On 29th January (local time), security forces in Balochistan’s Mach area neutralised three coordinated attacks by rebels. Provincial Interim Information Minister Jan Achakzai said in a social media post that the rebels retreated and security forces were actively pursuing them.
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. They targeted several installations but could not cause serious damage, as per Pakistan government’s claims. Dawn has reported that at least one railway police official lost life in the attacks.
#Pakistan As Per Reports Multiple locations including Mach Jail Frontier Corps HQ in Balochistan's #Mach are under attack by #BLA Terrorists, according to a police official pic.twitter.com/VU0LDa0XMv
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Achakzai said, ” We remain hopeful that all threats will be eliminated before dawn.” There were reports that a few rockets were fired from the hilly areas of Mach. However, Achakzai confirmed there was no damage or casualties. The jail facility in the area remained unharmed which was confirmed by Mach Central Jail Superintendent Saleem Tareen. He said, ” The forces around the jail are fully alert.”
In Maach, the security forces have successfully thwarted three coordinated attacks carried out by terrorists affiliated with the Aslam Acho group. Fortunately, no damage was inflicted on any installations, and there were no casualties among our security forces.
BOL Network’s journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah shared videos of the attack on X. In a post he said, “BLA terrorists attacked on three fronts، Two terrorists neutralized In Mach, terrorist have scattered but are unable to enter in FC Building and Mach Jail at Boland area, no casualties of Pakistani forces have occurred in the attack of BLA terrorists in Mach.”
Update : BLA terrorists attacked on three fronts، Two terrorist neutralized In #Mach , Terrorist have scattered but are unable to enter in FC Building and Mach Jail at Boland area, no casualties of Pakistani forces have occurred in the attack of BLA terrorists in Mach… pic.twitter.com/oKbyKsfQft
In an official press release, BLA said they have killed at least 45 Pakistani military personnel. However, Pakistan has denied the claims.
Source: sadaezehri/Facebook
In another post, it was claimed that 55 Pakistani military personnel were killed and BLA was in possession of the bodies. Baloch Liberation Army’s Fadai Unit Majeed Brigade, Special Tactical Operations Squad, Fateh Squad were said to be involved in the attack.
Source: Facebook
Two individuals were injured in the attacks and were transferred to a trauma centre in Quetta. An emergency was declared in the hospitals in Quetta and Mach following the attack.
Initially, the militants were identified as members of the Aslam Acho, a banned group. However, the Majeed Brigade of BLA later claimed responsibility for the attack. Notably, the general elections in Pakistan are scheduled for 8th February and a terrorist attack just ten days before the elections have raised concerns in the hostile neighbour country. In the past few years, Pakistan has seen an increase in terror attacks specifically in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan regions. Not to forget, BLA demands the complete independence of Balochistan.
In a recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, it was mentioned that 1,524 lives were lost and 1,463 individuals were injured in 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 alone. 90% of the fatalities and 84% of the attacks took place in KP and Balochistan.
A Special PMLA court in New Delhi has issued notices to Rabri Devi, Amit Katyal, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary and two companies to be present on 9th February for further trial in the land for jobs scam.
The notice was issued after the court took cognizance of the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate on 8th January.
ED press release (source: ANI/X)
ED’s investigation was based on the FIR filed by the CBI in the same case. It was alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav during his tenure as Railways Minister, indulged in corruption for appointments of Group D substitutes in the Indian Railways between 2004-2009.
According to the ED, Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti and Hema Yadav, who are also made accused, had received land parcels from family of candidates who were selected as Group D substitutes in Indian Railways, for nominal amounts.
It has now come to light that accused Hridyanand Chaudhary is a former employee in Rabri Devi’s gaushala. He had acquired property from one of the candidates and later transferred it to Hema Yadav.
The two shell companies named AK Infosystems Private Limited and AB Exports Pvt Ltd received proceeds of crime for Lalu Yadav’s family.
Immovable properties were acquired in the said companies by front men and thereafter shares were transferred to family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav for nominal amounts. Amit Katyal used to manage these companies for Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family.
ED had conducted search operations in 2023 which resulted in the seizure of cash of Rs 1 Crore approximately and valuables equivalent to about Rs. 1.25 Crore.
ED has also provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs. 6.02 Crore. The agency arrested Amit Katyal in November 2023 for knowingly assisting Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family in money laundering. Amit Katyal is in judicial custody as on date.
Lalu Prasad Yadav was quizzed by the agency on Monday (29th January) at its Patna office for about 10 hours. Former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav has also been called for interrogation on Tuesday, 30th January.
On Monday, January 29, there was a media buzz that Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren is ‘missing’, and cannot be reached as ED wants to interrogate him. As per reports, an ED team had reached the Jharkhand CM’s residence but could not find him. He was reportedly unreachable.
Hemant Soren 'Missing'?
According to SOURCES:
– Hemant Soren reportedly in Gurugram.
– Hemant Soren's last location traced in Gurugram.
The fact that a sitting CM was ‘unreachable’ and nobody knew where he was, was enough to create a buzz in media and social media. The office of the CM reportedly told that they are not aware of the CM’s whereabouts.
Later in the day, reports emerged that the Jharkhand CM was probably in the National Capital Region, and his last location was traced to Gurgaon. However, the ED was still unable to reach or contact him.
Hemant Soren has skipped ED summons 9 times already.
The BJP has termed Hemant Soren a ‘fugitive’ and party workers are protesting in the state capital Ranchi.
BJP brands Hemant Soren as 'fugitive'. Soren's effigies being burnt in Ranchi. @satyajeetAT gets us more details.
Nishikant Dubey says JMM is preparing to appoint Hemant’s wife Kalpana Soren as CM
Amid all the media speculations over Hemant Soren’s whereabouts and his alleged looming ‘arrest’ by ED, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posted that the JMM is preparing to make Kalpana Soren the next CM. In a post on X, Dubey wrote, “A big advice to those who are doing wrong on the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji, the CM is proving himself to be a fugitive, running away from facing the investigating agency, the man is facing insults in the country and abroad all day long. How will that man protect the officers or the people of the state?”
Dubey added, “Hemant Soren ji has called his own, JMM, Congress, and allied MLAs to reach Ranchi with their luggage and bags. According to the information, there is a proposal to make Kalpana Soren ji (Hemant Soren’s wife) the Chief Minister. The CM has said that fearing an ED interrogation, they will reach Ranchi by road and announce their arrival.”
What does the JMM say
While the ED team waited to contact the Jharkhand CM, his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha tried to clarify that the CM was away at Delhi for some personal work.
JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that CM Soren was ready to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
“CM has gone to Delhi for personal work, and he will return as well. He has been called on January 31. We are ready for January 31. You asked us to tell you the place and time, and we told you the place would be CM’s residence on Kanke Road and the time would be 1 pm. Who is creating all the confusion, then? The way the political situation is being presented is against democratic values,” Bhattacharya said.
Why was ED searching for Hemant Soren on Monday, January 29?
The Jharkhand CM is wanted for interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a major land scam case. Soren has already skipped 9 ED summons. The current summon to him is the 10th summon by the probe agency. As reported by ANI, the ED had written to Jharkhand CM asking him to provide a date for questioning on January 29 or 31, or else the agency itself will go to him for questioning, in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Before that, Soren had ignored the January 22 summons by ED.
Earlier on January 22, ED issued a summons to Soren for the ninth time, asking him to be available for questioning between January 27 and 31 in the case.
Meanwhile, on January 20, the Enforcement Directorate arrived in Ranchi to question the Jharkhand Chief Minister in the land scam case. The eighth summons was issued to Soren on January 13, asking him to be available for questioning between January 16 to 20, in the case. ED had previously issued a summons to Jharkhand CM Soren’s press advisor, Abhishek Prasad, to join its investigation on January 16 into an alleged money laundering probe linked to an illegal mining case.
What is the Land Scam case
According to the Enforcement Directorate, the investigation pertains to a “huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia” in Jharkhand. The ED officials are investigating the illegal purchase and sale of 4.55 acres of land under military control in Ranchi.
the ED had opened a probe into three cases of land fraud based on numerous First Information Reports filed by the Jharkhand Police and the West Bengal Police against Pradip Bagchi, Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, Bhanu Pratap Prasad as well as others under various Indian Penal Code sections.
It is alleged that a massive mafia racket transferred land ownership illegally in Jharkhand. The government notification stated that “these criminal elements used to forge the legacy records in Ranchi and Kolkata.” Additionally, it was discovered that dishonest government employees had fabricated land ownership records to curry favor with the aforementioned land mafia.
Around 14 individuals have been arrested in this case so far including Bhanu Pratap Prasad, the Revenue Deputy Inspector of Badgai region in Ranchi.
the Chief Minister’s name was mentioned in the statements of businessman Vishnu Agarwal and Revenue Sub-Inspector of Bargain Circle Bhanu Pratap Prasad. Currently, businessman Vishnu Agarwal is in ED custody in connection with the land scam case under the charges of money laundering.
During the interrogation, Vishnu Aggarwal, the director of Nucleus Mall, reportedly revealed the name of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
On Monday (29th January), a United Kingdom court found an Indian-origin married couple guilty of smuggling 514 kg of cocaine worth ₹600 crore (£57 million) to Australia via commercial flights.
As per reports, the accused were identified as 59-year-old Arti Dhir and her 35-year-old husband Kavaljitsinh Raijada. The duo set up a front company named ‘Viefly Freight Services’ to smuggle drugs to Sydney from London.
They had packed the drugs under a shipment of metal toolboxes. In May 2021, the Australian Border Force intercepted the drug consignment and notified the UK authorities.
Drugs sent via courier to Australia, Image via NCA
The National Crime Agency (NCA) traced the drugs to Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada. The latter’s fingerprints were discovered on the plastic wrapping of the consignment. The investigation agency also found receipts for the toolboxes at the home of the Indian-origin couple.
NCA also recovered gold-plated silver bars and millions of pounds of cash from their residence. It later emerged that the couple previously worked at a flight services company at Heathrow Airport and used the knowledge of airport freight procedures for drug smuggling.
Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada were convicted of 18 counts of money laundering and 12 counts of exportation by a jury at the Southwark Crown Court. Proceedings have been initiated to seize their illegally gained assets.
Cash recovered from the Indian-origin couple, images via NCA
Interestingly, the Indian government had sought the extradition of the duo in 2019 in connection to the murder of a 12-year-old orphan named Gopal Sejani and his brother-in-law Harsukhbhai Chaganbhal Kardani in Junagadh city of Gujarat on 8th February 2017.
The double murder was plotted by Arti Dhir to obtain proceeds from a ₹1.3 crore insurance policy that she took out in the name of the victim Gopal. She and her husband Raijada paid ₹5 lakh to one Nitish Mund to hire killers for the murder.
The extradition request by the Indian government was turned down by Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 2nd July 2019 on the basis that the duo had no prospect of early release if they were imprisoned in Gujarat.
EXC: We tracked down the family of Indian boy, 11, ‘murdered by adoptive London parents for insurance payout’. They say Arti Dhir, battling extradition, needs to face justice in the country. pic.twitter.com/Ws3vX8eSUc
This was despite assurances from the Indian government that the Indian-origin couple would be eligible to apply for early release.
Arti Dhir is a British Indian, who was born in Nairobi. Her family hails from Gurdaspur in Punjab. On the other hand, Kavaljitsinh Raijada is an Indian national who hails from Keshod in Gujarat.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Neuralink, announced on Monday that the first human recipient of an implant from the brain-chip startup underwent the procedure on Sunday and is recovering well.
Taking to social media, X, Musk posted, “The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.”
Neuralink was given clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.
“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” Musk’s post added.
According to Neuralink’s website, it has received approval from the independent institutional review board.
The PRIME Study (short for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) – an investigational medical device trial for fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) – aims to evaluate the safety of our implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with paralysis to control external devices with their thoughts, according to the company’s website.
During the study, the R1 Robot will be used to surgically place the N1 Implant’s ultra-fine and flexible threads in a region of the brain that controls movement intention. Once in place, the N1 Implant is cosmetically invisible and is intended to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes movement intention. The initial goal of our BCI is to grant people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone, it also said.
The PRIME Study is being conducted under the investigational device exemption (IDE) awarded by the FDA in May 2023 and represents an important step in our mission to create a generalised brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs, it added.
Musk and his company have already faced massive criticism for the trial of “brain chips” on lab animals. In February 2022, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine submitted a complaint alleging that Neuralink did “invasive and deadly brain experiments.”
By December of that year, the company was being investigated by federal authorities for potential violations of animal welfare standards, with documents indicating that the company had murdered around 1,500 animals, including rats, monkeys, pigs, and mice, since 2018.
Neuralink fought back against these very serious allegations claiming that the rhesus macaque monkeys under its care were “respected and honoured” by the team. (ANI)
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On January 29, clashes ensued between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and local police in Barrackpore, West Bengal, during the law violation program led by State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar.
BJP activists clashed fiercely when their march towards the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate was halted, protesting against a deterioration in the law and order situation in the region.
A large group of BJP supporters participated in a march, attempting to breach barricades until police intervention. The situation escalated, leading BJP protestors to throw stones, and prompting police to use tear gas to restore order, resulting in widespread chaos. Some BJP supporters sustained injuries during the clash, and the confrontation also disrupted vehicular traffic.
State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar criticised the West Bengal Police for their failure to apprehend a fugitive Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, who attacked ED officials during a raid and managed to evade arrest. Despite this, the police demonstrated audacity by intervening in a peaceful BJP protest, injuring women members in the process.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP secured victory in Barrackpore after Arjun Singh switched allegiance from Trinamool and contested on the saffron party’s ticket. Nevertheless, Mr Singh has now rejoined Trinamool, setting the stage for an intriguing contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha election for the seat.
Suvendu Adhikari, BJP leader and LoP in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly alleges that the use of water cannons against BJP workers in Barrackpore was directed by CM Mamata Banerjee. According to Adhikari, the incident involved unprovoked BJP workers, and despite the second barricade remaining intact, water cannons were deployed, resulting in injuries to 25 BJP workers.
#WATCH | On Police using water cannon against BJP workers in Barrackpore, West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "The incident happened on the directions of CM Mamata Banerjee. They were unprovoked BJP workers. The second barricade was not… pic.twitter.com/gTthg909nM
On Police using water cannon against BJP workers in Barrackpore, West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, “The incident happened on the directions of CM Mamata Banerjee. They were unprovoked BJP workers. The second barricade was not broken, yet water cannons were used…25 BJP workers have been injured…”
On 22nd January 2024, Ram Lalla returned to his birthplace after 500 years of protracted struggle and was consecrated while the nation was glued to TV screens. Lakhs of devotees, overwhelmed with emotion by the Pran Pratishtha (infusion of life) of Ram Lalla, have marched towards Ayodhya to seek darshan. On this occasion, the Hindu society across the country and the world is paying tribute to those Karsevaks who sacrificed themselves for Ram naam, in the struggle that spanned from the Mughal to Mulayam period. Among all those known and unsung martyrs, the names of the Kothari brothers are taken most prominently.
OpIndia met and spoke with Purnima Kothari, sister of martyred Karsevaks Ramkumar and Sharad Kothari, and gathered information about the current situation. Purnima Kothari was invited to the Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha. She is very happy to have witnessed that historic moment. At present, she along with her colleagues, are busy serving devotees who are coming from far away places. They have set up a camp near Tedhi Bazaar in Ayodhya where she is providing tea and snacks not only to the devotees but also to the police personnel deployed nearby at her own expense. This camp is being organised under the banner of ‘Ram Sharad Kothari Smriti Manch’.
(‘Ram Sharad Kothari Smriti Manch’ managed by Purnima Kothari serving tea and snacks to devotees and police personnel deployed near Ram Mandir at their own expense)
Originally from Rajasthan, settled in Kolkata due to business
The Kothari family originally hails from Bikaner, Rajasthan. During his youth, Purnima’s father had gone to West Bengal for business purposes. There, he established a small iron plant. This was the source of livelihood for the family. Over time, he became the father of three children. This includes two sons named Ramkumar and Sharad, and a daughter named Purnima. Along with pursuing their graduation, Sharad and Ramkumar were also involved in their father’s business. Purnima, too, helped her mother with household chores while pursuing her studies.
Both had joined ‘Bajrang Dal’ in their adolescence
Purnima Kothari told OpIndia that the first generation of their family to join the Hindu organisation were her martyred brothers. Ramkumar and Sharad received their initial education in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. Both brothers were students of Bharat Bharati Vidyalaya, managed by Vidya Bharati. Influenced by the education at Bharat Bharati Vidyalaya, both brothers also started attending the shakas of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kolkata. Ramkumar and Sharad would also take their cousin along with them to the Shakas and engage in preaching Dharma during their free time after studying and doing business.
Their parents had come to see them off as they boarded the train to Ayodhya
Purnima recounts that when the announcement for Karseva in Ayodhya was made in 1990, Ramkumar and Sharad started preparing to go there. They pursued their family members. Since both brothers had always been together since childhood, they would go everywhere together. Finally, on 22nd October 1990, Ramkumar and Sharad Kothari boarded the train for Ayodhya. According to Purnima, their parents went to the railway station to see off their sons.
Police shot them on the pretext of asking for water
Purnima Kothari revealed that she got to know about the incident on 2nd November 1990, from a journalist who was present at the spot in Ayodhya. At that time, the Kothari brothers were hiding in a house near Lal Kothi along with other Karsevaks. During that time, the name of a Muslim officer was mentioned who was inflicting cruelty towards the devotees of Lord Ram. After some time, there was a knock on the door of the house where Ramkumar and Sharad were hiding. When someone asked for water from outside, 19-year-old Sharad thought that perhaps a kar sevak was stuck outside.
Purnima further told OpIndia that due to a misconception, Sharad opened the door, thinking that the person asking for water might be a kar sevak. From outside, police officers grabbed Sharad by his collar and dragged him onto the road. There, Sharad was shot in the chest and struggled in pain. Witnessing his younger brother’s agony, Ramkumar, who was around 23 years old, also stepped out. He lay down on top of his brother to shield him from further gunfire. It was then that the surrounding soldiers aimed at Ramkumar Kothari’s head from close range and fired. The brothers sacrificed their lives together at the same place.
Their last rites took place in Ayodhya itself
An emotional Purnima Kothari told us that on 1st November 1990, her brothers had called from Ayodhya on a landline near their house. They assured about their safety and promised to return soon. On 2nd November 1990, shortly after the sacrifice of both brothers, their fellow organisation members informed Purnima over the phone. However, it was not until 3rd November that Purnima reluctantly informed her mother about her brothers’ martyrdom. After coming to Ayodhya from Kolkata, relatives conducted the final rites of both Ram devotee brothers in Ayodhya.
Parents also passed away, and the business was closed
After the martyrdom of their two sons, their parents were mentally distressed. Later, on 16th January 2002, Purnima’s father passed away. In such circumstances, only Purnima and her mother remained in their family. Purnima got married and now she is a mother of one daughter. In 2016, Purnima’s mother also passed away while waiting for the construction of the Ram Mandir. However, in her final moments, she passed away with the hope that Narendra Modi would build the Ram Mandir, if not today then tomorrow.
The iron factory, which supported the livelihood of the Kothari family, also closed down during the COVID period. Currently, the family is managing their livelihood through the job of Purnima’s daughter.
Sorrow of losing brothers is personal, but the happiness of the Ram Mandir is collective
Remembering the sacrifice of her two brothers, Purnima Kothari became emotional for a while. Collecting herself, she said, “Both of my brothers are no longer here. This personal sorrow will stay with me for life, but seeing the construction of Lord Ram’s Mandir fills me with immense joy. This collective happiness is for the entire Hindu society of the country and the world. It was for this purpose that my brothers sacrificed themselves, which has now become meaningful.” Purnima is also very satisfied that as long as history mentions Lord Ram and the Ayodhya Janmabhoomi movement, people will remember Ramkumar and Sharad Kothari.
According to Purnima, Mulayam Singh’s challenge that “Ayodhya mein Parinda bhi par nhi maar sakta” – meaning ‘not even a bird can flutter wings in Ayodhya (referring to tight security to stop Ram Bhakts) – was the most stinging remark that troubled the Ram devotees the most and ultimately, the pride of Mulayam was shattered by the Ram devotees.
Reply to Mulayam Singh’s statement
Purnima Kothari got angry after being reminded of the then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement that ‘If necessary, we would have killed more karsevaks’. She said, “No one has ever been born in their family who sacrificed their life for the country or religion. If they had ever experienced the pain of losing loved ones, perhaps they would understand our agony.” Purnima considers the condition of Mulayam Singh in his old age, family discord, and the current state of his party as a curse of the family members of Ram devotees.
(Purnima Kothari while Speaking with OpIndia)
Blood donation and more in the memory of her brothers
In memory of the Kothari brothers, their sister engages in various social activities including blood donation. Under the ‘Ram Sharad Kothari Smriti Manch’, her family periodically honours individuals who contribute to society by donating blood to the needy, assisting the poor as much as possible, supporting the education of their children, and those who perform good deeds for the country or religion. Along with her well-wishers and supporters, Purnima Kothari herself bears the expenses incurred in all these activities.
In a bizarre incident, a resident from a society in Greater Noida was brutally assaulted by a security guard on Sunday (28th January). The victim complained about the incident to the police after which three security guards working in the society were arrested.
The video of the incident is going viral over social media in which the resident can be seen being slapped and beaten by a security guard and bouncer. As per the reports, the incident is said to have happened in the Amrapali Lazer Park Society in Greater Noida. The incident happened when the security guard was engaged in a verbal fight with a delivery boy on the 28th of January night.
One of the residents identified as Avnish Kumar reached the spot and tried to resolve the matter. However, the security guards began assaulting Kumar. Other residents of the society also then reached the spot and tried to resolve the matter. But they were also beaten.
A resident of the society who witnessed the incident claimed that around 20-25 security guards were beating the delivery person. However, Avnish Kumar and one other person were also beaten as they tried to resolve the ongoing fight. As per the witness, the fight is said to have begun over inappropriate security management.
The police, meanwhile, said that the fight began over the entry of a delivery person in the society. “Three security guards have been arrested so far. Further investigations are underway,” the police said.
BJP MLA from Hawa Mahal Balmukund Acharya has issued a clarification following allegations by some Muslim girls of a public school that he objected to their hijab.
Jaipur हवामहल के विधायक बालमुकुंद आचार्य के खिलाफ मुस्लिम महिलाओं द्वारा नारेबाजी करवाई जा रही है क्योंकि उन्होने स्कूल यूनिफॉर्म से हिजाब हटवाने के लिए आवाज उठाई।#Karnataka के बाद अब #Rajasthan में उठेगा विवाद?#balmukundacharyapic.twitter.com/J1J7l3tKo1
Muslim girls of a government school in Jaipur’s Gangapol took to the streets earlier today (29th January) staging protests against BJP MLA from Hawa Mahal Balmukund Acharya.
The students have alleged that Balmukund Acharya, who was invited to the school’s annual function as a guest by the students, raised Jai Shri Ram slogans and objected to their hijab.
राजस्थान : भाजपा विधायक बालमुकुंद आचार्य के ख़िलाफ़ मुस्लिम छात्राओं का प्रदर्शन
◆ बालमुकुंद आचार्य ने हमारे हिजाब को लेकर बातें की और धार्मिक नारे लगाए, यह हमें कतई मंजूर नहीं है
The BJP MLA in a clarification video said that he had sought information from the school that when national events are being celebrated on 26th January and so, is there a provision for two types of dress codes.
He said that the school said no such provision is there but “the children don’t listen”. “I saw two types of atmospheres unfolding in the school as some girls were wearing burqa or hijab. I asked the principal what if our (Hindu) girls also came in their respective clothes then? When there is a decided dress code given by the school and they are not even objecting, they just need to be guided. This is what I asked the principal,” Balmukund Acharya said.
He alleged that his complete video from the event will clear the picture and that some people are politicising the issue and blowing it out of proportion.
Responding to the Muslim students objecting that the BJP MLA raised religious slogans, he said that he had chanted ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. “Is it wrong?” he asked. The BJP MLA said these points are not justified.
A video of the same has gone viral showing the BJP leader’s discussion with the school principal and authorities about the institution’s dress code.
Jaipur- A video of BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya went viral on social media in which he says that the Environment is bad because of Hijab.
Muslim Girl students surround Subhash Chowk police station, demand action against Bal Mukund Acharya.? pic.twitter.com/A3ktDC0ble
In the video, the BJP MLA can be heard asking the principal why are the girls’ students wearing hijab. In the video, Balmukund Acharya can be heard telling the school authorities not to allow hijab. However, no derogatory remarks can be heard as is being propagated.
Furthermore, when the BJP MLA is on his way out of the school amidst a crowd of students, one of the students can be heard chanting Jai Shri Ram to which the MLA responds with the same chant. This is followed by chants of ‘Vande Mataram’.
Enraged over this, the Muslim girls along with their families staged a protest near the Subhash Chowk police station and indulged in sloganeering holding placards. Some motivated accounts on X are also taking to sensational language.
This is from Jaipur.
BJP lawmaker Balmukund Acharya made derogatory remarks about Hijab in a school. He demands Hijab ban in school.
Muslim girls allege that he asked them to chant "Jai Sri Ram".
Several videos of the protest are going viral on social media. In the videos, the Muslim students can be heard saying that they invited the BJP MLA and objecting to Hindu slogans chanted by him.
One of the protest videos shows the girls chanting “Nara-e-takbeer, Allah-hu-akbar”, the Jihadist clarion call or slogan that calls for the consolidation and expansion of the Muslim Ummah. Among other slogans were “Hijab humari shaan hai”, “Baba maafi mangega (Baba will apologise), and “Patti patti phool phool ya rasool ya rasool”.
In another video, a Muslim woman can be heard objecting to Balmukund Acharya, PM Modi and UP CM Yogi’s clothes. She can be heard making allegations that the BJP MLA asked the Muslim girls to chant Jai Shri Ram.
The woman asked why the BJP MLA objected to the dress code of Muslim girls. The woman goes on to incite on video seeking support for the protests. She said that she had raised the issue after the Karnataka hijab incident and had written a letter to Ashok Gehlot too.
Another student studying for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) has committed suicide in the educational hub of Kota, Rajasthan. This is the second suicide this month as a result of increased stress among students ahead of the upcoming exams.
An 18-year-old girl from Kota’s Borkheda was discovered hanging at her home. Although her family acted quickly and admitted the girl to the hospital, healthcare professionals declared her dead.
Police have initiated an investigation and sent the girl’s body for a post-mortem. Police have also discovered a suicide note at the student’s house. The suicide note read, “Mummy Papa, I can’t do JEE. So I suicide. I am a loser. I worst daughter. Sorry Mummy, Papa. This is the last option I have.”
According to police, the deceased was living with her father, who worked in a bank and was repeating Class 12. The girl was under a lot of pressure because of the competitive tests.
Despite devoting more than seven hours per day to her studies, she was left in a state of extreme tension. Last week, a student from Kota who had been studying for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) committed suicide.
The student, in his teens, was discovered hanging in his room at a Kota hostel. The youngster had enrolled in a private NEET coaching institution. However, no suicide note was discovered.
The terrible incident took place late on 23rd January under the jurisdiction of the Jawahar Nagar police station. Police responded to a distress call and transported the boy’s remains for post-mortem after alerting his family.
Kota has the highest rate of suicide among coaching students. The city continues to experience a shortage of professional psychologists to address the mental health concerns of around 2.50 lakh kids studying for various admission tests away from home.
The Psychological Counselling Centre, which was established in September 2023 at the New Medical College Hospital in Kota following the Rajasthan government’s budget declaration, does not have a professional psychologist.
As per the reports, there is only one clinical psychologist appointed at the NMCH against the demand of at least five, and it lacks an adequate number of trained staff.
