Gujarat Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has cancelled bus halt contracts with a total of 27 hotels in the state. As a result of this decision, Transport Corporation buses will not stop at these hotels from now on.
Notably, it was claimed that these hotels had taken licenses in Hindu names, but in reality, the owners are Muslims. But later Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that the reason for the termination of the contracts was the unhygienic conditions of the hotels.
GSRTC ने गंदगी और अस्वच्छता के कारण 27 होटलों पर बस रोकना हमेशा के लिए बंद कर दिया है!
हमारे यात्रियों की सुविधा और स्वच्छता के लिए यह कदम उठाया गया है। हमने अपने विभाग को निर्देश दिया है कि वे अन्य सभी बस स्टॉप और होटलों पर निगरानी रखें ताकि वे नियमों का पालन करें और यात्रियों… pic.twitter.com/076MFQ3600
“GSRTC has permanently stopped halting buses at 27 hotels due to dirt and unhygienic conditions. This step has been taken for the convenience and hygiene of our passengers. We have instructed our department to monitor all other bus stops and hotels so that they follow the rules and provide the best services to the passengers. Your safety and satisfaction is our priority!” the minister posted on X.
The list includes hotels in divisions like Vadodara, Rajkot, Godhra, Mehsana, Bhuj, Bharuch, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Palanpur etc. The list of 27 hotels also includes which were named after Hindu deities.
For example, the list includes Hotel Shivshakti located on the Bhuj-Dhragandhra-Ahmedabad route and Hotel Tulsi, located on the Surat-Ahmedabad route.
Journalist Nirnay Kapoor shared the list of hotels where GSRTC buses will not halt from now on, claiming that the hotels with Hindu names are actually owned by Muslims.
अब से स्टेट ट्रांसपोर्ट की बसें इन होटलों पर हाल्ट नहीं करेंगी .. क्योंकि ये होटल हिन्दू नामो की आड़ में मुस्लिमो द्वारा चलाये जा रहे थे इन सभी के लाइसेंस GSRTC द्वारा रद्द किये गए ..
पिछले एक वर्ष में Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation(GSRTC) द्वारा हिंदू… pic.twitter.com/ftWFtjkP6k
The permit of Hotel Maruti on the Surat-Ahmedabad route in Bharuch division has also been cancelled. Permission for GSRTC buses to stop at Hotel Vrindavad located on the Vadodara-Godhra-Modasa route and Hotel Gurukripan on the Ahmedabad-Mehsana-Palanpur route has been cancelled.
Similarly, the list includes Hotel Sarvodaya on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot route, Hotel Shreeji on the Ahmedabad-Balasinor-Godhra-Jhalod route, Hotel Sahyog on the Ahmedabad-Surat road, Hotel Galaxy, Hotel Ronak, Hotel Sarvodaya on the Ahmedabad-Dhragandha-Bhuj route, Hotel Satimata on the Surat-Ahmedabad road etc.
It is worth mentioning that GSRTC runs state transport buses across the state and long-distance buses halt at some hotels on the highway. For this, the corporation invites tenders every year and contracts are signed with the hotels that win the bids.
Some people had claimed that some of the hotels that won the bids and signed deals with GSRTC were using Hindu names even though they are owned by Muslims. As a result, there were demands on social media to investigate such hotels and take appropriate action.
In an achievement for Telangana, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has committed to investing Rs60,000 crores to expand its data centre infrastructure in the Hyderabad region.
This agreement was secured during a high-level meeting between Telangana’s delegation, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and IT & Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, and senior executives from AWS at the World Economic Forum, Davos.
Representing AWS, Michael Punke, Vice President of Global Public Policy, outlined the company’s vision for Telangana as an integral part of its India operations strategy.
The discussion highlighted the state government’s proactive and supportive policies, which have created an ideal ecosystem for data centre development.
The new Rs60,000 crore investment will significantly bolster AWS’s presence in Telangana, with plans to establish additional data centres in Hyderabad.
This expansion will cement Hyderabad’s position as the undisputed hub of data centres in India, according to Minister D. Sridhar Babu.
AWS has been a long-term partner in Telangana’s digital growth journey. The company previously announced a USD 4.4 billion (Rs36,000 crore) investment by 2030 to enhance cloud infrastructure in the state.
AWS has already developed three operational data centre sites in Telangana, representing an investment of $1 billion (approximately Rs8,000 crore).
To facilitate this new phase of expansion, AWS has requested the allocation of additional land, a proposal that the state government has promptly agreed to support.
Hailing the investment, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated, “We are delighted with the growth of confidence of global businesses like Amazon to making huge investments as never before in our state now. The efforts of the last one year have truly borne fruit. This is TelanganaRising vision at work.”
Minister Sridhar Babu added, “With this deal, Hyderabad is set to be recognised as the Data Centres hub of India and an undisputed leader in the space.”
AWS’s decision to expand in Telangana underscores its commitment to supporting the state’s digital ambitions. The Hyderabad AWS Region will play a pivotal role in driving the growth of cloud services, artificial intelligence, and advanced computing capabilities in India.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Wednesday, 22nd January, the Tamil Nadu police in the Madurai district issued orders barring the Muslim community members from transporting livestock for sacrifice to the claimed Sikandar Badusha Dargah located atop the Thiruparankundram hill. The police said that the community was allowed to transport cooked meat and consume and pray on the hill, but the ban was only imposed on the transportation of livestock like chicken, goat, etc for sacrifice.
The said order created religious tension in the district as the hill also houses the old Murugan Temple, close to the Dargah. Indian Union Muslim League MP Nawaz Kani took cognizance of the event and talked to the police. However, the authorities firmly stated that the restriction would remain in place for the transportation of animals for sacrifice atop the hill.
“For several decades, devotees used to take goats and hens atop the hill for sacrifice, cooking, and consumption. This has been in place for several decades. From now on, those who are climbing the hill will be allowed to take meat, but there is a temporary ban on taking live animals. I met the Madurai Police, and we are discussing this matter. The practice that was in place till now should be restored” Kani was quoted as saying as he added that the property on the hill was a Waqf property.
He also highlighted the instance of the Gyanvapi structure and the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and said that the duo have been co-existing for years now, similarly, he said the Murugan Temple and the Sikandar Badusha Dargah would co-exist atop the Thiruparankundram hill. He said that the restrictions were temporary and that these would be lifted soon allowing Muslims to pray without any restriction at the Dargah.
Kani’s visit to Dargah (India Today)
Following this, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai commented on the issue and stated that Kani was trying to make a difference between the two religious communities. “In the spiritual land of Tamil Nadu, all religions have their own rules of worship at their places of religious worship. Their sanctity must be preserved. But the events taking place at Thiruparankundram Subramanya Swamy Temple (Murugan Temple) are unpleasant,” he said.
He further added that Kani’s action would hurt the religious sentiments of the people worshipping the Murugan temple and would also pose a threat to the sanctity of the temple. “To foment division, the MP consumed non-vegetarian food at Thiruparankundram Subramanya Swamy Hill. This is not only completely wrong but also a religious riot. For all these years, the people of Tamil Nadu have been living in social harmony and respecting the rituals of all religions. A Member of Parliament acting to spoil it is foolish. Totally unacceptable,” he added.
Restrictions imposed on Annadhanam offered at Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple
While Muslims are allowed to bring non-vegetarian food to the Thiruparankundram hill, food safety officials in Dindigul have issued stringent orders requiring prior permission for devotees offering Annadhanam (food-offering) at the Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple in Palani. Thaipoosam festival is starting on 11 February in the temple, for which preparations are underway. Amid this, the Food Safety Department in Dindigul has mandated that anyone wishing to distribute Annadhanam to the devotees on Padayatra must first obtain official permission.
Failure to comply with this order will result in a fine of ₹1,000. The department also ordered that plastic bags should not be used and areas where food is served must be cleaned after meals.
Palani Murugan Temple is considered the third abode of Lord Muruga, and devotees have started to arrive ahead of the Thaipoosam festival. The devotees offer food to other pilgrims, but now the authorities are restricting this practice, requiring prior permission.
Jain caves painted green
In the midst of this controversy, another issue emerged in which a few ‘unidentified’ miscreants painted ancient ‘Jain caves’ green on the hill causing outrage from the Hindu community. The vandalism was brought to the notice by Shankar, Assistant Conservation Officer of the ASI who filed a complaint under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act), and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 (PDPPA).
Jain caves painted green (The commune)
How did the communal issue escalate?
The entire issue is believed to have begun last year on 27th December after a Muslim family led by Syed Abu Dahir, a 53-year-old from Malaiyadipatti attempted to take animals on the hill for sacrifice. The police detained the family which further irked 20 Islamists to protest against the police. Recently on 5th January, a massive protest by Muslims was organized at the bottom of the hills where the protestors demanded free access to pray at Dargah atop the hill. Given this, the police made several detentions after the Muslims engaged in a major scuffle with the authorities. The Muslims claimed that Sultan Sikandar built the Sikandar Badushah Thozhugai Pallivasal approximately 400 years ago.
On 18th January then, the Muslims led by the SDPI organized Sammanboj on the hill in which they had planned to sacrifice goats and chickens for meals. The police were informed about the plans backed by several social media posts that affirmed the Muslim community’s intentions. Hindu Munnani members meanwhile resisted Muslims’ effort to sacrifice animals on the hill, one of Lord Murugan’s six sacred abodes. They said that Muslims were attempting to convert the hill into an Islamic place of worship.
The police then posed barricades on the site informing the Muslims that sacrificing the animals was prohibited atop the hill, however, they could carry the cooked meat and consume it there. Following this, clashes erupted between Jamath members and the police, further intensifying the situation.
On 21st January, DMK Manapparai MLA Abdul Samad conducted and unofficially survey of the hill and claimed control of the premise. Indian Union Muslim League MP Nawaz Kani also claimed that the entire property was Waqf property and every Muslim had the right to pray at Dargah the way he wanted. He reiterated that the sacrifice of animals atop the hill was an old tradition and that it should continue.
It is crucial to note that Thiruparanundram Hill is a religious site and is of crucial significance to Hindus due to the presence of ancient Jain caves and Lord Murugan Temple atop. Several Hindus have worshiped the temple for centuries. The Jain caves on the hill also date back to the 2nd century BCE and these have Tamil Brahmi inscriptions on them, as surveyed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
However, the Muslims who are creating chaos around the hill have begun claiming the hills as ‘Sikandar Hills’ behind the Sikandar Badusha Dargah.
Muslims claiming ownership of the hills, calling it ‘Sikander Hills’
One may think that these claims by Muslims are recent after the police orders, however, the Muslims have been trying to claim the hills from the 19th and 20th centuries. The hill which is of most significance to Jains and Hindus is being claimed as ‘Sikandar Hills’ by the Muslims, posing a threat to the sanctity of the temple and Jain caves. Notably, in the past also the legal authorities affirmed that the Hills housed the Lord Murugan temple primarily and that Lord Muruga was the primary deity of the region.
In the year 1931, the Islamists made similar claims saying that the hill was a Muslim property and that its name was ‘Sikandar Hills’. The Privy Council on 12 May 1931 took cognizance of the matter and said that Thiruparankundram Temple had proven its historical possession of the unoccupied portions of the hill, treating it as its property for generations.
The council was hearing the matter over the confiscation of endowed villages and the presumption regarding the temple’s ownership of the wasteland around the temple. “the question at hand is whether any presumption should be drawn from the confiscation of the endowed villages concerning the property rights in the wasteland situated within the Ghiri Veedhi, which forms part of the Malaiprakaram. It is admitted that the village of Thiruparankundram, where the temple is located, was part of this endowment,” the Privy Council judgment read.
The Thiruparankundram Temple is one of the most revered temples in the southern part of India dedicated to Subramanya, the son of Lord Shiva. The shrine of the deity has also been carved from within the hill indicating the elongated and original presence of the temple for centuries. Around the hill is the two-mile pilgrim’s path where the devotees offer circumambulation (pradakshina) to the deity. The said path, Ghiri Veedhi is considered as the temple’s property. In 1144, the same was called the Malaiprakaram of the temple.
Historical records show no interference by Mahomedan invaders
During the council judgment in 1931, the Subordinate Judge clarified that ‘prakaram’ is the outer area of the temple and ‘Malai’ means hill. “The Thiruparankundram Temple had proven its historical possession of the unoccupied portions of the hill, treating it as its property for generations,” the subordinate judge said. Notably, historical records also show no interference by Mahomedan invaders on the hills.
Some of the Muslims, reportedly, might have built residences on the hilltop in the past, forcing the Hindus there to accept such development. However, the rights of the temple remained with the Hindus as granted by the East India Company, which recognized the temple’s ownership over the land. The then government also considered the entire hill to be temple property, as affirmed by the Subordinate judge.
“During some interval of Mahomedan domination that mosque and some Mahomedan houses were built, but this was an infliction which Hindu occupants of the hill could have been forced to put up with. Thus, rights which temple could assert against Respondent were rights which East India Company granted to them,” the original documents regarding the case read.
Local Hindus have alleged that under the guise of religious festivals, parts of the hill have been systematically encroached upon over time by the local Muslims. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government’s HR&CE Department has also been accused of Muslim appeasement politics contributing to the further escalation of communal tensions.
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently acquitted a middle-aged man who was convicted of raping his minor daughter by the trial court. In a judgment given on December 5, 2024, a bench of Justice G A Sanap acquitted the father citing lack of evidence.
Justice Sanap noted that in ordinary circumstances, a daughter would not level such an allegation and a father would not sexually assault his daughter. “It is true that in ordinary circumstances, a daughter would not level such an allegation against her own father. Similarly, in ordinary circumstances, the father would not also sexually assault his own daughter. However, considering human psychology and tendency, mistakes can occur, even in the case of the father, who is the ordinary saviour of the children,’ Justice Sanap observed.
The bench was hearing an appeal by the father challenging his conviction, dated February 23, 2021, in the sexual assault case by a special court. He was granted 10 years of imprisonment along with a Rs. 5000 fine by the special court under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
The father looked after the alleged victim and her brother
The Judge noted that the complaint was filed 7 years after his wife left the appellant. He further observed that the appellant had not remarried ever since his wife left him and had been taking care of his two children, including the victim. The judge also took notice of the fact that the victim confided in her maternal grandmother about the alleged sexual assault and not in her paternal grandmother with whom she had been residing for years.
“It is not a case of the victim that she was not close to her paternal grandmother. The victim girl did not disclose any incident to her paternal grandmother and her younger brother. The appellant looked after the well-being of the victim and her younger brother. He did not perform the marriage even after desertion by the first wife. As compared to a paternal grandmother who was residing with the victim, the maternal grandmother, was more trusted by the victim girl, ” the judge noted. The victim had testified that her mother had left her, and her father, an alcoholic, started abusing her when she was in Class 3 and that she disclosed this to her maternal grandmother and not to her paternal grandmother with whom she had been residing.
No evidence except the ‘bare words’ of the victim
Citing a lack of evidence, except for the victim’s testimony, Justice Sanap noted that the appellant has been shouldering his family’s responsibility from age 25. “Even if it is assumed that the father was addicted to liquor, it would not weigh in favour of the prosecution. The victim has nowhere stated that the appellant did not look after their well-being and maintain them. He looked after the victim in the absence of her mother, would not have committed such an act with her. When the wife of the appellant left him, he was hardly 25 years of age. On the date of lodging the report, he was 35 years of age. He single-handedly looked after the well-being of the children and his old-aged mother. He was the only earning member of the family and must have toiled hard to earn and sustain the family. This is another vital circumstance, ” the judge noted
Father was opposing the victim’s marriage with a boy of her choice
Examining the evidence on record, Justice Sanap observed that the victim implicated her father in a false case because he was opposing her marriage with the boy of her own choice with whom she had intimacy.
“The appellant, being a caring father, did not accept the proposal of marriage of the boy with his daughter. In my view, it seems to be the cause for the prosecution against the appellant. It shows that the victim and the boy had intimacy. In my view, the strong opposition to the marriage by the appellant seems to be the cause of his misery. It seems that his approach was proper. He was not wrong when he suggested that the boy was not the proper match for the victim. The appellant being guardian of the victim, was the proper person to find a suitable match for his daughter. The victim-daughter had ideas and plans in her mind, “the judge said while acquitting the appellant.
“We do not want to use the word minority. Everyone is a citizen of Bangladesh and everyone has equal rights. The few isolated incidents that have occurred since 5th August are mainly political, not religious, reasons,” Bangladesh Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury claimed before the United States (US) Charge d’Affaires in Dhaka Tracey Anne Jacobson on the afternoon of 21st January, according to a report in The Daily Star. He added that the Indian media is spreading lies that minorities are not being oppressed in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Islamists attacked two temples on Tuesday in Kashiani of Gopalganj and set them on fire, reported Dhaka Tribune. The incident happened in the wee hours of 21st January in the Kashiani upazila’s Tarail Northpara village of Fulkra union, where a Durga temple and a Shitala temple were attacked. Both temples suffered severe damage from the flames, which destroyed worship materials and idols. However, the perpetrators are yet to be identified. The authorities also arrived at the scene to evaluate the damage after learning of the occurrence. This is the latest attack on minorities and their religious places in Bangladesh that started after the ‘students revolution’ overthrew Sheikh Hasina government.
Promoth Biswas, who worships at the temples every day, spoke of his dismay at witnessing the destruction. “I went to the temple for my usual morning prayer on Tuesday and found the bamboo door open. Inside the Durga temple, I saw that the worship materials had been burned. Additionally, the statue of Shitala Devi in the nearby Shitala temple had been set on fire using straw. I immediately informed others about the situation,” he voiced.
OC Mohammad Shafiuddin Khan of the Kashiani police station verified the instance and promised that an inquiry will be carried out. “I visited the site after receiving the news, and we are taking legal action. However, as of now, no one has filed a formal written complaint,” he alleged.
Notably, the Bangladeshi administration led by chief advisor Muhammad Yunus has consistently propagated the narrative of “no atrocities on minorities,” while simultaneously attributing blame to the Indian state and its media for spreading disinformation. However the horrific developments coming out of the country reveal entirely different ground realities. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury who met with Tracey Ann Jacobson at his office at the Secretariat also advocated for the relocation of further Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to the United States.
“The United States has been in a leadership role in humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation of the Rohingya from the beginning. They have already rehabilitated a significant number of Rohingya. I urge the United States to rehabilitate more,” he urged. According to Tracey Ann Jacobson , the biggest contributor to the rehabilitation and development of Rohingya refugees is the United States. In order to better the lives of the Rohingya, the US development agency US-Aid is collaborating with regional non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh. About 17,000 Rohingya have previously been resettled by the US and this process is still going on.
The meeting covered a wide range of subjects, including border security, the problems faced by minorities, cooperation in the agricultural sector, counterterrorism, the Rohingya issue, the Police Reform Commission, mutual cooperation in strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and mutual interests. According to the Home Affairs Advisor, the US is one of Bangladesh’s main development partners. Many Bangladeshi students travel to the US each year to pursue higher education and the country remains a partner in the security and counterterrorism sectors.
Furthermore, he added that they have been helping Bangladesh by giving police and other law enforcement authorities cutting-edge training and equipment to improve their skills. He then asked for additional training on human rights problems for the police and on human trafficking concerns for the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). “We will continue to increase the United States’ support for Bangladesh’s development,” the US Charge d’Affaires stated. She admitted that 30 percent more students are now able to study in the US than earlier.
She also assured, “We will provide more training to law enforcement officers. However, we must ensure that the officers return to their respective positions after the training.” Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, on the other hand, declared that the border situation is very normal. Next month, the two nations will meet in Delhi at the level of the director generals of the BGB and BSF (Border Security Force).
In an embarrassing turn of events for the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the state government’s Chief Secretary to provide details of the expenses on advertisements promoting the government’s performance and ‘achievements’ in the current fiscal year. The court rebuked the AAP government for taking a position that there was a shortage of funds for allocating the budget for buying modern technology tools for Forensic Science Laboratories while huge amounts are otherwise being spent.
While hearing a regular bail plea by one Vinay Kumar in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case on 21st January 2025, Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, “The State Government, through its Chief Secretary is directed to furnish a detail of expenses met out in this running financial year i.e. from 01.04.2024 till 20.1.2025 on the publication of the advertisements qua the performance and achievements of the Government and the new vehicles purchased for the police officials. Necessary information to be furnished within a period of one week from today by way of an affidavit of Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab.”
The NDPS case against Vinay Kumar and the AAP government’s admission of Punjab’s FSLs lacking basic facilities
During the earlier hearings in the matter, petitioner-accused Vinay Kumar’s counsel alleged that Vinay Kumar was actually taken into custody on 14th September 2023 from the house of one Mohit Sharma but in the records, he was been shown to be arrested on 16th September. This petitioner’s claim was backed by the CCTV footage and a CD which was placed on record in the court. Subsequently, the High Court directed the state counsel to examine the footage submitted by the petitioner’s counsel and file a status report accordingly.
To court the court’s dismay, the state counsel informed that the footage was sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, for analysis. However, the FSL lacked the basic facilities to analyse the video clips or compact disks.
“This Court was at a dismay to know that in Punjab the facility to examine the CD or any other video clip is not available either in FSL, Mohali or at the other 4 RFSLs situated at Mohali, Amritsar, Bathinda and Ludhiana,” the court said.
In the affidavit filed on 8th August 2024, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab attempted to ‘explain’ that four Regional FSLs including the one in Mohali do not have the facility of audio, video identification system and video spectral comparator, mobile firing rest system and photography set up with digital SLR with PC Compatibility.
In two affidavits filed, including one by Dr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Chemical Examiner, Chemical Laboratory, Punjab Kharar, the court was informed that Rs 99.40 lakhs were allocated for the upgradation of infrastructure of lab in Kharar, in addition to installing computers and other equipment for bar-coding.
While multiple affidavits were filed informing about the allocation of funds and its usage in the upgradation of FSLs and recruitment of analysts etc, the Secretary, Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs and Justice also filed an affidavit dated 12.04.2023 in CRM-A-2300-MA-2017 stating that all the four established FSLs/RFSLs are being upgraded, however, the court observed that it nothing but a “farce” as despite the tall claims of fund allocation and expenditure for upgradation of forensic labs in Punjab, when the CD is present petitioner Vinay Kumar’s case was sent to FSL, phase IV -SAS Nagar, Mohali (Punjab) for examination but the same was returned back the CIA, Tarn Taran with the remark/ report dated 22.08.2024 that “facility for examination of video/DVR/CCTV does not exist in the Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab.”
High Court miffed over lack of basic necessities in FSL labs
Due to this, the state counsel sought a short adjournment to comply with the court’s order dated 9th August 2024. However, On 19th November 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was informed that the necessary equipment are still not through the required process is underway and the State was directed to file an affidavit of the Home Secretary with the comprehensive schedule and action plan for upgradation of FSL, Mohali as well as RFSLs situated at Bathinda, Amritsar and Ludhiana within two weeks. Mohali FSL’s director who assisted the State Counsel said that a tender notice inviting bids would be published within a week and discussions have been held for purchase of forensic hardware and software. The State sought one month time on 11th December 2024 to complete the purchase process.
However, on Tuesday (21st January 2025), an affidavit by Dr Ashwani Kalia, Director of the Punjab FSL, was filed, in which he detailed the progress in procurement of video forensic tools. Dr Kalia informed the court about a meeting held by the Technical Evaluation Committee on January 9, 2025, regarding the supply and installation of the equipment. He assured the court that the process would be completed within four weeks and that by the next hearing in the matter, equipment would be ready to verify the genuineness and veracity of CCTV footage or clips.
To the High Court’s disappointment, Dr Kalia apprised the court that the upgradation process for the other three forensic labs could not be initiated due to lack of funds and budget allocation as of yet.
Calling another plea filed by Dr Kalia “Amazing” wherein he claimed that there is “serious budget restraint to purchase the equipment for the rest of three RFSLs.”
Justice Sandeep Moudgil came down heavily on the Punjab government and said that the “court cannot accept” such a response from the Director, of Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab. The court noted that “budget requirement and sanctioning of the same could have been expedited within a few hoursor in a couple of days had the State Government shown its willingness to armour itself with the modern investigative/scientific techniques, especially, in this digital and artificial intelligence era.”
Further reprimanding the Aam Aadmi Party government, the High Court said, “By no stretch of imagination, the State could take a stand of shortage of funds or budget allocation for the purpose which is involved in the instant petition i.e. to investigate crime before this Court wherein otherwise also there is patently huge amount is spent.”
Justice Moudgil also noted that the law enforcing agency should be equipped with all necessary facilities since an inordinate delay in filing challans hands undue leverage to the accused.
HC seeks details of expenditure from AAP govt
The High Court ordered the CM Bhagwant Mann-led state government to furnish details of its expenditure in current financial year on the publication of advertisements hailing its performance and achievements. The court also directed the AAP government to provide details about the purchase of new vehicles for police officials. The court gave the state government one week to provide these details.
“Hence, the State Government, through its Chief Secretary is directed to furnish a detail of expenses met out in this running financial year i.e. from 01.04.2024 till 20.1.2025 on the publication of the advertisements qua the performance and achievements of the Government and the new vehicles purchased for the police officials. Necessary information to be furnished within a period of one week from today by way of an affidavit of Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab,” the court said and adjourned the matter to 29th January.
All excerpts taken from relevant court order
Punjab has the highest per-capita debt in the country
Notably, Punjab has been facing financial crises in the recent past. The RBI data indicated that Punjab’s debt-GSDP ratio and per capita debt are the highest in the country compared to other states. Punjab’s debt-to-GDP (%) in FY 2024-25 (budget estimate) has been reported to be 44.1% while the fiscal deficit 3.8%. While the state’s financial condition is worsening, the AAP government has been prioritising “image management” more than economy management. In March 2024, it was reported that the AAP government spent Rs 7 crore in the Ludhiana district alone on promotions.
While the state’s outstanding debt stands at Rs 3,43,626 crores, as of November 2024, and is likely to increase by Rs 4,50,000 crore by the end of the AAP government’s term in 2026-27, the Bhagwant Mann government has been squandering taxpayers’ money on advertisement polishing its own image and distributing freebies at the cost of drying up state exchequer. With such misplaced priorities, it is not surprising that the state’s forensic labs are grappling with a lack of basic facilities leading to the dragging of criminal cases in the courts.
Uttarakhand on Wednesday notified the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which contains clarity of legal provisions for marital conditions and protection of individual rights and social harmony, an official statement read.
According to the state government, this act applies to the entire area of the state of Uttarakhand and is also effective on the residents of the state living outside Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), aiming to simplify and standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance.
The UCC applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, except Scheduled Tribes and protected authority-empowered persons and communities.
This Act does not apply to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) notified under Article 342 and Article 366 (25) of the Constitution and protected authority-empowered persons and communities under Part XXI have also been excluded from its purview.
To streamline and simplify the legal processes related to marriage, a public welfare system promoting the protection of individual rights and social harmony has been provided in the Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024 of Uttarakhand, the statement added.
Under this, marriage can be solemnised only between those parties, none of whom has a living spouse, both are mentally capable of giving legal permission, the man should have completed at least 21 years of age and the woman 18 years of age and they should not be in the ambit of prohibited relationships.
Marriage rituals can be performed in any form under religious customs or legal provisions, but it is mandatory to register marriages taking place after the implementation of the Act within 60 days.
Whereas marriages taking place from March 26, 2010, to the implementation of the Act will have to be registered within 6 months. Those who have already registered as per the prescribed standards, although they are not required to register again, will still have to acknowledge the registration done earlier.
Marriages solemnised before March 26, 2010, or outside the state of Uttarakhand, where both the parties have been living together since then and fulfil all the legal eligibility criteria, can (although it is not mandatory) get registered within six months of the coming into force of the Act, said an official statement.
Similarly, the work of acceptance and acknowledgement of marriage registration is also required to be completed promptly. After receiving the application, the sub-registrar has to make an appropriate decision within 15 days.
According to the statement, if no decision is taken on the application related to marriage registration within the prescribed period of 15 days, then that application is automatically forwarded to the registrar; whereas, in case of acknowledgement, the application will be considered automatically accepted after the same period.
Along with this, a transparent appeal process is also available if the registration application is rejected. There is a provision of penalty for giving false information for registration under the Act and it has also been clarified that the marriage will not be considered invalid merely due to non-registration. Registration can be done both online and offline.
To implement these provisions, the state government will appoint a registrar general, Registration and sub-registrar, who will ensure the maintenance and monitoring of the relevant records.
This Act also lays down who can marry and how marriages are to be solemnised and also provides clear provisions on how both new and old marriages can be legally recognised, the statement 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)
January 22, 2025, marks one year since the culmination of the centuries-long struggle Hindus had waged to reclaim their God’s birthplace as PM Modi performed the Pran Prasthistha ceremony of Ram Lalla at the newly constructed sprawling and majestic Ram Mandir.
It was exactly a year back when Ram Lalla was reinstalled to his rightful abode, after 496 long agonising years when it fell victim to Islamic iconoclasm, losing its character when the Mughals destroyed a pre-existing temple and raised a mosque over it to humiliate the country’s majority, Hindus.
Across the country, the day occasioned celebrations as Hindus installed statues of Ram Lalla, Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman at several roubdabouts, open market places to commemorate the first anniversary of the epoch-making triumph of the Hindu civilisation.
More importantly, the day symbolizes a significant milestone in India’s path towards a steadfast Dharmic renaissance. The construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has awakened the long-slumbering Hindu consciousness, encouraging people to fight for what is rightfully theirs within the framework of constitutionally mandated recourse.
Echoes of “Jai Shri Ram” resonated from every corner of the country, creating an atmosphere of unity and triumphant celebration seldom seen on such an overwhelming scale, and second only to the day when Pran Prathistha of Ram Mandir was performed. The long-cherished prophecy, “Ram Lalla Aayenge, Mandir Wahin Banayenge,” had not only come true but had also gotten a year old.
Amidst the jubilant festivities, the moment also called for reflection on how the realisation of the Ram Mandir reinforced the cultural battle to reclaim what had once belonged to the Hindu heritage but had fallen victim to the iconoclastic attacks by invading Muslim marauders.
Ram Lalla’s return signifies not only religious fulfilment but the relentless courage of millions who kept the dream alive through generations. It is a testament to the enduring struggle against centuries of oppression, from the destruction wrought by Islamic invaders to the economic exploitation of British rule, and the marginalization under post-independence political narratives that suppressed Hindu identity and aspirations.
The Ram Janmabhoomi movement stood against historical iconoclasm, typified by sites like Mathura’s Krishna birthplace and Varanasi’s Gyanvapi complex. These locations remain symbols of India’s unresolved heritage conflicts, where temples were replaced by mosques under imperial rule. Despite independence, efforts to reclaim cultural pride faced ideological resistance from politicians and intellectuals committed to minority appeasement.
The Ram Mandir has, therefore, become a rallying point for civilizational healing and revival. It reaffirmed the notion that the wrongs of history can be righted, inspiring future efforts to reclaim heritage sites and restore spiritual centres central to the Indic worldview.
The realisation of Ram Mandir emboldened Hindus to believe in their ability to overcome centuries of injustice and oppose decades of gaslighting by Marxist-Nehruvian “distortians”, who guilt-tripped Hindus to suppress their demands to reclaim their civilizational heritage.
The Pran Pratishtha was not just the end of a struggle but a call to renewed action in safeguarding cultural and religious freedoms. The return of Ram Lalla to Ayodhya heralded a broader restoration of dharma and civilizational pride, inspiring continued devotion, service, and efforts toward a more harmonious and just society. With its first anniversary, we have completed a significant milestone, a launch pad to prepare ourselves for similar battles ahead as Gyanvapi and Sambhal beckon us.
Taking advantage of the uncertainty surrounding TikTok in the USA, Meta has announced a program under which cash rewards will be given to eligible TikTok creators for posting reels on Facebook and Instagram. On Tuesday, the company promised cash bonuses, content deals and support to grow their communities to eligible TikTok creators who will join the company’s social media platforms.
The TikTok creators will reportedly also get access to the Facebook Content Monetisation program which allows creators to earn for their videos, photos, and text posts on Facebook. In addition, some selected TikTok creators will also get a one-year trial of Meta Verified including a verified badge, account support, and impersonation protection.
Creators can make up to $ 5,000 within 90 days
The program named ‘Breakthrough Bonus’ will allow creators to earn up to $5,000 within 90 days for regularly posting videos on Instagram and Facebook. The eligibility requirements for the program are that the creators must be adults based in the US and have an ‘existing presence on a third-party social app’ like TikTok and link to it in the application, have a professional Instagram or Facebook account. Besides, the creators should not be participating in any of Facebook’s other monetisation programs.
Meta will be paying “eligible TikTok creators to help jumpstart their growth on our apps,” a Meta spokesperson told Business Insider. The spokesperson added that Meta will soon ink “content deals” with some TikTok creators “to help grow their communities on Instagram and Facebook.”
As per the program, the creators will be required to post at least 20 reels on Facebook and 10 reels on Instagram each month during the first 90 days of the program, and also share content at least 10 days each month. Meta has also optimised its ranking systems to allow newer creators to break through to new audiences. Creators can also show their Instagram, TikTok or YouTube handles and follower counts in their Facebook profiles to boost their credibility. Meta is also taking measures to promote Reels, its short-term video format, among TikTok creators. The company has notably increased the time limit for Reels from 90 seconds to 3 minutes.
Meta is also making changes to its short video format Reels to make them more appealing for TikTok users. One major change is increasing the length of Reels to 3 minutes in the USA, double the length of the current 90-minute limit.
Meta also said that it has optimised its ranking systems to allow newer creators to break through to new audiences. The company will also allow creators to show their Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube handles and follower counts in their Facebook profiles to boost their credibility on its platform.
Trump delayed Tik Tok ban by 75 days
On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to delay the TikTok ban deadline by 75 days. He told the Department of Justice not to enforce the penalties of the ban. While the app had gone offline in the USA, it was back online after 12 hours. However, the app is still missing from the app stores of Apple and Google.
The troubles of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan do not seem to end anytime soon. While the actor was discharged from hospital after treatment for injuries sustained in the knife attack during an alleged robbery attempt at his house in Mumbai, his ancestral properties worth Rs 15000 crore in Bhopal belonging to his family may soon be taken over by the Central government.
This comes after the Madhya Pradesh High Court lifted the stay on the ancestral properties of the Pataudi family which means that the Central government may seize control of these properties under the Enemy Property Act 1968. This act allowed the government to take over the properties of those who migrated to Pakistan after partition in 1947.
The properties that may come under government control include the Flag Staff House, where Saif Ali Khan spent his childhood, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Ahmedabad Palace, Kohefiza Property, and others.
On 13th December 2024, a single bench of the High Court directed the Pataudi family to bring their case to the appellate authorities within 30 days. However, it remains unclear whether the family had done so. “it is directed that if representation is filed within thirty days from today, then the appellate authority shall not advert to the aspect of limitation and shall deal with the appeal on its own merits. In the above terms, the petitions stand disposed of,” Justice Vivek Agarwal said.
Reports say that since the situation was unclear, the Bhopal district administration declined to comment in this regard. However, Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh stated that any action will be taken only when there is clarity on the High Court order.
Notably, Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last king of Bhopal, had two daughters: Abida Sultan and Sajida Sultan. According to custom, the eldest child, Abida Sultan, inherited the property. However, Abida moved to Pakistan in 1950, and following her father’s death, her sister Sajida Sultan, who stayed in India, became the legal owner.
Sajida Sultan, Saif Ali Khan’s grandmother, inherited the land after Abida left. The Enemy Property Act was passed in India in 1968, and the ownership of Nawab’s property has been a source of contention since the Custodian of Enemy Property for India designated it as enemy property in 2014.
Two years later, the Modi government’s ordinance said that heirs would have no rights over “enemy properties” which also included those claimed by the Pataudi family.
In the year 2019, the court recognised Sajida Sultan as the legitimate successor, and her grandson, Saif Ali Khan, inherited a portion of the property. However, since Abida Sultan migrated to Pakistan, the Central government claimed the assets as enemy property.
Congress’s benevolence towards “enemies” of India to the Modi government’s “seize and auction” action
Interestingly, back in 2016, the Congress party notorious for its Muslim appeasement politics vehemently opposed the Modi government when it tried to make amendments to the Enemy Property Act even at the cost of jeopardising national security.
In December 2016, the President of India re-promulgated the Enemy Property Act Ordinance for the 5th time. While the Modi government’s bill to amend the Act was passed in Lok Sabha, it faced immense opposition, particularly from Congress and Samajwadi Party. A PIL was also filed by Congress leader Hussain Dalwai in the Supreme Court in this regard, however, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea.
As the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), there are about 13,000 enemy properties in India including those which belong to people who migrated to Pakistan and China. These properties are worth thousands of crores. However, given the lack of imperative to amend the Act to unlock its full potential and strict implementation, these properties fell into the hands of either the heirs of those who moved to enemy countries at the time of conflict or in the hands of dubious elements. Meanwhile, Pakistan enacted the Enemy Property Act there and in 1949, Pakistan promulgated the Evacuee Property Act, which stated that the property of a person even though he was a Pakistani citizen, who had a distant relative who had migrated to India would have their property marked as “evacuee property”.
OpIndia earlier reported about how Bangladesh enacted the Enemy Property Act to arbitrarily declare Bengali Hindus as “enemies” and confiscate their properties. Not only Pakistan and Bangladesh but even China has disposed of enemy properties over the years.
While Congress’s Muslim appeasement politics is no hidden secret, the party gave a ticket to Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, the son of Raja of Mahmudabad who migrated to Pakistan after partition. Raja of Mahmudabad was treasurer of the Muslim League and a close ally of Mohammad Ali Jinnah who was responsible for India’s bloodied partition.
In 1985 and 1989, Congress gave a ticket to the Raja’s son Amir in state assembly elections. Even the Supreme Court ruled in Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan’s favour and conceded enemy property to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore. In this case, Amir was represented by Congress leader and advocate Salman Khurshid. Later, Congress and other ‘secular’ party leaders made sure that the UPA government did not even table the Enemy Property Act ordinance before the parliament.
It was only after the Modi government brought the amendment of Enemy Property Act in 2017, which ensured that the heirs of those who migrated to Pakistan and China during Partition and afterwards will have no claim over the properties left behind in India, that enemy properties were taken over by the government on large scale and sold. This amendment nullified the 2005 Supreme Court order in favour of Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan. With this amendment, any transfer of enemy property by people or entities declared as enemies post-1968 war, was declared void.
Back in 2018, the Modi government decided to auction off over 9,400 ‘enemy properties’ worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore. These properties belong to those who have left for Pakistan and China and took the citizenship of these countries. In 2018, OpIndia reported that the highest number of these properties were located in Uttar Pradesh numbering 4,991, followed by West Bengal with 2,735. Of the total properties, about 9,280 belong to Pakistani nationals and some 126 belonged to the Chinese. By 2023, Indian government earned around Rs 3400 crore by selling movable assets such as shares and gold assets marked as enemy property.
