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Uttar Pradesh: Man forces eighth wife into prostitution to fund his gambling and drinking habits, gives triple talaq, throws her out and assaults her

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Man forces eighth wife into prostitution to fund his gambling and drinking habits, gives triple talaq, throws her out and assaults her

A shocking case has come to light in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad where a Muslim man first physically assaulted his spouse and then gave triple talaq to her. She was his eighth wife. He also pushed her into prostitution. According to the woman who is from Purnia, Bihar and lives in Jayantipur of Majhola, she had married a man from Gulabbari of Katghar Police station area six years ago. Later, she found out that he had cheated on her and had already married seven times previously.

She also presented a complaint letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hemraj Meena. The accused is an alcoholic and a gambler and wanted money to continue his debauchery. He, therefore, forced her to sleep with other men in order to fulfil his perverse demands. He even thrashed her when she protested. Afterwards, he pronounced triple talaq to her and kicked her out of the residence.

However, after she was kicked out, the man later reached the woman’s relative’s house where she was staying and tried to assault her. She was saved by locals.

The woman stated that she was at her aunt’s (wife of her mother’s brother) house on 17th May when the perpetrator arrived there with his brother and sisters and all three started to drag her out of the place. However, they ran away when people began gathering at the spot after hearing her screams and threatened to throw acid at her.

The woman unveiled that the offender weds women and then pressurises them into the flesh trade for money. She further mentioned that she has been staying at her maternal grandmother’s house since he gave her triple talaq.

SSP Hemraj Meena had ordered the Station House Officer (SHO) of Majhola to register a First Information Report in the case. According to the Circle Officer (CO) Civil Lines Arpit Kapoor, an official complaint has been launched against the Muslim male, his brother and brother-in-law on the basis of the victim’s submission under relevant sections including assault and triple talaq. The matter is currently under investigation.

‘Love jihad cases are on the rise’: How Hindu women from West Bengal are trafficked to Bangladesh and converted to Islam

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
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‘Love jihad cases are on the rise’: How Hindu women from West Bengal are trafficked to Bangladesh and converted to Islam

For years, organized rackets have been abducting Hindu men, women, and children from West Bengal, smuggling them into Bangladesh, and converting them to Islam. Meanwhile, almost regularly, Hindu girls are being abducted from India – brought to Bangladesh and forced into religious conversion.

Following a recent incident, where a minor Hindu aged 15 was abducted by Sabbir Ahmed and his father from Sepahijila district in Tripura, Bangladesh authorities reportedly alerted Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to stay vigilant of such cases and stop Muslims from entering Bangladesh along with abducted girls and females from India.

But unfortunately, Bangladesh authorities have not warned local marriage registrars and courts to refrain from registering so-called interfaith marriages or conducting religious conversion of Hindu girls and females. As a result, cases of love jihad and conversion of Hindu girls are on an alarming rise.

Although such heinous crimes were first exposed in January 2020 in several local media outlets in Bangladesh, surprisingly, anyone sharing links to those reports was banned by Facebook, or the links were removed under the pretense of “violating community standards”.

Bangladesh’s leading Bangla daily Jugantor and the news portal Jagonews reported that 11 Indian nationals were arrested by local police from Ramganj upazilla in the Lakshmipur district. These individuals had been lured or abducted from West Bengal in India, smuggled into Bangladesh, and converted to Islam. Radical Islamic hate-preacher Mizanur Rahman Azhari conducted the “ceremony” of this religious conversion.

According to the report, an individual named Monir Hossain, son of Mojibul Haque and local union council member Fatema Begum, disappeared from Bangladesh in 2006 at the age of 14. He went to West Bengal by joining Tablighi Jamaat and started living there, pretending to be a Hindu named “Shankar Adhikari”.

In West Bengal, he married a Hindu woman. After living in West Bengal for more than a decade, Monir Hossain and his wife fell into the trap of Tablighi Jamaat, who lured them into converting to Islam. Later, Tablighi Jamaat introduced Monir Hossain, alias Shankar Adhikari, to an individual from Bangladesh who offered him a handsome amount of cash to lure Hindu women and girls, smuggle them into Bangladesh, and force them into religious conversion.

Subsequently, he succeeded in trapping six women, most of whom were relatives of his wife, and entered Bangladesh with visas. Upon their arrival, these six Hindu women, along with Monir Hossain’s wife and two children, were converted to Islam.

This is not the only case of Hindus being converted to Islam.

According to daily Jugantor report, in Habiganj district’s Baniyachang upazilla, a Hindu woman named Korful Sarkar, daughter of Borma Nandan Sarkar, fell victim to love jihad and was forcibly married by a Muslim named Kajol Mia. After living in such captivity, Korful Sarkar divorced her Muslim husband through the court and returned to the Hindu religion.

This made local Muslim leaders violently annoyed at her, and they declared her “out of bounds,” forcing her to live inside her father’s home. For years, she has been enduring this painful situation. At one stage, local Muslim leaders set a precondition for withdrawing their order against Korful: she, along with her father Borma Nandan Sarkar and other family members, must leave the Hindu religion and embrace Islam.

In another report, the Hindustan Times said a Hindu girl was abducted by Shamim Ahmed, headmaster of Ashalota Primary School, forced to embrace Islam, and married through the court. Later, the parents of the victim lodged a complaint with the local police station, and the perpetrator was arrested. However, the victim was not allowed to return to the Hindu religion.

In August 2023, a group of Muslims attempted to force a Hindu girl named Oishi Bonik to convert to Islam.

In another report, Dhaka’s oldest Bangla daily Ittefaq stated that Islamists sent letters to fifty Hindu families in the Magura district of Bangladesh, calling on them to leave the Hindu religion and embrace Islam. Although law enforcement agencies later arrested four Muslim culprits behind sending such letters, all of them were released from prison on bail and, until now, have not been convicted by the court.

Meanwhile, another report indicated that in Saudi Arabia, although 347,000 Hindus were lured into religious conversion by organized Islamist groups led by Tablighi Jamaat, radical Muslims tried to divert attention by spreading misleading information, claiming “347,000 Muslims have embraced Islam”.

There also is horrifying information of forcing Hindus into religious conversion in Pakistan and other countries.

Another report stated that in January 2023, a Hindu couple – Ashok Mitra (65) and Parboti Mitra (40) in Madaripur district, Bangladesh – had to leave the Hindu religion and become Muslim to save their lives from continuous repression and notoriety by local Muslims.

In the same month, another Hindu woman named Sagarika Das fell victim to love jihad and married a Muslim youth after religious conversion. She was trapped by Abul Hashem through Facebook.

Most shocking information about love jihad was published in Dhaka-based news portal Bangla Tribune, where it has been revealed how Chennai police had simply buried the case of an “international love jihad”. According to the report, Sardar Nafis, son of Sardar Sakhawat Hussain Bokul, leader of Al Qaeda-connected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lured a Hindu girl while studying in the United Kingdom. Later, the father of the victim – a wealthy businessman from Chennai lodged a complaint with police stating his daughter was trapped in love jihad by Sardar Nafis, who later forcibly took her to Bangladesh – forced into religious conversion and married. Following this incident, the victim called managed to contact her parents in Chennai and informed them that she has been trapped by Sardar Nafis and now is being regularly facing physical and sexual torture.

In the complaint, the victim’s father also said, to brainwash his daughter, Sardar Nafis used notorious hate-preacher Zakir Naik’s videos. But finally, investigating agencies had mysteriously submitted a final report stating, the Indian girl had willingly converted to Islam and it was not a case of international love jihad.

Such cases of forced religious conversion of Hindus remind us of the 1971 war of independence of Bangladesh when several Hindu families had to convert to Islam to save their lives from the extreme notoriety of Pakistani occupation forces. After 54 years of independence, Hindus in Bangladesh still continue to face extreme cruelty, persecution, and torture, leaving them with two options: either leave the Hindu religion and become Muslim or migrate to India by abandoning their homes, properties, and businesses.

Meanwhile, several years ago, Dhaka-based newspapers published a shocking information stating several Hindus, following religious conversion were lured into joining militancy outfit such as Ansar Al Islam (local franchise of Al Qaeda) to Islam and were deployed into terrorist activities while they even had travelled to foreign countries including Syria and joined Islamic State as its fighters.

Amidst soaring heat, water shortage continues in Delhi, residents scramble after water tankers with empty buckets

ANI
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Amidst soaring heat, water shortage continues in Delhi, residents scramble after water tankers with empty buckets

The water crisis in the national capital amid soaring temperatures has left residents scrambling with empty buckets after water tankers.

Delhi’s Okhla, Chanakyapuri’s Sanjay Camp area and the Geeta colony area are among those facing acute water shortages. Residents queued in many areas of the national capital waiting to fill their buckets in the blazing heat.

In video, people can be seen climbing atop a moving water tanker as several other residents run along it with buckets and pipes.

Meanwhile, speaking on the water crisis in Delhi, Water Minister Atishi said, “Because of the heatwave, water demand has increased and on the other hand, the water level in Yamuna has decreased. Last year, there was 674.5 ft of water in the Wazirabad pond… Despite so many requests, only 671 ft of water has been released… All water treatment plants are being affected due to low levels of water in the Wazirabad barrage… We have requested Haryana and UP government to release more water.”

On May 31, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court to get immediate additional water from neighbouring Haryana.

Delhi government in its plea said that it is constrained to file the petition on account of the acute shortage of water being faced by the people of of Delhi, triggered by the ongoing severe heat conditions in North India, particularly in Delhi.

“Direct the Respondent no. 1 (Haryana) for immediate and continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage,” the plea stated.

In the ensuing water crisis, the Delhi government on May 30 said that a central control room will be established to monitor water supply across the national capital.

The war room will be headed by an IAS officer. Delhi Water Minister Atishi also released a number ‘1916’, where the residents can make calls to request water tankers. Notably, the Delhi government has accused the Haryana government of not releasing Delhi’s water share even after “so many talks.” She had further asserted if the water supply does not improve in the coming 1-2 days, then “we will move to Supreme Court also.” 

Ravish ‘Pidi’ Kumar claims I.N.D.I. Alliance will get 295+ seats, smiles bitterly like Nero over a ruined empire

श्रवण शुक्ल
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Ravish ‘Pidi’ Kumar claims I.N.D.I. Alliance will get 295+ seats, smiles bitterly like Nero over a ruined empire

There is a popular adage, ‘When Rome was burning, Nero was playing the flute.’ For those unversed, Nero was the Roman Emperor when the Great Fire destroyed much of the city. In the present context, the Nero, we are talking about is not a king; rather, he is a ‘pidi.’ You must be familiar with ‘pidi’ – a pet that follows the dictates of its master. Many pidis are roaming around society, pretending to be YouTubers. They speak up and repeat their master’s scripts at the time of their master’s choosing, and when their master becomes silent, they go into hiding. 

In our analogy, Rome is the symbolic empire built on the number of Lok Sabha MPs. Incidentally, this empire has been crumbling since 2014 due to its master’s neglect. However, these pidis, just like Nero, are doing the bidding for their master, offering consolation and inflating false hopes. One such pidi is Ravish Kumar, who needs no introduction. Nevertheless, since he is going on leave, just like his master, it’s worth mentioning.

All seven phases in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have concluded. The results will be announced on 4th June. Exit polls show that the opposition parties are nowhere in the race, and the situation on the ground is more or less the same. However, YouTubers like Ravish Kumar are showing a picture of the I.N.D.I. Alliance meeting that took place on 1st June in Delhi to claim that the opposition alliance is winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with 295+ seats. These are the words of their master, but even the master is just a ‘mask’; in such a situation, ‘Pidi’ Babu is announcing victory. Because no one watches the news on TV channels, people only watch the YouTube channel of ‘Pidi Nero’ Kumar.

Anyway, the only reason for writing all this is that last night, the damn YouTube algorithm suggested, ‘Boss, watch this ‘Shabash Opposition’ video since you watched the previous one too.’ This video is about 22 minutes long, with the bosses blabbering for 8 minutes, and for 8-10 minutes, the self-proclaimed expert of ‘pidi media’ is seen repeating the bosses’ words. In the remaining minutes, he talks about how many subscribers his channel has gained and how much viewership it has received, as well as his plans to go on vacation. The sadness was clearly visible as he couldn’t wear a tie and couldn’t be a part of the newsroom, but he still said he was happy just for the sake of saying something.

In the video, Ravish Kumar said that Mallikarjun Kharge has claimed that the I.N.D.I. alliance will get 295+ seats. A total of two dozen leaders gathered in Delhi, making it a historic occasion. However, everything else that Ravish Kumar emphasised was a blatant lie.

United opposition stood firm: A blatant lie

What can be said about this? Mamata Banerjee, who claims to be part of the I.N.D.I. alliance, booted Congress and the Left out of West Bengal. In Punjab, Bhagwant Mann’s decision took precedence over Arvind Kejriwal’s decision and AAP bid farewell to Congress there. AAP and Congress came together in Delhi and Gujarat, but by then the fight had turned. In UP, an alliance was formed, and while Mamata didn’t leave a single seat in Bengal, she made a deal with Akhilesh to secure her own candidate in UP. With some luck, Akhilesh managed to get one seat in MP, but the nomination of his candidate was canceled. In some places, Congress candidates deserted, while in others, they couldn’t even find proposers. The whole world saw the coordination, or lack thereof, between the NCP (SCP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress in Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar was aiming to become the leader of the I.N.D.I. alliance, but now he doesn’t even have his party, and Uddhav Thackeray’s situation is quite similar.

(Video Courtesy – Ravish Kumar YouTube Channel)

In such a scenario, I struggle to comprehend where the unity lies in the alliance forged by Nitish Kumar and named by Mamata Banerjee. If this unity isn’t evident within the alliance, then what unity is ‘pidi’ referring to?

‘Pidi’ Kumar is acting to show himself indifferent towards TRP, the glamour of Newsroom as he deliberately left his ground reporting, ‘Ravish ki Report’ to enjoy the space of Prime Time shows and sit there wearing suit, boot, and tie. He did the same for over a decade, but now is trying to portray himself as helpless and destitute to urge people to like, share, and subscribe to his channel and putting a sad face for the same.

Mob assaults Raveena Tandon after Mohammed’s burqa-clad family falsely accuses actress of hitting them with her car

OpIndia Staff
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Mob assaults Raveena Tandon after Mohammed’s burqa-clad family falsely accuses actress of hitting them with her car

On Saturday (1st June) night, a frenzied mob attacked Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon and her driver after claiming that her car severely hit and injured a burqa-clad woman.

The incident took place outside the residence of the actress in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai. A dispute arose when the driver of Raveena Tandon was attempting to reverse her car and park it inside the residence of the actress.

At that time, another car approached the gate of the building and alleged that Raveena Tandon’s vehicle collided with it. A man identified as Mohammed claimed that his niece, mother and sister were injured in the collision.

In a video posted by one Mohsin Shaikh, it could be seen that a mob gheraoed actress Raveena Tandon and assaulted her even as she tried to calm the situation.

The actress could be seen pleading with the accused to not assault her. “Don’t push. Please don’t hit me,” she was heard saying. In the meantime, a man could be heard yelling, “Maaro isko (hit her).”

A burqa-clad woman, related to Mohammed, was seen claiming that Raveena Tandon assaulted her, leading to nose injury. “You will have to spend the night in jail. My nose is bleeding,” she alleged. 

Another family member of the man alleged that the actress was drunken state and caused serious head injuries to her mother. In a CCTV footage that has surfaced on social media, it could be seen that the car of Raveena Tandon did not hit anyone.

This was further confirmed by the Mumbai police. At the same time, sources told The Times of India that claims about the actress being drunk at the time of the confrontation are false.

According to the police, neither Raveena Tandon nor Mohammed’s family filed a formal complaint into the matter. DCP Raj Tilak Roshan also dismissed claims about anyone receiving head injuries.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal surrenders before authorities, heads back to Tihar Jail after his interim bail period runs out

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal surrenders before authorities, heads back to Tihar Jail after his interim bail period runs out

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has surrendered before the Tihar jail authorities and is returning to prison on the afternoon of 2nd June as his three-week conditional interim bail in the Delhi Liquor Policy scam case ended yesterday on 1st June.

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal conveyed that he would visit Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat and the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place before surrendering to Tihar Jail authorities. He added that he would also visit the AAP office at Delhi’s DDU Marg where he would meet party workers.

Out on conditional interim bail for campaigning period, Kejriwal said that he was grateful to the Supreme Court for granting him a 21-day interim bail for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. 

Taking to X, Kejriwal wrote, “First I will go to Rajghat and pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. From there I will go to Hanuman temple in Connaught Place to seek the blessings of Hanuman ji. And from there I will go to the party office and meet all the workers and party leaders. From there I will leave again for Tihar.” 

Before surrendering, AAP Supremo Kejriwal held a meeting of the AAP’s political affairs committee at his residence on Saturday, June 1. During the meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, Kejriwal stressed the need to maintain unity among AAP leaders in his absence, PTI reported quoting sources. Later, he attended a meeting of the opposition I.N.D.I. Alliance at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. 

Meanwhile, the development of the AAP leader surrendering before the Tihar jail authorities comes after the AAP Supremo suffered back-to-back setbacks from the Courts. 

In a major setback to the AAP leader, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court refused to grant him immediate relief in an interim bail plea. The court reserved the matter for 5th June after hearing the govt and the Delhi CM’s lawyers, forcing Arvind Kejriwal to surrender at Tihar Jail.

Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue court refused Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking immediate relief from returning to Tihar jail.

Representing Kejriwal, Senior Advocate N Hariharan said that by pronouncing the verdict on 5th June, it would be infructuous as the reply is required by 2nd June, but the court refused to concede.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to extend Kejriwal’s conditional interim bail that directed him to surrender and return to Tihar jail by 2nd June.

Kejriwal, who was arrested on 21st March this year, received a big relief on 10th May from the Supreme Court after it granted him interim bail till 1st June in the excise policy scam case on the ground that the AAP leader needed to campaign for his party. The Court while granting him interim bail had imposed several conditions on him including the one that he would have to surrender and return to Tihar jail on 2nd June.

Share details by evening: Election Commission tells senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh after he claimed Amit Shah called 150 DMs to intimidate them

OpIndia Staff
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Share details by evening: Election Commission tells senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh after he claimed Amit Shah called 150 DMs to intimidate them

On Sunday (2nd June), the Election Commission of India (ECI) asked Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to share details regarding his allegation that Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialled 150 District Magistrates (DMs) just days before the counting date. The poll body has sought factual information and details from the Congress leader by 7 pm on Sunday evening. ECI noted that the statements by the Senior Congress leader tend to create doubt and deserve to be addressed in the larger interest of the public.

It is pertinent to note that during the election period, District magistrates (DMs) and collectors are the returning officers of their respective districts.

The Election Commission asserted that it has not received a report from any DM that they are experiencing any undue influence, to date. However, it asked the Congress leader to give details so that the issue could be addressed in the “larger public interest”, given the gravity of the allegations leveled by the senior Congress leader. 

The letter read, “The process of counting of votes is a sacred duty cast upon every RO (Returning Officer) and such public statements by a senior, responsible and experienced leader tend to put an element of doubt and thus, deserves to be addressed in the larger public interest.”

It added, “Although no DM has reported any undue influence, EC had sought details and information from Jairam Ramesh of 150 DMs to whom Amit Shah has influenced, as alleged by Ramesh, and which he believes to be true, and had thus made these allegations.” 

The development comes a day after, Jairam Ramesh, Congress party’s General Secretary in charge of communications, alleged on Saturday that Amit Shah has been calling up district magistrates and collectors and indulging in “blatant and brazen” intimidation. 

Taking to X, Jairam Ramesh alleged, “The outgoing home minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is. Let it be very clear: the will of the people shall prevail, and on June 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious.” 

Failure to unsubstantiate allegations could land Congress leader in trouble for undermining the democratic process

After his unverified claims attempting to allege election fraud began circulating, the Congress leader has been asked to submit his response and supporting details regarding his accusation against Amit Shah by evening. Failure to substantiate his claims, and if it turns out that his allegations of ‘mass rigging’ in the electoral process could be part of the shoot-and-scoot strategy by the I.N.D.I. alliance leader, could land him in trouble for casting aspersions, making unsubstantiated accusations, and undermining India’s democratic process.

For those unversed, the shoot-and-scoot strategy is notorious, with several politicians making unsubstantiated allegations against their rivals, often relying on hearsay or attributing them to third parties to undermine the integrity of the opponent in the eyes of the public. They then retreat to avoid consequences for their defamatory remarks about the rival candidate.

Over the past several years, the grand old party and its I.N.D.I. Alliance partners have escalated their attempts to undermine the authority of the polling body. They have raised questions about every step, person, and instrument involved in the electoral process, virtually making a case for an overhaul of the Constitutional body and everything within the electoral process according to their whims and electoral outcomes of the Congress and their I.N.D.I. Alliance partners.   

Strikingly, from raising unfound allegations against EVMs, and the sanctity of electoral rolls – the key instrument in the electoral process, the I.N.D.I. Alliance leaders have ramped up their efforts and effectively launched a smear campaign against the ECI and the integrity of the Election Commissioners. 

The latest allegation revolves around questioning the integrity of the Returning Officers (District Magistrates/Collectors), who are a structural unit within the Election Commission. The opposition had largely spared them in their smear campaigns against the ECI, predominantly targeting the senior leadership of the polling body, alleging that only the pliable election commissioners have compromised the integrity of elections. However, the latest allegation alludes that the alliance leaders have begun to target every organ of the electoral process. 

During the initial phases of voting, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to I.N.D.I. Alliance leaders regarding the alleged discrepancies and delay in the voting data released by the ECI.

In its detailed 21-page rebuttal, ECI dismissed the allegations and termed his allegations around voter turnout data as “baseless”. It stressed that such attempts could create an “anarchic situation, besides doubts and disharmony” among the voters and common Indians.

Despite the fact that virtually every allegation levelled by the opposition to sow distrust among the public about the election process and results have turned out to be based on unsubstantiated claims, hearsay, and blatant lies – an apt illustration of shoot-and-scoot tactic – the opposition has brazenly continued its smear campaign, capitalising on the absence of accountability for their defamatory remarks.

Having said that, it’s crucial to note that unsubstantiated and defamatory remarks may lead to legal consequences, as seen in the case of Amit Shah’s doctored video to peddle blatant lies and fake news. After opposition’s social media units and leaders circulated a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, falsely alleging that the BJP would abolish reservations if they came to power, legal action followed. Besides debunking the fake news, those responsible for spreading it were booked and are now facing legal consequences for their actions.

Pakistan: Human rights body calls on UN to act against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings in Balochistan

ANI
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Pakistan: Human rights body calls on UN to act against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings in Balochistan

The Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) has submitted a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council for its upcoming 56th Session, highlighting the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch people in Balochistan by Pakistani state authorities.

The statement, which falls under Agenda Item 3, was submitted through the Centre for Gender Justice and Women Empowerment, a non-governmental organisation with special consultative status at the UN.

Citing data collected by various human rights organizations and verified by the BHRC, the statement reports that 65 individuals were subjected to enforced disappearances in the first quarter of 2024, and 11 individuals were extrajudicially killed by Pakistani security forces.

The statement asserts that these practices not only violate fundamental human rights but also perpetuate a climate of fear and oppression among the Baloch people. Families of the disappeared live in constant agony, uncertain of the fate of their loved ones, and are often denied justice and accountability.

Extrajudicial killings, where individuals are executed without due process, exacerbate the situation, undermining the rule of law and eroding trust in state institutions.

In its statement, the BHRC requested that the UN urge Pakistan to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED) and enact implementing legislation to integrate these treaties into domestic law.

The BHRC also urged Pakistan to reveal the fate and whereabouts of victims of enforced disappearances, engage with the families, and ensure appropriate compensation.

Additionally, the BHRC requested that the UN hold accountable all those involved in or facilitating enforced disappearances in Balochistan and other regions of Pakistan.

Fake YouTube journalists bring down the Modi govt every day on their channels, they are wasting the time of audiences while making millions

अर्पित त्रिपाठी
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Fake YouTube journalists bring down the Modi govt every day on their channels, they are wasting the time of audiences while making millions

The 2024 Lok Sabha election in the country has ended. The last phase of voting concluded on 1st June and the results are scheduled to be announced on 4th June. All exit polls have consistently indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is set to return for a historic third term. Many political analysts are likewise making similar assertions. However, a group is fostering a different atmosphere in opposition to the ground reality.

Popular election strategist Prashant Kishore has also addressed the same issue on X (previously Twitter). Kishore has been facing attacks from the opposition alliance for predicting that Modi will become PM for the third term.

He wrote, “The next time politics and elections are being discussed, save your precious time and stop wasting it on pointless debates and analyses by indolent pretend journalists, blustery politicians and self-described social media experts.” He made reference to those alleged election experts who, in the absence of understanding of the ground realities, are reluctant to recognize the public’s mandate.

Prashant Kishor had stated in previous interviews that the BJP-led NDA is again forming the government at the centre. Furthermore, he mentioned that BJP will win more seats than it did in the 2019 general election. He noted that the I.N.D.I. Alliance, headed by the Congress party, had participated in this election out of formality. The opposition failed to provide an alternative to the people.

He faced intense trolling by the opposition and its entire ecosystem due to these statements and a social media campaign was launched after his remarks. He was claimed to be close to the BJP. However, the exit polls are available now and according to most surveys, the NDA is anticipated to win more than 350 seats and a few are even showing it secure over 400 seats after which Prashant Kishore’s assertion is proving to be right but his comments have further implications.

YouTubers make money off of deception

Despite the obvious signs that the NDA is regaining power, certain former journalists and YouTubers are persistently disseminating the propaganda of opposition parties including Congress on the social media platform. Opposing the BJP and PM Modi is the foundation of their entire content. These channels, which have millions of subscribers, not only provide false information but also absurd analysis. Their entire focus is on portraying that, in contrast to the BJP, whose success poses a threat to democracy and is a result of electoral malpractice, the opposition’s victory in polls is an expression of its electoral acumen and popular will.

These channels put thumbnails like ‘BJP is trapped’, ‘something significant is happening’, ‘Congress turned the game around’ and ‘Kharge/Rahul said this’ on their videos throughout the day. The whole point is to show that the people are electing the Congress and that the BJP will lose the election. However, it is completely opposite to the truth, these YouTubers rely on it as their primary source of revenue.

They, in reality, are meeting the demands of a specific kind of client. They run shops which serve biased content in the name of journalism. This should be more appropriately referred to as “political porn.” Similar to porn, a consumer makes his decision and the market satisfies his desires. Likewise, a select few patrons are delivered the content of their choice by these stores.

They have a significant advantage in that one could be considered an impartial journalist in the country if he or she consistently disagrees with the administration, both rationally and irrationally. Many supporters of the opposition parties look at them in the hopes that perhaps their argument will hold water and Congress or any other party would come to power. Its primary benefit, aside from this, is financial.

Most of the people running YouTube channels on political reportage are former journalists. They used to work for reputable organizations but were forced to flee to YouTube after their propaganda failed there. These YouTubers are filling their pockets by making YouTube channels and providing bogus news and commentary of their choice.

Loss to the common man

Even though these YouTubers are making a lot of money by promoting a partial narrative, people who enjoy watching their videos are wasting their time. Viewers of these videos are only listening to propaganda and half-baked political knowledge. Their content serves as a source of frustration for their supporters while the Youtubers live lavishly and fly abroad with their massive earnings. They have to face reality when they apply their incomplete information in society.

Read the report in Hindi here.

As exit polls show BJP victory over TMC in West Bengal, read how it can be a precursor to Mamata’s ouster in 2026 Vidhan Sabha election

Dibakar Dutta
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As exit polls show BJP victory over TMC in West Bengal, read how it can be a precursor to Mamata’s ouster in 2026 Vidhan Sabha election

On Saturday (1st June), polling agencies revealed their seat-sharing predictions for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections held in 543 constituencies across the country. Most exit polls have suggested a comfortable victory for the BJP in Mamata Banerjee’s bastion of West Bengal.

‘Jan Ki Baat’ of psephologist Pradeep Bhandari has predicted 21-26 seats for the BJP and a mere 16-18 seats for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. ‘Axis My India’ poll, conducted in association with India Today, has predicted 26-31 seats for the saffron party.

Prominent polling agencies such as Today’s Chanakya, D-Dynamics, C-Voter and Marize have given the BJP seats in the range of 21-27 out of 42 Parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal.

Exit polls conducted by various agencies for Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal

If the exit poll results for West Bengal stood true on 4th June 2024 (the vote counting day), then, it will be a referendum of sorts for the TMC govt.

It will also imply that the Narendra Modi-led-BJP had breached the stronghold of Mamata Banerjee and delivered its best-ever performance in the State.

Given that the voting pattern among the electorates in West Bengal is almost similar during Assembly elections and Parliamentary elections, it can pave the way for the ouster of Mamata Banerjee from the corridors of power in the 2026 Vidhan Sabha elections

Electoral history of BJP in West Bengal

For those unaware of the political development in West Bengal, the saffron party won only 1 seat (6.1% vote) in West Bengal during the 2009 Lok Sabha election.

The Modi wave of 2014 saw an increase in BJP’s vote share in the State to 17% but it could garner only 2 seats. The party came a distant fourth, behind TMC, CPIM and the Congress.

In the meantime, the BJP changed the leadership of its West Bengal unit, roped in a firebrand Dilip Ghosh, strengthened its party cadre and began positioning itself as a formidable Opposition in the State.

The meticulous planning at the organisational level and its outreach to the common masses proved to be a game-changer in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The saffron party garnered a whopping 40.7% votes and 18 seats for the first time in West Bengal.

BJP was able to outperform both the CPIM and the Congress, the two parties that ruled West Bengal for the maximum period in the State’s electoral history. The saffron party was placed second in the 2019 election, just short of Mamata Banerjee’s TMC.

With a new change in its leadership in 2021, the BJP unit in the State was further strengthened at the grassroots level.

This is the outcome of the spectacular performance of the saffron party in West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as predicted by seasoned psephologists and polling agencies.

The BJP seems all set to overtake the TMC in this election and create a roadmap for the ouster of Mamata Banerjee from the power corridors in 2026.

A striking voting pattern between Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal

Unlike most States that tend to vote differently during the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal tends to follow a similar voting pattern.

This pattern becomes evident when we compare the results of the 2009, 2014, and 2019 Lok Sabha elections with the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections in the State.

The Trinamool Congress emerged as the single largest party in West Bengal during the 2009 Lok Sabha election and two years later in 2011, it formed the government in the State (following the 2011 Vidhan Sabha election).

The case was similar to the 2014 Lok Sabha election and the 2016 Vidhan Sabha election. In 2019, the BJP gave a tough competition to the TMC and emerged second in the race.

The pattern followed in the 2021 Vidhan Sabha election, where TMC emerged victorious and BJP was placed second.

Based on the voting pattern of the State and the historical data, we can see a clear pathway for the BJP in the run-up to the 2026 Vidhan Sabha election if it manages to clinch more seats than the Trinamool Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

More worries for Mamata Banerjee ahead

The Mamata Banerjee-led-West Bengal government has been under the scanner over multiple scams, which took place under its regime since 2011.

TMC leaders have previously been involved in the Rose Valley scam, the teachers’ recruitment scam, the Sharda scam, the cow-smuggling scam and a coal scam.

Its politics of violence (as witnessed post-elections), atrocities against women (as seen in Sandeshkhali), exploitation of the poor (cut money syndicate) and Muslim appeasement have pushed voters to the corner.

The BJP must seize the opportunity and put forth a campaign against TMC’s misrule and seize power back from Mamata Banerjee.

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