Accused of gold smuggling case says that Diplomat is involved

On Thursday, the Home Ministry of India ordered a probe into the Thiruvananthapuram airport gold smuggling case. The Home Ministry ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the case of the seizure of 30 kg of gold from a diplomatic cargo addressed to the UAE consulate-general office in the Kerala capital. The Ministry said that the “organized smuggling operation may have serious implications on National security.

As per the close sources of the case, the NIA will register a case under the section 15,16, 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004. This case will be related to terrorist act and terror funding. “NIA probe will ensure a thorough investigation since the case involves an organized racket with international linkages, and was deemed appropriate given the implications for national and economic security of India,” said an officer. The internal NIA sources have confirmed that the probe will start as soon as possible. 

The case has created a stir in the state as the alleged involvement of a former staffer of UAE consulate-general Swapna Suresh. She was a part of in key social, political and bureaucratic circles and had active involvement. Moreover, it has also been found out that she was also related with the principal secretary to Kerala chief minister, M Sivasankar, who was removed from his post on Tuesday.

There is no trace of Swapna Suresh as she has been absconding since then. She however have filed a plea for anticipatory bail in the Kerala high court. Suresh claims that she had contacted the airport officer regarding the cargo on the alleged directions of top diplomat in the UAE consulate-general office, Rashid Khamis Al Shameli. She further added that she is working with the consulate under the “work on request” basis.

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Congress uses 2013’s post to ask PM Modi to answer his question on India-China situation

The congress party does not want to lose any chance to corner the Prime Minister and in this endeavor, they have been looking for anything and everything. On Tuesday, congress took out time to revisit the past and brought back an old tweet to take a jibe over PM Narendra Modi on the ongoing tension between the two neighboring countries – India and China. It has been reported that both Indian and Chinese troops are mutually disengaging and withdrawing from the contested areas along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in eastern Ladakh.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala asked PM Modi if he remember his words, referring to a tweet that PM Modi made in 2013, when he was still the ChiefMinister of Gujarat.

"Respected Prime Minister, do you remember your words? Do your words mean anything? Will you tell us why our forces are retracting from our land? The country seeks answers," he wrote.

In May 2013, Prime Minister Modi had tweeted: "China withdraws its forces but I wonder why Indian forces are withdrawing from Indian Territory? Why did we retreat?"

On Sunday, china started dismantling camps at PP 14 (Patrol Point 14) in Galwan and pulling back troops from the area. The move took one day to complete and now the Chinese forces are two kilometers away from the Galwan Valley, Hot Springsand Gogra.

The Indian army also moved back to a similar distance although they were already firmly on the Indian Territory only. This was done to make a peaceful buffer zone between both the armies. 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also retweeted the post and sarcastically wrote; "I stand with Modiji on this. The PM must answer his question".

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Uddhav reaches out to PM Modi for cooperation to get into upper house

A fortnight ago, the cabinet urged Governor Bhagwat Singh Koshiyari to nominate Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the legislative council. Now it is reported that the Governor is seeking the opinion of attorney general K K Venugopal on the matter.

Uddhav Thackeray reached out to PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday and discussed the delay of appointment to the upper house by Koshiyari, over the phone. As per a senior NCP minister, the CM has reached out to the PM to ask for his cooperation in resolving the appointment issue. He also brought to the PM’s notice that if no decision was taken then he would have to quit office.

“As there was no response from Koshyari, Thackeray dialed the PM,” said the NCP minister. The minister further added that the cabinet took the decision to nominate Thackeray from the governor’s quota on April 9th but soon reiterated it on Tuesday. 

“During discussion with Koshyari, he informed a delegation led by Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil that before taking any decision he will consult the attorney general,” he said “We told the governor to please not wait till May 27, the last date for the CM to become a member of either of the houses of the state legislature," he said.

Meanwhile, the situation of Maharashtra amid the Coronavirus outbreak is very critical with more and more cases being reported every day. Every possible measure is being taken to ensure that the situation is controlled within the right time. On Wednesday, Mumbai reported 32 deaths. It is the highest cases of fatalities recorded in Maharashtra in one day.