Month: July 2022

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate office in the national capital for the third round of questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

Sonia Gandhi reached the ED office accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Meanwhile, Congress workers protest at AICC headquarters in Delhi against the questioning of the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi by the ED.

With the Enforcement Directorate summoned Sonia Gandhi for questioning again, Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said that there should be a timely Supreme Court decision on the terror of ED in the country.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jairam Ramesh and Anand Sharma, Gehlot said, “First they summoned Rahul Gandhi. He was interrogated for several hours in five days. Sonia Gandhi has been summoned for the third time today. We have no idea how long it would last. There should be a timely SC decision on the terror of ED in the country.”

Congress workers also tried to stop a train at Mumbai’s Borivali railway station in protest against ED questioning of the party’s interim president.

On Tuesday, ED questioned Sonia Gandhi for over six hours on the second day of her appearance.

The 75-year-old had left the agency’s office in central Delhi just before 7 pm on Tuesday after recording her statement.

Officials said that on Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi’s response was sought to around 30 questions regarding her involvement with the National Herald newspaper and Young Indian Pvt Ltd, the company under investigation.

Her questioning at the ED office in central Delhi went on for nearly 2.5 hours beginning at 11 am and continuing after a 90-minute lunch break until 7 pm. Her questioning was conducted by a team led by additional director Monika Sharma.

During her questioning on Tuesday, the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli was asked about the functioning and running of the newspaper, the role of its various office bearers, and her and Rahul Gandhi’s involvement in the affairs of the National Herald and Young Indian.

Officials said the agency would also confirm her statement with that of Rahul Gandhi, as both are majority stakeholders in Young Indian Pvt Ltd.

Condemning the agency’s action, Congress called it a “political vendetta”.

Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs were detained for holding a protest march from the Vijay Chowk to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to draw the President’s attention to the alleged misuse of central agencies by the government when they were stopped by the police.

“I am not going anywhere. We wanted to go towards the President’s house. But the police are not allowing us,” Rahul Gandhi had said.

The Delhi Police and personnel of the security forces were caught on camera, manhandling Congress workers and leaders.

Srinivas BV, the national president of the Youth Congress, was seen being pulled out of his car by the Delhi Police, who tugged at his hair in gruesome visuals from the Congress’s protest in the national capital. The police were seen pushing and shoving the leader inside their car as he tried to speak to the media gathered there.

“Mujhe maar kyun rahe ho (Why are you hitting me?),” the leader is seen screaming at the police, who later try to calm him, saying, “Koi nahi marega (no one will hit you).”

The video also showed a few Rapid Action Force personnel pressing the car door shut as Srinivas attempted to climb out.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi could not appear for questioning on June 8 after testing positive and being hospitalized for COVID-19. After her discharge from the hospital, she had asked for more time to appear before the agency.

Last month the ED also questioned Rahul Gandhi for five days in the National Herald case.

The case to investigate alleged financial irregularities under the PMLA was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

The petitioner had approached the court alleging that the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, were fraudulently acquired and transferred to Young Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi and her son owned 38 per cent shares each.

The YIL promoters include Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis cheated and misappropriated funds, with YIL paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to Congress.

The National Herald is published by AJL and owned by YIL. While Kharge is the CEO of YIL, Bansal is the Managing Director of AJL. The ED is investigating the shareholding pattern and financial transactions as well as role of party functionaries in the functioning of AJL and YIL. (ANI)

The members of the Telugu film Producers guild of India, on Tuesday, made a special announcement on withholding all the shootings from August 1, 2022.

Taking to Instagram, senior film critic and trade analyst, Taran Adarsh shared a statement written on the organization’s official letterhead which reads, “Post-Pandemic with the changing revenue situations and increasing costs, it has become important for producers to discuss all the issues we are facing as a community of filmmakers. It is our responsibility to better our ecosystem and ensure that we are releasing our films in a healthy environment. In this regard, all produce members of the Guild have voluntarily decided to withhold shootings from August 1st 2022 to sit in discussions until we find workable resolutions.”

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, cinema hall owners had to face major losses and many filmmakers opted to release their films on OTT platforms.

Post that, it was decided that new films will stream on OTT platforms after 30 days of their theatrical release, but the producer’s council have now decided to take some time and resolve this increasing revenue issue that the cinema hall owners and the makers are currently facing.

Meanwhile, shootings for all Telugu projects should be stopped from August 1st until the council come to any workable resolutions.

The Telugu film industry has delivered numerous blockbuster movies in the last few years. With films like ‘RRR’ and ‘Pushpa’, the industry has gathered positive feedback from netizens.

Due to the decision, the shootings of many big films like ‘Salaar’, ‘Project K’, ‘Pushpa: The Rule’, ‘Hit 2’ among others will have to face major roadblocks. (ANI)

Actor Abhishek Bachchan and former cricketer Kapil will hoist the Indian tricolour at the upcoming edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).

Abhishek, who will be there at IFFM as one of the key guests, said that it is a huge honour for him.
” It’s a matter of pride for me to hoist the Indian National Flag in the iconic Federation Square. It’s an event where Indians from all across Australia, from all different backgrounds, will come together to celebrate India at 75. This is a mark of the friendship between Australia and India. To share this platform with Kapil Sir is momentous for me and the event is also a mark of the coming together of Cinema and Cricket, two things that have often united us Indians together. Looking forward to celebrating India, Indians and the spirit of our country amongst hundreds of people who will be in attendance to celebrate this landmark moment and event,” he said.

Mitu Bhowmik Lange, the festival director, added, “India is completing 75 years of independence and this event is a mark to celebrate this landmark moment. We are ecstatic to have Kapil Dev and Abhishek Bachchan jointly come together this year to do the honors of hoisting the Indian tricolour. It’s a mark of the friendship that our country celebrates with Australia and with these two icons coming together is the perfect amalgamation of cinema and cricket.”

IFFM is set to take place in the Victorian capital from 12-20 August 2022 both in person and virtually. Before the world was hit by a pandemic, in 2019 the festival was hosted by the likes of Shahrukh Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Tabu, Vijay Sethupathi, Rima Das, Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar amongst others. In 2020 and 2021, the festival was held virtually.

IFFM 2022 will showcase more than 100 critically acclaimed movies. The festival will also be opened with the film, Taapsee Pannu’s Dobaaraa which has been directed by Anurag Kashyap. (ANI)

As monkeypox cases are rising in the country, concerns about how to keep ourselves protected from this viral zoonotic infection is increasing. Notably, the national capital reported its first case of monkeypox in a 31-year-old man with no travel history, on Sunday, making it the fourth case in India.

The first case of the virus originated in the country on July 14 after a UAE traveller returned to Kerala. While the second case of monkeypox was reported in Kerala’s Kannur on July 18, on July 22 India reported its third case in Kerala’s Malappuram district.

Monkeypox was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week.

With the cases spreading from one state to another, a wave of fear amongst citizens could be seen. However, with the necessary precautions, the infection can be kept at bay. Here are some ways recommended by the United Nations to protect ourselves from the virus.

a) By limiting contact with people who suspect they have the disease or are confirmed cases.

b) Those who live with infected people should encourage them to self-isolate and, if possible, cover any breaks in the skin (for example, by wearing clothing over the rash).

c) It is important to wear a face mask when in close proximity to the infected person, especially if they are coughing or have mouth sores, and when touching the clothing or bedding of an infected person. Avoid skin-to-skin contact by wearing disposable gloves.

d) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, especially after coming into contact with the infected person, with their clothing (including sheets and towels), or touching other items or surfaces (such as utensils or dishes) that may have come into contact with rashes or respiratory secretions.

e) Clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces and dispose of contaminated waste (such as dressings) properly, and wash the infected person’s clothing, towels, sheets, and eating utensils with warm water and detergent.

f) Seeking medical attention immediately after noticing any symptoms or getting rashes. Monkeypox can spread from person to person contact and also from animal to person contact. In the case of humans, coming through face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact, with another infected person can lead to monkeypox.

The government of India has also issued guidelines regarding the monkeypox disease. The guidelines stress the “surveillance and rapid identification of new cases as the key public health measures for outbreak containment, mandating the need to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission. It explains the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, IPC at home, patient isolation and ambulance transfer strategies, additional precautions that need to be taken care of and duration of isolation procedures.”

In addition, “contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days (as per case definition) from the last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period.” The government guideline also urged people to “raising awareness and educating people about the measures for Monkeypox virus, like avoiding contact with any material of the sick person, isolation of the infected patient from others, practising good hand hygiene and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients. (ANI)

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on a batch of pleas challenging the various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Wednesday.

The verdict by the bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravi Kumar is likely to affect a huge number of opposition leaders — including Congress’s Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi — who are under the scanner of the Central investigating agency.
On July 15, the Supreme Court said that its judgment on the pleas challenging the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is “almost ready”.

The petitions are concerned with the interpretation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The top Court has earlier reserved its order on a batch of petitions challenging certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The petitioners’ name includes politician Karti Chidambaram and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti among others.

The petitions raised multiple issues including one of the absences of procedure to commence investigation and summoning and the Accused is not made aware of the contents of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).

Mufti had challenged constitutional vires of Section 50, and any incidental provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Section 50 of the PMLA empowers the ‘authority’ i.e., officers of the Enforcement Directorate, to summon any person to give evidence or produce records. All persons summoned are bound to answer questions put to them, and to produce the documents as required by the ED officers, failing which they can be penalized under the PMLA.

However, the Centre had justified the constitutional validity of the provisions of PMLA. The Centre had defended the amendments to PMLA, saying money laundering poses threat not only to financial systems but the integrity and sovereignty of nations, since money laundering is conducted not just by corrupt businessmen like Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi but also by terror groups.

Altogether, 242 appeals have been filed on the issue. Among the prominent names who are currently under the ED scanner are Congress’s Sonia Gandhi who was questioned on Tuesday, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Trinamool Congress’s Partha Chatterjee. (ANI)

A day after four Congress MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for ‘disrupting proceedings and unruly behaviour’, 19 Opposition MPs including TMC leaders Sushmita Dev, Santanu Sen, and Dola Sen were suspended from Rajya Sabha on Tuesday for the remaining part of the week for ‘misconduct’.

They were suspended for storming well of the House and sloganeering against the government over inflation. Following the incident, Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day to meet at 11am tomorrow.
A total of seven MPs were suspended from the TMC.

The other leaders who were suspended include Mausam Noor (AITC), Shanta Chhetri (AITC), Abhi Ranjan Biswar (AITC), Md Nadimul Hague (AITC), M. Hamamed Abdulla (DMK), B Lingaiah Yadav (TRS), AA Rahim (CPI), Ravihandra Vaddiraju (TRS), S Kalyanasundaram (DMK), R Girranjan (DMK).

N.R. Elango (DMK), V. Sivadasan (CPI), M. Shanmugam (DMK), Damodar Rao Divakonda (TRS), Sandosh Kumar P (CPI), Kanimozhi NVN Somu (DMK) were among the other leaders who were suspended from Rajya Sabha.

Speaking to ANI, Derek O’Brien, TMC Rajya Sabha MP said that democracy has been suspended with the suspension of the MPs.

“PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have suspended democracy…what are you talking about MPs?” he said.

Earlier today, both Houses of Parliament – Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday amid continuous sloganeering by Opposition members, on the seventh day of the Monsoon session.

Earlier Rajya Sabha was also adjourned twice during the day. The Upper House was adjourned till 12.20 pm amid ruckus by Opposition MPs. Earlier it was adjourned till 12 noon soon after the Opposition parties raised issues including over a dozen deaths in Gujarat’s Botad district due to consumption of illicit or toxic liquor.

Earlier on Monday, four Congress MPs including Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, Jothimani and TN Prathapan were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the entire Monsoon session for their ‘unruly behaviour and disrupting proceedings.’

The MPs were suspended according to Rule 374 on ‘unruly and disrespectful behaviour towards the Chair.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with several party leaders were detained by Delhi Police at Vijay Chowk during MPs’ march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the questioning of the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case.

“All (Congress) MPs came here. They talked about inflation and unemployment. They (Police) are not allowing us to sit here. Discussions are not allowed inside (the Parliament) and here they are arresting us,” said Rahul Gandhi before being detained.

Several MPs of the party were detained by the police following their protest march from Parliament.

All Congress MPs were stopped at Vijay Chowk and prevented from marching to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“We’re protesting as per the instruction of the police. All of this is a conspiracy by PM Modi & Amit Shah to completely destroy the Opposition and muzzle our voices. We won’t be scared, our fight will continue,” Congress leader and LoP Mallikarjun Kharge said.

“We had demanded that there be discussion in Parliament on inflation, unemployment, Agnipath & misuse of agencies. Govt rejected it. We said we’ll protest at Rajghat on this, but weren’t permitted. We said that we’ll give a memorandum to President. They didn’t permit,” Deepender Hooda said. (ANI)

By Shalini Bhardwaj

Four cases of monkeypox have been reported in India but there is absolutely no need for any panic as the government has taken significant measures to keep the disease in check, said Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the NITI Aayog’s member (health) sought to assert that there was no need for any undue panic but added that it was still important that the country and the society stay vigilant.

There is no need to panic, as of now, but one must report in time if they spot any symptoms, he said. After four confirmed cases of Monkeypox infection were reported in the country, India is on an alert even as the count of infections some other countries has risen.

The number of monkeypox cases in the United States has reportedly climbed to 3,487.

“Our disease surveillance system has been energised more to investigate such cases. The situation is under control, no reason to worry and panic,” Paul said.

The senior NITI Aayog functionary also listed a series of measures that the country has taken to curb the spread of the malady. He said that systems were being put in place at airports to identify possible infection in those arriving from foreign shores.

Laboratories were also being readied to detect monkeypox cases. “We have built a sufficient diagnostic system of 15 laboratories,” Paul added.

He said that discussions were taking place between the Centre, states and UTs regarding measures to prevent any outbreak.

“We have to play responsibly. In case any individual contracts some symptoms, they should come for diagnosis. We have already issued the guidelines through which individuals can be taken care of after they come forward and report it,” he added.

The NITI Aayog member said that there are almost 16-17,000 monkeypox cases in 75 countries around the world. India also has reported four cases and one suspected case is also under investigation, he added.

“The symptoms of this viral disease begin typically after contact with another person, it doesn’t happen without the exposure. It starts with fever, body ache, loss of energy, weakness, lymph nodes in the neck (submandibular and cervical) may swell up and is followed in a few days time by rashes and blisters on the palms, feet, genital organs and on the face, like in smallpox.”

Paul said that often the patient is infected through nasal or mouth secretion and pus that comes out from these blisters. “Anyone who comes in close contact or shares the bed of the infected person is also at risk and can also transmit this infection. If the patient coughs, the transmitted droplets can also be the source of infection,” he said.

The NITI Aayog official, however, emphasized avoiding self-medication. “Don’t go for self-medication, not only for Monkeypox but any disease with similar symptoms, as it could be serious,” he said.

Paul also said that mortality was rare when it came to monkeypox. People who are getting treatment for cancer, HIV or any other immunocompromised stage need to be more careful, he added.

When asked about the impact of the disease on pregnant women and children, Paul said if they have come in contact with an infected person, there is a chance that they could get seriously infected. (ANI)

A high-level World Health Organization (WHO) official on Tuesday said the rapidly spreading Monkeypox outbreak can be stopped with the right strategies.

“We do at this moment still believe that this outbreak of Monkeypox can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups,” said Dr Rosamund Lewis, WHO Technical Lead on Monkeypox at a press briefing in Geneva.
However, she added that time was going by and all need to get together to combat the malady.

On Saturday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the spread of the virus to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the organisation’s highest level of alert.

“Through this, we hope to enhance coordination, cooperation of countries and all stakeholders, as well as global solidarity,” Lewis said.

WHO assessed the risk posed to public health by Monkeypox in the European region as high, but at the global level as moderate.

This year, there have been over 16,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox in more than 75 countries. Lewis said the real number was probably higher.

She pointed out that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, several thousand cases were suspected, but testing facilities were limited. “The global dashboard did not include suspected cases,” she said.

Until this year, the virus which causes Monkeypox has rarely spread outside Africa where it is endemic, UN News reported. But reports of a handful of cases in Britain in early May signalled that the outbreak had moved into Europe.

Lewis also pointed out that stigma and discrimination must be avoided, as that would harm the response to the disease.

“At the moment the outbreak is still concentrated in groups of men who have sex with men in some countries, but that is not the case everywhere,” she said. “It is really important to appreciate also that stigma and discrimination can be very damaging and as dangerous as any virus itself,” she said.

Monkeypox could cause a range of signs and symptoms, including painful sores. Some people developed serious symptoms that need care in a health facility. Those at higher risk for severe disease or complications include pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised persons.

According to Dr Lewis, WHO was working with member states and the European Union on releasing vaccines, and with partners to determine a global coordination mechanism. She emphasized that mass vaccination was not required.

She stressed that countries with manufacturing capacity for smallpox and Monkeypox diagnostics, vaccines or therapeutics should increase production. (ANI)

Delhi Police personnel on Tuesday were seen grabbing Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV by the hair and forcing him into a vehicle during a protest against the questioning of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case.

Srinivas was seen shouting and resisting attempts by police to subdue him.
Sonia Gandhi’s second round of questioning in connection with the National Herald case began earlier Tuesday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with several party leaders was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday at Vijay Chowk during MPs’ march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the party chief.

“Around 50 MPs along with Rahul Gandhi were detained from the North fountain near Parliament. They are detained in Kingsway Camp,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi has been taken to Parliament Street police station after being detained during a protest march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk. Congress leaders are holding nationwide protests against the misuse of Central probe agencies against Opposition leaders.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached the ED office in the national capital. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also arrived at the ED office.

The first round of questioning was conducted on July 21 when several Congress leaders were detained as the party put a show of strength by staging nationwide demonstrations in support of the party chief.

The ED had on June 1 summoned Sonia Gandhi to appear before its investigators on June 8 in the case for the first time in connection with a money laundering case involving the National Herald.

The agency had issued similar summons to Sonia Gandhi investigators on June 8 and then on June 21.

Sonia Gandhi could not appear for questioning after testing positive and being hospitalised for Covid-19. The Congress leader had developed a mild fever on June 1 evening and was found COVID-19 positive upon testing the next morning.

After her discharge from the hospital, she had asked for more time to appear before the agency.

The ED wants to record Sonia Gandhi’s statements under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Last month the ED also questioned Rahul Gandhi on several occasions in the case.

The case to investigate alleged financial irregularities under the PMLA was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP in 2013.

The petitioner had approached the court alleging that the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, were fraudulently acquired and transferred to Young Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi and her son owned 38 per cent shares each.

The YIL promoters include Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis cheated and misappropriated funds, with YIL paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to Congress.

Congress argued that YIL was a not-for-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 that can neither accumulate profits nor pay dividends to its shareholders.

Calling it a case of political vendetta, senior Supreme Court advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi had said, “This is truly a very weird case — an alleged money laundering case on which summons are issued with no money involved.”

The federal agency’s move followed the questioning of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Treasurer Pawan Bansal in April this year in New Delhi in connection with its money laundering probe into the National Herald case.

The agency then recorded the statements of both the Congress leaders then under the PMLA. The National Herald is published by AJL and owned by YIL. While Kharge is the CEO of YIL, Bansal is the Managing Director of AJL.

The ED is currently investigating the shareholding pattern and financial transactions as well as the role of party functionaries in the functioning of AJL and YIL. (ANI)