MLC Daily Current Affairs - 15 April 2025

Today in History (April 15^th,1469)

Guru Nanak, the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, was born in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan) on April 15, 1469. He founded Sikhism and his teachings emphasized faith, devotion, and service to humanity.

Summary of Today’s News

Choksi Arrested in Belgium as India Seeks Extradition

Arrest Details:
- Mehul Choksi, fugitive diamond businessman, arrested in Belgium over the weekend.
- Arrest confirmed by Belgian authorities on April 12.
- He was detained near his residence in Antwerp.
Background:
- Wanted along with nephew Nirav Modi in the Punjab National Bank fraud case involving over ₹13,578 crore.
- The CBI has pursued his extradition since 2018, the year he fled India.
Citizenship and Residency:
- Choksi is currently a citizen of Antigua.
- Reportedly moved to Belgium a few years ago for cancer treatment.
- Obtained a Belgian residency permit in November 2023 (his wife is a Belgian citizen).
Extradition Request:
- India has submitted a formal extradition request to Belgium.
- Belgian Justice Department confirmed he is detained pending judicial proceedings.
- He has access to legal counsel, as per a statement to The Hindu.
Upcoming Proceedings:
- Choksi’s extradition case is scheduled to be heard in Belgian courts next week.
Previous Legal Developments:
- In 2021, a Dominica court dismissed CBI’s extradition request after Choksi alleged he was kidnapped and assaulted by Indian agents.
- Interpol withdrew its Red Notice, citing alleged human rights violations and political targeting by the Indian government.
Legal Defense in Belgium:
- Choksi’s Belgian lawyer, Simon Bekaert, stated:
  - They will challenge the extradition.
  - The defense will argue that Choksi won’t receive a fair trial in India.
- Additional Legal Issue:
  - Choksi is appealing Antigua’s decision to revoke his citizenship.

Telangana Becomes First State to Notify Sub-Categorisation of Scheduled Castes

Telangana notified the implementation of the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025.
April 14, 2025 has been declared the appointed day for the categorisation of Scheduled Castes into three groups.
Historical Context:
- Telangana is the first State in India to operationalise SC sub-categorisation after the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on August 1, 2024, which upheld the constitutionality of such classifications.
- The goal is to ensure separate quotas for the most marginalised groups within SCs and STs.
Categorisation Details:
- Categorisation is based on empirical data, and social, economic, educational, employment, and political status of the communities.
- Group-I:
  - Includes 15 sub-castes classified as most backward.
  - Allotted 1% reservation despite constituting only 0.5% of the population, aiming to improve educational and employment opportunities.
- Group-II:
  - Includes 18 sub-castes that have received marginal benefits.
  - Allotted 9% reservation.
- Group-III:
  - Includes 26 sub-castes relatively better placed in terms of opportunities.
  - Allotted 5% reservation.
- In total, 59 sub-castes have been categorised.
Implementation:
- Cabinet sub-committee led by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Health Minister C. Damodar Rajanarsimha prepared and submitted the notification.
- The first copy of the gazette notification was handed over to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Additional Notes:
- 33 out of 59 sub-castes remain in the same group as previously categorised.
- Only 26 sub-castes, forming 43% of the SC population, have been reshuffled.
- New recruitment to government jobs will follow this categorisation.
- The new policy won’t apply to already notified vacancies, as clarified by Mr. Rajanarsimha.

Trump Amplifies ‘White Persecution’ Narratives in South Africa

At the Boeremark (farmer’s market) near Pretoria, a peaceful Saturday scene with country music and pancakes belied the claims of fear and persecution.
Despite calm on the ground, claims of Afrikaner persecution have gained attention in the U.S., prompting President Donald Trump in February to offer refugee status to white Afrikaners.
- This move led to thousands applying for refugee status.
Demographics:
- White Afrikaners are mostly descendants of Dutch settlers who arrived over 300 years ago.
- They now represent the majority of South Africa’s 7.3% white population.
Criticism of Persecution Narrative:
- Max du Preez, journalist and author, dismissed persecution claims:
  - Says Afrikaners are “better off materially and culturally” now than in 1994.
  - Calls the fear “phantom pain” — more about what could happen, not what is happening.
  - Adds, “Nothing is coming… The last thing that will happen here is a race war.”
- Roots of Disillusionment:
  - Christi van der Westhuizen, expert on Afrikaner identity:
    - Links Afrikaner disillusionment to economic struggles, corruption, and governance failures post-apartheid.
    - This vulnerability has allowed right-wing, apartheid-rooted groups to push divisive narratives.
    - However, many Afrikaners remain strongly opposed to such ideologies.
  - International Sympathy:
    - These groups have found support in the U.S., aided by Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire.
    - Claims that white farmers are targeted for murder have gained traction, despite official data showing most murder victims are young Black men in urban areas.
    - Trump echoed the “white genocide” myth over the weekend.
  - Alternative Perspective:
    - Johan Erasmus, co-founder of Betereinders (Better Enders):
      - Rejected divisive narratives.
      - Advocated for integration as the solution.