SGF India's Troubles: Kewal Ahuja's Silent Shutdowns

Kewal Ahuja’s name has once again surfaced in the realm of franchising, this time with the closure of yet another restaurant in Sector 10 Dwarka, within a mere six months of its opening. Kewal Ahuja, known for his association with SGF India, has faced mounting criticism as multiple establishments under his franchise banner have shuttered their doors over the past year, all without any public acknowledgment from him.

The closure of the Sector 10 Dwarka restaurant adds to a growing list of failed ventures attributed to Kewal Ahuja and his fraudulent business practices. Despite promising prospects and initial fanfare, these establishments have struggled to sustain themselves, leaving investors and employees in the lurch.

Kewal Ahuja SGF Fraud

What is particularly concerning about these closures is the lack of transparency and accountability from Kewal Ahuja. While investors and stakeholders grapple with financial losses and uncertainty, Kewal Ahuja remains conspicuously silent, failing to address the issues plaguing his franchising empire.

The pattern of closures raises serious questions about Kewal Ahuja’s integrity and the viability of SGF India as a franchising model. With each failed venture, the reputational damage inflicted upon Ahuja and his brand only intensifies, further eroding trust and confidence in the franchising sector.

Moreover, the closure of multiple restaurants of SGF India within a short timeframe underscores deeper systemic issues within the franchising of this chain in India. It highlights the need for stricter regulatory oversight and greater scrutiny of franchisors to protect the interests of investors and uphold the integrity of the sector.

As stakeholders seek answers and accountability, it is imperative that Kewal Ahuja and SGF India are held accountable for their actions. Transparency and communication are paramount in addressing the concerns of investors and mitigating the fallout from these closures. Ultimately, the closure of the Sector 10 Dwarka restaurant serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with franchising and the importance of due diligence when entering into such agreements.

Additionally, greater awareness and education initiatives are needed to empower prospective franchisees with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions. By promoting ethical business practices and fostering a culture of integrity, the franchising sector can regain the trust of investors and pave the way for sustainable growth and development. As investors and entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of franchising in India, they must remain vigilant and informed to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes like those perpetrated by Kewal Ahuja and SGF India.

NIA raids multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir in terror funding case

In a sweeping crackdown, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is carrying out raids at multiple locations in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Shopian in a terror funding case. 

                        NIA raids multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir in terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is carrying out raids at multiple locations in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian as part of its investigation into a terror funding case. The case pertains to the terror funding and criminal conspiracy hatched by the terror groups operating under various pseudo names, at the behest of their Pakistani commanders or handlers.

Searches are also underway across 13 locations in Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Anantnag in cases related to the hatching of conspiracy, both physical and in cyberspace. Raids by the NIA are a sweeping crackdown on proscribed terrorist outfits to execute violent terrorist attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms.

On May 11, the probe agency carried out raids at the residence of Abdul Khaliq Regoo at Kansipora, Javid Ahmad Dhobi at Syed Kareem and Shoaib Ahmad Choor at Sangri Colony in Baramulla district into a terror conspiracy case.

The NIA action comes weeks after a deadly terror attack in Poonch that killed five soldiers. Days after the Poonch attack, five Army personnel were killed when terrorists cornered by the troops triggered an explosion in a densely forested area in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. An officer was also injured in the explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Earlier, the NIA attached properties belonging to three accused persons at various places in Kashmir under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act following court orders.

The NIA has been carrying out raids in Jammu and Kashmir to crack down on new terror outfits such as The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (UL J&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and others.

These terror groups have come into focus after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019.

These outfits have taken responsibility for most of the militant attacks carried out in the last three years, especially in Jammu’s Pir Panjal area.

“Investigations have further revealed that Pak-based operatives were using drones to deliver weapons, bombs, drugs etc. to their operatives and cadres in the Kashmir valley,” the agency said in a statement.

The sleuths of the central agency, assisted by the police and paramilitary forces, have carried out raids at multiple locations in Srinagar, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, and Budgam districts of Kashmir, as well as in Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts of Jammu this month alone.

Yogi magic fails in Meerut-Saharanpur as BJP loses 64 of 90 municipal seats

The poll result has become a major concern for the BJP as the data showed that Yogi Adityanath’s magic did not work in the rural and semi-urban areas.

                                              UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (File) 

In the recent UP civic polls, the BJP may have been able to win all the 17 Nagar Nigam seats and logged a landslide victory but the numbers in the western part of the state, especially in Meerut, Ghaziabad and Saharanpur divisions, did not signify the impact of the Yogi wave at the Nagar Palika and the Nagar Panchayat levels.

This has become a major concern for the party as the data showed that Yogi Adityanath’s magic did not work in the rural and semi-urban areas.

In the Meerut-Saharanpur division, except for the mayor’s seat, the BJP’s magic did not work. The saffron party lost 64 of the 90 seats in the municipality and the panchayat presidentships in both the mandals. The BJP candidates could win only on 26 seats and independent candidates have worked their magic in cities like Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, and Ghaziabad. Importantly, these are the districts where the BJP was reduced to just one seat each.

In both the mandals, the BJP got the maximum number of seats in the municipal bodies from Bulandshahr. Of this, nine chairmen are from the BJP. Even though the BJP’s campaign revolved around the impact of Yogi Adityanath’s governance and benefits of flagship schemes, it could not transcend into votes in these divisions.

Talking about leaders, General VK Singh (Retd.) is an MP from Ghaziabad. Sanjeev Balyan is a Union minister from Muzaffarnagar. Apart from these, Narendra Kashyap from Ghaziabad, Somendra Tomar and Dinesh Khatik from Meerut, Kunwar Brijesh Singh from Deoband, KP Malik from Baghpat, Jaswant Saini from Saharanpur are also state ministers. Also, there is one Rajya Sabha MP each in Ghaziabad-Noida and two in Meerut. But this could not get the numbers in their favour.

Similarly, the BJP’s state organization general secretary Dharampal is from the Bijnor district. State vice president of BJP Mohit Beniwal Shamli, state ministers Dr Chandramohan and Amit Valmiki are from Bulandshahr, state minister Basant Tyagi is from Ghaziabad. The exercise to deploy ministers on ground could not work for the BJP.

As the reason for BJP’s defeat has been said to be about the ticket claimants damaging approach, there was a huge uproar in the party over the distribution. There were open allegations of money exchanging hands in the distribution of tickets. In Bulandshahr, the BJP gave tickets on two seats to candidates who joined the party just a year back. The old workers, who did not get the chairman’s ticket, contested the elections as rebels and got the votes.

On the other hand, in Noida’s Jewar seat, a candidate who joined BJP a few days before the election was given a ticket. The BJP cadre turned revolted and the result was that the candidate finished at the fourth spot. The BJP also lost Loni, Khoda and Muradnagar seats in Ghaziabad due to infighting. The candidates who did not get a ticket fought against the party as independents, creating a triangular fight.

Hooch Tragedy in Tamil Nadu: 10 Dead, Several Hospitalised, 2 Arrested | What We Know So Far

Hooch Tragedy in Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a financial compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those who died, and Rs 50,000 for those who are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

             Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Officials said more than two dozen people are undergoing 

                                                      treatment after consuming spurious liquor. 

Chennai: At least 10 people, including three women, died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu. Giving details, officials told news agency ANI that six people from Ekkiyarkuppam near Marakkanam in Villupuram district died on Sunday. Two persons in Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district died on Friday and a couple died on Sunday, all caused due to illicit liquor consumption, officials said. They further added that more than two dozen people are undergoing treatment and are said to be doing well.

Two Accused Arrested

Police said two accused have been arrested for supplying illicit liquor and added that special teams have been formed to search for more suspects. Senior police officer Kannan, IG North Zone, stated that a total of seven policemen including inspectors and sub-inspectors have also been arrested.

MK Stalin Announces Compensation

In the meantime, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a financial compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those who died, and Rs 50,000 for those who are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Police to Take Action Against Culprits

After the incident was reported, Inspector General of Police (North) N Kannan assured proper actions and said that all 10 victims possibly consumed spurious liquor with ethanol-methanol substances in it.

He further added that two separate incidents of spurious liquor deaths have been reported in the north zone of Tamil Nadu and as of now police did not find any evidence of a link between the two incidents but police are investigating from an angle to find any possible links between both the incidents.

“Two spurious liquor incidents have been reported, one in Chengalpattu district and another one in Villupuram district. In Ekkiyarkuppam village under Villupuram district near Marakkanam, yesterday 6 were hospitalised with complaints of Vomiting, eye irritation, vomiting and giddiness. On information, a police team reached the village and admitted ill to the hospital. In this four have died as they didn’t respond to the treatment while two are in the Intensive Care Unit. 33 are doing well with treatment,” the IG said.

Giving details about the second incident in Chengalpattu district where 4 people died, IG N Kannan said, “In the morning, one case was reported from Chithamur of Chengalpattu district where two persons of a family died. While another person was undergoing treatment in the hospital. Initially, we thought this could be a suicide attempt because of a family dispute but after watching their symptom we suspected it to be a spurious liquor incident.”

Taliban says China seeking investment in Afghanistan's oil, gas

The spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP), Homyaoon Afghan, said that they have provided essential facilities for the investors.

                      Afghanistan foreign minister with Chinese diplomat(Chinese government)

The Taliban on Sunday said that China is seeking to invest in the gas and oil sectors in Afghanistan, reported Tolo News.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP), Homyaoon Afghan, said that they have provided essential facilities for the investors.

“The minister thanked the investors and said that Afghanistan is rich in gas and oil and it is expected that in the near future there will be announced the extraction of gas and oil in some areas,” he said.

Earlier in January, the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan signed a contract with a Chinese company to extract oil from the Amu Darya basin as the group tries to improve the economy of Kabul, Tolo News reported.

China and the Taliban signed the agreement at a ceremony in the presence of senior members of the Islamic Emirates and Chinese Ambassador Wang Yi.

Afghanistan’s acting mines and petroleum minister Shahabuddin Delawar, said the first three years will be exploratory and that in this period more than USD 540 million will be invested, reported Tolo News.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines (ACIM) said foreign investment is important for a rise in national income and the creation of job opportunities for citizens.

“This is a good opportunity for Chinese companies and also for Afghanistan… This is a good opportunity both for Afghanistan and China,” said Sakhi Ahmad Payman, deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines (ACIM).

Earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported that China had invested and signed contracts in Afghanistan worth USD 2 billion in investment after the fall of the former government.

While no country has officially recognized the Taliban, China has a substantial investment in the region. Afghanistan is looking for investments as its money is still frozen.

One of the main issues for Western countries has been the new government’s marginalization of minorities and women.

But, security is the most important issue that China is concerned about. Regarding Afghanistan’s central geopolitical position and abundant resources leading to its addition to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2016, the Taliban’s security guarantees to China have not prevented instability, which continues to threaten the BRI’s economic viability.

The Taliban are not the sole provider of violence in Afghanistan, with groups such as the Islamic State (IS) committing rival acts of violence.

From the Chinese perspective, there are two fundamental objectives that are important vis-a-vis Afghanistan: domestic stability, which includes maintaining control over Xinjiang and ensuring that Afghanistan does not act as a staging ground for Uyghur militants; and trying to protect the substantial Chinese foreign direct investments in regional countries, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

But violence against Chinese interests from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has increased as China’s footprint in the region has expanded, and while it is risk-acceptant, it has reacted, in order to convey a message.

 

IndiGo Air Hostess Makes Special Announcement For Her Co-Worker Mom, Internet Emotional

The video features an IndiGo air hostess and her mother who also happens to be a cabin crew of the same airline. 

                                          The emotional mother-daughter moment is going viral

Mother’s Day, a special occasion to honour and appreciate mothers was celebrated worldwide yesterday. Social media was abuzz with adorable posts highlighting the special bond that a child and mother share. Marking the day, IndiGo also shared a beautiful video that has captured the internet’s attention. The video features an IndiGo air hostess and her mother who also happens to be a cabin crew of the same airline.

‘’Happy Mother’s Day to the one who’s always had my back, on the ground and in the air,’’ IndiGo tweeted along with the video.

The video opens to show the air hostess introducing herself as Nabira Sashmi to the passengers and then introducing her mother. She remarks that this is the first time she has seen her aboard in a uniform as a member of the same cabin crew.

“I have seen her in the cabin doing all the work and today I am in her shoes. This past six years, I have seen her talking on this PA, and today, finally, the day has come when I am talking on behalf of her. I hope I make her proud today,” says Ms Sashmi.

Hearing the lovely announcement, her mother is seen shedding tears of joy before she kisses her daughter’s cheek. Meanwhile, passengers were seen cheering and clapping for the duo.

The emotional mother-daughter moment is going viral, and people thanked IndiGo for giving them an opportunity to work together. Many also wished them good luck for their future.

One user wrote, ‘’Heart touching love. Happy mother’s day. It made my day.’’ Another commented, ‘’That makes a difference! Good gesture by Indigo roster dept for putting Mom n Daughter on the same flight on Mom’s Day.’’ The daughter also retweeted the video and wrote, ‘’Finally lived the dream.’’

A third added, ‘’A very very happy Mother’s Day ! Best wishes for your career!’’ A fourth said, ‘’I was crying watching this. Proud moment for a mom-daughter.’’

Supreme Court Notice To Bengal, Tamil Nadu Over 'The Kerala Story'

West Bengal was the first state to ban 'The Kerala Story', saying is it "likely to cause a breach of peace". 

                            Supreme Court Notice To Bengal, Tamil Nadu Over 'The Kerala Story' 

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today sought to know the rationale behind ‘The Kerala Story’ movie being banned in West Bengal when it is running across the country without any problem.

“Why should West Bengal ban the movie? It is running in the rest of the country including in states having similar demographic composition and nothing has happened. This has nothing to do with the artistic value of the film,” observed a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, and issued notices to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Though the movie has not been banned in Tamil Nadu, theatre owners have decided not to screen it over law and order concerns, a move that the makers claimed was a “de facto ban”.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, cited intelligence inputs to claim there may be a law and order problem.

The court also sought to know about the security provided to theatres screening the movie in Tamil Nadu. It told the state’s counsel that the government cannot look the other way when theatres are attacked.

The matter has been posted to next Wednesday.

The Sudipto Sen directorial sparked controversy with its claim that 32,000 women in Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and they joined ISIS, which the Opposition alleged was a false claim.

West Bengal was the first state to ban ‘The Kerala Story’. In a notification on Monday, the government said it has prohibited the movie’s screening to avoid “any incident of hatred or violence to maintain law and order in the state.”

The makers of the movie had challenged the Bengal ban in the Supreme Court, citing they were losing money every day.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said the movie was aimed at defaming the state of Kerala and condemning its people. She also targeted the BJP for “creating communal politics”.

‘The Kerala Story’, produced by Vipul Shah, depicts how a group of women were allegedly forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the ISIS terror group.

The movie stirred a political storm with the Opposition parties alleging that 32,000 women joining ISIS is an exaggerated figure.

While the movie faced obstacles in Opposition-ruled states, it received tax reliefs in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.