Businessman Darshan Hiranandani broke silence on his explosive affidavit today to insist that he has not filed it under pressure — an allegation made by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is currently battling “cash-for-query” allegations.

In an interview to Times Now, Mr Hiranandani said he spoke up since the cash for query allegations named him “directly and personally”. He also admitted that he has used Mahua Moitra’s parliamentary login ID and password to post questions from Dubai – a situation, if proved, will mean a breach of privilege and lead to her suspension from parliament.

Calling his actions a “crazy error of judgment and deeply regrettable,” he said he has embarrassed himself directly and “my company indirectly” and it was “incumbent on me to come forth”.

“In any allegation we prefer to come forward with the truth and that’s what I have done in this case,” he said, adding that his affidavit has been sent to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Parliamentary Ethics Committee.  

In response to the affidavit that made headlines last week, Mahua Moitra had alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office “held a proverbial gun” to Mr Hiranandani’s head and made him sign a white paper that was later “leaked to the press”.

“Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics Committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to,” she had said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.  

Regarding the use of her login and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s call for an investigation, Ms Moitra had issued a strident demand.

“Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs & researchers/interns/staff.  Don’t use Fake Degree wala for leak, make this public NOW,”she had posted on X.

“All parliamentary work of MPs done by PAs, assistants, interns, large teams.  Respected @ashwinivaishnaw please release details of location & login details of ALL MPs with CDRs. Please release info on training given to staff to login,” she had added in another post.

Following a complaint to the CBI by  advocate Jai Anand Dehadrai, Mr Dubey has demanded immediate suspension of Ms Moitra, alleging that she “took bribes to ask questions” in parliament from Mr Hiranandani to target the Adani group and PM Modi.

He has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing the Trinamool MP of breach of parliamentary privilege, contempt of House and criminal conspiracy. The matter is now with the Ethics Committee.

Ms Moitra has said she welcomes any kind of inquiry. “Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala & other @BJP4India luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

In his affidavit, Mr Hiranandani had said Ms Moitra thought the only way to attack PM Modi was by attacking Adani Group chief Gautam Adani, and so she “expected support”.

For this, she shared her parliamentary login ID so he could frame the questions. He went along with the idea because he thought through her, he would get support in the Opposition-ruled states, he had said in the affidavit.
 
He had also claimed that Ms Moitra received support from others in this effort, including journalists, Opposition leaders and former Adani Group employees, who fed her unverified information.

In this context, he had named Sucheta Dalal — who has denied the allegations in a post on X — and a few others.

The H-1B visa program has long been a pivotal aspect of immigration in the United States, particularly for skilled professionals and international students.

The Biden administration recently unveiled a set of changes to the H-1B program, aimed at improving its integrity and flexibility while addressing the evolving needs of the American workforce. US-based author Soundarya Balasubramani decodes the proposed changes in the H-1B visa process.

No More Multiple Entries
One of the most significant changes involves the elimination of multiple entries by employers on behalf of the same employee. In 2023, over half of the approximately 800,000 H-1B registrations were multiple entries, artificially inflating the chances of some applicants. To combat this, an employee can only be registered once, and employers will now be required to submit passport information for each employee. This allows the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure a fair and equitable selection process. Attempts to bypass this rule will lead to denials or revocations.

No Need For “Employer-Employee” Relationship
The previous requirement for an “employer-employee” relationship, imposed in 2010, has been a significant hurdle for founders looking to secure H-1B visas through their own companies. The new rule eliminates this requirement, making it easier for entrepreneurs to utilize the H-1B program to build and grow their businesses, even if they own more than 50% of the company.

Job Offer Can Be Remote
In a nod to the post-pandemic world, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledges that a bona fide job offer can now include telework, remote work, or other off-site work within the United States. This change aligns with the widespread adoption of remote work arrangements.

Automatic “Cap-Gap” Extension
A substantial victory for international students is the extension of the “cap-gap” provision. Under the previous system, F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) could only be extended until October 1st. However, with the proposed rule, students can extend it until April 1st of the following year or until they receive their H-1B visa, whichever comes first.

Increased Site Visits
To combat fraud, particularly in the IT consulting sector, USCIS will conduct more and stricter site visits. Inspectors may visit unannounced, interview officials, review records, and speak with employees. These measures aim to ensure that employers comply with the H-1B program requirements.

Stricter Definition Of “Specialty Occupation”
Another notable change is the stricter definition of a “specialty occupation.” Under the new rule, there must be a direct relationship between the required degree field and the position’s duties. This change could potentially lead to more Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials for deserving candidates.

Public Comment Period
The proposed changes to the H-1B program have not been set in stone. The Department of Homeland Security has initiated a “public comment period” that runs until December 22nd, 2023, allowing individuals to provide feedback and input. This presents an opportunity for immigrants, employers, and other stakeholders to shape the final regulations.

The move represents a significant step in modernizing and adapting the system to the needs of today’s workforce. While some changes may face criticism, they also address long-standing issues and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs, students, and skilled professionals. It’s important to note that these proposed changes are not final.

The rule is currently open for public comment until December 22, 2023. After this period, the Department of Homeland Security will review the feedback and aim to publish a final rule, expected in 2024. This is a pivotal moment for anyone interested in the H-1B program to make their voices heard and contribute to the reform efforts.

Pakistan International Airlines has resorted to widespread flight cancellation, leaving thousands of passengers in distress as the national flag carrier’s financial situation went from bad to worse.
Since Sunday, the airline has cancelled around 77 international and domestic flights due to the non-availability of fuel to manage its flight schedule.

Presently operating with just 16 aircraft, the partially state-owned airline, which the caretaker government wants to privatise, has got into a muddle with the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) refinery which supplies fuel to the airlines over non-payment of dues and its credit line.

A PSO official said the PIA owed billions of rupees in dues.

“This is the second time in seven days we have had to suspend supplying fuel to PIA because of the mounting unpaid dues. They are making partial payments to meet their daily fuel requirements but the dues remain unpaid as yet,” he said.

The airline, which was once considered the pride of Pakistan and was the first international airline to be given access to fly to Beijing, is said to be suffering millions in losses on a daily basis.

A PIA spokesperson confirmed that 77 flights had been cancelled since Sunday after the PSO cut the airline’s fuel supply.

“Today the situation has improved as payments have been made and matters are being sorted out with PSO,” he said.

He however could not confirm how many flights had flown on schedule on Monday but hoped the schedule would be normalised by late night.

“The airline couldn’t pay on Sunday due to banks being closed,” he explained.

The national carrier had 81 flights – 52 international and 29 on domestic routes – scheduled for take-off on Sunday. However, all but four international flights were cancelled, according to him.

The PIA spokesperson said flights had been partially restored on Monday.

Last month, a meeting of the Privatisation Commission agreed on a clear timeline for the privatisation of PIA.

The flight cancellations caused problems for thousands of travellers on international and domestic routes with many of them telling television channels they had never seen the situation so bad in the airline.

Aviation experts believe the airline’s poor state of affairs was mainly due to overstaffing and political appointments in PIA over the years and the decision of the government to have an open skies policy a decade back.

The airline has been so badly managed in the last few years that the PIA has even had its leased aircraft seized in foreign countries because of non-payment of dues.

In July, an aircraft was stopped in Kuala Lumpur by a leasing company as it wanted its dues cleared first.

To make matters worse, a former federal minister for aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan caused the airlines to close its credibility in Europe and other countries when he claimed in the National Assembly that more than 30 per cent of the civilian pilots in the country held “fake” licences.

He claimed that 262 out of the 860 active pilots “did not take the exam themselves” and had paid someone else to appear on their behalf.