A recent Right to Information (RTI) reply and a tweet by congress president Mallikarjun Khare has revealed a shocking gap in financial transparency regarding the scheme. The MWCD disclosed that the Modi government had spent a whopping Rs 952.4 crores on the BBBP scheme over the last 11 years. However, when asked about the utilization of these funds, the ministry failed to provide any concrete details. The revelation has raised serious concerns about accountability in one of the government’s flagship programs aimed at protecting and educating girls.

Unhappy with the vague response, whistleblower Ajay Bose escalated the matter by filing an appeal with the Final Appellate Authority (FAA). In a new reply dated today, the FAA provided a detailed breakdown of the amount allocated to each state under the scheme. However, this reply has exposed more disturbing discrepancies. It revealed that since the inception of BBBP, a total of Rs 49697.17 lakhs (Rs 496.97 crores) had been allocated to the states. This figure starkly contrasts the earlier claim of Rs 952.4 crores spent by the ministry.

This means that there is a staggering discrepancy of nearly Rs 455 crores. The question now arises—where did this massive sum of money go? Was it misappropriated? Diverted? Or is this yet another instance of bureaucratic corruption?

The staggering financial irregularities have sparked outrage among activists and citizens alike. The BJP-led central government, which has long prided itself on transparency and accountability, now finds itself in the eye of a storm over mismanagement of funds meant for one of its most celebrated social welfare programs. The Opposition has also seized the opportunity to question the government’s handling of the scheme and has demanded a high-level probe into the missing Rs 455 crore.

With such serious allegations hanging over the BBBP scheme, the MWCD must come clean about where the funds have actually gone. If the government truly stands by its promise of empowering girls in India, it must first ensure that the funds allocated for their welfare are not lost in bureaucratic black holes.

The missing Rs 455 crore is more than just a financial discrepancy—it is a question of trust, governance, and the future of millions of girls who depend on this scheme for their education and protection. The Modi government must now answer the burning question: Where did the money go?

Launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BBBP scheme was intended to address declining child sex ratios and promote the education and well-being of the girl child. The program was designed to be implemented across multiple districts in India, with funds allocated for awareness campaigns, incentives for girl child education, and strengthening of government institutions working on gender-related issues.

However, various reports and newspaper findings have repeatedly pointed out that a significant chunk of the funds allocated under this scheme was spent on publicity rather than direct benefits for the target beneficiaries.

The RTI, filed by Ajay Bose, sought details on the breakdown of how the Rs 952.4 crore was spent. While the government confirmed the total expenditure, it did not disclose specific utilization details. This omission raises questions about whether the funds were effectively used to improve the condition of girls or if a large portion was merely spent on promotional activities such as advertisements, hoardings, and media campaigns.

Social activists have criticized the government’s failure to provide utilization details. “If nearly Rs 1,000 crore has been spent on this scheme, the public has the right to know where and how it was used. Without transparency, such schemes lose credibility,” says Ajay Bose, the whistleblower.

Transparency advocates argue that the government’s reluctance to disclose fund allocation raises suspicions about financial mismanagement. “While awareness is important, the primary focus of the scheme was supposed to be the improvement of girls’ education and healthcare. If money is not reaching the grassroots, then the scheme’s effectiveness comes into question,” said a former bureaucrat who worked on gender policies.

Following the RTI revelation, opposition leaders and activists are demanding a comprehensive audit of BBBP spending. “This is public money meant for the betterment of girls in India. If funds are being misused or wasted on promotions instead of tangible benefits, the government must be held accountable,” said an opposition leader.

Several activists are also calling for an independent audit by agencies like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to investigate whether funds have been effectively used for their intended purpose.

While the BBBP scheme was launched with noble intentions, the lack of transparency in fund utilization puts its effectiveness in doubt. The Modi government must address these concerns by making expenditure details public and ensuring that future allocations truly benefit the girls who need them most. As public pressure mounts, it remains to be seen whether the government will come forward with detailed expenditure reports or whether another flagship scheme will fall under the shadow of financial mismanagement.

The post RTI Shocker: Rs. 455 Crore ‘Vanishes’ from Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme says Congress president Kharge first appeared on New Delhi Post.

Trump’s remarks have put Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in a tough spot. Opposition parties, including the Congress and AAP, have seized the moment to accuse the ruling BJP of financial opacity and potential election manipulation. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned, “If this money was for democracy, why is the government silent? If it was misused, who benefited?”

Even within BJP there is a huge uproar. Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, on X says: “If Modi does not make a statement denying receiving $ 21 million and sending a Notice of Defamation to US President Trump, then I, in public interest, will send a Show Cause Notice to Modi and file a Criminal case in Court.

The revelation has also ignited concerns about India’s electoral integrity, with critics demanding an independent probe into the use of USAID funding. The Election Commission of India has so far remained silent, further intensifying public skepticism. With elections on the horizon, this controversy could become a significant point of contention, impacting voter sentiment.

Several political analysts argue that such revelations weaken India’s global standing as a sovereign democracy. Accusations of foreign influence in electoral processes could damage India’s reputation, making it vulnerable to external criticisms and pressures. Furthermore, given Trump’s past unpredictability, his statement could be a part of his larger geopolitical maneuvering, leveraging India’s internal political climate for his own advantage.

The Congress, seizing on Trump’s remarks, called on Modi to clarify whether India had received such funds. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera demanded that the Prime Minister “strongly refute” the allegations and accused the ruling BJP of misleading the public on the matter. Meanwhile, BJP leaders claimed the funds were directed towards civil society organizations linked to the Congress. Khera also criticized the BJP-RSS ecosystem for allegedly creating a false narrative against NGOs and civil society groups, demanding legal action against those spreading misinformation.

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal further questioned Modi’s silence on Trump’s remarks, asking if the Prime Minister would address concerns about electoral integrity, citing anomalies such as the unusual rise in voter numbers in Maharashtra and alleged opposition voter deletions. He accused t he BJP of avoiding transparency and enabling electoral manipulation.

The controversy has extended beyond politics, potentially impacting U.S.-India trade relations. The Biden administration, already keen on reassessing foreign aid distribution, might face pressure to scrutinize USAID’s allocation to India. A reduction in aid could affect grassroots projects, including healthcare, education, and rural development initiatives that rely on American grants.

Prof. Arvind Rao, Political Analyst at Jawaharlal Nehru University says: “While international collaborations in promoting democratic processes are common, it’s crucial to ensure that such initiatives do not overstep and infringe upon a nation’s internal affairs.”

Furthermore, Trump’s claim about his personal rapport with Modi casts a shadow on bilateral trade negotiations. India has long sought favorable tariff adjustments and stronger economic ties with the U.S. However, if American lawmakers perceive that aid funds were misused or politically repurposed, it could lead to stricter conditions on future financial assistance, hurting India’s strategic leverage.

Experts believe that the fallout from these revelations may also impact India’s broader trade agreements. Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security says: “The U.S. has a history of supporting democratic institutions globally. However, the intent and implementation of such funds must be clear to avoid misunderstandings and potential diplomatic strains.”

While India has been actively working towards self-reliance under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, its reliance on external funding for key social and developmental projects cannot be ignored. If the U.S. decides to cut back or impose stricter guidelines on aid, it could force India to look towards alternative partners such as China or Russia, further complicating its diplomatic stance.

Beyond immediate economic consequences, the controversy could have long-term implications for India’s international standing. Historically, India has prided itself on maintaining non-alignment and strategic autonomy in global affairs. However, allegations of foreign funding influencing domestic politics could undermine these principles.

Dr. Meera Shankar, Former Indian Ambassador to the US says: “The allegations of foreign funding influencing India’s electoral process are serious and warrant a thorough investigation. Transparency and adherence to sovereign electoral integrity are paramount.”

Countries that view India as a stable partner may reconsider their engagement strategies, especially in security and diplomatic collaborations. Nations within the European Union, which have been strengthening ties with India, might seek greater transparency before committing to new agreements. Similarly, global watchdog organizations could intensify scrutiny over India’s democratic institutions and election funding mechanisms.

“Additionally, this development could give China an opportunity to advance its narrative of Western interference in Asian nations. With growing tensions between India and China, any perception of India being influenced by foreign aid could weaken its position in regional power dynamics.“

“The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, recently revealed that USAID had planned to allocate $21 million for voter turnout initiatives in India. However, DOGE noted that these funds had been canceled. Trump’s remarks have fueled concerns over foreign interference in India’s elections, with the BJP accusing the Congress of involvement, while the opposition has dismissed such claims as baseless.”

With mounting pressure, the Modi government may soon be forced to disclose details about USAID funding recipients. Transparency measures could help restore confidence, but if concrete answers are not provided, the controversy may escalate further, leading to potential diplomatic strain between New Delhi and Washington.

Legal experts suggest that an independent audit of USAID funds received by India could be a viable solution to ease tensions. Such an investigation could not only address opposition concerns but also assure international stakeholders about India’s commitment to financial integrity.

At the same time, the Biden administration may conduct its own internal review of USAID’s India programs. If irregularities are found, future aid disbursements may come with tighter conditions, requiring greater accountability from recipient organizations.

“As the Indian public demands accountability, and the opposition sharpens its attacks, the coming weeks could determine whether this revelation is a mere political storm or the beginning of deeper scrutiny into India’s foreign aid practices. With elections looming, how the Modi government navigates this controversy could have a lasting impact on India’s political and economic landscape.”

The controversy has intensified as Congress has demanded a white paper detailing USAID projects in India. The opposition has accused the BJP of leveraging the issue to divert attention from domestic electoral concerns, while the ruling party continues to highlight potential foreign influence in Indian elections.

“As the political battle over foreign funding rages on, the focus remains on whether PM Modi will address Trump’s remarks and clarify India’s engagement with USAID. The issue is set to remain at the forefront of political discourse ahead of the upcoming elections.”

The post Trump’s USAID Claim to India: PM Modi Mum first appeared on New Delhi Post.

The sacred Amarnath Yatra, revered by millions, faces an existential threat as the pristine environment of Kashmir is being systematically destroyed by unchecked human greed and rampant illegal constructions. In Pahalgam, once a paradise on earth, the greed of hoteliers and the complicity of local authorities have wreaked havoc on its delicate ecosystem. The damage is now so severe that experts are calling it a man-made climate disaster, with far-reaching consequences for the region’s water supply, biodiversity, and the future of the Amarnath pilgrimage itself.

When a hotelier razes hundreds of ancient Alpine trees, devastating the green cover and fragile soil structure, authorities have the audacity to label this ecological plunder as an “environmental disaster”—not to seek accountability, but to shield the influential hotelier from any legal consequences. The once-crystal-clear waters of the Lidder River, a lifeline for both locals and pilgrims, have been poisoned, rendered unfit even for washing hands as raw sewage from hotels and guesthouses is dumped directly into the river. The green zones of Pahalgam, meant to be preserved as protected areas, are being re-designated as non-green by those in power, paving the way for politically connected elites to construct massive hotels and commercial establishments.

“This greed is not limited to Pahalgam. The lush green meadows of Gulmarg and Sonmarg are being ravaged, their beauty stripped away by unchecked tourism and illegal infrastructure. The once-majestic Jehlum River, which has been the lifeblood of Kashmir’s civilization for centuries, is now a garbage dump, polluted all along its course.”

Nature is now reacting with equal fury. Unprecedented floods, erratic rainfall, and diminishing snow cover have become the new normal. The sacred ice Shivlingam at the Amarnath Cave, once known for its majestic size, is now melting at an alarming rate, a direct consequence of the warming climate and environmental degradation.

Shabir Ali, a social activist from Anantnag, voiced the collective anger of Kashmiris: “Climate change in Kashmir is purely a man-made disaster. You did it all for tourism but there will be no tourists to stay in your hotels now. Your fake cry over the drying up of springs, rivers, and streams will only further the anger of nature. The people in power, the wealthy hoteliers, and the corrupt bureaucrats have all played their part in this destruction. Now, nature is giving them the response they deserve.”

“The Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), entrusted with protecting the region’s environment, recently issued notices to demolish 300 illegal constructions. Yet, in a glaring display of corruption and political interference, Masarat Hashim, the CEO of PDA who spearheaded the crackdown, was abruptly transferred.”

This transfer is widely seen as an attempt to shield the wealthy encroachers who wield enormous political influence. Senior PDP leader Waheed Para openly criticized the move, stating, “Just a day after CEO Pahalgam identified 300 illegal constructions violating the green belt, he was abruptly removed. This exposes how deep political interference runs in shielding these violations.”

President of JK Peace Forum, Satish Mahaldar, condemned the inaction of the government and said, “I strongly condemn the way the government is handling this. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Amarnath is in great danger due to looming natural disasters. Shockingly, no one from the Kashmiri Pandit community is part of the Shrine Board, raising serious concerns about the protection and management of this sacred pilgrimage.”

Dr. Sandeep Mawa, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit leader, revealed the shocking scale of corruption, saying, “A well-organized mafia is working in Pahalgam. Reckless and unprecedented illegal commercial structures are being raised without any concern for the environment. This has resulted in the depletion of snow and rainfall due to rising temperatures caused by deforestation and human intervention.”

“Unfortunately, many bureaucrats, politicians, and even officials from the police department have constructed illegal buildings, completely disregarding Hindu sentiments and environmental sustainability.”

Dr. Raja Muzaffar, a renowned RTI activist and environmental expert, warned that if this continues, Pahalgam would turn into a dry, barren land in the next 30 years, and the Amarnath pilgrimage would cease to exist. He added, “We have already seen yatris losing their lives due to natural disasters, and this crisis will only worsen if human greed is not curtailed.”

The situation has grown even more alarming as journalists who dare to expose the truth are facing threats and intimidation. The reporter who is reporting this piece, is being systematically targeted by the organized mafia. Attempts to silence independent journalism have intensified, revealing the power of the political-construction nexus that profits from environmental destruction.

“The fate of Amarnath Yatra and Kashmir’s environment now hangs in the balance. This crisis is not merely about a pilgrimage—it is about the survival of Kashmir’s ecosystem, its people, and its culture. Immediate and decisive action is required to halt illegal constructions, restore environmental balance, and protect those speaking the truth. The world is watching, and Kashmir is demanding justice.”

The question remains—Will the powers that be act in time, or will human greed and corruption destroy yet another sacred site?

The post Illegal Constructions Endanger Amarnath Yatra, Kashmir’s Ecology first appeared on New Delhi Post.

The stringent measures, which have intensified since the Trump administration’s policies, continue to impact thousands of undocumented immigrants. On February 5, a U.S. Air Force plane transported 104 Indians from Texas directly to Amritsar. Among them, 31 hailed from Punjab and 33 from Gujarat, underscoring the high migration rates from these states.

The desperation to achieve the ‘American Dream’ has driven thousands of Indians to embark on the treacherous “Donkey Route,” a dangerous pathway through Latin America to the U.S.-Mexico border. This illegal route exposes migrants to life-threatening conditions, including harsh weather, dense forests, violent robbers, sexual assaults, poisonous wildlife, and starvation.

Recent police statements from 29 of the 31 Punjabi deportees reveal that they initially left India legally before transitioning to illegal pathways. Many first arrived in countries with lenient visa regulations, such as Dubai, Spain, Italy, the UK, Brazil, Guyana, France, and Suriname, before moving further towards North America.

The term “Donkey Route” or “Dunky” in Punjabi refers to migration fraught with peril, where travellers risk their lives every moment. Though this route has existed for decades, it has gained increased attention following the 2023 release of Shah Rukh Khan’s film Dunky and a surge in deportations from the U.S.

The scale of illegal immigration is staggering. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 96,917 Indians were caught or expelled at the U.S. border in 2023, compared to 30,662 in 2021. The actual number of those who successfully crossed remains uncertain.

Human traffickers often smuggle Indian migrants from New Delhi and Mumbai to the United Arab Emirates on tourist visas before routing them through Latin America. Common transit points include Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Upon reaching the U.S.-Mexico border, handlers coach migrants on fabricated asylum claims, citing economic hardship, religious persecution, or LGBTQ+ discrimination.

An U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing challenge, stating, “Smugglers and criminals often mislead targeted migrants by spreading misinformation.”

Many Indian migrants who take the Donkey Route invest their entire family savings, with some spending up to Rs 85 lakh on the journey. Despite the high risks, families often encourage migration due to the financial returns. Some deported migrants reported earning around $100 a day in low-wage jobs such as gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Remittances from undocumented Indian workers in the U.S. have been substantial, with families back home receiving up to Rs 2,00,000 monthly.

However, the challenges of undocumented life in America are severe. Loneliness, depression, and mental health struggles are common among new arrivals, compounded by the fear of arrest and deportation.

Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Migration Policy Institute, highlights the contradiction in the U.S. immigration system: “We detain millions at the border but lack the capacity to process them. Migrants, and their smugglers, are well aware of this gap.”

Additionally, the U.S. labour market has an ongoing demand for undocumented workers, further fuelling illegal immigration. “The question is, is there a way to make it safer for these migrants?” asks Inna Ganguly, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, citing the example of structured labour migration systems in countries like the Philippines.

As the deportations continue, the plight of thousands of Indian migrants hangs in the balance. While authorities crack down on illegal routes, the persistent demand for labour and economic aspirations of Indian youth ensure that the Donkey Route remains active. The challenge ahead is to find a solution that balances immigration control with human rights and economic realities.

The post U.S. Cracks Down on ‘Dunky Route’ Illegal Indian Immigrants first appeared on New Delhi Post.

“Launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BBBP scheme was intended to address declining child sex ratios and promote the education and well-being of the girl child. The program was designed to be implemented across multiple districts in India, with funds allocated for awareness campaigns, incentives for girl child education, and strengthening of government institutions working on gender-related issues.”

However, various reports and newspaper findings have repeatedly pointed out that a significant chunk of the funds allocated under this scheme was spent on publicity rather than direct benefits for the target beneficiaries.

The RTI, filed by Ajoy Bose, sought details on the breakdown of how the Rs 952.4 crore was spent. While the government confirmed the total expenditure, it did not disclose specific utilization details. This omission raises questions about whether the funds were effectively used to improve the condition of girls or if a large portion was merely spent on promotional activities such as advertisements, hoardings, and media campaigns.

“Social activists have criticized the government’s failure to provide utilization details. “If nearly Rs 1,000 crore has been spent on this scheme, the public has the right to know where and how it was used. Without transparency, such schemes lose credibility,” says Ajoy Bose the whistleblower.”

Transparency advocates argue that the government’s reluctance to disclose fund allocation raises suspicions about financial mismanagement. “While awareness is important, the primary focus of the scheme was supposed to be the improvement of girls’ education and healthcare. If money is not reaching the grassroots, then the scheme’s effectiveness comes into question,” said a former bureaucrat who worked on gender policies.

“Following the RTI revelation, opposition leaders and activists should demand a comprehensive audit of BBBP spending. This is public money meant for the betterment of girls in India. If funds are being misused or wasted on promotions instead of tangible benefits, the government must be held accountable.”

Several activists are also calling for an independent audit by agencies like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to investigate whether funds have been effectively used for their intended purpose.

While the BBBP scheme was launched with noble intentions, the lack of transparency in fund utilization puts its effectiveness in doubt. The Modi government must address these concerns by making expenditure details public and ensuring that future allocations truly benefit the girls who need them most. As public pressure mounts, it remains to be seen whether the government will come forward with detailed expenditure reports or whether another flagship scheme will fall under the shadow of financial mismanagement.

The post Rs. 952.4 Cr spends On Beti Bachao Beti Padhao But Govt Says ‘NO’ To Details first appeared on New Delhi Post.

Despite its unauthorized status, the tent city functioned with full access to essential utilities, including water and electricity. This begs the question: how did a grand setup of such magnitude materialize with official infrastructure, yet authorities remained oblivious? It seems implausible that such a large-scale operation could have existed without at least tacit approval from Kumbh Mela officials.

• Water and electricity could have been illegally tapped from nearby authorized sources, including existing public or private supply lines.

• Officials may have manipulated records to show that these connections were part of authorized facilities.

Following the fire, authorities acted swiftly, registering an FIR against the operators and shutting down the illegal encampment. Initial investigations revealed the presence of VIP facilities such as a luxury restaurant, a dedicated yagya (ritual fire) area, and geysers. While the administration justified its actions as necessary for compliance with safety regulations, deeper scrutiny suggests that the illegal enterprise could not have flourished without active collusion from key officials.

This was not an isolated fire incident at the Maha Kumbh. On January 19, 2025, another blaze in Sectors 19-20, caused by a gas cylinder explosion, razed 20-25 tents. While no casualties were reported in either incident, the recurring fires highlight glaring safety violations and administrative lapses.

Given the scale of the Kumbh Mela, it is evident that key departments, including the Kumbh Mela administration, the electricity board, and the Jal Nigam (water supply department), either ignored or actively facilitated these violations. Unauthorized access to utilities would have required technical expertise and assistance from within these departments. It is suspected that local contractors and junior engineers acted as intermediaries, enabling the illegal connections.

• Who approved water and electricity connections?
• Were there fake documents used for approvals?
• Did any official receive kickbacks?
• Were complaints raised and ignored?

A thorough audit of official records is essential to determine how water and electricity connections were approved for an unregistered establishment. Crucial questions remain unanswered: Were fake documents used to obtain these approvals? Did any officials receive kickbacks in exchange for facilitating these illegal connections? Were any complaints raised regarding the unauthorized settlement, and if so, why were they ignored?

A review of financial transactions, official permits, and whistleblower testimonies could shed light on potential cover-ups.

Further investigation has revealed that the land for the illegal tent city was allegedly measured and allocated by Kumbh revenue officers (Lekhpal) and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) without official permission. This raises another critical set of questions. How did such a large area get allocated without proper approvals? Why did law enforcement and administrative officials fail to detect an unauthorized settlement within a high-security event? How could a Lekhpal allocate land freely while common pilgrims struggled for basic access?

• The illegal tent city could not have operated without the support of officials from departments such as the Kumbh Mela administration, electricity board, and Jal Nigam (water supply department).
• It is likely that some officials deliberately ignored the violation in exchange for bribes or were directly involved in facilitating the operation.

This discrepancy suggests a deliberate misuse of administrative power to benefit select individuals.

With room rates of ₹20,000 per night, the illegal operation generated crores in illicit profits. A rough timeline suggests the following questions which needs to be answered. The illegal tent city operated for at least 20 days while the Construction likely took an additional 10 to 20 days. The entire scam spanned 30 to 40 days.

Shockingly, this occurred under the jurisdiction of a dedicated Maha Kumbh administration, AI surveillance with 2,700 cameras, and direct oversight from the Chief Minister. Yet, the fraud remained undetected until the fire incident.

The burning question remains: were authorities deceived, or did they knowingly turn a blind eye? If so, why was there no internal accountability? Identifying the main conspirators is crucial for long-term reforms. The key officials in charge of land allocation, utility approvals, and law enforcement should be scrutinized. The financial records of implicated individuals should be thoroughly examined to uncover any suspicious transactions.

• Water and electricity could have been illegally tapped from nearby authorized sources, including existing public or private supply lines.
• Officials may have manipulated records to show that these connections were part of authorized facilities.

The Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is not just a religious event; it is a testament to India’s cultural and administrative prowess. If corruption can thrive despite stringent surveillance, what does this say about governance at large? The government must take decisive action to punish the guilty and enforce stricter oversight to prevent such scams in the future.

Will the investigation hold the culprits accountable, or will the case be buried under political pressure, as has happened in previous instances? The answer will determine whether faith in the system can be restored or whether this remains yet another tale of unchecked corruption in India’s grandest religious gathering.

The post Tent City Scam Rocks Maha Kumbh first appeared on New Delhi Post.

In the first week of February 2024, the Multidimensional Poverty Index figures were released by Niti Ayog. Through that data, it was claimed that in the last ten years of Modi government, poverty has reduced significantly and about 25 crore people have come out of the poverty line. Prime Minister Modi had also mentioned these figures in America and said that in ten years, his government has worked to eliminate poverty of 25 crore people of India and bring them above the poverty line.

On what basis these figures of Niti Ayog report were derived from, only the Ayog officials are privy to. But now the research-based figures presented by the review report of Agrarian Studies raise questions on the figures furnished by Niti Ayog. Agrarian Studies has claimed that the figures released by Niti Ayog on poverty are misleading and can be refuted. According to the facts given in the review report of Agricultural Studies, even today the poverty rate in India is 26.4 percent and the truth is that more than a quarter of the Indian population is below the poverty line.

The interesting fact of this report is that the findings cannot be ignored neither by the government nor the people who often take a pro government stand in television debates. Neither any government body can fully discard the findings due to the fact that country’s renowned professors, subject experts and scholars associated with this Agricultural Studies Review have made these findings and the journal of this institution is also included in the list of journals approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It is also recognized and ranked by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Apart from this, support for this journal comes also from the Indian Council of Social Science Research. Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Foundation for Agrarian Studies too supports researches for this publication.

“The history of the term Subaltern Studies is a bit long. This term was first used in England in the Middle Ages for agricultural slaves and farmers. Later, from 1700, it started being used for small posts in the army. Italian Marxist and Communist Party leader Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) used it in a broad context in his works and after this it started being used rapidly in scholarship. Gramsci generally used this term in the broad context of class. He was in prison at that time and used this word to escape the jail administration because every word of his writing was scrutinized. Gramsci used this word for the subaltern group of the society. According to him, the history of subaltern groups is always connected to the ruling group. Apart from this, this history is usually divided into parts.”

Although Ranjit Guha, founder of India Subaltern Study, has not cited Gramsci in the context of the use of this word in the introduction to the subaltern context, he has definitely considered Gramsci as a source of inspiration. He has defined it according to the meaning given in the Concise Oxford Dictionary:

The meaning of the word ‘subaltern’ is taken from the Concise Oxford Dictionary which means ‘low position’. We are using it for the subordinate class of South Asian society where it appears in the form of class, caste, age, gender and position or in other forms.

Later, at the end of the introductory article of this section, he has again clarified this term. ‘In this article, ‘masses’ and ‘lower class’ have been used as synonyms for each other. The groups and elements included in this category are completely different from the elite society and groups.’

Subaltern historians have used this term in a completely different sense from Gramsci. While accepting the subordination of the people from the lowest strata of the society, they also emphasize that their history was separate and autonomous from the dominant class. In such a situation, the data that has come from Agrarian Studies has not been done by any loose people. And at least the government will not challenge these data.

“This report has refuted many claims of poverty reduction in India. On December 18, 2024, the Foundation for Agrarian Studies i.e. FAS, Bengaluru organized an online panel discussion on the topic “Measuring Poverty in India”. The event was organized in the backdrop of the release of the Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 by the Government of India. This discussion has started a debate on poverty in India yet again.”

Earlier, it was reported that the poverty level has fallen to about 10% but in a recent review of the Agricultural Studies report, it has been found that more than a quarter of India’s population is below the poverty line. It is worth mentioning that the program, chaired by Professor Madhura Swaminathan of the Indian Statistical Institute, was attended by P.C. Mohanan, Chairman, Kerala State Statistics Commission; and R. Ramkumar, Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences. During the discussion, the background of poverty estimation in India was briefly outlined, focusing on the methodology proposed by the expert group (Rangarajan).

Using the Rangarajan expert group, the poverty line in 2022-23 was estimated to be Rs 2,515 for rural areas and Rs 3,639 for urban areas. This resulted in an overall poverty rate of 26.4%. According to the report that came out after this, more than one in four Indians still live in poverty. That is, the population of such people is about 26.4 percent. “The three authors have taken unit data from the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey 2022-23 and recalculated the Rangarajan poverty line for each state and rural-urban sector. Their claim is in stark contrast to what Niti Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subramanian had claimed in 2024 that the poverty ratio in India had fallen below 5%.

The editorial written by the Review of Agrarian Studies has noted that for over a decade, the Indian government has been silent on the extent of poverty measured by consumption expenditure, a proxy for income. This highlights two issues – one is the lack of availability of quality data, and second, the shift by the government from measuring and reporting poverty in terms of consumer expenditure to measuring it in terms of various aspects of living standards.

“Poverty estimation in India is now carried out by NITI Aayog’s task force through the calculation of poverty line based on the data captured by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). NITI Aayog as a policy think tank has replaced Planning Commission, which was earlier responsible for calculating the poverty line in India. Poverty line estimation in India is based on the consumption expenditure and not on the income levels.”

The online panel discussion by the Foundation for Agrarian Studies recognized the problem of not having an official estimate of poverty in India. Madhura Swaminathan, professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, said, “Those of us who are concerned with the real problem of not only measuring poverty but also eliminating it need to bring back the metric of money [in estimating poverty] in some way, even if we do not base all our understanding on it alone.” The last official estimate of poverty was given by the Planning Commission in 2013 and was based on the poverty line recommended by an expert group headed by Professor Suresh Tendulkar and data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey of 2011-12.

The report says the proportion of poor population is estimated to be 25.7% in rural India and 13.7% in urban India. The report also discusses how the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government set up another expert group headed by C. Rangarajan, which recommended a poverty line slightly higher than the Tendulkar poverty line, as it included expenditure on some essential non-food items in addition to expenditure on food necessary for survival. The report further says, “The expert group estimated that 30.9% of the rural population and 26.4% of the urban population were below the poverty line in 2011-12. These estimates have never been officially endorsed.”

“But since 2011-12, no official data on consumer expenditure has been released until 2024, when the Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted in August 2022-July 2023 is due to be completed. How can poverty be measured when this data has never been released?”

The problem does not end there. Scholars have noted that for a number of reasons – including changes in sample design, changes in items in the questionnaire and changes in data collection methods – data from the latest round of the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey are not strictly comparable with data from earlier rounds.

While the Niti Aayog’s revamped Multidimensional Poverty Index is very welcome, and reflects changes in many areas, “it is not a substitute for measuring income poverty,” the report says.

The Review of Agricultural Studies emphasizes that the numbers presented in the study it has published are “shameful” at best. “Applying the estimated poverty ratio of 27.4% in rural areas and 23.7% in urban areas to the population, there were 246.7 million poor persons in rural India and 114.4 million in urban India. In all, there are 361 million persons who cannot afford even the minimum expenditure criteria set by the expert group led by Rangarajan. India has more poor people than the entire population of the United States. In terms of GDP or national income, India ranks fifth globally.

In terms of the absolute number of people living in poverty, India ranks first in the world. A shameful record.”

The authors of this research paper focused on the methodology proposed by Rangarajan’s expert group, and used it to calculate the poverty line in 2022-23 for rural areas (Rs 2,515) and for urban areas (Rs 3,63). This results in an overall poverty rate of 26.4%.

In her remarks, Chairperson Madhura Swaminathan has said that India has a major problem of having no official estimate of poverty. She said there needs to be an income or expenditure metric as part of any poverty estimation method. She clarified that measures such as the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MDPI) do not have any income or expenditure measure, unlike the Human Development Index. “The MDPI is entirely based on other indicators of housing, health, education, etc. Those of us who are interested not just in measuring poverty but in the real problem of ending it need to bring back the wealth metric in some way, even if we base all our understanding on it.”

“A common method used to estimate poverty in India is based on the income or consumption levels and if the income or consumption falls below a given minimum level, then the household is said to be Below the Poverty Line (BPL).”

The post Agrarian Study Finds Niti Ayog’s Poverty Report Unrealistic! first appeared on New Delhi Post.

Bangladesh- whose mere existence in the world map is due to India’s bold step to free the country from Pakistan is making an all-out effort to destabilize India. The kind of network the deep state and Pakistani ISI are creating from Bangladesh’s soil makes it clear that they are trying to weaken India internally giving wounds every now and then. This is being done in the full knowledge of Bangladesh’s chief advisor Mohammad Yunus. If the experts are to be believed that this is a ploy of the deep state and ISI is a part of this deep nexus.

 What is this game and who are the pawns? Why is Bangladesh repeatedly provoking India, why is it threatening India off and on? New Delhi Post tries to find out the hidden facts.

Retired Colonel Danveer Singh says that the deep state and ISI have their hawk eyes on India and they would never want India’s relations with neighboring countries to be strong or cordial. Since India’s relations with Bangladesh have been very good in the past, the deep state and ISI want to weaken it.  Till the time of Sheikh Hasina’s government, many terrorist camps were destroyed there and the country also handed over India’s most wanted terrorists who were in hiding within Bangladesh. Since the trade between India and Bangladesh was also flourishing, the deep state, through a planned game plan instigated violence against the Hindus.

“As a strategy, the elected government in Bangladesh was ousted and Mohammad Yunus was brought to power under the plan of the American deep state and Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. In 2006, Yunus was awarded the Nobel Prize for starting a microfinance system for the poor and low-income people through the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh. However, after this, Yunus was also accused of diverting the bank’s funds. Corruption cases were also registered against him. At that time Sheikh Hasina was in power in Bangladesh.”

Yunus left the country and lived in France thereafter. Yunus has had strategic relations with former US President Bill Clinton and his wife former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mohammad Yunus has been associated with the Clinton Foundation since 2007-08. The Clinton Foundation is also a part of the deep state. It is said that Yunus donated 5 million dollars to the Clinton Foundation by diverting funds from the Grameen Bank. Hillary Clinton, in return, while being the US Secretary of State, pressurized the Bangladesh government to end the corruption cases going against Yunus.

The deep state was preparing to put Yunus on the throne in Bangladesh since 2009. Under the formula of Yunus minus 2. In Yunus minus two, (minus two is for opponents Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia). The meaning is clear that the deep state wanted to remove Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia paving way for Yunus so that there is no opposition later on. The plan was derived in such a way that he can comfortably stay in power in Bangladesh for years and make policies according to the interests of the deep state and also spread unrest in the region by sending Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists to the North Easten part of India.

Prime Minister Modi and his government does not fulfill the interests of the deep state. Against its wishes, India buys oil from Russia, talks of strategic autonomy, so India is on the hit list of the deep state. It is constantly trying for regime change in India.

“The deep state has been spreading instability and unrest in the whole world through Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists. Terrorist organizations like ISI and Al Qaeda were created and funded by the American deep state and even today it is using it in countries like Syria, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan to fulfill its interests.“

Similarly, in Bangladesh, Islamic fundamentalist organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizbul Tahrir, Hefazat-e-Islam and Ansar ul Bangla Team are being used to attack Hindus.

The purpose is clear that when Hindus will migrate from Bangladesh to India due to fear of being killed and there will be political unrest with Bangladesh. Subsequently, India’s pace on progress will be hindered as new problems arises on the borders. The deep state has played this trick to hinder the development India is focusing on and would be busy with internal problems. The regime-change expert of the deep state, US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Donald Lu was in India recently. It is believed that this visit of Donald Lu was also a part of the conspiracy of the deep state to destabilize India. Donald Lu is considered the architect of regime change in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Nahid Islam and Mehfuz Alam are the other two key conspirators. Nahid Islam is currently an advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh. He led the student movement against Sheikh Hasina. Before the protest against Sheikh Hasina, he went to Pakistan with some other student leaders. It is believed that he has been trained by the ISI. He has a good reach among the student community in Bangladesh.

He is associated with the student wing of the radical Islamic organization Jamaat-e-Islami and is often seen with Mohammad Yunus. On the other hand, Mahfuz Alam is associated with the banned terrorist organization Hizb ut Tahrir, which advocates Islamic Caliphate and Sharia in Bangladesh. Recently, Yunus went to America in an event of Clinton Foundation and described Mahfuz Alam as the mastermind behind the movement against Sheikh Hasina.

“Among the other players are Pakistan-backed Islamic fundamentalist organization Jamaat-e-Islami, is Ansar ul Bangla Team, a part of Al Qaeda, Hizb Ut Tahrir and Hefazat e Islam. These three organizations are controlled by ISI and are being used to massacre Hindus and promote fundamentalists in Bangladesh.”

Hindus have been massacred on a large scale in Bangladesh and the problem still persists for the Hindu population. It is believed that the module for this massacre has been prepared by ISI. To execute the game, ISI used the videos of Durga Pandals. To incite Muslims and Islamic fundamentalists, the video of Maa Durga’s idols was cleverly morphed and Quran was shown under her feet. The cadres of the three terrorist organizations and Jamaat-e-Islami incited the communal sentiments among the people and started attacking the Hindus. Hindus were killed selectively on a large scale.

Retd. Colonel Danveer Singh says: “India has only one option to stop the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh diplomatically and politically. India can raise the issue in the United Nations and other international forums. Now when Trump’s is taking over the reins in America, who has also categorically condemned the attacks on Hindus during his election campaign, India can put pressure on the Bangladesh government through Trump as well.”

The ISI of Pakistan has currently set up its command and control center in Barishal city of Bangladesh. Barishal is located in South Central Bangladesh on the banks of Kirtan Khola river. ISI is trying to prepare such a leadership in Bangladesh that can work against India and increase cooperation with Pakistan. Mohammad Yunus, is said that he is close to Pakistan, and can start a new political era in Bangladesh.

“The result of the hob nobbling between Bangladesh and Pakistan is that the Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh visited Pakistan after many years and also met the Pak Army Chief and other officials. Not only this, just a few days ago, a cargo ship of Pakistan filled with weapons also reached Bangladesh. Probably the first time after 1971.”

 Sources in intelligence agencies say that the Turkish origin Bariakhtar TB-2 drone which is being flown on the Bangladesh-India border is also being operated by Pakistan Army soldiers. At the behest of Pakistan, Bangladesh is constantly provoking India so that India can be pushed into a war like situation with Bangladesh and peace in this part of the world can be disturbed. An example of this was seen when the Border Guards of Bangladesh entered the Indian border and tried to stop the construction of a temple being built in Karimganj area of ​​​​Assam. It was only after the intervention of BSF, the Border Guards of Bangladesh retracted.

Retd. Colonel Danveer Singh says: “There are people who say that India should take military action against Bangladesh. But the truth is that right now there is nothing that would make Bangladesh take any major action. The important thing is that there is a need to understand the internal condition of Bangladesh. There is no need for a situation like military option right now. Because no major action has been taken by Bangladesh against India, in such a situation any action against it is not right. If any action had been taken by Bangladesh on the independence and sovereignty of India, then action would have been needed but nothing like that has happened.”

“As far as the Karimganj incident and the deployment of Bakhtawar drone are concerned, India still needs to exercise restraint on this. India does not want any such action right now which may prove bad for India later and then it will become difficult to control it. There is political instability within Bangladesh right now. The law-and-order situation is bad, in such a situation what is happening in Bangladesh is natural. If India takes any military action in response to this, then the relations between India and Bangladesh can deteriorate for a long time. In such a situation, there is no need for any military action right now, ” says Danveer Singh.

“India is closely assessing this changing scenario in Bangladesh and also analyzing its diplomatic, military and security strategies. Currently, under a new development, the Arakan Army has occupied a very large area of ​​​​Bangladesh’s border with Myanmar. According to reports, the Arakan Army has blocked the road leading to St. Martin Island. America wants to build a military base on this St. Martin Island to keep an eye on India and China. Along with this, the Arakan Army has given a strict warning to Bangladesh about the atrocities being committed against Hindus, Buddhists and other minorities.”

 In such a situation, Bangladesh also seems to be surrounded and has sought help from America to deal with the Arakan Army. This sudden trouble for Bangladesh is being considered a part of India’s diplomacy. India has good relations with the Arakan Army and about two months ago, representatives of the Arakan Army were called to Delhi and met them. India has banned the export of many food items to teach Bangladesh a lesson. Amidst these circumstances, India also sent Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Bangladesh a few days ago in an attempt to maintain dialogue with Bangladesh so that regional security and stability can be maintained.

It was the effect of Vikram Misri’s visit that Bangladesh, which has been giving statements about attacks on Hindus till now, has now accepted 88 attacks so far. On the other hand, America has also asked the Yunus government for the first time to take action against the attacks on minorities.

This statement of America has great significance. It seems that the deep state is trying to distance itself from its pawns. At present, in view of the changing situation in Bangladesh, India needs to remain alert about cross-border terrorism, infiltration and other security risks. Along with this, India also has to keep in mind that any kind of political instability in Bangladesh can have a direct impact on India’s north-eastern states and eastern borders.

Colonel Danveer says:”The recent visit of India’s foreign secretary is very important.This is the first visit by any Indian government official after the Yunus government came to power. Tactically, this meeting is of acute importance from the point of view of India. The Bangladeshi government needs to clear its position on the increasing number of attacks on Hindus.”

“The issues on which there is disagreement can be resolved. The important thing is that India also needs to understand the problems of Bangladesh. It is very important to know what its expectations are and when talks take place, many issues get solved,” ends Retd. Colonel Danveer Singh.

The post Deep State-ISI’s ‘Yunus Minus Two’ Plan: The Inside Story of Hindu Killings first appeared on New Delhi Post.

Is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar all set to receive the prestigious Bharat Ratna in early 2025? the political circles both in the national capital and Patna are abuzz with the news after Janta Dal United (JDU) put-up posters in Patna before the JDU convention in October this year.

More recently, on December 25^th, Union Minister Giriraj Singh also demanded Bharat Ratna for Nitish Kumar.  Singh’s remarks gain significance in light of the Bihar BJP leadership’s recent comments stipulating that the NDA would contest the upcoming State Assembly elections under the leadership of JD(U) chief and incumbent CM Nitish Kumar.

Since then, there is a curious ‘whisper mongering’ among the political circles. On October 5, this year, JDU party convention was organized in Patna. An executive committee meeting was also convened which was to be chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. A couple of days before the convention, hoardings with pictures of Nitish Kumar and senior JDU leaders were put up outside the JDU office and at important intersections of the city. Through the posters, a demand was made to the Government of India to award Bharat Ratna to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Interestingly, The Government of India conferred Bharat Ratna to 5 distinguished personalities in a single year 2024.

“The opposition parties in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) slammed the government for ‘pressure tactics’ by JDU.”

In response to queries regarding the qualifications of Nitish for Bharat Ratna, JDU leaders came up with a list of achievements of the government under CM Nitish Kumar.  The leaders opined that after the formation of JDU government in 2005, the image of Bihar has changed globally, crime has reduced, education and health facilities have improved, there is a complete and successful liquor ban in the state.  The JDU also slammed the opposition, particularly the RJD, for turning Bihar into a ‘Bimaru State’ during their rule of more than two decades.

The whispering in the political circles also opined that the demand is not possible without a green signal from Nitish Kumar himself. Kumar, who loves to be in the limelight might have been the entire idea and is not a sudden demand by the party cadres. This may have been a part of a thoughtful strategy of Kumar.  

If one looks closely at the political graph of Nitish Kumar and JDU, it would be easy to find that nothing can be done without the knowledge of the chief minister now. This comes after party leader Bhim Singh had once without permission said that Nitish Kumar could be the face of the Prime Minister. On this Nitish Kumar had reprimanded him and since then there is a blanket ban on public comments by the lower cadre of the party without approval directly from Nitish Kumar particularly on issues which can jeopardize the future prospects of JDU relations with BJP. Interestingly, though Nitish knew about the posters during the convention, he attended the convention and said nothing about the issue of Bharat Ratna. Making it clear that he had the knowhow of the developments and had no problems with raising the issue.

 “Nitish Kumar understands his importance with the BJP at the centre. BJP has less options and despite having less seats Nitish was made the CM and perhaps BJP will have to project Kumar yet again in the upcoming Elections. BJP has less choices to pick from so his demands will be taken seriously at the centre.”

Nitish knows that If this bet works, then he will have the power to rebranding himself in Bihar. Despite the fact that his critics have named him ‘Paltu Ram’ for his habit of switching sides off and on.

However, if Nitish Kumar’s name is proposed for Bharat Ratna, he will be the second sitting Chief Minister, to get the highest civilian award of the country. The first being Dr. Bidhan Chandra Rai, who was the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Bharat Ratna award was started in the year 1954 by the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Since then, only 6 Chief Ministers have been awarded the Bharat Ratna. Most of them posthumously.  

Govind Ballabh Pant was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1957. Pant participated in the country’s freedom struggle. At the same time, after independence, he became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He exemplary work includes the upliftment of farmers of Uttar Pradesh during his tenure.

West Bengal Chief Minister Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy is considered the creator of modern Bengal. He became the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 23 January 1948. He is one of the few people who received the degree of FRCS and MRCP simultaneously in India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1961.

Kumaraswamy Kamaraj took over as the Chief Minister of Madras State in 1954. His nine-year tenure as CM in Madras (now Tamil Nadu) is seen as the best period of administration. Under Kamaraj’s leadership, Madras’s industrial and agricultural sector developed on a large scale. He was awarded the President of India Award in 1976.

Former Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur was conferred the nation’s highest honor posthumously by the President of India Droupadi Murmu after 35 years of his death recently.

The post Is Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Being Conferred with Bharat Ratna in 2025? first appeared on New Delhi Post.

The crucial questions are:

1. whether our country’s Supreme Court will ask the Indian government if it has purchased Pegasus – often described as the most dangerous spyware known to humankind; and
2. whether this has been misused to spy on the government’s critics and political opponents, as well as certain insiders including Union Ministers.

The US District Court has judged that NSO Group was liable for violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by accessing WhatsApp’s computers without authorization and that the privately-owned Israeli firm had the intent to defraud WhatsApp. The court also ruled that NSO Group had violated California state’s Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act.

Judge Hamilton’s 16-page judgement ruled that NSO Group had intentionally destroyed evidence and/or concealed evidence. Her court then imposed sanctions on NSO Group and stated that it would start hearings on damages to be imposed on the company from 24 January 2025 onwards.

On 10 December 2024, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered that the case on alleged misuse of Pegasus by the government, which has been pending from August 2022, be heard on 7 March 2025.

“Several petitions have been filed in the country’s apex court, including one by the writer of this article, alleging that Pegasus has been used in an illegal manner against journalists, lawyers, civil society activists, judges, government officials and politicians, among others.”

Pegasus is the name of a mythical winged horse that figures in Greek mythology. It is considered to be the world’s most powerful cyberweapon, a zero-click-bait spyware that can be misused to listen to, read, and view conversations, text, and audio messages as well as videos over electronic mail and text communications on cellular phones. Unlike in the past when the user of a mobile phone had to click on a link to enable malware to enter the user’s device, a person whose phone has been infiltrated by Pegasus is completely unaware if, how, when and where the phone has been “infected” or “compromised.”

Pegasus has reportedly been deployed to track not just the political opponents of those in power, but also those within reigning governments who rulers want to spy on. It has reportedly been used on heads of government such as France’s President Emmanuel Macron and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and their aides.

Several governments including those in France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, the United States and even, Israel (when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s predecessor Naftali Bennett was in power in Tel Aviv) have formally investigated whether Pegasus was illegally used in their respective countries. But not the government of India. Why?

The alleged misuse of Pegasus in this country and many other countries across the world, including Mexico, Hungary, France, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, was first exposed by the Paris-based international non-government organization, Forbidden Stories, which received a data leak of some 50,000 phone numbers that had apparently been infected by Pegasus. Amnesty International joined Forbidden Stories in its investigation.

“These phone numbers were shared with more than 80 journalists working in 17 media organizations in different countries, including The Wire in India. Whereas many of the users of the phones that were allegedly infected were unwilling to have their phones forensically examined, some (including this writer) agreed. The information inside the phones were scrutinized by technical experts in Europe (engaged by Amnesty International) and in Canada (at the Citizen Lab in Toronto). The worldwide investigation took more than three months to complete and its findings were disclosed in July 2021.”

After several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court here, the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana asked the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who represents the Union government, to answer a simple and straightforward question. CJI Ramana asked if any agency or department of the Indian government (or, for that matter, a state government) had purchased or used Pegasus. Instead of answering “yes” or “no” Mehta said he would not answer the question because national security interests could be jeopardized.

On 27 October 2021, CJI Ramana constituted a three-member committee to examine the issue. The committee was headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice R V Raveendran, and comprised Alok Joshi, former Director of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in the Cabinet Secretariat and a 1976 batch officer of the Indian Police Service; and Sundeep Oberoi, Chairman of the sub-committee of the International Organisation of Standardisation, International Electro-Technical Commission, and its Joint Technical Committee.

The committee was supported by another panel of three technical experts: Naveen Chaudhary, a professor of cybersecurity and digital forensics at the National Forensic Sciences University, Gujarat; Prabaharan P, an expert on cyber security and a professor at the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kerala; and Ashwin Anil Gumaste, a professor of computer sciences and engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

“A day before CJI Ramana retired on 26 August 2022 he observed in the open court that the Indian government had not cooperated with the panel he had appointed. He wryly remarked: “We will say one sentence – the government did not cooperate with the technical committee on scrutiny of the devices for Pegasus spyware.”

CJI Ramana was presiding over a three-judge bench alongside Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli. He opened the voluminous three-part report in court and stated the technical committee had examined 29 phones and found malware in five of them but could not conclusively state if the malware was indeed Pegasus. CJI Ramana said the Raveendran committee’s report would be uploaded on the Supreme Court’s website but that the technical committee’s report would be uploaded after redacting certain portions, as committee members had requested that personal data not be disclosed.

CJI Ramana said the Raveendran committee had recommended changes in the existing law on surveillance and also suggested that the protection of privacy be enhanced “along with the cyber secrecy of the nation.” The CJI said the committee’s recommendations and observations could be made public.

The bench stated: “Such a course of action taken by the respondent – Union of India, especially in proceedings of the present nature which touches upon the fundamental rights of the citizens of the country, cannot be accepted…The mere invocation of national security by the State does not render the Court a mute spectator.”

“Despite CJI Ramana’s public statements, late at night on August 25, 2022, the report was “re-sealed” and kept in the custody of the Secretary General of the Supreme Court. The Leaflet website commented: “The decision to keep the two reports under wraps, despite the CJI’s oral commitment to upload them on the Supreme Court’s website, disappointed those who expected some degree of transparency from the highest court.”

Former CJI Ramana said the case was to be heard after a month. It was not. Two Chief Justices (U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud) were appointed and then they retired. 

Meanwhile, in September-October 2023, several MPs, politicians opposed to the Narendra Modi government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, individuals working in the office of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and journalists, received an “alert” on their iPhones by Apple that read: “State-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone … These attackers are likely targeting you individually because of who you are or what you do. If your device is compromised by a state-sponsored attacker, they may be able to remotely access your sensitive data, communications, or even the camera and microphone.”

The government claimed that this alert was part of a global move by Apple.

The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 specifies the circumstances under which the Union government and state/provincial governments can intercept or tap telephones in the event of a “public emergency” or in the “interest of public safety” as per Section 5(2) of the Act. Such tapping or interception can also take place in the “interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence.”

“There are certain safeguards that protect a citizen from misuse of the interception process. In 1997, in the case People’s Union for Civil Liberties versus the Union of India, the Supreme Court observed that the right to have a telephone conversation in the privacy of one’s home or office is part of each citizen’s right to life and personal liberty (as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India), which cannot be curtailed except according to the procedure established by law.”

The Court clarified that this section does not confer unguided and unbridled power on investigating agencies to invade a person’s privacy and laid down the following safeguards: The tapping of telephones is prohibited without an authorizing order from the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India or the Home Secretary of the concerned state government, and that this order, unless renewed, shall cease to have authority at the end of two months from the date of issue and cannot remain in operation beyond six months. All copies of the intercepted communication are supposed to be destroyed as soon as their retention is considered not necessary.

In pursuance of the Supreme Court judgement, the Indian Telegraph (First Amendment) Rules, 1999, were framed and notified and a similar notification titled, the Information Technology (Procedures and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules were notified a decade later in 2009.

These laws and rules may appear adequate but the terms and definitions mentioned are open to interpretation and misuse/abuse by law-enforcing agencies and those in positions of power and authority. That’s essentially the problem with a government that, contrary to its claims, does not want transparent governance or wishes to protect the human rights and civil liberties of its citizens, in the opinion of this writer.

A spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Randeep Singh Surjewala has demanded that WhatsApp disclose the names of the 300-odd Indians whose phones were allegedly infected by Pegasus. But will the multinational technological giant headed by 40-year-old Mark Zukerberg oblige? Your guess could be as good as mine.

Portions of this article have been based on an earlier article titled “Indian Supreme Court’s Silence on Pegasus Legitimizes Spying on Critics” written by the author and published in the website of the Washington D C based Centre for the Study of Organized Hate on 8 December 2024. The link to the article: https://www.csohate.org/2024/12/08/indian-use-of-pegasus/

(The writer is an independent journalist, author, publisher, documentary film-maker, music video director, and a teacher. He can be contacted at paranjoy@gmail.com. His personal website is www.paranjoy.in and his YouTube channel is Paranjoy Online.)

The post Will Supreme Court of India heed US indictment of maker of Israeli spyware Pegasus? first appeared on New Delhi Post.