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Rafale deal signed by the Modi govt is Rs 60 crores cheaper per aircraft than the UPA deal: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Rafale deal signed by the Modi govt is Rs 60 crores cheaper per aircraft than the UPA deal: Reports

Fresh documents have emerged in the issue related to the Rafale deal that indicates that the UPA’s claims of a more expensive deal finalised by the NDA government are false. According to reports, documents show that the NDA deal has finalised the Rafale deal in which each aircraft has cost Rs 59 crores less than the UPA deal.


According to an India Today report, a document prepared by the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force shows that the unit price per aircraft, after taking into account maintenance, weapon systems, stimulators, repair support and technical assistance will be Rs 1646 crores under the NDA government deal. The price under the UPA government deal would have been Rs 1705 crores.

The NDA government has negotiated the deal at Rs 59,000 crores for 35 Rafale jets while the UPA government had negotiated a deal of 1,72,185 crores for 126 Rafale jets without the additional features that the NDA government negotiated for.

According to Republic TV, the total savings is far more.

RAFALE DEAL VS MMRCA DEAL AS PER CRITICAL DOCUMENT:

AVG COST PER UNIT WITH ENHANCEMENTS
UPA: RS. 1705 CRORES
NDA: RS. 1646 CRORES

AVG COST PER UNIT WITHOUT ENHANCEMENTS
UPA: RS. 1627 CRORES
NDA: RS. 1372 CRORES

TOTAL COST
UPA: RS. 1,72,185 CRORES
NDA: RS. 59,262 CRORES

AVERAGE COST PER AIRCRAFT
UPA: RS. 911 CRORES
NDA: RS. 688 CRORES

TOTAL COST OF AIRCRAFT
UPA: RS. 110772 CRORES
NDA: RS. 24785 CRORES

WEAPONS + SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
UPA: RS. 15823 CRORES
NDA: RS. 8955 CRORES

INDIA SPECIFIC ENHANCEMENTS
UPA: RS. 9855 CRORES
NDA: RS. 9855 CRORES

TRAINING + TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
UPA: RS. 14027 CRORES
NDA: RS. 5897 CRORES

INFRASTRUCTURE
UPA: RS. 17884 CRORES
NDA: 0

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had yesterday held a press conference where he had stated that the price of aircraft was 9% less than what was quoted in the 2011 deal.


Reports also state that under the NDA deal, Rafale has made certain ‘India-specific’ changes in the aircraft’s weapons system which were not a part of the original deal. The aircraft under the NDA deal will reportedly possess the METEOR and SCALP missile systems which were not a part of the original deal.

The Congress has long been alleging irregularities in the Rafale deal despite several clarifications by the government. Today the Congress has moved a privilege motion against PM Modi and Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman for the same. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had lied on the floor of the parliament when he claimed that French President Macron had told him that there is no confidentiality clause in the Rafale deal.

Women journalists were ‘chosen’ to meet Rahul Gandhi based on ‘requests’, CNN-News18 journalist reveals

OpIndia Staff
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Women journalists were ‘chosen’ to meet Rahul Gandhi based on ‘requests’, CNN-News18 journalist reveals

Last evening, Congress’ Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi hosted women journalists where he ‘candidly’ interacted with women journalists, and even revealed how he is open to making way for TMC’s Mamata Banerjee or BSP’s Mayawati as Prime Minister if the situation arises in 2019.


While in one of the pictures, one could spot Mrinal Pande, Group Editor of Congress’ mouthpiece National Herald, Pande said the meeting held by Gandhi was ‘off the record’.


Women journalists, however, were seen fawning over the very ‘articulate’ Congress President.


Niha works with NDTV as per her Twitter profile.


Soni is special correspondent with The Week.


Sheela Bhatt is the Editor, NewsX, and also treasurer of the Editors Guild of India.

Interestingly any recording device like a phone, camera, was prohibited in the meeting.


Soon enough, Congress sympathisers were seen defending the Crown Prince.


Curiously, a lot of celebrity journalists, especially the ones which are Congress-leaning, were missing. Neither were they visible in the picture nor they mentioned the meet with Congress President. Some even wondered where Congress found 100 journalists, let alone women journalists to attend the meet.


But apparently, there were a lot of journalists from the Economic Times.


This makes one wonder what could be the criteria for being invited to this meet.

CNN-News18’s pro-Congress journalist Pallavi Ghosh, answered our question.


She explained the list of journalists who would be invited was curated on basis of ‘beat reporting’ and some who requested to be invited. She even said some were invited to meet Rahul Gandhi because they report on gender. She even cited ‘sources’ and said more hugs are on the way.


She then even explained how none of them took selfies.


But then, if you’re not allowed to take your phone or camera or recording device, one wonders how could anyone have taken a selfie. She then fawned some more over Congress President.


But considering there is no such evidence except for the word of those 100 elites who were present there, one would never know.

The Quint gives a horrid twist to Modi’s gift of cows to Rwanda

Ashish Shukla
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The Quint gives a horrid twist to Modi’s gift of cows to Rwanda

First, there is a picture. Then, there is a narrative.

The picture this morning captions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted 200 cows to Rwanda under the latter’s Girinka programme – one cow for one poor family, with the first female calf gifted to the family’s neighbour.

The narrative is revolting. The Quint publishes a report with the tweet which insinuates “lynching” for a cow smuggler—in this case Modi! (sic). The horrid website which was left red-faced on its reporting on Kulbushan Jadav finds it “just-for-laughs.” It finds it ironical that Modi is gifting cows to a country which is beef-eating. I tell you what the irony is: it turns out that those who referee against “trolls” and “fake news” are its marquee players.

Meanwhile another news, within hours of “gift of cows”, gets no narrative. Waseem Rizvi, head of UP Shia Waqf Board, asks Muslims to give up eating beef. Rizvi says “cow-meat” is forbidden (haram) in Islam. You won’t find this news in your Indian Express or The Hindu; Times of India or Hindustan Times. Nor in putrid news websites. For it would mean challenging the “Shias” of this country. Lest you don’t know, India has the largest Shia population in the world after Iran. Shia vs Sunni is a subject best shoved under the carpet. Why puncture the “Persecuted-Muslims-in-India” narrative? Why publicize it and make Muslims wiser?

May I request you to google “Are Cows Sacred to Hindus” and “beef-eating in Islam”?  You would find dozens of articles which would debunk the former and uphold the latter. As a Hindu, I know that on “pitra-paksh” (praying ancestors) feeding cow is mandatory. As a student, I know cow-fat on cartridges sparked the 1857 Indian War of Independence that shook British Empire to its bone. As a citizen, I am aware that banning the “cow-slaughter” is a directive principle in Indian Constitution (Article 48) with exemptions to a few states.

Yet, Hindus are tarred hypocrites. Don’t we see uncared cows on our streets? Don’t we make billions out of beef exports? Aren’t we snatching away the livelihood of thousands? Isn’t it an intrusion on “eating-habits” of the minority?

Who are we to tell them that uncared cows are strictly an urban phenomenon, or that beef export is mostly of buffalo-meat, or that illegal slaughterhouse can cause an epidemic and shouldn’t be seen as a job for criminals; or that eating habits can be mended.

It might be true that Muslims are fed on beef from an early age. It might also be true that this practice is an anathema to Hindus. But what’s undisputed is that “eating-habits” can be mended for the larger good. Even if you don’t do it, a public proclamation on the lines of Shia Board chief could promote amity, reduce polarization.

There are vivid, live examples of exemplary Hindu conduct in this regard. I am yet to come across any Hindu organization which encourages “sketching” of Prophet in the name of “freedom of expression.” In spite of intense attacks on Hindus’ faith, belief and festivals by motivated NGOs, media and occasionally even by the judiciary, Hindus have never stepped out of line. Not one instance, and we are talking of 1000 million Hindus in India.  (Yet “Hindu Pakistan” and “Hindu Taliban” are promoted, never pulled up by media).

Unlike Pakistan and Bangladesh, where minority Hindus have been driven out of existence, Muslims in India continue to grow its’ share in the population. There is no uniform civil code to hassle faith.  Many countries, who are a shining beacon of democracy, don’t allow such laxity to Muslims in the name of “Sharia” or “Quranic” tenets. For instance, polygamy is banned in the United States. Just being Muslim doesn’t give you the freedom to keep more than one spouse.

So Muslims can live without polygamy but they can’t without beef. What logic is this? Especially when beef-eating is not mandatory in Quran (I am not even matching Rizvi who says cow-meat is “haraam” in Islam). Just imagine the outpouring of goodwill if Muslims went public with the intention of forsaking beef. It would bridge the divide like nothing else in this country.

But that would keep rotten media and their website choirs out of business.  They report “beef-fest” with glee; semen-filled balloons in Holi, however fake, is never apologized for; and as in the present Modi gesture in Rwanda, a call for his lynching is made in the name of “just laughs.” Shias, meanwhile, are no Muslims in their eyes.

Copper dependant small scale industries in severe crisis after closure of Sterlite copper plant

OpIndia Staff
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Copper dependant small scale industries in severe crisis after closure of Sterlite copper plant

Small-scale industries which are dependent on the supply of copper for their operations are undergoing a severe crisis, following the closure of Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu, Hindu Business Line has reported.

According to the report, about 30 per cent of the workforce employed by electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing units face termination, owing to the shortage of copper. It is believed that Sterlite used to contribute to the supply of about 30 per cent of these industries’ copper demand.

As per Hemanth Mehta, who is the Treasurer of Copper Consumers Association, South India which represents about 75 units employing 20,000 people – they are in a severe crisis due to the plant’s closure as alternative sources of copper are two expensive.

He also claimed that the copper prices too have increased by about 10 per cent following the closure, which is a big amount for small units. Besides this, he also stated that the clients won’t be bearing the increased cost and it isn’t possible to import copper at such a short notice.

These fears have also been echoed by the Winding Wires Manufacturers’ Association of India, whose affiliated units were dependent on Sterlite copper for 50 per cent of their copper requirement.

As per a New Indian Express report, the now-closed Sterlite plant used to cater to about 40 per cent of the nation’s total copper demand.

We had reported that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterlite – P. Ramnath estimated that about 30,000 direct and indirect jobs are on the line following the plant’s closure due to violent protests. He also claimed that besides employees, India Economy as a whole would suffer owing to the shutdown as the country’s annual import bill would rise by $2 billion.

As reported by Swarajya, there are already calls made by Tuticorin villagers to reopen the plant who have praised it for supporting their livelihood, and for even helping them to meet their educational and healthcare needs.

Former diplomat now wants the United States to intervene in India’s internal law and order problems

Sanghamitra
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Former diplomat now wants the United States to intervene in India’s internal law and order problems

Former diplomat KC Singh, who was India’s ambassador to Iran now wants the United States to intervene in India’s internal matters. When US ambassador to India, Ken Juster, shared a tweet over his meeting with minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, KC Singh tweeted to ask him if they discussed the lynching incidents happened in India recently.

He insinuated that the recent events of mob violence were ‘human rights lapse’ and the US should take an ‘interest’ in them. Singh’s tweet was widely criticised by social media users.


Singh’s disdain for India’s current political scenario is not new. Earlier he had advocated for persecution and even jail for media houses and social media handles that do not support the kind of political views he endorses. His reaction had come after Times Now had run a simple report over how Pakistan is funding and propagating activities that aim to tarnish the image of PM Narendra Modi among Indians.


The report showed how Pakistan based digital activities peak in support of campaigns to free arrested Maoist and terrorist leaders. It also highlighted how much of the digital activities to spread discord and mistrust against PM Modi is sourced in Pakistan.

The striking similarity between the mindset of Singh asking for foreign intervention in an internal law and order problem and Pakistan asking for the USA’s intervention is rather unfortunate. Pakistan has always been an advocate of foreign intervention in an internal law and order problem of Kashmir and Singh seems to have resorted to the exact same tactic.

Singh’s Twitter timeline is filled with criticism of the Modi government and its policies, and criticism of the incumbent government is the constitutional right of every citizen. However, the problem arises when hate for a duly elected Prime Minister with a thumping majority turns into a toxic mix that doesn’t let the individual realise when that hate starts affecting the repute of the nation itself.

What is unfortunate that he is not even alone in his views. There exists an entire ecosystem which would gladly allow foreign interventions in India’s internal matters for any chance to malign the current government. The instances of lynching are unfortunate, but they are a crime and the country needs to take steps to minimise them. As if the selective outrage over lynching incidents based on the religion of the victim was not enough, such elements would gladly welcome foreign interventions risking the country’s sovereignty just to douse their political whims.

Hardik Patel, the face of Patidar agitation has been found guilty for causing a riot, sentenced for two years in jail

OpIndia Staff
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Hardik Patel, the face of Patidar agitation has been found guilty for causing a riot, sentenced for two years in jail

A sessions court in Visnagar of Gujarat has found the 24-year-old controversial Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is also the convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), guilty of causing a riot in 2015.


Hardik Patel, who was once the face of Patidar agitation in Gujarat, is now convicted for causing riots in Mehasana. Hardik Patel has been found guilty of charges related to arson and creating a ruckus at the office of a BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel.

A total of 17 people were found accused in the case, but the court has only found three members including Hardik Patel and Lalaji Patel, the leader of the Sardar Patel Group, guilty. The trio has been convicted under IPC sections of 147, 148, 149, 427 and 435.

The court has sentenced the convicts for two-year jail term and also was fined Rs. 50,000 along with the imprisonment. Earlier, the court had also issued a non-bailable warrant against them for not attending the court proceedings.

Hardik Patel reacted to his conviction said that he will continue to fight for social justice and the rights of the people from backward class. Further, he said, “Anyone can not solve a problem by staying at the same level it was created it – to solve it, one must rise above the level of the problem”.


Hardik Patel is also booked by the Gujarat Crime Branch on sedition charges after the large-scale violence in Gujrat in 2015 seeking reservation for Patidars. The Patidar Andolan in Gujarat had brought the state to a standstill in 2015 as widespread incidents of violence and clashes had caused intense law and order situations. A total of 9 people had died and the Army had to be deployed to maintain peace.

Narendra Modi government has attached more than 1,600 benami properties worth Rs 4,300 crores till June 30

OpIndia Staff
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Narendra Modi government has attached more than 1,600 benami properties worth Rs 4,300 crores till June 30

In a big boost to the fight against the black money, the government has attached more than Rs. 4,300 crores of benami properties in the country.

The income tax department has listed more than 1,600 properties in 14 different cities, which is believed to be valued at Rs. 4,300 crore till June 30. Benami properties are those assets which are bought by an individual not under his or her name. It can include properties which are held in the name of spouse, child or any other family members, for which the amount is paid out of known sources of income.


Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla spoke about various steps taken by the present government to identify benami properties. He said that the income tax department has set up 24 dedicated ‘Benami Prohibition Units’ to get data related to benami transactions across India.

Shiv Pratap Shukla in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha said, “As on June 30, 2018, provisional attachments have been made in more than 1,600 benami transactions involving benami properties valued at over Rs 4,300 crore.”

The Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 1988 was amended by the present government to provide more teeth to fight against illicit transactions and black money. The new law seeks to prohibit the benami transaction irrespective of the method by which such property, movable and immovable, which can be then acquired. The act prohibits any illegal benami transactions and provides imprisonment up to seven years and fine for violation of the Act which may extend to 25% of the fair market value of the benami property.

It is reported that the tax collections from foreign companies have gone up to Rs 27,561 crore 2017-18, from Rs 24,541 crore a year ago. The minister said that as per the provisions of Income Tax Act, a foreign company is liable to tax all income, whether received or deemed to be received, from any source in India.

Since coming to power, the present government has shown more enthusiasm to fight against this menace. The government successfully implemented demonetization and exchanged the high value noted to inflict damage on a parallel economy run in the country. Recently, the government cracked down more than 16,500 shell companies and has put another 80,000 companies under the scanner.

Recently, the Narendra Modi government has also introduced a reward scheme to clamp down on benami properties. Under this scheme, the person who passes on any specific information related to benami properties will be eligible for a reward up to Rs 1 crore.

Al-Badr, Pakistan braces a new weapon against India in Kashmir: Home Ministry report

OpIndia Staff
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Al-Badr, Pakistan braces a new weapon against India in Kashmir: Home Ministry report

As reported by DNA, the latest intelligence reports suggest that Pakistan’s ISI is making all possible provisions to re-establish the not so active terror organization Al-Badr, to carry out attacks in Kashmir.

The Home Ministry reports indicate that an extensive plot, where this terror outfit will execute simultaneous attacks in both India and Afghanistan, might be underway, which will help Pakistan to avert attention.

Pakistan-based Al-Badr terrorist outfit, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States, was formed in June 1998 with the professed goal of strengthening the ‘Kashmiri freedom struggle’ and to ‘liberate’ the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and merge it with Pakistan.

Al-Badr reportedly traces its origins to 1971 when a group of the same name carried out attacks on Bengalis in what was then known as East Pakistan. The group also operated as part of the Hizb-e-Islami (HIG) of warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in Afghanistan during the 1980s.

The Al-Badr, currently an active terrorist outfit in Jammu and Kashmir, was outlawed by the Government of India on April 1, 2002, under the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance-2001, which became the Prevention of Terrorism Act on April 28, 2002.

Al-Badr had been rendered defunct after its last surviving terrorist Muzaffar Ahmad Naikoo alias Muz Molvi, a resident of Sopore, was killed by security forces in Machwa area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district in January 2017. However, Al Badr recently released a 4:24-minute video of heavily armed, masked terrorists announcing their arrival in Jammu and Kashmir.

This terrorist outfit seems to be undergoing a massive revival on the terror map of Jammu and Kashmir. As confirmed by Zee Media’s Manish Shukla, Al-Badr has ‘recruited’ around 15 local men in Kashmir in last three months. The terrorist also claimed that they are aiming to raise their strength from its current 100 working for it with 200 joining them in the coming weeks.

In an attempt to become notorious, Al-Badr’s chief Bakt Zamin, addressing a rally in PoK, said that the group will become the ‘voice of Kashmir.’ Alongside, the group had also released a video warning more attacks. In the video released on 5th June, the self-styled Al-Badr commander was seen apologizing to the local Kashmiris, who were injured in the grenade attack in Pulwama.

As per the intel, other groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad are also helping out Al-Badr, the terror group, which was initially active in Afghanistan began its India operations in 1998.

What is alarming is that the new outfits divisional commander, Hamza Burhan, has threatened to target political activists and cops in the valley. “We want to inform people that they should not go near the posse of police, Army, CRPF or pro-India political workers. We will target the security vehicles and cops wherever we find them,” he said while also confirming that the outfit has the strength of 100 ultras and in next few weeks another 200 youth will be joining them.

Senior AAP leader and lawyer for 1984 riot victims, threatens to quit party if it allies with the Congress

OpIndia Staff
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Senior AAP leader and lawyer for 1984 riot victims, threatens to quit party if it allies with the Congress

Senior AAP leader and leader of opposition in Punjab assembly – HS Phoolka has threatened to quit the party if it allies with the Congress, PTI has reported. He was quoted as saying that he would be the first person to quit AAP if there is any sort of direct or indirect alliance with the Congress.

As per the report, Phoolka who has served as a lawyer for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has categorically stated that any understanding with the Congress would be equivalent to giving a clean chit to the alleged perpetrators of the riots.

Besides being a politician, Phoolka is also a lawyer who has represented the 1984 riot victims and has pinned the blame for the riots on the Congress party. He has also stated that he would keep continuing to fight for the riot victims.

Incidentally this episode sheds light on how the 1984 riots still keep haunting the Congress party and its political relationships.

We had reported this morning that Delhi MLA and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa had put up posters asking Rahul Gandhi to hug a victim of 1984 Sikh genocide, instead of making a show of hugging the Prime Minister.

The posters also insinuated the Congress’ guilt with regards to the anti-Sikh riots with the content stating that:

  • Rahul Gandhi, please don’t hug people to gain publicity, hug some people to try and heal some wounds that the Congress has given them
  • Hug Jagdish Kaur, whose entire family was burned alive in the 1984 Sikh genocide
  • Do you possess the courage to clear the hatred spread by your family?

In all a total of 3,325 people are believed to have been killed during the riots, with many Congressmen alleged to have directly participated in the carnage.

Days after Congress named him PM candidate for 2019, Rahul Gandhi does a flip-flop, says ‘open to options’

OpIndia Staff
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Days after Congress named him PM candidate for 2019, Rahul Gandhi does a flip-flop, says ‘open to options’

A day after the marathon no-confidence motion proceedings in the Lok Sabha, where Rahul Gandhi was hailed by the Congress leaning media for his hug-and-wink drama, Congress had held a Congress Working Committee meeting where it was decided that Rahul Gandhi would be Prime Ministerial candidate for the Congress in upcoming 2019 elections.


But days after announcing him as the prime ministerial candidate Congress President has reportedly said that he is open to backing other leaders from the alliance if they beat the BJP. When asked whether he would back TMC’s Mamata Banerjee, who is not very approving of projecting Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate, or BSP’s Mayawati, who currently has zero MPs in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi reportedly said he would support any candidate who is able to defeat the BJP and the RSS.

As per reports, Congress is also willing to accommodate leader of non-Congress or regional party as prime ministerial nominee if it gets the number next year or if there is a lack of consensus on a Congress nominee. The sole focus of the party is to oust the BJP at the centre, say reports. Some reports suggest that Opposition may project a woman candidate, like Mayawati or Mamata Banerjee as Prime Minister for 2019. Without giving much details, Gandhi said that Congress’ strategy for 2019 would be to seal the seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which form 80 and 40 seats or about 22% of the Lok Sabha.

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