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Dravidian Model: How TN Police Arrested Film Director Mohan G Without Following Due Process Of Law For A Comment Made In An Interview

By
The Commune
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Tamil Nadu Police Reportedly Arrest Film Director Mohan G Over Comments On Palani Panchamirtham Prasadam

On 24 September 2024, during the early hours of the day, Tamil film director Mohan G, known for his pathbreaking films such as Draupadi and Bakasuran, was reportedly arrested by Samayapuram police in Tiruchi district.

The details of the arrest were unclear, and it was assumed that it was because of some comments he made in a YouTube channel interview on a temple prasadam.

It later came to light that police arrested Mohan G after a complaint lodged by Kaviarasu, a manager of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department at the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram. The complaint stemmed from controversial remarks made by Mohan in a YouTube interview, where he claimed that the panchamirtham offered as prasadam at the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani contained contraceptive pills, posing health risks to those who consumed it. Kaviarasu alleged that Mohan’s comments were false and intended to disrupt communal harmony in Tamil Nadu.

The controversy arose after a recent report from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) highlighted adulteration in the ghee used in the famous Tirupati laddus, which contained foreign fat and alleged to be animal fat such as lard, beef tallow, and fish oil. Mohan’s statement linked this to similar adulteration in the preparation of panchamirtham at Palani, alleging that the concoction could make people impotent. He further claimed that such adulterated items were destroyed, but the news was suppressed. Kaviarasu’s complaint emphasized that Mohan’s comments could incite unrest among the people.

Following his arrest, Mohan was taken to Tiruchi and produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court-III. However, the court, presided over by Judge K.R. Balaji, granted him conditional bail, noting that the charges against him were punishable by a jail term of less than three years. The police’s request for remand was denied, and Mohan was released on his own bail, with his counsel citing irregularities in the arrest.

Speaking to reporters his counsel said, “Director Mohan was arrested unlawfully from his residence by Tiruchi Police and was produced before Tiruchi JM3 Court in the evening. Just a few minutes before being produced in court, the Samayapuram Police Station registered a case against him. The case was regarding an interview he gave to the IBC Tamil YouTube channel. Only then did the case come to be known because of this interview. When Mohan G was produced before the magistrate, we pointed out the irregularities in the arrest procedure and requested release under our own bail. The magistrate accepted this and has released him on his own bail.”

He further said, “The case was filed by a manager of the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram yesterday at 6 PM. They filed documents stating that the arrest warrant was issued as soon as the complaint was filed and that he (Mohan) appeared by himself at 3 PM. Due to these irregularities, the court has released Mohan on his bail. Mohan G was not issued any notice; they received his signature only at court. They literally ‘kidnapped’ him and brought him here. They did not inform the family as to who arrested him and brought him here. Only at 5 PM, after the complaint was filed, was the family informed of it.”

He further added on the question of whether the court stated it was an illegal arrest, “There is no specific reason mentioned for the arrest and there are issues with the timings mentioned and this was the reason why bail was granted. Since Mohan G is from another district, his permanent address is in Chennai, so the court ordered that 2 witnesses be produced for the bail tomorrow or day after. Since the court has ordered so, he cannot be arrested.”

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Tobacco Claims 13 Lakh Lives In India Every Year: Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav

By
The Commune
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Tobacco Claims 13 Lakh Lives In India Every Year: Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav

Tobacco kills 13 lakh people every year in India, said Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav on Tuesday. While virtually launching the second edition of the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign at a hybrid event at Lady Hardinge Medical College, Jadhav said, “Every year, around 13 lakh people lose their lives due to tobacco in India.” “Tobacco has become a fashion statement among the youth, but it can lead to dangerous diseases like cancer,” he added.

The Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 2.0 aims to protect the health and well-being of young people from the harmful effects of tobacco. As part of it, the MoS also inaugurated tobacco cessation centres in medical institutions across India. Jadhav motivated the youth to prioritise their health over tobacco use, as it’s closely linked with the development of the nation. The MoS stated that “good health is intrinsically related to own as well as closed one’s happiness”.

He also urged elders to take responsibility for ensuring the youth don’t fall into tobacco use. The new 60-day campaign prioritises five key areas. It includes increasing public awareness about the dangers of tobacco; improving compliance with the revised guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) to keep schools and colleges free from tobacco; strengthening the enforcement of tobacco control laws, especially COTPA 2003 and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, to limit youth access to tobacco; promoting Tobacco-Free Villages; and boosting social media outreach.

Renowned celebrities, sportspersons and influencers like Aparshakti Khurana, Manu Bhaker, Navdeep Singh, Ankit Baiyanpuria, Gaurav Chaudhary and Janhvi Singh also addressed the gathering and shared insightful views. The first Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign was introduced last year, on May 31, to celebrate World No-Tobacco Day. The campaign was a huge success, with over 1,42,184 educational institutions and over 12,000 villages declared tobacco-free, according to the health ministry.

–IANS

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Rahul Gandhi’s Passport Should Be Cancelled For Running ‘Anti-India’ Campaign: Rajasthan MP

By
The Commune
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Rahul Gandhi's Passport Should Be Cancelled For Running 'Anti-India' Campaign: Rajasthan MP

Rajasthan BJP MP from Chittorgarh constituency and former Rajasthan BJP President, CP Joshi, on Tuesday, wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding the cancellation of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi‘s passport for allegedly playing in the hands of ‘anti-national’ forces.

In his letter, the BJP leader said that leaders like Rahul Gandhi are not entitled to hold the position of LoP.

“Also, looking at his (Rahul Gandhi’s) activities, it is clear that he is playing in the hands of anti-national forces,” he said in his letter. C.P. Joshi added that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on foreign land are just not right from the perspective of a responsible citizen.

“The statements made by Rahul Gandhi on foreign soil are in no way correct as a responsible Indian citizen. His statements are not political but purely under the category of anti-national activities, making his conduct suspicious,” the letter said.

He added that apart from the internal stability of the country and the security of the borders, Rahul Gandhi’s statements can also affect international relations because he is misusing the position of the LoP. The BJP leader also criticised the Congress leader’s statement on Sikhs in foreign land and said that it shows his connection with Khalistani separatists emanating from foreign land. C.P. Joshi also accused Rahul Gandhi of campaigning against the country’s industrialists.

“Is there even a single example in the whole world when a leader of the ruling party or the opposition is seen going to another country and making statements against the industrialists of his own country? What is the intention behind this statement of Rahul ji,” he asked. “Further, Rahul holds meetings with people associated with those foreign companies or organisations, which baselessly target Indian companies and have caused massive economic losses. Will this not be considered an attempt to harm the country’s economy,” he said. “Rahul Gandhi presents a distorted picture of Indian society by trying to divide it,” he alleged.

“India-Bangladesh relations are going through a sensitive phase, and during this time, when a journalist asked questions about the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, he was mistreated. Whereas the Indian government has recently raised this issue with Bangladesh, it is clear that Rahul Gandhi is following a fixed agenda which is contrary to the international policies of the Indian government,” said C.P. Joshi.

“Such baseless and tarnishing statements cannot be seen under the ambit of freedom of expression. In such a situation, it becomes necessary that Rahul Gandhi resign from an important post such as the LoP. Also, suppose he wants to remain as the LoP despite such concerns. In that case, his passport should be cancelled so that he cannot use foreign soil to run anti-India campaigns or agendas in the future, which can be a serious threat to peace and harmony within the country and foreign policy. Keeping all the above reasons in mind, I request you to cancel the passport of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi,” the BJP leader told Birla in his letter.

–IANS

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Rebellion & Factionalism Won’t Be Tolerated, Work With MahaYuti: Amit Shah To BJP Workers

By
The Commune
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Rebellion & Factionalism Won’t Be Tolerated, Work With MahaYuti: Amit Shah To BJP Workers

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his meeting with BJP functionaries up to the booth level from the Vidarbha region on Tuesday, warned that rebellion and intra-party bickering will not be tolerated ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election.

The Home Minister asked the party functionaries to work with unity for the victory of BJP nominees and the allies Shiv Sena and NCP. He set an ambitious target of MahaYuti winning 45 of the total 62 seats in the Vidarbha region, which has become BJP’s stronghold since 2014. “BJP will return to power by winning maximum seats from the Vidarbha region,” he said.

The Home Minister asked the party functionaries to effectively counter the opposition’s fake narratives and step up outreach with the voters by flagging off the development works carried out by the state’s BJP-led government at the Centre and the MahaYuti government. He further told the party functionaries to discuss with the voters the MahaYuti government’s slew of welfare and development schemes, including the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme. He said the MahaYuti should return to power after the assembly election by contesting it with full strength.

The Home Minister asked the party functionaries, including the party’s senior leaders, to pay attention to further strengthening the party organisation up to the booth level and gear up poll preparations to increase the voters’ turnout. A senior BJP leader from Nagpur said: “Union Home minister’s message was quite loud and clear that the party will not tolerate factionalism during poll preparations and rebellion at the time of nomination of candidates. He was categorical that BJP must cooperate closely with Shiv Sena and NCP to checkmate Maha Vikas Aghadi.” Another leader said that the union Home minister believed that the BJP leaders and workers, especially youth, should mingle with the voters during the upcoming Navratri and Diwali.

He added that this will help the party and the MahaYuti increase its rapport with the voters. A BJP functionary said: “The Union Home minister asked the party functionaries If anyone thought that Ram Mandir would be built. Did anyone have any idea that Article 370 would be abolished? Triple Talaq was abolished? It was possible due to the BJP-led government at the Centre, which is committed to creating a safe India.’’

He added that the union Home minister said the Waqf Bill will be passed in the next session.” Meanwhile, the Home Minister also met the party functionaries at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He will also attend meetings on Wednesday at Kolhapur and Nashik to review the party’s poll preparations.

–IANS

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Spiritual Discourser Dushyanth Sridhar And Historian Vikram Sampath File PIL In Supreme Court To Bring In Accountability In Temples Following Tirupati Laddu Animal Fat Adulteration Issue

By
The Commune
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https://thecommunemag.com/waiting-for-shiva-unearthing-the-truth-of-kashis-gyan-vapi-book-by-historian-dr-vikram-sampath-to-be-launched-in-chennai-by-vigil/

In a significant development, concerns have been raised over the alleged adulteration of ghee used in preparing the famous Tirumala Tirupati laddoos, sparking outrage among devotees and prompting legal action. Renowned historian and author Vikram Sampath, alongside spiritual discourser Dushyanth Sridhar, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India.

On September 19, 2024, Hindus across India were shocked when the results of tests on the ingredients of the Tirupati temple prasadam were made public.

A lab report revealed that beef tallow, fish oil, and palm oil could have probably been used to prepare the laddus distributed as prasad at the famous Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.

The findings indicated that the ghee used to make the iconic Tirupati laddu prasadam during the YSRCP government contained traces of animal fat, including beef tallow and fish oil.

This sparked widespread outrage, with many accusing the authorities of disrespecting religious sentiments.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has assured that action will be taken against those responsible. Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is undergoing an 11-day penance to atone for the sin committed at the sacred pilgrimage site.

In light of this, Dushyanth Sridhar and Vikram Sampath have moved the Supreme Court to establish accountability in Hindu temples managed by government bodies.

Dushyanth Sridhar noted that the renowned Tirupati temple, celebrated in the Rig Veda, the Puranas, Sangam literature, and the works of various bhakti poets, is considered one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites.

“Whenever I think of Tirumala-Tirupati, it is this line (prapadyē taṃ giriṃ prāyaḥ śrīnivāsānukampayā) of Swami Vedanta Desika that comes to my mind. Venerated in the Rig Veda, the Puranas, the Sangam literature and by a galaxy of bhakti poets, this kshetra holds a special place in our hearts. But it was painful even to digest the news about the alleged ‘adulteration’ in the ghee meant for the ladoo-making.”, Dushyant said in an X post.

He further added, “My good historian-friend (also my college senior) Sri @vikramsampath and I decided to file a PIL in the Supreme Court of India that would bring accountability and, most importantly, ‘shraddha’ in the functioning of Hindu temples across the country. Our friends—Sri @ExecutiveListX and Sri @ThisIsTheMukesh—helped achieve this. We sincerely pray that the SC admits and hears our petition.“

Vikram Sampath too in his X post noted that him and Dushyant being Vaishnavites themselves have chosen to file PIL in the Supreme Court to divest government/bureaucratic hold over temples.

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Tamil YouTubers Gopi & Sudhakar Make Fun Of Hindus Over Tirupati Laddu Beef Adulteration Issue And Mock Andhra Dy CM Pawan Kalyan’s 11-Day Penance, Netizens Call For Reporting It As Hateful

By
The Commune
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Tamil YouTubers Gopi & Sudhakar Make Fun Of Hindus Over Tirupati Laddu Beef Adulteration Issue And Mock Andhra Dy CM Pawan Kalyan's 11-Day Penance, Netizens Call For Reporting It As Hateful

The Dravidian ecosystem in Tamil Nadu seems to be having a field day amidst the ongoing Tirupati Laddu animal fat adulteration issue with Gopi and Sudhakar, who run the prominent YouTube channel Parithabangal, joining the bandwagon of those mocking Hindus over the controversy.

The channel, which makes videos on trending issues, has released its latest episode, “Laddu Paavangal.” In it, they peddle canards about vegetarians, mock Hindus getting duped, ridicule Brahmins, and also make tongue-in-cheek jibes against Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan over his 11-day prayaschit (atonement).

The video’s thumbnail shows Sudhakar wearing a dhoti and the Iyengar community’s namam (sacred symbol) holding laddus on a plate with the backdrop showing Tirupati temple gopuram.

The episode opens with Sudhakar playing the role of a devout Hindu with sacred ash smeared on his forehead. He brings a lunch box containing radish sambar and cabbage fry. Gopi, on the other hand, brings chicken 65 and sambar. The scene at an office canteen plays out to show a ‘Hindu’ Sudhakar as an intolerant bigot who despises non-vegetarian food.

“If these are vegetables, then this is chicken? What’s the big difference? You eat what you like, and I eat what I like. It is wrong when I force you to eat or you force me to eat something. I didn’t tell you to eat it, right?” Gopi (who has no Hindu marks) asks Sudhakar (who has a Hindu mark on his forehead).

In the next scene, the Hindu employee, Sudhakar, brings Tirupati Laddu to the office, saying that his parents had gone on a pilgrimage. Gopi has it and then later mentions that the office crowd is discussing the news about the controversy. He informs Sudhakar that Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu has claimed about the presence of beef fat, fish oil and pig fat in Laddu, and Sudhakar is shocked.

“For four years, these guys have been eating this only. They say that the taste itself is super,” Gopi says, eating a morsel of the laddu. He further adds, “See, that’s why the taste is so good. Here, you also eat.” He then forcefully feeds the supposedly beef-laden laddu to the ‘Hindu’ Sudhakar, who then jokingly vomits.

Anybody who has been to Tirumala is aware of the rigorous checking process that happens at the foothills to prevent prohibited items like liquor, cigarettes, and non-vegetarian food – from being taken atop the hill, which is done to protect the sanctity of the pilgrimage spot. However, Gopi and Sudhakar show this in poor light.

Sudhakar, who plays the checking official, throws away the bag of the character playing a devotee, saying that it smells like meat. The bag of Gopi, who also plays the role of devotee, is also thrown, citing the same reason. Cut to the next scene, where Gopi rejoices after having the darshan of Lord Balaji and eats the laddu prasadam. The other devotee is worriedly looking at the laddu who briefs Gopi about the animal fat adulteration in the laddu.

“What? They’ve mixed animal fat, is it? Leave it. We anyway eat non-veg, right? What’s the harm?” he tells the other character, who says, “Brother! I eat beef as well. But if they mix animal fat and give it as prasadam, how do we eat it?”

They then go to the checking official and mockingly question him, saying, “You told us not to take non-veg to the hill top. What have you done? Your CM himself has said it. You’ve put a little animal fat to make the laddu.”

In another scene, Gopi plays an apathetic Brahmin bank officer, invoking references to Kalki and the Kali Yuga to mock the elderly Brahmin community, which often laments that such moral decay is inevitable in this age.

They also mock an elderly Brahmin lady whose byte became viral. She said that she avoids taking Tirupati Laddu Prasadam due to her observance of dietary choices.

In the next scene, Sudhakar consoles himself by saying that the presence of animal fat is not confirmed. However, Gopi goes on to say that either of the three—beef fat, pig fat, or fish oil—has been mixed, and there is nothing wrong with eating unknowingly.

“But they’ve duped me!” Sudhakar says, to which Gopi responds, “It’s okay, man! Leave it!”

Like true Dravidianists, they ridicule Andhra Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s 11-day penance as a mark of atonement for the sin committed in the sacred land.

This episode of Parithabangal echoes the Dravidianist stance on the issue as even the DMK’s mouthpiece Murasoli had ridiculed the Hindus over the laddu adulteration issue.

Many on social media to register their protest by hitting the dislike button and also report it as hatespeech.

Other Instances Of Dravidianists Mocking Hindus Over Tirupati Laddu Row

A streaming app named Simply South shared movie clips centering around laddu that comes across as a mockery of Hindus over the sacrilege of Tirupati prasadam.

Another band that has tried to jump on the Tirupati Laddu beef fat issue bandwagon is A2B (Adyar Ananda Bhavan). This prominent food outlet chain shared a reel on its Instagram page titled “POV: SEEING MOTHI LADDU” with a meme of the Parithabangal character.

A Dravidianist activist named Piyush Manush used the news to mock Hindus further with his provocative comments.

Dravidianist propagandists masquerading as ‘journalists’ like Niranjan Kumar of Puthiya Thalaimurai news channel and Nelson Xavier justified the presence of beef fat in the holy prasadam.

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AIIMS Delhi, Intuitive Sign MoU To Establish Surgical Robotics Training Centre

By
The Commune
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AIIMS Delhi, Intuitive Sign MoU To Establish Surgical Robotics Training Centre

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi (AIIMS), New Delhi and Intuitive on Tuesday signed an MoU to establish an innovative new training centre for robotic-assisted surgery at the hospital. The AIIMS da Vinci RAS training centre will equip surgeons and care teams with the skills and technology training necessary to perform robotic-assisted surgery across specialities, including urology, gynaecology, and general surgery.

This industry-academia collaboration will advance the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery in India by providing state-of-the-art technology training for more surgeons. “We believe the AIIMS da Vinci RAS training centre will serve as a beacon of excellence, fostering training, skill, and knowledge development for the next generation of surgeons,” said Gary S. Guthart, CEO of Intuitive. “With the rising disease burden in India — cancers, urologic, and gynaecological conditions requiring soft tissue surgery — the demand for advanced technologies like robotic-assisted surgery is growing. The need for associated training is clear in India,” added Dr M. Srinivas Director of AIIMS.

As part of the MoU, Intuitive will train surgeons and also provide ongoing support and training for surgeons and care teams throughout their careers, and as they advance in their use of RAS. As part of Intuitive’s continuing effort to establish strong robotics programmes across India, the company has already established three training centres in different parts of the country. More than 850 surgeons in India have been trained on da Vinci technology to date and are helping drive a significant increase in its adoption. “The da Vinci system offers enhanced precision, flexibility, and control, leading to improved surgical accuracy, reduced recovery times, and better patient outcomes,” Srinivas said.

The Director informed that as an early adopter of robotic surgery, AIIMS has a pool of experienced robotic surgeons who will mentor and train new surgeons nationwide. “This centre will play a crucial role in advancing surgical skills and elevating patient care standards across India,” he said.

–IANS

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Badlapur Horror: Maha CID Launches Probe Into ‘Encounter Killing’ Of Rape Accused

By
The Commune
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Badlapur Horror: Maha CID Launches Probe Into ‘Encounter Killing’ Of Rape Accused

Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the probe into the sensational ‘encounter killing’ of Akshay A. Shinde, the prime accused in the Badlapur rape of two nursery girls, officials said here on Tuesday.

As per protocols in such cases, a CID team went to the Mumbra Police Station, Thane, where the formal cases have been filed about Akshay Shinde’s death in police firing after a gun-fight with a police escort team when he was being shifted from Taloja Jail in Raigad to Badlapur town here Monday (September 23). Officials indicated that the new special probe team formed by the Thane Police Commissioner on Monday would hand over the relevant papers to the CID for further investigations.

Meanwhile, Akshay Shinde’s autopsy was conducted this afternoon with a medical team comprising three doctors at the Sir J. J. Hospital in Mumbai and later taken back to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwe (Thane). An official said that after completing the relevant formalities, it would be handed over for the last rites to the family.

Earlier today, the Thane Police said that the Mumbai Police have registered an accidental death report after Akshay Shinde’s encounter killing in self-defence by the police escort team. The police have lodged a separate case against the deceased under the BNS and Arms Act for snatching an Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More’s service revolver and firing at him near the Mumbra Bypass Road on September 23 around 6 pm.

Akshay Shinde, 24, working as a sweeper since Aug. 1 with the Adarsh Vidya Prasarak Sanstha (AVPS)’s primary school, was charged with the alleged rape of two nursery girls aged 3 and 5 in the toilet on August 12 and 13, though it came to light only after Independence Day celebrations.

He was arrested on August 17, and as the matter erupted into the public domain, it led to a nationwide outrage, a massive 10-hour citizens’ protest in Badlapur and demands to hang him publicly, blockade of Central Railway trains and local roads, slogans against the government and demanding justice for the two minor victims. Rattled by the case fallout ahead of the Assembly elections, the MahaYuti government also initiated a series of remedial steps, including the suspension of 4 cops, sacking the AVPS Trustees, transferring the case to a fast-track court, and other strong measures to quell the public anger and blunt the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s fierce attacks.

–IANS

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India Emerges As Asia’s 3rd Most Powerful Nation

By
The Commune
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India Emerges As Asia's 3rd Most Powerful Nation, Hardeep Puri Credits PM Modi's Leadership For Ascent

The Sydney-based Lowy Institute has placed India as the third most powerful nation in its Asia Power Index 2024, just behind China and Japan. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri welcomed India’s ascent into the select league and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for propelling the nation to global superpower status.

Lauding the country’s rising prominence, Puri said, “India’s rise is no accident. This is the direct result of Prime Minister Modi’s aggressive diplomatic strategy and his bold ambitions to reshape India’s place in the world. Without his leadership, India would still be languishing behind, but today, we see a nation on the verge of superpower status.”

The latest Asia Power Index, released by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, said that India, being seen as a potential superpower for a long time, has finally started flexing its muscles on the regional stage. “India’s power in Asia is growing while that of China is plateauing despite its continued economic and military growth,” the report said.

The Lowy Institute report notes India’s significant gains in Economic Capability, Diplomatic Activity, and Future Resources, signalling a demographic dividend that could fuel its continued rise. Hardeep Puri said, “It’s PM Modi’s tireless effort on the world stage that has put India back on the map. He has transformed India’s nonalignment policy into a powerful tool for gaining leverage in global diplomacy.” He further stated, “While countries like China are ageing and facing a slowdown India, under PM Modi, has the resources and the leadership to take the throne as the new kingmaker of Asia.” “Those who question Modi’s impact on India’s rise need only look at the facts. India’s trajectory is up, and the world can no longer ignore it,” he added.

The senior BJP leader also took a shot at previous Congress governments and said, “The country was left rudderless by the previous government’s indecisive and directionless approach. They said the Indian economy will be third largest by 2043 and PM Modi is guaranteeing it will be so in his third term itself. The IMF has, in fact, recently forecast that India will be the third largest economy by 2027. Under their leadership, India would never have made it to the top three on any power index.”

–IANS

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I Am Not Guilty, Court Only Ordered Probe: Siddaramaiah

By
The Commune
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I Am Not Guilty, Court Only Ordered Probe: Siddaramaiah

Slamming the opposition for demanding his resignation, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that he is not guilty as the court has only ordered a probe into the controversial MUDA case.

“Kumaraswamy is on bail. Did anyone ask for his resignation? The court has only directed an inquiry into the MUDA case that does not mean that I am guilty,” said the Chief Minister while addressing a press conference at his home office ‘Krishna’ in Bengaluru. He added that the court has given the verdict under 17 (A) of the PC Act, adding that the matter has been handed over to the investigation. “Won’t moral standards apply to Kumaraswamy? He is with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. Why don’t you (media) ask him? At this stage only an inquiry has been ordered against me. Why do you ask for a resignation at this stage? We will tackle it politically as it is a conspiracy,” the Chief Minister said. He said that the development would be challenged politically and legally, adding that the court has totally rejected the demand of the petitioners under the BNSS Section 218.

He said that earlier, the Governor had rejected the petitioner’s demand of giving sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act. “I am not afraid of conspiracy of the BJP and JD-S. The people of Karnataka are with our party and they are with me. It’s not possible to dislodge our government through money power and Operation Lotus. They succeeded in 2008 and 2019. This time, the people of Karnataka have given us absolute majority to Congress. We have 136 MLAs on our side,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that the conspiracy was hatched at the national level and they succeeded in sending some Chief Ministers to jail. “It is not possible in Karnataka. People are standing with us like a rock. All party MLAs, MPs, MLCs, ministers and high command are with me,” said the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that BJP and JD-S are conspiring against the state government. “We won’t budge. All party leaders and the government stand with the Chief Minister. We won’t budge to any pressure,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Earlier, the Karnataka High Court while quashing Siddaramaiah’s petition said the beneficiaries in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case were not outsiders but the petitioner’s wife. The bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order upholding Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision. The order of the High Court stated, “The facts narrated in the petition would undoubtedly require an investigation. In the teeth of the fact that the beneficiary of all these acts is not anybody outside, but the wife of the petitioner (CM Siddaramaiah).”

The order stated, “The complaints were justified in registering the complaint or seeking approval at the hands of the Governor.” Social activists Pradeep Kumar SP, T.J. Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna had filed petitions against CM Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA land scam. They had claimed that Siddaramaiah had misused his office to create fraudulent documents over 3.17 acres of land near Mysuru city and got 14 sites allotted from the MUDA in the name of his wife.

–IANS

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