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After Yashwant Sinha, BJP’s Shourie hammers Modi govt, calls noteban an “idiotic jolt”

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Arun Shourie

The former union minister says demonetisation was the largest money-laundering scheme ever conceived and implemented by a government

Days after former finance minister Yashwant Sinha created a stir with his forthright critique of finance minister Arun Jaitley’s handling of the Indian economy, former Union minister and BJP veteran Arun Shourie has now launched a broadside against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over its economic policies; demonetisation in particular.

Terming demonetisation “the largest money-laundering scheme ever conceived and implemented entirely by the government,” Shourie told news channel NDTV in an interview that Modi’s noteban which rendered out 86 per cent of the currency circulating in the economy as no longer legal tender was “idiotic jolt”. The former union minister and veteran journalist said that demonetisation had little impact on curbing the shadow economy – Modi’s stated objective for behind the move – and that “everyone who had black (money) converted it into white”.

The former Union minister went on to say that while demonetisation “was a bold step. I have to remind you, suicide too is a bold step.”

Shourie’s comment on black money having been “converted into white” is backed by the recent RBI report which suggested that nearly 99 per cent of the banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes had been returned to banks. He added that none of the government’s arguments in support of demonetisation had yielded fruit. “Which argument today survives? Black money? All of it turned white. Terrorism? Terrorists are still coming into India. At the end they have nothing to say,” he pointed out.

The senior BJP leader who held the disinvestment portfolio in former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s NDA government also slammed the Modi regime’s implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) stating that the “important reform” was implemented “poorly”. Shourie emphasised that “rules (for the GST rollout) have been amended seven times within three months” and insisted that what makes it worse is the “event management of the GST…A tax reform is being compared to the independence of India (a reference to the ‘stroke of the midnight hour’ like rollout of GST on July 1 this year).”

The BJP leader didn’t spare his party’s national president Amit Shah, calling him “that famous economist” while slamming his comment in which he had sought to blame the dip in India’s GDP growth rate on “technical reasons” and not the aftermath of demonetisation and GST rollout as is largely believed.

After Yashwant Sinha, BJP’s Shourie hammers Modi govt, calls noteban an “idiotic jolt”Shourie reiterated his “government run by two and a half persons” comment, stating that “Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and one in-house lawyer… don’t have the expertise and they have surrounded themselves by people who don’t have the expertise (of running the country).”

He said that the Modi government was functioning in a “sealed echo-chamber” and claimed that “They (those in the government) don’t hear what is happening… The distress the RBI has documented of small and medium enterprise. These poor fellows had been clamouring and shouting. Nobody heard them (sic)”.

Taking a dig at the Modi government’s proclivity for organizing mega-events to unveil all their programs, Shourie said: “Their core competence is event management. They are so self-satisfied with it. They are just briefing each other, not listening to others… They are concerned about 300-feet statute, bullet trains etc.”

Shourie also made it a point to throw figures and data at the government to back claims of an economic downturn. Stating that attacks against the government over the slowing pace of the economy was based on hard facts, Shourie said: “those facts emerge from official reports such as The Economic Survey, the RBI surveys, the SBI’s report etc. Is it a fact or not that GDP has collapsed to 3.7 per cent according to the old series? Is it a fact or not that index of industrial production has gone down from about 9 per cent in 2015-16 to about 1.7 per cent in April to July?”

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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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