Over a week after being elected as the Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal’s Baharampur on a Trinamool Congress ticket, cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan has received a notice from the BJP-ruled Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) for allegedly encroaching a civic body-owned land.
A former Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Vijay Pawar has complained that Yusuf Pathan has illegally occupied government-owned land in Vadodara. He raised the issue in writing to the Chairman of the Standing Committee, demanding that the plot of land be taken over by the corporation.
The notice sent by VMC to Yusuf Pathan on the 6th of June stated, “This is to state that the VMC had (earlier in March 2012) received a request from you to allot a land measuring 978 square metres in TP Scheme Number 22 and Final Plot Number 90. As per the process, your application was referred to the Standing Committee and thereafter to the General Board after the valuation committee decided the minimum upset value.”
“Thereafter the application was forwarded to the state government of Gujarat for approval in order to lease the land for a period of 99 years under a special case without conducting an auction. However, as per the reply received from the Urban Development Department on June 9, 2014, the request to lease the said land to you was rejected. The same had been communicated to you vide a letter… However, it has come to light that you have encroached upon the said land of the VMC and you are hereby directed to clear the encroachment at the earliest,” it added.
The matter involves a municipal corporation-owned plot near the Shubham Party plot in Tandalja, Vadodara. Yusuf Pathan decided to build a bungalow on plot number 91, which is adjacent to plot number 90 and requested the Vadodara Municipal Corporation to allot plot number 90. A proposal was prepared based on the Municipal Commissioner’s recommendation.
The proposal recommended allotting land to Yusuf Mahmud Pathan for residential purposes for Rs 57,270 per square metre without holding a public auction in special cases of security, in. addition, to granting all powers to obtain approval from the Government and grant security over the 99-year lease.
The proposal was submitted to the Municipal Standing Committee on the 30th of March in 2012 and was approved. It was subsequently submitted to the General Assembly for approval. On the 8th of June 2012, the General Assembly unanimously approved the proposal and sent it to the State Government for approval. However, on the 9th of June 2014, an official from the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department rejected the proposal. The Commissioner was told in writing that the State Government has rejected the request to allot land to cricketer Yusuf Mahmud Pathan as a special case without a public auction.
Former corporator Vijay Pawar has now filed a complaint with the standing committee chairman, claiming that the state government has given the land site in issue. Despite the rejection of the land allocation request, Pathan has walled the compound to build a garden and stables. Pawar questioned how the land could be occupied without the government’s authorisation. The argument is that Yusuf Pathan continues to use the land.
The BJP leader requested that this government land be opened up, and possession taken over by the VMC. He has called for adequate action in this case.
On Thursday (13th June), Standing Committee Chairperson Dr Sheetal Mistry informed that action can be taken against Pathan after two weeks. Mistry said that Pathan was served the notice of 6th June and given two weeks to clear the encroachment adding that two weeks is sufficient time. If the TMC leader fails to clear the encroachment on his own, then the committee will take further action. The Standing Committee Chairperson also denied allegations of the action taken in the matter being a ‘political move’. “I am not aware about the political move but this is a procedure of encroachment removal after it has come to our notice,” Mistry said.
Notably, Yusuf Pathan, who formerly played for the Indian cricket team, has recently entered politics, running for Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress from the Behrampur seat in West Bengal. In this election, he defeated Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, Congress leader and former Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
The BJP-led-Maharashtra government has courted controversy for strengthening the State Waqf Board through the allocation of ₹10 crores.
To this effect, the Minority Development Department of the government has issued an order to distribute ₹2 crores to the Waqf Board in Aurangabad on Monday (10th June). The remaining funds will be allocated to relevant bodies in the Financial year 2024-25
Reportedly, the Maharashtra government has earmarked 20% of its minority welfare funds to the Waqf Board this year. The development was confirmed by Islamic scholar Mufti Manzoor Ziai.
He remarked, “It is a matter of happiness that the government has given 20 percent of the money allocated for the welfare of minorities to the Waqf Board. The funds can now be used better…It was about to go. So, it is appropriate to release this money.”
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has objected to the allocation of ₹10 crores to the Maharashtra Waqf Board for “appeasement of one religious community.”
VHP (Konkan) Prant Secretary Mohan Salekar remarked, “This will never be tolerated.” He added that the BJP leaders opposed grants based on religion during elections but have now taken a U-turn.
Salekar cautioned that if the decision is not reverted, the Maha Yuti will have to face the wrath of the Hindu community in the upcoming local body and Vidhan Sabha elections.
“The allegation levelled by the VHP is serious and the government, specially deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should take note of it. Else there will be big problem during the elections,” a BJP office-bearer was quoted as saying by Free Press Journal.
In May this year, OpIndia had reported that the entire village of Wadanage in Kolhapur observed a bandh to protest against the land grab by the Waqf Board around Mahadev Temple. Several Hindu organisations and locals participated in the Bandh.
After landing in Italy’s Apulia to participate in the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is looking forward to engaging in productive discussions with world leaders.
He said that they aim to address global challenges and foster international cooperation for a brighter future. “Landed in Italy to take part in the G7 Summit. Looking forward to engaging in productive discussions with world leaders. Together, we aim to address global challenges and foster international cooperation for a brighter future,” PM Modi posted on X. Notably, India is participating in the summit as an Outreach country.
The summit is taking place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy’s Apulia region from June 13-15. PM Modi is attending the summit at the invitation of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
As PM Modi touched down at Brindisi Airport in Apulia on late Thursday night (local time), he was received by India’s Ambassador to Italy, Vani Rao, and other officials.
This marks PM Modi’s first trip abroad after assuming office for the third consecutive term. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed the Prime Minister’s engagements with the world leaders on June 14.
“Namaste! The Prime Minister of India has arrived at Brindisi Airport in Italy to participate in the G7 Summit. Tomorrow is a packed day for him. We have several bilateral meetings with the world leaders lined up,” Jaiswal said in a video. “He will also be addressing the outreach session of the G7 Summit.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, in his departure statement, said that he is glad that his first state visit in the third consecutive term is to Italy for the G7 Summit. He recalled his previous visit to Italy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visits to India which have contributed significantly to enhancing bilateral ties.
“I am glad that my first visit in the third consecutive term is to Italy for the G-7 Summit. I warmly recall my visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. Prime Minister Meloni’s two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth in our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidate the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions,” PM Modi had said.
It will be India’s 11th participation and PM Modi’s fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit. PM Modi is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On 13th June, News24 published a report claiming that if someone has 2 SIM cards in one phone, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) may impose a fine on them. The post on social media further claimed that the fine might be imposed in a one-time-payment format or annually and the mobile operators can recover the charges from the users. The confusing post by News24 caused a major controversy on social media with users accusing TRAI of imposing irrational charges.
Source: X
In a video, News24 explained that if you are using a mobile phone with Dual SIM cards and keeping one SIM inactive, you might have to pay a charge. However, this claim is misleading as TRAI has proposed that it should charge fees for inactive SIM cards to address the issue of inactive SIMs that are not being surrendered back to TRAI by the operators. The report further suggested that TRAI’s data shows over 219 million mobile numbers are inactive, causing a significant problem.
Upon search, we found another report by Navbharat Times on the same lines. According to the report, if you are using a mobile phone with two SIM cards and keeping one inactive, you might have to pay a charge, either as a lump sum or annually. The report suggested that TRAI has proposed the same. It added that mobile operators avoid deactivating unused SIM cards to retain users. However, regulations state that SIM cards not recharged for a long time should be blacklisted. Consequently, TRAI plans to impose fines on operators for not doing so, which might be passed on to users.
Source: Navbharat Times
Navbharat Times had quoted an Economic Times report for suggesting the Dual SIM theory. When we checked ET’s report, it read, “It is also considering whether to impose penalties on operators, who are holding on to number resources with low utilisation. For instance, a subscriber might have dual SIMs and not use one for a long period, but the operator avoids cancelling the number to retain its user base.” under the section “Unused numbers might face penalties”. Here, “For instance” caught our eye and we dug further to understand where this Dual SIM theory came from. The next step was to check TRAI’s actual document that talked about the proposal.
The proposal was part of the Consultation Paper on Revision of the National Numbering Plan by TRAI that was released on 7th June 2024.
प्रेस विज्ञप्ति संख्या 27/2024 – राष्ट्रीय नंबरिंग योजना के संशोधन पर परामर्श पत्र के संबंध में ।
Press Release No. 27/2024 regarding Consultation Paper on Revision of National Numbering Plan.https://t.co/AQC11neBSr
In the consultation paper, there is a section named “Allocation of TI resources on chargeable basis”. Here, TI stands for “telecommunication identifiers”. In simple terms, the phone number or mobile number of SMS Syntax allotted to the user is telecommunication identifier. These are a series of digits, characters and symbols or a combination thereof, used to uniquely identify a user. Under this section, TRAI discussed the scarcity of TI resources in India and ways to rectify the problem.
For those who are unaware, TI resources, which are essentially phone number blocks, are the Government of India’s property. These are allotted to service providers without any cost. The ownership, however, remains with the government. The operators can use these resources only during the tenure of their licenses.
A provision in the Telecommunications Act, of 2023 states that the “Central Government may, subject to such terms and conditions, including fees or charges as may be prescribed, allot telecommunication identifiers for use by authorised entities.” TRAI pointed out that allocation of these resources is chargeable in many other countries and it varies from country to country.
TRAI said that though the numbering system is not a marketable commodity, specific numbers are in high demand as they are referred to as “vanity/fancy/premium” numbers. Telecom Service Providers or TSPs, just like the RTOs, offer these numbers at a premium price.
Considering several aspects of the numbering system and demand, TRAI has proposed to charge for the TI resources. TRAI has proposed to either impose a one-time charge per number or per numbering resource block or impose an annual recurring charge for each numbering resource allocated to the service providers, including deactivated numbers of prior allocation but pending reuse.
Furthermore, TRAI proposed allocating numbering series excluding the vanity numbers for free, with the government conducting centralized auctions for the vanity numbers.
Last, but not the least, the point that resulted in the misleading DUAL SIM theory, TRAI proposed to “Impose some financial disincentive (FD) on TSPs who keep holding to X% or more of the allocated TI resources unused beyond a certain time frame. A provision can also be made for TSPs to surrender certain contiguous unutilized numbering resources back to DoT from the allocated numbering resource.”
We checked the document twice to make sure if there was a mention of charging users for having Dual SIM in their phones and we found not a single reference in TRAI’s document. As mentioned above, ET categorically said “For Instance” which means it was giving just an example or a hypothetical situation.
TRAI never said it would charge for having two SIMs on your mobile phone. TRAI has, however, proposed to charge mobile operators or telecom companies for the inactive numbers that the telecom companies failed to reuse or surrender back to TRAI, which according to law is a must. TRAI believes that if it imposes such a cost, the telecom companies might forward the cost to the users. Thus the agency has sought recommendations and suggestions from the stakeholders.
Furthermore, this is just a consultation paper. It is not the final documentation of the regulations for the National Numbering Plan of the Government of India. It will take more time for the government to decide if it wants to impose the charges on unused or inactive numbers in the future, which is highly unlikely.
Verdict: The reports by News24 and Navbharat Times are misleading. Their reports were based on a hypothetical situation given by the Economic Times report. TRAI has not mentioned anything about phones with DUAL SIMs in the consultation paper.
Kamaal Rashid Khan, popularly known as KRK, has been booked by the authorities in Uttar Pradesh for uttering derogatory remarks about Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). BSP district unit chief Sushil Kumar filed the First Information Report (FIR) at the Deoband police station, according to Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sagar Jain. The actor who is a native of Fulas Akbarpur made the divisive remarks in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).
KRK has been booked under the stringent Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, apart from sections 500 (Punishment for defamation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. SP Sagar Jain said, “Bollywood actor Kamal Rashid Khan, known as KRK, has been charged under IPC sections 500, 509, and the SC/ST Act at Devband Police Station for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati.”
Uttar Pradesh: "Bollywood actor Kamal Rashid Khan, known as KRK, has been charged under IPC sections 500, 509, and the SC/ST Act at Devband Police Station for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati" says SP Sagar Jain pic.twitter.com/KiHUHOjC6g
He had stated, “Behanji ne tikat diya! Kaun hai Behan ji? Behan ji ko bolo shauchalya saaf karen! Yahi aukat hai uski. (Behenji gave us a ticket! Who is she? Tell her to clean the toilets. That is her status).”
Netizens began to mock him for his judgemental words against the politician shortly after he uploaded the tweet. He was also trolled for the same. Furthermore, KRK’s responses to users also sparked debate. Meanwhile, Majid Ali, the brother of KRK, who earlier made an unsuccessful bid for the Lok Sabha on a BSP ticket, has purportedly claimed that he hasn’t spoken to the latter in the last fifteen years.
The YouTuber and alleged movie critic further slammed the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and charged, “Neither does any Muslim want a ticket from your cheap party nor does any Muslim want to vote for you. Now sit at home and dream of becoming a CM! Now you will not get a chance to loot the country again,” while reacting to her comments regarding her party’s performance in general polls.
ना ही तेरी घटिया पार्टी का टिकट किसी मुस्लिम को चाहिए और ना ही किसी मुस्लिम को तेरे को वोट देना है। अब अपने घर पर बैठकर CM बनने के सपने देख! अब आगे देश को लूटने का मौक़ा नहीं मिलेगा! @Mayawatipic.twitter.com/bKxgaG3L7b
Kumari Mayawati conveyed, “The Muslim community, which is an important part of the Bahujan Samaj Party, is not able to understand the BSP properly despite being given proper representation in the past elections and this time also in the Lok Sabha general elections. So, in such a situation, the party will give them a chance in the elections only after a lot of thought so that the party does not suffer a huge loss in the future like this time.”
KRK shared news articles and accused her of blaming the Muslim community for her party’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha election. He stated that the Muslims of Uttar Pradesh are neither her nor her father’s servants and can vote for any party they want. He also added that the politician has not done any favours on them.
After defeat in each election @Mayawati show her frustration and blame Muslims, like Muslims are her father’s servants. You must understand Mayawati that Muslims are not your servants. UP Muslims are free to vote for Any party. Tera Koi Ahsaan Nahi Hai UP Ke Muslims Par! pic.twitter.com/XJpadt852o
The YouTuber also held Mayawati responsible for helping the Bharatiya Janata Party in order to defeat the Samajwadi Party and the Congress and advised his community not to vote for her ever.
All UP’s Muslims must see this to know, how @Mayawati is helping BJP and fooling Muslims. How she is selling votes of Muslims to defeat congress and SP. Therefore No Muslim should ever vote for #BSP of Mayawati. pic.twitter.com/rhdfFoZv7L
Notably, KRK claimed that he had left India never to return again. He even mentioned that his children live in London and they won’t get to visit their native hamlet. “My statements have nothing to do with my brother’s political journey,” he asserted and wished him the best.
2) Since I have left India forever, so now I will never visit my village again. My children live in #London n they haven’t seen my village, neither planning to see in future. So basically my statements have nothing to do with my brother’s political journey. All the best to him.
The actor was previously apprehended at the Mumbai airport in 2023 while travelling to Dubai. He told his fans about his arrest on his official X account. “I have been in Mumbai for the last year and I attend my all court dates regularly. Today I was going to Dubai for the new year but Mumbai police arrested me at the airport. According to police, I am wanted in a 2016 case. Salman Khan is saying that his film Tiger 3 is a flop because of me. If I die in any circumstances in a police station or in jail, you all should know that it’s a murder and you all know, who is responsible.”
Salman Khan received a public apology from KRK on social media after the former was deemed accountable for his arrest. Furthermore, KRK had stated that he had voluntarily decided to stop reviewing the Bollywood star’s movies.
JNU professor and political commentator Anand Ranganathan is facing relentless attacks from Islamists after he suggested an ‘Israel-like solution’ for Kashmir. Following his comments on an ANI podcast, the JNU Students’ Union announced that it will burn the effigy of Ranganathan at 6 PM on 13 June near his laboratory in the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. Now, a group called Youth 4 Panun Kashmir has sent a legal notice to JNUSU against this effigy burning.
Youth 4 Panun Kashmir is a worldwide movement of Kashmir Hindu Youths, which was established under the aegis of Panun Kashmir.
The legal notice sent by lawyers to the student organisation says that this is intended to incite violence against the Kashmiri community and is a direct response to the misinterpretation of Ranganathan’s comments from the podcast. The notice also mentions that the scientist has been incessantly targeted with numerous abusive messages across various social media platforms, accompanied by threats of severe repercussions.
The legal notice sent by advocate Mukesh Sharma on behalf of the group says, “There has been a concerted effort orchestrated through WhatsApp groups, involving students associated with your organization as well as external parties, aimed at besmirching Sh. Ranganathan’s well-established reputation along with the reputation of my client by planning the burning of Sh. Ranganathan’s effigy near his laboratory on the JNU campus. This deliberate and malicious action constitutes a direct assault on my client’s as well as Sh. Ranganathan’s dignity and reputation.”
Kashmiri Hindus are victims of genocide, and our return to the valley as envisaged in the #MargdarshanResolution of 1991 is non-negotiable. Amid the malicious campaign against our well-wisher, Dr. @ARanganathan72 we, Youth 4 Panun Kashmir (regd), are compelled to send a legal… pic.twitter.com/gq7T9qIQ7w
— Youth 4 PanunKashmir (@Y4PK_Homeland) June 13, 2024
The legal notice states that posters promoting the effigy burning protest misquotes Ranganathan’s comments. “This deliberate misinterpretation has led to a concerted effort to defame Sh. Ranganathan along with my client and with an intention to create a hostile environment,” the notice says.
It claims that the protest constitutes a deliberate campaign of defamation, harassment, and incitement to violence, all of which are serious violations of the law. Therefore, Youth 4 Panun Kashmir has asked JNUSU to cease and desist from burning the effigy of Anand Ranganathan or engaging in any other form of protest or harassment.
The notice also asks the student organisation to withdraw all defamatory statements against Ranganathan and issue a public apology, and refrain from further making false and inflammatory statements about Kashmiri Hindus and Ranganathan.
Posting the legal notice, the group Youth 4 Panun Kashmir said that Kashmiri Hindus are victims of genocide, and their return to the valley as envisaged in the Margdarshan Resolution of 1991 is non-negotiable. “We will not be bullied nor allow anyone to silence the voice supporting our rightful demand for a return to Panun Kashmir, our Homeland,” they added, talking about the attempts to silence Ranganathan.
The comments were made by Ranganathan at a podcast hosted by ANI Editor Smita Prakash, which also included Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Sushant Sareen, and Tahseen Poonawala. During the discussion, Ranganathan expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Kashmir and criticised past govt policies over the territory. He slammed govts led by every party for failing Indians, specially Kashmiri Hindus.
He said, “You haven’t rehabilitated 7 lakh Kashmiri Hindus. All the money coming from the tourists is going to the terrorists. This terrorism/militancy and whatever you call it is going to continue.” Calling for rehabilitation of all displaced Kashmiri Hindus, he said, “You need an Israel-like solution to Kashmir. The fact that Israel is unable to solve it is not because Israel is not acting to solve it. Israel has catered to its people, but we haven’t.”
However, his comment was immediately misquoted as advocating for a war like Israel-Hamas war in Kashmir. Later on 11th June, he posted a clarification on X, saying that was calling for rehabilitation of Hindus in Kashmir like Jews were rehabilitated in Israel, and it is not a call for genocide as being alleged.
Calling for an Israel-like solution – rehabilitating the victims, making settlements, fighting terror, securing borders – is not calling for genocide; it is calling for preventing another genocide.
I stand by Israel. I stand by Kashmiri Hindus. And I stand by every single word. pic.twitter.com/FOXg8A6bFY
He posted, “Calling for an Israel-like solution – rehabilitating the victims, making settlements, fighting terror, securing borders – is not calling for genocide; it is calling for preventing another genocide. I stand by Israel. I stand by Kashmiri Hindus. And I stand by every single word.”
Talking about the legal notice sent to JNUSU, he thanked Youth 4 Panun Kashmir and said, “This is not about me, and me being targeted and killed; these Islamists claimed safely and securely rehabilitating 700,000 Kashmiri Hindus was an act of genocide. They were targeting you and 700,000 Kashmiri Hindus.”
Following the BJP’s defeat in Ayodhya in the Lok Sabha elections, some major decisions are being taken by the district administration and the authorities in Lucknow. The DM released a white paper on the demolition drive on the 11th of June. The Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Council scrapped plans to build a flyover worth Rs 264.26 crore in Ayodhya. The proposed flyover would have connected Ayodhya and Gorakhpur. The decision was made during a board meeting led by Additional Chief Secretary (Housing) Nitin Ramesh Gokarna on Wednesday (12th June).
Now an underpass will be constructed in its place. Pertinently, temples in Ayodhya will not be demolished as part of new housing development schemes and such temples would be accommodated at the same place. It is pertinent to note here that the demolition of several temples along with shops and houses for development work had caused widespread discontent among the local people. The large-scale demolition action was also said to be a factor in the BJP’s defeat in Ayodhya.
Underpass not flyover: Authorities change plan just days after approving a proposal for the construction of flyover
On May 31, 2023, the Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Council approved the construction of a six-kilometre flyover on the Gorakhpur-Ayodhya road. NHAI made the construction proposal available to Housing Development. The council had provided administrative and budgetary approval. NHAI requested Rs 264.26 crore from Housing Development for the construction, but the plan has subsequently been cancelled.
Dr. Neeraj Shukla, Commissioner and Secretary for Additional Housing, stated that if a flyover is constructed, the work of Housing Development will not be possible, and therefore an underpass will be constructed instead.
The board has decided to build three new underpasses on the Ayodhya-Gorakhpur Highway. A 50-meter-wide underpass will be built to cross the 36-meter and 45-meter-wide road. Its height will be 5.50 metres. Two such underpasses will be constructed. A 20-meter-wide, 4-meter-high subway will be built to traverse an 18-meter-wide road.
No more temple demolition for development work
It has been reported that the Housing and Development Board (Awas Vikas Parishad) is acquiring 176.5941 hectares of land in Ayodhya’s Shahnawazpur Majha, Shahnawazpur Uphaar, Kudha Keshavpur Majha, and Kudha Keshavpur Uphaar villages. Many old temples are also included in the area designated for this plan. During the board meeting, it was decided that all temples established prior to Section 28 would be accommodated on-site. Accommodations will not interfere with approved road and service layouts. However, if a temple hinders road alignment or essential services, it will be relocated according to established procedures.
The Housing Development Board decided plan of action after consulting local people
Notably, the Housing and Development Board has excluded areas of the initiative that are classified as densely populated. The scheme identifies six such densely populated areas. Three compact areas have been identified as impeding the intended road and services. They will be evaluated based on the Public Works Department’s current circle rate and construction cost, which will be paid. The old and dilapidated boundary walls that impede development work will be demolished. These will be adjusted by charging a non-improvement fee. Moreover, the Board has solicited public feedback on the project and received 695 objections. After hearing the objections raised, the board decided to make 4.35343 hectares of land of 6 dense population and 4 compact areas acquisition-free.
Notably, after the Supreme Court verdict cleared the way for the construction of Ram Mandir at the rightful birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, a myriad of development projects including those related to the railway station, airport and road widening. Earlier, the administration demolished several houses and shops belonging to residents leading to the displacement of numerous families. It was alleged that several locals were not paid fair compensation for their demolished/acquired properties or alternative arrangements, exacerbating their plight and sense of injustice.
Opposition parties capitalised on the discontent, portraying the BJP as insensitive to the needs and well-being of the local population. They highlighted the BJP’s failure to balance development with the preservation of livelihoods. This is also seen as a major factor why the reason why even Ram Mandir’s inauguration could not essentially translate into BJP candidate Lallu Singh’s victory.
The recent decision taken by the authorities, however, indicates a much-needed change in approach. Alongside financial compensation, providing temporary housing, and support for restarting businesses to affected locals can also help the ruling BJP regain public trust. Notably, the Housing and Development Board’s decision to refrain from demolishing temples as well as take the public into confidence before initiating the construction work is a good step to avoid unilateral decisions that lead to public dissatisfaction. This balanced approach will be crucial for the BJP to regain its footing and ensure sustainable support before the 2027 assembly elections and the next general elections as well.
As many as 50 people have been detained in connection with the recent terrorist attack on a pilgrims’ bus in the Kanda area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi, officials said on Thursday.
Earlier on June 9, nine people died after terrorists opened fire on a bus after which the bus fell into a gorge in Reasi.
“District Police Reasi have detained 50 individuals in connection with the recent terrorist attack on a pilgrims’ bus in the Kanda area of Police Station Pouni. The incident, which occurred on 09.06.2024, resulted in several casualties and left the community in shock and grief,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma said.
The SSP stated that the detentions were made after an investigation led by the Kanda Area Police Station.
“The detentions were made following an intensive investigation led by the police at the Kanda Area Police Station, Pouni. Significant leads have been uncovered, aiding in the identification and capture of those who may potentially involved in orchestrating the attack,” she added.
The SSP also revealed that the search operations were extended to Arnas and Mahore to uncover more evidence and apprehend any terrorists in hiding.
“To ensure a comprehensive probe, search operations have been expanded to encompass the far-flung areas of Arnas and Mahore. These operations aim to uncover further evidence and apprehend terrorists who may be hiding in these remote regions,” she said.
Reasi SSP urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.
“The law enforcement agencies are committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors in the area,” she said.
Jammu and Kashmir region has been witnessing a surge in violence with three significant attacks: the Reasi terror attack, the Kathua terror attack, and the Doda terror attack.
The first incident was reported on June 9, when terrorists targeted a bus in Reasi, causing it to plunge into a gorge, resulting in the deaths of at least nine pilgrims and injuring 42 others.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The recently concluded Lok Sabha election has been full of unexpected outcomes for political parties and the general public alike. The Congress party only managed to obtain 99 seats even after ten years in opposition while the Bharatiya Janata Party was also dealt a serious blow when its share of seats was trimmed to 240. However, despite this performance, the saffron party and its National Democratic Alliance successfully formed governments in Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim and the former was able to secure a complete majority on its own in Arunachal Pradesh and for the first time ever in Odisha after the assembly results of the four states were declared on 3rd and 4th June.
Interestingly, these results have also revealed the polar opposites of political discourse in the country. The Biju Janata Dal didn’t get a single seat in the general election whereas the BJP won 20 seats and one seat went to the Congress in Odisha. The party also garnered only 51 seats compared to the BJP’s 78 in the assembly election. Naveen Patnaik is no longer at the helm of affairs in Odisha after 24 years but the former chief minister was nothing but gracious in the defeat as he gave his best wishes to the new government.
The beauty of democracy and an example of political grace and maturity was on display when CM designate Mohan Majhi of the BJP went to meet former CM Naveen Patnaik and the former CM, a giant of Indian politics who served 5 terms as Odisha CM, stood smiling at his doorstep to welcome his successor from a party that has just defeated his own party in elections.
Odisha CM-designate Mohan Charan Majhi meets Former CM Odisha Naveen Patnaik at ahead of taking oath in Naveen Niwas, Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/efeB7WhTa4
Naveen Patnaik not only wholeheartedly welcomed his successor in the state, he has been posting congratulatory messages on Twitter for the new NDA government for its success and even went a step ahead to specially congratulate Odisha politicians who got posts in the Union Cabinet.
Naveen Patnaik on X
When former CM Naveen Patnaik arrived at the oath-taking ceremony of new CM Mohan Majhi, the top brass of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, and JP Nadda reciprocated the grace by giving a warm welcome to him as he shared the stage with them.
#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Outgoing CM Naveen Patnaik arrives at Janta Maidan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of CM-designate Mohan Charan Majhi. pic.twitter.com/oBjGXseYYy
In neighbouring state Bengal, it is a whole different story
Naveen Patnaik’s maturity and grace automatically triggers comparisons to another CM. Mamata Banerjee’s TMC fared a lot better than the BJD in the elections. Patnaik lost his state government while Mamata enjoys a comfortable majority and even won significantly more Lok Sabha seats than the BJP in her state.
However, the Bengal CM has been bitter and angry. She knows very well that the NDA won the majority mandate fare and square, but the truth has not stopped her from vomiting bitter political barbs against PM Modi and the BJP.
Instead of displaying political grace expected from a veteran politician like her, she has been all anger and hostility.
Her political gimmicks come out as churlish and juvenile. She claimed, “I am happy that the Prime Minister did not get the majority figure. The Prime Minister has lost credibility, he should resign immediately because he had said that this time they would cross 400 seats. Even after causing so many atrocities and spending so much money, this arrogance of Modi ji and Amit Shah, INDIA has won and Modi has lost. They have even lost in Ayodhya.”
Rather than acknowledging the mandate that granted the BJP-led NDA a complete majority to establish the government, she appeared to be conveniently suffering from selective amnesia and forgot that her coalition partner Congress had formed governments in 2004 and 2009 despite receiving only 145 and 206 seats, respectively.
Notably, in 2024, the BJP outperformed the opposition and scored more than the entire I.N.D.I. Alliance. Mamata Banerjee even switched off all her lights and sat in darkness during the entire swearing-in ceremony of Modi Cabinet 3.0. The information was posted by alleged journalist turned All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Sagrika Ghose on social media.
To all those celebrating the “swearing in” of @narendramodi, a message from India’s only woman chief minister @MamataOfficial . She switched off all her lights and sat in darkness during the entire so called “ceremony” for a “prime minister” who has resoundingly lost the mandate…
The TMC had won 29 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats compared to 22 in 2019 and reduced the saffron party to 12 from the 18 seats it gained in 2019. The chief minister, however, was more interested in acting belligerently toward the BJP than she was in applauding her party’s phenomenal performance.
Electoral violence: West Bengal vs Odisha
The first significant violent incident during the Odisha elections was reported in Ganjam shortly after the first round of voting on 13th May which involved attacks on the BJP’s Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate, hours after the poll concluded. A BJP worker was fatally hacked by BJD members two days later while participating in a poster campaign in the same district. Notably, there have been some sporadic instances of violence during the polling stages that followed. Reports have surfaced of voters in parts of the state taking the brunt when they defy the directives of candidates.
However, the election has been largely peaceful in Lord Jagannath’s state. As it should be in every functioning democracy, the parties contest the elections peacefully and then congratulate the winner. Despite 25 years of rule by the BJD, power was handed over to BJP without fuss, or violence. Naveen Patnaik exited gracefully, extending warm congratulations to the victors, without any bitterness. No BJD leader has blamed EVMs, security forces, or the ECI. Nobody sat in darkness.
BJP or BJD don’t whine or complain about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) or come up with outrageous allegations to undermine the people’s verdict and discredit India’s electoral process only because they didn’t become victorious.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be expressed about TMC-ruled West Bengal where every election from the panchayat to the assembly and Lok Sabha is fought like a bloody war that claims the lives, property and even the dignity of those who are in opposition in the state. Riots and rape are used as tools of the state apparatus. Many of BJP workers have left their homes and villages in West Bengal after the Lok Sabha election, invoking the distressing memories of the state’s 2021 assembly and 2023 panchayat polls.
Suvendu Adhikari, BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly in a letter to Governor C V Ananda Bose mentioned that 10,000 party workers and their families are seeking refuge at BJP party offices and safehouses following post-election violence that the Trinamool Congress instigated on 4th June. He asked the governor to go to different locations in the state, including ten districts where BJP members have been the victims of twenty such assaults. He also highlighted that the central forces are not being employed to control the deteriorating situation.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court on June 12th issued an interim order extending the stay of central forces stationed in the state. The West Bengal administration was severely criticized by a division bench of Justices Harish Tandon and Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, who maintained that there is “no place for violence in the democratic polity.” The interim order conveyed, “The election ensures the majority opinion of the citizen of the country and its faith and allegiance to a political party to administer and maintain the various facets of the people for their betterment and development, which goes without saying that there is no space for any violence in a democratic polity.”
Furthermore, the TMC allegedly went so far as to target localities that did not vote for them. Trash was reportedly dumped outside “Sunrise Heights,” a housing complex in Central Kolkata’s Beleghata neighbourhood after its 543 residents voted in favour of the BJP. The party leaders were bragging about the same on social media as they referred to the abhorrent act as a “non-violent means of revenge.” This is how the party which regularly cries about saving the Constitution and democracy respects the rights of fellow Indians.
West Bengal: The state which runs red with the blood of the opposition
The most persistent pattern in West Bengal politics is electoral violence. TMC members unleashed havoc on the streets as BJP workers had to flee to neighbouring Assam to save their lives following the results of the 2021 West Bengal assembly election. They spared no effort to intimidate their political opponents. They attacked prominent BJP leaders including the convoy of party president JP Nadda and Kailash Vijayvargiya, then party’s state-unit chief Dilip Ghosh during the election campaign and terrorised the poor BJP workers after the results were out and TMC won for the third consecutive time. Their triumphs seem to give them the incentive to act more aggressively.
According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who was a cabinet minister at the time, between 300 and 400 BJP workers left Bengal with their families to escape the violence brought on by TMC workers after the election. He clarified that the BJP workers made their way to Dhubri in Assam after being subjected to “brazen persecution & violence.” The Calcutta High Court ordered a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the unrest. It also emphasised the need to uphold law and order during elections and chastised the state administration for its failure to prevent violence and safeguard the citizens.
The CBI found that the violence was indeed politically motivated as TMC members were named as accused in several First Information Reports. Notably, in 2022, a report disclosed that the BJP workers were afraid to return to the state, even after a year.
Similar occurrences transpired during the 2019 Lok Sabha election when even the Election Commission took the unprecedented step of cutting short election campaigning for the seventh phase of the polls in West Bengal due to widespread violence in the state. BJP leader Arjun Singh was even shot at by TMC members as sporadic instances of bloodshed surfaced in different regions of the state. Crude bombs were found in many areas while threats, intimidations, bomb attacks, acts of vandalism, arson and proxy voting were also recorded.
West Bengal, home of Mamata Banerjee, has come to be associated with widespread political violence. Election after election, members of the ruling regime resort to unbridled violence to silence the opposition and their voices, whether it be during the panchayat election in 2018, the Legislative Assembly election in 2021 or the local body polls in 2022.
A comprehensive analysis by the home ministry detailing political violence in West Bengal unveiled 693 occurrences and 11 deaths during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well as 23 deaths on election day and the night before in the 2018 panchayat elections. 852 incidences of political violence were reported between 1st June and 31st December 2019, even after the parliamentary poll. According to the report, voting was not conducted for 3,059 panchayat samiti seats, 16,814 gram panchayat seats and 203 zila parishad seats during the May 2018 panchayat elections since the opposition “could not field candidates.”
“Violence in these areas was aimed to prevent BJP from deploying its polling agents and restricting voter turnout at the polling booths,” the report noted, stressing that the majority of incidents during the panchayat polls occurred in districts where the BJP has made inroads.
The substandard political discourse of TMC
Mamata Banerjee has been making objectionable remarks to damage political discourse in her attempts to disparage her opponents, particularly the BJP. She has gone beyond the bounds of public decorum, from referring to JP Nadda as “Chadda Madda Fadda Bhadda Nadda” to insisting on cooking and feeding PM Modi, a vegetarian, rice and fish. “We will give laddoos made of clay with stones in them to break his teeth,” she announced in 2019 in an apparent reference to PM Modi’s remarks to Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, where he said the TMC supremo sends him special Bengali sweets.
Conclusion
Mamata Banerjee who was the strongest voice against the left and wanted to put an end to their violent means of politics has proven to be just as dangerous to the peace of the state. Under her government, no election is free of unrest, regardless of its result. On the other hand, Odisha peacefully welcomed a new government, with top leaders being graceful and respectful to each other, and the public watching the power of their vote take shape without any fear on their minds.
Recently, a 50-year-old petrodollar pact between Saudi Arabia and the United States expired and Saudi Arabia has opted not to renew it. The shift of base currency is going to have longlasting implications for the global economy. The decision made by Saudi Arabia marks a significant departure from the longstanding financial arrangement between the two nations that was established back in 1974. Notably, this particular arrangement to recycle petrodollars positioned the US dollar as the primary currency for international oil transactions, which is now bound to change.
The Historical Agreement
The original petrodollar agreement was signed on 8th June 1974 by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Prince Fand Ibn Abdel Aziz of Saudi Arabia. It was a period marked by the aftermath of the Arab oil embargo and a notable spike in international oil prices. The agreement, which was later known as the petrodollar system, was aimed to establish a stabilised global oil market and ensure a steady flow of oil from Saudi Arabia to the United States. In return, the United States agreed to help Saudi Arabia with military enhancements and economic cooperation.
Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia agreed to price its oil exports exclusively in U.S. dollars and invest its surplus oil revenues in US Treasury bonds, and it was promised US military, security, and economic development assistance in return. This system replaced gold as the standard of value which enabled the US to maintain dominance over international trade and allowed the US govt to control the world’s energy market. Although the agreement was signed by the Saudi govt, almost all OPEC countries use the US Dollar to sell their oil in the international market.
When the pact was signed, The New York Times reported it as a “milestone pact” and highlighted its role in fostering closer economic ties between the two nations. The report pointed out that it would stabilise the oil market. The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, as detailed in a report by the Comptroller General of the United States, was a central element of this agreement.
This particular commission has the aim to foster closer political and economic ties between the two nations. Not to forget, the US allies were also dependent on Saudi oil. It facilitated the flow of goods, services and technology from the US to Saudi Arabia in exchange for Saudi oil sold exclusively in US dollars. This arrangement not only secured the US’s energy needs but also reinforced the dollar’s position as the dominant global currency.
Evolution and impact of the petrodollar system
Over the years, the global economic dynamics were highly influenced by the petrodollar system. It created a constant demand for US dollars as the currency was required for oil transactions. The value of the US dollar increased significantly, and it reinforced the currency’s status as the primary reserve currency of the world. It allowed the US to run larger trade deficits and maintain lower interest rates than would otherwise be possible.
According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 1979, the mechanisms of the US-Saudi agreement included the establishment of the two joint commissions focused on economic cooperation and military needs. The agreement ensured that Saudi Arabia would reinvest its oil revenues in US assets. It further tied the economic fortunes of the two nations together and enhanced US economic influence worldwide.
A paradigm shift in global finance
As Saudi Arabia has decided not to renew the petrodollar agreement, the country now has the flexibility to conduct sales of its largest asset in multiple currencies. It includes the Chinese RMB, Euros, Yen, and Yuan, which will expand in the future. It reflects a broader strategy of the Middle Eastern country to diversify its economic alliances and reduce reliance on the US dollar. This move can be seen as a potential catalyst for a significant shift in the global financial markets as it will push the countries to shift away from the US dollar as the primary reserve currency.
So far, the US dollar has served as the base for determining the value of different international currencies which would now change in coming years. Katja Hamilton of BizCommunity highlights that this shift could open new avenues for global economic transactions. He pointed out that digital currencies like Bitcoin are also being considered for future use in oil trading, a step that will change the economic structure of the world currencies at an unprecedented level. The diversification of currency usage aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader economic vision, which includes integrating into the global economy through varied financial instruments and digital innovations.
Recent developments and prospects
It has to be noted that Saudi Arabia has been actively exploring digital currency avenues in recent times. The nation recently joined Project mBridge which is an initiative led by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) that explores a multi-central bank digital currency (CBDC) platform. The main aim of the project is to facilitate instant cross-border payments and foreign exchange transactions. The move underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modernise its financial avenues and opt for digital transformation.
Notably, the CBDC platform is mainly controlled by the Chinese central bank. Saudi Arabia has signed a local currency swap agreement with China that indicates a strategic pivot towards stronger financial ties with Asia. The agreement between Saudi Arabia and China allows for smoother bilateral trade and investment flows without needing US dollars as base currency for transactions.
Broader implications
The expiration of the petrodollar agreement between Saudi Arabia and the US is going to have extensive implications for the global economy as the former’s subsequent financial manoeuvres will open doors for a paradigm shift. The US has long benefited from the status of the dollar as the dominant global currency. The position of the currency provided the US with significant economic advantages. However, Saudi Arabia and other countries are now exploring alternatives resulting in reducing the hold that the US has on other countries’ economies. With this shift, the global financial landscape could witness a shift towards a more multipolar currency system.
The move came at a time of broader geopolitical realignment. The nations are seeking a balance between economic dependencies and aim at strengthening regional partnerships. With a singular base currency for trade, it is not easy for the countries to do business without the US’s interference. The potential decline in the dollar’s dominance could lead to increased volatility in currency markets and a re-evaluation of financial strategies by central banks and multinational corporations worldwide.
Domestic currency trade is increasing worldwide. In July 2023, it was reported that banks in 22 countries including Russia, UK, Germay, Israel and others opened special Vostro accounts in Indian banks to trade in Indian rupee. With Saudi shifting away from dollar, it will give a push to other countries including India to make the much needed shift.
