After the unprovoked intrusion from the Chinese army at Ladakh border, there has been a great deal of anger in Indian citizens. While there have been call for boycott of Chinese products the Indian industrialists, too, have now stepped in to help us move forward on the path of self-reliance.
Parth Jindal, the managing director of JSW Cement, on Wednesday took to Twitter to slam China for its aggression against India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Ladakh killing 20 Indian soldiers.
In a tweet, the Indian industrialist also said that the unprovoked attack by the Chinese on Indian soil on our soldiers was a huge wake-up call and a clarion call for action and pledged that JSW Group, which has net imports of $400 million from China, will bring it down to zero in next two years.
Image Source: Parth Jindal
Reportedly, the cement business of the JSW Group imports clinkers, the base rock of cement from China, which is then converted into usable cement by mixing fly ash supplied by JSW Steel to supply it to the domestic markets.
Anand Mahindra responds to Chinese aggression
Jindal’s tweet comes a day after businessman Anand Mahindra had also slammed Hu Xijin, the editor of English China daily Global Times, who had tried to mock India over the ban of 59 Chinese apps including TikTok.
Following the ban of Chinese apps, Hu Xijin had taken to Twitter to state that even if Chinese people wanted to boycott Indian products, they cannot do it as they do not find many Indian goods.
The tweet by Chinese media propagandist had angered Anand Mahindra, who responded to him by stating, “I suspect this comment might well be the most effective & motivating rallying cry that India Inc. has ever received. Thank you for the provocation. We will rise to the occasion…”
Image Source: Anand Mahindra
India bans Chinese app, infrastructure contracts
Recently, in the backdrop of India-China face-off in Galwan Valley, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, citing that these apps possess threats to national security.
Earlier, the Indian Railways had also terminated a contract worth Rs.471 crore with a Chinese company. A few days back, BSNL had announced that they will terminate the contract with a Chinese company to set up 4G services. The Department of Telecom has also decided not to let Huawei to take part in 5G spectrum testing.
Taking a cue, on Wednesday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also stated that the Indian government will not allow Chinese companies to participate in highway projects. He had added that the companies would not be able to participate in joint ventures as well.
Rajkot Police have arrested two persons for desecrating a Nandi idol in a temple in Shapar Veraval industrial zone on Wednesday. Police have identified them as Jayesh Chudasma (27) and Dinesh Mahida (25), who work as laborers. They reportedly shot a video while kicking the idol, as they wanted to create “sensation” on the social media platforms.
According to the reports, after shooting the video, they uploaded it on TikTok, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms on 28th June, a day before India’s government imposed a blanket ban on 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok. Both of them were drunk while shooting the video.
In the video that went viral on the internet, Chudasma was seen kicking the idol. Mahida was behind the camera recording the video. The complaint against the video was submitted by one Karan Parmar, who is a resident of Metoda GIDC. When he inquired about the video in his circle, he discovered that they committed the alleged crime in Shapar Veraval industrial zone. He informed the police and filed an official complaint.
While talking to TOI, an official from Shapar Veraval police station said, “As soon as the complaint was lodged, we swung into action and traced the accused. The accused are also seen smoking in the temple premises in the video. Both the accused are laborers. They said they were looking for a subject to make a Tik Tok video and decided that the desecration of an idol in a temple would make a sensational video.” He added that they were drunk while committing the crime. They have apologized for their crime and made a video saying ‘sorry’ that was uploaded on WhatsApp and other social media networks.
This is not the first time someone has desecrated a Hindu idol to shoot a sensational video. On 21st January 2020, idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses were desecrated in Andhra Pradesh. In August 2019, two Muslim youth destroyed Goddess Bhavani idol in Bijnor.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced on 1st July that Indian Railways had invited private players to submit “Request for Qualifications” for operating 151 passenger trains on 109 pairs of routes. This project will entail a private sector investment of Rs.30,000 crore in Indian Railways. The main objective of this project is to introduce modern technology with reduced maintenance, reduced transit time, improved safety, better job opportunities, and world-class travel experience for the passengers.
Railways invites Request for Qualifications for private participation for passenger train operations on 109 pairs of routes through 151 modern trains.
This initiative will boost job creation, reduce transit time, provide enhanced safety & world-class facilities to passengers. pic.twitter.com/uG2dhdbG3b
In the press release issued announcing the same, the Ministry of Railway stated that the majority of the trains running under this project would be made-in-India. It will be the private sector’s responsibility to finance, procure, operate, and maintain the trains. Railways have made it compulsory for the private sector to ensure these trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph to reduce transit time substantially. The passenger must have a comparable or faster speed than the current running train on the same route.
While the concession period for the project will be 35 years, the private entity will be responsible for paying haulage charges, energy charges, and a share in Gross revenue to the Indian Railways. One of the major concerns, whenever there are talks about the privatization of trains, is the jobs of drivers and other employees who run and maintain the trains. Indian Railways has put up a clause that only drivers and guards hired by Indian Railways can operate these trains.
Existing Privatisation in Indian Railways
Private passenger trains are already running on Indian Railways network, but they are not truly private, as the trains are owned by IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Railways. The Tejas Express trains run by IRCTC were the first step by the Railways to let others run passenger trains on its network. While the locomotives, coaches, drivers and guards are provided by the Railways, the onboard services, ticketing, catering and housekeeping are the responsibility of IRCTC. The trains also have airline-style trained hostesses and stewards, a significant difference from trains operated by Indian Railways. The Tejas Express project has provided important experiences for the Railways on letting others run passenger trains, which will be vital when actual private players start operating trains.
While passenger train services are being opened for private players, the corporate sector is already allowed to run private freight trains on the network of Indian Railways. In 2017, the govt had allowed the private sector to run freight trains, and the first such train was flagged off by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in April 2017. The private goods trains are run under the Special Freight Train Operations Scheme of the Railways. The Railways is also allowing the development of private freight terminals on Railway land for private freight trains.
CM Modi had a vision for Indian Railways; PM Modi is making it a reality
Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was considered a candidate for the post in 2013, he shared his views about the privatization of Indian Railways. During India Today Conclave 2013, he had said that the government constructed railway tracks, roads, and airports. While roads and airports are open for the private sector, there is no provision of the private sector to take advantage of the elaborated web of railway tracks.
In less than two months after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi had discussed his vision of developing Railway stations on the line of Airports while flagging off the inaugural train from Katra in Jammu. At that time, he had already discussed his vision with the stakeholders and in the next few months, the change was practically visible.
Suresh Prabhu, the current Indian emissary to the G20, took charge of Indian Railways in November 2014 and took several steps to modernize the system. In 2017 after Piyush Goyal assumed charge of the ministry, he paced up the modernization and introduced several groundbreaking changes in the Railways, including modern and fast trains.
By the end of March 2019, Indian Railways already modernized more than 60 major railway stations. New Delhi Railway Station or NDLS was developed with modern amenities and facilities. The luxury hotel feel of the Mathura Railway Station became a hot topic of discussion after its inauguration. Naini Railway station Prayagraj has murals of artists, dance forms and more depicting the vibrant culture of India. Varanasi Railway Station’s new look was discussed largely on social media. Under the Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan, Indian Railways ensured clean railway stations across the country. Countless photos and videos have been shared by the delighted passengers praising the Railways’ efforts to keep the stations clean. Indian Railways is also working extensively to increase use of Solar Power for trains and stations to reduce its carbon footprint.
High-speed Wi-Fi, hygienic and fresh food, better trains, modern amenities, and above all, accident-free year are few things that kept the Indian Railways on the positive side of the news. The launch of Tejas Express and Vande Bharat Express in 2019 was termed as a major step towards privatization. From Madhubani paintings on the Madhubani station’s walls, beautiful artwork on Titwala Railway Station and mesmerizing artwork on a station in Agra, to breathtaking artwork and new look of the coaches, the face of Indian Railways has changed a lot in the last six years. Indian Railways is also working extensively to expand its reach to the extreme corners of the country.
The inevitable challenges
Though Railways has come a long way, the challenges are still there. Covid-19 has caused significant loss in terms of passenger revenue for the Railways. However, Indian Railways did find a silver lining and completed 200 long-overdue projects in the last three months. From deep-rooted corruption that slowed the Railways progress to incapable contractors and efforts to sabotage tracks by Naxals or anti-social elements, Railways has to deal with a lot of challenges. The privatization of the passenger trains will open better options for the Railways to deal with such challenges and it will open doors for more jobs and better infrastructure.
Leftist propaganda website The Wire on Wednesday published an article with an audio-video byte of the toddler who witnessed his grandfather being killed by terrorists in Sopore on Wednesday to claim that the security forces killed the old man. The Wire claimed that its reporter went to the victim’s house on Wednesday night, just hours after the toddler saw his grandfather being killed in front of his eyes, to talk to the child and ask him ‘who killed your grandfather?’
To put things in perspective, The Wire journalist asked a three-year-old who sat crying on his dead grandfather’s bullet-ridden body just hours prior, ‘who killed him’. The child then allegedly says the police did. The Wire uses this to build a narrative of how the security forces have been lying that the old man was killed by terrorists which also claimed the life of a CRPF jawan.
The Wire gives no reason as to why the CRPF/police may have killed the old man. It only attempts to demonise the security forces based on the testimony of a three-year-old who is expected to know a difference between policemen and terrorists. More importantly, three-year-old is supposed to know what a terrorist is. Or that terrorists also carry guns, as police do. A traumatised child, who was later rescued by the cops says the cops killed his grandpa.
This is not to question the child’s statement. The child does not know the difference between two men with guns. One is a policeman other is a terrorist. For a three-year-old, anyone with a gun is a cop, perhaps. So when he says police killed his grandfather, the propagandists don’t want to give benefit of doubt to security forces who have no motivation or trigger to kill him. They would rather give leeway to terrorists, who kill indiscriminately in the name of religion and jihad than cops who rescued the child from bullets of the same terrorists who killed his grandfather.
It is worthy to note that for anyone stuck in the cross-fire in a gunfight between the security forces and the terrorists, which this was, will have a hard time pinpointing where any specific bullet came from. Thus, the trust the version of a 3-year-old child who can easily be coached shows the desperation of The Wire to further a specific agenda who favours the terrorists and not the security forces.
Further, there are multiple accounts of security personnel, who witnessed the gruesome encounter with the terrorists yesterday where they describe how the terrorists’ indiscriminate firing led to the death of the civilian. However, it turns out, that The Wire rather report the possibly coached version of a three-year-old child, who would otherwise not know anything, than the version of India’s men in uniform.
The first hand account by a local cop in Sopore about the terror crime. He was first to respond the situation after the incident. pic.twitter.com/nIVxrIJmlF
A local cop who witnessed the scene unfold says how when they tried to move the CRPF soldier who was injured or perhaps fatally wounded, they also saw the civilian was also injured. He says how they also had the challenge of ensuring the little child is not killed in the firing. He says how firing came from a building and hence all were injured from same side. He says how the security forces put their cars in front of the child to shield him from the onslaught of bullets. “Our priority was to evacuate the child,” he says.
Zulfiqar Hasan, ADG CRPF also said that the civilian was killed by the firing from the terrorists. “It was an unfortunate incident.I think some ppl have tried to give it a spin by saying that CRPF took him out of the vehicle and shot him. It’s totally untrue,” he says.
The CRPF/security personnel have no reason to randomly kill a man, especially when they are in middle of an encounter with terrorists. The gun-wielding terrorists, however, have a reason to kill at will – jihad. However, for the spinmasters and terrorist sympathisers at The Wire, they would use a little child who went through such a traumatising event just hours prior to whitewash the terrorists.
A day after Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was asked to vacate her government accommodation in Lutyens Delhi, the Congress General Secretary Incharge of East UP Priyanka Gandhi has cleared her pending dues for the government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate in Delhi.
According to the reports, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has made online payment of balance amount due towards rent for the 35, Lodhi Estate bungalow which she had occupied for the last 23 years.
“Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has made online payment of balance amount due on her. Hence, now dues as on 30.06.2020 is nil against her,” a spokesperson from the ministry said.
According to the reports, Gandhi had dues of Rs 3,46,677 as on June 30, for which she was issued a notice to clear this due amount. Mrs Vadra had not paid rent for her govt house for almost a year.
Priyanka Gandhi asked to vacate Lutyens Bungalow
On Wednesday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was asked to vacate her government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate, which she was continuing to live in despite removal of SPG cover in November last year.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was served a notice to vacate her bungalow provided by the Government of India. She was allocated the bungalow because she was an SPG protectee. In a letter served to her, the Gandhi scion has been given a month time to vacate the bungalow which she has been occupying for the last 23 years as part of the entitlement which came to her along with her maiden name.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra continued to stay in govt accommodation despite removal of SPG cover
Last year in November, the SPG cover provided to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was withdrawn and replaced by CRPF security. And since then, almost 8 months have passed, but she has continued to stay in the government bungalow.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a private citizen, was allotted the Type VI bungalow in February 1997 on the recommendation of the SPG, home ministry and cabinet secretariat. The Gandhi-scion had continued to stay in the government bungalow even though she was neither a public servant nor a government official or a member of parliament or assembly. She was granted the house only on the basis of her SPG protected status.
The Gandhi scion convinced Vajpayee govt to reduce her monthly rent
In 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee led BJP government was at the helm of affairs, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had managed to retain her accommodation. It was reported how she had convinced the Vajpayee government to reduce the monthly rent for her 2,765.18 sqm house in Lutyens’ Delhi from Rs 53,421 to only Rs 8,888, a whopping 83% reduction.
When the house was originally granted to Priyanka Vadra in 1997, its rent was Rs 19,900 per month, as per the market rate at this time. The rate was gradually increased, but Vadra managed to slash the rate citing her inability to pay, and also by arguing that she was not using the whole bungalow, as parts of it were occupied by SPG.
The controversial adult web series ‘Rasbhari’ starring Bollywood entertainer Swara Bhasker seems to be on the verge of creating a new record with receiving low ratings on various movie rating platforms amidst scathing reviews by the viewers of the show.
The Bollywood Entertainer Swara Bhasker, infamous for her far-left propaganda, had starred in a controversial adult web-series named ‘Rasbhari’, which was released on Amazon Prime last week. Even before its release, the ‘soft-porn’ series had created a furore across social media for its vile and vulgar content.
Swara Bhasker adorns the role of a school teacher in the adult show, one whose husband travels frequently and she becomes the object of lust for several men, including her students. The character also has a sexually obsessed alter ego. The series has reportedly invited low ratings over the ‘cheap’ narrative and abject usage of ‘soft-porn’ content to make it sell.
Following the release, expectedly, the Swara Bhasker starrer ‘sexual fantasy’ has received bad reviews and low ratings on review platforms such as IMDB.
In IMDB, the rating of the show plummeted to record low as it received just 2.6 stars out of the 10. This is a record low for any tele or web series in recent history. Nearly, 72 per cent of the viewers, who watched this adult series had given 1 out of the 10 points.
Image Source: IMDB
Not just IMDB, the reviews in Amazon Prime, the OTT platform which released the ‘soft-porn’ series too recorded low ratings for the show.
Image Source: Amazon
CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi criticised makers of ‘Rasbhari’
Earlier, veteran lyricist and Central Borad of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi expressed disappointment with a scene in ‘Rasbhari’, which showed a young girl dancing provocatively in front of drunk men.
Prasoon Joshi tweeted about the sexualisation of children portrayed in ‘Rasbhari’, stating that he was saddened after seeing the irresponsible content portrayed in the web series by making a little girl child dancing provocatively in front of drunk men. The lyricist had added that creators and audience needed to seriously rethink between freedom of expression and freedom of exploitation. “Let’s spare children in the desperate need for entertainment”, the CBFC chairman added.
Leftists claim that low ratings are because ‘Swara is against BJP’, not because the series is bad
However, leftist sites and movie makers have expressed sadness over the low ratings. Web portals have stated that the series has low ratings because the ‘Hindutva brigade’ has sabotaged the ratings of IMDb. Filmmaker and leftist Anubhav Sinha has even gone a step ahead and tweeted to IMDb that they should do something to stop ‘right-wing trolls’ from giving negative ratings for specific shows and movies.
Scroll article on low ratings for Bhaskar’s web series.Scroll article claims Rasbhari has bad ratings because Swara opposes BJP
Scroll, in its article has stated that the series has got bad ratings because Hindutva trolls have spammed the IMDb ratings. The article even goes ahead to insinuate that the bad ratings are because Swara is a vocal critic of the BJP and has opposed CAA and NRC. The article does not even consider the possibility that maybe the ratings are bad because the people actually hated the content and quality of the web series.
Anubhav Sinha’s tweet
A same narrative is seen in Anubhav Sinha’s tweet. He totally dismisses the idea of public scrutiny and tries to assert that any one who gives a bad rating to content made by him or the people he supports can only be a ‘right wing troll.’ Both the scroll article and Sinha seem to entertain the idea that there is no possibility that a web series starring Swara can actually be bad and disliked by the general public.
It is interesting to note that these people are not ready to accept the fact that a series or a movie receives ‘ratings’ by the public based on how it actually is, not on what kind of politics the director or actor supports. Maybe they want to peddle a narrative that public ratings cannot be trusted, just like they do not agree with the electoral mandate, and want the power of ‘ratings’ and ruling, both in the hands of a select few, the ones they support and benefit from.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to impose a temporary ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) in Pakistan after they received numerous complaints against the online game claiming that it was ‘waste of time’ and ‘addictive’.
PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the children. pic.twitter.com/GDJqTeuTaf
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in a tweet said it got series of complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the “game is addictive, wastage of time and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of children”.
In a statement, PTA said that the Lahore High court had directed them to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complainants. In this regard, a hearing will be conducted on 9th of July 2020, PTA said in its statement after it banned the game temporarily.
Reportedly, the PTA has also said that they would make a decision on permanently banning the game after holding discussions with all stakeholders.
It is indeed ironical that in Pakistan, where unemployment is a norm rather than an aberration, there has been a call to ban the game on the pretext that it leads to wastage of time of the youths of the country.
Decision to temporarily ban came after youths committed suicide
The decision to temporarily ban the online game comes from the fact that at least two people in Pakistan had committed suicide recently, whose deaths have been linked to this online game.
Reportedly, a 20-year-old committed suicide in Saddar Bazaar, Lahore after his parents had stopped him from playing the online game. Three days later, another young boy ended his life suicide in Hanjarwal. The police said that they found the young man’s cell phone in the room and the PUBG app was running on it.
On Tuesday, the police had found the body of a 30-year-old man at his flat in Lahore’s Factory Area on Tuesday night. A 22-year-old youth from Quetta had also committed suicide by hanging himself after missing a task in the online game PUBG.
PUBG, developed by a South Korean company, is an online game in which players are made to battle it out against others. The multiplayer game allows players from all over the world to compete against each other or in teams. The players attack and kill each other in the game leading to scoring more points and higher rank.
China is facing simmering global anger over the coronavirus pandemic. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pointed out that China should be held responsible for the health crisis the world is facing right now.
On 1st July, US Senator Rick Scott urged the people of America to stop buying products manufactured by the ‘Communist’ China. The Hill posted a video of Republican Senator, Rick Scott saying, “No one in the United States of America should buy products made by Communist China, especially the US government.”
Sen. Rick Scott: “No one in America should buy products made in Communist China.” pic.twitter.com/ImN1cixCqE
He is known for being a critic of Beijing. He also accused China of trying to block the development of a Covid-19 vaccine in the West. On 7th June, BBC quoted him saying, “We have got to get this vaccine done. Unfortunately, we have evidence that communist China is trying to sabotage us or slow it down.” Scott’s reaction came after learning about the ban of 59 Chinese apps by the Indian government. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also hailed the decision to ban these apps and said it would ‘boost India’s integrity, national security.’
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump tweeted that the pandemic has done tremendous damage to the USA, and he is becoming angrier at China. The virus that originated from China has caused the loss of lives and severely shook the world’s economy. Many leaders have directly or indirectly pointed out that China should be held accountable for the loss this virus has caused.
On Tuesday, the USA’s telecom regulator had designated Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE as national security threats.
As I watch the Pandemic spread its ugly face all across the world, including the tremendous damage it has done to the USA, I become more and more angry at China. People can see it, and I can feel it!
In the backdrop of the violent clash between the Indian Army and PLA in Galwan Valley where 20 Army soldiers were martyred on 15th July, there has been uproar against China in India. The majority of the Indians are in favor of boycotting China-made products. Along with banning 59 apps, including TikTok, the Indian government has taken several steps against China to halt its penetration in the Indian economy. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, on 1st June, announced that Chinese companies would not be allowed to take part in highway projects. They cannot take part in joint ventures as well.
The Maharashtra government put a hold on three agreements with Chinese companies worth Rs.5,000 crore. The Haryana government decided to cancel the contract with China’s companies for power projects. BSNL has officially announced the cancellation of the agreement with a Chinese company for setting up 4G services in India. The Indian Railways recently terminated a contract worth Rs.471 crore with a Chinese company.
Amidst the ongoing tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Ladakh, India has launched a diplomatic offensive against China by expressing concerns over China’s new security law for Hong Kong.
According to the reports, on Wednesday, the Indian Ambassador to the United Nation raised the issue of China’s new National Security Law in Hong Kong that curtails freedom of expression of the people and also called for the proper management into the rising situation.
JUST IN: INDIA COMMENTS ON SITUATION IN HONG KONG IN UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL; CALLS TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION PROPERLY pic.twitter.com/7SVgSfiiMn
At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Rajiv Kumar Chander, the country’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said that given the large Indian community that lives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, India has been keeping “a close watch on recent developments”.
“Given the large Indian community that makes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China it’s home, India has been keeping a close watch on the recent developments. We have heard several statements expressing concerns on these developments. We hope the relevant parties will take into account these views and address them properly, seriously and objectively,” Ravi Chander said at a press briefing.
The statement issued by Indian in the United Nations was significant as it was the first time India raised the issue of Hong Kong and the ongoing large scale protests against China internationally. Interestingly, India’s diplomatic offensive comes at a time when China has gone rogue along the LAC unleashing violence resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.
Earlier, the United States, Britain, the EU and UN rights agencies had all voiced fears against the Chinese law, which was intended to stifle protests in Hong Kong against Beijing.
This development also comes just two days after the Modi government had banned 59 Chinese-origin mobile phone apps, including the hugely popular TikTok, a move that will cause huge losses to China.
China introduces new National Security Law in Hong Kong
The Communist Party of China has introduced a new national security law for Hong Kong, which introduces new crimes with severe penalties – up to life in prison – and allows Chinese security forces to legally operate in Hong Kong.
The legislation gives extensive powers to China, which is intended to quell the ongoing protests in the Hong Kong demanding liberation from the occupation of Chinese. The legislation enables China to bring Hong Kong protestors to the mainland, prosecute and sentence them there. It also significantly restricts the city’s autonomy. Last week, the USA senate had passed a bill that seeks to sanction Chinese individuals and banks that help in restricting Hong Kong’s autonomy.
With the new law coming to effect, China has reportedly arrested the peaceful protests under the new sweeping national security laws imposed on the autonomous region of Hong Kong on Wednesday. At least 70 people were arrested on Wednesday.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was asked to vacate her government accommodation in Lutyens Delhi after losing her SPG protection last year, is now believed to be shifting her base to Lucknow. As per reports, she is doing so to ‘strengthen the base’ of Congress in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2022 state elections.
In 2019 General Elections, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was in-charge of the election campaign in state, the then Congress President and her brother Rahul Gandhi actually lost the ‘safe family seat’ of Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani. In fact, Rahul Gandhi had to contest from Kerala’s Wayanad as well to secure his position in the Parliament. Moreover, Congress’ total tally in UP came down from 2 out of 80 seats to only one that too was won by her mother Sonia Gandhi from another ‘safe’ Congress seat, Rae Bareli.
Now, Congress believes Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who reminded everyone she is Indira Gandhi’s granddaughter just few days back, will have her 1977 Indira moment where former Prime Minister, after the Emergency, snuffed life back into a dying Congress. Priyanka’s strategy to ‘revive’ Congress in Uttar Pradesh seems to be spreading misinformation and fake news which stem from her lack of comprehension skills. Amid coronavirus breakout, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also locked horns with UP CM Yogi Adityanath over migrant issue. After promising ‘buses’ for migrants who want to reach home in UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ended up arranging for ‘buses’, some of which had expired registration and some were even auto rickshaws and two-wheelers. After much embarrassment and inability to provide required documents on time, those ‘buses’ were recalled.
Priyanka had lived in the government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate since 1997 when she got married as she was an Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee. However, after the threat perception was downgraded and subsequent removal of SPG protection, Priyanka, despite being a private citizen continued to stay in government accommodation even though she does not hold any official government position. As per reports, certain Congress leaders had suggested that she could enter the Rajya Sabha and become an MP so that she could manage to hold on to her government accommodation.
However, it is now believed she will now move to Uttar Pradesh and will stay in Kaul House, the house owned by Priyanka’s grandmother Indira Gandhi’s maternal aunt, Sheila Kaul. Keeping up the tradition of ‘it is all about family’, Kaul was also a Congress member. However, it is not yet clear whether her husband, Robert Vadra and children will shift with her.
