Trashing the allegations against his son Vaibhav Gehlot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today laughed off a question on whether his son has links with Jaipur’s luxury hotel Fairmont. “I don’t know about Vaibhav’s hotel, he has never asked me to stay there. Why doesn’t Vaibhav offer me complimentary stay at Fairmont if it is his hotel?” he scoffed at an interaction with media.

Vaibhav Gehlot was today summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged violations of foreign exchange rules. He has been asked to appear before the agency in Jaipur or Delhi tomorrow.

The summons have been issued in connection with ED’s investigation against hospitality group Triton Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Vardha Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. and its directors and promoters Shiv Shankar Sharma and Rattan Kant Sharma, among others. The ED had seized Rs 1.2 crore in cash during the searches last month. The Triton group, it is alleged, received investment from a Mauritius entity back in 2007-2008. 

The ED is likely to question Vaibhav Gehlot on his alleged links with Rattan Kant Sharma. It is worth pointing out here that under FEMA, the probe agency cannot make arrests; it can only impose penalties.  

Rejecting the allegations against his son, Mr Gehlot today said Vaibhav has no foreign exchange dealings. “Vaibhav Gehlot only has a taxi company. Rattan (Kant Sharma) was a partner, but they work separately now,” he said.

Mr Gehlot also hit out at the central agence for issuing a short notice summons. “Is this a joke?” he said.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister said central agency have lost their credibility due to the alleged misuse by BJP-led central government.

“Central agencies have no credibility now. It is a worrying situation. This is not about my son or the state Congress president. Aatank macha rakha hai desh mein (they have spread terror in the country),” he said.

The ED today also conducted searches on the premises of Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, and Congress MLA and candidate Omprakash Hudla in connection with the paper leak case.

Mr Gehlot said the ED’s actions come right after the Congress’ poll guarantees ahead of next month’s election.

“Date 25/10/23: Congress launches guarantees for women of Rajasthan. Date 26/10/23: ED raid on Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Ji Dotasra. Summon to my son Vaibhav Gehlot to appear before ED.”

“Now you can understand what I have been saying that ED’s raids are happening in Rajasthan because the BJP does not want women, farmers and the poor in Rajasthan to get the benefit of the guarantees given by the Congress,” he posted on X.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict persists, the challenges faced by women, children, and elderly individuals have grown significantly. However, amidst this ongoing war, a remarkable event unfolded as a baby was delivered through an emergency caesarean section, not far from the remains of her home in the Gaza Strip.

Navine Abu Owdah, a 30-year-old woman, was rescued from the debris of her former apartment earlier this week. She had sustained multiple fractures and was experiencing abdominal bleeding due to an airstrike on her residence in the small enclave, which is now in its 19th day of being under siege.

According to The Metro News, she was rushed to a hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing after orders from Israeli forces to evacuate from the north. Doctors quickly performed a C-section and managed to deliver a ‘healthy’ baby girl.

“A caesarean section was performed in the emergency department, and her baby girl, who is in good condition, was delivered,” Dr Salim Saqer, the head of surgery at Nasser Hospital, said. Ms Owdah currently remains under observation and is receiving treatment for her injuries.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, UN agencies issued a statement highlighting that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is leading to severe shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel in Gaza. This crisis is particularly affecting pregnant individuals and those who have recently given birth.

About 50,000 people are estimated to be pregnant in Gaza, with about 160 estimated to give birth every day, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Additionally, an estimated 73,000 people are pregnant in the West Bank, with more than 8,000 expected to give birth within the next month, the UNFPA said.

Experts said pregnant women and new mothers are facing life-threatening challenges to accessing safe care, putting their health and the health of their babies at risk.

In retaliation to the Hamas attack on Israel, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is striking down the Hamas operatives to secure Israeli civilians in the Kibbutz Be’eri near the Southern Israel Border.

In a video footage shared by IDF, soldiers were seen chasing a Hamas operatives and neutralising them within minutes.

Watch this never-before-seen footage of combat soldiers from the IDF’s Shaldag Unit operating to neutralize terrorists and rescue the civilians of Kibbutz Be’eri:

In the footage, you can see the IDF soliders firing at the terrorists’ vehicle, killing the driver who then lost… pic.twitter.com/qnXcqDSzCV

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2023

IDF shared a video on X, saying, “Watch this never-before-seen footage of combat soldiers from the IDF’s Shaldag Unit operating to neutralize terrorists and rescue the civilians of Kibbutz Be’eri.”

It added, “In the footage, you can see the IDF soldiers firing at the terrorists’ vehicle, killing the driver who then lost control of the vehicle. The unit’s soldiers then killed the other terrorists in the cell who tried to escape. At the same time of the counterterrorism activities, you can see IDF special forces rescuing the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri.”

Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing for the ground offensive in Gaza under which the Israeli tanks and infantry targeted numerous operative cells and destroyed Hamas launch posts in Gaza.

In preparation for the next stages of combat, the IDF operated in northern Gaza.

IDF tanks & infantry struck numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts.

The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory. pic.twitter.com/oMdSDR84rU

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 26, 2023

Taking to X, IDF said, “In preparation for the next stages of combat, the IDF operated in northern Gaza. IDF tanks & infantry struck numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts. The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory.”

Reiterating his words, “Israel is in a battle for its existence”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his goal against the Hamas war is “saving the nation” and promises that a ground incursion to destroy Hamas in Gaza will start soon, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday.

He says Israel is getting ready for a ground operation, but will not share when or how. He says he will not share the range of considerations involved.

“We are preparing for a ground incursion. I won’t specify when, how, how many. I also won’t detail the range of considerations, most of which the public is not aware of. And that’s the way it is supposed to be. This is the way, so that we protect our soldiers’ lives.”

In an address to the nation, PM Netanyahu said, “Israel is in the midst of a fight for our existence. The war’s two aims are “to eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governance capabilities, and to do everything possible to get our hostages back.”

According to The Times of Israel, PM added, “All Hamas members are dead men walking — above and below ground, inside and outside Gaza. Together with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Minister Benny Gantz, the security cabinet, the chief of staff and heads of the security organizations, we are working around the clock in order to achieve the war aims until victory, and doing so without political considerations.”

The goal is “saving the nation, achieving victory.” Thousands of terrorists have been killed, he says, “and that is only the beginning.”

Netanyahu says there was a unanimous decision about the timing of the ground incursion. “The timing of the operation was determined unanimously by the war cabinet and the chief of staff,” he says.

“We will extract the full price from those murderers, those perpetrators of atrocities… from Hamas-Daesh,” in the ground invasion, he says, The Times of Israel reported.

He again called on Gazan noncombatants to head to southern Gaza.

He said the huge pain of the loss of 1,400 people in Hamas onslaught is not forgotten, referring to “our brothers and sisters who were slaughtered in cold blood and who fell in heroic battles” against the predators.

He added the days of mourning will be called in memory of those killed in the assault.

And he vows that the devastated southern kibbutzim and communities will be rebuilt.

The prime minister stresses that that government ministries are coming up with plans to take care of the displaced in Israel, and to take care of the rest of the population “just like we did during COVID.”