March 2023 - Page 55 of 63 - Lokmarg

Court Extends Sisodia’s CBI Remand In Excise Case

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday extended the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand of former Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.

The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Saturday granted two more days of remand of Manish Sisodia to CBI.
Meanwhile, the Court also issued notice to CBI on bail moved by Manish Sisodia and listed the matter for March 10, 2023.

While seeking further remand of Manish Sisodia, CBI counsel stated, “He’s still non-cooperative and we need his further custody to confront him with two persons.”

“A lot of time went in his medicals. One whole day went in the petition he filed in the Supreme Court which was dismissed,” CBI told the Court.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishan appears for Manish Sisodia opposed the CBI application seeking an extension of remand and submits that “What is the difference between what was on day 1 and today? Raids were conducted at my house, and at my office too… keeping me in CBI custody would produce a document, is this logical???”

Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur also appeared for Sisodia and submitted that while considering all of this my wife’s medical condition is being kept aside. “The man who is not going to run away has to be seen that way too,” he said.

During the hearing, Manish Sisodia himself submitted in the court that CBI officials are taking care of me, treating me respectfully and giving all things and not using any third degree. “But they are making me sit so long 9-10 hours daily and asking the same questions again and again… it is not less not mental harassment,” he said. On that, Court directed CBI not to ask repetitive questions.

Former Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in his bail petition in a trial court stated that no fruitful purpose would be served keeping him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made.

Sisodia also stated that he has joined the investigation as and when called for by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The other accused persons arrested in this case have already been granted bail. Sisodia further stated that he holds the important constitutional post of Deputy CM of Delhi and has deep roots in the society.

Sisodia was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.

Rouse Avenue Court earlier while sending Sisodia to CBI remand directed that the interrogation of the accused during the remand period shall be conducted at some place having CCTV coverage in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and the said footage shall be preserved by the CBI.

Sisodia was arrested last Sunday in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.

While sending Sisodia to CBI remand, the trial court observed that the accused had joined the investigation of this case on two earlier occasions, but it has also been observed that he has failed to provide satisfactory answers to most of the questions put to him during his examination and interrogation conducted and has thus, failed to legitimately explain the incriminating evidence which has allegedly surfaced against him in the investigation conducted so far.

It is true that he cannot be expected to make self-incriminating statements, but the interests of justice and of a fair investigation require that he should come up with some legitimate answers to the questions which are being put to him by the Investigation officer, said the court. (ANI)

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‘Bulldozer Pichkaris Aren’t Anti-Muslim; They Add One More Colour To Holi’

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

Wafa Abbas, a social worker from Lucknow, feels that sale of bulldozer pichkaris for Holi festival is a marketing gimmick and need not be seen from a communal lens. His views:

Ever since the BJP has come to power in Uttar Pradesh, strict action has been initiated against anti-social elements and mafia lords. Amid this crackdown, the bulldozer has become a symbol of popular justice – even though extra-judicial at times – used for razing down structures belonging to established criminals in the state.

It is in this light that we should see the advent of bulldozer pichkaris in the market ahead of Holi festival. Why only bulldozers, pichkaris of popular achievements of India also throng markets every passing year. To name a few, there have been Rafale pichkaris, Satellite Launcher pichkaris – to commemorate the arrival of French fighter jets and the success of our space programmes – in the past. In addition, there are others ever-popular pichkaris that are made on the theme of PubG, Doraemon, Pokemon or Super Heroes, to lure the young buyer.

Similarly, bulldozer is just another marketing gimmick to boost sales on the back of a popular symbol of our times. Calling these pichkaris as an attempt to target a particular community or faith is a ridiculous argument. Holi is a festival of colours and gaiety, celebrated across India with the same josh by all the Indians irrespective of their caste and creed. So, consider bulldozer pichkaris as the just another flavour of the season.

***Abbas says pichkaris often related to current happenings or emotion***

Over the past few years, you can see various merchandise with Modi and Yogi prints, such as masks or clothing. These items merely reflect the current popularity of a group of leaders and ideology. It would be foolish to term such commercial products as being communal or targeted against the minority.

ALSO READ: ‘Bulldozer Action Is OK If There Is No Revenge Politics’

Business houses, manufacturers, sellers etc. always work with the tide and launch products that relate to popular events of the day or an emotion. Are all those involved in manufacturing/selling pichkaris or festival-related products belong to only a particular community? The retailer and manufacturers belong to all communities; and profitability is their only objective.

For example, most of the people involved in manufacturing firecrackers for Diwali and other celebrations belong to a particular community; so do the kaanwad-makers. Can these products be branded as Hindu or Muslims? These are meant for spreading cheer and festivity, nothing else. This is more economics than politics. So save your sentiments for another day.

Indian festivals are for all Indians. Tagging a festival with one particular community or caste is either foolish or a calculated political position. We not only need to be careful of such a bunch of hate mongers but should also boycott them publically to send a message of `Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which means ‘The World is a Family’.

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As told to Rajat Rai

Antony Blinken Ditches Bulletproof Car, Rides An Auto To Embassy

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on an official visit to India for the G20 Foreign Ministers Meet and Raisina Dialogue, chose an auto-rickshaw over his bullet-proof cars to reach the US Embassy in Delhi.

In one of Blinken’s tweets, he can be seen coming out of a three-wheeler.

“A pleasure to meet with our staff from @USAndIndia, @USAndHyderabad, @USAndKolkata, @USAndChennai, @USAndMumbai, and their families. I’m deeply grateful for their hard work and commitment to strengthen our people to people ties and advance the #USIndia strategic partnership,” tweeted United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday.

It seems that the US diplomats are loving their new ‘personalized auto-rickshaws’ as earlier, in November 2022, American women diplomats Ann L Mason, Ruth Holmberg, Shareen J Kitterman and Jennifer Bywaters left their bulletproof cars and took the Black and Pink three-wheelers for all their work including the ‘official trips’. Even they drove themselves in auto-rickshaws to all their workplaces.

Talking about their experience with ANI, Ann L Mason said, “From Detroit to my auto rickshaw, I’ve had a lifelong love of vehicles and so everywhere I’ve been there’s been something special about a vehicle but really none more special in my opinion than an autorickshaw. When I was in Pakistan, before coming to India, I was in armoured vehicles and they were big, beautiful vehicles. But I would always look out on the street and I would see the autorickshaws going by and I always wanted to be in the autorickshaw. So when I got to India and had the opportunity to buy one, I took it immediately”.

“For me it was terrifying. Yes, learning to drive the autorickshaw was completely new for me. I had never driven any vehicle with a clutch, never driven a motorcycle only automatic cars, my whole life”, she said when asked about how hard was it to learn, maintain an auto and get a license.

Shareen J Kitterman, born in the south Indian state of Karnataka and holding US citizenship flaunts her pink autorickshaws with flower magnets, said that she was inspired by the Mexican Ambassador who too had an auto with a driver. She has also tied colourful tassels to both sides of her auto and stuck flags of the United States and India near the windshield.

“When I was in US planning to come to New Delhi, I’d heard about the Mexican Ambassador. Ten years ago, she had an auto and she had a driver. That’s when I started thinking about it. When I came here, I saw Ann who had an auto, so when I own an auto, I want to drive it. So, that was my whole goal”, said Shareen.

Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria was the one who started the trend when she made a white-colored rick her official vehicle. (ANI)

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No Purposed Served By Keeping Me In Custody: Sisodia To Court

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

Sisodia was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.

The Special Judge MK Nagpal to hear this bail plea today. Sisodia is also scheduled to be produced on Saturday at the end of his remand period granted on February 27, 2023.

Rouse Avenue Court on Monday while sending Sisodia to CBI remand directed that the interrogation of the accused during the remand period shall be conducted at some place having CCTV coverage in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and the said footage shall be preserved by the CBI.

Sisodia was arrested last Sunday in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.

Some of his subordinates are found to have disclosed certain facts which can be taken as incriminating against him and some documentary evidence against him has also already surfaced a proper and fair investigation requires that some genuine and legitimate answers to the questions being put to him about the same are to be found and hence, in considered opinion of this court, this can only be done during custodial interrogation of the accused, noted the court.

During arguments, CBI counsel told the court that the Delhi Deputy CM’s custodial interrogation is required for an effective investigation into the case. While seeking five days’ remand of Sisodia, CBI said, “Conspiracy was hatched in a very planned and secret manner.”

Meanwhile, senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan appeared for Sisodia and opposed the remand application of CBI.

“If someone is not willing to say something, that cannot be a ground for arrest,” argued Sisodia’s lawyer.

“What should I do with a phone that I changed? I am a minister, I cannot send it to a second-hand shop, it would have important data. CBI confronted me with the material but I did not confess. The remand application says I gave evasive replies. This cannot be a ground for remand. They search my residence on August 19, 2022. I hand over my phone. They called me to join the investigation and I joined. I cooperated,” Advocate Dayan Krishnan argued for Delhi Deputy CM.

The CBI after arresting Sisodia claimed that he was giving evasive replies and wasn’t cooperating in the ongoing investigation of the liquor scam case. (ANI)

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NGT Stays Construction In UP’s Surha Tal Bird Sanctuary

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Registrar of Jannayak Chandrashekhar University not to carry out any further construction on any part of land falling within the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) area of 1 kilometre from the boundary of Jai Prakash Narayan (Surha Tal) Bird Sanctuary, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.

The bench of Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member) and Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member), after going through the report of the Joint Committee stated that it is established that the Administrative Building (built-up area of 4172 square meters), Academic Building (built-up area of 6689 square meters) Library Building (built-up area 4106 square meters), Commercial Building (built-up area 645 square meters) and 100 Bedded SC/ST Hostel (built-up area 1563 square meters) totalling 17175 square meters are being constructed by Jannayak Chandrashekhar University within the ESZ area of 1 kilometre from the boundary of Jai Prakash Narayan (Surha Tal) Bird Sanctuary, Ballia.

The District Magistrate, Ballia and the Divisional Forest Officer, Kashi Wildlife Division, Ramnagar, Varanasi are also directed to get the Eco Sensitive Zone area demarcated, identify the encroachments, take appropriate action for removal of encroachments and to get appropriate signs boards fixed at appropriate places that the same is no construction zone and no further construction be raised thereon and submit Action Taken Report, directed the NGT.

Prima facie, the construction undertaken in ESZ, apart from being impermissible on that count, is also violative of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the National Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, said the Tribunal.

It further stated that Section 20 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 inter alia requires the Tribunal to apply the precautionary principle. Section 19 (4) (j) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 empowers the Tribunal to pass an order requiring any person to cease and desist from committing or causing any violation of any enactment specified in Schedule I.

In view thereof the Registrar, Jannayak Chandrashekhar University, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh is directed not to carry out any further construction on any part of land falling within ESZ area of 1 kilometre from the boundary of Jai Prakash Narayan (Surha Tal) Bird Sanctuary, Ballia.

The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Ballia and Divisional Forest Officer, Kashi Wildlife Division, Ramnagar, Varanasi are directed to take all requisite steps to ensure that no further construction takes place on the above-said Eco-Sensitive Zone, added the Tribunal in the order.

The direction of the Tribunal came on Thursday, during the hearing of a Petition filed by Dharmender Kumar Singh through Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal against the illegal construction of buildings of Jannayak Chandrashekhar University in violation of environmental norms at village Vasantpur, District Ballia, Uttar Pradesh in the buffer zone of Surha Tal.

Earlier on November 1, 2022, the Tribunal constituted a Joint Committee with direction to verify the factual position and submit its report within two months. Notices were also ordered to be issued to the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar, Jannayak Chandrashekhar University, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.

The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary established in 1991, is a critical area for birds including many migratory species. The eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary prohibits and regulates many activities around the sanctuary. According to a report every year several migratory bird species visit the said sanctuary and remain there for more than three months. (ANI)

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Khalistan Supporters Vandalise Hindu Temple In Brisbane

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

In yet another attack on Hindu Temple in Australia, Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane on Saturday was vandalised by pro-Khalistan supporters.

Temple President Satinder Shukla while speaking to The Australia Today said, “Temple Priest and devotees called this morning and notified me about the vandalism on the boundary wall of our temple.”

Sarah Gates, who is the Director of Hindu Human Rights said, “This latest hate crime is a pattern of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) globally, clearly attempting to terrorise Australian Hindus. Coupled with a barrage of propaganda, illegal signs, and cyberbullying, the organisation intends to present all-pervasive threats, fear, and intimidation,” to The Australia Today.

In January, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Australia’s Carrum Downs was vandalised with anti-Hindu graffiti.

The act came to notice on January 16 after temple devotees came for ‘darshan’ amid the three-day long “Thai Pongal” festival which was celebrated by Australia’s Tamil Hindu community, The Australia Today reported. On the evening of January 15, 2023, Khalistan supporters tried to draw support for their referendum through a car rally in Melbourne. However, they failed miserably as less than two hundred people gathered out of an almost 60,000-strong Melbourne community, according to The Australia Today.

A week before the above incident, On January 12, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Australia’s Mill Park was smeared with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti. The temple was vandalised by anti-India elements with anti-India slogans written on the temple’s walls, located in the suburb of Mill Park, The Australia Today reported. Patel, an onlooker shared how he witnessed the vandalised walls of the temple when he visited the site.

The management of Melbourne’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple also known as the Hare Krishna Temple found the temple walls vandalised with anti-India graffiti.

The attack on ISKCON Temple came two days after Victorian multifaith leaders held an emergency meeting with Victorian Multicultural Commission, per the news report. The Victorian Multicultural Commission had issued a statement condemning the vandalism of Hindu temples in Mill Park and Carrum Downes.

Later, India had condemned the vandalization of Hindu temples in Australia and said that the matter has been raised with the Australian government in Canberra and asked for expeditious investigation against the perpetrators.

Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs had assured, “Our Consulate General in Australia has taken the matter with the local police. We have requested expeditious investigation action against the perpetrators and of course measures to prevent such incidents in future. The matter has also been taken up with the Australian Government, both in Canberra and New Delhi. And we are looking forward to the action that we have requested.” (ANI)

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No Religious Minority Can Live In Pakistan Freely: India At UNHRC

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

India has slammed Pakistan on the issue of religious freedom of minorities at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Using its right to reply, India’s representative Seema Pujani slammed her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar saying, “No religious minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today. The Ahmadiya community continues to be persecuted by the state for simply practising their faith.”

Responding to the statement delivered by Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, Pujani said, “Pakistan’s representative has once again chosen to misuse this august forum for its malicious propaganda against India.”

The Indian Representative also shed light on the issue of enforced disappearances.

“In the last decade, Pakistan’s own commission of inquiry on enforced disappearances has received 8463 complaints. The Baloch people have borne the brunt of this cruel policy. Students, doctors, engineers, teachers and community leaders are regularly disappeared by the state, never to return back,” said Pujani.

She also highlighted the plight of Christians in the country and how they are mistreated in the country.

“Equally worse is the treatment of the Christian community. It is frequently targeted through draconian blasphemy laws. State institutions officially reserve sanitation jobs for Christians,” said Pujani.

She also raised concern over a “predatory state and an apathetic judiciary,” regarding the conversion of underage minority girls.

“Underage girls from the community are converted to Islam abetted by a predatory state and an apathetic judiciary. Hindu and Sikh communities face similar issues of frequent attack on their places of worship and forced conversion of their underage girls. The state’s crackdown on those who wish to raise their voice against any of these heinous policies is also incomparable. A bill which proposes a five-year jail term for anyone who scandalizes or ridicules the military or the judiciary is currently on the table in Pakistan’s parliament,” said Pujani.

The Indian diplomat also slammed Pakistan for supporting terrorism, saying, that Pakistan’s “security agencies have nurtured and sheltered Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar for decades”.

“When it is not entirely focused on suppressing its own population, Pakistan actively lends its energies to aid, host and abet international terrorists. It has the unique distinction of hosting the most number of UNSC-designated terrorists and terror organizations. Allow me to recall that Osama bin Laden lived next to Pakistan’s premier military academy. Its security agencies have nurtured and sheltered Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azar for decades. These are but a few dreaded names from the annals of Pakistan’s history of supporting terrorism. Pakistan’s policies are directly responsible for the death of thousands of civilians around the world. Pakistan’s obsession with India while its population battle for their lives, livelihood and freedom is an indicator,” she added. (ANI)

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Japan PM Kishida To Visit India For 3 Days From March 19

By LokMarg 3rd March 2023

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to visit India later this month for talks with his counterpart Narendra Modi, a government source said on Friday, even as Tokyo holds the presidency of the Group of Seven nations this year, the Nikkei Asia reported.

Kishida’s trip to India, currently chair of the Group of 20 economies for 2023, would come weeks after his government did not send Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to a meeting of the G-20 top diplomats, held for two days through Thursday in New Delhi.

Hayashi’s absence triggered a backlash that Japan’s decision not to dispatch the country’s foreign minister to the G-20 gathering could cast a shadow over relations between the two Asian nations.

Nikkei Asia reported that Kishida, who is likely to visit India for three days from March 19, has been eager to confirm with Modi that Tokyo and New Delhi, as this year’s G-7 and G-20 presidents, will work together more closely to tackle issues stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine, the source said.

In tandem with other G-7 members, Japan has been bolstering economic sanctions on Russia. But India has abstained from implementing punitive measures against Russia.

India has also emerged as a key nation of the “Global South,” a term that collectively refers to developing countries in areas such as Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Nikkei Asia reported that Kishida has been keen to deepen ties with such countries to pave the way for the success of the G-7 in-person summit scheduled for May in Japan’s western city of Hiroshima, which was devastated by a U.S. atomic bomb in World War II, the source said.

During the envisioned meeting, Kishida is expected to invite Modi to participate in the G-7 summit, the source added.

Along with the G-7, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, the G-20 also includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey. (ANI)

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Why Saudi’s ‘Mukaab’ Project Riles Muslims

By Asad Mirza 3rd March 2023

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) announced the launch of the New Murabba Development Company, last week. The new company will oversee developing a new downtown area spread over 19 sq. km. in capital Riyadh

Authorities claim that plans have been created keeping sustainability and environment in mind. The project would include green spaces, walking and cycling pathways, to improve the quality of life by encouraging active, healthy lives and social interaction.

What is Mukaab?

The main feature of the project has been named The Mukaab, a gigantic cube structure has been described as the future ‘face of the city’, and critics say it may even be the face of a new Saudi Arabia, focussing and generating more revenue through tourism than petroleum. At present, the plan is to fill the cube with 100,000 residential units as well as 9,000 hotel rooms.

In addition, it will also have over 80 entertainment and cultural venues. A renowned museum, and a campus for a technology and design university. The 19 km space will accommodate thousands of people. The 25 million sq.mt. floor area is divided strategically into 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms & 620,000 sq.mt. of leisure assets. Additional 980,000 sq.mts. will be covered by retail and 1.8 million sq.mt. will be dedicated to recreational facilities.

The building, will be 20 times bigger than the New York City’s Empire State Building, and will be a one-stop location for shoppers and business owners, with more than 980,000 square metres of retail shops and 1.4 million square metres of office space.

The Mukaab’s core structure will be an atrium, allowing for tons of natural light and foliage to thrive inside. The government brief promises an immersive ‘gateway into another world’ that is completely powered by the latest digital, virtual, and holographic technologies.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia’s abundance of oil money has sparked the design of some absolutely insane architectural projects. In 2021, MbS announced his $500 billion futuristic Neom city in the northwest of the country, with promises of robot maids, flying taxis, and a giant artificial moon. And last year, he unveiled a giant linear city, The Line, which aims to stretch over 106 miles and house 9 million people. The one-trillion-dollar project will essentially be its own massive city in the middle of a desert once it’s finished.

A New Kaabah?

Authorities claim that the project will add 180 billion riyals ($48 bn) to the Saudi economy and “create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs,” though the cost of the gargantuan project has not been mentioned.

New Murabba (square) and The Mukaab were widely ridiculed by social media users, both within and outside Saudi Arabia, apart from a large number of Muslims all across the globe, as soon as the plans were announced.

The Mukaab was also denounced for its likeness to the most important cube-like structure in Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world: the Kaabah. During Namaaz Muslims around the world face towards the structure in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and circumambulate it during Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Though one would have expected a much more vociferous outcry from the clerics in Saudi Arabia, but it has not happened as they can’t unyoke clutches of the ruling dispensation and have lost free voice and expression.

In India, the All India Shia Personal Law Board has condemned the project. In a statement, general secretary of the Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas said the Saudi government was deeply hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims across the globe by building a structure that resembles the Kabaah which is the holiest sites of Islam. Maulana Abbas said a massive movement would be launched to oppose this project. The first protest will be held at the Imambara in Lucknow on 5 March.

Why this new developmental push?

Apparently it seems that Saudi Arabia, has embarked on an ambitious project to diversify the economy away from oil and shed its image as a conservative, closed-off state. Besides promoting new narratives of development and progress.

Additionally, it has serious regional competition from neighbouring Dubai and the Qatari capital Doha, both of which have for decades tried to position themselves as regional tourism and investment hubs.

The kingdom already has an $800 billion plan to double the size of the capital in the next decade, as well as transform it into a cultural and economic hub for the region, according to Saudi media.

Over the years Saudi Arabia, which has seen an economic boom and a desert country transformed into a modern developing country was essentially based on the petroleum industry.

In addition it earns billions in revenues through the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. In recent years, it has made travel to the kingdom friendlier for the pilgrims and expansion plans in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are underway to accommodate more number of tourists.

As a strategy it also is promoting the Umrah pilgrimage more than the annual Hajj, as the revenues through Umrah pilgrims flows throughout the year and the government is not forced to spend more on providing facilities and security to the Umrah pilgrims, whose stay is much shorter as compared to the Hajj pilgrims.

So far, the government was focussing more on promoting tourism, but with the ascension of MbS, it seems to have changed tracks. As his critics say he is pursuing a growth plan which seems more unIslamic than his parleys with the Israelis.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He can be contacted at www.asadmirza.in )

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Pegasus Or No Pegasus Phone Tapping Is Happening: RJD’s Jha

By LokMarg 3rd March 2023

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Friday said that phone tapping is happening and no one can deny this fact.

While speaking to ANI, RJD leader Manoj Jha said “Pegasus or no Pegasus phone tapping is happening”.
RJD leader further stated that BJP leaders fear talking to him over the phone.

” Many of my friends in BJP say to me let’s talk on signal not on a phone call as calls are getting tapped so this reality has to be accepted” he said.

” BJP leaders are blaming a Deputy Chief Minister of some state that their phone calls are getting tapped, so again this reality has to be accepted” he added.

Earlier Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while speaking at an event at Cambridge University in London stated that intelligence officers had told him that pegasus software is installed in his phone and he should remain cautious.

Countering Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of phone-tapping, Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Rahul Gandhi is struck on word Pegasus but he needs to learn about pegasus.”

When asked about Vaishnaw’ remark on Rahul Gandhi’s statement, Manoj Jha attacked the BJP-led Centre and said, “Learning is a lifelong process and the government of which you are a minister has all features of an authoritarian state and people know about this.”

When asked about the opposition not achieving much success in the Supreme court on the Pegasus matter Manoj Jha said ” One thing I will tell you there are various instances where the decisions of today and the things which happen later there is always a difference”.

Lashing out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his claim of being snooped on through Israeli spyware Pegasus, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said it is his habit to raise unfounded allegations and ‘defame’ India on foreign shores.

The Union minister’s statement comes in the wake of Rahul Gandhi claiming, in a lecture at Cambridge University, that his phone was being spied on through Pegasus, and that he was warned by Intelligence officers to be “careful” about what he says on the calls.(ANI)

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