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China proposes to build bullet train corridor to Kolkata via Bangladesh and Myanmar

OpIndia Staff
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China proposes to build bullet train corridor to Kolkata via Bangladesh and Myanmar

The Chinese Consul General in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu said on Wednesday that his country was mooting a 2,800 km-long high-speed bullet train service between Kunming and Kolkata, traversing through Myanmar and Bangladesh.

New proposed bullet train route. Source: ENews

“We are looking forward to bullet trains from Kolkata to Kunming. The whole of Asia will be connected,” said Zhanwu while addressing a conference on connectivity and trade relations between China and India.

“With joint efforts of India and China, a high-speed rail link could be established between the two cities,” he said in Kolkata, asserting, “It will only take a few hours to reach Kolkata from Kunming if the rail link becomes a reality”.

However, the Chinese envoy did not reveal whether the proposal was formally meted out to New Delhi through formal channels. The envoy also did not clarify whether the project would fall under the ambitious ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping or will be a standalone initiative.

This project was first considered at the Greater Mekong Subregion meet in Kunming in 2015. Mr Zhanwu adding that his country has been striving for the revival of Silk Route to increase connectivity from Kunming to Kolkata said that the proposed rail link would boost trade flow in the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor.

The Chinese envoy described India as a rising economy and said China wants to maintain stable relations with its neighbours. He added that despite the fall in the value of rupee lately, the rise of Indian economy is irreversible.

This proposal comes at a time when India is said to have sought Chinese investments in the North East states by connecting them with Bangladesh’s Chittagong port, which was shunned until now due to security concerns in the border areas. Latest reports have also said that the two countries have reached a mutual agreement over a ‘large segment’ of the boundary dispute in the eastern section.

Surrendered Naxal commander speaks out on how ‘jobless intellectuals’ deceive tribals

OpIndia Staff
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Surrendered Naxal commander speaks out on how ‘jobless intellectuals’ deceive tribals

In an exclusive interview to OpIndia.com executive editor Nupur Sharma, surrendered Naxal leader Pahad Singh has described how the so-called ‘intellectuals’ deceive and exploit the simple Adivasis and use them to further their agenda.

On being asked whether the gullible Adivasis who have been inducted into the Naxals cadre are discouraged and scared against surrendering, Pahad Singh states that Naxals leaders are always on the look-out for new recruits. He says that any Adivasi or gullible villager approaching them will be gladly inducted because they need people to do their menial jobs and act as their rubber stamp. The ‘jobless intellectuals’ as he calls the urban Naxals, want to keep the Adivasis backward and deprived of development so they can use them to further their own selfish motives

Upon being asked whether the Adivasis who have been lured into naxal cadres are aware of the government’s terms for surrender and the options available for them, Pahad Singh asserts that in most of the cases, it is not so. The ‘jobless intellectuals’ keep them ignorant and also actively instill fear in their minds that if they dare surrender to the government, they will be tortured to no end.

When he was asked if he had suffered any injustice and harassment after he had surrendered, Pahad Singh explicitly denies any such incident and asserts that scare-mongering is a part of the tools Maoists leader use to deceive the Adivasis and keep them from returning to the mainstream. He further states that all the propaganda being run by Maoist leaders is based on blatant lies.

Pahad Singh says the only message he wants to give the tribals who are under influence of the Maoist leaders that Adivasi Asmita (dignity of the tribals) and Maoists movement are two entirely different things and Maoist leaders have no regard of concern about the welfare of Adivasis. Referring to Maoist leaders as ‘Nithalla buddhijeevi’ (jobless intellectuals) he adds that the only way for Adivasis to obtain their rights is to come back to the mainstream and help the government to bring down the Maoists whose job thus far has been only to destroy the tribals culture and society.

He recited a poem he had written as a message to create awareness among the tribals on how the Maoists/Naxal leaders have exploited innocent tribals and had only inflicted mass murders and destruction upon tribal communities. In the poem, Pahad Singh has attempted to call out the hypocrisy of the Maoists/Naxals who cause deaths and sufferings for tribals while promising to fight for their rights. He has also slammed the attempts of Maoists leaders to support secessionist movements against India’s sovereignty.

 

MEA dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s claims, says reports on denial of permission to visit Chicago not true

OpIndia Staff
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MEA dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s claims, says reports on denial of permission to visit Chicago not true

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday dismissed reports that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was denied permission to visit Chicago to attend the World Hindu conference. MEA Spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar confirmed that the government had not, in fact, received any request for clearance for her visit.

In response to a question on the reports, Raveesh Kumar said, “we did not receive any request for the clearance regarding the visit of Ms Mamata Banerjee to Chicago for the event. The reports about the denial of permission are, therefore, not true.”

The West Bengal supremo on Monday sharply making references to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, described the cancellation of her proposed trip to Chicago as an “unholy conspiracy”.

While addressing a gathering at Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, to mark 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the Parliament of Religion, Chicago, Banerjee expressed disappointment over not being able to commemorate the occasion in the US.

Without taking names, Banerjee, took potshots at the Central government and said, “An unholy conspiracy was going on to stop me from visiting Chicago. It was an invitation from Ramakrishna Mission and I know that the Mission was threatened and pressurized to cancel the program. This incident created a permanent scar in my mind and I was very hurt,” she added.

The organisers of the event had, however, in a letter in June informed her that the scheduled programme was cancelled.

Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam defends his statement of calling PM Modi ‘Anpadh Gawar’

OpIndia Staff
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Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam defends his statement of calling PM Modi ‘Anpadh Gawar’

Keeping up with his track record of using derogatory language, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had called PM Modi an ‘Anpadh Gawar'(illiterate and uncouth) yesterday. Today, he has defended his statement by saying that it is a democracy and the PM is not God.


He has also added further defenses to his statement by insisting that what is to be told to the children if they ask about the educational qualification of their PM. He questioned that what are the forces that are pressurizing the Delhi University not to disclose his degrees even after claiming he had studied there.


Nirupam had yesterday objected to the documentary movie made on PM Modi’s early life being screened for school and college students. He had stated that what will college students do with learning about an ‘anpadh gawar’ person like PM Modi.

Nirupam had always been in the news for his derogatory statements and unparliamentary language. He had earlier shared sexist tweets against Textile minister Smriti Irani. He had also given vile remarks against the Karnataka Governor after the Karnataka elections results were announced. During a television debate, he had used vile and misogynist remarks against Union Minister Smriti Irani and she had filed a defamation suit against him.

Not only Nirupam, other Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar have also been using vile and derogatory remarks against the PM and other BJP ministers. Mani Shankar Aiyar was heavily criticised for his infamous ‘a chaiwallah cannot become PM’ remark, referring to PM Modi’s early life where he used to assist his father in his tea stall. Aiyar had also called PM Modi a ‘neech insan’ following which he was suspended from the Congress party.

Arun Jaitley denies meeting Vijay Mallya with ‘offer of settlement’ before he left for London

OpIndia Staff
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Arun Jaitley denies meeting Vijay Mallya with ‘offer of settlement’ before he left for London

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has denied meeting the fugitive business tycoon Vijay Mallya before the latter left for the UK. Mallya, today, while appearing at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court had claimed that he had met the Finance Minister and repeated his offer to settle with the banks before he left for the UK.


Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in a Facebook post earlier this evening denied the meeting Mallya before he left for the UK.

Facebook note by Union Minister Arun Jaitley

In his note, Jaitley said he has never given any appointment to meet Mallya. But since he was an MP of the Rajya Sabha, while attending the House, he misused that privilege to catch up with Jaitley while he was walking to his room. Jaitley says that Mallya paced up with him and said he was making an offer on settlement. However, since he was aware of these prior ‘bluff offers’, Jaitley told him that instead of him, Mallya should talk to bankers.

Jaitley says he had not even accepted papers Mallya was carrying. Other than this conversation, which happened when Mallya ‘misused his privilege as a Rajya Sabha member’, Jaitley had no other exchange with him and had not given him any appointment to meet him.

Earlier we had reported that Vijay Mallya told reporters in London that he has offered a “comprehensive” settlement to the government of India and that he hoped that the judges consider it favourably and everybody gets paid off. The Westminster Magistrates’ Court is hearing final arguments in the case, and a ruling is expected soon.

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam calls PM Modi ‘illiterate and uncouth’

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam calls PM Modi ‘illiterate and uncouth’

One-upping the Congress leaders’ habit of using foul language against the Prime Minister, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam today raised his ante by referring to Prime Minister Modi as ‘illiterate and uncouth’.


Questioning PM Modi’s educational degrees, Nirupam said, ‘those kids who are studying in schools and colleges, what will they gain by studying about the illiterate and uncouth PM Modi? It is extremely shameful that the citizens and children of our country do not know the educational qualification of our Prime Minister.’ Nirupam has also objected to screening of documentary of PM Modi for school children.

This is not the first time Nirupam used derogatory language for elected leaders. Earlier he had tweeted a sexist tweet on Smriti Irani after the fake news circular was withdrawn. Recently, after the Karnataka elections concluded, he had used vile and derogatory language for the Karnataka governor.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had also taken digs at PM Modi’s humble beginnings and called him a ‘chaiwalla’. He had also referred to Modi as ‘neech insaan’ which got him suspended from Congress. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad too has made a casteist statement on PM Modi by referring to him as ‘Gangu Teli’ (Modi belongs to the Teli caste). Congress leader Jairam Ramesh referred to PM Modi as ‘Bhasmasur’ during the run up to 2014 elections, a mythological demon.

Union cabinet approves 100% electrification of railways by 2021-22

OpIndia Staff
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Union cabinet approves 100% electrification of railways by 2021-22

In a signification decision, the union cabinet today approved electrification of the entire unelectrified portion of broad-gauge railway lines of Indian Railways. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Railway minister Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that major routes of Railways have already been electrified and are operational. Considering the requirement for seamless travel across the railway network, the bottlenecks caused by the requirement of change of locomotives need to be removed. The electrification of balance lines will increase operational efficiency, enhance the capacity of the lines and also improve the average speed of trains.

The Railway minister said that after electrification of the entire rail network is completed, the dependence on imported petroleum fuels will reduce, which in turn will improve the energy security of the country. He said, “After the planned electrification, consumption of high-speed diesel oil will reduce by about 2.83 billion litres per annum with a reduction in GHG emissions. This will also reduce the environmental impact of Railways.”

This electrification of the un-electrified broad-gauge routes will be done at a cost of ₹12,134.50 crores, which will cover 13,675 route kilometres of railway lines in 108 railways sections. The govt has set a target of 2021-22 to complete this project.

The minister informed that at present around two-thirds of freight and more than half of passenger traffic on Indian Railways move on electric traction. But, the electric traction accounts for only 37% of total energy expenses of Indian Railways. Due to this difference, after total electrification is completed, Indian Railway is expected to save ₹13,510 crore per year in fuel expenses, and this will, in turn, improve its financial position. The approved electrification will generate direct employment of about 20.4 crore man-days during the period of construction, he added.

The current NDA govt has been giving high priority to electrification of the railway network. In the financial year 2017-18, a total of 3,155 route kilometres of tracks were electrified, which was highest ever electrification done in a single year.

Trend of electrification of railway lines in recent years

The new ingenuously built electric locomotives deliver a power of 5000 HP, which is 92% more than they older locomotives. Therefore, total electrification will help in enhancing the haulage capacity of trains and lines. This move will also increase the average speed of trains as there will be no need to change locomotives when a train enters a non-electrified line from an electrified line, or vice-versa. Electrification of tracks also helps in improving the signalling system, which enhances safety on the tracks. The move will also reduce carbon emission to the tune of 24%.

Muslim woman killed by brother and father for being in ‘relationship’ with Hindu man

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim woman killed by brother and father for being in ‘relationship’ with Hindu man

In a suspected case of honour killing, a Muslim woman was strangulated and mutilated by her father and brother in Purba Burdwan district, West Bengal, for being in a ‘relationship’ with a Hindu man.

The duo, residents of Bihar’s Jamalpur, were arrested from Kolkata on Monday by Purba Burdwan district police, a senior officer said.

Police who on 31st August recovered the body of a woman whose face was mutilated with a stone, from an agricultural land around 19 km from Burdwan, said “During the post-mortem, we found two numbers jotted on her body, following which we got hold of the man with whom she was in a relationship.”

A police team then reached the Hindu man’s residence in Mumbai, who then provided the police with all the necessary details of the woman’s residence and family members. This helped the police to nab her father and brother, who worked as drivers in Kolkata.

The two admitted to killing the woman with a rope inside a moving vehicle, while they were taking her back to Jamalpur and then dumped her body in the agricultural land after defacing her face with a stone, the officer said.

Though this is a suspected case of honour killing, the police are also probing whether there were other reasons behind her killing.

This is not for the first time where a Muslim girl or woman has been penalised with death by her family members for choosing a Hindu as her life partner. In June last year, a pregnant Muslim woman was burnt alive by her family in Karnataka for marrying a Hindu man, while a Hindu man and his Muslim wife were killed in broad daylight by woman’s brother in Uttar Pradesh in November 2014.

There have been several instances also where the man has been castigated for being in a relationship with a Muslim girl or woman like the one we reported late last year where four members of a Muslim family, including a woman, had been accused of killing a member of their own family – a teenage girl – because she fell in love with a Hindu boy, who was also killed by them. Similarly, in September last year, a Hindu man was killed in Andhra Pradesh for being in a relationship with a Muslim girl. In March 2015, a Hindu man in Bihar was also killed as he ‘dared’ to marry a Muslim girl.

In another such incident, in February this year, a Hindu boy named Ankit Saxena was brutally murdered in Delhi for being in a relationship with a girl named Shehzadi from the Muslim community. The alleged murderers were relatives, including parents, of the girl. The Ankit Saxena case particularly gained gravity because this went on to become a classic example of varied media houses’ bias reporting where mainstream media tried to conceal the religious identity of the girl’s family.

Violent clashes between BJP and ally IPFT in Tripura, many injured

OpIndia Staff
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Violent clashes between BJP and ally IPFT in Tripura, many injured

As per reports, violent clashes erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the IPFT, its ally in Tripura over submission of nomination papers for the coming by-polls for panchayat bodies. The BJP and the IPFT are rivals in the bye elections to be held in 3,207 gram panchayat seats, 161 panchayat samiti seats and 18 Zila Parishad seats on September 30th.

“At least 15 members of the BJP and IPFT were injured in the intra-party clashes and subsequent police lathi-charge at Boxanagar late Monday evening. The clashes broke out when IPFT members went to file nomination papers,” a police official said.

Youth IPFT president Shuklacharan Noatia accused the BJP of attacking its workers. He said, “We are in an alliance with BJP in the state government. After mutual consultation, we went to submit nomination papers at Boxanagar. Some BJP leaders stopped us on our way. Later, BJP supporters attacked us with stones, bombs and sticks. Many of us were injured.” State Congress President Birajit Sinha has also accused BJP workers of attacking his party workers.

BJP spokesperson, Mrinal Kanti Deb, however, denied the allegations. “The IPFT is our ally in the State Government. There is no strain in the relationship. We also believe in a friendly, democratic electoral exercise and have not attacked Congress supporters. These are baseless allegations,” Deb said. He also said “local issues” will not impact their alliance with the IPFT in the state in any manner.

A police official has also reportedly said that the residence of a BJP legislator was attacked and his wife and others were assaulted by IPFT members. “On Monday night, IPFT members attacked the residence of BJP legislator Birendra Kishore Debbarma and assaulted his wife and others at Golaghati,” the official stated.

The alliance has been sailing through troubled waters for quite sometime. Supporters of the IPFT had called an indefinite strike in May at Killa block in Gomati district after BJP leader and local MLA Rampada Jamatia was named the Block Advisory Committee (BAC) chief. BJP state general secretary Pratima Bhowmik had said in July that the IPFT was struggling to control its lower rung cadres.

BJP is, of course, no stranger to having conflicts with allies. The Shiv Sena, which is an ally of the BJP at the Center and Maharashtra, has been very vocal about its differences with the BJP and has vowed to contest 2019 general elections alone. Only months ago, TDP had quit the NDA government over the ‘special status’ demand for Andhra Pradesh. In the assembly elections for the 60 member house held in February this year, BJP had won 35 seats, while IPFT had won 8, hence there is no danger to the stability of the state govt this this conflict over panchayat elections.

Ahead of General Elections next year, although Tripura has offers only 2 seats in the Lok Sabha, the rifts with IPTK has certainly presented the BJP with a new hurdle to navigate. But there is no risk to the stability of Biplab Deb govt due to this conflict over panchayat elections, because BJP has 36 MLAs in the 60 member assembly in the state, while IPFT has 8.

Tension gripped as mosque sealed in Gurugram as part of drive against illegal structures

OpIndia Staff
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Tension gripped as mosque sealed in Gurugram as part of drive against illegal structures

Following sealing of a mosque in Gurugram by Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) as part of a drive against illegal structures, tensions grew in Sheetla Mata Colony.


A total of 11 illegal structures were sealed by the MCG. The multi-storied mosque was facing opposition because of the use of loudspeakers a few weeks ago which caused inconvenience to residents. Members of Muslim community reportedly gathered near the mosque in huge number accusing the authorities of working under pressure.

Reportedly, people had protested after a three-storied house was converted into a mosque and loudspeaker was used for azaan. A complaint was lodged last Wednesday.

When the mosque was sealed, a large number of Muslims gathered around claiming that the authorities have acted under pressure as there is also a church and a temple within 300 metres radius of the Air Force ammunition depot. Locals also justified the structure converted to a mosque by saying that there are other illegal structures also being constructed all around but the mosque was targeted.

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