The accused have been identified as Rafi Islam alias Rafiul Islam, Shafi Alam alias Sophi Alom alias Saidul Islam, and Mohammad Usman, all residents of Myanmar. The NIA said in its chargesheet that they were involved in the illegal infiltration of foreign nationals into India and were all part of a network of smugglers and touts.
The NIA has found strong evidence in the case that these people used to get Aadhaar cards made illegally for the infiltrators and also used to get the women to cross the border by promising them marriage. The NIA had started investigating the case on November 7, 2023. After which the National Investigation Agency busted this international human trafficking racket.
The NIA said that the accused were involved in the trafficking of Rohingya women and children from Myanmar to India. They would lure the victims with promises of a better life in India and then smuggle them across the border. Once in India, the victims would be forced into prostitution or other forms of forced labor.
The NIA said that the chargesheet has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including human trafficking, criminal conspiracy, and forgery. The agency said that it is committed to combating human trafficking and will continue to investigate such cases.
The case is a reminder of the growing problem of human trafficking in India. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, India is one of the largest source, destination, and transit countries for human trafficking. The country has a long coastline and porous borders, which makes it easy for traffickers to smuggle victims across the border.
The Indian government has taken a number of steps to combat human trafficking, including enacting the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act in 1956 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in 2012. The government has also set up a National Anti-Trafficking Task Force to coordinate efforts to combat trafficking.
However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of awareness about human trafficking. Many victims are not aware that they are being trafficked and do not know how to get help.
Another challenge is the lack of coordination between different agencies involved in combating trafficking. This can lead to duplication of efforts and gaps in service provision.
Despite these challenges, the Indian government is committed to combating human trafficking. The government has taken a number of steps to address the problem and is working to raise awareness about human trafficking and to improve coordination between different agencies.
Under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand Cabinet adopted the report on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), according to news agency ANI. The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s mansion.
Following the approval of the UCC draft report by the cabinet, the government is expected to introduce the UCC Bill on February 6 at the Uttarakhand Assembly session. The Uttarakhand Assembly has already scheduled a special four-day session for February 5-8.
Uttarakhand will be the first Indian state to adopt the UCC following independence once it is put into effect. In Goa, it has been in operation since the Portuguese era.
VIDEO | "In today's cabinet meeting, a proposal has been approved to present a Uniform Civil Code in the upcoming legislative Assembly session and to complete the formalities to introduce it in the form of legislation," says Uttarakhand CM @pushkardhami. pic.twitter.com/GxpXfuFS9G
A report claims that the UCC Bill for Uttarakhand would make triple talaq, iddat, and halala crimes.
Polygamy may also be outlawed in Uttarakhand by the Uniform Civil Code Bill.
It is anticipated that the Bill will set a universal marriage age for men and women.
In Uttarakhand, tribal communities—who comprise 2.9% of the state’s population—may be spared from the UCC Bill’s provisions.
The proposed bill includes measures for population control, such as uniformity in the number of children.
The Uttarakhand UCC Bill may contain provisions that treat men and women equally when it comes to inheritance-related matters.
The IE report noted that live-in relationships are probably governed by the UCC as well.
The UCC will give all state residents, regardless of religion, a uniform legal framework for marriage, divorce, land, and property.
The UCC panel met with approximately 60,000 people during its more than 60 meetings and received 2.33 lakh written suggestions.
Should the UCC be put into effect, Uttarakhand will be the first state in the nation to do so following independence. It’s been
All communities in the state would be subject to the same civil laws, regardless of caste or religion, according to the UCC. It will give all citizens access to a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance.
With the passing of the UCC Bill in Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will have delivered on a significant pledge to the state’s voters during the 2022 assembly elections.
India increased its budgetary allotment for the Maldives in 2023–2024 from Rs 400 crore to Rs 770 crore in order to provide aid to foreign governments. And it has set aside Rs 600 crore for the Maldives for 2024–25, the second largest allocation after Bhutan and Nepal.
Nepal is the only other nation that has received more grants from India. It received ₹ 785 cr, which is almost 15 cr more than the Maldives received. According to the budget estimates, Bhutan will receive ₹ 1079 cr in the upcoming year (2024–25), while Nepal will receive ₹ 700 cr.
When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget 2024, she revealed the spending on the Maldives. In her sixth Union Budget, Sitharaman had revealed a number of noteworthy investment strategies for the tourism industry in India. The new government that takes over after this year’s Lok Sabha elections will present the complete budget.
India Boosts Aid to Maldives Despite Strained Ties: What’s Behind the Move?
Unexpectedly, India is providing the Maldives with more financial support, reiterating its commitment to ongoing development initiatives despite difficulties in diplomatic relations.
The “Neighbourhood First” Policy: An Increase in Funds
India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy has not allowed the current tensions to undermine its support for the Maldives. New Delhi raised the budgetary allotment for the Indian Ocean archipelago from ₹400 crore to ₹770 crore in the budget revision for 2023–24. A substantial ₹600 crore has been set aside for 2024–25, making it the largest allocation after Bhutan and Nepal.
Diplomatic Stress: A President Who Supports China
Assuming power in November of last year, Mohamed Muizzu—who is seen as a pro-China leader—damaged diplomatic ties between the two countries. Relations were further strained by his recent demand that all Indian military personnel leave the country by March 15.
The Maldives’ strategy changed when Muizzu defeated Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was friendly with India, in the presidential contest.
Project Greater Male Connectivity Wins
Notably, India has allowed these disparities to have no effect on the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives, the $500 million Greater Male Connectivity Project. It is imperative to emphasize that grants, not loans, are the mode of funding provided by India.
The ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy was reaffirmed by India on February 2, with Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh underscoring the policy’s importance in promoting regional connectivity, trade, and security.
Expert Views: Motives for the Aid Increase
India’s increased budget allocation is not surprising, says Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. He offers three potential explanations for this action.
Its primary goal is to aid the Maldives in overcoming their financial difficulties. Second, it conveys to China and the Maldives that India is a reliable friend regardless of political changes. Finally, it is an invitation to the Maldivian government and the Indian government to work together more closely.
Military Affairs: A Settlement Obtained
On February 2, India and the Maldives came to an agreement regarding the use of Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives, allaying worries about the presence of Indian military personnel there. As part of the agreement, military personnel will be gradually replaced by civilians who have experience running these platforms to facilitate a seamless transition.
Regional Allocative Ranking: Bhutan Is at the Top
Bhutan continues to receive the highest budgetary allocation from India, with ₹2,068 crore designated for Thimphu. Notably, ₹700 crore has been set aside for Nepal.
India is expected to provide ₹5,667 crore in total assistance to foreign governments in 2024–2025; a large amount of this assistance will be in the form of grants. The funding for Myanmar, which is ravaged by a civil war, has dropped from ₹370 crore to ₹250 crore.
In a village near the Incholi police station in the Meerut district, there has been an incident of assault involving Jat individuals attacking Dalit wedding processions. It is said that an announcement from the temple threatened the wedding processions. Numerous police units arrived in the village after learning of the incident. By persuading both parties, the issue was resolved. Dalit community members showed up at the SP office on Friday and demanded that the accused face harsh punishment. The SSP then looked into the situation and gave an order for action.
This incident was discovered during the marriage of Subhe Singh’s daughter, the son of Phool Singh, in the Meerut village of Jalalpur, in the Incholi region. He went to the SSP office and reported the entire incident. Additionally, Subhe Singh has sent a letter of complaint to the SSP. Subhe Singh’s daughter was getting married in a Daurala village, as per the police complaint. On Thursday, the wedding procession had arrived at Subhe Singh’s village.A young Jat community member who lives in the same village is accused of hitting a wedding guest with his bike while drunk. The accused gathered twelve of his friends and brutally beat the wedding guests when they objected. People from the Jat community are said to have gathered in large numbers during this time and misbehaved with the wedding guests. From the village temple, they issued a statement threatening to kill those participating in the wedding procession.
After the Dalit community’s members reported the incident to the police station, a significant number of police officers arrived at the scene. Somehow, the police managed to calm down both groups. The Dalit community also claims that the accused made threats by announcing from the temple at the same time. The Dalit community is upset because of this incident.
No hearing in the police station; complaint went to SSP
Regarding this, Subhe Singh filed a complaint with the SSP. Subhe Singh and other members of the Dalit community assembled in big groups and went to the SSP office on the day after the marriage. Everyone said the local police did not prosecute the accused. When the issue was brought to his attention, SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan promised action and had the matter looked into.
A cut clip from Mufti Salman Azhari’s speech went viral on internet and trolls started marking it as hate speech on social media like twitter and facebook.
Gujarat ATS took this seriously and filed charges on Salman Azhari. Recently ATS team visited Salman Azhari’s house to arrest him under Hate speech act.
This created sense of restlessness among muslim community and people took to twitter to write against the arrest of Salman Azhari. Hence #releasesalmanazhari started trending since today’s evening on twitter.
A video of Mufti Salman Azhari is seen on internet where he is heared stating, “I am not a criminal, whatever will happen Insha Allah will be seen.” The clip is from Mumbai.
While Mufti Salman Azhari tweeted the following
Today i.e. 04/02/2024 in the early hours of the day, Mufti Salman Azhari's society was surrounded by around 25-30 policemen. After breaking into the house, at around 11:56 AM, Mufti Sahab was detained by the Gujarat ATS, Mumbai ATS and Chirag Nagar Police Station. pic.twitter.com/dDAULfU75z
Recently Prime Minister Modi, shared a photo of him with LK Advani announcing Bharat Ratna Award to be conferred to LK Advani. This news created a sense of joy among Advani supporters. Read the tweet shared by Mr. Narendra Modi
I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights.
Narendra Modi
I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a… pic.twitter.com/Ya78qjJbPK
Born in Sindh province (now in Pakistan) on November 8, 1927, Lal Krishna Advani gave his life to the country at an early age. At the age of 14, he became a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Advani persevered through hardships during India’s independence and rose to become an RSS pracharak in Rajasthan.
As president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a considerable amount of time following its founding in 1980, Advani was instrumental in forming the party. He served as an MP for thirty years before being appointed as Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet’s home minister and deputy prime minister (1999–2004).
Political Achievement and the Nationalism:
Advani, who was well-known for his intelligence, played a key role in making the BJP a national political force. His leadership was demonstrated by the party’s ascent from winning two seats in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections to 86 seats. When the BJP became the party with the most seats by 1996, Indian politics underwent a revolutionary change.
Throughout his political career, Advani’s dedication to nationalism and adaptability in meeting the needs of the country were unmistakable. Both his contemporaries and his followers respected him for his commitment to the vision of a powerful and affluent India.
Yatra of Ram Rath and the Ayodhya Movement:
Advani’s involvement in the 1990s campaign to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya was one of the turning points in his political career. He coordinated the ‘Ram Rath Yatra,’ a 10,000-kilometer trek from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya, while serving as the BJP’s chairman. The yatra was intended to construct the Ram temple and carry out kar seva at the contentious location.
But the yatra resulted in widespread violence, and Advani’s chariot had difficulties getting to Ayodhya. His supporters made it to Ayodhya despite his arrest in Bihar, and the unlawful demolition of the Babri Masjid marked the beginning of the tragic events of December 6, 1992.
Advani’s Admission of Mistake:
Subsequently, Advani came clean about his mistake in demolishing the Babri Mosque, calling it a grave error in judgment. His admission complicated his political legacy further, especially in light of revelations from the Liberhan Commission report that held Advani personally accountable for his part in the demolition.
Controversies Surrounding Advani:
Advani came under fire for supposedly inciting the kar sevaks when the Babri was being demolished. According to reports, he was present when the decision to destroy the mosque was made in secret. Advani and other BJP leaders were blamed by the Liberhan Commission for their inability to stop the Babri Mosque from being destroyed.
LK Adavni was charged with conspiracy behind the demolition of Babri Masjid. Along with Advani cases were filed on Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti. The case was in court for years. The other defendants in the case, in addition to the BJP leaders, are the fiery Hindutva activist Sadhvi Rithambara, the VHP’s Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and Ram Vilas Vedanti, Satish Pradhan, the leader of the Shiv Sena, Bakunth Lal Sharma, Champat Rai Bansal, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, and Dharam Das.
The criminal conspiracy theory was rejected by the special CBI court, which determined that the demolition on December 6, 1992, was an unplanned, spontaneous act.
UP’s chief minister Yogi met LK Advani after court session
Lok Sabha Elections after 2019: Is Modi Using Political Manoeuvres?
Even though Advani was the BJP’s main spokesperson in its early years, his prominence in politics began to wane following the party’s win in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With his increasing prominence and influence, Prime Minister Modi seemed to push Advani out of the political picture. When Modi disregarded Advani on several public platforms, political analysts took notice.
The biggest surprise occurred on January 22, 2024, when Advani was noticeably missing from the Ram Mandir’s inauguration ceremony. Because of these things, people started speculating about why Modi chose to award Advani the Bharat Ratna.
A viral photo from internet
Is the Ratna of Bharat a Political stunt?
The timing of Modi’s announcement begs the question of why LK Advani was awarded the Bharat Ratna. Some contend that it could be a political ploy to preserve Advani’s legacy and refute the claim that he was neglected after 2019. Regardless of earlier disputes, some regard it as a sincere acknowledgement of Advani’s contributions to Indian politics.
Ram Mandir was integrated on 22 Jan 2024 close to Lok Sabha elections 2024. For your information the Lok Sabha 2024 election date is out by the Election commission of India and the starting date is 16 Apr 2024.
The question raises that why the Ram Mandir inauguration date is so near to the election date. And even after that Bharat Ratna awarded to LK Advani during this time period. The Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir issue is a political marketing tool for RSS and BJP.
With “personal reasons,” Banwarilal Purohit resigned from his position as governor of Punjab on Saturday. The position had been occupied by him since August 2021.
The resignation was made one day after Purohit visited Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, on Friday in Delhi.
“I hereby submit my resignation from the position of Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Union Territory, Chandigarh, citing personal reasons and other obligations.” Purohit wrote to President Droupadi Murmu in his resignation letter, “Please accept the same and oblige.”
Rajeev Verma, an AGMUT cadre officer, was appointed Union Territory Adviser by the Ministry of Home Affairs earlier this week. The position was unfilled the previous year.
In addition to serving as the governor of Tamil Nadu in 2016, Purohit, a three-time MP from Nagpur (twice from the Congress and once from the BJP), was named governor of Assam in 2017.
He had been in a verbal spat with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government that was in power in Punjab for a long time. He had written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on a number of occasions, requesting clarification on various matters. He had even threatened to recommend President’s rule in the state and start legal action if Mann had not responded to his questions.
Remarkably, the resignation follows the Chandigarh mayoral elections, in which the AAP contested results alleging manipulation and petitioned the Supreme Court for a prompt ruling on its case. The party filed a petition in the supreme court after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered Chandigarh to respond to a case made by AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar, who was a contestant and contested the victory of the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar, within three weeks.
Bengaluru, India’s tech and startup capital, has been ranked the sixth most congested city in the world, according to a report released by Dutch location technology specialist TomTom.
The report is based on data from 2023. It is noteworthy that in 2022, Bengaluru was ranked the second most congested city in the world.
In 2023, it took an average of 28 minutes 10 seconds to travel 10 kilometers in Bengaluru.
According to the report, Bengaluru residents now spend 132 hours a year in traffic.
The average speed of vehicles during peak traffic hours in Bengaluru in 2023 was 18 kilometers per hour.
This means that Bengaluru residents wasted about 132 hours in traffic in a year.
London was the most congested city in the world in 2023, according to the report.
The average speed in London was just 14 kilometers per hour. Other cities in the top five most congested cities were Dublin, Ireland (16 kilometers per hour), Toronto, Canada (18 kilometers per hour), Milan, Italy (17 kilometers per hour), and Lima, Peru (17 kilometers per hour).
Pune is the seventh most congested city in the world, according to TomTom’s list.
It takes an average of 27 minutes 50 seconds to travel 10 kilometers in Pune and the average speed is 19 kilometers per hour. Pune is followed by Bucharest, Manila and Brussels.
According to the report, the Indian capital Delhi is ranked 44th among the most congested cities, with an average speed of 24 kilometers per hour during peak traffic hours.
The country’s financial capital, Mumbai, is ranked 54th in the world in this list.
The worst traffic jam in Bengaluru occurred on September 27 last year, when it took an average of 32 minutes to travel 10 kilometers.
TomTom’s Traffic Index covers 387 cities in 55 countries. The report also assesses the cost of fuel and carbon emissions in countries.
Following a fight over a land issue, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction member Mahesh Gaikwad and another supporter were hurt in the firing.
Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, declared the Ulhasnagar shooting incident involving a local Shiv Sena leader and a BJP MLA to be “serious” and ordered a high-level investigation into it on Saturday.
A police officer said that on Friday night, over a land dispute, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad of Kalyan opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena chairman of Kalyan, inside a police station at Ulhasnagar in the Thane district.
“I have requested that a high-level inquiry be held by the DGP (director general of police) due to the seriousness of the incident. Fadnavis told reporters, “Everyone is equal before the law, regardless of their political affiliations.”
According to him, the investigation will determine what caused the MLA to open fire and under what conditions.
If the MLA is found to be guilty, the state BJP president, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, stated that the party will take legal action.
Before being arrested, Ganpat Gaikwad stated he used the gun because his kid was being beaten at the police station by the men of the Sena leader. He made this claim in an interview with a news channel. According to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, there is an attempt to create a “kingdom of criminals” in Maharashtra.
The BJP MLA charged Shrikant Shinde, the MP for Kalyan and son of the chief minister, with hanging up signs and taking credit for his own labour. He remarked, “I had repeatedly informed my seniors that these individuals are engaging in violence against my leaders.”
Ulhasnagar is included in the parliamentary constituency of Kalyan.
Jammu: Poonch-born local hero Havildar Majid Hussain personified the real essence of a commando with his unshakable dedication to protecting his country.
On Friday, the Army declared. He proved to be a strong force against terror in the difficult terrain of Poonch and Rajauri, exhibiting unmatched bravery and tenacity in the greatest traditions of the Indian Army. The people of Poonch and Rajouri have great sentimental value for his ultimate sacrifice made in the name of peace, according to a statement released here by PRO Defence.
In the name of GOC-in-C, NC, and GOC 16 Corps, the GOC 25 Infantry Division sincerely thanked the family of Havildar Majid Hussain. The statement read, “His seniors and colleagues visited the family of the Braveheart, bestowing the spirit of care for their fallen brother in a heartfelt tribute to a local son who went above and beyond in the line of duty.”
Havildar Majid Hussain’s noble sacrifice is symbolised by the awarding of the Kirti Chakra, the Army said, adding that “Poonch, Rajauri, and the entire population of UT of J&K, stand indebted to this courageous commando.” His deeds are a source of inspiration for future generations that endures beyond a single instant in time.
As the Hero of Poonch, Havildar Majid Hussain’s legacy endures, serving as a constant source of devotion and selflessness, the PRO Defence continued. People all around the country, including those in his hometown, will always find meaning in his narrative.
The gallantry award given to him is more than simply a medal; it is a remembrance of the sacrifices made in the unwavering pursuit of peace and security as well as a symbol of honour and bravery.
