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Is taxi mafia to blame for the drastic fall in foreign tourist numbers in Goa? Read what is ailing India’s favourite beach destination

Shraddha Pandey
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Is taxi mafia to blame for the drastic fall in foreign tourist numbers in Goa? Read what is ailing India’s favourite beach destination

Goa, once an iconic holiday destination, is now experiencing a severe plummet, with the tourism industry and tourists reporting major declines in international visits. A social media discussion suggests that Goa is losing its allure in the midst of increasing competition from other states and foreign holiday destinations in Southeast Asia due to myriad reasons including the monopoly of the “taxi mafia”. With only three international chartered aircraft arriving in Goa on Tuesday (5th October), India’s beach paradise is struggling even during peak season, indicating that the number of foreign tourists visiting Goa is dwindling.

Taking to X, Ramanuj Mukherjee, an entrepreneur highlighted the worrying reduction in international tourists. Mukherjee compared the numbers from 2019 to 2023. Even the data Mukherjee shared suggests that from 5.5 million in 2014 to 8 million in 2023, he noted that while Indian tourists continue to visit Goa, they may hesitate as word spreads of exorbitant pricing and tourism exploitation. “Foreign tourists have already left the state. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad,” Mukherjee said.

Are tourists just a cash cow for the Goa tourism industry?

Quoting Mukherjee’s post, popular X user Madhur shared his snippets of his experience in Goa. “The Placard Guy” said that the taxi mafia in Goa is solely responsible for the dwindling tourist footfall.

Highlighting how the taxi drivers allegedly work like mafias and have maintained complete autonomy, Madhur said: “I went to pick up a friend (from Germany) from Benaulim Beach and I was accompanied by another friend (a local Goan). A taxi guy (in Benaulim) saw us, he stopped us and in no time there were 10+ taxi drivers ready to beat us up. The local Goan friend tried to explain them that this German Lady is a friend, but the Taxi mafias were in no mood to understand. I had to drop the lady back to her stay house and she had to pay ₹1800 to a taxi guy (from that area) just for 37kms. These Taxi Mafias won’t let Goa succeed ever. And sadly, nobody can do anything because they are in huge numbers, they have their monopoly. So… it’s sad to see everyone losing business due to these Taxi Mafias.

One X user Nitin also shared his encounter with rogue taxi drivers and how they justify their rude behaviour saying that otherwise they would lose business. “I faced the taxi mafia yesterday in north goa. I had a few hrs between checkout & drop to MOPA. Wanted to do a little bit of sighteeing before being dropped to manohar airport. i called a few guys whose no was provided by the hotel but all sounded rude & charged exhorbitantly. Then thru google i booked a taxi guy who showed up at the hotel. The local taxi union roughed him up and did not let him leave with us. I was forced to take taxi from the union else i would have been stranded there indefinitely. The irony is they justify being rowdy saying they wud not get any business otherwise. Each 5star hotel is handled by a union who does the same to others.

One X user Sandeep Neel pointed out that Goa’s competitors like Phuket and Bali are much cheaper than Goa despite offering better infrastructure.

One Suraj Balakrishnan emphasised the need for the Indian hospitality sector to alter its exploitative ways as he said: “A much needed wake up call for the Indian hospitality sector. You cannot keep charging exhorbitant prices for average experiences & expect tourists to keep flowing in.”

Notably, while Uber is available in Goa some X users pointed out that taxi unions do not let even the “government approved Goa Miles to operate peacefully.

One Naven Varsneya said: “This is just the start. As more south east countries easing out visa norms, with better infrastructure and food choices at 50% of the cost of Goa, all indian tourist destinations( except mandir tourism) will go through reality check.”

Another X user stressed the substandard transportation infrastructure and taxi unions operating like mafia. “The biggest issue from the point of view of even an ordinary tourist is the transportation infrastructure or the lack of it. The unions have turned into mafias there. You can strong-arm such things for a few months maybe, but in the long run, these are pure regressive policies,” Dr Abhishek Singh posted.

Meanwhile, IndiaToday journalist Shiv Aroor noted that in addition to the taxi mafia menace in Goa, local businesses act like they do a favour on tourists and the ‘system’ acting like the tourists are an “inconvenience”.

Even a Reddit user raised concerns about the decline in tourist footfall in Goa five months ago. The Redditor said that tourism numbers fell to 2017 levels in 2023, and 2024 is most likely going to be worse. The Redditor claimed to have noticed many people who opened restaurants are “shutting down or on the verge of it.”

The post stressed the alleged mistreatment of tourists by the locals and that taxis cost like an aeroplane ticket. It further highlighted poor infrastructure and electricity issues. The Redditor also criticised the behaviour of local people towards tourists.

Goa’s declining tourism, and the obvious Goa bubble.
byu/Taroman23 inGoa

Interestingly, back in 2023, an Investor named Viraj Mehta also raised similar concerns about Goa’s tourism decline to due various factors discussed here. Stressing how Vietnam and other competing holiday destinations are offering much more affordable services despite being better than Goa.

“Vietnam is the new thailand..mass affordable tours with direct flights and good value for money..We losing out to south east asian counties due to high real estate prices leading to such inflated hotel rentals..Cheaper to go to Bali/Hanoi than Goa..Strange..Solution?” Mehta posted.

While in June this year, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte claimed that Goa witnessed a 150% surge in tourist footfall in the last tourism season with over 1 crore tourists arriving in Goa, the experiences shared by the netizens suggest that it is not a rosy picture.

People are concerned about the diminishing number of international tourists, particularly those from Europe which is traditionally Goa’s crucial market, who are increasingly selecting destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bali. These destinations have competitive pricing, newer and better infrastructure, and a more diverse array of experiences to offer. There has also been a drop in chartered flights from Russia and Europe arriving in Goa adding to the decreasing count of foreign tourists in Goa.

Another major issue raised in the ongoing online discussion about Goa’s tourism sector is that many tourists are turned off by overcrowded beaches, waste management issues, and pollution in key tourist locations there. Notably, Goa’s roads, transportation system, and general infrastructure have struggled to keep up with increased demand, resulting in a negative effect on the overall visitor experience. Moreover, while popular beaches like Anjuna, Calangute, and Baga are often overcrowded and are also said to be losing their charm as pristine and tranquil destinations, Goa has not essentially diversified its tourism offerings compared to its home and foreign competitors.

Notably, many other countries have embraced wellness tourism, adventure sports, heritage tourism, gastronomy tourism, eco-tourism etc, on a grand scale. Although adventure sports, wellness tourism, and other innovative offerings are not entirely absent, Goa’s tourism remains too concentrated on beach and nightlife tourists, with limited offerings in niche segments. It is, however, pertinent to note that the government has been taking initiatives for the development of niche tourism sectors in Goa to make it a versatile destination beyond beaches. This, however, could help Goa match up to foreign tourist destinations and local competitors only if the tourists are not treated as mere cash cows but with respect. The state government should also look into the issues tourists are facing and come up with an action plan to tackle the same starting with dismantling the monopoly of taxi mafias.

Speaking to Times of India last month, Goa’s Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho admitted that Goa’s taxis are the state’s biggest problem. The minister also stressed that taxi operators are absolutely relucted to change and adapt to new trends. He added that the taxi operators held a grudge against the government for installing meters in taxis. He also revealed that the government is suffering a loss of nearly Rs 100 crore annually because of unpaid TDS and GST since most of the taxi drivers “do not contribute to government revenue”.

As several social media users pointed out, Goa has become an unjustifiably expensive destination, particularly during peak seasons. High accommodation rates and inflated prices for food, transport, and services are driving Indian tourists to more cost-effective domestic destinations, particularly as the Indian government promotes other, less-explored tourist areas such as Lakshwadeep. While there may be an increase in local visitor footfall if they are constantly exploited, the numbers will decline, which will have serious consequences for Goa, given tourism is the mainstay of revenue.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin raises North-South divide again, claims South is ‘providing generously’ to North

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin raises North-South divide again, claims South is ‘providing generously’ to North

Speaking at an event during his tour of the Kongu belt (the western and northwestern portion of Tamil Nadu) on 6th November, Chief Minister MK Stalin claimed that the economic development of the southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, has greatly aided in the growth of the country and ‘provided’ for the northern states.

Stalin credited the success to the state’s “Dravidian Model” of governance, which he characterised as inclusive, popular and driven by progressive objectives. He challenged Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) critics to grasp Tamil Nadu’s accomplishments over the previous 50 years by drawing comparisons with a northern state.

He recalled the words of the late CN Annadurai “Vadakku Vazhkirathu, Therku Theikirathu (North is full of life, South is fading)” who founded the party and declared, “Anna used to say that the North is flourishing while the South is declining. But today we have made the South flourish. To be more precise, the South is only liberally providing for the North today. This is the true fact and it can’t be denied. We have not only lifted up the South but have reached a stage where the South is providing generously to the North.”

Stalin claimed that Tamil Nadu’s development is a national model, comparing the state’s success over the previous fifty years with that of the northern states. He declared that the state now has the second-largest economy in India, is the most urbanized, is paving the way in achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, and leads in every growth metric from reducing poverty and creating jobs to building infrastructure and industrial production.

He claimed that this change was not simple. Instead, the transformation was brought about by a “people’s govt,” which had a vision, targets, and a strategy to accomplish them. He claimed that the DMK was responsible for the creation of modern-day Tamil Nadu and that the party’s goal was to realize its vision of a great Tamil Nadu, not to hold onto power. he alleged, “Capturing power is the mission to execute our vision.”

He claimed that the DMK’s Dravidian model government has been working for everyone, including those who did not vote for them and added that the DMK voters had higher expectations from the Dravidian model administration. “The Dravidian Model Government is entwined with the people’s heart no matter if they voted for us or not. That is why people are supporting us and are expecting more from me. DMK’s popularity has increased when compared between the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Parliament elections,” he added and ascribed the increase in political opponents’ criticism of the DMK to its popularity.

“Those who criticise the DMK govt should compare the status of Tamil Nadu with a northern state 50 years ago and the position now. You will understand our contribution,” he claimed. Stalin commended state energy minister V Senthil Balaji, who is now on bail, for his role in carrying out government initiatives while laying the cornerstone for a multi-storey library. “Some created hurdles for him. But he has overcome those and has made a comeback to continue his work,” he stated. Balaji was arrested in June of last year in a cash-for-jobs scam and booked under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering) Act. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September of this year.

I.N.D.I. Alliance and its leaders including Rahul Gandhi have a long history of making similar statements to create a North-South divide. They also regularly indulge in smear campaigns against North Indians, Hindi and Sanatan Dharma.

FIR registered against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly organising Chhath Puja at protected forest, damaging govt property using JCBs

OpIndia Staff
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FIR registered against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly organising Chhath Puja at protected forest, damaging govt property using JCBs

On Tuesday, 5th November, the Delhi Police filed an FIR against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for leading a mob that destroyed government property and protected forest at the DDA Park in Hauz Khas, New Delhi. The FIR was registered on the complaint of Delhi Development Authority deputy director SK Meena.

As per the FIR report filed by the Delhi Police under sections 133, 221, 329(4), and 3(5) of the BNS, 2019 and section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, Bharti forced the DDA authorities to allow Chhath Puja celebrations at the DDA park located at Rose Garden in Hauz Khas area, however, the same couldn’t be allowed given the DDA park is designated as a protected forest area under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

After this, Bharti allegedly led a mob of 20-25 unknown persons at around 10:15 am on 5th November and damaged the boundary wall of the park. “They, with a prior hatched conspiracy, reached the spot with JCB machine. The security deployed at the park tried to stop them but to no avail,” the complaint copy read.

The complaint further stated that by using the JCB machine, the Bharti-led mob destroyed public property and resorted to criminal trespass. It is also believed that Bharti instigated the mob to destory the public property and threaten the government staff on duty.

“This act not only constitutes illegal entry into the government property but also resulted in substantial damage to the flora and fauna of the protected forest area. Somnath Bharti and the mob led by him have committed violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 that mandates strict punishment,” the FIR read.

The FIR has been filed based on the complaint registered by SK Meena who is the dy director for DDA. He stated that no non-forest activity is allowed in the area which is designated as forest land, and the DDA park in Hauz Khas is protected under the Forest Act, 1980. “DDA was not in position to allot the land for Chhath Puja,” he confirmed.

Noatbly, this is not the first time when Bharti has been booked by the police. In the year 2018, he was booked by the women’s police for allegedly misbehaving with a female employee (the anchor) of a private news channel. During a live debate on the chilli powder attack against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, tensions escalated as the anchor questioned the MLA. The discussion took a heated turn, with the MLA accusing the anchor of acting as a spokesperson for other political parties and misusing her platform. He allegedly suggested she “become a prostitute.”

In her complaint, the female journalist accused the MLA of using offensive language, stating that she was simply doing her job by questioning him when he began to verbally abuse her. “He also threatened to get the news channel shut down. Bharti’s attitude and the language he used was insulting,” she said demanding severe punishment for the AAP MLA.

In the year 2019, his wife had booked a domestic violence case against him saying that he had harrased, cheated and criminally intimidated her. The Delhi Court then charged him with the offence causing miscarriage without the woman’s consent, causing hurt by dangerous weapons and criminal breach of trust under the IPC.

In the year 2021, he was sentenced to 2 years in jail by a court in a 2016 case of assaulting the security staff at AIIMS and causing damage to hospital property. On September 9, 2016, Bharti and approximately 300 others used a JCB operator to dismantle the fence of a boundary wall at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The case was filed following a complaint by RS Rawat, Chief Security Officer of AIIMS.

In the given case, an FIR has been filed. Further details are awaited.

The Wire celebrates Bibek Debroy’s death just because he worked under Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Jinit Jain
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The Wire celebrates Bibek Debroy’s death just because he worked under Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Bibek Debroy, an economist, an author, a composer of limericks—a man who wore many hats and dispensed his duty with unmatched excellence, breathed his last on Friday (November 1) last week at 69. He served as the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

Debroy had a distinguished public life, having served in different capacities for the Modi government, most notably as a member of the NITI Aayog between 2015 and 2019, Chairman of the ‘Expert Committee for Infrastructure Classification and Financing Framework for Amrit Kaal’ of the Ministry of Finance.

While death is a sombre occurence, it can, ironically, be an incredibly effective tool for propaganda vultures, who often exploit grief, sadness, and fear to further their agendas. When a public figure dies—especially one whose death can be coopted to target their bete noire—propagandists seldom hesitate to seize the moment, twisting the loss to reinforce their ideologies or smear their opponents. They cast the death in a way that serves their narratives, celebrating the death through their negative portrayal.

What is notably pernicious is how they subordinate mourning to spin a story of cultural and moral decadence, using death to further their propaganda. Death, for them, isn’t a humbling event that reminds humans of their mortality but a powerful means to rally support and sow divisions. So, while humans process it as loss, propaganda vultures weaponise it, turning deaths into fresh fuel to assert their narratives.

This seems to be the case for The Wire columnist Apoorvanand Jha, who recently penned an article in the left-leaning rag following the untimely demise of Bibek Debroy. The fact that Debroy isn’t present to counter Apoorvanand, a shameless left-leaning propagandist who doubles as a professor at the University of Delhi, brainwashing his students with poison that he routinely spews in his columns for left-leaning portals or more frequently in tweets on X (formerly Twitter), where he restricts his mentions for fear of being exposed for his inherent bigotry, is enough to highlight how the writer and the portal don’t believe in according dignity in death except when the deceased belongs to the leftist fold.

Titled “How Should One Mourn the Death of a Person Who Served a Repressive Regime?”, the article published in The Wire and authored by Apoorvanand embodies an insufferably hateful rant by a perennial anti-government detractor who applies his twisted sense of moral compass to vilify others with loaded adjectives, labouring under the belief that he can weaponize gobbledygook to pass off as academic wisdom. 

The central premise of Apoorvanand’s horrid piece spewing venom against Bibek Debroy lies in his singular misapprehension that the Modi government is a majoritarian and deeply Islamophobic regime and that Debroy couldn’t be decoupled from the administration he represented and was a part of. The article is replete with references where Bibek Debroy is alluded to being an enabler of the “fascist regime”, and that he worked “undisturbed” under a regime while his fellow citizens were being “persecuted”.

But for the likes of Apoorvanand, who wants the society to continue to be guided by seventh-century precepts, and casts modernizing reforms like the hijab ban, outlawing of repressive practices such as triple talaq, abrogation of Article 370 as an unadulterated display of “Islamophobia”, any progressive decision taken by the Modi government becomes yet another occasion to criticise them for being “anti-Muslim”.

Modi government has often presented itself as a regime that rejects “minority appeasement” to ensure equal treatment for all citizens, avoiding favouritism toward any specific group. Its policies have centred around treating all communities, be it minorities or the majority, with equality and non-discrimination. 

However, Apoorvanand seems to be an integral part of a coterie that defames this approach as being Islamophobic, helping them to delegitimize policies that disproportionately benefit some communities over others, and thereby work against the interest of society by opposing measures that aim to address resentment and communal disharmony appeasement politics engenders. Eventually, when a communal conflagration flares up due to popular discontent and resentment, the same coterie is quick to pull out the Muslim victimhood card and accuse the government of “majoritarianism”.

In one instance in his article, he even attempts to discredit the democratically elected Modi government as a ‘majoritarian autocracy’ hiding behind the facade of democracy. These are preposterous assumptions and characteristics of sore losers who can’t bring themselves to stomach the fact that the country reposed its faith in leaders against whom they ran motivated campaigns interspersed with lies and falsehoods. As Indian voters have elected PM Modi for a third consecutive term, these kinds of mental gymnastics and intellectual dishonesty are employed to discredit the government and convince the public that the administration is misusing its mandate.

Debroy’s intellectual brilliance notwithstanding, Apoorvanand sought to judge him on his ability to “speak truth to power” and his association with a ‘majoritarian’ Modi government. Of course, this perception that Debroy failed to “speak truth to power” and endorsed majoritarianism comes from Apoorvanand’s mistaken beliefs not rooted in empiricism but prejudice and a haughty sense of condescension that those who don’t subscribe to his worldview are enablers of fascism, minority persecution, and so on. A person who is associated with the Modi government automatically becomes a “fascist enabler” even though there is no proof that the Modi government is hurtling towards authoritarianism. If it indeed was turning to authoritarianism, can propagandists like Apoorvanand continue spewing venom like they have been doing?

While people are free to harbour strong opposition to a democratically elected government and criticize its policies as anti-Muslim or Islamophobic, attacking someone posthumously simply because they worked under PM Modi is shockingly low, though not surprising from certain leftist circles. These detractors often fuel communal tensions by emphasizing narratives of Muslim victimhood. Reducing a respected economist, accomplished translator, and skilled writer to a mere ideological stereotype and portraying him as an indifferent supporter of an authoritarian regime shows the moral narrowness of The Wire and its columnist, Apoorvanand. References to Debroy as a man who enabled fascism, and looked the other way when “fellow citizens were being persecuted” serve as a convenient disguise for a subtle, underlying satisfaction over his death just because he worked for the Modi government.

But as The Wire’s past antecedents and Apoorvanand’s X timeline reveal, they have little to no qualms in exploiting the politics of communalism to peddle their agenda, even if it comes at the cost of truth and moral rectitude.

Sikh leader Giani Harpreet Singh claims it is not attack on temple if violence happens on the premises, tries to whitewash Khalistani crimes in India and Canada

OpIndia Staff
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Sikh leader Giani Harpreet Singh claims it is not attack on temple if violence happens on the premises, tries to whitewash Khalistani crimes in India and Canada

On 6th November, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh claimed that the Hindu Sabha Temple was ‘not attacked’ by pro-Khalistani Sikhs in Brampton, Canada. He further stated that a “small” altercation occurred outside the temple and accused social media of “wrongly projecting the incident,” suggesting it was a “conspiracy” against the Sikh community. He also maintained that Sikhs could never attack a place of worship of any faith.

His remarks came in the context of claims of violence between Sikhs and Hindus at a Gurdwara in Malton, which was a fallout of an earlier attack by pro-Khalistani elements on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton.

Giani Harpreet Singh criticised the violence in Canada and said, “Whatever happened in Canada is highly condemnable. Yet, Sikhs could never think of attacking the temples of any faith. It has never happened. Even during the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots, when the Golden Temple, Akal Takht, and 35 other gurdwaras were attacked, not a single incident of an attack on any Hindu temple surfaced. The violence in Canada is a pre-planned conspiracy, and a mere altercation outside the Brampton Hindu temple is being manipulated by miscreants to defame the Sikhs.” He added, “In fact, reports of vehicles being damaged outside Malton Gurdwara had emerged, which was equally condemnable.”

He claimed that the “small altercation outside the Hindu temple” was wrongly “projected on social media as an attack by a group of miscreants, which was part of a conspiracy.” He further alleged it was part of a long anti-Sikh campaign that is being conducted.

Dal Khalsa leaders make similar claims, blaming media for ‘misleading’

Dal Khalsa, a pro-Khalistani organisation that regularly calls for the formation of Khalistan, also reacted to the situation in Canada, stating it was “planned to create a wedge between Sikhs and Hindus.” Party working president Paramjeet Singh Mand said, “The fact is that a handful of Khalistani sympathisers and pro-Indian activists clashed with each other on the streets outside the temple where the Indian consulate was holding a camp.”

He claimed that the attack on the Hindu temple, “spread by mainstream media and endorsed by Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was completely untrue.”

Another leader of Dal Khalsa, Kanwar Pal Singh, appealed to “Hindu brothers not to fall for misleading and twisted information being spread by Indian leaders and the media” and said it was a ploy to pit Hindus against Sikhs, particularly in Canada and India, to further polarise society.

He cautioned both sides, saying, “We have witnessed in the 1980s and 1990s the same dirty tactics applied by governments to create bad blood between the communities. Both communities in Punjab fell into the state’s trap, resulting in bloodshed. Let’s learn lessons from the bitter past and keep the government and its agencies at bay.”

Interestingly, none of these leaders have condemned the actual Khalistanis who attacked the Hindu Sabha temple and instigated the violence.

While Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Dal Khalsa leaders claimed that no Hindu temple was attacked, there are clear videos available on social media where pro-Khalistani elements are seen entering the temple premises and attacking Hindu devotees with sticks. As the video shared below shows, the pro-Khalistani elements barged into the temple premises and attacked Hindus near where the cars were parked. Some of them further pursued the Hindu devotees who tried to run away. They only left the premises when a large number of Hindu devotees started to march towards them.

Giani Harpreet Singh claimed that Hindu temples were never attacked in Punjab. However, he seems to have forgotten that in April 2022, a Khalistani mob vandalised shops inside Khali Maa Temple in Patiala and attacked Hindus with swords. Videos of the incident had gone viral on social media. In a video, it is seen that the armed Nihang Sikhs, part of the pro-Khalistani mob that attacked the Kali temple, also stormed into the shops to assault innocent Hindu shopkeepers. The Sikh mob was seen entering the temple premises to attack shops in the presence of the police officials.

Chhattisgarh: Church built in name of prayer hall for tribals, inauguration by Congress MLA cancelled after Hindu outfits recite Hanuman Chalisa in protest

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Church built in name of prayer hall for tribals, inauguration by Congress MLA cancelled after Hindu outfits recite Hanuman Chalisa in protest

The inauguration program of a church in the name of building a prayer house for the tribal community in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh had to be cancelled after the protest by Hindu organisations. Furthermore, Christian conversion in the Raigarh area of the state also led to agitation where allegations of attempting to convert women under the pretext of prayer meetings were made.

According to media reports, people gathered in the tribal-dominated village of Banglabhata in Ratanpur, Bilaspur on 5th November at around 11:30 am under the guise of the inauguration of a prayer house. Women and children were also among them. Congress leader and MLA Atal Srivastava was present there as the chief guest along with Sushma Kumar of Bishop Diocese of Chhattisgarh and other public representatives.

Hindu organizations also arrived at the location after learning about the event and recited Hanuman Chalisa in protest. The program had to be cancelled by the organisers because of the chaos. The Congress leader has been charged by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prabal Pratap Singh Judev of encouraging religious conversions. He was leading the demonstrating Hindu groups. They accused that government land was allotted for a community hall but a prayer hall has been built on it, per other reports.

Judev charged that Congress MLAs are determined to convert the region devoted to Goddess Mahamai into a site for religious conversions under the pretext of prayer meetings. He also accused the administration of ignoring the conspiracy to convert the tribal community.

A video of the agitation is going viral on social media. The authorities rushed to the scene as soon as they received the information about the instance and tried to pacify the protesting Hindus by talking to them and bring the situation under control.

On the other hand, regarding the controversy surrounding religious conversion in Raigarh, Anshu Tuteja, an ABVP official and leader of a Hindu organisation revealed, “We have been receiving reports for several months that religious conversions are taking place here under the guise of prayer meetings. We were constantly scouting the place based on the information. Meanwhile, we learned this morning (on 3rd November) that religious conversions are underway at a person named Santosh Chauhan’s home in Mitthumuda and a large number of women were present there.”

His team reached there and heard a loud voice telling people about the might of Jesus Christ and insulting Hindu deities claiming that they have no power. People were urged to surrender to Jesus Christ to get rid of their sorrows and pain. Tuteja added that the police were informed about the development and the women alleged that there were only 4 persons but 15 to 20 women were seen praying when they entered inside. “A lot of material has been recovered from there. We want strict action against whoever converts people,” he demanded.

Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Markam mentioned that the Mitthumuda police team reached the site for investigation and legal action will be taken afterwards. He also confirmed that 10 to 15 people were present inside the room. Meanwhile, Congress District President Anil Shukla alleged that incidents such as religious conversion have escalated since the saffron party took power in the state.

PM Modi, Keir Starmer, Netanyahu and other world leaders congratulate Donald Trump on winning US Presidential elections

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi, Keir Starmer, Netanyahu and other world leaders congratulate Donald Trump on winning US Presidential elections

On November 6, Republican candidate, former President and billionaire Donald Trump won a decisive victory over his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in the US Presidential elections. Donald Trump is now the President-Elect and going to be the 47th President of the USA.

As the results became clear, world leaders started posting congratulatory messages for Donald Trump.

“Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity” posted Prime Minister Modi.

“Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America”, posted Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead,” posted UK PM Keir Starmer.

“I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them,” posted Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU commission.

Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea posted, “Congratulations to Donald Trump. Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter. Look forward to working closely with you.”

Donald Trump, who was the US President between 2016 and 2020 before Joe Biden won in a controversial election, faced multiple lawsuits, several attempts of impeachment, a large-scale witch-hunt by the media, open threats, constant defamation, and even an assassination attempt during his campaign to become the US President again.

Donald Trump has won both the Electoral College and the popular vote in the USA.

ISIS-Jabalpur module Terrorist Mohammad Shahid attacked by a handcuffed prisoner in central jail, Bhopal: What we know about Mohammad

OpIndia Staff
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ISIS-Jabalpur module Terrorist Mohammad Shahid attacked by a handcuffed prisoner in central jail, Bhopal: What we know about Mohammad

A significant incident of neglect has come to the fore in Bhopal Central Jail where a prisoner named Rajesh attacked an ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) terrorist on 5th November at around 7:30 am. He struck the latter’s head with the handcuffs fastened to his hands and injured him. The jail administration took the terrorist to Hamidia Hospital for treatment without proper security. A complaint has been lodged against the prisoner in Gandhinagar Police Station. The terrorist has been identified as Mohammad Shahid.

Jail superintendent Rakesh Bhangre stated that the two have been kept in the psychiatric ward of the hospital inside the prison as they are mentally unstable. He said that Rajesh, who is serving a sentence in a murder case, has a history of violence inside the prison. He previously attacked two inmates who died. His hands and feet are always handcuffed and they are removed while he takes a shower in the morning. He was handcuffed when he was brought to the hospital inside the jail and Shahid was placed next to him there.

The duo reportedly argued over a matter that escalated into a fight after which Rajesh attacked Shahid with the handcuffs and hit him multiple times on the head. According to other reports, he assaulted Shahid during his shower time. Shahid suffered wounds and was brought to the hospital for medical care. His security was entrusted to only four soldiers including a rifleman for a few hours. Later, more personnel reached the hospital and the security cover around him was increased. Shahid did not sustain any serious head injury and his CT scan also came out normal. Gandhi Nagar TI Suresh Kumar Farkale also confirmed the same.

Rajesh Bhangre mentioned that written information to transport him to the hospital was delivered to RI but the force did not arrive till 9 am. He further conveyed that Shahid was bleeding profusely from his head and hence was sent to the hospital. On the other hand, DCP Riyaz Iqbal claimed that they got the information at approximately 11 am and additional assistance was provided immediately. “Two to three prisoners have already escaped due to the negligence of the jail administration, however, they were caught later. We are writing a letter to the Jail DG in this entire occurrence,” he said.

Who is Mohammad Shahid

Shahid was arrested by the NIA and ATS from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh in May of 2023. He and two others, Syed Mamoor Ali and Mohammad Adil Khan, were nabbed for being part of an ISIS module in the state. The agencies had recovered weapons, ammunition, incriminating documents and electronic gadgets during their search. The plot was connected to ISIS’s operations to radicalise naive Muslim youth via social media and on-the-ground “Dawah” (invitation to embrace Islam) initiatives.

The three were the subject of a case filed under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. Kasif Khan, another suspect, was later apprehended by the NIA in August of the same year. NIA then filed a chargesheet against all of them. According to the inquiry, they were aggressively targeting democratic institutions and people, including well-known politicians, since they were motivated by the ideology of the terrorist group.

“The module had been conducting meetings in local religious places and houses, and hatching plans to spread terror in the country by unleashing violent attacks at the instance of the ISIS leadership. They had also been engaged in collecting funds, disseminating ISIS propaganda material, motivating and recruiting youth, and procuring deadly weapons,” the NIA unveiled. The module was a component of the worldwide ISIS network that used sleeper cells and localized units spread throughout several states to destabilize India.

UP: Shadab detained after caught red handed with a Hindu woman in compromising position inside Hardoi temple, CCTV footage viral

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Shadab detained after caught red handed with a Hindu woman in compromising position inside Hardoi temple, CCTV footage viral

On Tuesday, 5th November, Hindu devotees in a temple in Pali Nagar, Hardoi spotted a Muslim man with a Hindu woman in a compromising position inside the temple complex. Local people took cognizance of the event, intervened, and handed the man over to the police. During the police interrogation, it was confirmed that the man belonged to the Muslim community and that his name was Shadab.

The temple’s CCTV cameras captured the entire incident, showing the woman and the man going behind the wall inside the temple premises. The video of the incident has since then been making rounds over social media. According to the Dainik Bhaskar report, the police have detained Shadab and are preparing to take action against him.

Suspicion arose among the devotees after they noticed a young Muslim man with a Hindu woman at the temple. Assuming they were a couple, the devotees began monitoring their movements. Eventually, they discovered the two behind a wall in a compromising position and caught them on the spot.

After the incident, locals informed the Pali police, who arrived at the spot and detained the couple. The entire incident was recorded by CCTV cameras installed in the temple, clearly showing the woman entering the temple and going behind a wall, followed by the young man.

According to Pali Police Station In-charge Sunil Kumar Dubey, during interrogation, the young man identified himself as Shadab, son of Nishad, from Alhaganj in Shahjahanpur district. Police are now preparing to take further action against him.

Nine-judge bench of Supreme Court redefines Article 39(b), says govt can’t acquire all private properties to redistribute equally – Read details

Anurag
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Nine-judge bench of Supreme Court redefines Article 39(b), says govt can’t acquire all private properties to redistribute equally – Read details

On 5th November 2024, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment redefining the application of Article 39(b) within the framework of the Constitution of India. The bench was headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and included Justices Hrishikesh Roy, BV Nagarathna, Sudhanshu Dhulia, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Rajesh Bindal, SC Sharma, and AG Masih. The bench addressed whether the term “material resources of the community” in Article 39(b) includes privately owned properties. The apex court ruled that the state cannot redistribute all privately owned properties. OpIndia accessed the judgment copy in the matter Property Owners Association & Ors vs State of Maharashtra & Ors.

With this judgment, India has decisively moved away from an earlier socialist-leaning interpretation of the said Article, as it upholds that private property rights are constitutionally protected against broad state intervention aimed at using it for the public’s “greater good.” The judgment will have long-term implications as it sets boundaries on how the state can exercise power over privately owned assets under the guise of “greater good.”

The judgment concerned the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act (MHADA) of 1976 and its 1986 amendments. These provisions allowed the state to take possession of private buildings in Mumbai for repair, reconstruction, or transfer to cooperative societies. To do so, the government did not require full owner consent, which led to the interpretation that the state could take over any private property by treating it as a “community resource.”

The property owners argued that the provisions introduced by the amendments infringed upon their rights by treating their property as “community resources” and subjecting it to redistribution. The apex court’s decision, delivered after a 30-year-long battle, clarified fundamental questions on property rights and the socialist aspect of the previous amendments. The court has firmly refuted the notion that the Constitution endorses an inherent socialist approach to private property for public purposes.

Background of the case

The matter revolves around the constitutional validity of Chapter-VIIIA, which was introduced in 1986 as an amendment to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act,(MHADA) of 1976. It deals with the acquisition of specific properties and requires the state to pay a rate equivalent to 100 times the monthly rent of the premises that needed to be acquired. Furthermore, Section 1A of the Act was also incorporated through the said amendment making it possible to implement Article 39(b) of the Constitution.

A series of petitions were filed when the Maharashtra government made a law to deal with old and unsafe buildings in Mumbai. These buildings, often occupied by tenants with landlords having no resources to repair them, would be taken over by the government as per the law under certain conditions to fix them up and transfer them to people who need housing. 

With the law, the question came to the fore if privately owned properties could be seen as “material resources of the community” as mentioned in Article 39(b) of the Constitution. The Property Owners Association argued that the law was discriminatory against landlords and violated their rights to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.

In 1978, the Supreme Court of India delivered two judgments in the matter of State of Karnataka vs Ranganatha Reddy & Anr. As per the judgment delivered by Justice Krishna Iyer, material resources of the community covered everything including natural and man-made resources, publicly or privately owned.

However, in the second judgment delivered by Justice Untwalia, the necessity to express any opinion in connection to Article 39(b) was not considered. Furthermore, it was stated that the judges did not subscribe to the view with respect to Article 39(b) by Justice Iyer. In 1982, the Constitutional Bench affirmed the view taken by Justice Iyer in the matter of Sanjeev Coke Manufacturing vs Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. It was again affirmed by a 1996 case of Mafatlal Industries Ltd vs Union of India.

Notably in 2002, a 7-judge bench of the Supreme Court, before forwarding the case to the 9-judge bench, stated that the interpretation of Article 39(b) needed reconsideration. The court said, “We have some difficulty in sharing the broad view that material resources of the community under Article 39(b) covers what is privately owned.”

Bench refused to reopen discussion on law under Article 31C of the Constitution

Notably, when the matter was last heard in April 2024, there was one important aspect of the case as a question was raised among the bench if the decision in the Kishavananda Bharati case should be revisited or not. Article 31C deals with certain principles in the Constitution related to the government’s policies. Originally, it said that laws made to achieve certain societal goals would not be cancelled just because they clash with individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

In Keshavananda Bharati, the court changed that perception. It said that though these laws could still be made, they could be reviewed by the court if they violated fundamental rights. Now, it is a question before the court if the decision in this particular case is still valid. One side in the case argues that as certain rights like equality mentioned in Article 14 and freedom of speech mentioned in Article 19 are considered important if any law violates these rights, it should be reconsidered. However, the other side argued that Keshavananda Bharati case had already settled this matter, confirming that Article 31C stands as it originally did. It provides government immunity to be challenged based on individual rights.

Notably, CJI made it clear that the bench was bound by the decision in Keshavananda Bharati as it was heard by a larger bench of 13 judges. They would not reopen discussion on the matter linked to Article 31C and the court would stick to its interpretations.

Departure from socialist interpretations of Article 39(b)

Notably, in earlier cases such as State of Karnataka vs Ranganatha Reddy and Sanjeev Coke Manufacturing Co vs Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Justice VR Krishna Iyer ruled that Article 39(b) of the Constitution allowed privately held resources to be used as “material resources of the community.” His approach, which favoured a socialist view, suggested that the state had the power to appropriate private property to further social and economic equity.

Over time, the interpretation of Article 39(b) influenced state policies as a basis for acquiring or controlling private properties. In a way, this interpretation could also be seen as a blanket approval for wealth redistribution.

However, the recent judgment marked a departure from that view. The apex court categorically rejected the use of Article 39(b) as a blanket justification for the state to acquire private properties and warned that such an interpretation is not mandated by the Constitution.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, in his majority opinion, underscored that Directive Principles such as Article 39(b) should guide policy. However, these provisions cannot override the rights of individuals provided by the Constitution of India under Part III. The apex court’s stance aligns with the views of Dr BR Ambedkar, which focused on safeguarding individual freedoms and rights while pursuing social justice, without binding the state to any specific economic ideology, including socialism.

The court revisited the Constituent Assembly debates and noted that Dr Ambedkar had advocated a flexible economic framework for India. He also cautioned against embedding any rigid system within the Constitution. The concept of a welfare state envisioned by Dr Ambedkar was one that ensured socio-economic justice without overstepping on the property rights of individuals.

The court ruled that Article 39(b) is intended to ensure that the material resources of the community “best subserve the common good,” but does not imply appropriating private property for socialist aims. Thus, the court reaffirmed that private ownership rights are protected.

Article 31C and the limitations on socialist-oriented policies

Though in a previous hearing in April, the court refused to re-examine Article 31C, which grants immunity to laws furthering Article 39(b) from challenges under Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution of India, in the judgment, the apex court revisited it.

Historically, Article 31C has served as a protective mechanism for socialist-inspired policies and has had a deep impact on privately owned properties. However, the apex court has now clarified that Article 31C cannot be used as a broad shield to protect any policy or law that infringes on private property rights. To do so, there must be strict criteria demonstrating a clear public benefit, the court added.

The court further noted that any law seeking immunity under Article 31C must demonstrate a substantial public purpose beyond merely advancing a socialist ideal. With this judgment, the court has placed limitations on the application of the said Article, stating that policies based on Article 39(b) must not conflict with the fundamental structure of the Constitution that balances collective welfare with individual rights.

Conclusion

The judgment has redefined and reinforced the line between social equity goals and constitutional property rights. It has effectively curbed socialist-inspired state acquisition of private assets. The court has limited the state’s authority to classify private properties as “material resources of the community” and has set a high bar for future laws and policies that may seek to appropriate private wealth. With this judgment, India’s Constitution has shifted away from the socialist-influenced policies of the past. It affirms that while social justice holds utmost importance, it does not mean that the state has the right to infringe upon fundamental private ownership rights without a clearly justified public interest.

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