At a time when preparations are in full swing for the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ram Mandir Ayodhya, some unknown miscreants reportedly vandalised a temple near DAV School in the Bariatu area of Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi. In a conspiracy to stroke communal tensions, some miscreants entered the temple on Sunday night and carried out vandalism. They reportedly broke the idols of many deities including Lord Ram and Hanuman.
According to the information, on Sunday, some unknown miscreants entered the temple and destroyed the idols of many gods and goddesses including Lord Ram and Hanuman. The matter came to light when the priest reached the temple in the morning. After the incident, police personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure in the area.
BJP leaders claim that vandalism in the Temple is a conspiracy before the Ram Mandir inauguration
When the priest reached Shri Ram Janaki Temple in Bariatu Housing Colony in the morning, he found the idols broken. Subsequently, he informed the temple management and a large number of people gathered there. BJP MP from Ranchi Sanjay Seth and MLA CP Singh also reached the spot. The BJP leaders alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched to vitiate the atmosphere before the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on 22nd January.
Taking to X, BJP MLA from Ranchi CP Singh wrote, “MP Sanjay Seth and MLA from Ranchi (Kanke) Samri Lal, in the presence of local people and SDM Ranchi, while talking to City SP Ranchi, demanded immediate arrest of the person who destroyed the idol in the temple and strict action to maintain communal harmony. Jai Shri Ram.”
मा. सांसद श्री @SethSanjayMP जी, मा. विधायक श्री @samrilal जी, स्थानीय लोगों, SDM रांची की उपस्थिति में सिटी एसपी रांची से वार्ता कर साम्प्रदायिक सौहार्द बनाए रखने हेतु मंदिर में मूर्ति को खण्डित करने वाले को अविलंब गिरफ्तार कर कड़ी से कड़ी कार्रवाई करने की मांग की। ।जय श्री राम।
However, after reaching the spot, the police had initially described the incident as theft. The temple priest said that if it was an incident of theft then why would the idols be broken? The police’s initial claim of theft led to a massive outrage. The people present at the spot expressed their anger and demanded immediate action from the police.
Consequently, the police called the forensic team on the spot and collected samples. Currently, the police are investigating the case.
It is important to note that just like in other places throughout the country, devotees are carrying out the distribution of Akshat (rice) and invitation for Ram Mandir in Jharkhand and the recent incident is being seen as an attempt to create tensions in the area.
On 8th January (Monday), Mahesh Panchal, brother of the Hindu activist Bittu Bajrangi passed away in AIIMS Delhi. He had been battling for his life for over a month after an attack on his life.
Notably, on 13th December, Hindu activist Bittu Bajrangi’s family was targeted and attackers attempted to burn his brother Mahesh Panchal alive by pouring thinner on him in the Dabua Colony in Haryana’s Faridabad. Within hours, victim Mahesh Panchal was transferred to hospital while in a critical condition. He had sustained severe burn injuries which were estimated to be around 60%, and he was in critical condition.
As per reports, the assailants who burned Mahesh first attempted to capture and burn him, but they were unsuccessful. Subsequently, they poured thinner on Mahesh and set him ablaze.
Incidentally, according to media reports, the attackers had first confirmed Bittu Bajrangi’s brother Mahesh Panchal’s identity. ‘Are you the brother of Bittu Bajrangi?’ they questioned Mahesh Panchal. When Mahesh said yes to this question, they poured thinner on him and set him ablaze. Mahesh dived into a drain right away to douse the fire and walked to his house as nobody came forward to help him. When finally Mahesh somehow reached his home, Bittu Bajrangi took him the the hospital.
After setting him ablaze, the accused escaped. According to reports, the white WagonR used by the attackers had no registration number. Moreover, two bikes had followed him suspiciously to the location.
Bittu Bajrangi further stated that he had been receiving death threats for long with those behind the threats asking him to “take his slippers back (Chappal lekar jao)”. The code ‘chappal’ was used by the perpetrators to remind Bajrangi about the slippers Hindus had left outside the temple when the Islamist mob attacked them during Nuh violence last year.
Bittu alleged that the attackers who killed his brother were all involved in the 31st July violence unleashed by Islamists in Haryana’s Nuh district.
Who is Bittu Bajrangi
Bittu Bajrangi is a Hindu activist. After the violence that erupted in Nuh in the Mewat region, Islamists tried to pin the blame for the anti-Hindu violence on him and paint a target on his back.
Subsequently, he was also arrested in a case of a clash with the police. At present, Bittu Bajrangi is out of jail on bail. In this case, all Hindu organisations supported him. Initially, the rumour spread rapidly that Bittu Bajrangi was associated with the Nuh violence, but the police made it clear that action was taken against Bittu Bajrangi not related to the Nuh violence, but in a different case of a clash with the police.
Amidst scurrilous claims made by Congress and other opposition parties alleging that a delegation from China’s envoy’s team visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, Maharashtra, the Sangh rubbished the allegations, stating that no such communication about the visit ever reached the Sangh office.
According to an official from the RSS, the group in question did not belong to the envoy’s office. Instead, they were a delegation of Chinese scholars who had come to Wardha’s Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwa Vidyalaya (Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University) to learn Hindi.
The team expressed an interest in exploring some of the prominent tourist destinations in the city, and their professor guided them to various significant sites. The official mentioned that the group, which included a visit to the Smruti Mandir (memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar), also toured other attractions in Nagpur such as Zero Miles, Bapu Kutir, and more.
The RSS official provided additional clarification, asserting that the visiting team did not interact with Sangh officials, and the RSS office had no prior knowledge of their visit. The spokesperson stressed that the Smruti Mandir, akin to Rajghat, is open to the public, and therefore, there was no necessity for surveillance. They highlighted that Smruti Mandir is a public space and is unrelated to the RSS head office or senior functionaries of the organisation.
According to another senior official, the RSS headquarters regularly receives requests from diplomatic missions and embassies, seeking permission to visit and engage with senior functionaries to gain insights into the organization. However, in this particular case, no such communication was received, the official stated.
Despite RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s characterisation of China as an “expansionist” neighbour, RSS functionaries noted that the organisation remains “open” to individuals genuinely interested in understanding its ideology and perspectives. They drew attention to the fact that the RSS actively encourages foreign delegations seeking to observe and comprehend the functioning and structure of the organisation.
The clarification came hot on the heels of media reports and subsequent allegations by opposition political parties that the Chinese envoy’s team visited RSS headquarters in Nagpur. The Congress party, which has allied with communists that have often expressed admiration for China and its mass-murderer Mao Zedong, attacked RSS with ‘Ab ki baar Xi Jinping’ barb over the fake news of the Chinese envoy’s delegation visiting the Sangh headquarters in Nagpur.
Imran Khan feared that India would retaliate decisively after PM Modi declined his request for a phone call. Consequently, he was forced to announce in his Parliament that Pakistan would release the then-Indian Wing CommanderAbhinandan Varthaman. Notably, the riveting details and inside story of the Indian Pilot’s rescue have recently been revealed in the upcoming book by Former Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria.
According to a Times of India report, Former Indian Diplomat Bisaria in his new book – Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship Between India and Pakistan — has revealed the inside story of how PM Modi ensured Abhinandan’s rescue. The book details how coercive diplomacy by India post-Pulwama terror attack spooked Pakistan and forced it to rethink its terror policy.
The report added that 9 Indian missiles were pointed at Pakistan after they took wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman captive. Afterwards, it contacted Ajay Bisaria, who was the Indian high commissioner at the time. Imran Khan wanted to arrange a telephonic conversation between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bisaria checked with people in Delhi and later informed the Pakistanis that PM Modi was not available at that hour. He suggested that any urgent message could be conveyed directly to the high commissioner. However, he didn’t hear from them again that night.
Incidentally, Pakistan tried to project the release of the Indian fighter pilot as “a peace gesture” as was hailed and projected by Indian “liberals”. However, to the Western diplomats who had warned Pakistan about the seriousness of India’s possible action, Islamabad seemed “genuinely spooked”.
Details of events that transpired back then
The events that transpired on that night had been shrouded in speculation, but in his book Ajay Bisaria has revealed granular details of developments after Wing Commander was captured in Pakistan. He has shared the scintillating account of India’s coercive diplomacy, which led to Abhinandan’s release 2 days later, as pointed out by the Times of India report.
In the book, Bisaria reveals that he got a call at midnight from the then-Pakistan high commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood who was then in Islamabad. He narrates that Mahmood said Khan was keen to talk to Modi.
Subsequently, Bisaria contacted Delhi and got back to Mahmood, saying PM Modi wasn’t available at that hour and that any urgent message could be conveyed to the high commissioner himself. He adds that he didn’t hear from Mahmood again that night.
On 28th February, the next day, Khan announced in his Parliament to release Abhinandan. During that address (at around 10 minutes 30 seconds), Khan himself admitted that he tried to contact PM Modi. He said that he had tried calling Modi in the interest of peace but elaborated no further, alluding to the fact that his request for a phone call was turned down by PM Modi.
The Western diplomats, including the US and UK envoys to India and Pakistan, had warned Islamabad about how serious India’s threat to escalate the situation if the pilot was harmed, the report added. Conspicuously while Pakistan tried to project the release of the moustachioed Indian fighter pilot as “a peace gesture”, for the Western diplomats who had warned Pakistan, Islamabad seemed “genuinely spooked”.
After the events of 26th February, Pakistan summoned some of these diplomats thrice in rapid succession.
A few of these Western envoys called India’s foreign secretary overnight. In their interactions, they conveyed that Pakistan was ready to release Abhinandan Varthaman. It was also ready to “act” on India’s Pulwama dossier and address the issue of terrorism. They told the Indian Foreign Secretary that Khan would make these announcements in Parliament the next day.
According to Former Diplomat Bisaria, the US and UK envoys were dismissive of Pakistan’s claim that it was a “false flag” operation in their conversations with DG ISI Asim Munir (present army chief) and foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, as reported by Times of India. The Western Diplomats pointed out that it was a familiar denial practised by Islamabad even after 9/11 and the Mumbai, Pathankot, and Uri attacks. They also conveyed India’s “hard messages” to Pakistani diplomats as well as to GHQ, Rawalpindi, as in Pakistan, the Army is considered to take all the major decisions.
In the book, Bisaria says, “India’s coercive diplomacy had been effective, India’s expectations of Pakistan and of the world had been clear, backed by a credible resolve to escalate the crisis.”
It is important to note that India has never officially stated that it aimed missiles at Pakistan to secure Abhinandan’s release. However, the Former Indian Diplomat Ajay Bisaria has revealed how “the threat” unnerved the army and Khan’s government.
As per the details of that day, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua had summoned the US, UK, and French envoys on 27th February to discuss India’s demands after Abhinandan was captured. At around 5.45 pm, Janjua interrupted the conversation to read out a message from the army. The message claimed that India had 9 missiles pointed at Pakistan, to be launched any time that day.
She then asked the Western envoys to report this “credible information” to their capitals and press on India to not escalate. One of these envoys asked her to discuss the issue directly with India. The Indian acting high commissioner was also summoned shortly after these meetings. It was then followed by Khan’s efforts to reach out to PM Modi.
According to the Times Now report, a Western diplomat later told Bisaria that India’s actions seemed to have triggered a rethink by Pakistan on the efficacy of deploying proxy terror against India. An example of this was that Army chief Qamar Bajwa told Western diplomats that they would take action on the Pulwama dossier prepared by India. The army told its Western confidants that this was another APS moment, referring to the killing of 145 children in the Army Public School in Peshawar in 2015.
Strikingly, Bisaria later received an important call at a later stage which was seen as the most significant piece of evidence about Pakistan’s seriousness on this issue. A few months later, at around 2 am, Bisaria received a phone call from a contact close to ISI.
The caller alerted the Indian high commissioner about an imminent attack by Al Qaeda to avenge the killing of its operative Zakir Musa. Apparently, the ISI led by Asim Munir was keen to not just discuss it at the military level but also wanted the Indian High Commissioner to escalate it and pass it on to the Indian government. As per the Times of India report, it was a genuine tip-off which was evident as an attack did take place around the predicted time and place.
Khan wanted to have a meeting at the sidelines of SCO but got snubbed by India
According to Bisaria’s conclusion, the input was either a result of Pakistan not wanting another Pulwama or Bajwa working to improve the atmospherics ahead of the SCO Bishkek summit in June of that year.
Strikingly, Bisaria also details another episode where Khan tried to broker a close interaction with PM Modi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. In the book, Bisaria notes that a close friend of Khan had approached him for a “brief handshake and conversation” between Khan and Modi in Bishkek on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The meeting would have allowed the Pakistan PM to convince Modi of his “sincerity” in dealing with terrorism.
Imran Khan’s government expelled Bisaria after India revoked the special status of J&K in August 2019. According to Bisaria, it was Khan’s shrill and personal rhetoric against India’s leadership that finally shut the door to diplomacy. The Pakistan army under Bajwa didn’t want the door shut entirely.
PM Modi had hinted that it would have been a bloody night had Pakistan not released Indian Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, however, Indian liberals tried to hail and project it as Khan’s peace gesture
It is important to note that the night in question was 27th February 2019 and it could have been a “Qatal ki raat” (night of bloodshed) had Pakistan not rescued the Indian Pilot, as was later described by PM Modi himself in an election rally. Hinting that India could have taken a kinetic military action, Modi had told an election rally in 2019 that Pakistan, fortunately, released the pilot or else it would have been a “Qatal ki Raat”.
(Video Courtesy – One India Youtube Channel, PM Modi told gathered public that it would have been a bloody night had Pakistan not released the Indian pilot)
On 27th February 2019, Indian Wing commander, Abhinandan Varthaman engaged Pakistan’s F-16s in an aerial dogfight earlier in the day. However, he was captured by enemies after his Mig-21 Bison was shot down by a Pakistani missile right after he destroyed a Pakistani jet. The Pakistani Army and the Imran Khan government released him within 48 hours of his capture.
Trumpeting the Imran Khan line, the coterie of Indian liberals (read cynics of the Modi government) rather than appreciating the Indian government’s and military’s efforts in safely bringing back Abhinandan Varthaman, started a flurry of tweets praising it as a “peaceful gesture” by Imran Khan.
We in India may not like this, but in terms of pure optics, @ImranKhanPTI at the moment is winning the day by taking the moral high ground .. we have a strong case on terror but too many of our leaders busy calculating votes at the moment..
I think we should welcome this gesture from @ImranKhanPTI on the release of #Abhinandan. The door for deescalation has been opened. And this is really not the time for dumb and needless gloating by tv anchors
It was nothing but another attempt at the cowardice dove policy, “Aman ki Asha” that put shackles on the Indian armed forces and bolstered Pakistan’s confidence to separate Indian soldier’s heads from their torso, fearing no retaliation for their barbarity.
While the Former Indian Diplomat has shared the details of the inside story of how PM Modi ensured Abhinandan’s rescue, had it been a “peace gesture” by the blue-eyed boy of the liberals, why was such generosity witnessed in the case of illegally arrested Kulbhusan Jadhav or ceisure in cross border terror against India. Post Pulwama, India tightened the screws, and as pointed out by Pakistani Parliamentary, Imran Khan’s legs were shivering and he was sweating profusely fearing attack by India, and thus made the announcement to release the Indian pilot, out of fright, not generosity. India always had the might to instil fear in neighbourhood bullies and thugs and unshackling the armed forces has shown ‘adversaries’ their place.
In an official statement released through its official Twitter handle, the Sringeri Math has categorically asserted that Jagadguru Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji has not expressed displeasure over the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The official release stressed that it was false propaganda by the ill-wishers of Sanatan Dharma and urged all Astikas (devotees) to only rely on information released through Math’s official platforms.
Taking to X, Sringeri Math shared this important announcement with all Astikas and attached a letter signed by the CEO and administrator of Sringeri Math. The official letters are in three languages – Hindi, English, and Kannada.
The letter also expressed joy over the fructification of 500 years of struggle to reclaim Shri Ram’s birthplace. It states, “It is a matter of joy for all Astikas that after a struggle of about five centuries, the Prana Pratishtha is to take place in the beautiful temple constructed for Bhagavan Sri Rama in the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Kshetra of sacred Ayodhya on Pushya Shukla Dvadashi (22-1-2024).”
Stressing the reports of His Holiness’ displeasure are false, the letter added, “It has been noted that during such an occasion, certain ill-wishers of our Dharma have used the name of “www.dainikjagran.com” in social media to spread a post, which carries a photo of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peethadheeshwara, His Holiness Paramapujya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji and conveys that the Sringeri Shankaracharya in a message has expressed displeasure over the Prana-pratishtha.”
(Letter sourced from Sringeri Math’s X handle)
It further stated that the Sringeri Shankaracharya has not given any such message. “This is merely a false propaganda by ill-wishers of our Dharma. All Astikas are hence requested to disregard such false propaganda and take note of what has only been published by the official website (www.sringeri.net) and official social media platforms of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham,” the letter asserts.
The letter pointed out that on the occasion of Deepavali (12-11-2023), The “Sharadapeetham” YouTube channel of the Peetham had published the message of the Sringeri Jagadguru conveying that all Astikas engage in the chanting of the Rama Taraka Maharnantra keeping in mind the upcoming Prana-Pratishtha at Ayodhya. Accordingly, Astikas have been chanting the Mahamantra in large numbers.
The letter concludes stating, “His Holiness Sringeri Shankaracharya has conveyed blessings that every Astika must suitably take part in this most sacred and rare Pran-pratishtha and be a recipient of the unbounded grace of Bhagavan Sri Rama.”
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday posted a tweet busting the fake assertions attributed to him in a ‘Brut India’ video. The Assam CM also hinted legal action for posting distorted video designed to disrupt communal harmony, adding that the “long arms of law will catch up with them.”
“See for yourself, as elections approach, how vested groups distort a speech with the criminal intention of spreading disinformation and communal disharmony,” Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted along with the two videos, one fake, and the other original.
See for yourself, as elections approach, how vested groups distort a speech with the criminal intention of spreading disinformation and communal disharmony.
In the distorted video, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks on Congress’ stance on Udhaynidhi Stalin’s “Sanatana Dharma must be eradicated” comment have been cunningly edited to insinuate that the Assam CM is calling for the annihilation of Islam and Christianity.
However, in reality, Sarma was questioning the duplicity of the Congress party, an alliance partner of Stalin’s DMK.
“Stalin’s aim to eradicate Sanatana Dharma is not his goal alone. The Congress party also shares the same objective as they defended his remark as “Freedom of Speech.” I want to ask the Congress party if I call to eradicate Islam or Christianity tomorrow, will the Congress party defended it as my freedom of speech.”
But Sarma’s video was maliciously edited to remove context and imply that the Assam CM had vowed to eradicate Islam and Christianity.
DMK leader Udhaynidhi Stalin had stirred a massive political row last year with his “Sanatana Dharma must be eradicated” remark. While the comment saw sharp disapproval from the BJP, several DMK leaders and their allies stood in Stalin’s defence and backed his comments on the Santana Dharma.
In a shocking incident reported from Begusarai, Bihar, a man identified as Maheshwar Kumar Rai was killed by his in-laws after he refused to put up with his wife’s obsession with creating Instagram reels based on popular songs. The victim had a five-year-old son and was married to Rani Kumari six years ago.
The incident took place in the Fafaut village in Begusarai, Bihar, on the night of 7th January. The 25-year-old, a labourer in Kolkata, recently returned home. According to the police, he and his wife got into an argument when he objected to her obsession with creating reels. The lady has over 9,500 followers on Instagram and has posted over 500 videos on the social media platform.
As per the reports, the victim was murdered by his in-laws in their home. The accused tied a rope around the victim’s neck and killed him. The father of the victim confirmed the incident and said that the victim never liked his wife making Instagram reels. “The duo used to fight a lot over the issue. His in-laws killed him after he went to their home on Sunday,” the father confirmed.
The incident, however, is said to have come to the fore after Rudal, the brother of the victim in Kolkata called him on his phone but someone else answered. Rudal then informed the victim’s family in the village who discovered that the victim had been killed by his in-laws.
The accused reportedly had absconded by the time the villagers arrived at the spot. The police were informed, who eventually took the dead body in possession and sent it for post-mortem. The wife and her sibling have been arrested by the police in the case.
The accused persons have been arrested and the police are interrogating them in the case. Further investigation in the case are underway.
An Indian-origin retail establishment worker in the Canadian state of Manitoba has filed a lawsuit against a police officer for allegedly investigating his home without a warrant and threatening to deport him.
Harjot Singh, a cashier at a Sargent Avenue convenience store, told the CBC television channel on Friday (5th January) that Winnipeg police officer Jeffrey Norman’s actions left him so shaken that he resigned from his job there. Singh was told he was being arrested for obstructing a police officer after his mobile was taken away and he was handcuffed.
According to Singh’s statement, filed late last month in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, Norman attempted to enter the shop while it was temporarily closed on December 2 of last year. Singh opened the door “after a very brief interval,” and Norman began searching the property without a warrant.
According to the statement of claim, Norman interrogated Singh and threatened to deport him from Canada if he did not cooperate. According to the lawsuit, the search was “warrantless and unreasonable in the manner in which it was carried out”, and left Singh so terrified that he quit his job at the store.
While none of the claims in the statement were yet proven in court, the complaint claimed that the officer’s behavior was high-handed and “discriminatory based on the national or ethnic origin”.
It also noted that Norman’s conduct “amounted to battery, false imprisonment and arbitrary detention, unjustified seizures and searches, and an infringement of Singh’s rights.”
In addition to seeking an undefined amount in general, constitutional, and punitive damages, the complaint requests that a judge compel the City of Winnipeg to develop a remedial education program for the Winnipeg Police Service.
Along with Norman, the City of Winnipeg is named as a defendant in the action. While no statements of defense have been filed, the CBC reports that Police officer Norman has been cited in at least two previous lawsuits alleging inappropriate use of force.
At 6:40 PM (IST) on 4th January, Mr Sinha shared PM Modi’s Lakshadweep video in a post on his X account. Little did he know that this post would cut the ground from under People’s National Congress’s (PNC) feet, the ruling party in Maldives.
It seems it has reached the Maldives & many Maldivians are hurt with this.
Just to clarify that we have nothing against the Maldives, we are against your new govt which is pro China & anti India..
Mr Raushan Sinha, a political commentator, took to X to share PM Modi’s appeal to people around the world to visit Lakshadweep. “What a great move! It’s a big setback to the new Chinese puppet govt of Maldives. Also, it will boost tourism in #Lakshadweep,” Mr Sinha wrote.
The post irked Mariyam Shiuna, Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts. The Maldivian leader responded to Mr Sinha’s post calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “clown” and a “puppet of Israel”.
Shiuna, along with two more ruling party leaders in Maldives, is now suspended and has deleted her post. While Indian netizens in clear words objected to the derogatory words used against their country and Prime Minister, Mr Sinha raised in a significant point in his clarification post.
On 5th January, he wrote, “It seems it has reached the Maldives & many Maldivians are hurt with this. Just to clarify that we have nothing against the Maldives, we are against your new govt which is pro China & anti India.”
Speaking to OpIndia, he pointed out that the Opposition in Maldives is pro-India whereas the ruling government led by Mohamed Muizzu is pro-China. Notably, the controversy erupted ahead of Muizzu’s visit to China on 8th January.
On a different note,unlike Pakistan not all the citizens of Maldives are anti India.
A large number of the population is pro India & their previous govt had a friendly relationship with us.
It's just the current gvt which is a Chinese puppet..
“MEA summons to Maldives envoy at a time when Maldivian President is in China is a big message to China in a way,” Mr Sinha said underlining the power of the clout Indians enjoy once they decide to unite against anti-India forces.
Mr Sinha, a Bihari businessman residing in Gujarat, takes active interest in Indian politics, geopolitics and foreign policy. He wears his Hindu identity with pride.
“There has been a significant boost of confidence among Indians since 2014,” Mr Sinha says, sharing his observation about the political changes he has seen in the country from his college days, when he actively participated in campus politics.
Mr Sinha is a Bihari living in Gujarat. His social media presence has grown strong over the years. Despite several of his old accounts suspended, his India first and pro-Hindu stand has resonated with many leading to a staggering 165.4k followers on X, formerly Twitter, which he joined in 2016.
Mr Sinha told OpIndia that he has received some death threats and abuses in his inbox ever since the controversy broke out. But he is certain that the calls by the Indian people to boycott Maldives have gathered support from the Indian government.
“A change in the government in Maldives would be good for India,” Mr Sinha said. On 7th January, he shared a post on X citing sources that Maldives Tourism is sponsoring an anti-India campaign.
“So the entire anti India campaign is being sponsored by a few business houses who are close to #Maldives President & their ministers. And President @MMuizzu is doing it purposely to please China. Sources say he’s visiting China in a few days. #BoycottMaldives,” Mr Sinha wrote sharing some images.
So the entire anti India campaign is being sponsored by a few business houses who are close to #Maldives President & their ministers.
In another anti-India post shared by a Maldivian newspaper, a call was made for an “urgent cap on Indian tourists visiting Maldives”. The post made comparisons between European tourists and Indian tourists giving reasons as to why the former is better than the latter. In the Indian tourist section, an image of Mr Sinha was used.
It is important to note the pic that they used when depicting Indian tourist ??
It’s our very own superman, who defends our border when we sleep ?
Many anti-India personalities including politicians in Maldives were irked by the post Mr Sinha shared on Lakshadweep. This led to a spate of unsavoury exchanges finally forcing the Maldives government to issue a clarification. Additionally, it became imperative on senior leaders in Maldives to reaffirm their friendship with India and reiterate their commitment.
The controversy has exposed another enemy of India overseas but has also, more importantly, unleashed the power of the everyday Indian onto the world. Now, anti-India Maldivian ministers stand suspended. As for the virtual battle, the trend as it stands now is #VisitMaldives versus #ExploreIndianIslands #BoycottMaldives #MaldivesOut #LakshadweepTourism.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) started oil production from the much-delayed flagship deep-water project in the Krishna Godavari basin offshore the nation’s eastern coast. As per reports, ONGC has started production from the Cluster-2 project of the KG-DWN-98/2 block. It is expected to slowly ramp up production in this Cluster.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed about the commencement of production. Though he did not provide information of current output, the Union Minister added that production is expected to be 45,000 barrels per day of oil and over 10 million standard cubic meters per day of gas.
As India powers ahead as the fastest growing economy under leadership of PM @NarendraModi Ji, our energy production is also set to rise from the deepest frontiers of #KrishnaGodavari
For the deep sea energy project, ONGC has hired the floating platform Armada Sterling V, owned 70% by Shapoorji Palonji Oil and Gas and 30% by Malaysia’s Bumi Armada. The Floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel was docked into the Cluster-2 area on December 27 and has been waiting to receive oil since January 2.
As per reports, ONGC’s KG-DWN-98/2, also known as the KG-D5 block, is located next to the KG-D6 block, which is owned by Reliance Industries Ltd. KG blocks are located in the Krishna Godavari Delta, in the Bay of Bengal, just off the coast of Andhra Pradesh.
ONGC’s KG-D5 block is divided into 3 clusters, Cluster-1,2 and 3. Of these, Cluster -2 was scheduled to be operational back in November 2021, but the project was delayed due to Covid.
The water depths in the KG-D5 block vary from 300 to 3200 meters. Cluster 2 is expected to produce 23.52 million metric tons of oil, and 50.70 billion cubic meters of gas in its operational lifetime.
“This 98/2 project is likely to increase ONGC’s total oil and gas production by 11 percent and 15 percent, respectively,” the ONGC said.
ONGC successfully executed Phase 1 of the project in March 2020, achieving the commencement of gas production from the U field of the KG-DWN-98/2 Block in a record time of 10 months.
With the commencement of this first oil on Sunday, ONGC is nearing completion of Phase 2, culminating in the commencement of oil production from the ‘M’ field of KG-DWN-98/2, it added.
While some of the deep water hardware has been purchased from global markets, the majority of the fabrication has been done in the Modular Fabrication Facility at Kattupalli, under the Make In India initiative, as per ONGC.
PM Modi also said that the development will boost the mission of a self-reliant India. “This is a remarkable step in India’s energy journey and boosts our mission for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
