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The Print
a day ago
- Business
- The Print
Chandrababu Naidu is dreaming new dreams at 75. What other CMs are missing
That was in 2000. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) provided crucial support to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government then. Garg was the director of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in the finance ministry. He writes that the hoarding of resources 'was clearly unfair and lopsided.' The World Bank assistance, specifically cheaper credits from the International Development Agency (IDA), was meant for low-income and poorer states. 'Using the efficiency of his administration and his political clout, Chandrababu Naidu was able to manoeuvre the system in Delhi, including the DEA, to divert a disproportionate part of the Government of India budget and external assistance to Andhra Pradesh,' writes Garg. Chandrababu Naidu bays for my blood'—This is a subhead in Subhash Chandra Garg's new book No, Minister . In the section, the former finance secretary of India writes how the Naidu-led Andhra Pradesh had 'cornered more than 40 per cent of the total portfolio of projects' approved by the World Bank in 1999–2000. He has cited another example. In 2001, the Andhra Pradesh Structural Adjustment Loan (SAL) for $250 million was being negotiated with the World Bank. The package also included a $100 million grant from the Department for International Development (DFID) to India. The DFID grant and the World Bank loan were to go to Andhra Pradesh on the standard 70:30 loan–grant ratio. The Naidu-led government, however, reached an understanding with the DFID—without the DEA's concurrence—to make it a 100 per cent grant. Garg wouldn't agree to it; he got them to agree to the DEA's terms. Two days after the negotiations were completed, the DEA Secretary asked Garg to again submit the Andhra file to him. The file came back with orders, approved by the finance minister, that an exception be made in the case and that the DFID grant be given to Andhra Pradesh as a 100 per cent grant. 'Evidently, on his return to India, Chandrababu Naidu had moved heaven and earth and forced the government at the highest level to agree to his completely unjustified demand,' writes Garg. 'The utter disregard for fair distribution of central government resources to all the states and the manic zeal and insistence to grab all resources for Andhra Pradesh were disturbing,' he writes. V Srinivas, private secretary to then finance minister Jaswant Singh, later told Garg that VS Sampath, the Andhra finance secretary who went on to become the chief election commissioner of India, sought his help to 'find ways to fix Subhash'. Nobody would be surprised to read ex-IAS officer Garg's account of how Chandrababu Naidu used his clout in the Vajpayee government to wrangle anything and everything from the Centre for his state. Garg's counterparts in other departments would have similar stories to tell. Let me cite just one more example here. Of the 4 million tonnes of rice the Centre sanctioned for the Food for Work programme between September 2001 and April 2002, Andhra alone got 2.15 million tonnes, 53 per cent of the total. And then it got one million tonnes more. Cut to 2025. Naidu hasn't changed. Only that it's now the Narendra Modi-led government that is going out of its way to please the Andhra CM. The Centre has already committed Rs 15,000 crore for Phase I of the Amaravati capital project. The state has secured Rs 12,157 crore from the Centre to support the first phase of the Polavaram irrigation project. In May, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation for central projects worth Rs 5,000 crore, including a missile testing centre, Unity mall, Rail overbridge and six national highway projects in Andhra. And these are early days yet. Modi 3.0 still has four years left, and Naidu will continue to be vital for its survival. Also read: Chandrababu Naidu is important in both Centre and state. He is his own double-engine now Political opportunism or Andhra First? The former finance secretary of India has only revived an old debate. Chandrababu Naidu's political rivals and critics have a long list of his political 'betrayals'— marrying NT Rama Rao's daughter and then leaving the Congress to join the TDP; ousting NTR to become the CM; leaving the United Front to support the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998; Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi from the TDP allowing then Odisha CM Giridhar Gomang (who was yet to resign as MP) to vote against the confidence motion, which ended up bringing the Vajpayee government down in 1999; joining the NDA in 1999 Lok Sabha election to reap the electoral dividends of the Kargil War; demanding Narendra Modi resign as Gujarat CM post-2002 riots to joining hands with him ahead of the 2014 election; leaving the NDA for the Congress five years later only to re-embrace Modi before 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. It's certainly a long list. Naidu's critics would call them examples of political opportunism. His admirers would cite them as examples of his brilliant political acumen and his ability to play bigger national parties to his advantage. And, ex-IAS officer Subhash Garg as a neutral observer is only the latest to certify that Andhra Pradesh has made the biggest gains from Naidu's political somersaults. I call it his Andhra First politics. Take a look at this report by India Today in May 2002: 'Over the past five years, Naidu has managed to get the Central ministries to pour over Rs 40,000 crore into Andhra Pradesh. While the Central loans have doubled in five years from Rs 1,575.6 to Rs 3,189.9 crore, grants have jumped from Rs 1,528 crore to Rs 3,424.1 crore and external assistance has trebled from Rs 1,118 to Rs 3,640 crore. That the state has cornered a lion's share of resources is proved by just one statistic: while Central grants to all states increased by only 2.6 per cent between 2000-1 and 2001-2, Andhra Pradesh's share rose by 34 per cent.' The report quoted Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury as saying that Naidu's success in extracting resources was due to 'a weak Centre vulnerable to political blackmail'. When you talk to Congress MPs today, as the Modi-led government showers Naidu's Andhra with generosity, they echo similar sentiments. But ask the people in Andhra Pradesh. They would repeat the Onida TV slogan: 'Neighbour's envy, owner's pride.' Also read: Nobody should doubt Chandrababu Naidu's determination. If anything, they should fear it What other CMs need to learn from CBN Chandrababu Naidu, 75, is the third-oldest CM in India today—after Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan, 80 and Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, 76. CBN, as he's known in the state, could afford to rest on his laurels. Creating something like Cyberabad and Genome Valley in Hyderabad would have been a lifetime achievement for any CM. Instead, he is setting new challenges for himself. 'Same things (liked Cyberabad) can't be created but improved versions (can be brought),' Naidu told me in an interview last month. It's not just the creation of the new capital city of Amaravati. CBN has now set out to build India's first quantum computing valley. He has launched a space policy to leverage Sriharikota's strategic location in Andhra Pradesh. It aims to attract investment worth Rs 25,000 crore in space-linked industries. He is very optimistic about his Zero Poverty-P4 (Public-Private-People Partnership) programme. I could tell this by the child-like excitement in his voice when he was telling me about P4. At a time when most Opposition leaders seem to be convinced that poverty can be eliminated only when the rich are made poor, Naidu's P4 is an interesting idea. You don't have to be an Adani or Ambani to participate in it. If you have surplus money to spare, help a family, mentor them. You can do it at the community level, too. What differentiates CBN from other CMs is ideas—original, imaginative and innovative. Look at his counterparts in other states. Most of them are doing the same things, often aping each other. At 75, Naidu stands apart. 'Imagination has no age,' wrote senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionary Ram Madhav, quoting Walt Disney, in a column in The Indian Express. He was building a case for PM Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to ignore the unwritten 75-year age ceiling for holding office. Age doesn't matter unless you are a cheese, wrote Madhav. It's true. As I mentioned, Naidu's much younger counterparts in other states already look jaded and spent in terms of originality or ideas or imagination in policymaking. Is Modi 3.0 any different? That's food for thought for another column. DK Singh is Political Editor at ThePrint. He tweets @dksingh73. Views are personal. (Edited by Theres Sudeep)
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
DEA's Cannabis Cartel: A Federal Marijuana Scam That Sabotaged Science, Blocked Patients, and Protected Power
As thousands suffer without access to FDA-approved cannabis treatments, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation is waging a David vs. Goliath legal war against the DEA's decade-long deception -and i ncoming Administrator Terrance Cole must decide whether to continue the cover-up or finally put patients over politics. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / July 20, 2025 / The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has spent nearly a decade running what amounts to a federally sanctioned scam - promising to expand marijuana research, then systematically stonewalling legitimate applicants while rubber-stamping licenses for companies that would never produce a single usable gram of medicine. This wasn't delay. This wasn't incompetence. This was intentional sabotage of the one legal pathway to bring FDA-approved cannabis treatments to patients suffering from Huntington's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and other life-altering conditions. The False Reform Narrative In 2016, DEA leaders stood before the press and announced an end to the University of Mississippi's monopoly on marijuana research. They invited new applicants, accepted blueprints, conducted facility inspections - and then shut the door. For five years, not one license was granted. When the DEA finally acted in 2021-2022, it registered eight companies. Today? A DEA Administrative Legal System Weaponized While these fraudulent paper companies were handed licenses, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation - the only applicant with a fully constructed, FDA-compliant pharmaceutical facility - was thrown into a Kafkaesque legal maze. MMJ followed every rule. They secured Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA. They prepared for human clinical trials. And the DEA responded by dragging them into an unconstitutional administrative law process - now discredited by the Supreme Court in Axon v. FTC and Jarkesy v. SEC. Presiding DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney (known to critics as Judge McLooney) even admitted the agency's handling of MMJ was 'torturous.' Yet he recommended denial of their application anyway - a move that reeked of institutional self-preservation, not justice. The Real Victims: Patients, Not Paperwork While the DEA protected its turf and shell registrants, thousands of patients were left behind. People with Huntington's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, debilitating chronic pain, and neurological disorders have no access to FDA-approved cannabis-based medications - because the DEA never allowed one to be made. Behind the curtain were bureaucrats like: They operated in secrecy, delayed applications, misled Congress, and claimed the agency 'supports science' - while real science was suffocated. David vs. Goliath: MMJ's Federal Showdown This is no longer a policy dispute - it's a battle for the future of medical cannabis, and MMJ BioPharma is David with a slingshot full of federal law. Their lawsuit against the DEA is now pulling back the curtain - revealing documents obtained via FOIA that show a deliberate pattern of obstruction, collusion, and regulatory fraud. MMJ is not just fighting for itself. It's fighting for every legitimate company, every physician, and every patient who believed the federal government when it said cannabis research would be allowed to move forward. It wasn't. A Turning Point: Terrance Cole Must Decide With DEA leadership in disarray and legal precedent shifting, a new administrator is stepping in: Terrance Cole, nominated to lead the agency into a new era. But this isn't just a personnel change - it's a reckoning. Will Cole be another bureaucrat who protects his predecessors' failures? Or will he end the charade, clean house, and finally grant registrations to those - like MMJ BioPharma - who are doing the work patients have waited years for? The Final Word: The DEA didn't just delay cannabis research. It derailed it, defrauded the public, and damaged lives. Thanks to federal court filings, investigative reporting, and companies with the courage to fight back, the whole scheme is unraveling. America doesn't need DEA permission to pursue science. It needs the DEA to get out of the way. MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey [email protected] 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings press release
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
How Trump's Fentanyl Crackdown Has Put The Spotlight On Khalistani Groups In The West
Operations by the United States and coordinating Canadian law enforcement agencies have uncovered links between fentanyl trafficking, illegal immigration, and Khalistani groups US President Donald Trump, at present under the spotlight for his firm stance on global trade tariffs, has also made significant efforts to combat the illegal fentanyl trade and unauthorised immigration. Since taking office, his tough policies have prompted numerous operations by the United States and coordinating Canadian law enforcement agencies, uncovering connections between fentanyl trafficking, illegal immigration, and also Khalistani groups. In a notable international development, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced the arrest of infamous Indo-Canadian gangster Opinder Singh Sian in Arizona on June 27. Sian, linked to Khalistani elements in Canada, was apprehended following a DEA operation initiated in 2022 based on intelligence from Turkey. The operation revealed Sian's extensive global drug trafficking network, accused of smuggling large quantities of fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine from Canada to the United States and Australia. The affidavit details how Sian managed chemical shipments from China to Vancouver and then to Los Angeles through a trucking business run by a Chinese cartel member, Peter Pend Zhou. His 'Brothers Keeper" gang in British Columbia is connected to the Kinahan Crime Cartel in Dubai and the Hezbollah Group, with involvement in arms smuggling, extortion, homicide, and Khalistani extremist activities. The arrest also uncovered his ties to Irish, Turkish, and ISI-backed Pakistani-Khalistani drug cartels. Notably, Parupkar Singh, 'Parry Duley," Sian's cousin, has been placed on a no-fly list by the Canadian government and is associated with Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh. Sian is also closely related to Khalistani 'Saudagar" Sandhu, a director and former president of Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, highlighting the deep connections. Meanwhile, eight individuals of Indian origin, including a man wanted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), were arrested in California in relation to a gang-related kidnapping and torture case. Among those detained is Pavittar Singh Batala, a gangster from Punjab linked to the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International, facing terror-related charges by NIA. The arrests, made on a Friday, followed a coordinated operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The individuals arrested include Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Vishal Singh, Gurjat Singh, Manpreet Singh, and Sarbjit Singh. Additionally, in April 2019, Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, a wanted gangster-turned-terrorist, was arrested by the FBI and the US Immigration Department. Passia faces numerous charges in Punjab for violence, extortion, and terror-related incidents, including 16 blasts. The Amritsar native has been named in 33 First Information Reports, and 10 Look Out Circulars have been issued against him. A dossier prepared by Punjab police accuses him of orchestrating 14 grenade attacks, one IED blast, and one rocket-propelled grenade attack in the state. Also, Peel Police in Canada, through 'Project Pelican", successfully dismantled a large narco-terror network, arresting individuals suspected to be Khalistan sympathisers. This operation led to Canada's largest ever drug seizure, with 497 kg of cocaine valued at $47.9 million. Nine people, including seven Indian-origin men settled in Canada, were arrested. Investigations revealed the network used commercial trucking routes from the United States to Canada and maintained ties with Mexican cartels and US-based distributors. Importantly, the funds from these illicit drug operations were found to be financing anti-India activities, including protests and referendums, demonstrating a direct link between organised crime and extremist agendas. Each of these cases has a common link to Khalistani separatism. Most of the accused are of Indian origin and wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for various cases. Many names are part of the Indian dossier. It is surprising that despite the Indian community being largely respected abroad, the actions of some extremist elements tarnish the reputation of the entire community. Since President Trump came to power, India and the US have been closely cooperating to stop the illegal smuggling of fentanyl into the United States, which includes a crackdown on transnational gangs. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Canada, New Delhi and Ottawa decided to establish a mechanism for close cooperation on security matters to address terrorism and extremism. For the first time, Canadian Khalistanis are experiencing a false sense of victimhood, affecting the mindset of the new generation. Their actions and criminal activities have led to increased anti-immigrant sentiment and anti-South Asian hate in Canada and the US. Sian's close relatives were on the gurdwara management committee, and they successfully undermined Sikh religious bodies. Due to false propaganda, anti-Indian hate has spread. Navdeep Gill from Surrey, British Columbia, told News18, 'Sikhs are proud people. They (Khalistanis) have created a false sense of victimhood and affected the minds of the new generation. Their actions and criminal activities, such as taking law and order into their own hands and car rallies, have led to increased anti-immigrant sentiment and anti-South Asian hate in Canada and the US." Gill also mentioned that 'One of the accused, Sian, arrested by the US law enforcement agency, has relatives on the gurdwara management committee. Extremist groups have successfully destroyed Sikh religious bodies." Another prominent member of the South Asian community, speaking on condition of anonymity, told News18, 'After the arrest of hardened criminals, wanted terrorists, and gangsters tied to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's so-called SFJ 'Khalistani Referendum' circus by top US law enforcement agencies like the FBI, ICE, and local sheriff departments in California, the truth is now out in the open. These thugs were not freedom fighters. They were fugitives hiding behind the Khalistani mask to push violence, fear, and organised crime." He also said, 'For the first time, there is real anger and resentment brewing among the mainstream Sikh diaspora. People are finally calling out these elements for what they are—goons trying to take over our sacred gurdwaras by intimidating honest Sikhs and poisoning our community with fear and division." About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ...Read More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : canada donald trump fentanyl immigration Khalistan United states view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 18, 2025, 17:13 IST News world Opinion | How Trump's Fentanyl Crackdown Has Put The Spotlight On Khalistani Groups In The West Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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Fox News
4 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
PAM BONDI & ROBERT MURPHY: Team Trump is fighting deadly drug cartels to save American lives
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and its Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are dedicated to upholding the rule of law and championing the safety of the American people against deadly, illegal drugs. No drug continues to pose a greater threat to our nation than fentanyl — a synthetic opioid so powerful, deadly and pervasive that it is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. But we cannot ignore the growing supply of highly addictive and dangerous methamphetamine. The Mexican cartels have created a vast global supply chain, sourcing precursor chemicals from countries like China, manufacturing fentanyl and methamphetamine in secret labs in Mexico, and smuggling them across the border into the United States. These drugs are flooding our communities, and their impact is catastrophic. Current CDC data estimates that 82,000 Americans died from drug overdoses last year — nearly 49,000 from fentanyl and more than 30,000 from psychostimulants, including meth. While we've seen a decline in overdose deaths in recent months, we cannot ignore the threat of fentanyl, often found in other drugs and fake pills. The cartels are also producing methamphetamine pills made to look like Adderall or MDMA, drugs popular with young adults. Fentanyl and methamphetamine together are toxic evidence that the cartels have no value for human life. DEA's mission is clear, and it is confronting this crisis head on. DEA is second to none at developing, interpreting and acting on intelligence. In full coordination, the DOJ is fully committed to prosecuting criminals who are in possession of these dangerous and deadly drugs — including any fentanyl-related substance — to the fullest extent of the law. Under President Donald J. Trump's leadership, the DOJ and the DEA are executing Operation Take Back America, an aggressive campaign to dismantle the criminal organizations responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other synthetic opioids — an unprecedented move to take back our communities and save American lives. Since January 20, DEA has seized over 44 million fentanyl pills and 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, representing over 180 million lethal doses and over 68,000 pounds of methamphetamine. Every seizure is a life saved. Every arrest removes a trafficker from the chain of distribution. Every operation sends a message: the United States will not tolerate this attack on its citizens. Our campaign is lawful, methodical and relentless. The DEA operates under a robust framework of legal authorities designed to confront the full spectrum of drug-related crimes. Title 21 authorizes the federal prosecution of drug manufacturers and distributors. RICO statutes allow us to dismantle criminal enterprises. Asset forfeiture laws allow us to strip traffickers of the financial lifeblood of their operations. International extradition agreements ensure that no foreign-based trafficker is beyond the reach of American justice. Each tool is used in coordination with U.S. Attorneys' Offices, in full compliance with constitutional protections and federal evidentiary standards. To name just a few of the recent fentanyl and methamphetamine seizures in the country: Our campaign is lawful, methodical and relentless. The DEA operates under a robust framework of legal authorities designed to confront the full spectrum of drug-related crimes. Each of these operations highlights the critical need to continue attacking the drug supply chain at every level. Our strategy is not limited to arrests and seizures. On July 16, Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, which will strengthen penalties for fentanyl dealers and prevent chemists from creating new synthetic compounds to circumvent prosecution. Under Trump's direction, the administration has revitalized interagency coordination. The DOJ and the DEA are working shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and federal prosecutors to ensure unified case development from interdiction to indictment. The president has also authorized the use of diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions and trade penalties to hold foreign nations accountable for the chemicals fueling this crisis. The DOJ is also prioritizing enhanced penalties for trafficking offenses involving serious bodily injury or death. We are prosecuting not just the dealers but the enablers, those who launder money, provide logistical support, or serve as brokers between chemical suppliers and cartels. If you profit from this poison, you will face the full force of American justice. As a result of Trump's designation of eight major cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, we are now deploying new tools and charging traffickers with material support to terrorism, a charge that carries up to life in prison. Lining the walls at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, are thousands of faces of those lost to fentanyl. These faces are a stark reminder of why we do this work. Each name, each story fuels our resolve to eliminate these cartels and criminal networks and protect our communities. President Trump has made it abundantly clear: the sovereignty of our nation begins with secure borders and safe communities. The era of open borders and drugs flowing across them is over. The federal government is back on offense. Our strategy is not limited to arrests and seizures. On July 16, Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, which will strengthen penalties for fentanyl dealers and prevent chemists from creating new synthetic compounds to circumvent prosecution. The American people deserve a justice system that protects their families from the violence of drug trafficking and the horror of overdose death. That is what the DEA and DOJ are delivering. We will not rest until the cartels are crippled, their supply chain is broken and this epidemic has ended. This is a fight for our country, and we intend to win it. Robert Murphy is the acting administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, leading a workforce of nearly 9,000 public servants whose important work protects Americans from the dangers and violence associated with drug trafficking.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Wisconsin man convicted in federal court for distributing cocaine, fentanyl, heroin
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – A 41-year-old Wisconsin man has been convicted by a federal jury for distributing multiple controlled substances following a three-day trial. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, Gregory P. Robinson was found guilty after just two hours of jury deliberation. He now faces decades behind bars. Green Bay man arrested for 9th OWI offense following police pursuit in Fond du Lac County Prosecutors presented evidence that Robinson sold drugs to an undercover police officer in Madison on four separate occasions in June 2024. He sold cocaine on June 3; cocaine and fentanyl on June 6; and cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin on both June 13 and June 20. On June 25, authorities executed a search warrant at the hotel room where Robinson was staying. Inside, they reportedly found more than 500 grams of cocaine, heroin, and over 40 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also recovered drug packaging materials, ingredients for manufacturing crack cocaine, a money counter, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Two EF-0 tornadoes confirmed in Wisconsin following Wednesday storms A forensic scientist from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory confirmed the chemical identities of the substances. A Drug Enforcement Administration expert testified that the amounts of cocaine and fentanyl found in the room were consistent with distribution rather than personal use. Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 2, 2025. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each drug distribution charge and the charge of maintaining a drug-involved premises. He also faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison for each possession with intent to distribute charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
