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Haj Committee tacitly tells Muslims to not comply with the law as logjam between Govt and Muslim clerics continue over IT returns

OpIndia Staff
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Haj Committee tacitly tells Muslims to not comply with the law as logjam between Govt and Muslim clerics continue over IT returns

Since November, Muslim clerics have been demanding that the 5% GST levied on Haj pilgrimage and the mandatory filing of Income Tax return be exempt. Earlier in 2020, the Haj Committee of India had petitioned Central Government’s Ministry of Finance to exempt the Haj Pilgrims from the mandatory filing of the income tax return, however, the issue seems to be far from resolved.

According to a report in Siasat, the Chief Executive Officer of Haj Committee of India Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan has said that the last date of filing the returns was on the 31st of December 2020, and there is “anguish” amongst Muslims since the Finance Ministry has not responded.

Interestingly, from his response to Siasat, it appears that the Muslim clerics and the Haj Committee has instructed Muslims tacitly to not file the income tax return even as the due date was 31st. Khan has said, ‘If any Haj Pilgrim submits income tax return on his own, it will be considered as his prerogative and the Haj Committee shall not guide him in this regard”.

This would essentially mean that the Haj Committee will not guide Muslims if they choose to file their tax return as per the law, thereby tacitly exalting them to defy the law to their own detriment.

According to Siasat, Dr Khan said, “Haj Committee of India had brought the issue to the notice of Minister of Minority Affairs Abbas Naqvi who wrote to the Finance Ministry to look into the matter. We are sure the Haj pilgrims, as before, shall be exempted from submitting income tax return”.

It is pertinent to note that according to the new Finance bill (amended), all those who undertake journey outside the country and incur expenditure above Rs.2 lakhs must compulsorily file an income tax return.  

The demand to exempt Haj pilgrims from filing tax returns was raised in November, TMC MP had written to Finance Minister

It was back in November 2020 that Muslim clerics and the Haj Committee had raised the demand that pilgrims to Haj should be exempt from filing their returns and paying any sort of tax on the pilgrimage, including the 5% GST. In November, the demands were made at a meeting of the Hajj department of the Islamic Centre of India.

In November, Head of Islamic Centre of India, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said that while all pilgrimages should be exempt from taxation and the requirement of filing returns, Haj Pilgrims should get financial considerations from the government of India.

Of course, the tax demand was not all and further demands were also made in November. It was demanded that first, that the pilgrimages should be transported in every possible way and second, GST and all types of taxes should be removed for the pilgrimage of Haj. The Islamic Centre also demanded that the condition of filling the income tax return for the Hajis should be abolished.

At the time, several politicians had raised a ruckus over the issue. Samajwadi Party (SP) had supported the demands of the Muslim clerics and so had Trinamool Congress (TMC).

In November itself, TMC MP had written to the Finance Minister to remove the mandatory requirement of filing IT return for Haj Pilgrims.

“The government of India has imposed a mandatory ITR filing for the intended Haj pilgrims. This decision may be the reformation of the taxation system. On the other hand, this mandatory provision is full of difficulties for the Haj pilgrims,” Sajda Ahmed had said.

The letter had further said, “You may be aware that some poor people living under the low-income line also perform Haj… I request you to pull back the mandatory condition of filing ITR for Haj pilgrims and think about pausing GST for Haj services”.

It is rather interesting to note that while the opposition parties have supported specials favours to Haj Pilgrims, now, the clerics have declared that if Muslims end up complying with the law of the land, they will not receive any help from the Haj Committee in the process.

How the Modi govt plans to roll out Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in India, immunise 30 crore people within July

OpIndia Staff
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How the Modi govt plans to roll out Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in India, immunise 30 crore people within July

After India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved the emergence use of Covishield (developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca) vaccine on Friday, plans are underway by the Modi government to roll-out the immunisation programme.

As per reports, while the subject expert committee (SEC) of the drug regulator recommended the emergency-use authorisation (EUA) of the vaccine, it stated that two full doses of the vaccine must be administered to an individual with a gap of 4-6 weeks. Moreover, the individual will be provided information about the vaccine in the form of a factsheet, prior to inoculation. SEC also recommended that the manufacturing company will have to submit reports of ‘adverse incidents’ every 15 days.

Reportedly, the Modi government is planning to immunise 30 crore people, classified under the priority population, within the month of July. As such, a dry run has been scheduled today in at least three ‘session sites’ in every state capital and districts with poor logistical support.

The objective of the government, behind this exercise, is to assess the on-field situation of the vaccination process. At the same time, a total of 96000 vaccinators have been trained to execute the inoculation programme. The government has directed all states to be ready with the list of health workers, who would be vaccinated first.

Covishield vaccine awaiting DCGI approval

It must be pointed out that the Covishield vaccine is yet to receive the final approval for marketing from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). It falls under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and regulates pharmaceuticals, medical devices.

A source informed, “DCGI approval will take another day or two”. The approval is on the cards and the first shots are expected to be given in 7-10 days.” Moreover, DCGI will also be responsible for approving the labels, to be printed on the vaccine vials. Once the labels are printed and stuck to the vials, they will be dispatched to roll out the vaccination programme.

An official also emphasised, “Preparations are in full swing. As soon as DCGI approves the EVA, the government will place a formal contract or supply order with the manufacturer along with details of supply schedule and locations.”

Who gets the vaccine first?

Earlier, the Modi government decided to provide Coronavirus vaccine shots to the healthcare workers on priority, including doctors, paramedics, nurses and hospital staff. After the healthcare workers, the frontline workers would be next in the line. Following that, people above the age of 50 years and those with co-morbidities but below the age of 50 will be inoculated. Once the priority population is vaccinated, the other categories will be included in the programme.

Manufacture and Pricing of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

It must be pointed out that the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India (SII), has been entrusted with the responsibility to manufacture the vaccine in India. Reportedly, SII has stockpiled over 5 crore doses of Covishield vaccine and can begin transporting the vaccines from cold storage to the Indian States, starting this Saturday.

Moreover, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla had reportedly informed India Today that Covishield vaccine (2 doses) will cost $6 (₹440) per individual if purchased from government stores. However, the vaccine will be priced higher (₹700-₹800) if bought from private markets. Each dose of the vaccine, as targeted by WHO and most international aid organisations, is to cost around 3 dollars.

Read why Kerala Church has declared an interfaith marriage between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man invalid

OpIndia Staff
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Read why Kerala Church has declared an interfaith marriage between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man invalid

A three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Syro Malabar Church has declared that an interfaith marriage solemnised by the church between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man in Kerala as invalid, reports Times of India.

According to the reports, the committee has ruled that they found violations in the marriage and concluded that the marriage is ‘invalid’ as it did not follow canon law. The committee also said that there were serious lapses by two senior priests, who have now been censured.

The interfaith marriage between the Catholic woman from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district and a Kochi-based Muslim man had taken place on 9th November. However, Archbishop Mar George Alencherry had ordered a probe after a section raised questions about the clergy “encouraging” mixed marriages.

“The commission collected details from the priests and bishops of Irinjalakkuda and Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese and submitted a report to the major archbishop. It stated that the marriage did not follow Canon law and was hence invalid”, a senior Syro Malabar Church priest has been quoted as saying.

The Canon Law of the Catholic Church is a set of laws and legal principles developed by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate the external organization of the Church and government. It defines the set of rules and activities of the Catholics towards the mission of the Church.

Syro-Malabar church sets rules to inter-faith marriages: Has to follow Canon Law

Earlier, the Syro-Malabar church had courted controversy after they had taken upon themselves to set rules to ensure that interfaith marriages in the Christian community are held in adherence to strict canon laws. The church had said that a set of protocols will be prepared and sent to Bishops to make sure that the marriage of people between two faiths is solemnised in the Catholic way. 

The Syro Malabar Church, which is one of the 22 Eastern (Oriental) Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome, had directed its bishops to hold interfaith marriages in adherence to strict canon laws.

The church had also asked the bishops to treat inter-faith marriages as “disparity of cult marriages” but conduct them in the proper Catholic way. According to the guidelines issued by the Syro-Malabar church, the church will not mix wedding ceremonies with practices of other communities and religion for such interfaith marriages.

Non-Christians will have to express willingness to be part of the Christian ceremonies for such marriages, as per canon laws.

The controversy had erupted after a Catholic woman married a Muslim man at Kadavanthra St Joseph Church in Kochi in the presence of a Bishop. The couple’s photograph with Vaniyakizhakkel was published in a newspaper that had irked the faithful section of the Catholics in Kerala.

It is also important to note that the dangerous phenomenon of ‘Love Jihad’ – the desperate act of Muslims to trap and convert non-Muslim men/women into their religion, was first raised by Christian clergy in Kerala after a large number of Christian girls were lured by Muslim men. 

SEBI imposes penalty worth crores on Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani and two other entities for ‘manipulative trading’: Details

OpIndia Staff
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SEBI imposes penalty worth crores on Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani and two other entities for ‘manipulative trading’: Details

The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) imposed penalty to the tune of Rs 75 crore on several entities including Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and its Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani for alleged manipulative trading. Passing an order on January 1, the SEBI levied fines worth Rs 25 crore on RIL, Rs 15 crore on Mukesh Ambani, Rs 20 crore on Navi Mumbai SVZ Pvt Ltd and Rs 10 core on SEZ Ltd for manipulating trading in the shares of erstwhile Reliance Petroleum Ltd in November 2007.

The matter related to the sale and purchase of RPL shares in the cash and the futures segments in November 2007 after RIL decided to sell a 4.1 % stake in RPL in March 2007. RPL was merged in RIL in 2009. In a 95-page order, SEBI’s Adjudicating Officer BJ Dilip said, “I find it appropriate to consider the direction in the nature of debarment and the disgorgement that has already been passed against RIL as a relevant factor while deciding the quantum of penalty”. The order further read, “In the instant case, the general investors were not aware that the entity behind the above F&O segment transactions was RIL. The execution of the aforesaid fraudulent trades affected the price of the RPL securities in both cash and F&O segments and harmed the interests of other investors”.

The market regulator noted that any manipulation in the volume or price of securities impacts the investor confidence in the market when investors find themselves at the receiving end of market manipulators. It added that the execution of manipulative trades affects the price discovery system itself and has an adverse effect on the fairness, integrity and transparency of the stock market.

SEBI said that Mukesh Ambani was responsible for the manipulative activities of RIL. “Noticee-2, being the Managing Director of RIL, was responsible for the manipulative activities of RIL. I am of the view that listed companies should exhibit the highest standards of professionalism, transparency and good practices of corporate governance, which inspires confidence of the investors dealing in the capital markets. Any attempt to deviate from such standards will not only erode the confidence of the investors but also affect the integrity of the markets”, it said.

Penalty on Reliance Industries Limited by SEBI: Details of the case

In 2007, RIL sold 4.1% per cent of its shares in the RPL. In order to prevent a fall in the share price of the RPL, the equity was sold first in the futures market and later in the spot market. According to SEBI, the company was aware that there would be a sale of shares in the spot market and therefore, its sales in the futures market before that amounted to insider trading.

Last year in November, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) had dismissed a plea filed by RIL that challenged a Rs 447 crore disgorgement order passed by the SEBI. In an order dated March 24, 2017, the Whole Times Member (WTM) of SEBI directed RIL to disgorge an amount of Rs 447.27 crore along with interest calculated at the rate of 12% annually from November 29, 2007, till the date of payment. RIL was prohibited from dealing in equity derivatives in the F&O segment of stock exchanges, directly or indirectly, for a year from the date of the said order.

‘Army brat’ comedian insults the Indian army to gain browny points, ends up offending Kashmiri separatists too: Details

OpIndia Staff
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‘Army brat’ comedian insults the Indian army to gain browny points, ends up offending Kashmiri separatists too: Details

A video of self-proclaimed comedian Agrima Joshua Kaur ‘Khan’ was at the receiving end of outrage recently after she offended Kashmiri separatists as videos of her stand-up routine in Srinagar went viral.

A video of one of Agrima Joshua’s recent show, organised at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir has gone viral on the internet. In her show, Joshua made certain statements about Kashmiris and their ‘struggle’ which has not gone down well with the separatists. Ironically, these “jokes” that she cracked were mainly directed against the Indian Army to gain browny points of the crowd in Srinagar, however, she has evidently ended up offending Kashmiri separatists (perhaps her target audience), more than anyone else.

Zahir, a Kashmiri separatist, took to social media to post these video of Agrima Joshua’s ‘comedy’ and slammed her turning their story of ‘struggle’ into comedy material. Agrima Joshua, who in fact used her ‘comedy’ show to put out vile and hateful comments against the country and its armed forces, however, failed to impress the separatist community as well.

Slamming Joshua for her morbid jokes on Kashmiris, Zahir called out the ‘comedian’ for being insensitive and ‘dumb’.

In another video, Agrima was also caught making fun of Indian Army, who according to her, randomly “pick up Kashmiris boys”. Agrima in this video not only belittles Indian Army but also makes dangerous allegations against the security personnel claiming that the Indian Army abducts Kashmiri men.

While this joke was presumably made to impress separatists and ‘liberals’ who love to deride India and the Indian army, Agrima seems to have missed the mark.

The social media user also targeted the alleged comedian after she revealed that her father was in the Army. He said that the “occupation of Indian forces” was not funny for him and her father was “one of the perpetrators”. He also asked the ‘comedian’ to ‘Just f**k off already’ and called her an ‘Army brat’.

Following Agrima’s vile act, the organisers of her show – ‘Jajeer Talkies’ took to social media to apologise for statements made by Agrima Joshua during the event.

The organisers said that they have erred and could have handled the event better and claimed that they did not have intentions to hurt the sentiments of the audience. However, it is not clear whether the apology was directed towards Indians (for her anti-India, anti-Army statements) or pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatists, who also found her ‘jokes’ as derogatory.

“So yes, we admit that we could’ve handled what happened better and that we failed you and we once again reiterate our unequivocal apology to those people. Secondly, we as fans of comedy understand that some jokes may not have an intention to hurt the sentiments of the audience, but it may be taken that way, and to inform people that there was no intention of doing so, is a responsibility shared by the comic and people associated with it,” the statement said.

The statement continued, “We apologize for not carrying out our responsibility properly. We also request people not to attack the venue or its owner and label them as something unsavoury or nefarious. Winterfell Cafe and its owner have always been gracious to provide a platform for the artists of Kashmir to perform and we will always remain thankful for that”.

It is rather evident that Agrima’s attempt was to use her statements against the Indian Army and India itself to gain browny points with the ‘liberal’ and separatist audience of Kashmir. However, she seems to have underestimated the devotion that Islamists tend to demand. While trying to earn browny points from the separatists, she ended up offending them, who have now lashed out against her. What makes this entire saga even worse is that Agrima is the daughter of an Army officer.

It is not the first that Agrima Joshua Khan ‘Kaur’ has been receiving end of the criticism for not only making ‘unfunny’ shows but also for spewing hateful and abusive content on social media.

Abusive and derogative rants of Agrima Joshua and an apology to Shiv Sena

In October, ‘stand-up comedian’ Agrima Joshua was caught passing sexual slurs targeting another fellow woman, Shefali Vaidya. Responding to a conversation on Twitter, Joshua shared a picture of Shefali Vaidya on the thread asking a social media user if he was the reason behind Ms Vaidya’s “glow”. The sexual undertone of the comment was incredibly hard to miss.

Earlier, she had found herself in trouble after a short video clip of her performance went viral on social media where she could be seen making disparaging comments against the Shivaji Memorial.

It is also pertinent to note here that Agrima Joshua, whose video insulting the Shivaji Memorial to be built in the Arabian Sea had sparked massive outrage, had pulled out her victim card, lamenting that she had been subjected to relentless abuse, filth, rape threats etc. for her video on Shivaji Maharaj memorial. Later, she had to apologise to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government for making such disparaging comments against Shivaji.

Nepal: Former Deputy PM demands all-party conference to reinstate Monarchy and declare the country a Hindu Rashtra

OpIndia Staff
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Nepal: Former Deputy PM demands all-party conference to reinstate Monarchy and declare the country a Hindu Rashtra

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, Kamal Thapa, has demanded an all party meeting to reinstate the Constitutional Monarchy in the country and declare Nepal a Hindu Rashtra once again. He said that there will be protests if the demands are not met.

“Initially, it was our agenda. But now, the general public has taken it as well,” Kamal Thapa said at a rally on Friday. “Whether people want it reinstated or not, they are talking about it so all parties must meet to discuss this issue.” Kamal Thapa is further reported to have said that he and and his party men are ready to kill and be killed to restore Nepal’s status as a Hindu Rashtra.

Kamal Thapa also said that if political parties do not recognize the seriousness of the dissolution of the parliament, then the country is headed for a period of darkness. “Recently, we’ve had high-ranking officials from India and China come to Nepal to try and solve problems within the ruling party,” he said. “We cannot let others dictate what we want to do.”

Pro-Monarchy protests in Nepal

Demonstrations have been underway in Nepal since early December calling for the restoration of the Monarchy and Hindu Rashtra. Slogans such as “monarchy must return to save the country” and “country above party” were raised. Slogans such as “King, please come back and save the country,” were also raised.

The protests have support from the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, royalist groups and pro-monarchy citizens. The Ministry of Home Affairs in Nepal had issued directives to 77 districts to quell the protests, through force if needed.

West Bengal: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s brother Soumendu Adhikari quits TMC and joins BJP with 14 TMC councillors

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s brother Soumendu Adhikari quits TMC and joins BJP with 14 TMC councillors

In yet another big jolt to the Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s brother Soumendu Adhikari formally joined BJP on Friday. He was accompanied by 14 other TMC councillors of the 20-member Contai Municipality. Soumendu Adhikari was chairman of the Municipality but he was removed from the post after Suvendu Adhikari had joined BJP in presence of Amit Shah.

Interestingly just a few days ago, TMC MP and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee had taunted Suvendu for failing to shift his father and brothers from TMC to BJP. 

Miffed by the exit of Suvendu Adhikari, Mamata Banerjee led government in West Bengal had recently removed his brother Soumendu Adhikari from the post of Chairperson of Contai Municipality and replaced him with Siddhartha Maity. The decision was taken by Urban Development & Municipal Affairs ministry led by Firhad Hakim, who is a close aide of CM Mamata Banerjee.

Enraged by the development, Suvendu Adhikari had asserted that Mamata Banerjee-led TMC will disintegrate soon. He had confirmed yesterday that Soumendu Adhikari along with a few councillors and 5,000 TMC workers will switch over to the saffron party.

The induction of Suvendu and Soumendu Adhikari in BJP is definitely a cause of worry for Mamata Banerjee led govt in West Bengal, especially before the 2021 Assembly elections, considering the Adhikari family hold a significant amount of influence over the people of their respective bastions.

Soumendu Adhikari files petition in Calcutta HC challenging his removal

Meanwhile, Soumendu Adhikari, the brother of BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari, on Thursday, filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court challenging his removal from the post of administrator of Contai Municipality in Purba Medinipur district. According to the reports, Soumendu Adhikari in his petition has said that he was illegally removed by the West Bengal government’s Municipal Affairs Department from the post of administrator of the civic body.

Suvendu Adhikari quits TMC, joins BJP

On December 17, Suvendu Adhikari formally quit the Trinamool Congress and joined BJP in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing his followers, Suvendhu Adhikari had written a letter blaming Mamata Banerjee for sidelining the party leaders and alleged that Mamata has betrayed the party ideals.

Suvendu Adhikari’s father and Kanthi MP Sisir Kumar Adhikari, his brother and Tamluk MP Dibyendu Adhikari are still leaders of TMC. It is not known whether they will also move to BJP. Last month, Mamata Banerjee had asked Sisir Adhikari to get rid of party leaders who are allegedly engaged in anti-party activities. Banerjee had asked Sisir Adhikari to work with TMC state president Subrata Bakshi and ensure that rebels are replaced with loyal party leaders in places like Nandigram, Haldia, Contai, Nandankumar and Ramnagar.

Ichchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav threatens govt again even after being told nobody wants to speak to him

OpIndia Staff
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Ichchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav threatens govt again even after being told nobody wants to speak to him

Even after the central government’s curt refusal to allow any political personality to be involved in negotiations with the farmers’ unions, Ichchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav, a political activist and former psephologist, has been stubbornly trying to affect his importance by forcing himself into the ongoing negotiations.

Two days after the Centre agreed to two of the demands made by the protesting farmers’ unions, Yadav today dished out yet another threat to the government stating that if their remaining demands are not accepted by the government in the next round of talks scheduled to take place on January 4, they will hold a march at Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) on January 6. He also added that they will shortly announce a date on when they would move forward from Shahjahanpur border.

Rejecting the claims that 50 per cent of their demands had been met, Ichchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav alleged that their main demands concerning the scrapping of the three newly introduced Farm Laws and a guarantee on the MSP are still pending.

Yadav’s demand comes days after the central government agreed to farmers’ demand to exclude farmers from the penal provisions of the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020. It also agreed to not pursue the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. 

In the same press conference, Haryana farmer leader Vikas Sisar threatened to topple the Haryana government over the farm laws. He said that all petrol pumps and malls will be forcefully shut down. The activist claimed that the protests will continue till the alliance between BJP and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) breaks, causing the govt to fall.

Yogendra Yadav attempts to hijack farmer-government talks with his maximalist demands

However, it appears that Yadav seeks to exploit the centre’s amenability to the hilt and hustle them into agreeing to all the demands posed by the protesters. Ever since the ‘intellectuals’ have taken over the so-called farmers’ protests against the government, they have sought to delude a section of protesters into believing that the central government could be cowed into submission by dint of protests and demonstrations.

To this end, they have even expanded the scope of their demands from the initial farm laws that triggered the protests. Earlier on Wednesday, Yadav addressed people through periscope where he revealed the four core demands that the ‘farmers’ would discuss on the talks proposed with the government later that day. He had then stated four key demands—repeal of farm laws, market intervention and other prospective measures for MSP, annulment of stubble burning laws that punish farmers and withdrawal of the draft electricity bill.

Despite being a non-entity in the negotiations, Yadav has been thrusting himself in the discussions with a maximalist position that is doing more harm than good to the farmers’ cause. The intent here is clearly ‘My way or the high way’ which is evidently not how a person approaches honest negotiations. The motive of such a move is to push the central government to the wall and compel them to call off the talks so that they could be later vilified as anti-farmers.

Modi government bars Yogendra Yadav from attending the farmer-government talks

It is pertinent to note that the Centre had earlier last month prevented political activist and self-proclaimed psephologist Yogendra Yadav from inviting himself and presenting himself as a part of the delegation of farmers that held talks with the government.

The government did not want any political personality to be associated in negotiations with the farmers’ union and expressed their displeasure when Yogendra Yadav tried to project himself as a farmers’ representative. Since then, Yadav has been trying hard to snivel his way into the farmer-govt talks and make himself relevant in the ongoing negotiations. He has been periodically addressing media and convening press conferences, making outrageous demands on behalf of the ‘farmers’, in a bid to demonstrate that he still holds importance. It appears that Yogendra Yadav is finding it difficult to reconcile to the fact that the central government has shunted him out of the negotiations.

After failing to court Goa CM, AAP starts chasing Uttarakhand CM: Read why

OpIndia Staff
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After failing to court Goa CM, AAP starts chasing Uttarakhand CM: Read why

After failed attempts to make an impact in the Goa politics, the Aam Aadmi Party seems to be trying extremely hard to make its presence in the Uttarakhand. In pursuit of their political entry into the state, the Aam Aadmi Party leaders are now resorting to ‘challenge’ Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat for a ‘debate’ competition.

Continuing to indulge in ‘debate’ politics, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Thursday wrote to Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Rawat, inviting him for debate competition in Dehradun to speak on a range of issues. He also invited CM Rawat to visit Delhi on January 6, 2021, to show the alleged development work done by the Kejriwal government.

The insensitive act of indulging in politics by the AAP leader comes at a time when Uttarakhand Chief Minister Rawat is admitted at AIIMS, Delhi after getting contracted with the Chinese pandemic COVID-19. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was flown to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Monday, following a mild infection in his lungs.

Rawat, who tested positive on December 18, was admitted to Doon hospital in Dehradun on Sunday evening.

Despite being aware of the fact that Uttarakhand CM is facing health issues due to the epidemic, Manish Sisodia has hit a new low by inviting him for a debate competition in the coming week to further his political agenda in the state.

AAP’s failed attempts to interfere into other states’ administration

This is not the first time that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have attempted to interfere in the functioning of states of various governments. Earlier in November, AAP leader Raghav Chadha had descended onto Goa to force Goa Power Minister Nilesh Cabral for a ‘debate’ over the Delhi electricity model as compared to the Goa model.

A war of words had broke on social media between the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Goa after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had accused his Goan counterpart of ignoring local voices under “the Centre’s diktat”. Dr Pramod Sawant had slammed Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in “divisive politics”.

The spat began on Twitter lafter Delhi Chief Minister responded to a news portal’s tweet citing Goa CM Pramod Sawant, as saying that “Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should first fix issues of pollution in his area before getting worried about Goa.”

ED attaches properties worth crores belonging to the close relative of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in connection with PMC Bank Scam

OpIndia Staff
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ED attaches properties worth crores belonging to the close relative of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in connection with PMC Bank Scam

The Enforcement Directorate, probing the multi-crore PMC Bank Scam in which Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s wife is now embroiled, has attached properties worth Rs 72 crores belonging to one Pravin Raut under PMLA. Pravin Raut is a close relative of Shiv Sena’s motormouth leader Sanjay Raut and has been earlier been questioned and arrested by the ED in the same case.

Wife of Sanjay Raut summoned by ED in connection with PMC Bank Scam

Prior to this, we had reported that Sanjay Raut’s wife was summoned by the agency in connection to the same PMC Bank Scam worth over Rs 4,000 crores. As per reports, Varsha Raut was summoned for over a Rs 50 lakh transaction with the wife of Pravin Raut. It is believed to be the same transaction where she allegedly took a loan to buy a property.

“In the probe, some amount has been transferred from the bank account of Pravin Raut to Varsha Raut. ED wanted to know details of that particular transaction,” a source was quoted as saying by TNIE.

Varsh Raut skips three summons sent to her by ED

It is pertinent to note here that Varsha Raut had on December 29 missed the third summon sent to her by the central agency. Earlier, two summons have been issued to Varsha Raut by ED to appear before the agency on December 11 and December 22 and for both summons, the wife of Sanjay Raut had not shown up.

Reportedly, she has sought extension till the 5th of January from the agency.

What is the PMC Bank scam in which Shiv Sena leader’s wife is now embroiled?

The Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank is one of the largest cooperative banks, which was put under scrutiny by the Reserve Bank for fraud and misreporting of bad loans. Later, the bank had admitted that one large account, HDIL was the main reason for the current crisis.

Following this, the Mumbai Police’s EOW had arrested HDIL directors Sarang Wadhawan and Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan in connection with a fraud of over Rs 4,355 crores. According to the reports, PMC Bank officials gave loans to HDIL between the year 2008 and August 2019 despite the Wadhwans defaulting on previous loans.

Former MD of PMC bank, Joy Thomas aka Junaid Khan was also arrested by a special investigation team (SIT) of the EOW of Mumbai Police on the 4th of October, 2019. He had been absconding until then. The EOW had filed an FIR on September 30 last year against HDIL and PMC Bank officials in the PMC bank fraud case.

Later, it was revealed that Joy Thomas, former MD of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank had converted to Islam, married his assistant at the bank as per Islamic rituals in 2012, changed his name to Junaid Khan and owned 10 properties in Pune with his second wife allegedly as part of the Rs 4,355 crore scam.

The Enforcement Directorate had registered a case of money laundering and initiated their own investigation into the scam. Senior NCP leader Praful Patel was also accused of having links with the Wadhwans.

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