Author: LokMarg

Sikkim Saffron Cultivation

After Success Of Trials With J-K’s Help, Sikkim To Launch Saffron Cultivation

By LokMarg

After the success of trials undertaken with the assistance of the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Sikkim is all set to start saffron cultivation this year and farmers are gearing up for it.
Sikkim University, Sikkim Government Horticulture Department, and the Agriculture Department of Jammu and Kashmir have joined hands to monitor saffron cultivation in the state.

The trial phase was undertaken under the supervision of Sikkim University, which has given enthusiastic results. Sikkim government has done a trial of saffron cultivation in various pockets of Sikkim like Yaksum and nearby areas in West Sikkim and Pangthang, Simik, Khamdong, Padamchen and surrounding areas in East Sikkim have been identified for further cultivation.

A high-level delegation from Sikkim also visited Jammu and Kashmir for an agreement and tie-up last July and then onwards all department officials are in touch to ensure production.

The Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Department and the Horticulture Department of Sikkim have ensured a basic training program for farmers to know about yield and farming.

Officials said Kashmir’s Pampore and Sikkim’s Yangyang have the same weather and geographical conditions, which ensured good success rate during trials.

The Sikkim government cultivated saffron on around one and a half acres of farming land in different locations to see results, which have fantastic results, Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad told ANI.

“Mission started in 2020 with a small piece of land under the monitoring of Sikkim University. After successful results, cultivation attempt made in a different part of State, which was also very successful,” said the Governor.

Governor Prasad also said that the success rate of saffron cultivation is around 80 percent, which is good.

“Sikkim has very supportive weather for saffron cultivation and it has all required,” he said.

He further said that they held several meetings with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and other officials in Raj Bhawan for discussion and expansion of saffron cultivation.

The Sikkim government is looking at it as a major move to boost growth and benefit farmers. Both Jammu and Kashmir have a specialty in saffron cultivation. (ANI)

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Muslim Organisations Support PFI Ban

By LokMarg

After the central government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates for a period of five years, many Muslim organizations across the country have come out in support of the ban.

All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Councils’ Chairman Sayyed Naseeruddin on Wednesday welcomed the ban on PFI on behalf of the organization.
“The organization believes that if the step has been taken to adhere to the law and prevent terrorism, everyone should show patience towards the ban.” “The governments and investigative agencies should welcome the decision,” said a statement by the Council.

The statement added, “If the country is safe, then we are safe.” A country is bigger than any organization or ideology. If anyone talks about dividing the nation, breaking its unity, and destroying the peace, then that person should not be allowed to live in the country. “

“All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council is committed to the unity, peace, and sovereignty of the nation and will raise its voice in future against those opposed to the country,” as per the statement.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Student Organisation of India termed the ban on PFA “reasonable”.

“The ban on PFA is reasonable. The time has come for the youth of India to leave the ideology of extremism and adopt the true meaning of Islam,” said a statement by MSO.

“Barelvi Muslims support PFI ban by the Modi government,” said Maulana Shahabuddin Rizvi.

Sufi Islamic Board’s national spokesperson Kashish Warsi supported the ban on PFI.

MLA MK Muneer welcomed the decision on behalf of the party and said, “We welcome PFI ban, if reasonable. We’ve to fight against RSS in a secular way too. The ban may not solve all problems. Earlier SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) was banned, but NDF (National Development Front), and PFI emerged later.”

Many political leaders across the country have welcomed the ban

On Tuesday, the Home Ministry issued a notification, banning PFI and its associates for five years. It said these outfits operate openly as socio-economic, educational, and political organizations, “but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society working to undermine the concept of democracy.”

It said some of PFI’s founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organizations.

The ban was imposed after two rounds of nationwide raids, including in Maharashtra, on PFI earlier this month. More than 100 people linked to these outfits have been detained by authorities during these raids. (ANI)

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Meta Influence Campaigns

Meta Shuts Down Russia, China-Based Influence Campaigns

By LokMarg

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, on Tuesday took down two separate covert influence networks operating from China and Russia.

Meta publicly detailed the takedown as it remains on high alert for foreign interference in the US midterm elections, a Meta spokesperson told CNN.
The Chinese network was small and received barely any attention, but it did include some accounts that posed as Americans on both sides of the political spectrum, according to a Meta report.

Ben Nimmo, Meta’s global threat intelligence lead, told CNN it was the first time the company had seen Chinese accounts targeting Americans in this way.

“They were running fake accounts that pretended to be Americans and try to talk like Americans and they were talking about really divisive domestic issues like abortion and gun control,” he said.

The company has shared details of the Chinese accounts with the FBI, a Meta spokesperson said.

The Russian campaign, on the other hand, was vast. It pushed pro-Kremlin narratives about the war in Ukraine, included thousands of accounts and pages across multiple social media platforms and spent more than USD 100,000 on ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Meta did not attribute either campaign to specific entities within China or Russia, or to the Chinese and Russian governments, instead saying only the accounts that were part of the campaigns were run out of the respective countries, reported CNN.

Meta said the network of Russian accounts it had taken down was the “largest and most complex Russian operation we’ve disrupted since the war in Ukraine began, it ran a sprawling network of over 60 websites impersonating news organizations, as well as accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, Twitter,” and other sites, according to the report.

The operation included websites that were designed to mimic real Western news outlets, including The Guardian. According to a list of website addresses included in the Meta report, the Russian campaign also registered fake sites designed to look like The Daily Mail and the German outlets Bild and Der Spiegel, reported CNN.

The sophistication of the effort was demonstrated in its attempts to promote disinformation about the Bucha massacre.

The Chinese effort only consisted of about 80 Facebook accounts and barely had any following. Meta said the accounts primarily targeted audiences in the United States and the Czech Republic but posted during working hours in Beijing.

Meta said, “these accounts largely stuck to a shift pattern that coincided with a nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday work schedule during working hours in China — 12 hours ahead of Florida and six hours ahead of Prague,” according to the report. (ANI)

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Anti-Smog Guns Delhi

Delhi Makes Anti-Smog Guns Compulsory For All Construction Sites

By LokMarg

As stubble burning season begins in north India and with pollution levels in the national capital increasing, the Delhi government has begun started implementing its Winter Action Plan.

The Delhi government has made it compulsory for construction sites with an area of 5,000 sq metres or more to install anti-smog guns.
Now Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures will be implemented 3 days in advance based on forecasts before the air quality worsens.

While addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, ”The Environment Department has prepared a 15-point Winter Action Plan.” “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will present this 15-pointer Winter Action Plan in front of the people of Delhi on September 30.”

Gopal Rai said, ”This time, the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also made certain changes in the GRAP measures.” We are developing our Plan of Action, keeping in mind the advice of the CAQM, to be brought in force from October 1st. The major shift in the upcoming plan from the erstwhile system is that previously, the basic parameter was PM 2.5 and PM 10. On the basis of this parameter, the level of pollution was bifurcated into five categories: Moderate, Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe Plus.”

”Now, instead of gauging the level of pollution on the basis of PM 2.5 and PM 10 values, monitoring will be done on the basis of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the GRAP measures will be implemented in Delhi accordingly. There will be four categories of levels of pollution instead of five in the new plan: Poor (AQI 201-300), Very Poor (AQI 301-400), Severe (401-450), Severe Plus (AQI 450+). The modification made in the GRAP measures is that, previously, it was implemented after the air quality falls below a certain. Now, the garb system will be implemented three days prior to reaching the level on the basis of estimation. AQI will be calculated on the basis of forecasts of IITM and IMD,” he added.

He said, ”Regarding the dust pollution in Delhi, it was mandatory to install an anti-smog gun on site with an area greater than 20,000 sq metre till now. But now there is a modification in this provision and now the construction site sized between 5000 sq metres to 10000 sq metres are required to have anti-smog guns. A construction site with an area between 5 thousand sq metres to 10 thousand sq metres needs to have one anti-smog gun.”

”Construction sites sized between 10 thousand sq metres to 15000sq metres are required to have two anti-smog guns and sites having sizes between 15000 sq metres and 20,000 sq metres need to have three anti-smog guns. Construction sites with an area greater than 20 thousand sq metres are required to have four anti-smog guns.” He continued.

The Environment Minister concluded, ”I held a meeting with all the officials of DPCC yesterday. Last year, we worked together with all the agencies working on construction sites in Delhi to keep a noose on pollution. Today, I want to appeal to them to follow the new provisions related to the installation of anti-smog guns, which now cover sites with an area of between 5,000 sq metres to 10,000 sq metres as well. We run an anti-dust campaign every year and it will be mandatory as per the Winter Action Plan to follow this provision. Action would be taken against all those agencies who violate this provision. ” (ANI)

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Yamuna Danger Mark

Yamuna Continues To Flow Above Danger Mark In Delhi

By LokMarg

With the regular increase in the water level, the Yamuna on Wednesday continued to flow above the danger mark in the national capital.

Although the danger mark for river Yamuna is 205.33 meters, it reached the 206.59-meter mark at 7 a.m. today.
Notably, as a result of heavy rainfall in Delhi for three consecutive days, the river crossed its danger mark on Tuesday afternoon after reaching 206.30 meters.

On Tuesday, owing to the danger caused by the rise in water level, the northern railways suspended the rail traffic over the old Yamuna Bridge from 4:00 pm (on Tuesday).

Consequently, a number of short-terminated and short-originated trains were also canceled or diverted by the northern railways.

The list of canceled trains included Delhi-Saharanpur Special, Delhi-Saharanpur Express, Delhi-Aligarh Special, Shamli-Delhi Special, Aligarh-Delhi Special, and Panipat-Delhi Special (JCO 28.09.22).

The Delhi – Kathgodam SK Express via New Delhi – Sahibabad, Delhi – Katihar Champaran Humsafar Express via New Delhi – Sahibabad, Jaiselmer – Jammu Tawi Shalimar Express via New Delhi – Sahibabad, Amritsar – Katihar Express via New Delhi – Sahibabad and Delhi – Haridwar Express via New Delhi – Sahibabad were diverted as per the notification from northern railways.

The Hazrat Nizamuddin – Ghaziabad Special was also scheduled to take a short termination at Delhi, and Aligarh – Delhi Special took it at Ghaziabad.

Delhi – Shamli – Saharanpur Special from Delhi Shahdara, Delhi – Khurja Special from Delhi Shahdara, Khurja – Delhi Special from Delhi Shahdara, Saharanpur – Delhi Special from Delhi Shahdara also originated shortly, according to the information received from the northern railways.

Meanwhile, due to incessant rains in the national capital, many roads have been affected by waterlogging, uprooting of trees, and potholes.

However, the India Meteorological Department in its Delhi forecast for the next seven days predicted a partly cloudy sky till October 3 and a generally cloudy sky with little rain on October 4. (ANI)

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Mamata Arrested

Mamata May Be Arrested Soon: Sukanta Majumdar

By LokMarg

West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar made huge revelations against the Mamata Banerjee-led government and claimed that the TMC supremo may be arrested soon.

“Mamata Banerjee may be arrested by December. 41 TMC people’s names are with top leadership. The government will fall in December,” said Majumdar.
BJP leader and film star Mithun Chakraborty had also claimed to be in touch with TMC MLAs.

“I am in touch with 21 MLAs of Mamata Banerjee’s party, I said this earlier and again, I stand by my point. I request you just wait for the time,” added Mithun Chakraborty.

West Bengal BJP Vice President Dilip Ghosh called out Mamata Banerjee’s inauguration of Durga Puja during “Pitru Paksha”.

“Mamata Banerjee is destroying the sanctity of Durga Puja by inaugurating the puja in Pitru Paksha, all the works of Mamata Banerjee are wrong, that is why there was a mistake in chanting the mantra while worshipping Goddess Durga,” said Ghosh.

Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari said that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) won’t last even for the next six months in the state.

His remarks came after the ruling party put up posters claiming that a “new and reformed TMC” come in the next six months.

“Enforcement Directorate(ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are doing their job. This party (TMC) will not last for even six months, December is their deadline,” LoP Suvendu Adhikari had said in Purba Medinipur.

Meanwhile, Mousumi Das, district Vice President of Mahila Morcha Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) was allegedly attacked by “Trinamool Congress-backed” goons at her residence in the Malatipur area of Malda on September 23.

However, Shuvomoay Basu, spokesperson of Trinamool Congress (TMC), Malda, refuted the allegation. He said, “We have faith in the police investigation. They will find out the reason behind the attack if it has happened.”

Bengal BJP leaders have often complained of attacks on party cadres and claimed that the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated. (ANI)

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Canada India

Canada: Don’t Travel To Areas In India Bordering Pak

By LokMarg

In what appears to be a bizarre travel advisory, Canada has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan that share a border with Pakistan due to the “presence of landmines” and an “unpredictable security situation.”

“Avoid all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in the following states due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance: Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan,” the advisory states.
The travel advisory put out by the Canadian government on its website, which was last updated on September 27, also asks its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the “threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.”

This advisory excludes traveling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.

It also urges people to avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur “due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency.”

Incidentally, India had on September 23 issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to probe these crimes.

“There has been a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-Indian activities in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs and our High Commissions/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action,” the MEA said in a statement.

The statement also stressed that “the perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada.”

“In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant,” the statement added.

The advisory also said Indian nationals and students from India in Canada may also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in.

“Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any requirement or emergency,” the advisory said.

This advisory after India termed the so-called Khalistan referendum conducted by separatist groups as a “farcical exercise”. (ANI)

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MoS Muraleedharan

No Compromise On National Security: MoS Muraleedharan Lauds PFI Ban

By LokMarg

Union minister V Muraleedharan on Wednesday lauded the Centre’s ban on PFI and its affiliates for five years, saying it showed that the Modi government “acts tough” with forces aiming to disrupt peace and stability.

The Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs reaffirmed the government’s stand that there would be no compromise on the matter of national security.
“No compromise on National Security. Banning PFI reiterates the fact that @narendramodi Govt acts tough on forces aiming to disrupt peace & nation’s stability. @narendramodi govt ensuring integrity, sovereignty & security of the country. The whole nation welcomes this decision,” Muraleedharan tweeted.

Late Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts “as an unlawful association with immediate effect”. It banned these outfits for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Along with PFI, the ban was imposed on its fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.

In a notification, the Home Ministry said the ban has been imposed against these outfits for “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the country.”

The notification said the PFI has been found to be involved in several “criminal and terror cases and shows sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority of the country and with funds and ideological support from outside it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country.”

The ban has been imposed after two rounds of nationwide raids against the PFI this month during which more than 100 members associated with the outfit were detained. (ANI)

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MP Kodikunnil Suresh

Ban RSS Too: Cong MP Kodikunnil Suresh

By LokMarg

Congress MP from Kerala on Wednesday compared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with the Popular Front of India and demanded a similar ban on it for perpetuating “Hindu communalism.”

The remarks by Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh came in the wake of the ban by the central government issued through a notification late on Tuesday on Popular Front of India and its affiliates for having ‘terror links.”
“We demand a ban on RSS as well. The ban on PFI is not the remedy as RSS is also spreading Hindu communalism throughout the country,” K Suresh said.

“So both the RSS and PFI are equal. The government should ban both. Why only PFI? RSS is also doing the majority communalism,” he said.

K Suresh further added that the communalism of both the majority as well as minority is dangerous.

“Wherever majority communalism is there, then minority communalism is also coming up. So ultimately both (majority and minority) communalism is dangerous. It is dangerous for the country. So the government should ban both. Otherwise no result,” the Congress Lok Sabha chief whip added.

Earlier senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh while denouncing the violence perpetrated by the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala, lashed out at the RSS and VHP as well, calling them “ek hi thali ke chatte batte” while also demanding action against “all those who spread hatred and violence.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday night made the announcement through a notification declaring “the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect”.

Alongwith PFI, a ban was also imposed on its fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF). Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association”.

As per the notification, the Central government declared PFI and its associates or affiliates or the fronts as’ unlawful organizations’ in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 1967 (37 of 1967) and banned the organisations under section 4 of the UAPA.

Earlier on September 26, the Karnataka unit of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a political wing of the Popular Front of India condemned the raids conducted by the National Investigation Agency against its members, and asked why the central agency had not yet conducted raids on the RSS and its affiliated organizations for “acts of communal hatred”.

The NIA had arrested over 106 members of the PFI during its largest-ever raids spread across 15 states on September 22. (ANI)

PFI unlawful association

Centre Declares PFI Unlawful Association For 5 Years

By LokMarg

The Central Government on Tuesday declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years.

“PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular
section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country,” said the government notification.

The notification said PFI and its associates or affiliates, or fronts have been indulging in unlawful activities which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country.

It further said some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations.

There had been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with global

terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalization of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations, said the notification.

“The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of the firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect, and accordingly, in the exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette,” it said.

The National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and the state police forces jointly coordinated searches at the houses and offices of the PFI leaders and members across India.

Searches were conducted at 93 locations in 15 states of India in which over 100 activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested.

The states where the raids were conducted included Andhra Pradesh (4 places), Telangana (1), Delhi (19), Kerala (11), Karnataka (8), Tamil Nadu (3), Uttar Pradesh (1), Rajasthan (2), Hyderabad (5), Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur.

The searches were conducted in connection with five cases registered by the NIA following “continued inputs and evidence” that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in the funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations.

A large number of criminal cases were registered in different states over the last few years against the PFI and its leaders and members for their involvement in many violent acts.

The PFI was launched in Kerala in 2006. (ANI)

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