INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2023 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. 31 No 10 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • March 10, 2023 Australian PM arrives in India with 25 business leaders C a n b e r r a [Australia], March 8 (ANI): In a joyful interview with Nova 937 radio, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that as many as 25 business heads would accompany him to India as the country is a massive market. 25 leading business people are going, the CEO of Wesfarmers, Fortescue and the chair of BHP, Rio Tinto, they’re all on their way, he said in an interview with Nova 937. “Off to India. And 25 leading business people are going. The CEO of Wesfarmers from here, and Fortescue and the chair of BHP, Rio Tinto, they’re all on their way,” the Australian Prime Minister said in the interview. During the interview, he was asked if he would enjoy spicy food in India. To which the Prime Minister replied that the great thing about being an Australian is they eat all sorts of food. “We eat spicy food. I like hot food,” he added. He recalled the days when he spent six weeks backpacking around India in 1991. He shared how he stayed in cheaper places and caught trains and went hitching. India is friendly and India has a very different culture, he said. He also recalled his 2018 visit to India when he had arrived as a part of a parliamentary delegation. He said that the previous two experiences, 1991 and 2018, were different and this time also Wa s h i n g t o n [US], March 7 (ANI): The United States on Monday announced the expansion of premium processing of work authorization for certain categories of international students, which is likely to benefit a lot of Indian students who came to study in the US STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ statement. “US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I765, Application for Employment Authorization, and wish to request a premium processing upgrade,” the statement read. As per the official statement, the premium processing begins on March 6 and for some other categories, it would start on April 3. The online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, is now also available to F-1 students in these categories. USCIS continues to accept the latest paper version of this form by mail. “The availability of premium processing for certain F-1 students, in addition to the ease of online filing, will streamline the immigration experience for a great many international students,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. “The ongoing expansion of online filing is a priority for USCIS as we continue to create operational efficiencies and increase access to the immigration system for stakeholders, applicants, petitioners, requestors, and those we serve,” he added. P r e m i u m processing expansion for certain F-1 students will occur in phases, and students requesting premium processing should not file before these dates: “USCIS immigration requests throughout the adjudication process. There is no cost to set up a USCIS online account, which offers a variety of features, including the ability to communicate The Australian Prime Minister arrived in Ahmedabad, India on the evening of Wednesday where Albanese, along with PM Modi will watch day 1 of the final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad. According to an official release, the first in-person India–Australia Annual Summit will take place during Albanese’s visit. At the Annual Summit, leaders take stock of progress made on various initiatives under the India– Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The summit lays the way forward on new it would be different. “I don’t think I’ll be wandering around in Connaught Place in the middle of New Delhi, being harassed to buy stuff. I think it’ll be a little bit more protected,” he said jokingly. Regarding International Women’s Day, he named Penny Wong (Australian Foreign Minister) and Katy Gallagher (Australian Finance Minister) and other women in his cabinet and said that all of them are fantastic women. “Well, I’m taking Madeleine King (Minister for Resources of Australia) with me to India, as the Resources Minister, but it is so good that we have a Government that’s actually representative of the population,” he added. AUSTRALIAN PM SEE PAGE 6 US announces premium processing, new online-filing procedures for certain categories of international students Remember: “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.” KING SOLOMON with USCIS through a secure inbox and respond to Requests for Evidence online,” the statement read. “Applicants who previously filed a paper Form I-765 and wish to file Form I-907 online to request premium processing should reference the USCIS Account Access Notice they received for the Online Access Code and details on how to link their paper-filed cases to their online account, or there will not be able to file Form I-907 online and will need file a paper Form I-907 with the Chicago lockbox,” the statement read. “As previously announced, the expansion of premium processing is part of USCIS’ efforts to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall immigration system, and is being implemented in a phased approach,” the statement added. The addition of online filing for Form I-907 brings the total number of forms available for online filing to 16. The Forms Available to File Online page has links to file all of these forms. USCIS continues to accept the latest paper versions of all forms by mail. More than 1.8 million applications, petitions and requests were filed online in FY 2022, a 53 per cent increase from the 1.2 million filed in FY 2021. (ANI)
March 10, 2023 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Opportunistic time for US-India relations: US Commerce Secretary on her New Delhi visit Wa s h i n g t o n [US], March 7 (ANI): This is an optimistic time for India–US relations, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who is scheduled to travel to India this week, said on Monday (Local Time). Ahead of her visit to India, Raimondo said, “This is an optimistic time for US–India relations, and I am excited to visit India during such a special time of year, the celebration of Holi,” according to the statement released by the US Department of Commerce. “ T h r o u g h the CEO Forum, the Commercial Dialogue, and IPEF, we are making excellent progress in bringing our countries closer together by creating new markets for trade, expanding those that already exist, and reinforcing our shared commitment to democracy,” she added. Raimondo will visit India from today to March 10 on the invitation of Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles. During the visit, she will participate in the Indo-US Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum which will be held on March 10 2023. “During the visit, the US–India Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum will be held on March 10th, 2023, to discuss cooperation in various sectors that could unlock new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries,” according to the statement released by the US Department of Commerce. The Commercial Dialogue is a cooperative undertaking encompassing regular government-togovernment meetings to be held in conjunction with private sector meetings, with an aim to facilitate trade and maximize investment opportunities across a broad range of economic sectors. The last India–USA Commercial Dialogue was held in February 2019. Since then, due to the pandemic and other factors, it could not be held. It is proposed to re-launch the Commercial Dialogue with a strategic outlook focusing on supply chain resiliency & diversification and new emerging areas, after a gap of three years. Earlier, India– US CEO Forum was soft-launched by the Indian Commerce & Industry Minister and US Secretary of Commerce on 9th November 2022 via video conference for which identified key priorities were increasing supply chain resilience, enhancing energy security and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, advancing inclusive digital trade and facilitating post-pandemic economic recovery, especially for small businesses. (ANI)
FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2023 3
March 10, 2023 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK In Delhi, Quad reiterates support for expansion of UN Security Council New Delhi [India], March 3 (ANI): The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) on Friday reiterated its support for the UN Charter, including the expansion of permanent and non-permanent seats of the 15-member world body. The Quad Foreign Ministers carried out a comprehensive review of various issues, ranging from Indo-Pacific to ASEAN in a meeting presided by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Yoshimasa Hayashi and US State Department Secretary Antony Blinken attended the meeting held at the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2023 here today. Talking about the reforms in United Nations Security Council, the Quad foreign ministers said, “We concur that the rulesbased international order is anchored in international law, including the UN Charter, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of all states. We are committed to cooperating to address attempts to unilaterally subvert the UN and international system, in consultation with our partners and through multilateral and international platforms,” the statement read. “We reiterate our unwavering support for the UN Charter, including its three pillars, and our steadfast commitment to strengthening the UN and international system through a comprehensive reform agenda, including through expansion in permanent and non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council. In this regard, we commit to active and constructive engagement in the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) process on Security Council Reforms with an overall objective of making the UN Security Council more effective, representative, and credible,” it added. In September last year, a joint statement was issued following a meeting of Quad foreign ministers in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly committed towards expanding the UNSC. That meeting was attended by Penny Wong of Australia, S Jaishankar of India, Hayashi Yoshimasa of Japan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Meanwhile, the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue, from March 2-4, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and chief guest, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered the keynote speech. The meeting came a day after foreign ministers of the G20 countries met in Delhi under India’s presidency. Quad also reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific and strongly supported the peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to threats or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight. “Our meeting today reaffirms the Quad’s steadfast commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient. We strongly support the principles of freedom, rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to threat or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, all of which are essential to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” according to the statement released by Quad. These statements came against the backdrop of growing China’s assertiveness in the region. The conference, organised under the theme ‘Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?’, is witnessing the participation of representatives from over 100 countries. (ANI) Washington [US], March 7 (ANI): United States Republican Senator Chuck Grassley accused President Joe Biden‘s nominee for the country’s ambassador to India Eric Garcetti of being engaged in “blatant sexual misconduct” and urged members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday to vote against him. Taking to Twitter, Grassley said, “President Joe Biden‘s nomination Eric Garcetti to be ambassador to India is before foreign relations come this week I conducted a thorough investigation of the allegations against Garcetti irrespective of partisan politics.” “The evidence is clear that Jacobs (Garcetti’s deputy chief of staff) engaged in blatant sexual misconduct and racist behaviour for years. The evidence is clear that Mayor Garcetti either had direct knowledge of it or chose willful ignorance as a defence,” he added. The influential Republican senator urged the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote against the nomination of Eric Garcetti and said, “The facts and the evidence compel me to oppose the Garcetti nomination and I hope my colleagues will join me in doing the same.” In the previous Congress, Grassley was primarily responsible for Garcetti’s nomination not passing through the Senate as he placed a hold on it and then carried out his own investigations. In the first week of January, Garcetti was renominated as US envoy to India. White House Press Secretary reiterated that the Democrats will continue to seek the confirmation of Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was unanimously and bipartisanly voted out of committee, to serve as Ambassador to India. Last year, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed the nomination of Garcetti to be the US Ambassador to India. However, the nomination needed to be confirmed by a majority of the US Senate. Jean-Pierre also called the nomination of the Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as well-qualified and meritorious to serve in the role. “So we see this as he is well qualified, meritorious to serve in this vital role, and we’re hopeful that the full Senate will confirm him properly. Again, he was voted out of committee and unanimously with strong bipartisan support,” the White House Press Secretary said in a statement. (ANI) “Engaged in blatant sexual misconduct”: Republican Senator urges Senate to vote against Eric Garcetti
daughter and pilot injured in plane crashwhichUS to in he radioed New York [US], cabin, March 7 (ANI): An Indianorigin woman was killed, while her daughter and pilot were injured in Sunday’s (local time) fatal plane crash in North Lindenhurst, Hamlet on Long Island, New York, News 12 New Jersey reported citing Suffolk County police. The deceased woman was identified as 63year-old Roma Gupta and her daughter was 33-yearold Reeva Gupta. The news report further revealed that the Suffolk County police have identified the pilot as Fayzul Chowdhury, 23, who is admitted at Stony Brook University Hospital. Police said the small plane took off from Republic Airport in East Farmingdale with three persons including two women on board at 2:18 pm. According to the Suffolk police, it was a tourist flight and the flight path showed the singleengine Piper Cherokee plane that went over the South Shore beaches. The pilot reported smoke in the Republic Airport air traffic controllers, reported News 12 New Jersey. The police further added that the aircraft turned its back toward the airport to make an emergency landing before crashing near the intersection of Wellwood Avenue and Fifth Street in North Lindenhurst around 3 pm. The attorney for the plane’s owner said that the flight was purchased off Groupon by the mother and daughter from New Jersey. There were no injuries on the ground or damage to any homes. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and responded to the scene, according to News 12 New Jersey. Farmingdale State College aviation director Michael Canders says pilots are trained in emergency procedures like smoke in the cockpit or an engine fire. He says an emergency like that requires an immediate landing, but that as a plane is landing, it’s going slow and can stall causing a crash. INDIA THIS WEEK Washington [US], March 8 (ANI): Attorney Arun Subramanian became the first Indian American to become the Judge of the Manhattan Federal District Court of New York. Taking to Twitter, Senate Judiciary Committee said that Subramanian has been directly engaged in every aspect of civil litigation and has clerked at every level of the federal judiciary. “ A r u n Subramanian to the Southern District of New York. He’s been directly engaged in every aspect of civil litigation and has clerked at every level of the federal judiciary. He is also the first South Asian judge to serve on this bench,” Committe tweeted. Earlier, in September 2022, US PresidentJoe Biden announced the nomination of Subramanian for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. President Biden’s announcement brought the ❖ 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 E Mail: balagancpa@msn.com Website: www.balaganfinancials.com MARCH 10, 2023 5 Arun Subramanian becomes first Indian-American to lead Manhattan Federal District Court Now in Ashburn, VA Fax: (703) 723-1140; (301) 595-4332 FRIDAY count of announced federal judicial nominees to 143 as this is Biden’s twenty-sixth round of nominees for the judicial positions and his thirteenth slate of nominations in 2022, according to an official statement by the White House. Subramanian received his Juris Doctor (J.D) from Columbia Law School in 2004 and his BA from Case Western Reserve University in 2001, the statement added. He is a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York where he has worked since 2007. In his career, Arun has successfully redeemed over a billion dollars for public and private entities that were the victims of fraud and other illegal conduct. Moreover, Arun Subramanian served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court of the United States from 2006 to 2007, Judge Gerard E. Lynch on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2005 to 2006, and Judge Dennis Jacobs on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2004 to 2005, as per the official website of Susman Godfrey. The Indian-origin attorney has taken up the cause of public entities in False Claims Act cases, victims of trafficking in child pornography, consumers and individuals injured by unfair means. Notably, Arun also contributes to the legal community by taking on pro bono cases outside of the courtroom and has served for years on the pro bono panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the second circuit. Arun Subramanian currently serves as Chairperson of Susman Godfrey’s 2022 Pro Bono Committee and is also a longtime Director of the Columbia Law Review, one of the Nation’s pre-eminent legal journals, the official website of Susman Godfrey stated. (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
March 10, 2023 AUSTRALIAN PM FROM PAGE 1 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Australian PM arrives in India with 25 business leaders initiatives and enhanced cooperation in a diverse range of sectors between India and Australia. The Summit was first held virtually on June 4, 2020, the release said. The visit comes after a series of high-level engagements and an exchange of ministerial visits between the two sides in 2022 and in 2023. The last visit by an Australian PM (Malcolm Turnbull) to India was in 2017. Albanese on Wednesday participated in Holi celebrations along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the Governor of GujaratAcharya Devvrat at Raj Bhawan in state capital Gandhinagar. “Honoured to celebrate Holi in Ahmedabad, India. Holi’s message of renewal through the triumph of good over evil is an enduring reminder for all of us”, tweeted Australian PM Anthony Albanese with From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- February 10, 2023 Thanks be to God Janie Alford I do not thank Thee , Lord, That I have bread to eat while others starve; While empty hands solicit Heaven; Nor for a body strong While other bodies flatten beds of pain. No, not for these do I give thanks! But I am grateful, Lord, Because my meager loaf I may divide; For that my busy hands May move to meet another’s need; Because my doubled strength I may expend to steady one who faints. Yes for all these do I give thanks! For heart to share, desire to bear And will to lift, Flamed into one by deathless Love– Thanks be to God for this! Unspeakable His Gift! INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352, Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are 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 by the information provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online colourful pictures of Holi celebrations with flowers and colours. On Wednesday he visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accompanied the Australian PM on his visit to the Ashram. During the visit, Albanese took a complete tour of the Ashram. The Australian PM, upon his arrival in India, tweeted: “An incredible welcome to Ahmedabad, India. The beginning of an important trip for Australia-India relations.” Prior to Albanese’s arrival in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India eagerly awaits the arrival of the Australian Prime Minister. PM Modi said he looks forward to productive deliberations to further India-Australia bilateral relations.”India eagerly awaits your arrival! Looking forward to productive deliberations to further the India-Australia friendship. @AlboMP,” PM Modi tweeted on Wednesday. Taking to Twitter, Albanese said his trip demonstrates the commitment to deepen the links between the two countries, and to being a force for stability and growth in our region. IND vs AUS, 4th Test: PM Modi, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be at toss Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he and Prime Minister Modi will be at the toss for the fourth and final Test for the ongoing series between India and Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, at Ahmedabad on Thursday. PM Modi and his Australian counterpart will be in attendance on the Remember: opening day of the fourth Test on Thursday. In a radio interview with NOVA 93.7 Perth ahead of his ongoing visit to India, Albanese confirmed to the hosts, Nat Locke and Shaun Mcmanus, that he and PM Modi will be at the toss for the Ahmedabad Test. “There is a lot of pressure on because myself and Prime Minister Modi are tossing the coin,” read a transcript of Albanese’s radio interview on the PM’s official website. However, the Australian PM did not say if it will be him or PM Modi who will toss the coin. To a question by the host, Nat, on “how do two people toss one coin”, the Australian PM said, “I have no idea how it is going to work. But he is the home Prime Minister. So, I think he will be in charge.” Banners of Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart have gone up at the Narendra Modi stadium ahead of the final Test. Earlier, Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, told ANI that the Australian Prime Minister will watch Day-1 of the fourth Test of the ongoing BorderGavaskar series along with PM Modi on March 9. “One of the things that bind both countries is cricket and it will be great to see the leaders of India and Australia on day one of the matches in Ahmedabad,” the Australian High Commissioner said. India is currently leading the series 2-1. However, the hosts need to secure an outright victory in the final Test to qualify for the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Should they quality, India will be up against the same opponent in the battle for the coveted Test crown. The championship clash will be staged in London from June 7 onwards. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ” JESUS CHRIST
FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2023 7
March 10, 2023 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Meghalaya BJP chief accuses TMC, Cong of running anti-Christian propaganda against his party S h i l l o n g (Meghalaya) [India], March 6 (ANI): Meghalaya Bharatiya Janata Party president Ernest Mawrie on Monday accused the Trinamool Congress and Congress of running propaganda by framing his party as an anti-Christian party. Though the BJP managed to join hands with the single largest party, the National People’s Party (NPP), and become a helping hand in forming the government in Meghalaya despite getting two seats in the recently concluded Assembly polls, the party’s state unit chief accused its rivals behind the ‘unsatisfied’ election results. “The Congres, TMC had made propaganda against BJP that it is antiChristian party, who will ban beef in Meghalaya after being voted to power,” the BJP leader said. Stating that his party is not antiChristian, Mawri said, “In the NDA government under the leadership of in the previous assembly, also got five seats. BJP, People’s Democratic Front and Hill State People’s Democratic Party bagged two seats each. Voice of the People Party got four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates. Conrad Sangma will take the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for a consecutive second term on March 7. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Raj Bhawan in Shillong where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present. NPP chief Sangma PM Modi, nine years are about to complete but no anti-Christian instances happened.” “If any such incidents are happening in the country, then they are only in Congress-ruled states,” he added. In the recently concluded polls in Meghalaya, the National People’s Party (NPP) led by Conrad Sangma surprised its rivals by winning 26 seats. The party is poised to lead the second successive government in the state. Election was held on 59 seats in the state. United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 11 seats. Congress won five seats. Trinamool Congress, which had inducted all Congress MLAs on Friday submitted his resignation letter as chief minister of Meghalaya before Governor Phagu Chauhan and staked a claim to form the new government in the state. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India. Sunday thanked United Democratic Party (UDP) and People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for extending support for forming the government in Meghalaya. This comes hours after the two parties extended their support to NPP to form the government. Notably, with the support from UDP and PDF, the numbers have now gone up to 45. UDP won 11 seats in the Meghalaya assembly polls and PDF won two seats. Earlier, BJP (two seats), two MLAs of HSPDP and two Independent MLAs extended their support to NPP. While speaking to ANI, Ernest Mawrie also claimed that the BJP and NPP alliance will win both Lok Sabha seats of Meghalaya in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. By Ajit K Dubey | asked the formations to “discourage troops and their families from purchasing or using phones from countries hostile to India.” The forces issued the advisory as there have been cases where malware and spyware have allegedly been found in Chinese-origin mobile phones by agencies, the sources said. The spy agencies have asked the units and formations to “carry out the transition to other phones against the phones” mentioned in the list attached with the advisory. The Chinese mobile phones available in the commercial market in the country include Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi, One Plus, Honor, Real Me, ZTE, Gionee, ASUS and Infinix. The spy agencies have been very active against Chinese mobile phone applications also in the past as multiple such applications were deleted from military personnel’s phones. The defence forces have also stopped using Chinese mobile phones and applications on their devices. India and China have been engaged in a military standoff since March April 2020 and have deployed heavily against each other on the LAC in Eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. (ANI) Defence intelligence agencies raise alarm over threat from Chinese mobile phones, ask units to ensure troops’ families don’t use them New Delhi [India], March 6 (ANI): Amid the ongoing military standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control, defence intelligence agencies have issued a strong advisory to formations to ensure that the troops are not using Chinese mobile phones. “Formations and units are to sensitise their personnel through various forms and channels to exercise caution with such (Chinese) mobile phone devices,” the advisory issued by the defence intelligence agencies said. In the advisory accessed by ANI, the military spy agencies
FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2023 9 Sale Ends 3/30/2023 Lok Sabha Privilege Committee to hear BJP’s demand for action against Rahul Gandhi on March 10 By Payal Mehta | New Delhi [India], March 7 (ANI): The Lok Sabha Privilege Committee on March 10 will hear the Bharatiya Janta Party’s demand seeking a privilege motion against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for making a “misleading, derogatory, unparliamentary and incriminatory” statement during a discussion on the motion of thanks on President’s Address. BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey has been asked to appear before the Lok Sabha Privilege Committee on March 10, 2023. Earlier, the Jharkhand MP was sent a notice by the Privilege Committee regarding the meeting on March 14. The privilege panel chaired by Lok Sabha MP Sunil Singh will hear Dubey on the matter of seeking a privilege motion against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. “Committee of Privileges has decided to hear you in the matter of Notices of Question of breach of privilege dated February 7, 2023, given by Nishikant Dubey, MP and Pralhad Joshi, MP and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs against Rahul Gandhi, MP for making a misleading, derogatory, unparliamentary and incriminatory statement during a discussion on the motion of thanks on President’s Address in the House on 7 February 2023 and a further request for expunction of the impugned statements,” a communication sent to the Godda MP accessed by ANI reads. BJP MP Dubey on February 8, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker to move a breach of privilege motion notice against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, a day after his speech in Lok Sabha where he made certain allegations about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his association with industrialist Gautam Adani. A similar notice was also sent by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dubey had said, “These statements are misleading, derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary,undignified and incriminatory in nature to the dignity of the House and Prime Minister being a Member of Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi, despite making a statement in the House that he would provide documentary evidence has not submitted any duly authenticated document for supporting his statements.” Dubey further said the Congress MP had made a statement which amounts to misleading the House in the absence of documentary evidence besides being a reflection upon the Prime Minister. “This conduct is in clear violation of the privileges of the House and its members besides being a clear case of contempt of the House. I request you to take immediate action against Rahul Gandhi for breach of privilege and contempt of House,” the letter reads. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a strong attack on the government in the wake of the Hindenburg-Adani row linking the rise of the Adani group to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that “rules were changed” in some sectors to favour the businessman. Rahul Gandhi, who was the first opposition leader to speak during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, said the relationship with Gautam Adani began many years ago when Narendra Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister and added that “real magic” started after 2014 and the businessman rose from 609th to second spot globally in the rich list. “Relationships begin many years ago when Narendra Modi was Gujarat’s Chief Minister... one man stood shoulder to shoulder with PM Modi, he was loyal to the PM and helped Mr Modi construct the idea of a ‘Resurgent Gujarat’. The real magic began when PM Modi reached the national capital in 2014,” Rahul Gandhi said addressing the Lok Sabha. The BJP rejected Rahul Gandhi‘s allegations both inside and outside the House. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the allegations against the government were baseless and the whole ecosystem of Congress was based on twin pillars “of deal and commission”. (ANI)
Fleepit Digital © 2021