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TMC’s Sheikh Shahjahan arranged goons over phone to orchestrate the attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali: CBI tells court

OpIndia Staff
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TMC’s Sheikh Shahjahan arranged goons over phone to orchestrate the attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali: CBI tells court

On Thursday, March 28, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the district court that TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, who had masterminded the attack on ED officials on 5 January this year, had gathered goons to carry out the attack over the phone.

The admission was made before the Basirhat sub-divisional court, where Sheikh Shahjahan was produced on Thursday on the expiry of his CBI custody.

During the hearing, the counsel representing the CBI named two persons, namely Ziauddin Molla and Didarbux Molla. It was said that on January 5, the day the attack was carried out, Shahjahan had spoken to these two men over the phone to orchestrate the act.

The ED had earlier asserted, citing the call logs of Shahjahan’s two cellphones, that on January 5, when its officers and CAPF personnel were attacked by more than a thousand goons, Shahjahan was at his home.

On Thursday, the CBI counsel also requested to record the statements of three people in the case.

According to sources, the three people voluntarily consented to have their statements recorded, stating that the state police had wrongly implicated them to shield Shahjahan and his associates.

Notably, a total of 3 FIRs were lodged against him in two cases of assault against ED officials and CAPF personnel. On March 10, the CBI included ‘attempt to murder’ in two FIRs filed against Sheikh Shahjahan under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 307. The FIRs were submitted at the Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

On Friday (8th March), the CBI concluded a search at the residence of Sheikh Shahjahan.

Last month, Sheikh Shahjahan reportedly admitted to encouraging a crowd to attack an Enforcement Directorate team in January this year.

Sandeshkhali horror

On 8th February this year, hundreds of women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets to protest against land grabbing, non-payment of wages and sexual violence committed by Trinamool Congress goon Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The women attacked Shahjahan’s illicitly obtained properties and set fire to a poultry farm owned by Shiba Prasad Hazra. They also surrounded the Sandeshkali police station and demanded the immediate arrest of the trio. The agitation in the village lasted for 3 days.

During that time, the TMC goons retaliated and the police acted as mute spectators. In several cases, the cops themselves resorted to harassment of the women. It had come to light that the residents were the subject of sexual violence by the TMC for a long time.

In a bid to pacify the angry villagers of Sandeshkhali, the TMC leadership suspended Uttam Sardar from the party for six years. The suspended TMC leader and Zilla Parishad member was subsequently arrested in the Sandeshkhali police station area on 10th February 2024.

On 17th February, the police arrested TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra over land grabbing and sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali. 

After large-scale protests and intervention of the Calcutta High Court, the primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan who had been at large for 55 days, was eventually arrested by the authorities in Minakhan, North 24 Parganas district on Thursday (29th February). During interrogation, the 53-year-old acknowledged that he was involved in the 5th January attack on the officials of the national agency who were searching his property as part of a ration scam investigation at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas.

‘People are fasting for Arvind Kejriwal’, claims his wife Sunita Kejriwal, launches WhatsApp ‘Aashirwaad’ campaign after saying his soul can be ‘felt’

Shraddha Pandey
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‘People are fasting for Arvind Kejriwal’, claims his wife Sunita Kejriwal, launches WhatsApp ‘Aashirwaad’ campaign after saying his soul can be ‘felt’

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would never have thought that one day his wife would give him a complex in the art of doing theatrics in politics. Much like Rahul Gandhi’s “Mohabbat ki Dukaan”, the Kejriwals have picked “Aashirwaad” as their catchphrase. After the custody of Arvind Kejriwal was extended till the 1st of April by the local court, his wife Sunita Kejriwal, issued another video statement on the 29th of March and launched a WhatsApp campaign titled ‘Kejriwal ko Aashirwaad’.

From elevating Arvind Kejriwal to the status of freedom fighter confronting the tyrannical Britishers to calling him the brother and son of all Indians, Sunita Kejriwal though a mere dramatis personae, is trying really hard to garner public sympathy for the AAP supremo. While Sunita Kejriwal extolled the Delhi CM for his display of ‘courage’ in the courtroom one wonders why Arvind Kejriwal could not muster this courage when ED was sending him summons for questioning in the liquor scam.

“Whatever he told the court yesterday, takes a lot of courage…freedom fighters used to confront the British like this. He is a true patriot…Arvind Kejriwal has challenged the most corrupt and tyrannical powers in the country…will you not support him in his fight?  We are starting a drive from today – Kejriwal ko aashirvaad. You can send your blessings and prayers to Kejriwal on this number. You can also send whatever message you want. Kejriwal has put his stand in court, He is a true patriot. Partiotism is in his veins. Arvind has challenged the most powerful forces in the country, will you not support your brother in this fight ” Sunita Kejriwal said.

She even made a delusional claim that many people had phoned her and said they were fasting for Kejriwal’s release. “This is how much people love him. Send us whatever you want to say. Every single message of yours will reach him and he will love reading those. You need not be from AAP to write to him,” she said while acting like the actors in a soap opera.

This new subterfuge of emotional appeals, invoking Bhagat Singh and patriotism, apparently is nothing more than a tactic to seek media attention as well as deflect criticism for the corruption and scams the Aam Aadmi Party has allegedly engaged in. Notably, in a video statement on Wednesday, Sunita Kejriwal had gone overboard in her desperate effort to gain sympathy for Arvind Kejriwal as she said, “Kejriwal’s body is in custody, but the soul is free, close your eyes and feel him.” Such bizarre claims made by Kejriwal’s wife make one wonder if the Aam Aadmi Party’s “scriptwriter” is taking inputs from Bollywood family drama and horror movies.

While Sunita Kejriwal had claimed that her husband would provide the proof of the liquor scam case in the court on 28th March, the Delhi CM ended up playing the victim card and accusing ED of trying to ‘crush’ the Aam Aadmi Party.

It is interesting to note that during the court hearing on Thursday, Arvind Kejriwal himself addressed the court turning the courtroom into nothing less than a typical saas-bahu daily soap, being the “bechari bahu”. From repeatedly saying “let me speak” to seeking “Aashirwaad” from ASG SV Raju representing the Enforcement Directorate, the AAP supremo gave one of his best performances in many years.

While Sunita Kejriwal wants people to send her husband “aashirwaad” or any message they want to, netizens had a rather hilarious reaction to the Aam Aadmi Party’s latest gimmick. Or in another possibility, maybe the Aam Aadmi Party is trying to reach out to potential voters or influence them.

One “The Hawk Eye” wrote, “Should be jailed for extra term for taking Indian politics to the new level of cringe drama. This is crossing limits.”

Meanwhile, @MrSinha_ wrote, “Arvind Kejriwal married a perfect woman… She’s the same fraud dramebaaz as him… Here his wife is comparing him with freedom fighters.”

Interestingly, several X users have also shared screenshots of “aashirwaad” they sent on the WhatsApp number shared by Sunita Kejriwal for the said campaign. While several people sent out messages like “Kejriwal is a disgrace on Indian politics”, and “Aayega toh Modi hi”, the Aam Aadmi Party sent back an automated message from Sunita Kejriwal which reads, “Your message for Kejriwal Ji has been received. I will inform you after reading your message to him.”

While Sunita Kejriwal and the AAP are going to great lengths to portray Arvind Kejriwal as the modern-day Bhagat Singh and an unparalleled patriot, it is essential to recall that Kejriwal how peddled a conspiracy theory furthering Pakistan’s narrative, claiming that Pakistan carried out the Pulwama attack at the behest of the Modi government to help PM Modi in the upcoming general elections in May 2019.

“Pakistan and Imran Khan are openly supporting Modi Ji. It is clear now that Modi Ji has some secret pact wid them. Everyone is asking – did Pakistan kill 40 of our brave soldiers in Pulwama on 14 Feb just before elections to help Modi Ji?” Kejriwal had posted on X on 11th April 2019.

In another instance of his outpour of “deshbhakti” back in 2016, Kejriwal had demanded proof for the Surgical Strikes conducted by the Indian Armed Forces on terror camps located in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

AAP has become so predictable and repetitive in the victimhood tactics that people know in advance what theatrics the “Rajneeti badalne aaye hain” to “ghotale kar ke jayenge” party will play out following any of their leaders’ arrest be it Satyender Jain, Manish Sisodia or now Arvind Kejriwal. An OpIndia journalist’s predictions turning true in the case of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP’s subsequent moves can be read here.

Students evacuated by Indian govt from Ukraine pay Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan’s security deposit for Lok Sabha elections

ANI
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Students evacuated by Indian govt from Ukraine pay Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan’s security deposit for Lok Sabha elections

A group of students who were evacuated by the Union government from Ukraine during the country’s war with Russia gave money for Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan’s security deposit for his candidature in Attingal Lok Sabha constituency.

The students, along with their parents, visited Muraleedharan on Friday at the BJP’s state office here. The students said that they have decided to pay for Muraleedharan’s security deposit as a token of gratitude for their evacuation.

“I was a student at Zaporizhzhia University in Ukraine. We were there when the Russia-Ukraine war was going on. At that time, we were evacuated due to the efforts of Prime Minister Modi ji and Minister V Muraleedharan,” Sai Sruthi told ANI.

“As a token of gratitude and respect, students and parents collected some money, and we came here today to present this amount as a deposit for his (V. Muraleedharan’s) election,” she added.

Muraleedharan thanked the students for their contribution.

“I am thankful to the parents and the students who were evacuated by the Government of India during the period of conflict in Ukraine. In fact, during the last five years of PM Narendra Modi ji’s government, the most satisfying activity for me personally was the various evacuation operations,” he said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s motto has always been ensuring the safety and security of every Indian wherever he or she is. His contacts at the highest level with the heads of government and states across the world have facilitated these evacuations. So, I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for ensuring the safety and security of every citizen, and also thank the students and parents of the evacuees from Ukraine for coming in support of my candidature in Attingal,” 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)

Mukhtar Ansari’s wife absconding for a year: Read about Afsa Ansari, who tops the list of UP Police’s ‘lady dons’ and who carries a reward of ₹75,000

OpIndia Staff
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Mukhtar Ansari’s wife absconding for a year: Read about Afsa Ansari, who tops the list of UP Police’s ‘lady dons’ and who carries a reward of ₹75,000

Gangster Mukhtar Ansari, who was lodged in Banda jail, died due to a heart attack on Thursday (28th March 28). More than 60 cases were registered against Mukhtar Ansari. His brother Afzal Ansari is also an accused in several cases. His son Abbas Ansari is in jail. His wife Afsa Ansari is also on the run, just as gangster Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen is also on the run. Atiq Ahmed was murdered in April 2023. Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari both were considered to be the biggest gangsters in Purvanchal.

Preparations for the funeral of Mukhtar Ansari are done, but his wife Afsa Ansari is absconding. The police have also announced a reward of Rs 75,000 on her arrest. There are 13 cases registered against her including a case under the gangster act. Afsa Ansari is accused of illegal land grabbing from Ghazipur and Mau to Lucknow. The case of forced registry is also going on against her. All these have been recorded after her marriage to Mukhtar Ansari. After Mukhtar Ansari was jailed in 2005, Afsa Ansari increased her involvement in the gang.

Afsa, a resident of Darji Mohalla of Yusufpur Mohammadabad in Ghazipur, is accused of taking land by setting up a firm named ‘Vikas Construction’ near Raini village in Mau’s South Tola. A godown was built on that land and was rented out to FCI. Afsa’s two brothers Anwar Shahzad and Atif Raza are among the five accused in the case. The investigation in this case concluded that the land of Dalits was forcibly occupied. It has been freed in June 2021.

The other four accused in this case have appeared in court, but Afsa Ansari has been absconding since then. Several raids were also conducted on her hideouts in Ghazipur, but she was not found. There were already allegations against her in connection with the Ghazal Hotel land deal and the grabbing of government land in Nandganj.

Ansari’s other son Umar is also out on bail. His daughter-in-law Nikhat Bano has also been jailed for helping her husband Abbas escape from jail. Mukhtar Ansari’s family has won 16 different Lok Sabha and Assembly elections so far.

Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen is also absconding

Recently, the Prayagraj police nabbed Balli Pandit, a special henchman of Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen who is still absconding. Shaista Parveen’s name came in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal was a witness in the MLA Raju Pal murder case. Raju Pal was murdered in January 2005 as he defeated Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf from the Allahabad West assembly constituency. At present, his wife Pooja Pal is the MLA from Chail in Kaushambi. Umesh Pal was a witness in this murder case.

Umesh Pal was murdered in February 2023. Another accused in the case, Guddu Muslim, is also absconding. A reward of Rs 50,000 has been declared on Shaista Parveen. Ashraf’s wife Zainab Fatima is also absconding. Raids were also conducted this month after information about their presence in Hatwa village of Dhoomanganj, but the police could not find anyone there. Ashraf Ahmed’s in-laws hail from Hatwa village. Shaista Parveen did not even come to her husband’s funeral. Now, dead mafia Mukhtar Ansari’s wife Afsa Ansari is absconding.

B*nc**d Hindus, I did what I wanted to: Shakir, father of three kids, flees after raping 3-year old in Delhi, lived in a Hindu’s house on rent

OpIndia Staff
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B*nc**d Hindus, I did what I wanted to: Shakir, father of three kids, flees after raping 3-year old in Delhi, lived in a Hindu’s house on rent

On 28th March, a shocking incident involving the rape of a three-year-old Hindu girl has surfaced in the national capital, Delhi. The accused has been identified as 34-year-old Shakir and has three children. However, some people stated that his name is Shahir and some claimed it to be Sagir. He is presently absconding.

The victim’s health deteriorated as a result of the heinous act and she was brought to the hospital. Hindu organisations protested in front of the police station and voiced their outrage at the occurrence. The police force was deployed to the location due to the tense situation.

The matter pertained to the Mianwali Nagar police station area of Delhi where the little child lived in a rented house with her family members who worked as labourers to earn a living. The accused also stayed with his family in a rented house next to them. The little girl was reportedly playing outside the residence when he picked her up and brought her to his room where he sexually abused her.

People rushed towards the place after hearing the baby’s wails. The perpetrator left her and began hurrying through the narrow streets as soon as he noticed the crowd. He also challenged, “S***f***r (abusive word using sister) Hindus, what will you do? Call other Hindus. I did what I wanted to,” according to the minor’s father when he tried to stop him. She was found unconscious when people went inside. People immediately took the bleeding child to the hospital. Her father feared that her chances of survival were very low.

The residence where the culprit lives on rent is believed to belong to a Hindu. Hindu outfit members arrived at the spot after learning about the occurrence. His family members claimed that they were unaware of the horrifying crime. The cops rushed to the scene as soon as they were notified and filed a case after receiving a complaint from the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, furious people started to gather in large numbers outside Miyanwali Nagar police station demanding Shakir’s arrest. The raised slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DCP) of the area reached there and started to pacify them. A viral video showed the accused’s room in which the girl was raped. Liquor bottles, containers, some utensils and floor-bedding are visible in the tiny and grimy space. The creator of the video referred to Shakir as a jihadi.

The authorities have been given 24 hours by the enraged mob to apprehend the perpetrator and take strict action. The cops are collecting evidence from the crime scene and conducting raids to capture him.

‘Eye opener case for today’s generation’: Bharuch court denies bail to married Adil who posed as bachelor Arya Patel to trap a Hindu girl

OpIndia Staff
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‘Eye opener case for today’s generation’: Bharuch court denies bail to married Adil who posed as bachelor Arya Patel to trap a Hindu girl

On Friday, March 29, Bharuch Sessions Court rejected the bail application of Adil Abdul Patel, who was arrested in a love jihad case in January this year. The court said that it is prima facie proven that the accused trapped the Hindu girl by faking his religious identity and marital status and if he was released on bail, it would send out a wrong message to society.

While denying bail, the court also said that this case is an eye-opener for today’s young generation who are blindly without any hesitation accepting friend requests on social media without ascertaining the reality of the sender.

Excerpt of the court order, a copy of which is with OpIndia

The case came to the fore in January 2024. On January 6, the Bharuch police in Gujarat arrested Adil Abdul Patel of Chavaj village for luring a Hindu girl using a fake social media ID. Adil, using the name ‘Arya Patel’, trapped a Hindu girl on Instagram. 

After a complaint was lodged against Adil Abdul Patel, the police registered a case based on it and launched a manhunt to arrest him. After a three-day search, the police arrested the accused Adil Abdul Patel from Chavaj village. The Bharuch police subsequently filed a chargesheet in the case accusing Adil Abdul Patel of impersonation, molestation, and blackmailing a Hindu woman while posing as a Hindu man.

On March 26, 2024, Adil filed his first bail plea in the Bharuch Sessions Court, which the court duly rejected. Adil had argued in the plea that he was the victim of a false accusation and that he should be granted bail following the filing of the chargesheet.

Government opposed the bail application

When the bail plea filed by the accused was listed for hearing before the court, the Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed it. Divulging the details of the case, PP said that Adil had created an Instagram ID in the name of Arya Patel, through which he had lured a Hindu girl into a love trap. The Muslim man concealed his marital status and religion, misleading the girl into a four-year relationship under the pretence of being a single Hindu person.

Adil Patel not only assumed a Hindu identity to lure this girl but he also deceived the girl under the garb of gaining sympathy. When the girl’s family asked him about his parents, he said that his parents had died long back. He told this lie to encash sympathy from the girl’s family.

The prosecution stated that it would be appropriate to take into account the accused’s modus operandi. If he is freed on bail, he might commit the same crime again and harm other vulnerable girls. Furthermore, it was contended that if the accused was freed, he might tamper with the evidence because he and the victim were from the same village.

The prosecution contended that the accused should not be granted bail because of the seriousness of the crime. He added that a strong message needs to be sent out to society that such shameful acts should not be encouraged, for which it is important that the accused mustn’t be granted bail.

It has become clear that Adil created a false ID: Bharuch Sessions Court

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court stated that it would not be delving into the case’s merits or discussing the evidence at this point in time because those topics would anyway be covered during the trial. Having said that, it is evident from the evidence that the accused contacted the victim using a fictitious ID. Not only this, but the accused continued to identify himself as ‘Arya Patel’ instead of revealing his real name even when he met the victim in person.

“The accused had already been misleading the victim by concealing his religious identity. Above that, he proposed to her even though he was married and living with his wife,” the court noted, turning down the bail request.

“The two had never met previously, and the accused used a fictitious name to get in touch with the victim and was successful to some extent. Such behaviour ought to be denounced.” the court added.

Bail would embolden such criminals: Court

The court said, “Given the modus operandi of the accused, if bail is granted, it will embolden such criminals and they would continue to exploit the girls by luring them under the grab of false promises. If he is acquitted, it will open the door for more criminals who are searching for ways to take advantage of helpless girls, the court added.

The judge further stated, “In this case the accused has not only played with the sentiments of the victim but also wronged his wife.” The court noted the significance of the case, saying, “This case can be an eye-opener for today’s generation, who mindlessly accept requests on social media without knowing anything about the other person.”

The court denied the bail request after hearing arguments from both parties and taking into account the facts, the evidence, and the accused’s mode of operation. The order was delivered on March 26, a copy of which is with OpIndia.

‘Remember, the people who belittle women can never be trusted’: Kangana Ranaut holds roadshow in Mandi, slams Supriya Shrinate for derogatory comments

OpIndia Staff
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‘Remember, the people who belittle women can never be trusted’: Kangana Ranaut holds roadshow in Mandi, slams Supriya Shrinate for derogatory comments

On Friday (29th March), Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut who is now a BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh, held her first public rally and roadshow in Mandi to slam Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory comments. On 25th March, Shrinate passed derogatory and misogynist remarks against the actor after the BJP announced her ticket from Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency, which happens to be the actor’s hometown.

“Kya bhav chal raha hai Mandi me koi batayega? (Will someone tell me what the rating system in Mandi is)”, she was quoted as saying. The statement was a crude allusion to prostitution.

Condemning the remarks and slamming the Congress leader who now has been denied a ticket to the Lok Sabha Elections by the party, Ranaut said that people who see women like this can never work for their development. “Jo betiyon ke aur behenho ke bhao lagate hai, woh log aap ke kabhi nahi ho sakte hai, yeh aap yaad rakhiyega (Remember, people who see women like this can never work for your betterment, they can never be trusted),” the actress said while addressing the roadshow today.

“The issue of development is important for us and the direction in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will guide us. We will leave no stone unturned in working in that direction. The people of Mandi will show what is in their hearts,” she said.

Shrinate had posted derogatory comments against Kangana, later claimed somebody else posted on her behalf

Shrinate had posted derogatory, misogynist comments against Kangana Ranaut on Instagram on 25th March after BJP announced the latter a ticket from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The picture created controversy with netizens slamming Shrinate for using offensive and derogatory words for the National Award winning actress.

Supriya Shrinate’s Instagram post which she claimed someone else had posted

The Congress also later denied a ticket to Shrinate from the Maharajganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh, where she was defeated in the 2019 general elections.

After the controversy snowballed, Shrinate, in her defense, said many people have access to her Facebook and Instagram accounts and one of them made the vile post.

Kangana on 29th March slammed Shrinate indirectly and urged the voters to vote only for those persons who respect the dignity of women.

‘She has daughters at home too, how would she feel if someone says such things to her children’: Kangana’s mother

Meanwhile, Kangana’s mother, Asha Ranaut also criticised Shrinate for using derogatory remarks against her daughter. “They too have daughters at home. If someone speaks like that against their children, how would they feel…I too have that same pain in me…Why should I call out the entire party if one individual is bad? Not everyone is bad,” she said.

Kangana Ranaut returned to her home constituency on Friday after meeting with the high command in Delhi. Shortly after, she launched her election campaign with a roadshow. The actor, who campaigns for the BJP in the Mandi constituency, recently spoke out against the Congress during an open session at the Times Now Summit 2024 – India Unstoppable event.

She accused the Congress of encouraging nepotism on Wednesday (27th March), claiming she has a “glorious right-wing personality” and specifically targeting Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

She stated that Congress has “always been an appalling party for me”. She described the opposition party as something she has long opposed throughout her film career. “The Congress has always been a disgusting party for me. The nepotism in the party has been problematic for me because I was a victim of the same system in my (film) industry. I openly opposed it and fought against it. Something was exploiting me: nepotism, groupism, dynastic politics… “I despise this party,” Ranaut stated during the Times Now Summit 2024 – India Unstoppable event.

Ranaut, 37, said she has openly supported the BJP. “Whether I’m a member of the party or not, I’ve always battled for its cause. I’ve investigated every possible avenue. I have always believed that my natural affinity and ideology are with a nationalistic administration. I have a wonderful right-wing personality,” stated the four-time National Award winner.

‘Health minister demanding action but file pending with CM for 45 days’: Delhi LG accuses Arvind Kejriwal of inaction in BSA college sexual harassment case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Health minister demanding action but file pending with CM for 45 days’: Delhi LG accuses Arvind Kejriwal of inaction in BSA college sexual harassment case

On Thursday (March 28th), Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over a file pertaining to the sexual harassment case in Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College. The Delhi LG alleged that the file for the transfer of the accused principal has been held up for nearly 45 days.

“Even as Delhi’s Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has been crying foul over the alleged sexual harassment at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and demanding the removal of its principal, the file for his transfer has been held up for nearly 45 days by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself,” a release issued by the LG’s office stated on Thursday.

“Saurabh Bhardwaj, in a note to LG VK Saxena on March 20, 2024, demanded the immediate removal of Ishwar Singh from his post, alleging that he was uncooperative with the girl victims in the matter and that he discouraged/demotivated them from pursuing the case further,” it added. The LG also questioned the state government’s ‘motive’, indicating the delay in deciding the removal of the accused from the position. “But what raises serious doubts over the government’s motive is the fact that the file for the removal/transfer of Ishwar Singh from Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College has been pending with CM Kejriwal since February 14, 2024, as the same has to be decided by the NCCSA, which is chaired by the Chief Minister. Member Secretary (NCCSA) had also sent reminders to the CM on March 7, 2024 and March 13, 2024, but to no avail,” the release mentioned.

“LG, VK Saxena, in a note to the Chief Minister, has brought out this glaring fact and lamented that neither transfer/posting nor “vigilance action on sensitive matters” could be initiated due to inaction on the part of CM Kejriwal. The LG sent the note to CM Arvind Kejriwal before his arrest on March 21, 2024,” it added.

According to the release, the LG has directed the Delhi police and the Chief Secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings in the case.

“Considering the gravity of the case, LG has already directed the Delhi Police to expedite criminal proceedings. He has also directed the Chief Secretary to expedite disciplinary proceedings in the case,” the release added.

The LG further alleged that Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj did not consult CM Kejriwal in the case and accused him of inaction that delayed the initiation of vigilance action on ‘sensitive matters’.

“I find it pertinent to highlight that the Health Minister, in both the current note and a previous correspondence to the Chief Secretary, has requested the immediate transfer of the incumbent principal and the Head of the Department of Pharmacology. The irony lies in the fact that although the Health Minister has made a request for the transfer of the principal of BSA Medical College and Hospital, the file for his transfer has been held up by you, as the chairman of NCCSA, since February 14, 2024. Despite reminders from the Member Secretary of NCCSA, the proposal is still pending for your recommendations on the matter,” the LG pointed out, as mentioned in the release.

“It is evident from the above that the Minister has not consulted the Chief Minister in the matter. It would be prudent that any note on a significant issue be submitted to me through the Chief Minister. Due to inaction on your part, neither important transfers nor postings could be effected nor vigilance action on sensitive matters could be initiated. In view of the above, you are advised to ensure expeditious disposal of matters pending in NCCSA regarding transfer/posting as well as vigilance & non-vigilance matters for the purpose of initiating disciplinary proceedings,” the release stated

This comes after Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj had on 20th March written a letter to the Delhi LG demanding “urgent action” against the sexual harassment accused professor in the said case.

Bharadwaj also sought the Delhi LG to direct the Chief Secretary to take action against the college principal for allegedly pressuring students to drop their allegations.

“You would appreciate the concerns raised by the students, who would be future doctors and torchbearers of our society, regarding their safety and security,” the AAP leader stated in the letter.

As we reported earlier, on 18th March, protests were held by Mahila Nyay Samiti outside Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in New Delhi on Monday against one Salim Sheikh, who works as an Assistant Professor at the college.

The protest on 18th March came after two college girls complained that they were sexually harassed by Sheikh during their MBBS viva on 31st January. The victims later filed a police complaint on 22nd February. However, the protesting organisations stated that the police did not take any action in the case.

(With inputs from ANI)

Congress to fight on 9, RJD on 26: As Congress is reduced to single-digit seats in Bihar, read how it is grasping at the straws ahead of LS polls

Jinit Jain
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Congress to fight on 9, RJD on 26: As Congress is reduced to single-digit seats in Bihar, read how it is grasping at the straws ahead of LS polls

Congress and RJD partnered INDI alliance has sealed a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar, with the Congress party stated to contest on nine seats while the lion’s share of the seats, 26 to be precise, going to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD.

Five of the 40 Lok Sabha seats have been allotted between three left parties, namely CPI-ML, CPI, and CPM.

RJD, Congress, and Left leaders held a joint press conference on Friday, March 29, and announced seat allocation.

Congress will be fielding candidates on seats such as Kishanganj, Muzaffarpur, Patna Sahib, and Maharajganj, the RJD will be fighting on Purnea, Hazipur, Gaya, Aurangabad, Darbhanga, Siwan, and Patliputra besides others.

CPI-ML will contest from Aarh, Karakat, and Nalanda, CPI from Begusarai, and CPM from Khagaria.

While it is a significant breakthrough for the opposition parties to come together and forge an alliance, given reports of disagreement over seat sharing between Congress and RJD as the grand old party reportedly sought more seats in the state while its alliance partner, RJD, agreeing to offer only 9 seats to them.

Congress and RJD seem to have buried the hatchet as they agreed with the formula of 9 and 26 seats each respectively.

The seat sharing sealed in Bihar underscores the predicament of the Congress party, which had to meet the demands of a relatively younger political party, RJD, and reduce itself to a single-digit party in a state, epitomising its decline from the national political landscape.

The Congress party has been forced to play second fiddle in Bihar owing to the emergence of RJD as a formidable regional force, winning 74 seats in assembly elections, second only to the BJP which had won 85 out of the 243 Vidhan Sabha seats. The Congress had bagged a paltry 17 seats, chipping away at its ability to mount a strong case for an increased number of seats for the Lok Sabha elections.

Another striking facet of the seat sharing announced by the INDI alliance in Bihar reveals that Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was hailed by the Congress IT cell members, as the next big leader from the party, may likely not be fielded by the party for the Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, Kumar was in CPI, which had fielded him from Begusarai. Kumar, however, came as a cropper against BJP’s Giriraj Singh and suffered a humiliating defeat, following which he joined the Congress party.

This year, CPI will be fielding its candidate from Begusarai, so Kumar’s candidature from the constituency is not possible unless he quits Congress and decides to fight as an independent candidate. It is also unlikely that Congress will field him from other seats in Bihar where the competition seems to be stiff from the NDA alliance, which is expected to sweep the country with over 350-390 parliamentary seats and elect Modi back to power for a third term.

The Congress had to face a similar ignominy during the seat-sharing finalisation in Uttar Pradesh, making peace with only 17 seats while Akhilesh Yadav’s party, SP, and other INDI alliance partners got the remaining 63 seats. This is a remarkable climbdown for a national party that had fielded candidates on 67 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2019. However, it is worth mentioning that 63 of the 67 candidates fielded by Congress in Uttar Pradesh in 2019 had lost their deposits.

The humiliating drubbing of 2019 is perhaps still playing on the minds of the Congress leadership, which partly explains their conservative approach to negotiating seats in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. On the contrary, PM Modi, finds himself on a stronger footing, thanks to his government’s development agenda and infrastructural advancement goals, which are bearing fruits in terms of rapid economic growth as reflected in the soaring GDP numbers among other indices. In addition to this, the ever-growing popularity of PM Modi, especially after the conclusion of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony where he was invited as the chief Yajman.

His zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and commitment to integrate Kashmir with India with the abrogation of Article 370 have indubitably also added to his soaring nationalistic credentials, as opposed to the opposition parties who have opposed his decision, just for the sake of it, without offering cogent and cohesive reasoning.

Everywhere around the country, Congress is grappling with the challenges of mounting a credible alternative to state governments, either by the BJP or strong regional parties. In Delhi, for instance, Congress is supporting its INDI alliance partner, Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, the same party that rose to power in the national capital after riding on the anti-corruption plank it had launched against the Congress party.

On March 31, the entire INDI block, including the Congress party, will convene a massive rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Grounds to protest the arrest of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal by the ED in connection to a money laundering scandal linked to the liquor policy. Incidentally, it marks the birth anniversary of the late Sheila Dikshit, one of the most towering leaders of the Congress party who was Delhi CM for 15 years before losing to Arvind Kejriwal, who had accused her of being complicit in corruption.

This desperation demonstrates that Congress is clutching at the straws as the country gears up for the Lok Sabha elections. It won’t be a surprise if Congress ends up with the lowest tally of Lok Sabha seats this time around.

“I finally found peace”, says wife of deceased contractor Manna Singh killed by Mukhtar Ansari in 2009, family garlands photo after 14 years

OpIndia Staff
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“I finally found peace”, says wife of deceased contractor Manna Singh killed by Mukhtar Ansari in 2009, family garlands photo after 14 years

The deceased mafia Mukhtar Ansari was responsible for the murder of Manna Singh also known as Ajay Prakash Singh, a contractor from the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, and his gunner Rajesh Rai. The two were shot dead in broad daylight in 2009. Afterwards, Manna Singh’s son Vikas Singh and his family members were engaged in a relentless battle against the dreaded don.

Now, after Mukhtar Ansari died due to cardiac arrest on 28th March, Vikas Singh paid floral tribute to his father and garlanded his picture as well as shed happy tears. Manna Sigh’s wife stated, “I got peace. My husband’s soul has also found peace. I had faith in God and today justice has been delivered.” They informed that they received the news at around 9.30 in the evening.

She added, “When my husband was killed, my children were young. I continued to worry until they returned home from school.” She mentioned that Mukhtar Ansari murdered her spouse because he was not afraid of him.

On 29th August 2009, gunmen riding bikes shot and killed Manna Singh and his companion Rajesh Rai in the Ghazipur area. His brother Harendra Singh had filed a case against Mukhtar Ansari, Hanuman Pandey, Kallu Singh and Umesh Singh. Ansari was the Mau MLA at the time. An eyewitness to the crime, Ram Singh Maurya was killed in Mau city on 19th March 2010 during the hearing along with constable Satish who was serving as his guard.

However, seven years ago, eight people including Mukhtar Ansari were acquitted, while three accused individuals were convicted and given life sentences and penalties were also imposed on them. Manna Singh’s family is at present relieved that Mukhtar Ansari has left this world and that his criminal empire has been destroyed.

Last year, OpIndia conducted on-the-ground reporting and talked to the victims in the region which was under Mukhtar Ansari’s influence. There we met Ashok Singh, cousin of Manna Singh who told us how the gangster killed the gunner who was with his brother and the witnesses as well. Furthermore, Ashok Singh provided us with information about a person named Shabbir who was a driver.

Ashok Singh disclosed that Shabbir who Manna Singh hired was also hurt along with the gunner at the time of his brother’s murder. However, when it came time for Shabbir to give a statement in court, he turned hostile and sided with Mukhtar Ansari.

Mukhtar Ansari, a gangster turned politician, passed away on 28th March following a decline in his health while incarcerated. After complaining of abdominal pain, he was transferred to the Banda Medical College Hospital. According to the hospital, he had a heart attack and passed away while receiving treatment.

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