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Wajihuddin Ali Khan arrested: Meet the ‘Amir’ of ISIS in India, with links to terror modules in Pune, Aligarh, and Delhi; was also connected to the Delhi riots

Gopal Tiwari
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Wajihuddin Ali Khan arrested: Meet the ‘Amir’ of ISIS in India, with links to terror modules in Pune, Aligarh, and Delhi; was also connected to the Delhi riots

In India, the infamous terrorist outfit Islamic State (ISIS) has faced a significant setback. Wajihuddin Ali Khan, the self-declared caliph of the Islamic State, is now in the custody of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS). He is currently being interrogated, and the UP ATS has secured a 10-day remand for him through legal proceedings.

The UP ATS is delving into his complete profile and is also probing extensively into the backgrounds of those associated with him. The action taken by the UP ATS has thus proved true the report by OpIndia, which revealed that Wajihuddin Ali Khan holds the position of the chief of ISIS in India, referred to as ‘Amir’ by members of the organisation.

According to a report by Bhaskar, the UP ATS said that Wajihuddin is identified as the ‘Indian Amir’ of ISIS. Working in tandem with foreign handlers, he was involved in a conspiracy to orchestrate several attacks in collaboration with the Pune and Delhi modules. Under his directives, his associates had identified notable ‘targets,’ including Yati Narsinhanand Saraswati in Ghaziabad.

Beyond this, he had initiated training sessions for explosive attacks, collaborating with Shahnawaz, a member of the Pune module of ISIS. Wajihuddin was actively involved in preparing an ‘Islamic Army’ against India for ‘Jihad’ through different contacts, stretching from Rampur, Sambhal, and Aligarh to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, OpIndia detailed how Wajihuddin, employing the pretext of ‘Haya’, manipulated the minds of young people, steering them towards fanatic Islamic extremism and violence. Methodically establishing an anti-India atmosphere through ‘Haya’ programs in schools, colleges, and various institutions, he spurred over-excited youths to take up arms against India.

From an overground worker to an Amir

OpIndia also highlighted in its report how Wajihuddin was revered like an ‘Amir’ or leader for individuals associated with different organisations spanning from ISIS to SAMU in the Aligarh Muslim University and from Delhi to Prayagraj. His followers praised him on social media, addressing him as ‘Amir.’ In Muslim countries, the term ‘Amir’ signifies a ruler or supreme leader.

Wajihuddin Ali Khan initially started working for ISIS as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) and later established himself as an ‘Amir’ in organisations like SAMU (Students of AMU). Through the ‘Haya’ program, he regularly held formal gatherings and delivered Islamic speeches.

In these gatherings, he sought support by quoting the rhetoric of arrested Islamists like Sharjeel Imam, attempting to validate Sharia governance by speaking against democracy. Through these assemblies, he prepared individual goons like Abdullah Arshlan and Maj bin Tarik to join ISIS.

Wajihuddin was wanted for a long time

Wajihuddin had been on the radar of security agencies for quite some time. He was so cunning and sharp that he left very few traces against himself. This time, after the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Shahnavaz, Arshad Warsi, and Rizwan from Delhi, Muradabad, and Aligarh, respectively, the UP ATS had to launch a dedicated operation to apprehend Wajihuddin.

After the arrest of Abdullah and Maj, Wajihuddin was apprehended by the UP ATS in Durg, Chhattisgarh. According to information provided by the UP ATS, they received intelligence that individuals in Aligarh, inspired by the ideology of ISIS, were influencing others in the region.

The UP ATS also disclosed that the individuals arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with terrorism had ties to the student organisation “Students of Aligarh Muslim University” (SAMU). These individuals are influenced by the ideology of ISIS. In light of this, the ATS expanded its investigation, gathered evidence, and took appropriate action.

Wajihuddin hails from Durg, Chhattisgarh, and besides obtaining his PhD at AMU, he was engaged in educating junior students in social sciences, encompassing subjects like history, geography, and political science. Notably, his students comprised individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Hindu students.

Wajihuddin was also connected to anti-CAA protests and Delhi anti-Hindu riots conspiracy

Wajihuddin Ali Khan and Arshad Warsi were close for several years, at least since 2018. They have both been arrested for being ISIS terrorists. It is also pertinent to note that Arshad Warsi and Wajihuddin were closely involved in the anti-CAA protests that were taking place in Jamia and AMU at the time.

Arshad Warsi was intimately in touch with Sharjeel Imam during the early phases of the Delhi violence. Arshad Warsi shared a video of Wajihuddin Ali Khan on the 6th of December 2019. It was the anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. This is when the conspiracy of the Delhi violence had already taken seed and Arshad Warsi was intimately in touch with Sharjeel Imam. From Arshad Warsi’s various social media posts, it is evident that he was not merely praising Wajihuddin but was also connected with him on a personal level.

Wajihuddin sent to 10-day custody

On Thursday, the UP ATS brought Wajihuddin before Special Judge Dinesh Kumar Mishra in the NIA ATS court. Designating him as the key figure of ISIS, the UP ATS sought a 10-day remand, a request granted by the court. Presently, the UP Police is conducting a thorough investigation into all of Wajihuddin’s connections, endeavouring to determine the extent of radicalisation he has influenced among individuals.

Uttarakhand: Rickshaw driver Shavez rapes a five-year-old girl in Udham Singh Nagar, accused and his family absconding

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand: Rickshaw driver Shavez rapes a five-year-old girl in Udham Singh Nagar, accused and his family absconding

On 14th November, an e-rickshaw driver named Shavez raped a five-year-old Hindu girl in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. The accused lured the girl to go along with her to a sugarcane field in Kichha Tehsil and raped her. As the minor victim screamed, several villagers arrived at the spot, however, the accused managed to escape on his rickshaw. The victim is reported to be a neighbour of the accused.

Following the incident, the victim’s mother lodged a complaint at the Pulbhatta police station and demanded strict action against the accused Shavez. The police have registered a case against the accused under the POCSO Act and are searching for the absconding accused. Meanwhile, it has been reported that accused Shavez’s family members are also missing.

In her complaint, the victim’s mother who works as a labourer said that on the day incident unfolded, she had gone to work while accused Shavez came and took the five-year-old girl to a sugarcane field on his rickshaw and raped her. After the accused fled the spot, the local villagers rushed the victim to a nearby government hospital. The victim’s condition is reported to be stable now.

The complainant said that the horrific crime has left her minor daughter traumatised and the family shocked. The locals are infuriated after the incident and the police have been deployed to ensure law and order. Pulbhatta station in charge Kamlesh Bhatt arrived at the crime scene and seized the accused person’s rickshaw. The police are also analysing CCTV footage to find the accused, however, the accused Shavez is still at large.

Meanwhile, SP Manoj Katyal said that the accused has been booked under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on the complaint submitted by the victim’s mother and the efforts are on to arrest him.

MP Assembly polls: Over 70 pc voter turnout recorded till 5 PM

ANI
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MP Assembly polls: Over 70 pc voter turnout recorded till 5 PM

Madhya Pradesh, where elections for its 230 assembly constituencies are currently underway, recorded a total of 71.16 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm on Friday, the Election Commission of India said.

As per the poll body, Agar Walwa saw 82 per cent of voter turnout, while Anuppur recorded 74.85 per cent.

The capital city- Bhopal, recorded 59.19 per cent of voter turnout, while Chhindwara recorded 78.85 per cent, Damoh at 73.83 per cent, Dhar at 72.35 per cent, Dindori at 78.30 per cent, Datia at 69.66 per cent, Indore at 64.95 per cent and Jhabua at 73.10 per cent. 75.54 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Khargone, 78.07 per cent in Mandsour and Neemuch recorded 81. 19 per cent till 5 pm.

Till 3 pm, the MP saw a voter turnout of 60.52 per cent.

“The percentage of voting till 3 pm in Madhya Pradesh stands at 60.52 per cent. Maximum voting has taken place in Shajapur followed by Agar-Malwa and Neemuch. Districts like Bhopal, Alirajpur, and Gwalior have recorded the lowest voting percentage so far,” said Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan, giving details of the elections after 3 pm.

Voting for 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh began at 7 am on Friday. Madhya Pradesh is proving to be a tough fight for the BJP, with the fatigue factor associated with sitting Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has been in power for close to two decades.

Webcasting has also been made available at about 42,000 polling stations.

Nearly 700 companies of the central forces and two lakh police personnel of the state have been deployed for security during the poll. The election will decide the electoral fates of over 2,500 candidates.

Nearly 5.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. It includes 2.87 crore male and 2.71 crore women voters. There are over 5,000 booths run by women and 183 polling stations run by the disabled, officials said. The polls, coming nearly six months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, are crucial for both the BJP and Congress for various reasons.

The counting of votes for the five states including Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will be done on December 3.

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

Pro-Hamas activist Huwaida Arraf, who funded Congresswoman censured for anti-Israel views, had visited India and met prominent Muslim leaders

OpIndia Staff
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Pro-Hamas activist Huwaida Arraf, who funded Congresswoman censured for anti-Israel views, had visited India and met prominent Muslim leaders

Amid growing antisemitism and massive pro-Palestine protests in several cities and university campuses in the USA, recently it was revealed that Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was funded by several pro-Hamas Palestinian activists. One such activist who has been advocating in support of Hamas, Huwaida Arraf, had visited India and met several activists and politicians.

According to an expose by activist research group Canary Mission, Democrat politician Rashida Tlaib was funded by 6 Hamas-linked activists during her 2018 Congressional campaign, Mwafaq Jbara, Sheikh Muhammad Qatanani, Huwaida Arraf, Salah Sarsour, Rafeeq Jaber and Abdelbaset Hamayel.

Huwaida Arraf is a Palestinian-American activist and lawyer who co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led organization fighting for the Palestinian cause in the USA. She is allied with several Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas.

She was also the co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement, which sent ships carrying activists to fight Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. FGM had sent several ships on this mission, and Arraf herself went there onboard such ships. Huwaida Arraf participated in seven Free Gaza Movement flotillas to Gaza between August 2008 and May 2010.

It is notable that the Naval blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel and Egypt was approved by the United Nations as a security measure to stop Hamas from acquiring sophisticated rockets. Voyages arranged by Huwaida Arraf’s Free Gaza Movement attempted to breach the blockade, and one of them had had a violent confrontation with Israeli forces.

This pro-Hamas activist visited India in the year 2009 when she met former MP Syed Shahabuddin. Huwaida Arraf visited the office of All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat on 28 September 2009. During this visit, she met Majlis president Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan and several other prominent Muslim leaders including Feroz Mothiborewala, Mujtaba Farooq, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, Abdul Wahab Khilji, Dr. Taslim Rahmani, M. Wadood Sajid, Ahmad Kazmi and others, as per a report by Milli Gazette.

It is notable that Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas is the father of Umar Khalid, one of the chief instigators and conspirators of the 2020 Delhi anti-Hindu riots.

Huwaida Arraf’s International Solidarity Movement is considered one of the top 10 anti-Israel organizations in the USA. ISM was probed by the FBI as part of a terrorism investigation between 2004 and 2006, however, no charges were filed.

Rashida Tlaib censured by Congress for pro-Hamas views

Rashida Tlaib, who was funded by Arraf and other pro-Hamas activists, is the only Palestinian American in the US Lower House. She was censured by the US Congress earlier this month following her openly anti-Israel rhetoric following the 7 October Hamas terror attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory military action in Gaza.

Tlaib had shared a video showing Palestinian protestors chanting the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a highly controversial slogan that calls for the elimination of the Israeli state. This slogan calls for the entire land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea to be brought under Palestinian control, essentially abolishing Israel. While her democrat colleagues had supported her initially, later several party leaders, including Jews, voted against her to censure her in Congress.

Recently it has also been revealed that Rashida Tlaib is part of a hidden Facebook group that glorifies Hamas. Members of the group Palestinian-American Congress were seen mocking the Israeli civilians kidnapped and kept hostage by Hamas terrorists. The group has posted news of the death of Israeli soldiers in the fight against Hamas as “achievements” of the “resistance in Northern occupied Palestine.”

Americans call for ban on TikTok after thousands of youths share Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ supporting his views

OpIndia Staff
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Americans call for ban on TikTok after thousands of youths share Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ supporting his views

On Friday (17th November), Former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called for a ban on the Chinese video app named TikTok. This is days after terrorist Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ in which he explained why Al Qaeda executed the attacks of 9/11 in America went viral over social media.

The South Carolina Governor said that several social media users were siding with Laden and his stand on waging Jihad against America due to TikTok. “Thousands of TikTok users are siding with Osama bin Laden who murdered 3,000 Americans. This is a prime example of how our foreign enemies poison social media to advance their evil agenda. Ban Tik Tok. Stop giving the Chinese Communist Party the ability to influence Americans,” she said.

Apart from Haley, several other influential Americans and other social media users called for a ban on TikTok. American TV personality and former Chairman of advertising firm Deutsch Inc, Donny Deutsch said that around 51 percent of the young Americans sided with Laden for attacking the Twin tower. “This is majorly because of the TikTok app run by China. What is happening to people’s minds? I am really worried,” he could be heard saying.

Meanwhile, the Israel War Room Twitter handle also commented on the issue and said, “TikTok is a Chinese Communist Party propaganda app that is doing incalculable damage to the mental health of young people in America. Apart from the one-sided and dishonest content it broadcasts about Israel, there are myriad reasons to Ban TikTok,” it read.

Also, United States Senator Marco Rubio condemned TikTok for negatively influencing the minds of young Americans. He shared a video of youngsters in which the latter could be seen supporting terrorism against America. “Now trending on social media (especially TikTok) people saying that after reading Bin Laden’s “Letter to America,” they now understand terrorism is a legitimate method of resistance against “oppression” and America deserved to be attacked on 9/11,” he said.

Several other respected Americans have posted on Twitter calling for a ban on TikTok given the dreadful spread of misinformation. As per the social media videos, youngsters in America are seen extending support to Palestine and Hamas terrorists. This has raised concerns regarding the increasing spread of misinformation.

“I support Palestine even though I don’t know where it is on the map,” the girl in the video could be heard saying.

Further, several videos on TikTok this week were posted by young Americans expressing sympathy with Osama bin Laden, the terrorist who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. They also sided with the two-decade-old letter he wrote critiquing the United States, including its government and support of Israel.

What had Laden written in the letter that is going viral on TikTok today

In the letter, Osama Bin Laden rationalized Islamic terrorism by asserting that it is nothing but Jihad as ordered and permitted by the holy book ‘Quran’. He wrote in his letter, “It is commanded by our religion and intellect that the oppressed have a right to return the aggression. Do not await anything from us but Jihad, resistance, and revenge. Is it in any way rational to expect that after America has attacked us for more than half a century, we will then leave her to live in security and peace?”

Holding American citizens equally responsible for all the problems inflicted upon the Islamic countries by the USA, Osama Bin Laden said in his letter that the American people have willfully chosen to uphold their so-called concepts of freedom and they have elected the governments in their countries executing the anti-Islamic policies. He argued that because these ‘attacks on Islam’ are done using the tax money and other resources of the American people, they are not innocent at all and they should also pay the price for the same.

“Some American writers have published articles under the title ‘On what basis are we fighting?’ These articles have generated a number of responses, some of which adhered to the truth and were based on Islamic Law, and others which have not. Here we wanted to outline the truth – as an explanation and warning – hoping for Allah’s reward, seeking success and support from him. While seeking Allah’s help, we form our reply based on two questions directed at the Americans: (Q1) Why are we fighting and opposing you? (Q2)What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?”

Answering these questions in detail, the terrorist – who was slain in 2011 – said in his letter, “As for the first question: Why are we fighting and opposing you? The answer is very simple: (1) Because you attacked us and continue to attack us. a) You attacked us in Palestine: Palestine, which has sunk under military occupation for more than 80 years. The British handed over Palestine, with your help and your support, to the Jews, who have occupied it for more than 50 years; years overflowing with oppression, tyranny, crimes, killing, expulsion, destruction and devastation. The creation and continuation of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course, there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel. The creation of Israel is a crime which must be erased. Each and every person whose hands have become polluted in the contribution towards this crime must pay its price, and pay for it heavily.”

He added, “(b) You attacked us in Somalia; you supported the Russian atrocities against us in Chechnya, the Indian oppression against us in Kashmir, and the Jewish aggression against us in Lebanon. (c) Under your supervision, consent and orders, the governments of our countries which act as your agents, attack us on a daily basis; These governments prevent our people from establishing the Islamic Shariah, using violence and lies to do so. These governments surrendered to the Jews and handed them most of Palestine. And our fight against these governments is not separate from our fight against you.”

Osama Bin Laden, in his letter, also accused the USA of ‘stealing the Arab wealth and oil at paltry prices using their international influence’, ‘occupying Muslim countries by spreading military bases throughout those countries’, ‘starving the Muslims of Iraq’, and ‘supporting the idea that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jews’

The Guardian removed the letter from its website

Reportedly, ‘The Guardian’ removed Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ from its website, 21 years after it was published. The English translation of the original Arabic letter by the Islamic terrorist was published in ‘Observer’ of ‘The Guardian’ on 24th November 2002. 

After the letter went viral on social media, ‘The Guardian’ in a notification informed about the removal of this letter. The notification said, “This page previously displayed a document containing, in translation, the full text of Osama bin Laden’s “letter to the American people”, as reported in the Observer on Sunday 24 November 2002. The document, which was published here on the same day, was removed on 15 November 2023.”

How popular is TikTok among the American users?

According to a KFF survey, TikTok is extremely popular among young Americans, with the majority of Americans under 30 using the app at least once a week. A lot of users of TikTok were born after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, DC, and rural Pennsylvania, when 19 terrorists hijacked commercial airplanes, intentionally exploded the planes, and murdered nearly 3,000 people. Bin Laden, the former leader of the al Qaeda terrorist organization who was killed in a US special forces raid in 2011, masterminded the attack.

The design of TikTok makes it tough to precisely measure how popular or widespread sentiment is on the platform, but an initial CNN examination discovered a few dozen videos openly praising or sympathizing with the sentiments expressed in the letter, titled “Letter to America.”

Many of the videos were tagged with #lettertoamerica. By Thursday, the views on those videos had surpassed 14 million, but some were from users who were frustrated and disgusted with the letter and how it was being praised by others on the platform.

In one video, which is no longer accessible on the platform but has been seen over 1.6 million times, a New York-based lifestyle influencer urged others to read the letter and said, “if you have read it, let me know if you are also going through an existential crisis in this very moment, because in the last 20 minutes, my entire viewpoint on the entire life I have believed, and I have lived, has changed.”

In another video that has received over 100,000 views, a TikTok user who frequently criticizes the US government said, “If we’re going to call Osama bin Laden a terrorist, so is the American government.”

Notably, India imposed a ban on the Chinese app TikTok and 28 other Chinese apps in the year 2021. The action was initiated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY), Government of India, under Section 69A of the IT Act, stating that these apps are engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of state and public order.

‘I saw a video in which I was doing garba’: PM Modi addresses threat of deep fake in India, stresses the need to educate people about AI’s negative effect

ANI
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‘I saw a video in which I was doing garba’: PM Modi addresses threat of deep fake in India, stresses the need to educate people about AI’s negative effect

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted the threats of deep fakes in new-age digital media content and said that it was important to understand how Artificial Intelligence (AI) works since they could be used to purposefully spread false information or have malicious intent behind their use.

Addressing the gathering at the Diwali Milan program at the BJP Headquarters on Friday, Prime Minister Modi spoke to the journalists about the dangers of deep fakes in digital media.

The prime minister urged the media persons to educate the people about the negative effects of using artificial intelligence to spread harmful content such as misrepresentation of individuals in deep fakes.

“I recently saw a video in which I was seen singing a Garba song. There are many other such videos online,” said PM Modi adding that the looming threat of Deepfake has become a great concern and can create a lot of problems for all of us.

Deepfakes are used to purposefully spread false information or they may have a malicious intent behind their use. They can be designed to harass, intimidate, demean and undermine people. Deepfakes can also create misinformation and confusion about important issues.

The Centre has said that creation and circulation of Deepfakes carry strong penalty – Rs 1 lakh in fine and three years in jail.

Misrepresentation of individuals in Deepfakes has led to the generation of blackmail materials to falsely incriminate people. As these videos and audio recordings can be difficult to verify, the negative impact on reputation can be difficult to recover from, even when verified as a Deepfake.

The Prime Minister further said that the ‘Vocal for local’ campaign has found people’s support and that the idea of a fully developed India was not just mere words but had touched ground reality.

The PM further said that local businesses had blossomed under the vocal for local campaigns and stated that we all must prioritise our local products.

“We now have a strong position on a global level, the world now acknowledges our achievements,” added the prime minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the BJP leadership arrived for the ‘Diwali Milan’ program at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central office in the national capital. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda have also arrived at the event that has been organised by the ruling party.

Additionally, journalists from the Indian media were invited by BJP party chief JP Nadda to attend the program.

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

‘I feel embarrassed’: Wasim Akram slams Sikandar Bakht over his comments on Rohit Sharma’s style of tossing the coin

OpIndia Staff
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‘I feel embarrassed’: Wasim Akram slams Sikandar Bakht over his comments on Rohit Sharma’s style of tossing the coin

On Thursday (November 16) former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram blasted former test cricketer Sikandar Bakht for claiming that India’s captain Rohit Sharma deliberately throws the coin far away during the toss to dupe the opposition captain. Akram wondered who can decide where the coin lands after it is tossed adding that such conspiracy theories make him feel embarrassed.

Speaking on a Pakistani sports news program Wasim Akram said, “Who decides where the coin should land? It is just for sponsorship! I feel embarrassed. I can’t even… I don’t even want to comment on it.”

Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan opined that Sikander Bakht is just trying to create a fuss adding that every captain has their own way of tossing the coin.

“He is mistaken, just creating a fuss. Every captain has a different way of tossing the coin,” Khan added.

This comes after former Pakistani Test cricketer Sikandar Bakht said during a Pakistani TV show that India’s captain Rohit Sharma deliberately throws the coin far away during the toss to dupe the opposition captain. Taking to social media, several Pakistani cricket fans also peddled this conspiracy theory.

“I want to ask a question. If we can show all the tosses so far. Whenever Rohit Sharma tosses the coin, he throws it far away. The captain of the other team does not go to the coin and check if the toss call is correctly assessed or not,” Bakht said. After this remark, the Pakistani TV channel showed a video clip of all the tosses wherein Rohit Sharma is seen tossing the coin.

This controversy arose just days after former cricketer Hasan Raza, while appearing on a Pakistani news channel, had said that ICC or BCCI is providing some special kind of balls only to Indian bowlers due to which Indian bowlers like Shami and Siraj are getting swings even on batting pitches. Hasan Raza also asserted that there should be an ‘inspection’ of balls provided by the ICC. He also alleged that decisions are being made in favour of India in the matter of DRS. Reacting to Hasan Raza’s baseless and senseless assertion, former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram lambasted Hasan Raza saying that he too wants to try the same drugs these people (Hasan Raza) are smoking.

Defence Ministry body KSB has distributed grants worth 932 crores to 3.7 lakh beneficiaries related to soldiers in 5 years

ANI
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Defence Ministry body KSB has distributed grants worth 932 crores to 3.7 lakh beneficiaries related to soldiers in 5 years

Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), a Defence Ministry body, has distributed grants worth Rs 932 crore to over 3.7 lakh beneficiaries linked to the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) in the last five years between 2018 and 2023 under various welfare schemes like education grants of their wards, daughters’ marriage, and serious diseases, among others.

These beneficiaries include ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents who availed of the grant under 10 welfare schemes being run across the country for their welfare. These schemes are operated with the assistance of the 34 state KSBs and 410 district Sainik Boards across the country.

Among the grants provided under the 10 welfare schemes are penury grant for non-pensioner upto Havildar rank aged 65 (Rs 48,000 annual); education grant upto Havildar rank (student from class-1 to graduation) for two children (Rs 12,000 each annual); disabled children grant upto JCO rank (Rs 36,000 annual); orphan children grant (Rs 36,000 annnual); medical grant upto Havildar rank (Maximum 50,000 annual); daughter’s marriage grant upto Havildar rank (two daughters) (Rs 50,000 each); vocational training grant upto Havildar rank for one time (Rs 50,000); and serious diseases grants up to JCO rank for one time (Rs 1,50,000 maximum).

“In the last five years (2018-2023), grants worth approximately Rs 932 crores have been distributed to more than 3.7 lakh beneficiaries,” CMDE HP Singh, secretary KSB, told ANI.

Singh said on the sidelines of an event organised by the KSB on Friday to honour veterans and kin of martyrs ahead of Armed Forces Flag Day. Since 1949, Armed Forces Flag Day is observed on December 7 throughout the country to honour the men in uniform, who bravely fought on our borders to safeguard its territorial integrity and laid down their lives.

In the financial year 2022-23, Singh further said, a grant of approximately Rs 250 crores has been distributed to more than 99,000 beneficiaries.

Apart from this, the officer said, institutional grants have also been given to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Kirkee and Mohali, Cheshire Home, Dehradun, Lucknow and Delhi and 36 War Memorial Hostels across the country.

“These grants have been increased from time to time,” Singh stressed.

In the 31st KSB meeting held on April 11 this year in the national capital under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Singh said many steps were taken for the welfare of our soldiers, ‘Veer Naaris’ and their dependents.

Last year, Singh said, grants were raised for medical treatment from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000; vocational training for widows from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 and serious diseases from Rs 1,20,000 to Rs 1,50,000.

Also, a dedicated website for contribution towards the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFD Fund) was launched during the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conclave held on November 29 last year by the Defence Minister to facilitate Public Sector Units, Corporates and normal citizens to contribute generously towards the noble cause of taking care of our soldiers and their dependents.

“We at KSB, under DESW, are committed to provide opportunities to all segments of Ex-Servicemen to improve their financial and social status through an inclusive, participatory and holistic approach,” Singh added.

The KSB Secretariat functions under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry of Defence, vide a Government of India notification dated January 29, 2009.

Though the welfare of the ex-servicemen and their dependents is the joint responsibility of the Centre, the states and the Union Territories (UTs), the majority of the problems have to be resolved only by the states and the UTs.

Like the KSB at the Centre, the State and District Sainik Boards are responsible for policy formulation and implementation of resettlement and welfare schemes for ex-servicemen, widows and their dependents residing in their respective states, UTs and districts.

There are 34 State Sainik Boards and 412 District Sainik Boards in the country. The KSB Secretariat advises the Department of Sainik Welfare in the states and UTs on various matters pertaining to the welfare of ex-servicemen, widows, disabled soldiers and their wards. Advice is also rendered on various welfare schemes and their management from funds allotted by the governments of states, UTs and the Amalgamated Special Funds.

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

Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain stopped at Delhi airport over lookout notice issued amid probe in connection to BharatPe fraud case

OpIndia Staff
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Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain stopped at Delhi airport over lookout notice issued amid probe in connection to BharatPe fraud case

BharatPe co-founder and Shark Tank India fame Ashneer Grover and his spouse Madhuri Jain were stopped at terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday, November 16, while they were travelling to New York.

The action was taken based on a lookout circular (LOC) that the Delhi Police’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) issued against them earlier this week amid ongoing investigations against the two for alleged fraud at BharatPe that had caused a loss of Rs 81 crore to the company.

A letter of caution, or LoC, is a circular letter that law enforcement uses to determine if a person is wanted. A person who is the subject of a LoC is prohibited from leaving the nation.

Speaking about the development, Sindhu Pillai, joint commissioner of police (EOW), said, “They were detained before security check and asked to return to their Delhi residence and join the probe at the EOW office at Mandir Marg next week.” 

Pillai also said that the LoC was only to stop the couple from travelling abroad and that they have not been arrested.

Grover, meanwhile, took to X to inform about the same. He wrote a long post where he laughed off the entire situation as he mentioned ‘facts’ about the case due to which he was stopped from travelling abroad. He claimed that he had “not received any communication or summon from EOW since FIR in May till 8 AM today 17 morning (7 hours after returning from the airport).”

According to reports, the LoC was issued to the couple by EOW earlier this week. The agency, in a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, had noted that there were differences in vendor invoices earlier this week in a status report to the Delhi High Court. They also stated that certain human resource (HR) consultancies associated with BharatPe had been set up to siphon money from the fintech startup.

It was discovered that the eight HR consultants in question were connected to family members of Madhuri Jain, the ex-control head of the fintech company and Ashneer Grover’s wife. According to the EOW, the probe is still in its early phases. The pair have been asked to come before the EOW next week to participate in the investigation, according to sources.

Zulfiquar Memon of MZM Legal, counsel for Bharat Pe informed, “After the latest status report filed by the EOW in the Delhi HC, where they have found evidence of embezzlement, it is only appropriate for the EOW to issue a LOC against the accused.”

Former BharatPe managing director Ashneer Grover and his wife booked for fraud

In May this year, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi police registered a case against former Bharat pe managing Director Ashneer Grover, his wife and others “for using company funds inappropriately based on various forged documents”. 

It was alleged that they had embezzled money and caused losses to Resilient Innovations Private Limited, the company that manages BharatPe, totalling Rs 81 crore.

The FIR had been registered under 20/406/408/409/467/468/471/120B sections of IPC.

Ashneer Grover had resigned after the firm sacked his wife, Madhuri Jain, over financial irregularities

Ashneer Grover had sent an e-mail to the company board late on February 28, 2022, informing them about their resignation amid the ongoing investigation into the financial fraud at the company. Ashneer’s resignation had come a day after Ashneer Grover lost the arbitration in Singapore he filed against the fintech platform for launching a probe against him and almost a week after the firm sacked his wife, Madhuri Jain, who was the company’s head of controls, for alleged financial irregularities including creating bogus invoices and billing the company for personal beauty treatments and vacations overseas.

‘Congress made UT Khader the speaker, now BJP MLAs have to fold hands before him’: Karnataka minister Zameer Ahmed Khan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Congress made UT Khader the speaker, now BJP MLAs have to fold hands before him’: Karnataka minister Zameer Ahmed Khan

On Friday (17th November), a controversy erupted as Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan made a statement targeting the BJP during a campaign rally for the Telangana assembly elections. He said that BJP leaders are now compelled to extend respectful greetings with folded hands to the Muslim Speaker of the state assembly, UT Khader. Khan attributed this situation to the efforts of the Congress government in Karnataka.

Zameer Ahmed Khan said, “17 Muslims were given tickets. Out of these 7 have been elected as MLAs. Congress empowered 5 of them. I was given 3 portfolios and made a minister. Rahim Khan is the Minister, and Salim Ahmed is the whip. Naseer Ahmed is the Chief Minister’s political secretary.”

He added, “Never in the history of politics has a Muslim person been made speaker. Now for the first time, the Congress party has made a Muslim speaker. Now even the biggest of the BJP leaders have to respectfully greet UT Khader with folded hands and say Namaskar (Salutations) to UT Khader. Who made this possible? It is Congress!”

BJP Karnataka State President BY Vijayendra reacted to this statement by the Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. BY Vijayendra said, “Zameer Ahmed who is a cabinet minister and is in a responsible position making such statements is unfortunate and condemnable. As legislators, we respect the post and position of the speaker and we respect democracy and it is not towards any individual.”

JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy said, “It is respect to the chair, not Khader. The speaker is the custodian of 224 MLAs and he doesn’t belong to one particular community.”

Muslim appeasing policies of Congress in Karnataka is a long-known fact. The Congress party had promised in its election manifesto for the Kannada state that it will ban Bajrang Dal if voted to power. The speaker of the state assembly UT Khader about whom minister Zameer Ahmed Khan made this statement was also in the middle of a controversy regarding his deliberate actions against BJP. In July 2023,he suspended 10 BJP MLAs.

On the 19th of July, the two major opposition parties in Karnataka, BJP and JD(S), jointly gave a notice seeking a no-confidence motion against the Assembly Speaker UT Khader. The notice was jointly signed by both the BJP and JD(S) MLAs including Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and HD Kumaraswamy. 

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