Home Blog Page 1296

Main Bhi Chowkidar to Modi Ka Parivar: How the anti-Modi brigade’s personal attacks have contributed significantly to the Modi phenomenon

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Main Bhi Chowkidar to Modi Ka Parivar: How the anti-Modi brigade’s personal attacks have contributed significantly to the Modi phenomenon

Nobody supports Narendra Modi more than his opponents. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi used the vile ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ jibe to malign PM Modi, but the political genius turned it to his favour, resulting in the ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ wave. In a deja-vu scenario, Lalu Yadav has taken the lead and attacked Prime Minister Modi over his family/Parivar. This time, PM Modi, displaying his political prowess, used the slur to further cement his bond with the people of Bharat, whom he considers family. Thus, the “Modi Ka Parivar” campaign emerged as a tight slap to those who resort to personal attacks against Modi instead of opposing him for his policies.

From senior BJP leaders, and party workers to supporters, social media is flooded with people proudly calling themselves the family of Narendra Modi, the leader they love, the leader they trust, the leader they vote for. This came after PM Modi today said, “140 crore countrymen are my family. Today, crores of daughters, mothers and sisters of the country are Modi’s family. Every poor person in the country is my family. “Those who have no one, they also belong to Modi and Modi belongs to them. My India-My family, with the expansion of these feelings, I am living for you, fighting for you and will continue to fight for you, to fulfill my dreams with determination.”

No politician ever has enjoyed such deep, emotional, protective and assertive admiration from people as Narendra Modi does. What sets him apart even in the age of social media, where every big leader is subject to constant trolling and slandering, how Modi manages to turn every abuse hurled at him as the ‘Vijay Tilak’ on his forehead?

Chowkidar to Parivar: Modi loves Bharat, Bharat loves Modi

It is interesting to note that this is not the first time that the anti-Modi leaders have attempted to tarnish PM Modi’s image. It is also not the first time that their malicious jibes have backfired.

In the lead-up to the 2019 elections, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi frequently lied about the Rafale deal at all of his rallies, mocking Prime Minister Modi with the phrase ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’. Soon after, BJP supporters online began prefixing their names with ‘Chowkidar’. The campaign was started by Surat-based businessman ‘Mr Sinha.’ When it became trending on social media, the BJP leaders also began following suit.

While Congress, other opposition parties and the anti-Modi lobby left no stone unturned to project Narendra Modi as ‘corrupt’, not only the Supreme Court but also the people of India outrightly rejected Rahul Gandhi’s apocryphal narrative and gave a historic victory to Modi. It is worth recalling that in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 303 seats with NDA getting 352 seats. Interestingly, the BJP and NDA not only managed to increase their seats but also widened their vote share. According to the data, BJP recorded a vote share of around 37% while NDA as a whole received around 45% of the votes in 2019, making it the highest vote share received since 1980.

This time, the I.N.D.I Alliance member and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav tried to target Modi over his biggest strong point. PM Modi has been an unabashedly proud Hindu. A large section of Hindus have this quality of Modi and consider him as one of their own. This means a lot for the Hindus who have over the years seen governments, and leaders relentlessly trying to suppress Hindus, appease the religious ‘minority’, guilt-trip the Hindus and yet seek votes from them. However, since 2014, the winds have changed. Lalu Yadav who once vowed to answer the ‘Trishul’ with ‘Lathis’ now has the audacity to attack Modi over his Hindu credentials.

“(Modi) keeps bragging about the Ram temple. He is not even a true Hindu. In Hindu tradition, a son must shave his head and beard after the death of his parents. Modi did not do so when his mother died,” Lalu Yadav recently said in an apparent attempt to project Modi as someone not a true Hindu but a ‘political Hindu’.

As Lalu mentioned Ram Mandir, it is pertinent to recall that the nation witnessed how, during his 11-day fast, PM Modi, as “prateekatmak yajman,” adhered to strict rituals such as sleeping on the floor and drinking coconut water, not taking salt, and feeding cows (gau seva) in preparation for the ‘Pran Pratishtha‘ of Ram Lalla at his rightful abode in Ayodhya.

Ironically, the anti-Modi leaders have learned nothing from the ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ fiasco and have continued to resort to below-the-belt personal attacks on PM Modi. Recently, Rahul Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Modi over his caste and claimed that PM Modi lied about his OBC caste saying that he is not an OBC by birth and later included his caste in the OBC list. However, as we factchecked Rahul Gandhi’s claim, it turned out that the Gandhi scion was himself telling a lie since it was his own parties government in Gujarat and in Centre when Modi’s Modh Ghanchi caste was notified in the OBC list in 1994, many years before Modi became Gujarat’s Chief Minister.

Interestingly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also been a target of the opposition’s similar personal attacks, be it mocking him for his saffron attire to calling him by his birth name “Ajay Singh Bisht” despite him becoming a Sanyasi.

During the run-up to the 2014 elections, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had taken a dig at Prime Minister Modi’s humble beginning as a tea seller and said that Modi can distribute tea but can never be the Prime Minister. Modi had then converted that remark as a badge of honour and held ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, discussion forums over tea across the nation as a way to connect directly to voters.

Years later, notorious for his controversial remark Aiyar doubled down his attack on Modi and in December 2017, called PM Modi a “neech kisam ka aadmi” ahead of the Gujarat Assembly election. “Ye bahut hi neech kisam ka aadmi hai, is mein koi sabhyata nahi hai…” Aiyar said. In a damage control move, Congress’s Prince Rahul Gandhi had tried to distance himself from Aiyar’s casteist remark against PM Modi and “expected” an apology from him.

It is worth recalling that during the Gujarat assembly elections in 2017, PM Modi had strongly reacted to Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘neech’ jibe and it changed the game for BJP since then Congress has lost whatever little ground it was gaining in Gujarat.

“You [crowd] tell me if I am a neech because I was born in a poor family? I was born in a backward class is that why I am a neech? Or because I am a Gujarati that’s why I am a neech? You tell me, what wrong have I done to the country to be called a neech? This is not the first time that Congress leaders have called Modi neech,” Modi said.

In September last year, Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “R**dwa” while implying that PM Modi killed his wife alive. The Congress leader said that the “R**dwa” who killed his wife even as she is alive is ruling at the centre. 

The opposition leaders have called PM Modi as neech, Asur, Hitler, Kutte ki maut marega and what not, however, he turns their “Gaalis” into “Ashirwad” and never stoops down to their level merely to give it back. Narendra Modi leaves it to his “Parivar”, the people of Bharat to respond aptly with their vote. Interestingly, During his speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 76th Republic Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the people of Bharat as ‘parivarjano (family members)’, now the opposition has literally prompted the citizens of Bharat to embrace their family member. As PM Modi aims for “Abki Baar 400 Paar”, there is no better slogan or campaign than the people proclaiming that they are “Modi Ka Parivar”.

No lawful right to continue occupying land: Supreme Court directs Aam Aadmi Party to vacate encroached land meant for Delhi judiciary, sets 15th June deadline

OpIndia Staff
-
0
No lawful right to continue occupying land: Supreme Court directs Aam Aadmi Party to vacate encroached land meant for Delhi judiciary, sets 15th June deadline

On Monday (4th March), the Supreme Court came down heavily over the alleged ‘encroachment’ of land by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for occupying the land meant for Delhi judiciary as its party head office. Subsequently, the apex court directed the Arvind Kejriwal-led political party to vacate the premises. However, considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the court granted AAP time to approach the Land and Development Office (L&DO) to get an alternate land for its offices and set 15th June as the deadline.  

Notably, it is said that AAP encroached on the land located at Rouse Avenue in New Delhi. The encroached land is earmarked for the Delhi judiciary for the expansion of the district judiciary, but AAP has been occupying it as its party office. However, AAP has rejected the allegations claiming that the land was lawfully allotted to the party before it was earmarked for the expansion of the Rouse Avenue court complex. 

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ruled, “In view of the impending elections, we grant time till 15 June, 2024, to vacate the premises so that the land which has been allotted for the purpose of expanding the footprint of the district judiciary can be duly utilised on an expeditious basis.”

Slamming Aam Aadmi Party for ‘illegally occupying’ the encroached land, the three-judge bench emphasised that AAP has no lawful right to continue occupying the allotted land.

The apex court further highlighted in its ruling the urgent requirement for premises to accommodate new recruits of the Delhi High Court, as courtrooms are currently unavailable. Given that the MTNL building, which was earlier proposed, has been found to be unsuitable, the Court directed the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government to present an alternative proposal within two weeks and convey it to the Chief Justice of the High Court.

AAP cannot hold Supreme Court and High Court to ransom: Solicitor General

During the proceedings, CJI Chandrachud asked, “After L&DO allotted it to the District court complex, how did it go to the political party (AAP).”

The Amicus Curiae informed the bench that the High Court has not been able to utilise the land, adding that the HC refrained itself from getting into politics.

Appearing for AAP, Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that AAP has not ‘encroached’ or is not ‘occupying’ the land as it was “lawfully allotted” to the party. AAP’s counsel Singhvi also sought relaxation claiming that AAP is a national party and it deserved something. 

Singhvi argued, “From 1993 the land was used by NCT, and in 2015 the NCT allotted it to the party for its party office.. it was not the LNDO.. I am only one out of 6 national political parties.. it is a party that has a certain percentage of votes and presence in 2 or more states.”

He added, “They are telling us as a national party we get nothing. I’m given Badarpur, while everyone else is in better places.” 

To which, the CJI criticised Singhvi for using the platform of the Supreme Court to allot land to Aam Aadmi Party. CJI Chandrachud pointed out, “You are using our good offices to have a land allotted to you…”

Responding to Shingvi’s argument, the Solicitor General slammed him stating that he cannot hold the Supreme Court and High Court to ransom and that he (representing AAP) will not vacate till the party is given another land. 

While the bench noted that AAP has no lawful right to continue occupying the allotted land, it granted the party time till 15th June to approach L&DO to get alternate land for its offices. It also directed the L&DO to process the application in accordance with the law in the meantime and communicate its decision within 4 weeks. 

Pertinent to note that in previous hearings, the CJI, who appeared to be annoyed after learning about the encroachment, had warned the counsel representing the AAP-led Delhi government that the land must be returned to the High Court. CJI Chandrachud remarked, “No one can take the law into their own hands … How can a political party sit tight on that?” 

The Delhi government was represented by Senior Advocate Wasim Qadri and Vikramjit Banerjee.

The Supreme Court had earlier criticised the Delhi government for its negligent approach to allocating funds for infrastructure in the Delhi district judiciary. At that time, the Chief Justice of India noted that as of March 2021, approvals had been given for three out of four projects, yet the funds for these projects had not been disbursed.

‘Prabhu Ram is not just Pujaniya to Hindus, but he is the Astha of Bharat’: Gujarat Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia resigns over insult to Lord Ram

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Prabhu Ram is not just Pujaniya to Hindus, but he is the Astha of Bharat’: Gujarat Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia resigns over insult to Lord Ram

Arjun Modhwadia, a veteran Congress leader and Porbandar MLA, has tendered his resignation from the party after four decades of service.

On Monday, he submitted his resignation as the MLA to the speaker of the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha. In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Modhwadia expressed his decision to step down from the party. He highlighted his dissent with the Congress’s choice to decline an invitation to the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 11.

Describing Lord Ram as the “Aastha of Bharat,” Arjun Modhwadia expressed his disappointment, stating that the Congress had disregarded “the sentiments of the people” and had “failed to gauge the sentiments of the people.”

In his letter, he wrote, “I have encountered numerous individuals who felt offended by how the Congress party insulted Lord Ram by boycotting the Mahotsav in Ayodhya.”

The former MLA criticized Rahul Gandhi for his actions, accusing him of attempting to disrupt and demean the Pran Pratishta ceremony. “To further distract and humiliate this sacred occasion, Rahul Gandhi attempted to create chaos in Assam, which only served to anger our party members and citizens of Bharat,” he stated.

Feeling “helpless to serve the people,” Modhwadia announced his resignation from the party.

Arjun Modhwadia, a former Gujarat Congress president and former Leader of Opposition, had been elected twice as an MLA, winning from Porbandar in the 2022 Assembly elections.

Develop Telangana like Gujarat: Congress’ Telangana CM Revanth Reddy praises BJP’s Gujarat development model, says PM Modi is like an elder brother

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Develop Telangana like Gujarat: Congress’ Telangana CM Revanth Reddy praises BJP’s Gujarat development model, says PM Modi is like an elder brother

In a rare political development on Monday (4th March), the Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy from the Congress party heaped praises on the Bhartiya Janata Party’s Gujarat development model. CM Reddy added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an elder brother to him and with his support, states can reap benefits of development akin to the Gujarat development model.  

Notably, CM Revanth Reddy extended a warm welcome to PM Modi who is on a visit to the state to inaugurate a slew of development works worth Rs 15718 crores. This is seemingly PM Modi’s first visit to Telangana after the Congress government came to power in the State in December 2023. During the event, CM Reddy shared the Dias with PM Modi while the latter inaugurated several development projects. 

While addressing the public meeting, CM Reddy hailed PM Modi as his elder brother and lauded the development work undertaken by the Modi government at the Centre and the BJP-led government in Gujarat.

In PM Modi’s presence, Congress’ CM Reddy said, “Narendra Modi ji, according to me, Pradhan Mantri means ‘Bade Bhai’. (The Prime Minister is like an elder brother.) With the help and support of ‘Bade Bhai’, the Chief Minister of the state can bring development in their respective areas. If Telangana has to develop like Gujarat, we need your support.”

CM Revanth Reddy added that the Central government aspires to make India a five trillion economy. There are five metropolitan cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, and our city was one among them, the Chief Minister noted. 

CM Reddy said, “We want to contribute to your vision of a five trillion economy and please support us with Metro Rail, River Musi Development Front on the lines of Sabarmati River developed by you (Prime Minister).”  

He further added that the State (Gujarat) government is also proposing to establish a semiconductor industry. The Central government had recently announced incentives and Hyderabad is the right place for the semiconductor industry, Telangana CM said. 

CM Reddy further pointed out, “If an acrimonious relationship prevails between State and Central governments, people will have to suffer and State development will be affected. Politics will have to be limited to elections and later elected public representatives should strive for State development.” 

The Congress leader highlighted that considering these aspects, soon after the Congress government came to power, a meeting was held with the Prime Minister to discuss the promises made to Telangana as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. 

Further in his address, he asserted that from the State government’s end, there would not be any acrimonious attitude towards the Central government. CM Reddy noted, “We want your blessings for Telangana and we don’t want to fight with the Central Government.”

CM Revanth Reddy earns praises for accepting good things about competitive political party

Following his cordial welcome to PM Modi, several netizens and politicians have appreciated his remarks, for acting like a ‘statesman’ and setting the template for cooperative federalism.  

Taking to X, Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka who is from BJP, shared a snippet from Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s address. Apart from the video, he praised CM Revanth Reddy for showcasing how a responsible and statesman-like Chief Minister of a state should deal with the Prime Minister of the country in a federal system. 

Ashoka tweeted, “This is how a responsible and statesmanlike Chief Minister of a state is expected to conduct with the Prime Minister of the country in a federal system. CM Siddaramaiah avare and DCM DK Shivakumar avare, please learn from your younger colleague in Telangana on how to put the development of the state and interests of the people of the state above petty party politics.”

Several netizens have also highlighted that it is a brave act by Congress’ Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to acknowledge the development under a competing political party and to go against the Congress party line, which has been consistently cynical and dismissive of everything that the PM Modi-led BJP does.

Meanwhile, in Telangana, PM Modi inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over Rs 15718 crores. The development projects include national highways, an NTPC power plant, and the final section of MMTS Phase II. PM Modi is also slated to address public meetings at Sangareddy and Adilabad. 

‘I was diagnosed on the day of Aditya L1 launch’: ISRO chief S Somnath shares experience of struggling with cancer

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘I was diagnosed on the day of Aditya L1 launch’: ISRO chief S Somnath shares experience of struggling with cancer

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s chief S Somanath revealed in an interview with Tarmak Media House that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer on the lase of the Aditya L1 launch in September 2023. He has, however, recovered from the disease and resumed office after only four days of hospitalisation. The interview was published on 3rd March 2024.

Reportedly, on 2nd September 2023, the day when Aditya L1 was launched, S Somanath underwent a scan that revealed a growth in his stomach. Speaking to Tarmak Media House, he said, “There were some health issues during the Chandrayaan-3 mission launch. However, it was not clear to me at the time, I did not have a clear understanding of it.”

On the day of the launch of Aditya L1 mission, he got a scan done and was shocked to learn about a growth in his stomach. Further scans at a hospital in Chennai revealed he has a hereditary disease. Within days, it was confirmed that there were significant health challenges S Somanath had to face while fulfilling his professional responsibilities.

During the interview, he said, “It was a shock for the family. But now, I perceive cancer and its treatment as a solution.” He added, “I was uncertain about a complete cure at the time, I was undergoing the process.”

S Somanath underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy. His recovery was no less than a miracle as he had to spend only four days in the hospital and resumed office. On the fifth day of the surgery, he was at ISRO without any pain. He said, “I will be undergoing regular checkups and scans. But, now I am completely cured, and have resumed my duties.” S Somanath said it was a difficult time for him and his family.

Rameshwaram Cafe blast suspect possibly linked to ISIS Ballari module as similarities in modus operandi surface: Reports suggest citing official sources

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rameshwaram Cafe blast suspect possibly linked to ISIS Ballari module as similarities in modus operandi surface: Reports suggest citing official sources

In a shocking development in the probe into the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast, reports are now emerging suggesting a possible link between the suspect and the Ballari ISIS module.

Reports citing official sources have pointed at several similarities between the blast and the cases linked to the ISIS module, although whether the ISIS Ballari module is still active is yet to be confirmed. One of the similarities mentioned in the reports is the assembly of the improvised explosive devices (IED).

Moreover, the execution of the blast also appears to have similarities with previous such blasts in the state including the Mangaluru cooker blast.

In December last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested eight terrorists in the ISIS Ballari module case including its leader Minaz. The NIA swooped down on 19 locations spread across Ballari and Bengaluru in Karnataka; Amaravati, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra; Jamshedpur and Bokaro in Jharkhand and Delhi.

The raids also led to the seizure of explosive raw materials, such as Sulphur, Potassium Nitrate, Charcoal, Gunpowder, Sugar and Ethanol, sharp-edged weapons, unaccounted cash and incriminating documents, along with smartphones and other digital devices.

The accused had planned to use the explosive raw materials for the fabrication of IEDs, which were to be used for carrying out terror acts. Another similarity is that the Bengaluru blast too appears to be a lone wolf attack so far like the Mangaluru cooker blast case.

The CCTV footage obtained from the Rameshwaram Cafe after the explosion showed a person wearing a white hat and mask, carrying a backpack and wearing spectacles entering the Rameshwaram Cafe.

Image source: Republic

The investigating team seized a timer, battery, circuit, panel, and wire associated with the explosive device. The suspect terrorist posed as a customer and put a bomb in the hotel while pretending to have breakfast.

The materials needed to make the device were forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further examination.

Other than the ISIS Ballari module, a link to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s module led by terrorist Abdul Karim Tunda aka “Doctor of Bomb” is also emerging. Tunda was acquitted in a terrorist bombing case in Rajasthan just a day before the attack in Bengaluru.

Notably, the NIA had also foiled a suicide attack planned by the Lashkar module in Bengaluru last year. The Rameshwaram Café blast is also being attributed to the PFI module, a SIMI offshoot based in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband.  

ISIS is increasing its influence in Karnataka, while PFI struggles to reorganise owing to financial constraints and monitoring by central agencies. Security agencies are concerned about ISIS’s access to funding and the radicalization of former PFI jihadis.

As per reports, several suspects have been detained by the police but the arrest of the accused has not been confirmed yet. The accused is suspected to have fled towards Tamil Nadu.

NIA to probe Rameshwaram Cafe blast case

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has handed over Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has re-registered the case and started an investigation. The case was handed over to the NIA last week following the visit of an NIA team to the blast site.

As reported earlier, the blast took place at the cafe on March 1 in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area where several people were injured following an explosion that occurred during the busy lunch hour. Over half a dozen people got injured after a low-intensity blast took place in The Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular eatery in Bengaluru’s Brookfield area. Earlier, the Bengaluru Police had registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in connection with the explosion at the cafe.

Modi Ka Parivar: How ‘family jibe’ of Lalu Prasad Yadav at PM Modi gave BJP its new campaign tool, the redux of ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Modi Ka Parivar: How ‘family jibe’ of Lalu Prasad Yadav at PM Modi gave BJP its new campaign tool, the redux of ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’

On Sunday (3rd March), Lalu Prasad Yadav stirred the hornet’s nest by making vicious personal attacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While addressing a rally in Patna, the RJD supremo claimed, “Modi talks about dynastic politics, but what is dynastic politics? You (Modi) should explain why you don’t have children. What can we do if Narendra Modi does not have his own family?”

Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was convicted in the fodder scam case and is now out on bail, further claimed that PM Modi is not a Hindu.

He was heard saying, “(Modi) keeps bragging about the Ram temple. He is not even a true Hindu. In Hindu tradition, a son must shave his head and beard after the death of his parents. Modi did not do so when his mother died.”

While Lalu Prasad Yadav assumed that he would garner support for RJD by targeting PM Narendra Modi’s personal life, the political strategy has now backfired on the I.N.D.I. Alliance partner.

Public shows support to PM Modi

On Sunday (3rd March), popular Surat-based businessman ‘Mr Sinha’ lashed out at Lalu Prasad Yadav and told the RJD leader that the countrymen are the family members of PM Modi.

In a tweet, he stated, “Hey @laluprasadrjd, PM Modi is not alone…I’m his family…We all are his family…I’ve changed my profile name…Fellow BJP supporters too can do the same…”.

‘Mr Sinha’ suffixed his name on X (formerly Twitter) with the words ‘Modi’s family.’ He appealed to BJP supporters to follow suit.

Soon after, other social media users also rallied behind PM Modi and described the Prime Minister as part of their family.

Others expressed the desire to add ‘Modi’s family’ to their names but couldn’t due to the limitations of the X (formerly Twitter) platform and job-related concerns.

PM Modi hits back

On Monday (4th March), PM Modi responded to the personal attacks against him and stated that 140 crore Indians are his family. “Jiska koi nahi uska Modi hai (The person who has no one has Modi on his side),” he stated.

“140 crore countrymen are my family. Today, crores of daughters, mothers and sisters of the country are Modi’s family. Every poor person in the country is my family,” he emphasised.

PM Modi further added, “Those who have no one, they also belong to Modi and Modi belongs to them. My India-My family, with the expansion of these feelings, I am living for you, fighting for you and will continue to fight for you, to fulfill my dreams with determination.”

‘Modi Ka Parivar’ campaign

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, convicted politician Lalu Prasad Yadav gave a fresh campaign idea to the ruling BJP government at the Centre.

Prodded by overwhelming public support, Cabinet Ministers began suffixing their names on X(formerly Twitter) with ‘Modi ka Parivar.’ Top BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari and Anurag Thakur wasted no time in throwing their weight behind the Prime Minister.

And thus came into existence the second version of ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign, which proved to be a game-changer during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to his countrymen as ‘parivarjano (family members)’ during his speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 76th Republic Day.

The Opposition seems to have inadvertently played into the hands of the BJP and helped strengthen the party’s narrative ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

‘Main bhi Chowkidar’ campaign of BJP

In the run-up to the 2019 elections, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi repeatedly lied about the Rafale deal at all his rallies and mocked PM Modi by saying ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai‘.

Soon after, BJP supporters online began prefixing their names with ‘Chowkidar’. The campaign was started by Surat-based businessman ‘Mr Sinha.’ When it became trending on social media, the BJP leaders also began following suit.

First came a personal appeal from the Prime Minister himself to back the #MainBhiChowkidar tagline on twitter which he followed up by changing his name to “Chowkidar Narendra Modi” on his Twitter profile. It followed a digital stampede.

Prime Minister Modi tweeted a video to remind everyone that their ‘Chowkidar’ (watchman) was standing firm and serving the nation. As millions turned ‘chowkidar’ overnight, Congress’ jobe of ‘chowkidar chor hai’ failed to capitalise.

It must be mentioned that Prime Minister Modi seems to have a knack for converting condescending, elitist remarks on his humble beginnings thrown at him as ‘insults’ by Congress leaders into a matter of pride.

During the run-up to the 2014 elections, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had taken a dig at Prime Minister Modi’s humble beginning as a tea-seller and said that Modi can distribute tea but can never be the Prime Minister.

Modi had then converted that remark as a badge of honour and held ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, discussion forums over tea across the nation as a way to connect directly to voters.

Jharkhand: 21-year-old woman gang-raped by 3 co-workers after being given spiked drink, two arrested

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Jharkhand: 21-year-old woman gang-raped by 3 co-workers after being given spiked drink, two arrested

A day after the brutal gang rape of a Brazilian woman was reported from Dumka, Jharkhand, another horrific case of gang rape has come to the fore from the same region. A 21-year-old woman dancer from Chhattisgarh was gang-raped by her male co-dancers on 3rd March in Palamu district of Jharkhand.

According to the reports, the accused persons fed the girl some intoxicated substance, after which the girl became unconscious. The accused persons then dragged the girl into a car and gang-raped her.

Confirming the incident, SDPO Rakesh Singh said that the two accused persons have been arrested in the case, and the search is on to nab the third co-accused. “The girl has been admitted to the local hospital and is undergoing treatment. Her medical tests will be done as a part of the procedure,” he added.

The incident is said to have happened late Saturday (2nd March) night in the Vishrambaug Police Road area near Ranchi. The police said that the accused left the girl unconscious and fled from the spot after brutally raping him.

As per the reports, the victim had come for an event in Palamu, Jharkhand. However, she went with her co-workers to some other event at Husainabad as the planned event at Palamu got cancelled on the spot due to some reasons.

“The accused while on the way to the event fed the girl with intoxicated substance and gang-raped her. They later left her unconscious and fled from the spot,” Singh confirmed. The police also added that the probe is on to find and nab the third accused while the police have already arrested two others on Sunday (3rd March).

Earlier, a brutal gang rape of a Brazilian woman was reported from Jharkhand. A tourist woman was brutally gang raped by seven persons in the Kurmahat region of Hansdiha police station area in Jharkhand’s Dumka district in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd March.

Three people have been detained in the case and are being interrogated in the matter by the authorities. The police are conducting raids to arrest the rest of the unknown number of accused.

According to the information available, two tourists from Spain, a female and her Spanish partner had left on two different bikes. They both took a break in the Hansdiha police station limits close to Kurmahat since it was getting late in the evening. The details indicate that at around 10 PM, approximately 7 to 8 young men from the neighbourhood arrived at the location, and thrashed the couple before sexually assaulting the woman.

The couple detailed their ordeal on social media, revealing bruises on their faces.

Speaking in Spanish, the victim said, “Something happened to us that we would not wish on anyone, seven men raped me, they beat us and robbed us.” The Brazilian influencer tearfully said her attackers did not steal much “because what they wanted was to rape me”.

Investigations are underway.

‘WB Police deliberately filed fake cases of molestation against ED officers’: CBI to Calcutta HC in Sandeshkhali probe hearing

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘WB Police deliberately filed fake cases of molestation against ED officers’: CBI to Calcutta HC in Sandeshkhali probe hearing

On Monday (4th March), the Central Bureau of Investigation informed the Calcutta High Court that the West Bengal Police deliberately filed fake cases of molestation against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers. “State Police filed false cases of molesting women by ED officers. This is the case, where the State Police wanted to implicate ED Officers in false cases,” the CBI said.

The Court was hearing one of the cases filed in the Sandeshkhali issue. The ED mentioned its plea concerning the arrest of accused Shahjahan Sheikh, who was apprehended last week by the West Bengal Police for subjecting several women to sexual assault and forcibly taking over tribal lands.

Meanwhile, the advocate representing Sheikh claimed that the ED had filed the maximum number of cases against Sheikh overnight. “The ED itself said that only 4 IPC cases are pending against me. But in my absence before this court, this 4 becomes 41 overnight. I am unable to understand this change in numbers,” he said seeking anticipatory bail for Sheikh.

However, the central agency demanded exclusive custody of Sheikh and said that the accused could have been arrested in 40 cases but at present, he has been arrested only in two FIRs which include cases related to attacks on ED Officers. This is because the Court earlier allowed permission for arrest by keeping the order for ED to investigate the matter.

The advocate representing the state police meanwhile claimed that the local villagers attacked the ED officers and that the police were not pre-informed about the ED raids at Sheikh’s place. “When the ED Officers went there, the local police weren’t informed that they would be going to raid Shahjahan Sheikh’s premises. Local villagers assaulted officers of ED. Only after the assault, the ED informed Sandeshkhali Police Station but the said police had no jurisdiction and the competent local station was informed,” Adv Datta said.

To which the CBI clarified saying, “Our allegation isn’t against the local police. Our case is that in this case a sitting minister was involved and that the accused whose premises were to be raided was a leading member of the ruling party. Then our complaint (on attacks) was diluted by the local police and a serious offence of section 307 which was made out, wasn’t invoked.”

ASG Raju representing the CBI said that the police custody in any case cannot be extended beyond 15 days and that the State Police only wants to frustrate the probe and pass time till 15 days.

He also said that the state police filed false cases of molesting women by ED officers. “This is the case, where the State Police wanted to implicate ED Officers in false cases,” he said.

Fact-finding committee confirms State police siding Sheikh:

This comes a day after a fact-finding team headed by former Patna High Court Chief Justice L Narasimha Reddy visited several villages in the conflict-ridden Sandeshkhali region to begin a first-hand probe. The team’s first-hand investigation concluded that the area has been prone to serious human rights abuses.

“There are major human rights violations in Sandeshkhali. After Shahjahan’s arrest, the police’s behavior was complimentary towards him. He was seen walking like a king (following his arrest). There must be many like Shahjahan in Bengal,” informed Retired Inspector General Rajpal Singh, a member of the team after the visit.

One of the members, Bhavna Bajaj talked about the alarming state of affairs in Sandeshkhali. She called the incident “heart-wrenching” and addressed how challenging it was to uncover the truth because of police and government meddling and shielding. She pointed out, “They don’t want the facts to come to light.”

On 25th February, the fact-finding team attempted to travel to Sandeshkhali but was halted in their tracks by the state police, who attributed their actions to prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Central fact-finding team was granted permission to visit Sandeshkhali on 28th February by Justice Kaushik Chanda’s single-judge bench, following the filing of a suit in the Calcutta High Court. 

Sahajahan Sheikh’s arrest and his overall influence

Shahjahan Sheikh, a Trinamool Congress strongman was taken into custody by the West Bengal Police on 28th of February night from the Bamanpukur area at Minakhan in North 24 Parganas. He was sent to 10 days in police custody by a court in connection with an assault on Enforcement Directorate officials on 5th January during the course of a raid. He managed to evade the authorities for fifty-five days after he was accused of sexual assault and land grab by hundreds of women on Sandeshkhali.

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. Popularly referred to as ‘Betaj Badshah‘ Shahjahan Sheikh is an influential person in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, an area that is adjacent to the Bangladesh border.

The Block Development Officer (BDO) has received more than 700 complaints against him in six days of excesses against villagers in the last six days. He was also the mastermind behind the assault on Enforcement Directorate officials who had reached to execute a raid on his residence as part of an investigation into the ration scam.

Meanwhile, 50 allegations of “sexual abuse and land grab” against the Trinamool leader and his accomplices have been filed by tribal families with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. A total of 1,250 complaints, 400 of which had to do with land-related matters, were reported to the state government officials.

Assembly resolution for freedom of Kashmiris: Shehbaz Sharif becomes PM of bankrupt Pakistan and immediately rakes up Kashmir

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Assembly resolution for freedom of Kashmiris: Shehbaz Sharif becomes PM of bankrupt Pakistan and immediately rakes up Kashmir

After forging a deal with PPP and six other smaller parties, PML-N leader and newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered the victory speech in Pakistan’s National Assembly on Sunday (3rd March). In his maiden speech after the formation of the new government, the PML-N leader listed out the challenges Pakistan is currently facing. 

Sharif warned the House that Pakistan was facing an alarming debt crisis so bad that even the expenditures of the National Assembly were being paid after borrowing money. PM-designate Shehbaz Sharif added that the country needed “deep surgery” otherwise its citizens and politicians would have to continue to hang their “heads in shame”. 

In the speech dominated by praise for his brother Nawaz Sharif, economic and social dismay in Pakistan, and an aggressive stance against Imran Khan-led PTI, Shehbaz Sharif raked the Kashmir issue on priority in his speech. Pertinent to note that it has been a futile, ill-customary practice for all Pakistani politicians to rake up the Kashmir issue to rally their core voter base, ticking the Army’s check box and paying lip service to the so-called Islamic cause.     

Addressing the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Pakistan would not become part of any “great game” and that his government would increase the number of friends. He also pledged to build and improve ties with all leading nations, including its neighbours. “We will keep ties with neighbours on the basis of equality,” he added.

While claiming to build ties with neighbour, he raked the Kashmir issue and went further to equate it with Palestine. 

Shehbaz Sharif lamented, “Let’s all come together and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians.” 

How will we pay the salaries of armed forces and civil servants: Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif in NA

Apart from highlighting the debt crisis, Shehbaz Sharif pledged to revive Pakistan’s debt-trapped economy and eradicate terrorism. He stressed that Pakistan is facing an alarming debt crisis where even the expenditures of the National Assembly were being paid by borrowing money. 

He added, “But if we decide to do a deep surgery and bring changes in the system, basic reform and I have no doubt that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and others will agree that we can either get rid of a life of debt or we move forward with heads down in shame.” 

The PML-N leader wondered, “How will we pay the salaries for armed forces and how to pay the civil servants,” adding that reforming the economy was the biggest challenge faced by the country.

He also emphasised the burden of debt stating that the country was required to pay billions of rupees in interest only.

In a bold claim, Shehbaz stated that his government would work hard and set a goal to become a member of G20 countries by 2030. Notably, the G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s powerful countries including major developed and developing economies.

He delivered the speech amidst continuous sloganeering by the members of Imran Khan’s party members against alleged “mandate thieves.”

Hung assembly results led to hefty negotiations

For those unversed, Shehbaz Sharif was recently elected as the 24th prime minister of Pakistan, and for a second time since 2022. During the voting in the newly-elected National Assembly, Shehbaz secured 201 votes while his challenger Omar Ayub Khan from the jailed Imran Khan-led PTI got only 92 votes.

In his speech, the 72-year-old Shehbaz profusely thanked his elder brother and three-time former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and his alliance parties for putting their trust in him and allowing him to head a coalition government after last month’s election resulted in a hung Parliament. In an election marred with institutional rigging, PTI-backed Independent candidates led in the results with around 92 seats, PML-N emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats followed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP with 54 seats. 

After hefty negotiations and backdoor dealings, Shehbaz’s victory was expected as he gained the support of seven other parties and he also enjoyed the tacit backing of the Pakistan Army which controls every activity in Pakistan behind the scenes.

Regarding the coalition government, Shehbaz justified it stating that as no party secured a clear parliamentary majority, it was “the democratic way” that “like-minded parties may form a coalition government”.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Pakistan President Arif Alvi is slated to administer the oath of Prime Minister’s post to Shehbaz Sharif in a ceremony at the President’s House at 3 pm on Monday (4th March).

1...1,2951,2961,297...7,657Page 1,296 of 7,657