With the raids on houses and arrests of social activists, lawyers and academicians across the country, the Modi government is making overreaching efforts to divert your attention from the issues that really matter.
For the past few days, some mainstream media channels are debating on the issue of who should be termed an Urban Naxal and how should they be punished.
While such debates have taken up the prime-time space on electronic media and social media pundits are writing page-long Facebook posts, here are some actual important issues that escaped your attention:
1. Diesel Price Hits Record High: Diesel prices on Monday, hit a record high of Rs 69.46 per litre after a hike of 14 paise per litre. Diesel price had previously hit its highest level on May 29 when it reached Rs 69.31 a litre mark in Delhi. Fuel prices have been on the rise since August 16 after the rupee dipped to its lowest value against the US dollar. State-owned oil firms had in mid-June last year dumped the 15-year practice of revising rates on 1st and 16th of every month in favour of daily price revisions.
Also Read: Diesel Price Hits Record High Of Rs 69.46 A Litre, Petrol Inches Towards Rs 78 Mark
2. Five Men Associated With Radical Hindu Organisations Arrested In Terror Plot: The Maharashtra Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS), conducted raids and arrested three men from Nallasopara and Satara in Maharashtra. A large quantity of explosives that were to be used for carrying out blasts at various places in the state, have been recovered by the police. All three are allegedly affiliated to right-wing outfits.
Vaibhav Raut is allegedly a member of the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti and linked to Sanatan Sanstha. Sudhanwa Gondhalekar is a member of Shri Shivapratishthan Hindustan.
Former Shiv Sena corporator Shrikant Pangarkar was arrested on August 20, for conspiring with radical Hindu groups to carry out terror attacks in five cities of Maharashtra. Minister of state and Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar admitted that Pangarkar was still in contact with several party leaders and used to share his ‘explosive’ plans with them. Pangarkar even talked about his links with Hindu radical group Sanatan Sanstha.
Another suspect, Avinash Pawar was arrested on August 25 and remanded in ATS custody till August 31. Pawar, a worker with the Mazagoan Docks Ltd, is allegedly linked to a radical Hindu group, a police official said.
Also Read: Hindutva Terrorism: 5 Men Planning To Trigger Multiple Blasts Arrested By Anti Terrorism Squad
Also Read: Former Shiv Sena Corporator Arrested In Maharashtra Terror Plot
3. Parliament Committee’s Report On Demonetisation Criticise Govt, BJP MPs Stall The Process: A parliamentary standing committee on finance headed by M Veerappa Moily was entrusted with the responsibility to submit a report on Demonetisation by August 31. Moily’s second draft of the report observed shortcomings in logistical preparedness of the government in carrying out the policy. It also notes the inconvenience caused to public due to the shortage of cash and revealed the resultant loss to the GDP and increased unemployment. It further suggests the need for more systemic approach for achieving a wipe out of fake currency and terrorism funding in the country.
However, 12 BJP MPs have reportedly submitted an eight-page long ‘note of dissent’ on demonetisation to Molly, which makes far-reaching and unrealistic claims. It says that demonetisation “succeeded” in “checking” and “cleaning” up black money and hawala, and that it also wiped out terrorism and Maoist funding and activities as well as funding of political parties by dirty money. In direct contradiction of facts, the note also states that demonetisation helped in boosting the GDP of the country.