Risks Of "Donkey Flights" As Illegal Migration Rises In Punjab, Haryana

Illegal immigration by young Indians to countries such as the US, the UK, and Canada has come under spotlight as a plane carrying suspected victims of human trafficking was rerouted to India. The flight, which made headlines last week, was on its way to Nicaragua after being detained in France.

"Donkey Flight" has become the catchall term for such illegal movements -- a corruption of the Punjabi work "dunki" meaning to hop from one place to another.

Every year more than 20,000 young men and women from Punjab attempt irregular migration, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime hjhad said in a report back in 2009.

As the intercepted flight indicated, the number has only grown. While no consolidated data exists given the secrecy exercised, there are other indicators.

Since 2012, the Punjab Police have issued over 10 lakh Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) -- a spike that raises aspirations even among those of the young generation who have no means to move abroad.  

A Special Investigation Team has handled about 645 such cases, resulting in 518 arrests, Anil Vij, the Home Minister Haryana has said on Saturday.

The process is not easy. Apart from the high financial cost, there is every risk of being thrown into jail at any stage.

"My agent had promised to send me to Italy for 12 lakhs," said Rahul, a resident of Haryana's Kurukshetra, recalling his bid to migrate a few months ago.

"On April 8, they sent me first to Dubai and then to Egypt and was told that I will be sent to Libya from where I will have a direct flight," he said.

Though he managed to reach Libya, he soon found the cost was too great -- landing in jail shortly after.

One day he suffered a heart attack in jail. Thought to be dead, he was thrown on the sand outside.

"The people in the jail protested seeing me like this and tried to break the jail. Then I was taken to the hospital. As soon as I came to my senses, I was taken by the people of the Embassy and after making a white passport, I was brought to India," he said.

Many others are not lucky enough to make it back.

Shiv Kumar, a resident of Kaithal, sent his son to Portugal mortgaging his ancestral land. For the last seven months, he has been running from pillar to post to get his son back.

Though a police case has been lodged against the agent who sent his son abroad, there is no clue to the young man's whereabouts.

"Till date, we do not know where our son is. We last spoke to him on June 8. Two agents got bail and are now on the run... I have appealed to many places... lodged a complaint on the government's Madad App but no help came. We came to know that a boat on way from Libya to Italy sank," he added, breaking down.

Many others, like Malkeet from Kaithal district, the journey proved fatal.
His family got to know of his death from a video that had gone viral.

NDTV approached many travel agents seeking details. Only one person agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.

"There are two kind of illegal routes through which we send people abroad. One is through the forest route which is less expensive -- around 30-40 lakh... these days Turkey is the transit point... From Turkey a visa for Costa Rica is obtained...then to Panama," he said.

The payment has to be made in tranches at every phase -- Rs 10 lakh has to be paid in Turkey, another 10 lakh in Costa Rica and final payments have to be made in two tranches at the Mexico border.

In the second category, the travel is by air, which costs around Rs 40 to 50 lakh and the people are sent by air through any European country.

Even so, dozens of Indians are taking to social media to document their journey, offering tips, route suggestions and risk assessments.

After the flight returned from Bangalore, both Punjab and Haryana have cracked down on fake agents. Punjab has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the issue.  Haryana said it already has one, which has been going after the fraudulent agents.

"The state government will bring a bill in the winter session of the state assembly to regulate immigration agents and agencies," said Anil Vij.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/JMtkzom
via IFTTT

"Have To Go To Jail For Paths We Have Chosen": Arvind Kejriwal To Workers

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said his party has gained popularity for its "work-centric politics" and asserted the party workers should be ready "to go to jail for the paths we have chosen for the public good".

Chairing the National Executive and 12th National Council meetings of the party, held virtually on Sunday, he said, "The Aam Aadmi Party has risen to the third place among 1,350 political parties in these 10 years." "If we were not successful and did not do anything good, then none of our party leaders would have gone to jail and today everyone would have been happy with their families," he said.

Mr Kejriwal's remarks assume significance since the Enforcement Directorate has asked him to appear before it on January 3 in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case.

The Delhi CM said that two major parties have ruled this country for 75 years and said "these people will not relinquish power so easily".

"I think we are facing a struggle, but there's no need for us to be saddened. Our five leaders who are in jail today are our heroes. We are very proud of all of them. I am continuously in touch with lawyers. It's a very good thing that even while in jail, all our leaders' spirits are still very high.

"On the day Manish Sisodia's bail was cancelled, he sent a message saying, 'It's okay, I'll stay in jail for as many days as needed. This entire case is fabricated, and my struggle will continue'," he added.

At the National Council meeting, Mr Kejriwal asserted that the AAP has given the country a viable alternative in electoral politics and has gained popularity for its "work-centric politics".

Addressing the party workers, he said, "If you give good education to children, you will have to go to jail. If you provide free treatment to the poor, you will have to go to jail. We will have to go to jail for the paths we have chosen for public good." He also praised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for the remarkable progress in the state.

"We have shown what work can be done that other parties couldn't accomplish in 75 years. In the last two years, the work done by the AAP government in Punjab shows that if our government is in full power in a state, we can work very swiftly and do wonders," he asserted.

He further said that AAP has made a significant impact on national politics in 10 years. For the first time in the country, opposition parties have been compelled to discuss schools and hospitals, he opined.

"Now, these people have replaced manifesto with 'guarantee' term stolen from us. They have started talking about 'Modi's guarantee' and 'Congress's guarantee'. These people have given guarantees to the public, but none of them fulfilled them because their intentions are not right, whereas we are fulfilling all our guarantees," he added.

He also informed the AAP officials about the national council and executive meetings of the party in physical mode in Amritsar in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Explaining the hurdles faced by the Delhi government and the freedom enjoyed in full-fledged state Punjab, Mr Kejriwal said, "In Delhi, due to obstructions created by the LG and the Centre, we set up 550 Mohalla Clinics but in Punjab 662 Aam Aadmi Clinics (Mohalla Clinics) are operational now and by January 26, 2024, the number will reach 750 in just two years." He also asked the party workers to build and strengthen the organization across the country. Elections cannot be won without a strong organization in states, he said.

"The AAP is a part of the INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. We must contest well on the seats we get in seat sharing, and our entire effort will be to win all those seats. Volunteers of the party from states where the AAP isn't contesting Lok Sabha elections will come and help in the places where elections are being contested," he added.

After the Lok Sabha elections, the Haryana Assembly election is the most significant for the party, he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/4MtRYje
via IFTTT

US Strikes Kill 10 Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels In Red Sea: Report

At least 10 Houthi rebels were killed Sunday when US forces struck their boats in the Red Sea, two sources at Yemen's Hodeida port said.

The US military earlier said it had destroyed several small boats operated by the Iran-backed Houthis after the rebels had attacked and tried to board a container ship.

One source at the rebel-controlled port said the wounded were rescued following the strike. The other source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were four other survivors.

"Ten Houthis were killed and two were wounded in the US strike on Houthi boats that tried to stop a vessel in the sea off Hodeida," the first source said.

The second source said that "four survivors have arrived in Hodeida with two wounded who were taken to hospital".

The US Navy had responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated container ship that reported coming under attack for a second time in 24 hours while transiting the Red Sea, the US Central Command said in a statement.

Houthis had fired on US helicopters, who "returned fire in self-defence", sinking three of four small boats that had come within 20 meters of the ship, according to the statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/HFfKlS5
via IFTTT

Happy New Year 2024: Wishes, Messages, And WhatsApp Status

New Year 2024 Wishes: It is time to say goodbye to the year that has taught us new things. Whether you've planned resolutions or are embracing the year with a free spirit, it is important to share warm wishes with loved ones.

Here is a list of heartfelt messages to make your friends and relatives feel special this New Year:

• To new beginnings, exciting adventures, and creating beautiful memories in the unfolding chapters of 2024.
• Wishing you a new year full of fresh opportunities, new friendships, and the courage to chase your dreams.
• As 2023 concludes, embrace the lessons it brought, and may 2024 be a blank canvas for new achievements and joys.
• Here's to leaving behind the old, embracing the new, and stepping into 2024 with open hearts and open minds.
• May the dawn of January 1 bring with it a renewed sense of purpose, boundless joy, and endless possibilities.
• As the clock strikes midnight, may you leave behind any regrets and welcome the promise of a fulfilling 2024.
• May the transition from 2023 to 2024 be smooth, bringing with it peace, good health, and a sense of fulfilment.
• As the calendar turns, may you find the strength to overcome challenges and the resilience to face new ones in 2024.
• Wishing you a New Year filled with moments of love, togetherness, and the company of those who matter most.
• Cheers to bidding farewell to 2023 with gratitude and embracing the promise of a brighter, more hopeful 2024.
   

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/QohTMeB
via IFTTT

151 Myanmar Soldiers Flee To Mizoram Amid Conflict With Armed Ethnic Group

At least 151 Myanmarese soldiers fled to Mizoram's Lawngtlai district after their camps in the neighbouring country were overrun by an armed ethnic group, an Assam Rifles officer said on Saturday.

The Myanmarese army personnel, also known as the 'Tatmadaw,' fled with their arms and approached the Assam Rifles at Tuisentlang in Lawngtlai district on Friday after their camps near the international border were overrun by the Arakan Army fighters, he said.

The officer said that there had been intense gunfights between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army fighters for the past few days in areas close to the Indian border.

He said that some of the Myanmarese Army personnel, who entered Mizoram on Friday, were critically injured and first aids were administered to them by the Assam Rifles.

The Myanmar army soldiers are now in the safe custody of Assam Rifles at Parva in Lawngtlai district near the Myanmar border, he said.

The Myanmar soldiers will be sent back to their country in some days as talks are going on between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Myanmar military government, he added.

In November, a total of 104 Myanmar soldiers fled to Mizoram after their military camps along the Myanmar-India border were overrun by pro-democracy militia - People's Defence Force (PDF).

They were airlifted by the Indian Airforce to Moreh in Manipur, from where they crossed the international border and entered Tamu, the nearest border town in Myanmar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/gq8GSJY
via IFTTT

2 Corporators Thrashed, Clothes Torn During Meerut Municipal Meet

At least two members of the opposition were allegedly thrashed - and one of them had part of their clothing torn off - by BJP members after an argument at a meeting of the Meerut Municipal Corporation on Saturday. The assault allegedly began after one of the BJP men, a Member of the Legislative Council, was pushed by a member of the opposition parties. 

This is the second such clash in less than a week and while the previous incident in Shamli saw punches and kicks flying within the confines of a room, the one on Saturday had the politicians coming out on the road and continuing the assault, ignoring police personnel who were trying to intervene. 

The opposition has alleged that two of their corporators, both of whom are Dalit, were assaulted by members of the BJP, including the MLC and an Uttar Pradesh minister. The two corporators were from the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav has claimed that the arrogance of power was behind BJP members beating up their colleagues in the opposition and that the ruling party is getting violent because it can sense a loss in the upcoming elections. A police complaint has also been filed against members of the BJP, including UP Minister of State for Energy Somendra Tomar and MLC Dharmendra Bhardwaj.

Mr Tomar and Mr Bhardwaj have rubbished the allegations and claimed that the opposition members used indecent language against a woman corporator, leading to the altercation. 

Flare-Up

A board meeting of the corporation was being held to discuss the budget and other issues in the presence of most of the corporators and Mayor Harikant Ahluwalia. Mr Tomar and Mr Bhardwaj also attended the meeting. 

Sources said BJP corporator Rekha Singh, while discussing the collection of house tax, made some comments about a particular community and some Muslim and Dalit corporators from the opposition objected to them. This led to a shouting match and Mr Bhardwaj stepped in to intervene, when he was allegedly pushed by a member of an opposition party. 

The BJP, however, has claimed that the cause of the altercation was the use of indecent language against women corporators by some opposition members. 

After Mr Bhardwaj was pushed, corporators from the BJP and their supporters got angry and attacked their opposition colleagues, resorting to punching and kicking them. Two opposition corporators who bore the brunt of the attack were Kuldeep alias Kirti Ghopla of the SP, and BSP corporator Ashish Kumar.

The police intervened and tried to control the situation but the thrashing continued. When some policemen finally extracted the two opposition members and took them out on the road, some BJP corporators and supporters followed and continued to assault them outside. Videos also show MLC Bhardwaj slapping corporator Kirti Ghopla.

Mr Ghopla's vest was shredded by the end of the assault, after which the police managed to take him and Mr Kumar to the Delhi Gate police station nearby.

The opposition corporators have filed a complaint in the police station alleging that they were assaulted and disrespectful speech regarding their caste was used. The MLC and Minister Tomar are named in the complaint. SP MLA Atul Pradhan also reached the police station later.

'Will Get Their Answer'

In a post in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP will pay electorally for the objectionable treatment meted out to Dalits.

"During the Municipal Corporation Board meeting in Meerut, a minister of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and an MLC carried out a dangerous attack on Dalit corporators from the opposition in the presence of the police. The BJP is going to get its answer in the upcoming elections for the humiliating treatment that Dalits are being subjected to because of its arrogance of being in power. The BJP has turned violent out of frustration over its impending defeat," Mr Yadav said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

मेरठ में नगर निगम बोर्ड की बैठक के दौरान उप्र की भाजपा सरकार के मंत्री और एमएलसी ने पुलिस की मौजूदगी में विपक्ष के दलित पार्षदों पर घातक प्रहार किये। भाजपाई सत्ता के अहंकार में डूबकर दलितों से जो अपमानजनक व्यवहार कर रहे हैं उसका जवाब उनको आगामी चुनाव में मिलनेवाला है। भाजपा आगामी… pic.twitter.com/YLngQiW79I

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 30, 2023

Denying the allegations, Minister Tomar said, "The opposition seems to have forgotten that this is (Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath's government. The mayor is trying to take everyone along. What happened today is saddening and strict action will be taken as per the rules."

When he was asked why security arrangements were not made despite such incidents occurring in the past, Mr Tomar said, "An example will be set... action will be taken as per the rules."

MLC Bhardwaj said, "I was invited by the mayor. When I entered the meeting room, I saw opposition corporators in an altercation with people from my party. Indecent language was used against two women corporators and when I stepped in to stop that, they tried to push me. This led to an altercation."

"Opposition corporators from the SP, AIMIM and other opposition parties were egging them on. Under the Yogi and Narendra Modi governments, an insult to women will not be tolerated," he said.

Mayor Ahluwalia also alleged that women corporators were disrespected and said that appropriate action will be taken.

Shamli Clash

Earlier this week, a meeting of the municipal council in Shamli had devolved into a WWE-style clash, with members punching and kicking each other and using tables to defend themselves. One member had even attempted to jump on and another after climbing onto a chair. 

Municipal Chairman Arvind Sangal and MLA Prasann Chaudhary were present at the meeting.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/LG8swjc
via IFTTT

Explained: Can Trump Run For 2024 US Presidential Elections Despite Bans?

With multiple US states hearing challenges to Donald Trump's right to run in the 2024 election, his supporters claim his enemies are tearing up democracy to prevent his return to the White House.

Rulings in Colorado and Maine banning the ex-president from their primary nominating contests under the Constitution's "insurrection clause" set off a political earthquake that could upend the campaign.

But do they pose a genuine threat to Trump's presidential ambitions?

Why Trump might be ineligible 

The US House of Representatives impeached the Republican tycoon for inciting insurrection after he called on his supporters to march on the US Capitol ahead of a deadly riot that delayed the certification of the 2020 election.

A large, bipartisan majority of the Senate agreed with the lower chamber's finding, but the tally fell short of the two-thirds of members required for a conviction, which would have barred Trump from seeking office again.

Federal prosecutors have since charged Trump with conspiracy over the violence, and he is scheduled for trial in March.

Meanwhile, activists have brought court challenges nationwide to stop his name appearing on ballots for state primaries under the 14th Amendment, which bars people from office if they have taken an oath to defend the Constitution but subsequently "engage in insurrection."

Where is Trump barred from running? 

On December 19, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible for the state's primary under the 14th Amendment's "insurrection clause."

Maine -- where the secretary of state, currently a Democrat, makes the initial eligibility determination -- followed suit on Thursday.

Related challenges have been filed nationwide, with decisions pending in 14 states, according to national security website Lawfare's online disqualification tracker.

What happens next? 

Both states put their bans on hold while the legal process plays out -- meaning Trump will almost certainly appear on both ballots for their March 5 primaries.

Grassroots Republicans have challenged the ruling in Colorado and the Trump campaign has indicated that it intends to appeal in both cases.

The Maine decision would go to the state's Superior Court first, while Colorado's ruling has already been through the state system and would be elevated directly to the US Supreme Court.

What can the US Supreme Court do? 

The strongly conservative-leaning high court -- which includes three Trump appointees -- can decline to review the Colorado case, meaning the Trump ban would stand.

In reality, most analysts believe that Maine joining with Colorado removes any doubt that the justices will act.

They would determine whether or not section three of the 14th Amendment -- the insurrection clause -- applies to a former president.

The court could also rule on whether the ban is automatic or would require an act of Congress, and whether the 2021 storming of the Capitol and Trump's role in it indeed qualify as insurrection.

The effect of the bans 

Even if the Colorado and Maine bans stand, front-running Trump is expected to be able to secure the Republican nomination comfortably without those states, so his path to the White House would not necessarily be impeded.

But an adverse Supreme Court ruling that is binding on lower courts nationwide -- rather than a narrow procedural ruling affecting only Colorado -- could torpedo the ex-president's primary challenge.

He would then have to decide whether to run for president as a third-party candidate.

But even if the high court doesn't weigh in on the state level rulings and the damage is limited to Colorado and Maine, the justices could leave the door open to challenges to Trump's eligibility for the general election.

So he could well find himself barred from challenging President Joe Biden in November, even if he wins the Republican nomination.

Timetable 

The gears of the US justice system grind notoriously slowly -- particularly at the top.

The Supreme Court has not indicated whether it intends to take up the Colorado appeal, nor how long it would take to rule on Trump's eligibility if it did. Trump's opponents have stressed the importance of an urgent decision.

The court can act quickly when required: Its ruling ending Florida's vote count in the 2000 election -- handing victory to George W. Bush -- took less than a month.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/BkDWT1G
via IFTTT