India

India forms investigation panel into conspiracy to murder Sikh separatist leader in America

Thursday, November 30, 2023

India has constituted a high-level inquiry panel to probe allegations of a conspiracy to kill a Sikh separatist leader in the US.

On the evening of Wednesday, November 29, 2023, America claimed that it had foiled the plan to assassinate a Sikh separatist American citizen living in New York. America accused Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta in this case on Wednesday, 29 November 2023. According to the documents presented in the court, he had received instructions from an employee of the Government of India.

Earlier last week, the British newspaper Financial Times, quoting sources, had reported that America had foiled an attempt to assassinate pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The newspaper had claimed that Indian government officials were involved in this conspiracy and America has warned the Indian government regarding this.

On Wednesday, 29 November 2023, India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India has constituted a high-level panel on 18 November 2023 to investigate the matter.

Following the Financial Times report, US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the US was taking the issue "extremely seriously".

The Washington Post wrote in a report on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 that the Biden administration was deeply concerned after the conspiracy to assassinate a Sikh separatist was discovered. It had sent CIA Director William J. Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haynes to India in August 2023 and October 2023 and demanded an investigation into the matter.

What did the Ministry of External Affairs of India say on the case of conspiracy to kill Sikh separatist leader in America?

Thursday, November 30, 2023

The Indian Foreign Ministry has said that charges have not been brought against the Indian official in the US court. Information about what inputs India has received from America cannot be made public.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has said in response to a question, "I want to clarify one thing that the case is not being filed against the Indian official in the American court. We cannot share the inputs we have received but If you are talking about a legal case, a person has been charged in an American court.''

“The allegation that the man was working with an Indian official is a matter of concern. We have repeatedly said this is not India's policy. Our high level investigation panel will also investigate the case from the angle of nexus of drug racket and organized crime.''

The US has claimed to have uncovered a conspiracy to kill a Sikh separatist leader and an American citizen on American soil.

A man named Nikhil Gupta is accused of giving a contract to a hired killer to kill a separatist leader in exchange for one lakh dollars (about Rs 83 lakh) in cash.

There are allegations that Nikhil Gupta was being guided by an Indian officer. The Indian official is not named in the indictment.

On 18 November 2023, India has constituted a high-level inquiry panel to investigate these allegations.

All 41 workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel of Uttarakhand were rescued safely

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

All 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in the Indian state of Uttarakhand have been rescued safely.

Uttarakhand government has issued a press release giving information about this.

The Uttarakhand government says that state and central government agencies as well as the army, various organizations and world-renowned tunnel experts were involved in the rescue operation of the workers.

Many organizations, officers and employees including NDRF, SDRF, BRO, RVNL, SJVNL, ONGC, ITBP, NHAIDCL, THDC, Uttarakhand State Government, District Administration, Indian Army, Indian Air Force played an important role in the rescue operation.

What did Congress say?

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on social media site

Jairam Ramesh said, “The entire country salutes the amazing patience and courage of the workers. The nation also appreciates the dedication, skill and tenacity of the entire rescue team and wholeheartedly thanks them.”

What did Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi say?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the safe evacuation of 41 laborers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand as an emotional success.

PM Modi wrote on social media site X, "The success of the rescue operation of our labor brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience is inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health. It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough.''

PM Modi has also saluted the spirit of the people engaged in this rescue operation.

PM Modi said, "I also salute the spirit of all the people associated with this rescue operation. His bravery and determination have given new life to our labor brothers. Everyone involved in this mission has set an amazing example of humanity and teamwork.”

After being taken out of the tunnel, the workers have been taken to a temporary hospital built near the tunnel where their mental and physical health will be examined.

Uttarakhand CM said, the workers who came out of the tunnel will get financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh.

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttarakhand, has given information to the media after all the workers were safely evacuated from the Silkyara Tunnel on the evening of Tuesday, 28 November 2023.

Pushkar Singh Dhami said that all the workers have come out of a different environment so we will work as per the advice of the doctors. He will be kept under medical supervision, monitored but nothing is serious. All the rescued workers will be given an assistance amount of Rs 1 lakh each. The tunnel under construction will be reviewed.

All 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel of Uttarakhand have been rescued safely.

At present all the workers are present in the health center and their treatment is going on.

But after 17 days, the families of the workers are also heaving a sigh of relief.

The family members of a laborer from Arrah in the Indian state of Bihar shared both their pain and joy with news agency PTI.

In the pictures coming on different news channels, the families of the workers are seen celebrating and expressing happiness.

The Supreme Court of India, while hearing the bail plea of former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, has asked questions from CBI and ED regarding the evidence.

Manish Sisodia was arrested a few months ago in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

According to 'Bar & Bench', a website that broadcasts news related to law, Justice Sanjeev Khanna and SVN Bhati have asked the investigating agencies what evidence they have to prove the case of money laundering against Manish Sisodia.

The Supreme Court asked, "Where is the evidence, where is the evidence. You have to prove it. Where are the proceeds of crime?''

Both the federal investigating agencies claim that there were irregularities during the change in excise policy and illegal benefits were given to the licensees.

The court said, ''We understand that the policy has been changed and everyone wants to change it so that it benefits them. If we say that a discriminatory policy was followed against a particular group, then it does not constitute a crime without taking into account the monetary transaction.''

The court said that when any policy decision is taken, there will always be some pressure and contradiction, adding, "It is true that bribe cannot be taken."

The court wanted to know how the money reached the former Deputy Chief Minister.

The court asked, ''You gave two figures, one of Rs 100 crore and one of Rs 30 crore. Who gave him this money? It is possible that these may have been given by many people, it is not necessary that they be people associated with the liquor business. Is there any other evidence apart from Dinesh Arora's statement?''

The Supreme Court has given the date of next hearing as 12 October 2023. Manish Sisodia had the responsibilities of the Excise Department of Delhi Government.

Manish Sisodia was arrested by CBI on 26 February 2023.

After this, ED arrested Manish Sisodia on March 9, 2023 in the money laundering case on the basis of CBI FIR. Since then he is in Tihar jail.

Manish Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on 28 February 2023.

The Law Commission in India is not in favor of reducing the age of consensual sexual intercourse from 18 years to 16 years under the POCSO Act.

In its 283rd report submitted to the Government of India, the Law Commission has said that the consequences of reducing the age of mutual consent from 18 years to 16 years will not be right.

The Law Commission has said that this will make it easier for adults to have sexual relations with a minor even if the minor consents to it.

This will also impact the ongoing campaign against child marriage and child trafficking. Also, this will make it more difficult for the investigating agencies to investigate against those accused of child sex crimes.

Currently in India, the age for consensual sexual intercourse is 18 years.

The Law Commission says that in an era when incidents of sexual crimes and luring crimes against children in cyberspace are increasing, reducing the age for consensual sexual intercourse can have extremely fatal consequences.

According to World Population Review, there is no age limit for consensual sexual intercourse in countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Libya etc.

According to the World Population Review, the age of consensual sexual intercourse is 11 years in Nigeria, 12 years in the Philippines, 14 years in Germany, 15 years in Thailand, 16 years in Japan, 17 years in Mexico, 18 years in India and 20 years in Nepal.

The Madras High Court has upheld the lower court's decision to convict 215 people in the case of sexual harassment of women and atrocities on tribal people in Vachathi village in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Forest department and police department employees are also among those convicted in this case.

The accused are accused of misbehaving with the people of the village during the raid against sandalwood smuggling.

The Madras High Court on Friday, September 29, 2023, rejected the appeal filed by Dharmapuri against the lower court's decision.

In this decision, 215 people found guilty were sentenced to jail ranging from one year to ten years.

According to the report of news agency PTI, on Friday, September 29, 2023, Justice P Velmurugan also directed to immediately give compensation of Rs 10 lakh to 18 female victims of sexual harassment.

This incident in Dharmapuri had shocked the entire Tamil Nadu.

Justice P Velmurugan has also said in his decision that if a victim has died then the compensation amount should be given to his family.

"Action should be taken against the District Magistrate, District SP and District Forest Officer and the government should compensate the affected families."

The victims' lawyer said that the court has also ordered to recover Rs 5 lakh from the rape accused.

In this case, Dharmapuri court had convicted 126 forest department employees in 2011.

Of these, four officers were from the Indian Forest Service, 84 people were police employees, five were people from the Revenue Department.

The investigation of this incident of 1992 was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Out of 269 accused in this case, 54 died during the trial.

12 accused in the case were sentenced to ten years in jail, five to seven years and the rest to one to three years in jail.

Violence and protests have again intensified in the capital Imphal after the death of two Meitei students, missing since July 2023, was confirmed in the Indian state of Manipur.

On Wednesday, 27 September 2023, a large number of people took to the streets and tried to attack the house of a leader in Imphal. They set a police vehicle on fire and beat up a policeman and snatched his weapon.

Manipur Police issued a statement on the night of Wednesday, September 27, 2023, saying, "An unruly mob tried to attack the house of a leader, security forces dispersed the mob by firing tear gas shells. The uncontrollable mob targeted a police gypsy and burnt it, while a policeman was assaulted and his weapon snatched away."

"Manipur Police condemns such actions and will take strict action to deal with such miscreants. A combing operation is being conducted to recover weapons and arrest the miscreants."

In view of the situation, the relaxation in curfew in Imphal has been stopped and curfew has been completely implemented.

Earlier, Manipur Police had said that after the news of the death of two students, violent protests have increased and the police is trying to control the protesters by using "minimum force", but some people have been injured in this attempt.

Police said in their statement, "The miscreants in the crowd used pieces of iron and stones (marbles) on the security forces. In retaliation, security forces used minimum force to disperse the crowd and fired tear gas shells, injuring some people."

This statement from the police came when allegations were being made that the security forces had used pellet guns on the protesters.

Apart from this, on Wednesday, 27 September 2023, the duration of "Armed Forces Special Powers Act" i.e. AFSPA has been extended for the next six months in the hilly areas of Manipur.

However, 19 police stations of Imphal Valley have been kept out of this purview.

The Manipur government issued a notification on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, saying, "The Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that due to the violent activities of various extremist insurgent groups, civil administration in the entire State of Manipur except the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations. Therefore, the Governor is hereby approved to declare the entire State of Manipur, except the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations, as 'disturbed area' for a period of six months from 1st October, 2023."

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is on a state visit to India after the G20 conference held in Delhi.

During this, he held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

After the meeting, the Crown Prince said, "There have been no disagreements throughout the history of this (India-Saudi Arabia) relationship, today we are working on future opportunities... I would like to thank India for its management of the G20 summit. I congratulate the many initiatives that have been achieved, including the Economic Corridor connecting the Middle East, India and Europe, it is important that we work diligently to build it."

The Crown Prince is on a three-day visit to New Delhi and met PM Modi on Monday, 11 September 2023, after the G20 summit that ended on Sunday, 10 September 2023.

Earlier in February 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had visited India, this is his second state visit.

During the G20 in India, an agreement has been signed to build an economic and rail corridor between India-Middle-East-Europe. This agreement is being considered as an effort to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative.

A bilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at Hyderabad House, Delhi.

After this meeting, PM Modi said that this meeting will take the relations between the two countries to a new dimension.

He said, “We are adding new and modern dimensions to our relations. Saudi Arabia is one of the important strategic partners for India. As the world's two fastest-growing economies, our partnership is vital to the peace of the entire region. During our meeting with the Crown Prince, we identified a number of initiatives to take our partnership to the next level. This meeting will give new direction and new energy to our relations."

PM Modi said, "India has taken a historic start in establishing a corridor between West Asia and Europe. This will not only connect two countries but will also strengthen economic cooperation, energy development and digital connectivity between Europe and Asia. Crown Prince, I heartily congratulate you on the rapid progress Saudi Arabia is making under your Vision 2030."

The Crown Prince is on a three-day visit to New Delhi and met PM Modi during his state visit on Monday, 11 September 2023, following the G20 Summit that ended on Sunday, 10 September 2023.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had reached Rashtrapati Bhavan for the formal welcome ceremony. Here he was welcomed by the President of India Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is on a trip to Europe, has talked about the discussion on the name Bharat-India, minorities and democracy.

Rahul Gandhi shared a video on Sunday, September 10, 2023, in which he is seen talking to students at Sciences Po University in Paris.

Regarding the discussions about changing the name of India, Rahul Gandhi said that those who want to change the name want to deny history.

Rahul Gandhi said, “Both names are there in the Constitution. Both the words India and Bharat are acceptable. It is possible that when we named our alliance after India, the government got a little irritated and has now decided to change the name of the country. You can understand how things are going.”

Gandhi said, "We always give some name to our alliance. But it serves no purpose, but people react in strange ways. There is something deeper than what meets the eye."

Rahul Gandhi said, "India has been defined in the Constitution as 'India' i.e. 'India is a union of states'. The voices of the people of these states have to be heard and there is no need to suppress or intimidate any voice. And the institutions and structures that protect this voice are the most important thing to protect and preserve it."

He said, "I have read Geeta, Upanishads and many scriptures of Hindu religion but there is nothing Hindu in what BJP is doing."

Rahul Gandhi said, “When we use the word democracy, we are actually talking about the voice of the common man. As our great leader Mahatma Gandhi had said, the most important voice is that of the last person standing in the queue."

In response to a question regarding Dalits and minorities in India, Rahul Gandhi said that 'this is the biggest problem of India.'

He said, "There is a need to fight this. BJP and RSS are trying their best to stop the voice and participation of Dalits, tribals, backward classes and minorities. If Dalits, Muslims, upper castes or any person is attacked, I do not want such an India."

Rahul said, "We have to ensure that those who have done whatever they have done should be punished for their actions because those who think of doing this should also feel that they have to pay the price for attacking the soul of India."

US President Joe Biden, who came to participate in the G20 summit, reached Rajghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi, on Sunday, September 10, 2023, before leaving for Vietnam and paid tribute to him.

US President Joe Biden has thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking him to Rajghat in a tweet.

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, PM Modi reached the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi with the guests coming for the G20 conference.

President Biden wrote on social media platform X, "The partnership between India and America is rooted in Mahatma Gandhi's trusteeship principle. Trusteeship is a shared value between our countries and is also important for our common planet (Earth)."

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "Thank you, Prime Minister, for bringing us here today."

After attending the G20 summit, President Biden went to Vietnam on Sunday, September 10, 2023.