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Opinion: The economic cost of terrorism

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A comprehensive multidimensional strategy for the ‘War on Terror’ must include a comprehensive view of other strategic military and economic affairs

Published Date – 11:45 PM, Wed – 1 November 23


Opinion: The economic cost of terrorism



By Dr P Subramanyachary

India faces several challenges in managing its internal security. Terrorism is one of them. In November 2004, a United Nations Security Council report defined terrorism as “an act intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants, to intimidate a population, or to compel a government or international organisation to take or refrain from doing something.” Terrorism in all its forms poses a direct threat to national security, international stability and prosperity.

Terrorist activities, cross-border terrorist activities and insurgent groups are intensifying. The techniques adopted by terrorist groups and organisations include hi-tech facilities in the form of communication systems, transportation, advanced weapons and many other means. This allows them to attack at will and create panic among the people. Terrorist activities in India have a religious form. Religious terrorism is committed by groups or individuals, with the hope of spreading or enforcing an ideology, belief, or a system of opinion. Besides, the politics of communalism and criminalisation, religious movements, irresponsible statements by political and religious leaders, violation of human rights etc are the other causes of terrorism.

Since Independence in 1947, at least 232 of the country’s 608 districts have been affected by insurgency and terrorist movements in varying degrees. At present, there are around 800 terrorist organisations operating in the country. Some of the major terrorist attacks include: March 12, 1993, when a series of 13 bombings killed 257 people; March 14, 2003, when a bomb in Mulund train killed 10; October 29, 2005, Delhi bombings, 2005 Ram Janmabhoomi attack in Ayodhya; 2006 Varanasi bombings; July 11, 2006, a series of seven bombs explode on trains killing innocent citizens; November 26, 2008, to November 29, 2008, when coordinated attacks killed at least 170, among others.

The Impact

The terrorism index in India averaged 7.65 points from 2002 to 2021, reaching an all-time high of 8.12 points in 2011 and a record low of 7.22 points in 2004. (India Terrorism Index – Values, Historical Data Charts – last updated on May 2023). Acts of terrorism can have negative effects on economies.

India ranks 102nd out of 163 countries in the world in the economic cost of violence. This expenditure is around 5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a 2018 report. Terrorism affects the economy indirectly through direct economic destruction of property, lives, market uncertainty, xenophobia, and loss of tourism, among others. Economic terrorism refers to the covert manipulation of a country’s economy, usually by state or non-state actors. However, economic terrorism may also be vague, we have already lost more than 70,000 citizens in the name of economic sanctions.

Apart from spending on our armed forces, just to maintain the entire setup to counter insurgency and cross-border terrorism, the financial outlay is Rs 45,000 crore. Over the past 15 years, budgets have increased 26 times due to terrorism or counter-insurgency operations.

Legal System

The criminal justice system like the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in India is not designed to deal with such heinous crimes. Keeping this situation in view, it was felt necessary to enact special anti-terrorism laws to impose severe punishments on the thesis of enmity against humanity. Hence, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), 1987, Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA), Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPA), 2004, were introduced.

In many cases, TADA and POTA have been used to arrest a rival politician. For example, while TADA was implemented in Punjab to protect the security and integrity of the country by fighting terrorists, it was also applied to Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat where there was no threat to national security.

Actions Needed

A comprehensive multidimensional strategy for the ‘War on Terror’ must include a comprehensive view of other strategic military and economic affairs. Laws requiring the reporting of suspicious transactions help prevent terrorism. As terrorism has become global, intelligence sharing between countries is critical in preventing or mitigating terrorist attacks. India is a signatory to this plan, which requires global cooperation on terrorist content.

Addressing a United Nations High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism, India extended its five-point formula which is: sharing timely actionable intelligence, preventing misuse of modern communication with private sector cooperation, capacity building for better border controls, sharing information regarding the movement of passengers, and designation of Counter-Terror Focal Points to fight global terror. The United Nations should become a global hub to fight global terrorism.

Terrorism is a complex, persistent phenomenon. Its associated motivations, financing support mechanisms, methods of attack and choice of targets often evolve, thus increasing the challenges of ensuring the existence of an effective strategy to combat it. Global cooperation is very important to win this war over terrorism. India should play an active role in neutralising the menace of terrorism. The world needs to join hands to deal with terrorist groups, and a good first step is to ratify India’s proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

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Pakistan opens holding centres ahead of Afghan deportations

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Hundreds of thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan face the threat of detention and deportation, as a government deadline for them to leave sparked a mass exodus.

The government has given 1.7 million Afghans it says are living illegally in the country until November 1 to leave voluntarily or be forcibly removed.

Forty-nine holding centres, some capable of holding several thousand people, opened across the country on Wednesday to process and deport Afghans, state media said.

(Source: AFP)

World

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists kill at least 40 in Yobe

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In the first significant attack on the northern eastern state in eighteen months, suspected Boko Haram militants fired at villagers and detonated a land mine in Yobe state, Nigeria, between Monday and Tuesday, killing at least forty people, the police reported on Wednesday.

According to Abdulkarim Dungus, the state police spokesperson, the attack occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) on Monday at Gurokayeya village in Gaidam local government in Yobe State.

He said that on Tuesday, while villagers were returning from burying the victims of the previous attack, a land mine exploded, killing at least twenty of them. He said that gunmen had opened fire on the villagers, killing at least seventeen of them.

MNA/PR

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AFC Olympic Qualifiers: Indian Women Bow Out With Defeat vs Uzbekistan

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The Indian women’s team bowed out of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 with a 0-3 loss to Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Wednesday. In the four-team group, India had earlier lost to Japan and Vietnam. Backed by a loud, if not capacity crowd, Uzbekistan immediately applied pressure on India, and started dominating possession. The equation was clear: a win would put Uzbekistan in prime contention for the best second-place team slot. India, meanwhile, were playing for pride. Within two minutes though Uzbekistan took the lead from a set piece.

Karachik Lyudmila’s corner played at the near post glanced off Khabibullaeva Diyorakhon’s head towards the centre of the six-yard area, from where Kudratova Nilufar kneed it in to give them the lead.

It took some exceptional goalkeeping by Shreya Hooda to ensure that India didn’t fall behind by more through the half. In the 14h minute, Hooda saved from Nilufar when the striker was one-on-one with her after a through ball played from her midfield.

From the resultant corner, she tipped over a long-distance effort by Asadova Dilrabo. On another occasion, she denied Dilrabo from point-blank range again, the forward’s first-time shot from a cutback palmed to safety.

India came out of half time with more conviction in their attacking play, and, as has been the trend, Manisha Kalyan and Anju Tamang were leading the charge.

In the 49th minute, having picked up a pass at the top of the box, Manisha drove in from the left before unleashing a shot towards goal from an acute angle. She beat the keeper but the ball bounced off the crossbar.

Sensing the danger of an Indian comeback, Uzbekistan ramped up the pressure again and in the 51st minute Karachik doubled the team’s tally, scoring after some interplay at the top of the box.

She added a third with a long ranger that snuck in at the near post to hand the home side a comfortable win and a real chance of qualifying for the next round.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Topics mentioned in this article

Hyderabad

NIT Warangal team examines rural road performance with geotextiles

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Geotextile DPRs are meticulously examined and designed, with engineers in the field being encouraged to implement this technology.

Published Date – 06:26 PM, Wed – 1 November 23


NIT Warangal team examines rural road performance with geotextiles

NITW team examines rural road performance with geotextiles.

Warangal: The National Institute of Technology, Warangal, (NITW) has played a pivotal role in overseeing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) program since its inception, serving as the State Technical Agency (STA) and Principal Technical Agency (PTA). In its ongoing commitment to the program, NIT Warangal is taking a proactive role in advancing rural road infrastructure by scrutinizing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for rural roads submitted by the Panchayat Raj departments of various states.

Under this initiative, geotextile DPRs are meticulously examined and designed, with engineers in the field being encouraged to implement this technology. The aim is to instill confidence in the adoption of cost-effective geotextile technologies for the enhancement of rural roads.

As part of this mission, the NITW has secured a research project focusing on monitoring the performance of roads constructed with geotextiles and geosynthetics in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This research endeavour, funded by the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency under the Ministry of Rural Development, is valued at Rs 15 lakhs.

The research project is led by a team of distinguished investigators, including Prof. S. Shankar, Prof. Venkaiah Chowdary, Prof. Vishnu R, and Prof. CSRK Prasad. Their work involves the evaluation of approximately ten roads constructed with geotextile and geosynthetic materials, with assessments conducted before and after the monsoon season. Notably, the data collected and field observations indicate that roads constructed with geotextiles or geosynthetics in areas with black cotton soil, featuring a shoulder width of 1.0m to 1.5m, are performing well even after enduring four monsoon seasons. The research project is ongoing to further document and understand their long-term performance.

Middle East

China says deeply shocked by Israel massive strikes on Gaza

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Dozens of Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp on Wednesday, the second attack on the camp in less than 24 hours, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The report said airstrikes hit the residential area of Faluja in the camp, adding that several US-made bombs were used on the district, less than 24 hours after the first bombardment of the camp that leveled apartment buildings, leaving people, including children, buried in the rubble.

Jabalia is the largest of the Gaza Strip’s UN refugee camps housing people forcibly expelled by Zionist militia and Israel in 1948. The area is reportedly home to nearly 120,000 people.

At a daily news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin strongly condemned the brutal attack, calling for an immediate ceasefire.

“China is deeply shocked by the attacks on the refugee camps in Gaza and strongly condemns this. China calls for utmost calm and restraint from relevant parties, especially Israel, and urges them to implement the UN resolution adopted on October 27, stop fighting immediately, do everything possible to protect civilians, open up corridors for humanitarian assistance as soon as possible, and avert an even worse humanitarian disaster,” he said.

“China will play a positive and constructive role at the UN Security Council to help end the fighting, ensure the safety of civilians and strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date,” Wang added.

Israeli warplanes, naval boats, and artillery kept pounding Gaza on Wednesday, inflicting more casualties on the civilian population.

The civilian death toll in Gaza and desperate humanitarian conditions have caused great concern across the world as food, fuel, drinking water, and medicine are running short.

On October 7, Israel launched a full-scale war on the impoverished Gaza Strip, where shortages of food, water, and medicine threaten the lives of Gazans, and hospitals are overwhelmed amid incessant Israeli bombings.

The ceaseless airstrikes, missile attacks, and shelling on Gaza have killed, as of Wednesday, 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children and 2,290 women, and wounded at least 22,219 others, according to officials.

Around 2,000 people are still missing, including 1,100 children. The vast majority of these people are believed to be dead and buried under rubble.

MNA/Press TV

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Fake China Doctor Tricks Cancer Patient Into "Cement Treatment"

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Fake China Doctor Tricks Breast Cancer Patient Into Bizarre 'Cement Treatment', Probe Launched

The woman died from breast cancer in April this year. (Representative Pic)

A self-proclaimed “tumour research institute” in China is under investigation after a woman exposed how her cancer-stricken mother was duped into paying a staggering 200,000 yuan (approximately Rs 22.76 lakh) for treatments that include bloodletting and even applying cement to her skin.

According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), the woman, surnamed Wang, learned that her mother had been diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer at the end of 2021. Soon after diagnosis, the two women were introduced to a traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Wuhan, who claimed to specialise in treating cancer. They travelled to meet the man, surnamed Yu, at his Dongyusanbao Tumour Research Institute, where he told them he had invented a medicine that could kill cancer cells.

According to Ms Wang, Mr Yu went to great lengths to convince the two women, showcasing what appeared to be credible patent documents and prestigious awards certificates for his cancer treatment. 

Filled with hope, Ms Wang’s mother immediately purchased the first batch of liquid medication from Mr Yu at a cost of 20,000 yuan (US$2,700), which he assured was a simple oral remedy. Over the course of a year, Ms Wang said she and her mother flew to Wuhan from their home in northeastern Liaoning province six times. This journey took a severe financial toll, with the total expenditure racing over 200,000 yuan. 

Moreover, in addition to giving the elderly woman oral medication, Mr Yu also made dozens of injections into her breasts to make her lose blood, Ms Wang said, as per the outlet. He bizarrely also told the woman to apply a mixture of cement and lime skin under her armpits, claiming that it would aid in shrinking the cancerous lumps. 

“He told my mother to apply cement mixed with lime on the skin under her armpits, saying this could help shrink lumps. My mother followed his instructions but her skin festered after doing it for two months,” Ms Wang said.

Also Read | US Man Arrested For Pointing Gun At 6-Year-Old Boy’s Head Over Halloween Candy Bag

However, in April this year, Ms Wang’s mother’s condition deteriorated and local doctors told her that the cancer cells had spread across her body. But Mr Yu insisted that was normal and even told them not to worry. He even convinced the woman to continue drinking his medicine. However, this ultimately led to the mother’s death in June, Ms Wang said. 

According to SCMP, Mr Yu later confessed that neither he nor his institute have any medical qualifications. “I am not practising medicine. I just sold them health-enhancing products. My method of bloodletting is aimed at promoting good health, it is not acupuncture,” Mr Yu said. He also confessed that the certificates and documents he had shown the two women were, in fact, bought online for a few thousand yuan. The authorities are now still investigating the bizarre case.

Hyderabad

Elaborate arrangements made for KCR poll rally in Nirmal

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Minister A Indrakaran Reddy said elaborate arrangements were made for CM KCR’s rally to be conducted near the Integrated District Offices Complex at Ellapalli village on the outskirts of Nirmal

Published Date – 06:28 PM, Wed – 1 November 23


Elaborate arrangements made for KCR poll rally in Nirmal

Minister Indrakaran Reddy inspects arrangements made for Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Ra’s poll rally to be held in Nirmal, on Wednesday. 

Nirmal: Elaborate arrangements have been made for the success of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s public meeting to be held in Nirmal on Thursday.

Minister A Indrakaran Reddy said elaborate arrangements were made for Chandrashekhar Rao’s rally to be conducted near the Integrated District Offices Complex at Ellapalli village on the outskirts of Nirmal.

Reddy urged cadres to make the meeting a success. He wanted activists of the BRS and elected representatives to attend the rally in large numbers. He stated that the BRS would be able to form the government for the third time in a row and create a history.

Meanwhile, the historical town turned pink with life-size flex posters of the Chief Minister welcoming him to the district. Streets and roads were adorned by flags of the party.

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Madhya Pradesh Police's Filmy Take To Increase Cyber Crime Awareness

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Madhya Pradesh Police's Filmy Take To Increase Cyber Crime Awareness

“Keep your OTP as safe as husband,” said Madhya Pradesh police (Representational)

Bhopal:

After Jai-Veeru politics in Madhya Pradesh, state police have also played a filmy stroke to make citizens aware in view of the increasing cyber crimes.

The state police has morphed a dialogue of Shahrukh Khan starrer movie ‘Om Shanti Om’ to make residents of the state to be sensible about the importance of an OTP (One Time Password).

Sharing the video on X (formerly twitter) on Wednesday evening from the official handle of Madhya Pradesh Police on the occasion of Karwa Chauth, they wrote, “Keep your OTP as safe as husband.”

In the shared video, it could be heard that, “Ek OTP ki kimat tum kya jano Ramesh babu (What do you know about the cost of an OTP, Ramesh Babu?).” While the original dialogue in the movie is, “Ek chutki sindoor ki kimat tum kya jaano Ramesh Babu.”

The state police has been continuously making efforts in making people aware about the increasing crimes in the state and also active in controlling the cyber crimes in the state.

Recently, Bhopal cyber police busted a gang involved in duping people by cloning their ATM cards and arrested two persons, including a Romanian citizen in connection from New Delhi.

Apart from this, the reel characters of famous superhit Bollywood movie ‘Sholay’ have found a real character space in the Madhya Pradesh politics. Recently, a Congress leader has compared the friendship of former chief ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh as ‘Jai-Veeru’ while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is claiming the duo as thieves.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

India

‘Forced to sign white paper’: TMC MP Mahua Moitra on businessman Hiranandani’s affidavit

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TMC MP has also raised questions over the credibility of the affidavit that Hiranandani reportedly submitted to the Parliament Ethics committee

Published Date – 09:37 AM, Fri – 20 October 23


‘Forced to sign white paper’: TMC MP Mahua Moitra on businessman Hiranandani’s affidavit



Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, in a two-page statement, has replied to the affidavit of businessman Darshan Hiranandani, alleging that “he was forced to sign a white paper.”

TMC MP has also raised questions over the credibility of the affidavit that Hiranandani reportedly submitted to the Parliament Ethics committee, claiming that it is “neither on official letterhead nor notarised” and that the contents of the letter are “a joke.”

“The affidavit is on white paper, and not an official letterhead or notarized. Why would one of India’s most respected/educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put on his head to do it?” Mahua said in her statement posted on ‘X’ on Friday.

“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 said.

“The contents of the letter are a joke. It has clearly been drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP’s IT cell. It sings paeans to Modi and Gautam Adani while linking every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption,” Moitra alleged.

“Clearly someone said, ‘Sabh ka naam ghusaa do, aisa mauka phir nahi ayega’,” she added.

Further, attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the TMC leader said, “Paragraph 12 claims that Darshan gave in to my demands because he was fearful of displeasing me. Darshan and his father run one of India’s largest business groups and their recent projects in UP and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the CM of Uttar Pradesh and by the Prime Minister. Darshan accompanied the PM abroad as part of his business delegation very recently. Why would such a wealthy businessman who enjoys direct access to every minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands?” “It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that the letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan”, the TMC MP stated.

She further asked businessman Hiranandani why he did not release the letter officially if he had “confessed” to the claims.

“If indeed he was to witness all of my corruption, why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public? Also if he wrote to the CBI and the LS speaker, why out of the 543 MPs would he forward the letter to Nishikant Dubey, whom I have repeatedly exposed in the parliament and the outside and against whom, I have filed pending privilege motions?” she questioned.

Claiming that Businessman Hiranandani was “compelled” to sign the letter, Moitra said, “The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father’s heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shutdown of all their businesses. They were told they would be finished, the CBI would raid them and all government business would stop and all PSU bank financing would be stopped immediately.”

“The draft of this letter was sent by the PMO and he was forced to sign it. And it was leaked to the press immediately,” she said.

“This is the usual modus operandi of this BJP government or rather Gautam Adani’s government run by the BJP. Every effort is being made to malign me and isolate and scare those near and dear to me,” she alleged.

“I will continue to stand up to Mr Adani until he answers the many questions that he is duty-bound to answer to the people of this great country,” she added.

On Thursday, the face-off between BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Mahua Moitra over his ‘Cash for Query’ allegations took a fresh turn as Darshan Hiranandani, who was allegedly behind the said payoffs has for the first time responded in an affidavit.

According to sources, the affidavit has been submitted to the Parliament Ethics Committee.

In his 3-page signed affidavit, Hiranandani says that he resides in Dubai and came across letters dated October 14, by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai to the CBI and to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey where his name figured prominently. He says he has been following the events carefully.

In his affidavit, the businessman admits to his friendship with the TMC MP Mahua Moitra.

“I have known Mahua since I met her at the Bengal summit 2017…..Over a period of time, she has become a close personal friend of mine…However, as our interactions grew over time she asked for odds and ends which involved my time” The affidavit reads.

Hiranandani then claims that the TMC MP saw attacking the Adani group as a route to fame. “She became Lok Sabha MP in May 2019… She was advised by her friends that the shortest route to fame was by attacking Narendra Modi. She thought that the only way to attack PM Modi was by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as they both come from Gujarat” his affidavit reads.

Hiranandani then claims that Mahua Moitra did share her Parliament Login credentials with him. “She knew that Indian Oil Corporation was getting into an arrangement with Dhamra LNG a joint venture of the Adani group….. She drafted a few questions that she could raise in parliament that would have elements to embarrass the Govt and target the Adani group. She shared with me her email ID as MP, so I could send her information and she could raise the questions. I went along with her proposal” he claims in his affidavit.

Hiranandani also claims that he used the TMC MP’s login credentials to pose questions on the Adani group himself.

“She also received unverified details from several sources including some claiming to be former Adani group employees…..Certain information was shared with me, based on which I continued to draft and post questions using her Parliamentary login” he says in his affidavit.

Hiranandani then claims that the TMC MP also demanded favours and gifts from him. “She made frequent demands of me and asked for various favours, The demands included gifting her expensive luxury items…..travel expenses, holidays etc” he claims in his affidavit.

This affidavit came at a time when the Ethics committee called BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jain Anant Dehadrai to submit oral evidence on the charges of ‘Cash for Query’ made by the BJP MP.

Nishikant Dubey earlier wrote a letter to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State (MoS) IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar making “cash for query” allegations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra and demanding an inquiry committee against her.

Dubey claimed that a Supreme Court lawyer had levelled allegations of bribe exchanges between the TMC MP and businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

In his letter titled “Re-emergence of nasty ‘Cash for Query’ in Parliament”, Dubey has alleged “‘serious Breach of Privilege’, ‘Contempt of the House’ and a ‘Criminal Offence’ under Section 120A of IPC” by the Trinamool Congress MP.