Cash Haul Exposes Jharkhand MP’s Clout In Cong

The I-T department has seized ‘unaccounted’ cash amounting to upwards of   Rs 300 crore in multiple raids across Odisha and Jharkhand reportedly linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, Dhiraj Prasad Sahu. Even while the department has apparently been still trying to get more counting machines to record its haul, the Congress has been battling to disown any connection with Sahu’s cash hoarding. In fact even before I-T put a final figure to Sahu’s cash stash, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh pontificated about how ”only the MP can and should explain” how the huge amounts of cash that “have been reportedly unearthed by the I-T authorities from his properties”. He clarified that the Congress had nothing to do with Sahu’s business. But then images of cash bundles stock-piled in Dhiraj’s home got BJP leader Amit Malviya to post a video linking Dhiraj with Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, dubbing it a journey to connect “the thieves of India”. Malviya captioned the video “Congress is CorruptionKiDukan”. “Nearly Rs 300 crore recovered from the premises of Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu in Jharkhand is a living proof of this.” Meanwhile, Sahu’s colleagues are surprised how he managed so many terms in the Parliament without substantially participating in the proceedings. “He hardly opened his mouth in the House. The raids now reveal his real clout in the party,” recalled an old timer. (By Lakshmi Iyer)

Welspun Group Plans To Invest Rs 20,000 Crore In Odisha

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and industries minister Pratap Keshari Deb have reasons to feel elated.  The state has managed to attract investment worth Rs 84,918.75 crore towards 12 key industrial projects. Some of the companies which have plans to invest big time in Odisha are: Welspun Group, Tata Steel, NTPC, REFL and Sembcorp Green and Ind Barath Energy Utkal. These investments are expected to generate employment opportunities for over 42,000 people. And guess who is leading the investment pack? It is Mumbai-headquartered Welspun Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate led by husband-wife duo Balkrishan and Dipali Goenka. The group has a strong presence in pipes, textiles, Infrastructure, and steel. The Goenkas are investing over Rs 20,000 crore in Odisha covering its business verticals. As part of the plan, Welspun Living has got the Odisha government’s nod for acquiring 350 acres of government-owned Odisha Textile Mills land for setting up an integrated textile and logistic facility at Chowdwar, Cuttack. For this project the group has earmarked over Rs 3,000 crore for this project having employment prospects of over 20,000 employees. Similarly, Welspun’s pipe and pipe coating plant under Welspun Corp at Sambalpur will create another 3,830 employees and its Green Ammonia plant at Sambalpur under Welspun New Energy Ltd will generate another 13,860 employees. Meanwhile, Patnaik has tasked the industry department to find suitable investors for the closed Brajrajnagar Orient Paper Mill spread over 843 acres. (By Sangram Mohanty)

Angry Chennaiites To Get Some Money From Helpless Govt

When people are angry, give them some money. That is what they did in 2015 when Chennai was overwhelmed, both from torrential rain from cyclone and poorly planned and desperate discharge from an overflowing lake. Jayalalithaa’s government gave Rs 5,000 per ration card in Chennai to try and assuage the anger people felt at the rulers for the apathy that led to a civic disaster in floods. Stalin’s government went one better in announcing Rs 6,000 per ration card. But that is no guarantee Chennaiites will vote for them when they turn up at the polling booth the next time. This is what happened to Jaya’s party when Chennai rejected almost all their candidates in the 2021 elections. The Tamil Nadu government is aware of that, but the bureaucracy and the rulers could not think of anything else to cool down the extreme anger displayed by the people whenever the leaders and officials came to visit them in their wet dwellings five days after the rain stopped on December 4. The disaster of 2023 was no less than that of 2015 with huge swathes of Chennai still under water while small pockets got back to normalcy quickly after the deluge. The State Chennai was in may have been made apparent to the defence minister who surveyed the disaster by helicopter. Nothing has changed in eight years except that the ration card holders of Chennai get Rs 1,000 more this time. (By Tamil Raja)

Did ‘The Archies’ Connect With Gen Z Or Older Generations?

A Hindi movie based on popular English comics pandering to the urban populace was a big risk. More risky was to take fresh faces – all insiders — SRK’s son, Big B’s grandson and Boney Kapoor’s daughter. But, then 51-year old Zoya Akhtar is known to make path breaking films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, Gully Boy to name a few. But strangely people from her fraternity who saw The Archies confessed “There is nothing in this movie”. Were they being uncharitable?  This Netflix original film, an Indian adaptation of the popular Archie comics, made at a cost of Rs 40 crore has no box office numbers to measure its success as it was released on OTT platform. But IMDb rating for India gives it 8.2/10 — a big jump from 1.2 initially. In other countries the user rating was an average of 4. Promoted aggressively in colleges and via events The Archies hasn’t touched the Gen Z and disappointed older generation (read Metros) who grew up reading Archie comics points out a knowledgeable source. The three star kids may have got a bad start but surely more work will come their way. It may be recalled that Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor started with a flop but today Ranbir is one of top stars. Agatsya Nanda has already been signed by Sriram Raghavan and Suhana apparently has a film with her father Shah Rukh Khan. Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Khan (Saif Ali Khan’s son) are being paired in a film. (By Our Entertainment Editor)

 Women In Blue Headache For Amol Muzumdar!

India’s women in blue team lost the fifth straight Twenty20 international to England on home soil and thereby gave an immediate headache to its new Head Coach Amol Muzumdar. The first three happened in Guwahati four years ago, and the fourth and fifth at the Wankhede Stadium last week. Irrespective of the outcome of the third and final match on December 10 it has to be stated that the Indian batters’ display was very disappointing. A total of 80 was what it could muster in the second match; it was the lowest against England in 29 matches. With the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 scheduled for less than 12 months in Bangladesh, the signs are alarming. The team’s fortunes largely depend on the wherewithal of Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to chip in heavily. All three fell cheaply in the series-on-the-line match and India caved in. The girls are raring to go, said Muzumdar in his first press conference after making a point that he will focus on fitness and fielding. It looks as though he will have to work overtime to set right the batting department too. The three medium pacers Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Titas Sadhu will learn a lot from Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley, but somehow Muzumdar has to get the most experienced — Harmanpreet (14 years in international cricket) and Smriti (10 years) to click. (By G Viswanath)

Maha Samruddhi, Pune Expressways Fail ITS Test, Lost Human Lives Post Car Accidents!

The Samruddhi Expressway connecting Nagpur and Mumbai witnessed over 1000 vehicular accidents in exactly one year claiming 142 lives. Bharat’s fatality rate is 1.5 lakh human beings annually in 5 lakh road accidents. Human error, tyre bursts, highway hypnosis caused a small percentile of accidents on national highways though more lives could have been saved were ITS (intelligent transport system) in place. An IAS source reveals to shortpost.in, “Fact-of-the-matter is though we laid optic fibre cables alongside Samruddhi Mahamarg, Mumbai-Pune expressway exploiting this resource to set up ITS was not accomplished. The golden hour of critical importance, on high-speed road routes, makes the difference between life and death after motor accidents but is non-existent. High manpower requirements may be the reason.” The Mumbai-Pune expressway was Gadkari’s first infrastructure accomplishment in the 1990s when Shiv Sena led the Maharashtra government with the BJP alliance. Gadkari inaugurated ITS on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Uttar Pradesh in 2021 and yet, Maharashtra doesn’t adhere to internationally prescribed road safety standards to ensure ambulances reach crash sites within 15 minutes. Common sense to check tyre pressure at the cold start of the day’s travel can avert tyre bursts due to faulty pressure checked on warmed up tyres just before entering highways. Meanwhile, Shiv Sangram Maratha leader Vinayak Mete (Pune expressway), Cyrus Mistry (Mumbai-Ahmedabad expressway) and thousands perished on Maharashtra’s high-speed expressways without ITS. Last heard, the Maha government was working on erecting fake boulders on Samruddhi corridor to break highway hypnosis. What about ITS lethargy? (By Renni Abraham)

Mahua Moitra Expulsion Leaves West Bengal Cong-CPM In Dilemma

Having stood by expelled Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has left both Pradesh Congress and CPI (M) in a dilemma. In Bengal the party workers from both Cong and CPI (M) have questioned the stand as Trinamool is their rival and feels that the State BJP would be encashing the move. Significantly, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that Mahua will again contest from Krishnanagar seat. According to Pradesh Congress sources, having supported Mahua, will any Opposition candidates have a chance of winning? Moreover, the anti-BJP and minority votes are expected to go in favor of Mahua. It is further added that the party workers are skeptical of how to establish “setting” theory between Trinamool and BJP as claimed by Pradesh Congress President Adhir Chowdhury and CPI (M) State Secretary Mohammad Salim. A section of Congress and CPI (M) leaders feel that this will be giving Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari an upper hand of establishing his claim of Congress-CPI(M) being the B-team of Trinamool. However, Adhir has made it clear that support to Mahua since the beginning was similar to that of Rahul Gandhi where both were targeted for voicing against Adani, which is no way connected to opposing a corrupt Trinamool government in Bengal. Similarly, Salim, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and State member Sujan Chakraborty said that protesting against Mahua’s expulsion was because it was arbitrary, however, the party to continue its protest against both BJP and TMC in Bengal. (By Tanya Bagchi)

Praful Patel Is Opposition Target, Sharad Pawar’s Silence Generates Speculation 

Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar’s silence over the political slugfest that is raging in the state is intriguing since his one-time right hand Praful Patel is now made the whipping boy to corner the three-party regime in Maharashtra by the Congress and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav) after former minister Nawab Malik’s arrival in the picture. Patel had been Pawar’s emissary in Delhi over the past two decades and had represented him for resolving various ticklish political crises. Very recently, Patel had played a significant role in establishing the Uddhav government by holding talks with then Congress leader Ahmed Patel. Now he has joined the NCP faction led by state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. As the BJP has publicly objected to Malik’s inclusion in Ajit’s party, the past of Praful Patel is dug up to embarrass the Shinde-Fadnavis-Ajit government. The Congress and the Sena (Uddhav) have reminded the rulers that Patel had been raided by ED some time ago and have alleged his connection with infamous fugitive Iqbal Mirchi. “If Nawab is not OK, how come Patel is OK?” the barbs from the two parties have asked. While so much has been happening in the state, Sharad Pawar’s total mum regarding his former Man Friday has given rise to fresh speculation. Ajit has added to the mystery by refusing to say a word about Malik, who as well has remained mute. (By Dilip Chaware)

BJP Picks A Tribal Face In Chhattisgarh With Raman Singh’s Blessings

In a much anticipated move, the BJP picked up a tribal leader and former Union Minister Vishnu Deo Sai as its new chief minister of Chhattisgarh. BJP leader and Union Minister Renuka Singh Saruta, who was in the race described Sai’s selection as “for the first time a party worker from the tribal community belonging to a farmer’s family has been elected”. She underscored the fact that Sai had won the recently concluded assembly polls from Kunkuri in north Chhattisgarh, a region that the BJP had swept picking up all the 14 seats in the region. It was in this region that the BJP managed to defeat the Congress including its deputy chief minister TS Singhdeo from Ambikapur by 94 votes. In the run up to the elections, home minister Amit Shah while addressing a meeting in Sai’s constituency had already indicated that he would get an important assignment if he was elected. Besides, Sai became a natural choice as he is considered close to former CM Raman Singh. Having been a prominent figure in the BJP, Sai has held various positions as he hails from the influential Sahu (Teli) community which has a sizable presence in the Durg, Raipur and Bilaspur divisions. He served as BJP State President from 2020 until 2022. And has also worked with PM Modi in his first cabinet. In fact after being appointed, all that Sai had to say was “I will work to fulfil ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’. Congress leaders conceded that they could never have a tribal CM in the state after late Ajit Jogi — the state’s first CM –got ruled out as an ST in 2019. (By Lakshmi Iyer)

Chitale Bandhu Chalks Up Aggressive Plans For The UK Market

Maharashtrians swear by it. Bakarwadi, a quintessential Maharashtrian item, is loved not just all across India but the world over thanks to the Pune headquartered Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale making it available across India via their franchisee Chitale Express. The second generation Chitale brothers are keen to register their brand’s presence globally. So this 83-year old savoury chain has roped in Bollywood stars to endorse their products — namkeen, sweets and dairy products. Chitales have taken the fullest advantage of the opening up of the USA markets and has made huge penetration in institutional sales by tying up with retail chains like Costco. In the UK, they have discontinued their prime distributor Pandit and Co. and replaced them with three new distributors to cover the entire UK. Recently, Chitale brothers who were in London as part of the Export Promotion Council, took time off to explore the UK market. Like the other big daddies in the dairy business in India, Chitales are hopeful that the new Free Trade Agreement may include easy access to Indian dairy products. Sixty percent of Chitales’ portfolio constitutes dairy products so they are keen that their dairy and dairy-based products are exported to the UK. After Brexit it’s observed that the UK which has huge consumption cannot procure enough to suffice its needs from other European countries thus India is one of the best options that has given hope to the Chitales and their ilk. (By Rahul Laud)

OBC Politics Revives Pankaja Munde’s Fortune Within BJP

After being sidelined since her defeat at the hands of her own cousin Dhanajay Munde in 2019, Pankaja Munde’s political career is steering back into active mode within the BJP, thanks to a sharp consolidation of the OBC vote bank in Maharashtra. The ongoing Maratha agitation to demand reservation under the OBC category, has upset the OBC’s in the state, who have thrown their political weight behind the leadership of Chhagan Bhujbal. Though Bhujbal is currently with the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, he is fighting the OBC agitation under his own outfit Samata Parishad. Pankaja, who hails from Vanjari caste, commands strong support from the OBC community especially in the Marathwada region, a legacy she inherits from her late father Gopinath Munde, who was responsible for getting the OBC votes for the BJP. Pankaja is now back in the reckoning within the BJP to woo the OBC votes. Her party had earlier refused to let her participate in the joint OBC rally called by Bhujbal at Nashik, deputing others instead. But, shifting equations in state caste politics led Devendra Fadnavis, who blamed her for downswing within BJP, to get the cousins — Pankaja and Dhananjay — to bury the hatchet and work together. A BJP internal survey showing slip in support for BJP among the OBC’s also worked in her favour. It is learnt that the BJP is considering fielding her for Lok Sabha and adjusting her MP sister Preetam Munde in state council. ( By Hepzi Anthony)

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