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As Republic TV CEO is sent to 14-day custody, Mumbai Police embarks to hunt Arnab Goswami down, again: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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As Republic TV CEO is sent to 14-day custody, Mumbai Police embarks to hunt Arnab Goswami down, again: Read details

The witch hunt against Republic Media Network and the Editor-in-chief of Republic TV continues unabated as the members of the crime branch of Mumbai Police reportedly travelled to Delhi to arrest Arnab Goswami in the alleged TRP scam case.

The revelation was made by the Republic TV’s advocate Abad Ponda during the hearing in the Bombay High Court regarding the plea filed by ARG Outlier challenging the FIR filed in the TRP scam case that implicates the channel.

“I am making a solemn statement that the Maharashtra Police has reached Delhi to arrest Arnab Goswami. I have received a message at 2:30 PM. It is there on my phone,” Ponda said.

The revelation was made by lawyer Abad Ponda during the arguments in the plea filed by ARG Outlier parent company of Republic TV challenging the FIR filed in the TRP scam case implicating the channel.

When the Bench took up the matter, Sr. Adv Aabad Ponda appearing for ARG argued that he seeks to make submissions for urgent reliefs. Saying that the Mumbai Police was in Delhi to arrest Arnab Goswami yet again, Mr Ponda asked for relief till tomorrow. However, the Chief Public Prosecutor had stated that no coercive steps will be taken against persons referred to in the chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police in the TRP case till tomorrow.

Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani arrested in fake TRP case sent to 14-days custody

Even as Delhi Police reportedly reached the national capital to arrest Arnab Goswami, a magistrate court in Mumbai on Tuesday sent Republic TV Chief Executive Officer Vikas Khanchandani to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with the probe into the alleged TRP manipulation scam, reported Bar and Bench.

Earlier on Sunday, Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani was arrested by the Mumbai Police after the police officials barged into his residence in an early morning raid, just a day ahead of the anticipatory bail hearing. The police defended his arrest, alleging that Khanchandani’s alleged role in the scam came to light during the interrogation of the channel’s distribution head, Ghanshyam Singh. Singh was arrested by the Mumbai Police last month.

The arrest of Khanchandani came just a month after the Mumbai Police had arrested and assaulted Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami in another 2018 suicide case. He was produced before Alibaug court on the same day and sent to judicial custody. The Republic TV Editor-in-chief was in jail for 8 days and was released from the Taloja Jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail on November 11.

Slamming the Maharashtra Police, the Supreme Court stated that they had failed to establish charges against Republic TV chief in the suicide case. The apex court said that there was prima facie no nexus between the FIR filed failed against Arnab Goswami and Section 306 (Abetment to Suicide) under IPC.

The so-called TRP scam allegations against Republic TV

On 8th October, Param Bir Singh, Mumbai Police Commissioner, said in a press conference that several channels have indulged in malicious practices to increase their TRP ratings. He alleged that Republic TV is one of the main accused. The complaint was filed by the Hansa group that regulated the devices to record TRP for BARC.

However, the initial FIR did not name Republic TV but named India Today network as one of the main suspects. During the investigation, several evidence and witnesses came forward that alleged Mumbai Police have been intimidating them to speak against Republic TV, including Hansa officials. Hansa has also complained that they are being harassed by the Mumbai Police to give statements against Republic TV. Despite glaring inconsistencies and contradictions, the Mumbai Police have doggedly pursued Republic TV in connection with the fake TRP case.

Republic TV has been facing the ire of the Maharashtra government after they started questioning the political powers in the state for their inaction in Palghar lynching case and Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case. The Maharashtra Assembly even tried to bring a privilege motion against the channel and Goswami. Supreme Court had to intervene to put a stop to it.

Christian groups in Kerala call for boycott of Halal meat ahead of Christmas, IUML claims Muslims being targeted

OpIndia Staff
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Christian groups in Kerala call for boycott of Halal meat ahead of Christmas, IUML claims Muslims being targeted

Christians in Kerala have reportedly decided to boycott Halal meat ahead of Christmas. According to Times Now, Kochi based Christian group Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) has urged Christians not to buy Halal food anymore. Hindu groups also extended their support for the call to boycott stating that they are forced to sell Halal meat in the state.

The Indian Union Muslim League has termed the campaign against Halal meat as a controversy to target the Muslims. The CASA has announced that Christians will be holding protests few days before Christmas. For the protest, they are planning to pool in money for buying and cutting the animals in non-halal manner to opposed halal meat.

The Christians are reportedly saying that they cannot consume meat that is prepared in a manner that goes against their religious sentiments. Christians groups in the state said that they are being forced to sell as well as buy halal meat in the state and therefore they have decided to raise voice against it.

According to Times Now, a Muslim League leader based in Malappuram said that the anti-halal campaign was an attempt to create division among people. The leader said that everyone had a right to choose what kind of meat they want to buy and from where they want to buy it.

What is Halal meat?

Halal can only be performed by a Muslim man. Thus, non-Muslims are automatically denied employment at a Halal firm. There are certain other conditions that must be fulfilled that makes it quite clear that it is intrinsically an Islamic practice.

Guidelines are available at the official website of a certification authority of Halal in India which makes it clear that non-Muslim employees cannot be employed in any part of the slaughtering process. The guidelines of the certification authority of Halal in India expressly mention that people employed to carry out the process of Halal must be Muslims. The guidelines clearly mention that animals slaughtered by a non-Muslim will not be Halal.

 

Kerala Electricity Board suspends its employee and Islamist organisation PFI chief Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala Electricity Board suspends its employee and Islamist organisation PFI chief Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has suspended its employee and Popular Front of India (PFI) chairman Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal citing ‘grave misconduct’, a report published by Times Now said. Ovungal served as a Senior Assistant in Manjeri Electrical Circle of the KSEB.

The KSEB, in a letter notifying suspension of Ovungal, also known as OMA Salam, stated that the during the inquiry, it came to light that Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal was also holding the office of the chairman of a banned outfit under the scanner of various investigative agencies for its alleged activities and suspicious fund transactions.

The letter also said, “It has also been substantiated that the accused has made several foreign trips without the prior sanction.”

Enforcement Directorate raids locations belonging to PFI in a money-laundering case

Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided as many as 26 locations across the country belonging to the Popular Front of India(PFI) in connection with a money laundering case. Salam’s residence was one of the locations where ED sleuths had conducted the raid.

Following the raid at his residence, Salam had alleged that the central government was using the ED to divert people’s attention away from the ongoing farmers’ protests.

“ED carries out raids at PFI leaders’ house. Heinous attempt to divert the Farmers Issue and hide the failure of the BJP Govt. Another example of using constitutional institutions as an instrument to pressurise the opponents. Such actions can’t stop us from raising voice for justice or weaken democratic fights for rights,” Salam wrote on Twitter.

The other places where ED carried out raids included the residence of Popular Front of India (PFI) National Executive Council member Karamana Ashraf Moulavi at Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram. The ED had registered a case against PFI leaders under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2018

The PFI and its associate organisation SDPI have been constantly under probe for allegations of terrorist recruitment, crime, forced conversions and anti-India activities. Reports stated that ED is conducting raids at 26 locations in the country in 9 states.

ED probing PFI’s links to the anti-CAA protests in the country

Besides money laundering case, the central investigation agency is also looking into the PFI’s links on alleged charges of funding and supporting anti-CAA protests in the country and other instances. In January, ED had submitted a note to the Union Home Ministry and stated a direct link between the dates of deposits/withdrawals of money from the bank accounts of PFI and those of demonstrations against the CAA.

The note further said, “It has been noticed that Rs1.04 crores were deposited in 15 bank accounts of PFI (10) and Rehab India Foundation (5) during the period starting from 04.12.2019 till 06.01.2020. The deposits were in form of cash and IMPS using mobile and deposit amounts vary from Rs 5,000 to Rs 49,000. The amounts have been kept below Rs 50,000 in order to [not] disclose the identity of the depositor.”

‘Kejriwal ne kela bheja hai’: AAP worker kicked out by protestors for handing out 1 banana per person, BJP, Congress tweet viral video

OpIndia Staff
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‘Kejriwal ne kela bheja hai’: AAP worker kicked out by protestors for handing out 1 banana per person, BJP, Congress tweet viral video

In a viral video, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker was kicked out by anti-farm law protestors for offering only one banana per person. The video was shared on Twitter by BJP leader Priti Gandhi and Congress worker Gaurav Pandhi.

In the viral video, a miffed protestor asked, “You have handed me one banana and said that this is from the Kejriwal government. Will, the government give one banana?” The AAP worker was taken aback, on being surrounded by protestors and questioned for promoting his party chief. “No, the government won’t give one banana. There are several people here,” he said in a feeble voice.

This further agitated the anti-farm law protestor. “Are you trying to get votes by handing us bananas? How dare you come here?”, he asked in an angry tone. The AAP worker, in an attempt to calm down the situation, tried to explain that he was not seeking for votes. Holding two bananas in hand, the protestor said, “You hold this banana and shove this banana up Kejriwal’s…Get out from here”. Other protestors, standing nearby, then proceeded to physically push him and shoo him away.

Political reactions on the viral video

While sharing this video, BJP leader Priti Gandhi tweeted, “See for yourself how the Aam Aadmi Party volunteer literally got kicked out of the Farmers Protest for treating the protesting farmers like beggars. Getting just the treatment they truly deserve!!”

Gaurav Pandhi of the Congress party wrote, “Dear Arvind Kejriwal, farmers have a message for you and your sickening politics. AAP workers are being ridiculed at the protest sites, but again, media won’t show this to you because Kejriwal feeds them with Ad revenue.”

Even though AAP supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has recently extended his support for the anti-farm law protestors and even sat on a dharna in ‘solidarity’ with the farmers of Punjab, his fellow party worker had to face the ire of the demonstrators at a protest site.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal expresses ‘solidarity’ with farmers

Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal had decided to go on a one-day fast. He had asked AAP workers and supporters to also fast for a day and also urged public at large to fast for a day in ‘support of farmers’. The fast was observed on yesterday. While Arvind Kejriwal and his party leaders are busy extending support to protesting ‘farmers’ from Punjab, his government in Delhi had notified one of the farm laws.

The Delhi government on November 23 notified the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020. It is one of the three laws passed by the Central government against which Punjab farmers are protesting. Kejriwal and his party leaders including Delhi government ministers have extended support to the agitating farmers who have surrounded Delhi from various exit points.

AAP decides to take on Yogi Adityanath, after being embarrassed in Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, MP

OpIndia Staff
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AAP decides to take on Yogi Adityanath, after being embarrassed in Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, MP

Following an embarrassing defeat in last year’s Maharashtra assembly elections and an abrupt withdrawal from the recently concluded Bihar elections, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that Aam Aadmi Party will fight the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections that are scheduled to take place in 2022.

In a press conference, the AAP supremo cited issues such as lack of good schools, healthcare facilities and chronic power supply to make a pitch for the Aam Aadmi Party’s entering the fray for the Uttar Pradesh state elections. Kejriwal said UP has been held back from progress and development because of “dirty politics” and “corrupt” politicians in the state.

The AAP chief drew on the party’s 8 years of experience in politics to justify its decision to contest the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections. “In its 8 years of experience, AAP formed government thrice in Delhi and has come out as main opposition in Punjab. We will fight Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal stated that UP elections would be fought on the plank of Delhi model of governance.

“In 2022 polls, AAP will contest Uttar Pradesh elections… a lot of people from Uttar Pradesh who live in Delhi have told us over the last few years that UP too deserve the welfare and benefits like Delhi,” Kejriwal added.

While Kejriwal made a bold announcement that his party will be gearing up for the UP Vidhan Sabha assembly elections in 2022, it is important to revisit the umpteen number of incidents when Kejriwal’s bluster has gotten the better of him and resulted into humiliating poll drubbings for the Aam Aadmi Party.

AAP wins 1 seat in Goa Zilla Parishad polls

On Monday, the ruling party BJP won 33 out of the 42 seats contested in two Zila Panchayat bodies in Goa. The Congress Party managed to win only one out of the 38 seats on which it contested. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the people have shown trust in BJP. He applauded the enthusiasm of the people of Goa to vote amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Notably, independent candidates won seven seats in the Zila Panchayat polls. Regional party MGP won four seats and AAP managed only one seat in the elections. According to the state election commission, out of 7,91,814 eligible voters, 4.50 lakh voters cast votes. Paper ballots were used in the election instead of EVM machines. This was the first time all major parties except Goa Forward Party were contesting in Zila Panchayat elections.

AAP chickened out of Bihar elections after entering the fray on Delhi model of development

In August this year, Aam Aadmi Party announced that it would be fighting the Bihar Assembly elections that were slated to happen between October 28 to November 7. Kejriwal’s governance and Delhi model of development was touted as a plank on which the AAP was going to challenge the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state.

Senior vice-president of the Bihar unit of AAP Angesh Singh said that Delhi’s model of development led by Arvind Kejriwal would challenge the Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar, a state, which he claimed, is plagued with corruption, crimes, migration of labourers, flood and plethora of other chronic problems. The party was planning to contest on 100 seats out of the total 243 Bihar Assembly seats and was also said to be planning to tie up with some smaller parties.

However, come October, just about 45 days after announcing that it would fight the state elections, AAP abruptly pulled out of the fray, citing COVID-19 and flood as reasons for not contesting the elections.

AAP lost deposits on all 24 seats it contested in Maharashtra Assembly elections

Bihar was the first full-fledged Assembly elections after the coronavirus pandemic caused grave disruptions and caused India to go into lockdown. However, even before the pandemic took root in India and the rest of the world, AAP’s electoral forays outside Delhi were hardly impressive.

In October 2019, Maharashtra went to the polls where AAP had decided to fight on the 24 of the total 288 Vidhan Sabha seats. During the poll campaign, Kejriwal-led party had promised to “re-engineer” Maharashtra, which, according to it, was “reduced to a failed state”.

However, the Maharashtra resident did not buy into AAP’s poll rhetoric as the party not only failed in opening its account in the assembly elections, but it also lost deposits on all the 24 seats it contested. Most of the candidates barely managed to secure 1,000 votes.

In fact, so devastating was AAP’s defeat in Maharashtra that NOTA(none of the above) had fetched more votes than the AAP candidates in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra polls, the party got 0.11 per cent votes, while NOTA’s vote share was 1.37 per cent.

AAP draws a big zero in the Haryana Assembly elections

Similar was the fate of AAP in Haryana state polls. AAP had fielded 46 candidates of the 90 seats in neighbouring Haryana. But despite being home to Delhi chief minister Kejriwal, voters in the state did not poll for the Aam Aadmi Party. According to the information released by the Election Commission of India, AAP got fewer votes than those cast in favour of NOTA in Haryana. AAP’s vote share stood at 0.48 per cent in Haryana while for NOTA, it was 0.53 per cent.

The AAP had formed an alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls held in April-May, but after a humiliating defeat, it had called off the alliance. AAP had contested 3 seats in the May 2019 General elections, but it lost deposits on all the three seats. It, therefore, severed its ties with JJP in the state. However, JJP went on to win 10 assembly seats in Haryana in the state elections.

AAP loses deposits in all 29 seats it contested in Karnataka

In May 2018, AAP contested the Karnataka state elections, hoping to build a third front in the state against the rivals Congress and the BJP. The Party had contested in 29 seats, 18 of which were from Bengaluru and 11 from other parts of the state. However, it lost deposits on all the seats it fought on. Reflecting on this rout faced by AAP in Karnataka elections Reddy reflected, “We were washed out but I cannot understand why. We got a lot of support but that could not be converted into votes”.

NOTA outperforms AAP in 2018 assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

NOTA or None Of The Above was preferred choice over the Aam Aadmi Party in the assembly elections that took place in different states.

The NOTA vote share oscillated between 2.0% in Chhattisgarh but AAP could manage to get only 0.9% of the total votes.

In Madhya Pradesh too, AAP lost all candidates and failed to outnumber NOTA votes.AAP had contested on 208 seats out of total 230, and most of the candidates even failed to save their deposits. Their chief ministerial candidate Alok Agrawal, only got 823 votes in his constituency. AAP got 0.7% of total votes while NOTA received 1.4%. SP fared better than AAP, but still not more than NOTA, as it registered 1.3% votes.

Even in Rajasthan AAP got 0.4%, while both SP and NCP got 0.2% each. NOTA votes stood at 1.3%. In Telangana, CPI and CPM both got 0.4% each, while NCP managed 0.4%. NOTA has again outnumbered them all. NOTA registered 1.1% of total votes

AAP loses deposits on all seats in Gujarat and even got lower votes than NOTA on a few in 2017 state elections

If losing election deposits were an Olympics sport, AAP would have surely bagged gold in that. The Aam Aadmi Party lost deposits on all the seats it fought in Gujarat state elections in 2017. The party fought on 33 assembly seats but lost deposit on every single one of them. The embarrassment for the party didn’t stop there and reports emerged later stating that it polled lower votes than even NOTA on a few of the seats.

Pakistan: Police defuse faulty bomb, which failed to explode, from the car of a Chinese businessman in Karachi

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Police defuse faulty bomb, which failed to explode, from the car of a Chinese businessman in Karachi

A magnetic bomb was planted on a car in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday parked in a posh locality. According to reports, police officials defused a magnetic bomb planted on a red Vigo car belonging to the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Clifton locality near Bilawal House. A CCTV footage of the incident showed that two men riding a bike were moving along the car. The one seated at the front on the bike was wearing a helmet. As the car slowed down a bit, they planted the bomb on the car and drove off.

The 1 kg explosive malfunctioned and did not explode

The persons sitting in the car soon came out of the car and informed the police. The police got the vehicle evacuated and the rescued two forefingers sitting in it to a safer location. The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) reached the spot and cordoned off the area. The BDS examined the vehicle and defused the explosive fixed on it. A Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) confirmed that the explosive was defused. Police officials reportedly informed that the explosive weighed around one kg and was supposed to be remotely detonated. Officials added that the device malfunctioned and failed to explode.

One Mr Yu is the owner of the Karachi restaurant

The manager of the restaurant, Mohammad Rashid, who was driving the car said that as soon as he stopped the car, the two miscreants came out of nowhere and drove off after planting the explosive on the car. The owner of the Chinese restaurant Mr. Yu used to visit the restaurant every day around the same time when the incident took place, said Rashid. He said that no such incident took place in the past. “No threat has ever been received prior to this incident”, said Rashid. Rashid is a foreigner and has been living in Karachi for last 35 years.

Fact-Check: 25,000 soldiers of the Indian Army are NOT returning their Shaurya Chakra medals

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-Check: 25,000 soldiers of the Indian Army are NOT returning their Shaurya Chakra medals

According to a viral post that has been making rounds on social media platforms, as many as 25,000 soldiers have decided to return their Shaurya Chakra medals to show solidarity with farmers’ protest. The news was covered in a Telugu newspaper, Prajasakti.

2,048 Shaurya Chakras has been awarded to date

Ministry of Defence Spokesperson, A. Bharat Bhushan Babu, said in a tweet that the press report was published to damage the reputation of defence forces.

Ministry of Defence has released a press note in which they said that the report published in a Telugu newspaper named Prajashakti on December 15, 2020, was false. They said, “This is completely false, utterly baseless and malicious in nature and aimed at damaging reputation, honour and pride of our valiant defence forces. In fact, between 1956 to 2019, the actual number of Shaurya Chakras awarded stood at 2,048.” MoD further cautioned the media to verify facts and desist from publishing such blatantly false and malicious news.

Press release by MoD

Press Information Bureau (PIB)’s fact-check department also debunked the claim. It said, that the information posted in the report by Prajasakti is fake. In order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards, after Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra comes the Shaurya Chakra, which is followed by Sena Medal. Between 1956 and 2019, 2,048 soldiers have received Shaurya Chakras for their valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaging in direct action with the enemy. The number is not even 10% of the claim made by the Telugu newspaper in its report. 

What to do before forwarding a message?

It is necessary to check the veracity of a message before forwarding it on social media and spreading the misinformation further. In this case, while 2,048 soldiers have received Shaurya Chakras, the Telugu news agency moved ahead and published fake news without confirming it. Such fake news, even after getting debunked by authorities, often keeps spreading, causing distress among the masses.

In case you have received a dubious message that offers you monetary benefits in exchange for filling a form or says that the government has launched a scheme where you may get a fixed amount, first of all, check if the government has launched any such scheme. Do not click on any link in such emails or messages. Also, make sure not to forward these messages to anyone so that no one gets duped by the scammers.

Farmers’ protest against Agriculture Laws

Thousands of farmers have gathered in and around the national capital to mark their protest against the recently passed Agriculture Laws. The majority of the farmers hail from Punjab and Haryana, who have joined the protests. The farmers’ unions have rejected the government’s proposal to amend the laws and demanded that the government must repeal the laws. Amidst the ongoing protests, opposition parties, Khalistanis, and anti-India forces are trying to take advantage of the situation to spread their propaganda.

There have been reports that Khalistanis and Naxalites have taken over sections of farmers’ protests. Some leaders are spewing anti-India, and anti-Hindu venom in their speeches during the protests. Some groups were seen giving death threats to PM Modi. Slogans praising Bhindranwale have become normal during these protests. Unfortunately, places of worship such as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are also being used to spread misinformation about the laws. Recently, an editor-in-chief of Punjabi daily has released a video to spread fear among the protesters by alleging that the government is planning to launch an operation against the protesters. 

Kutch, devastated by 2001 earthquake is now a tourism hub. Read how the white desert emerged as economic powerhouse

Nirwa Mehta
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Kutch, devastated by 2001 earthquake is now a tourism hub. Read how the white desert emerged as economic powerhouse

“Kutch nahin dekha to kuch nahin dekha (If you’ve not seen Kutch, you’ve not seen anything)”, said superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

On 26th January 2001, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude struck Gujarat. Kutch’s Bhachau was the epicentre. Thousands of people were killed and infrastructure worth crores turned into debris.

Eight months after it, Narendra Modi took over the reins from Keshubhai Patel as Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was a man on a mission.

He was going to turn this vast expanse of nothingness into a tourism hub. He wanted to bring water to the parched land of Kutch. And he wanted to make Kutch the next investment destination.

Narendra Modi turned desert full of nothingness into a festival. Literally

In 2006, Narendra Modi launched the Rann Utsav. The desert festival.

For a place which is extremely hot through the year with very little rainfall, winters are quite pleasant in Kutch. So from November to February the following year, the Rann of Kutch hosts the ‘Rann Utsav’. Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, a Government of Gujarat company, makes impeccable arrangements for tourists.

It looks a bit like this.

Kutch offers history, culture and the colours of Gujarat. Did you know Dholavira in Kutch is one of the sites of Indus Valley Civilisation?

Parched land of Kutch now has Narmada water

As the then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi launched the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana in September 2012. SAUNI word in Gujarati means “everyone’s”. Through SAUNI Yojana, 115 dams in the arid Saurashtra region will be filled by diverting flood waters which overflow from the Sardar Sarovar dam in South Gujarat, a couple of kilometres away.

A spider pipeline network of 1,125 km long was involved. In June this year, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announced phase two of SAUNI Yojana.

SAUNI Yojana will provide benefit of Narmada water to 737 villages of 11 districts and 31 cities in the Kutch-Saurashra region.

Kutch to have world’s largest renewable energy park

Yes, you read that right.

On his one-day visit to Kutch, PM Modi today virtually laid the foundation stone for the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park at Khavda as well as a desalination plant in Mandvi along the Arabian Sea coast. The 30,000 MW hybrid renewable energy park will be the world’s largest with both windmills and solar panels being set up to generate power.

Gujarat has the highest number of approved solar parks. Did you know Gujarat alone has 2/3rd of India’s residential solar rooftop system? Gujarat is followed by Maharashtra.

Kutch farmers went from lack of irrigation water to exporting produce

There was a time when farmers in Kutch faced acute water shortage. Kutch is a no-cultivation zone. And while water continues to remain an expensive commodity in Kutch, the famers have prospered. Over 150 farmers in Gujarat have been cultivating dragonfruit, an exotic fruit native to South America. And while dragonfruits of Kutch are on plates across hotels in India, the pomegranates are being exported to other parts of the world.

Not just a pinch of salt

There’s probably a bit of Gujarat in everything you eat. Did you know the salt desert of Kutch contribute to 75% of total salt production in India?

Salt farming in Kutch (image courtesy: CNN.com)

Close to the Arabian Sea, major part of the desert is flooded by sea water for most part of the year. When the sea water recedes, the farmers begin to harvest the salt left behind by the evaporating sea water. Till next monsoon, the Agariyas, or the salt farmers, work in extreme conditions to bring you that swadanusar namak on your plates.

From hosting migratory birds like flamingos to being home to incredible embroidery, Kutch has managed to turn obstacles into opportunities.

And indeed. Kutch nahin dekha, to kuch nahin dekha.

Karnataka: Congress manhandles Assembly Deputy Chairman, Naseer Ahmed and Narayana Swamy try to pull him out chair

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Congress manhandles Assembly Deputy Chairman, Naseer Ahmed and Narayana Swamy try to pull him out chair

On Tuesday, a ruckus broke out in the Karnataka Legislative Council after Congress legislator opposed the JDS MLC and Deputy Chairman SL Dharmegowda from taking the Chair. The Council had met for a day-long session after CM Yediyurappa had petitioned the Governor that important bills, including the new cow slaughter bill, had to be passed by the government.

As per reports, the chaos began over a no-confidence Motion against the incumbent Chairman and Congress MLC Prathap Chandra Shetty. The motion was initiated by the BJP, with the support of the JDS, against Shetty as the House had no confidence in him. The ruling BJP argued that since the motion was against Shetty, therefore, he could not preside over the session.

The Congress MLCs alleged that the Chairman was locked outside and prevented from taking the Chair. When JDS MLC and Deputy Chairman SL Dharmegowda, Congress MLCs gheraoed and manhandled him. The angry Congress legislators then ambushed the well of the House, gheraoed the Deputy Chairman and began manhandling him. They also attempted to remove him from his Chair.

In a video shared by ANI, the Congress leaders, namely, Naseer Ahmed and Narayana Swamy could be seen pulling SL Dharmegowda from his seat while the BJP MLCs tried to pull him back. The Congress leaders claimed that it was unconstitutional for him to occupy the Chair. This prompted a dozen House marshals to intervene and come to his rescue. Amidst the scuffle, the Council has been adjourned sine die.

India Today reported that another issue that led to the chaos was the cow slaughter bill. While the BJP wanted to pass the bill, the Congress was opposed to it. JDS, however, wanted to send the bill before a select committee. The BJP insisted on the No-Confidence Motion to remove Chairman Shetty as they believed that the bill might be referred to the select committee by the combined Opposition.

Chairman earlier declined no-confidence against him

Earlier, the BJP had requested the Chairman to move a no-confidence motion against him on December 11. Shetty, declined the motion, citing the requirement of a 14-day notice period. He had also adjourned the House earlier than the schedule on December 10. As such, the BJP argued that he could not preside over his own no-confidence motion on Tuesday. BJP leader Srinivas Poojary said, “In our view, as the Council chairman (Shetty) does not enjoy the confidence of the House. He cannot adjourn the session abruptly when a motion against him and important Bills have to be passed.”

Political reactions on the incident

While speaking on the incident, BJP MLC Lehar Singh Siroya said, “Few MLCs behaved like goons by forcibly removed Vice-Chairman of Legislative council from the chair and misbehaving with him.” He added, “We have never seen such a shameful day in our council’s history. I’m feeling ashamed about what the public might be thinking about us.”

However, Congress MLC Prakash Rathod justified the incident and said, “Congress asked him to get down the Chair. We had to evict him as it was an illegal sitting.” He also blamed the BJP and JDS for making SL Dharme Gowda make an illegal sitting, when the House was not in order.

Speculations rife about TMC rebel Suvendu Adhikari joining BJP, TMC might get a jolt in 86 seats in upcoming Assembly Elections

OpIndia Staff
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Speculations rife about TMC rebel Suvendu Adhikari joining BJP, TMC might get a jolt in 86 seats in upcoming Assembly Elections

If reports are to be believed, Trinamool Congress senior leader Suvendu Adhikari might be joining the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) shortly. His induction is likely to happen during Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state later this week. According to a report by News 18, Adhikari is also expected to be given Z+ security by the Union home ministry, formalities for which are currently in process.

Adhikari has been expressing his disenchantment with Mamata Banerjee and has not been attending what he calls the party’s “apolitical” cabinet meetings and rallies for some time now. On November 27, Adhikari had finally put down his papers as the Transport and Irrigation Minister of West Bengal but remained a Trinamool MLA. Now, it is being speculated that the TMC senior leader will resign from the party on December 18, a day before Amit Shah is likely to reach the poll-bound West Bengal.

The exit of Suvendu Adhikari might prove fatal for TMC

Once considered to be a close aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the two-time former MP retains a lot of clout in the party and is believed to have sway in as many as 86 Assembly seats in Purulia, Murshidabad, Malda, West Midnapore, Jhargram, East Midnapore, Bankura and in Bishnupur. Suvendu’s departure will, in all likelihood, prove fateful for West Bengal’s ruling dispensation in 2021 assembly polls, as his exit may change the mathematics of these 86 assembly seats, where Suvendu Adhikari is believed to be an excellent taskmaster in booth management.

Influential TMC leader disgruntled with party’s top brass

Reportedly, Suvendu Adhikari has been skipping key cabinet meeting and holding rallies, not under the flag of Trinamool Congress or the posters of the party supremo. Mamata Banerjee had sent election strategist Prashant Kishor to Adhikari’s residence but he had refused to meet him. A desperate attempt was also made to pacify Adhikari through senior party leader Sougata Roy but the talks have remained ‘inconclusive.’

Now, the Trinamool Congress has decided that it will not take any further initiative to convince the disgruntled Adhikari to remain in the party. 

Meanwhile, talking to News 18, BJP Vice President Mukul Roy confirmed that the decision had been taken and Suvendu Adhikari will join the party in the next 2 to 4 days.

BJP MP Arjun Singh opined that if TMC stalwart Suvendu Adhikari ditches Mamata Banerjee and joins BJP, then the TMC government will fall before 2021 Assembly elections in the state.

Suvendhu Adhikari was among the first leaders to switch from Congress to the TMC when it was founded by Mamata Banerjee. He is considered as one of the main architects of the Nandigram movement which had helped Mamata Banerjee led TMC to overthrow the 34-year left rule in the state. However, in recent months, Adhikari has been giving enough hints, both subtle and overt, that all is not well between him and the TMC top leadership. Adhikari’s ire is believed to be mainly directed at Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

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