently denied the allegations levelled by Khan, stating that it had no role in the churning brewing inside Pakistan, where legions of disenchanted youth took to the streets protesting against Khan’s government amid a severe financial crisis gripping the country.
Weeks later, Khan lost the no-confidence vote on April 10, resulting in his removal from the post of Prime Minister. Following the no-confidence vote, the opposition parties nominated Shehbaz Sharif, who was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan a day later.
However, in his bid to return to power, Khan has continued pushing anti-America conspiracy theories, asserting that there was American involvement in deposing him from the office of Prime Minister and that the current government headed by Sharif was a stooge of the United States.
On Tuesday (July 26), former TMC leader Yashwant Sinha snubbed the Mamata Banerjee-led party and announced that he has no intentions of joining any political party.
The development comes days after Sinha lost out to Draupadi Murmu in the 2022 Presidential elections. While dismissing all ‘rumours’ about joining hands with the TMC, the 84-year-old vowed to remain independent.
He toldPTI, “I will remain independent and will not join any other party…Nobody has spoken to me; I have not spoken to anyone. Yashwant Sinha, however, informed that he was in touch with a TMC leader in a personal capacity.
Unsure about his political journey ahead, he said, “I have to see what role I will play (in public life), how active I will be. I am 84 now, so these are issues; I have to see how long I can carry on.”
I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step.
In June this year, he resigned from the Trinamool Congress to fight the Presidential elections. He said, “I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC.”
“Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step,” Sinha had tweeted.
The 84-year-old had earlier served as a Union Minister under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led-BJP government. He quit the party in 2018 and defected to the TMC ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Vidhan Sabha polls.
The political turncoat had earlier tried to rationalise his decision of switching parties. He claimed that there used to be politics of consensus during the Vajpayee era while it has been confined to conflict during the tenure of PM Narendra Modi.
India’s ace Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will not be participating in the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022 to be held in Birmingham due to a minor injury. The Commonwealth Games 2022 is scheduled to begin on July 28, 2022 and will conclude on August 8, 2022. Neeraj Chopra had gone into the history books after becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in track & field events as he won the Gold Medal in the Javelin Throw event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Neeraj Chopra to miss Commonwealth Games 2022 due to injury
“Neeraj Chopra will not take part in Commonwealth Games 2022. He is not fit as he got injured in the finals of the World Athletic Championship. He informed us about this,” Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association confirmed to news agency ANI on Tuesday (July 26).
According to reports, the star javelin thrower suffered a minor injury when competing at the World Athletics Championships Oregon 2022 in Eugene on Sunday (July 24) and took the decision of staying away from the upcoming Commonwealth Games subsequently on Monday (July 25) after undergoing an MRI scan.
He suffered a minor injury when competing at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in Eugene on Sunday and made the decision after an MRI scan on Monday.
— Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (@PBNS_India) July 26, 2022
Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. His best throw was 88.13 meters, which he had registered in his fourth attempt. Anderson Peters of Grenada won the gold with the best throw of 90.54 meters, and Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won bronze with a best throw of 88.09 meters.
With this medal, Chopra became the first Indian man and second Indian to win a medal at World Athletics Championships. Before him, long jumper Anju Bobby George had won a bronze medal in 2003.
Neeraj had won the maiden gold for Indian athletics in Tokyo Olympics last year. After shooter Abhivan Bindra, who had won gold in 2008 in Beijing Olympics, Neeraj was the second Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics, and first one to do it in track & field events.
Opposition VP candidate and Congress leader Margaret Alva took to Twitter on Monday, July 25, to claim that the public sector telecom service provider MTNL has diverted her calls, suspended her KYC details, and sent her a notice after she made a few phone calls to her ‘friends’ in BJP. It is interesting that the Congress politician chose to feign ignorance despite the Delhi police and PIB having repeatedly issued warnings about a KYC fraud that has been targeting MTNL users.
Although all the details are in the public domain, the Congress leader Tweeted on July 25, taking a dig at the BJP government in the center, “After speaking to some friends in the BJP today, all calls to my mobile are being diverted and I am unable to make or receive calls. If you restore the phone, I promise not to call any MP from the BJP, TMC, or BJD tonight.” She shared a screenshot of the message she claimed to have received from the public sector telecom service provider MTNL asking for her KYC details.
Dear BSNL/ MTNL,
After speaking to some friends in the BJP today, all calls to my mobile are being diverted & I’m unable to make or receive calls. If you restore the phone. I promise not to call any MP from the BJP, TMC or BJD tonight.
Congress leader Margaret Alva has been contacting important members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), such as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after the opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha lost the Presidential election to NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu by a wide margin.
Meanwhile, following the Congress leader’s fake claims, MTNL replied making it sufficiently clear that they never ask for the e-KYC on WhatsApp/SMS/Call etc. “Alert by sending messages to all GSM customers to avoid such type of EKYC SMS/WhatsApp/Calls as it may lead to some kind of fraud, hence you are requested to ignore such E-KYC messages,” read the Tweet posted by the public sector telecom service provider.
Respected Madam, MTNL never ask for the e-KYC on WhatsApp/SMS/Call etc. ,MTNL Alert by sending messages to all GSM customers to avoid such type of EKYC SMS/WhatsApp/Calls as it may lead to some kind of fraud , hence you are requested to ignore such E-KYC messages.
BJP also hit out at the Congress leader for spreading fake news. “Why should anybody tap her phone? Let her call anybody, we’re confident about what the result of the VP election will be. Why should we do this? These are childish allegations. She’s a senior person & she should not make such allegations,” Union minister Pralhad Joshi was quoted as saying by ANI.
Why should anybody tap her phone? Let her call anybody, we’re confident about what the result of the VP election will be. Why should we do this? These are childish allegations. She’s a senior person & she should not make such allegations: Union min Pralhad Joshi on Margaret Alva pic.twitter.com/a7MXDdmgZG
Notably, the Delhi police had been repeatedly alerting users about the potential scam wherein fraudsters are duping customers by sending messages and asking to verify their numbers owing to Know Your Customer (KYC) issues almost a week back.
On July 19, Delhi Police warned people against a WhatsApp message that misuses MTNL’s name and logo. Sharing a screenshot of the fraudulent message in circulation, Delhi police Tweeted, “Beware! There is a sharp spike in fraudulent incidents wherein @MTNLOfficial’s name & logo are being used to commit cyber fraud. Mobile customers receive WhatsApp messages from miscreants on the pretext of KYC updation to retrieve confidential information.”
Beware❗️ There is a sharp spike in fraudulent incidents wherein @MTNLOfficial’s name & logo are being used to commit cyber fraud. Mobile customers receive WhatsApp messages from miscreants on the pretext of KYC updation to retrieve confidential information.@DCP_CCC_Delhipic.twitter.com/j7HFOVCbxZ
MTNL had also re-Tweeted the Delhi police’s Tweet.
Beware❗️ There is a sharp spike in fraudulent incidents wherein @MTNLOfficial’s name & logo are being used to commit cyber fraud. Mobile customers receive WhatsApp messages from miscreants on the pretext of KYC updation to retrieve confidential information.@DCP_CCC_Delhipic.twitter.com/j7HFOVCbxZ
In fact, the Delhi police have been shooting out such warning messages since the month of May. On May 21, the Delhi police cyber-crime cell posted a Tweet, warning users how fraudsters are sending fake messages claiming that their SIM cards will be blocked if they do not call on the phone numbers given in the message.
“You may receive a fake SMS claiming your SIM will be blocked due to KYC issues. These have numbers on which people are asked to call,” Delhi police wrote in the post, also sharing screenshots of sample messages that the fraudsters are sending to dupe customers.
You may receive a fake SMS claiming your SIM will be blocked due to KYC issues.These have?numbers on which people are asked to call.
It is nearly impossible to think that the Congress leader was oblivious to all these warnings sent to MTNL users, and wrote her tweet out of pure ignorance given the fact that the Delhi police and PIB have been issuing warnings about the potential scam for the past two months. Margret Alva, who is going all-out to challenge Jagdeep Dhankar, the governor of West Bengal and the NDA’s nominee for vice president, likely saw an opportunity to criticise the BJP leadership prior to the vice presidential elections by claiming that her phone has been purposefully blocked because she has been contacting NDA politicians to garner votes.
Six Muslims were arrested in Bihar’s Vaishali district for collecting alms with a Basaha bull (Nandi, Lord Shiva’s ride) camouflaged as Hindu Sadhus. They were apprehended near Kadamghat in Hajipur city. The authorities are looking into whether the men were merely begging or were part of a larger conspiracy.
They have been identified as Karim Ahmed (38 years, father-Sakur Ahmed), Syed Ali (40 years, father- Maiku Ahmed), Hasan (30 years, father- Asghar), Mehboob (32 years, father- Muner alias W), Haleem Ahmed (35 Years, Father- Sakur Ahmed) and Subrati (30 Years, Father- Abu Mohammad). During interrogation, it was discovered that all of them are inhabitants of Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district.
The men arrested were disguised as Sadhus (monks) and were collecting alms with a Basaha bull (Nandi, Shiva’s mount). Along with the detained men, the authorities have also held the bull at the police station. The authorities are worried about such incidents occurring during the Shravani Mela.
They were apprehended with the assistance of Bajrang Dal workers. Aryan Singh, a Bajrang Dal activist, stated that all of these young people used to beg for days in the Hajipur city region by becoming sadhus. When they were questioned owing to their suspicious conduct, it was discovered that they were not Hindus. They were eventually apprehended in Kadmaghat on the Gandak river. The police were then notified. They were all lying at first, but when interrogated, they all admitted to the truth.
The Muslim men spent a couple of days at Harnaut before heading to Hajipur. During questioning at the city police station, the suspects stated that they go wherever the fair is conducted and collect alms. They clammed up when questioned about disguising themselves as Hindu Sadhus and taking to begging in the month of Sawan. Two of these suspects’ Aadhar cards have been retrieved. According to SHO Suvodh Kumar, the addresses recorded on the Aadhar card are being validated, and the Bahraich Police Department has been approached.
Given the actionable intelligence of terrorist threats during the Shravani Mela, their capture is crucial. All of these do not appear to be beggars, according to the Bajrang Dal workers, and their motivation is questionable. The SHO saidan inquiry is underway probing all possible angles.
On July 23, Congress leader from Kerala, Sreedev SS Soman shared a photograph of beef fry and porotta on his Facebook profile with an intention to mock Hindus and wrote in Malayalam, “The best parotta and beef fry I have ever eaten… Do Sanghis want…”. He added a couple of emojis at the end to drive home the point that he is mocking Hindus with this post.
Facebook Post by Congress leader Sreedev SS Soman. Source: Facebook. Translated using Facebook translation services.
Soman faced backlash in the comment section, to which he replied, “This is India, our India, here we will eat cows, buffaloes, and bulls…Sanghis can come to my post and put cow dung like this.”
Source Facebook. Translated using Facebook translation services.
A screenshot of the post was shared on Twitter by J Nandkumar who said, “Kerala Congress Leader Sreedev Soman eats beef and then taunts Hindus by putting a photo of the plate on his FB with a message – ” This is the best Gow Matha fry I have eaten, do you want some ?” The real face of the #Congress party. Down South, all the mukhotas come off.”
#Kerala Congress Leader Sreedev Soman eats beef and then taunts Hindus by putting a photo of the plate on his FB with a message – ” This is the best Gow Matha fry I have eaten, do you want some ? ” The real face of the #Congress party. Down South, all the mukhotas come off. pic.twitter.com/mxYwiT7zon
Columnist Vikar Saraswat questioned MP from Kerala Rahul Gandhi over this post and said, “Hello Rahul Gandhi you have a whole army who do nothing but regularly mock and ridicule Hinduism. Is your Hindu hatred cultivated in the company of your new friends or is it inherited from mother’s side?”
Hello @RahulGandhi you have a whole army who do nothing but regularly mock and ridicule Hinduism. Is your Hindu hatred cultivated in the company of your new friends or is it inherited from mother’s side? https://t.co/s66EOnFUHb
Author and former RS member from BJP Tarun Vijay said, “Hindu consolidation and an assertive Hindu action alone can handle such animals. Dehumanised creatures.”
Hindu consolidation and an assertive Hindu action alone can handle such animals. Dehumanised creatures. https://t.co/BNzERmVZqw
— Tarun Vijay தருண் விஜய் भारत के वीर सैनिकों की जय (@Tarunvijay) July 25, 2022
History of Congress using beef and cow slaughter to insult Hindus in Kerala
This is not the first time Congress workers from Kerala have used Cows to instigate Hindus and insult the Hindu faith. In March 2021, the Congress party fielded Bindhu Krishna from the Kollam constituency as the joint UDF candidate. She was instrumental in organising anti-Hindu beef festivals in Kerala to provoke Hindus. She was the District unit chief of the Congress party in Kollam and was the face of Beef festivals that were organised across Kerala to protest the Centre’s ban on the sale and slaughter of cattle. Led by Bindhu Krishna, the Congress party workers cooked beef in front of the DCC office.
In February 2020, amidst reports that beef was excluded from the menu for state police trainees, Congress workers in Kerala distributed beef curry and bread outside the Mukkam Police station in Kozhikode district. As per reports, the distribution of beef curry was started by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary, advocate K Praveen Kumar. Alleging Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s ‘Sangh leanings’, Kumar said Congress would ‘expose Vijayan’s double standards’.
In 2017, Youth Congress workers brutally butchered a calf in broad daylight at Kerala’s Kannur to protest against the Center’s ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter in cattle markets. A few days later, a Congress MLA from the state posted a video of consuming beef with friends to express solidarity with those who have been organising beef fest across the state.
Karnataka Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan has recently courted controversy after he claimed that the numerical strength of Muslims is greater than the politically-dominant Vokkaliga community in the State.
He made the contentious remarks to support Siddaramaiah’s bid for becoming the Congress’ CM candidate in the upcoming Assembly elections. Siddaramiah faces strong comeptition from the party’s State President DK Shivakumar, who happens to be a Vokkaliga.
In a bid to nullify Shivakumar’s recent call to his community to support his Chief Ministerial candidature, Zameer Ahmed Khan reminded him that Vokalligas do not enjoy numerical superiority in the State.
“No one can become CM with support from one community, everyone has the desire to become CM. That’s not wrong! But, it is possible (to become CM) only by taking all communities together,” he stated.
Khan sparked controversy when he said, “I too have a desire to become CM, my community’s percentage is more than that of Vokkaligas. Is it possible for me to become CM, just with the support of my community? Not possible.”
It must be mentioned that Vokkaligas constitute a major vote bank in South Karnataka and the old Mysuru region. Fearing backlash from the Vokkaliga community, the Congress party went into a ‘damage control mode’ and directed Khan to exercise restraint.
Congress warned its Karnataka MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan over his statement that “Muslims outnumber Vokkaligas in the state”
“You are warned to be careful in future while making public remarks and steadfastly adhere to the discipline and ideology of the party,” reads the letter pic.twitter.com/0o9PaSLudj
“You are warned to be careful in future while making public remarks and steadfastly adhere to the discipline and ideology of the party,” read a letter by Congress General Secretary Randeep S Surjewala.
BJP Vokkaliga leader R Ashoka remarked, “Settle your issues within, don’t bring community, this country runs as per Constitution, where CM is for the whole state and not for a community…Congress is speaking about Vokkaliga. I’m also a Vokkaliga, what rights do they have to speak about Vokkaligas?”
“The community is respected, the community (largely farming) provides food for the society,” he emphasised, adding that Zameer Ahmed Khan must refrain from crossing the Lakshman Rekha.
BJP leader C T Ravi said,”That time has gone long ago, Zameer Bhai…Threatening and blackmailing in the name of vote bank has gone long ago. Let Zameer Bhai remember that one can do politics today by stating ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and working for people.”
On July 26, netizens called out Times Now for allegedly running an advertorial without disclaimers. Times Now has published a video report on its official Twitter account that talked about the ‘Farishtey Dilli ke’ scheme by the AAP-led Delhi Government. In the tweet, Times Now said that around 18,000 people had been saved under the scheme, and the Delhi government is earning praises for the same.
#Delhi‘s #AAP government is earning praises with the mass success of its ‘Farishtey Dilli ke’ scheme. More than 18,000 lives have been saved under this initiative so far.@anchoramitawpic.twitter.com/2NxHJiHIea
The video shared by Times Now contained a statement by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The segments that were used in Times Now video were taken from a two-year-old ad that is available on the official YouTube channel of the Delhi Government.
Netizens called out Times Now
Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar said, “This tweet doesn’t look normal! Is it a promotion?”
Twitter user Akshay Gandhi said, “This is so cheap. News channel broadcasting ads produced Aam Aadmi Party to further political propaganda at the cost of the public exchequer (kickbacks included). This new genre of ads can be called #PseudoNews.”
This is so #cheap. News channel broadcasting ads produced #AamAdmiParty to further political propaganda at the cost of the public exchequer (kickbacks included). This new genre of ads can be called #PseudoNews. #AAP ke saare BAAP khaas ho gaye. #Delhi ke aam aadmi ko mila Kela ? https://t.co/y5GdwD9sOc
As per the guidelines issued by Central Consumer Protection Authority [PDF], it is required that the advertising platform must declare if the video being played is an advertisement. There should be a disclaimer that is easy to read and understand. The disclaimer should be placed in a position that is visible to the viewer, and the font and language of the disclaimer must be the same as of the advertisement. However, in this case, what looks like an advertisement for Delhi Government, there was no visible disclaimer defining it as an advertisement.
The ongoing Kanwar Yatra 2022 is extremely special for the devotees of Lord Shiva as it is happening after a gap of two years. Lakhs of Kanwariyas all over India have been undertaking the arduous journey to collect water from the holy river Ganga and offer it to Lord Mahadev. However, there have been multiple instances where the Yatra has faced hateful attacks. Also, the leftists have been targeting the Kanwar Yatra and questioning the enthusiasm of the Kanwariyas.
Some of the members of the leftist cabal said that Kanwariyas must ‘pick up books to avoid pick a Kanwar’ while others blatantly compared the Kanwariyas to people offering Namaz in public. “Offering namaz in a public place attracts FIRs but a Hindu religious yatra in public places receives showers of flower petals from helicopter rides paid for by public money. The hypocrisy”, ‘journalist’ Anusha Sood had said. Even ‘Journalist’ Barkha Dutt tweeted on July 25 saying that ‘how could state officials shower petals on Kanwariyas but object to Namaz in public spaces’.
Team Opindia traveled to Haridwar amid the Yatra to know the truth about the claims and also to get the hang of the Kanwariyas and their situation. Also, the behavior of the government officials and local civilians towards the Kanwariyas was observed amid the Yatra. The first stop of Team Opindia’s journey was at Muzaffarnagar from where they proceeded towards Haridwar via the Ati Highway. On the way, SHO Inspector Sushil Saini of Nai Mandi police station along with his entire police team was seen showering flowers on the kanwariyas shouting ‘Bam Bhole’ slogans.
Flowers showered by govt officials purchased from poor vendors
While many leftists and fundamentalists raised several queries regarding the flower shower, it is important to note that the flower petal showered by the government officials are purchased from poor flower sellers. Speaking to the team, the SHO said, “We bought these flowers at a wholesale price from a poor flower seller in our police station area. The donation was given by the entire force of their own free will. The one we bought flowers from is very happy because he is getting new orders continuously. We are happy that the flowers showered by us are not only being used for religious work but are also helping poor people to earn bread and butter”.
Inspector Sushil Saini showering flowers with the entire team on Kanwariyas
Meanwhile, several fruit sellers who have set up their shops near the flower shops also talked to Opindia. They said, “Often officers and many others come and buy fruits from us and donate them to the kanwariyas. We are having good sales in this journey.”
Policemen buying fruits from vendors and distributing them among kanwariyas
Many local shopkeepers benefited from the tableau
Trivendra from Meerut, who got the tableau of the late CDS General Bipin Rawat made, said, “Rs 5 lakh have been spent to make the tableau and it consists of material purchased from locals and poor people. The money has ultimately reached the painters and the artisans. We have also hired a tractor to pull it. We have collectively donated the money so no one of us feels financially burdened. Also, the poor are helped”.
Trivendra, who made the tableau of late CDS Bipin Rawat
Shopkeepers earn extra profits during Kanwar Yatra
Team Opindia also met Kashyap Ji on the way to Haridwar. Kashyap Ji, who sells sugarcane juice on the highway near Purkaji talked to the team to inform them that he earns extra during the Kanwar Yatra. “We sell juice here throughout the year, but in the month of Kanvar, we get a little more money. It is all by the grace of Mahadev”, he added.
Kashyap ji selling sugarcane juice
Raw material for tea, lemonade purchased from local retailers
Further, on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, team Opindia discovered a small stall that was providing free lemonade and tea to the Kanwariyas. The stall was set up in the Mandawali area. Rajveer Singh, who runs the stall also told team Opindia that he earns extra during the Kanwar Yatra. “Every day we buy milk, sugar, biscuits, and lemon in quintals and mix them in proportions to make tea and lemonade. All the material is purchased in cash from the local shopkeepers”, he said hinting at the organized local trade during the Yatra.
Rajveer Singh serving the Kanwaris
Rajveer also added that he earns half of his annual income during the Yatra. “We are factory employees and this stall is run for free by all the staff of our factory. We all collectively contribute to the welfare cause. Along with the kanwariyas, the shopkeepers are also benefited from our money. All this is the grace of Shiva Shambhu”, he reiterated.
Minor Ashu earning more than Rs 1000 daily
The journey became more interesting as Team Opindia found a minor buy selling cut papayas on small leaves near the border of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. He introduced himself as Ashu and said, “I am 15 years old. I buy papaya in bulk from the market and sell cut papaya on the leaf for Rs.10. Every day more than 100 leaves are sold in the crowd of kanwariyas and I earn more than Rs 1000 every day. My parents are poor and we all earn together”.
Ashu Dhariwal
Also, Monu Qamar, who sells clothes on the street before Roorkee said that though he runs his business all over the year, he earns more profit only during the Kanwar Yatra.
Monu Kumar
Sunny Kumar, who sells India’s national flag, a short distance away from Patanjali Yogpeeth, said, “Kawad is not only beneficial for me but everyone.”
Sunny Kumar selling tricolor
According to Sanjeev Kumar, who sells women’s makeup items at Bhairav Ghat in Haridwar, his sales during the Kanwar Yatra increase as compared to other days.
Sanjeev Kumar selling makeup items
Mohan Lal Rathore, a tea seller at Har Ki Pauri, said, “We earn very well in the Kanwar Yatra. After this festival we will have to face a financial crunch for a long time. The earnings that we earn during Kanwar Yatra are useful in during recession period”.
Hotel and Dharamshala operators also talked to the Opindia team to inform them that there were no empty rooms to offer and that they were all full due to the Yatra. During our entire journey of 2 days, not a single shopkeeper was found who had declared himself in loss due to Kanwar Yatra.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a slew of petitions seeking GST exemption for Haj and Umrah services provided to pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia. The petitions were filed by several private tour operators who provide services to the pilgrims travelling to Mecca.
Supreme Court pronounces judgment in a batch of petitions filed by various private tour operators seeking exemption from the Goods and Service Tax for Haj and Umrah services offered by them to pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia#SupremeCourtpic.twitter.com/eXleJvFDs8
According to the reports, the Supreme Court delivered the verdict stating that the services mentioned by the petitioners were already eligible for the exemption granted to religious activities. However, the subject of whether a tax would be levied on extraterritorial operations, as stated in Article 245 of the Constitution, has not been resolved and remains open.
The travel companies had contested the imposition of GST on Haj pilgrims who use services provided by registered private tour operators, arguing that no tax legislation may apply to extraterritorial activities under Article 245 of the Constitution.
They had placed the argument that services consumed outside of India should not be subject to GST. They further claimed that the charge is discriminatory since it exempts those pilgrims who go through the Haj Committee of India.
The bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said, “We have dismissed all petitions on both grounds of exemption and discrimination. Other issue of extra-territorial operation is kept pending. That hasn’t been decided”.
