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Samajwadi Party borrows Maha Kumbh organisation of Yogi govt to make election pitch for 2027, says Akhilesh will organise a grand Ardhakumbh in 2032

Shraddha Pandey
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Samajwadi Party borrows Maha Kumbh organisation of Yogi govt to make election pitch for 2027, says Akhilesh will organise a grand Ardhakumbh in 2032

In an ironic twist of political winds, even those political parties that earned notoriety for their Muslim appeasement and suppressing or neglecting Hindus are now scrambling to paint themselves as the champions of Hindu causes to woo the majority community. In this vein, “27 mein aayenge Akhilesh, 32 mein bhavya Ardhkumbh karayenge vishesh” posters have been put up outside the Samajwadi Party’s office in Lucknow.

The poster implies that when the Samajwadi Party will be voted to power in Uttar Pradesh in the coming assembly elections in 2027, Akhilesh Yadav will organise a grand Ardhkumbh in 2032 in a special manner. This apparently is yet another move by the Samajwadi Party to use the Hindu festival of Kumbh for its political gains.

The posters feature Akhilesh’s photograph, showcasing him taking a holy dip at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, which he did on January 26. The posters have been put up by Somil Singh Srinet, the state spokesperson of Lohini Vahini of the party.

Samajwadi Party trying to find faults in Mahakumbh, failing and setting targets for Ardhkumbh, forgets the  flawed organisation of 2013 Kumbh by Akhilesh Yadav govt

OpIndia has reported earlier how the opposition parties, particularly Samajwadi Party leaders a pushing their apocryphal narrative that somehow the organisation of the Mahakumbh under the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has been a massive failure. They even blamed the supposed mismanagement and VIP movements for the stampede that claimed 30 lives and left about 60 to 70 injured. However, contrary to the falsehoods being peddled by the opposition parties, there were no VIP movements on the day the stampede occurred.

The tragedy unfolded as a huge crowd gathered at the Akhara Marg due to which, the barricades on the other side broke and the crowd ran over the devotees waiting to take a holy dip of Brahma Muhurt on the other side. Despite specific ghats and routes designated for devotees in specific regions, the devotees were keen on bathing at the Triveni Sangam in the auspicious muhurt.

Samajwadi Party leaders resorted to disinformation to score political points against the CM Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. Recently, SP MP Jaya Bachchan claimed that the water in Prayagraj is contaminated as dead bodies of stampede victims have been thrown in the holy Ganga river. She also dismissed the government figures of the number of devotees visiting Mahakumbh. Unsurprisingly, Bachchan’s comments were devoid of any factual basis.

Similarly, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav earlier claimed that contrary to official numbers given by the administration, thousands of people died in the stampede.

The Samajwadi Party, however, is peddling lies and politicising a tragedy so much so that it is putting up posters boasting how they would organise a grand and special Ardhkumbh in 2033 unlike how the BJP government organised Mahakumbh. Basically, the Samajwadi Party is telling the BJP that “you don’t know anything, I will show you how it’s done” and conveying the message to the people of Uttar Pradesh that the Akhilesh Yadav-led party can host a better, safer and grander Kumbh than the BJP.

As the Samajwadi Party is subtly suggesting that the success of Mahakumbh under the BJP administration is marred by imagined failures, let’s stroll down memory lane to recall how the Samajwadi Party government organised the 2013 Kumbh in Prayagraj. From the stampede during the Maha Kumbh to not spending adequate money and doing proper crowd management, hundreds of irregularities took place in his government.

Then Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav could not find a better person to entrust the responsibility of organising Kumbh than Azam Khan. Azam Khan was made the chairman of the committee of the Kumbh Mela. The now-jailed Azam Khan probably had no interest in the Kumbh, the biggest gathering of Hindus, and during that time he was busy running his parallel government in Rampur and setting up Jauhar University.

Under Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan’s watch, 42 people were killed in a stampede at the railway station of Prayagraj on 10th February 2013 on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The report about this accident also came out later. One of the reasons for this accident was that the state government had not arranged for enough buses. After this accident, Azam Khan offered his resignation in a typical political drama but Akhilesh Yadav refused to accept it. Two days after the accident, Akhilesh Yadav went to Prayagraj and after roaming around in the car, he went back.

The apathy towards Hindu devotees and irregularities in the fair’s organisation were not limited to this. The CAG report revealed that the date for completion of all the works for the 2013 Kumbh was initially set as 30 November 2012, but many of these works were not completed even before the fair began. Their dates were extended thrice in the meantime.

According to the CAG report, Akhilesh Yadav’s government could not complete 59% of the infrastructure work till the start of the fair i.e. 14 January 2013. That is, Akhilesh Yadav, who is currently making an issue of the wires not being installed on the poles, could not complete 60% of the work in his government till the start of the fair.

Even out of 111 road construction works, 65 were not completed even after the fair ended. Moreover, 4 projects worth Rs 26 crores could not even be started. Despite all this, the Akhilesh government informed CAG in January 2013 that all the works were completed. Besides, the Samajwadi Party government also gobbled up the centre-allocated funds for Kumbh. Out of Rs 1152 crore, Rs 341 crore was given by the central government, however, only Rs 1017 crore were spent and Rs 134 crore remained unspent. Even the additional fund of Rs 800 crore granted to the state government was not used at all. This meant that the Akhilesh Yadav-led government spent only 1% of its own pocket that Rs 10 crore as Rs 1141 crore was already given by the Central government.  

The level of misappropriation was such that bus and motorcycle numbers were given for the tractors working in the fair. The CAG report said that 30 workers were shown working at two places at the same time. They were also paid. In some places, crores of rupees were spent in the name of bridge repairs and at other places money was wasted on barricading. Overall,  massive corruption took place.

While the Samajwadi Party is crying hoarse over the supposed lack of safety for the Mahakumbh devotees, in 2013 Kumbh, only 5 divers were deployed to protect 12 crore people. There was 77% shortage of fire extinguishers and a 60% shortage of ambulances. During the course of the event, 67 fire incidents were reported in 2013 Kumbh, most of which were due to LPG cylinder leakage or short circuits.

The mobile laboratory proposed for testing food samples was not deployed, due to which adulterated, substandard food items were being sold to the devotees. Besides, took no care for the environment or prevent pollution.

Besides the corruption and apathy towards the safety of Kumbh devotees, there was a significant lack of coordination within the administration. The Mela was marred by inadequate waste management and a sheer lack of health services for the devotees.

Unlike the disastrous organisation of the Kumbh Mela by the Akhilesh Yadav government, the Yogi government’s Mahakumbh event is nothing short of a logistical marvel. While the stampede did taint the otherwise massively successful Mahakumbh event, the Yogi government left no stone unturned to ensure that the Hindu devotees faced no difficulties during their stay in the Kumbh Kshetra. From launching a special app for Mahakumbh, installing QR codes for services in Mahakumbh in 11 languages, installing thousands of cameras, setting up integrated control room, drone surveillance for better monitoring of the event, to have made arrangements for shuttle buses, e-autos and e-rickshaws within the fair area,  the BJP government has taken numerous measures to ensure a “Divya and Bhavya” Mahakumbh.

While the Samajwadi Party government failed to provide even basic facilities for the devotees at Kumbh 2013, the BJP government managed to provide not only basic facilities but also offer luxurious experiences to the devotees and foreign tourists. The government built a beautiful Dome City and spacious and comfortable cottages. There are also speed motorboats. Special trains are also being run for the mega Hindu festival for the convenience of the devotees coming from various parts of the country. 10 lakh green toilets, hospitals and arrangements for cultural and religious events have also been made. While there was a 60% shortage of ambulances in Kumbh 2013, the Yogi government has made arrangements for water ambulances well-equipped with medical supplies and medical personnel.

To ensure seamless connectivity, the government set up 180 mobile towers in Prayagraj. A high-tech Digital Kumbh Museum has also been set up to showcase the cultural, religious and historical significance of the Kumbh Mela. In addition, cultural villages or Sanskriti Gram have also been set up in Mahakumbh Nagar to showcase the confluence of spirituality and culture.

Besides, unlike the absolute neglect of the environment by the Samajwadi Party government, the BJP administration had a special focus on the environment. In this vein, dense forests have been developed at various locations across Prayagraj through the Miyawaki technique, to ensure pure air and a healthy atmosphere for the millions of devotees.

Samajwadi Party using Kumbh Mela for political gains

Evidently, Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party are not able to digest the fact that the BJP government could organise such a massive event with unmatched success, and attract global attention to the Hindu religious event. The Samajwadi Party’s “27 mein aayenge Akhilesh, 32 mein bhavya Ardhkumbh karayenge vishesh” posters seem to be rebranding effort to whitewash its disgraceful Kumbh 2013 mismanagement and historical disregard of Hindu sentiments. Since the times are gone when Muslim appeasement alone could win elections with a more aware and united Hindu community playing a key role in elections, the Samajwadi Party is trying to woo the Hindus.

Ahead of the elections, Akhilesh Yadav is trying to bolster his own and Samajwadi Party’s non-existent pro-Hindu credentials. The very audacity of the Samajwadi Party to project the organisation of Mahakumbh by the BJP government as a failure is laughable, considering how the party failed to provide even basic facilities to devotees in Kumbh 2013 when far less number of people visited Prayagraj, while Yogi government’s organisation of Mahakumbh hosting a rough total of about 45 crore people has been spectacular.  

The Mahakumbh is truly “Maha” in all senses. The Hindu festival is expected to generate Rs 2 lakh crore in revenue due to spending on accommodation, food,  transportation, retail and other services. Besides, the event is generating 5 to 6 lakh temporary jobs and also allowing local businesses to thrive. The event is estimated to attract over 30 lakh foreign tourists. While the unfortunate stampede should not be downplayed, however, the assertion that the organisation of the Mahakumbh event by the Yogi administration is a failure is more a political lie than a lived truth.

Akhilesh Yadav, whose politics revolves around the M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) formula and whose father ordered the firing of bullets on Hindu Karsevaks in Ayodhya in 1990, now wants to tell the people that the Samajwadi Party somehow is more concerned about Hindus than the BJP which is seen as a pro-Hindu party. While the Kumbh 2013 under SP government was less of a spiritual convergence and more of a mismanagement marathon, now the party is setting its eyes on organising grand Ardhkumbh as if the Hindus have forgotten Samajwadi Party’s past fiascos.  

Samajwadi Party’s credibility to organise a large-scale Hindu religious event like Kumbh is thinner than the patience of Hindus they have historically neglected. Not to forget, it was Akhilesh Yadav who banned the 84-Kosi parikrama around the Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya in 2013 to appease its Muslim vote bank. This is the same Samajwadi Party which on one hand wants to position itself as somewhat pro-Hindu, and on the other, it financially supports Muslim rioters and Waqf Board in Sambhal.

Apparently, the Samajwadi Party has adopted the strategy “when you cannot critique the present, promise moon for the future. While only the 2027 assembly election results will tell whether the Samajwadi Party or the incumbent BJP will get to organise the 2032 Ardhkumbh, the Samajwadi Party’s desperation is palpable. It is amusing that those who relied on appeasing Muslims, constructing lavish Haj House and donning skull caps on Eid are not relying on Hindu festivals for a political comeback. This, however, is nothing but political opportunism and an attempt to suggest that Hindus should vote for Akhilesh Yadav in the 2027 elections and that he will somehow ‘fix’ something that was never broken.

USAID spent $750000 to ‘alleviate distress’ of migrant workers in India, partnered with the NGO of brother-in-law of Sonam Kapoor

OpIndia Staff
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USAID spent $750000 to ‘alleviate distress’ of migrant workers in India, partnered with the NGO of brother-in-law of Sonam Kapoor

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had attempted to bring about a ‘colour revolution’ in India through its affiliates, had spent $7,50,000 (~₹6.56 crores) to supposedly alleviate loneliness among migrant workers in the country.

The matter came to light on Wednesday (5th January) during a hearing on USAID funding by the US House Oversight Committee.

Republican Representative Nancy Mace was heard saying, “USAID awarded over $7,50,000 to fund alleviating loneliness among migrant garment workers in India. Does this advance America’s interests, Governor?”

An article about the same is published on the USAID website. It is titled ‘Alleviating Loneliness Among Migrant Garment Workers in India.’

The date of publication reads 20th December 2024 although the link has been archived multiple times since 2021. The article claimed –

“More than 30 percent of India’s population are internal economic migrants who move from rural to urban areas for work, but lose important support networks when away from their homes. This separation may cause feelings of loneliness and social isolation among India’s millions of young migrants, and affect their health and ability to earn an income. Evidence suggests that social isolation and loneliness can have sweeping negative consequences ranging from a reduced sense of well-being and happiness to impairments in cognitive function, physical health, and even mortality. Workplace programs that address workers’ mental health may help to increase worker satisfaction, retention, and productivity, benefitting both the workers and the companies that employ them, but evidence is scarce.“

Screengrab of the article by USAID

USAID partnered with Good Business Lab Foundation and Shahi Exports

USAID partnered with ‘Good Business Lab (GBL)’ Foundation for the study. The CEO and co-founder of GBL is Anant Ahuja, the brother-in-law of actress Sonam Kapoor.

According to the article, GBL further took the help of its partner ‘Shahi Exports’ to conduct the study. Shahi Exports, which is India’s largest exporter of ready-made garments, was founded by Sarla Ahuja in 1974.

The USAID article further stated,

“With support from Development Innovation Ventures, Good Business Lab Foundation is building off prior pilots to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a low-cost mental health intervention that pairs 1,000 female junior factory workers with female senior workers across six factories owned by partner Shahi Exports…The RCT includes a control group and two intervention groups: one where partners meet a couple times a week to provide general social support and another where senior workers receive specialized training to help junior partners develop strategies to cope with isolation and loneliness.“

It remains unclear whether USAID spent $750000 on this study alone, which was referred to during the US House Oversight Committee hearing.

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.

Screengrab of the Google cache of the now-deleted USAID website

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 for the ‘greater good’ of this country. And it has been a work in progress for a long time.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of the article attributed the wrong X (formerly Twitter) handle of Anant Ahuja, the CEO and co-founder of ‘Good Business Lab (GBL)’ Foundation and had erroneously drawn conclusions based on those tweets. Error and the inconvenience caused are highly regretted.

Punjab and Haryana HC express displeasure over illegible handwriting of doctors, says right to know health status is a fundamental right

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab and Haryana HC express displeasure over illegible handwriting of doctors, says right to know health status is a fundamental right

Expressing surprise and shock over handwritten prescriptions given by government doctors in the age of computers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stated the right to know medical status is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The observation was made by the High Court today during the hearing of an anticipatory bail plea of the accused in a rape case when the court was examining the Medico-legal Report (MLR) of the rape victim filed by the Haryana government.

A single bench of Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri noted, “The handwriting in the aforesaid MLR is absolutely illegible and cannot be understood at all. It is very surprising and shocking to note that in this era of computers, the notes on medical history and prescriptions by government doctors are written by hand which cannot be ready by anybody except perhaps some doctors. This court also has seen in a number of cases where even the medical prescription is written in such handwriting which nobody can read except perhaps some Chemists. The same is the position in the State of Punjab and probably in the UT Chandigarh also”.

The right to know medical prescriptions is a fundamental right

Justice Puri emphasised that the treatment given to a human being is a part of life and thus it should be considered as a fundamental right. “…to have the knowledge about the medical prescription by the doctor and the notes on the medical history is prima facie a right which is vested in the patient or the attendants to pursue the same and apply the mind, especially in today’s technological world. It will not be out of place to even note that the right to know the medical status of a human being can also be considered a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Health and the treatment given to a human being is a part of life and therefore, it may be considered as part of the right to life,” the judge stated.

Highlighting the rampancy of the problem in Punjab and Chandigarh, the court sought the assistance of Advocate Generals of Haryana and Punjab and Senior Standing Counsel of the UT of Chandigarh. The court invited suggestions regarding the remedial and corrective measures that can be taken regarding the illegible writing on the medical notes.

“This court therefore requests the learned Advocate General, Punjab and the learned Senior Standing Counsel, U.T., Chandigarh to also assist this court on the aforesaid issue as to what remedial and corrective measures can be taken with regard to the illegible writing on the medical notes and also on the prescriptions not only by the government doctors but also by the private doctors in both the States and U.T., Chandigarh”, the court said. “It deems it fit and proper to request the Advocate General, Haryana to assist this court on the issue,” the court added. The court also the assistance of the National Medical Commission and adjourned the matter to 13th February.

Orissa High Court asked doctors to write in capital letters

Last year in January, the Orissa High Court directed the state government to mandate doctors to write prescriptions in readable handwriting or capital letters. Justice Panigrahi asked the chief secretary to send a circular to the state’s government, private medical institutes and hospitals requiring doctors to write the names of medications clearly or in capital letters in prescriptions. The court noted that it should be followed in the case of post-mortem reports as well. 

While examining a post-mortem report written by Dr Biswaranjan Pati, the Judge said that it cannot be understood in an ordinary course of reading unless the writer of the report himself, or a handwriting expert, is given the opportunity to examine such description.

UP court fined a doctor Rs 5000 for poor handwriting

In October 2018, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court imposed a penalty of ₹5000 each on three doctors in separate cases for their illegible handwriting. The order came when the court was examining the injury reports of victims issued by the district hospitals of Sitapur, Unnao and Gonda. The court said that the injury reports were not readable because of very poor handwriting. Calling this the obstruction of the court’s work, the court summoned the three doctors who wrote the reports and imposed penalties on them. The court directed the Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) to ensure that in future the medico reports are prepared in easy and legible handwriting.

Courts deal with medical reports including MLR, injury reports and post-mortem reports in various cases regularly. Medical reports make for crucial evidence in certain cases. Therefore, the frustration of courts over medical reports written in illegible handwriting that leads to delay is justifiable.

Ahmedabad Police arrests Abdul Mubeen Khan, an HIV-positive man, for abducting and exploiting a Hindu Girl; had targeted 6 others: All you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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Ahmedabad Police arrests Abdul Mubeen Khan, an HIV-positive man, for abducting and exploiting a Hindu Girl; had targeted 6 others: All you need to know

Ahmedabad police have arrested a Muslim man in connection with the abduction and sexual exploitation of a Hindu girl. The accused, identified as Abdul Mubeen Hamid Khan Pathan, had kidnapped the victim 10 months ago and repeatedly assaulted her at various locations. Notably, Abdul Hamid Khan is HIV-AIDS positive.

The police apprehended both the accused and the Hindu girl from Madhya Pradesh. Investigations revealed that Abdul Mubeen had abducted the girl in March 2024. She had gone to attend a wedding at a place called Sagira Shahibaug on March 22, 2024, but mysteriously disappeared around 8 PM that night.

Her family searched for her but failed to locate her, prompting them to approach the police. Based on their complaint, an investigation was launched.

Even after three months of continuous investigation, the police were unable to gather any information about the girl. The case was then handed over to the Ahmedabad Crime Branch’s anti-human trafficking unit. Meanwhile, the Hindu girl’s family also approached the Gujarat High Court.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch expanded its search beyond Gujarat to other states. In February 2025, investigators received a crucial lead indicating that the missing girl and the accused, Abdul, were in Bijori, Madhya Pradesh. Acting on this information, a police team reached the location, rescued the girl, and arrested Abdul.

According to a Times of India report, Abdul had kept the Hindu girl captive and even deprived her of food. He had rented the house with the help of his relatives. The police have now arrested Abdul and initiated further legal proceedings.

In a statement to OpIndia, Shahibaug police confirmed the operation, revealing that Abdul Pathan originally hails from Bareja, Ahmedabad. To evade arrest, he kept moving from city to city with the minor girl. Currently, efforts are underway to present him in court and secure his remand.

Previously Exploited Six Other Girls

Reports indicate that Abdul initially kept the girl in Ahmedabad. Later, acting on a lawyer’s advice, he moved her to various cities, including Surat, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Beed, Hyderabad, and Bilaspur. The police now plan to take action against the lawyer who advised him.

The police revealed that the accused was aware of his HIV-positive status, yet he had targeted six other girls in the past. Authorities are now working to trace all the victims, and once found, they will undergo medical examinations.

Vibrant Villages Programme: Read how PM Modi’s initiative to develop border regions transformed India’s First Villages, changed lives

OpIndia Staff
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Vibrant Villages Programme: Read how PM Modi’s initiative to develop border regions transformed India’s First Villages, changed lives

In order to strengthen the social and security framework along the China border, the union cabinet allotted Rs 4,800 crore in 2023 under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP). It was started as a centrally supported initiative which aimed to develop all of the villages that have been identified in 46 blocks that border the north and north eastern region in 19 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh. Now, the initiative’s tremendously positive outcomes are beginning to show.

On 6th February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shed light on the same during his address in the Rajya Sabha. He stated that in addition to serving various communities, the government also paid attention to the most remote areas of the nation, including border villages which had been disregarded as backward regions by previous administrations and their policy of prioritizing Delhi and neglecting the rest.

PM Modi emphasized the change in mindset that the government has brought about, to ensure that border villagers are given precedence. He underlined that these settlements have been granted special status as “first villages” with particular development plans as they are located where the sun’s first and last rays touch.

According to the prime minister, ministers were dispatched to isolated hamlets to spend an entire day there, even in frigid temperatures like minus 15 degrees, to learn about and solve the issues afflicting the locals. He added that village leaders and heads from these border regions are welcomed as guests on Republic Day, Independence Day and other national holidays. He reiterated the centre’s dedication to “Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas” as well as its persistent attempts to outreach to all underprivileged populations.

PM Modi pointed out the government’s perpetual focus on the “Vibrant Villages Programme” and stressed its significance and effectiveness for the country’s security.

What is Vibrant Villages Programme

The VVP was officially launched at the Arunachal Pradesh border village of Kibithoo on 10th April 2023. The programme seeks to develop the border villages in all aspects, including building roads and homes, offering decentralized renewable energy, television and telecom connectivity, promoting tourism and culture, fostering entrepreneurship and skill development, building societies to create jobs and more. The goal is to create economic possibilities and supply basic amenities for the border residents to guarantee that they do not feel excluded from the development gains and leave these isolated places.

The government recommended spending Rs 4,800 crores over five years (2022–2023 to 2025–2026) to complete these tasks. Of the designated sum, Rs 2,500 crores would be used for road construction and the remaining for other infrastructure projects. The programme, which calls for the comprehensive development of 2,967 villages spread over 19 districts in four states and one union territory along the India-China border, was approved by the union government on 15th February 2022. The initiative consists of three stages, with the first phase focusing on the priority development of 662 border areas.

There are 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh followed by Himachal Pradesh (75), Uttarakhand (51), Sikkim (46), and Ladakh (35). To increase the resources available for improving socioeconomic services there, the union government directed that all other centrally sponsored schemes that are currently in place and concentrate on providing health, education and sanitation, among other things be integrated and implemented in addition to the VVP projects.

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda in 2023 informed, “Tribals in border villages have protected the country since ages along with  preservation of  their local traditions and culture. They are the true patriots of the country. We are privileged to have you in our midst in the capital city. These border villages, once termed the ‘Last Villages of India’ have been termed the ‘First Villages’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India feels secure because the inhabitants of these border villages are keeping watch.”

“Over 17 Ministers have visited and stayed overnight in these villages. Under the visionary guidance of PM Modi, the government is trying to ensure the delivery of its programmes focusing on the empowerment of women and youth, connectivity with all-weather roads, provision of clean drinking water, 24×7 power to be focused on solar and wind energy, Mobile and Internet connectivity, tourist centers, multipurpose center and health and wellness center,” he further conveyed.

“Further, cooperatives is set to be developed at the local level to manage livelihood opportunities including entrepreneurship agriculture horticulture, cultivation of medicinal herbs etc. The government is committed to the all round development of Border Villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme,” the minister added.

How the programme brought radical change and improved lives

“Life in the village is far better but better education opportunities force parents to migrate to the district headquarters to enroll their children in schools. With the government focusing on developing border villages and improving road connectivity, there’s a shift. Now, people are moving back to their villages. I am one of them,” voiced 40-year-old Dipen Molo in a detailed report published by The Print. He long-held a dream to establish a Kiwi farm in his hamlet but spent almost 30 years away from home in pursuit of more opportunities.

The border village of Ebamee is located in the Dibang Valley area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Anini circle. The hamlet, which is 24 kilometers from the main Anini town, has seen considerable development in recent years, which has prompted him to return. Likewise, many people from the Dibang Valley district’s border communities are rediscovering their heritage. Kibithoo and the surrounding villages in the Anjaw district of eastern Arunachal Pradesh now have multiple home stays, a bus service that connects Kibithoo with Tezu in Lohit district near Assam, mobile network connectivity, blacktopped roads and the best bakery in Walong called the “Kibithoo Frontier Cafe” or “KFC.”

This was just 18 months after the Vibrant Village Programme kicked off. The people have taken advantage of the tourism potential and it’s all transpiring close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). A cafe in Kibithoo is owned by 27-year-old Pramila Rai and three of her friends, who sell coffee, cookies, momos and noodles. She completed her studies at Tezu Government College. About two years ago, the Indian Army launched a soft-skills training program that gave the four women the courage to launch their own business. The army also granted them course certificates.

Kameng Culture & Heritage Museum, inaugurated by Arunachal CM Pema Khandu under the Vibrant Villages Program, image via PRO Defence, Guwahati

Pramila stated, “We take orders for birthday cakes for both civilians and army personnel. You find a little of everything in Kibithoo now – roads and highway, medical facility, mobile network that reached our village only 3 to 4 months ago. We can now make best use of our smart phones.”

In May 2023, Kibithoo got 4G network connectivity for the first time.

How Indian Army plays a critical role in development of border villages

The Indian Army and personnel of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) play a critical role in the Vibrant Villages Programme. They not only undertake training initiatives for locals, but actively participate in activities, often working side by side with the locals to implement the projects.

“With a renewed vision to develop the border villages through Vibrant Village Programme, the task of the Indian Army has doubled. Besides guarding the borders, they have today become the active partner in successful implementation of the vibrant village programme”, Arunachal CM Khandu posted past year, thanking the Army.

Cooking and baking workshops and health camps are frequently organised by the Army in these areas, training locals to learn new skills and develop their entrepreneurship potential.

Kaho in Arnunachal Pradesh is called India’s first village, which has 17 homes and a population of just over 100. The village is now a popular destination for tourists from all around the nation.

Alinye and Angrim Valley, close to Acheso are also positioned to become model villages. Military infrastructure projects that are also intended for civilian use are largely responsible for the valley’s development. Foot Suspension Bridges (FSB) are essential for the people who live on both sides of the Dri River. The army repaired a 70-meter FSB at Acheso in August.

More eco-campsites and homestays are being constructed by the people of Dri hamlets. Additionally, tourists are swarming to the area’s well-known Chigu Camp resort, which is ideal for experiencing snowfall during the height of winter. Furthermore, the government organizes trekking trips along the Dri River and a chance to see endangered species such as as the Mishmi Takin, a goat-antelope species listed as Vulnerable (IUCN) in the upper Mishmi Hills.

Vibrant Villages Programme: Collaboration between army and people

Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lieutenant General KT Parnaik in 2023 stated that VVP “must be collaborative in nature, wherein armed forces and local people share their facilities and resources.” He visited the vibrant border village of Tuting in Upper Siang District and talked to the community leaders and members and assured that the army would assist the locals in every possible way.

The Governor, who was visiting vibrant border villages, remarked that the Vibrant Villages Programme was started by the Indian government to promote the overall development of the border regions. He asserted that the project needs to be cooperative in nature, with the local population and the military sharing resources and facilities. He also encouraged the locals to focus on tourism, poultry, animal husbandry and horticulture to make optimal use of the potential of their regions.

According to him, the armed personnel stationed close to the villages would receive fresh food products and fresh vegetables, while the locals will be able to earn a fair living and develop their independence and capabilities.

In December 2024, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu had shared that as many as 455 villages in his state have benefitted from the Vibrant Villages Program.

Notably, although the government has always prioritized the development of border regions, the June 2020 hostilities between the Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Ladakh region acted as the impetus for the VVP’s inception. Poor road connectivity was a defining feature of India’s border regions, particularly those the country shared with China. The government was therefore unable to access these regions and offer the border inhabitants essential facilities and services.

The border population is forced to relocate to mainland cities and towns in the hope of a better life due to a lack of basic conveniences and job opportunities. Populated villages in border regions are critical from a national security perspective. Because abandoned villages serve as an opportunity for hostile forces to occupy. Taking last mile connectivity and development to frontier areas not just strengthens the nation, it sends a message of inclusivity for the people who have been left neglected for decades.

Creating sufficient chances for local people to remain in their villages rather than move to towns is the main goal of the programme. Military strategists believe that out-migration gives the Chinese the confidence to extend their territorial claims beyond the current deployment. Vibrant villages on the border are not just a sign of a prosperous nation, they are a message to the neighbouring countries that ‘Here we are, Indians, and we are here to stay.”

Wrestling Federation moves its office back to Brij Bhushan Singh’s house after failing to get new premises due to sports ministry’s ban

ANI
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Wrestling Federation moves its office back to Brij Bhushan Singh’s house after failing to get new premises due to sports ministry’s ban

The office of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has returned to the house of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at 21, Ashoka Road, Janpath after the management failed to get a new place due to the ban imposed by the Sports Ministry, a WFI official said.

WFI office had moved out from Brij Bhushan’s house to Hari Nagar, following accusations of sexual harassment imposed on him by India’s top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik in 2023.

Last month, WFI President Sanjay Singh claimed that the federation’s office was located in Hari Nagar. He also confirmed that they had found a new place in Connaught Place and would shift there on February 2.

However, according to the latest developments, the WFI have now returned to Brij Bhushan’s house after their failure to get a new premise because of the ban imposed by the Sports Ministry.

“The office of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) returns to the old address, the old registered house of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in New Delhi as management failed to get a new place because the Sports Ministry has still imposed the ban on the federation and no one gives them new premise because of the ban,” WFI offical said.

The Sports Ministry suspended the WFI body after the newly elected WFI president Sanjay Singh announced the hosting of the U-15 and U-20 nationals at Nandini Nagar in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh in December 2023.

“We try to find new place but everytime the landlord said you are banned by the Sports Ministry so how could we give you new premise. So to ensure that the game does not suffer and also players do not suffer more so we moved in old place till we didn’t get new place for setup and this will be possible when the Sports Ministry removes its ban on us,” the WFI official added.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Kshama Sawant’s visa drama continues: Ex-councilmember creates a ruckus in the Indian consulate in Seattle, threatens staff over rejection

OpIndia Staff
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Kshama Sawant’s visa drama continues: Ex-councilmember creates a ruckus in the Indian consulate in Seattle, threatens staff over rejection

Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant and her supporters launched an attack on the Indian consulate in Seattle. She alleged that while her husband was given an emergency visa, her application to travel to India to see her 82-year-old ailing mother in Bengaluru was denied three times. She claimed that her name was put on a “reject list” without offering any explanation.

The members of her political organization “Workers Strike Back” arrived at the consulate where Sawant was holding a protest. “We engaged in a peaceful civil disobedience at the consulate office, with other members outside on the street,” she added. Sawant, who vehemently opposes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, “urged” the political opposition to defend her and other critics, arguing that it is in their best interests to do so.

On the other hand, the Indian consulate in Seattle wrote about a law and order issue involving “unauthorized entry by certain individuals” into its building after office hours. It added that these people acted aggressively and threateningly toward the employees and refused to leave the premises despite numerous requests. “We were compelled to call in relevant local authorities to deal with the situation. Further action is being initiated against the trespassers,” the consulate affirmed.

Sawant stated, “We were simply asking for an explanation as to why my visa was rejected three times, and by the consulate’s own admission, I’m on the Modi government’s reject list. Rather than giving us an explanation, the consulate repeatedly threatened to call the cops on us, tried to confiscate our phones, and tried to physically remove us.” She remarked that they would remain at the consulate until they received a response for the repeated denials of her visas.

“All we are asking for is an explanation. Why am I on a reject list? Why is my visa being rejected three times,” Sawant asked. She also wrote about her anti-India stances including propaganda against NRC-CAA and caste politics, claiming to champion the causes of marginalised groups and therefore being targeted by the current administration in New Delhi.

Moreover, Sawant also accused the Indian officials of being physically assaulted. “One consulate staff person first violently grabbed a Workers Strike Back member and tried to take her phone. The phone fell down, and the consulate staff member engaged in a scuffle, trying to grab the phone. At the same time, another consulate staff person physically fought me when I was holding the door open for all of us to leave. He violently tried to push the stairwell door shut to try to physically block us from leaving, despite the fact that we were doing exactly what they had repeatedly asked us to do, which is leave. Instead, they literally tried to trap us in, clearly to try and get us arrested by the police.”

She expressed that under capitalism, the police are not the allies of working people. “But it was so obvious that we were being assaulted while peacefully leaving that even the police felt forced to say something to object to the manhandling of us by the consulate staff.” In 2024, Sawant’s request for a visa was turned down twice, however, she was allowed to come to India earlier. According to her, the opposition parties must unite and object to “an inhumane agenda where Indian citizens, like my mother, are not allowed to meet their own families.”

Sawant, a former Seattle City Council member threatened that she is considering filing a lawsuit to overturn her visa decision, although she hasn’t started the procedure yet.

It is worth noting that a visa is a privilege enjoyed by non-Indians to visit the country, not a birthright that Kshama believes it to be. As far as no reason being offered before rejection, it is notable to mention that hundreds of Indians get their visa applications rejected in various US embassies across the country, with no specific reason provided for their rejection.

Rahul Gandhi’s controversial Telangana Caste Census: Unconstitutional Muslim classification, vote bank politics, and divisively polarising agenda

S. Sudhir Kumar
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Rahul Gandhi’s controversial Telangana Caste Census: Unconstitutional Muslim classification, vote bank politics, and divisively polarising agenda

Rahul Gandhi’s government in Telangana conducted a caste survey in the months of November and December in 2024. Actually, in the name of caste survey, they even tried to conduct a comprehensive survey of all material assets (how many vehicles you own, how many properties you own etc), but we will ignore that for now. 

Rahul Gandhi thundered in Lok Sabha how his government in Telangana finished a caste survey and shocking results came to light. I don’t know if the results are shocking, but the classification of the results is certainly very shocking. In fact, they reveal the nefarious intentions of Rahul Gandhi to divide the people of Bharat. 

Here is the summary table of what the state government published. All media carried out these numbers in various tabular/design formats. I highlighted the most dangerous classification from this report.  

According to this survey, the total number of Muslims is 44,57,012. Out of this, Rahul Gandhi’s government is claiming that 35,76,588 Muslims fall under the Backward Castes category. That is a whopping 80% of Muslims in the state that they have unilaterally classified as Backward Castes! Caste classification in Muslims has already been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of India. Yet, Rahul Gandhi, who constantly harps on the Constitution of India has no hesitation in going down the unconstitutional path just to satisfy his vote bank. 

While looking at the table, some obvious questions will come to anyone’s mind. For example: What about other religions? The summary report that Rahul Gandhi’s government has released does NOT mention any other religion. So, we don’t know under which category he has classified Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis etc in his table above. 

The summary report has an exclusive focus on Muslims. It says 15.79% are OCs in Telangana and this includes the 2.48% of Muslims who are not BCs. There is no mention of any other religion in this classification. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy speaking in the Assembly also highlighted how the total BC population is 56.33% and this includes 10.08% of Muslims as BCs. It still beats why there has to be a separate classification for just Muslims in OC and BC. 

A special 1-day assembly session was called by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss the report. You would assume that they will table the report, and we will get to see the details. No report was tabled in a session that was called to discuss the report! His ally, Owaisi was very agitated at not being shown the report but only a summary that has been doing the rounds. The government took shelter under privacy laws and the volume of the report (it is 1000s of pages long etc!) and said the session is only for accepting the awesome summary! 

This resolution and report have now been sent to the Central government for approval. The central government cannot approve such a blatantly unconstitutional report. Once they reject it, Rahul Gandhi will again go to town screaming that his caste census report has been rejected. His divisive games are simply getting dangerous by the day. 

There is another obvious question that everyone is now asking. Will Rahul Gandhi change the Chief Minister of Telangana? Clearly by his utterances so far, it is only natural that Telangana should have a Chief Minister from the BCs. Rahul Gandhi will pass on that blame also to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The people of this country have continued to reject Rahul Gandhi’s divisive ideas. With each rejection, his resolve to make his ideas more dangerous keeps on increasing. It’s like he wants to punish the people of Bharat for rejecting his ideas. What else explains the dangerous idea of classifying a whopping 80% of Muslims as Backward Castes?

Fake ‘Peer Baba’ Abdul Razzak arrested in Kashmir, was luring women promising ‘Jannat’ and calling himself ‘Paigambar’

OpIndia Staff
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Fake ‘Peer Baba’ Abdul Razzak arrested in Kashmir, was luring women promising ‘Jannat’ and calling himself ‘Paigambar’

A fake Peer Baba called Abul Rzzak has been arrested in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir for cheating people, especially deceiving Muslim women by promising them ‘Jannat Ka Rasta’ (road to heaven). As per reports, Abdul Razzak had built a black structure designed like the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia on his land and was claiming to be a ‘Paigambar'( messenger of God) to the locals.

Locals have reported that the fake Peer Abdul Razzak used to smoke charas and ganja inside the black structure and promise all sorts of spiritual insight to deceive women, who used to seek his ‘advise’ in large numbers.

Abdul Razzak had reportedly claimed to locals that he is a reincarnation of Sufi saint Noordin Noorani, and he has divine powers. Deceived ny his claims, a large number of Muslim women in the area had started following him.

From his curious black hut that he had designed like an Islamic religious structure, Razzak used to distribute ‘Tabeez’ (amulets) to locals, with promises of healing powers. The local people who reported him added that he is a cannabis addict and his wife had left him.

Abdul Razzak had claimed before locals that Allah has ordered him to build a replica of the Kaaba in Mecca in Baramulla. He had added that the duplicate Kaaba would be for poor Muslims who are unable to travel to Mecca. He had already started the construction of the duplicate Kaaba. However, following complaints, some jounalists were alerted to his plans. The journalists met Razzak pretending to be his followers and sought information on the duplicate Kaaba.

Following a social media video where the plans of Razzak were exposed by the journalists, local villagers gathered and attacked his fake masjid. The police were alerted to arrest Abdul Razzak while locals set the fake mosque on fire. Razzak has been described as ‘mentally ill’ by some persons too.

Maulanas in Kashmir have announced that the fake mosque built by Razzak is un-Islamic and cannot be allowed under Islamic law.

India’s Renewable Energy push: Budget 2025 strengthens green transition with Solar, Nuclear & Hydrogen Investments

Debraj B
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India’s Renewable Energy push: Budget 2025 strengthens green transition with Solar, Nuclear & Hydrogen Investments

In 2018, Elon Musk commented, “Betting that science is wrong and oil companies are right is the dumbest experiment in history by far.” He was referring to the oil lobby, and how a move to renewables, that will aid a greener planet, has been witnessing resistance. Indeed, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower produce fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, with concomitant social, sustainability, and cost benefits.

Developed economies have already been witnessing good progress in this space. Ex-US President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, reducing GHG emissions and lowering energy costs. EU, to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports implemented REPower1 EU in May 2022, which will promote clean energy. 

State of Renewable Energy in India

India has been committed in this space too, with its enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, aligning with principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). Aided by the LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, India has pledged to achieve 50%2 of cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

As of October 2024, out of a total of 452.69 GW3 electric generation capacity, renewable energy stands at 201.45 GW, which is around 46.3% of total installed capacity. Solar leads the segment, with 90.76 GW, followed by wind (47.36 GW).

Renewable energy capacity in India: Buildup from previous budgets around renewable energy

The green energy commitment of the present-day government has been evident in the last few budgets. 

Union Budget 2022: INR 3365 CR4 for solar power, comprising both grid-interactive and off-grid projects, was allocated. An outlay of INR 19,500 CR was made for PLIs in solar photovoltaic cell manufacture. The focus on solar power bore fruit – By Dec 2024, an installed solar module manufacturing capacity of ~63 GW5 and solar cell manufacturing capacity of ~ 5.8 GW had been achieved. The PM had made a telling statement back in July 2020, while inaugurating the 750 MW Rewa Solar Project in MP6 – “Solar energy is Sure, Pure, and Secure.” That spirit saw its reflection in the budget. Sovereign green bonds for green infrastructure were also proposed. 

Union Budget 2023: Focus was laid on the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), with Viability Gap Funding. Research shows that in the least Cost Optimized (LCO) pathway for India’s power sector, solar will dominate the growth of electricity generation, however, cost-effective storage solutions are crucial to sustain this post-solar crosses 25%7 of energy mix.  

The cost decline for BESS was crucial as a consequence. 

An outlay of INR 19,744 CR was also earmarked for the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Union Budget 2024: Focus was shifted to diversify non-fossil fuel capacity beyond grid-scale solar and on-shore wind. A tender announcement for a 500 MW8 offshore wind project on the coastlines of Gujarat was also made. Thrust on PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for 10 MN households was also given, which led to the growth of rooftop solar to 15.7 GW as of Dec 2024. 100% exemption of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) for 25 critical minerals9 was also announced. 

Union Budget 2025: FM Sitharaman, building on the momentum from previous budgets, has focused on long-term energy security this time. A major focus has also been on expanding Nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047. Key features around Renewables in this budget can be thought through across a few areas:

Clean-tech manufacturing: Recognizing that MSMEs are key growth drivers, a budgetary allocation of INR 100 CR has been made to boost the manufacturing of solar PV cells, wind turbines, batteries, and electrolysers.

Focus on Solar power: INR 241 BN has been allocated to Solar, including INR 1.5 BN for the solar power grid, and INR 2.6 BN for PM KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan), a scheme10 supporting farmers by subsidizing standalone solar pumps and solarizing existing grid-connected pumps to reduce diesel dependence. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has witnessed an 81% increase in allocation, from INR 110 BN last year to INR 200 BN this year. 

Green Energy Corridors (GECs): Modernization of grid infrastructure is pivotal for RE integration. To support the integration of RE into this grid, INR 60 BN has been allocated from GECs. States have been allowed to borrow an additional 0.5% of their GSDP to strengthen the financial health of distribution companies.  

Green Hydrogen: The National Green Hydrogen Mission has received a budgetary outlay of INR 6 BN, up from 3 BN last year. 

Strengthening EV value chain: To further fortify the EV value chain, Basic Customs Duty on key materials like Cobalt, Lithium-ion battery scrap, lead, etc has been removed. National Critical Minerals Mission11 has been allocated INR 41 BN, to build a resilient value chain for Green Technologies. Budgetary allocation for the PLI scheme for the National Program on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage has been substantially increased from INR 1.54 BN to INR 15.58 BN. 

Focus on Nuclear Power: The Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat12 has been introduced, which aims to promote domestic nuclear capabilities and promote private participation. Allocation of INR 20,000 CR has been made to develop at least 5 indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033. Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be taken up by Parliament. While as of Jan 30, 2025, India’s installed nuclear capacity is 8180 MW, plan is to grow that to 100 GW by 2047. The Focus of GoI will be to partner with private firms to set up Bharat Small Reactors and enhance R&D across Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and newer technologies. 

Renewable energy is the path forward

The Matsya Purana13, one of Hinduism’s 18 major Puranas (Mahapuranas), mentions in Chapter 68: 

ārogyaṃ bhāskarādiccheddhanamiccheddhutāśanāt /

īśvarājjñānam anvicchenmokṣam icchejjanārdanāt // (41)

It translates to: 

Health ought to be sought from the Sun, wealth from Agni, 

knowledge from Isvara, and emancipation from Janardana.

The Sun has been bestowed a special place of reverence in Puranas and ancient scriptures, and Bharat’s special focus on Solar power and other renewable energy sources is a continuance of that, both from a philosophical and scientific paradigm. Budget 2025 has further reinforced that spirit and laid out a clear path for ushering in renewables within the buzzing energy sector in India – that will be one of many levers to hand-hold India in its path towards Viksit Bharat 2047. 

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