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OpIndia Evening Dispatch: Sunday, 10th February, 2019

OpIndia Staff
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OpIndia Evening Dispatch: Sunday, 10th February, 2019

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.

There is a ‘family pack’ for bail and no prizes to guess who are the beneficiaries of this pack, PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

OpIndia Staff
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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. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the integrated building at Trichy airport which on completion is expected to facilitate around 3000 passengers at the airport during peak hours. Modi also addressed a public meeting in Tiruppur. He began his address by commemorating the brave freedom fighters Tiruppur Kumaram and Dheeran Chinnamalai.


Praising the enterprising spirit of Tiruppur, Modi told the people that the Namoagain T-shirts that people are seen wearing these days are manufactured in Tiruppur.


Blaming the Congress government for neglecting the defence sector, Modi said that the work culture of the NDA is different from that of previous governments. He said that those who ruled the nation for years did not bother for the defence sector and they made the defence sector all about brokering deals and helping their own set of friends. He called out Congress for alleged scams in defence deals and held it responsible for not allowing the modernisation of the defence forces. Modi questioned, “For the time they (Congress) were in power why is that every middleman caught had some link or the other with Congress?”


Modi said that his government wants the country to be self-sufficient in defence production and therefore the government took the path-breaking step of creating two defence corridors, one of which is in Tamil Nadu. Attacking the Congress party, Modi said that the party has missed no opportunity of belittling the Army.


Modi talked about various schemes brought by the BJP government including the OROP, Ayushman Bharat etc. He credited the taxpayers for making the development work done by the government by paying regular taxes and said that therefore the government has exempted the individuals with annual income of up to Rs 5 Lakh from income tax.

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.


PM alleged that the Recounting Minister had mocked the middle class on the issue of inflation and that the middle class has rejected him.


Calling out the Congress leaders for resorting to derogatory language to criticise him, Modi said that the good word done by the NDA has made those unhappy who used to think that power was their divine right. And therefore their unhappiness in coming out through abuses.


Remembering the late K Kamaraj, Modi said that he wanted a government with zero tolerance for corruption. And the BJP government is running the government the way he wanted by putting locks on the corrupt misdeeds of the people.


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.


Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in the National Herald case, while Sonia Gandhi’s son in law Robert Vadra is on bail in money laundering and illegal land deal cases. On the other hand, P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram are out on bail in Aircel-Maxis and INX media scam cases, while P Chidambaram’s wife Nalini Chidambaram is out on bail in the Saradha chit fund scam.

Taking on Mahagathbandhan, PM said that they (opposition) say that the Modi government was a failure and yet they had to form alliances to defeat him. He called the Mahagathbandhan as “Mahamilavat“, a club of rich people who are trying to promote their dynasties. He said that the people of Tamil Nadu can never accept an adulterated product like the “Mahamilavat”.

Modi praised the BJP government for introducing 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections of the General category without altering the existing scheme of reservation and the social justice system.


He said that the DMK and the Congress removed reservation in promotions for the SC and the ST communities while the current NDA government is responsible for bringing some of the strongest amendments for the SC and the ST.

Anticipating CAG clean chit to govt on Rafale deal, Congress party now points it gun at the CAG

OpIndia Staff
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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. Kapil Sibal said that as CAG was finance secretary when the Rafale negotiations were going on, he will surely say there was nothing wrong in the deal.


This indicates that the Congress party anticipates a clean chit to the government from the CAG on the Rafale deal. The Supreme Court has already refused to order a probe into the deal, dismissing several petitions filed by Congress party and other activists. Although Rahul Gandhi has been making wild allegations against the Rafale deal, there are no substances in these allegations. Therefore, this allegation looks similar to EVM hacking allegations that Congress party raises before election results are out.

Rajiv Mehrishi was appointed at CAG in September 2017, and it is not a secret that he was Finance Secretary in 2014-15, but Congress has raised the allegations of conflict of interest only now, just a day before the scheduled submission of CAG report on Rafale deal. The CAG report is ready to be tabled at the parliament, that means the audit body has already completed its probe into the deal. To ask the CAG now to recuse himself from the case means nothing at this point of time. This means Congress wants to keep the Rafale debate alive only to attack BJP till the elections, while it has nothing substantial against the actual deal.

And more importantly, like all allegations against the Rafale deal by the Congress party, this allegation is also not based on complete fact. Rajiv Mehrishi’s tenure as Finance Secretary had ended on 30th August 2015, and by than only preliminary discussions on the deal have started. India and France had announced the deal in April 2015, and the same was approved by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in May 2015. After the DAC approval, an Indian Negotiating Team (INT) was constituted by the government to negotiate the terms and conditions of the deal with the French side.

The negotiations in the deal started in May 2015 and continued till April 2016. This means, when the negotiations for the deal for 36 Rafale aircraft was going on, Rajiv Mehrishi was Finance Secretary only for four months, after that he was appointed as the Home Secretary. Moreover, defence ministry and Indian Air Force officials were directly involved in the discussions, not the Finance Ministry.

BJP has reacted to the allegations by Congress on Twitter.


While Congress attacks for current CAG, it should also remember that its own government had appointed Shashi Kant Sharma as the CAG in 2013, who was the defence secretary from 2011 to 2013, when the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper scam had come out.

Kapil Sibal gives a veiled threat to bureaucrats, says Congress keeping an eye on officers showing loyalty to PM

OpIndia Staff
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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. Then, as if to cover up the threat, he added that government officials should remember that the constitution is bigger than anything.

This is third such veiled threat from Congress leaders within a fortnight. Following the CBI raids on Haryana Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s residence in connection with irregularities in land allotments in Gurugram, Congress leader Anand Sharma had given similar veiled threat to government officials. “Officials must hear this. Governments do not have any permanency,” Sharma had said.

Last week, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had threatened government officials by saying that he would purge the government institutions of those associated with the RSS.

Congress leaders’ such threats to bureaucrats and government officials for carrying out their duty is shocking to say the least.

How Buniyaad reeling machines are helping tribal women involved in silk production

OpIndia Staff
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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.

India produces 32,000 metric tonnes of silk per year. Mulberry silk, Tasar silk, Muga silk, and Eri silk are the main types of silk produced in India. Mulberry contributes almost 80% of total silk production.

Tussar or Tassar silk, unlike mulberry, is extracted from silkworms feeding on local trees like Sal, Arjun and Saja. Major Tassar silk production states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Orissa etc. It is a major source of income for the tribal women living in these states. Indian produces 2,080 metric tonnes of Tassar silk per year, which is almost 6.5% of total silk production.

Tassar silk reeling is a process in which filament from cocoons is unwinded. Traditionally, the yarn reeling is done by traditional methods like Thigh Reeling. In this, the person reeling has to sit cross-legged on the floor, draw 5 to 6 filaments on their thigh from cocoons cooked with alkaline material like sodium carbonate, and then false-twist it. During this, some amount of ash powder, oil and starch are also used. Then the composite fibre is wound upon a bamboo appliance called Natwa.

Through this process, on average, tribal women produce 70 grams of 70 denier yarn. Around 500 thousand metric tonnes of Tassar silk is produced through Thigh Reeling. The process is not only injurious to tribal women, but it also produces yarn which is weak and lacking in strength. Women using thigh reeling methods only earn up to Rs 125 per day.

To help women get rid of the 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.

Textiles Minister Smriti Irani expressed hope that thigh reeling technique’s replacement with machine based reeling will happen this year only, instead of 2020. A mobile application e-cocoon was also launched at the event, which will help in quality certification in the silkworm sector. Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, too, promised to extend support in providing support for promoting silk in global markets.

Communal violence between Dalits and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh leaves several people injured

OpIndia Staff
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Communal violence between Dalits and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh leaves several people injured

An incident of communal violence between Dalits and Muslims have come to light in Durveshpur village of Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh. According to a report by Amar Ujala, a minor conflict between some people belonging to the Dalit and the Muslim communities escalated into communal violence. People from both the communities came face to face and heavy stone pelting and firing took place.

According to the report, an argument had taken place between some people from the two communities on Sunday morning. The situation got worse and people from both the communities came out on the streets carrying sticks. Ensuing violence between both the communities continued for about half an hour. Several people from both sides were injured due to stone pelting and the exchange of fire.

On getting the information about the clash, the police reached the spot without delay and took control of the situation. The police sent the injured to the hospital. Heavy security has been deployed in the area considering the sensitive environment to ward off further violence. An investigation has been initiated by the police in the matter and interrogation is underway.

A similar incident of communal violence between the Dalits and the Muslims was reported about a week ago in Agra.

Rahul Gandhi interfered as an ‘extra-constitutional’ authority during Manmohan Singh’s UPA: Former Union Minister S M Krishna

OpIndia Staff
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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.

Addressing the BJP workers in Maddur, SM Krishna further said that he had to resign from as Rahul Gandhi had issued an order stating that leaders above 80 years of age should not hold any ministry. The BJP leader, who had quit the party after serving 46 years in Congress, on Saturday took a jibe at the Congress party stating that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not have any say in deciding portfolio.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna’s statements indicated that Rahul Gandhi had no respect for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He further added that Congress did not have any control over alliance parties. “It was then that all major scams like 2G spectrum, Commonwealth and coal were reported. Such situations arise when there’s no able leadership,” said Krishna.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) was not answerable to anyone – neither Parliament nor governance. He took decisions on which ordinance was necessary and struck down others. There were matters that were never brought to notice of even the minister. Cabinet was in discussion over passing an ordinance. But Rahul Gandhi, who was somewhere, tore a copy of the ordinance. It’s what they call extra-constitutional authority,” Krishna said while attacking Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Congress party has reacted to SM Krishna statements as Congress leader Dinesh Gundurao said, “Today when I hear his statements, even that 1% of respect I had for him is gone. For a person of his stature to speak like this, is absolutely disgusting. I don’t know what is making him speak like this.”

He further added that people are not content even in their old age, they want for more recognition, which drives them to say such things. “No damage to our party, it only damages his legacy. No BJP person is going to remember SM Krishna, it will only be Congress who will talk about him,” said Dinesh Gundurao while attacking senior leader SM Krishna.

India receives first batch of 4 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from USA

OpIndia Staff
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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.


Video of a Chinook helicopter being unloaded from a cargo ship at the port can be seen here, thanks to livefistdefence.com.

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.

On February 1, the first Chinook helicopter was officially delivered to India by Boeing in the presence of Indian ambassador to US Harsh Shringla at the ‘India-Chinook Transfer Ceremony’ held at Boeing facility in Philadelphia, US.


The Chinook helicopter is a multi-mission, heavy-lift transport helicopter used to move troops, artillery, ammunition, barrier materials, supplies and equipment on the battlefield. This helicopter can be used in non-combat situations also, like medical evacuation, disaster relief, search and rescue, aircraft recovery, firefighting, and civil development.

Last year, the Chinook and Apache helicopters built for India had completed their inaugural flights in the USA. Pilots and engineers of Indian Air Force have also undergone training to operate the Chinook helicopter in Delaware, USA.

The delivery of Apache attack helicopters will commence in July this year, and delivery of both the helicopters will be completed by March 2020.

The complete fuselage of the Apache helicopter has been made by Tata Boeing Aerospace in Hyderabad in India. While another Indian company Dynamatic Technologies is manufacturing several critical components for the Chinook helicopter.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley tears into ‘Institutions are under attack’ narrative

OpIndia Staff
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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 is reporduced below:

The past two months have witnessed several fake campaigns. Each one of them has failed to cut much ice. Falsehood doesn’t have longevity. The ‘compulsive contrarians’ continued to jump from one falsehood to another. The Rafale deal not only strengthens the combat ability of the Indian Air Force but saved thousands of crores for the exchequer. When its falsehood collapsed, a half document was produced to perpetuate the falsehood. Little did the creators of this falsehood realise that the cost of producing half a document is loss of full credibility. Those who organised loot on the banks between 2008-2014, started alleging that industrial loans had been waived. Not a single rupee was waived. On the contrary, the defaulters have been thrown out of management. The falsehood that the Government and its Ministers were colluding to allow the economic offenders to escape was exposed when one after the other the investigative agencies were succeeding in bringing back many of the key defaulters and middlemen. The campaign against the GST fizzled out since in just eighteen months of implementation it became a consumer friendly measure reducing taxes, exempting small businesses and ending corruption/ harassment by eliminating interface of the assesse and the officials. The attack has now shifted to a new ground. Institutions are under pressure – the charge comes from none others than those who have a history of having subverted institutions all their lives. Illustratively little did the authors of the PMLAs harsh provisions realise that the provisions could haunt the authors themselves. It is, therefore, necessary to analyse this argument of “institutions under attack”.

Parliament

History will record that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s great grandson has singularly damaged India’s Parliament as an institution more than anyone else. Attempts are made at 11.00 AM every morning by the Congress Party to disrupt both Houses. The Rajya Sabha once known for the quality of its debates has become non-functional. If we analyse Rahul Gandhi’s two speeches on Rafale, they are based on a personal hatred for the Prime Minister emanating from envy. A failed student always hates the class topper. Additionally, the context of the speeches points more to college-level lumpenisation in content. It has been left to two opposition members namely Bhartruhari Mahtab of the BJD and N.K. Premachandran of the RSP to fill up the intellectual vacuum that the Congress has created.

Judiciary

One of the key points being made in regard to the judiciary is that the Government referred back one of the recommendations to the Supreme Court to the collegium for reconsideration. The Government under the present constitutional procedure, is entitled to refer back a recommendation of the collegium by recording reasons in writing. If after reconsideration the collegium re-recommends the case, the Government implements the recommendation. This was done in the present case. Regarding delay in implementing the recommendations, the last five years have seen more appointments each year than done in any of the UPA years. The ill-advised press conference of four judges of the Supreme Court last year has more to do with intra-Court affairs than with the Government.

Read also: The Kleptocrat’s Club: Arun Jaitley takes on the Opposition

On the contrary, what is the track record of the Government’s opponents with regard to their attitude in relation to the judiciary? The impeachment motion filed by the Opposition on unsustainable grounds was only an attempt to intimidate the then Chief Justice of India and set an example for other judges – you toe our line or we can create an embarrassing situation for you. That was the loud and clear message. Lawyers opposed to the Government have consistently used intimidation of judges as a court room tactic. Walk out of court hearings, to social media campaigns against the judges was unprecedented but today a reality. Using the instrument of falsehood they have preferred several petitions where facts have actually been found to be false inviting severe strictures from the court. The glaring examples in this regard are the falsehood with regard to Judge Loya’s death, the Rafale issue, the fake voter list scam in Madhya Pradesh and the Vyapam case. In each of the cases, the facts stated were found to be false. Notwithstanding the judgements of the Court, many opposition leaders continue to still rely on the same falsehood. Adverse judgements have led to a campaign against the court. We witnessed a social media campaign against the judgement in the Judge Loya case. After the recent Rafale judgement, one of the petitioners (a former career nationalist) announced that the Supreme Court had lowered its credibility by deciding the Rafale case.

Election Commission

The Government has consistently maintained an arm’s length distance with the Election Commission. There have been no significant issues between the Government and the Commission. The attack on the EVM’s is not merely to allay defeat, it is an attack on the Election Commission. The EVM were introduced into the election process when BJP was nowhere close to power. Multiple parties have won and lost elections held through the EVM. Without producing a shred of evidence, the EVM’s are being attacked. The campaign became farcical when a fraudulent press conference was held by an invisible man through video in London claiming to have knowledge of the alleged 2014 rigging.

Armed Forces

The Government and the BJP have consistently stood by our Armed Forces whether we were in Government or in opposition. It is the Opposition which questioned first the existence of the surgical strike and then played it down as a routine action which has also taken place in the past. The Army Chief was described as a ‘Sadak ka Gunda’. Serious doubts have been raised on the Air Force led choice of the combat aircraft Rafale and its negotiation process. In the face of all this, they allege that institutions are under attack by the Government would be a mockery.

Reserve Bank of India

Congress Governments in the past have been liberal in asking Governors of the RBI to quit. Pt. Nehru, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and subsequently Mr. Yashwant Sinha had asked Governors to quit. During the UPA Government, two Governors were barely on speaking terms with the Finance Minister. Nothing of this kind has happened in the recent past. The Government legitimately flags the issues relating to liquidity and credit availability with the RBI. They were raised at the highest level of the Government and through all processes – statutory and consultative. The issues were legitimate. The Government is the principal manager of the nation’s economy. How can raising legitimate issues relating to credit and liquidity availability be an interference with the RBI. The Government consistently maintained communications with the RBI Governors during its tenure.

The CBI

The Government does not interfere in any investigative function of CBI or any other investigative agency. Once the Government received the recommendation of Central Vigilance Commission with regard to transferring two squabbling officers of CBI asking them to go on leave, the Government in the larger interest of restoring the credibility of the CBI acted. The Government’s stand has been vindicated with regard to the cleansing of a key investigative agency when based on the CVC’s report, the three member High Powered Committee decided to recommend the transfer of the CBI Director. Restoring the credibility of an investigative agency is strengthening the institution and not assaulting it. In fact, it is the Opposition which has maintained a two-way approach to the CBI – on a daily basis the CBI should be attacked when it investigates corruption but if the Government takes action to restore the credibility of the CBI, the Government should be put in the dock.

There are two critical features of these new emerging breed of ‘institution protectors’. They criticise the Government the maximum and simultaneously argue that the free speech is in danger. They shed crocodile tears for democracy and make every effort to convert the world’s largest democracy into a dynastic one. The number of BJP-RSS workers killed in the Left Front ruled Kerala and the TMC Ruled West Bengal should shock the conscious of a nation. In West Bengal, democracy is seriously under peril. BJP leaders can’t land, public meetings are being prevented and the Rath Yatra was disallowed. The Congress Party’s stand on multiple issues is self-contradictory. It slaughters a cow before the cameras in Kerala, and invokes the National Security Act against the cow killers in Madhya Pradesh. More than any institution it is the country whose interest is paramount. These ‘institution protectors’ support the legitimising of illegal infiltrators into India. They readily jump to the support of those who want to dismember India. The Congress aligned with the Maoist in the recent Chhattisgarh elections. Rahul Gandhi stood shoulder to shoulder with the ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Congress was in the forefront of defending the urban naxals in court. And yet it claims to be friend of both, the idea of India and its institutions. It is about time that India and its institutions are protected from these ‘institution wreckers’.

Modi nails lies on Citizenship Amendment Bill; Assam roars in approval

Ashish Shukla
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Modi nails lies on Citizenship Amendment Bill; Assam roars in approval

Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down hard on the misinformation on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in a public rally in Amingaon, Assam, on Saturday which has been artificially kept alive by the dishonest English media in recent weeks.

Modi made an unusually sharp attack on local media in front of a mammoth crowd— “these reports would not come out tomorrow” —though he could as well have included the national media.

English mainstream media have bewailed in recent weeks about how the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill would cause an influx of fleeing, persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh into Assam and North-East states and destroy the language, identity and demography of these regions. And how BJP’s own allies are up in arms against the Centre.

But there appeared little sign of local unrest as tens of thousands of people poured into the rally and let out a massive uproar after Modi had nailed the drummed up issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the head.

“I want to speak about the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Neither Assam nor North East would suffer because of the influx of people (fleeing persecuted minorities). And that’s because no-one can become (Citizen of Assam) without the state government’s due diligence and approval,” he said.

“Assam and North East will not be allowed to suffer,” added Modi “We are committed to maintaining the language, culture and resources of Assam and North East (for its people).”

In other words, Centre won’t usher in fleeing persecuted minorities into Assam and North East states. Indeed, it would’ve no such role anywhere else in the country too. State governments alone would take a call on the matter.

Predictably, English mainstream media of the Sunday morning have given a slanted view to Modi’s speech. The focus of these newspapers has been on how Modi is sticking to support these fleeing mass of humanity—as if to show him in combat against the local sentiments—instead of highlighting his calming assurance.

“We must make the difference between infiltrators and persecuted Indians. Infiltrators have no place, not just in Assam but anywhere else in India…whereas fleeing minorities have rights over Maa Bharti,” said Modi as he made a distinction between National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

“There’s a pace with Bangladesh now and we are sealing the borders between Bangladesh and India.

“Past government was dodging to bring the NRC into effect. We have acted under the guidance of Supreme Court and we should complete it on the scheduled date (July 31, 2019),” said Modi.

Modi didn’t pull punches in his 40-minute long speech. “It’s been 30-35 years since the Assam Accord. But (there’s been) no sincerity in implementing it.”

Modi made a pointed reference to clause 6 of Assam Accord which envisaged rightful constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the ethnic Assamese and which previous Congress governments made no sincere attempt to fulfil it. In contrast, the Modi government now has a committee in place to ensure its implementation.

After the Assam agitation of 1979-85, the Assam Accord was signed on August 15, 1985. However, it’s Clause 6 has not been fully implemented.

“Those who sit in air-conditioned offices in Delhi and make noise in the Parliament, they should come and look at this crowd and judge the mood of Assam for themselves.

“Stop playing with emotions of the Assamese people. For vote politics, I will not allow Assam to go to pieces.”

For good measure, Modi pointed out that two illustrious sons of Assam—it’s first Chief Minister Gopinath Bordoloi and poet Bhupen Hazarika—got Bharat Ratna only under the regime of BJP governments. “They (Congress) have neither cared for its (Assam’s) heroes nor for its well-being.”

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