Category: India

  • Kharge Claims BJP MPs Assaulted Him Amid Parliamentary Clashes

    Kharge Claims BJP MPs Assaulted Him Amid Parliamentary Clashes

    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.

  • Delhi Schools in Crisis: Ongoing Bomb Threats and Police Challenges

    Delhi Schools in Crisis: Ongoing Bomb Threats and Police Challenges

    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.

  • Pradhan Slams Congress Over Treatment of Ambedkar: A Political Showdown

    Pradhan Slams Congress Over Treatment of Ambedkar: A Political Showdown

    In New Delhi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized the Congress party for allegedly not respecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He said that Congress has always had a negative attitude towards Ambedkar, even mentioning that in a 2012 textbook, there was an unfair cartoon showing Pandit Nehru “whipping” Ambedkar.

    Pradhan claimed that the Congress party is now pretending to care about Ambedkar, calling their concern “crocodile tears.” He pointed out that when the BJP opposed the cartoon, the then Education Minister, Kapil Sibal, apologized and agreed to take it out of the book.

    Pradhan suggested that such a cartoon could not have been published accidentally and that it was approved by people in charge at that time. He also added that while Prime Minister Modi honors Ambedkar, the Congress party struggles to accept it.

    A heated debate took place in Parliament regarding this issue, with opposition parties demanding action against Union Minister Amit Shah for some remarks he made about Ambedkar. Some BJP members were injured during arguments in Parliament, including Pratap Sarangi, who was allegedly pushed by Rahul Gandhi.

  • Concerns Rise Over NREGA: Job Card Issues & Delayed Payments

    Concerns Rise Over NREGA: Job Card Issues & Delayed Payments

    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.

  • Delhi Fog & Cold Weather: AQI Reaches Dangerous Levels!

    Delhi Fog & Cold Weather: AQI Reaches Dangerous Levels!

    On Thursday morning, people in Delhi and nearby places like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram woke up to very thick fog. The cold weather is making it feel even chillier outside. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was at a worrying level of 448 around 6 am, which is close to the “severe-plus” category. Out of 37 monitoring stations in Delhi, 21 of them showed AQI levels that were even worse.

    In Ghaziabad, the AQI was 381, while Noida and Gurugram had AQI levels of 364 and 376, respectively. These numbers mean that the air quality is very poor and not safe for most people.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that foggy weather will continue in Delhi for another day or two due to weather changes. As a result, the temperature in the city dropped to 5 degrees Celsius early on Thursday. Last Tuesday, it was a bit warmer at 7.4 degrees Celsius.

    Cold Wave Warnings in North India

    In Himachal Pradesh, a cold wave is affecting the area. The local meteorological office warned that temperatures are dropping, especially in some districts. Places like Tabo reported a freezing minus 7.4 degrees Celsius. There are orange and yellow warnings for the cold wave in different parts of the state.

    In Karnataka, cold wave conditions are also predicted for districts like Bidar, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi, where temperatures are expected to be 2-4 degrees below average. Fog may be seen in some areas until December 20.

    Kashmir’s Intense Cold

    In Kashmir, it has gotten slightly warmer, with Srinagar’s temperature rising to minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, but it is still freezing. Cold weather has caused some lakes, including the famous Dal Lake, to freeze over, and many water supply lines are also frozen. The ski resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded lows around minus 5 to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.

  • 13 Killed in Navy-Ferry Crash in Mumbai: Investigation Underway

    13 Killed in Navy-Ferry Crash in Mumbai: Investigation Underway

    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.

  • Tragedy Strikes: 13 Killed in Mumbai Speedboat and Ferry Collision

    Tragedy Strikes: 13 Killed in Mumbai Speedboat and Ferry Collision

    A tragic accident happened on Wednesday off the Mumbai coast when a speedboat crashed into a passenger ferry, resulting in the deaths of 13 people, including three Navy officers. The Indian Navy confirmed that the speedboat was their own and lost control due to engine problems while conducting tests.

    The Navy stated that the boat collided with the ferry, which then overturned. “This afternoon, while testing the engine, our Navy speedboat had a malfunction, which caused it to crash into a passenger ferry,” the Navy shared on social media.

    So far, 101 people have been rescued, and survivors are receiving medical care. Search and rescue operations are actively ongoing, using four helicopters, 11 Navy boats, one Coast Guard vessel, and three marine police crafts to locate and help those affected.

    The ferry was heading to Elephanta Islands, a popular tourist spot near Mumbai, when the accident occurred around 4 PM. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that among the deceased, there were 10 civilians and three Navy personnel.

    Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his sorrow as well. He mentioned, “I am deeply saddened by this tragic event. Those hurt, including both Navy personnel and civilians, are receiving urgent medical attention. My heartfelt condolences go to the families of those who lost their lives.” Search efforts are ongoing to find anyone missing.

  • AISPLB Objects to Waqf Amendment Bill: Key Concerns Explained

    AISPLB Objects to Waqf Amendment Bill: Key Concerns Explained

    On Wednesday, members of the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) presented 13 concerns to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill that the government plans to pass. However, insiders said that the AISPLB officials had trouble explaining their points clearly.

    Members of the ruling party questioned the objections from the AISPLB, but the officials struggled to respond effectively. The AISPLB representatives explained that they were given very short notice for the meeting and weren’t fully prepared. The JPC chairperson said they could return or submit written answers to the questions later.

    During the meeting, the AISPLB officials argued that the bill was against the interests of the Muslim community. However, a ruling party MP argued back, saying past governments had only appeased the Muslim community and that this new government was truly trying to help the poor and women within the community.

    Some opposition MPs disagreed with the ruling party MP, stating that he was turning the discussion into a political fight. The meeting’s chairman stepped in to end the argument.

    After the meeting, JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal told the media that the AISPLB had presented their 13 concerns. The committee would review these points and may ask the AISPLB officials to come back for more discussions.

    This JPC, which started reviewing the bill in August, was expected to report back to Parliament during the current winter session. However, the Lok Sabha speaker has allowed more time to discuss it until the end of the next budget session.

  • Mumbai Ferry Disaster: 13 Dead, 80 Rescued in Shocking Accident

    Mumbai Ferry Disaster: 13 Dead, 80 Rescued in Shocking Accident

    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.

  • Indian-Americans Make History in 2024 U.S. Elections

    Indian-Americans Make History in 2024 U.S. Elections

    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.