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BJP to celebrate DeMo anniversary as ‘Anti-Black Money Day’ on Nov 8

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Arun Jaitley

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]BJP’s move comes a day after a united Opposition, led by the Congress party, said that it would observe the first anniversary of demonetisation as ‘black day’

In a move aimed at countering possible political backlash triggered by a united Opposition’s plan to observe the first anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision as a ‘black day’, the BJP will commemorate the event in its own way by celebrating it as ‘Anti-black money day’.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, on Wednesday, said that the BJP will mark the first anniversary of noteban – on November 8 – as ‘Anti-black money day’ while claiming that the Congress party had “not understood the object of demonetisation”.

Last year on November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in a surprise move demonetised old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. The move, for which the BJP is still struggling to give a credible explanation, had wreaked havoc on the lives of common citizens who had to queue up for hours, at times even days, outside banks to get their demonetised notes deposited in their accounts or exchanged for legal tender. Several economists, including non-Indians, have repeatedly slammed the move and claimed that it was one of the reasons for the slowing pace of India’s economy – a charge that the BJP has assiduously rejected.

BJP leaders, from Prime Minister Modi to party president Amit Shah and a host of other union ministers and office bearers, have given multiple reasons to explain why demonetisation was a good step even as former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and other officials of the reserve bank have hinted that Modi hadn’t taken them into confidence before announcing the decision.

The BJP leadership has at different times given unrelated rationale for the move, with Modi initially claiming that it would end black money and curb terrorism while on other occasions BJP leaders, including Jaitley, have claimed that the move was triggered by the objective of reducing cash flow in the economy and switching to digital currency and transactions.

However, the BJP’s claim that demonetisation helped curb black money seems hard to digest considering that the RBI has gone on record to state that 99 per cent of the demonetised currency had made its way back into the banking system – in effect meaning that the black money in circulation in the Indian economy before November 8, 2016 had been turned legitimate by its hoarders who managed to deposit their illicit money into bank accounts.

On Wednesday, Union finance minister Jaitley offered what seemed like a laundry list of justifications for demonetisation. He said that the main objectives of the note ban were “to reduce the quantity of cash currency, increase taxpayers base, squeeze terror funding and digitise commercial transactions.” Jaitley said confiscation of money was never the object of demonetisation.

The finance minister also hit out at the Congress for calling demonetisation the single biggest money laundering scheme and the “scam of the century” by asserting that the Congress had the adequate opportunity to be in power and yet it did not take any significant action to remove black money. He said the ownership of money before demonetisation was not known to the system, but due to the noteban decision the money that came into the banking system is now accountable to the authority concerned.

On Tuesday, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien and rebel JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav had, at a press conference, declared that 18 Opposition parties, including the DMK, Left parties, SP and BSP, had agreed to observe November 8 as a ‘black day’ and that these parties would organise nation-wide agitations against demonetisation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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DMK leader’s son arrested after car rams family in Krishnagiri, one dead

A 20-year-old son of a DMK leader has been arrested for allegedly driving a car into four members of a family in Krishnagiri, killing assistant labour inspector Sivamoorthy.

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DMK leader

A 20-year-old son of a leader from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been arrested for allegedly mowing down four members of a family following a heated argument in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. One person died in the incident, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sivamoorthy, an assistant labour inspector and a resident of Krishnagiri. According to the police, the incident occurred outside his residence after the accused, identified as Adithya, objected to a two-wheeler parked on the road.

Police said Adithya was driving the car and began honking as the two-wheeler was blocking the road. Sivamoorthy and his family members reportedly stepped out to move the vehicle. During the exchange that followed, an altercation broke out.

Investigators allege that Adithya then rammed his car into Sivamoorthy, his son Kirubakaran, daughter-in-law Amsavalli and granddaughter Nilani. Sivamoorthy sustained severe injuries and later succumbed. The others were injured in the incident.

Besides Adithya, two of his friends — Rithik Kumar and Harish — who were present in the car at the time, have also been arrested. A case of murder has been registered against the trio and further investigation is underway.

Kirubakaran, recounting the incident, said the family had attempted to move the parked two-wheeler when the accused damaged it. He alleged that the men appeared intoxicated and tried to assault them with a stick before the vehicle was driven into the family.

Amsavalli said they had tried to defuse the situation peacefully but the confrontation turned violent, resulting in her father-in-law’s death and injuries to her child.

A police officer stated that Adithya’s father is a local functionary of the DMK in Krishnagiri district. The victim’s family has demanded strict action in the case.

Reacting to the incident, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, questioning the state government over the episode and alleging that party functionaries were misusing their influence.

Police said the probe is ongoing.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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