Category: India

There was a big fight in Parliament between members of the NDA and the INDIA bloc. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused BJP members of pushing him during a protest. He wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asking for an investigation.

Kharge explained that he was part of a protest from the statue of Dr. Ambedkar to a place called Makar Dwar, where they were protesting remarks made by Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister. He claimed that when he reached Makar Dwar, BJP MPs physically pushed him, causing him to fall. This hurt his knees, which had already been operated on.

Kharge mentioned that after he fell, some Congress MPs helped him by bringing a chair, and he managed to get back to the House with their support.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the BJP for being aggressive and threatening, saying he saw BJP members waving sticks at Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Gogoi insists that this behavior shows how the BJP operates and called for better security near Makar Dwar.

On the other hand, the BJP claimed two of their MPs got hurt because Rahul Gandhi pushed them. Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Sarangi had to be taken to the hospital for their injuries.

The day’s chaos began when both the Opposition and the government protested in Parliament over Amit Shah’s comments about BR Ambedkar. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned because of the loud protests from the Opposition, who wanted an apology from the Home Minister.

Over the past nine days, more than 100 schools in Delhi have received bomb threats, causing a lot of panic. Police officials say the problem is that people are using tools like VPNs and proxy servers to hide their real identities, making it hard to catch them. Since May, around 50 threat emails have not just targeted schools, but also hospitals, airports, and airlines in Delhi. Despite their efforts, the police have not arrested anyone yet.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed his worries about the situation and has asked why the police haven’t caught the person responsible. Police have reached out to companies like Google and Outlook.com for help in tracking down the email senders. They’ve found some clues, but the actual locations are still unknown. The emails are being sent through VPNs, which can hide a user’s real IP address by bouncing it through multiple servers overseas.

Police have assigned a special team to investigate these threats seriously. They’ve conducted checks at schools after receiving the bomb threat emails. So far, they haven’t found anything dangerous, but they are taking every threat seriously and following all safety rules. Since the first threats were reported in May, some government places, like Tihar Jail, also received bomb threats.

A cyber law expert, Dr. Pavan Duggal, explains that India doesn’t have strong laws to control VPN usage. This makes it tough for police to get information from VPN providers that are based in other countries. Even though India’s Information Technology Act allows for some action against foreign VPNs, police are struggling to enforce it.

Researchers warn that many secure email services, like ProtonMail, make it even harder for police to trace threatening emails. These services don’t keep track of users’ IP addresses, making it nearly impossible to identify who sent the threats. Additionally, using VPNs and tools like Tor adds even more layers of secrecy.

Experts agree that to fight against these cybercriminals, the police need better tools and more cooperation with global cybersecurity organizations. They stress that solving these cases requires a mix of advanced technology and teamwork across borders.

During a recent meeting in New Delhi, the Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, gathered important voices to discuss problems facing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in India. The meeting included suggestions from civil society groups, workers, and officials from different states.

One big issue raised was the deletion of job cards. The participants explained that when job cards get deleted, it should follow proper procedures. Many deletions happen without enough checks, which shakes people’s trust in the system. After a new system called ABPS was made necessary, the number of deleted job cards increased dramatically.

In 2022-23 and 2023-24, around 2.25 crore and 1.02 crore job cards were removed, respectively. Delayed payments to workers were also a major concern. The participants mentioned that these delays and low wages discourage people from working, leading them to quit or even leave their homes in search of better jobs.

Chouhan emphasized the need for better coordination in implementing NREGA to prevent fraud and ensure fairness. He believed that if the system works correctly, the government can provide jobs more easily.

Another topic of discussion was the situation in West Bengal. The central government has stopped sending NREGA funds to the state since December 27, 2021, citing concerns over possible misuse of money. It was suggested to form a committee with members from both ruling and opposition parties, along with civil society members, to look into these concerns.

On Wednesday afternoon, a terrible accident happened between a Navy speedboat and a passenger ferry called Neel Kamal. The crash occurred about 8.25 kilometers from the Gateway of India, as the Navy boat was testing its engine. Sadly, thirteen people lost their lives, including a Navy officer and two naval workers. The ferry had over 100 passengers, many of whom were visiting the city for the first time.

The ferry had set off at 3:15 PM, and the crash took place around 3:55 PM. After the accident, rescue operations began quickly. A nearby pilot vessel from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority managed to save 56 passengers. Other boats, including the Navy and Coast Guard, joined the effort, leading to a total of 98 rescues. Most passengers were taken to hospitals, while ten bodies were sent to a hospital in Navi Mumbai.

The Navy released a statement saying that their speedboat lost control because of engine trouble. They promised to investigate if the engines were of poor quality. Both the Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, and the Indian Navy ordered separate investigations into the accident.

Shortly after the incident, police registered a case against the driver of the Navy boat. The FIR was based on complaints from one of the ferry passengers and a relative who recorded the crash. Currently, four rescued people are in critical condition at different hospitals.

CM Fadnavis said that a new engine was put into the Navy speedboat right before the test. He announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh (about $6,600) for the families of those who died and assured a thorough investigation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced a financial aid package of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

There is a disagreement about how many people were on the ferry. The owner of Neel Kamal claims that there were about 80 passengers and that the boat had enough life jackets. However, some survivors said the boat was very crowded, with over 100 people and that there were not enough life jackets for everyone.

An officer from the local police said that the boat was overcrowded and lacked enough safety equipment. The Maharashtra Maritime Board is investigating the exact number of passengers on the ferry.

A shocking ferry accident occurred in Mumbai when a speedboat crashed into a passenger ferry. Sadly, 13 people lost their lives, and more than 80 people were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that the Neelkamal ferry was carrying 85 passengers, including the crew, to the famous Elephanta Caves. The ferry started its trip at around 3:15 PM.

The accident happened when an Indian Navy boat lost control during engine tests in Mumbai Harbour. This caused it to hit the passenger ferry, which then capsized.

The Elephanta Island is located about 11 km east of the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are actively searching for missing persons and have deployed many boats and helicopters for the rescue operations. Local police, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, and fishermen from the area are also helping.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised to share more information about the accident in the state legislature soon.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident and said that injured people from both boats are getting urgent medical care. “My heartfelt condolences to the families affected. The search and rescue operation is ongoing,” he stated.

The Elephanta Caves are an important UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for their ancient rock-cut sculptures dating back to between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. They are a significant part of Indian heritage for both Hindus and Buddhists.

In 2024, America held an important election, and former President Donald Trump won, making him the 47th President. The election had a lot of excitement, with Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as the main candidates. Throughout the year, people talked a lot about India and its influence on the election. There are around 2.6 million Indian-Americans eligible to vote, and many of them live in key states that Trump won, showing how much the Indian community matters in U.S. politics.

This year, many Indian-Americans changed their voting habits, moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. They made headlines and were highlighted in both political parties. Here’s a look at some key Indian-American figures who made a splash in the election:

Kamala Harris: Known worldwide, Harris made history as the first woman Vice President and the first person of Indian descent in such a high role. Her mother was an Indian-American scientist, and she often talked about her during her campaign. Harris lost her presidential bid on November 4, 2024, but increased India’s presence in U.S. politics.

Tulsi Gabbard: Although not of Indian descent, Gabbard identifies as a Hindu. She is a long-time Congresswoman who made headlines when she left the Democratic Party to support Trump. Recently, Trump selected her as the Director of National Intelligence.

Vivek Ramaswamy: A biotech entrepreneur with roots in Kerala, Ramaswamy ran against Trump in the Republican primaries. He’s known for challenging government rules and is now co-leading a new project aimed at reducing government bureaucracy.

Usha Vance: Usha is set to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. She introduced her husband, JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention. Usha has a background as a lawyer and has supported her husband’s political journey.

Kash Patel: Born in New York to Indian immigrants, Patel has been named the Director of the FBI. He is known for wanting to reform the FBI and make it more effective, which has made him both popular and controversial.

Jay Bhattacharya: A health expert from Kolkata, Bhattacharya has been appointed as the Director of the National Institutes of Health. He is known for his views on COVID-19 restrictions and will manage a large budget for medical research.

Harmeet Kaur Dhillon: A lawyer, Dhillon has been nominated as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She is known for her work on election integrity and supporting Trump’s legal efforts in the past.

As we wrap up the year, it’s clear that Indian-Americans have played significant roles in shaping U.S. politics, and their influence continues to grow.