Expressing surprise and shock over handwritten prescriptions given by government doctors in the age of computers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stated the right to know medical status is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The observation was made by the High Court today during the hearing of an anticipatory bail plea of the accused in a rape case when the court was examining the Medico-legal Report (MLR) of the rape victim filed by the Haryana government.
A single bench of Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri noted, “The handwriting in the aforesaid MLR is absolutely illegible and cannot be understood at all. It is very surprising and shocking to note that in this era of computers, the notes on medical history and prescriptions by government doctors are written by hand which cannot be ready by anybody except perhaps some doctors. This court also has seen in a number of cases where even the medical prescription is written in such handwriting which nobody can read except perhaps some Chemists. The same is the position in the State of Punjab and probably in the UT Chandigarh also”.
The right to know medical prescriptions is a fundamental right
Justice Puri emphasised that the treatment given to a human being is a part of life and thus it should be considered as a fundamental right. “…to have the knowledge about the medical prescription by the doctor and the notes on the medical history is prima facie a right which is vested in the patient or the attendants to pursue the same and apply the mind, especially in today’s technological world. It will not be out of place to even note that the right to know the medical status of a human being can also be considered a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Health and the treatment given to a human being is a part of life and therefore, it may be considered as part of the right to life,” the judge stated.
Highlighting the rampancy of the problem in Punjab and Chandigarh, the court sought the assistance of Advocate Generals of Haryana and Punjab and Senior Standing Counsel of the UT of Chandigarh. The court invited suggestions regarding the remedial and corrective measures that can be taken regarding the illegible writing on the medical notes.
“This court therefore requests the learned Advocate General, Punjab and the learned Senior Standing Counsel, U.T., Chandigarh to also assist this court on the aforesaid issue as to what remedial and corrective measures can be taken with regard to the illegible writing on the medical notes and also on the prescriptions not only by the government doctors but also by the private doctors in both the States and U.T., Chandigarh”, the court said. “It deems it fit and proper to request the Advocate General, Haryana to assist this court on the issue,” the court added. The court also the assistance of the National Medical Commission and adjourned the matter to 13th February.
Orissa High Court asked doctors to write in capital letters
Last year in January, the Orissa High Court directed the state government to mandate doctors to write prescriptions in readable handwriting or capital letters. Justice Panigrahi asked the chief secretary to send a circular to the state’s government, private medical institutes and hospitals requiring doctors to write the names of medications clearly or in capital letters in prescriptions. The court noted that it should be followed in the case of post-mortem reports as well.
While examining a post-mortem report written by Dr Biswaranjan Pati, the Judge said that it cannot be understood in an ordinary course of reading unless the writer of the report himself, or a handwriting expert, is given the opportunity to examine such description.
UP court fined a doctor Rs 5000 for poor handwriting
In October 2018, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court imposed a penalty of ₹5000 each on three doctors in separate cases for their illegible handwriting. The order came when the court was examining the injury reports of victims issued by the district hospitals of Sitapur, Unnao and Gonda. The court said that the injury reports were not readable because of very poor handwriting. Calling this the obstruction of the court’s work, the court summoned the three doctors who wrote the reports and imposed penalties on them. The court directed the Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) to ensure that in future the medico reports are prepared in easy and legible handwriting.
Courts deal with medical reports including MLR, injury reports and post-mortem reports in various cases regularly. Medical reports make for crucial evidence in certain cases. Therefore, the frustration of courts over medical reports written in illegible handwriting that leads to delay is justifiable.
Ahmedabad police have arrested a Muslim man in connection with the abduction and sexual exploitation of a Hindu girl. The accused, identified as Abdul Mubeen Hamid Khan Pathan, had kidnapped the victim 10 months ago and repeatedly assaulted her at various locations. Notably, Abdul Hamid Khan is HIV-AIDS positive.
The police apprehended both the accused and the Hindu girl from Madhya Pradesh. Investigations revealed that Abdul Mubeen had abducted the girl in March 2024. She had gone to attend a wedding at a place called Sagira Shahibaug on March 22, 2024, but mysteriously disappeared around 8 PM that night.
Her family searched for her but failed to locate her, prompting them to approach the police. Based on their complaint, an investigation was launched.
Even after three months of continuous investigation, the police were unable to gather any information about the girl. The case was then handed over to the Ahmedabad Crime Branch’s anti-human trafficking unit. Meanwhile, the Hindu girl’s family also approached the Gujarat High Court.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch expanded its search beyond Gujarat to other states. In February 2025, investigators received a crucial lead indicating that the missing girl and the accused, Abdul, were in Bijori, Madhya Pradesh. Acting on this information, a police team reached the location, rescued the girl, and arrested Abdul.
According to a Times of Indiareport, Abdul had kept the Hindu girl captive and even deprived her of food. He had rented the house with the help of his relatives. The police have now arrested Abdul and initiated further legal proceedings.
In a statement to OpIndia, Shahibaug police confirmed the operation, revealing that Abdul Pathan originally hails from Bareja, Ahmedabad. To evade arrest, he kept moving from city to city with the minor girl. Currently, efforts are underway to present him in court and secure his remand.
Previously Exploited Six Other Girls
Reports indicate that Abdul initially kept the girl in Ahmedabad. Later, acting on a lawyer’s advice, he moved her to various cities, including Surat, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Beed, Hyderabad, and Bilaspur. The police now plan to take action against the lawyer who advised him.
The police revealed that the accused was aware of his HIV-positive status, yet he had targeted six other girls in the past. Authorities are now working to trace all the victims, and once found, they will undergo medical examinations.
In order to strengthen the social and security framework along the China border, the union cabinet allotted Rs 4,800 crore in 2023 under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP). It was started as a centrally supported initiative which aimed to develop all of the villages that have been identified in 46 blocks that border the north and north eastern region in 19 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh. Now, the initiative’s tremendously positive outcomes are beginning to show.
On 6th February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shed light on the same during his address in the Rajya Sabha. He stated that in addition to serving various communities, the government also paid attention to the most remote areas of the nation, including border villages which had been disregarded as backward regions by previous administrations and their policy of prioritizing Delhi and neglecting the rest.
Several regions across the nation had not witnessed a lot of development in the past. Villages on our borders were ignored for decades.
We changed our approach towards them. We identified them as 'first villages' and specifically focused on their development. Cabinet Ministers,…
PM Modi emphasized the change in mindset that the government has brought about, to ensure that border villagers are given precedence. He underlined that these settlements have been granted special status as “first villages” with particular development plans as they are located where the sun’s first and last rays touch.
According to the prime minister, ministers were dispatched to isolated hamlets to spend an entire day there, even in frigid temperatures like minus 15 degrees, to learn about and solve the issues afflicting the locals. He added that village leaders and heads from these border regions are welcomed as guests on Republic Day, Independence Day and other national holidays. He reiterated the centre’s dedication to “Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas” as well as its persistent attempts to outreach to all underprivileged populations.
PM Modi pointed out the government’s perpetual focus on the “Vibrant Villages Programme” and stressed its significance and effectiveness for the country’s security.
What is Vibrant Villages Programme
The VVP was officially launched at the Arunachal Pradesh border village of Kibithoo on 10th April 2023. The programme seeks to develop the border villages in all aspects, including building roads and homes, offering decentralized renewable energy, television and telecom connectivity, promoting tourism and culture, fostering entrepreneurship and skill development, building societies to create jobs and more. The goal is to create economic possibilities and supply basic amenities for the border residents to guarantee that they do not feel excluded from the development gains and leave these isolated places.
The government recommended spending Rs 4,800 crores over five years (2022–2023 to 2025–2026) to complete these tasks. Of the designated sum, Rs 2,500 crores would be used for road construction and the remaining for other infrastructure projects. The programme, which calls for the comprehensive development of 2,967 villages spread over 19 districts in four states and one union territory along the India-China border, was approved by the union government on 15th February 2022. The initiative consists of three stages, with the first phase focusing on the priority development of 662 border areas.
There are 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh followed by Himachal Pradesh (75), Uttarakhand (51), Sikkim (46), and Ladakh (35). To increase the resources available for improving socioeconomic services there, the union government directed that all other centrally sponsored schemes that are currently in place and concentrate on providing health, education and sanitation, among other things be integrated and implemented in addition to the VVP projects.
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda in 2023 informed, “Tribals in border villages have protected the country since ages along with preservation of their local traditions and culture. They are the true patriots of the country. We are privileged to have you in our midst in the capital city. These border villages, once termed the ‘Last Villages of India’ have been termed the ‘First Villages’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India feels secure because the inhabitants of these border villages are keeping watch.”
“Over 17 Ministers have visited and stayed overnight in these villages. Under the visionary guidance of PM Modi, the government is trying to ensure the delivery of its programmes focusing on the empowerment of women and youth, connectivity with all-weather roads, provision of clean drinking water, 24×7 power to be focused on solar and wind energy, Mobile and Internet connectivity, tourist centers, multipurpose center and health and wellness center,” he further conveyed.
“Further, cooperatives is set to be developed at the local level to manage livelihood opportunities including entrepreneurship agriculture horticulture, cultivation of medicinal herbs etc. The government is committed to the all round development of Border Villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme,” the minister added.
How the programme brought radical change and improved lives
“Life in the village is far better but better education opportunities force parents to migrate to the district headquarters to enroll their children in schools. With the government focusing on developing border villages and improving road connectivity, there’s a shift. Now, people are moving back to their villages. I am one of them,” voiced 40-year-old Dipen Molo in a detailed report published by The Print. He long-held a dream to establish a Kiwi farm in his hamlet but spent almost 30 years away from home in pursuit of more opportunities.
The border village of Ebamee is located in the Dibang Valley area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Anini circle. The hamlet, which is 24 kilometers from the main Anini town, has seen considerable development in recent years, which has prompted him to return. Likewise, many people from the Dibang Valley district’s border communities are rediscovering their heritage. Kibithoo and the surrounding villages in the Anjaw district of eastern Arunachal Pradesh now have multiple home stays, a bus service that connects Kibithoo with Tezu in Lohit district near Assam, mobile network connectivity, blacktopped roads and the best bakery in Walong called the “Kibithoo Frontier Cafe” or “KFC.”
This was just 18 months after the Vibrant Village Programme kicked off. The people have taken advantage of the tourism potential and it’s all transpiring close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). A cafe in Kibithoo is owned by 27-year-old Pramila Rai and three of her friends, who sell coffee, cookies, momos and noodles. She completed her studies at Tezu Government College. About two years ago, the Indian Army launched a soft-skills training program that gave the four women the courage to launch their own business. The army also granted them course certificates.
Kameng Culture & Heritage Museum, inaugurated by Arunachal CM Pema Khandu under the Vibrant Villages Program, image via PRO Defence, Guwahati
Pramila stated, “We take orders for birthday cakes for both civilians and army personnel. You find a little of everything in Kibithoo now – roads and highway, medical facility, mobile network that reached our village only 3 to 4 months ago. We can now make best use of our smart phones.”
In May 2023, Kibithoo got 4G network connectivity for the first time.
The USO funded 4G network commissioned successfully at Kibithoo – first vibrant village of India on 13.5.2023. Heartiest thanks to the Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi and Hon'ble CM Shri Pema Khandu. pic.twitter.com/oLoL9hZLuf
— Department of IT&C Government of Arunachal Pradesh (@ditc_arunachal) May 13, 2023
How Indian Army plays a critical role in development of border villages
The Indian Army and personnel of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) play a critical role in the Vibrant Villages Programme. They not only undertake training initiatives for locals, but actively participate in activities, often working side by side with the locals to implement the projects.
“With a renewed vision to develop the border villages through Vibrant Village Programme, the task of the Indian Army has doubled. Besides guarding the borders, they have today become the active partner in successful implementation of the vibrant village programme”, Arunachal CM Khandu posted past year, thanking the Army.
With a renewed vision to develop the border villages through Vibrant Village Programme, the task of the Indian Army has doubled. Besides guarding the borders, they have today become the active partner in successful implementation of the vibrant village programme.
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) June 23, 2023
Cooking and baking workshops and health camps are frequently organised by the Army in these areas, training locals to learn new skills and develop their entrepreneurship potential.
Kaho in Arnunachal Pradesh is called India’s first village, which has 17 homes and a population of just over 100. The village is now a popular destination for tourists from all around the nation.
Alinye and Angrim Valley, close to Acheso are also positioned to become model villages. Military infrastructure projects that are also intended for civilian use are largely responsible for the valley’s development. Foot Suspension Bridges (FSB) are essential for the people who live on both sides of the Dri River. The army repaired a 70-meter FSB at Acheso in August.
More eco-campsites and homestays are being constructed by the people of Dri hamlets. Additionally, tourists are swarming to the area’s well-known Chigu Camp resort, which is ideal for experiencing snowfall during the height of winter. Furthermore, the government organizes trekking trips along the Dri River and a chance to see endangered species such as as the Mishmi Takin, a goat-antelope species listed as Vulnerable (IUCN) in the upper Mishmi Hills.
Vibrant Villages Programme: Collaboration between army and people
Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lieutenant General KT Parnaik in 2023 stated that VVP “must be collaborative in nature, wherein armed forces and local people share their facilities and resources.” He visited the vibrant border village of Tuting in Upper Siang District and talked to the community leaders and members and assured that the army would assist the locals in every possible way.
The Governor, who was visiting vibrant border villages, remarked that the Vibrant Villages Programme was started by the Indian government to promote the overall development of the border regions. He asserted that the project needs to be cooperative in nature, with the local population and the military sharing resources and facilities. He also encouraged the locals to focus on tourism, poultry, animal husbandry and horticulture to make optimal use of the potential of their regions.
According to him, the armed personnel stationed close to the villages would receive fresh food products and fresh vegetables, while the locals will be able to earn a fair living and develop their independence and capabilities.
In December 2024, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu had shared that as many as 455 villages in his state have benefitted from the Vibrant Villages Program.
A brainchild of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, Vibrant Villages Programme is transforming the lives of our people living in villages on the border.
Glad to share that Arunachal Pradesh is a major beneficiary of VVP, creating opportunities for livelihood generation… pic.twitter.com/9WVrqLEDrQ
Notably, although the government has always prioritized the development of border regions, the June 2020 hostilities between the Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Ladakh region acted as the impetus for the VVP’s inception. Poor road connectivity was a defining feature of India’s border regions, particularly those the country shared with China. The government was therefore unable to access these regions and offer the border inhabitants essential facilities and services.
The border population is forced to relocate to mainland cities and towns in the hope of a better life due to a lack of basic conveniences and job opportunities. Populated villages in border regions are critical from a national security perspective. Because abandoned villages serve as an opportunity for hostile forces to occupy. Taking last mile connectivity and development to frontier areas not just strengthens the nation, it sends a message of inclusivity for the people who have been left neglected for decades.
Creating sufficient chances for local people to remain in their villages rather than move to towns is the main goal of the programme. Military strategists believe that out-migration gives the Chinese the confidence to extend their territorial claims beyond the current deployment. Vibrant villages on the border are not just a sign of a prosperous nation, they are a message to the neighbouring countries that ‘Here we are, Indians, and we are here to stay.”
The office of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has returned to the house of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at 21, Ashoka Road, Janpath after the management failed to get a new place due to the ban imposed by the Sports Ministry, a WFI official said.
WFI office had moved out from Brij Bhushan’s house to Hari Nagar, following accusations of sexual harassment imposed on him by India’s top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik in 2023.
Last month, WFI President Sanjay Singh claimed that the federation’s office was located in Hari Nagar. He also confirmed that they had found a new place in Connaught Place and would shift there on February 2.
However, according to the latest developments, the WFI have now returned to Brij Bhushan’s house after their failure to get a new premise because of the ban imposed by the Sports Ministry.
“The office of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) returns to the old address, the old registered house of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in New Delhi as management failed to get a new place because the Sports Ministry has still imposed the ban on the federation and no one gives them new premise because of the ban,” WFI offical said.
The Sports Ministry suspended the WFI body after the newly elected WFI president Sanjay Singh announced the hosting of the U-15 and U-20 nationals at Nandini Nagar in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh in December 2023.
“We try to find new place but everytime the landlord said you are banned by the Sports Ministry so how could we give you new premise. So to ensure that the game does not suffer and also players do not suffer more so we moved in old place till we didn’t get new place for setup and this will be possible when the Sports Ministry removes its ban on us,” the WFI official added.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant and her supporters launched an attack on the Indian consulate in Seattle. She alleged that while her husband was given an emergency visa, her application to travel to India to see her 82-year-old ailing mother in Bengaluru was denied three times. She claimed that her name was put on a “reject list” without offering any explanation.
India's Modi government has rejected my visa THREE TIMES to visit my 82-year-old mother who is very sick.
Seattle's Indian Consulate gave my husband visa again. They say my name is on a "reject list." They refuse to tell us why.
The members of her political organization “Workers Strike Back” arrived at the consulate where Sawant was holding a protest. “We engaged in a peaceful civil disobedience at the consulate office, with other members outside on the street,” she added. Sawant, who vehemently opposes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, “urged” the political opposition to defend her and other critics, arguing that it is in their best interests to do so.
NOW: Kshama Sawant and members of Workers Strike Back are engaging in a peaceful sit-in at the Consulate of India in Seattle, demanding answers for why @cmkshama’s visa has been denied a third time, and why she has been told that the Modi government has placed her on a “reject… pic.twitter.com/a7nZk7HUeL
On the other hand, the Indian consulate in Seattle wrote about a law and order issue involving “unauthorized entry by certain individuals” into its building after office hours. It added that these people acted aggressively and threateningly toward the employees and refused to leave the premises despite numerous requests. “We were compelled to call in relevant local authorities to deal with the situation. Further action is being initiated against the trespassers,” the consulate affirmed.
Today, the Consulate was forced to deal with a law and order situation arising from the unauthorized entry by certain individuals into the Consulate premises after office hours.
Despite repeated requests, these individuals refused to leave the Consulate premises and engaged in…
Sawant stated, “We were simply asking for an explanation as to why my visa was rejected three times, and by the consulate’s own admission, I’m on the Modi government’s reject list. Rather than giving us an explanation, the consulate repeatedly threatened to call the cops on us, tried to confiscate our phones, and tried to physically remove us.” She remarked that they would remain at the consulate until they received a response for the repeated denials of her visas.
“All we are asking for is an explanation. Why am I on a reject list? Why is my visa being rejected three times,” Sawant asked. She also wrote about her anti-India stances including propaganda against NRC-CAA and caste politics, claiming to champion the causes of marginalised groups and therefore being targeted by the current administration in New Delhi.
A Consular officer said I'm being denied a visa coz I'm on Modi govt's "reject list."
It's clear why.
My socialist City Council office passed a resolution condemning Modi's anti-Muslim anti-poor CAA-NRC citizenship law. We also won a historic ban on caste discrimination.…
Moreover, Sawant also accused the Indian officials of being physically assaulted. “One consulate staff person first violently grabbed a Workers Strike Back member and tried to take her phone. The phone fell down, and the consulate staff member engaged in a scuffle, trying to grab the phone. At the same time, another consulate staff person physically fought me when I was holding the door open for all of us to leave. He violently tried to push the stairwell door shut to try to physically block us from leaving, despite the fact that we were doing exactly what they had repeatedly asked us to do, which is leave. Instead, they literally tried to trap us in, clearly to try and get us arrested by the police.”
She expressed that under capitalism, the police are not the allies of working people. “But it was so obvious that we were being assaulted while peacefully leaving that even the police felt forced to say something to object to the manhandling of us by the consulate staff.” In 2024, Sawant’s request for a visa was turned down twice, however, she was allowed to come to India earlier. According to her, the opposition parties must unite and object to “an inhumane agenda where Indian citizens, like my mother, are not allowed to meet their own families.”
Sawant, a former Seattle City Council member threatened that she is considering filing a lawsuit to overturn her visa decision, although she hasn’t started the procedure yet.
It is worth noting that a visa is a privilege enjoyed by non-Indians to visit the country, not a birthright that Kshama believes it to be. As far as no reason being offered before rejection, it is notable to mention that hundreds of Indians get their visa applications rejected in various US embassies across the country, with no specific reason provided for their rejection.
Rahul Gandhi’s government in Telangana conducted a caste survey in the months of November and December in 2024. Actually, in the name of caste survey, they even tried to conduct a comprehensive survey of all material assets (how many vehicles you own, how many properties you own etc), but we will ignore that for now.
Rahul Gandhi thundered in Lok Sabha how his government in Telangana finished a caste survey and shocking results came to light. I don’t know if the results are shocking, but the classification of the results is certainly very shocking. In fact, they reveal the nefarious intentions of Rahul Gandhi to divide the people of Bharat.
Here is the summary table of what the state government published. All media carried out these numbers in various tabular/design formats. I highlighted the most dangerous classification from this report.
According to this survey, the total number of Muslims is 44,57,012. Out of this, Rahul Gandhi’s government is claiming that 35,76,588 Muslims fall under the Backward Castes category. That is a whopping 80% of Muslims in the state that they have unilaterally classified as Backward Castes! Caste classification in Muslims has already been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of India. Yet, Rahul Gandhi, who constantly harps on the Constitution of India has no hesitation in going down the unconstitutional path just to satisfy his vote bank.
While looking at the table, some obvious questions will come to anyone’s mind. For example: What about other religions? The summary report that Rahul Gandhi’s government has released does NOT mention any other religion. So, we don’t know under which category he has classified Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis etc in his table above.
The summary report has an exclusive focus on Muslims. It says 15.79% are OCs in Telangana and this includes the 2.48% of Muslims who are not BCs. There is no mention of any other religion in this classification. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy speaking in the Assembly also highlighted how the total BC population is 56.33% and this includes 10.08% of Muslims as BCs. It still beats why there has to be a separate classification for just Muslims in OC and BC.
A special 1-day assembly session was called by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss the report. You would assume that they will table the report, and we will get to see the details. No report was tabled in a session that was called to discuss the report! His ally, Owaisi was very agitated at not being shown the report but only a summary that has been doing the rounds. The government took shelter under privacy laws and the volume of the report (it is 1000s of pages long etc!) and said the session is only for accepting the awesome summary!
This resolution and report have now been sent to the Central government for approval. The central government cannot approve such a blatantly unconstitutional report. Once they reject it, Rahul Gandhi will again go to town screaming that his caste census report has been rejected. His divisive games are simply getting dangerous by the day.
There is another obvious question that everyone is now asking. Will Rahul Gandhi change the Chief Minister of Telangana? Clearly by his utterances so far, it is only natural that Telangana should have a Chief Minister from the BCs. Rahul Gandhi will pass on that blame also to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The people of this country have continued to reject Rahul Gandhi’s divisive ideas. With each rejection, his resolve to make his ideas more dangerous keeps on increasing. It’s like he wants to punish the people of Bharat for rejecting his ideas. What else explains the dangerous idea of classifying a whopping 80% of Muslims as Backward Castes?
A fake Peer Baba called Abul Rzzak has been arrested in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir for cheating people, especially deceiving Muslim women by promising them ‘Jannat Ka Rasta’ (road to heaven). As per reports, Abdul Razzak had built a black structure designed like the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia on his land and was claiming to be a ‘Paigambar'( messenger of God) to the locals.
Locals have reported that the fake Peer Abdul Razzak used to smoke charas and ganja inside the black structure and promise all sorts of spiritual insight to deceive women, who used to seek his ‘advise’ in large numbers.
Abdul Razzak had reportedly claimed to locals that he is a reincarnation of Sufi saint Noordin Noorani, and he has divine powers. Deceived ny his claims, a large number of Muslim women in the area had started following him.
From his curious black hut that he had designed like an Islamic religious structure, Razzak used to distribute ‘Tabeez’ (amulets) to locals, with promises of healing powers. The local people who reported him added that he is a cannabis addict and his wife had left him.
Abdul Razzak had claimed before locals that Allah has ordered him to build a replica of the Kaaba in Mecca in Baramulla. He had added that the duplicate Kaaba would be for poor Muslims who are unable to travel to Mecca. He had already started the construction of the duplicate Kaaba. However, following complaints, some jounalists were alerted to his plans. The journalists met Razzak pretending to be his followers and sought information on the duplicate Kaaba.
Following a social media video where the plans of Razzak were exposed by the journalists, local villagers gathered and attacked his fake masjid. The police were alerted to arrest Abdul Razzak while locals set the fake mosque on fire. Razzak has been described as ‘mentally ill’ by some persons too.
Maulanas in Kashmir have announced that the fake mosque built by Razzak is un-Islamic and cannot be allowed under Islamic law.
In 2018, Elon Musk commented, “Betting that science is wrong and oil companies are right is the dumbest experiment in history by far.” He was referring to the oil lobby, and how a move to renewables, that will aid a greener planet, has been witnessing resistance. Indeed, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower produce fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, with concomitant social, sustainability, and cost benefits.
Developed economies have already been witnessing good progress in this space. Ex-US President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, reducing GHG emissions and lowering energy costs. EU, to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports implemented REPower1 EU in May 2022, which will promote clean energy.
State of Renewable Energy in India
India has been committed in this space too, with its enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, aligning with principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). Aided by the LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, India has pledged to achieve 50%2 of cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
As of October 2024, out of a total of 452.69 GW3 electric generation capacity, renewable energy stands at 201.45 GW, which is around 46.3% of total installed capacity. Solar leads the segment, with 90.76 GW, followed by wind (47.36 GW).
Renewable energy capacity in India: Buildup from previous budgets around renewable energy
The green energy commitment of the present-day government has been evident in the last few budgets.
Union Budget 2022: INR 3365 CR4 for solar power, comprising both grid-interactive and off-grid projects, was allocated. An outlay of INR 19,500 CR was made for PLIs in solar photovoltaic cell manufacture. The focus on solar power bore fruit – By Dec 2024, an installed solar module manufacturing capacity of ~63 GW5 and solar cell manufacturing capacity of ~ 5.8 GW had been achieved. The PM had made a telling statement back in July 2020, while inaugurating the 750 MW Rewa Solar Project in MP6 – “Solar energy is Sure, Pure, and Secure.” That spirit saw its reflection in the budget. Sovereign green bonds for green infrastructure were also proposed.
Union Budget 2023: Focus was laid on the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), with Viability Gap Funding. Research shows that in the least Cost Optimized (LCO) pathway for India’s power sector, solar will dominate the growth of electricity generation, however, cost-effective storage solutions are crucial to sustain this post-solar crosses 25%7 of energy mix.
The cost decline for BESS was crucial as a consequence.
An outlay of INR 19,744 CR was also earmarked for the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Union Budget 2024: Focus was shifted to diversify non-fossil fuel capacity beyond grid-scale solar and on-shore wind. A tender announcement for a 500 MW8 offshore wind project on the coastlines of Gujarat was also made. Thrust on PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for 10 MN households was also given, which led to the growth of rooftop solar to 15.7 GW as of Dec 2024. 100% exemption of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) for 25 critical minerals9 was also announced.
Union Budget 2025: FM Sitharaman, building on the momentum from previous budgets, has focused on long-term energy security this time. A major focus has also been on expanding Nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047. Key features around Renewables in this budget can be thought through across a few areas:
Clean-tech manufacturing: Recognizing that MSMEs are key growth drivers, a budgetary allocation of INR 100 CR has been made to boost the manufacturing of solar PV cells, wind turbines, batteries, and electrolysers.
Focus on Solar power: INR 241 BN has been allocated to Solar, including INR 1.5 BN for the solar power grid, and INR 2.6 BN for PM KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan), a scheme10 supporting farmers by subsidizing standalone solar pumps and solarizing existing grid-connected pumps to reduce diesel dependence. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has witnessed an 81% increase in allocation, from INR 110 BN last year to INR 200 BN this year.
Green Energy Corridors (GECs): Modernization of grid infrastructure is pivotal for RE integration. To support the integration of RE into this grid, INR 60 BN has been allocated from GECs. States have been allowed to borrow an additional 0.5% of their GSDP to strengthen the financial health of distribution companies.
Green Hydrogen: The National Green Hydrogen Mission has received a budgetary outlay of INR 6 BN, up from 3 BN last year.
Strengthening EV value chain: To further fortify the EV value chain, Basic Customs Duty on key materials like Cobalt, Lithium-ion battery scrap, lead, etc has been removed. National Critical Minerals Mission11 has been allocated INR 41 BN, to build a resilient value chain for Green Technologies. Budgetary allocation for the PLI scheme for the National Program on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage has been substantially increased from INR 1.54 BN to INR 15.58 BN.
Focus on Nuclear Power: The Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat12 has been introduced, which aims to promote domestic nuclear capabilities and promote private participation. Allocation of INR 20,000 CR has been made to develop at least 5 indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033. Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be taken up by Parliament. While as of Jan 30, 2025, India’s installed nuclear capacity is 8180 MW, plan is to grow that to 100 GW by 2047. The Focus of GoI will be to partner with private firms to set up Bharat Small Reactors and enhance R&D across Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and newer technologies.
Renewable energy is the path forward
The Matsya Purana13, one of Hinduism’s 18 major Puranas (Mahapuranas), mentions in Chapter 68:
Health ought to be sought from the Sun, wealth from Agni,
knowledge from Isvara, and emancipation from Janardana.
The Sun has been bestowed a special place of reverence in Puranas and ancient scriptures, and Bharat’s special focus on Solar power and other renewable energy sources is a continuance of that, both from a philosophical and scientific paradigm. Budget 2025 has further reinforced that spirit and laid out a clear path for ushering in renewables within the buzzing energy sector in India – that will be one of many levers to hand-hold India in its path towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
After the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh last year in August, the country has been facing market instability and high inflation. As per reports, grocery stores across the country are facing a shortage of cooking oil including branded bottled oil and non-branded loose soybean oil. The shortage has resulted in hiked prices further adding to the problem.
The interim government that took over after the ouster of the Awami League government reportedly waived the Value Added Tax (VAT) to stabilise the prices of cooking oil after prices were hiked to facilitate supply chains. The VAT on cooking oil was reduced by 5 per cent and the VAT at the production and business levels was fully removed in October last year. According to retailers and wholesalers in major cities including Dhaka, Chattogram and Barishal, the supply chain was impacted after the government refused to raise prices last month. The local refiners were seeking a hike in prices citing increased import costs.
According to reports, strategic pricing tactics adopted by producers and marketers ahead of Ramadan have increased soybean oil prices. Reduced commissions and stringent credit policies by dealers at the retail level have led to a considerable decline in bottled oil availability in local shops of Bangladesh, which relies on imports to meet its annual oil requirement of 24 lakh tonnes.
Bottled soybean oil is selling at Tk 175 to 176 per litre in the country marking a one per cent increase over the last month. As per data compiled by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the prices of loose soybean oil increased by 4 per cent in the last week going from Tk 180 to Tk 182 per litre.
Bangladesh facing financial crisis
Bangladesh has been facing financial troubles following the overthrow of its elected government last year by a violent revolution. The country is engulfed by political and financial instability. In a recent financial setback, Switzerland and the US discontinued their financial aid to Bangladesh.
Soon after assuming office last month, US President Donald Trump stopped all the US funding coming into Bangladesh. Trump passed an executive order directing the USAID to suspend all its operations in Bangladesh. This was followed by Switzerland’s decision to discontinue its financial aid to Bangladesh. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) decided to end its bilateral development programmes with three countries including Bangladesh by the end of 2028.
On Thursday, February 6th, the Punjab and Haryana court observed that the Punjab government does not want to comply with the judicial directions seeking disclosure of state expenses incurred on advertisements, renovation of houses of Ministers, etc. The court also said that the state does not want to disclose the money spent on litigation at the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court from December 2021 to September 2024.
This is after the court found that the state had no explanation for not clearing the dues of over ₹500 crores to hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The court revealed that the state received a share of funds from the government of India but failed to pay the hospital’s dues. “The reasons, which have been mentioned in the affidavit (submitted by the Punjab Government) reflect that the State of Punjab does not intend to comply with the directions,” Justice Kuldeep Tiwari stated.
He said that the state was given 4 months to furnish the details of where the money was spent, but the state had no intentions to provide such details.
The observation came as several hospitals from Punjab sought the release of funds from the state government under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. It was noted that the state only released ₹26 crore against bills amounting to ₹500 crore.
In September last year, the court asked the state to provide details of expenses to examine whether the funds provided by the Center to the state had been misutilized. Recently, the court had asked the State Principal Secretary of Finance to comply with the judicial directions, but to no avail.
Ever since its launch in the state of Punjab, the scheme of Ayushman Bharat has always been a matter of concern as private hospitals complain that they never get reimbursements from the state on time. As per the scheme, the cost of treatments to the hospitals should be reimbursed within 14 days of submitting the bills. There is a provision of 1% per annum interest payments to hospitals in case of delay in payments.
Private hospitals have been complaining that these payments have never been made on time. In 2021, private hospitals in Punjab stopped treatment citing undue checking by the insurance company hired by the government to make payments on its behalf. In 2022, private hospitals further denied treatment to patients under the scheme, citing pending payments of Rs 130 crore.
Earlier the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Haryana also stated that around 600 private hospitals in the state had decided to stop treating patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme from February 3rd. The IMA’s Haryana unit said that the patients at the private hospital relying on the slated government health scheme would hardly benefit from the scheme as the doctors would not treat them under the said scheme. As per the unit, the government had not yet cleared the reimbursement of the hospitals worth ₹400 crores.
As per the reports, there are around 1300 hospitals eligible for the Ayushman Bharat scheme, of which 600 are private facilities. The Ayushman Bharat scheme launched by the BJP government in 2018 aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low-income earners in the country. In the state of Haryana, there are around 1.2 crore people who are registered under the scheme.
The association opined that the private hospitals were not able to manage their expenses while treating the patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, given no reimbursement from the government.
However, now the court has observed that the Government of India had provided funds to the state which were further not transferred to the hospitals running the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. “The information shall be provided to this Court regarding the intent of the State of Punjab whether they are ready and willing to make compliance of order (supra) positively by the next date of hearing,” the court said adjourning the case.
