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Washington Post publishes leaked audio clip showing US diplomats wanting to be friends with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami: Read how US is warming up to perpetrators of genocide

Dibakar Dutta
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Washington Post publishes leaked audio clip showing US diplomats wanting to be friends with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami: Read how US is warming up to perpetrators of genocide

Ahead of the federal elections in Bangladesh, it has come to light that US diplomats are actively engaging with the radical Islamist political party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

The revelations were made by The Washington Post in a report (archive) published on Thursday (22nd January). The American newspaper had also shared a leaked audio clip of a closed-door media interaction between a US diplomat and some female Bangladeshi journalists, which occurred on 1st December last year at the US embassy in Dhaka.

According to the report, the United States is warming up to Jamaat-e-Islami in anticipation of the latter’s victory in Bangladesh’s upcoming federal election. In the audio recording, the unnamed US diplomat could be heard conceding that Bangladesh has ‘shifted Islamic’ and that it was in the best interests of the US to be friends with the radical Islamist party.

“We want them to be our friends,” he was heard saying in the leaked audio clip that has now gone viral on social media. The diplomat also downplayed the threat posed by Jamaat-e-Islami to Bangladeshi society. “I simply do not believe that Jamaat can impose sharia,” he claimed to justify the renewed interests of the USinh in the party designed to come to power.

In the audio recording, the unnamed US diplomat conceded that the trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was not free and fair. He, however, lauded her conviction by a kangaroo court of Bangladesh and dubbed the move as ‘political genius’ and ‘impressive.’

In true American fashion, as the judge, jury, and executioner of international affairs, the US diplomat declared Hasina ‘guilty’ during the closed-door meeting.

When the Washington Post sought a response from the US embassy spokesperson in Dhaka, Monica Shie, she claimed, “The United States does not favour one political party over another and plans to work with whichever government is elected by the Bangladeshi people.”

This is, however, not true. In November 2023, OpIndia had reported how the United States government, its agencies and the embedded media were orchestrating a ‘regime change operation’ in Bangladesh to topple Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Attempts were made to distort the public perception of the Awami League leader and present her as an ‘autocratic leader.’ The US government interfered in the 2024 election process of Bangladesh under the pretext of ‘saving democracy’ and conducting ‘free and fair elections’.

Despite its all-out efforts, Sheikh Hasina returned to power with a strong mandate. However, the US deep State soon began working on its nefarious agenda.

6 months later, Hasina was removed as Prime Minister in a carefully orchestrated regime change operation. The task to pacify the Islamist forces and work as an asset to the US was given to none other than Muhammad Yunus.

Operation Searchlight, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the role of Jamaat-e-Islami

In the General elections held in December 1970, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League secured a huge majority (167 seats) in the provincial legislature in East Pakistan.

With constant interference in the affairs of East Pakistan by its Islamic counterpart, Rahman had begun demanding greater regional autonomy.

This was just within 13 years of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent, when Muslims sought a separate country of their own.

Although united by the common Faith, the resentment between West and East Pakistan towards each other continued to grow.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who won the most seats in West Pakistan in 1970 elections, was opposed to the demands of Rahman. He had threatened to boycott the Assembld sought the dissolution of the provincial legislature in East Pakistan if the PPP was not included in the government.

Miffed over the denial of power and autonomy to East Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called civil disobedience movement on March 7, 1971. Bhutto feared civil war, and President Yahya Khan, therefore, declared martial law and ordered the arrest of Rahman and other leaders.

In order to contain the civil and political unrest, the Pakistan army launched Operation Searchlight on March 26, 1971. Rahman, disillusioned by the high-handedness of West Pakistan, had already called for independence from West Pakistan.

The Pakistani soldiers launched their attack on the Bengali population in Rajararbagh and the Peelkhana area. They put Mujibur Rahman behind bars and ambushed theUniversityversity, resulting in the death of 9 teachers and 200 students in Iqbal Hal.

Similarly, the Pakistan army continued with its barbaric attacks on civilians in Old Dhaka, Tejgaon, Indira Road, Mirpur, Kalabagan and other places.

On the same night, several people in Chittagong were shot dead by the army personnel. National newspapers, including Daily Ittefaq, the Daily Sangbad,ily Sangbad, were shut down, and their offices were set ablaze, resulting in the death of several media personnel. Mass graves were dug out and hastily bulldozed.

An estimated 700 people were burnt to death in Dhaka. Similarly, they set fire to the houses of slum dwellers, fired bullets at those running away to save their lives, razed a Kali Mandir and also destroyed the Central Shaheed Minar.

It is believed that around 10,000-35,000 Bengalis were killed by the Pakistan army under the Operation Searchlight, while the death toll increased to over 3 lacs in the months to follow.

“Thanks to God that Pakistan could have been saved,” Bhutto had famously remarked.

The genocide against the Bengali population intensified. In the months to follow, around 4 lac Bengali women were raped by the Pakistan army, with a majority of the victims being Hindus.

All these atrocities and crimes against humanity, committed by the Pakis,tani Army were made possible by members of Jamaat-e-Islami, which operated 3 armed outfits named ‘Al Badr’, ‘Al Shams’ and ‘Razakars’.

The situation worsened, forcing neighbouring India to step in to prevent the further continuation of genocide. In 14 days, Pakistani forces under AK Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender, and thu,s a new nation of Bangladesh was born on 16th December 1971.

The International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh), established in 2010, found 10 extremists associated with Jamaat-e-Islami ‘complicit’ in the 1971 genocide.

These include

  1. Abdul Kader Mullah (executed in December 2013)
  2. Ghulam Azam
  3. Muhammad Kamaruzzaman (executed in April 2015)
  4. Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
  5. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid (executed in November 2015)
  6. Abul Kalam Azad
  7. Motiur Rahman Nizami (executed in May 2016)
  8. Mir Quasem Ali (executed in September 2016)
  9. Abul Kalam Muhammad Yusuf
  10. Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin

Ghulam Azam and Abul KaMuhammadma d Yusuf di, ed in 2014, while Delwar Hossain Sayeedi expired in 2023 of natural causes. Abul Kalam Azad remains absconding to date. Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin is now a British citizen and has not been arrested.

5 extremists associated with ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ Bangladesh were hanged to death between December 2013 and September 2016.

Targeted violence against Hindus by Jamaat-e-Islami after the 1971 genocide

On 6th December 1992, a strong mob of 5000 Muslim men, armed with bamboo sticks and rods, tried to storm a cricket match played between India and Bangladesh at the Dhaka National Stadium.

Screengrab of the 1992 news report by United Press International

Their attempts were foiled by the police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the frenzied mob. As per a report by United Press International, a mob of 1000 Muslim men barged into the Hindu Shiva temple in the Thatari Bazar district of Dhaka and razed it to the ground.

Islamists also attacked a Hindu temple in the Narinda district and gravely injured an 88-year-old Hindu priest in a bomb attack. The Muslim mob also tried to break into the Dhakeswari Mandir in Dhaka.

They also looted shops belonging to the Hindus and smashed the cars of the minority community with sticks and iron bars.

According to the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), the pogrom was executed by the radical Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, which was an alliance partner of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The riots were not spontaneous but rather well-planned. An estimated 2400 Hindu women were gang raped, and 3500 temples and religious establishments were destroyed by frenzied Muslim mobs.

Over 28000 homes and 2500 commercial buildings belonging to the Hindu community were razed. An estimated 700 Hindus were killed in the carnage. The numbers were conservative, as acknowledged by several prominent politicians at that time.

Screengrab of the BBC report

After Jamaat-e-Islami won the 2001 Bangladesh election alongside its ally BNP, unspeakable atrocities were committed on the Hindu community. Many Bangladeshi Hindus were forced to flee the country after the planned carnage.

“Hindu leaders said there were a series of attacks against them, including murder, looting and rap,e which began as the results were announced. They said Islamist parties and the BNP targeted them because they supported the rival Awami League political party in those elections,” a report by BBC stated.

Hindu temple vandalised in 2013 attack

In February 2013, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing ‘Islami Chhatra Shibir’ attacked over 50 Hindu temples and targeted more than 1,500 houses and businesses of the persecuted minority community. They carried out arson in several districts of Bangladesh, such as Gaibandha, Chittagong, Rangpur, Sylhet, Bogra, etc.

A year later, in February 2014, BNP members and Jamaat-e-Islami extremists launched 160 attacks on the Hindu community.

On 12th February this year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a 104-page report [pdf] detailing atrocities committed against vulnerable Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

The report is titled ‘Human Rights Violations and Abuses related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh.’ 

It found that a majority of attacks on the Hindu community took place during ‘victory processions’ of individuals, celebrating the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

OHCHR noted that the attackers were local supporters of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Page 62 of the report stated –

“Some local members and supporters of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami opposition parties bear responsibility for human rights abuses committed during revenge attacks, including against members of the Hindu community

In September 2024, human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger Asad Noor revealed that Hindus were being forced to join the ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.’

Noor informed that members of the radical Islamist outfit visited Kalmati Ward No.2 in Khuniagach Union of Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila. They preyed upon 27 poor, destitute Hindus and forced them to join ‘Jamaat-e-Islami.’

According to Asad Noor, the radicals threatened to kill the victims and remove them from the nation. Forced by circumstances, the impoverished Hindus had to comply with their diktat. The Jamaat-e-Islami members coerced them into signing some forms and gave them Islamic books to brainwash them into changing their Hindu Faith.

Hafiz Mohammed Shah Alam, the Assistant Secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami (Lalmonirhat Branch), was present during the forced induction of Hindus into the radical outfit.

Conclusion

As the world’s oldest democracy, the United States takes a keen interest in the smooth functioning of other nations but often topples democratically elected governments to bring regimes to power that are sympathetic to its cause.

The regime change operation in August 2024 in Bangladesh and the subsequent empowerment of radical Islamists is an example of one such abuse of power.

While the US claims to be the ‘land of the free’, the nation is ever happy to uplift regimes and groups that curtail the freedom of women, religious and ethnic minorities, as long as it serves its sinister purpose.

Nothing else explains why the United States is warming up to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which has a proven track record of oppressing women, committing genocide and perpetrating atrocities on Hindus and other minorities.

The potential rise of this radical Islamist outfit to the power corridors of Bangladesh is a blow to the harmony and societal fabric of the nation that believes in the essence of democracy. This is besides threats of imminent regional instability, terrorism and innumerable security challenges.

Vasant Panchami is not the beginning of Vasant Ritu: Read how most wishes and posts on Saraswati Puja have this common misconception

Shraddha Pandey
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Vasant Panchami is not the beginning of Vasant Ritu: Read how most wishes and posts on Saraswati Puja have this common misconception

This year, India is celebrating Vasant Panchami on 23rd January. Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival of honouring Maa Saraswati, the deity of knowledge and wisdom. In the posts and wishes, many people on social media are mistakenly claiming that Vasant Panchami marks the change in Ritu or season.

In this vein, one X user wrote, “Welcome the spring season with happiness and excitement. May the bright hues of Vasant Panchami fill your life with warmth and positivity. Cherish the wonderful renewal that nature brings.”

Another one posted, “Vasant Panchami’s speciality lies in celebrating the arrival of spring (Vasant Ritu) and honouring Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, music, and arts, marked by wearing yellow.”

Similarly, another X user wrote, “Basant Panchami (also known as Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja) is a beautiful Hindu festival celebrated to welcome the arrival of spring (Vasant Ritu) and to honour Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, music, arts, and learning.”

Another X user called Vasant Panchami as the occasion of the arrival of ‘Rituraj Vasant’ or the king of all seasons.

Why is Vasant Panchami celebrated?

Vasant Panchami is celebrated to mark the Prakatya or manifestation of Maa Saraswati. In her four-armed form, the deity carries a Veena, a book symbolising the Vedas and wisdom, a Jaap Mala or rosary, and a lotus. Vasant Panchami falls on the Shukla Paksha or the bright half of the lunar month of Magha.

As per the Puranic texts, when Lord Brahma created the universe, the visible world existed, but it lacked sound, communication, and expression. Silence and stillness pervaded all around. Brahma was dissatisfied with this imperfection.

With Lord Vishnu’s permission, Brahma sprinkled water from his kamandalu. As the water fell on the earth, it vibrated, and a divine power manifested. This power was Goddess Saraswati, who held a veena, a book, a garland, and a boon gesture in her hands.

It is believed that when Maa Saraswati played the Veena, the universe gained speech. Animals, birds, humans, water, and air, all were imbued with sound and consciousness. This day was celebrated as Vasant Panchami and is celebrated as Saraswati Jayanti.

In the Rig Veda, the oldest and authoritative text of the Hindu Dharma, Maa Saraswati is glorified in Mandala 6 (Suktam 61) and & 7 as “purifying water of knowledge”.

The Rig Veda describes Saraswati as the best of the mothers (Ambitame), rivers (naditame), and goddesses (devitame).

अम्बि॑तमे॒ नदी॑तमे॒ देवि॑तमे॒ सर॑स्वति । अ॒प्र॒श॒स्ता इ॑व स्मसि॒ प्रश॑स्तिमम्ब नस्कृधि ॥
अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति । अप्रशस्ता इव स्मसि प्रशस्तिमम्ब नस्कृधि ॥ (2.41.16)

As Maa Saraswati is revered as the divine giver of knowledge and wisdom, students, teachers, writers, poets, artists, and musicians especially worship Saraswati on this auspicious day. 

As Vasant Panchami comes weeks after Makar Sankranti, when the sun enters the northern hemisphere, Vasant Panchami has associations with anticipation or preparation for the arrival of Vasant Ritu, or Spring, which marks the end of winter’s chill; it does not mark the change in Ritu.

Vasant Panchami is an auspicious occasion of worship of Maa Sharda (another name of Maa Saraswati, to seek the divine’s blessings for knowledge, intellect, and auspicious activities like marriage, etc.

Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami is celebrated in different forms across India. In West Bengal, and Odisha it is a major festival celebrating Saraswati Pooja in homes and educational institutions. In Rajasthan, Mathura, and Vrindavan, cultural festivals are celebrated with fervour. In Punjab, the festival is celebrated with kite flying, mustard fields, and folk songs.

Vasant Panchami does not mark the arrival of Vasant Ritu

In Hindu tradition, a year is divided into six Ritus: Shishir (late winter), Vasant (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), and Hemant (early winter). These Ritus are grouped into northern or Uttarayana and southern or Dakshinayana solstices.

Contrary to the prevalent misconception, Vasant Panchami is not a celebration of the arrival of Vasant Ritu. This is because Vasant Panchami falls within the Shishir Ritu. Vasant Panchami falls within the month of Magha, which is a part of Shishir Ritu or the winter season. This spans roughly mid-January to mid-March, corresponding to the months of Magha and Phalguna.

Vasant Ritu, or the spring season, begins much later than Vasant Panchami. The Vasant Ritu starts in the months of Chaitra and Vaishakha, which is around mid-March to mid-May. It aligns with the vernal equinox and warmer blooming weather conditions.

Simply put, Vasant Panchami’s name may evoke anticipation of spring, although it is just a misnomer; the actual seasonal shift is based on solar movements and astronomical alignments, and not the lunar date of the pooja. As per Vedic astronomical calculations, Spring or Vasant starts with the sun in Pisces-Aries or Meena-Mesha, after Shishir.

In 2026, Vasant Ritu will begin on February 18th and end on April 20th.

EGI, Press Club outrage after police summon ‘journalists’ who spread propaganda against terror financing linked to mosques and madrasas? Here’s what we know so far

Amit Kelkar
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EGI, Press Club outrage after police summon ‘journalists’ who spread propaganda against terror financing linked to mosques and madrasas? Here’s what we know so far

A fresh political and media storm has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after the police summoned several journalists for reports that questioned a security-driven exercise to collect information on mosques and madrasas in the Valley. While media bodies and regional political actors have portrayed the move as an assault on press freedom, the episode has once again revealed how influential institutions are quick to delegitimise counter-terror measures and transparency seeking efforts in one of India’s most volatile regions, often at the cost of obscuring long-established terror financing networks and shielding frameworks that have been at the forefront of terror-related incidents in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir shares a highly sensitive boundary with Pakistan, a country repeatedly flagged by global watchdogs, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), for sponsoring terrorism. Against this backdrop, India’s security establishment has increasingly focused on choking terror funding, widely acknowledged as the lifeline of militancy in the Valley.

Police drive aligned with the Centre’s focus on terror finance

The current police exercise, described by some reports as “profiling” of mosques, cannot be viewed in isolation to the broader framework of the Modi government’s policy to strike at the root cause of terrorism: financing.

Security agencies have consistently maintained that while mosques and madrasas are legitimate religious institutions, a fraction of them have historically been misused as conduits for raising and laundering funds for extremist organisations, often under the garb of charity, donations, or religious collections. Back in 1990s, it was reported that mosque speakers were used by terrorists to threaten Kashmiri Pandits to abandon their homes and leave the valley.

With this precedent, seeking basic information such as contact details, sect affiliation, and financial records of clerics is standard counter-terror financing practice, especially in regions vulnerable to radicalisation and foreign-backed militancy, especially one that shares a long Line of Actual control with an enemy nation that routinely sends terrorists across to destabilise India.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s drive is not an isolated action but a continuation of a strategy that has already demonstrated tangible results.

Lessons from the past: choking funds, ending street violence

One of the most visible successes of India’s crackdown on terror financing came after agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began systematically targeting hawala networks, separatist funding channels, and Pakistan-linked handlers operating through NGOs and religious fronts.

This financial squeeze led to a dramatic reduction in stone-pelting incidents across the Valley, once a near-daily occurrence that paralysed civilian life and served as a pressure tactic for terror groups. Investigations revealed that many of these protests were not spontaneous but were funded through organised channels, with money distributed to youths for orchestrated violence.

Once the funding dried up, the so-called claims of seeking ‘azaadi’ collapsed.

High-profile terror financing convictions

The Modi government’s resolve to dismantle terror ecosystems was further underlined by decisive action against prominent separatist leaders.

Asiya Andrabi, head of the banned Dukhtaran-e-Millat, was arrested and convicted in terror financing cases for raising funds to fuel separatism and violence in Kashmir.

More significantly, Yasin Malik, the chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and long projected by sympathetic sections of the media as a “peaceful separatist,” was arrested by the NIA and later convicted in a major terror financing case. In 2022, a special court sentenced Malik to life imprisonment for illegally raising funds, criminal conspiracy, and maintaining links with terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The case decisively punctured the myth that separatist violence in Kashmir was organic or leaderless, instead exposing a structured funding apparatus backed by Pakistan and its proxies.

Journalists summoned after narratives questioned police intent

It was after reports framed the current police exercise as “surveillance” or “profiling” that journalists from national newspapers were summoned for questioning. The Indian Express confirmed that its Assistant Editor in Kashmir, Basharat Masood, was asked to sign a bond stating that he would not engage in activities that could “disturb the peace.”

Other reporters were also called to Srinagar’s Cyber Police Station regarding their coverage. While the police have yet to issue a public statement, reports indicate that the questioning related to how the exercise was portrayed, especially when ‘journalists’ in Kashmir are notorious for peddling narratives that could inflame tensions or misrepresent counter-terror measures as communal targeting.

Media bodies protest, sidestep terror finance reality

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) and the Press Club of India (PCI) swiftly accused the police of intimidation and coercion, warning of an atmosphere of fear. International advocacy groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Digipub News India Foundation followed suit.

What these statements conspicuously avoid addressing is the core security concern: terror financing through religious and charitable fronts is not a hypothetical threat but a documented reality in Kashmir. Global counter-terror frameworks, from FATF to UN resolutions, explicitly mandate financial scrutiny of institutions vulnerable to misuse.

By framing any inquiry into mosque finances as repression, these bodies and those questioning the police drive not only pressurise the police officials serving their duty but also risk insulating precisely those spaces that extremist networks have historically exploited.

Political outrage and selective silence

Regional political leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, objected to mosques being “singled out,” arguing that other religious institutions should also be scrutinised. However, past terror investigations have overwhelmingly linked militant funding in Kashmir to Islamist networks, not Hindu or other religious bodies.

The ruling National Conference condemned the summoning of journalists but shifted responsibility to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while also distancing itself from the police action. Congress leaders echoed concerns about shrinking press freedom, largely ignoring how terror financing methods have evolved since the 1990s and early 2000s.

The uncomfortable truth

At its core, the outrage over police summons diverts attention from a fundamental question: should security agencies hesitate to follow financial trails in a terror-affected region simply because religious institutions are involved?

The Modi government’s approach, targeting money flows, dismantling hawala networks, prosecuting high-profile terror financiers, and enforcing transparency, has already delivered measurable security gains in Jammu and Kashmir. The current police drive fits squarely within that framework.

By casting aspersions on such efforts and reframing them as authoritarian overreach, the media bodies and politicians with vested interests may be unintentionally, or deliberately, shielding the very mechanisms that sustain terrorism in the Valley.

In a region scarred by decades of Pakistan-sponsored violence, the choice before the Jammu and Kashmir police is stark: be weighed down by the fake moral outrage of media bodies and opportunist politicians or perform their duty conscientiously and confront the financial lifelines of terror head-on.

Pak-linked LeT recruitment and radicalisation case in West Bengal: NIA special court in Kolkata sentences Syed M Idris to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment; read what judgment says

Anurag
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Pak-linked LeT recruitment and radicalisation case in West Bengal: NIA special court in Kolkata sentences Syed M Idris to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment; read what judgment says

On 21st January, a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sentenced Syed M Idris to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Idris pleaded guilty to his role in a Pakistan-linked conspiracy involving the recruitment and radicalisation of Muslim youths in West Bengal for the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 70,000. The sentence was pronounced by Chief Judge Sukumar Ray. OpIndia accessed court documents related to sentencing.

On 20th January, the court formally accepted Idris’s voluntary plea of guilt in the long-running terror conspiracy case registered by the NIA as RC-20/2020/NIA/DLI. While Idris has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, further hearings in the case are underway against accused Tania Parveen and two Pakistan-based accused.

Court delivered sentence after guilty plea

Though the trial in the matter had already commenced, Idris expressed his desire to plead guilty before the court on 20th January. After informing him about the consequences of his guilty plea, the court found that the plea was made voluntarily, unambiguously, and with full awareness of its legal aspects.

The court then heard submissions from both the prosecution and the defence. It noted that the gravity of the offences, which included terrorism-related activities and conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India, demanded a rigorous sentence. The court observed that the accused had expressed repentance. However, deterrence and correction remained central to sentencing in such cases, the court said.

Case background and FIR details

The case against Idris stemmed from an FIR registered at Baduria Police Station in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on 18th March 2020. The West Bengal Police had received specific intelligence inputs regarding online radicalisation activities linked to LeT operatives.

The FIR was registered under Sections 121A, 124A, 120B, 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Section 66F of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

As the case was related to cross-border terror activities, on 3rd April 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the NIA to take over the probe. Accordingly, the NIA re-registered the case on 5th April 2020 as RC-20/2020/NIA/DLI.

Nature of the LeT conspiracy unearthed by investigators

Investigation into the matter revealed the existence of a covert LeT recruitment and radicalisation module operating in West Bengal. The module comprised around 20 to 25 individuals. It was working under the ideological and operational guidance of Pakistan-based handlers. Their objective was to carry out activities prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity, and security of India.

The conspiracy involved systematic use of social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications to propagate extremist ideology, glorify jihad, and identify impressionable youths for recruitment. According to the prosecution, the module sought to exploit communal fault lines, disseminate secessionist propaganda, and prepare the group for further terror activities in the country.

Role attributed to the convicted accused

According to the investigating agency, Idris, a resident of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, was not a peripheral participant but an active cadre of LeT who had been involved in the larger conspiracy since at least 2014 or earlier.

Source: Calcutta District Court

The court noted that Idris had actively abetted, advised, and incited individuals across India and abroad through cyberspace to further the unlawful activities of LeT. He was found to have participated in online propaganda, coordination, and recruitment efforts aimed at waging war against the Government of India.

The prosecution case established that Idris had conspired to overawe the Central and State Governments by criminal force and had attempted to mobilise support for terrorist objectives through digital means. These acts exposed him to prosecution under Sections 121A, 122 and 120B of the IPC, as well as Sections 13, 20, 38 and 39 of the UAPA.

Links to other accused and Pakistan-based handlers

Investigators found that Idris acted in concert with Tania Parveen, who was identified as the principal conspirator in the West Bengal module. He was also in contact with Altaf Ahmed Rather of Jammu and Kashmir. Tania Parveen was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police during a search operation at Baduria in March 2020, during which jihadi literature and other incriminating materials were seized.

The investigation further revealed that Tania Parveen was a college student and had been radicalised online by Pakistan-based LeT operatives. She became part of numerous extremist social media groups propagating terrorist ideology. She played a central role in recruiting local youths and maintaining contact with handlers across the border.

The NIA also identified two Pakistan-based absconders, Ayesha alias Ayesha Burhan alias Ayesha Siddiqi alias Syed Ayesha, and Bilal alias Bilal Durani, as part of the wider conspiracy.

Guilty plea and court’s ruling

During the course of the trial, Idris informed the court on 20th January that he wished to plead guilty. The court engaged in a detailed interaction with the accused and informed him of the consequences of such a plea. After recording that the plea was clear, unambiguous, and informed, the court accepted it, referring to Supreme Court precedents to underline that a guilty plea can be accepted even after the framing of charges, provided adequate judicial caution is exercised.

Sentencing hearing and submissions

On 21st January, during sentencing, Idris informed the court about his dependent family, including his wife, child, and ailing parents. He pleaded for leniency on the grounds of repentance. He further claimed that he wanted to return to mainstream society. Notably, when Idris was arrested from Uttara Kannada, he was 28 years old and living with his brother.

While acknowledging his expression of remorse, the prosecution pressed for maximum punishment, as the matter was related to terrorist activities and their long-term impact on national security. The court considered both Idris’s and the prosecution’s positions and concluded that probation or undue leniency would not be appropriate in a case involving conspiracy to wage war against India and support a banned terrorist organisation.

Detailed sentence awarded by the court

The court sentenced Syed M Idris to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 under Sections 121A, 122 and 120B of the IPC. Furthermore, he has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 under Sections 13, 20, 38 and 39 of the UAPA.

Source: Calcutta District Court

All sentences will run concurrently. The period already spent in custody during investigation and trial will be set off against the sentence as per law.

Status of trial against remaining accused

Though Idris has been convicted and sentenced based on his guilty plea, the trial in the matter will continue against Tania Parveen and Altaf Ahmed Rather. Both accused are currently in judicial custody. Furthermore, the NIA has secured Red and Blue Corner Notices against Pakistan-based absconders, namely Ayesha and Bilal.

Landmark step towards Viksit Bharat: Modi govt approves ₹5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI to enhance MSME credit, create job opportunities for youth

OpIndia Staff
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Landmark step towards Viksit Bharat: Modi govt approves ₹5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI to enhance MSME credit, create job opportunities for youth

The central government has made a significant decision to enhance the MSME sector. On 21st January (Wednesday), an equity infusion of ₹5,000 crore into the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) was sanctioned, intending to bolster its financial standing. The move will also enable easier alongside more affordable access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) throughout the nation with the aim to generate new job opportunities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to social media to inform about the pivotal decision and remarked, “Today’s cabinet decision relating to providing equity support to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will benefit countless MSMEs thus contributing to a Viksit Bharat.”

The massive investment is going to transpire in three separate phases. The initial phase will see an investment of ₹3,000 crore in FY (Fiscal Year) 2025-26 followed by two subsequent phases, each contributing ₹1,000 crore in 2026-27 and 2027-28. The infusion of this capital will be determined by SIDBI’s book value, thereby increasing the bank’s equity and equipping it to address future requirements.

The MSME sector will be the primary beneficiary of this equity support. A notable rise in the number of MSMEs receiving monetary aid from SIDBI is anticipated in the upcoming years. This figure stands at approximately 7.5 crore at present but it is projected to grow by over 25 lakh new MSMEs by 2027-28. This development will further improve access to formal banking and financial services for small entrepreneurs.

The MSME sector is recognised as the largest job provider in the nation. Statistics indicated that it usually employs between four and five individuals. Hence, it is expected that the inclusion of around 25.74 lakh new MSME beneficiaries could result in the creation of approximately 1.12 crore new jobs. This implies that this program could create new job offers for millions of young individuals.

SIDBI’s loan portfolio will likely expand substantially in the forthcoming years, particularly due to targeted lending, digital loans and venture loans given to startups. This growth will also contribute to a spike in risk-weighted assets. Therefore, it is essential to uphold a robust Capital-to-Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR). The additional equity capital will assist SIDBI in addressing this challenge.

The decision will strengthen SIDBI’s credit rating, making it easier for the institution to raise funds from the market at lower interest rates. This will directly benefit MSMEs as they will also be able to access loans at reduced interest rates. The government believes that this phased equity investment will enable SIDBI to maintain its capital adequacy ratio above safe levels for the next three years even under stressful conditions.

Overall, this ₹5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI is part of the government’s larger strategy to make the MSME sector a strong pillar of India’s economic growth. This decision will not only empower industries but also accelerate progress towards the goal of a “Developed India” through job creation.

11 years of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Read how the scheme helped curb female foeticide and improved the male-female ratio

Shraddha Pandey
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11 years of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Read how the scheme helped curb female foeticide and improved the male-female ratio

The punya (virtue) of raising ten sons is achieved by raising just one daughter. As the Central government’s flagship scheme completes 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on 22nd January, that India’s daughters are creating new records in every field.

In an X post, PM Modi shared a shloka from the Skand Puran, which says that a daughter is equal to ten sons. Whatever fruit a mortal obtains from ten sons, that same fruit is obtained from a single daughter.

“In our country, where daughters are considered equal to Goddess Lakshmi, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign was launched exactly 11 years ago on this very day. It is a matter of immense pride that today India’s daughters are creating new records every day in every field. दशपुत्रसमा कन्या दशपुत्रान् प्रवर्धयन्। यत् फलम् लभते मर्त्यस्तल्लभ्यं कन्ययैकया॥,” PM Modi posted.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Beyond a slogan, how this initiative is creating a massive social impact

Ever since its launch on 22nd January 2015, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has played a significant role in addressing the decline of the child sex ratio (CSR), preventing gender-biased sex-selective elimination, including female foeticide and infanticide, and promoting the protection and education of girl children.

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign operates as a tri-ministerial initiative involving the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Education. It focuses on multi-sectoral interventions, including awareness drives, law enforcement against prenatal sex determination, as well as incentives for education and empowerment of girls.

 This initiative has significantly contributed in bringing a shift toward valuing girls, challenging the regressive norms and gender biases ingrained in society. Through means like school programs, media outreach,  and broader campaigns, the BBBP initiative has led to increased awareness about the significance of girls’ rights, education, and health, emphasising how girls play a crucial role in nation-building. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has contributed to encouraging families, especially in rural areas, to invest in their daughters’ education and promoted the economic participation of women.

This initiative has been integrated with other programs like Mission Shakti to improve women’s safety and empowerment, leading to a noticeable behavioural change as reflected in higher reporting of gender-based violations and increased community involvement in girl child welfare.

The BBBP initiative has boosted institutional deliveries and antenatal care, indirectly aiding in the lowering of maternal and infant mortality rates by ensuring safer childbirths. Data shows that the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has empowered millions of girls in the country, with more than 8.69 crore beneficiaries under various nutrition and welfare schemes.

The national sex ratio at birth (SRB) has increased from 918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24. This increase showcases the collective impact of BBBP in raising awareness around the gender-biased practices that negatively affect the sex ratio.

In addition, in 2014-15, 75.51% of girls were enrolled in secondary education. The numbers witnessed a substantial boost, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) increasing from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 79.4% in 2021-22. Educational initiatives under BBBP have been instrumental in this progress.

As per the government data, girls’ enrolment in secondary education or Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 78% in 2023-24. Meanwhile, institutional deliveries surged dramatically from 61-87% in 2014-15 to 94-97.3% by 2019-2020.

By 2025, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative expanded to all 755 districts, and funding was prioritised to districts with SRB below 918 receiving Rs 40 lakh annually. More than 4.1 crore Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts were opened by November 2024 for the financial security of girls.

What makes the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative a game-changer is its role as a catalyst for gender equality in sections of the society where daughters were deemed a burden, son preference was the norm, and female infanticide a riddance, not a crime. The BBBP initiative has contributed to preventing numerous sex-selective abortions by enhancing the SRB by an average of 2 points annually in targeted areas, helping improve demographic balance.

Higher education and improved health for girls translate into a skilled workforce. The partial economic impact of the BBBP can be noted as female labour force participation increased to 41.7% by 2023-24.

In Uttar Pradesh, SRB improved from 925 in 2015-16 to 939 by 2019-21, with incremental gains into 2025.

A major success of the BBBP initiative resulted in the reduction of female foeticide and improvement in the male-female ratio in states like Haryana. The BBBP combated female foeticide by ensuring strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT), raids on illegal clinics, and broader awareness campaigns against sex determination.

In 2014-15, Haryana was among the states with the lowest SRBs of 871-876; however, with the Modi government’s efforts, the state saw a dramatic jump to 923 in 2025, recoding highest figures in five years, going up by 13 points from 910 in 2024. The credit goes to stricter law enforcement, hundreds of annual community events promoting girl births, among other efforts. The Panchkula district led with SRB 971, followed by Fatehabad (961) and Panipat (951).

In Haryana, over 65,000 girls have been saved from being killed due to foeticide. Between the years 2015 and 2025, more than 1,375 FIRs were registered under the PNDT (Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) and MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) Acts. These cases were registered against medical practitioners and ultrasound centre owners, with official records indicating a sustained campaign even in the year 2020, when Covid pandemic was at its peak.

In 2025, the police conducted 218 inter-state PNDT raids in Uttar Pradesh, the highest, 89 in Delhi, 83 in Punjab and 26 in Rajasthan.

In Uttar Pradesh, SRB surged from 879-925 pre-2020 to 903-939 by mid-2020s as the BBBP initiative expanded to all 75 districts. Overall, 115 districts across the country showed a positive child sex ratio by 2022-23, with low-SRB states like Punjab and Rajasthan registering similar upticks.

While regional gaps and cultural biases may not have ended entirely, the success of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme shows that consistent efforts can bring real and positive change on the ground.

Punjab: Amritsar police arrest Sikh man for desecrating Hindu deity images, Hindu activist flags rising attacks; Exclusive details

Anurag
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Punjab: Amritsar police arrest Sikh man for desecrating Hindu deity images, Hindu activist flags rising attacks; Exclusive details

On 21 January, Amritsar Police arrested a Sikh man for desecrating images of Hindu deities. The accused, identified as Rajinder Singh, was seen in a viral video stepping on a banner with images of Hindu deities. Following a complaint filed by the National President of the All India Hindu Sangharsh Committee, Sachin Mehra, an FIR was registered at the Division D Police Station of Amritsar under Section 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). OpIndia accessed a copy of the FIR and spoke to the complainant, who detailed how the incident came to light and how police acted in the matter swiftly.

Background of the case

According to media reports, two separate videos from Amritsar surfaced on social media showing a man desecrating images of Hindu deities. In the first video, which was around 52 seconds long, the accused, wearing a jacket and a turban, was seen standing in the rear portion of a residential premises.

The video was recorded from a nearby rooftop, capturing him picking up a broom and then stepping onto banners bearing images of Hindu gods and goddesses. He was seen repeatedly kicking the images with his shoes, wiping the soles of his footwear on them, and then spitting on the posters. At one point, he also looked in the direction from where the video was being recorded.

Later, a second video, which was around two minutes long, went viral on social media. In this video, a youth who identified himself as Naman Kapoor, district general secretary of the Congress Committee, confronted the accused at his residence in Gadda Wali Gali.

Kapoor stated that the viral video of the accused desecrating Hindu deities was recorded in the same locality. He was then seen slapping the accused and reprimanding him for his actions. After that, the accused was seen holding his ears, folding his hands, and repeatedly apologising.

He admitted to the mistake and sought forgiveness. Several people present at the spot scolded him for provoking religious tensions. During the exchange, some individuals were also heard disputing the accused’s religious identity, while others accused him of deliberately trying to instigate communal discord.

The videos triggered sharp reactions from Hindu organisations. They warned the police against diluting the seriousness of the incident by labelling the accused as mentally unstable. Amritsar police confirmed that a case was registered for hurting religious sentiments and that the accused has been taken into custody for further investigation.

What the FIR says

The FIR has been registered at the Division D Police Station, Amritsar, under Section 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to deliberate acts intended to wound religious sentiments.

Source: Sachin Mehra

According to the complaint filed by Sachin Mehra, he came across the viral video on 19 January in which a man was seen placing posters of Hindu deities on the ground and stamping on them. Mehra said the accused committed acts of desecration. Subsequent inquiries about the video revealed that the incident happened in Gadda Wali Gali, Namak Mandi, Amritsar.

As per the FIR, the complainant, Sachin Mehra, Pradhan of the All India Hindu Sangharsh Committee, stated that on 19 January 2026 he came across a video on social media in which a man was seen placing posters of Hindu deities on the ground and stamping on them, thereby committing acts of desecration. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the incident took place in Gadda Wali Gali, Namak Mandi, Amritsar.

Source: Sachin Mehra

The accused was identified as Rajinder Singh alias Raju alias Guddu, a resident of the same locality. The FIR noted that such acts caused deep hurt to the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Following verification, the police found a prima facie case under Section 298 BNS and initiated legal proceedings.

Rising cases of attack on Hindu religions symbols, what complainant told OpIndia

Speaking to OpIndia, Mehra confirmed that the accused has been arrested and sent to jail after being presented in court. He said that he had noticed the video circulating on social media and immediately sought details of the accused. Once the identity and location were confirmed, a complaint was filed at the Division D Police Station, following which the police acted promptly and arrested the accused.

Mehra told OpIndia that this was not an isolated incident and that he had previously filed multiple complaints related to the desecration of Hindu religious symbols, including cases in Ludhiana. He expressed concern that while Hindu organisations consistently take the lead in pursuing legal action, broader moral support from the Hindu community often remains limited.

He also highlighted the role of fake social media identities and WhatsApp groups that circulate abusive content targeting Hindu beliefs. According to Mehra, while arrests are possible when the offender is clearly identified, it becomes difficult for the police to act proactively in cases involving anonymous online abuse without sustained pressure and cooperation.

Conclusion

The incident has once again brought focus on repeated cases of desecration of Hindu religious symbols not only in Punjab but across the country. In this particular case, the swift registration of an FIR under Section 298 of the BNS and the arrest of the accused have temporarily calmed tensions. However, as highlighted by the complainant, the broader issue of organised online abuse, fake identities, and the lack of consistent community backing pose challenges in addressing such incidents.

‘One lakh fake forged birth certificates issued in two months through Central Registration System (CRS)’: All you need to know about Kirit Somaiya’s explosive claims

Jinit Jain
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‘One lakh fake forged birth certificates issued in two months through Central Registration System (CRS)’: All you need to know about Kirit Somaiya’s explosive claims

Senior BJP leader and former Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya on Tuesday alleged the exposure of a massive fraud in the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal, claiming that over one lakh fake birth certificates were generated within a span of just two months, November and December 2025.

Addressing a press conference, Somaiya stated that the scam extended far beyond routine administrative corruption and posed a grave threat to national security.

Somaiya alleged that the fraud was executed by hacking into the Centre’s CRS portal and manipulating official records. Citing what he described as “shocking” data, he said irregularities had been detected in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon, Parola and Yavatmal districts, as well as in Rae Bareli and Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. In several villages with populations ranging between 1,000 and 1,500, authorities reportedly found between 10,000 and 27,000 birth registrations. Notably, nearly 99 per cent of the entries were for individuals aged between 20 and 60 years, raising serious red flags.

Inter-state racket unearthed, arrests made

According to Somaiya, the investigation has so far led to the arrest of eight individuals linked to what he termed an inter-state racket. The prime accused, Avadhesh Kumar Dubey, allegedly carried out the manipulation using computer systems to falsify entries. Somaiya said he has already met Maharashtra Director General of Police Sadanand Date on the issue and plans to take the matter to the central government in New Delhi. He alleged that fake birth certificates were being used to “legitimise infiltrators” by granting them Indian identity documents.

Campaign against illegal Bangladeshi hawkers in Mumbai

Linking the alleged certificate scam to illegal immigration, Somaiya claimed that thousands of Bangladeshi nationals were operating as hawkers on Mumbai’s streets without legal authorisation. He said an intensified enforcement drive, undertaken with the support of the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Municipal Commissioner, had led to the clearing of several encroachments, including around the Mulund railway station area.

During the press interaction, Somaiya also launched a political attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. He alleged that in constituencies with an overwhelmingly Muslim population, voters supported the MIM, while in areas with 15 to 20 per cent Muslim voters, electoral support shifted towards Thackeray’s party. Somaiya claimed that political leaders who allegedly treat illegal Bangladeshi migrants as a vote bank were attempting to obstruct enforcement action.

He further asserted that those advocating what he described as the “greening” of Mumbai would receive a “fitting reply” from the BJP under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2026.

Donald Trump made himself richer by $1.4 billion after becoming President for second term, says report: Read details

Shraddha Pandey
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Donald Trump made himself richer by $1.4 billion after becoming President for second term, says report: Read details

Donald Trump has unabashedly been a megalomaniac, particularly after his second inauguration as the US President. After weaponising tariffs to arm-twist countries into signing pro-US trade deals, Trump claimed that America is becoming richer under his leadership, even as, in reality, it is American consumers paying nearly all of the price for Trump’s tariff war. An editorial review published by the New York Times on 20th January 2026, indicates that Trump, who gave the Make America Great Again slogan, is actually working avariciously on a ‘Make Trump Richer’ agenda, having amassed around $1.4 billion.

The NYT report titled “How Trump Has Used the Presidency to Make at Least $1.4 Billion” was published on 20th January, marking the first anniversary of Trump’s second presidential term. As per the report, Donald Trump has pocketed at least $1,408,500,000 since his January 2025 return to the White House, through an unprecedented exploitation of the office for his personal enrichment.

The figure NYT mentioned in its review is based on an analysis of various news reports. The report suggests that the $1.4 billion is a conservative underestimate due to undisclosed profits and ongoing revenue streams. This amount is equivalent to 16,822 times the US household income of $83,730.

As per the NYT, Donald Trump “poured his energy and creativity into the exploitation of the presidency,” allowing people, corporations, and foreign nations to funnel money into his personal pockets in exchange for US government favours. Unlike Harry Truman, who refused to commercialise his service, President Trump has qualms in indulging in massive moneymaking while in office.

From overseas licensing deals, Amazon documentary payment, to cryptocurrency ventures, and more: Trump’s ‘Make America Rich Again’ dream turns out to be ‘Make Trump Rich Again’ reality

Donald Trump pocketed at least $23 million from over 20 Trump-branded projects worldwide, including a hotel in Oman, an office tower in India, and a golf course in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These projects often require foreign government approvals, and at times, the Trump administration extended policy favours for involved countries.

In August 2025, the Trump administration imposed 46% tariffs on Vietnam, which depends heavily on the US for its exports. However, the tariff was lowered 20%, hardly a month later. This came after the Trump Organisation broke ground for a $1.5 billion golf complex in Hanoi. The Vietnamese officials ignored their own laws to fast-track the Trump family’s project.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh admitted that Eric Trump motivated him expedite the golf course project. It breezed through expedited permissions while, interestingly, Vietnam was negotiating a significant trade deal with Washington. The Vietnamese farmers who have been living and working on the land were instructed to leave their land with only $3,200 and provisions for rice in exchange.

The Trump family has also made over $90.5 million in total from companies like X, Meta, YouTube, Paramount, and ABC News. Trump raked in huge amounts from lawsuits he pursued from the Oval Office. Paramount paid $16 million over an alleged distorted edit of a 2024 Kamala Harris interview, which reportedly followed standard journalistic practice. Just three weeks later, the Federal Communications Commission “approved an $8 billion merger with Skydance,” the NYT reported.

In September 2025, YouTube agreed to pay $24.5m to settle a lawsuit over the suspension of Donald Trump’s channel over policy violation. Trump brought up a lawsuit against the Google subsidiary, accusing it of wrongly suspending his channel after the January 6 Capitol Hill attack. Trump had alleged that YouTube had “accumulated an unprecedented concentration of power, market share, and ability to dictate our nation’s public discourse”

Similarly, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, had settled a lawsuit with Trump in January 2025, after agreeing to pay $25 million. This amount went to Trump’s presidential library fund, while the $22 million from the YouTube lawsuit settlement went to restoration and preservation of the National Mall and supporting construction of the White House ballroom. The ballroom’s estimated cost was reported to be around $200 million.

The Trump family made around $28 million from Amazon for the rights to a documentary titled “Melania”, about the President’s wife, Melania Trump. This amount exceeded the next highest bidder and earlier similar deals, apparently linked to Amazon’s interest in antitrust regulations, defence contracts, and Jeff Bezos’s space company.

In May 2025, President Trump sparked controversy after agreeing to receive a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft, known as the ‘flying palace’, from the Qatar royal family as a ‘gift’. At home, Trump faced flak for accepting a luxurious gift from a foreign government. However, Trump defended his decision back then, saying that the US defended Qatar for many years, and that this is a gift to the United States Air Force/Department of Defence and not to him.

While the luxury aircraft was said to be used as a secondary Air Force One during Trump’s presidency, Trump has planned to retain it afterwards and transfer it to his library.

Besides, the Trump family’s cryptocurrency ventures have been the largest source of money for them. The Trump family have pocketed over $867 million via various cryptocurrencies, primarily from the family-linked World Liberty Financial (WLFI). These allow anonymous purchases by US and foreign investors, making pathways for influence. The UAE-backed firm announced a $2 billion investment in a Trump-linked company right after the US approved UAE access to advanced semiconductor chips.

In September 2025, World Liberty Financial launched a new digital currency called WLFI. Within hours of trading, the token had already created paper wealth worth as much as $5 billion for the president’s family. The Trumps collectively own just under a quarter of all WLFI tokens, instantly making it their single most valuable asset, even bigger than the family’s decades-old real estate empire.

Interestingly, US President Donald Trump is listed as s a “Co-Founder Emeritus” of World Liberty, while his three sons are co-founders and active faces of the venture.

The Trump family’s crypto fortune was not merely a display of business acumen and timing, but also tied closely to legislation and policy decisions that he himself has pushed from the White House. In August 2025, Trump signed an executive order that could funnel trillions of dollars from American retirement accounts into cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets. The order allowed fund managers to include crypto, private equity, and even real estate investments in 401(k) retirement plans, something that wasn’t previously allowed.

This opened the door to a $12 trillion market of retirement funds, giving a massive potential boost to crypto projects like WLFI. For Trump, who is now both a policymaker and a crypto entrepreneur, the move could significantly enrich his own ventures.

Such is the US President’s avarice that in his second term, Trump ended up coddling the same Islamic terror-sponsoring Pakistan that he during his first presidential tenure despised and criticised for sucking billions from the US in the name of counterterrorism in Afghanistan. Rewarding a defeated in conflict against India and victorious in Trump sycophancy, Pakistan, with a massive crypto deal, the Trump-family-linked crypto venture World Liberty Financial signed a Rs 17,000 crore cryptocurrency deal with Pakistan. This move reinforced the perception that Trump’s newfound affection for Islamabad has less to do with strategy and more to do with private business interests. 

Not to forget, the $1.4 billion figure is a lower estimate, with probable additional hundreds of millions from crypto and other unaccounted elements. The NYT report says that Trump’s action not only raises concerns over corruption, but also risks leading to a “cynical spiral” where laws are used as tools for the wealthy.

Clearly, Trump is blending political power and business acumen to profit from policymaking. Donald Trump has turned the presidency into a personal revenue accelerator. Trump Organisation’s 17-fold income surge in 2025 alone raised concerns over alleged corruption and blurring of the lines between public duty and private gains.

FF BOT at armament depots: Indian Army signs ₹62 crore deal with Swadeshi Empresa for “Made in India” firefighting robots developed under iDEX initiative

Rukma Rathore
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FF BOT at armament depots: Indian Army signs ₹62 crore deal with Swadeshi Empresa for “Made in India” firefighting robots developed under iDEX initiative

The Indian Army has taken a landmark step towards enhancing safety at the most critical locations and signed a contract to procure 18 indigenously developed firefighting robots (FF BOT) to improve safety at ammunition depots and other high-risk military facilities. On 13th January (Tuesday), the Army’s Directorate of Capability Development and Gujarat’s Ahmedabad-based startup Swadeshi Empresa Private Limited inked the ₹62 crore agreement.

The company has developed the system under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program. During the Vijay Diwas celebrations in December of last year, the bot was on exhibit at Army House. The first week of April is expected to mark its induction, and it is scheduled to be installed in several cantonments of the country.

The robot was first created for the Indian Navy, but the Army has bought it for the first time owing to clauses that let services acquire iDEX products that have already undergone testing by another branch of the defence forces. It previously passed a Single Stage Composite Trial.

This cross-service strategy speeds up the adoption of tested local innovations and prevents duplication of development resources. The Design Bureau of the Army supported the project in line with its efforts to produce homegrown technology and support military businesses through the “Make in India” initiative.

A two-year warranty and five years of complete maintenance are provided by the supplier as part of the deal. There is also a seven-year guarantee for on-site service assistance.

What is the significance of FF BOT

The autonomous ground system is designed for greater protection when combating fires in areas where they can spread swiftly and endanger infrastructure and people. It is made to function in situations where human entry can often be dangerous, such as those involving explosions, poisonous fumes, intense heat and the possibility of building collapse. 

It is intended for application in industrial facilities, oil refineries, fuel storage regions, ammunition depots and weaponry storage places. Firefighters are able to control the robot remotely from a safe distance. The system has thermal and optical cameras that allow live video feeds to be transmitted in order to better manage the situation.

Hotspots and hidden flames that are hard to notice through smoke can be identified via thermal imaging. This aids in enhancing situational awareness while combating fires. This enables firefighters to monitor the fire’s spread, evaluate the situation and make well-informed decisions in smoke-filled and low-visibility situations.

The FF BOT has already been deployed in civilian firefighting activities like the Visakhapatnam refinery. The officials highlighted that this proved its utility outside of military locations. Officials added that the robot can also be used in crisis response scenarios where access for human firefighters is restricted or risky including power plants, airports and fuel storage sites.

According to officials, the FF BOT is meant to assist firefighters rather than take their place. It lowers worker risk and facilitates a faster and more secure response during fires in areas of concern by allowing unmanned devices to enter the most susceptible venues first.

The system’s features and its functions

For mobility on challenging terrain, the system has a six-wheel drive with suspension. It has enough strength to draw fire hoses full of water. It is capable of towing up to five-ton vehicles and can spin completely on the spot as well as run at different speeds.

The robot has a self-cooling mechanism to endure extreme heat and is constructed from corrosion-resistant stainless steel. It is comprised of a winch, integrated lighting, optical and thermal cameras, along with other features. A basic control station with a large touchscreen and a joystick is employed for operators to handle the bot.

The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the system, which is the first iDEX Sprint venture under DISC-7, was given in 2023. Sprint stands for Supporting Pole-Vaulting in Research & Development through iDEX, Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), alongside Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC). Through the involvement of start-ups and private companies, it seeks to create an ecosystem for innovation in military and aerospace.

The fresh move is part of a larger worldwide trend towards robotic firefighting systems, especially at military bases, oil refineries, nuclear power plants and industrial complexes where fires can advance promptly and jeopardise lives or vital infrastructure. A small fire in a munitions storage could cause broad damage and subsequent explosions, which could interfere with operations and logistics.

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