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Uttar Pradesh: Fearing encounter, five dreaded criminals booked under Gangster Act surrender before police in Shamli district

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Fearing encounter, five dreaded criminals booked under Gangster Act surrender before police in Shamli district

Five notorious criminals in Uttar Pradesh who were accused in several criminal cases and were on the run for the last several days surrendered before the police in the state’s Shamli district on July 5 (Monday).

According to a report by Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, the SHO of Kairana Kotwali, Premveer Rana said the accused came to the police station with their hands up. Before turning themselves in before the police, the criminals said they wanted to give up all criminal activities and have decided to surrender. As per police records, all five criminals, identified as Afsaroon, Qayyum, Rashid alias Bhura, Salim and Haroon residents of village Ramda, were accused in various extortion and murder cases. They were recently booked under the stringent Gangstar Act and were on the run.

While on Sunday, another criminal identified as Mahboob reached Muzaffarnagar’s Shahpur police station and pledged to quit crime, reports TOI. SHO Shapur said that owing to his history sheet, Mahboob has been asked to appear at the PS every month.

Yogi Adityanath asks the public whether they are approving of the state govt’s all-out offensive against criminals

It is pertinent to note here, that only yesterday while addressing people during the inauguration ceremony of the Regulator and Forest Constructed Pumping Station near Tarkulani Regulator located on Malouni Dam of Rapti River, CM Yogi Adityanath sought public opinion on his government’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals in the state. He asked whether the people of Uttar Pradesh were approving of the all-out offensive against criminals launched by the state government, to which he got an extremely happy and positive response.

“Whether the government should continue to run bulldozers to trample the criminals or not? “Yes”, cried out the public, amidst cheers of Jai Shri Ram. He further informed that the state government has been, under its ‘mission clean-up’, seizing or demolishing illegal properties of mafias and hardcore criminals and utilising them for the public. He again asked whether the people of the state were approving of this action taken by the Uttar Pradesh govt or not. The crowd retaliated with a big “yes”.

Uttar Pradesh Govt’s ‘zero-tolerance policy’ showing positive results in the last 4 years

According to reports, Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals has given positive results in the past four years. In March 2021, while hitting back at opposition parties over charges of a “deteriorating” law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath had revealed: “The result of the zero-tolerance policy has been that when compared to the figures of 2016-2017, there has been a fall of 65.72 % in cases of dacoity; 66.15 % in loot; 19.80 % in murder and 45.43 % in rape in UP,” he said at a press conference on the completion of four years of his government.

“While earlier no one wanted to come to the state because of a sense of insecurity, there is no fear now. Our government has also taken strict action against professional criminals, mafia elements and others harming peace, and this has also set a norm in the country,” he said, adding: “To the government, a criminal is a criminal and it is also said that he does not belong to any caste or community.”

Delhi: 4 Afghan nationals arrested for running heroin manufacturing unit at Sainik Farms

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: 4 Afghan nationals arrested for running heroin manufacturing unit at Sainik Farms

A heroin manufacturing unit was busted on Sunday in a joint raid conducted by a team of Punjab police and Delhi police personnel at Delhi’s posh Sainik Farms area. As per reports, the dwelling where the unit was operational, was rented out by four Afghan nationals, who were living there for the past fifteen days.

Though the four peddlers had reportedly rented the farmhouse to manufacture the contraband, they had claimed that they were in Delhi for ‘treatment’. The police detained them after recovering 17 kg of heroin, assorted chemicals, acids and lab equipment from their possession.

The four accused have been identified as Mujahed Shinwari of Nangarhar in Afghanistan, Mohammad Lal Kaker, Jannat Gul Kakar and Samiullah Afghan from Kunduz province of Afghanistan.

The Afghan drug peddlers were manufacturing heroin in the rented farmhouse in Delhi’s Sainik Farms

The owner of the farmhouse in Delhi’s Sainik Farms was detained

The owner of the farmhouse- Pravesh Kumar alias Bobby was also booked by the Delhi police on Monday. The police said that Pravesh Kumar was booked for letting out his property to foreigners without informing and getting their credentials verified by the local police. A case under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) was registered against Pravesh at the Neb Sarai police station.

The DGP Punjab police, Dinkar Gupta took to Twitter on July 4 (Sunday) to inform about the raid conducted by a team of Punjab police. “Punjab Police unearth & bust a major heroin manufacturing unit in South Delhi. Around 17 kg heroin, assorted chemicals, acids & lab equipment recovered. 4 Afghan nationals arrested,” tweeted DGP Gupta.

According to reports, the arrests and seizures came on the basis of leads from the Hoshiarpur police’s investigation into a drugs case.

How the Punjab police busted the racket and arrested the Afghan nationals

Divulging details on how the Punjab police busted the drug module, DGP Dinkar Gupta said that the Hoshiarpur police, on May 18, 2021, had recovered 70 grams of heroin after arresting one Pushpinder Singh alias Tinku and Amit Choudhary. During interrogation, the duo revealed that they had procured the drug from Jasvir Singh Gajju of Jandiala in Amritsar and Sarabjeet Singh Sethi of Hoshiarpur.

Based on this lead, raids were conducted at Jasvir Singh’s residence, where his accomplice Jagrup Kaur was arrested with 100gm heroin in his possession. When a thorough search of the house was conducted by the team of Punjab police, they recovered 1.48 kg heroin, 500 grams gold and Rs 49.48 lakh rupees from there.

The police later arrested Sarabjeet Sethi from Garhshankar on July 1, with 500 gm heroin in his possession. Sethi further revealed that he had procured the heroin from a group of Afghan nationals, who were running a heroin manufacturing factory in Delhi and from one Imteyaz, who operates from Uttar Pradesh.

The Punjab police team acted swiftly on the leads and raided the farmhouse in Delhi’s Sainik Farms, busting the heroin manufacturing unit. Meanwhile, a team was rushed to Uttar Pradesh to bust Imteyaz’s module, said Gupta.

The DGP in a Tweet, Monday, congratulated the Hoshiarpur police team led by SSP Hoshiarpur Navjot Mahal for busting a major international drug racket worth 100 crores in the national capital.

Departmental inquiry initiated against five Delhi police officers

Meanwhile, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the station house officer (SHO) of Neb Sarai, Delhi along with four other officers after the Punjab police busted the drug module in Delhi. The five officers have reportedly been transferred to district lines and the inquiry against them is underway.

West Bengal: Mob attack police station, set vehicles on fire alleging ‘custody death’ of one Arman Ansari, policemen suspended

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Mob attack police station, set vehicles on fire alleging ‘custody death’ of one Arman Ansari, policemen suspended

A mob in West Bengal’s Asansol turned violent after a young man named Arman Ansari (some reports suggest his name is Aman Ansari or Arman Khan) reportedly died in police custody. As per reports, Ansari was picked up by the police on the suspicion of theft on Monday night. However, as the news of his death in custody broke out, a riot-like situation erupted in Barakar, Asansol on Tuesday morning.

The locals got out on the streets to protest Ansari’s custodial death. Apart from setting the police vans ablaze, the mob also allegedly hurled bombs at the police station.

Asansol violence
Police vans set on fire. Image Source: bangla.asianetnews.com

Stones and bricks were also hurled at the police station by young boys and other locals as seen in the images.

Asansol violence
A local was seen pelting stones at the police station. Image Source: bangla.asianetnews.com

The police had to resort to tear guns and lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Reports suggest that a curfew might be imposed in the area to diffuse the tension prevailing in the area.

Asansol violence
Clash between police and mob in Barakar. Image Source: bangla.asianetnews.com

A local has sought Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention. “A young boy was beaten to death. We urge the Chief Minister to take cognizance of the matter. We want justice,” said the local.

Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, uncle of the deceased said that when they found out about Ansari they rushed to the hospital. “I went to the hospital and found out that our son has already died. Is this the law of the land?” he questioned. 

Following the incident, two police officials have been suspended.

Actor Snehal Dabi says filmmaker Firoz Nadiadwala did not pay him money for acting in Welcome even after 14 years

OpIndia Staff
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Actor Snehal Dabi says filmmaker Firoz Nadiadwala did not pay him money for acting in Welcome even after 14 years

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, actor Snehal Dabi revealed that on multiple instances, he was not paid for his work in the industry. Dabi, who has worked in Hera Pheri, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Satya, Wednesday, among several others, revealed that it had been 14 years since he worked for Firoz Nadiadwala in Welcome. But he never got paid for the job. In Welcome, Dabi played role of Kakhil, one of the goons of Majnu, Anil Kapoor.

Firoz Nadiadwala is best known for films like Hera Pheri, Awara Paagal Deewana, Welcome, Welcome Back and others. Dabi is not the only actor who had accused Nadiadwala of not paying the dues. As per reports, there have been a number of allegations that Nadiadwala has underpaid or not paid actors and technicians who have worked with him. Welcome Back director Anees Bazmee also made similar allegations during the release of the film that the producer did not clear his dues.

While alleging non-payment, Dabi said, “Firoz Nadiadwala mujhe Rs. 10 crore denge fir bhi unki film nahi karunga. Firoz bhai commit karte hai, fir ghoom jaate hai (I would not work for Firoz Nadiadwala even if he pays me ten crores. Firoz commits and then rescind the promise).” He added, “Firoz bhai would just assure ‘Deta hoon paisa, data hoon paisa, data hoon paisa(I will pay, I will pay, I will pay)’. Hence, I was disillusioned here and was wondering, ‘Yeh kaisi industry hai (what kind of industry is this?)’.”

Snehal was not paid for other projects as well

During the interview, Snehal said Welcome was not the only film he was not paid for. He had worked in a now-abandoned project titled “Sher” in which Sanjay Dutt and Vivek Oberoi worked as well. It was directed by Soham. He said, “I had written the film as well. We shot for the film at 50 degrees temperature. We completed 85% of the film. Suddenly, Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision (the production house that backed the film) was shut. Paise hi nahi aaye uss film ke (Money did not come for that film). Imagine how it must have felt. The same happened with Welcome. Every now and then, we used to go to Dubai whenever we were called to shoot for the film. And then to not get paid for it!”

Want to celebrate someone’s death? Here is a toolkit and handbook from liberal library

K Bhattacharjee
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Want to celebrate someone’s death? Here is a toolkit and handbook from liberal library

Father Stan Lourduswamy, popularly known as Stan Swamy, died on Monday after a cardiac arrest early morning on Saturday. Stan Swamy was an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case and had multiple serious allegations against him.

An NIA Court had observed that he was a member of the banner CPI (Maoist) and was engaging in activities to further the objectives of the organisation “which is nothing but to overthrow the democracy of the nation.” The deceased Swamy was receiving treatment at the Holy Family Hospital, Bandra where he passed away.

Given his antecedents, there were some who expressed their happiness and satisfaction over the fact that the 84-year-old man had passed away. Liberals are deeply unhappy and angry over the matter, that some people are joyous at the death of someone they call ‘human rights activist’.

While it does appear crude to feel celebratory over the death of an individual, there are times, however, when it is hard to stop one’s innermost feelings brimming up to the surface. And Hinduism has numerous injunctions against celebrating someone’s death. For instance, Lord Rama paid respect to Ravana on his deathbed.

Even so, should anyone want to celebrate the death of an ideological opponent, then he ought to learn from the very best, that is, the liberals themselves. Thus, here is a ‘toolkit’ for the purpose, created after carefully studying the manner in which liberals have been celebrating deaths for long.

After all, they have celebrated the death of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Manohar Parrikar, Rohit Sardana among many others.

Dehumanize the deceased

People must take utmost care to ensure that they are dehumanizing the deceased while celebrating their death. The deceased can be branded a ‘fascist’, ‘genocide enabler’, ‘fascism enabler’, ‘hatemonger’ among other things.

If all else fails, then surely allegations of ‘misogyny’ can be thrown about. After all, the objective is to justify one’s happiness at a political opponent’s death and such allegations, that are intended to deny the humanity of the deceased, always come in handy.

Exaggerate flaws and invent victims

In order to further deny the humanity of the deceased, it is of paramount significance that their flaws are exaggerated beyond all measure and invent victims, fictional if necessary, to paint the deceased as a monster.

It does not really matter if the victims are real or not or if the deceased hurt them in any way whatsoever, but it is essential that the deceased is blamed for all the misery of the alleged victims. Consequently, the deceased’s flaws must be exaggerated beyond all measure, to the point where someone who is not familiar with the person would assume that he had horns growing out of his head and his canines reached outwards to his neck.

Sophistication is the key

Another important aspect to remember while celebrating a political opponent’s death is that the celebratory posts must carry with them a certain deal of sophistication. Posting Memri memes and other such antics will not do.

The posts must carry all the pretense of being the creation of the lead scientists at NASA. For example, there were those who celebrated the death of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with the song “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”.

Similarly, pick up a dictionary, or go through Shashi Tharoor’s Twitter account and use some of the most difficult words you can find in your celebratory post. It enhances your credibility automatically.

Present yourself or your dear friend as the deceased’s victim

Victimhood is a powerful tool. Once you have successfully presented yourself as the victim, you can get away with basically anything. And if there is a collective group of individuals claiming victimhood, then all the better.

For instance, self-proclaimed ‘victims’ of transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, racism, capitalism among others can get away with rioting, looting, burning books, attacking peaceful individuals and censoring others’ freedom of speech and expression.

Similarly, if one could claim that they have been personally wronged by the deceased or someone they love have suffered the same fate, then they can easily get away with celebrating the death. It does not have to be true but it serves the purpose.

‘They deserved it’

The overarching objective of the celebratory post has to be to prove that the deceased deserved to die. The first four points must be weaved in such a pattern that the reader automatically reaches the conclusion that the deceased is a morally reprehensible human being who has caused real harm to a great many individuals and hence, deserved to die.

It is even better if that message can be conveyed without expressly stating it for it then enhances the sophistication quotient of the post even more.

UK-based Pakistani commentator Faran Jeffery alias Natsecjeff abducted from his Karachi home: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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UK-based Pakistani commentator Faran Jeffery alias Natsecjeff abducted from his Karachi home: Reports

Social media has been abuzz with reports of UK-based Pakistani commentator and security analysit Faran Jeffery was abducted from his Karachi home on Sunday.

Natsecjeff

As per reports, Pakistan’s security services have taken him away.

Natsecjeff abduction

According to some, his computers and mobile phones have also been taken along.

Jeffery is the Deputy Director of ITCT, an international think tank that counters narrative of Islamic terrorism based in UK.

The ITCT has condemned his abduction and appealed to Pakistan government for his immediate release.

Faran is a self proclaimed Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) researcher and often tweets on military movements of India and Pakistan. Most of his reports are unconfirmed and based on ‘sources’ and many believe he does it to create hysteria.

More details awaited.

Twitter lies about appointment of Grievance Officer: What Delhi Court said while taking Twitter to task as they asked for ‘more time’

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter lies about appointment of Grievance Officer: What Delhi Court said while taking Twitter to task as they asked for ‘more time’

“It is not fair”, said the Delhi High Court while hearing the petition seeking directions to Twitter to appoint a Resident Grievance Officer as mandated under Rule 4 of the IT Rules, 2021, slams Twitter India for not informing the HC that the grievance officer they had appointed was only an interim grievance officer.

The single-judge bench comprising of Justice Rekha Palli took strong objection to the fact that Twitter never informed the High Court that the grievance officer they had appointed was only an interim grievance officer. Justice Rekha Palli pulled up Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for Twitter India, saying: “It is not fair, Mr Poovayya. When a Senior Counsel makes a statement, I take it seriously. There is no doubt that you gave a wrong impression to the Court in the last hearing”, said, Judge Rekha Palli.

When the senior advocate Poovayya informed the court that the social media giant has no full-time resident grievance officer in accordance with the new IT Rule as of date, the Delhi HC rebuked the microblogging platform for its inability to appoint a grievance officer from June 21, when the existing officer was removed, until July 6.

“After 21 June, till July 6, the least you could have done was appoint another person. How long does your process take? If Twitter thinks it can take as long it wants in our country, I will not allow that”, said Justice Palli.

‘Come up with a clear response, otherwise, you will be in trouble’: Delhi HC gives an ultimatum to Twitter India

When Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya tried to buy more time from the HC to reportedly obtain full instructions from its head office regarding the appointment of a full-time grievance officer, ASG Chetan Sharma, appearing for Centre, took strong objection, informing the court that a three-month window was already given to Twitter India to comply with Rules, which they wasted.

Hearing the arguments of both the parties, the HC ordered: “Perusal of reply shows that as of May 31, Twitter had only appointed interim Grievance Officer, which was not brought to the notice of this Court. Sr Adv Poovayya says Twitter is in the process of appointing a Grievance Officer. But when asked when this appointment would be made, learned counsel sought time to obtain full instructions as the time zone of the company is in San Francisco”.

Giving an ultimatum to Twitter India to comply with the new IT Rule, Justice Rekha Palli said: “Come up with a clear response, otherwise you will be in trouble”.

The court listed the matter for the next hearing on July 8.

Twitter is yet to fully comply with IT Rules 2021: GOI to Delhi HC

OpIndia reported on July 5, that the central government had filed an affidavit in the Delhi HC, informing that in spite of 3 months time granted to all SSMIs (significant social media intermediaries) to comply with the IT Rules 2021, having expired on May 26, Twitter Inc has failed to fully comply with the same.

The Centre’s affidavit was in response to Twitter India’s affidavit in which it had informed the HC that the social networking platform is in the final stages of hiring a full-time resident grievance officer in accordance with the new IT Rule. 

Though the microblogging site stated in court on Saturday that it is in the process of appointing a full-time resident grievance officer, that too in accordance with the new IT Rule, it was learnt that Twitter had appointed its California-based global legal policy director Jeremy Kessel as the new grievance officer for India. However, the new IT Rules call for an Indian resident for the role.

Moreover, now it has been also learnt that Twitter India not only appointed a non-Indian resident for the role but instead of appointing a full-time grievance officer it had appointed an interim officer for the role, which is not in accordance with the law either.

IT Rules 2021

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 were issued in February this year to bring transparency into the working of social media companies and have already been given 3 months time to comply with the new regulations.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, which came into effect from May 25, mandates the social media intermediaries with more than 5 million users and providing messaging services to identify the first originator of problematic content that may harm the country’s interests. The companies should also appoint an Indian grievance officer to deal with the complaints.

The non-compliance with rules will result in these platforms losing the intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints.

Even though other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp have complied with the new laws, Twitter had last month asked the government for an additional three months for the same.

Kerala: CPM youth wing member arrested for rape and murder of 6-year-old girl, had been sexually abusing the child for 3 years

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: CPM youth wing member arrested for rape and murder of 6-year-old girl, had been sexually abusing the child for 3 years

The Kerala Police on Monday arrested yet another DYFI (youth wing of the ruling CPI(M)) worker, for reportedly murdering a six-year-old girl after raping her.

As per the police, Arjun (22) a resident of the Idukki district, repeatedly sexually abused the girl for three years before killing her. The minor girl’s body was found hanging in a room at her parents’ quarters. 

A police officer said, “The incident, which occurred on June 30, was reported as an accidental death. We were told that a shawl accidentally got tied around her neck while she was playing. The parents were away at work. However, the postmortem revealed that the girl had been subjected to sexual abuse over a long period, which made police look into the murder angle.”

Quoting the youth, the police officer said, “The girl fell unconscious during the assault and the assailant feared she may have died. Subsequently, he hanged her in the room using her shawl.” The incident took place on June 30 when the accused sneaked into the house of the minor. The 6-year-old girl was found hanging in her room by her brother.

As per reports, Arjun panicked after the incident and spread the rumour of the minor’s accidental death. However, the autopsy report revealed long-term sexual assault and a detailed investigation led to the arrest of four suspects. 

Reports suggest that Arjun has been doing social work in his region and was known particularly as a volunteer during the pandemic.

CPM leaders arrested for sexually assaulting a female co-worker

We reported last week that the Kerala Police booked two CPM leaders PP Baburaj and TP Lijeesh for sexually assaulting and blackmailing a female party worker. 

According to the complaint by the female party worker, Baburaj who is the CPM secretary of Muliyeri East branch barged into her house three months ago, threatened and raped her. Reportedly, Baburaj continued to sexually harass her by blackmailing her, threatening to reveal the incident to her husband.

As per the complainant, Lijeesh who is also a CPM member from the same branch too threatened and blackmailed her to not complain or expose the incident. 

The two have been booked under IPC Sections 376 (2), 354 (A), 109 and 376.

Gujarat: Project worth Rs 3,475 crores approved to provide additional Narmada water to Kutch

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Project worth Rs 3,475 crores approved to provide additional Narmada water to Kutch

On June 6, Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister, Gujarat, approved a project worth Rs 3,475 crores to provide an additional one million acre-feet of water from the Narmada river to Kutch district. As per reports, the project will benefit 96 villages under six talukas of Kutch district, including Anjar, Mandvi, Rapar, Bhuj and Nakhatrana. These villages have a population of about 3.8 lakh.

Under the said project, 38 water bodies, including Saran lake, would be filled with water from Narmada that will benefit farmers and cattle. The 357 kilometres long Kutch branch canal branches off from the central canal of the Narmada river. So far, work on 333 kilometres is completed, and the remaining stretch is in progress.

Narmada dam to provide irrigation water in summer for the first time

Earlier, it was reported that in 2021, it would be the first time the Narmada dam can provide irrigation water in summer since its inauguration in 2017. The dam is often termed as the “lifeline of Gujarat”. Notably, it does not have water for irrigation during summers, but this year, the dam had 122.72 meters with live storage of 1,711 million cubic meters in June.

According to Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), for the first time in history, all 35 dams and reservoirs, close to 1,200 check dams and 1000 village tanks have been filled with Narmada water. Reportedly, the dam had an inflow of around 15,000 cusecs and an outflow of around 43,000 cusecs in June. Out of these, 13,965 cusecs were released after power generation from the Canal Head Power House and 30,361 cusecs from Riverbed Powerhouse.

There are four party states that share the resources from this dam that are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, based on the ratio stipulated by a 1979 judgement of the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal. The Narmada River project is termed as a classic case of Integrated River Basin Planning, Development, and Management, along with water storage available in all major, medium, and minor dams on the main river and its tributaries.

Water conservation helped in increasing the dam’s reserves

Notably, several steps have been taken to reduce water consumption that helped in increasing the dam’s reserves. The reservoir operations have been synchronised with the rain forecast in the catchment area. Several measures to ensure water is used during the dam overflow period reduces the pressure of the reserved quota. Also, in the non-monsoon period, several measures have been taken to use the water efficiently to reduce conventional and operational losses. Any type of water wastage is being reduced at all levels. Proper maintenance of canals, structures and linked projects have helped in reducing wastage. The government has also restricted water-intensive perennial crops in the region to improve water levels.

‘Expose’ by Mediapart and the French ‘investigation’ into Rafale deal: A ready reckoner on why it’s a sham

iyervval
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‘Expose’ by Mediapart and the French ‘investigation’ into Rafale deal: A ready reckoner on why it’s a sham

“You can’t make a soufflé rise twice”, former minister Jaswant Singh used to say. Yet it seems that’s exactly what the Indian National Congress is trying to do. Even as the Supreme Court of India delivered scathing remarks while dismissing the petitions for an inquiry into the Rafale, the Congress party has now decided to take the “expose” by Mediapart and the judicial inquiry initiated by France to revive the ghost of Rafale ghost.

As Congress blurs the line between fact and fiction, here’s your ready reckoner on the latest ‘revelations’ by Mediapart and the judicial inquiry initiated by France.

Despite the great length of writing and build-up, 99% of what has been passed off as new are the same old allegations. There are only 2 things that are actually “new” here. 

THE RAFALE INVESTIGATION

What’s new

  • A French judge, who has replaced the old judge who retired, has re-opened his predecessor’s investigation that said predecessor had ended.  
  • The charges are unclear – varying from influence peddling to actual corruption. Let us be clear here – while the Congress party and a large section of the media are drumming up this ‘investigation’, it was one which was closed by the earlier judge, who has now retired. There is no credible information as to what the charges really are for the new investigation.

What’s old

  • Regarding the influence-peddling charges, there has been no proof – just supposition of the ADAG giving money to former French president Julie Gayet’s movie, set in the Himalayas. There have been no documents provided to show any connection to Dassault or the Rafale as a result of this connection. This particular “expose” by Mediapart was debunked rather extensively while the controversy was raging.
  • The only proof so far has been the ledger of an arms middle man in Delhi by the name of Sushen Gupta. His accounts show payments received during 2013-2014 during the previous UPA government. These payments totalling around 11 million euros were made to a firm in Singapore. Around 2 million were transferred to India, the rest to a bank account in Mauritius – a well-known route for money laundering into India. As such the only proof relates to bribery during the Congress’ rule.

This has, in fact, been reported by Mediapart journalist as well.

THE DEAL WITH RELIANCE

What’s new

  • The allegation (mind you, it is just an allegation since no documents have been provided) is that Dassault provided close to 100 million Euros for a plant to be built in Mihan for the assembly of the Falcon business jet. Yet it got only 49% share in the new joint venture with Reliance. 
  • Reliance, which according to these allegations, provided close to 10 million euros got a 51% share. 

So why is this suspicious?

The big question is why is Mediapart not releasing the documents it claims to have seen regarding this deal?

  • Primarily because it is suspected that like a forged document N Ram of The Hindu had published claiming a “scoop” – that had manipulated and hidden several side notes and dates – this is an attempt by Mediapart to do the same – manipulate the narrative through selective concealment of Information.
  • The Dassault-Reliance deal as reported by Mediapart presumably only covers the initial start-up capital, not the other costs which have been borne entirely by Reliance. These would include (but not be limited to):
    • The acquisition of 65 acres of land for the Mihan plant
    • The funding of over 150 highly skilled engineers and families to relocate to France for training at the Dassault factory in preparation for the Technology transfer of the Falcon to Reliance
    • The relocation of 40 highly skilled French engineers and their families to Mihan near Nagpur. This has also been done at significantly higher pay as Nagpur not being a prime metro is deemed a “hardship posting” with higher salaries and benefits
    • Recurring costs such as – Running, Material and Testing costs, as opposed to Dassault’s one-time investment. 
  • Presumably, Mediapart, Like the N Ram is actively suppressing documents and reporting selectively, precisely to create a scandal where none actually exist. It’s quite alright for somebody with a low IQ like N Ram to unknowingly peddle drivel. But for a French company to not know that you can’t make a soufflé rise twice is almost a crime. 

The suspicion then is not of corruption, but unethical journalism of the ‘N Ram kind’ by Mediapart. 

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