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Massive blow to Imran Khan: Special court indicts former Pakistan PM and Shah Mahmood Qureshi for leaking country’s secrets

OpIndia Staff
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Massive blow to Imran Khan: Special court indicts former Pakistan PM and Shah Mahmood Qureshi for leaking country’s secrets

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and chairman Imran Khan Niazi and vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi were indicted in the cipher case again on 13the December. The two leaders were charged under the Official Secrets Act 2023 by the special court housed in the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. The ruling that established the allegations was rendered by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

The lawsuit began on 27 March 2022 when the former prime minister displayed a paper in public during a rally in Islamabad and cited it as proof of an “international conspiracy” before his government was overthrown by a vote of no confidence. According to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) charge sheet, he never returned a diplomatic paper and his party has long maintained that the document was a threat from the United States to remove him from office.

On 23 October, both politicians were first charged in the case. An Islamabad High Court division bench considered the government’s notification of a jail trial to be “erroneous” and cancelled the entire proceedings. The trial was taking place at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their testimonies. The fifth person was then put through cross-examination. The special court began a new trial in response to the verdict. Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain decided that the trial would go forward at the Adiala Jail but in public last month.

The former premier asked the Islamabad High Court to postpone the proceedings until it decided on this petition on 11th December contesting the process of his prosecution in the cipher case. Both PTI senior leaders were scheduled to be indicted by the special court on 12th December but the proceedings were postponed until the next day.

They pleaded not guilty while the court awaited prosecution proof. Imran Khan’s third spouse Bushra Bibi, his sisters and Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s family along with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi were present there. A small number of reporters were also permitted entry into the courtroom to observe the proceedings.

The court read aloud the two-page charge sheet against the veteran politicians during the hearing. The two were charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act while they were in government, according to the charge sheet. The allegation stated that Imran Khan had waved a classified diplomatic document at a public demonstration on 27 March and that the accused had utilised the cipher for his private gain.

Imran Khan’s reaction

Following the reading of the charges, Imran Khan declared, “I did something wrong by exposing the domestic and foreign establishment. Add that to the list of charges too,” while Shah Mahmood Qureshi pled his innocence. “They made us the accused after toppling our government. How can the one who was ousted also be the accused,” the former asked.

He went on to claim that the United States diplomat Donald Lu and former army chief retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa were the two people being saved by this whole “drama.” He announced that he has “no fear of death” and maintained that the encryption was designed to overthrow his regime. “There is a conspiracy within the cipher which is being hidden.”

“How can there be a fair trial when the media is being muzzled,” he questioned and alleged, “If a fair trial is not conducted, the responsibility will lie with you for the rest of your life.” The judge then informed him that his tone was “not appropriate” and that this was a court of justice.

While in service, Mahmood Shah Qureshi reported having seen “hundreds” of ciphers and given instructions on them, however, the one in question was “unique.” He claimed, “The foreign minister is known as the chief diplomat across the world. Then a cipher comes which is not shown to the chief diplomat. In my view, there must be some reason for keeping it hidden.”

He requested that the evidence not be withheld to avoid holding a “one-sided trial.” He noted, “Two patriotic citizens are being ensnared in this case. I am innocent and they want to punish me.” The hearing was postponed until 15th December.

The FIA special prosecutor told the journalists outside the court that the two leaders were the targets of accusations and that the prosecution would be presenting its case in court on the next due date. He restated their denial of the charges raised against them.

Ciphergate

The controversy began on 27 March of last month when Imran Khan speaking at a public rally less than a month before his removal in April 2022 waved a letter in front of the audience and claimed it was a cipher from a foreign country that had teamed up with his political rivals to topple the PTI government. He did not disclose the contents of the letter or the identity of the country it originated from. However, a few days later, he claimed that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had asked to have him removed and accused the US of plotting against him.

The cipher concerned Dr Asad Majeed Khan, the former ambassador of Pakistan to the US and his meeting with Donald Lu. “All will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power,” declared the PTI president purporting to be reading from the cipher. The National Security Committee (NSC) then took up the subject on 31 March and resolved to send the US a “strong demarche” in response to its “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan.”

Subsequently, after his dismissal, the NSC met under the chairmanship of former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Shehbaz Sharif and concluded that the cable included no evidence of a foreign conspiracy.

Parliament intruder Manoranjan D hails from Mysuru, was pursuing BJP MP Pratap Simha for visitor passes for three months

OpIndia Staff
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Parliament intruder Manoranjan D hails from Mysuru, was pursuing BJP MP Pratap Simha for visitor passes for three months

In a massive security breach in the Parliament, two men jumped into the Lok Sabha well from the visitors’ gallery while the proceedings were going on today, 13 December. The two men released yellow-coloured smoke from canisters after jumping into the well. At the same time, two other persons, a man and a woman, released coloured smoke from similar cans outside the parliament and chanted various slogans. The invasion of the parliament took place on the anniversary of the parliament attack in 2001. The intruders who jumped into Lok Sabha were identified as Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma.

It has now been revealed that Manoranjan D – one of the accused – hails from the Mysuru constituency of the BJP MP Pratap Simha. It has been revealed he used a visitor’s pass issued by Simha to enter the visitors’ gallery in Lok Sabha. According to media reports, he had been trying to get the visitor’s passes from the MP for the last three months. This implies that the planning for this attack was going on for months.

Meanwhile, MP Pratap Simha met Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. He clarified his stand with the authorities in this meeting as the visitor pass recovered from one of the intruders was signed in the name of the BJP MP.

According to sources, Manoranjan D, one of the accused, introduced co-accused Sagar Sharma as a friend to the MP’s office and got passes issued to them on the pretext of watching the new Parliament. On Wednesday, a total of three passes were issued on the recommendation of MP Pratap Simha’s office. Out of these three persons, a woman had to return because she came with her child whose name was not mentioned on the visitor’s pass. The woman did not have any connection with the two accused intruders.

Security breach in the parliament

The incident took place at 1 PM during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha, just before the lunch break. When Khagen Murmu, BJP MP from West Bengal, was raising some points regarding his constituency, suddenly a commotion was heard in the background. When the Sansad TV switched to the view of the entire hall, a man could be seen who had already jumped from the gallery and was on the benches.

He then started to proceed towards the front of the hall, jumping from bench to bench. People in the Lok Sabha were heard shouting ‘pakdo, pakdo’ (catch him), before the speaker hurriedly adjourned the house. The live stream was cut immediately after that.

A similar scene was unfolding outside the Parliament premises at the same time. Two other protestors including a woman named Neelam Azad and a man were staging a demonstration releasing yellow and pink smoke from cans. The entire incident involves a total of four accused at least. All four have been detained by the police.

Who is Neelam Azad, the woman shouting Jai Bhim outside parliament: Career protestor who joined farmer and wrestler protests, campaigned for Congress

OpIndia Staff
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Who is Neelam Azad, the woman shouting Jai Bhim outside parliament: Career protestor who joined farmer and wrestler protests, campaigned for Congress

On 13th December, four persons were arrested after they breached the security of the parliament complex armed with coloured smoke canisters. While two men jumped into the well of Lok Sabha from the Visitors’ Gallery, two others were chanting slogans outside the parliament after releasing coloured smoke in the area. The two persons detained outside the parliament included a woman named Neelam Azad, who was chanting slogans even as she was taken away from the spot by cops.

Although her family says that she is upset because she is unemployed and she had participated in the farmer protests, now it has been revealed she has been deeply involved in politics, and have participated in several protests over the years.

Most crucially, an undated video has surfaced where she was seen campaigning for Congress and INLD. Attacking the BJP, Neelam had appealed her audience, ‘We will change the party in power. We will bring Congress to power, or bring INLD. BJP is very much cruel, other parties are not that cruel, they listen to the problems of the poor farmers.’

While the video is undated, probably it was during the farmer protests on the Delhi borders.

A visit to her Facebook profile shows that she has participated in several protests held in and around Delhi in the last few years. As her brother has already told the media, she had participated in the farmer protests in 2020. Her younger brother said that despite having done BA, MA, B.Ed, M.Ed, and M.Phil, apart from clearing CTET and NET, she is still unemployed, which led her to join the protests.

Earlier this year, she joined the wrestlers’ protest in Jantar Mantar in Delhi, even though her link with wrestling is unknown. Reportedly, she was detained along with Sakshi Malik’s mother during the protests in May this year. However, she was released after few hours. She had posted an image of her being carried away by police personnel from the protest site.

She has also participated in protests organised by Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and Pragatishil Azad Yuva Parishad. Neelam was part of various protests demanding government jobs organised by these organisations.

As farmer groups continue protests even after the withdrawal of the farm bills that triggered the original farmer protests, the woman continues to participate in such protests. In photographs on Facebook, she can be seen in protest marches held by Jagruk Kisan Mazdoor Union.

Neelam Azad is also an Ambedkarite, and her brother said that she has been influenced by BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. He informed that she has been distributing books on Bhagat Singh and the Constitution. She had posted several images of attending Jayanti and other events related to Ambedkar.

The woman also opposes the Agnipath scheme of the Indian armed forces. She wrote in June 2022, ‘Boycott Agnipath scheme, no youth should join it.’

‘Unclear whether money is black or white’: Newslaundry comes in support of Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu after cash haul of over Rs 351 crores

Anurag
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‘Unclear whether money is black or white’: Newslaundry comes in support of Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu after cash haul of over Rs 351 crores

On 13th December, Newslaundry came out in support of Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, Dhiraj Prasad Sahu, who is at the centre of a multi-hundred crore IT raid. In a video of “Tippani”, the propaganda portal tried to whitewash the crime of storing unaccounted cash and projected that the allegations against Sahu were not yet proven. Newslaundry insinuated that the money recovered could be “legal” and asserted that media houses targeted Sahu without knowing the reality of the money recovered.

In an almost 26-minute video, under their section ‘Tippani’ (comment in English), Newslaundry’s Atul Chaurasia ranted against the central government and mainstream media for targeting Sahu. The video was mainly about Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and expelled MP Mahua Moitra.

‘It is unclear if the money was black’

Chaurasia said that till now, only the money has been recovered. The investigation into the cash recovered is yet to begin. “No one knows if the money was ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.” He claimed that though it is unclear if the money was black or white, the mainstream media and BJP supporters have started targetting Sahu. He questioned how only recovery of money can be claimed as a guarantee of a crime. He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using emojis in his post on X on the matter.

He then equated the matter with the video of BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar’s son Devendra Singh Tomar, where it was claimed that he was talking about receiving large amounts of funds. The said video surfaced days after Assembly elections in five states. Following the video went viral on social media, Devendra immediately filed a police complaint saying that it was a fake video.

Devendra’s complaint said, “A viral video has surfaced where it is falsely claimed that I have conducted transactions worth crores. This doctored video is part of a conspiracy to malign me and create a negative impression. Fake video clips are being circulated on various social media platforms maliciously to damage my public image and reputation.” Notably, Narendra Tomar contested the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections from the Dimni constituency and defeated Congress’s Ravindra Singh Tomay by 48,000 votes. Following the elections, the matter related to Devendra’s alleged video went into a cold bag, and the opposition forgot about it.

Interestingly, Sahu or his associates have yet to release any statement. Congress has distanced itself from the controversy and demanded an explanation from Sahu about the recovered cash. While Congress does not want to associate itself with the recovered cash, for some reason, left-liberal media and “intellectuals” like Raghuram Rajan are defending Sahu. In a recent comment, Rajan claimed the opposition parties have to use cash as electoral bonds provide an uneven playing field to the political parties and favour the ruling party. He further claimed that money could be for election purposes and insinuated that the ruling party carried out raids using agencies to recover such money.

Newslaundry defender Mahua Moitra

In the video, Newslaundry also defended Mahua Moitra in the cash-for-query case. Chaurasia claimed Moitra was dismissed from Lok Sabha without any chance to explain herself. He completely forgot that the Ethics Committee called her to present her point of view, which she stormed out when questions were asked. Furthermore, Moitra admitted to leaking her Lok Sabha credentials so that questions could be posted on her behalf.

Interestingly, Newslaundry claimed that Mahua Moitra was expelled because she raised questions against Gautam Adani. However, Chaurasia forgot to point out that most of Moitra’s questions against Adani directly or indirectly favour Darshan Hiranandani, who admitted to paying her kickbacks for the same! Chaurasia claimed that the statement given by Hiranandani was only on a “piece of white paper”. He conveniently ignored the fact that it was an affidavit submitted by Hiranandani to the Indian Embassy in Dubai. The affidavit contained the seal of India’s vice consulate general in Dubai, Urmil Asiwal. She reportedly said that the documents were signed in her presence, and the person, who in this case was Hiranandani, was identified by his passport. The passport number was mentioned in the affidavit. The document was signed on 20th October. Details of the affidavit can be seen here.

Chaurasia equated the expulsion of Moitra to the suspension of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha. He claimed both were shown way out of the Lok Sabha because they questioned Gautam Adani. However, Gandhi was removed from Lok Sabha over a defamation case. He, however, has returned to Lok Sabha, thanks to the Supreme Court of India, which stayed his disqualification in August this year. On the other hand, Moitra was expelled from Lok Sabha for unethical behaviour.

Notably, the credentials she shared are not only for posting questions. But using her credentials, whoever accessed the account had access to documents not in public view, such as bills to be tabled and reports meant for MPs only. Moitra indulged in a serious breach of the country’s security by sharing the credentials.

Who is Dhiraj Prasad Sahu?

Dhiraj Prasad Sahu is a Rajya Sabha MP for Congress from Jharkhand. His family has been associated with the Congress party since independence. He became RS MP in by-polls in 2009 for the first time. In 2010, he was elected as RS MP for the second time; in 2018, he was re-elected for RS by Congress for the third time. He actively participates in parliamentary proceedings. Sahu was part of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. In recent raids at Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, where Dhiraj Prasad Sahu is a partner, the Income Tax Department recovered over 300 cr of unaccounted cash. Congress Party has distanced itself from the controversy, while BJP leaders, including PM Modi, have targeted Congress.

Hairs plucked, shoes hurled, and punches delivered: How 11 MPs in Lok Sabha caught and thrashed an intruder in parliament

OpIndia Staff
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Hairs plucked, shoes hurled, and punches delivered: How 11 MPs in Lok Sabha caught and thrashed an intruder in parliament

On December 13th, in a major security breach in the Parliament, two men jumped into the Lok Sabha well from the visitors’ gallery while the proceedings were ongoing. A video from the Lok Sabha shows the members of Parliament assaulting one of the two perpetrators who burst into the chamber during proceedings and tossed canisters emitting yellow smoke. The MPs can be seen plucking the hairs of the intruder, hurling shoes at him, and landing punches at him before encircling him.

As seen in the visuals from the Lok Sabha now going viral on social media, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs RK Singh Patel Manoj Kotak, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Bahujan Samaj Party MP Malook Nagar and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal caught hold of the intruders identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan and were then joined by other MPs including and ShivSena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, in beating up the intruders. Around six to seven MPs can be seen holding the intruders.

Speaking about the sequence of events, BSP MP Malook Nagar said, “Our procedure of Zero Hour was going when a loud sound came from the back… I thought somebody fell from the visitor’s gallery, or maybe somebody pushed…meanwhile, another person jumped…then it was clear that something wrong is about to happen. He [intruder] moved towards the seats of MPs in the well and was jumping…then from one side Hanuman Beniwal and from the other I rushed and the moment the intruder took out his shoes we caught him tightly and other MPs came and thrashed him.”

In conversation with TimesNow MP Malook Nagar said, “When one of them (intruders) started pulling out a shoe, mujhe laga ab ye weapon ki bajay joote chalayega (I thought he would hit us with shoes)…”

Meanwhile, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla told the media that one of the intruders was heading towards the speaker after jumping into the well. “…He had something in his hand which was emitting yellow-coloured smoke. I snatched it away and continued throwing it outside…This is a major security breach,” Aujla said.

Other than Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan, two others have been apprehended over involvement in the security breach. The duo detained outside the parliament have been identified as a 42-year-old woman named Neelam and a 25-year-old man named Amol Shinde. PTI reported that Neelam was also actively participating in the Farmers’ Protests earlier.

Meanwhile, the netizens are praising MPs who bravely confronted and thrashed the intruders. Many lauded the display of unity by the MPs coming from different political parties and ideologies when attacked that too in the temple of democracy. Notably, the security breach transpired on the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament attacks, which killed six Delhi Police officers, two Parliament security staff, in addition to a gardener.

Congress paints a cluelessly standing Rahul Gandhi as indulging in a brave act while other MPs tried to catch intruders

Amit Kelkar
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Congress paints a cluelessly standing Rahul Gandhi as indulging in a brave act while other MPs tried to catch intruders

Earlier today, the parliament was in the throes of chaos after an intruder jumped from the visitor’s gallery and ran into a chamber while the other remained in the gallery.

The two raised slogans and deployed colour canisters, causing yellow-coloured smoke to envelope the chamber, causing commotion among the lawmakers attending the session.

However, on a day that marks the 22nd anniversary of the cowardly attack on Parliament and the day Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannu threatened to “shake the very foundation of Parliament”, the Congress party somehow found a way to glorify their leader, Rahul Gandhi, and in the process stooped down to newer lows in their perennial act of servitude to the Gandhi family.

Supriya Shrinate, a staunch Gandhi loyalist and a chairperson of Social media and Digital platforms for Congress, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to fawn over Rahul Gandhi for merely standing over and helplessly watching over the proceedings as intruders barged in and desecrated the temple of democracy.

A picture of the attack has been doing the rounds on the internet when the intruders deployed the colour canisters, and several MPs rushed to either dodge the attack or get hold of the interlopers.

In this picture, the Gandhi scion is seen standing at a place, presumably near his parliament seat, and with his face towards the visitor’s gallery from where one of the intruders jumped and entered the chamber.

Shrinate shared the viral picture with Rahul Gandhi in the spotlight, highlighting how the senior Congress leader is brave, not just in his words but in his actions, too.

Shrinate shared the viral picture with Rahul Gandhi in the spotlight, highlighting how the senior Congress leader is brave, not just in his words but in his actions, too.

Many of them even succeeded in catching the intruder, who was then thrashed by the lawmakers for jeopardising their security and disrupting the parliamentary proceedings.

For Shrinate, standing in one’s place and cluelessly trying to process what just transpired even when other MPs scrambled to thwart an attack on the same day as that of the 2001 parliament attack was an admirable act of courage and bravery. Catching hold of him and thrashing him was not as indicative of one’s bravery as standing at one’s place and staring at the visitor’s gallery if one is given to believe Shrinate’s interpretation of the incident.

And it is not entirely surprising that Congress hailed inaction as a manifestation of bravery, given that it did not bother to teach Pakistan a lesson after the gruesome Mumbai 26/11 attacks that took place under the Congress-led UPA II reign, when Manmohan Singh was India’s prime minister.

Perhaps that, too, was an act of bravery since it is incredibly valorous to continue putting up with terror attacks instead of giving in to the urge to sanction Surgical Strikes and raise the cost of asymmetrical warfare for an incorrigible neighbour.

But none of this matters to the Congress party and its minions because a Prime Minister ordering attacks on terror bases operating in an enemy country is a ‘run-of-the-mill’ decision as opposed to Rahul Gandi, who was exuding “bravery and courage” by simply standing straight and gazing over the visitor gallery from where intruders jumped in the parliament chamber, trying to process what just happened even as other lawmakers got hold of the intruder and thrashed him.

For the Congress party and its minions, who like to name-call journalists who ask them uncomfortable questions as Godi media and ridicule rational folks as ‘Bhakts’, indulging in sycophancy and showing absolute loyalty to the Gandhi family, even at the cost of the party’s political future, is second nature. It is for this reason that they have no qualms in hailing a clueless Rahul Gandhi as indulging in a brave act, even though it goes against the grain of common sense and rationality.

Parliament security breach: Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla orders high-level probe, announces comprehensive review of security

ANI
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Parliament security breach: Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla orders high-level probe, announces comprehensive review of security

After the security of Parliament was breached, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ordered a “high-level inquiry” into the incident in which two people jumped into the house chamber from the visitor’s gallery with coloured smoke canisters.

LS Speaker lauded the Lok Sabha members, security personnel, chamber staff, and marshals for rising to the occasion and capturing the perpetrators.

“The incident that happened today is a topic of concern for all of us and is serious as well…A high-level investigation is being done and accordingly, action will be taken. A comprehensive review will be done regarding the security in the House.

He said in 2001 too central paramilitary forces and other security had made collective efforts and prevented a terror attack on Parliament.

“This has also been sought by members of Parliament. What improvements can be made in the security measure will be assessed after discussing it matter with members,” Birla said.

“The security will be further strengthened in consultations with the members, I will be discussing the matter with leaders of all political parties,” the Speaker said.

The Speaker adjourned the House till 11:00 am tomorrow.

On the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament terror attack, there was a major security breach when two intruders entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitor gallery during Zero Hour.

In a security breach in Lok Sabha, two men jumped into the House from the visitor’s gallery and had canisters in their hand, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said.

They released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs.

Visuals showed an unidentified man jumping from the visitor’s gallery of Lok Sabha after which there was a slight commotion. The House was adjourned till 2 pm.

The incident happened when members were raising matters of urgent public importance and BJP MP Khagen Murmu was raising his issue.

Simultaneously, two individuals, including a woman, sprayed colored gas and shouted slogans outside the Parliament premises.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said that two men jumped into the House from the visitor’s gallery and had canisters in their hands.

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

Parliament attack accused Manoranjan was involved in farming, was a student leader, says family

OpIndia Staff
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Parliament attack accused Manoranjan was involved in farming, was a student leader, says family

A group of four individuals today breached the Parliament security even as the country was marking the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.

Two men jumped from the visitor’s gallery into the Lok Sabha hall. One of the two men began to jumped over the benches towards the well. He was removed his footwear during this time and started looking around him trying to escape as members of Parliament surrounded him.

The two accused have been identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan from Mysore. Both accused have been arrested.

In a conversation with the media, Manoranjan’s father Devraj said he studied Engineering in BIT and used to travel to Mumbai and Delhi regularly.

As per reports, Manoranjan’s father has condemned his actions and said that he was unaware that his son was in Delhi.

“If he has done something wrong, he is not my son. But let me tell you, he is good…I was unaware he is in Delhi. He was a student leader in his college days, but I do know about his affiliations. I condemn this act,” Devaraj said.

The Vijayanagar police in Mysore has collected information about Manoranjan from his father. Manoranjan had reportedly introduced Sagar Sharma as his friend to the Kodagu MP Pratap Simha’s office and reportedly acquired the visitor’s pass on the pretext of visiting the new Parliament.

As per sources, Manoranjan would visit Simha’s office quite often. Reports quoting sources close to the MP stated that three people including a woman had gotten visitor’s passes but the woman was denied entry as she had arrived with a child whose name was not included.

The woman had reportedly no connection with the two accused.

Meanwhile, the second accused, Sagar Sharma, who was accompanying Manoranjan, is reportedly still an engineering student.

Meanwhile, two of the protesters have been detained from outside the Parliament for releasing similar smoke cannisters as was done by the accused inside the House.

The demonstrators have been identified as Neelam (42), daughter of Kaur Singh from Hisar, Haryana. She was staying in Shree Balaji Girls PG near Red Square area in Hisar.

OpIndia spoke with the PG staff on call who informed that Neelam was living there for 2-3 months now and that officials have collected required information about her.

The last accused, who was accompanying Neelam outside the Parliament, has been identified as 25-year-old Amol Shinde from Latur, Maharashtra.

The duo was heard chanting slogans including, “Tanashahi nahin chalega,” “Manipur ko insaaf do, “Samvidhaan bachao”, “Mahilayon par atyachar nahin chalega,” “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” “Tanashahi band karo,” “Jai Bheem Jai Bharat,” “Vande Mataram”.

In another video, a journalist can be seen questioning Neelam while she is being taken by the police. In response, the woman accused can be heard saying, “Our Indian government and the atrocities being committed against us…when we talk about our rights…we are lathicharged and jailed and totured. So we did not have any other way.”

When asked which organisation they belong to, she said, “We are not from any organisation, we are common people. we are students, because we are employed, our parents work so hard, labourers, farmers, small businessmen but no one is heard. They try to supress our voice but this tyranny will not be tolerated. End the tanashahi (tyranny). Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

Neelam’s younger brother spoke to the media saying that the family was not aware that she had gone to Delhi.

Her brother also revealed that Neelam was part of the farmers’ protest and had spoken on the issue of unemployment several times.

“She has raised the matter of unemployment several times…she had participated in the farmers’ protest…you know that unemployment is an issue. Her first protest was in the farmers’ protest,” the brother said.

The brother said that Neelam had left Hisar some 5-6 months ago for education.

Speaking on the point of unemployment raised by Neelam, her brother narrated an incident wherein during an interview a person with less marks was cleared but because her full name is Neelam Devi, they told her to get an affidavit.

“We don’t know whether what she did was right or wrong,” her brother said.

According to the family, Neelam is qualified with BA, MA, B’Ed, M.Ed, CTET, M.Phil and NET.

Parliament security breach: Arrested woman Neelam had also participated in farmers’ protests, family says they had no idea about her plans

OpIndia Staff
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Parliament security breach: Arrested woman Neelam had also participated in farmers’ protests, family says they had no idea about her plans

On 13th December, two men breached the wall of the viewer’s gallery in the Lok Sabha and entered the aisle area where MPs sit to open a smoke canister. In the meanwhile, a woman and a man were apprehended on the premises of the parliament for doing the same activity, releasing yellow and pink colored smoke from canisters. As the security personnel led the woman and the man away, the woman was seen shouting slogans like ‘Jai Bheem’, ‘Kaala Kanoon wapas lo’, ‘Manipur ko insaf do, ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ etc.

As per reports, the woman is named Neelam Kaur. Her younger brother told ANI the family had no idea when she went to Delhi. They were under the impression that she went to Hisar for studies.

The younger brother told ANI that Neelam has multiple degrees and she had earlier visited te family 2 days back. Neelam has reportedly done BA, MA, B.Ed, M.Ed, and M.Phil and she has qualified CTET and NET. The brother added that Neelam had also participated in the farmers’ protest.

Neelam’s mother also repeated the statement. She added that Neelam has been worried about being unemployed and had stated earlier that it is better to die than to be jobless. As per reports, Neelam Kaur was preparing for the civil services in Hisar. She hails from Haryana’s Jind.

As of now, it is unclear if Neelam was associated with any political group or has any criminal links.

Of the two men who had entered the Lok Sabha, one had also raised similar slogans ‘Tanashahi nahi chalegi’ and ‘Kala kanoon. wapas lo’.

While at present it is not known who is behind this attack, it is notable that Khalistani separatist and Sikhs for Justice leader  Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had recently threatened to attack the Indian parliament on or before 13th December.

Gujarat: AAP MLA Bhupat Bhayani resigns, says ‘AAP not a proper platform to work for country’; speculations of two more MLAs leaving the party

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: AAP MLA Bhupat Bhayani resigns, says ‘AAP not a proper platform to work for country’; speculations of two more MLAs leaving the party

In Gujarat, the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a major setback before the Lok Sabha elections. AAP MLA Bhupat Bhayani resigned from the party and the post of MLA on Wednesday (13th December). He has said that he is leaving the Aam Aadmi Party due to nationalist ideology. The speaker of the Gujarat state assembly has accepted Bhayani’s resignation.

Bhupat Bhayani said that only due to nationalist ideology, he decided to leave the Aam Aadmi Party and has taken this decision after discussing it with the people of his constituency. It has been only one year since the assembly elections. The MLA’s exit has also dealt a major blow to AAP’s preparations for the Lok Sabha elections.

On Wednesday at 10:45 AM, Bhayani handed in his resignation to the Assembly Speaker, Shankar Chaudhary. The Speaker announced that Bhayani personally delivered his resignation today, and it was duly accepted.

The Aam Aadmi Party is preparing to contest elections in Gujarat under the I.N.D.I. alliance. Bhupat Bhayani said that he was earlier in the BJP and was associated with the ideology of nationalism. He said that he was going to leave the Aam Aadmi Party and join the BJP only because of the ideology of nationalism.

Bhayani said, “I cannot be against PM Modi and I belong to nationalist ideology. That is why I have decided to leave the Aam Aadmi Party. Aam Aadmi Party is not the appropriate platform to work in the interest of the country.” Although he did not clarify when he would join the BJP, he accepted that he would join the party for sure. He said that if the party wants, he will contest the election once again.

Bhupat Bhayani, a BJP member for 14 years, joined the Congress and won the 2017 elections. Then he made a surprising shift to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) just before the 2022 elections. Winning a seat as an MLA from Visavadar on the AAP ticket, he faced talks of resignation within a week of his victory. Initially, he deferred the decision, stating that he would consult with the people in his constituency before concluding. However, a year later, he decided to step down from his legislative position.

This resignation has once again disrupted the functioning of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Throughout the past few decades, the assembly has not consistently retained its full complement of 182 legislators, with disruptions occurring due to various factors such as the passing of a legislator or changes in political affiliations.

AAP state president Isudan Gadhvi has said in his first reaction that the BJP is running a dictatorship, and forcing MLAs to resign. He said that the BJP is afraid of Aam Aadmi Party.

More AAP MLAs to resign in Gujarat?

Currently, only four AAP legislators remain in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, and they may also encounter challenges in the run-up to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It is speculated that 2 more MLAs from the Aam Aadmi Party may also resign. According to a report by Divya Bhaskar, after the resignation of Bhupat Bhayani, now Botad MLA Umesh Makwana and Gariadhar MLA Sudhir Vaghani can also resign. The report said that MLA Makwana will make an official announcement soon.

According to a report by Zee 24 Kalak, Sudhir Vaghani is also unhappy with the party and can leave the party at any time. But in a conversation with TV9, Sudhir Vaghani denied these claims and said that he was not resigning. There was no statement from Umesh Makwana in this regard.

Similar claims are being made in many other reports and it is being said that two more AAP MLAs may resign. It is also being speculated that all the MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party will leave the party before the Lok Sabha elections. There is also talk of the resignation of a Congress MLA.

The Aam Aadmi Party won only five seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections while losing deposits in 128 seats. The five seats are Botad, Gariadhar, Visavadar, Jamjodhpur and Dediapada. The MLA of Visavadar has already resigned. It is said that the MLAs of Gariadhar and Botad may also resign. Meanwhile, Chaitar Vasava, the MLA from Dediapada, has been absconding for several weeks in connection with assaulting forest department workers.

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