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‘Naveen govt hounding OTV, illegally arrested employees being intimidated by police to resign while in custody’: Jay Panda

OpIndia Staff
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‘Naveen govt hounding OTV, illegally arrested employees being intimidated by police to resign while in custody’: Jay Panda

A day after Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami was released from jail, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda took to Twitter to allege that, like the Maharashtra Government, Odisha government is also exploiting its offices and violating due process to clamp down on the media organisation Odisha Television (OTV).

After spending 8 days in jail for a closed 2018 abetment of suicide case, Republic TV’s Editor-in-chief was released from Taloja jail yesterday evening. While Arnab Goswami was granted interim bail by the apex court, the channel’s Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh continues to be behind bars in connection with the so-called TRP scam. Scientist and columnist Anand Ranganathan took to Twitter to express his angst at the unchecked malicious campaign of the Maharashtra state machinery that is determined to falsely target and desperately implicate Republic TV and its members.

Replying to the columnist, the national vice president and spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Baijayant Jay Panda, revealed how a similar witch-hunt was being carried out by the Naveen Patnaik led Odisha Government against Odisha Television (OTV).

The BJP leader alleged that the Odisha Police, working at the behest of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik were ‘illegally’ arresting OTV executives and intimidating them into resigning while in custody. He said that the time these arrested employees take to arrange for their bail is utilised by the Odisha police to threaten and coerce them into quitting the channel.

For the uninitiated, Odisha Television (OTV) is headed by Baijayant Jay Panda’s wife Jagi Mangat Panda. Jay Panda was with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal for nearly two decades as an MP before leaving in 2018 and joining the BJP.

Odisha Government Vs OTV

We have earlier reported how OTV MD Jagi Mangat Panda has alleged that her organisation is being targeted for coverage of the Naveen Patnaik Government’s alleged corruption. Recently, on November 10, Randhir Singh, father of Jagi Mangat Panda had issued a video appeal to the Union Home Minister of India, Amit Shah, seeking protection from the excesses of the police officials against his family and employees at the channel’s studio in Sarua, Khordha, under the pretext of carrying an investigation into a land issue.

It is pertinent to note here that at the site in-charge at Sarua, Anirudhha Panda was arrested by a group of policemen at 3 AM on Tuesday. The posse of about 15-20 police officials had reportedly climbed the boundary walls of the studio and hustled away Panda in the dead of the night without offering any reason.

Last month, Ramesh Rath is a senior reporter with Odisha Television (OTV) was allegedly arbitrarily picked up by a group of policemen barely a few hundred metres from his residence and was not allowed any communication, even with his family members. The channel had dubbed the arrest as a fallout of Rath reporting about Naveen Patnaik’s chopper run to assess the flood situation in the state. The Odisha police excesses, however, did not stop at this. A day after Rath’s arrest, a team of police had reportedly arrived at the office of the channel to search without warrants for the same, OTV had stated.

Before this other two employees working for the channel were also arrested. Rath and the other two were arrested in as many as 20 cases, leaving little doubt amongst many of the state-sponsored harassment against the company employees.

The Odisha Government has levelled a host of allegations against OTV and its affiliate organisations. OTV MD Jagi Mangat Panda had in a press release earlier, asked the Odisha government to investigate all the allegations levelled against them but asked him to stop harassing the employees, forcing many to tender their resignations. 

Lawyer writes to Attorney General KK Venugopal for consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Kunal Kamra

OpIndia Staff
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Lawyer writes to Attorney General KK Venugopal for consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Kunal Kamra

Mumbai-based lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee has sought Attorney General KK Venugopal’s permission to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Kunal Kamra. The infamous so-called comedian lost his cool when the Supreme Court of India granted interim bail to Arnab Goswami on 11th November. Kamra published a series of Tweets where he described the Supreme Court of India as ‘Supreme Joke of India’. As per the law, his tweets are subject to contempt proceedings.

In his letter to AG, Siddiquee said that Kamra posted unsavoury comments on the Supreme Court and Justice DY Chandrachud. He also circulated a morphed image of the Supreme Court premises. Siddiquee said his tweets amount to a “manifest attempt to lower the authority of the Supreme Court of India.”

Kamra’s tweets against Supreme Court and Justice Chandrachud

Siddiquee added five tweets by Kamra in his letter. In the first tweet, Kamra compared the Supreme Court to a Supreme Joke. In the next tweet, he wrote, “The pace at which the Supreme Court operates in matters of “National Interests” it’s time we replace Mahatma Gandhi’s photo with Harish Salve’s photo.”

Tweets by Kunal Kamra against the Supreme Court and Justice Chandrachud

In the third tweet, he compared DY Chandrachud to“flight attendant serving champagne to first class passengers after they’re fast tracked through, while commoners don’t know if they’ll ever be boarded or seated, let alone served.” In the last tweet, he provoked lawyers to stop using the prefix “Hon’ble” while referring to the Supreme Court or its judges. He said, “Honour has left the building long back.”

Siddiquee highlighted another tweet by Kamra where he posted a morphed image of the Supreme Court building giving it an Orange shade with the BJP flag hoisted in the Supreme Court’s entrance. He said if the court does not take action based on the derogatory statements made by Kamra, his millions of followers will follow the same path and make reckless allegations when judgment is not in their favour. He further added, “Greatest strength of the judiciary is the faith of the people in it, a belief that should not allowed to erode because of a calculated and well-timed propaganda of a few,”.

Yesterday, lawyer Chandni Shah had filed a contempt plea against Kamra for his vile remarks, which was handed over to the Secretary General of Supreme Court of India. Along with this, she also filed a cybercrime complaint against him.

Kamra’s unruly behaviour in the past

This is not the first time Kamra had indulged in unruly behaviour when it comes to Goswami.  In January this year, Kamra tried to hackle Goswami during a flight and circulated a video on social media. Indigo and several airlines took action against Kamra and imposed a flying ban on him.

Congress faces political ruin: Media durbaris still seeing ‘rays of hope’ in the debris

Sanghamitra
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Congress faces political ruin: Media durbaris still seeing ‘rays of hope’ in the debris

If the recent assembly by-polls are just latest in a long list of political battles that the Congress has been badly losing. After the debacle of 2014 when they were reduced to just 44 seats in the parliament, Congress has been losing one election after the other, but somehow, the loyalists of the party leadership and the media counterparts have never called it out. Instead, they keep on projecting rosy pictures, as if telling fairy tales to the prince and princess of the party.

In the Bihar assembly elections and the recent by-polls that were held in several states, Congress’ failure is glaring in the face of the party. The scenario is bleak, but the sycophant media will never admit it. In Gujarat, the BJP won all 8 seats. From Telangana to Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and UP, of the 56 seats that went for by-polls, Congress has got very few and worse, the party leaders and media counterparts refuse to admit or even introspect.

Uttar Pradesh

NDTV’s headline for Congress’ performance in UP

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress failed to win even a single seat out of the 7. The BJP won 6 and the Samajwadi party won 1. The underlying reality is that this happened even after the prolonged theatrics in Hathras by the Congress, especially the Gandhi siblings. The falling down, the motorcade, the media praises and all that PR, including the much-hyped ‘hug’, have all come to zilch.

One of the seats that went for the bypoll was the Bangarmau assembly seat, which had fallen vacant after BJP, and former SP leader Kuldeep Sengar was convicted in a rape case. BJP has retained the seat.

An NDTV article, instead of addressing the grim reality for the party, sees instead “a ray of hope”. The article highlights that “in 2 seats out of the 7, the Congress has finished second.” The article draws hope from the fact that in 2 seats, Congress’ losing candidates have got more votes than the BSP and SP respectively.

NDTV article on Congress’ ‘ray of hope’

It is notable here that in 2019 general elections, Congress, under the leadership of the Gandhis, had fielded 67 candidates. Only 1 (Sonia fro Rae Bareli) won, and 63 candidates lost their deposits.

Madhya Pradesh

Though neither any of the Congress leaders nor their media loyalists is talking about it, the humiliation has been the most brutal in Madhya Pradesh. 22 of the 28 seats went to by-polls because the Congress MLAs there had joined the BJP, along with Jyotiraditya Scindia. As if Scindia’s joining the BJP was not enough of a blow to the Congress, the results of the bypolls have made the humiliation complete. However, none in Congress have questioned the party leadership. No one has spoken against Sonia, Rahul or Priyanka, about how letting Scindia go had been a mistake, about how Kamal Nath not only failed to hold on to power but has let internal conflicts and rivalries shatter the party in Madhya Pradesh.

Gujarat

In Gujarat, the bypoll happened because the sitting Congress MLAs had resigned ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in June. 5 of them have joined the BJP and were fielded against Congress candidates by the BJP. The BJP ended up winning all seats while the Congress scored another big zero.

Congress a burden on alliance partners?

In the 2017 UP Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party had offered 100 seats to the Congress, of which it won only 7. SP won just 54 out of the 298 it had contested. The brutal blow after much hype over Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi’s partnership with Akhilesh was so stark that SP went solo in the 2019 general elections. In the current Bihar elections, RJD conceded 70 seats to Congress, of which the grand old party managed to win just 19. From UP to Bihar, the party has been emerging as a burden on its allies.

Congress leaders blame everything under the sun, but never question the Gandhis

Despite repeated failures and one abysmal performance after the other, Congress leaders are yet to raise serious questions about their own leadership. In the recently concluded elections, Digvijay Singh in Madhya Pradesh blamed EVMs, Bihar Congress leaders, national spokespersons and senior leaders blamed Owaisi and his AIMIM, and some dejected Congress leaders even poured their frustrations on the voters of Bihar, calling them poor and greedy, for voting NDA, but none of them blamed their own leadership. None of them questioned why Congress MLAs go running to the BJP and other parties within months of losing power, and none of them asked why the Gandhis are never held accountable and instead vanish into obscurity, leaving party workers to sift through the debris of their loss.

Neither Sonia Gandhi, nor Rahul or Priyanka have commented on the elections debacle yet. As per reports, Rahul was even set to go on a vacation to Jaisalmer, but suddenly had called it off, citing personal reasons.

MP HC refuses to quash FIR filed against Ekta Kapoor for ‘inappropriate sex scene’ in her web series XXX-2: Read what happened

OpIndia Staff
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MP HC refuses to quash FIR filed against Ekta Kapoor for ‘inappropriate sex scene’ in her web series XXX-2: Read what happened

The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by TV producer Ekta Kapoor seeking to quash an FIR against her over allegations of disrespecting the Indian Army in her erotic web series XXX 2.

According to the reports, Justice Shailendra Shukla observed that there has to be recorded evidence to determine whether something is obscene or not. “As far as this case is concerned, it can’t be stated outrightly that the episode is not obscene,” Justice Shukla said.

Ekta Kapoor had filed a petition seeking to quash the FIR filed against her for allegedly spreading obscenity, hurting religious sentiments and improper use of national emblems in her web show XXX Season 2.

A resident of Indore, who had filed a complaint, had said that the movie makers had disrespected Indian Army’s uniform.

Ekta Kapoor, in her plea, said that she had no idea about the contents of the episode as she is not the producer or director of the web series. She also added that her name did not reflect in the credits of the episode.

However, the High Court rejected this argument saying that as the Managing Director of Alt Balaji Ekta Kapoor is presumed to ‘have knowledge’ about whatever is shown on the platform.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, responding to Ekta Kapoor’s argument that the internet was full of much more explicit forms of obscenity, observed, “The flooding of obscene matter on the Internet is primarily because the concerned authorities have not been able to devise a mechanism to isolate and prevent such material. Such failure shouldn’t be considered valid rationalization on the petitioner’s part”.

Dismissing the petition, the High Court also rejected Kapoor’s arguments that a person who has paid the subscription fees to watch the material cannot later complain that the material is obscene, in view of the maxim of ‘Volenti Non-Fit Injuria’.

Complaints filed against Ekta Kapoor for hurting religious sentiments and insulting army personnel in XXX-2

Several complaints were registered against Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor for ‘inappropriate sex scene’ in her erotic web series XXX 2, which was reportedly streamed on OTT platform Alt Balaji.

Ekta Kapoor is the founder of ALT Balaji, which is owned by her production house, Balaji Telefilms. The controversial scenes were telecast in an episode titled, “Pyaar aur Plastic”.

Social media celebrity Vikas Pathak, who is otherwise popularly known as ‘Hindustani Bhau’, had also filed a police complaint against TV producer Ekta Kapoor. According to Hindustani Bhau, an episode in the web series depicts that a wife of an army officer indulges in a physical relationship with her boyfriend, while her husband, who is a soldier, was away from the family.

“Our army is our pride and the woman indulges in a sexual act with a man, who wears her husband’s uniform. This is shameful as they have made a joke of our soldiers,” shared Hindustani Bhau. 

‘Gold medal for wrestler who lost the bout’: Shiv Sena mouthpiece slams Nitish Kumar, forgets about how Uddhav Thackeray became CM

OpIndia Staff
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‘Gold medal for wrestler who lost the bout’: Shiv Sena mouthpiece slams Nitish Kumar, forgets about how Uddhav Thackeray became CM

Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the fourth consecutive time even after the predicted anti-incumbency of 15 years against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In a bitterly contested election, after a long day of counting, NDA alliance won 125 seats, only 3 seats above the majority mark of 122 while the Mahagathbandhan of RJD, Congress etc won 110 seats.

A party, however, that emerged as the greatest loser of the Bihar 2020 Assembly elections was Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena, lost deposits in all the seats that it contested and got votes lower than that of NOTA. However, as is the norm with Shiv Sena, they are hardly ever low on confidence even in the face of defeat. In the party mouthpiece Saamna, Shiv Sena has dubbed the choice of CM of Bihar as an ‘insult to democracy’.

In an editorial, Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna wrote, “If he is given the CM post despite his party coming 3rd, then its an ‘insult of democracy.” It also compared the decision to giving a gold medal to a wrestler who lost the bout.

The political drama of Maharashtra

Interestingly, while Shiv Sena has taken exception to Nitish Kumar becoming the CM of Bihar despite JDU coming in third, around a year ago, Maharashtra Assembly election results gave a clear verdict in favour of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance under NDA, however, Shiv Sena had something else in mind. Despite a pre-poll alliance with BJP, Shiv Sena decided to ally with Congress and NCP in its lust to see Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister.

After the election results, a bitter battle erupted between Shiv Sena and BJP where Shiv Sena claimed that it had been promised the seat of the CM, while BJP summarily denied any such deal. What unfolded due to the conflict between BJP and Shiv Sena last year was a huge political mess and unexpected alliance between NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena.

BJP had won 105 seats compared to 56 won by Shiv Sena. Even then, Sena leaders wanted Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister of the state. They had alleged that BJP promised them that Thackeray would be CM for 2.5 years and Fadnavis for 2.5 years. BJP had categorically denied the claim. Several seats that Shiv Sena managed to win in Maharashtra 2019 Assembly elections were because of their alliance with BJP. In fact, several of their poll pitches and posters even had Prime Minister Narendra Modi feature prominently in them.

Essentially, one can easily say that Shiv Sena, by no measure, won the 56 seats because of the people’s mandate but because the people thought they were fighting in an alliance with BJP. Even so, despite getting only 56 seats, Shiv Sena wanted the CM post for itself, thereby ditching a pre-poll alliance with the BJP.

In that transpired then, BJP swore-in Devendra Fadnavis as CM with NCP’s support for a couple of days, but it ended after Sharad Pawar intervened and claimed the decision to form an alliance with BJP was his nephew’s Ajit Pawar’s doing, and he didn’t approve of it. Later, Shiv Sena allied with Congress and NCP to form the government and appointed Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister. The parties that had locked horns in the past are now running a rogue government in the financial capital of India that is hell-bent on persecuting anyone, including journalists, for criticising them.

After everything that transpired in Maharashtra, the very fact that Uddhav Thackeray is today Maharashtra’s CM proves that his party, Shiv Sena, has paltry regard for not just alliances, but even what the people’s mandate is in an election. For them to now raise questions as Nitish Kumar gets set to become the CM of Bihar for the fourth time, is hypocritical. The fact remains that JDU and BJP fought the election after entering into a pre-poll alliance and votes cast for either JDU or BJP was keeping that alliance in mind. Whereas, Shiv Sena, in blatant disregard to the mandate, decided to ally with the parties that the people of Maharashtra clearly did not want.

It is said that politics makes for strange bed-fellows and Shiv Sena has epitomised that adage. For it to now pretend as if it respects democracy, is a cosmic joke in itself.

Arnab Goswami files for anticipatory bail in case where Mumbai Police had accused him, his family of assault on the day they dragged and arrested him

OpIndia Staff
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Arnab Goswami files for anticipatory bail in case where Mumbai Police had accused him, his family of assault on the day they dragged and arrested him

 

Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has filed for anticipatory bail before the City Civil and Sessions Court, Mumbai on Tuesday seeking protection from arrest in connection with a case registered by the Mumbai police for allegedly ‘resisting arrest’ and ‘obstruction of public servants’ from doing their official duty on November 4

On November 4, the Mumbai Police had registered an FIR against Arnab Goswami, his wife Samyabrata Goswami, his son and two unknown persons for allegedly obstructing police officers from carrying out their duties. The FIR against Arnab and his family by the Mumbai Police had come after they had barged into the residence of Arnab Goswami with 30-40 armed policemen to drag and arrest him in the 2018 suicide case.

Subsequently, an FIR was lodged by under Sections 353 (deterring public servant from discharging duty), 504 and 506 (provoking the breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code and under provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The complainant had said that she along with a team of officers from the Mumbai Police had gone to arrest Goswami in the abetment to suicide case when Goswami and his son had allegedly physically assaulted the police officers in a bid to prevent Goswami’s arrest. She had claimed that Goswami’s wife, co-accused in the FIR, allegedly tore an official document which was handed over to her for the purpose of signing, thereby, damaging public property.

Arnab Goswami has sought protection from arrest citing that the ground that the offences alleged against him is not true and there is a video recording of the incident to prove the same.

The Sessions Court is scheduled to hear the pre-arrest bail application filed by Goswami on Thursday.

The anticipatory bail by Arnab Goswami at the Sessions court comes a day after Supreme Court had ordered his immediate release after it granted interim bail in connection with the suicide case filed against them by the Maharashtra government.

Supreme Court grants bail to Arnab Goswami

On Wednesday, a Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra hearing the petition said that Bombay High Court made an error in rejecting the application for grant of interim bail on technical grounds. Granting the bail to Arnab Goswami, the apex court also directed the Raigad police to ensure the compliance of the order of release of Arnab Goswami forthwith.

The Supreme Court also asked Arnab Goswami and two other accused to execute a personal bond for an amount of Rs 50,000 for release on interim bail.

Justice Chandrachud, hearing the plea had made scathing observations saying, “If we don’t interfere in this case today we will walk on path of destruction. If left to me I won’t watch the channel and you may differ in ideology but Constitutional courts will have to protect such freedoms”.

Arnab was arrested last week by the Mumbai Police after it had reopened 2018 abatement of the suicide case of an architect, Anvay Naik.

 

‘Not eyeing power in Maharashtra, this govt will fall on its own’: What Devendra Fadnavis said about Bihar, its impact on West Bengal and Maharashtra govt

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not eyeing power in Maharashtra, this govt will fall on its own’: What Devendra Fadnavis said about Bihar, its impact on West Bengal and Maharashtra govt

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government will soon collapse on its own. He further added that BJP is not actively working for a change of guard in the state but will provide an alternative option if the situation arises.

Fadnavis served as the poll in-charge of BJP for Bihar elections. While talking to ANI on the impact of Bihar Assembly polls on Maharashtra, he said, “If we talk about this in the context of Maharashtra, it has raised our confidence. Jahan tak satta parivartan ka sawal hai, hum uspar nazar gadaye nahi baithe hain (As far as change of power in Maharashtra is concerned, we are not eyeing power in the state). This Maharashtra government will collapse one day on its own.”

BJP’s priority is farmers, not power

He further added that such a government could not continue for long. When the present state government will fail, BJP will provide an alternative government. However, it is not their priority at the moment. “There is an unprecedented agrarian crisis in Maharashtra. Farmers are worried. The government has not provided financial assistance to them. Being an opposition party, we are with farmers and questioning the government.”

Fadnavis said that the Bihar elections results would impact the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal in 2021 and on national politics. “This will impact national politics and in Bengal as well. We can see the wind of change in Bengal. After elections in Bengal, BJP will also form the government there,” he said.

Uddhav government will not last four years: State BJP chief

On Wednesday, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrakant Patil also said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government would not last another four years. He said, “though we don’t mind sitting in opposition, the current government will fall soon. The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government is completing one year in November.

Patil said BJP would not do anything to topple the government. He said, “We are ready to sit in opposition and work as the main opposition party for the next four years, but this government will not last for four years.” He further added that a girl was raped and murdered in Parola tehsil of Jalgaon district. “The Hathras incident (in Uttar Pradesh) was unfortunate, but will Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi come and meet the victim’s family here like they went to Hathras?” He said that the people of Maharashtra want this government to go considering atrocities against the women.

Uddhav government in Maharashtra

The Uddhav government has been embroiled in controversy over its dubious handling of issues. The brutal Palghar lynchings, where police officials were caught on camera handing over the helpless sadhus to a murderous mob and standing as mute spectators while the mob beat them to death, had created a furore over the country. The state machinery has been criticised over its handling of the Sushant Singh Rajput case and the way it went after anyone who had raised voices, from actress Kangana Ranaut to Arnab Goswami. The state government, ignoring the rising coronavirus cases and financial crisis, has been spending its resources upon carrying out the personal vendetta of political leaders.

Even individual dissenters, who dared to criticise the government, like Sameet Thakkar, Sunaina Holey and others, have been hounded by the state machinery under the MVA government.

15 years of pro-incumbency

Fadnavis said the elections in Bihar were of pro-incumbency. Nitish Kumar’s right image and people’s trust in PM Modi helped NDA winning the elections. “Even when they (LJP) were not with us, we secured a clear majority. We are happy that our alliance is forming the government.” NDA secured 125 out of 243 assembly constituencies. BJP won 74 seats, JD(U) 43, VIP 4, and HAM 4. Opposition only managed to grab 110 seats, with RJD winning 75 out of them, and Congress grabbed only 19 while Left won 16 seats.

Days after 2 ST employees committed suicide, Medicine vendors to go on hunger strike against Uddhav Thackeray govt over pending dues: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Days after 2 ST employees committed suicide, Medicine vendors to go on hunger strike against Uddhav Thackeray govt over pending dues: Details

The All Food and Drugs Licence Holders Foundation (AFDLHF), which supplies medicines to civic hospitals and medical colleges in Maharashtra, has called a hunger strike against the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government on Thursday over non-payment of dues worth Rs 206 crores.

According to the reports, the critical medicine suppliers have decided to stage a protest against Maharashtra government alleging that despite regularly supplying medicines to civic hospitals and medical colleges, the procurement cell of Haffkine Institute, Mumbai has not released dues over the past seven months.

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the AFDLHF has stated that they did not have money to pay staffers their salaries during the festival season.

“Due to the non-receipt of the payments, our members’ financial condition got disturbed. We don’t have the funds to pay salaries to staff/workers. We don’t even have money to buy raw materials,” letter written by AFDLHF to Chief Minister’s office reads.

The Maharashtra government rules allow only Haffkine Institute to procure medicines all across Maharashtra. The institute selects a vendor, who supply medicines to civic and government-run hospitals, medical colleges, dispensaries among others. The vendors have now claimed they have not received their pending money since May despite submitting bills to the institute.

No money to pay school fees or celebrate Diwali, says vendors

According to AFDLHF, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has to pay a total pending amount of Rs 93 crore, while Maharashtra’s Directorate of Health Service (DHS) has to pay the remaining Rs 113 crore.

Abhay Pandey, president of AFDLHF, said DHS has released our money but the institute has no dispersed it to vendors. “We get blacklisted if we delay the supply of medicines to hospitals, but what about our sufferings? We have sent several letters to the authority but no one has paid any heed,” Pandey asked.

“People are lighting up their houses for Diwali, but we don’t even have the money to pay school fees of my children,” said another vendor.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Medical Education and Drugs Department, Saurabh Vijay, said that he was not aware of the situation right now but will look into it.

These protests against Maharashtra government over the non-payment of their rightful dues are not new. The Maharashtra government’s reluctance to pay dues and salaries to their employees has now taken many lives in the state.

Maha govt employees ending lives over non-payment of bills

Just a few days back, two employees of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation had committed suicide over the issue of non-payment of dues, reduction in salaries and irregularities. Manoj Chaudhary, a Jalgaon ST bus conductor had ended his life by hanging himself. In his suicide note, he had blamed the ST corporation and Thackeray government for the non-payment and reduction in salary for the last several months.

Similarly, another ST employee, Pandarang Gadde had committed suicide over the issue non-payment of salaries from the last four months by the Maharashtra government. Earlier in August, an ST employee of the Maharashtra government had committed suicide for over non-payment of salary for over two months. Amol Mali, the ST worker, after being in depression for not receiving his salary for the period of the last two months, had decided to end his life.

Doctors and nurses from other states were deferred payment by Maharashtra government

It is also pertinent to note that not just ST employees and workers but the frontline forces of doctors and nurses battling the coronavirus pandemic were also not paid their dues by the Maharashtra government.

In July this year, several doctors and nurses from Kerala, who had come to Mumbai at the Maharashtra state government’s bidding to fight the coronavirus spread in the city, had gone back to their state as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) failed in paying them their salaries.

Even as the Maharashtra government is busy in carrying out a witch-hunt against its critics who have dared to raise their voices against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state, the concerns of the common man, especially the government employees have fallen on deaf ears, forcing them to take drastic steps.

The Shiv Sena-led government’s reluctance to pay salaries to its employees comes at the backdrop of recent reports that BMC had paid Rs.82.5 lakh in legal charges to a senior lawyer for representing the municipal body in Kangana Ranaut’s bungalow demolition.

Shockingly, the Uddhav Thackeray government has shown unusual alacrity in spending state exchequer to push his vendetta against his dissidents, however, it has failed to address the concerns of the government employees who are now facing a crisis because of the Uddhav Thackeray’s misplaced priorities.

Maharashtra government sanctions the purchase of luxury vehicles for its ministers, spends money on PR

Just recently, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government had not shied away from authorising the purchase of vehicles for its ministers. The approval from the Uddhav Thackeray government came at a time when the Maharashtra Treasury was in a bad shape in the wake of coronavirus induced lockdown in the state.

The Maharashtra government, disregarding the acute financial crisis suffered by thousands of government employees, had sanctioned the purchase of 6 new luxury vehicles for their ministers.

It is also important to mention that amidst the coronavirus pandemic that had severely had the state in its grip, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had floated an e-tender, inviting private advertising agencies to apply for managing the PR of the Chief Minister and the Government of Maharashtra. 

Union Government approves Rs 1.46 lakh crore PLI scheme for 10 key sectors with the aim of transforming India into a manufacturing hub

OpIndia Staff
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Union Government approves Rs 1.46 lakh crore PLI scheme for 10 key sectors with the aim of transforming India into a manufacturing hub

In a big boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, the Union Cabinet chaired by the PM Narendra Modi today gave its approval to introduce the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in 10 key sectors for enhancing India’s manufacturing capabilities and enhancing exports.

“The policy that we are taking in the PLI, through which we want the manufacturers to come into India, is clearly to say we want to build our strength but yet link with the global value chains. India should become a manufacturing hub is always been the call by our honourable prime minister,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while addressing a press briefing after the Cabinet decision.

Here are the 10 key sectors along with the details of the financial outlay earmarked by the Union Cabinet:-

PrioritySectorsImplementing Ministry/DepartmentApproved financial outlay over a five-year period in Rs crore
1 Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) BatteryNITI Aayog and Department of Heavy Industries18100
 2Electronic/Technology ProductsMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology5000
 3Automobiles
& Auto Components		Department of Heavy Industries57042
 4Pharmaceuticals drugsDepartment of Pharmaceuticals15000
 5Telecom & Networking ProductsDepartment of Telecom12195
6Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textilesMinistry of Textiles10683
 7Food ProductsMinistry of Food Processing Industries10900
 8High Efficiency Solar PV ModulesMinistry of New and Renewable Energy4500
 9White Goods (ACs & LED)Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade6238
 10Speciality SteelMinistry of Steel6322
PLI scheme introduced in the above listed sectors

The total outlay has been pegged at Rs 1,45,980 crore. The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while making the announcement added that the scheme would entail an expenditure of Rs 2 lakh crore.

The PLI scheme will be implemented by the concerned ministries/departments and will be within the overall financial limits prescribed. The final proposals of PLI for individual sectors will be appraised by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) and approved by the Cabinet. Savings, if any, from one PLI scheme of an approved sector can be utilized to fund that of another approved sector by the Empowered Group of Secretaries. Any new sector for PLI will require fresh approval of the Cabinet.

As per the press release issued by the Press Information Bureau, the PLI scheme across these 10 key sectors will strengthen the competitiveness of the Indian manufacturers globally, attract investment in the areas of core competency and cutting-edge technology; ensure efficiencies; create economies of scale; enhance exports and firmly embed India in the global supply chain.

ACC battery manufacturing represents one of the largest economic opportunities of the twenty-first century for several global growth sectors, such as consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. The PLI scheme for ACC battery will incentivize large domestic and international players in establishing a competitive ACC battery set-up in the country.

With regards to Electronics and Technology products, the Government’s push for data localization, Internet of Things market in India, projects such as Smart City and Digital India are expected to increase the demand for electronic products.

The automotive industry is one of the most significant contributors to the Indian economy. The PLI scheme in this sector will turn the Indian automotive Industry more competitive and will strengthen the globalization of the Indian automotive sector.

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the third-largest in the world by volume and 14th largest in terms of value. It contributes 3.5% of the total drugs and medicines exported globally. India possesses the complete ecosystem for development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and a robust ecosystem of allied industries. The Union Cabinet decision of extending the PLI scheme in this sector will provide incentives to the global and domestic players to engage in high-value production.

Another crucial sector that also forms a strategic element of developing a secured telecom infrastructure is Telecom equipment. India aims to become a major original equipment manufacturer of telecom and networking products. This aspiration is expected to be fulfilled by the inclusion of the sector in the PLI scheme which would attract large investments from global players and help domestic companies seize the emerging opportunities and become big players in the export market.

The Indian textile industry is one of the largest in the world and has a share of ~5% of global exports in textiles and apparel. However, India’s share in the manmade fibre (MMF) segment is low in comparison to the global consumption pattern, which is majorly in this segment. The PLI scheme will attract large investment in the sector to further boost domestic manufacturing, especially in the MMF segment and technical textiles.

The development of Food Industry would directly affect the welfare of the Indian Farmers and reduce high levels of wastage. Products which hold high growth potential and capabilities to generate medium- to large-scale employment have been identified for providing support through PLI scheme.

Another important sector that would boost India’s commitment to lowering carbon emission is solar PV panels. The large imports of solar PV panels have posed huge risks in supply-chain resilience and bear strategic security challenges considering the electronic (hackable) nature of the value chain. The PLI scheme for solar PV modules will incentivize domestic and global players to build large-scale solar PV capacity in India and catapult India in capturing the global value chains for solar PV manufacturing.

White goods (air conditioners and LEDs) have very high potential of domestic value addition and making these products globally competitive. A PLI scheme for the sector will lead to more domestic manufacturing, generation of jobs and increased exports.

One of the most strategically important industries in India is Steel. India is the world’s second-largest steel producer in the world. It is a net exporter of finished steel and holds the promise of becoming leading exporter in certain grades of steel. A PLI scheme in Specialty Steel will help in enhancing manufacturing capabilities for value-added steel leading to an increase in total exports.

The Prime Minister’s clarion call for an ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat‘ envisages policies for the promotion of an efficient, equitable and resilient manufacturing sector in the country. Growth in production and exports of industrial goods will greatly expose the Indian industry to foreign competition and ideas, which will help in improving its capabilities to innovate further. Promotion of the manufacturing sector and the creation of a conducive manufacturing ecosystem will not only enable integration with global supply chains but also establish backward linkages with the MSME sector in the country. It will lead to overall growth in the economy and create huge employment opportunities.

Earlier, a PLI scheme for mobile phone manufacturing was announced, where proposals by 16 phone makers were approved by the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology. The scheme will lead to a total production of more than Rs 10.5 lakh crores over the next five years.

‘Don’t waste your time on a lowly worm’, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani advises lawyer who filed cybercrime case against Kunal Kamra

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t waste your time on a lowly worm’, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani advises lawyer who filed cybercrime case against Kunal Kamra

The Supreme Court’s order granting interim bail to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has triggered major liberal meltdown. Propagandist masquerading as ‘standup comedian’, Kunal Kamra seemed to have a nervous breakdown and could not control himself from blabbering about the Supreme Court and the Justices DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee who passed the order.

Kamra used highly derogatory and condemnable language against the Supreme Court and the judges for granting relief to Arnab Goswami.

Screenshot of Kunal Kamra’s tweet
Screenshot of Kunal Kamra’s tweets

After Kamra posted several tweets which were contempt of the apex court of the country, Advocate Chandani Shah said on Twitter that she has filed a contempt plea against Kamra for his vile remarks. Shah posted the screenshot of the email that she wrote to the Bar Council of India requesting it to take cognisance of Kamra’s contemptuous remarks against the Supreme Court and the judges. She also filed a cyber complaint against him.

Shah later posted another tweet confirming that her complaint against Kamra had been handed over to the Secretary General of Supreme Court of India.

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Read- ‘Mentally unstable’ Kunal Kamra abuses and heckles Arnab Goswami on a flight to Lucknow: Here is what actually happened

Mahesh Jethmalani calls Kamra a “lowly worm”

Commenting on Shah’s tweet, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani advised her not to waste her time on Kamra. Calling Kamra a “lowly worm”, Jethmalani suggested Shah not to turn the “lowly worm” into a “glow worm” by giving him attention.

He said that Kamra deserved darkness and he should not be given the attention that he seeks so desperately. “Don’t waste your time. You’ll turn a lowly worm into a glow worm. He wants the glare: give him the darkness he deserves”, said Jethmalani.

Kunal Kamra, who often posts tweets seeking attention, seems to have become used to such insults on social media. In March this year, he was shown his place by author Chetan Bhagat. Kamra had shared a screenshot of a Twitter conversation of Bhagat in which he had asked: “Scale of 1-10, how bored are you right now?” A Twitter user had replied: “11 but still won’t read your book.” Sharing a picture of this conversation, Kamra tagged Chetan Bhagat and said that even he didn’t get insulted so frequently and badly. Bhagat gave a befitting reply to Kamra saying, “You have to be someone to get insulted bro.”

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