February 2023 - Page 26 of 50 - Lokmarg

Adani Enterprises Posts Rs 820 Cr Profit In Third Quarter

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Adani Enterprises (AEL) on Tuesday posted Rs 820 crore profit after tax for the quarter ended December 2022. The firm had incurred a Rs 12 crore loss in the year-ago period.

The company said its total income rose 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 26,951 crore in the reviewed quarter. Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) jumped 101 per cent y-o-y to Rs 1,968 crore, according to a statement from the company.
The company in the statement said the Nacelle facility in Mundra will be operational and commercial assemblies shall start from the first quarter of FY24. It also said an agreement was signed for new engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project of irrigation of Rs 3,246 crore in Madhya Pradesh.

In terms of arterial roads, provisional commercial operation date (COD) was received for third Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) project at Mancherial. The company also said a letter of authorisation (LoA) was signed with Pelma Mine with capacity of 15 MMT in the state of Chhattisgarh. It also added AMG Media Networks also completed the acquisition of NDTV.

“Over the past three decades, as well as quarter after quarter and year after year, Adani Enterprises has not only validated its standing as India’s most successful infrastructure incubator but has also demonstrated a track record of building a core infrastructure business,” said Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group.

The Chairman said, “Our fundamental strength lies in mega-scale infrastructure project execution capabilities, organisational development and exceptional O&M (operations and maintenance) management skills comparable to the best in the world. AEL’s exceptional resilience and capacity to build highly profitable core sector business indicate how our strategy of harnessing the diverse strengths of the Adani portfolio of companies is creating consistent long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

Gautam Adani said, “Our success is due to our strong governance, strict regulatory compliance, sustained performance, and solid cashflow generation. The current market volatility is temporary; and as a classical incubator with a vision of long-term value creation, AEL will continue to work with the twin objectives of moderate leverage and looking at strategic opportunities to expand and grow.” (ANI)

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Ban RSS Also So That No One Promotes Religious Superiority: DMK’s Elangovan

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Tuesday said that similar to a ban on the Popular Front of India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should also be banned in India so that no one is able to spread “religious superiority” in the country.

“Ninety per cent of Muslims do not support PFI. They are doing what RSS is doing. RSS should also be banned. Then no one would try to promote religious superiority in the country,” Elangovan said.
The DMK leader was responding to an interview of Amit Shah in which the Union Minister claimed that the Popular Front of India (PFI)was spreading radicalism in India and by banning the outfit, the central government has saved India.

“The PFI did not speak about religious superiority. Neither did they ask people to convert to Islam. They are Muslims. And this is their (BJP’s) natural hatred towards Muslims. This was the reason behind banning the PFI. There may be some radicals in the PFI and it’s okay to take action against them. It is quite funny on behalf of Amit Shah to say that by banning the PFI they have saved India,” said the DMK leader.

Elangovan pointed out that India has regressed in comparison to where it was in the year 2014.

“I think Modi and Amit Shah’s country is Gujarat. Whatever they see happening there, they think that it is happening elsewhere in the country. They should come out of Gujarat and talk to people,” Elangovan added.

“The country is going back. The economy is in a poor state. The value of Indian currency has depreciated. There is no development. I don’t know how Amit Shah has claimed that development happened in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule,” said the DMK spokesperson.

Reacting to Amit Shah’s statement about no political competition to BJP, the DMK leader said, “Except for Gujarat, they lost elsewhere. They lost the Delhi Municipal Corporation Election, lost in Himachal Pradesh and almost all the by-elections. How can they say that there is no competition?” he added.

In an exclusive interview with ANI earlier, Shah had said, “I feel that in 2024 there is no competition and everyone in the country is moving ahead with PM Modi.”

In the same interview, Shah also said, “We have banned PFI successfully…PFI promoted radicalism and religious bigotry. They were in a way trying to prepare raw materials for terrorism. So many documents have been found which show that their activities were not good for the country’s unity and integrity.”

The government had in September last year banned PFI and its associates for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for “terror links”. (ANI)

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BBC Is ‘Bhrasht Bakwaas Corporation’ In The World: BJP

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Any media organisation functioning in India will have to follow the rules and regulations of the country, the BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Tuesday, amid the ongoing ‘survey’ operations on BBC offices by the IT department.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Bhatia said, “Income Tax department lawfully carried out raids at the BBC office. The IT department is no longer the ‘caged parrot’ as the Supreme Court had said about government institutions during the Congress rule.”
He also attacked the BBC, saying that some ‘sections’ can’t digest India’s growing heft on the world stage.

“The BBC has become the most ‘Bhrasht Bakwaas Corporation’ in the world. Unfortunately, BBC’s propaganda and Congress’ agenda are on the same lines. Today, India is attaining great heights under PM Modi’s leadership and some sections do not like this. The BBC has all rights to do journalism in India, but they will have to abide by the law of the land,” Bhatia said.

The BJP spokesperson further referred to several instances when BBC allegedly insulted Indian sentiments.

“In one of its programmes, the BBC referred to a terrorist operating in Kashmir (slain LeT commander Burhaan Wani) as a charismatic young revolutionary. What kind of journalism is this? You (BBC) are working in India but trying to sabotage our Constitution. In another report, it said Holi is a ‘filthy’ festival. What do you (BBC) know about our festivals? In another report, they insulted our icons saying that Mahatma Gandhi failed to liberate India in 1946,” Bhatia said.

He further attacked the Congress citing the ban on BBC imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

“BBC should also remember what UK’s longest serving Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said about them. She said the BBC is ‘Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation’. Also, the Congres should remember that Indira Gandhi, too, had put a ban on the BBC. India is a country that provides opportunities to every organisation to work under its laws, provided they don’t have a hidden agenda and are not spewing venom against the country,” Bhatia added.

He also attacked Congress and other Opposition parties over their comments on the ongoing survey at BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.

“My question to the Congress and other Opposition parties is that when the survey (at BBC offices) has not even come to any logical conclusion, on which basis are they standing with the ‘anti-national’ forces? Why can’t they wait patiently for the report? Why is it that the Congress always stands with China, BBC, and even terrorists?” Bhatia added.

Earlier in the day, the Income Tax department started ‘survey’ operations at the India offices of the British public broadcaster, in both Delhi and Mumbai, sources informed.

According to sources, the IT officials were verifying certain account documents in the finance department of BBC.

Income tax officials arrived at BBC offices located at the national capital’s KG Marg for the survey. The British broadcaster’s office at Kalina Santacruz in Mumbai was also surveyed, sources said adding that the survey was limited to the business premises of BBC only.

According to reports, a team of IT officials arrived at the BBC Studios office in Kalina Santacruz around 11.30 am today and the survey is going on since then. There is no IT activity at the BBC News office at Linking road Bandra West.

It is understood that the tax officials are conducting verification of certain account documents in the finance department of the BBC offices.

During the investigation, the mobile phones of all the employees present in the BBC office have been taken away by the Income Tax team. The data of the computer kept in the accounts and finance department was also scanned. According to sources, officials said the devices will be returned to their owners after taking a backup. (ANI)

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‘BBC Documentary Has Helped Modi Consolidate His Following’

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Ashutosh Kumar Pandey, an avid follower of BBC services, wonders if the documentary drama was scripted by Team Narendra Modi itself! His analysis:

My association as a BBC follower goes back to my childhood, when I would listen to their radio service with my grandfather. Traditional news followers of BBC Radio like me were deeply disappointed when the service was taken down in 2011. I would regularly wrote letters to BBC and in one year when I was in Ninth Standard, 48 of my letters found mention in a total of 52 episodes aired.

That is why I became curious when I heard that BBC will stream a two-part documentary on Narendra Modi. I found the streaming link on the Internet and started watching it with much expectations. Midway, it was blacked out but I managed to watch both the episodes with a little effort.

My first reaction was: What’s new about it? Every bit of information presented in the documentary was in public domain for a long time. There were far better and more damning documentaries available on various OTT platforms. Why this mishmash of old wine in a new bottle! People have high regard for BBC content in India; they take it as the final word. Thus, the documentary was an anticlimax, a disappointment.

Then a new controversy erupted. I found why the documentary had blacked out in the middle; the Government had ordered it to be taken off air. Soon, Modi supporters started calling it a deliberate attempt by western media to launch malign Modi and therefore, also, India. They called it a misinformation campaign against the ‘Visvaguru’ image of India. They even demanded a complete ban on all BBC services in India, even filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

ALSO READ: ‘BJP Wants To Dictate What To Wear, What To Watch’

Therein lies one of the biggest ironies. These same followers had lionized Modi for his action, or the lack of it, in 2002 Gujarat riots. However, they were aghast to see the same being aired on a foreign news channel. Why? The answer is that the Bhakt mandali cherishes Modi’s image as a majoritarian Hindu nationalist domestically, but wants India to be represented on global platforms by peace-loving Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. This paradox only exposes their guilt.

Practically speaking, the documentary has helped Modi consolidate his following domestically. His fan base, I witnessed it in my circle, has succeeded in conveying the message that ‘foreign hand’ is working against Narendra Modi to stall the growth and rising status of India.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave two contradictory statements on the subject. He defended the independence of BBC but also spoke about UK’s diplomatic closeness with India. British PM Rishi Sunak too defended PM Modi in the UK Parliament by expressing his disagreement over Modi’s characterisation in the film. The UK government’s stand over the BBC documentary only shows how undemocratic governments stand in support of one another.

That brings me to the question: was this documentary drama scripted by Team Narendra Modi itself? BBC could have made a documentary on price rise, unemployment, etc to bring disrepute to the government. There are many issues were the Modi regime could be pushed on the back-foot. Raking up a 20-year-old incident without any context is something that I could not understand.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

Income Tax Carries Out Surveys At BBC Offices In India

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Income Tax officials are conducting a survey on the Indian offices of the British public broadcaster BBC, sources said on Tuesday.

The exact contour of the survey are unknown yet.
Further details are awaited.

The searches come weeks after the BBC released a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi – ‘India: The Modi Question,” which caused a controversy.

Meanwhile, earlier today Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the government is after the BBC instead of accepting an Opposition demand on a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Adani-Hindenburg matter.

“We are demanding Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Adani matter and the government is behind BBC,” said Ramesh. (ANI)

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Names Of 40 Martyrs Are Etched In Golden Letters: Shah On Pulwama’s 4th Anniv

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President’s Colour award to Haryana police in Karnal on Tuesday.

While addressing the event, Amit Shah remembered the Pulwama martyrs on the fourth anniversary of the cowardly attack on CRPF jawans.
Shah said, “In 2019, in a cowardly attack on CRPF jawans in Pulwama, 40 jawans were martyred.”

“The names of those 40 soldiers will always remain etched with golden letters in India’s history of bravery and sacrifice. Their sacrifice has a huge contribution to the country’s progress,” he said.

On this day in 2019, at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel lost their lives after a suicide bomber rammed a car laden with explosives into the security force convoy. Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack.

Speaking on terrorism, Amit Shah said, “Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, since 2014, India’s home ministry has solved challenges of internal security. Whether is Jammu and Kashmir, North East or the leftist terrorism, these three were sore wounds that the country faced for decades.”

“I can say with confidence that after the abrogation of 370, terrorism activities in Kashmir have reduced significantly and record tourists are reaching Kashmir every year,” he said.

Speaking on the insurgency situation in the northeast Shah said, “Similarly, because of multiple agreements, the youth left various insurgency groups and have surrendered to start a normal life. There is peace in the northeast now.” (ANI)

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Har Baar Bas Tum Hi Milna: Rajkummar Pens Heartwarming Note For Wife

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Rajkummar Rao’s Valentine’s Day post for his wife Patralekhaa will melt your heart.

Taking to Instagram, Rajkummar thanked Patralekhaa for being his “strength.”
“From 2010 to 2023 and to infinity and beyond. From being your boyfriend to being your husband. It’s your love only which keeps me going. Thank you my love @patralekhaa for being my strength, my most honest critic and for always pushing me to strive for excellence. Har baar bas tum hi milna,” he wrote.

He also posted a collage featuring his image from his dating days and a picture from his wedding day.

Rajkummar’s love-filled post for Patralekhaa garnered several comments and likes.

“You guys…god bless,” Gauahar Khan commented.

Shruti Haasan dropped a red heart emoji in the comment section.

Be it at a promotional event or on social media, the two have been shelling out couple goals ever since they tied the knot on November 15, 2021, in an intimate ceremony in Chandigarh.

They worked together for the first time in Patralekhaa’s debut Bollywood film ‘Citylights’ in 2014.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Rajkummar will be seen sharing screen space with Janhvi Kapoor in ‘Mr. And Mrs. Mahi’. He also has ‘Bheed’ with Bhumi Pednekar in his kitty. The film is scheduled to hit the cinemas on March 24 March 2023. (ANI)

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India’s Wholesale Inflation Numbers Continue To Fall In Jan

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Wholesale inflation in India based on the Wholesale Price Index continued to stay moderate and was at 4.73 per cent (provisional) in January 2023, against the previous month’s 4.95 per cent, official data showed on Tuesday.

The index for fuel and power group (with an overall weightage of 13.15 per cent) declined by 1.39 per cent to 155.8 in January, data showed.
In October, overall wholesale inflation was at 8.39 and has been falling since then. Notably, the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation had been in double digits for 18 months in a row till September.

Meanhwile, retail inflation again breached RBI’s upper tolerance band in the month of January 2023, with the Consumer Price Index at 6.52 per cent, government data released on Monday showed.

The retail inflation in rural and urban India was 6.85 per cent and 6.00 per cent, respectively. Among groups, cereals and products, eggs, spices, among others, contributed to the elevation in retail inflation in January.

India’s retail inflation was above RBI’s six per cent target for three consecutive quarters and had managed to fall back to the RBI’s comfort zone only in November 2022.

Since May last year, the RBI has increased the short-term lending rate by 250 basis points, including the latest 25 bps hike, to tame inflation. Raising repo rate helps in cooling demand in the economy and thus helps in managing inflation.

Under the flexible inflation targeting framework, the RBI is deemed to have failed in managing price rises if the CPI-based inflation is outside the 2-6 per cent range for three quarters in a row.

For the current financial year 2022-23 ending March, retail inflation was projected by RBI at 6.5 per cent, with an average of 5.7 per cent in the January-March 2023 quarter. (ANI)

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Pulwama Anniv: Eight of 19 Attackers Killed, Say Police

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

On the fourth anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said of the 19 militants involved in the attack in 2019, eight have been killed, seven arrested and four, including three Pakistanis, are still alive.

Talking to the mediapersons after paying tributes to the fallen CRPF men in the dastardly attack, ADGP Kumar, said the security forces are after Jaish-e-Muhammad and almost all their top commanders have been neutralised.

“At present, the JeM only has 7-8 locals and 5-6 active Pakistanis, including Mossa Solaimani (wanted terrorist),” he said, adding that police are after them and they will be neutralised soon.

He said the police are not only busting militant modules but are also cracking down on narco-terrorism and terror funding. “We have been able to recover Rs 41 lakh and recently in Baramulla, Rs 26 lakh was recovered,” he said.

He also said the cases registered against OGWs (over-ground workers) involved in such activities are being disposed of at a rapid pace. “The number of such cases has reduced from 1.600 in October last year to 950 at present and 13 convictions have also been made so far.”

He further said a total of 37 local militants are presently active and only two of them — Farooq Nalli and Riyaz Chatri — are old while the rest have joined recently.

On this day in 2019, at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel lost their lives after a suicide bomber rammed a car laden with explosives into the security force convoy.

Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack. (ANI)

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