INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2024 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 33 No: 5 WASHINGTON DC • Phone: 301-445-0200 /301-445-3543/301-917-4800 • email: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday FEBRUARY 9, 2024 Sitharaman presents interim budget with focus on poor, women, youth, farmers; opposition says it lacks accountability, vision New Delhi [India], February 1 (ANI): The government presented the interim budget for 2024-2025 in Parliament on Thursday with focus on economic policies that foster growth, facilitate inclusive development, improve productivity, create opportunities for various sections while noting that it will pay utmost attention to eastern region including states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal to make them growth engines as part of goal to make India a developed country by 2047. No change was proposed in the tax rates in the interim budget with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing that the government will form a high-powered committee for an extensive consideration of the challenges arising from fast population and that it will present a white paper on the economic performance of 10 years of BJP-led government compared to previous 10 years of Congress-led UPA government. This was the last budget of the Modi government in its second term with Lok Sabha polls expected in April-May this year. Sitharaman, who presented her sixth budget in Lok Sabha, expressed confidence of BJP-led NDA coming to power again. “In the full budget in July, our Government will present a detailed roadmap for our pursuit of ‘Viksit Bharat’,” she said. In his remarks following the interim budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was “an inclusive and innovative budget.” “This budget carries the confidence of continuity. It will empower all pillars of developed India – the youth, the poor, women, and farmers,” he said. Sitharaman said in her speech that the government is focusing on welfare of the poor, women, youth and farmers. “As our Prime Minister firmly believes, we need to focus on four major castes. They are, ‘garib’ (poor), ‘mahilayen’ (women), ‘yuva’ (youth) and ‘annadata’ (farmer). Their needs, their aspirations, and their welfare are our highest priority. The country progresses, when they Indiana [US], February 7 (ANI): In the fifth such incident this year, 23-year-old Indian student Sameer Kamath was found dead in Warren County, Indiana in the United States. Kamath was a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at Purdue University. “Sameer Kamath, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, was found dead in Warren County, the mechanical engineering head Eckhard Groll announced to the ME community, Tuesday afternoon,” the newspaper of Purdue University, ‘The Exponent’ reported. It reported citing a press release from Warren County Coroner, Justin Brummett, Kamath (23) was found at about 5 pm (local time) on Monday at NICHES land trust, a nature preserve, at Crow’s Grove. The forensic autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon (local time) in Crawfordsville, the release stated. Kamath was from Massachusetts and received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He came to Purdue in the summer of 2021. He graduated from the department with a Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering, according to the summer commencement program. He was slated to graduate from the doctoral program at Purdue University in 2025, the paper stated citing his LinkedIn profile. Further investigation is underway in the case. The Warren County Coroner said that more information will be shared when more information is available. Notably, this is the fifth incident of Indian students found dead in the US, this year so far. Shreyas Reddy, who was a student at the Linder School of Business, was found dead in Cincinnati, Ohio last week. But, the cause of his death remains unknown. This was the third death of an Indian student within a span of a week. Prior to him, Vivek Saini and Neel Acharya were progress. All four require and receive government support in their quest to better their lives. Their empowerment and wellbeing will drive the country forward,” she said. Opposition parties slammed the budget with Congress leader P Chidambaram stating that the Finance Minister had not also found dead in the same week. Notably, Neel Acharya was also a student at the Purdue University. His body was found at the campus on January 30. Another Indian student Vivek Saini was brutally killed with repeated blows from a hammer by a homeless man inside a store in Lithonia, Georgia, US on January 29. Earlier on January 20, Akul Dhawan, an 18-year-old Indian-American student, was found dead near the University of Illinois. (ANI) Hyderabad [Telangana], February 7 (ANI): The wife of the Indian student who was allegedly brutally attacked in Chicago has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting his assistance in getting him medical aid. The student Syed Mazahir Ali pursuing a master’s degree in the US was attacked by three people in Chicago on Sunday, according to his wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi. She said that she received a call from her husband’s friend on February 4 in which she got to know about the attack on Ali. Razvi told ANI, “My husband, Mazahir Ali, went to Chicago. On the fourth of February, there was a deadly attack on him. He talked about unemployment and that fundamental flaw in the NDA’s approach to the economy and governance is that “it is biased in favour of the rich”. “It is a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich,” he alleged. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the interim budget lacked accountability and vision. In a major announcement, the Finance Minister said that the scheme of fifty-year interest-free loan for capital expenditure to states will be continued this year with total outlay of Rs 1.3 lakh crore. A provision of Rs 75,000 crore as a fifty-year interest-free loan is proposed this year to support the milestone-linked reforms BUDGET 2024 SEE PAGE 14 US: Indian student found dead in Wife of Indian Indiana; fifth such incident this year, student attacked in second from university Chicago seeks EAM Jaishankar’s help Remember: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you. ” – Jesus Christ was going home at around 1 am when three people got out of the car and attacked him. They also attacked them with a gun. My friend called me and I got to know at around 4 am that he was attacked. At around 6 am, I got a WhatsApp video which showed that he was bleeding heavily. After that, I couldn’t talk to him much.” “He is very injured. He has suffered injuries and mentally his health is not stable. The government has not given him any special medical treatment. I am appealing to the local government to help me so that he can have a medical and legal action. So that he can have medical help as INDIAN STUENT SEE PAGE 10
FEBRUARY 9, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK H Mart is expanding its Bakery & Café Franchising Business H Mart, a leading Asian American supermarket chain in the U.S., is looking for franchisers for ‘L’AMI’, a company which is a combination of a café and bakery, as well as ‘Ten Thousand’, the specialty coffee brand. � Bakery cafe ‘L’AMI’ is expanding its franchising business. L’AMI’ is a private brand that was founded by the merchandise department of H Mart in 2016. It has been specially established to expand its franchise business and is gaining attention for its high-quality confections, such as bread, pastries, and cakes. Unlike other brands, ‘L’AMI is a bakery & café that operates inside H Mart locations. One franchise owner can operate both an in-store and roadshop business. Currently, L’AMI operates in four H Mart stores: New York, Virginia, and Hawaii, with plans to open a new location in the food court of the Long Island City and the upcoming Urbana, Illinois H Mart location. You can contact us about inquiries regarding becoming a tenant to (franchise@cafelami.com). � Instagrammable Global Specialty Coffee Brand ‘Ten Thousand’ ‘Ten Thousand’ was initially founded in Sydney in July 2020 and began operating its business in the United States, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It is currently expanding into a global coffee brand, including to markets in Hong Kong and Japan. What sets their coffee apart is the use of high-quality coffee beans selected by baristas and QGraders to create signature drinks such as Hand-Drip coffee, Einspanner, and Espresso Cream Latte, targeting young customers. Grand BK has concluded a contract and successfully opened the first store in New York Times Square and Broadway. It is currently operating three stores in Manhattan, New York You can contact us about inquiries regarding franchising this business in the United States to (franchise@10000coffeeus.com).
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FEBRUARY 9, 2024 Friday Madhya Pradesh: Three arrested in connection with Harda’s firecracker factory fire incident Harda (Madhya Pradesh) [India], February 7 (ANI): Three persons have been arrested in connection with Harda‘s firecracker factory fire incident, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people and left 173 injured, an official said. A massive fire broke out inside a firecracker factory located in the Bairagarh area of Harda district on Tuesday morning. Due to the massive explosion, the entire area was engulfed in black smoke, with window panes of houses and shops located in the vicinity getting shattered. Dozens of houses located nearby were gutted in the incident that took place. Locals recounted that it felt as if an earthquake had hit Harda. Several vehicles were also caught fire in the explosions. I n s p e c t o r General of Police (IG), Narmadapuram Zone, Irshad wali, told ANI, “There are three accused in the matter against whom the case has been registered under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 34 (common intention) and relevant sections of Explosive act. All of them have been arrested and they were produced before the court.” He further said the debris removal work was almost completed but the administration would conduct the operations repeatedly for two-three more times to avoid any kind of doubt. “As of now, the debris removal work has been almost completed but we will conduct the operation repeatedly for two-three more times so that there should not be any kind of doubt. The missing persons are continuously being monitored and helpline numbers are active. Help desk teams are present at the police station, hospital and incident site. If any person has to report for the missing persons then one can visit these places,” the officer said. From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- January 19, 2024 The Past By Ralph Waldo Emerson The debt is paid, The verdict said, The Furies laid, The plague is stayed, All fortunes made; Turn the key and bolt the door, Sweet is death forevermore. Nor haughty hope, nor swart chagrin, Nor murdering hate, can enter in. All is now secure and fast; Not the gods can shake the Past; Flies-to the adamantine door Bolted down forevermore. None can re-enter there,— No thief so politic, No Satan with a royal trick Steal in by window, chink, or hole, To bind or unbind, add what lacked, Insert a leaf, or forge a name, New-face or finish what is packed, Alter or mend eternal Fact. INDIA THIS WEEK AAP presents ‘proof’ of ballot paper tampering by BJP in Chandigarh mayor elections New Delhi [India], February 6 (ANI): Following the Supreme Court‘s criticism of the municipal poll officer for “defacing” the ballot paper in the Chandigarh Mayor polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) presented CCTV footage on Monday, claiming that the BJP Presiding officer openly destroyed and invalidated votes. Sharing the CCTV footage as ‘proof’ of the ballot paper tampering by the civic poll officer, the Aam Aadmi Party, in a post on X, wrote, “Now accept it, BJP. What can be a greater proof than this? See how the Presiding Officer of BJP openly destroyed the flag of democracy by cancelling the votes himself. This is a living proof of BJP‘s dictatorship.” Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court slammed the civic poll officer who held the Chandigarh Mayor elections and said that it is obvious that the returning officer has “defaced” the ballot papers. “Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. We are appalled. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the Returning Officer?” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said. The apex court further ordered the preservation of an entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders on February 2 staged a protest in Delhi against the BJP over the Chandigarh mayoral elections. During the protest, CM Kejriwal said, “BJP messes up in elections; there were often allegations that BJP wins elections by messing up; BJP steals election votes, tampers with EVMs gets names removed from the voter list, and adds fake names, we heard. We used to hear that fake votes were cast 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 but never found any proof. There is a verse written in the Gita, Yada Yada hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavati Bharata: whenever too much sin is committed on this earth, then the God above will come to the earth.” “This election in Chandigarh shows that they are the pot of sin. How did it get filled? When the pot of sin gets filled too much, then nature moves its broom, and God moves its broom and corrects things. The Chandigarh election was a small one. The world’s biggest party was caught stealing votes in the Chandigarh elections; it was caught red-handed.” he added. (ANI) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Tuesday that officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) found nothing in the raids conducted at the residence of his party’s Rajya Sabha MP, ND Gupta, in connection with a money laundering probe. In a post on X, CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “The ED people also left the place of our party treasurer ND Gupta. Nothing was found there either.” On Tuesday, the ED conducted searches at nearly 10 locations, including the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary, among others connected to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of its money laundering probe. Meanwhile, the ED is considering taking legal action against Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi following allegations that the central agency deleted audio clips during an investigation into money laundering. According to sources, the ED officials termed the allegations of deleting audio clips completely false and malicious. “AAP leader dated February 6, has raised false, baseless and malicious allegations against the Directorate of Enforcement. Allegations levelled against ED regarding the deletion of CCTV footage of certain accused persons are completely false and malicious,” officials said. Officials pointed out that no audio recording was deleted by the agency sleuths, and the allegations were just to discredit the evidence against their misdeeds. Earlier, Atishi called a press conference to “expose ED” and said, “For the last 2 years, AAP leaders have been threatened. In the name of this so-called liquor scam, someone’s house is raided, gets summoned, and is arrested. Even after hundreds of raids in two years, ED has not been able to recover even a single rupee.” Delhi CM Kejriwal claims ED found nothing in raids on AAP MP’s residence Remember: “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
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FEBRUARY 9, 2024 INDIA THIS WEEK Friday “A Muslim can adopt child without making declaration under Shariat Act,” says Delhi Court New Delhi [India], February 4 (ANI): The Delhi Court, while dismissing a partition suit, has held that any individual belonging to the Muslim community can adopt a child without making a declaration under the Shariat Act. As per the ruling, any such adoption shall be governed by the general law and not by the Muslim Personal Law. The said child would become the legitimate child of his adoptive parents, the court said. `The court was hearing a partition suit filed by the brother of a deceased Muslim man, namely Zamir Ahmed, seeking share in his property, leaving onefourth share for the widow of Zamir Ahmed as the couple had no son. However, Zamir Ahmed and his wife Gulzaro Begam had adopted a son, namely Abdul Samad alias Sameer, without making any declaration under the Muslim Personal Law. Additional Sessions Judge (ADJ) Parveen Singh held that even under the prevalent law of the land, notwithstanding the Shariat, a Muslim who has not filed a declaration under section 3 of Shariat Act, can adopt a child and the said child would become a legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities that are attached to a relationship. “Applying this principle to the facts of the present case, I find that there is no evidence or even an assertion that deceased Zamir Ahmed had filed any declaration under section 3 of the Shariat Act,” ADJ Parveen Singh said in judgement dated February 3, 2024. ADJ Singh held, “Therefore, deceased Zamir Ahmed had elected not to be governed by Muslim Personal Law on the subject of adoption and thus, if he had adopted a child as claimed by defendant no. 1 (Gulzaro Begam), the said adoption shall be governed by general law of the land.” While passing the judgement, the additional district judge Singh also discussed the previous judgement passed by the Supreme Court. The court said that a Muslim who has not filed any declaration under section 3 of the Shariat Act, shall not be governed by Muslim Personal Law/ Shariat on the subjects of adoption, wills and legacies. “Thus in the case of such a person, Muslim Personal Law cannot be applied on these subjects. That being the case, these judgments shall only be applicable to the case of Muslims who has filed a declaration under section 3 of the Shariat Act,” the court said. A partition suit was filed by Iqbal Ahmed, brother of Zamir Ahmed seeking a decree in accordance with Muslim Law. The widow of Zamir Ahmed and his other brothers and sisters were made defendants in the suit. It was claimed in the suit that deceased Zamir Ahmed expired issueless on July 3, 2008. The suit said that being a Muslim, the inheritance of the property of the late Zamir Ahmed, is to be governed by Shariat/ Muslim law. The plaintiff had claimed that widow of Zamir Ahmed, was entitled to 1/4 th share i.e. 25 per cent share in the properties left behind by him, three sisters of Zamir Ahmed, were entitled to 15 per cent share in the properties left behind by late Zamir Ahmed and remaining 60 per cent devolved upon plaintiff and other five brothers of late Zamir Ahmed. During the hearing, the court found that the deceased Zamir Ahmed is survived by his widow and a son, his inheritance has accordingly to be decided in this light. As per Mulsim Law of Inheritance, there are three classes of legal heirs: (1) sharers, (2) residuary and (3) distant kindred. The court noted that of the 12 Quranic sharers, only the widow of the deceased is surviving. The claim of the plaintiff and defendants brothers and sisters was, that as deceased Zamir Ahmed had no son, his widow i.e. defendant no. 1 is entitled to 1/4th share in the estate of Zamir Ahmed and, they being the brothers and sisters of the deceased would have residue of 3/4th where the brothers of the deceased would be getting double the share of the sisters. The court rejected the claim that said that the plaintiff and the defendants could only have inherited from the estate of deceased Zamir Ahmed had there been no son to claim the residuary share. The court said that It has been held that deceased Zamir Ahmed had an adopted son and the said son has been found to be having the same status as that of a biological son and having all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to that relationship; for the purposes of inheritance, the said son has to be considered as a son. “The son being a residuary excludes the brothers and sisters of deceased Zamir Ahmed. This being the case, I am of the considered opinion that plaintiff and defendants brothers and sisters are not entitled to the partition as prayed for. Issue is accordingly decided,” ADJ Singh said in the judgement. (ANI)
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2024 PT Usha honoured with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by SJFI, DSJA New Delhi [India], February 4 (ANI): Legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha on Sunday was conferred with the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award by Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) and Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) at the National Sports Club of India in New Delhi. To honour her stellar sporting career, Usha was presented with a medallion, a citation and a memento on the occasion. The ceremony was graced by Guest of Honours Rajeev Shukla, Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha and Vice President, BCCI and former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana. PT Usha is the fifth recipient of the SJFI and DSJA ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award after tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, former badminton icon Prakash Padukone, India’s legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and former sprinter Milkha Singh. Usha, throughout her memorable career between 1977 and 2000, won 103 international medals for India. She also claimed four Gold Medals and seven Silver medals in Asian Games, and competed across three editions of the Olympics. Speaking at the event, Usha said, “I am grateful that my career achievements are being remembered till today. During my time, we did not have all the facilities that are available with athletes in today’s age – overseas training, nutrition, sports psychologist, and sports science among others. Now that I am working at IOA, our effort is to focus on the Paris Olympics. After that we will shift our attention to fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a sporting power by 2036.” Rajeev Shukla, Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha said, “PT Usha deserves the honour 9 Sale Ends 2/28/2024 presented to her. She is an icon and a guiding spirit for the sportspersons in the country. Now she has been given a difficult task of administering the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and we are confident she will be able to navigate through these waters effectively.” Former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana added: “Sportsperson(s) feel happy when they are awarded. But to present an award of this stature to an athlete you have always looked up to, is a different honour. I am grateful to be given this opportunity today. PT Usha has been an idol to many sportsperson(s) across the world. I am proud that someone as strong as her will now be the head of IOA and with her guidance and support, we will crack many battles.” After the award ceremony, Abhishek Tripathi, President, Executive Committee DSJA, expressed his vote of thanks to PT Usha and the Guest of Honours.(ANI)
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