In the hustle and bustle of the day, it is only natural to miss some of the biggest developments that impact the nation. The OpIndia Evening Dispatch will catch you up on the day’s event even if you have been busy thus far.
1. Anti-Modi posters emerge in Guntur even as Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu calls for a protest against PM Modi’s visit
According to the reports, many anti-Modi posters have emerged across Andhra Pradesh ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on Sunday. Some of the posters had slogans of ‘No More Modi’ ‘Modi Is A Mistake’, ‘Modi Never Again’, among others. It has not yet been ascertained who has put up the posters.
Another image portrayed Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu with an arrow ready to shoot toward PM Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and other BJP leaders.
2. I thank Telugu Desam Party for ‘Modi Go Back’ posters, I will go back to Delhi and sit on PM’s chair: PM Modi in Andhra
Making light of the ‘Modi Go Back‘ posters which were put up in Guntur ahead of his rally in Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi said that, I am thankful to the Telugu Desam Party because they want me to go back to Delhi and occupy my PM’s chair again.
“I have full faith in the crores of Indians that they will fulfil the wish of Telugu Desam Party and will make Modi sit back there,” PM Modi said.
3. Congress mouthpiece National Herald’s group editor mocks Arunachal Pradesh culture
Mrinal Pande, group editor of Congress mouthpiece National Herald, yesterday took to Twitter to mock the traditional Arunachal Pradesh headgear worn by Prime Minister Modi, showing disdain for the culture of the North East.
Responding to a tweet (now deleted) by a Twitter user Ashish Mishra, who had mocked PM Modi’s traditional Arunachal headgear by referring to PM Modi as a peacock, Pande responded with a picture of a rooster edited to make it appear as if it was wearing a suit.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu took to Twitter to explain that the headgear worn by PM Modi is a Nyishi tribal headgear.
4. Two arrested for TMC leader Satyajit Biswas’ murder who was earlier shot dead, party alleges BJP conspiracy
Two people have been arrested by West Bengal police in the murder case of Trinamool Congress Party’s leader and MLA from Krishnaganj Constituency of Nadia district Satyjit Biswas. The leader was attending Saraswati Puja function in Phulbari, where he was shot point-blank by unknown assailants, who immediately fled the scene leaving the murder weapon at the spot.
The murder has started a political slugfest between the TMC and Bhartiya Janta Party state leaders. TMC is continuously alleging BJP for pre-mediating the murder to make electoral inroads in the state.
5. Saradha scam: CBI continue to grill Kolkata Police chief, former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh to be questioned today
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continued the questioning of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for the second day on Sunday. In addition to Rajeev Kumar, the CBI has also summoned former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh to appear in person at the CBI office in Shillong for interrogation in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.
According to the reports, the CBI is likely to question Kunal Ghosh regarding his 91-page letter detailing the role of Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar in handling the ponzi scam probe.
6. Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad to formally join Congress on February 15
Cricketer-turned-politician suspended BJP MLA Kirti Azad is all set to join hands with Congress on February 15, as per media reports. The three-time Member of Parliament from Darbhanga, Bihar, is expected to join Congress ahead of the upcoming elections in presence of the party president Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP had suspended Kirti Azad back in December 2015 who had been making public statements that there was corruption in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) when Union Minister Arun Jaitley was heading it.
7. Hindi becomes third official language to be used in Abu Dhabi courts
In a landmark development, Hindi has become the third official language to be used in the courts of Abu Dhabi, in a move designed to improve access to the judicial system.
UAE based media reported that foreign nationals will be able to lodge claims and raise grievances in labour cases in Hindi, which is spoken by many expat workers in the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said the change would allow Hindi speakers to learn about litigation procedures and their rights and responsibilities without a language barrier. Interactive forms in Hindi will be made available on its website.
8. Cow smugglers clamp on a police official in illegal Rohingya influenced Mewat region of Haryana
As per a report by Navbharat Times, A canter carrying 8 calves broke a barricade near Shahpur Kheda area of Ferozepur Jhirka, in Nuh district of Haryana and also mowed down an Additional Superintendent of Police, injuring him badly. The Police had gained the information about the canter carrying calves on the Kati Ghati road en route to Rajasthan, from an informer. At the barricade ASI Yashpal, Constable Jay Singh and other officers were stationed to stop the vehicle.
The perpetrators also open fired at the police officials from a country-made pistol, during which the perpetrators tried to escape.
9. Union Minister Arun Jaitley tears into ‘Institutions are under attack’ narrative
Union Minister Arun Jaitley took to Facebook today to write a blog taking on the Opposition’s narrative, fanned by Congress-friendly media, of ‘Institutions are under attack’.
His blog, titled “Institutions Under Attack” – The Latest Fabrication, has been is reporduced here.
10. India receives first batch of 4 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from USA
India has received the first batch of Chinook transport helicopter from USA. Four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters meant for Indian Air Force arrived at the Mundra port in Gujarat, as per reports.
The helicopters are part of a $3.1 billion deal for purchase of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from American aviation giant Boeing. In December 2015, the government of India had signed the contract with Boeing and a Letter of Agreement with the USA government for purchase of the helicopters.
11. Rahul Gandhi interfered as an ‘extra-constitutional’ authority during Manmohan Singh’s UPA: Former Union Minister S M Krishna
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader SM Krishna, who was Minister of State of External Affairs in Dr Manmohan Singh’s UPA government, has revealed that he was forced to quit the Congress party due to constant interference from Rahul Gandhi.
SM Krishna, one of the tallest leaders of the country, said that he had to resign from the post of External Affairs minister as it had become unbearable to continue due to constant interference of Rahul Gandhi.
12. How Buniyaad reeling machines are helping tribal women involved in silk production
Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Saturday distributed the BuniyaadTasar Silk Reeling Machines. The Buniyaad reeling machines aim to eradicate unhygienic traditional methods used by tribal women of the country in silk production, and also to increase thier household income.
To help women get rid of the traditional thigh reeling technique, Central Silk Technological Research Institute in association with an entrepreneur from Champa in Chhattisgarh has produced a machine which not only can help tribal women raise their income, but also avoid the hazard associated with the occupation. A woman through Buniyaad Reeling Machine can produce 200 gms of silk yarn per day, increasing her income to up to Rs 350 per day. The machine can be powered by electricity or by movement feet, as per wishes of the maker.
13. Kapil Sibal gives a veiled threat to bureaucrats, says Congress keeping an eye on officers showing loyalty to PM
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today sent out a veiled threat to the bureaucrats who are ‘showing loyalty to the PM’.
Sibal said, that officers should know that elections come and go, and if today they (Congress) are in the opposition, tomorrow they could be in the power. He added that Congress is keeping an eye on “officials who are over-enthusiastic” and trying to show their loyalty towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
14. Anticipating CAG clean chit to govt on Rafale deal, Congress party now points it gun at the CAG
Ahead of the CAG report on Rafale deal that is anticipated to be submitted at the parliament tomorrow, suddenly the Congress party has raised questions on the impartiality of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India himself.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today said that current CAG Rajiv Mehrishi was finance secretary 24th October 2014 to 30th August 2015, when the negotiation for the Rafale deal was going on. Therefore, it is a clear case of ‘conflict of interest’, and Rajiv Mehrishi should recuse himself from the probe. This indicates that the Congress party anticipates a clean chit to the government from the CAG on the Rafale deal.
15. There is a ‘family pack’ for bail and no prizes to guess who are the beneficiaries of this pack, PM Modi in Tamil Nadu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu to lay down the foundation stone of several development projects and inaugurated several others.
Launching a veiled attack at the senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, Modi called him “the Recounting Minister” and said that he thinks that all the knowledge in the world lies in him.
Taking a jibe at the Congress leaders and their family members out on bail in various corruption cases, Modi said that earlier there used to be a family pack in mobile recharges and in ice creams but now there is a family pack for the bail also.
