Archives for 2023

Army chief Gen Manoj Pande

Gurugram: Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday said India will continue to face terrorism and internal security challenges in the future and the security forces of the country will “unitedly” tackle them.

He was speaking after inaugurating the All India Police Commando Competition organised by the federal contingency force National Security Guard (NSG) at its garrison in Manesar here.

Gen Pande said the new-age technology has enabled the enemy to perpetrate its activities using drones, internet, cyberspace and social media.

“You all know that terrorism and internal security situation is affecting our country in different ways. We are facing these challenges unitedly. Due to this, the (security) situation is improving in various states.

“These challenges will continue in the future too. Some of these challenges will be there for a long time, some will be present indirectly while some will remain secretly”, he said.

Gen Pande said the “possibility” of terrorist attacks taking place in the country cannot be ignored as he praised intelligence and security forces for foiling and thwarting a number of such designs and networks.

He praised the NSG, a federal counter-terrorist force, for developing special skills in bomb detection and disposal, sniping, countering drones as well as effectively coordinating with other security agencies.

A total of 24 teams from various Central Armed Police Forces and state police organisations are participating in the competition that ends on March 31.

New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday dubbed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the “present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity” who went overseas seeking help from foreign forces to become a ‘nawab’ in India.

Stepping up its attack on the Congress leader over his democracy in danger remark in London, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra reiterated the demand for an apology.

“It would not be an aberration to say that Rahul Gandhi is a present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity. What he has done in London is the same thing that Mir Jafar did,” Patra said at a press conference.

Mir Jafar, who served as a commander in the Bengal army under Siraj ud-Daulah, was the East India Company’s first nawab of Bengal. He had betrayed Siraj ud-Daulah during the Battle of Plassey, paving the way for the British rule in India.

“Rahul Gandhi did the same thing during his visit to London. He invited foreign forces to come to India. Shehzada wants to become a nawab. Shehzada has sought help from the East India Company to become a nawab,” Patra charged.

The BJP spokesperson also alleged that it was not the first time that Gandhi has “spoken against India” overseas.

“This is just not a random issue. This is a consistent conspiracy by the Congress party and the Gandhi family,” he added.

Patra alleged Gandhi insulted and defamed India with his comments about India overseas, saying, “People have not given this right to him.”

He asserted that the BJP will not let the Congress leader get away without an apology for his remarks in London.

“There is no other alternative left before him. He will have to apologise because he has insulted and defamed India . We will make him apologise,” the BJP spokesperson said.

“Since the Congress can not make Shehzada a nawab with the blessings of the people of India, he goes abroad seeking help. This will not be allowed,” he added.

On Gandhi’s comment that his microphone was turned off in Parliament, Patra alleged the Congress leader remains abroad “most of the time”.

Gandhi’s attendance in Parliament is 52 per cent, whereas the national average is 78 per cent. The attendance of lawmakers from Kerala, from where Gandhi is also an MP, is 84 per cent on an average, the BJP spokesperson said.

The Congress MP has participated in just six debates in Parliament so far and asked merely 92 questions since 2019, he added.

“You (Gandhi) don’t ask questions because you don’t have questions. You have just one tape recorder that you play everywhere. You don’t participate in debates and discussions because you have nothing to debate . Your attendance in Parliament is the lowest,” Patra charged.

On Gandhi seeking permission to speak in Lok Sabha on the issue, Patra asked who was stopping him from doing so.

“He will speak only when he comes to Parliament,” he said, taking a jibe at the Wayanad MP.

Gandhi has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking permission to speak in the House over his democracy remarks made in London, according to sources.

The Congress MP had met Birla last week after his return from the UK.

MUMBAI: Hitting out at Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde  on Sunday evening said that they are not traitors and  took the right decisions by going with the BJP because they fulfilled the dream of late Balasaheb Thackeray by constructing Ram temple and abolished article 370 in Kashmir.

After recent Uddhav Tahckeray’s public rally at Khed, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde addressed the public rally at the same place and venue on Sunday and criticized Uddhav Thackeray for tying up with Congress party that robbed the country. In this rally Uddhav Thackeray criticized Eknath Shinde calling him and his group as traitor who formed the government with BJP for money and pressure of central agencies.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde said that Uddhav Thackeray was also sitting in the lap of those who carried out bomb blasts in Mumbai only for power.  He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi abolished Article 370 from Kashmir, and even paved the way for building Ram temple.

“These were the dreams of Balasaheb Thackeray and that was fulfilled by PM Narendra Modi. So, how is our stance wrong to go with BJP? We are not traitors and power hungry and selfish people. There is no dishonesty in my blood,” he added.  Eknath Shinde read out his speech and criticized Uddhav Thackeray.

CM Eknath Shinde said that Uddhav Thackeray had earlier said that he would not become the Chief Minister, but he became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra only because Sharad Pawar insisted. While doing this Uddhav Thackeray compromised with his father’s ideology, criticised Shinde.

“The people of Konkan loved Balasaheb Thackeray and vehemently supported his thought and ideology. We are carrying forward the same legacy. We are working for people and do not need to answer all questions of the Opposition,” Shinde said.

CM Eknath Shinde said, “Everyone knows what Uddhav Thackeray did for power. Shiv Sena is dominated by Congress-NCP’s ideology. Shiv Sena lost its ideology for power and compromised the thoughts of late Balasaheb Thackeray. We are true soldiers of Balasaheb Thackeray therefore we broke the ties with Congress and BJP and formed the government with the saffron and Hindutva party. BJP is the natural ally of the Shiv Sena. People voted for Hindutva so it’s our duty to carry for this core ideology of Shiv Sena,” Shinde said.

NEW DELHI: The name of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has been removed from the Interpol database of Red Notices on the basis of his plea to the Lyon-headquartered agency.

The decision of Interpol to take off the Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued against Choksi is a result of efforts of the legal team and the genuine claim of the “kidnapping” of my client, sais his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal. Ultimately, truth has prevailed, he said, adding, “as the kidnapping attempt of my client is not approved by the international community, RCN issued against my client by Interpol has been removed”.

His lawyer claimed that Indian agencies had abducted him from Antigua and forcibly taken him to Dominica in June 2021.

The 63-year-old fugitive is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,500-crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB). In December 2018, he was added to the Red Notice list, nearly 10 months after he fled from India in January that year to take refuge in Antigua and Barbuda, where he had taken citizenship.

The CBI has charge-sheeted both Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi separately in the scam.

The Red Notice is the highest form of alert issued by the 195-member country-strong Interpol to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

It is pertinent to note that Red Corner Notices are issued against fugitives and is considered as a request to law enforcement agencies across the world to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the Centre over the development and said in a tweet: “ED CBI for the opposition leaders but Modijis Mehiulbhai got relief from Interpol and for his close friend he is not allowing to function the Parliament, so for old friends how he can refuse from help.”

This has come as a setback to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) which were waiting for his deportation.

Choksi had challenged the CBI application seeking issuance of Red Notice against him, calling the case a result of political conspiracy, sources told. He had also raised questions on issues such as jail conditions in India, his personal safety and health, they added.

The matter had gone to a five-member Interpol committee’s court, called Commission for Control of Files, which had cleared the RCN rejecting his contentions.

Last year, Choksi got a huge relief from the Commonwealth of Dominica where he was charged with illegal entry by the police after the prosecution decided to withdraw legal proceedings against him.

Choksi had disappeared from his sanctuary in Antigua and Barbuda on May 23, 2021 to mysteriously appear in neighbouring Dominica where he was detained for illegal entry.

After news of Choksi being held in Dominica surfaced, India rushed a team of officials led by CBI DIG Sharda Raut to make every effort to bring him back on the basis of a Interpol Red Notice against him.

His lawyer in London Michael Polak, who filed a complaint with the Scotland Yard, said Choksi was removed from Antigua and Barbuda, where as a citizen he enjoys rights to approach the British Queen’s Privy Council as a last resort in cases on his citizenship and extradition to Dominica where these rights are not available to him.

India’s effort to bring Choksi back was unsuccessful as his lawyers moved with unprecedented agility to file a habeas corpus petition before the Dominica High Court which was admitted for hearing.

Their swift legal manoeuvres coupled with investigation into circumstances of his disappearance from Antigua blunted attempts of India to get Choksi deported from Dominica.

After 51 days in prison, Choksi, 62, was given bail by Dominica High Court in July 2021 to travel back to Antigua to seek medical help from a neurologist based there with a provision that he will return to face trial when gets fitness clearance by his doctors.

Choksi is currently in the Caribbean island nation and Indian authorities have asked Antiguan authorities to extradite him so that he could be prosecuted.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday asked the state government that “how is everyone arrested, except Amritpal Singh”, adding that “if he has escaped, this is an intelligence failure”.

The court was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the “release” of Amritpal singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal advisor of Amritpal Singh and his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De.

Justice N S Shekhawat asked Punjab Advocate General (AG) Vinod Ghai how Amritpal Singh gave police the slip when the whole operation was meticulously planned, and called it an intelligence failure.

Justice NS Shekhawat asked AG Vinod Ghai: “How did he (Amritpal Singh) escape?” At this, AG Vinod Ghai replied: “We have arrested other accused in the case.”

The bench further asked how everyone, except Amritpal Singh, has been arrested. “You have 80,000 police. How has he not been arrested? If he escaped, this is an intelligence failure. The entire police force is after him,” said the bench.

Police on Saturday had launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’. The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.

Armed with weapons, the entire state machinery swung into action yet Amritpal Singh managed to escape while all his associates were arrested, Justice Shekhawat observed and said it was hard for him to believe this.

AG Vinod Ghai said the state police was fully armed but exercised restraint due to security issues as the operation occurred at a public place. Some matters are so sensitive that they cannot be explained in open court, he said, adding that the Punjab Police was doing its best to arrest Amritpal Singh.

Explaining further, the AG said: “It happens sometimes. The G20 summit was also going on.” 

The AG also informed the court that the stringent National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against Amritpal Singh.

Meanwhile, Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh also reached the court but Justice Shekhawat stated that he cannot be heard as he is not a party in the case.

The High Court appointed advocate Tanu Bedi as amicus curiae in the case and adjourned the hearing for four days. It has also sought a status report sought from the Punjab government.

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has been reported 61 km from Eshkashem, Tajikistan at 10.17 pm on Tuesday. Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan were affected by the quake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS said the epicentre of the earthquake was 40 kilometers (25 miles) south-southeast of the Afghan town of Jurm, near the borders with Pakistan and Tajikistan.

According to the National Center for Seismology, “an earthquake of Magnitude 6.6, occurred at 10.17 pm 133 km SSE of Fayzabad, Afghanistan.”

The Pak Met Department said the earthquake with magnitude 6.8 that struck the region had Hindukush Region in Afghanistan as its epicentr

Tremors were also felt in Delhi and parts of north India, reports said.

The earthquake created an atmosphere of panic in Delhi NCR. Many people ran out of their houses in panic. Natural calamities make us realize how human beings and Science are helpless before nature, said Naveen Shrivastava, a resident of Burari.

The people of Indirapuram felt such an earthquake for the first time! said Sitaram Garg.

“I was having dinner when I felt sudden tremors, first I didn’t believe it was an earthquake but later when I heard a commotion outside. I along with my parents rushed outside our house,” said 26-year-old Akshay Yadav, a resident of Yamuna Vihar. 

He further added that he never felt such a strong earthquake. 

There were reports quoting Delhi Fire Services that they have received a call about the tilting of a building in the Shakarpur area. However, a Civil Defence volunteer told The New Indian Express, “The building in Shakarpur was already made like that as there was gap already. No damage due to the earthquake. It was a hoax call. The situation is under control. We checked the building from top to bottom & there’s no problem.” 

One of the residents of Saba Apartment, Sector 34 Noida, Javed Siraj who lives on the fourth floor said, “It was a terrible experience for the ones who are living in high-rise buildings. Apparently, everyone got nervous and came rushing down into the open area. Lifts were all full and some youngsters even risked taking the stairs to come down.”

Wishing for the well-being of the citizens, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “ Strong tremors of the earthquake were felt across Delhi NCR. I Hope you all are safe.”

Recently, In a Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting, It was decided that to deal with circumstances like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Delhi must establish a State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF).

A resident in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district said he felt three tremors back to back.

A senior seismologist said the reason why people in northwest India and Delhi felt the tremors for a relatively long time is that the “depth of the fault was more than 150 km”.

People in northern India first felt the primary waves and then were impacted by the secondary waves, he said.

There was a disruption in mobile services in some parts of the Jammu region immediately after the earthquake, an official said.

There was no immediate report of any loss of life or property.

According to a report, Twitter users shared videos of ceiling fans and light fixtures shaking during the massive quake. Eyewitnesses have also claimed to have felt the earthquake in states such as Kashmir and Jaipur.

Tremors were felt in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Sargodha, Mianwali, Peshawar, Kohat, Swat, Chitral, Dir, Shangla, and other districts of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to local media reports.

Al Jazeera quoted a resident of Islamabad, Sarah Hasan as saying that the walls of her house vibrated as the earthquake hit the Pakistani capital.

“It started off slowly and then became strong,” the 43-year-old said. “The house was vibrating, things were shaking. It started slowing down, and after a few minutes, it felt like everything is calm again,” the report said.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands made homeless after a 5.9-magnitude quake – the deadliest in Afghanistan in nearly a quarter of a century – struck the impoverished province of Paktika on 22 June last year.

AHMEDABAD:  Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has benefited from the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)’s historic victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections. According to Gujarat RSS data, there were 1,334 Sangh branches in the state in 2022, which increased to 1,671 in 2023, representing an increase of 337 branches. In Gujarat’s 2022 elections, the BJP won a record-breaking 156 seats.

According to a press release from the Gujarat RSS, “While work has increased across the nation, work has also increased in Gujarat province. There were 1,334 Sangh Shakhas  (branches) in the state in 2022, which climbed to 1,671 in 2023, which clearly indicates an increase of 334 branches.”

Political analyst Dilip Patel said: “For years, Gujarat has been the Sangh’s ‘experimental school’. The Sangh has been very active in the Gujarat assembly elections, and when anyone wants a ticket in Gujarat, the Sangh oversees the entire process, from his background to the effect of giving him a ticket.”

“Also, this time, if you look at B L Santosh, who comes from the Sangh and is the National General Secretary of the BJP, he has provided a successful operation from the process of issuing tickets to cutting the tickets of ministers.

In short, people have started to feel that now if they want a ticket or want to win the election on the BJP banner, they have to seek a blessing from RSS, obviously, this will affect the popularity of the Sangh and people will turn more towards the Sangh,” he added.