Income Tax officials' surveys on BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai 2
The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.
The surprise action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and India.
The department is looking at documents related to the business operations of the company and those related to its Indian arm, they said.
As part of a survey, the Income Tax Department only covers the business premises of a company and does not raid residences and other locations of its promoters or directors.
This is a developing story, more details awaiting.
Amit Shah breaks silence on Gautam Adani-Hindenburg controversy 4
Breaking the silence on the controversy surrounding businessman Gautam Adani, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the BJP has nothing to hide or be afraid of in the Adani-Hindenburg hullabaloo and refuted all the allegations of “favouritism and crony capitalism” levelled by some opposition parties.
In an interview with the news agency ANI, Shah said “Nobody has been able to level such allegation against the BJP till date.” In a retort at the Congress, he said “During their (Congress) era, agencies be it CAG or CBI, they had registered cases taking cognizance of corruption. There were scams of Rs 12 lakh crore.”
#WATCH | There is nothing to hide or be afraid of: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview to ANI on Congress’s allegations that Adani being ‘favoured’ by BJP#AmitShahtoANIpic.twitter.com/WXyEAd0524
The Parliament watched loud scenes over the Adani issue during the Budget session, with the opposition alleging the government is ducking discussion on the matter. They also demanded constituting a joint parliamentary committee to probe the alleged irregularities in the manner in which the Adani group conducts its businesses, pointed out in a report by the US-based Hindenburg Research.
Amit Shah added it will not be appropriate for him to comment as the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the matter. The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter. As a minister, if the Supreme Court is seized of the matter, it is not right for me to comment,” he said.
The Centre on Monday accepted the apex court’s suggestion for a retired judge-led committee to study the recent alarming fall of Adani group shares following the report and recommend improvements in statutory and regulatory regimes governing the securities market to protect investors against such future events.
“The government is of the firm opinion that the existing structures and regimes, both statutory and regulatory, along with markets regulator Sebi and related agencies are fully competent to deal with the incident that happened recently,” solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the SC bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala.
The opposition had also voiced concerns about the exposure of government entities like LIC and SBI in Adani group companies. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had alleviated fears, saying the exposure is negligible, and the stabilities of the entities will not be affected.
P Nedumaran, the leader of the Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) and Ulaka Tamilar Peramaippu (World Tamil Confederation) made a shocking revelation, that Velupillai Prabhakaran, the commander of the defeated terror group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is alive, safe and in good health. Although the leader didn’t reveal LTTE Chief’s current location but claimed he would soon make a public appearance. Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan military in May 2009, which effectively ended the Sri Lankan Civil War. Nedumaran believes that the changing global situation and Sri Lanka’s political crisis including the removal of the Rajapaksa government breathed a new lease of life into the LTTE Chief encouraging him to step outside.
On the morning of May 18, 2009 ‘The Tamil Tiger’ Prabhakaran was said to be killed by the Sri Lankan Army for raging a war against the state. The cause of death was believed to be a single shot to the head at close range. Despite the announcement of his death by both the Government and LTTE remnants, certain groups and media have claimed that Prabhakaran survived the war and managed to escape. In 2009 a Tamil website showed an image showing Prabhakaran viewing a news report of his death on TV which was sent to France 24 as proof of his survival. But France 24 noted that the photo appeared to be photoshopped.
In 2010 Pro-LTTE website TamilWin claimed that the body of Prabhakaran belonged to a Sri Lankan soldier showing images of a Prabhakaran look-alike in the Sri Lankan army. The theory of Prabhakaran’s survival is also supported by Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko who claims Prabhakaran would emerge from hiding at the right time. Maybe the same story is now making headlines because the TNM leader believes that Prabhakaran is alive and here to appear soon publically. No one knows how true these claims are but the question to be asked is, why is he brought back in the headlines? What is the motive?
Prabhakaran’s biography states that he was influenced by Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, who fought the British Empire. Prabhakaran never developed a systematic philosophy, but did declare that his goal was ‘revolutionary socialism and the creation of an egalitarian society’. His rare interviews, his annual Tamil Eelam Heroes Day speeches and the LTTE’s policies and actions can be taken as indicators of Prabhakaran’s philosophy and ideology. Religion was not a major factor in his philosophy or ideology; the Tamil Tigers’ ideology arose from Marxist-Leninist thought and was explicitly secular.
Prabhakaran is often seen as a martyr to the Sri Lankan Tamil people. His source of inspiration and direction was Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism, and his stated and ultimate ideal was to get Tamil Eelam recognised as a nation as per the UN Charter that guarantees the right of a people to political independence. The LTTE also proposed the formation of an Interim Self-Governing Authority during Peace Negotiations in 2003. Former Tamil guerrilla and politician Dharmalingam Sithadthan has remarked that Prabhakaran’s dedication to the cause of the Tamil Eelam was unquestionable; he was the only man in Sri Lanka who could decide if there should be war or peace.
Prabhakaran explicitly stated that an armed struggle is the only way to resist asymmetric warfare, in which one side, that of the Sri Lankan government, is armed and the other comparatively unarmed. He argued that he chose military means only after observing that non–violent means have been ineffectual and obsolete, especially after the Thileepan incident. Thileepan, a Lt. colonel rank officer adopted Gandhian means to protest against the IPKF killings by staging a fast unto death from 15 September 1987, and by abstaining from food or water until 26 September, when he died in front of thousands of Tamils who had come there to fast along with him. Tactically, Prabhakaran perfected the recruitment and use of suicide bomber units. His fighters usually took no prisoners and were notorious for assaults that often left every enemy soldier dead. Interpol described him as someone who was “very alert, known to use disguise and capable of handling sophisticated weaponry and explosives. He was called a “military genius” by western military experts.
Prabhakaran married Mathivathani Erambu on 1 October 1984. The military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said in May 2009 that there was no information about the whereabouts of the remaining members of Prabhakaran’s family. It is thought that the entire family was wiped out; the bodies of Mathivathani, Duvaraga and Balachandran reportedly were found in a bushy patch about 600 meters away from where Prabhakaran’s body was found. It is now alleged that his 12-year-old son was executed. Prabhakaran’s parents, Thiruvenkadam Velupillai and Parvathi, both in their 70s, were found in the Menik Farm camp for displaced people near the town of Vavuniya. The Sri Lankan military and the government gave public assurances that they would not be interrogated, harmed or ill-treated. They were taken into Sri Lankan military custody until Vellupillai’s death in January 2010.Prabhakaran has a sister, Vinodini Rajendaran. With Prabhakaran’s death, the bloody 26-year Sri Lankan civil war ended with little peace in the region.
With Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's exit, opposition leaders rejoice 7
Earlier on Sunday, President Draupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Bhagat Singh Koshyari and appointed Ramesh Bais as the new Governor of the state.
Opposition leaders from Maharashtra celebrated the exit of former Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar calls the decision good and had been taken earlier.
He said, “It is a very good decision, but it should have been taken much earlier. Maharashtra is relieved now. In its history, Maharashtra had never seen such a person in the governor’s post.”
President of Maharashtra Congress Nana Patole took a jibe at Koshyari as well as BJP and said, “The central government has dishonoured Maharashtra by accepting his resignation and not expulse him. BJP continuously insulted the great men of Maharashtra under the guise of Koshyari. Koshyari had used Raj Bhavan as a BJP office and turned it into a political base.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray called the exit of the Ex-governor a big win for the state.
On Twitter, he said, “Big win for Maharashtra! The resignation of the anti-Maharashtra Governor has finally been accepted! He constantly insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Pule, and Savitri bai Phule, our Constitution, Assembly, and democratic ideals, cannot be accepted as a Governor.”
While speaking to the media Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “Many Governors have been changed before, changing the Governor isn’t a favour to Maharashtra. For a year, the people of Maharashtra demanded a change of Governor because of his remarks on Shivaji Maharaj and Savitiribai Phule.”
NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Jayant Patil expressed his thoughts on Twitter.
He tweeted, “The Post of the Governor has been tarnished by a person who defies great men. Maha Vikas Aghadi has been demanding a change of governor, so we welcome the news that Maharashtra will have a new governor.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited twice in Mumbai for the inauguration of the Metro, Vande Bharat Express trains, and Bohra Muslim community’s Arabic academy during these visits many areas were revamped, roads were repaired, maintained and many slums areas were been covered.
Many opposition political leaders stated why slum areas have been hidden behind the curtains and Prime Minister should be aware that Mumbai has many slums so rather than hiding it he should give out some other accommodation.
There are many speculations made by the opposition stating PM Modi is visiting the city only for the upcoming polls and BMC elections.
Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Shinde told Afternoon Voice, “PM Modi is visiting the city now and then only for elections and he only gives speeches of working for the people but does not implement on it and everyone know Mumbai has biggest slum of Dharavi so why he was hiding away from it.”
Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena MLC Vilas Potnis said “Every politician is aware of the slums in Mumbai and covering the truth of the slums will reflect the results in the upcoming polls.”
While other political leaders have a different opinion over the slums being hidden by the curtains as they believed that it is quite inhuman and insensitive towards citizens.
Another political leader Charulata Tokas vice president of ‘Mahila Congress party’ said, “PM Modi only hides away from the truth due to unemployment and inflation in the country as it has also impacted people and they are moving into slums.”
When PM Modi visited the city it was revamped quickly as does not happen in ordinary times and slums been covered over this AAP spokesperson Dhananjay Shinde said, “PM Modi is so inhuman and hiding slums with the curtains as it is an insult to people who are living in slums of Mumbai and he only visits different states and countries from the money of taxpayers.”
Bhagat Singh Koshyari, was the people’s Governor, one of the most loved by the people of Maharashtra. I have been in journalism for two decades and have seen many Governors of Maharashtra but have never seen such an active and favourite Governor of the people. Apart from engaging in various cultural activities and greeting people, he has a huge share in recent state politics. He is the only one who played masterstrokes in the Maharashtra political crisis.
He is one of the highly educated cadres of the BJP. He has a Master’s Degree in English from Almora University. Bhagat Da, as he is lovingly called in his home state Uttarakhand, is a soft-spoken politician who has been an RSS Karyakarta and never the one to miss out on making his point. “A simple black cap and white dhoti is his trademark. He is a man of simple living but also one with an incisive political mind which all can see now”, said one of the politicians, unwilling to be named here given the sensitive situation in Maharashtra.
Once he was a very successful journalist and founded a weekly called ‘Parvat Piyush’ in 1975. He has authored two books titled, ‘Uttaranchal Pradesh Kyun?’ and ‘Uttaranchal Sangharsh Evam Samadhan’. In the meantime, he was also an RSS pracharak in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. He actively took part in the struggle against the Emergency and was detained for almost two years. Before he plunged fully into politics, Koshyari taught at Raja Inter College in Uttar Pradesh.
A postgraduate in English literature, Koshyari was born on June 17, 1942. He started his public life through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He was jailed in 1977 during an emergency. He got his break in politics in May 1997 by becoming a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. A significant turning point in Koshyari’s political career came later when he replaced Nityanand Swami as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand in 2001. His cabinet included ministers like Ramesh Pokhriyal – ‘Nishank’, the current HRD minister and former Uttarakhand CM. However, his tenure lasted for merely a year as the BJP lost the assembly elections in 2002. Thereafter till 2007, he played the role of the leader of the opposition of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.
As the tide changed and BJP regained power in the state in 2007, Koshyari who won the Kapkot assembly seat was strongly considered as the probable chief ministerial face, but the party high command chose Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri over him. In 2008, he was elected as a Rajya Sabha member from Uttarakhand. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election Koshyari won from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar.
Koshyari is known as one of the grounded and low-profile members of the BJP. He is among those veteran BJP leaders who were denied tickets to contest Lok Sabha polls in previous elections after the party decided not to field candidates who were 75 years of age. Following the formation of Uttarakhand as a separate State, he was appointed the first State Unit Chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was a Rajya Sabha MP from 2008 to 2014. His years of dedication and commitment to the BJP and the RSS bore fruits when he was appointed as the Maharashtra Governor in September 2020.
If there is anyone who has played a masterstroke in the current Maharashtra political crisis, it is Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. When the BJP and its warring ally, Shiv Sena, failed to resolve the power tussle for nearly a fortnight, Koshyari invited BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis to indicate his ability to form the government. When he expressed his inability, the next call went to the Shiv Sena. And that is where the Maharashtra political logjam took a new turn. Bhagat Da, as he is fondly called in his home state Uttarakhand, is a soft-spoken politician who has been an RSS man and never the one to miss out on making his point. Koshyari is among those veteran BJP leaders who were denied tickets to contest Lok Sabha polls earlier this year after the party decided not to field candidates who were 75 years of age.
Koshyari was born on June 17, 1942, in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. He actively took part in the struggle against the Emergency and was detained for almost two years.
Germany will grant three-month visas to Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims with family in the country, the interior minister said on Saturday (local time). “This is emergency aid,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the daily newspaper Bild.
“We want to allow Turkish or Syrian families in Germany to bring their close relatives from the disaster area to their homes without bureaucracy,” added Faeser. More than 28,000 people were killed in the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday.
It reached 28,192 on Saturday (local time), with Turkey’s death toll climbing to 24,617, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a news conference. In Syria, the total number of confirmed deaths stands at 3,575, including 2,167 in rebel-held areas in the northwest, according to the White Helmets civil defense group.
An additional 1,408 deaths have been recorded in government-controlled territories, according to Syrian state media, which cited the country’s health ministry. Faeser said that those eligible can have “regular visas, issued quickly and valid for three months”.
She added that the joint initiative with the foreign ministry would allow victims to “find shelter and receive medical treatment” in Germany. Around 2.9 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, with more than half holding Turkish nationality.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday announced a three-month state of emergency in the 10 provinces in southeastern Turkey impacted by the tremor. Earlier, Germany has also suspended rescue and relief work at the site of a deadly earthquake in Turkey due to security concerns, following a similar move by Austria earlier Saturday, reported CNN.
The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) stopped its rescue operations due to a change in the security situation in the Hatay region, the organization said in a statement Saturday. It had been operating with International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Germany, in coordination with Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).
“In the last few hours, the security situation in the Hatay region has apparently changed. There are increasing reports of clashes between different groups. The search and rescue teams of ISAR Germany and THW will therefore remain in the joint base camp for the time being. ISAR and THW will resume their work as soon as AFAD deems the situation to be safe,” read the statement. The Austrian Army also cited security risks in suspending its operations, reported CNN.
The Austrian Army has suspended rescue operations in Turkey due to an “increasingly difficult security situation,” according to the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU). “The expected success of saving a life bears no reasonable relation to the security risk. There is increasing aggression between groups in Turkey,” Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Kugelweis of the AFDRU said in a statement Saturday.
“There was no attack on us Austrians. We’re all fine… The mood among the helpers is good, given the circumstances… We would like to help, but the circumstances are what they are,” Kugelweis continued. “We keep our rescue and recovery forces ready. We are ready for further operations,” Kugelweis added, stating that a scheduled return to Austria for Thursday remains in place.
Ramesh Bais replaces Bhagat Singh Koshyari as the new Maharashtra Governor after President accepts his resignation 12
The President on Sunday accepts the resignation of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and appoints Ramesh Bais as the new governor.
The President’s office announced the names for appointment on the post of 12 Governors for states and one Lieutenant Governor in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignations of Bhagat Singh Koshyari as Governor of Maharashtra and Radha Krishnan Mathur as Lt. Governor of Ladakh.
Ramesh Bais, the Governor of Jharkhand has now been appointed as Governor of Maharashtra, while, Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.), who is the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has been appointed as Lt. Governor of Ladakh. The statement also informed that Justice (Retd.) S Abdul Nazeer has been appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
Let Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retired) has been appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshman Prasad Acharya as Governor of Sikkim, CP Radhakrishnan as Governor of Jharkhand, Shiv Pratap Shukla as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Gulab Chand Kataria as Governor of Assam, the statement read. In addition to these, several Governors have been given charge of different states.
“Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh has now been appointed as the Governor of Chhattisgarh. Sushri Anusuiya Uikye, the Governor of Chhattisgarh has been appointed as Governor of Manipur. La Ganesan, the Governor of Manipur has been appointed as the Governor of Nagaland. Phagu Chauhan, the Governor of Bihar has now been appointed as Governor of Meghalaya, and Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh has now been appointed as Governor of Bihar, the release added. “The above appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices,” the statement added.
With the inauguration of the first phase of the 246-km Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section of India’s longest expressway, the Delhi-Mumbai expressway nearing, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared a video showing the night view of the ‘architectural marvel’.
Developed at a cost of more than Rs 12,150 crore, this first completed section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will provide a major boost to the economic development of the entire region, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be India’s longest with a length of 1,386 km. It will reduce the travel distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 12 per cent, from 1,424 km to 1,242 km, while the travel time will be cut by 50 per cent, from the current 24 hours to 12 hours, it said.
The expressway will pass through six states Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and connect major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat.
It will also serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 ports, eight major airports and eight multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) along with spurs to new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport and JNPT port.
It will have a catalytic impact on the developmental trajectory of all adjoining regions, thus contributing in a major way to the economic transformation of the country, the PMO said.
Air India is all set to sign a ‘historic’ deal with aircraft manufacturer companies — Airbus and Boeing — sources in the airline said, adding that never before in India’s aviation history has such a mega order of aircraft including wide body and narrow body aircraft been done. Air India is all set to announce its mega-deal with Airbus and Boeing likely in the next week, it has been learnt. According to sources, they are not sure about the exact number of orders.
Recently, a top official of Air India told ANI that talks are underway with Airbus and Boeing about engines that Air India is looking for. For several aircraft, Airbus is going ahead with Rolls-Royce engines but for other aircraft with GE and CFM engines, related talks have not yet been finalised. CFM International is a 50-50 joint venture between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines.
Earlier on January 27, Air India Chief Executive Office Campbell Wilson said the Airline was finalising a historic order of new aircraft. Air India acquired new aircraft more than 16 years ago. Since 2005, the airline has not purchased any aircraft and the last order was for 111 aircraft whose deal was worth USD 10.8 billion. Air India is looking for a remix of aircraft to boost their domestic and international network through recent orders, sources said. Soon after the divestment of the airline, CEO Campbell announced in its speech to the AI employees that the airline is going for a historic order.
On the occasion of its first anniversary on January 27 this year, Air India said the airline will transform itself over the next five years to being among the best globally with an Indian heart. Ongoing integrated service between three different airlines of one Tata group is already underway and today on the anniversary day, AI said, “Announced merger with Vistara with the combined entity having a share-holding of Singapore Airlines and acquisition of AirAsia India and its merger with subsidiary Air India Express.”
On January 27, Air India (AI) completed a year of its return with Air India under Tata. When the Tata group took charge last year, the public perception was that it wanted to take the airline back to the glory days under the legendary JRD Tata. Soon after winning the bid for Air India, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said that “We are excited to bring Air India back to the Tata group and are committed to making it a world-class airline.”
