India

Nashik, Feb 20 (IANS) The Nashik district court on Thursday sentenced Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate to two years in prison and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each in a case of embezzling flats provided under the Chief Minister's quota by using fake documents during 1995 and 1997.

However, two hours after its verdict, the Nashik District Court granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 15,000 to Agriculture Kokate.

The court has also granted him 30 days to appeal in the Sessions Court. Kokate has indicated that he would approach the Bombay High Court against Nashik District Court’s verdict. He was elected by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP from the Sinnar Assembly segment situated in Nashik district.

Earlier, the Nashik District Court in its verdict sentenced Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate to two years in prison and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each in a case of embezzling flats provided under the Chief Minister's quota by using fake documents during 1995 and 1997. The petition was filed by former minister Tukaram Dighole and the hearing in this case was going on in the Nashik District Court for the past several years.

The petitioner had argued that a flat is provided to a person with a low income from the government from the Chief Minister's quota at a reduced rate. For this, the person concerned has to submit an affidavit and necessary documents stating that he does not have a flat anywhere in his name.

However, Manikrao Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate obtained two flats from the Chief Minister's quota in the Nirman View Apartment in the Canada Corner area of Nashik City by allegedly submitting fake documents during 1995 and 1997. Not only this but the other two flats in this building, which were obtained by others, were also being used by the Kokate brothers.

The then Additional District Collector had investigated and registered a case at the Sarkarwada police station under IPC 420, 465, 471, 47 against Manikrao Kokate, his brother Sunil Kokate and two others total for defrauding the government by obtaining flats on the basis of fake documents.

The hearing of this case was completed on Thursday in the Nashik district court. The government prosecutor, Advocate Poonam Ghodke argued in the court on behalf of the government. Two other accused in the case have been acquitted by the court for want of evidence. The investigation revealed that the flats of the concerned people were also being used by the Kokate brothers.

The verdict had put Kokate's legislatorship and ministerial post in jeopardy. He would have faced a disqualification as under the stipulated norms if the public representative is sentenced to two or more years he or and may lose the legislatorship and also the ministerial post.

The assembly Apeaker’s role is crucial in taking decision on Kokate’s disqualification based on the district court’s order. However, Kokate has received a sigh of relief after the district court granted him bail.

However, Congress has demanded Kokate’s resignation. The Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should immediately take Kokate’s resignation.

“Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, who called farmers beggars, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison by the court. The Chief Minister should take his resignation. There are so many industrious and bright people in the cabinet of the Grand Alliance government that the government is cutting a sorry figure every day. Allegations are being made, and sentences are being given by the courts. The Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers are themselves giving clean chits to the accused ministers while supporting them," he said.

The state unit president Harshvardhan Sapkal also demanded that corrupt ministers like Manikrao Kokate be dismissed from the cabinet. He has also sought the dismissal of former agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde, who is currently the minister of food and civil supply, for allegedly committing corruption during his stint as the agriculture minister.

“The BJP-led coalition government has become a gang of corrupt ministers. It has been revealed that former Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde has crossed all limits while committing corruption in the name of farmers. Now the Nashik District Court has sentenced Manikrao Kokate to two years in prison for cheating by preparing fake documents. Both of them should be dismissed from the cabinet,” said Sapkal.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Feb 20 (IANS) The Odisha Higher Education Department on Thursday asked KIIT University founder Achyut Samanta to appear before the High Level Committee on February 21 for enquiry into the alleged suicide of the female Nepali student and subsequent mistreatment meted out against students by the authorities of the University.

He has also been asked to all the necessary produce documents related to the incident.

“I am directed to intimate that the High Level Committee has decided to conduct an enquiry into the alleged suicide of a student and subsequent actions taken by the authorities of the University. Hence, you are requested to appear before the High-Level Committee on 21.02.2025 at 6.30 p.m. at Mini Conference Hall, New Annexe Building, State Guest House, Bhubaneswar and to adduce evidence with adequate documentary evidence before the Committee,” reads the official communication by the HE department.

Notably, the Odisha government on Tuesday constituted the high-level fact-finding committee to enquire into the alleged death of Prakriti Lamsal and ill-treatment meted out to students from Nepal by the authorities of the KIIT Deemed University in Bhubaneswar.

The committee comprises Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Principal Secretary, Women & Child Development Department and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Higher Education Department as Members.

The Committee on Wednesday visited the University campus and had detailed discussions with the students of Nepal who are there in the Hostel, as well as the authorities of the University.

The Committee also visited various places of the campus related to the incident.

Notably, the deceased Prakriti, a third-year BTech (Computer Science) student of the KIIT University ended her life on Sunday following continued harassment by her estranged boyfriend Advik Shrivastava, a student of B.Tech (Mechanical).

After the news of her death came to fore, the students staged a protest demanding justice for the deceased.

This irked the University authorities who asked all the Nepali to leave the University campus immediately.

The authorities of the private university even forcefully evicted the students from the campus and also allegedly assaulted them on Monday.

The university after drawing flak from all the corners later issued an apology letter over the incident and urged the students to return to the campus. Two senior hostel officials and one senior administrative officer of the International Relations Office have also been suspended pending enquiry.

Meanwhile, expressing deep condolences to the family members of Prakriti, the founder of KIIT University Achyut Samanta had declared the special scholarship for Nepali students in the name of Prakriti.

“Prof. Achyuta Samanta met her father and uncle and assured them that Prakriti’s dreams will live on. To honour her memory, and in accordance with her father’s wish, KIIT will introduce a special scholarship for Nepali students in her name. This initiative will ensure that many more talented students like Prakriti have the opportunity to pursue their education without hurdles,” informed the KIIT administration on its X handle on Thursday.

--IANS

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Patna, Feb 20 (IANS) Congress National Women's President Alka Lamba launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday, claiming that the NDA government in Bihar will be overthrown in the upcoming 2025 Assembly elections.

Lamba, who arrived in Patna to a grand welcome by Congress workers, asserted that Nitish Kumar will not be the next Chief Minister of Bihar.

Alka Lamba announced that she would hold a Bihar State Women's Congress Executive Meeting on Friday, where a detailed strategy for the 2025 elections would be prepared.

She emphasised that Congress is fully committed to strengthening its base in Bihar and will launch an aggressive campaign across the state.

"I will visit every district and every Lok Sabha constituency in the next few days and we will do whatever it takes to overthrow this government. We would strengthen the position in Bihar especially among women and will strategise a complete plan for the 2025 elections,” Lamba said.

Lamba accuses the Nitish Kumar government of failing to deliver on promises made to women in the state.

She claimed that the NDA government in Bihar has done nothing for women's welfare, stating: "They make promises but do nothing. We will do everything for women."

She dismissed the NDA’s target of winning 225 seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, drawing a parallel with the NDA’s failure to reach its 400-seat goal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections: "Last time, Nitish Kumar’s party finished third in Bihar. The same will happen again. NDA would struggle here."

Alka Lamba endorsed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s women’s welfare scheme, stating: “If Tejashwi Yadav is promising the Mahila Samman Yojana in Bihar, we fully support him as a coalition partner. Our government will come, and we will provide every facility to women."

Lamba also congratulated Rekha Gupta, the new Delhi Chief Minister, but warned that her tenure might not be smooth: "The path of Chief Minister is not easy in Delhi. History shows that Madanlal Khurana, Saheb Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj couldn’t complete their terms. Sheila Dikshit lost power due to the Nirbhaya case. If anything happens in Delhi regarding women’s safety, I will personally take a stand against her."

Alka Lamba threatened to stage a massive protest if the Women’s Reservation Bill is not implemented in the upcoming Budget Session: "If the government does not implement it, the National Women Congress will surround the Parliament on this issue."

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The debate surrounding foreign influence on elections in India has drawn attention to the role of USAID funding, particularly its link to NGOs and media outlets with alleged ties to political agendas in the country. According to various sources, the funding patterns and its apparent shift during different governmental tenures have raised questions about the external and direct impact on politics in India.

Referring to data, sources say under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004 to 2013, USAID funding to the government of India totalled $204.28 million.

“During this period, NGOs received a significantly larger share, amounting to $2,114.96 million,” sources added.

This funding came ostensibly to support various initiatives aimed at democratic development, education, health, and governance. However, many political quarters including BJP view the purpose of the funding as nothing but to influence the election in the country.

Sources share that funding pattern saw a stark shift after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power in 2014.

By 2015, the Indian government's share of funding had drastically reduced to just $1.51 million. In contrast, NGO funding surged, with the amount reaching $2,579.73 million.

This shift in funding focus has been cited by critics as indicative of a growing external influence on India's civil society organisations and their role in shaping political discourse.

One significant spike in USAID's funding occurred in 2022, particularly in the "Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance" sectors.

This coincided with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's high-profile Bharat Jodo Yatra, a political movement that sought to challenge the ruling BJP government and connect with “disillusioned” voters across India, sources said.

According to sources, the timing of this funding increase suggests that foreign-backed entities may have been indirectly involved in promoting narratives critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

Although USAID officially ceased funding the Indian government after 2015, their influence continues to be felt through key NGOs that have received substantial financial support, sources added.

Organisations and entities such as Catholic Relief Services, which received $218 million, and CARE International, which was allocated $208 million, are some of the largest recipients.

These NGOs have been linked to various advocacy and political campaigns in India. The Open Society Foundations (OSF), with a reported $47 million, has also been noted for its involvement in publishing reports critical of PM Modi-led administration.

In addition to funding, another area of concern has been the media’s role in shaping political narratives.

Organisations like InterNews, which received USAID support, have reportedly trained Indian journalists through programmes backed by USAID, say sources.

"These initiatives aimed to influence media coverage, particularly around critical issues that could impact the political narrative in the country. Reports suggest that these trained journalists have played a role in amplifying narratives that challenge the current government's policies.

“There was a systematic attempt to influence the 2024 general election to ensure alternate outcome. This is just a small slice of the larger conspiracy,” says BJP leader Amit Malviya.

The relationship between USAID, NGOs, and Indian political narratives has drawn sharp criticism from political factions, particularly from the BJP.

Critics argue that foreign-backed organisations are trying to sway public opinion and influence the electoral process by funding specific groups and media outlets that align with their objectives.

The growing narrative on caste issues, particularly the push for a caste census, has been cited as an example of how external funding and media support may be shaping public debates. These interventions are viewed as part of broader international efforts to meddle in India's sovereign political processes.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was sworn in on Thursday and held her first Cabinet meeting in the evening, has allocated portfolios to her cabinet ministers.

Gupta, who is Delhi's fourth woman Chief Minister, has retained Finance, Planning, General Administration, Services, Revenue, Women and Child Development, Land and Building, Information and Public Relations, Vigilance, Planning and other departments which are not allocated to any other minister.

Pravesh Verma has been given charge of the Public Works Department, Legislative Affairs, Water, Irrigation & Flood Control, and Gurdwara Elections.

Kapil Mishra has been appointed as the new Minister of Law and Justice and will also hold charge of Labour, Tourism, Art and Culture.

Ashish Sood has been assigned the portfolios of Home, Power, Urban Development, Education and Higher Education and Training, and Technical Education departments.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa has been made in charge of Food and Supplies along with the Forest and Environment portfolio, while Pankaj Kumar Singh will oversee Health and Family Welfare, as well as Transport.

Ravinder Singh Indraj will be the Minister of Social Welfare, SC and ST Welfare, Cooperative, and Elections.

The first Cabinet meeting of the new Delhi government approved a 100-day plan, decided to clean the Yamuna and develop the riverfront, gave a nod to table pending CAG reports in the Assembly and gave its approval for the introduction of Central-government funded Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) that offers a health cover to each family.

Gupta warned that her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal will have to face scrutiny for "every penny" misappropriated by his government as the Cabinet paved the way for exposing corruption in the previous AAP government.

She also declared that she would not move into the Chief Minister’s present residence.

A roadmap for launching the Mahila Samman scheme of offering Rs 2,500 per month to women was also approved.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Feb 20 (IANS) Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed his disappointment in the House on Thursday over the improper use of iPads installed on the desks of all MLAs.

Despite repeated instructions, he noted, that many legislators were not utilising the devices as intended.

He observed that some MLAs were using the iPads as mere stands, while others had placed papers on them, causing damage. He urged the members to recognise these as valuable digital tools rather than ordinary objects.

"These are not stands, they are technical devices meant for digital use," he emphasised.

Calling MLAs to use iPads responsibly, like personal belongings, he reminded them to follow the training guidelines for using the iPads.

He also instructed them not to lock the device, not to connect mobile phones to them and not to use them as a stand.

"These are delicate and expensive items, installed with great effort at a cost of Rs 16 to 17 crore. Treat them as you would your personal belongings at home," he urged.

Further, the Speaker, also announced that for the first time in the history of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, a 20-hour debate has been scheduled for the general discussion on the 2025-26 income-expenditure estimates.

Previously, debates lasted three days with a government response on the fourth day.

However, based on the initiative of the Speaker and recommendations from the Working Advisory Committee, the debate will now span four days, with the government's response on the fifth day.

Devnani highlighted that this change was made considering requests from MLAs of the 16th Legislative Assembly, allowing a larger number of members to participate in the discussion.

"This new tradition will give more MLAs a chance to express their views and contribute to meaningful discussions," he stated.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 20 (IANS) The Border Security Force (BSF) claims to have arrested a smuggler with 12 gold biscuits hidden inside his rectum along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.

The biscuits weighed 1.406 kg and are valued at over Rs 1.24 crore, the BSF claimed.

"Troops of the 143 Bn BSF, deployed at the Bithari Border Outpost, acted on a specific intelligence input regarding an attempt to smuggle gold from Bangladesh to India and started searching people moving close to the IBB. Around 5.45 pm on Wednesday, they stopped a man and moved a handheld metal detector across his body. A distinct beep was detected, though there was no metal in his clothing or exterior part of his body. The BSF personnel then escorted him to the Bithari BOP for interrogation. Initially, he feigned ignorance, but on being questioned repeatedly, he broke down and confessed that he had gold biscuits hidden up his anal cavity," said N K Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF.

The man was immediately shifted to the nearest government hospital at Sarapul where he underwent an X-ray. The frames clearly indicated the presence of a foreign substance inside his rectum. Doctors got into the act and removed a condom from there with 12 gold biscuits inside, he said.

"The value of the gold is estimated to be Rs 1,24,63,424. The arrested smuggler has been handed over to the concerned department along with the seized gold biscuits for further legal proceedings. This is the third major gold seizure by our alert troops of the South Bengal Frontier in less than a week. Since February 14, they have seized gold worth more than Rs 5 crore. The BSF is fully committed to stopping smuggling and other illegal activities along the border. With the help of its strong intelligence network, vigilant jawans and modern equipment, no matter how many new methods the smugglers adopt, the BSF is always there to foil their every move," the DIG added.

He urged border residents to help maintain peace along the IBB by providing information related to gold smuggling to the BSF's Seema Sathi helpline number 14419 or through a WhatsApp or voice message on 9903472227. Those providing concrete information will be suitably rewarded and their identities will not be revealed, he said.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 20 (IANS) A BJP woman legislator on Thursday raised the demand for separate statehood for North Bengal on the floor of the West Bengal Assembly.

"If you are not able to ensure development for North Bengal, then give up that responsibility. Let North Bengal be a separate state," Sikha Chatterjee, the legislator from the Dabgram-Phulbari constituency in Jalpaiguri district of the region, said while participating in a debate on the state Budget proposals for 2025-26 on Thursday, which incidentally was the last day of the first round of the budget session of the assembly.

Later speaking to the media persons, the MLA said that the demand for separate statehood for North Bengal is now a demand of the people living there and not her personal demand.

"I am a public representative and I am just airing the opinion of my voters. The complaints of the people of North Bengal are multiple, starting from river bank erosion to lack of employment. The people there are really aggrieved because of the negligence on the part of the state government in addressing these problems," Chatterjee said.

She also said that if the state government is unable to solve these problems then it is better that this particular portion of the state comes under Central administration. "The people of north Bengal want development and it is my duty as an elected public representative from there to air such public views," Chatterjee said.

Responding to the demand, state Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said that such a demand for separate statehood for North Bengal is a reflection of BJP’s fear of election disaster from that region in the crucial Assembly elections in 2026.

"The popularity of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee among the people of North Bengal is constantly increasing because of the positive impacts of the state’s development schemes on the livelihood of people. The BJP has realised that their candidates will be defeated in most of the constituencies in north Bengal in 2026. So now they have started raising the demand for a separate statehood for the region, which they did before also," he said.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 20 (IANS) Mauritius Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Barracuda will soon sail northward towards her place of birth in Kolkata for a major refit. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd signed a contract with the Government of Mauritius for this refit.

The MCGS Barracuda is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) built by GRSE. She was commissioned at Port Louis on March 12, 2015, into the National Coast Guard of Mauritius in the presence of the Indian Narendra Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth. That was a landmark event for Mauritius' National Day which is celebrated on that date every year.

"The MCGS Barracuda was the first export warship to be built and delivered by an Indian shipyard. Since then, GRSE has built and delivered the CGS PS Zoroaster to the National Coast Guard of Seychelles. The delivery and commissioning of this Fast Patrol Vessel took place in 2021. The CGS PS Zoroaster returned to GRSE for refits and this was completed a month ahead of schedule on May 25, 2024. This feat earned GRSE accolades, both from the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the National Coast Guard of Seychelles," a senior GRSE official said.

He added that this completion of work ahead of schedule is part of GRSE's new 'Refit Project' through which GRSE wishes to attract global attention as a destination for major refits and ship repairs along India's eastern seaboard. The plan is to get, not only warships but also commercial vessels, to use its advanced facilities in Kolkata.

"This initiative is a key component of the Union government's efforts to bolster maritime security and support strategic island nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). At the moment, GRSE is building 40 platforms, including 17 warships for the Indian Navy. The shipyard also has eight export orders," the official said.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Feb 20 (IANS) The BJP has prepared its 'Sankalp Patra' (Resolution Letter) for the civic elections and will release it on February 24.

Haryana BJP chief Pandit Mohan Lal Badoli said that the resolution letter will be released by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini from Rohtak's BJP office.

On Thursday, in the presence of state president Pandit Mohan Lal Badoli, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and conveners of the resolution letter committee Vipul Goyal Vijaypal Advocate and other BJP leaders brainstormed for hours to prepare the resolution letter at the BJP's office in Gurugram.

In the meeting, issues of the city and wards were discussed in detail and it was decided to prepare it in the next one or two days.

Badoli said that the ‘Sankalp Patra’ will live up to the expectations of the public. "If some more good suggestions come up for the ‘Sankalp Patra’, they will

He said that the Chief Minister and state leaders will be present on the occasion of releasing the ‘Sankalp Patra’ on February 24 in Rohtak.

“The BJP would win the municipal elections by a big margin. The public is happy with the policies of the BJP and the public has given its blessings and formed the BJP government in the state for the third time," he said.

"Now the victory of BJP candidates is certain in the municipal elections as well. There is a BJP government at the Center and in the state, and now BJP will win in the local body as well; due to this, the triple engine government in the state will do development work at a fast pace," he added.

The BJP state chief said that the BJP is a party that works for development and public service.

"The country and the state are moving forward rapidly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The Haryana government is leaving no stone unturned for the welfare of the people. After the formation of a triple-engine government in the state, the development would take place rapidly and without any hindrance. We aim to reach the welfare schemes of the government to every poor person," he added.

--IANS

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