In a scathing statement, Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah has raised serious questions regarding the conspicuous silence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on the explosive allegations made by Gudiyatham Kumaran, now-former deputy secretary of DMK’s propaganda wing.
தி.மு.க கொள்கை பரப்பு துணைச் செயலாளரின் ₹60,000 கோடி ஊழல் குற்றச்சாட்டு – முதல்வரின் மெளனம் ஏன்?
மக்களின் வரி பணம் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட மணல் விவகாரத்தில் என்ன நடக்கிறது என தமிழக தி.மு.க அரசு #வெள்ளைஅறிக்கை அளிக்க வேண்டும்.
Gudiyatham Kumaran, recently ousted from the DMK, leveled accusations against senior DMK leader Duraimurugan and his son Kathir Anand. Dr. SG Suryah, in his statement, expressed shock at the gravity of the allegations, particularly one claiming Duraimurugan’s involvement in a staggering ₹60,000 crore sand mining scam. Suryah has termed this revelation as reflective of a “stealing model” employed by the DMK government, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
The statement highlights the ongoing investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into discrepancies in Tamil Nadu’s sand mining operations, with reports suggesting potential losses in GST income for both state and central governments running into crores. Suryah points out the ED’s summoning of 10 serving IAS officers and the recent interrogation of senior water resource department engineer Muthaiyah as indicators of a deepening crisis.
Suryah questioned the deafening silence of the DMK government in the face of these serious allegations. He drew attention to the government’s previous swift action, including swift of former finance minister PTR Palanivel, and questioned the apparent contradiction in addressing allegations against the CM’s family but not responding to the massive scale of the alleged sand mining scam.
Expressing concern over the potential misuse of public funds, Suryah urged the government to break its silence and release a comprehensive white paper addressing the sand mining issue. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in handling matters related to the people’s tax money.
Earlier, Gudiyatham Kumaran Accused DMK Minister Duraimurugan of looting ₹60,000 crores through sand mining
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On 20 November 2023, the Telugu Desam Party celebrated the “regular” bail granted to TDP chief, N Chandrababu Naidu in the “Andra Pradesh Skill Development Scam”.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement in favour of the TDP leader, converted his “interim” conditional bail into a “regular” bail, citing a lack of evidence for his alleged role in the scam and incoherent arguments by the ruling YSRCP government, which had arrested Naidu on claims of alleged corruption during the TDP government’s 2014-19 administration of the state.
The High Court judgement will have major political impact in the state, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for the first half of next year (approximately six months away or lesser). The High Court bench headed by Justice Tallapragada Mallikarjun Rao, stated that Mr. Naidu was entitled to a “regular” bail, without restrictions on his political activities.
Previously, on October 31, he was granted a four-week “interim” bail on medical grounds, with restrictions on his direct or indirect interference in the investigation of the alleged scam as well as political activities. In a thorough 39-page verdict, the High Court bench headed by Justice Rao, alluded to the fact that the YSRCP government included Naidu as an accused, only after almost two years, from when the alleged case for misappropriation of funds was first registered.
The bench also pointed out that neither Naidu nor his leaders had interfered in the investigation process of the alleged “scam” before or after his name was included as an accused in the case. The TDP politburo considers this judgement as further proof of what the TDP, other Opposition parties and the general public in the state, have been saying for the past two months – that there is no real basis for the “Skill Development scam” as alleged by Jagan Reddy’s YSRCP government and that the ruling party was looking for an excuse to arrest the leader of the Opposition to damage his reputation as well as restrict his political activities, ahead of the state elections, next year.
The TDP also claims that the arrest of Naidu was meant to distract the people of the state from Jagan Reddy’s more than thirty CBI-investigated cases, from which he is currently out on bail. With the conversion of the previous interim bail to a regular one, Naidu is now free to lead his party from the frontline, make political decisions and act on them, organize meetings and fundraisers, conduct political rallies, meet with political leaders and friends etc.
The septuagenarian leader’s surprise, dramatic, midnight arrest from a wedding venue on September 9, caused a stir in the Andhra and Telangana political circles and his previously granted interim bail on health grounds, on October 31, had attracted massive crowds of ordinary people, waiting for several hours just to get a glimpse of him and convey their sympathies.
Analysts claim that the TDP party, currently in the opposition, has gained sizeable political ground in Andhra Pradesh and is aiming at acquiring the winning numbers in the early-2024 state elections. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its ally, the Jana Sena Party (JSP) claim that, Naidu’s arrest on “bogus” charges have a basis in current CM Y S Jagan Reddy’s political vendetta and the YSRCP’s fear of losing next year’s state elections.
The TDP party sees the A.P High Court’s judgement as a win for their leader against the false accusations on him, made by their arch political rival, desperate to restrict or curb the TDP’s recent political growth and popularity. The party has openly declared that their leader would be proved innocent in the “skill development case” as well as any other case, that the Jagan Reddy government is intent on falsely charging Naidu with.
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With just days to go, before the state-wide election date of Nov 30, Telangana’s incumbent BRS government has announced a curious pre poll proposal, aimed at Muslim voters in the state.
CM K Chandrasekhar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi party (BRS) has declared a first-of-its-type election promise in the country – the Chief Minister has pledged to open an Information Technology (IT) park for Muslim youth near Pahadi Shareef, a predominantly Muslim neighborhood. Pahadi Shareef is a village suburb of Hyderabad, on the outskirts of the city, less than 10 KM away from Hyderabad’s main Shamshabad International airport.
It is known for the dargah or tomb of the Muslim sufi master, Syedna Baba Sharfuddin. The Congress party sees the BRS party’s eleventh hour announcement as a desperate move, just days ahead of the elections. It sees it as an indication of the BRS party’s speculation, that the Muslim vote may shift to the Congress party in the upcoming elections.
The BJP has denounced the BRS’s Muslim-specific IT industry initiative, as an extreme measure of minority-appeasement politics played in the country, by both the Congress and the “secular” parties. The BRS is in a tie-up with the Hyderabad-based AIMIM party (All India Majlees E Itehaddul Muslimeen), claiming to be a representative of Muslims, is led by Asaduddin Owaisi and had landed the Muslim vote comfortably in the last two state elections.
However, the BRS appears nervous about losing a large section of the vote to the Congress this year, on account of the Congress’s tall, budget-heavy poll promises for Minorities in the state. Another indication of the BRS’s uncertainty with its earlier domination of the Muslim vote appears to be, the fielding of a Muslim candidate to take on the Congress party’s Muslim candidate – ex-cricketer, Mohammed Azharuddin, in the upscale Jubilee Hills locality of Hyderabad.
Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM’s acerbic verbal attacks on the Congress’s Muslim candidate included Azharuddin’s alleged lack of political skills, his track record of election victories in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and his poor service in a previously elected constituency that he later lost. After two consecutive terms in Telangana, the BRS suspects an anti-incumbency wave. It has sensed an erosion of its electorate, with the BJP making significant inroads into the state’s politics and the Congress fighting aggressively to regain its previously massive presence in Telangana. Analysts predict a close call between the BRS and the Congress, with both parties claiming they would win more seats than the other.
Although unwilling to admit publicly, neither party forsees a clear, simple majority in the 2024 electoral battle for Telangana’s 119 seats. In the meanwhile, the BJP, a fairly recent entrant into Telangana’s political playground, hopes to play the role of king-maker, retaining its share of predictable numbers and bringing its share of seats to a coalition government.
We spent 12,000 crore towards minority development in the last ten years. If voted to power again, we will set up a special IT park for Muslim youths. As long as I am alive, Telangana will remain a secular state. – Chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao
Aavin, Tamil Nadu’s state-operated milk company, had decided to discontinue its iconic Green Magic milk variant, a move aimed at cost-cutting that has sent shockwaves across the state. The decision, however, has been met with strong opposition with the Tamil Nadu BJP chief, K Annamalai targeting the DMK government and its Milk Minister Mano Thangaraj.
Annamalai took to the social media platform X to expose alleged discrepancies in another Aavin product – the Premium milk variant with an orange cover. The milk was purported to contain 6% fat, but test results obtained and published by Annamalai revealed a fat content of only 4.79%. The Tamil Nadu BJP chief condemned the decision to discontinue the Green Magic milk, which has been a staple for the past forty years, accusing the government of cheating the public.
தமிழக அரசின் ஆவின் பால் நிறுவனம், கடந்த நாற்பது ஆண்டுகளாகப் பயன்பாட்டில் இருக்கும் பச்சை நிற பாக்கெட் பால் விற்பனையை நிறுத்திக் கொள்ள முடிவெடுத்திருப்பது வன்மையாகக் கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது.
மொத்தமாக சென்னையில், சுமார் 14.75 லட்சம் லிட்டர் விற்பனையாகும் ஆவின் பாலில், 40% பங்குள்ள, 4.5%… pic.twitter.com/6fLzNIISCk
In a scathing post, Annamalai wrote, “The decision to stop the sale of green packet milk with 4.5% fat content and to sell purple packet milk with 3.5% fat content is an act of cheating the public.” He backed his claims with a test report from a Food Safety and Standardization Authority (FSSAI) approved laboratory, urging the government to provide quality milk at the price paid by the public.
Responding to the allegations, the Minister of Milk and Dairy Development of Tamil Nadu, Mano Thangaraj, contested the authenticity of the test report. Thangaraj argued that the report did not specify its association with Aavin milk and questioned the presentation of the sample, which was not in the standard packet format but a PET container. Accusing Annamalai of discouraging support for locally produced Aavin products, Thangaraj tweeted, “We suspect these actions of personal gain, possibly seeking benefits from companies outside our state, at the expense of our farmers – a disgraceful move.”
Speaking to reporters in Nagercoil, Mano Thangaraj said, “It is absurd and a bad lie to say that the fat in Aavin’s milk is being stolen. The average fair purchase of 30 lakh litres of milk did not yield a price commensurate with the quality during the AIADMK regime. Now 50% more is given. The payment is made within 10 days after the procurement of milk.”
He made a sharp comment on Tamil Nadu BJP chief, “Those who tell the story by wearing a Rolex watch and shepherding a goat don’t know. Just as a Prime Minister runs to keep the Adani gang alive, there are some stooges running here to keep some corporates alive. The last mile farmers are the first to directly benefit from the company in Tamil Nadu. If someone is acting with the intention of demolishing the Aavin company, which was started for the welfare of these farmers, who else can he be but a stooge?”. He further said, “Aavin is an unshakeable company in Tamil Nadu. This gives milk producers a minimum support price. The price is available throughout the year. North Indian companies have not been able to enter Tamil Nadu. Some people are looking at whether this can lead to domains for goodwill to spoil Aavin’s name.“.
In response, Annamalai issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Thangaraj, challenging him to prove the bribery allegations. Annamalai tweeted, “Thiru Mano thangaraj, in today’s press address, you alleged that I had taken a bribe to work against our State-run Aavin & to favour North Indian Milk Manufacturers. In the next 48 hours, using the state police department under the Corrupt DMK government’s disposal, I urge you to prove your allegation by releasing the evidence in the public domain. Failing which, you should apologise for this spreading misinformation & resign as Milk & Dairy Development Minister. Your continuation as a Minister is a curse to Aavin & the people of Tamil Nadu.”
As the controversy unfolded, it was reported that the DMK government is withdrawing its move to discontinue Aavin green magic and will be made available as before.
In another tweet, the BJP Tamil Nadu head called the DMK Minister a coward as he deleted the post in which he had made allegations that Annamalai was a stooge of corporate companies from north India.
“When asked if there is any evidence for the said slander, as usual, the minister Mano Thangaraj spins stories like ‘I’m grandson of this guy, brother of that guy’. He should be knowing that these stories won’t stand in court by looking at his fellow brethren or his brother. Just as you criticized the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in a derogatory manner and then deleted the post fearing public backlash, you coward who deleted the following post fearing a defamation case now is a joke. I am going to file a case against you for spreading baseless allegation for Rs 1 crore as damages. That one crore rupees will be given to Aavin as a development fund for our Tamil Nadu farmers who give milk to Aavin. A minister like you is the bane of Tamil Nadu.“, Annamalai took the DMK Minister head on.
கூறிய அவதூறுக்கு ஆதாரம் இருக்கிறதா என்று கேட்டால், வழக்கம் போல, நான் அவர் பேரன், இவர் தம்பி என்ற கம்பி கட்டும் கதை எல்லாம் கூறிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார் அமைச்சர் திரு @Manothangaraj. நீதிமன்றத்தில் இந்தக் கதை எல்லாம் செல்லாது என்பதை, பல நீதிமன்றங்களில் மன்னிப்பு கேட்ட வரலாறு உள்ள அவரது… https://t.co/s5LHF1Tnr9pic.twitter.com/2xHkpHVDow
Later in a press meet, he once again called DMK Minister Mano Thangaraj a coward asking him why he ran away after deleting the tweet? He pointed out how reducing 1% fat will lead to swindling of ₹10-₹11 per packet.
Annamalai also alleged that there is a nexus between private milk players and Aavin.
Under the corrupt DMK Government, Aavin has been reduced to an entity for irregularities & DMK’s corrupt practices for exploiting the hard-working farmers & consumers of our State. pic.twitter.com/h93ozSc37x
Many on social media have been targeting the DMK Minister over the Aavin fiasco with the hashtag “#கொழுப்புதிருடன்_மனோ” which translated “Fat Thief_Mano”.
"வந்தேன்டா பால்காரன்" – கொழுப்பு திருடன் ஸ்பெஷல் 🤣
A few days ago, a video of a senior citizen speaking with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin during his morning walk went viral on social media platform X. The gentleman is seen praising the Chief Minister in the video.
He says, “You are doing a great job. Continue doing it. Do a good job like your father. You will come back to power, you don’t have to worry about that. Do what you have been doing, and you will do well. Don’t bother about what people are talking about. You cannot control anyone’s tongue in this day and age. I hope you have good health.”
சிறப்பா ஆட்சி செய்யும் நீங்க தான் அடுத்த முறையும் முதலமைச்சரா வருவீங்க…
Today, yet another video of the same gentleman speaking with Stalin and Ma Subramaniam during their morning walk was telecast on news channels as well as circulated on social media platform X. In this video, the senior citizen is found praising DMK Minister PK Sekar Babu. The same gentleman standing near his red car but wearing a different outfit says, “All are saying that you are not doing anything for our temples. But as per your advice, Sekar Babu has ensured that temples get good income. Someone was holding the land, he retrieved it; no one publishes it or talks about it.” TN Health Minister Ma Subramaniam and Stalin interject saying he has given a befitting response to Nirmala Sitharaman’s allegations of encroaching temple land. But the old man continues to speak.
He says, “He has done so much for temples. So many kumbhabishekams are happening, earlier nothing like this used to happen, at least for the past 10 years. ” Again Ma Subramaniam butts in saying, “At least 1000 kumbhabishekams have been done in the past 2 years. The 1001st kumbhabishekam was conducted last month.”
The old man gives both of them what looks like visiting cards and says, “There never used to be kumbhabishekams done earlier.” Stalin then says that people were waiting for him and he had to leave and they part ways.
Now what is weird about these two interactions is that the same people meet at the same location in both instances and each time they speak as if they are meeting each other for the first time.
It is a matter of wonder why a senior citizen speaking in what sounds like a typical Tambram-accented Tamil is praising the government and the ministers when it is an open secret that temple lands have been encroached, temple funds have been misused by the HR&CE government, when law and order are in shambles in the state, and the lay citizen in Tamil Nadu is facing problems day in and day out with something as basic as an altered variant of the milk that they use in their daily diet.
DMK supporters and news media praised the “humble” nature of the Chief Minister to pause his daily walk and talk to a citizen of the state.
Several netizens claimed this gentleman could have been set up as a part of a PR-building exercise by the government to show him in a good light. Here are some reactions.
Just a few days ago, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s deputy secretary of propaganda wing, Gudiyatham Kumaran put out allegations against senior DMK leader Duraimurugan and his son.
#BreakingNews – Estranged #DMK Leader Gudiyatham Kumaran accuses loot of ₹60,000 Crores just in sand mining in last 2.5 years by DMK Govt.
Former Finance Minister accused earlier a loot of ₹30,000 Crores by DMK First Family.
He alleged that Duraimurgan and his son Kathir Anandan had earned nearly ₹60,000 through sand mining. It is alleged that 2nd tier cadre ranks of the DMK are unable to make money and a conflict has broken out. This conflict came out in the form of the video shared by Gudiyatham Kumaran. He adds that it is not only the conflict that broke out, a scam in the making in Tamil Nadu has also raised its head.
What Is The Issue?
Gudiyatham Kumaran was suspended from his duties a few days ago because he badmouthed DMK Minister Duraimurugan and his son Kathir Anandan.
He accused the duo of earning ₹30,000-40,000 crores and not allowing the rest of the cadre to earn even ₹5 crores. Political commentator Maridhas in his video brings to light the scam in the sand mining sector by Duraimurugan and Kathir Anandan and that they have earned not just ₹30,000 crores but ₹60,000 crores.
Fact Check
Maridhas shares some information obtained by filing an RTI. This is about how much the government is earning through sand mining. Like how TASMAC is run by the government, all sand quarries in the state are run by the government. The sand is mined and sold – this is done by the TN government. This is wholly done by the government and the earnings also end up in the government coffers only.
The RTI query was about how much the state earned through sand mining from 1 April 2022 up to 1 May 2023. The response obtained was that the state earned ₹18.66 crores.
Going back to 2013, if we analyse the revenue generated by sand mining, the government earned ₹188 crores for the year 2012-2013. Maridhas says this figure is also wrong because it was estimated that a whopping ₹15,000 crore was supposed to be earned in place of a paltry ₹188 crores. There were allegations of a scam and that people involved were pocketing the money at that time.
It was estimated that sand was mined from rivers and was valued at ₹40 crores per day. So the calculation of ₹188 crores in a year is wrong.
Every day, it is estimated that the Tamil Nadu government sends around 5000-6000 truckloads of sand. But the needs of Tamil Nadu are around 55,000 truckloads. This was in 2013. Thus a question arises, how can the Tamil Nadu government send only 5000-6000 truckloads because there are so many buildings under construction and a lot of other development work going on in the state?
At such a time, who or what was the source of the sand for these activities? The news report from 2013 tells us that 55,000 truckloads of land were sent from TN and if the said 55,000 truckloads of land were sent, it would amount to a value of ₹15,000 crores.
This was the requirement for 2013. For Chennai alone, 9000-10000 truckloads of sand were required and a total of 55,000 truckloads were needed to meet the requirements of the entire TN. But today in 2023, Chennai alone requires 20,000 truckloads of sand and TN requires 75,000 truckloads. A truck can hold about 400 cft of sand. To build a 1000 sqft house, one would need 1200cft sand.
Since the rate of development and construction activities has gone up, the revenue per day should also go up to ₹80 crores.
But where is this sand coming from? All fingers point to the Tamil Nadu government only since no private individual or organisation is involved in the sales.
So if an estimated ₹80 crores is the revenue per day, an approximate earning of ₹29,200 crores can be an estimated revenue in a year. However, according to the RTI, a petty ₹18 crores is what is shown as revenue.
Now if we are wondering where and how Gudiyatham Kumaran came up with the figure of ₹60000 crores, all we need to do is multiply this figure ₹29200 crores into 2 since the TN government came to power about 2-2.5 years ago.
Now who are the people who are alleged of the scam:
Duraimurugan
His son Kathir Anandan and
Karigalan who controls the sand quarries in the state
Maridhas calls for the arrest of these 3 individuals immediately. He also adds that 2 important people have been involved in this sand-mining mafia for many years. One is Pudukottai Ramachandran and the other is Dindigul Rathinam who have looted nature’s resources irrespective of the government in power.
Maridhas challenges the Mission Director of the recently formed Fact Checking Unit with 5 questions. He asked Iyan Karthikeyan to fact-check all that Maridhas had alleged. The 5 questions are on: revenue generated from sand mining, the 2013 revenue figures, the truckload-related information, whether the scam is a ₹60,000 crore scam or a ₹29,200 crore scam as alleged by Maridhas and finally he alleges that the earnings from this scam are shared by the DMK first family, Duraimurugan and the sand mafia involving Karigalan, Pudukottai Ramachandran and Dindigul Rathinam in the ratio 50:30:20.
Maridhas alleges that nearly ₹10,000 crores would have gone to the DMK first family, ₹6000-8000 crores to Duraimurugan, and about ₹1000-2000 crores to the mafia.
The controversy relating to the crass comments made by Mansoor Ali Khan seems to be dying down when other perverted and misogynistic comments made by members of the Kollywood industry surface on social media.
If you think Mansoor Ali Khan’s comments can be ignored because he has a history of speaking about anything and everything with a truckload of perversion, think again. The film industry is filled with such people and they are not just supporting actors.
A supporter of the Dravidian ideology, Sathyaraj has time and again made it to the news, especially with his comments on Hindu Dharma. This time an old video of his resurfaced.
In a video that seems to be from 2014 of a programme conducted by Vijay TV, Sathyaraj is seen making similar perverted comments. He is seen on stage and the camera focuses on actors Nayanthara and Arya as he speaks. He said, “I am very happy to be the father of such a beautiful women. But no matter which director it is, I have a request for that director. There must be at least one scene where the beautiful heroine will hug me and cry. No, when the scene is about the heroine telling her difficulties to her, will it be ok to sit at a distance in the car? [referring to the scene featuring him and Nayanthara in the movie Raja Rani where Sathyaraj played her father]. How can you tell the dialogue, “Appa get me married to that boy”. The scene demands that she come running to me and hug me and say, I want this only Dad! But I apologise to Arya and Jai (the actors in the film), in this film, the chemistry between me and Nayanthara was superb.”
In a recent session before the Madras High Court, senior counsel G. Karthikeyan argued against the stance of Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, P.K. Sekarbabu, and DMK MP A. Raja, who contended that Sanatana Dharma perpetuates caste divisions based on birth. Karthikeyan emphasised that “No one is born a Brahmin, they only get initiated into the order through their deeds,”.
Presenting arguments before Justice Anita Sumanth, who is handling the writ of quo warranto petitions against the three DMK leaders, the senior counsel highlighted that Sanatana Dharma stands out as the most tolerant and inclusive religious principle globally. He clarified that, according to ancient scriptures, there is no mention of the various castes prevalent today, except for the reference to the four fundamental Varnas.
He also pointed out that revered figures like Lord Rama and Lord Krishna were not Brahmins by birth, and Vishwamitra, originally a Kshatriya, became a Brahmarishi through penance. The argument centered on the Bhagavad Gita’s assertion that individuals become what they aspire to be based on qualifications, not birth. He also added, “If it is by birth, there won’t be any Alwars and Nayanmars. One becomes what he wants to become by obtaining the qualifications. That is what the Bhagavad Gita says,”.
Citing the mantra Aham Brahmasami, he explained, “It means God is there in every soul. So, the misinformation that caste gets assigned by birth was propagated by those who had no elementary understanding of Sanatana Dharma. I really wonder if they even knew to read Sanskrit in which the ancient texts are written. Somebody wrongly translated something and all others are following it blindly.”
When Justice Sumanth inquired about the origins of the contemporary caste system in Hinduism, Karthikeyan attributed it to a lack of understanding of Sanatana Dharma and possibly flawed translations. When asked about the introduction of the present-day caste system in Hinduism, he expressed uncertainty but condemned untouchability as barbaric. He said, “I don’t know. That is a mystery. Untouchability is certainly a barbaric activity. There is no doubt about it. If there is a cataract in the eye, then it should be operated upon. The entire eye need not be plucked out. A Minister cannot say Sanatana Dharma itself should be eradicated.”
He refuted the accusation that Sanatana Dharma discriminates against women, emphasising that the naming of rivers after women across the country contradicts such a claim. Pointing to examples, he highlighted Saraswati as the Goddess of knowledge, Lakshmi as the Goddess of wealth, and Shakti as the Goddess of power, courage, and boldness, all depicting significant attributes through women. He further underscored the contribution of women to the Rig Veda’s creation.
In Tamil literature, he cited women poets like Avvaiyar, Karaikal Ammaiyar, and Aandal, along with the historical significance of brave queens such as Rani Mangammal and Velu Nachiyar who ruled the land in the past. Additionally, he referred to a Minister named Jabali in Dasaratha’s kingdom during the Ramayana period, highlighting that Sanatana Dharma encompasses atheism, asserting that an atheist can also be considered a Sanatani.
Senior counsel P. Wilson, who is representing Udhayanidhi Stalin, argued that the writ petitioner acknowledged the existence of the caste system and untouchability. Therefore, Wilson contended that issuing a writ of quo warranto against the Minister for advocating the eradication of these practices would be inappropriate.
He characterised the case against the Minister as frivolous and urged the court not to invest time in it. Additionally, he strongly objected to senior counsel T.V. Ramanujam’s assertion that the Minister delivered a “hate speech” by advocating for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma. “How can it be called hate speech? It is only an ideological clash that has been prevailing for many years… What is wrong if I hold an opinion that is acceptable to a majority of Hindus who have voted us to power?” he asked.
He also referred to news reports revealing that 33 out of 78 Union Ministers faced criminal charges, with 24 prosecuted for serious offences like murder, attempted murder, and robbery. He questioned why the writ petitioner, T. Manohar, a Hindu Munnani office-bearer, did not file writs of quo warranto challenging the authority of those Ministers to continue as legislators.
Senior counsels G. Rajagopalan, R. Viduthalai, and N. Jothi, representing one of the three writ petitioners, A Raja, and PK Sekarbabu, respectively, concluded their oral arguments before the judge granted them a week to submit their written statements.
The judge also considered brief arguments presented by advocate J. Sai Deepak, even though the intervening petition filed by the NGO he represented was not formally numbered or listed for a hearing.
In the complex landscape of global terrorism, understanding the financial mechanisms behind organisations like Hamas is crucial for effective counterterrorism efforts. This article delves into the multifaceted funding streams of Hamas, shedding light on overt and covert sources, cryptocurrency involvement, taxes, and humanitarian aid.
Context
Gaza, plagued by a 47% unemployment rate and 80% living in poverty, faces the paradox of being home to one of the wealthiest terrorist groups. Hamas’ annual military budget falls within the range of $100 million to $350 million. In 2014, Forbes dubbed Hamas as such, with an estimated annual turnover projected to reach $1 billion over the next decade.
How Is Hamas Funded?
Hamas obtains funding through various channels. These include:
Hundreds of millions in international aid to Palestine, possibly routed to terror
Overt and covert injections of cash from Iran and other ideological partners
Cryptocurrency, taxes, extortion and smuggling
Revenue through its assets, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with companies operating in Iran, Sudan, Algeria, Türkiye, Kuwait, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries
Hedge fund, investment fund operatives working for Hamas
Let’s analyse each of these.
Cryptocurrency
Between August 2021 and June 2023, Hamas received $41 million in cryptocurrencies, as reported by Tel Aviv-based crypto analytics and software firm BitOK. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), whose militants collaborated with Hamas in an attack, also obtained $93 million in cryptocurrencies, according to findings of London-based crypto researcher Elliptic. An analysis by Elliptic revealed that the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, received millions of dollars in cryptocurrency transfers, including bitcoin, the stablecoin tether, and even Dogecoin. Authorities managed to seize 150 cryptocurrency accounts associated with the laundering of funds to and from Hamas, as stated in a DOJ news release. Apart from one-time transfer accounts for Hamas, almost all mass crypto accounts were brought to closure.
The flow of funds to Hamas in cryptocurrencies is the most visible and easiest to track, block, and seize. Because of the native qualities of public blockchains. (Thanks to chainanalysis). Cryptocurrency is far from being the primary source of funding. The United Nations estimates that cryptocurrencies account for 20% of terror financing in the world. However, it facilitates sourcing and recruiting people, which is far more dangerous.
Overt & Covert Sources
Iran openly allocates $100 million annually to the Hamas government, supporting both humanitarian efforts and defense projects. Additionally, Qatar is reported to have contributed over $150 million to Hamas in 2019, $100 million in 2020, and a substantial $360 million in 2021. Presently, Qatar is estimated to provide around $120 million each year, emphasizing its support for the Gaza government rather than endorsing terrorism.
The funds from Iran are believed to be funneled through financiers in Turkey and Lebanon, with a Lebanon-based financial operative serving as a middleman between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hamas. This operative collaborated with the Lebanese group Hezbollah to facilitate the transfer of funds.
Further, Iran utilized Russian companies to supply oil to Syria in exchange for financial support sent from Syria to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, subsequently reaching Hamas and Hezbollah. Between 1995 and 2001, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development served as the primary U.S. fundraising arm for Hamas, channeling over $12 million during that period.
During a critical period in 2007 when Hamas faced instability and a lack of government funds after winning elections, Qatar emerged as a crucial source of financial aid. In an effort to prevent a humanitarian crisis, Qatari officials transported millions of dollars in cash through Israel’s Erez border crossing into Gaza from 2012 to 2021, with the permission of the Israeli government, contributing a total of $1.49 billion. In 2021, Israel and Qatar reached a new agreement that concluded the practice of physically delivering cash in suitcases.
Taxes
In December 2020, the reported tax revenue for the overall State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) amounted to $3.316 billion, according to CEIC data. This figure, however, appears disconnected from the region’s GDP, production, or exports, with the primary sources of tax being import and income.
Hamas, in addition to official taxes, imposes unofficial fees on smuggled goods and other activities, generating an estimated annual income of up to $450 million. The terror organisation also collects up to $15 million annually from taxes imposed on goods entering Gaza from Egypt.
The existing tax landscape includes a 16.5% additional tax on imports from the West Bank. As reported by the finance ministry of the Hamas movement, the total monthly collections from these taxes amounted to an additional $20-25 million USD.
Despite international aid to Gaza approved by the UN and Israel, particularly from Iran, Hamas’s handling of the funds is contentious. While the aid is intended for the public’s welfare, Hamas allegedly distributes the money to the public while simultaneously imposing hefty taxes on goods and services. The concern is that these funds may be diverted from public welfare to support terrorist activities rather than the well-being of the people.
Assets And Investments
Trend GYO Real Estate Investment Trust boasts a net worth of USD 542 million and generates an annual revenue of $87 million. Notably, Musa Muhammad Salim Dudin, a member of Hamas’s Political Bureau based in the West Bank, openly supports the organization. Following the designation of Trend GYO as a banned company by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2023, Dudin transferred ownership to other parties, disavowing any connection to Hamas. However, these funds were allegedly used to acquire weapons for Hamas, contributing to deadly terrorist attacks.
Al Rowad Real Estate Development, with an estimated net worth of $30-50 million USD, has connections to Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair (Hamza), a Hamas financier based in Sudan. Hamza has facilitated funds for Hamas through a network of large companies in Sudan, Algeria, and Turkey, totaling $20 million. OFAC designated some of these Sudan-based entities in a May 24, 2022, sanctions action targeting Hamas’s investment portfolio. Hamza also has historical ties to terrorism financing, including connections to al-Qa’ida and companies linked to Usama bin Laden in Sudan.
Buy Cash, an entity lacking known website references or revenues has been identified by OFAC as a platform used to transfer funds for affiliates of terrorist groups, including Hamas, al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State (ISIS). Based in Gaza, Buy Cash facilitates cryptocurrency fundraising efforts for Hamas and serves as a point of exchange for various donations.
Operatives linked to Hamas own shares in several companies, primarily in the real estate and mining sectors across the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. The companies involved include:
ITQAN REAL ESTATE JSC
AL ROWAD REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
AGROGATE HOLDING
SIDAR COMPANY
ANDA COMPANY and
TREND GYO
The valuation and number of shares held by these operatives suggest a potential worth in the billions of dollars.
The overall terror financing network of Hamas involves approximately 832 individuals and 373 organizations operating in 33 different countries, according to information provided by the National Counterterrorism Financing Team (NBCTF).
Humanitarian Aid
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza oversees a broad range of humanitarian efforts, including support for food, education, and medical assistance, providing a $100 monthly aid per family. However, both civilians and individuals associated with terrorist groups receive this aid, and there is a lack of a clear program to discontinue support for targeted terror elements.
Since President Biden assumed office in 2021, the United States has allocated approximately $1 billion to UNRWA. With 38 percent of UNRWA’s budget directed towards Gaza, this equates to $380 million in taxpayer funds delivered to the region in less than three years, raising concerns about the funds potentially falling into the hands of Hamas.
Israel has issued over 18,000 work permits to Palestinians, resulting in an influx of approximately $2 million per day and providing additional forms of economic relief.
UNRWA requires $1.8 billion annually to sustain its operations, covering schools, hospitals, clean water, and food for the people. Funding primarily comes from Europe and the United States, with the U.S. contributing $380 million annually. The European Commission has announced an “urgent review” of the €681 million in development assistance allocated by the EU over the past three years to ensure that the funds have not inadvertently supported Hamas. Up until 2022-23, India has contributed $36 million to Palestine through UNRWA.
Counter-terror-financing efforts
In a targeted effort against Hamas, 150 cryptocurrency accounts have been blocked. The U.S. Treasury has blacklisted shell companies associated with Hamas, abruptly ceasing banking engagements with them. Furthermore, there is a call to enhance data collection on humanitarian aid, specifically focusing on how it is allocated and spent.
Established in 2017, the Terror Financing Targeted Council (TFTC) is headquartered in Riyadh and serves as a collaborative platform for government officials from its member countries. Comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, the TFTC aims to collectively devise strategies to reduce the flow of funds to terrorist organizations and combat money laundering more broadly.
Last Word
In the contemporary landscape, warfare demands financial resources, and sophisticated avenues for securing funds from governments, like-minded cohorts, and crowd-sourced funding have emerged. Technology is a double-edged sword that serves both legitimate and opposing purposes. In our interconnected global economy, every nation aspires to access international trade, yet achieving transparency remains an elusive goal. The lack of global cooperation becomes a breeding ground for anti-social elements to exploit and source funds. While technology has significantly reduced the gap and provides swift insights into the flow of money, it alone cannot comprehensively address this issue.
Soundar is a geopolitical enthusiast, based out of Ireland. His areas of interest include cyber, technology and its role in geopolitics.
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With Parliamentary elections in sight in Dhaka, the violence that has erupted in Bangladesh from opposition BNP, supported by US embassy in Dhaka, would have consequences not only in India but across South-east Asia.
Recently, TIME magazine published the story of Sheikh Hasina and her political career since 2009 in the Bangladesh office. This was however not received well by the ruling Awami League party and those who hold Sheik Hasina in high regard.
During her tenure in Bangladesh as PM, Sheik Hasina faced a lot of challenges, especially the post-COVID economic recovery, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Under Sheikh Hasina’s regime, Bangladesh has seen good developments economically and with regard to infrastructure in the country. Many forums previously have written about how Bangladesh has fared under the Hasina regime. Here’s one East Asian forum that has talked about Bangladesh’s progress under Hasina.
Here’s an Economic Times article on how Bangladesh has registered 5% Growth during the Pandemic and how India was contributing to a larger extent to its eastern neighbour.
Not only economic angle, security has also seen good improvements under Sheik Hasina where under her governance, strict actions have been taken against radical extremism.
Compared to the rise in militancy in Bangladesh from 2001 to 2006, after the Awami League returned to power with a majority, and especially post-2017, there has been a gradual reduction in terrorist activities, and from 2020, it has almost come down a lot. To support this, read the US State Department report on 2020 Bangladesh terrorism.
The last recorded terror incident in Bangladesh was in 2019. And look at the trend after 2016, the attacks in Bangladesh have come down a lot.
Despite showing a lot of progress in the economic field and security, none of these parts got highlighted. TIME magazine’s only focus has been the authoritarian Hasina regime and how Bangladesh is turning authoritarian under it. Here’s the link to what is covered in the TIME magazine.
Now who is behind this instability in Bangladesh? This is not to be taken lightly as an ordinary protest against a govt, but this has the potential to change the regional dynamics of the Indian Ocean itself with the growing influence of China in South Asia.
TIME MAGAZINE And CIA CONNECTION
When TIME magazine brings out such a piece just a few months before elections, and the West has been voicing concerns about fair and free elections in Bangladesh, one can note that there is a bigger role of the USA in this instability that is created in Bangladesh.
Peter D Haas, the current US Ambassador to Bangladesh, has been very active across the state ever since he landed in Dhaka. Ever since he arrived in Dhaka, there has been a flurry of curbs on Visas for Bangladesh by the US who they think are undermining the democratic election process. Look at this US-generated report.
It clearly appears that the CIA through its media outlets in the form of TIME magazine, the Ambassador to Dhaka, State Department imposing visa restrictions, is creating instability in Bangladesh.
Not only that, Peter D Haas has maintained deeper relations with Jammat-e-Islami and the extremist Bangladesh Nationalist Party. It is said that 22 staff in the US embassy in Dhaka are said to be directly involved with Jammat.
Since then, there have been several instances of violence in Bangladesh during the protests organized by the BNP party, and in response, the ruling government has taken action against the ones involved in violence by arresting them. Not only do we see a rise in violence, but BNP started to demand the toppling of the Hasina govt and planting a caretaker government till the next election. All these events have seen a sharp increase with Peter D Haas’s presence in Dhaka. References: Here and here.
October 28th BNP Rally protest saw one of the worst violent events in Bangladesh. There was even an internet connectivity disruption just a day before the BNP rally as well.
Opposition engaged in violence and the death of a policeman arrested.
Why Is Bangladesh’s Stability Necessary. What Are The Consequences Ahead for India & Indo-Pacific?
With these turn of events in Bangladesh, it is not at all good news not only for India but also for the entire South East Asia.
*Security Threat to India from terrorist groups across the border and rise of NE insurgency:
The entire northeast region of India will become vulnerable to not only illegal infiltration of migrants but also to arms and explosives from Myanmar to India. Several terrorist groups are operational across the border which can be a cause of concern for India’s security. Out of the various operational modules, the ARSA terrorist module looks to be a dangerous one that is active across the Bangladesh/Myanmar region.
This terrorist group was the mastermind in pushing illegal Rohingya immigrants into India and a well-oiled network in the Northeast was facilitating documents that would aid their entry into India.
It is also imperative to note that, there is joint India-Bangladesh co-operation in countering armed Kuki infiltration to Mizoram. Additionally, Bangladesh RAF has also acted timely based on intelligence tip-off on ARSA group key terrorist financiers and logistical suppliers.
With our India-Bangladesh-Myanmar region right now having the presence of various terrorist and insurgent groups, any change in Bangladesh’s ruling regime can have a greater impact on the region’s security.
It can not only expand radical extremists across the Bengal-Assam region but can also make the Siliguri corridor vulnerable to Indian security. This was the American plan for India during the Cold War when they directly aided East Pakistan to cut off the north-east from the mainland through brutal military force. Today, we have radical extremism which can pose a threat to this region.
*America Military base in St. Martin’s Island:
The talks on St. Martin’s Island existed during the time of East Pakistan when it was alleged that Ayub Khan had planned to convert St. Martin’s Island into a US military base to counter India in the region. During the time of East Pakistan, Paul Nixon and Henry Kissinger’s administrations were directly against India and therefore, wanted to take control of the East Pakistan region completely with a base in St. Martin’s Island. But the 1971 war foiled the American plot in the Indian Ocean.
The same talks emerged during the 1980s again to counter the regional influence of India, but they did not materialize. Once again, the same Island is now a mainstream topic that America is eyeing a base there, this time not directly aimed at India but as a countermeasure to China’s military bases expansion in the Indian Ocean.
While, the US State Department has officially denied that the US has any such plans, with the growing influence of China in the region, the threat of a US military base in St. Martin island cannot be ruled out if the opposition comes to power.
Americans made a similar move in Sri Lanka in February 2023 when the US Air Force landed in Sri Lanka. CIA chief William Burns also visited Sri Lanka during the same time. The US has a plot to establish a military base in northern Sri Lanka even though later they officially said that they have no plans to establish a base there. With India having an integrated military command centre in the Andaman Islands, and militarization of the Nicobar Islands, any foreign military bases in proximity close to India is definitely a sign of huge concern with India being the regional power across the Indian Ocean.
*Presence of Oil, Hydrocarbon, and Natural Gas in the Bay of Bengal:
The Indian Ocean has a large amount of unexplored rich Oil, Gas, and minerals which has been the target of foreign powers. Each big power always wanted to dominate the Indian Ocean. During the colonial period, one can understand how European East Indian companies took over key ports from the Middle East to the South China Sea and projected power from the Horn of Africa to the Straits of Malacca.
The Bay of Bengal is strategically crucial for India as several major ports of India from Kolkata to Chennai are along the BOB coastline.
Of late, China has recently tried to exert influence in this region through Myanmar, and in response, India along with its partner US and Japan have also conducted naval exercises in this region. With the rise of India in this region and expansion of China, and the bilateral interference of the US in India’s neighbourhood, the Bay of Bengal regional dynamics are on for a change. Here’s a good research article on Oil and Natural Gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal study material. Here’s one more relevant article.
This research article explains the Bay of Bengal Oil and Gas reserves which is even larger than Saudi or Iraq’s presence. Recently, ExxonMobil which is one largest Oil and Gas companies has expressed interest in exploring gas in all open deep water offshore blocks.
“The proposal comes when Bangladesh is about to finalise its model PSC, under which international oil companies will be offered larger output shares and increased gas prices.”
With the Russia-Ukraine war impacting the energy across world, and the current ongoing Israel-Hamas war, developing economies like India and states like Bangladesh cannot afford high prices for importing energy. Therefore, turning self-reliant on the energy front becomes critical. With Americans entering the scene, the rise of India, and the expansion of China, the political stability in this region therefore becomes paramount.
*Not only Bangladesh, America seeks to influence Indonesia’s February elections to have a strong sphere of influence in Indonesia/Bay of Bengal strait:
The National Endowment of Democracy, which is notoriously known as a CIA front org, is planning for coloured revolution in Indonesia seeking regime change in Feb 2024 elections as per various reports based on a leaked document.
The National Endowment of Democracy was founded in 1983 and its purpose in the literal sense is to engage in covert activities in other countries for CIA to have plausible deniability in any covert operations. This article explains how NED was set up after all the negative revelations on the CIA. A month ago Human rights activists accused Indonesia of supplying weapons to military Junta.
There are US sanctions on Myanmar when the military junta took over and they are aided by China weapons. The US has been monitoring nations that have been supplying weapons to Junta and in that it has been monitoring Indonesia in this aspect. Look at the below map to understand America’s strategy:
If America can get their puppet leader in Bangladesh, and Indonesia, with Thailand, now seeking greater relations with Western democracies, it can serve as a tangent to corner and encircle Myanmar and curb them from China’s influence.
However, the consequences of this would be major as that could potentially lead to a rise in extremism across India’s eastern regions into the South China Sea and can also have a major impact on India. To relate this, when America landed in Afghanistan during the war on terror and controlled the Hemland province of Afghan where Opium was being produced in tons (similar to the East Indian Company and British Empire rule time period in Afghan), it was financing all the major bomb blasts that struck India between 2005 & 2013.
Similarly, when America invests funding for its geopolitical objective, and supplies necessary explosives and weapons, there is a very high risk these could land to extremist elements on India’s eastern border which can then later penetrate mainland India to cause havoc.
Therefore, even before the May 2024 Indian general elections, Bangladesh elections in Jan 2024 and Indonesia elections in Feb 2024 are very critical to India’s security from the seafront and extremist elements.
(Intel User is a defence enthusiast)
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Will Chandrababu Naidu’s Legal Victory Pave Way For His Political Comeback?
On 20 November 2023, the Telugu Desam Party celebrated the “regular” bail granted to TDP chief, N Chandrababu Naidu in the “Andra Pradesh Skill Development Scam”.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement in favour of the TDP leader, converted his “interim” conditional bail into a “regular” bail, citing a lack of evidence for his alleged role in the scam and incoherent arguments by the ruling YSRCP government, which had arrested Naidu on claims of alleged corruption during the TDP government’s 2014-19 administration of the state.
The High Court judgement will have major political impact in the state, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for the first half of next year (approximately six months away or lesser). The High Court bench headed by Justice Tallapragada Mallikarjun Rao, stated that Mr. Naidu was entitled to a “regular” bail, without restrictions on his political activities.
Previously, on October 31, he was granted a four-week “interim” bail on medical grounds, with restrictions on his direct or indirect interference in the investigation of the alleged scam as well as political activities. In a thorough 39-page verdict, the High Court bench headed by Justice Rao, alluded to the fact that the YSRCP government included Naidu as an accused, only after almost two years, from when the alleged case for misappropriation of funds was first registered.
The bench also pointed out that neither Naidu nor his leaders had interfered in the investigation process of the alleged “scam” before or after his name was included as an accused in the case. The TDP politburo considers this judgement as further proof of what the TDP, other Opposition parties and the general public in the state, have been saying for the past two months – that there is no real basis for the “Skill Development scam” as alleged by Jagan Reddy’s YSRCP government and that the ruling party was looking for an excuse to arrest the leader of the Opposition to damage his reputation as well as restrict his political activities, ahead of the state elections, next year.
The TDP also claims that the arrest of Naidu was meant to distract the people of the state from Jagan Reddy’s more than thirty CBI-investigated cases, from which he is currently out on bail. With the conversion of the previous interim bail to a regular one, Naidu is now free to lead his party from the frontline, make political decisions and act on them, organize meetings and fundraisers, conduct political rallies, meet with political leaders and friends etc.
The septuagenarian leader’s surprise, dramatic, midnight arrest from a wedding venue on September 9, caused a stir in the Andhra and Telangana political circles and his previously granted interim bail on health grounds, on October 31, had attracted massive crowds of ordinary people, waiting for several hours just to get a glimpse of him and convey their sympathies.
Analysts claim that the TDP party, currently in the opposition, has gained sizeable political ground in Andhra Pradesh and is aiming at acquiring the winning numbers in the early-2024 state elections. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its ally, the Jana Sena Party (JSP) claim that, Naidu’s arrest on “bogus” charges have a basis in current CM Y S Jagan Reddy’s political vendetta and the YSRCP’s fear of losing next year’s state elections.
The TDP party sees the A.P High Court’s judgement as a win for their leader against the false accusations on him, made by their arch political rival, desperate to restrict or curb the TDP’s recent political growth and popularity. The party has openly declared that their leader would be proved innocent in the “skill development case” as well as any other case, that the Jagan Reddy government is intent on falsely charging Naidu with.
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