Some people are trying to create trouble and spread fake news amidst the ongoing Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. The attempts to perpetrate rumours on social media by the usual suspects have been called out by Uttar Pradesh Police. The video and photos which are unrelated to Maha Kumbh are being disseminated to create panic among the people and devotees. Now, in a recent incident, the police have taken action against a viral video from Bangladesh that was posted online in the name of the sacred religious event.
“Legal action is being taken by Kumbh Mela Police by registering FIR (First Information Reports) against 31 social media accounts identified so far for spreading rumours by misleadingly claiming that a video made by a vlogger while train surfing in Bangladesh is the last way to reach Maha Kumbh. Please do not post any misleading posts on social media without verifying the facts,” Kumbh Mela Police warned in a tweet on X (earlier Twitter).
बांग्लादेश में व्लॉगर द्वारा "ट्रेन सर्फिंग" के दौरान बनाए गए वीडियो को भ्रामक रूप से महाकुम्भ जाने का अन्तिम तरीका बताकर अफवाह फैलाने वाले अभी तक चिन्हित 31 सोशल मीडिया अकाउंट के विरुद्ध कुम्भ मेला पुलिस द्वारा FIR पंजीकृत करके वैधानिक कार्यवाही की जा रही है।… pic.twitter.com/1wTx6UMuLb
A person can be seen lying on a moving train in the footage which was recorded by an Indian blogger and published on Instagram in 2024, according to media reports. The video claims that the devotees have to travel on the rooftop of the train as the last resort to reach Maha Kumbh. The police looked into the video after they became aware of it. The inquiry showed that the video was not even of India and that the assertion was untrue. The authorities then initiated action against the accounts which shared the same.
Notably, travelling on the top of trains in India is not only against the law, but it is also highly dangerous. 25 KV current flows through the overhead wire used by Indian Railways to deliver electricity to the trains. There is even less space between these lines and the rooftop. A person could be reduced to ashes in a matter of seconds by this current.
There have been numerous instances of such instances concerning Maha Kumbh. A video of a burning train recently went viral as well. It was alleged that the disaster happened in Prayagraj and occurrence took the lives of 300 people. Afterwards, the police filed a formal complaint against 34 social media accounts. A similar rumour of individuals dying from heart attacks during Maha Kumbh was also circulating on social media earlier.
The Karnataka High Court recently criticised the state police for recklessly filing a case against Republic News Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, stating that it was done solely to target him due to his prominence in the media.
The Court noted that Goswami was unjustly implicated without any valid reason, seemingly just to create the impression of criminal proceedings against him, calling the police action irresponsible.
The bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna dismissed a criminal case against Goswami, who was accused last year of broadcasting a fake news report about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The FIR against Arnab Goswami was filed based on a private complaint by Karnataka Congress member Ravindra MV.
Ravindra alleged that on March 27 of the previous year, Republic TV Kannada aired a news report claiming that traffic on Bengaluru’s MG Road was halted to allow Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s convoy to pass, preventing an ambulance from moving. However, the complainant pointed out that Siddaramaiah was in Mysuru at the time, not Bengaluru.
Goswami was booked under Section 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly making statements that could incite enmity or hatred between different groups. He then approached the High Court seeking to quash the case.
The Court questioned the State on why Goswami was named in the case when he was not directly involved in Republic TV Kannada’s daily operations. When asked what specific offence Goswami had committed, the State did not respond.
The Court concluded that Goswami was unfairly implicated, despite not personally being involved in the operations of Republic TV Kannada or making any comments on air. The court noted that dragging Goswami in the case was an act of settling scores and highlighted the recklessness behind the complaint’s registration.
The Adani Group will invest up to Rs 2,10,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh across pumped storage, cement, mining, smart meters and thermal energy, creating more than 1,20,000 jobs by 2030.
Out of the 2,10,000 Crore, 1,10,000 Crore is planned while remaining 1,00,000 Crore is in discussion stage.
Addressing the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2025 in Bhopal, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to the state, highlighting what he said was Madhya Pradesh’s transformation into one of India’s most investment-ready states under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav.
Guatam Adani said, “These are not just investments. These are milestones in a shared journey — a journey that will make Madhya Pradesh a national leader in industrial and economic growth. They reflect our deep confidence in the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister and our unwavering commitment to this state’s extraordinary rise.”
The Group has already invested over Rs 50,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics and agri-business, generating more than 25,000 jobs. The new investments will further strengthen the state’s industrial ecosystem, aligning with India’s vision of self-reliance and innovation.
Gautam Adani also announced that the Adani Group is in advanced discussions with the state government for additional investments of Rs 1,00,000 crore, which would include a greenfield smart city project, a major airport project and a coal gasification project.
“Today, I am proud to announce new investments of over Rs 1,10,000 crore in the areas of pumped storage, cement, mining, smart-meters and thermal energy. These multi-sectoral investments will create more than 1,20,000 jobs in Madhya Pradesh by 2030. Besides these investments, I am pleased to state that we are in further discussions with the state government for a greenfield smart city, an airport project and a coal-gasification project that would involve an additional investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore,” Gautam Adani said.
The Adani Group Chairman said that the group remains committed to supporting the economic ambitions of Madhya Pradesh and that the Group’s investments will drive large-scale employment, enhance connectivity and position Madhya Pradesh as a key economic hub.
The Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2025, attended by industry leaders, policymakers and global investors, is a platform for discussing new economic opportunities and driving investments across sectors.
Earlier this month, on the occasion of his son Jeet’s wedding, Gautam Adani announced a donation of Rs 10,000 crore to social causes, focused on creating affordable and accessible world-class infrastructure for the underprivileged in the education, healthcare and skill development sectors.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, a finance company agent Aheem Khan harassed a Hindu man for not repaying his motorbike loan. The accused Muslim man was pressuring the Hindu man Puttu Lal to get his daughter married to him and in exchange, he would pay the remaining EMI. Based on the Hindu victim’s complaint, an FIR has been registered against the accused at Bhira Police Station.
In his complaint, the victim Puttu Lal stated that he had purchased a motorbike on loan and was regularly paying its instalments. However, he could not pay the last instalment for some reason, after which the accused loan recovery agent Aheem Khan began harassing him.
The complainant alleged that Aheem Khan used to abuse him over phone calls and one day, the accused asked him to get his daughter married to him. Aheem Khan told Puttu Lal over the phone, “I will pay the last instalment, just get your daughter married to me.”
An audio clip of Aheem Khan making these threats is also going viral on social media. In the clip, Aheem Khan is allegedly abusing the complainant. However, this audio could not be confirmed. Tired of this harassment by Aheem Khan, Puttu Lal has complained to the police and demanded action.
After the complaint, an FIR has been registered against Aheem Khan in the Bhira police station. OpIndia has a copy of the FIR in this case. We have also spoken to the Bhira police station in-charge in this matter.
Excerpt from the FIR accessed by OpIndia
Speaking to OpIndia, the Bhira police station in-charge said, “The exact details about the accused are not yet known. As soon as the complete information is revealed, raids will be conducted against him. A case has been registered for action. The victim was constantly harassed over the phone. The location of the harasser is being traced through his phone.”
Bangladesh is witnessing a drastic rise in vigilante Muslim mobs, unleashing violence under the pretext of protecting the tenets of Islam. These mobs are largely unorganised but they call themselves ‘Tawhidi Janata (meaning Revolutionary People).’
They have come under the spotlight over recent acts of vandalism and harassment of people. The development comes at a time when the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, is pandering to Islamists.
While Yunus has not directly recommended these Muslim mobs to run rampage, he has strategically remained tight-lipped on their activities.
Violence unleashed by Tawhidi Janata during the reign of Sheikh Hasina
These violent Muslim groups, functioning under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ have been around since atleast 2013. They would sporadically target those who they believe worked against the interests of Islam during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina.
Hindu minorities frequently became the target of ‘Tawhidi Janata’. In October 2019, a frenzied mob of Muslims carried out violence in Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola district of Bangladesh after accusing a Hindu boy of committing ‘blasphemy’ on Facebook.
They set a house belonging to the Hindu community on fire and vandalised 12 others. ‘Tawhidi Janata’ also clashed with the law enforcement authorities, resulting in 4 deaths.
Tawhidi Janata at work in Bhola, image via The Daily Star
This was despite the fact that the Hindu victim’s Facebook account, which supposedly posted blasphemous content, was hacked by two Muslims named Sharif and Emon.
2 years later in October 2021, ‘Tawhidi Janata’ was involved in pelting stones at a Hindu temple and carrying out vandalism in Chandpur district of Bangladesh.
The attack was carried out to ‘avenge’ desecration of the Quran, which was also interestingly executed by a Muslim man named Iqbal Hossain.
‘Tawhidi Janata’ also carried out attacks on the Lama Central Hari Mondir in Bangladesh’s Bandarban upazila. They also destroyed shops belonging to the Hindu community.
Tawhidi Janata gains strength after interim govt comes to power
Following the undemocratic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, violent Muslim mobs operating under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Janta’ have become bolstered.
On 28th January this year, ‘a Muslim mob ‘Tawhidi Janata’ laid siege to the Tilakpur High School in Joypurhat district of Bangladesh. The extremists, comprising madrassa students, carried out vandalism to protest against a friendly football match between two women’s teams.
The match was scheduled to take place on 29th January 2025 at the playground of the Tilakpur High School between the Joypurhat and Rangpur women’s football teams.
In visuals that have surfaced on social media, the Muslim mob could be seen vandalising the tin fence of the school. Prior to carrying out the attack, they gathered outside the Tilakpur railway station and gave provocative speeches.
Muslims carry out vandalism, destroy tin fence of Tilakpur High School
The mob demanded the cancellation of the women’s football match, alleging non-observance of purdah. Thereafter, the extremists made their way to the Tilakpur High School and unleashed mayhem.
A radical Muslim declared, “I want to warn those who want to earn money by exposing our women. Be careful. Stop all women’s games in the future. If you don’t stop, then we will show our resistance.”
In the meantime, the Akkelpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anisur Rahman and the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Manjurul Alam claimed to have no knowledge about the incident.
‘Tawhidi Janata’ vandalised shops for selling flowers on the occasion of Valentine’s Day. The incident occurred on 14th February in Bhuapur Upazila in Tangail district of Bangladesh.
One of the shops targeted by the mob includes ‘Mama Gift Corner’, which is located close to the Bhuapur police station. The radical Muslims attacked the store and threw the flowers on the street.
The shop belonged to a man named Alam, who had been selling flowers at the same location for a long time. He informed that the mob told him that selling flowers on Valentine’s Day was a crime.
Alam said that another shop (identified as Nirbili Food Corner) was similarly attacked a day earlier on 13th February 2025. ‘Tawhidi Janata’ held demonstrations outside the eatery and held ‘anti-love’ protests.
They raised slogans, threatening couples with physical harm for public display of affection. The owner of Nirbili Food Corner, Asad Khan, had to shut down his shop following the incident.
Due to the chaos and fear perpetrated by the Muslim mob, a ‘Spring festival’ which was scheduled to be held in Bhuapur on Saturday 15th February was also postponed.
Conclusion
OpIndia spoke to renowned Bangladesh journalist Salahuddin Shoaib about the matter. He pointed out, “This is not an organisation. Instead, Tawhidi Janata is purely a terminology used by opportunists in the society for creating anarchy or even posing a threat to national security.”
“Inventors of this terminology belong to Urdu-speaking stranded Pakistanis as well as inhabitants of the older part of Dhaka city and other cities in the world, who mostly were supporters of Muslim League who opposed Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971,” he told us.
Salahuddin Shoaib further revealed, “For the recent months, Pakistani agencies are providing funds to these people in continuing notoriety using the “umbrella” of Tawhidi Janata.”
Following public ire over the recent activities of the violent Muslim groups, Islamist Mahufz Alam issued a ‘token condemnation’.
“As a devout Muslim myself, I am a monotheist. However, when extremism is shown in the name of Tawhid, it is my duty as a responsible person to warn about the impending consequences,” he said in a statement in February 2025.
He was careful enough to not upset radical Muslims, who constitute a large part of his supporter base. For the unversed, Mahfuz Alam is an ‘adviser’ to the interim government of Bangladesh.
The anti-India propagandist had previously served as a ‘special assistant’ to Muhammad Yunus. Interestingly, Yunus had described the same man as the ‘brain’ behind the campaign to remove Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024.
In the absence of any firm adminsitrative action against Tawhidi Janata, the orgy of violence, vandalism and harassment to protect Islam is likely to continue unabated in forseeable future.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar along with the Head of Mission and Ambassadors from 45 countries took an Elephant Safari in Kaziranga National Park on Monday ahead of the Advantage Assam summit that is being held in Guwahati from February 25.
“I am very happy to see more, tourists growing. We are here for Advantage Assam. We are going to Guwahati after this. We want to you know, give Assam and NE states a higher profile. Get more tourists, International interest, more investors. So it is a very good direction and to see this early morning. It’s a great start to the day.” External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar said.
Responding to a comment by media that Kaziranga has the highest Tourist inflow he said, “Yes I know. They were telling me that we have already crossed three lakhs. It’s a good trend. Even the PM says we should visit every state because we have abundance of both natural and creative tourism.
Speaking about his experience, the delegate from Timor-Leste said, “It was a privilege to visit this Kaziranga park, wild animals like elephants, rhino and tiger. So I think it’s one of the potential your state of Assam, India can offer to the world. By this visit I am really enjoying. What I can learn from the nature? The wild animals they teach us about peace. How can rhino live along elephant. Both of them aggressive but they can live side by side.”
“I thank the Minister of External Affairs and the Assam authorities for offering us something that will remain a lifelong memory from India. We are based in New Delhi. But now having the opportunity to see Assam and the natural beauty and to immerse ourselves in this natural beauty. I wish the animals here a long life,” another delegate said while talking to the press.
Advantage Assam marks the largest investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the Government of Assam, highlighting the state’s geostrategic advantages and its potential as a major investment destination. Assam is strategically located in the northeastern region of India, serving as a gateway to Northeast India and Southeast Asia. The state is renowned for its lush tea gardens and petroleum resources and is now diversifying into sectors such as agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, tourism, and information technology.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
India has banned the production of two highly addictive painkillers after a BBC report revealed that an Indian pharmaceutical company based in Palghar, Maharashtra had been involved in the export of the drugs to certain African countries causing a health crisis there. The Drug and Controller General of India, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvansi said on Friday (21st February) that permission to produce and export the two drugs – tapentadol and carisoprodol – has been withdrawn.
The decision came after an investigative report by the BBC exposed that an Indian pharmaceutical company named Aveo Pharmaceuticals was exporting a mix of the two drugs in countries like Ghana, Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire. Reportedly, the combination drug caused serious opioid addiction in those countries. Tapentadol is a strong opioid and is used to relieve severe pain, while carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant used in acute cases or painful bone conditions.
The investigation found that Aveo Pharmaceuticals was manufacturing the Tafrodol brand as a combination of the two drugs without any approval. In a sting operation by BBC India, company officials admitted that they targeted teenagers in Nigeria and other African countries to sell the drug.
While the drug is sold in different brand names in Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire etc countries, they were traced back to Aveo Pharmaceuticals.
Subsequently, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a show-cause notice to the company on Sunday (23rd February) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. A joint team of drug inspectors from the centre and the state government raided the company’s factory in Mumbai and seized the entire stock. The company has been prohibited from producing the drug.
An advisory was issued by the Centre on Friday directing all state governments to withdraw the export NOC (No Objection Certificate) for all unapproved combinations of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol and revoke manufacturing permissions for these drugs to prevent their misuse. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization said the combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol had significant abuse potential.
The company denies allegations
Aveo Pharmaceuticals has denied the allegations and assured full cooperation with the government authorities. In a statement on its website, the company states, “In response to the allegations made against us in the BBC film dated 21st February 2025, we categorically deny all claims. The allegations against us are entirely baseless and without merit. We have always adhered to the rules and regulations set by various regulatory authorities to manufacture and export our products.”
It further adds, “Tafrodol is our registered trademark, which contains both Tapentadol and Carisoprodol. This combination is licensed by the relevant State Food and Administration and is exported under the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Assistant Drug Controllers (ADC) and with an export license issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO),” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Claiming that Aveo is not the only company to manufacture the combination, the spokesperson alleged that several companies have been illegally using Aveo’s brand name and logo to produce the combination. “We have already filed multiple legal cases against such companies, and the matter is currently being heard in the High Court,” he added.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals is based in Boisar, Palghar industrial zone near Mumbai.
The BBC Investigation
The BBC World Service reportedly found packets of the drugs with the Aveo logo being publicly sold in Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire. As part of its investigation, the BBS sent an undercover operative posing as an African businessman inside one of Aveo’s factories in India. The operative met one of Aveo’s directors Vinod Sharma. He told Sharma that he was looking to supply opioids to Nigeria. The entire conversation was recorded on camera.
The drugs are banned in Europe and regulated in the US
Tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant, are highly addictive. Carisoprodol is banned in Europe and is approved for use in the US for short periods. The withdrawal symptoms of the drug are said to include anxiety, insomnia and hallucinations. The combination of the two drugs is reportedly not licensed for use anywhere in the world because of its harmful side effects which include death from overdose. The combination is not sold in India, and the company was selling it only in Africa. The opioid is popular in West African countries because of its cheap price and wide availability.
Notably, both the drugs are not included in the list of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS), and that is how the company was able to produce and export it.
Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on the opposition leaders for mocking the Hindu religion. PM Modi made the statement during a public address in Chhattarpur Madhya Pradesh on Sunday after laying the foundation stone of Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute for Cancer.
PM Modi said that a certain group of politicians regularly ridicules the Hindu religion and divides people. He added that foreign elements have been using such politicians to target the country. “Many times, foreign powers are seen taking support of such people to weaken the country,” he said. “Such Hindu-hating people have existed in some phase or the other for centuries”, he added.
Modi called out people targeting Hindu practices
His remarks come at a time when some opposition leaders criticised the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Mincing no words the Prime Minister described such politicians as having a ‘slave mentality’ and said that they have been consistently attacking the Hindu religion and practices. “These people suffering from the slave mentality have been attacking our faith, beliefs and temples; our saints, culture and principles,” he said slamming the opposition. “They abuse abuse our festivals, traditions and customs,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi said that Hinduism by nature is a progressive religion and yet some people selectively target it. “They dare throw mud at a faith and a culture that is progressive by nature, ” he said.
#WATCH | Chhattarpur, Madhya Pradesh | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Nowadays we see that there is a group of leaders who mock religion, ridicule it, are engaged in dividing people and many times foreign powers also try to weaken the country and religion by supporting these… pic.twitter.com/afDz29eMUx
Calling him a younger brother, the Prime Minister applauded Pandit Dhirendra Shastri of Bagheshwar Dham for making efforts to promote unity in the society. “For a long time, my younger brother Dhirendra Shastri Ji has been spreading awareness among people using the mantra of unity, ” said PM Modi. Modi praised Shastri for deciding to set up Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Insitute for Cancer. Expressing pleasure, Modi said that people would now be able to receive treatment at Bageshwar Dham. “Here, in Bageshwar Dham people will now be blessed with prayers, food and disease-free life,” he added.
Mamata Banerjee described Maha Kumbh as Mrityu Kumbh
Following the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj that claimed several lives, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the Uttar Pradesh government. Describing the Maha Kumbh Mela as ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ (Kumbh of deaths), Banerjee accused the BJP government of prioritising the rich over the poor. “This is Mrityu Kumbh. I respect Maha Kumbh, and I respect the holy Ganga Ma. But there is no planning. How many people have been rescued? For the rich and VIPs, there are systems in place to get camps (tents) for as much as Rs 1 lakh. But for the poor, there are no arrangements at Kumbh,” she alleged addressing a budget session of the state assembly on 18th February.
Earlier this month, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan dismissed the government figures of the number of devotees visiting Mahakumbh and claimed that the water in Prayagraj is contaminated as dead bodies of stampede victims have been thrown in the holy Ganga river. After the stampede in the Maha Kumbh Mela, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav alleged that there was a massive administrative failure in Prayagraj and that “thousands were killed,” some “were thrown in Ganga,” and others “buried.” He accused the state government of concealing the true death toll and claimed that officials were ordered not to report figures exceeding 30.
Several unfortunate accidents have taken place at different locations in the country due to a massive number of people turning out to visit the historic Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
In recent months, mainland Europe has seen a troubling surge in terror attacks, including knife assaults and vehicular rammings. These attacks have been executed by individuals with extremist ideologies, mostly by individuals who came to European countries under the guise of seeking refuge or asylum. Continuous attacks have instilled a pervasive sense of insecurity among the locals in these countries.
Recent incidents highlight a growing threat
There have been numerous attacks involving so-called refugees. For instance, on 23rd February, a 37-year-old man, who was on a terror prevention watchlist, went on a stabbing spree in France, leaving at least one person dead and two police officers seriously injured. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident as an “Islamist terror act.” The attacker first targeted the municipal police officers, shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The attack happened shortly before 4:00 PM (local time) during a demonstration.
On 16th February, a 23-year-old man stabbed five passers-by in southern Austria’s Villach on Saturday, leaving a 14-year-old dead and four others injured. Following the incident, the suspect was detained in the city of Villach. The suspect was a Syrian national with legal residence in Austria.
On 13th February, a man drove a car into a union demonstration in Munich, Germany, injuring 28 people, including children. The person driving the car was identified as an Afghan asylum seeker. The incident took place at around 10:30 AM when the attacker rammed the car into the back of a rally by the Verdi Union during a strike by public sector workers.
In December 2024, a Saudi Arabian ‘doctor’ deliberately rammed his car into multiple people at a Christian market in Magdeburg city in the Saxony-Anhalt state of Germany, killing two people and injuring 60 others. One of the deceased was a child. The accused had been living in Germany for around 20 years and held permanent residency.
In August 2024, a man went on a stabbing spree during the ‘Festival of Diversity’ in Fronhof market square in Solingen city, Germany. The lone-wolf attack took place at 10 PM, leading to the deaths of three people and injuring several others.
In May 2024, a radical Islamist went on a stabbing spree in Mannheim city, Germany, injuring two people, including a police officer. The attack was carried out ahead of a political event against growing Islamism in Europe by an organisation named Citizens’ Movement Pax Europa.
In June 2023, a Syrian refugee went on a stabbing spree in Annecy, France. The attacker, identified as Abdel Masih H, injured seven people, including six children. The incident took place at a park in Annecy at around 9:45 AM, where several children aged three to five were present as part of a school excursion.
Statistical trends and analysis
According to data available from the European Union, in 2022 alone, there were 28 recorded terrorist attacks within EU member states, resulting in four fatalities. The prevalence of low-tech, high-impact methods such as stabbings and vehicular assaults is a serious concern in European countries today.
While 98% of terrorism-related deaths in 2023 occurred in conflict zones, the spread of extremist ideologies has led to a notable increase in so-called lone-wolf attacks in Europe. Reports suggest that these “lone wolves” are actually part of a larger radicalised groups. According to a Euro News report from 2023, Spain alone was monitoring over 300 such individuals whom agenices believed might carry out terrorist attacks.
As such attacks become more common, their profound implications can be seen in European societies, as fear and anxiety among locals have increased, leading to changes in daily routines and heightened security measures in public spaces. Such incidents have fuelled debates over immigration policies, integration, and national security.
While European governments have intensified efforts to counteract this trend, demands for stricter immigration policies have increased from far-right political parties.
The Adani Group, a major leader in infrastructure development, has released its Tax Transparency Reports for the fiscal year 2023-2024.
According to the release by the group, for the financial year 2023-24, the Adani Group’s total global tax and other contributions to the exchequer amounted to Rs 58,104.4 crore, showcasing a significant increase from the previous year’s Rs 46,610.2 crore through its portfolio of listed entities.
The details are covered in the independent reports published by seven of the group’s listed entities–Adani Enterprises Limited, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, Adani Green Energy Limited, Adani Energy Solutions Limited, Adani Power Limited, Adani Total Gas Limited, and Ambuja Cements Limited. The figure also includes tax paid by three other listed companies–NDTV, ACC and Sanghi Industries–that are held by the seven companies.
“Transparency is the foundation of trust, and trust is essential for sustainable growth,” said Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. “As one of India’s largest contributors to the exchequer, we recognise that our responsibility goes beyond compliance. It is also about operating with integrity and accountability. Every rupee we contribute to our nation’s finances reflects our commitment to transparency and good governance. By voluntarily sharing these reports with the public, we aim to foster greater stakeholder confidence and set new benchmarks for responsible corporate conduct.”
Through this voluntary initiative, the Group aims to demonstrate its commitment to transparency, foster stakeholder trust and contribute to a more accountable global tax environment, the release stated.
The Adani Group said that it considers tax transparency as an integral part of its broader ESG framework.
The group strives to harmonize growth with social responsibility, aiming to transform India’s infrastructure landscape while promoting innovation and creating long-term value for stakeholders, it added.
With the global tax environment entering a new age, forward-looking companies are voluntarily bringing out the Tax Transparency Report, even though the same is not mandatory.
Through the report, such companies seek to drive wider stakeholder attention and greater credibility, besides creating the basis for the highest standards of tax transparency, the release added.
The Tax Transparency Report offers a comprehensive breakdown of the Adani Group’s global tax and other contributions. It includes direct contributions, such as taxes, duties, and other charges paid by the Adani portfolio of companies.
Additionally, it covers indirect contributions, detailing taxes and duties collected and paid on behalf of other stakeholders.
The report also highlights other contributions, like social security payments made for the benefit of employees, providing a full overview of the group’s financial impact across various sectors.
The group has engaged a professional agency to provide an independent assurance report on its global contribution to the exchequer.
This report is included in the Tax Transparency Reports and provides details on the various types of taxes and other contributions paid by the group companies globally, as well as the group’s approach to tax.
By emphasizing transparency and integrity in tax compliance and reporting, the group aims to build trust with stakeholders and demonstrate its commitment to responsible business practices.
By voluntarily disclosing information about its global tax contributions, the company strengthens its commitment to economic development, fosters stakeholder understanding, and builds trust through transparent tax practices.
The detailed reports of each of the seven companies can be accessed on their respective company websites, the group said in the release.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
