Month: October 2024

Farmers in Punjab on Saturday said that their protests against the government to press for multiple demands,including timely paddy procurement, will continue and a chakka jam will be organised in Sangrur, Bhatinda, Moga, Batala, and Gurdaspur in the State.

The farmers have also been protesting against police actions against farmers for stubble burning.

Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC) district president Aranjeet Singh said that they will gather in Phagwada over the issues concerning farmers of the State.

“Both the Punjab government and the central government should find a solution and resolve the issue timely so that the people do not face any problems because of road blockade (chakka jam). We don’t want commoners to face any problems. However, if the government is unable to decide anything, we will be forced to block the roads,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, farmers from Punjab’s Jaladhar joined other protestors and were seen this morning are moving towards Phagwara protest site to block the highway.

On the action taken against farmers over stubble burning, a senior farm leader said that the pollution emitted by factories and vehicles on roads is not even mentioned, but the stubble burning issue is often highlighted.

“They have taken actions (against farmers) in the name of stubble burning. The pollution is not only because of stubble burning. It also happens due to many vehicles on roads, due to factories. Stubble burning only contributes two to three per cent to pollution levels. The pollution emitted by factories and other things is not even mentioned. Stubble burning is just an excuse to defame the farmers which is unfair. The Punjab government and the central government are alike. They just want to destroy farmers. This is why the protests will go on indefinitely. We will go to Phagwada from Amritsar and block the roads,” the farm leader said.

Earlier, PKMSC General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher informed that the protest is being organised in four locations at 1 pm this afternoon. He said that the Punjab government has not been transparent about the rice stock from the last two years that is still in godowns.

“The rice stock from last two years is still in the godowns and the rice millers say that they are not ready to bear the loss,” he said while taking a dig at the Punjab government for not being transparent about the same issue before the public.

“Kejriwal tweets on everything, but hasn’t posted on the issue of paddy procurement. Punjabis have given him such a huge mandate and despite that he has not made attempts to talk to the central government and resolve this issue,” Pandher said.

The roadblocks or the “chakka jam” will be organised at four places including Sangrur, Moga, Phagwara, and Batla. Phul said that the blockade will continue indefinitely if the demands are not met. (ANI)

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The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted search operations in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru in connection with the illegal sale of tickets for Coldplay and Diljeet Dosanjh’s Dilluminati concerts.

During the search operations, several incriminating materials including mobile phones, laptops, sim cards etc. used in the scam were recovered and seized, the ED said.

This move comes after multiple FIRs were registered in various states regarding fraudulent ticket sales.

The concerts – Diljeet Dosanjh’s “Dilluminati” and Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour” generated immense excitement, leading official ticketing partners, Bookmyshow and Zomato Live, to report that tickets sold out in just minutes on their platforms.

However, this demand has led to black-marketing of tickets at exorbitant prices, with fans discovering that they were sold fake tickets or charged exorbitant prices for legitimate ones.

Multiple FIRs have been filed in various states across the country including an FIR filed by Bookmyshow against several suspects believed to be exploiting concertgoers. The FIR alleges that these individuals have engaged in selling counterfeit tickets and drastically inflating prices, taking advantage of the high demand for these coveted concerts.

ED has initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and conducted searches on 25.10.2024 at multiple locations in five states of Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Chandigarh at more than 13 locations under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) where several incriminating materials such as Mobile phones, laptops, sim cards etc used in the scam were seized.

This action was aimed to investigate the illegal sales of tickets and the financial networks supporting these scams and to trace the Proceeds of Crime generated from such illegal activities.

Searches and investigations conducted by ED have revealed information regarding multiple individuals known for providing such tickets including fake tickets through social media using Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. (ANI)

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who is on an India visit on Friday urged for collective action by countries to do whatever they can to bring about political solutions to resolving global conflicts, including Russia-Ukraine and West Asian crisis, based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

“Let us do whatever we can to bring about political solutions to these conflicts. Solutions that are based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter…,” Scholz said while addressing the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024, .

Scholz’s remarks come amid rising tensions in regions in the Middle East, South China Sea, and East China Sea. He warned that a successful Russian invasion of Ukraine would have far-reaching repercussions on Europe’s borders, compromising global security and prosperity.

“If Russia is to succeed in its illegal brutal war against Ukraine, there would be repercussions far beyond Europe’s borders. Such an outcome would endanger global security and prosperity as a whole,” the German Chancellor said.

“The Middle East remains another constant source of tension and a stark reminder of the human cost of division and the world’s inability to reach political solutions. The Korean Peninsula, the South and East China Sea all remain flash points of potential conflicts, even though we all hope that these conflicts can be contained…” he said.

He said that the world of the 21st century “is something where progress is the question we have to work for. In multipolar world there is no global policemen, no single watchdog monitoring our common rules and institutions, each and every one of us is called upon to defend and uphold them.”

Emphasising on the the importance of strengthened bilateral relations between Germany and India, particularly in areas such as defence, trade, and clean energy, Scholz said, “We need more cooperation, not less.”

“Our intergovernmental consultation with India, we also want to deepen our cooperation on defense and agree to bring our militaries closer together, our overall message is clear, we need more cooperation, not less,” he said.

“Today, we are meeting in the world’s biggest democracy. The fastest-growing major economy in the world with the most rapidly expanding renewable energy sector of any major economy,” Chancellor Scholz said in his address to Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024.

Scholz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the conference today in the national capital.

The German Chancellor is in India for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC), a biannual meeting involving ministers from both countries.

Scholz met early this morning with the Prime Minister at his Minister’s official residence in the national capital. Scholz will also hold key bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“In this world we need friends and allies – just like India and Germany,” Scholz took to his social media platform X to post adding “Dear @narendramodi, thank you for your warm welcome in New Delhi”

Upon his arrival in New Delhi on Thursday the German leader was received by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai.

This marks Scholz’s third visit to India since he became Chancellor in 2021. In the year 2023, he visited India twice – for a bilateral state visit in February and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September. (ANI)

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Recalled Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma, on Friday shared a terrifying moment when Khalistani ‘goons’ came very close to bodily harm him and attacked him with a ‘sharp object’ most likely a ‘kirpan’ in Alberta that could potentially harm him.

In a podcast with ANI, Sanjay Verma shared his experience of threats and intimidation from the Khalistanis.

Sanjay Verma said, “All these attempts to harm me bodily, that was in the presence of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the local police and the local police on the ground took immediate action, pushed him away because there was a sharp weapon and the RCMP then whisked me from the side door to the venue.”

“It was in Alberta. I am not an expert on Canadian law about open carrying so I will not be able to say that. But most likely they would have said that it was ‘kirpan’ which is a small blade whereas they had swords in their hand. They could come very, very close to me,” said Verma.

When asked if the incident was reported, Sanjay Verma said, “It was all reported and we were told that investigations are on.”

Speaking of intimidation from the Khalistanis, Sanjay Verma that the intimidation came through banned organisations associated with the Khalistani extremists.

“Some came through emails during the so-called protests, which I call hooliganism when they gathered in front of the two consulates or the High Commission. They would shout slogans to intimidate us. Whenever we were attending public events, again, they would shout slogans to intimidate us,” he said.

Sharing an incident, Sanjay Verma said, “In one instance, close to Diwali, they created 10 heads for me, called me Ravan. And then my effigy was burnt as Ravan. Is that not hate speech? Then they created another poster of mine. And they riddled it with bullets. Is that not hate speech? Then what is it?”

“I reported this to the foreign ministry. The response was that we forwarded it to the relevant authorities, which is correct. We also do the same. But the report never came back. Okay. So we presume that nothing happened. So we presume that it went into a black box. Not to come out,” he stated.

When asked if he at any point in time he felt threatened physically?

Sanjay Verma replied, ” Threatened, yes. But did I become threatened? No. In most of my public events, there will be these hooligans outside shouting slogans against India, but also against me. Some of them are very burly-looking tall guys who would also gesture to physically harm me, but just the gestures, except for a few incidents. And so they tried.”

“They came close to me. They tried to intimidate me through such, slogans shouting, and abusing me verbally. That was reported,” he stated.

Speaking about his security, Sanjay Verma said, “I had Canadian security, both the federal and local.”

Asked about whether Sanjay Verma at any point in time doubted their ability to protect him, he replied, “No, that I won’t say. They were very professional, well-trained, and very respectful. So as far as the police officers who were protecting us and now protecting my colleagues there, very, very professional, never had an iota of doubt on their professionalism.”

Adding further he said, “But unfortunately, the statement which we saw in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police press briefing, where even the investigation has not been concluded, that was a sad thing to see.”

High Commissioner Verma said that he was there to serve India’s national interest and was committed to doing so.

“So diplomacy for most of us would be, you know, being nice, nice cities. But then the final objective of diplomacy happens to be to safeguard your national interest. National interest could be improving relationships. National interest could be raising awareness against these Khalistani goons. All these are national interests,” he said.

“So we work for the national interests. It so happened that my national interest was a bit different than the national interest of most other ambassadors in other countries,” said Sanjay Verma.

Verma was recalled from Canada after the country said he was a person of interest in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case; however, he denied all charges levelled against him by Ottawa in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The ties between India and Canada soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he had “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Nijjar.

India has denied all the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated” and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year. (ANI)

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The Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Fast Track Court, Varanasi on Friday dismissed the Hindu side’s plea for an additional survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Gyanvapi complex.

Hindu side advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi said, “The court has rejected our application for an additional survey of the protection of the whole Gyanvapi area by the ASI… We will go to the High Court against this decision…within the time limitation, within 30 days.”

The Hindu side claimed that there is a 100-foot Shivling present under the central dome and requested a 4×4 feet excavation and an ASI survey at the Gyanvapi complex and present its report in the court, but the Senior Division Fast Track Court of Varanasi has rejected their application.

Meanwhile, Hindu side Advocate Rastogi said that he is upset over the decision, adding that they will go to the High Court on an immediate basis.

“This decision is against the rules and facts. I am upset with this and will go to the upper court and challenge it… According to the order of 8.4.2021, a 5-member committee was to be appointed to the ASI for the survey, in which one person would have been of the minority community and an expert from the central university. All of them had to conduct the ASI survey. The previous survey was done only by the ASI. The High Court had confirmed that the survey was not in compliance with that order (of 8.4.2021)… We will go to the High Court on an immediate basis,” the Hindu side Advocate said.

Hindu Side lawyer Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said that they will go to the district court or High Court for revision against the order.

“The civil court has rejected and the order is also out… We will go to the district court for revision against this order… The ASI survey of almost all areas is complete but a survey of some places where the machines could not reach is remaining… Hence, an additional survey was demanded… We will go to the Civil Court and succeed. The survey will take place… We will make sure that the survey every inch of the temple complex takes place… This is not a setback… We have already presented all the evidence… There is the district court, High Court, all the paths are open yet,” Chaturvedi said.

This case of Lord Visheshwar vs Anjuman Intezamiya Masjid Committee has been going on since 1991. The Hindu side had sought permission to give the right to worship and build a temple within the Gyanvapi premises.

The case was filed regarding the construction of a new temple in Gyanvapi and granting Hindus the right to worship. The case has been pending for 33 years, and today the lawyer for the Muslim side concluded their arguments. (ANI)

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Around 30 students from a school at Tiruvottiyur in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai were taken to a hospital on Friday after experiencing uneasiness and throat irritation, reportedly due to a gas leak, officials said.

The incident caused panic among students and school authorities.

All the affected students are safe and are receiving medical treatment, said officials.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) commander AK Chauhan said, “As of now, I cannot tell the exact cause.” He added,” We are yet to ascertain the exact cause. Our team came and assessed the situation, everything was normal, and we did not smell any gas or leakage from the AC.”

Meanwhile, parents of affected children accused school authorities of not providing clear information about the situation.

“The school administration is not providing clear information. My child is still under hospital observation. She had throat irritation for the past three days, which we thought was minor, but today they admitted her,” one parent said.

Local police rushed to the scene and are investigating the source of the leak while monitoring the situation to prevent further risks.

Forensic experts and officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) have also arrived at the site.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday claimed that former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was attacked during a rally in the national capital and alleged that the attack was carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party through its goons.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said that the Delhi police has not taken any action against the miscreants who attacked the AAP chief.

“Today during the padayatra, some BJP workers raised slogans against Arvind Kejriwal and attacked him. Anything could have happened to him in this attack. If they had weapons, Arvind Kejriwal could have also lost his life. This attack has clearly been carried out by the BJP because BJP workers had attacked Arvind Kejriwal earlier as well. Till date, Delhi police has not taken any action against those who had attacked Arvind Kejriwal,” CM Atishi said.

AAP leader Manish Sisodia said the attack on Arvind Kejriwal is extremely “condemnable and worrying.”

“The attack on Arvind Kejriwal is extremely condemnable and worrying. It is clear that the BJP has carried out this attack through its goons. If anything happens to Arvind Kejriwal, the entire responsibility will be on the BJP. We are not going to be afraid–the Aam Aadmi Party will remain steadfast on its mission,” Manish Sisodia posted on X.

AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj also stated that If anything happens to Kejriwal, the BJP will be directly responsible for that.

“When ED, CBI and jail did not work, now BJP people are getting Arvind Kejriwal attacked. If anything happens to Kejriwal, BJP will be directly responsible for that. Arvind Kejriwal was holding a ‘padyatra’ in Vikaspuri area and meeting people there. I think the BJP is not able to digest the love and blessings that Arvind Kejriwal is getting from people. Today, people associated with the BJP have tried to attack Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier too, attempts have been made to hurt Arvind Kejriwal. When he was in jail, his insulin was stopped, attempts were made for his death,” Bhardwaj said in a self-made video.

Assembly polls in Delhi are expected to be held in early 2025. Congress could not win a single seat in the Delhi assembly polls held in 2020. While AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats, BJP secured eighth seats in the last assembly polls. (ANI)

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that 2.16 lakh people have been evacuated from affected areas to relief camps.

Addressing a press conference Chief Minister Mamata said, “Some districtsare affected badly due to cyclone, especially kaccha houses. All DMs, SPs and concerned officials are doing their best. We coordinate with all of them from time to time. 2.16 lakh people evacuated from affected areas to relief camps. I talked to an MLA, he informed me that Kapil Muni Mandir has been affected and faced massive waterlogging. I talked to all MLAs of affected districts.”

IMD informed that Cyclone Dana has crossed the north Odisha coast as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph and warned that isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over south Gangetic West Bengal (east and west Medinipur) today.

“The Severe cyclonic storm “Dana” (pronounced as Dana) crossed north Odisha coast close to Habalikhati Nature Camp (Bhitarkanika) and Dhamara during 0130 hrs IST to 0330 hrs IST of today, 25th October as a Severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph,” IMD said in a post on X.

“Isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely over coastal Odisha, south Gangetic West Bengal (east & west Medinipur) on 25th October 2024,” IMD added.

NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi told ANI, “Reports are being compiled from the field by the SOC and shortly we will have the details…The normal services have also been restored. The air services have been restored.”

Flight operations have resumed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata today. The services were suspended since yesterday due to Cyclone Dana.

Several parts of West Bengal are witnessing rains due to the cyclone. (ANI)

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Ten people allegedly involving Chinese agents, Taiwanese gang members and members of a temple were indicted in a military espionage case, Taipei Times reported.

According to reports by the Taiwan-based media outlet, the High Prosecutors’ Office stated that eight military members, some of them on active duty and some retired, were charged with leaking sensitive information to the Chinese agents and compromising national security laws.

The office further declared that Lee Huei-hsin, a 31-year-old gang member, and a retired officer surnamed Peng was involved in the case.

The prosecutors further added that Chinese intelligence approached Lee in Macau and offered her money and other benefits. After returning to Taiwan, Lee started recruiting military personnel, Peg being the first. Lee contacted her network at the temple and gang for recruitment. Peg helped expand the network of military recruitment and recruited an active-duty soldier surnamed Liu.

The court filing stated that the active duty personnel were asked to give documents like flight plans, work schedules and attendance records to Chinese agents through Lee, paying up to (New Taiwan Dollar) NTD 150,000 for each item.

Each of the military personnel recruited had to wear a military uniform, holding the Chinese national flag. They also promised to surrender to China if a war breaks out.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the indicted military personnel had betrayed the nation by engaging in espionage for money. The ministry stated,” “They must be condemned in the strongest terms and must receive severe punishment by the law.”

As reported by the Taipei Times, the ministry further added,” China’s pervasive efforts to infiltrate Taiwan mean that military personnel must be alert at all times to safeguard national security and enhance awareness about classified information.”

The most recent of the Chinese military actions is tension between Taiwan and China where Beijing conducts several military operations around the island. Taiwan has been a separate independent region since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan as its integral part and uses force to claim the region. (ANI)

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Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Friday filed his nomination as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Saraikella and said that the Congress and its alliance have no existence in Jharkhand and that they don’t stand anywhere in the elections.

“…Not only in Jharkhand, there is a BJP wave across the country. Nobody will be able to stop this wave. Alliance with Congress has no existence in Jharkhand and they stand nowhere in these elections,” said Champai Soren.

Earlier in the day, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) released another list of candidates for two seats for the upcoming Assembly polls.

The party has fielded Ganesh Mehli from the Saraikela seat posing him against Champai Soren and Ramsurya Munda from Khunti.

On Thursday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren who had filed his nomination for the upcoming assembly polls took a jibe at Assam CM and Jharkhand BJP co-in-charge of assembly elections Himanta Biswa Sarma by calling him as ‘Pravaasi’ CM who will not be seen in the state once the assembly polls are over.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren will contest from the Barhait Assembly constituency.

Meanwhile, Kalpana Soren, the JMM leader and wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, filed her nomination as her party candidate from the Gandey Assembly constituency on Thursday. Kalpana Soren is currently representing the Gandey constituency.

JMM released its first list of 35 candidates on October 23 for the polls.

On Saturday, BJP announced its first list of 66 candidates for Jharkhand assembly elections as the ruling JMM-led alliance finalised the contours of their seat-sharing agreement.

Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections in alliance with All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). BJP will contest 68 seats, AJSU 10 seats, JD-U two seats and LJP one seat.

Elections are being held on 81 seats of the Jharkhand assembly in two phases on November 13 and November 20. (ANI)

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