On Monday (20th November), Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the banned pro-Khalistan group led by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, announced a USD 10,000 (Rs 8.3 lakh) prize for an Australian citizen for wearing a T-shirt that read ‘Free Palestine’ during the India-Australia ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final.
The Australian citizen has been identified as Wen Johnson. He breached security during the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and headed to meet cricketer Virat Kohli. He could be seen wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt which read, “Free Palestine”, also “Stop Bombing in Palestine.”
Johnson stormed the pitch at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday (19th November), wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt and a slew of colorful scarves. After entering the field of play, he attempted to hug cricketer Virat Kohli. Kohli, too, appeared alarmed at the intrusion as security swooped in and apprehended the man.
Johnson was later detained and transported to the Chand Kheda Police Station. While in custody, he spoke to the media, stating that his main goal was to meet Kohli and express his support for Palestine.
#WATCH | Gujarat: The man who entered the field during the India vs Australia Final match, brought to the Chandkheda Police Station in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/pm9AMyhsSi
The Ahmedabad Police also commented on the issue and confirmed that a case had been registered against Wen. “The accused described himself as a big fan of Virat Kohli and had come to watch the match and being a fan of Kohli, he crossed the railing and went into the ground. A case has been registered against the accused under sections 332, and 447 of IPC for unauthorized entry into the stadium of the Gujarat Cricket Association,” Police said.
Gujarat | A case has been registered against the person who entered the ground unauthorized during the India-Australia World Cup final match. The case has been registered against a person named WEN Johnson at Chandkheda Police Station, Ahmedabad. The accused described himself as… https://t.co/2mhBNUzCPt
As per the reports, political sloganeering is an offense at cricket matches, but because Johnson is a foreign national, it is unclear what action will be taken against him.
Earlier, on 18th November, Pannun had threatened to “shut down the terror cup” and disrupt the ICC World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad. Central security agencies and Gujarat Police had been put on alert after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s threat video came to notice.
Other than threatening to disrupt the World Cup final, Pannun also harangued about India’s stand on the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian terror outfit Hamas in Gaza. However, no event of the World Cup disruption happened on Sunday (19th November).
Reports mention that Pannun makes such claims, but never reaches out to help or support people. He has declared to reward Wen Jonson with $10000 for extending pro-Palestine support during the India-Australia World Cup match.
A day after Australia beat India in the final of the 2023 edition of the Cricket World Cup, the wife of Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell took to Instagram to address the ‘hate’ directed at her by some Indian cricket fans.
Vini Raman, a Melbourne-based pharmacist and the wife of Maxwell, informed on Monday (20th November) that she was being abused for supporting the Australian cricket team.
After receiving a barrage of hateful comments and direct messages (DMs), she posted, “(I) can’t believe this needs to be said but you can be Indian and also support the country of your birth…where you have been raised and more importantly the team your husband + father of your child plays in #nobrainer.
“Take a chill pill and direct that outrage towards more important world issues,” Vini Raman emphasised. It must be mentioned that she was born and raised in Melbourne city of Australia. She is of Indian-Tamil origin and married Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell in March 2022.
OpIndia found several comments on the Instagram post of Vini Raman. “You are so idiot…Did not support India,” wrote one Harry Chawla.
Screengrab of the Instagram comment
“You are Indian but you (are) not supporting Indian team. That is shameful,” commented another Instagram user.
Screengrab of the Instagram comment
“Only Indian who is happy today”, remarked one Mahmud.
Screengrab of the Instagram comment
One Viransh told Vini Raman to not return to India. “Thu (yuck),” commented another Instagram user.
Screengrab of the Instagram comment
One Indian Instagram user abused the wife of Glenn Maxwell in Marathi while another asked whether she was happy with India’s loss or her husband’s victory.
Screengrab of the Instagram comment
“Sister, this is not right,” one Instagram user wrote in response to Vini Raman’s support for Australian cricket team.
Screengrab of the Instagram comment
Glenn Maxwell scored the winning runs for the Australian side. He also played a crucial knock of 200 runs against the Afghanistan team and set the momentum for his team ahead of the semi-finals and finals of the 2023 World Cup.
A day after India’s winning streak was halted by the Australian side shattering dreams of a Third ODI World title, Indian Cricketers have penned out their heartfelt emotions. Taking to their social media handles, several Indian cricketers who were part of the playing Eleven in the finals pointed out that the defeat hasn’t sunk in and they are heartbroken by it, as are billions of Indian fans.
Taking to X, Ravindra Jadeja shared that following the upset for the home side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the Indian dressing room and motivated the Indian players. He added that the support of the fans is what keeps them going.
The Indian all-rounder wrote, “We had a great tournament but we ended up short yesterday. We are all heartbroken but the support of our people is keeping us going. PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the dressing room yesterday was special and very motivating.”
We had a great tournament but we ended up short yesterday. We are all heartbroken but the support of our people is keeping us going. PM @narendramodi’s visit to the dressing room yesterday was special and very motivating. pic.twitter.com/q0la2X5wfU
Similarly, the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023 and India’s premier pace bowler, Mohammad Shami thanked PM Modi and fans for supporting him personally and the Indian side throughout the World Cup. He vowed that India would bounce back from this defeat.
Shami tweeted, “Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM Narendra Modi for especially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back!”
Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM @narendramodi for specially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back! pic.twitter.com/Aev27mzni5
The Indian number 4 batter, Shreyas Iyer congratulated the Australian side and thanked team management and fans for backing the Indian Team.
He said, “We’re heartbroken, it still hasn’t sunk in and it won’t for a while. My first World Cup was an experience that has taught me so much and made me grateful for everything that’s come my way. Thank you to the BCCI, team management, support staff, my teammates, and you the fans for backing us from the beginning right up until the end. (Heart emoji) And congratulations to the entire Australian team on a marvellous campaign.”
We're heartbroken, it still hasn't sunk in and it won't for a while. My first World Cup was an experience that has taught me so much and made me grateful for everything that's come my way. Thank you to the @BCCI, team management, support staff, my teammates and you the fans for… pic.twitter.com/I6GG2VmT1b
In a post on Instagram, Indian opener Shubman Gill vowed that it’s not the end as it will only be over when India wins. He noted that hours after the Indian side fell short in the finals, the defeat hurt as bad as it did back then.
His post read, “Been almost 16 hours but still hurts like it did last night. Sometimes giving your everything isn’t enough. We fell short of our ultimate goal but every step in this journey has been a testament to our team’s spirit and dedication. To our incredible fans, your unwavering support in our highs and lows means the world to us. This isn’t the end, it’s not over until we win. Jai Hind”
After winning 10 matches straight, the Indian side had an off-day yesterday and the fearless Aussies came out as the better side on the day ending India’s hope of the World title. Soon after the upsetting result, India’s ace pace bowler Mohammed Siraj couldn’t hold back his tears while Rohit Sharma was seen rushing out of the field with wetted eyes.
During the post-match presser, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid revealed that the Indian dressing room was an emotional wreck and it was tough to see.
Regarding the dressing room’s feeling, he said, “Of course, he (Rohit Sharma) is disappointed, as are many boys in the dressing room…There were a lot of emotions in that dressing room. It was tough to see as a coach because I know how hard these guys have worked, what they have put in, the sacrifices they have made.”
Dravid further added, “It’s tough to see…because you get to know these boys personally, you get to see the effort they put in, the hard work that we have put in over the last month, the kind of cricket we have played.”
The Former Indian batter and Mr. Dependable continued, “You have some great highs in sports, and you have some lows in sports. You keep moving on. You don’t stop, because if you don’t put yourself on the line, you don’t put yourself in games like these, you don’t experience the great highs, and neither do you experience the great lows. And if you don’t do that, you don’t learn.”
The Indian Air Force (IAF), soon after receiving information about the sighting of unidentified flying objects near the Imphal airport on Sunday, scrambled its Rafale fighter aircraft to search for them.
The reported sighting of the UFO over the Imphal airport happened around 2:30 pm after which a few commercial flights were affected yesterday.
“Soon after information about the UFO near the Imphal airport was received, a Rafale fighter aircraft from a nearby airbase was scrambled to go and search for the UFO,” defence sources told ANI.
“The aircraft equipped with advanced sensors carried out low-level flying over the suspected area to look for the UFO but it did not find anything there,” they said, adding that after the first aircraft returned, one more Rafale fighter was sent for the search but the UFO was not seen around the area.
“The agencies concerned are trying to find out the details of the UFO as there are videos of the UFO over the Imphal airport,” they said.
Soon after the Imphal airport was cleared for flying, the Shillong-headquartered Eastern Command of the Indian Air Force stated that it had activated its Air Defence response mechanism without giving any specific details of the steps taken by it.
Eastern Command, in a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), said, “IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport. The small object was not seen thereafter.”
The Rafale fighters of the Indian Air Force are deployed at the Hashimara air base in West Bengal and keep flying from different air bases in the eastern sector along the China border.
The Rafale fighters recently also took part in the mega Air Force exercise Poorvi Akash along the China border where all major assets of the force participated along with the troops of the Army.
(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 1st November, a Khalistani Nihang Sikh identified as Harmandeep Singh alias Toofan Singh released a video on his Instagram account threatening Bageshwar Dham Sarkar Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. In the video, Toofan claimed that Bageshwar Dham Sarkar threatened Sikhs.
He said, “He is threatening Sikhs. He is threatening Punjabis. Send him my video. I want to tell him, ‘son, whom you are threatening, they walk on at least 20 like you every day. We do not provoke anyone. But when the time comes, we give our heads for our religion and even for someone else’s religion. Are you threatening us? Go and threaten your father. After saying all this, now try to enter Punjab. We will beat you up and teach you ‘how to threaten’. We do not threaten, we act.” The two-week-old video has gone viral on social media.
In his video, Toofan used a short clip of Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, where he issued a warning against those who were causing trouble for Hindus. When checked, it appears that the full video was not related to Sikhs, but Bageshwar Dham Sarkar was talking about those Christian missionaries who were running conversion campaigns in Punjab. During a Katha, Bageshwar Dham Sarkar said, “Those opposing me in Punjab, I have a message for you. First, listen to me and try to understand what I am saying. My dear, I am not against you. But if you try to cause trouble to Sanatanis, we will act. You won’t have to harvest the crop if you do not sow a seed. I request the Government of Punjab. This Beas Peeth should also be listened to if you are listening to the preachers. Sanatan does not indulge in conversion in Punjab. We only do Ghar Wapsi. I humbly request that the Punjab government bring a strict anti-conversion law. Naive people are being harassed. This poison is spreading everywhere. People of other religions who got offended, I want to say this will go far.”
Bageshwar Dham Sarkar’s warning against conversion
On 22nd October, Bageshwar Dham Sarkar was in Punjab. He visited the Golden Temple and Durgyana Mandir before visiting the venue for Katha. While speaking to the reporters, Bageshwar Dham Sarkar pointed out how Sikhs showered love and affection during his visit to Harmandir Sahib. He then talked about the rampant conversion that has been happening in the state and other parts of the country. He said, “I just want these people not to enter gurdwaras and temples and not lure innocent Hindus or people of any religion. That’s why I am going across the country. Until strict laws are not implemented for ‘troublemakers’, they will continue to lure innocent Hindus for conversion.”
#WATCH | Pathankot, Punjab | Bageshwar Dham's Dhirendra Shastri says, "Punjab is the land of saints, of the brave. Punjab is a prosperous land. People on the state are loving and big-hearted…My goal is to spread the message of our culture and Sanatana across the country. I just… pic.twitter.com/LPDZuvhrKP
Bageshwar Dham Sarkar was warning the Christian missionaries, that have become a severe issue in Punjab. The controversy further deepened when a video of Bageshwar Dham Sarkar surfaced where he said he would not let those who chant ‘hallelujah’ convert Hindus with impunity.
In retaliation, a Christian body in Punjab filed a complaint against him. Jatinder Gaurav of the Global Christian Action Committee claimed he used derogatory language against Christians and urged police to book a case against him. He said, “Baba has come from outside and is trying to disrupt the peace in Punjab. He is targeting the word… wherever he goes in Punjab, targeting the Christian community. We have been told by the police that appropriate legal action will be taken on our complaint. We will intensify our protest if no action is taken.”
In short, Bageshwar Dham Sarkar had said nothing against Sikhs or the people of Punjab. His warning was for the Christian missionaries who indulged in conversions of innocent Hindus in the state. For some unknown reason, Toofan lied that it was against Sikhs and issued threats against Bageshwar Dham Sarkar.
Who is Toofan Singh?
Now the question arises, who is Toofan Singh, and why is he getting so much traction on social media? When we dug into his history, a lot of problematic speeches and actions came to light. From supporting Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to openly supporting pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh, Toofan Singh has shown his radical views at a very young age.
Notably, he gained a lot of media attention during a violent protest in Chandigarh, where Police had to back off due to aggressive Sikh protesters. Toofan Singh was one of the protesters, and he “proudly” wore a bulletproof jacket that was snatched from the police during the clash.
In an August 2021 video, Rozana Spokesman spoke to Toofan Singh. He said when he was four years old, his mother died. After her death, his father left him at Gurdwara in Amritsar. Since then, he has been living in Gurdwaras and following Sikhism. Toofan Singh was born into a Muslim family but embraced Sikhism when he got older. At that time, he appeared to be a young, innocent lad who wanted to follow Sikhism with all his might.
In February 2023, at least 33 police personnel, including female police officers, were injured, and dozens of police vehicles were damaged by armed Sikh protesters near the Chandigarh-Mohali border on the Sector 52-Sector 53 dividing road. The protesters were part of Kaumi Insaaf Morcha, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners, also known as Bandi Sikhs. Some of them are convicts of the Beant Singh assassination case. Toofan Singh was one of the protesters that attacked the police. Following the clash, Toofan Singh was seen wearing police anti-riot gear. He claimed Police personnel dropped it, and he picked it as an award of the victory over “Bhaiye”. For those who are unaware, “Bhaiye” is a derogatory term used for the people of UP and Bihar living in Punjab.
#YouthofPunjab thanks for over glorification & fake stories, a "bully" is created in backyard calling cops of your own state as "bhaiyas" think most of us know "bhaiya" actual meaning in #Punjabpic.twitter.com/jIMoKoUOYg
In another post, he was seen wearing a t-shirt with a photograph of Bhindranwale.
Source: Instagram/Toofan Singh
In a video on Instagram, he claimed the fight was with the government that was suppressing Sikhs and not releasing the Sikh prisoners. He insinuated that there was no scuffle between them and Hindus or Muslims. The rhetoric of “fight with the government” is standard for pro-Khalistani elements.
In another video, he openly supported Amritpal Singh and claimed Singh came to India after leaving his business in Dubai for the betterment of Sikhs. The video was released after Amritpal Singh managed to escape central agencies and the Punjab Police. Later, Singh was arrested, and he is currently lodged in a jail in Assam.
There are several such influencers on social media that propagate pro-Khalistan and anti-India sentiments. The video released by Toofan Singh against Bageshwar Dham Sarkar was based on a false interpretation of what he had said. Instead of speaking against Christian missionaries converting Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab and without understanding the background of what Bageshwar Dham Sarkar had said, Toofan Singh decided to issue a threat to a popular Hindu saint.
Upsetting the unbeaten Indian team, Patt Cummins-led Australia clinched its sixth World Cup Title on 19th November in the ICC Men’s World Cup final. Soon after, pictures of Australian players celebrating with the trophy started doing rounds on the internet. However, one particular picture in which Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is seen holding a beer in one hand and resting his legs on the trophy has divided the internet.
While several X users expressed displeasure, stating that his act was ‘disgraceful’ and ‘disrespectful’ to the World Cup trophy, some users attributed the behaviour to cultural differences and stressed that it should not be looked down upon.
Users ask ICC to take action for his act, some demand that Marsh be banned from IPL
Sharing the picture of Mitchell Marsh with the trophy, some users argued that had India won the trophy, they would have cherished, respected, and worshipped it.
While claiming that Indian players would have shown respect to the trophy, one Vivek argued that this is the difference between Passion and Work!
Typical arrogance of the Aussie cricket team. Shows lack of culture. What's Mitchell Marsh trying to convey with a beer bottle in one hand and feet up on the just won trophy. This cup would've been worshipped by the Indian team and all Indians if we had won it. @CricketAuspic.twitter.com/aHa4O5XUex
Another X user named Uttam Solanki wrote, “What a shameless act by Mitchel Marsh. This will go down in history as brash, disgraceful, and disrespectful act in the history of cricket. Such an attitude is uncalled and unacceptable. What is the message you are leaving for the future generation of cricketers?”
What a shameless act by Mitchel Marsh. This will go down in history as brash, disgraceful and disrespectful act in the history of cricket. Such an attitude is uncalled and unacceptable. What is the message you are leaving for the future generation of cricketers? #INDvsAUSpic.twitter.com/uvQgkhU9AS
Calling ICC to take action against him, an X user AskRO wrote, “#ShameOnYou #Mitchelmarsh and Cricket Australia. Such a disgusting thing that he put his legs on the cricket World Cup. Such a shame. Take some action against them ICC. He would have respected the cup. Such a shameless behavior by him.”
Stating that unlike Indian players, kangaroos don’t respect the Cricket World Cup trophy, an X user asked ICC to take action against Marsh’s ‘disgusting behaviour.’
@atsshow7 bhai @harshktweets sir dekho kangaroos respect bhi nahi karte trophy ka indians se pucho or vo 11 players se ye Mitchel marsh sala @icc take action this is disgusting behavior pic.twitter.com/BeYNstiWh8
Cultural differences should be respected, argues another half
However, several users defended Mitchell Marsh for the viral picture asserting that touching something with legs is seen as disrespect in Eastern cultures only. They argued that Marsh coming from a Western culture should not be judged in the context of Eastern culture or the latter should not be imposed on others.
Popular X user Gabbar posted, “A lot of hate for this picture. I guess only Eastern cultures consider legs impure and actively avoid touching anything revered with feet. The west builds stairs made of books.”
A lot of hate for this picture.
I guess only Eastern cultures consider legs impure, and actively avoid touching anything revered with feet. The west builds stairs made of books 🙂 pic.twitter.com/1ctk3UXR2q
Another popular X user Incognito wrote, “I don’t understand why people are crying over this pic of Mitchell Marsh. I won’t do it and you won’t do it because it is not our culture and that’s not how we live. Marsh is doing it because it is their culture & that’s how they live. Marsh putting his leg on his trophy is not harming or hurting or killing anybody. That’s all you need to understand.”
I don't understand why people are crying over this pic of Mitchell Marsh.
I won't do it and you won't do it because it is not our culture and that's not how we live.
Marsh is doing it because it is their culture & that's how they live.
Arjun mocked people for getting upset with Marsh’s photo and stated, “The trophy respects only those who win it over. Proper abundance mentality displayed here by the Australian.”
Indians in the comments talking about "pls respect trophy saar" but the trophy respects only those who win it over. Proper abundance mentality displayed here by the Australian. https://t.co/RFpDaYp2dj
crying because Mitch Marsh kept feet on the WC trophy in the dressing room. Dibu Martinez did this in front of the whole world with his golden glove. pic.twitter.com/33MI27pO4a
Further, a Popular X user Nivedita explaining the difference between the two cultures argued that the Western mindset caters to the material aspect and may work in the shorter run but when the material aspect loses its meaning, foundational groundings help to find an anchor in life.
She wrote, “Congratulations to Australia on a great win! Just a macro philosophical observation based on this picture though. This action of Marsh is representative of ‘extractive’ as the defining feature of the Western world. And, it works brilliantly in the ‘shorter’ scheme of time; it whets the immediate human appetite. It contributes to the material. Which is why it has become globally aspirational – the benchmark of success.”
She added, “Keeping one’s feet on the trophy would be unthinkable by an Indian, or perhaps, even an Asian because there’s an ocean of difference in the idea of sacred as one moves away from the East. It is not that the East does not have an appetite for winning. But, here, traditionally at least, winning has to have a foundational grounding in Purushartha. This difference shows its impact over a longer span of time when the world loses its bearing and needs something more intangible as an anchor, for the tangible has lost meaning.”
Crores of Indians are upset at the cricket team coming so close to the coveted trophy and losing it in the final match. Cricket triggers intense emotions in India and the outrage on Mitchell Marsh’s photo seems linked to the pain of losing the title after remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have released footage from 7th October from inside Al Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, wherein Hamas terrorists can be seen rushing two hostages inside who are surrounded by the terrorists.
A two-post thread on X, formerly Twitter, by the IDF shows a video and two images showing the terrorists walking the lobbies of the hospital with a Nepalese civilian and a Thai civilian, one of whom was severely injured and bleeding.
“EXPOSED: This is documentation from Shifa Hospital from the day of the massacre, October 7, 2023, between the hours of 10:42 a.m and 11:01 a.m. in which hostages, a Nepalese civilian and a Thai civilian, were abducted from Israeli territory are seen surrounded by armed Hamas terrorists. One of the hostages is injured and is being carried on a hospital bed and the other is walking,” the post by the IDF read.
Screenshot of the post shared by the IDF on X showing Hamas terrorists thronging the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza on 7th October
The 37-second-long video attached to the IDF post shows five armed Hamas terrorists surrounding and dragging a hostage in a blue shirt inside the Al Shifa hospital at 10:53 AM. The footage cuts to another frame from inside one of the hospital lobbies at 10:55 AM wherein a doctor can be seen holding the door as the terrorists bring in another hostage on a stretcher.
The hostage can be seen bleeding and his left hand is covered with a cloth. Some bruises also appear visible on his knees and left shoulder. The hostage is then carried further inside perhaps into a room in the hospital. All the while the terrorists ensure that the other hostage is not let loose from their hold.
In a follow-up post, the IDF shared two images from inside the hospital showing the hostage in a blue shirt being carried by an armed Hamas terrorist. The shirt of the hostage appears to have large red spots on it which are likely to be blood stains. Standing behind them are five more men, one of them armed proving that he is a Hamas terrorist too. The time stamp on the image is 11 AM.
The second image with the time stamp 10:57 AM shows a group of at least six Hamas terrorists, three of whom are armed with guns, standing outside the room where the injured hostage was taken on a stretcher.
“These findings prove that the Hamas terrorist organization used the Shifa Hospital complex on the day of the October 7 Massacre as terrorist infrastructure,” the IDF wrote. Notably, the terrorists appear well-versed with the ins and outs of the hospital as they maneuver their way further inside the lobbies.
While the pro-Hamas lobby is globally pushing the narrative that Israel is targeting hospitals in Gaza, Israel has been countering the allegations saying that it is targeting only that infrastructure which has been used by Hamas in Gaza which includes the Al Shifa hospital.
While working on the ground in Gaza to uproot the Hamas headquarters situated right under the Al Shifa hospital, the Israeli forces say they have been providing medical aid to the patients inside the hospital. Hamas has been using civilian infrastructure so as to use civilians as human shields including by setting up camp in and around schools and hospitals.
On 15th November, the Israeli troops stormed the Al Shifa hospital and recovered countless Hamas weapons, arms and ammunition and combat gear.
A military spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus showed approximately ten guns, ammunition, protective vests and Hamas military uniforms in a video shot at the hospital. He claimed that some of the weapons were concealed behind M.R.I. machines, others were in nearby storage units and a few were behind a “blast-proof door.”
On 10th November (Friday local time), a missile struck the premises of the notorious Shifa Hospital. Immediately after the missile blast, Hamas-run media blamed Israeli forces for the missile strike. However, the IDF revealed that the hospital building was hit by a Palestinian outfit’s missile that misfired.
The Al Shifa hospital is Gaza’s largest hospital known to have housed Hamas terrorists for years now. The Washington Post in 2014 reported that Al Shifa Hopital had become the “de facto headquarters for Hamas leaders who can be seen in the hallways and offices”.
7th October terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel
On 7th October, Hamas terrorists launched an all-out attack on Israel from the sea, land, and air. At least 5,000 rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza and tunnels were used to breach the Israeli terroritory and butcher Israel civilians particularly in the border villages of Israel. A music festival hosting more than 200 people was turned into a slaughter ground with many women raped, mutilated and abducted to Gaza.
At least 1,300 people including some foreign nationals, babies, women and senior citizens died in the attacks. More than 200 were abducted to Gaza. The footage shared by the IDF from side the Al Shifa hospital is from the day of the attack.
On Monday morning (20th November), a man opened fire on a family returning home after performing Chhath Puja, reportedly due to a ‘love affair‘. 6 out of the 7 family members were hit in the incident in which at least two brothers were shot dead and four other members of their family were injured.
According to the Police officials, the crime is related to a ‘love affair’ as the assailant, identified as Ashish Chaudhary, wanted to marry a girl from the victim’s family, but her family was against it. The accused attacked the family and fired bullets when they were a short distance from their home. At the time of the crime, the victim family was returning home from the ghat after offering ‘Araghya’ to the rising Sun.
Lakhisarai SP Pankaj Kumar said, “Six to seven members of a family were returning from Chhath Ghat when a man, Ashish Chaudhary who used to stay in front of the victim’s house opened fire on them. Six people were shot, out of which two are dead and three are seriously injured.”
VIDEO | "Six members of a family were shot over 'love affair' in Punjabi Mohalla under the Kabaiya police station of Lakhisarai (Bihar). The victims were returning from Chhath Ghat after performing 'arghya'. Two people died while four others were injured," says Lakhisarai SP… pic.twitter.com/FnMjZYE1yl
The Police official added, “Ashish Chaudhary wanted to marry a girl belonging to the victim’s family but they were not ready for this. We are conducting an investigation, the accused will be arrested soon.”
The incident took place in the Punjabi Mohalla area that falls under the jurisdiction of the Kabaiya police station in the Lakhisarai district. Three people who are said to be in critical condition have been referred to Patna from Sadar Hospital in Begusarai.
VIDEO | Several members of a family were shot in firing at Bihar's Lakhisarai. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/4LWy53Wk9J
The two individuals who lost their lives were brothers named Chandan Jha and Rajnandan Jha. Among the injured are their sister, Durga Jha, and father, Shashi Bhushan Jha. Additionally, Lovely Devi, who is married to one of the deceased, and another close relative, Preeti Devi, have also suffered injuries.
Meanwhile, another incident of firing was reported from Bihar’s Vaishali where three people were shot at reportedly over a dispute over the bursting of firecrackers.
Regarding the incident, the Police official said, “The incident took place at 9 pm on November 19 at Belka village in Vaishali district following a dispute between two groups. Three people were shot at. They have been referred to Patna for treatment. Investigation is underway.”
On Thursday (16th November), leftist media watchdog ‘Media Matters for America’ published a controversial article, claiming that X (formerly Twitter) was placing advertisements of large companies next to anti-Semitic posts.
In the article, it claimed, “As X owner Elon Musk continues his descent into white nationalist and antisemitic conspiracy theories, his social media platform has been placing ads for major brands like Apple, Bravo (NBCUniversal), IBM, Oracle, and Xfinity (Comcast) next to content that touts Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party.“
‘Media Matters for America’, which has a history of hounding non-left news organisations such as Fox Corporation, also alleged that X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk supposedly reinstated the accounts of ‘bigots’, ‘pro-Hitler’, ‘paid far-right extremists’, and ‘Holocaust deniers.
Screengrab of the article by ‘Media Matters for America’
The leftist organisation claimed, “During all of this Musk-induced chaos, corporate advertisements have also been appearing on pro-Hitler, Holocaust denial, white nationalist, pro-violence, and neo-Nazi accounts.“
It further alleged that advertisements for companies such as IBM, Apple, Oracle, Bravo, and Xfinity appeared next to ‘pro-Hitler’ and ‘pro-Nazi’ tweets on X (formerly Twitter).
The impact of ‘Media Matters for America’ report
Following the hitjob by ‘Media Matters for America’ on the micro-blogging platform, tech company IBM announced that it has pulled out advertisements from the Elon Musk-owned X.
“IBM has zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination and we have immediately suspended all advertising on X while we investigate this entirely unacceptable situation,” it said in a statement.
Citing sources, Axios reported that Apple too is pausing all its advertisements on X. Besides, a spokesperson for ‘Lions Gate Entertainment’ confirmed to Axios about their decision to halt all advertisements on the micro-blogging platform.
Can confirm Paramount Global is suspending too. It’s a deluge.
Apple, Disney, Warner, Paramount Global and Lionsgate pause advertising on X
Several other companies such as Sony, Disney, Comcast, Warner Bros, and Paramount Global have pulled out advertisements from X in the aftermath of the controversial report by ‘Media Matters for America.’
Elon Musk fires back, vows legal action against leftist watchdog
In a tweet on Saturday (18th November), Elon Musk warned, “The split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company…Their board, their donors, their network of dark money, all of them.”
Their board, their donors, their network of dark money, all of them …
X (formerly Twitter) CEO Linda Yaccarino made it clear, “X’s point of view has always been very clear that discrimination by everyone should STOP across the board — I think that’s something we can and should all agree on.”
“When it comes to this platform — X has also been extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination. There’s no place for it anywhere in the world — it’s ugly and wrong. Full stop,” she added.
X’s point of view has always been very clear that discrimination by everyone should STOP across the board — I think that's something we can and should all agree on. When it comes to this platform — X has also been extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and…
X exposes manipulation tactics of ‘Media Matters for America’
X (formerly Twitter) published a statement on Saturday (18th November), exposing the antics of ‘Media Matters for America’ that were designed to portray the micro-blogging platform as ‘anti-Semitic.’
While accusing the leftist media watchdog of deception, it said, “X has seen a number of attacks from activist groups like Media Matters and legacy media outlets who seek to undermine freedom of expression on our platform because they perceive it as a threat to their ideological narrative and those of their financial supporters.”
“These groups try to use their influence to attack our revenue streams by deceiving advertisers on X,” it further added. X(formerly Twitter) informed that ‘Media Matters for America’ created an alternate account for its hitjob on the platform.
The vile, disgusting, dishonest Media Matters is trying to take down X & @elonmusk. They cannot STAND the existence of even one platform that the hard left does not control. It’s important that X survive. Don’t fall for the MM hit job. https://t.co/6wxquwEcJj
According to X, the leftist outlet refreshed their timelines multiple times to find an advertisement that suited their sinister agenda. It stated –
“To manipulate the public and advertisers, Media Matters created an alternate account and curated the posts and advertising appearing on the account’s timeline to misinform advertisers about the placement of their posts. These contrived experiences could be applied to any platform. Once they curated their feed, they repeatedly refreshed their timelines to find a rare instance of ads serving next to the content they chose to follow. Our logs indicate that they forced a scenario resulting in 13 times the number of ads served compared to the median ads served to an X user.
Of the 5.5 billion ad impressions on X that day, less than 50 total ad impressions were served against all of the organic content featured in the Media Matters article. For one brand showcased in the article, one of its ads ran adjacent to a post 2 times and that ad was seen in that setting by only two users, one of which was the author of the Media Matters article. For another brand showcased in the article, two of its ads served adjacent to 2 posts, 3 times, and that ad was only seen in that setting by one user, the author of the Media Matters article,”
President of leftist watchdog turns out to be ‘racist’
While ‘Media Matters for America’ is busy portraying Elon Musk and his company X in a poor light, its incumbent President Angelo Carusone has earlier been called out for his racism and brazen xenophobia.
In March 2019, Washington-based news website ‘The Daily Caller‘ exposed the dehumanising language that Angelo Carusone used for Bangladeshis, Jews and members of the transgender community.
While reacting to a case of robbery involving a Bangladeshi victim in November 2005, the President of ‘Media Matters for America’ wrote, “Look man, we don’t need to know whether or not they were attractive. The fucking guy was Bangladeshi. And while we’re out, what the hell was he doing with $7,300 worth of stuff. The guy’s Bangladeshi!”
Tucker Carlson on Media Matters Head Angelo Carusone (2019):
"Almost every day, he issues outraged press releases accusing other people of bigotry. And yet Carusone is himself an enthusiastic bigot. We know this because he's written about it extensively."@elonmuskpic.twitter.com/ldeV0EZMMy
Angelo Carusone also downplayed the sexual abuse of female players by a male basketball coach in Japan. “Lighten up Japs,” he had commented. He also hailed a white supremacist’ and the former grandmaster of Klu Klux Klan in a blog post in 2005.
The President of ‘Media Matters for America’ also made anti-Semitic remarks towards his boyfriend, including ‘several bags of Jewish gold’, ‘Jewry’ among others. He was also seen referring to members of the transgender community as ‘trannies.’
In March 2019, conservative radio host Tucker Carlson lashed out at Angelo Carusone for his smear campaign against Fox News. “Carusone is himself an enthusiastic bigot. We know this for sure because he has written about it extensively. It turns out for years Carusone maintained a racist blog,” he said.
After being exposed on social media, the President of ‘Media Matters for America’ put out a token apology.
On Monday (20th November), the rescue mission to save the lives of 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi entered its 9th day, with agencies employing a variety of approaches to reach the trapped men. The captivity of labourers inside the tunnel has raised serious concerns about their safety.
According to the reports, the trapped workers are expected to be rescued within 2-3 days. On Sunday (19th November), efforts to rescue people were halted, and it was decided that vertical drilling would be employed to save the trapped men, for which equipment from Gujarat and Odisha had been mobilized.
International tunneling expert, Professor Arnold Dix reached the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi and conducted a survey where 41 workers have been stuck since 12th November. Professor Dix is the President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA). He looked around the situation and assured that all the trapped men would be rescued safely.
#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue operation | International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says "We are going to get those men out. Great work is being done here. Our whole team is here and we are going to find a solution and get them out. A lot of work is being done… https://t.co/ta5cXfBRyvpic.twitter.com/Mfwkxu5UbJ
“We are going to get those men out. Great work is being done here. Our whole team is here and we are going to find a solution and get them out. A lot of work is being done here. It is important that not only the men rescued but also the men who are rescuing are safe,” he said.
He also offered prayers at a temple that was built at the main entrance of the tunnel and added, “The whole world is helping. The team here is fantastic. The plans are looking fantastic. The work is very systematic. The food and the medication are being provided properly.”
PM Modi takes stock of the situation
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. The PM took information about the ongoing relief and rescue operations and said that necessary rescue equipment and resources are being provided by the Central Government.
“The workers will be evacuated safely with mutual coordination between central and state agencies. There is a need to maintain the morale of the stranded workers,” Uttarakhand CMO was quoted as saying.
6-inch pipeline installed to provide food, vitamins, etc
While the rescue operations are underway, a 6-inch pipeline has been installed for approximately 40 meters to provide food and water to the workers trapped in the tunnel. Earlier, a 4-inch pipeline was installed.
#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) Tunnel rescue | In order to better deliver food and water to the workers trapped in the tunnel, instead of the 4-inch pipeline, a 6-inch pipeline was laid for around 40 meters. Rescue operation to bring out 41 stranded workers, is currently… pic.twitter.com/bJTstgyuZI
The heavy-duty auger machine, which was deployed to drill and push pipes through the debris to prepare an escape route, failed to make any progress and was put on hold on Friday (17th November) shortly after encountering a difficult obstacle upon digging in for 22 meters.
The rescuers have finally abandoned the approach of vertical tunneling using various auger machines and the international rescue organizations have now prepared for the next stage.
Visuals from the rescue operation site in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand where 41 workers are trapped inside an under-construction tunnel that collapsed on November 12. The rescue operation was put on hold on Sunday as the agencies involved in the effort set themselves up for the next… pic.twitter.com/x7zx1sM6j5
However, the drilling which was halted on 17th November, is expected to resume on Monday (20th November), after safety arrangements for rescue workers are put in place. Boring horizontally through the debris with the massive auger machine emerged to be the best bet, according to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. “Preparations are underway to restart the auger machine and resume drilling and pipe-laying at the tunnel,” Gadkari said in a statement.
“The priority in the entire operation is to save the lives of the workers. Multiple strategies have been employed including vertical and perpendicular drilling. The CM and I have taken the presentation and reports of the ongoing rescue efforts,” Gadkari added.
VIDEO | "The priority in the entire operation is to save the lives of the workers. Multiple strategies have been employed including vertical and perpendicular drilling. The CM and I have taken the presentation and reports of the ongoing rescue efforts," says Union minister Nitin… pic.twitter.com/XsxVsmmf5V
The government has undertaken a five-option plan to rescue the trapped workers. Road, Transport, and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain stated that the government is making all the efforts to rescue the workers. The authorities are sending multivitamins, antidepressants, and dried fruits to the workers.
“Five options were decided and five different agencies have been detailed to carry out these options. 5 agencies namely Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Sutluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited(RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL) have been assigned responsibilities,” he said.
Jain went on to say that RVNL has begun work on another vertical pipeline for the supply of essential items after the Border Roads Organisation completed an approach road in just one day.
Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation (THDC) will also begin micro tunnelling work from the Barkot end, for which heavy machinery has already been mobilized.
SJVNL will perform vertical drilling to free the trapped workers. ONGC, which specializes in deep drilling, has also begun preliminary work on vertical drilling from the Barkot end.
Tunnel collapsed at around 5:30 am on 12th November
The Silkyara Tunnel, about 30 kilometres from Uttarkashi’s district headquarters and a seven-hour drive from Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun, is part of the central government’s ambitious Char Dham all-weather road project.
The tunnel is being built by the NHIDCL. Around 41 workers got trapped in the tunnel after it collapsed last Sunday (12th November) at around 5.30 am.
