Home Blog Page 6620

Congress era lobbyist Deepak Talwar received nearly Rs 360 crore to influence UPA minister and top bureaucrats to favour international airlines: ED

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress era lobbyist Deepak Talwar received nearly Rs 360 crore to influence UPA minister and top bureaucrats to favour international airlines: ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found dubious deposits alleged to be the kickbacks paid by the international airlines into several accounts of extradited Congress era lobbyist Deepak Talwar. The ED had discovered Rs 270 crores deposited in Bank of Singapore by international airlines and another Rs 88 crore received in his NGO to influence some top ministers and bureaucrats in the previous UPA regime, reported Times of India.

According to the reports, the ED has been grilling lobbyist Deepak Talwar in connection with the suspicious withdrawal of Rs 90 crore from various bank accounts of Talwar-controlled entities, which was then distributed to politicians and senior officials in the UPA era to tweak the rules to benefit certain foreign aircraft manufacturers and airlines.

The ED has also reportedly received details of at least $55 million deposited between 2008 and 2012 in Bank of Singapore in accounts of companies allegedly “owned and controlled” by Talwar. Four major international airlines and aircraft manufacturer Airbus which had allegedly transferred money has also been named by the ED while seeking custody of Talwar.

The ED investigation has revealed that Deepak Talwar had allegedly received first of such payments of $23 million from Emirates in Bank of Singapore on June 3, 2008. Two months later, Emirates once again transferred another $11 million in Bank of Singapore in the accounts of a “company owned and controlled by Talwar”.

The ED alleges that Talwar was also paid $5.8 million in Bank of Singapore by Air Arabia around the same time in 2008, followed by payments of $9.6 million from Qatar Airways on February 27, 2009, and another $1.5 million from Air Asia on June 1, 2009.

Reportedly, Airbus has made two transfers of $10.5 million to Talwar controlled companies between August and September 2012, interestingly at the same time when civil aviation ministry under the UPA era had placed orders for the purchase of aircraft.

“These accounts in Bank of Singapore in which payments have been received from foreign airlines don’t belong to my client. He has neither incorporated these companies nor is he the beneficiary of these accounts. The NGO Advantage India was incorporated by Deepak Talwar sometime in the 1990s and the funds (Rs 88 crore) received from Airbus was part of corporate social responsibility,” Talwar’s lawyer Tanvir Ahmed Mir told TOI.

However, Qatar Airways has refused to comment on the accusations, while Emirates, Air Asia, Air Arabia and Airbus did not respond, reported Times of India.

Rajiv Saxena and Deepak Talwar. two high-profile lobbyists linked to UPA era scams were extradited to India from Dubai on January 31st. Rajiv Saxena is accused in a money laundering case connected with the AgustaWestland deal. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had named him in a supplementary charge sheet filed in the VVIP Chopper scam in September 2017.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that the ‘corporate lobbyist’, Deepak Talwar, who was involved in several aviation deals during the UPA regime, acted as a middleman in negotiations to favour foreign private airlines causing the loss to national carrier Air India.

The ED allege that during the UPA government, Deepak Talwar was instrumental in UPA’s decision to withdraw Air India from operating aircraft in some lucrative and profit earning routes connecting foreign destinations. Subsequently, those routes and timings were taken over by foreign private airlines causing losses to Air India.

Deepak Talwar had helped few foreign airlines in getting the routes vacated by Air India, and he received kickbacks from them disguised as consultation fee. ED has named Qatar Airways, AirAsia, Emirates, Air Arabia and Airbus as the companies that paid bribes to Talwar. The UPA government had decided to purchase 111 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing although the airline needed on 67 aircraft. Talwar is alleged to be involved in this deal also.

Meet the Director of the movie ‘My Name Is RaGa’, teaser of which is winning the internet

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Meet the Director of the movie ‘My Name Is RaGa’, teaser of which is winning the internet

A 4 minutes long trailer of an upcoming movie, which appears to be a biopic on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, has gone viral in the last couple of days. The movie is titled “My Name Is RaGa”, and going by the trailer, or the teaser, it is story of Rahul Gandhi’s coming of age.

According to media reports, the movie could release in April, just ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. How the movie will perform at box office will be known when it releases, but it is winning the internet for sure. Although comments by users on the official upload on YouTube has been disabled by the owners, the social media can’t stop talking about it.

Take a look at the teaser first:

So who is the brain behind this movie?

The movie is written and directed by on Rupesh Paul, a Kerala born filmmaker who had announced a biopic of Narendra Modi too ahead of the 2014 general elections. Even then he had released a trailer, though it didn’t have any actors, dialogues or scenes, as can be seen in the trailer of the movie on Rahul Gandhi. It was made up of just a few animated slides with text and music.

Most Narendra Modi supporters are finding the teaser of “My Name Is RaGa” funny, so they should thank their stars that the trailer of the proposed movie on Modi, which never was produced it seems, was nowhere similar. Another difference is that while Rupesh Paul had announced that the movie on Narendra Modi will be a 4D film, the movie on Rahul Gandhi appears a normal 2D movie.

Rupesh Paul says that “My Name Is RaGa” is not just another biopic. “I don’t want to call this a biopic, it’s a story of any man who becomes unstoppable after he wins over a catastrophic life,” the writer and director of the movie explains the idea of the movie.

It is not clear if Rupesh Paul is a fan of Rahul Gandhi, but back in 2014, he had clarified that he was no supporter of Narendra Modi. “I disagree strongly with the kind of ideology he is a part of,” he had said then referring to Narendra Modi, though adding that he agreed to direct the movie because India needed a strong leader.

The movie on Modi was never shot and produced it appears. However, “My Name Is RaGa” has real actors and at least the trailer has been shot, edited and released for public viewing. But whether the full length feature film will release, one can’t be sure going by the history of Rupesh Paul.

In January 2014, Rupesh had announced a movie named “Kamasutra 3D” and released a trailer starring Sherlyn Chopra that generated much heat. However, the movie was not released and there were rumours that it was shelved and only the trailer was shot.

Later in May 2014, he had announced that he was making a movie around disappearance of the Malaysian flight MH370, which also created some buzz and controversy, but that movie too is yet to be produced and released.

Whether or not he is able to finish production and release of “My Name Is RaGa”, Rupesh Paul has surely added another impressive title to his stable that has movies like “Saint Dracula 3D”, “The Temptation Between My Legs” and “Monologues of an Indian Sex Maniac”.

Election Commission hits back at AAP’s misleading phone calls on voter name deletion, asks police to investigate

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Election Commission hits back at AAP’s misleading phone calls on voter name deletion, asks police to investigate

The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi has asked the Delhi police to investigate the phone calls that many people in Delhi have been receiving phone calls telling that their name has been deleted from the voter list. In a letter written to the Delhi Police Commissioner on February 2, Election Officer Manoj Kumar said that they have various written complaints in this regard, and prima facie it appears that the matter needs to be thoroughly investigated.

The CEO said that it is enclosing the complaint it has received in this regard, and the factual correctness of the complaints need to be ascertained and necessary action under relevant laws should be taken.

After asking Delhi police to probe the same, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer also issued a press release informing about the same. The CEO says that certain unknown persons or entities are making misleading phone calls to citizens of Delhi saying their name has been deleted from the electoral roll and the caller is trying to restore the same.


The statement also asked people to proactively check their names on the voter list either by calling voter helpline, on the National Voter Service Porta at www.nsvp.in or through SMS. If the name is not found, they should immediately apply in Form 6 either online or offline at their voter centre, the statement adds.

Read more: Voter registration: A step-by-step guide to register online on the voter list

The Aam Aadmi Party had been alleging for some time that BJP has got 30 lakh names deleted from the voter list of Delhi, although Election Commission has denied charges. Recently, AAP has started calling people on their phones telling that their name has been deleted from the Voter list, and Arvind Kejriwal will restore the same. Several people have recorded such calls and posted on social media, which shows that the callers themselves say that they are calling from AAP.

Many people who are voter in other states also have received such calls. While many Delhi voters say that after they received such call, they checked and found that their names exist in the voter list and therefore the phone calls are false.

On February 9 too the Delhi CEO has issued a statement saying that the phone calls people in Delhi as receiving is misleading, and asked the people to beware of such calls.

The statement also asked the voters to check themselves whether their name exists in the voter list through various ways, and to apply for the same if their names are missing. The Election Officer had also informed that separate legal action is being taken against the phone calls.

OpIndia Evening Dispatch: Sunday, 10th February, 2019

OpIndia Staff
-
0
OpIndia Evening Dispatch: Sunday, 10th February, 2019

In the hustle and bustle of the day, it is only natural to miss some of the biggest developments that impact the nation. The OpIndia Evening Dispatch will catch you up on the day’s event even if you have been busy thus far.

1. Anti-Modi posters emerge in Guntur even as Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu calls for a protest against PM Modi’s visit

According to the reports, many anti-Modi posters have emerged across Andhra Pradesh ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on Sunday. Some of the posters had slogans of  ‘No More Modi’ ‘Modi Is A Mistake’, ‘Modi Never Again’, among others. It has not yet been ascertained who has put up the posters.

Another image portrayed Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu with an arrow ready to shoot toward PM Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and other BJP leaders.

2. I thank Telugu Desam Party for ‘Modi Go Back’ posters, I will go back to Delhi and sit on PM’s chair: PM Modi in Andhra

Making light of the ‘Modi Go Back‘ posters which were put up in Guntur ahead of his rally in Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi said that, I am thankful to the Telugu Desam Party because they want me to go back to Delhi and occupy my PM’s chair again.

“I have full faith in the crores of Indians that they will fulfil the wish of Telugu Desam Party and will make Modi sit back there,” PM Modi said.

3. Congress mouthpiece National Herald’s group editor mocks Arunachal Pradesh culture

Mrinal Pande, group editor of Congress mouthpiece National Herald, yesterday took to Twitter to mock the traditional Arunachal Pradesh headgear worn by Prime Minister Modi, showing disdain for the culture of the North East.

Responding to a tweet (now deleted) by a Twitter user Ashish Mishra, who had mocked PM Modi’s traditional Arunachal headgear by referring to PM Modi as a peacock, Pande responded with a picture of a rooster edited to make it appear as if it was wearing a suit.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu took to Twitter to explain that the headgear worn by PM Modi is a Nyishi tribal headgear.

4. Two arrested for TMC leader Satyajit Biswas’ murder who was earlier shot dead, party alleges BJP conspiracy

Two people have been arrested by West Bengal police in the murder case of Trinamool Congress Party’s leader and MLA from Krishnaganj Constituency of Nadia district Satyjit Biswas. The leader was attending Saraswati Puja function in Phulbari, where he was shot point-blank by unknown assailants, who immediately fled the scene leaving the murder weapon at the spot.

The murder has started a political slugfest between the TMC and Bhartiya Janta Party state leaders. TMC is continuously alleging BJP for pre-mediating the murder to make electoral inroads in the state.

5. Saradha scam: CBI continue to grill Kolkata Police chief, former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh to be questioned today

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continued the questioning of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for the second day on Sunday. In addition to Rajeev Kumar, the CBI has also summoned former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh to appear in person at the CBI office in Shillong for interrogation in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.

According to the reports, the CBI is likely to question Kunal Ghosh regarding his 91-page letter detailing the role of Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar in handling the ponzi scam probe.

6. Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad to formally join Congress on February 15

Cricketer-turned-politician suspended BJP MLA Kirti Azad is all set to join hands with Congress on February 15, as per media reports. The three-time Member of Parliament from Darbhanga, Bihar, is expected to join Congress ahead of the upcoming elections in presence of the party president Rahul Gandhi.

The BJP had suspended Kirti Azad back in December 2015 who had been making public statements that there was corruption in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) when Union Minister Arun Jaitley was heading it.

7. Hindi becomes third official language to be used in Abu Dhabi courts

In a landmark development, Hindi has become the third official language to be used in the courts of Abu Dhabi, in a move designed to improve access to the judicial system.

UAE based media reported that foreign nationals will be able to lodge claims and raise grievances in labour cases in Hindi, which is spoken by many expat workers in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said the change would allow Hindi speakers to learn about litigation procedures and their rights and responsibilities without a language barrier. Interactive forms in Hindi will be made available on its website.

8. Cow smugglers clamp on a police official in illegal Rohingya influenced Mewat region of Haryana

As per a report by Navbharat Times, A canter carrying 8 calves broke a barricade near Shahpur Kheda area of Ferozepur Jhirka, in Nuh district of Haryana and also mowed down an Additional Superintendent of Police, injuring him badly. The Police had gained the information about the canter carrying calves on the Kati Ghati road en route to Rajasthan, from an informer. At the barricade ASI Yashpal, Constable Jay Singh and other officers were stationed to stop the vehicle.

The perpetrators also open fired at the police officials from a country-made pistol, during which the perpetrators tried to escape.

9. Union Minister Arun Jaitley tears into ‘Institutions are under attack’ narrative

Union Minister Arun Jaitley took to Facebook today to write a blog taking on the Opposition’s narrative, fanned by Congress-friendly media, of ‘Institutions are under attack’.

His blog, titled “Institutions Under Attack” – The Latest Fabrication, has been is reporduced here.

10. India receives first batch of 4 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from USA

India has received the first batch of Chinook transport helicopter from USA. Four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters meant for Indian Air Force arrived at the Mundra port in Gujarat, as per reports.

The helicopters are part of a $3.1 billion deal for purchase of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from American aviation giant Boeing. In December 2015, the government of India had signed the contract with Boeing and a Letter of Agreement with the USA government for purchase of the helicopters.

11. Rahul Gandhi interfered as an ‘extra-constitutional’ authority during Manmohan Singh’s UPA: Former Union Minister S M Krishna

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader SM Krishna, who was Minister of State of External Affairs in Dr Manmohan Singh’s UPA government, has revealed that he was forced to quit the Congress party due to constant interference from Rahul Gandhi.

SM Krishna, one of the tallest leaders of the country, said that he had to resign from the post of External Affairs minister as it had become unbearable to continue due to constant interference of Rahul Gandhi.

12. How Buniyaad reeling machines are helping tribal women involved in silk production

Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Saturday distributed the BuniyaadTasar Silk Reeling Machines. The Buniyaad reeling machines aim to eradicate unhygienic traditional methods used by tribal women of the country in silk production, and also to increase thier household income.

To help women get rid of the traditional thigh reeling technique, Central Silk Technological Research Institute in association with an entrepreneur from Champa in Chhattisgarh has produced a machine which not only can help tribal women raise their income, but also avoid the hazard associated with the occupation. A woman through Buniyaad Reeling Machine can produce 200 gms of silk yarn per day, increasing her income to up to Rs 350 per day. The machine can be powered by electricity or by movement feet, as per wishes of the maker.

13. Kapil Sibal gives a veiled threat to bureaucrats, says Congress keeping an eye on officers showing loyalty to PM

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today sent out a veiled threat to the bureaucrats who are ‘showing loyalty to the PM’.

Sibal said, that officers should know that elections come and go, and if today they (Congress) are in the opposition, tomorrow they could be in the power. He added that Congress is keeping an eye on “officials who are over-enthusiastic” and trying to show their loyalty towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

14. Anticipating CAG clean chit to govt on Rafale deal, Congress party now points it gun at the CAG

Ahead of the CAG report on Rafale deal that is anticipated to be submitted at the parliament tomorrow, suddenly the Congress party has raised questions on the impartiality of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India himself.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today said that current CAG Rajiv Mehrishi was finance secretary 24th October 2014 to 30th August 2015, when the negotiation for the Rafale deal was going on. Therefore, it is a clear case of ‘conflict of interest’, and Rajiv Mehrishi should recuse himself from the probe. This indicates that the Congress party anticipates a clean chit to the government from the CAG on the Rafale deal.

15. There is a ‘family pack’ for bail and no prizes to guess who are the beneficiaries of this pack, PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu to lay down the foundation stone of several development projects and inaugurated several others.

Launching a veiled attack at the senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, Modi called him “the Recounting Minister” and said that he thinks that all the knowledge in the world lies in him.

Taking a jibe at the Congress leaders and their family members out on bail in various corruption cases, Modi said that earlier there used to be a family pack in mobile recharges and in ice creams but now there is a family pack for the bail also.

There is a ‘family pack’ for bail and no prizes to guess who are the beneficiaries of this pack, PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

OpIndia Staff
-
0
There is a ‘family pack’ for bail and no prizes to guess who are the beneficiaries of this pack, PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu to lay down the foundation stone of several development projects and inaugurated several others. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the integrated building at Trichy airport which on completion is expected to facilitate around 3000 passengers at the airport during peak hours. Modi also addressed a public meeting in Tiruppur. He began his address by commemorating the brave freedom fighters Tiruppur Kumaram and Dheeran Chinnamalai.


Praising the enterprising spirit of Tiruppur, Modi told the people that the Namoagain T-shirts that people are seen wearing these days are manufactured in Tiruppur.


Blaming the Congress government for neglecting the defence sector, Modi said that the work culture of the NDA is different from that of previous governments. He said that those who ruled the nation for years did not bother for the defence sector and they made the defence sector all about brokering deals and helping their own set of friends. He called out Congress for alleged scams in defence deals and held it responsible for not allowing the modernisation of the defence forces. Modi questioned, “For the time they (Congress) were in power why is that every middleman caught had some link or the other with Congress?”


Modi said that his government wants the country to be self-sufficient in defence production and therefore the government took the path-breaking step of creating two defence corridors, one of which is in Tamil Nadu. Attacking the Congress party, Modi said that the party has missed no opportunity of belittling the Army.


Modi talked about various schemes brought by the BJP government including the OROP, Ayushman Bharat etc. He credited the taxpayers for making the development work done by the government by paying regular taxes and said that therefore the government has exempted the individuals with annual income of up to Rs 5 Lakh from income tax.

Launching a veiled attack at the senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, Modi called him “the Recounting Minister” and said that he thinks that all the knowledge in the world lies in him.


PM alleged that the Recounting Minister had mocked the middle class on the issue of inflation and that the middle class has rejected him.


Calling out the Congress leaders for resorting to derogatory language to criticise him, Modi said that the good word done by the NDA has made those unhappy who used to think that power was their divine right. And therefore their unhappiness in coming out through abuses.


Remembering the late K Kamaraj, Modi said that he wanted a government with zero tolerance for corruption. And the BJP government is running the government the way he wanted by putting locks on the corrupt misdeeds of the people.


Taking a jibe at the Congress leaders and their family members out on bail in various corruption cases, Modi said that earlier there used to be a family pack in mobile recharges and in ice creams but now there is a family pack for the bail also.


Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in the National Herald case, while Sonia Gandhi’s son in law Robert Vadra is on bail in money laundering and illegal land deal cases. On the other hand, P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram are out on bail in Aircel-Maxis and INX media scam cases, while P Chidambaram’s wife Nalini Chidambaram is out on bail in the Saradha chit fund scam.

Taking on Mahagathbandhan, PM said that they (opposition) say that the Modi government was a failure and yet they had to form alliances to defeat him. He called the Mahagathbandhan as “Mahamilavat“, a club of rich people who are trying to promote their dynasties. He said that the people of Tamil Nadu can never accept an adulterated product like the “Mahamilavat”.

Modi praised the BJP government for introducing 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections of the General category without altering the existing scheme of reservation and the social justice system.


He said that the DMK and the Congress removed reservation in promotions for the SC and the ST communities while the current NDA government is responsible for bringing some of the strongest amendments for the SC and the ST.

Anticipating CAG clean chit to govt on Rafale deal, Congress party now points it gun at the CAG

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Anticipating CAG clean chit to govt on Rafale deal, Congress party now points it gun at the CAG

Ahead of the CAG report on Rafale deal that is anticipated to be submitted at the parliament tomorrow, suddenly the Congress party has raised questions on the impartiality of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India himself.


Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today said that current CAG Rajiv Mehrishi was finance secretary 24th October 2014 to 30th August 2015, when the negotiation for the Rafale deal was going on. Therefore, it is a clear case of ‘conflict of interest’, and Rajiv Mehrishi should recuse himself from the probe. Kapil Sibal said that as CAG was finance secretary when the Rafale negotiations were going on, he will surely say there was nothing wrong in the deal.


This indicates that the Congress party anticipates a clean chit to the government from the CAG on the Rafale deal. The Supreme Court has already refused to order a probe into the deal, dismissing several petitions filed by Congress party and other activists. Although Rahul Gandhi has been making wild allegations against the Rafale deal, there are no substances in these allegations. Therefore, this allegation looks similar to EVM hacking allegations that Congress party raises before election results are out.

Rajiv Mehrishi was appointed at CAG in September 2017, and it is not a secret that he was Finance Secretary in 2014-15, but Congress has raised the allegations of conflict of interest only now, just a day before the scheduled submission of CAG report on Rafale deal. The CAG report is ready to be tabled at the parliament, that means the audit body has already completed its probe into the deal. To ask the CAG now to recuse himself from the case means nothing at this point of time. This means Congress wants to keep the Rafale debate alive only to attack BJP till the elections, while it has nothing substantial against the actual deal.

And more importantly, like all allegations against the Rafale deal by the Congress party, this allegation is also not based on complete fact. Rajiv Mehrishi’s tenure as Finance Secretary had ended on 30th August 2015, and by than only preliminary discussions on the deal have started. India and France had announced the deal in April 2015, and the same was approved by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in May 2015. After the DAC approval, an Indian Negotiating Team (INT) was constituted by the government to negotiate the terms and conditions of the deal with the French side.

The negotiations in the deal started in May 2015 and continued till April 2016. This means, when the negotiations for the deal for 36 Rafale aircraft was going on, Rajiv Mehrishi was Finance Secretary only for four months, after that he was appointed as the Home Secretary. Moreover, defence ministry and Indian Air Force officials were directly involved in the discussions, not the Finance Ministry.

BJP has reacted to the allegations by Congress on Twitter.


While Congress attacks for current CAG, it should also remember that its own government had appointed Shashi Kant Sharma as the CAG in 2013, who was the defence secretary from 2011 to 2013, when the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper scam had come out.

Kapil Sibal gives a veiled threat to bureaucrats, says Congress keeping an eye on officers showing loyalty to PM

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Kapil Sibal gives a veiled threat to bureaucrats, says Congress keeping an eye on officers showing loyalty to PM

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today sent out a veiled threat to the bureaucrats who are ‘showing loyalty to the PM’.


Sibal said, that officers should know that elections come and go, and if today they (Congress) are in the opposition, tomorrow they could be in the power. He added that Congress is keeping an eye on “officials who are over-enthusiastic” and trying to show their loyalty towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Then, as if to cover up the threat, he added that government officials should remember that the constitution is bigger than anything.

This is third such veiled threat from Congress leaders within a fortnight. Following the CBI raids on Haryana Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s residence in connection with irregularities in land allotments in Gurugram, Congress leader Anand Sharma had given similar veiled threat to government officials. “Officials must hear this. Governments do not have any permanency,” Sharma had said.

Last week, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had threatened government officials by saying that he would purge the government institutions of those associated with the RSS.

Congress leaders’ such threats to bureaucrats and government officials for carrying out their duty is shocking to say the least.

How Buniyaad reeling machines are helping tribal women involved in silk production

OpIndia Staff
-
0
How Buniyaad reeling machines are helping tribal women involved in silk production

Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Saturday distributed the BuniyaadTasar Silk Reeling Machines. The Buniyaad reeling machines aim to eradicate unhygienic traditional methods used by tribal women of the country in silk production, and also to increase thier household income.

India produces 32,000 metric tonnes of silk per year. Mulberry silk, Tasar silk, Muga silk, and Eri silk are the main types of silk produced in India. Mulberry contributes almost 80% of total silk production.

Tussar or Tassar silk, unlike mulberry, is extracted from silkworms feeding on local trees like Sal, Arjun and Saja. Major Tassar silk production states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Orissa etc. It is a major source of income for the tribal women living in these states. Indian produces 2,080 metric tonnes of Tassar silk per year, which is almost 6.5% of total silk production.

Tassar silk reeling is a process in which filament from cocoons is unwinded. Traditionally, the yarn reeling is done by traditional methods like Thigh Reeling. In this, the person reeling has to sit cross-legged on the floor, draw 5 to 6 filaments on their thigh from cocoons cooked with alkaline material like sodium carbonate, and then false-twist it. During this, some amount of ash powder, oil and starch are also used. Then the composite fibre is wound upon a bamboo appliance called Natwa.

Through this process, on average, tribal women produce 70 grams of 70 denier yarn. Around 500 thousand metric tonnes of Tassar silk is produced through Thigh Reeling. The process is not only injurious to tribal women, but it also produces yarn which is weak and lacking in strength. Women using thigh reeling methods only earn up to Rs 125 per day.

To help women get rid of the thigh reeling technique, Central Silk Technological Research Institute in association with an entrepreneur from Champa in Chhattisgarh has produced a machine which not only can help tribal women raise their income, but also avoid the hazard associated with the occupation. A woman through Buniyaad Reeling Machine can produce 200 gms of silk yarn per day, increasing her income to up to Rs 350 per day. The machine can be powered by electricity or by movement feet, as per wishes of the maker.

Textiles Minister Smriti Irani expressed hope that thigh reeling technique’s replacement with machine based reeling will happen this year only, instead of 2020. A mobile application e-cocoon was also launched at the event, which will help in quality certification in the silkworm sector. Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, too, promised to extend support in providing support for promoting silk in global markets.

Communal violence between Dalits and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh leaves several people injured

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Communal violence between Dalits and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh leaves several people injured

An incident of communal violence between Dalits and Muslims have come to light in Durveshpur village of Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh. According to a report by Amar Ujala, a minor conflict between some people belonging to the Dalit and the Muslim communities escalated into communal violence. People from both the communities came face to face and heavy stone pelting and firing took place.

According to the report, an argument had taken place between some people from the two communities on Sunday morning. The situation got worse and people from both the communities came out on the streets carrying sticks. Ensuing violence between both the communities continued for about half an hour. Several people from both sides were injured due to stone pelting and the exchange of fire.

On getting the information about the clash, the police reached the spot without delay and took control of the situation. The police sent the injured to the hospital. Heavy security has been deployed in the area considering the sensitive environment to ward off further violence. An investigation has been initiated by the police in the matter and interrogation is underway.

A similar incident of communal violence between the Dalits and the Muslims was reported about a week ago in Agra.

Rahul Gandhi interfered as an ‘extra-constitutional’ authority during Manmohan Singh’s UPA: Former Union Minister S M Krishna

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rahul Gandhi interfered as an ‘extra-constitutional’ authority during Manmohan Singh’s UPA: Former Union Minister S M Krishna

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader SM Krishna, who was Minister of State of External Affairs in Dr Manmohan Singh’s UPA government, has revealed that he was forced to quit the Congress party due to constant interference from Rahul Gandhi.

SM Krishna, one of the tallest leaders of the country, said that he had to resign from the post of External Affairs minister as it had become unbearable to continue due to constant interference of Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing the BJP workers in Maddur, SM Krishna further said that he had to resign from as Rahul Gandhi had issued an order stating that leaders above 80 years of age should not hold any ministry. The BJP leader, who had quit the party after serving 46 years in Congress, on Saturday took a jibe at the Congress party stating that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not have any say in deciding portfolio.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna’s statements indicated that Rahul Gandhi had no respect for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He further added that Congress did not have any control over alliance parties. “It was then that all major scams like 2G spectrum, Commonwealth and coal were reported. Such situations arise when there’s no able leadership,” said Krishna.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) was not answerable to anyone – neither Parliament nor governance. He took decisions on which ordinance was necessary and struck down others. There were matters that were never brought to notice of even the minister. Cabinet was in discussion over passing an ordinance. But Rahul Gandhi, who was somewhere, tore a copy of the ordinance. It’s what they call extra-constitutional authority,” Krishna said while attacking Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Congress party has reacted to SM Krishna statements as Congress leader Dinesh Gundurao said, “Today when I hear his statements, even that 1% of respect I had for him is gone. For a person of his stature to speak like this, is absolutely disgusting. I don’t know what is making him speak like this.”

He further added that people are not content even in their old age, they want for more recognition, which drives them to say such things. “No damage to our party, it only damages his legacy. No BJP person is going to remember SM Krishna, it will only be Congress who will talk about him,” said Dinesh Gundurao while attacking senior leader SM Krishna.

1...6,6196,6206,621...7,611Page 6,620 of 7,611