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Deep State, Wokeism, ‘Cultural Marxists’ are threats to all cultural traditions: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

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Deep State, Wokeism, ‘Cultural Marxists’ are threats to all cultural traditions: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday emphasised the threats posed by “Deep State,” “Wokeism” and “Cultural Marxists” to cultural traditions stating that destruction of values and traditions is a part of the modus operandi of this group.

Addressing the annual Vijayadashami programme held at Nagpur, the RSS Chief highlighted that the first step of such groups is to capture the institutions of the society.

“Words like ‘Deep State’, ‘Wokeism’, ‘Cultural Marxist’ are in discussion these days. In fact, they are the declared enemies of all cultural traditions. Complete destruction of values, traditions and whatever is considered virtuous and auspicious is a part of the modus operandi of this group. The first step of this modus operandi is to bring the mind-shaping systems and institutions of the society under one’s influence – for example, the education system and educational institutions, media, intellectual discourse, etc., and to destroy the thoughts, values and belief of the society through them,” Bhagwat said.

“In a society living together, an identity-based group is motivated to separate on the basis of its actual or artificially created specialty, demand, need or a problem. A feeling of victimhood is created in them. By fanning discontent, that element is pulled apart from the rest of the society, and made aggressive against the system. Direct conflicts are created by finding fault lines in the society. An atmosphere of anarchy and fear is created by intensifying distrust and hatred towards the system, laws, governance, administration etc. This makes it easy to establish one’s dominance over that country,” the RSS leader said.

The RSS Chief also called for unity among Hindus citing the example of Bangladesh where he said that for the first time, Hindus united and came out on roads for their protection. He noted that till this radical nature of committing atrocities out of anger prevails – not only Hindus, but all minorities will be in danger.

“What happened in our neighbouring Bangladesh? It might have some immediate reasons but those who are concerned will discuss it. But, due to that chaos, the tradition of committing atrocities against Hindus was repeated there. For the first time, Hindus united and came on roads for their protection. But, by the time this radical nature of committing atrocities out of anger is there – not only Hindus, but all minorities will be in danger. They need help from the Hindus from the entire world. It’s their need that the government of India help them… Being weak is a crime. If we are weak, we are inviting atrocity. Wherever we are, we need to be united and empowered,” Mohan Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat further mentioned that in Bangladesh, such discussions are going on that they have a threat from India and hence they have to side with Pakistan since they have a nuclear weapon to stop India.

“We all know which countries are pushing such discussions, and narrations, we don’t need to take their name. Their wish is to create such conditions in India as well. Such industries are being run to stop India,” Bhagwat said.

He also emphasized that India is progressing in the fields of technology and education.

“Society’s understanding is also gradually improving. As a result, we observe that the elections in Jammu and Kashmir were conducted peacefully. This also reflects the growing stature of India on the global stage. Our philosophy of “Vasudev Kutumbkam” (the world is one family) is being widely accepted. Our yoga is becoming a global trend. The world is also embracing our perspective on environmental conservation,” he said.

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

Bangladesh: Mohammed and his aides attack Durga Puja mandap with petrol bomb, stab devotees with knife on being stopped

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Mohammed and his aides attack Durga Puja mandap with petrol bomb, stab devotees with knife on being stopped

Amid the ongoing Islamist onslaught on the minority Hindu community, a petrol bomb was hurled at a Durga Puja mandap in the Tanti Bazar neighbourhood in Dhaka city of Bangladesh.

In visuals that have surfaced on social media, a man was seen attacking the Durga Puja pandal with a bomb. The accused was seen standing in a queue and hurling the explosive towards the idol of the Hindu deity.

According to reports, a minor fire broke out at the pandal, but no one was injured. The Hindu devotees present at the scene tried to stop the attacker but he stabbed them. A total of 5 people (4 volunteers and 1 visitor) were injured in the knife attack.

The victims included Deepta Dey, Jhantu Dhar, Khokon Dhar, Sagar Ghosh and Mohammed Ramiz Uddin. They are currently undergoing treatment at Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital.

The police have recovered the explosive, which was used in the targeted attack. A total of two accused were identified and arrested by the police. They include Mohammed Hridoy and Mohammed Jibon.

The duo was taken into custody and is now interrogated by law enforcement authorities. A separate robbery attempt was made at the Puja Mandap. The police have recovered a gold chain from the accused, identified as one Akash.

Tantibazar Puja Celebration Committee General Secretary, Bijoy Shah, confirmed the development and clarified the petrol bomb attack at the Durga Puja mandap and robbery were separate incidents.

The Durga Puja pandal in Tanti Bazar is now being guarded by Hindu devotees and law enforcement authorities. The Puja committee has demanded strong action against the accused.

It has accused the police of downplaying the petrol bomb attack by equating it with the robbery incident. The three accused are from different parts of Bangladesh. It remains unknown whether the trio was recruited by any secret organisation.

While Congress leaders blame EVMs for Haryana defeat, state OBC leader Ajay Yadav blames mismanagement and poor coordination for the debacle

OpIndia Staff
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While Congress leaders blame EVMs for Haryana defeat, state OBC leader Ajay Yadav blames mismanagement and poor coordination for the debacle

On Thursday, 11th October, former Haryana Minister and Congress’s Other Backward Class (OBC) chairman Ajay Yadav blamed mismanagement and poor coordination among the national and state leadership for the debacle in Haryana elections. Yadav accused National General Secretary KC Venugopal of being unreachable during the elections. Yadav’s statement came at a time when Congress was blaming EVMs for the Haryana election defeat. Though Yadav echoed the sentiment to some extent during an interview with news agency ANI, he primarily blamed the party leadership for the loss.

Ajay Yadav suggested that the party should introspect over the failure in the Ahirwal belt in Haryana, where 10 out of 11 seats went to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said, “Ahirwal has no representation in the Congress Working Committee, the party’s central election committee, the All India Congress Committee, or the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. The party has appointed me as OBC national chairman, which is of no use as it is toothless. We lost the election because there was no coordination between the state and national leadership.”

In a post on X, Yadav wrote, “The party should introspect on its failure in southern Haryana, especially Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendragarh, and Faridabad, where it won just one seat. Ahirwal has no representation in the CWC, CEC, AICC general secretaries, or even in the HPCC. The AICC OBC chairmanship is an eyewash and toothless.”

In another post on X, he criticised the Congress for its inability to control the narrative, as there were reports of infighting within Haryana Congress for the Chief Minister post before securing the mandate from the people.

Elaborating on his post while speaking to ANI, he said, “When elections are held, winning is the primary goal, and if tussles for the CM post emerge in the media at that time, it is not a good sign for the party. First, secure the mandate, and after that, decide who will become the CM. This decision cannot be made by any one person; it is made by the MLAs. So I believe there are many issues.”

He also accused the party of not assigning a new state in-charge when Deepak Babaria was hospitalised. Yadav said, “When the party’s state in-charge Deepak Babaria was hospitalised, why was his duty not assigned to another leader? The party’s state chief, Udai Bhan, was contesting himself, so he failed to take proper feedback and help the candidates in finalising the strategy.”

Interestingly, Ajay Yadav alleged that senior party leaders from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had asked him to make arrangements for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in his area. However, Gandhi never visited. Yadav also pointed out that Kumari Selja did not visit Rewari due to the unavailability of a helicopter. He said, “We finalised Kumari Selja’s programme in Rewari, but she expressed an unwillingness to attend due to the unavailability of a helicopter.”

Furthermore, Yadav noted that a statement by Mamman Khan, the sitting MLA from Ferozpur Jhirka, also worked against the party. He said, “Our sitting MLA from Ferozepur Jhirka, Mamman Khan, won by a huge margin because the majority of voters were Muslim there, but his controversial remarks contributed to our defeat. The campaign was led by individuals, and other leaders were missing. We lost due to polarisation and poor election management.”

Ajay Yadav is not the only Congress leader blaming the party leadership for the Haryana election defeat. Senior Congress leader and Rohtak MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra said that poor management and overconfidence among party leaders and workers led to the loss. He said, “In the last week of the campaign, huge polarisation of SCs and OBCs was observed, and that worked in favour of the BJP. We need to reconsider where we went wrong.”

However, he refuted allegations made by former Assandh MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi that Congress lost due to infighting and an over-reliance on former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He added that Gogi often makes biased remarks against Hooda whenever he has the opportunity.

An unnamed senior leader was quoted by the Hindustan Times saying that party leaders were inactive during the elections, which led to the defeat. He said, “Our top leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Ajay Yadav, and Randeep Surjewala did not share the stage even once. In two rallies, Hooda and Selja were present, but other leaders were missing. The BJP succeeded in convincing people that all was not well within Haryana Congress, and the assembly results reflect that.”

Congress blamed EVMs for Haryana defeat

After the defeat in assembly election in Haryana, the Congress party again started to blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, they brought some changes to the allegation. In a bizarre accusation, the party claimed that EVMs with different levels of battery charge gave different results. Refuting their accusations, the Election Commission explained that while fully charged batteries are inserted in EVMs before the polls, the charge level continues to come down with the use of the machines in mock poll, actual voting and counting. The same accusations were echoed by Yadav in statement to ANI.

With inputs from ANI

Centre announces the establishment of 10 new ESIC medical colleges, an extension of Atal Bima Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna till June 2026

OpIndia Staff
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Centre announces the establishment of 10 new ESIC medical colleges, an extension of Atal Bima Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna till June 2026

The Modi government is set to establish 10 new ESIC medical colleges and extend the unemployment allowance scheme for ESI Corporation members until June 2026. These decisions align with the Prime Minister’s Independence Day (2024) promise to add 75,000 medical seats in the next five years.

Ludhiana in Punjab, Basaidarapur in Delhi, Jaipur in Rajasthan, Noida and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Ranchi in Jharkhand, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Guwahati-Beltola in Assam, Naroda-Bapunagar in Gujarat and Andheri in Maharashtra have been selected for the new facilities, according to the Labour and Employment Ministry Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

During an ESI Corporation meeting, Mansukh Mandaviya made several significant announcements aimed at enhancing the facilities and medical capabilities of ESIC.

Launched in 2018, the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna offers unemployment benefits to ESIC-insured people seeking new jobs. The program will now run from 1st July to 30th June 2026, for an additional two years. ESIC beneficiaries would receive unrestricted medical care in hospitals affiliated with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), with no financial cap in undeveloped regions of the nation.

“To provide relief to insured persons, who have been rendered unemployed, a scheme namely “Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna” was introduced in ESIC on a pilot basis for two years w.e.f. 01.07.2018. The scheme was intended to provide support in the form of an Unemployment Allowance during the period when an insured person searches for a new engagement for earnings. After completion of two years since its inception, the scheme was extended for another year from 01.07.2020 to 30.06.2021. It was further extended up to 30.06.2022 and then up to 30.06.2024. Further, this scheme has been extended for a further two years with effect from 01.07.2024 to 30.06.2026,” the official website read.

100 bedded ESI Hospital at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, 1 Doctor Dispensary at Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, DCBO at Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, 350 bedded ESI Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, ESI Dispensary and Branch Office, Dhubri, Assam, 100 bedded ESI Hospital at Muzaffarpur, Bihar and DCBO at Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh have also been approved by the administration. “Further, construction of 717 new staff quarters at ESIC residential colony, Sector-56, Noida, Uttar Pradesh has also been approved,” the statement added.

Assam: Abdul and other madrassa students desecrate idol of Goddess Durga, police arrest accused

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Abdul and other madrassa students desecrate idol of Goddess Durga, police arrest accused

On Wednesday (9th October) night, the idol of Goddess Durga was desecrated by three radical Muslims in Manasangan village in Karimganj district of Assam.

According to reports, the accused were identified as Abdul Ahad, Sahabul Ahmed and a minor. They are said to be students of the local madrassa.

The trio attacked the procession of the Bagargool Sarbajanin Durga Puja committee while they were en route to the pandal.

The committee members were carrying the idol of Goddess Durga when Abdul and his accomplices threw leftover, cooked rice at it and defiled the Hindu deity.

This sparked communal tension in the Manasangan village. On learning about the matter, Karimganj DC Pradip Kumar Dwivedi and SP Partha Pratim Das reached the spot and de-escalated the situation.

A new idol was arranged for by the Karimganj district administration on the demand of the Hindu devotees associated with the Puja committee.

Madrassa students arrested in connection to Karimganj idol desecration

The police swung into action and arrested Abdul Ahad and Sahabul Ahmed. The duo was produced before a judicial court and remanded in custody.

The minor accused was sent to juvenile court. Efforts are underway to prevent further incidents of desecration of Durga Puja idols and pandals.

BJP MLA from Karimganj, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, also visited Manasangan village to take cognisance of the situation. He handed over ₹10,000 to the Bagargool Sarbajanin Durga Puja committee.

200-year-old Hindu temple set on fire in Karimganj

In September last year, a 200-year-old Hindu temple was set ablaze by unidentified miscreants in Barman Basti village in Ratabari in Karimganj district of Assam.

As per reports, a group of criminals set fire to the ancient Shiv-Narayan Mandir in the wee hours of the night. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Ratabari police.

After the news of the incident spread, the locals rushed to the temple. They demanded strict action against those involved in the temple’s destruction. During the initial investigation, three gallons of fuel were recovered by the police.

Kolkata: Muslim mob storms into Durga Puja pandal and threatens to vandalize Maa Durga idol, abuses Hindu women, complaint filed by organisers

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata: Muslim mob storms into Durga Puja pandal and threatens to vandalize Maa Durga idol, abuses Hindu women, complaint filed by organisers

On Friday, 11th October, amid the Durga Puja festival, the Puja Pandal of New Bengal Sporting Club at Garden Reach area of Kolkata was stormed by a Muslim mob who threatened the Puja organizers to stop the Hindu rituals. The Muslim mob consisting of around 50-60 members also threatened that they would vandalize Maa Durga idol if the celebrations weren’t stopped.

The organizers of the Hindu religious event, New Bengal Sporting Club at Garden Reach area of Kolkata, wrote a complaint to the Police demanding FIR in the case. The complaint letter was shared by BJP leader, LoP West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on X. He also shared a video showing a large number of Muslim youths creating a ruckus inside the pandal.

“What is this C P Kolkata Shri Manoj Kumar Verma (IPS)? How did the goons garner the ability to storm into a Durga Puja Pandal under the Jurisdiction of the Kolkata Police and threaten to vandalize the idol of Maa Durga if the rituals aren’t stopped?” he pondered.

“The Office Bearers and Members of the New Bengal Sporting Club have also provided video footage of the incident. How can you allow this to happen? I believe you will take the strictest action possible against the culprits and make them realize that it is Kolkata, not Dhaka,” he added.

The organizers in the complaint mentioned that the incident happened on 11th October at around 1 pm. “About 50-60 Muslims came to our puja pandal and interrupted rituals. They threatened to disrupt the pandal and said that they would also break Maa Durga’s idol if the puja rituals were not stopped,” the complaint read.

It also added that the Muslim mob used abusive language for Hindu women and threatened them for following Hindu rituals. The video of the said incident is making rounds on social media in which some individuals wearing Islamic caps can be seen creating chaos in the pandal. The letter added that they have submitted the video of the incident at the Garden Reach Police Station.

The organizers have demanded FIR in the case.

Here’s who Noel Tata is, the newly chosen chairman of Tata Trusts after the death of Ratan Tata

OpIndia Staff
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Here’s who Noel Tata is, the newly chosen chairman of Tata Trusts after the death of Ratan Tata

On Friday, 11th October, Noel Tata, the chairman of Tata Trent and vice chairman of Tata Steel, was chosen as the new chairman of Tata Trusts. This is after Ratan Tata, the previous chairman of the Tata conglomerate’s philanthropy arm, died on the night of October 9th, 2024, at the age of 86, due to old age complications.

Tata Trust is the fundamental body that oversees the operations of all 14 Tata Trusts and holds the majority of shares in Tata Sons, the Tata Group holding company. The two main trusts are Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together own nearly 52% of the company. Other trusts together own another 14% of Tata Sons, taking the total holding to 66%.

The position of chief of Tata Trusts fell vacant after the demise of Ratan Tata, and his half-brother Noel Tata was seen as the frontrunner for the position. As per expectations, he has been selected as the new head of the trust. As per reports, many ‘old timers’ wanted him to lead the venture. His appointment to the post continues the tradition of Parsis hearing the trust.

After the announcement, he said that he is deeply honoured and humbled by the responsibility that has been cast on him by his fellow Trustees.

Noel Tata was born in December 1957 and is Ratan Tata’s half-brother. He graduated from Sussex University (UK) and finished the International Executive Programme (IEP) at INSEAD.

He is an Irish citizen and currently heads Tata group companies Trent and Voltas. He has transformed Trent into the biggest fashion chain in the country. He is married to Aloo Mistry, and their three children, Leah, Maya, and Neville Tata, are all actively involved in the Tata group business. Leah Tata works as a Vice President at the Indian Hotels Company while Maya Tata is linked with Tata Capital. Neville Tata on the other hand is a member of Trent’s leadership team at Star Bazaar.

Noel’s mother Simone Tata, the second wife of Ratan Tata’s father Naval Tata, was born in Switzerland and is known to have started the fashion brand Lakme here.

Noel Tata’s most notable position prior to this new assignment was as Managing Director of Tata International Ltd, the group’s trade and distribution arm. Between 2010 and 2021, the company’s revenue increased from $500 million to more than $3 billion, demonstrating its capacity to drive growth in a highly competitive sector.

As Managing Director of Trent Ltd, Tata’s retail arm, he led the company’s expansion from a single store in 1998 to over 700 outlets in a variety of forms. Noel Tata now serves as the chairman of Trent, Tata International Limited, Voltas, and Tata Investment Corporation. He is also the vice chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company Limited.

He is also a trustee on the boards of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, which together own more than 50% of Tata Sons. These two trusts are the administrative wings, and they can both assign persons to Tata Trust. 67-year-old Noel Tata has been associated with the Tata Group for the last 4 decades. With this appointment, Noel Tata becomes the sixth chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the eleventh chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.

Noel Tata was once considered a candidate for the presidency of Tata Sons, but the keys were handed over to Cyrus Mistry, Noel’s brother-in-law. At that time, he was deemed not experienced enough for the position. Following Mistry’s controversial exit, N Chandrasekaran, the then-CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), was appointed chairman of Tata Sons.

Ratan Tata, the name associated with one of India’s most famous industrial conglomerates, the Tata Group, has left an indelible influence on the worlds of business and society. His leadership, charity, and imaginative thinking have revolutionized not only the corporation but also the Indian and global corporate landscapes. His death on 9th October has created a huge void in the industrial space provoking each Indian to remember his ideals, his greatness, and his determination towards the nation’s overall development. 

While Tata Trusts owns 66% of Tata Sons, it does not have direct control over the holding company or the group companies. But the trust appoints a third of the directors to Tata Sons who have veto power over board decisions. While Tata Sons is not compelled to seek directions from the trusts, it is an understanding that there is consulting between the two arms on major decisions. As a result, the Tata Trust and its head have considerable say in the group, although indirectly.

Tata Sons is a major Indian conglomerate of nearly 100 companies operating in several sectors including automobiles, aviation, beverages, chemicals, consumer products, energy, engineering, finance and insurance, information systems, materials, retail, services, semiconductor, steel, tourism etc.

Uttar Pradesh: Maulana Masood arrested for molesting, blackmailing minor Hindu girls using their photos with the help of his girlfriend, accomplice Masood Khan booked

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Maulana Masood arrested for molesting, blackmailing minor Hindu girls using their photos with the help of his girlfriend, accomplice Masood Khan booked

A Maulana (Muslim cleric) from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh used to blackmail Hindu girls using their photographs which were sent to him by his girlfriend. The families of the victims have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him and he has been arrested by the authorities. According to media reports, the accused has been identified as Maulana Masood Khan.

The matter pertains to the Neemgaon police station area of ​​Lakhimpur Kheri. He is a resident of Achaniya village and also runs a shop. His lover Priyanka who teaches in a convent school provided him with the images of her female students and he began to threaten them. The institution is managed by a man named Masood Khan.

On 25th May when a girl reached the cleric’s shop in order to get her phone recharged, he caught hold of her hand. He took the device and tampered with it. Afterwards, he followed her and engaged in appropriate behaviour with her. He molested her again on 24th September and threatened that he would take obscene pictures of her and share them on social media. He even threatened her via WhatsApp messages. Her brother then lodged an FIR against him. Afterwards, the cops examined the perpetrator’s mobile and discovered dozens of photos as well as lewd videos of Hindu girls, many of whom attended the school where Priyanka was employed.

In a separate matter, a girl from a village in the police station area studies in a coaching institute located in the area with her two friends. According to her family members, all three are friends with Priyanka who sent their photos and videos to the offender and he misused them. The authorities have submitted a case under sections 79 and 351 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), on the complaint of their families.

He has also been charged with converting a Hindu girl. Two cases have been launched against him. His lover and the other Masood Khan have also been named as accused and the police are searching for them. Neemgaon police station officer Sunita Kushwaha told OpIndia that both of them will also be arrested soon and further investigation into the matter is underway. The girls are minor and they are also looking into the matter from this angle.

Elon Musk unveils Robotaxi, Robovan at AI event ‘We, Robot’, outlines vision for autonomous fleet, shows off humanoid robot Optimus

OpIndia Staff
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Elon Musk unveils Robotaxi, Robovan at AI event ‘We, Robot’, outlines vision for autonomous fleet, shows off humanoid robot Optimus

On 10th October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled long-anticipated prototypes of the Cybercab, the company’s new Robotaxi, at an event in Burbank, California. He stated that the car might go into production as early as 2026 and it would likely cost less than $30,000 (roughly Rs 25,20,000). According to him, operation will cost 20 cents per mile, and plug-free inductive charging will be available. It means these autonomous vehicles could roll up to a station to recharge. The event was held at the Warner Bros. Studio near Los Angeles.

He showcased the futuristic design of the car in the event called, “We, Robot” by riding one of the prototypes to the stage to mark the occasion. Notably, the name of the event appears to be a reference to American science fiction author Isaac Asimov’s “I, Robot” short stories, but it also recalls Musk’s assertion that Tesla “should be thought of as an AI robotics company” as opposed to a carmaker.

He also unveiled the Robovan which can be configured as mass transit or a cargo carrier in line with Tesla’s transition from a passenger vehicle maker to a robotics producer. It is a self-driving vehicle with inductive charging which has the capacity to carry 20 people or be used to transport goods. It will “solve for high density,” he claimed, transferring a sports team, for instance. He stated that autonomous cars could be 10 times safer than human-driven cars and drive five to 10 times longer. He stressed, “The autonomous future is here. With autonomy, you get your time back.” He also presented Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots at the event.

Notably, Tesla’s existing cars already come with self-driving technology, known as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving.

Musk said that the new vehicle’s primary hardware is artificial intelligence and cameras, in contrast to the usage of additional gear used by Robotaxi rivals such as lidar. He said, “The autonomous future is here. We have 50 fully autonomous cars here tonight. You’ll see model Ys and the Cybercab. All driverless.”

Musk highlighted that he anticipates Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y electric cars, along with “Unsupervised FSD,” to be operational in Texas and California by the end of the next year. Full Self-Driving (FSD) is Tesla’s top-tier driver assistance technology. A “supervised” version is currently offered for Tesla electric cars. At the moment, FSD needs a human driver behind the wheel who is prepared to steer or brake at any time when autonomous driving makes a mistake. Tesla added “supervised” to the product name earlier this year. He announced, “It’s going to be a glorious future.”

The new Robotaxi, which will have butterfly doors and be a small, two-seater vehicle, is intended to take on well-known autonomous taxi services like Waymo and Cruise. It has been stated that Tesla has been gathering mapping information in the Burbank region in advance of this disclosure. According to Musk, a fleet of autonomous Tesla taxis will be available for passengers to hail via an app. Furthermore, Tesla owners will be able to monetize their cars on the app by listing them as robotaxis.

However, before going into production, the Robotaxi will require regulatory permission because it lacks conventional controls. While the current Tesla cars and Semis have FSD in built, they also come with conventional controls like steering, accelerator, brakes etc, and the driver can choose between manual and autonomous driving. The Robotaxi and the Robovan do not have the manual controls.

Musk decided to push back the event from its original August date to give more time for the building of the prototype and additional testing. There are also rumours that Tesla could make other announcements, such as a more affordable EV or a reworking of the Model Y, known as “Project Juniper” within the company. Tesla has indicated that its camera-based Tesla Vision technology, which powers the Robotaxi, would enable new autonomous capabilities.

However, Tesla is steadfast in sticking with a camera-only strategy, in contrast to other autonomous vehicle manufacturers who use lidar and other sensors. Tesla just purchased several lidar sensors from Luminar, possibly to support its Robotaxi testing, despite Musk’s prior claims that lidar was unnecessary. The vehicle, a heavily camouflaged prototype with a novel design, was sighted at the studio, however, its details are not yet known, but this could mean a change in Tesla’s sensor approach.

He did not specify how soon Tesla will start commercial production of Robotaxi. Attendees at the event included stock analysts, investors, and Tesla enthusiasts. Some investors, however, were dissatisfied since they were hoping for more specific information on the manufacturing ramp-up, regulatory permission, and a solid business plan.

Optimus robot

Musk ended his presentation with the display of Tesla’s humanoid Optimus robots. He said that the “progressed dramatically year after year”. The robot was first revealed by the company as a concept in 2021.

Musk stated, “The Optimus robots will walk among you,” while introducing the humanoid robots and asked guests to “be nice” to them. He said, “It’ll do anything you want. It can be a teacher, babysit your kids, it can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries. Just be your friend, serve drinks. Whatever you can think of, it will do.”

The robots were seen serving beverages at an on-site bar, handing out gift bags and talking to attendees. He declared, “Let’s party,” as the presentation came to a close. A number of Optimus robots could be spotted dancing to club hits. The robot, which was first unveiled in 2021, is expected to be a useful product by year’s end and available for purchase by 2025. It will cost $20,000 to $30,000 (Rs 16,81,313 to 25,21,969) in the long term. “I think this will be the biggest product ever of any kind,” Musk added. 

Donald Trump promises a reduction in electricity rates through capacity expansion, but Kejriwal hails it as the US embracing the ‘Freebie’ model

Jinit Jain
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Donald Trump promises a reduction in electricity rates through capacity expansion, but Kejriwal hails it as the US embracing the ‘Freebie’ model

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has the distinction of attracting the most brainless leaders and supporters. Nothing demonstrated this better than recent tweets posted by AAP leaders, including party chief Arvind Kejriwal, after US presidential nominee Donald Trump promised to slash electricity and energy rates by half if elected to power in the United States.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Kejriwal tweeted, “Trump has announced that he will reduce electricity rates by half. Free ki revri reach US…”, quoting the former US President’s speech made during a public event in Michigan.

As the US elections near, presidential candidates have upped their political campaigns to woo voters. As a part of his pitch during an election campaign rally in Michigan, Trump announced that he would reduce the prices of energy and electricity through the means of capacity expansion. He added that under him, the government would expedite environmental approvals and increase electricity production by over 100 per cent.

“I will cut the ENERGY and ELECTRICITY price in HALF within 12 months. We will seriously expedite our environmental approvals, and quickly double our electricity capacity. This will DRIVE DOWN INFLATION, and make AMERICA and MICHIGAN the best place on earth to build a factory,” Trump said.

But for Kejriwal, a reduction in electricity prices is equivalent to “free ki revri” or “freebies” being granted to the public. Trump clearly enunciated that he plans to reduce the electricity rates by achieving capacity expansion and doubling electricity production. Among the best practices followed by top companies around the world is expanding capacities to reduce costs. By scaling up production capacities, companies stand to benefit from economies of scale and could, therefore, provide the same services or products to their customers at a lower cost.

However, despite being an IIT graduate, such elementary economics concepts elude Kejriwal, possibly because he is in desperate pursuit of finding a credible validation for his government’s ‘Freebie model’ implemented in Delhi. To this end, even though Trump talked about reducing electricity rates and not bringing them down to zero, Kejriwal interpreted it as “free ki revri” and patted himself on the back.

Kejriwal and even other AAP leaders, including Raghav Chadha, a Chartered Accountant by profession, couldn’t stop themselves from jumping on the bandwagon and co-opting Trump’s election promises to shore up the falling popular support to the Delhi government.

“Trump’s 50% off on electricity bills shows how @ArvindKejriwal has set the benchmark for governance globally! His governance model—affordable electricity, free water, quality healthcare, and free world-class education—is a shining example of welfarism done right. The world takes notice,” Raghav’s tweet read.

It is worth noting that while Kejriwal and Chadha are busy hailing Trump’s announcement as an endorsement of the Delhi governance model, the comparison between Delhi and the United States is misleading and erroneous, given that several factors differentiate one from the other. For instance, the United States is a country three times the size of India while Delhi is just a tiny Union Territory. The United States is far more resourceful and wealthier than Delhi, rendering the comparison between the two fallacious and farcical. The US can afford to offer subsidies for electricity consumption, while Delhi is for the first time, in 31 years, going to slip into a revenue deficit thanks to disastrous economic policies formulated and implemented by the Aam Aadmi Party government.

The city’s finances could fall into deficit for the first time by the end of 2024-25, as its expenditures are expected to surpass its receipts, according to a recent report from the finance department to the Chief Minister. Delhi’s revenues — which include tax revenue, non-tax revenue, receipts from centrally sponsored schemes, and grants from the central government — are forecasted to decline from the budgeted Rs 64,142 crore to Rs 62,415 crore by the end of FY25.

At the same time, revenue expenditure is projected to increase from Rs 60,911 crore to Rs 63,911 crore. Moreover, an additional Rs 7,000 crore will be needed for various capital projects that were not included in the budget. Officials noted that Delhi has historically maintained a revenue surplus, and this would be the first instance of a deficit since the legislative assembly was reconstituted in 1993.

Even though its economy is in dire straits, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is still boasting about the United States ‘following’ Delhi’s ‘Freebie’ model of governance. Clearly, with the Delhi elections due in the next few months, Kejriwal and his lieutenants have begun gaslighting the public into believing that their ill-conceived policy decisions now have international takers.

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