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European Parliament elections: Right wing parties gain ground across Europe, French president Macron dissolves parliament after results

OpIndia Staff
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European Parliament elections: Right wing parties gain ground across Europe, French president Macron dissolves parliament after results

In a major breach in the left-wing stronghold, the right-wing parties have won a decisive victory in the European Parliament elections. The voting on the 720 MEP bloc resulted in a crushing defeat for French President Emanuel Macron who consequently called for fresh legislative elections. The election results came as a shocker for left-liberal parties in Belgium and Germany as well. Meanwhile, Italy’s Georgia Meloni has emerged as the “kingmaker” in Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron suffers humiliating defeat

The 2024 European Parliament elections have seen a significant shift in the political landscape, with French right-wing parties gaining substantial ground.

President Emmanuel Macron dissolved France’s lower chamber of parliament, sending voters back to the elections in the coming days to elect MPs following his party’s humiliating defeat by the right-wing party in the European elections on the 9th of June. The legislative elections will be held in two rounds—30th June and 7th July.

The declaration came as the provisional results from France showed the far-right National Rally party far ahead in the European Union’s parliamentary elections, giving Macron’s pro-European centrists an embarrassing disappointment.

“I’ve decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly. This decision is serious, heavy. But it is, above all, an act of trust. Trust in you, my dear compatriots. In the capacity of the French people to make the most just decision,” Macron said in his address to the nation on Sunday.

According to the provisional results, Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration, nationalist party National Rally (Rassemblement National) is getting around 31.50% of the votes while Macron’s Renaissance party and its coalition Besoin d’Europe has received just 14.50% of the votes. It is notable that France has 81 seats in the European Union Parliament.

Notably, in recent years the right-wing political parties dubbed as the “far-right” have gained ground in France due to multiple factors including economic discontent, concerns over immigration and national identity.

Prolonged economic stagnation, high unemployment rates, and growing income inequality have fueled public discontent. Many voters feel left behind by traditional parties, turning to right-wing alternatives promising economic revival and protectionism. The rising cost of living, exacerbated by inflation and energy prices, has also driven voters towards parties that promise to prioritize national economic interests and reduce the perceived economic burden imposed by the EU.

Germany goes the “right” way in EU parliament elections

In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) finished second, highlighting the party’s popularity ahead of the forthcoming federal elections. The Eurosceptic party was expected to receive 15.60% of the vote, its greatest performance to date and more than all three parties in Scholz’s coalition combined.

Interestingly, the conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union, in opposition at the federal level, dominated the election with almost 30% of the vote. European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) have won 30 seats, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats won 14 seats. Meanwhile, Renew Europe got 8 seats and the Left had to be content with just 4 seats.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Greens suffered a crushing defeat getting 16 seats as voters punished them for the high expense of CO2 emission-reduction policies.

In Poland, the right-wing party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS) gained big getting 35.70% votes, with Polish PM Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO) maintaining the lead with 37% votes. Similarly, in Spain, the centre-right People’s Party, which is a member of the EPP, triumphed over Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Source: europa.eu

Belgium goes the “right” way in EU Parliament elections

The Flemish nationalist parties dominated general elections in Belgium on Sunday, but Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s liberal party suffered a setback. In spite of polls predicting that the far-right, anti-immigrant Vlaams Belang party would become the leading political party in the country of 11.5 million people, the right-wing nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) retained first place, with an expected 22% of the vote, according to preliminary results provided by the Interior Ministry. The Vlaams Belang emerged in second place, with a share of 17.5%, ahead of the Socialist Voruit party, which received approximately 10.5% of the vote.

Alexander De Croo, the prime minister of Belgium, has resigned following his party’s crushing loss in Sunday’s national and European parliamentary elections. The 48-year-old found it difficult to hold back tears while making the announcement in Brussels on Sunday night.
“I was the figurehead of this campaign. This is not the result I had hoped for, and I therefore take responsibility for this result, it was not meant to be. As of tomorrow, I will be resigning as prime minister and I will fully concentrate on current affairs,” an emotional de Croo told the media.

Giorgia Meloni’s party in Italy emerges as the “kingmaker”

Giorgia Meloni’s right wing Fratelli d’Italia, or Brothers of Italy, emerged victorious in Italy with more than 28% of the vote. The triumph would provide Meloni a boost domestically while also establishing her as one of the most powerful leaders in the EU.  Meanwhile, the centre-left opposition PD received 23% of the vote, followed by the populist Five Star Movement, which received 10%, a seven-point drop from the 2019 election. Reports say that MEPs of Meloni’s party might also be decisive if she decides to support centre-right European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term, thus giving Rome clout over the coming EU executive.

Structure of the European Parliament

In the EU Parliament, MEPs are organized into political groups rather than by nationality. The major political groups include the European People’s Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe (RE), and the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA). There are also smaller groups and non-attached members who do not belong to any group. In the last European Parliament elections there were 705 seats, however, this time 15 additional seats have been divided among 12 countries. Notably, seats in the EU Parliament are distributed among the member states based on their population, with larger states having more MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) than smaller ones. Germany holds the highest number of seats at 96, followed by France has 81, Italy at 76, and Spain at 61. Smaller countries like Malta and Luxembourg have 6 seats each.

Major issues in the 2024 European Parliament elections

Several issues shaped the EU Parliament election including post-pandemic economic recovery, with the EU’s ambitious Green Deal, climate policies and sustainability remaining central to the election campaigns. Immigration remained a dominant issue, with debates over asylum policies, border security, and the integration of migrants. Besides, the future of EU integration, including potential expansions and the balance of power between the EU and member states, eurosceptism, and unemployment were also central to the poll debates and discussion.

Significance of the rise of the Right Wing in the EU

Right-wing parties often advocate for stronger national sovereignty. This can lead to policies that better reflect the specific needs of individual member states. Moreover, emphasising national identity can help preserve the unique cultural heritage and traditions of member states, fostering a sense of pride and unity among citizens.

A significant shift in economic policies could also be anticipated. Right-wing parties may implement protectionist economic policies that safeguard local industries and jobs from international competition, potentially leading to more robust national economies. A focus on reducing EU bureaucracy could lead to more streamlined regulations, making it easier for businesses to operate and grow.

As Right-wing parties typically advocate for more stringent immigration controls, which can address public concerns about security and social cohesion, they could formulate more managed and sustainable immigration policies. In addition, the rise of eurosceptic right-wing parties could drive necessary reforms within the EU, making its institutions more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of its citizens.

‘Kangana refused to hand over her mobile phone’: How this lie was peddled by popular handles to shield Kulwinder Kaur

Anurag
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‘Kangana refused to hand over her mobile phone’: How this lie was peddled by popular handles to shield Kulwinder Kaur

On 9th June, an X handle “ThaSikhs” published an audio clip claiming it was a conversation between a soldier who was stationed at the Chandigarh Airport and a journalist explaining what happened on the day when Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut was assaulted by now-suspended CISF personnel Kulwinder Kaur.

In the post, the social media handle claimed that Ranaut refused to put her phone and purse on the tray during security check and called the security personnel a “Khalistani”.

In the audio, the person who claimed to be a soldier stationed at the airport said that he had never seen Kulwinder angry during duty hours and she was stationed there much before he joined the duty. He further claimed that it was Kangana Ranaut’s fault as she refused to put her phone and purse on the tray during the security check. He also claimed that Kangana referred to Kulwinder Kaur as “Khalistani” after learning her name from the nameplate.

The photograph is that of a BSF jawan who was martyred in 2019

But the claims made by the handle ThaSikhs do not add up. The photograph of the ‘soldier’ used on the audio clip is of BSF Jawan Vijay Bhan Singh who sacrificed his life after Bangladeshi troops open fire at the border in West Bengal in 2019. The fact about the photograph was pointed out by an X handle Arya Anviksa.

Upon research, OpIndia found several articles with information of death of BSF soldier and his photograph that can be checked here, here and here.

The narrative that Kangana refused to give her phone and purse at security check was started from a report by Hindustan Times where the newspaper quoted an unnamed source who claimed Kangana was slapped after she refused to go through proper security check.

Source: Hindustan Times

So far, there is no proof that Kangana refused to give her phone and purse for the security check but the narrative that begun with a source-based report by HT is being peddled relentlessly.

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, who is known for putting a target on Hindu women, also peddled the unconfirmed narrative. Zubair’s post was based on HT report itself.

Source: X

Next, OpIndia tried to find the source of the audio clip that was shared by ThaSikhs. We found that a fake news peddler YouTube channel that pose as an Online News Channel, Punjabi Sewak TV, had published the audio clip two days ago.

Interestingly, the image on the thumbnail and on the video were different. The thumbnail image is that of Col Santhosh Babu who was martyred in the Galwan clash with PLA troops in May 2020 at the Aksai Chin region.

Source: Punjabi Sewak TV

OpIndia found many dubious videos on the channel that has over 35,000 subscribers. In one of the video, the reporter claimed to be talking to an employee at Chandigarh Airport who narrated the same story that Kangana was at fault and not Kulwinder Kaur.

Interestingly, the photograph used in this video was of an employee of Lufthansa Airlines from Delhi Airport. The photograph was picked from a news report from May 2024. Moreover, the image used for the anchor in the video is a Pakistani news anchor who went viral in 2018 for fighting with his colleague on air. It raises further doubts on the authenticity of the videos shared by Punjabi Sewak TV.

Source: Punjabi Sewak TV/News18.

It is evident that the source of the video that ThaSikhs shared on social media has a history of sharing fake and unverifyable videos and by using photographs of a dead soldier and Pakistani anchor, the channel can be safely called a fake news peddler.

CISF said Kulwinder Kaur was not stationed at checking point where she slapped Kangana Ranaut

CISF DIG Vinay Kajla said that Kulwinder was not supposed to be at the spot where the incident took place. She was deployed in the frisking zone and Kangana Ranaut was passing through an adjacent area when the incident happened. He said, “Kulwinder was not supposed to be there and came to know about the MP’s presence only after a Punjab Police cop informed her. The incident took place outside a cubicle. We have a digital footprint of every happening inside the airport”.

“The CISF is reviewing the protocol related to the personnel here”, Kajla added.

It is clear that Kulwinder Kaur not only assaulted a newly elected MP while in uniform but also violated her sworn duty of protecting citizens, only to make a political statement.

OpIndia tried to contact Kangana Ranaut on this issue. Her staff has informed that at present the MP has no statements to add in the matter.

BJP workers in Karnataka stabbed, assaulted by mob of Muslims for celebrating PM Modi’s victory, one person critical: Exclusive FIR details

OpIndia Staff
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BJP workers in Karnataka stabbed, assaulted by mob of Muslims for celebrating PM Modi’s victory, one person critical: Exclusive FIR details

On June 9th, two BJP workers in the village of Boliyaru in Karnataka’s Mangaluru were brutally stabbed by 20-30 unidentified Muslims for celebrating the victory of the return of PM Modi to power at the center for the third consecutive time. Two BJP workers identified as Harish Anchan, 41, and Nandakumar, 24 were brutally assaulted and stabbed by the Muslim individuals who got irked by the ongoing celebrations on the evening of the oath-taking ceremony.

As per the information exclusively obtained by OpIndia, the BJP workers in the Mudipu village and the nearby Boliyaru village were celebrating the victory of the BJP-led NDA forming the government at the center. They rallied around the streets and also raised slogans in the village in favor of BJP. However, as the workers celebrating the victory passed through the local masjid in Boliyar, the slogans happened to irk the local Muslims who followed the BJP workers on the bikes.

Local reports suggest that around 20-30 Muslims from the Boliyar village followed the BJP workers on their bikes and blocked their path near Samadhan Resto-Bar. The people from the Muslim community then began arguing with the BJP workers for celebrating the victory of PM Modi and the recent electoral victory of Capt Brijesh Chowta in the Lok Sabha elections and also for raising slogans in favor of the BJP.

After a minor altercation, the accused persons began attacking the BJP workers, gathering the local residents who failed to pacify the matter. Later, the Muslim accused persons stabbed two of the BJP workers identified as Harish and Nandakumar. Meanwhile, one of the BJP workers identified as Krishna Kumar was also brutally assaulted by the Muslims.

OpIndia has exclusively learned that Muslims also pulled off the saffron scarfs and clothes of the BJP workers in a bid to express their anger against the BJP and its workers celebrating PM Modi’s victory.

The victim persons at present have been admitted to KS Hegde Hospital in the Deralkatte region of the state. The health condition of one of the BJP workers is believed to be critical while others are getting treated.

The Mangaluru Police has filed an FIR in the case based on the complaint filed by BJP worker Krishna Kumar, who was brutally assaulted by the Muslims. The Police are deeply investigating the incident and are collecting all the pieces of evidence including the CCTV camera in the region in which the incident is said to have been recorded.

The security in the Mudipu village and Boliyaru village has been tightened to prevent further escalation of violence. Team OpIndia talked to some of the BJP workers on the ground who condemned the incident. They demanded the strictest punishment against the Muslims who attacked the BJP workers.

OpIndia also contacted the Mangaluru Police to know the recent updates in the case. However, the calls remained unanswered. The report will be updated once the relevant details are obtained. So far as now, the police have filed an FIR in the case and have identified some of the individuals who launched an attack on the BJP workers. However, no arrests have yet been made.

OpIndia exclusive: FIR details from the case

FIR in the case with the names of accused

OpIndia accesses the FIR filed in the case. FIR was registered against Bashir, Siddiq, Monu, Aboobakar and 20 others unknown. The Muslim mob abused and threatened the workers before attacking. They reportedly threatened the BJP workers saying, “How dare you root for Modi?, we will not spare your life”.

The accused have been booked under IPC sections 341, 143, 147, 148, 504, 506, 323, 324, 307, 149.

Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir: Extensive search ops on for terrorists who killed 10 Hindu pilgrims and injured 33, drones deployed to hunt

ANI
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Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir: Extensive search ops on for terrorists who killed 10 Hindu pilgrims and injured 33, drones deployed to hunt

The Indian Army launched a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi on Monday morning following the attack on a bus coming from Shiv Khori, in which ten pilgrims were killed on Sunday evening.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has also arrived in Reasi and drones are also being used in search operation in dense forest areas in and around the incident site.

Reasi District Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan confirmed on Sunday night that at least 10 people were killed in the terror attack. 33 others were also injured, he added.

According to officials, the bus, en route from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, was targetted by terrorists at around 06.10 pm when it reached Pouni area of Reasi district bordering Rajouri district. “Terrorists opened fire, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to plunge into a gorge,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma told ANI.

The SSP further said that the rescue operations are complete and the injured have been taken to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals. “The identities of the passengers were not confirmed. Initial reports suggest they belong to Uttar Pradesh,” he added.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and assured action against those behind it. “I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces and JKP have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists,” the LG said in a post on X.

“PM Narendra Modi Ji took stock of the situation and has asked me to constantly monitor the situation. All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance,” the J-K LG added.

Defence Expert Hemant Mahajan said, “We have invited dignitaries from all the neighborhood countries except Pakistan for today’s swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the council of ministers. If this attack occurs at this moment, its objective is very clear.”

“If you see, tourism has increased in Kashmir, which gives opportunities to the residents to do their business and get jobs. Such terrorist attacks will damage everything,” he said.

“Amarnath Yatra is going to start and that goes through the route on which the attack took place… Security forces led by the Indian Army should take offensive actions to either capture or kill those who are involved in these attacks,” he added. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘Will bury you in the ground if you chant BJP again and again’: Muslim mob attacks Dalit family with swords, hurls abuses saying ‘Modi Yogi will not come to save you’

राहुल पाण्डेय
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‘Will bury you in the ground if you chant BJP again and again’: Muslim mob attacks Dalit family with swords, hurls abuses saying ‘Modi Yogi will not come to save you’

An uproar erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district over objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the BJP. Around a dozen people have suffered injuries after a dispute broke out between the Muslim and the Dalit communities in the district. Among the injured, six persons are in serious condition and are receiving treatment in the hospital. In the wake of the conflict and tensions, forces have been deployed in the village. So far, the police have filed FIRs against both sides. They have arrested a total of six accused. 

The incident occurred on 7th June 2024 in the Shahganj police station area of Jaunpur district. On Saturday (8th June), Vipin Kannaujiya, a resident of Bhadi village, lodged a complaint with the police. According to Vipin, at around 9:15 pm on 7th June, he was walking outside after having dinner. Just then, Shahbaz and Karim who are residents of Bhavi Chhidwa village reached there. Looking at Vipin, both of them started abusing him and said, “B****wa** keep chanting BJP-BJP. Modi-Yogi Kya ukhaad lenge? BJP ki M** k* B****.” After hurling abuses they launched an attack on Vipin. 

Iron rods and sticks were used in the attack. Due to a head injury, Vipin began to lose consciousness. Seeing his relative being assaulted, Aman raised an alarm. At that moment, Mobin, Jameel, Sagir, Farukh, and Afsar, also joined the attackers. They also launched an attack on the family members of the victim who were sleeping. During the attack, they also hurled casteist slurs and abuses at the victims. Vinod, Santosh, Pawan, Suraj, Bhola, and Manju Devi sustained serious injuries during the assault.

During this time, swords were also seen in the hands of Shahbaz, Mobin, and Karim. They said, “S**e dhobi, mad****od, have you people developed so much courage? Now if you do BJP-BJP, we will kill and bury you. Modi and Yogi will not come to save you.”

The victim has demanded strict action from the police. The police have filed an FIR in this case under IPC sections 147, 148, 323, 307, 504, 505 (2), 506, and 153-B, along with the SC/ST Act. Shahbaz, Karim, Mobin, Jameel, Sagir, Shakeel, Farukh, and Afsar have been named. OpIndia has the complaint copy.

The Muslim side has also lodged an FIR

In this case, the police have also filed a cross FIR. About 4 hours after the FIR filed by the Dalit community, Shahbaz Khan also lodged a complaint at the police station. In the complaint, it was stated that after a verbal altercation, Vipin hit Shahbaz on the head with a stick. Later Shahbaz, Karim, Sagir, Mobin, Afsar, and Shabana arrived to save him, and then they were attacked by Vipin’s supporters. Vipin, Santosh, Rajesh, Vinod, Aman, Arvind, and Baburam have been named in the attack. All of them have been charged under IPC sections 147, 323, 308, 504, and 506.

They have been accused of threatening to kill and hurling abusive language at the Muslim youths. The Jaunpur police have so far arrested 6 accused. The arrested accused include Shahbaz, Mobin, Jameel, Shakil, Farukh, and Afsar. The investigation of the case and other necessary actions are underway. Police forces have been deployed in the village. Currently, the situation is said to be under control.

First ever BJP govt in Odisha to take oath on 12 June instead of 10 June, new chief minister yet to be named

OpIndia Staff
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First ever BJP govt in Odisha to take oath on 12 June instead of 10 June, new chief minister yet to be named

The first ever BJP government in Odisha was scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy on 10th June, but now it has been postponed to 12th June. The change in date comes while the party is yet to announce the name of the new CM.

Reportedly, the swearing-in ceremony was rescheduled to accommodate the presence of PM Modi at the event, as he is unable to travel to Odisha on 10th June. After taking oath today, PM Modi will have a hectic day tomorrow, and therefore he won’t be able to attend the ceremony in Bhubaneshwar.

Similarly, the meting of the BJP’s legislature party meeting, originally scheduled for 10 June, has also been rescheduled for 11 June. The new CM will be decided in this meeting. The swearing-in ceremony will be held after the meeting of the 78-member BJP’s legislature party in presence of central observers. BJP’s parliamentary board is likely to take a final call on it.

Several names including senior BJP MLA Suresh Pujari, Mohan Charan Majhi and KV Singh Deo are doing the rounds as the chief minister probables. Although Dharmendra Pradhan’s name was also being speculated, he took oath as a cabinet minister in the Modi government. Similarly another probable Ashwini Vaishnaw has also been retained in the union cabinet.

Amid the suspense over the name of the next chief minister, all preparations are on for the swearing-in ceremony at the Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar.

BJP spokesperson and oath-taking ceremony in-charge, Dillip Mohanty on Sunday said that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister of Odisha will now be held on June 12 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at the event.

“The oath-taking ceremony of the new Chief Minister of the newly-elected BJP Government in Odisha will now be held on June 12. PM Modi will be present for the oath ceremony,” said Mohanty.

“It is historic that the oath-taking ceremony will happen for the first time amongst the people of Odisha. It used to happen inside the governor’s house previously. This is happening after 2-3 decades. We are hoping that everyone in Odisha will take part in the event,” said Mohanty.

He further called it a government of the people and said that the people of the state will contribute to it. “PM Modi will be present and he will meet everyone. People are full of excitement that they will meet PM,” said Mohanty.

PM Narendra Modi will hold roadshow in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday evening before attending the oath-taking ceremony of the new Odisha CM at Janata Maidan.

Meanwhile, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and close aide of caretaker Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian on Sunday announced his retirement from active politics following the party’s defeat in Odisha assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Pandian, an IAS officer of the 2000 batch, has served as private secretary to Naveen Patnaik for over two decades. In 2023, he joined the BJD after taking voluntary retirement from the bureaucracy.

The Biju Janata Dal suffered a defeat in the Odisha assembly polls at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party, putting an end to the 24-year-old reign of Naveen Patnaik.

The Bharatiya Janata Party secured 78 seats in the 147-seat assembly. The BJD secured 51 seats, way behind the majority mark of 74 and the Indian National Congress secured 14 seats.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, also BJP performed well by securing 20 out of the 21 parliamentary seats in the state; the remaining one seat was won by Congress.

(With inputs from ANI)

Modi Govt 3.0: President Droupadi Murmu administers oath to PM Narendra Modi and his team of 71 Ministers, read the full list here

OpIndia Staff
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Modi Govt 3.0: President Droupadi Murmu administers oath to PM Narendra Modi and his team of 71 Ministers, read the full list here

On Sunday (9th June), PM-designate Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended by leaders from India’s neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers. A total of 30 leaders have been appointed as Union Cabinet Ministers, while there will be 5 Ministers of State with independence charge and 36 Ministers of State in the union government.

The new ministry of 72 ministers, including PM Modi, includes 61 ministers from BJP, while the rest 11 are from allies. Among the ministers from alliance partners, TDP and JD(U) has got two ministries each, one cabinet minister and one MoS. The rest 7 parties have been allocated 1 minister each. Among them, HD Kumaraswamy of JDS, Chirag Paswan of LJP-Ramvilas and Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM took oath as cabinet ministers, and Shiv Sena, RPI, RLD and Apna Dal got MoS berths.

Notably, NCP refused the MoS Independent berth offered to Praful Patel demanding cabinet ministry, and therefore he was not included in the ministry.

Among all the ministers, there are 27 OBCs, 10 SCs and 5 STs. There are 5 ministers from minority communities, however there is no Muslim minister.

The list of the ministers who took oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is given below. For ministers for the NDA alliance partners, the party names have been mentioned in brackets with the names.

List of Union Cabinet Ministers

  1. Rajnath Singh
  2. Amit Anil Chandra Shah
  3. Nitin Gadkari
  4. Jagat Prakash Nadda
  5. Shivraj Singh Chauhan 
  1. Nirmala Sitharaman
  2. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar 
  3. Manohar Lal Khattar
  4. Haradanahalli Devegowda Kumaraswamy (JDS)
  5. Piyush Vedprakash Goyal 
  6. Dharmendra Pradhan
  7. Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM)
  8. Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh (JDU)
  9. Sarbananda Sonowal
  10. Dr. Virendra Kumar 
  11. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP)
  12. Pralhad Joshi
  13. Jual Oram
  14. Giriraj Singh
  15. Ashwini Vaishnaw
  16. Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia
  17. Bhupender Yadav
  18. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
  19. Annapurna Devi 
  20. Kiren Rijiju
  21. Hardeep Singh Puri 
  22. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
  23. Gangapuram Kishan Reddy
  24. Chirag Paswan (LJP-Ramvilas) 
  25. CR Patil 

List of Minister of State (Independent Charge)

  1. Rao Inderjit Singh 
  2. Dr. Jitendra Singh 
  3. Arjun Ram Meghwal 
  4. PratapRao GanpathRao Jadhav (Shiv Sena)
  5. Jayant Chaudhary (RLD)

Minister of State

  1. Jitin Prasada 
  2. Shripad Yasho Naik
  3. Pankaj Chaudhary 
  4. Krishan Pal {Gurjar} 
  5. Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A)
  6. Ram Nath Thakur (JDU)
  7. Nityanand Rai
  8. Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal – Soneylal)
  9. V Somanna
  10. Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani (TDP)
  11. Professor SP Singh Baghel
  12. Shobha Karandlaje
  13. Kirti Vardhan Singh
  14. BL Verma
  15. Shantanu Thakur
  16. Suresh Gopi
  17. L Murugan
  18. Ajay Tamta
  19. Bandi Sanjay Kumar
  20. Kamlesh Paswan
  21. Bhagirath Choudhary
  22. Satish Chandra Dubey
  23. Sanjay Seth
  24. Ravneet Singh Bittu
  25. Durga Das Uikey
  26. Raksha Nikhil Khadse
  27. Sukanta Majumdar
  28. Savitri Thakur
  29. Tokhan Sahu
  30. Dr Raj Bhushan Choudhry
  31. Bupathiraju Srinivasa Varma
  32. Harsh Malhotra
  33. Nimuben {Jayantibhai} Bambhaniya
  34. Murlidhar Mohol
  35. George Kurian
  36. Pabitra Margherita

7 women have been made ministers in the Modi govt, including two cabinet ministers. Smriti Irani, who lost from Amethi, has not been inducted in the minisry.

The 5 ministers from minority communities include two Sikhs Hardeep Singh Puri and Ravneet Singh Bittu, two Buddhists Kiren Rijiju and Ramdas Athwale, and one Christian George Kurien.

PM Modi led the BJP-led NDA to a third successive victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP won an absolute majority on its own in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls winning 282 and 303 seats respectively. PM Modi leads an NDA coalition with 292 seats in the Parliament and has laid thrust on making India a developed nation by 2047.

(Inputs from ANI)

Jammu & Kashmir: Bus carrying Hindu pilgrims falls into a deep gorge in Reasi after terrorists fire on it, 10 killed and 33 injured

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu & Kashmir: Bus carrying Hindu pilgrims falls into a deep gorge in Reasi after terrorists fire on it, 10 killed and 33 injured

At least 10 people died after a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir fell into a deep gorge after terrorists fired on the vehicle. The incident took place in the Reasi district on Sunday, where the bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple came under heavy firing from terrorists.

The incident occurred in Teryath village in the Poni area, and the vehicle veered off course and fell into the gorge after the driver was hit in the attack. The bus was going from Shiv Khori to Katra. A rescue operation was promptly launched, with personnel from the police, army, and paramilitary forces rushing to the scene.

As per reports, terrorists fired at least 50 rounds on the bus before fell off the road.

Talking about the incident, SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma said that the terrorists were waiting for the bus, and the driver lost balance after the attack which caused the vehicle to plunge into the gorge. She said, “Initial reports suggest that terrorists fired upon the passenger bus going from Shiv Khori to Katra. Due to the firing, the bus driver lost balance of the bus and it fell into gorge. 33 people were injured in the incident. Rescue operation has been completed. The identities of the passengers have not been confirmed yet, they are not locals. Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done.”

The SSP said that the victim pilgrims are not locals, and as per initial reports they could from Uttar Pradesh.

The DC of Reasi confirmed that 10 people have lost their lives in the attack and the resultant crash. Reasi deputy commissioner Vishesh Mahajan said: “10 people died as a bus rolled down a gorge in Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi.”

The news of the terror attack came even as the ministers of the third Modi government were taking oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

Madhya Pradesh: Former sarpanch shaves his head after Digvijaya Singh’s defeat, had placed a bet with a villager on the Congress leader’s victory

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Former sarpanch shaves his head after Digvijaya Singh’s defeat, had placed a bet with a villager on the Congress leader’s victory

Congress suffered a humiliating defeat in Madhya Pradesh in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election. Bharatiya Janata Party managed to secure all twenty-nine seats in the important state of the Hindi belt. It even managed to win Chhindwara, which was known as Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s bastion for the last fifty years. Digvijaya Singh, the Congress’s candidate from the Rajgarh constituency was also defeated. Notably, he also served as the state’s chief minister for ten long years. Interestingly, a sarpanch had to have his head shaved after Digvijaya Singh’s failure to win.

Digvijaya Singh received 6.12 lakh votes while his rival and BJP nominee Rodmal Nagar obtained 7.58 lakh votes and the Congress leader lost by a margin of 1.46 lakh votes. Rodmal Nagar has become a parliamentarian for the third consecutive time and scored a hat-trick of victories. However, Digvijaya Singh’s supporters were quite confident of his success. Karan Singh Pawar, the previous Sarpanch of Bailas Panchayat, had even made a wager in his favour.

He had declared that he would shave his head should Digvijaya Singh lose the election. The villager he bet against vowed that he would leave the hamlet if Rodmal Nagar didn’t win. Now, Karan Singh Pawar was forced to fulfil his promise at the Mata Mandir in front of the entire village after the Congressman’s loss. A video of the amusing development has gone viral on social media and triggered humourous discussions.

Notably, the BJP lost significant ground in Uttar Pradesh, where its total of 62 seats fell to 33 while Madhya Pradesh saved the party’s esteem by showering it with all the constituencies. Congress which won the lone seat of Chhindwara in the 2019 Lok Sabha election failed to do it this time. Jyotiraditya Scindia who won from Gwalior and Shivraj Singh Chouhan who won from Vidisha are scheduled to be appointed as Union Minister in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shankar Lalwani, the saffron party’s candidate from Indore shattered many records and won by more than 10 lakh votes.

Amidst Islamic State threats, India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match to go ahead, several roads in New York state closed for security reasons

OpIndia Staff
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Amidst Islamic State threats, India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match to go ahead, several roads in New York state closed for security reasons

The New York State Police have increased the deployment of forces and ramped up security for one of the major clashes in the ongoing T20 World Cup, amidst terror threats of an attack during the India vs Pakistan match on Sunday (9th June). The state authorities have also issued a traffic advisory as several roads leading to the match venue have been closed for security reasons. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that New York State Police have been directed to increase enforcement presence and security for the tournament.

Additionally, the New York Police Department (NYPD) released a bulletin emphasising that the tournament and its related events in New York City could be viewed by extremists as an opportunity for violence.

The bulletin said, “Recent pro-ISIS propaganda which specifically referenced the upcoming India-Pakistan match at this major event … raises concerns and reinforces the need for heightened vigilance” among security partners.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said that the World Cup received an ISIS-K-linked threat in April as well as more specific threats related to the India versus Pakistan match.

Last month, on 5th May, Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that West Indies had received a terror threat to the T20 World Cup tournament from North Pakistan. As per reports, ISIS’s Pakistan branch, the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) had sent a terror threat to CWI where it tried to incite violence against the sporting event. The IS-K terror module is also active in Afghanistan.

It was also earlier reported on 30th May this year that ISIS-K had threatened to launch a “Lone Wolf” attack during the much-awaited India vs Pakistan match. Lone Wolf “is a particular kind of mass murder, committed in a public setting by an individual who plans and commits the act on their own.”

The much-awaited India and Pakistan match will commence at 10:30 a.m. (8 PM IST) on Sunday at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, marking the biggest match of the ICC Cricket T20 Men’s World Cup in the US. Cricket World Cup matches between India and Pakistan rank among the most-watched sporting events globally. The two teams last faced off in 2022. While India is coming with a win, Pakistan had an upsetting loss at the hands of the USA. Overall in a head-to-head contest, India has secured eight victories against their arch-rivals while suffering three losses. In their most recent encounters, the two teams have each won two of their four matches in Asia Cups and T20 World Cups.

(State authorities in New York City release traffic advisory as several roads leading to India vs Pakistan T20 clash venue have been closed, Image Source – New York Post)

The cricket stadium, located near the Hempstead Turnpike, will cause significant traffic disruptions throughout the day due to the closure of several nearby roadways for the event. The Nassau County police have issued a traffic advisory and warned residents of several road closures taking place during the tournament. 

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the 11-week World Cup competition will be held at venues in several countries, with eight matches set to take place at the 34,000-seat Long Island Stadium.

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