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Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation drowning in debt two years after announcement of free bus ride scheme for women: All you need to know

Aditi
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Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation drowning in debt two years after announcement of free bus ride scheme for women: All you need to know

Facing a severe financial crunch, the Karnataka State Road Corporation (KSRTC) is seeking a bank loan of about Rs 624 crore to clear its arrears including statutory dues like provident fund (PF) and fuel payments. According to a report of the Moneycontrol, the KSRTC has invited an expression of interest from financial institutions and commercial banks.

The state-owned public transport service seeks the loan amount in one instalment with a repayment period of seven years against primary and secondary security to be provided by the state government. KSRTC Managing Director V Anbukumar said that the government has approved a Rs 2,000 loan to all the RTCs to clear all the dues which are around Rs 4800 crore till November 2024.

“This loan is being taken by KSRTC as per the orders of the government. All SRTCs will avail of Rs 2,000 crore loan to clear pending dues related to provident fund and diesel, ” Anbukumar told Moneycontrol. “All four corporations have total arrears of around Rs 4,800 crore, with the most immediate dues amounting to Rs 3,000 crore. The government has approved Rs 2,000 crore in loans. If we receive additional support, we will be free from all arrears. We are not pledging any assets, as this loan is guaranteed by the government,” he added.

All the four RTCs of Karnataka have consolidated liabilities worth Rs 6,330.25 crore

Earlier last month, the Karnataka government hiked the bus fare of the four state corporations namely, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) by 15 per cent.

The consolidated liabilities of all the four SRTCs stood at Rs 6,330.25 crore as of November 2024. “Payments for provident fund transfers, pensions, and other due have been deferred due to a cash crunch. A total of Rs 5,527.4 crore is required to cover all outstanding dues, including Rs 2,901.5 crore in provident fund arrears and Rs 827.37 crore in fuel arrears. Of this, Rs 3,728 crore was sought from the government”, an official reportedly said.

In June 2023, the Congress government in Karnataka launched a freebie scheme called Shakti which allowed free bus travel to all women in all state-owned buses. The Shakti scheme was implemented by all four SRTCs. Despite the humungous financial burden on the SRTCs, the state government has continued with the freebie scheme.

However, the delayed reimbursement by the state government to the SRTCs for the implementation of the Shakti scheme forces the SRTCs to operate in deficit. The state government reportedly owed Rs 1,600 crore to SRTCs for the implementation of the Shakti scheme for the fiscal year 2023-24 and 2024-25 (till October) – with Rs 6,83.21 crore to KSRTC, Rs 280.82 crore to BMTC, Rs 394.7 crore to NWKRTC and Rs 335.67 crore to KKRTC.

Delhi Elections: Exit polls predict win for BJP against AAP, Congress not expected to win any seat

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Elections: Exit polls predict win for BJP against AAP, Congress not expected to win any seat

After end of voting for the Delhi Assembly Elections, several polling agencies in collaboration with news organisations have released their exit poll numbers. Overall, the exit polls indicate a win for BJP, ending the three-term rule of Aam Aadmi Party. However, some other polls have predicted a close fight. All exit polls are unanimous that Congress is not winning any seats or may win just 1-2 seats.

As per P-MARQ exit poll, the BJP is likely to get 39-49 seats, AAP with 21-31 seats and Congress with 0-1 seats out of the 70 seats in Delhi. Matrize has predicted 35-40 seats for BJP, 32-37 seats for AAP, and just 0-1 seats for Congress.

Another poll agency People’s Insight has also predicted BJP’s win with 40-44 seats, with 26-28 seats for AAP and 1 for Congress. According to Chanakya Strategies, BJP is going to win 39-44 seats against 25-28 by AAP, while Congress may win 0-2.

While others have predicted a close win for BJP, Peoples Pulse exit polls show a landslide victory for the party. It has predicted 51-60 seats for BJP with 48.5% – 52.5% vote share. The agency has predicted 10-19 seats for AAP with 36.5% – 40.5% and zero seats for Congress with 6.5% – 8.5%.

Poll Diary has also made similar projections, with 42-50 predicted for BJP, 18-25 for AAP, and 0-2 for Congress. JVC has projected 39-45 for BJP, 22-31 for AAP and 0-2 for Congress.

Going by these exit poll numbers, BJP may return to power in Delhi after a long time. However, it may be noted that reliability of exit polls remains questionable, and many of recent exit polls didn’t match with actual results, including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when most exit polls had predicted a clear majority for BJP.

As SC upholds Karnataka HC ruling that sex with corpse is not rape, read what the courts and the laws say about necrophilia

Rukma Rathore
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As SC upholds Karnataka HC ruling that sex with corpse is not rape, read what the courts and the laws say about necrophilia

On 4th February, the Supreme Court junked a plea from the Karnataka government contesting a ruling of the Karnataka High Court that did not classify necrophilia as rape under Section 375 of the now-shelved Indian Penal Code (IPC). The apex court pronounced that it could not overrule the high court’s decision to partially acquit the accused who had sex with the woman’s body after killing her. The high court verdict cleared him of rape charges for having sex with the corpse but maintained the conviction for murder.

Afterwards, a Special Leave Petition (SPL) was submitted by the Karnataka government. According to a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, however, the parliament should look into the matter and, if required, amend the law. They further added that the state could provide the parliament with the requisite representation if it desired appropriate revisions.

Aman Panwar, the Additional Advocate General of Karnataka, contended on behalf of the state that the word “body” in Section 375(c) should be interpreted to include a deceased as well. It was also argued that a dead body, which is incapable of communicating assent, should be included in the offence’s scope. He further emphasized that a circumstance in which a woman is unable to express her agreement will be deemed rape under the seventh description of the crime, which encompasses situations in which a female is unable to offer consent. Therefore, the corpse would not be able to agree in the present case either.

The counsel relied on the 1995 judgment of the Supreme Court in Paramanand Katara v. Union of India, which mentioned that deceased individuals should also be treated fairly and with dignity. It was submitted that similar criminal statutes have been extended by courts of other nations including the Supreme Court of Tennessee in State v. Brobeck, to add dead bodies within the scope of rape. The bench, however, declined to entertain the submission. It stated that necrophilia is not an offence under the IPC. It further highlighted that the decision was legally sound and refused to intervene.

Karnataka High Court’s observations

Karnataka High Court bench consisting of Justices B Veerappa and Venkatesh Naik T in 2023 decided that sexual assault against a woman’s corpse does not qualify as rape, which is punished under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. As a result, it absolved a man, resident of Golagenahalli of Sira taluk in the Tumakuru district of rape charges for killing a 21-year-old girl and then sexually assaulting her dead body. The trial court’s decision to incriminate him under the clause was partly quashed by the bench.  

He was found guilty of both murder and rape by the trial court, but, in the high court decided that necrophilia was not considered an unnatural offense or a form of rape. “A careful reading of the provisions of Sections 375 and 377 of the Indian Penal Code make it clear that, the dead body cannot be called as human or person. Thereby, the provisions of sections 375 or 377 of the Indian Penal Code would not attract. Therefore, there is no offence committed punishable under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code,” it explained.

According to the bench, performing intercourse on a corpse is simply necrophilia (the erotic attraction to dead bodies). “Utmost it can be considered as sadism, necrophilia and there is no offence made out to punish under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code,” it asserted. The court reasoned that necrophilia is a “psychosexual disorder” that falls within the category of “paraphilias” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), which also includes sexual masochism, paedophilia and exhibitionism. The perpetrator was found not guilty of rape, but the court also noted that a law against necrophilia must be passed by Parliament.

The government, on the other hand, was instructed by the bench to install CCTV cameras in all government and private hospital mortuaries within six months to prevent crimes against dead bodies, especially those of women. It also asked the government to ensure that sure mortuaries are kept clean on a regular basis to protect the dignity of the deceased and to raise awareness among mortuary staff about the importance of handling deceased people with care.

“The postmortem room should not come under the direct line of sight of the general public/visitors for maintaining privacy and mortuaries should have all basic infrastructure as per the Indian Public Health Standard guidelines for the district hospitals for management of the dead bodies,” the court ordered.

The court observed, “It is brought to our notice that most of the government and private hospitals where the dead bodies, especially young woman kept in mortuary the attendant who appointed to guard, have sexual intercourse on the dead body. Thereby it is high time for the state government to ensure such crime should not happen, thereby maintaining dignity of the dead body of the woman. Unfortunately in India no specific legislation enacted including under the provisions of Indian Penal Code for the purpose of upholding dignity and protecting rights and crime against the dead body of the woman.”

It further declared, “It is high time for the central government in order to maintain right to dignity of the dead person/woman to amend the provisions of Section 377 of IPC should include dead body of any men, woman or animal or to introduce a separate provision as offence against dead woman as necrophilia or sadism as has been done in United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, to ensure dignity of the dead person including woman.”

The Karnataka government had appealed against the acquittal for the rape violation to the Supreme Court.

Similar remarks by the Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court last year proclaimed that although having sex with a deceased person is one of the most awful acts, it is not covered by Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The act does not fit the legal definition of rape as stated in these laws, according to a bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Dutta Guru. “Such provisions apply only when the victim is alive,” it eloborated.

The court made the statement while maintaining the acquittal of Neelkanth Neelu Nagesh who had a case against him for raping a minor’s dead body. He was deemed culpable of other crimes. “There is no doubt that the offence committed by the accused, Neelkanth Neelu Nagesh, i.e., raping a dead body is one of the most horrendous crimes one can think of. But the fact is that, as of now, the accused cannot be convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 363, 376 (3) of the IPC, Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, and Section 3(2)(v) of the Act of 1989, as the offence of rape was committed with a dead body. For convicting an offence under the aforementioned Sections, the victim should be alive,” it pointed out.

The court is considered the pleas of two men who were charged in a case involving the kidnapping, rape and murder of an underage who was abused even after she passed away. Neelkanth Neelu Nagesh and Nitin Yadav, the defendants, were proven guilty of multiple offenses under the IPC and the POCSO Act. Nagesh was convicted under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and Section 34 (acts done by several persons with a common intention), earning a seven-year prison sentence, while Yadav was determined guilty of rape, kidnapping and murder, resulting in a life imprisonment.

The court reaffirmed the verdicts and sentences of both individuals after evaluating the arguments, evidence and concluding that the prosecution had established their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Nagesh contested his conviction, arguing that he had made sexual contact with the minor’s dead body. However, he was exonerated of rape under the POCSO Act and the IPC in the trial court. The prosecution countered that although sexual interaction with a deceased person is not considered “rape” under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, Article 21 of the Constitution protects the right to die with dignity, which includes the proper handling of a corpse.

“The learned trial court has erred in law by acknowledging the fundamental truth that necrophilia constitutes a flagrant infringement upon the rights of the deceased, who are entitled to a dignified funeral,” it stressed. The court, however, disagreed and mentioned that Nagesh could not be charged with rape under the law.

“There can be no disagreement that dignity and fair treatment are not only available to a living person but also extend to their dead body. Every dead body is entitled to respectful treatment, but the law must be applied to the facts of the case. None of the offences sought by the learned counsel for the objector can be imposed upon the appellant, Neelkanth @ Neelu Nagesh,” it stated.

The plea contesting his acquittal on the rape charge was turned down by the court, which conveyed, “Since we have already concurred with the reasons and findings of the learned trial Court, we are not inclined to allow the acquittal appeal filed by the mother of the victim, therefore, it also stands dismissed.”

Laws against Necrophilia: India vs other countries

The legal structure that deals with necrophilia in the country akin to other parts of the world, is mostly derived from general criminal laws and regulations that uphold the sanctity of the human body and dignity. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which succeeded the Indian Penal Code of 1860, imposed by the Britishers, does not in particular define or make necrophilia a crime in and of itself.

One such clause concerns trespassing on grave sites and is found in Section 301 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which only applies if necrophilia is committed after the deceased person has been buried and not if necrophilia is committed in a mortuary or any other location outside a cemetery. Furthermore, it fails to specifically tackle necrophilia or other sadistic acts against the dead corpse and focuses on protecting burial sites and maintaining the sanctity of the person’s final resting place.

While the now struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code prescribed crimes for unnatural sexual offences, such as willfully having sexual relations with a man, woman or animal that goes against the natural order, there was no specific mention of necrophilia. As this law solely applied to living things, the issue of necrophilia was not addressed. Similarly, the interpretations of important provisions against rape like Sections 375 and 376 only apply to living women, consequently, dead bodies are not included.

Notably, while the Supreme Court struck down the entire section 377 to decriminalise gay sex, it created new problems, as there was no other section in the IPC to cover sexual crimes against men and other such unnatural sexual crimes. When the BNS was created to replace IPC, the new law also didn’t include any provision for punishing unnatural crimes, including rape of dead bodies.

Several skeletons were found in the village of Nithari in Moninder Singh Pandher and Surendra Koli v. State of Uttar Pradesh. The infamous case had sent shockwave across India. Moninder, a wealthy and politically connected businessman, and his servant Surendra Koli were arrested by Delhi police on suspicion of raping, killing and having sex with the bodies of women and children. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), however, found it challenging to prosecute them for necrophilia because it lacked specific laws, even though they were charged under several sections of the penal code.

Human rights principles, cultural values and differing legal standards among jurisdictions serve as the main sources of information for the international legal framework around the crime of necrophilia which is regarded as a breach of the deceased’s dignity. It can be addressed through a variety of legal frameworks and instruments, despite the fact that it is neither uniformly defined nor explicitly criminalized in international law.

According to Article 130 of the fourth Geneva Convention, the departed shall be buried with dignity, ideally in accordance with their religious customs, and their graves must always be revered, kept in good condition and marked so that they are easily identifiable. United Nations Inter Agency Standing Committee’s Operational Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disasters titled, “dealing with mortal remains,” further safeguards the rights and dignity of the deceased. The mortal remains of the deceased should be gathered and recognized, based on Article 6.1, to allow their return to the next of kin and to stop destruction or mutilation.

According to Article 6.2, to enable future identification and return to the family, interim storage or burial should be given priority over cremation if the remains cannot be returned. Article 6.3 highlights the need of adhering to local religious and cultural traditions while disposing of bodies, ensuring that the procedure respects the privacy and dignity of the departed as well as their loved ones. Additionally, according to Article 6.4, family members should be able to retrieve the remains for cremation or reburial in accordance with their cultural and religious norms.

Necrophilia is particularly addressed by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in the United Kingdom. This law, which recognizes the need to preserve social moral norms and preserve the dignity of the deceased, makes sexual acts with them illegal. It is strictly illegal to have sex with a corpse,per Section 70 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. According to the law, “sexual activity” encompasses a wide range of sexual behaviors. The conduct is regarded as a violation, and individuals found guilty face a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Since there is no federal law officially regulating necrophilia, the situation varies greatly from state to state in the United States. Necrophilia laws in the United States are set at the state level. Necrophilia and similar behaviors are expressly illegal under the laws of many states. For instance, necrophilia is illegal in Washington according to chapter 9A, section 44.105 of the Revised Code of Washington. Necrophilia is expressly illegal in Nevada, as stated in Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 201, Section 450. Although the exact wording of the laws may differ, they usually forbid performing sexual acts with human remains.

Sexual activity with a corpse is forbidden by Section 14 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007. Without explicitly employing the terms necrophilia, penetration, or any other sex-oriented terms, the Criminal Code of Canada, 1985, deems necrophilia to be unlawful. “Whoever behaves indecently or improperly or offers any indignity to the dead body or its remains is guilty of the offence and is liable to the punishment of imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years,” according to section 182 of Part V of the statute.

New Zealand terms necrophilia as “Misconduct in respect of human remains” under Section 150 of the New Zealand Crimes Act, 1961. Each Australian state has its own laws governing the penalties for necrophilia, which is a criminal offense. For example, misbehavior involving corpses is covered by Section 81C of the Crimes Act 1900 in New South Wales. This implies that necrophilia is covered by specific laws in some nations. Likewise, the act of sexually penetrating a corpse is a criminal offense, even though it is not particularly dubbed as “necrophilia” in most legal codes. Necrophilia is unlawful in all European countries and falls under laws against desecration of corpses or grave robbing. Penalties vary by jurisdiction but usually involve incarceration.

Social and moral facets of Necrophilia

The Greek word “Nekros” or “Necr” means or refers to a corpse or dead, while the Greek word “Philia” indicates love or attraction. When combined, these two words create the word “Necrophilia,” which is defined as an unhealthy, unnatural obsession with death and the dead. Necrophilia is surrounded in taboo and stigma and hence it is critical to address the issue with tact, senstivity and with an understanding of the complexities around the subject. It is seen as morally wrong.

The majority of societies view it as a flagrant transgression of respect for the deceased and human dignity. It is considered a grave violation and an insult to the core values of human morality to sexualize a dead body. The viewpoint is supported by several religious and cultural beliefs that regard the body as a temple or precious vessel that deserves respect, especially after death.

Necrophilia raises similarly complicated ethical issues. The infringement of bodily autonomy is the main concern. Sexual activity cannot be consented to by a deceased and hence such actions without permission is an extreme violation of personal boundaries. Moreover, necrophilia entails taking advantage of a vulnerable and helpless person which points out to abuse of authority and power.

A critical ethical factor is the psychological and emotional toll that necrophilia takes on people who are directly or indirectly impacted. Several cultural practices incorporate ritualistic washing or caring for the body after death. These customs are carried out with respect and attention as well as have profound spiritual meaning. Different societies have distinct ways of honouring, celebrating and preparing their deceased for the afterlife or per their belief systems. However, when the dead are desecrated, their relatives and loved ones experience severe emotional anguish and trauma.

Necrophilia has considerable legal ramifications as well. It is illegal in the majority of jurisdictions, which reflects society’s moral disapproval of the practice. Laws prohibiting necrophilia are intended to preserve the honor and integrity of the dead and discourage others from partaking in such harmful conduct. The perpetrators are also shunned by society and are condemned to spend their lives either behind bars or in isolation.

Conclusion

The practice of necrophilia is reprehensible and ought to be handled as such. It not only violates the deceased but also defies all legal, social and cultural norms, causing great sorrow to those who are affected. Necrophilia could be classified as a “psychosexual disorder,” but so does pedophilia and crimes against children are considered very critical and are treated with stern laws in the civilised socities. Hence, necrophilia can not be an exception and deserves equal attention of both the executive and the judiciary.



Gautam Adani’s son and daughter-in-law pledge to donate Rs 10 lakhs each to 500 specially-abled brides every year

OpIndia Staff
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Gautam Adani’s son and daughter-in-law pledge to donate Rs 10 lakhs each to 500 specially-abled brides every year

Industrialist Gautam Adani on Wednesday (Feb 5) announced that his son, Jeet Adani, and his daughter-in-law, Diva, will donate Rs 10 lakh each to 500 specially-able women as a part of ‘Mangal Seva’, a welfare initiative aimed at assisting newly married women with disabilities.

Two days before his wedding, Jeet Adani met 21 newly married differently-abled women and their husbands at his residence to inaugurate the initiative. He is set to marry Diva Shah on Friday in Ahmedabad.

Highlighting his philosophy that service is meditation, prayer, and God, Gautam Adani shared his joy on X, emphasising that Jeet and Diva’s first step in their journey together is dedicated to this noble cause. He expressed hope that Mangal Seva would bring dignity and happiness to many disabled women and their families, blessing the couple for their commitment to service.

“I am confident that this sacred effort will lead to a life of happiness, peace, and respect for many specially-abled daughters and their families. I pray to the Almighty to bless Jeet and Diva with the strength and capability to continue on this path of service,” Mr Adani added.

Jeet Adani currently serves as the Director of Adani Airport Holdings, managing eight airports across India. He also oversees the Adani Group’s defence, petrochemicals, and copper businesses, along with leading its digital transformation. Inspired by his mother, Priti Adani—who expanded the Adani Foundation into a global philanthropic force—Jeet is passionate about social initiatives, particularly those supporting people with disabilities. 

Naga Hoho urges Nagaland govt to resume oil exploration for economic benefit by signing pact with Assam over disputed areas

OpIndia Staff
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Naga Hoho urges Nagaland govt to resume oil exploration for economic benefit by signing pact with Assam over disputed areas

On Tuesday, 4th February, the apex body of Naga, Naga Hoho, urged the Nagaland and Assam governments to address the issue of oil explorations in disputed areas along the interstate border by signing an oil exploration and production pact. The group has urged the Neiphiu Rio-led Nagaland government to initiate oil and natural gas exploration in the state, stating that such a move would significantly boost Nagaland’s economy. However, they also demanded a halt on oil exploration in the area till such an agreement is reached.

The body highlighted the potential economic benefit and stated that the explorations in these areas must be compiled together. “Till such time, the Naga Hoho demands that all the oil activities which fall under Disturbed Area Belt must be stopped immediately,” the statement said. The Naga Hoho asserted that oil exploration and production licenses should be signed by both state governments.

The Naga Hoho body referred to Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution, which grants special provisions to the state of Nagaland, and said that the state has exclusive rights over its land and resources. It said that the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012, must be strengthened and that any oil exploration disputes must be approved by both the states, Nagaland and Assam. It further said that until any such agreement is reached, the oil-related activities in the Disturbed Area Belt (DAB) must be stopped.

The Naga Hoho also criticized the Nagaland government’s failure to remediate oil spills since extraction ended in 1994, citing environmental concerns. It noted that Nagaland had incurred substantial financial losses by failing to use its petroleum resources, which might have funded infrastructure, healthcare, and job possibilities. They have called for a well-defined roadmap to resume oil exploration at the earliest.

“This amount could have funded numerous infrastructural developments, factories, healthcare, education, and sports initiatives, ultimately transforming our state,” the statement read.

Reports suggest that the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the year 1994 stopped operations in the state due to local organizations and security concerns. Notably, in 2023, the Nagaland and the Assam governments held discussions over the resumption of oil exploration in the disputed border areas, but these initiatives faced opposition from Naga communities saying that no exploration should occur until the Naga political issue is resolved.

US Postal Service was delivering e-commerce parcels from China and Hong Kong ‘duty free’? How a Trump order has hit Chinese retail companies

Shraddha Pandey
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US Postal Service was delivering e-commerce parcels from China and Hong Kong ‘duty free’? How a Trump order has hit Chinese retail companies

Since its inauguration on 20th January 2025, the Trump administration in the United States has focussed on cleaning the mess within the federal agencies, deporting illegal immigrants and recalibrating its trade relations with countries like China. In fact, Donald Trump’s return to the helm of power in the US has been marked by several bold moves resulting in the escalation of a trade war with China. In this vein, the US Postal Service has temporarily suspended deliveries of parcel packages from China and Hong Kong.

In a brief statement, the USPS did not specify the reason behind the temporary suspension, however, the agency said that the suspension will not impact letters and ‘flats’ from China and Hong Kong Posts. “Effective Feb. 4, the Postal Service will temporarily suspend only international package acceptance of inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice. Note the flow of letters and flats from China and Hong Kong will not be impacted,” the statement reads.

Trump going ballistic to disrupt China’s trade hegemony and exploitation of loopholes

The Trump administration has been focussing on addressing the perpetual trade imbalances created by various factors to curb the US trade deficit, keep in check countries like China who are often accused of indulging in unfair trade practices including forced technology transfers (FTTs) to give access to foreign companies to its markets, subsidies on Chinese industries, intellectual property (IP) thefts and exploitation of loopholes in the existing frameworks.

Earlier this month, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The Trump administration accused China of not taking adequate measures to curb the export of precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that contributes to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the US every year. Furthermore, the Trump administration criticised Chinese authorities for allegedly allowing transnational criminal organisations to engage in money laundering activities that back the drug trafficking networks in the country.

In response to this, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods. Beijing said that 15% tariffs will be imposed on US coal and LNG, and an additional 10% tariff will be applied on crude oil, farm equipment and large-displacement cars. China also launched an investigation into the US tech giant Google over alleged anti-trust violations. While these fresh tariffs will adversely impact US, this rather limited retaliation suggests that China might be interested in negotiating its way out with Donald Trump instead of going into a full-fledged trade war with the United States.

However, despite the dragon taking retaliatory measures, President Trump is not very keen to speak to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for negotiations. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that Jinping did reach out to Trump to discuss the issue.

Interestingly, as per Capital Economics, a UK-based research firm, China’s retaliatory tariffs apply to goods worth $20 billion, but the US’s tariffs will apply to Chinese goods worth a whopping Rs 450 billion. The ‘Trump tariffs’ came into effect on 4th February.

De minimis clause

Right after imposing the 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, the Trump administration eliminated the de minimis clause. It clause had allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the US duty-free. China exploited this exemption as a loophole and massive amounts of small value packages, carefully priced below $800 made their way into the USA. Chinse retailers like Shein, Temu used this clause to expand their customer base in the USA as the parcels were essentially ‘duty free’.

With this exemption revoked, even small-valued packages will be subject to tariffs and customs inspections.

Elaborately, the de minimis exemption was a loophole for China since it allowed goods under the value of $800 to enter the US directly without having to pay tariffs and undergo extensive customs checks. The Chinese e-commerce companies were exploiting this provision to ship massive quantities of low-value items directly to customers in the US, bypassing the tariffs which would otherwise be applicable. This not only undercut American retailers but also allowed the Chinese companies a competitive pricing edge in the US market. Besides, this also resulted in revenue reduction for the US from customs duties.

Interestingly, the small packages not only arrived in the USA ‘duty free’, but they were also being delivered by US Postal Service all over the country for a minimal cost, allowing the Chinese retailers to keep the prices low for US customers.

USPS suspension of Chinese parcels ‘trumps’ China’s retail stocks

The Chinese e-commerce sites which built business models around this de minimis exemption are going to be the biggest sufferers of the revocation of this provision and suspension of Chinese package deliveries. Notably, Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu alone accounted for 30% of the packages shipped to the US each day under the de minimis exemption, as per the US. Moreover, around half of the delivery packages that entered the US through the de minimis exemption were from China.

The US’s crackdown on China has triggered a negative reaction in the Chinese stock market with companies like JD.com suffering slumps in their stock prices by 3.6%. A similar fall was noticed for Alibaba Group as the leading e-commerce company faces challenges in effectively fulfilling international orders following USPS suspension.

Temu’s parent company PDD Holdings suffered massive losses in its US-listed shares. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-listed GOME Retail recorded a fall of nearly 10% on Wednesday in an apparent aftermath of USPS suspension.

As per a Bloomberg report, “The CSI 300 Index erased opening gains within minutes on Wednesday, its first trading session after the Lunar New Year holiday, to fall as much as 0.6%. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index slumped more than 2%, following a 3.5% jump in the previous session, with e-commerce firms leading losses.”

The negative impact on the stocks of Chinese e-commerce companies reflects the bearish sentiment prevailing about the possible continuation of a downward trajectory for these. There are concerns that Chinese companies like Alibaba, Shein, and Temu among others would adapt to the new and rather grim market realities without the cost benefits of the previous system.

It is expected that these companies would in future consider restructuring their approach towards the US market and diversifying their logistics alongside also increasing warehouses in the US and other nations to mitigate such sudden disruptions.

Notably, throughut his previous stint in office and and campaign, Trump has repeatedly emphasised the need to push China towards a more reciprocal trade relationship. The Trump administration had in 2018  imposed stage three of Section 301 tariffs in September 2018 10 per cent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and announced similar steps in the next couple of months as well. Besides, trade and tariffs, President Trump has been displeased with China’s influence in major global forums. In this vein, Trump last month signed the executive order of the USA’s withdrawal from the World Health Organisation citing the disproportionate financial burden of funding WHO compared to China and the increasing Chinese influence in the intergovernmental health agency.

Trump’s trade war with China is not without consequences

President Trump’s overarching goals not only entail economic rebalancing, eliminating provisions that handed undue advantage to Chinese companies but also exert political pressure to make China give concessions in various trade policies alongside making China deter from its unfair trade practices. Trump’s agenda has been to boost shift of manufacturing back to the US or at least divert it to countries more aligned with US interests. In a nutshell, Trump wants to diminish China’s dominance in the global supply chains. These actions, however, would obviously trigger a response from China.

In addition to the 15% retaliatory tariff on US coal and LNG, and an additional 10% tariff will be applied on crude oil, farm equipment and large-displacement cars, Beijing has also announced export restrictions on key minerals including tungsten, antimony, gallium, germanium and indium among others. China is apparently weaponising its dominance in the hosting and mining process of minerals required for items ranging from smartphones and electric vehicle batteries to infrared missiles and ammunition.

While it remains to be seen whether China and the US decide to negotiate or a full-fledged trade war is set to erupt, the recent escalation hints at a shift towards a more fragmented economic scenario where countries would be expected if not forced to pick sides, in a strange resemblance to Cold War era economic dynamics.

Arvind Kejriwal parades his elderly parents on wheelchairs to vote instead of using the Home Voting facility

Aditi
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Arvind Kejriwal parades his elderly parents on wheelchairs to vote instead of using the Home Voting facility

As polls are taking place in Delhi for 70 Assembly seats, the Aam Aadmi Party national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also went to cast his vote along with his entire family including his aged, sick parents. Kejriwal shared a video on X in which he can be seen taking his aged parents sitting in wheelchairs, for voting at the Lady Irwin Senior Secondary School polling station. He was accompanied by his wife and son. In the tweet, Kejriwal urged people to cast their votes using his old-age parents as examples.

While his message of asking people to cast their vote seemed apt, using his aged, sick parents in what appeared as a last-minute attempt to garner voters’ sympathy, seemed like an election gimmick. It is incomprehensible as to why the former Delhi CM had to take his elderly parents out to vote in wheelchairs when there is a home-voting facility available for elderly people above 85 years of age and individuals with disabilities.

Through the home-voting facility, the Election Commission provides eligible voters an option to cast their votes from their homes, aiming to make the voting process more accessible for them. In this facility, EC teams visit the houses of the eligible voters, where the senior citizens and other eligible voters cast their votes. Former vice-president Hamid Ansari also used this facility to vote from his home.

Despite the availability of this provision, Kejriwal chose to bring his parents to the polling booth, instead of getting them to vote from the house. Arvind Kejriwal himself said last year that his father Gobind Ram Kejriwal was 85 years of age. Therefore, he is eligible for home voting. Moreover, Kejriwal had said that his mother Gita Devi’s health is poor, which potentially makes her eligible for the facility.

In the high-stakes environment of the Delhi elections, where the AAP is vying for a third consecutive term against formidable opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, it is evident that Kejriwal made a calculated move of parading his parents on wheelchairs to garner sympathy.

The service commenced on January 24 for the Delhi assembly elections and was available until Tuesday, February 4. The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi on Saturday mentioned that 6,980 out of 7,553 eligible voters have cast their votes so far for the Delhi Assembly Elections under the home voting facility. Kejriwal could have easily opted for the home-voting facility for his aged parents.

Kejriwal used his parents during Swati Maliwal assault episode

Notably, this is not the first time that Kejriwal used his parents for sympathy. In May last year, when the Delhi Police wanted to interrogate Kejriwal’s parents in the Swati Maliwal assault case, Kejriwal cried foul accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of targeting his parents. The interrogation was in connection with AAP MLA Swati Maliwal’s statement alleging that Kejriwal and his entire family were at the house and having breakfast when she was beaten by Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar at the CM’s residence.

“This is my appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhanmantri ji, you have made several attempts to pull me down. You arrested me; harassed me in Tihar in several ways. But I did not give in. Today, you crossed all limits as you targeted my parents. My mother is very ill. She came home from the hospital on the day you arrested me, March 21. My father is 85 years old. He is short of hearing. Do you think they have done something wrong? Why will the cops interrogate them,” Kejriwal said.

Soros and USAID backed OCCRP, which attacked Modi and Adani, now attacks Elon Musk

Anurag
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Soros and USAID backed OCCRP, which attacked Modi and Adani, now attacks Elon Musk

On 3rd February, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) took to X (formerly Twitter) to attack Elon Musk for questioning USAID funding to the organisation. They posted a screenshot where Elon Musk had echoed questions raised about funding to OCCRP by Mike Benz. In its post, OCCRP wrote, “The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is using a 2019 OCCRP investigation to attack the free press and US humanitarian aid. The story in question revealed how Rudy Giuliani enlisted questionable associates to dig up dirt in Ukraine.”

Source: X

In the quoted post by Musk, Mike Benz, Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online (FFO), shared screenshots of a December 2024 article written by Ryan Grim, Stregan Candea, and Nikolas Leontopolos for Drop Site News, where they revealed OCCRP receives half of its budget from the US government.

OCCRP is a major global investigative journalism outlet and receives over 50% of its funding from the US government, primarily through USAID. While OCCRP claims that it exposes corruption worldwide, there have been instances where questions were raised about its independence and potential bias due to significant funding by the US government.

The article shared by Benz highlighted OCCRP’s “investigation” into Donald Trump’s aide Rudy Giuliani, claiming to have “exposed” his connections with “questionable Ukrainian associates” who helped him seek damaging information about Hunter Biden, a controversial figure and son of former United States President Joe Biden.

The report questioned whether a few high-profile investigations are enough to guarantee true editorial independence. It was argued that such heavy reliance on government funding might subtly influence the organisation’s reporting priorities, even if not directly instructed. The concern here is that OCCRP might avoid pursuing stories that could significantly damage US foreign interests or paint American policies in a negative light.

Adding further to the controversy, the article mentioned that the leadership at OCCRP allegedly threatened legal action against journalists who attempted to investigate its funding sources. The article categorically stated, “The news outlets involved in this project, including Drop Site, have been on the unpleasant end of increasingly aggressive legal threats from Drew Sullivan, co-founder and head of OCCRP.” This aggressive response to inquiries about financial transparency has raised further doubts about the organisation’s commitment to open scrutiny, a principle it champions when reporting on others.

It is essential to point out here that Giuliani was the one who handed over Hunter Biden’s laptop to the authorities. This same laptop contained thousands of explicit images of the former President’s son, and the story was buried by social media platforms, including Twitter.

Another screenshot shared by Benz contained information about the STAIR programme by USAID. The Strengthening Transparency and Accountability through Investigative Reporting programme (STAIR) was implemented by OCCRP. The document claimed that it would “strengthen investigative journalism networks, invest in the next generation of reporters and editors, foster innovative tools and resources, improve newsroom management and financial viability, and advance holistic approaches to safety and security.” USAID provided $20 million to OCCRP for this initiative.

Expose on OCCRP

In December 2024, French newspaper Mediapart, in an explosive report, revealed that  OCCRP, which poses as an independent, non-partisan organisation, is funded by USAID. In May 2008, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project received $1.7 million from the US agency. Its founder Drew Sullivan did not land USAID funding out of thin air. 7 years prior to establishing OCCRP, he had visited Sarajevo to train Bosnian journalists as part of a programme funded by the US government agency. Mediapart noted that OCCRP withholds/ conceals the extent of funding by the USAID and State Department from the public, media partners and journalists.

In order to keep the illusion of its ‘independence and non-partisanship’ alive, it removed the phrase ‘OCCRP is made possible by’ and the logo of USAID from the homepage. According to Mediapart, it is essential for all organisations to prominently acknowledge financial support from USAID. However, OCCRP has been allowed a ‘partial branding waiver’ that allows it to not follow the usual process of acknowledgement. The US State Department and USAID exerts influence on the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project through its financing. USAID can veto the appoinment of ‘key personnel’ in OCCRP. It also has a ‘cooperative agreement’ and a ‘substantial involvement clause’ with the NGO, which claims to be ‘independent.’

According to Mediapart, USAID uses OCCRP reports to trigger judicial probes and sanction procedures. OCCRP cannot investigate the US government and is directed to probe foreign governments hostile to American interests. These unfortunate countries include Russia, Venezuela, Malta and Cyprus. In August 2023, OpIndia had predicted that the OCCRP was planning a hitjob along the lines of now-defunct US-based short seller ‘Hindenburg Research’.

We had revealed that OCCRP is funded by the likes of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF), the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation. OSF even gave a grant of $8,00,000 (~ ₹6.61 crores) to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project for ‘strengthening’ the organisation’s cross-border reporting and increasing the wider impact.

The ‘network of journalists’ published two hit pieces so far – one in August 2023 and another in May 2024. The baseless claims were junked by the Adani Group and also by the Mauritius-based fund ‘360 One.’ Even the Supreme Court of India had ruled that the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) report could not be used to cast doubt on the ongoing probe by SEBI. It stated that reliance on a third-party organisation report without any verification cannot be relied on as proof. The revelations made by Mediapart come at a time when Gautam Adani was hounded in the US over dubious allegations of bribery.

USAID, George Soros and ‘colour revolution’ in India

In March 2017, the Heritage Foundation published a report detailing how USAID worked in close association with far-left billionaire George Soros during the Obama administration to promote its ‘radical agendas’ in several countries. The report stated, “…Evidence is emerging that during the past eight years, Soros, his Open Societies Foundations (OSF), and their many smaller affiliates have received U.S. taxpayer money through USAID and that USAID has made the OSF the main implementer of its aid.“

It may be recalled that George Soros, who worked with USAID, had been eyeing a colour revolution in India. In February 2023, the far-left billionaire exploited the Adani-Hindenburg controversy and launched a scathing attack on the Indian government. He claimed, “Modi and business tycoon Adani are close allies. Their fate is intertwined…Adani Enterprises tried to raise funds in the stock market, but it failed. Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stock collapsed like a house of cards.” Soros accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of crony capitalism. “Modi is silent on the subject, but he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and in parliament,” he added.

The Hungarian-American billionaire also said that the ‘shakedown’ caused to the Indian markets due to the Hindenburg Research report will result in ‘much needed institutional reforms’ and ‘democratic revival’. George Soros and his vicious ecosystem of NGOs, activists and journalists had been trying to prove PM Modi as an ‘electoral autocrat’ who needed to be ousted. And it has been a work in progress for a long time. In January 2020, the American billionaire committed $1 billion to start a global university to “fight nationalists” and climate change, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of our civilization. Our detailed report on USAID’s involvement in attempts to destabalise India can be read here.

Crackdown on USAID: Employees around the world placed on leave, overseas staff ordered to return to the US

OpIndia Staff
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Crackdown on USAID: Employees around the world placed on leave, overseas staff ordered to return to the US

Continuing the crackdown on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Trump administration has announced that its entire workforce has been put on administrative leave. A notification published on USAID website stated that on Friday, 7 February at 11.59 pm (EST), all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally. The order also states that overseas employees of the organisation will have to return to the USA.

Exceptions are made for those involved in mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specific programs. USAID will arrange and fund return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for affected staff. The notification added that the Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons.

Moreover, all contractual staff not being deemed essential are being terminated.

Essential personnel who are expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday.

This action aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to reduce federal spending on international aid. Elon Musk, appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, has been instrumental in this effort, advocating for the dissolution of USAID, calling it a criminal organisation. Musk stated that after detailed discussions, President Trump agreed that the agency should be shut down.

The restructuring plan of the Trump administration includes merging parts of USAID into the State Department, effectively ending its independence. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has started working as acting administrator of USAID, effectively confirming the takeover of the agency by the state department.

Dozens of officials of USAID have already been placed for various reasons, including for refusal to provide information to DOGE officials. Similarly, reportedly thousands of contractors have been laid off. Earlier this week the employees were asked not to come to its headquarters in Washington DC.

The USAID website was also taken offline, and now only the notification of administrative leave is available on it. Its social media handles have been deactivated.

Madurai erupts in protest: Thousands of Hindus rally to defend Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple from Islamist encroachment claims

Siddhi Somani
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Madurai erupts in protest: Thousands of Hindus rally to defend Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple from Islamist encroachment claims

On Tuesday, 4th February, thousands of Hindus gathered at Madurai’s Palakkanatham to protest against the Islamists who are allegedly claiming ‘ownership’ of the Thiruparankundram hill that houses an ancient Murugan Temple. The Hindu Front organized the protest in Madurai in the presence of 3500 policemen who were deployed in the area after the court granted permission to hold protests.

As per the local reports, the court had granted permission to Hindu Munnani to organize a protest between 5 pm and 6 pm at Palaganatham Roundabout. However, the demonstrations were organized amid the prohibitory orders issued by the police under section 144 for 2 days, February 3rd and 4th.

Thousands of Murugan devotees participated in the protest and raised slogans hailing Lord Murugan and Hindus. People from across Tamil Nadu participated in the protest, including women. Also, more than 50 Hindu organizations, including the BJP, the RSS, Hindu Munnani, Hindu Front, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad participated, raising slogans against the Islamization of the Thiruparankundram hill.

Several videos of the protest went viral on social media, and the Hindu participants were seen raising saffron flags and slogans to protect the ancient temple of Lord Murugan on the hills in Madurai. The protest eventually concluded before 6 pm, after which heavy police and security continued to be deployed in the area.

This comes days after the Tamil Nadu police in the Madurai district issued orders barring the Muslim community members from transporting livestock for sacrifice to the claimed Sikandar Badusha Dargah located atop the Thiruparankundram hill. The police said that the community was allowed to transport cooked meat and consume and pray on the hill, but the ban was only imposed on the transportation of livestock like chicken, goat, etc for sacrifice.

The said order created religious tension in the district as the hill houses the old Murugan Temple, close to the Dargah. Indian Union Muslim League MP Nawaz Kani took cognizance of the event and talked to the police then. However, the authorities firmly stated that the restriction would remain in place for the transportation of animals for sacrifice atop the hill.

Following this, Kani said that the devotees used to take goats and hens atop the hill for sacrifice, cooking, and consumption, and this process should be restored.

The entire issue is believed to have begun last year on 27th December after a Muslim family led by Syed Abu Dahir, a 53-year-old from Malaiyadipatti attempted to take animals on the hill for sacrifice. The police detained the family which further irked 20 Islamists to protest against the police. Recently on 5th January, a massive protest by Muslims was organized at the bottom of the hills where the protestors demanded free access to pray at Dargah atop the hill. Given this, the police made several detentions after the Muslims engaged in a major scuffle with the authorities. The Muslims claimed that Sultan Sikandar built the Sikandar Badushah Thozhugai Pallivasal approximately 400 years ago.

On 18th January then, the Muslims led by the SDPI organized Sammanboj on the hill in which they had planned to sacrifice goats and chickens for meals. The police were informed about the plans backed by several social media posts that affirmed the Muslim community’s intentions. Hindu Munnani members meanwhile resisted Muslims’ effort to sacrifice animals on the hill, one of Lord Murugan’s six sacred abodes. They said that Muslims were attempting to convert the hill into an Islamic place of worship.

The police then posed barricades on the site informing the Muslims that sacrificing the animals was prohibited atop the hill, however, they could carry the cooked meat and consume it there. Following this, clashes erupted between Jamath members and the police, further intensifying the situation.

On 21st January, DMK Manapparai MLA Abdul Samad conducted and unofficially survey of the hill and claimed control of the premise. Indian Union Muslim League MP Nawaz Kani also claimed that the entire property was Waqf property and every Muslim had the right to pray at Dargah the way he wanted. He reiterated that the sacrifice of animals atop the hill was an old tradition and that it should continue.

It is crucial to note that Thiruparanundram Hill is a religious site of crucial significance to Hindus due to the presence of ancient Jain caves and Lord Murugan Temple atop. Several Hindus have worshipped the temple for centuries. The Jain caves on the hill, which have now been painted green, also date back to the 2nd century BCE and these have Tamil Brahmi inscriptions on them, as surveyed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

However, the Muslims who are creating chaos around the hill have begun claiming the hills as ‘Sikandar Hills’ behind the Sikandar Badusha Dargah.

Muslims claiming ownership of the hills, calling it ‘Sikander Hills’

One may think that these claims by Muslims are recent after the police orders, however, the Muslims have been trying to claim the hills from the 19th and 20th centuries. The hill which is of most significance to Jains and Hindus is being claimed as ‘Sikandar Hills’ by the Muslims, posing a threat to the sanctity of the temple and Jain caves. Notably, in the past also the legal authorities affirmed that the Hills housed the Lord Murugan temple primarily and that Lord Muruga was the primary deity of the region.

In the year 1931, the Islamists made similar claims saying that the hill was a Muslim property and that its name was ‘Sikandar Hills’. The Privy Council on 12 May 1931 took cognizance of the matter and said that Thiruparankundram Temple had proven its historical possession of the unoccupied portions of the hill, treating it as its property for generations.

The council was hearing the matter over the confiscation of endowed villages and the presumption regarding the temple’s ownership of the wasteland around the temple. “the question at hand is whether any presumption should be drawn from the confiscation of the endowed villages concerning the property rights in the wasteland situated within the Ghiri Veedhi, which forms part of the Malaiprakaram. It is admitted that the village of Thiruparankundram, where the temple is located, was part of this endowment,” the Privy Council judgment read.

The Thiruparankundram Temple is one of the most revered temples in the southern part of India dedicated to Subramanya, the son of Lord Shiva. The shrine of the deity has also been carved from within the hill indicating the elongated and original presence of the temple for centuries. Around the hill is the two-mile pilgrim’s path where the devotees offer circumambulation (pradakshina) to the deity. The said path, Ghiri Veedhi is considered as the temple’s property. In 1144, the same was called the Malaiprakaram of the temple.

Historical records show no interference by Mahomedan invaders

During the council judgment in 1931, the Subordinate Judge clarified that ‘prakaram’ is the outer area of the temple and ‘Malai’ means hill. “The Thiruparankundram Temple had proven its historical possession of the unoccupied portions of the hill, treating it as its property for generations,” the subordinate judge said. Notably, historical records also show no interference by Mahomedan invaders on the hills.

Some of the Muslims, reportedly, might have built residences on the hilltop in the past, forcing the Hindus there to accept such development. However, the rights of the temple remained with the Hindus as granted by the East India Company, which recognized the temple’s ownership over the land. The then government also considered the entire hill to be temple property, as affirmed by the Subordinate judge.

“During some interval of Mahomedan domination that mosque and some Mahomedan houses were built, but this was an infliction which Hindu occupants of the hill could have been forced to put up with. Thus, rights which temple could assert against Respondent were rights which East India Company granted to them,” the original documents regarding the case read.

Local Hindus have alleged that under the guise of religious festivals, parts of the hill have been systematically encroached upon over time by the local Muslims. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government’s HR&CE Department has also been accused of Muslim appeasement politics, contributing to the further escalation of communal tensions.

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