Category: India

  • Sikh Immigrant Davinder Singh’s Painful Detention Experience in the US

    Sikh Immigrant Davinder Singh’s Painful Detention Experience in the US

    A young Indian man named Davinder Singh, who recently returned to India after being deported from the United States, shared a disturbing story about how the turbans of Sikh immigrants were mistreated in detention centers. Davinder, who is 21 and comes from Punjab, was one of 116 immigrants flown back to India on February 15 after crossing the US-Mexico border.

    After being caught trying to enter the US illegally, Davinder was held in a detention center for 18 days, where he faced harsh conditions. He witnessed US officials throwing Sikh turbans—important symbols of faith—into trash cans. “It was very painful to watch. These are sacred items,” he said.

    Living conditions were tough. Davinder and around 60 other immigrants from different countries were kept in a large hall under constant watch. Many would recite prayers from their holy books, like “Chaupai Sahib” and “Japji Sahib,” to cope with the stress of the situation.

    Davinder explained that food was scarce and not enough to keep them warm. They only received a small packet of chips and juice five times a day, plus some half-cooked bread and rice. He also mentioned that he felt so cold because the air conditioning was set too low, and despite asking for more blankets, their pleas were ignored. He could take only two showers during his entire stay.

    Hailing from the village of Nangal Jalalpur in Punjab, Davinder moved to the US in search of a better life but regretted the attempt after spending about ₹40 lakh on the journey. Now back in India, he plans to help out at his father’s electronic repair shop in Tanda, saying his time in the detention center was the worst experience of his life.

  • Tesla Chooses Locations for Showrooms in India: New Delhi and Mumbai!

    Tesla Chooses Locations for Showrooms in India: New Delhi and Mumbai!

    Elon Musk’s car company, Tesla, is excited to open two new showrooms in India. One showroom will be in New Delhi near the airport, and the other will be in Mumbai’s busy Bandra Kurla Complex. This move comes after Tesla had paused its plans to enter the Indian market last year.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met with Elon Musk in the United States to talk about electric cars, technology, and even space!

    The showrooms will each be about 5,000 square feet in size. However, Tesla plans to sell imported electric vehicles (EVs) and these showrooms will not have service centers. They are still deciding when to open the new showrooms.

    Tesla is also looking to hire new staff in India for different positions, such as store and customer relationship managers. Elon Musk has expressed his concerns about India’s high taxes on electric cars, which are around 100%. Local car makers worry that Tesla’s entry could affect their business. Last week, during a meeting in Washington, President Trump also pointed out India’s high car taxes but agreed with PM Modi to work on a trade deal.

  • President Approves Legal Action Against AAP Leader Satyendra Jain

    President Approves Legal Action Against AAP Leader Satyendra Jain

    President Draupadi Murmu has given the green light for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take legal action against Satyendra Jain, a leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former minister in Delhi. This is related to a money laundering investigation tied to the now-canceled Delhi excise policy.

    Just last week, the Home Ministry approved the ED’s request to prosecute Jain. They also asked the President for permission to start legal proceedings against him. Jain may face charges based on the information collected by the ED, which claims to have found enough evidence against him.

    Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!

  • Rahul Gandhi Challenges Gyanesh Kumar’s Appointment as Chief Election Commissioner

    Rahul Gandhi Challenges Gyanesh Kumar’s Appointment as Chief Election Commissioner

    On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi from the Congress party strongly disagreed with the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). He criticized the Modi government for “removing” the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the committee that selects the CEC. Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and part of that committee, stressed that it is important for the Election Commission to be independent and not influenced by the government.

    He shared his thoughts online, saying that the way the CEC is chosen must be free from government pressure. He claimed that removing the CJI from the selection group goes against a Supreme Court order and damages the trust of millions of voters. As the Leader of the Opposition, he feels that it’s his duty to hold the government accountable for its actions and to honor the values laid down by the founders of India.

    Gandhi stated, “By going against the Supreme Court order and leaving out the CJI, the Modi government has made many voters worried about the fairness of our elections.” He was upset with the Prime Minister (PM) and Home Minister (HM) for making a quick decision to select a new CEC right before an important court hearing.

    The Congress party has also expressed their disapproval of the swift appointment of Gyanesh Kumar, calling it a “hasty midnight move” that goes against the Constitution and the idea of free elections. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the decision should have waited until the Supreme Court made its ruling, highlighting that the CEC should be impartial.

    Even with these concerns, the government went ahead with appointing Gyanesh Kumar as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner. He is set to take office on February 19, 2025, after the current CEC Rajiv Kumar retires. The Supreme Court is expected to review the process of appointing the CEC on February 19, 2025.

  • Supreme Court Critiques Ranveer Allahbadia for Inappropriate Remarks

    Supreme Court Critiques Ranveer Allahbadia for Inappropriate Remarks

    On Tuesday, the Supreme Court strongly criticized YouTube star Ranveer Allahbadia for making inappropriate comments on Samay Raina’s show “India’s Got Latent.” The judges stated that such behavior is unacceptable and must be condemned. They remarked that Allahbadia seems to have “something very dirty” in his mind which he expressed on the show.

    The court asked, “Is there anyone who would like to hear this kind of language?” They emphasized that just because someone is popular, it does not mean they can disrespect society.

    Ranveer Allahbadia filed a case in the Supreme Court against several FIRs (First Information Reports) about his comments, and he wanted the court to combine all these cases into one.

    The bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh listened to the case. Fortunately for Allahbadia, the court said he would not be arrested for now but has been ordered to stop making more YouTube shows.

  • Bengaluru Limits Drinking Water Use: Save Water, Avoid Fines!

    Bengaluru Limits Drinking Water Use: Save Water, Avoid Fines!

    The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has decided to limit the use of drinking water in Bengaluru because of rising temperatures and less groundwater. They want everyone to use drinking water wisely and avoid wasting it.

    Starting now, people in Bengaluru can’t use drinking water for things like washing cars, watering gardens, building roads, or for fountains and decorations. Malls and cinemas can only use water for drinking. Anyone who breaks this rule will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000. If someone breaks the rule again, they will still pay Rs 5,000 plus an extra Rs 500 for each day they continue to break it.

    The BWSSB emphasizes that everyone needs access to clean drinking water. As temperatures rise and rain becomes scarce, it’s important to save water. They are asking everyone to be careful with how they use it and to call their helpline at 1916 if they see someone breaking these rules.

  • Monsoon Conference Highlights Cultural Ties Between India and Southeast Asia

    Monsoon Conference Highlights Cultural Ties Between India and Southeast Asia

    Last week, a big international conference called “Monsoon: The Sphere of Cultural and Trade Influence” took place at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi. People such as scholars, government officials, and cultural experts joined together to talk about how the monsoon has shaped the history, culture, and economy of South and Southeast Asia.

    The conference was inaugurated by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, who also introduced a new digital platform called “Monsoon.” This online library tells stories about cultural exchanges, maps important trade routes, and showcases heritage sites.

    In his speech, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, who is the Member Secretary of IGNCA, talked about the importance of language and knowledge connections between India and its neighboring countries. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a senior politician, highlighted the strong cultural ties between India and Southeast Asia and encouraged more focus on India’s historical connections in the region.

    Professor Amogh Rai, Research Director of ASIA Research, explained how trade and cultural exchanges have influenced the identities and traditions in these areas. Shekhawat pointed out that the monsoon has always been key to Indian civilization. He mentioned Project Mausam, an initiative aimed at strengthening India’s maritime and cultural heritage.

    Sahasrabuddhe stressed the importance of recognizing India’s cultural leadership in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America while working on better cooperation among these regions. He said that this year, celebrating the Constitution’s Amrut Mahotsav, is an excellent time to reflect on the idea of a Cultural Commonwealth, a concept supported by important leaders like Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay.

    The conference included panel discussions about topics like the influence of Buddhism on culture, the history of maritime trade, and how Sri Lankan settlers impacted cultural landscapes in the region. The Monsoon conference is a crucial part of Project Mausam, which focuses on India’s historical maritime and cultural connections. Through discussions and digital platforms, the conference aims to link historical stories with modern research, promoting a better understanding of shared heritage and cultural exchanges.

  • Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as New Chief Election Commissioner of India

    Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as New Chief Election Commissioner of India

    Gyanesh Kumar has been named the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), according to the Union law ministry. He will take over from Rajiv Kumar, who is leaving the job when he turns 65 on Tuesday. CECs serve for six years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first. Gyanesh Kumar is the first person to be appointed CEC under a new law about how election commissioners are chosen.

    His name was chosen by a committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi also on the panel. This meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office.

    Earlier that day, Congress suggested that the selection meeting should be postponed until after the Supreme Court hears a related case on February 19. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said the government is trying to control the Election Commission instead of keeping it trustworthy by not including the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee.

    Singhvi said, “We believe the government should wait until the hearing is done before making any decisions.” He also criticized the new law for creating a system that favors the government when choosing Election Commissioners.

    According to Singhvi, this new committee goes against a Supreme Court ruling from March 2nd, 2023, which stated that the CEC and other Election Commissioners should be chosen by a team that includes the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India.

  • Outgoing CEC Rajiv Kumar Calls for Respect for Election Results

    Outgoing CEC Rajiv Kumar Calls for Respect for Election Results

    In his farewell speech on Monday, Rajiv Kumar, the outgoing Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has often been unfairly blamed by people who do not want to accept the results of elections. He pointed out that blaming election officials after an election is becoming a common problem.

    Rajiv Kumar emphasized that candidates and their parties are involved in every part of the election process and that they should voice any issues during the process, not after the results are announced. He called for an end to this blame game.

    “Talking things out should always be the first choice. Even though the Commission stays calm and collected, it is upsetting to see this trend of blaming after losing,” he added.

    His comments come as some opposition parties claim that the ECI favors the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ECI has firmly denied these claims.

    For example, on February 7, Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the Congress party, stated that the number of voters in Maharashtra jumped by 39 lakh between Lok Sabha elections in April-June 2024 and the assembly elections in November. In the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party won 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. However, the BJP-led party won 230 out of the 288 assembly seats in the state.

    The opposition has also raised concerns about using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), asking to switch back to paper ballots. In October 2024, after losing to the BJP in Haryana despite the BJP’s ten-year rule, Congress shocked everyone by refusing to accept the election results, claiming that there was a big mismatch between votes counted and actual votes cast.

  • BJP Criticizes Sam Pitroda’s China Comments: Congress Responds

    BJP Criticizes Sam Pitroda’s China Comments: Congress Responds

    On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Sam Pitroda, a leader from the Overseas Congress, because he said that the threat from China is often over-exaggerated. He claimed that this worrying about China is a “serious blow” to India’s identity and diplomacy. Pitroda, who is the head of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC), said during a chat with a news agency that he doesn’t fully understand why China is seen as a big threat. He mentioned that the United States sometimes labels countries as enemies and suggested that it’s time for countries to work together instead of fighting against each other.

    Pitroda’s comments came when U.S. President Trump offered to help solve border issues between India and China, but India said it would manage these issues on its own.

    He also expressed that a confrontational attitude creates enemies and might gain some political support at home, but it’s not helpful overall. Sudhanshu Trivedi, a BJP MP, criticized Pitroda for his statements and connected them to similar comments made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, questioning if these remarks disrespect the soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley clash.

    The Congress party quickly distanced itself from Pitroda’s comments. Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, made it clear that Pitroda’s views do not reflect the party’s stand on China, emphasizing that China is a major challenge for India’s foreign policy and security.

    Earlier, Pitroda faced backlash for saying that different regions in India look like people from other countries, which led to him resigning from his position as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, although he was later reappointed.