INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 12 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-917-4800; 301-445-0200 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • March 25, 2022 Aircel Maxis Case: Delhi Court grants regular 11 people charred to death bail to P Chidambaram, Karti in CBI-ED cases in fire in Telangana’s Secunderabad belonged to Bihar: Officials New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): A Delhi Court on Wednesday granted regular bail to former Union Minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti Chidambaram and others in Aircel Maxis case of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). Earlier, the former Finance Minister Chidambaram and his son, Karti, were granted anticipatory bail in the CBI and Enforcement Directorate case of Aircel Maxis. Special Judge MK Nagpal today granted regular bail in the matter and directed them to furnish a bail bond of Rs one lakh each with like amount surety. Earlier, the same court had taken cognizance of the charge sheets filed by probe agencies in the matter and summons against all accused including several firms. All the accused mentionedintheChargesheet of the CBI and the ED have to appear before the court on December 20, 2021. Both the agencies have mentioned several individuals and firms in the chargesheet. Sanjay Jain, who had earlier appeared for probe agencies, informed the court that agencies have sent LRs to different countries and there are some developments in that regard. The CBI had earlier also submitted that it is working on a new lead. Both agencies have filed the status report too in court earlier. Earlier, the court had directed the agencies to file a status report in the Aircel Maxis case involving P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram which was adjourned sine die. The court, while asking for reports from the agencies, said that the allegations mentioned in the chargesheet appeared to be “quite serious in nature.” Predecessor Judge OP Saini, while granted anticipatory bail, had observed that the entire evidence related to the commission of the crime by the two accused was documentary in nature and is not liable to be tampered with by both the accused. The case, which is being probed by the CBI and ED, relates to alleged irregularities in grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The FIPB approval was allegedly granted in 2006 when Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister. The CBI and the ED had alleged that Chidambaram, as Finance Minister, had granted approval to the deal beyond his capacity benefiting certain persons and received kickbacks. (ANI) Patna (Bihar) [India], March 23 (ANI): All the 11 people charred to death in the fire at a timber godown in Telangana‘s Secunderabad in the early hours of Wednesday belonged to Bihar, officials have found. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Katihar District Magistrate Udyan Mishra said, “Of the 11 bodies charred to death, 8 belonged to Chhapra and 3 to Katihar districts.” “In Katihar district, one belonged to Falka area and BIHAR SEE PAGE 6 ENDS MARCH 31 NX F SPORT RX F SPORT ES F SPORT AAP HAMESHA HUMARE GUEST LIST MEIN SAB SE PEHLE AATE HAIN. Aapka swagat hai to experience a higher level of hospitality and performance. Lekin jaldi kijiye—because while you’ll always be our guest, this event ends soon. ©2022 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. lexus.com | #Lexus
March 25, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK MP: Woman gang-raped, murdered inHe had taken the 3 held Shahdol, Shahdol (Madhya woman. Pradesh) [India], March 21 (ANI): Three people have been taken into custody in a case of alleged murder and gang rape of a 28-yearold woman in Shahdol Sohagpur police station area. The incident happened on Saturday evening. Additional Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Vaishya said, “The accused had an old acquaintance with the girl to Chhirsagar in his car on the pretext of a picnic. Two of his servants were also with the accused. The trio raped the girl and put her to death by giving poison.” The Additional SP further stated, “The accused have been identified as Abdul, Rajesh Singh More, and Vivek Jha and we have taken them into custody and are being interrogated.” After getting the woman admitted to the district medical college in Shahdol the accused escaped, Vaishya added. (ANI) Uttarkashi: Youth who went to take bath in Bhagirathi river after Holi celebrations goes missing, search operation underway Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], March 19 (ANI): A 23-yearold youth who had gone to take a bath in the Bhagirathi river went missing on Friday from the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. According to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Ajay Gusain (23) resident of Athali village in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi went to the river to take a bath with his friends after Holi celebrations. After receiving the information of the missing youth, the 12th Now in Ashburn, VA ❖ Accounting and Bookkeeping Service ❖ Audit, Review, Compilation and Attestation Service ❖ Tax Service ❖ IRS Service ❖ Web Hosting ❖ Business Consultancy ❖ Dedicated Service with Smiling Faces ❖ Experienced and Reliable Staff Year Round ❖ Rely on 24 Years of Experience Balagan Arumugaswamy, CPA, LL.M Tel: (301) 931-1040, (301) 931-1042 (301) 595-4331; (703) 723-4488; (703) 723-4458 Fax: (703) 723-1140; (301) 595-4332 E Mail: balagancpa@msn.com Website: www.balaganfinancials.com COVID-related relief measures have sunset date: RBI Governor M u m b a i (Maharashtra) [India], March 21 (ANI): All COVID-related liquidity relief measures extended by the central bank have come with a sunset date and would be withdrawn in due course, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Monday. Addressing an event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Das said, “any Battalion of the ITBP rescue team rushed to conduct a search operation. The ITBP team along with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) tried to locate the missing youth at the site deep down the river but no trace was found till late evening. The river depth at the rescue site where the youth went missing/drowned is approximately 25-30 feet, as per the ITBP. The search operation will continue till Saturday morning. (ANI) relief, RBI has given, has a sunset date, those reliefs were given in timeframe manner. It has an opening and closing date.” The RBI Governor said the central bank would come out with a mechanism to ensure that the liquidity measures are withdrawn smoothly. “We will ensure abundant liquidity to meet the requirements of the productive sectors of the economy. Rs 17 lakh crore liquidity support was provided,” Das said. Das said the RBI would continue to support the economic growth. “Indian economy is on growth path as many high frequency indicators of economic activity are in green. Our CAD (current account deficit) is low and our forex reserves quite high,” he said. (ANI) Tax Season is around the corner, are you ready ? Balagan Business & Tax Services Main Office: 12100 Franklin Street Beltsville, MD 20705 Branch Offices: 44335 Premier Plaza Suite#100, Ashburn, VA 20147
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March 25, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Kerala: Amid protests survey stones for rail project installed in Kozhikode Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], March 22 (ANI): Amid the protest against the SilveLine semi high-speed rail project, the survey stones were installed under police protection on Monday in Kozhikode district of Kerala. Earlier, Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan had said that BJP will not allow the state government to implement an anti-people project (rail project) by force. “What is going on in the name of SilverLine project displays atrocities against women. State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is behaving like a quiet monocrat,” said V Muraleedharan. The residents of Madampally near Changanassery in Kottayam started a protest on Friday after the officials of the K-Rail project came to demarcate land and to lay survey stones for the SilverLine project. Following this, workers of BJP and Congress reached the spot and started raising slogans against the Pinarayi Vijayanled LDF government. Entire Kerala is protesting against the SilverLine project. The project will adversely impact the environment because the state is an ecologically fragile place. The government did not carry out any geological or location surveys. The Railway Minister in Parliament had said that they had given in-principle approval for the draft proposal for the project and not for the construction. The state government acquiring the land without the approval of the Ministry of Railways,” said VD Satheesan, Leader of Opposition (LoP), Kerala Assembly. The Kerala government’s ambitious Silverline project, which is expected to reduce travel time from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod to around four hours, is being opposed by the opposition Congress-led UDF,whichhasbeenalleging that it was “unscientific and impractical” and will put a huge financial burden on the state. (ANI) Kannur (Kerala) [India], March 22 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the LDF government will implement the SilverLine project and assured that the state government would pay four times the prevailing market prices as compensation for acquiring land. CM Vijayan, who came to Kannur to inaugurate the CPIM Puthur local committee office, said, “The LDF government will implement the SilverLine project. There are attempts to mislead people.” He further said that the project is for the future generation. “Now, there is only one trip from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram. But after the SilverLine project is implemented, there would be innumerable trips,” he added. The CM also assured to pay four times the market price as compensation for the land acquisition. Vijayan said, “It is natural that people whose land is being acquired for the project will be disappointed. But I want to tell you that the government will pay four times the market price as compensation. We should not support such narrowminded politics.” People from across Kerala are protesting against laying the survey stones for the SilverLine project for the past couple of days. The first major protest happened in Kottayam’s Madampally on March 18. Meanwhile, the opposition leaders also boycotted the proceeding of the Kerala Assembly and protested against the SilverLine project following the stir by locals in Madampally. The 529km SilverLine railway project will link Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in north Kerala, covering 11 districts through 11 stations. The journey between two stations is expected to take four hours, whereas it currently takes 12 hours to reach from one end to another. (ANI) Kerala CM assures 4-time compensation for SilverLine project land acquisition
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March 25, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK New air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile would be able to strike targets at 800 kms: Sources By Ajit K Dubey New Delhi (India), March 13 (ANI): India is developing a new airlaunched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile which would be able to strike at enemy targets at more than 800 kilometers. The missile earlier had the capability of hitting targets at around 300 kilometers after being released from a Su-30MKI combat aircraft. “The range of the BrahMos missile has been increased already and with the advantage of being airborne at high altitudes, the missile can travel a longer distance and can hit targets at 800 kms and beyond,” sources told ANI. The BrahMos missile was recently in the limelight after one of it was misfired due to a technical malfunction from an Indian Air Force unit during a Command Air Staff Inspection (CASI) there. The missile landed in Pakistani territory causing very less damage to the property and equipment there and no damage to lives there. After the incident, 11 people charred to death in fire in Telangana’s Secunderabad belonged to Bihar: Officials BIHAR FROM PAGE 1 two to Kursela area. Earlier on Wednesday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the demise of those killed in the incident. “The incident is unfortunate. Telangana government has announced the required help for them and is giving the families of deceased Rs 5 lakhs while Bihar government will give Rs 2 lakhs along with paying the expenses in bringing the bodies of the deceased to the state,” Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said to reporters. President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday condoled the death of workers in a fire accident at a godown in Secunderabad, Telangana. “The death of workers in a fire accident at a godown in Secunderabad, Telangana is a tragedy beyond words. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery for the injured,” tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the 11 labourers who had lost their lives in the incident. PM Modi said his thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. “Pained by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire in Bhoiguda, Hyderabad. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased: PM @narendramodi,” tweeted Prime Minister’s office today. As per Gandhi Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Mohan Rao, out of the 12 people present at the scrap warehouse, one person survived. Rao further informed that although the reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained, “a short circuit could be the reason for the fire.” Informing about the incident, Hyderabad District Collector L Sharman told ANI, “The fire incident occurred around 4 am. A team of firefighters arrived immediately and doused the fire. 11 people have died and one had escaped safely from the premises.” Further, the District Collector said that details of the incident would be provided after investigation. (ANI) India sent a letter to the Pakistani authorities deeply regretting the incident and also issued a statement in this regard. Pakistan is trying to rake up the issue of the misfiring of the BrahMos and trying to question the safety of India’s missile arsenal at the international level but sources said the BrahMos was just a tactical missile. India has enhanced the range of the tactical missile recently and it can go beyond 500 kilometers with just an upgrade in its software. The Indian Air Force has equipped around 40 of its Su-30 combat aircraft with the BrahMos cruise missiles which can cause heavy destruction in enemy camps. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had brought these planes to the northern sector from their home base in Thanjavur during the peak of conflict with China. The IAF also operates a surface to the surface squadron of planes to carry out pin-point attack against enemy vital installations and bases. (ANI) Air Chief Marshal congratulates those involved in successful test- From thePoet’sPen INDIA THIS WEEK- March 25, 2022 INDIA THIS WEEK- DECEMBER 10, AuINDIA THIS WEEK- March 11 2022 2021 Liberty A Song: Lying is an Edward Thomas - 1878-1917 occupation The last light has gone out of the world, except This moonlight lying on the grass like frost Beyond theLaetitia Pilkington By brink of the tall elm’s shadow. It is as if everything else had slept 1708-1750 Many an age, unforgotten and lost The men that were, the things done, long ago, All Lying is anand but the moon and I I have thought; occupation, Live yet and here stand idle over the grave Used by all who mean to rise; Where all is buried. Both have liberty Politicians owe their station, To dream what we could do if we were free But to thing concerted lies. To do some well we had desired long, The moon and I. There’s none less free than who Does Thesenothing and has nothing else to do, to lovers give assistance, Being free only for what is not to his mind, TAnd nothing is to his mind. If every hour o ensnare the fair-one’s heart; Like the virgin’s best resistance Andthis one passing that I have spent among The wiser this commanding Yields to others when I have forgot art. To wonder whether I was free or not, Were piled before me, and not lost behind, Study this superiorthem away And I could take and carry science, I should be rich; in I had the power Would you riseor ifChurch or State; To wipe Bid to Tout everybold defiance, ruth a one and not again Regret, I should be rich to be so poor. ‘Tisyet I still am half in lovethe pain, And the practice of with great. With what is imperfect, with both tears and mirth, With things that have an end, with life and earth, And this moon that leaves me dark within the door. firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Wednesday congratulated all those involved in the successful test-firing of the surface-to-surface BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, said officials. He is currently in the island territory of Andaman and Nicobar to review operational preparedness, added officials. India today successfully test-fired surface-to-surface BrahMos supersonic cruise missile at Andaman and Nicobar on Wednesday. The extended range missile hit its target with pinpoint accuracy, said the defence officials. (ANI) INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-917-4800; 301-445-0200 301-445-3543; 301-685-1800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are solely those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor either by mail to the above address or by e-mail provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Asst. Editors: Special Business Correspondent Business Coordinators Special Correspondent: Community Coordinator: India Office Columnists: World Religions Photo Journalist: System Admn. & Maintenance: Layout & Graphics: Business Affairs: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Elisha B. Pulivarti Rajan C. 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March 25, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK 6 boys drown Mortal remains of Indian student in Kharasrota killed in Ukraine arrives in Bengaluru River in Odisha, 3 bodies recovered Jajpur (Odisha) [India], March 20 (ANI): Three bodies have been recovered out of the six boys who drowned in the Kharasrota river in Odisha’s Jajpur on Saturday. The search operation is being carried out by the Fire department and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF). “The locals had recovered one of the bodies before we arrived. We have rescued two others, three are still missing. The rescue operation has been halted due to low light. We will continue it from Sunday morning,” said Purna Chandra Marandi, District Assistant Fire Officer. According to locals, the boys went to the river for taking a bath after Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 21 (ANI): Mortal remains of Indian student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, who was killed in shelling in Ukraine’s Kharkiv on March 1 amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, arrived at Bengaluru airport here on Monday. Family members of the deceased medical student and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai were present at the airport, along with state government officials. The family members paid their last respects to the deceased followed by the Chief Minister, who laid a wreath playing Holi on Saturday. “As they were taking a bath in the river after playing Holi, they noticed that one of them is drowning in the river. So my nephew tried to rescue his friend. One by one all of them drowned in a bid to rescue others. At last my son went to rescue and he also drowned in the river,” said on the mortal remains. The flight carrying the mortal remains of Naveen landed at Bengaluru airport at around 3:00 am and have been sent to his native village in the Haveri district of Karnataka. “I thank the Central Government for making efforts on bringing back the mortal remains of Naveen Shekharappa Gyangoudar, who was killed in a shelling attack in Ukraine. It’s unfortunate that we lost him in the shelling,” CM Bommai said while addressing the press outside the airport. N a v e e n Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, an MBBS student, was a resident of Karnataka’s Haveri district. The 21year-old student of Kharkiv National Medical University was reportedly standing in a queue to buy food when he was killed in Russian shelling. The Karnataka chief minister has handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Naveen Shekharappa and promised a job for a family member. Earlier on Saturday, Shankarappa, father of Naveen said that the family members have decided to donate their son’s body for medical research. “My son wanted to achieve something in the medical field, that didn’t happen. At least his body can be used by other medical students for studies. That’s why, we at home, have decided to donate his body for medical research,” Naveen’s father said. (ANI)
FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2022 9 Congress slams Karnataka government’s ‘vested interest’ plans to introduce Bhagavad Gita in schools Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 19 (ANI): Days after the Karnataka government hailed Gujarat’s decision to introduce Bhagavad Gita in itsschoolsyllabus,Karnataka Congress slammed the move stating that new education policy was a cover to bring Hindutva policy in syllabus. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s government in Karnataka has hinted at similar plans, with the state education minister saying that the matter will be discussed with the chief minister and textbook committee members. S l a m m i n g the developments to introduce Bhagavad Gita in the curriculum of school education, Karnataka Congress leader and exUnion Minister, K Rahman Khan said, “Karnataka’s Education Minister had spoken on the lines of Gujarat that they’re going to introduce Bhagavad Gita Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 19 (ANI): Amid the Ukraine conflict, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata said many of its members are serving in the war-torn country in the call of duty. They have made this choice to remain with suffering people “Many of our sisters are there in Ukraine. They have made this choice to remain with suffering people. If we ran away saving our lives then who will be at their service,” Sister Mary Joseph, Superior General, Missionaries of Charity told ANI. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics followed by the announcement of a “special military operation” to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine. (ANI) Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 18 (ANI): Two people were killed and several others were injured after a clash erupted between two groups over applying Holi colours in Amethi’s Babupur village in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. “Two people died and 5 to 6 people got injured after a clash erupted between two groups over applying Holi colours in Babupur village of Amethi,” Amethi District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Mishra said. (ANI) Sisters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity serving in war-torn Ukraine Two killed as groups clash over applying Holi colours in UP’s Amethi in the syllabus. I believe that nothing is wrong if they prescribe a religious book in the syllabus, but I believe that India is a country of diversity with several religions.” “So, taking note of this, all religious books should be taught to students. However, I feel that BJP has a vested interest. Every religious book teaches ‘Dharma’. BJP can’t say it’s only Gita that teaches ‘Dharma’ and Indian culture. New Education Policy is a cover to bring Hindutva policy in syllabus, nothing else,” said K Rahman Khan. On March 17, Gujarat education minister Jitu Vaghani said that Bhagavad Gita will be introduced as a part of the school syllabus for class 6 to class 12 students in Gujarat from the academic year 2022-23. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly during a discussion on budgetary allocation for the education department, Vaghani had said that, “To include Indian culture and knowledge system in school education from the academic year 2022-23, In the first phase, values and principles contained in Bhagavad Gita are being introduced in schools from classes 6-12 as per understanding and interest of children.” Gujarat announced on Thursday that it would introduce the Bhagavad Gita from Class 6 and linked the move to the implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020. (ANI)
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