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After complaining about Hindus allegedly boycotting Muslims, Al Jazeera glorifies Indian Muslims boycotting American and Israeli products over Gaza war

OpIndia Staff
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After complaining about Hindus allegedly boycotting Muslims, Al Jazeera glorifies Indian Muslims boycotting American and Israeli products over Gaza war

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, a video by Al Jazeera English emerged on Tuesday (14th November) which showed how Muslim shopkeepers in India are boycotting American and Israeli products like Pepsi and Coca-Cola to support the so-called Palestinian cause. Shopkeepers, families, and even a 9-year-old kid were seen ‘supporting’ Palestine through this economic boycott.

Notably, Al Jazeera seems to be glorifying the boycott of Israeli and American products by Indian Muslims, the same media house which had earlier complained about Hindus allegedly boycotting Muslim businesses.

According to the video by Al Jazeera, Muslim shopkeepers in India are no longer selling Israeli and US products to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. A shop Mohammad Nadeem showed in this video said, “Our income will be decreased a bit. We can’t really fight them, but we can boycott their economy.” The fridge in Mohammad Nadeem’s store did not show any cold drinks like Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Additionally, there was a chart on the counter of the shop displaying the brands to be boycotted by Muslims.

The chart has a long list of products boycotted by Muslim shopkeepers, including Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Cadbury, Kitkat, Nestle, Nescafe, Toblerone, Puma, HP, Siemens, Maybelline, Johnsons, Lifebuoy, McDonald, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Subway, KFC, Loreal, Baskin Robbin, Levis, Tide, Ariel, Colgate and many others.

It is interesting to note that some of the products listed are not American or Israeli products, like Nestle, Puma, Siemens, Lifebuoy (Unilever) etc, and many are restaurant chains and not products sold at retail stores.

According to this video, a boycott has been started as a movement in various Muslim-dominated areas in the country and many families are boycotting the products manufactured by the companies mentioned in the boycott list. This video also identifies 9-year-old Asher Imtiyaz as a ‘boycott participant’. He said, “After I heard this, I stopped buying these products. Iconic brands which we used to love as children have become violent. The money they are using is supporting the Israeli government. And I don’t want any more wars, any more violence to happen. We need to stop buying these products to save Gaza.”

Another boycotter Nikhat Rehman said, “This is our small contribution because we the common public here don’t have any other way to show our support. So, I thought if we boycott Israeli and American products in this way, it will be a small contribution from us for the people over there.” However, she did not specifically tell why she wanted to give this small contribution to the people of Gaza and in what way she is related to the Gazans although she lives in India.

The shopkeeper Mohammad Nadeem in this propaganda video also underlined how Muslims in India have become aware of this cause and how the demand for the blacklisted brands is reducing. He said, “The demand that used to exist earlier has also disappeared now. When we boycott this, it will have an impact somewhere, and it has already.” Al Jazeera also falsely accused the Indian government of cracking down on pro-Palestine protests by Muslims in India and supporting pro-Israel demonstrations.

Notorious Islamist hatemonger Sharjeel Usmani is also seen in this video. He said, “First of all, protesting here, in itself is a battle. Clashes with the police, imprisonment, and legal cases. Recently, students at Aligarh Muslim University protested in support of Palestine and as a result, FIRs were filed against four of them.” The report from Al Jazeera also falsely claims that Muslims in India are under attack by what it called far-right supporters of India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party BJP.

This movement of Muslims in India boycotting ‘Jewish’ products has come weeks after Pakistanis and Islamists in other Muslim countries across the globe started boycotting various companies and their products either because they are owned by Jews or because they are owned by Americans who in turn support Israel.

The boycott is taken as a way to underline their commitment priority to the Islamic Ummah over anything else. Earlier, a Muslim woman named Amina Shaikh was seen outside the Palestinian embassy in New Delhi. She was demanding a visa for Palestine so that she could go and help her fellow Muslims allegedly under attack in Gaza.

One of the Pakistani X handles wrote, “Turkey removes Coca-Cola and Nestle products from cafeterias and restaurants inside parliament because the companies allegedly ‘support Israel.”

The list of boycotted companies and products is as long as it can be. The noted brands included in this boycott list are Nestle, McDonald’s, Snickers, Tide, Tang, Lays, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Puma, HP, etc.

However, it is notable that the Pakistani cricket team that played the ICC Cricket World Cup in India had a Pepsi logo on their jersey as Pepsi was the main sponsor of the Pakistani cricket team. They did not boycott it during the World Cup matches when the Israel Hamas was going on.

Al Jazeera had complained about the alleged boycott of Muslims in India

While Qatari media house Al Jazeera is now glorifying Indian Muslims for boycotting American and Israeli products, the same media house had earlier talked about the economic hardship faced by Muslims after boycott calls by Hindus. The media house had said that Muslims are being targeted in India after some villages in Haryana issued letters boycotting Muslims following the Nuh violence.

Gun violence in USA claims another Indian life, doctorate student Aaditya Adlakha shot dead in Cincinnati

OpIndia Staff
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Gun violence in USA claims another Indian life, doctorate student Aaditya Adlakha shot dead in Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine’s colleagues and staff are honouring the memory of an Indian doctorate candidate who was reportedly shot and discovered inside a car on the Western Hills Viaduct on 9 November. The 26-year-old Aaditya R. Adlakha died at UC Medical Center, according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

Aaditya was found shot inside his car at the intersection of the Western Hills Viaduct and Central Parkway early morning before sunrise and declared dead on the morning of 11 November. On the fateful day, he was driving on the Western Hills Viaduct at about 6:20 a.m. when the gunfire erupted and struck his four-wheeler several times. The driver’s side window had at least three bullet holes in it. Shot Spotter recorded 12 bullets fired, per police radio traffic.

He was discovered by Cincinnati Police just before 6:30 a.m. in a white Toyota Prius suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Cincinnati Police Department acknowledged that the shooting victim had passed away, but they withheld any further details.

Passing motorists notified about a vehicle with bullet holes in it and a shot person inside to 911, based on authorities. Aaditya Adlakha was transported to the UC Medical Center where his condition remained critical for several days. No arrests have been made till now.

He was employed by Cincinnati Children’s in the Division of Pain Management’s Department of Anesthesiology. He was a fourth-year doctoral student in the molecular and developmental biology graduate program. He came to Cincinnati from north India to continue his education in medicine. He was awarded a grant and stipend last year to assist with a study on ulcerative colitis.

Aaditya Adlakha graduated from Ramjas College of the University of Delhi in New Delhi with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 2018 after which he passed from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi with a master’s in physiology in 2020. He enrolled at UC’s doctoral program in the fall of the same year and was scheduled to complete his doctorate in 2025.

Dr. Andrew T. Filak Jr., senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine released a statement which read, “Today, you might have seen news reports of his sudden, tragic and senseless death. Those who knew him, along with fellow students and others who may not have had the fortune to have met Aaditya, may experience a wide variety of reactions, which are understandable and expected.”

It further mentioned, “Grief has no timeline. We need to care for ourselves and each other as we mourn the loss of Aaditya and remember him as a friend, student and colleague. He was much-loved, exceedingly kind and humorous, intelligent and sharp, whose research was described as novel and transformative. The focus of his work was to better understand neuroimmune communication and how neuroimmune interactions might contribute to pain and the inflammatory landscape in ulcerative colitis.”

The statement added, “As a college and as Aaditya’s academic home, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and to those who knew him as a friend and colleague.”

Aaditya Adlakha started serving as secretary for the university’s Health Sciences Graduate Association in August 2022. It was through this association that he was able to obtain funding for his summer research project in the Jankowski Lab, “Immunomodulatory Role of Nociceptive Neurons in Ulcerative Colitis,” through the University Research Council Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty-Student Collaboration Award.

Anirudh Chhabre, former president of the Indian Student Association who resided in the same building as the deceased voiced, “It also is kind of demotivating, like, OK, do we really want to, like, put our life at risk, you know, to be able to get like quality education? Because I don’t think education should have like, you know, stressors like these come along with it.”

Aaditya Adlakha’s neighbour in his Clifton apartment building pointed out she worked in the lab next door to his at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati, but she declined to be interviewed. She called him a really kind and optimistic individual. The distance between his residential building and the crime scene is roughly two miles.

In an email to students of the institution, UC informed that Aaditya Adlakha had passed away and that he would “always be a Bearcat” (football program) while also offering counseling to anyone who might require it. It is uncertain if he was shot on Central Parkway or on the viaduct, but per Cincinnati municipal data, this was the first shooting there since 2016. Moreover, the motive behind the occurrence is unclear. 

According to city figures, there have been 298 gunshots in Cincinnati as of November 3. There were 370 instances in the city at the same time frame in 2022. The police are still looking for information in this case and they have asked anyone with any tips to give Crime Stoppers a call at the number provided. All calls and tips can be made anonymously.

British paper uses ‘WhatsApp forward’ to say India has forced ICC to use a slow pitch for WC semifinal, Sagarika Ghose amplifies this rumour

OpIndia Staff
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British paper uses ‘WhatsApp forward’ to say India has forced ICC to use a slow pitch for WC semifinal, Sagarika Ghose amplifies this rumour

India’s nine wins in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 have given them the greatest winning run in a World Cup edition. Following their victory against the Netherlands on Sunday, November 12, they are now the heavy favourites at evens to win the 2023 Cricket World Cup on home soil.

At such a time, when the men in blue are all geared up to take on New Zealand in the first semifinal of the ongoing World Cup, a report by British news outlet The Daily Mail has stirred up a huge controversy by levelling baseless accusations of ‘pitch-switching’ against BCCI and the Indian cricket team based on a ‘WhatsApp forward’.

The Daily Mail on November 14 published an exclusive report which was based on a ‘WhatsApp forward,’ accusing BCCI of changing the pitch for the upcoming semifinal without the permission of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and individuals like senior ‘journalist’ Sagarika Ghose only went on to amplify the rumour by sharing the unsubstantiated claim without bothering to verify it.

On November 15, a day after The Daily Mail published its report claiming that the India Cricket Team, BCCI had unilaterally changed the pitch for their team’s semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday in Mumbai, controversial ‘journalist’ Sagarika Ghose turned to X to level the same accusation on India, while giving credit to the British media house.

With a photo of the Indian cricket team, the BBCI logo, and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, Ghose captioned the post, “India accused of “stitch up” in #WorldCup2023 semi-final,” giving credit to The Daily Mail.

SS of Sagarika Ghose’s post on X

BCCI has, however, vehemently denied allegations of defying rules and changing pitches to suit Team India in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. 

Notably, the Cricket World Cup found itself embroiled in controversy on November 14 after the British news outlet The Daily Mail published a report titled, “EXCLUSIVE: Cricket World Cup STORM as India are accused of switching the pitch for semi-final clash with New Zealand in Mumbai against ICC agreement to aid their spinners.” The archive version of the report can be viewed here.

In its report, the British media outlet reported that the BCCI has changed the pitch for the upcoming semifinal without the permission of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The report also stated that India would do the same if they qualified for the final.

According to the Daily Mail, the semi-final match, initially slated to be played on an entirely fresh surface (pitch No. 7) at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, has reportedly been moved to pitch No. 6, which has already hosted two matches in the group stage.

The report accused that the move had been made in order to assist Indian spinners against the Kiwis.

The report also mentioned that after the opening match between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, the next three matches at the venue were not played on the pre-selected surface, which led to Atkinson writing an email to the ICC. It further alleged that the pitch to be used for the final on November 19 has also been switched to the one that will spin more and that the BCCI and the Gujarat Cricket Association pointed fingers at each other after the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) pitch consultant asked who allowed the change.

The foreign media outlet acknowledged in its report that it relied on a “WhatsApp forward” to support its assertion.

It read, “A WhatsApp message circulated on Tuesday to a group of more than 50 BCCI and ICC officials confirmed that the first semi-final had been moved to pitch No 6, which has already staged games between England and South Africa, plus India and Sri Lanka.”

An excerpt from the report published by The Daily Mail on November 14

It is a well-known fact that WhatsApp messages are often forwarded without any fact-checking or verification, making it possible for incorrect or misleading information to proliferate swiftly and readily. Strangely enough, the British media outlet thought that it would be acceptable to use a WhatsApp forward to level such a serious charge against the Indian cricket body. However, what is even more peculiar, is that Sagarika Ghose—who touts herself as an experienced journalist and is the daughter-in-law of seasoned Indian cricket star Dilip Sardesai—did not also think it necessary to independently verify the unsupported claim before sharing it publicly.

‘I’m much more grateful for today’s situation, Kashmir is not Gaza’: Shehla Rashid lauds PM Modi, Amit Shah for ensuring ‘bloodless’ political solution

OpIndia Staff
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‘I’m much more grateful for today’s situation, Kashmir is not Gaza’: Shehla Rashid lauds PM Modi, Amit Shah for ensuring ‘bloodless’ political solution

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) alumna Shehla Rashid has commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for securing a “bloodless” political resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. She lauded the two leaders in a snippet shared by news agency ANI. The whole interview is scheduled to be released later on 15 November.

The former JNU student was questioned if her sympathies were with the stone pelters at that stage to which she replied, “In 2010, yes” and further elaborated, “But today when I see it, I am much more grateful for today’s situation. Kashmir is not Gaza, it has become clear that Kashmir is not Gaza, because Kashmir was just involved in these back-and-forth protests and sporadic incidents of insurgency and infiltrations.”

She also credited PM Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah’s initiatives for the developments that have occurred in Jammu and Kashmir. “All of those things, somebody needed to break the ice, and for that, I would like to credit the present government, especially the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. They have ensured a political solution to it, which I would say is bloodless.”

Shehla Rashid also discussed the changes that occurred at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the damage inflicted on the institution following the anti-India protests on the campus and the arrests of radical Muslim and former research scholar Umar Khalid and then JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of criminal conspiracy and sedition related to the anti-Hindu riots in northeast Delhi.

She mentioned, “It was not just a life changer for the three of us, the entire university’s life, the entire university sort of suffered the consequences of that incident because there was so much backlash against anything to do with JNU. So overnight, from being an elite university, the queen of liberal arts and social sciences, etc., JNU became a slur. It was almost like a cuss word. What are the usual slogans in JNU,” she asked and added “Lal Salam. No such slogans as ‘Bharat Tere Tukde Honge’ have ever been raised at JNU.”

Notably, this is not the first time that Shehla Rashid has openly come in support of the actions of the Modi government. She recently praised India’s firm stand on the Israel-Palestine conflict and wrote, “While narratives & counter-narratives muddy the waters, India’s clear and principled stance emphasises the basics. Proud that Dr S Jaishankar an alumnus of our University is leading India’s foreign policy under PM Narendra Modi.”

Shehla Rashid asserted that she was “saying good things about some of the government’s initiatives” because “they are true.” She voiced, “Polarisation demands that we oppose something/someone just for the sake of it. But rationality demands otherwise.”

Shehla Rashid also expressed gratitude for being an Indian and posted, “Looking at the events in the Middle East, today I realise how lucky we are as Indians. The Indian Army and security forces have sacrificed their everything for our safety.” She tagged the Offices of the Prime Minister and Home Minister respectively, Lieutenant Governor of J and K Manoj Sinha and the Indian Army and credited them “for bringing peace in Kashmir.”

Referring to the unrest in the Middle East, Shehla Rashid additionally conveyed her gratitude to the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police for making numerous sacrifices to uphold peace in the Kashmir valley.

Shehla Rashid commended the leadership of the PM Modi government and LG Manoj Sinha administration for improving the human rights record in Kashmir and stated, “By a purely utilitarian calculus, the government’s clear stance has helped save lives overall. That’s my angle.”

It is important to note that Shehla Rashid, who was once vehemently opposed to the Centre, is now frequently seen taking a stand for the country and endorsing the policies of the Modi government, particularly in light of the revocation of Article 370.

World Cup 2023: Will India exorcise the ghosts of 2019 against their tormentor, or will New Zealand reach their 3rd final in a row

OpIndia Staff
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World Cup 2023: Will India exorcise the ghosts of 2019 against their tormentor, or will New Zealand reach their 3rd final in a row

On Wednesday, 15th November, India is facing New Zealand in yet another ODI World Cup semifinal. Last time it happened, in the most recent edition of the tournament in 2019, it ended in tears for not just the Indian fans, but also the coolest cricketer to ever play for India, MS Dhoni. In what turned out to be Dhoni’s swansong, he fell short by inches as Martin Guptill’s freakish direct hit ended Indian hopes of lifting the World Cup.

The two sides meet again at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with India looking to exorcise those ghosts from July 2019 while New Zealand aim to create history of their own. Only once before has a side reached 5 World Cup semifinals in a row, England from 1975-1992 (they didn’t win any of those tournaments), and New Zealand is set to match them (they also have not won any World Cup during this run). New Zealand are also trying to reach their 3rd final in a row, matching the great West Indies team’s run from 1975-1983. Australia, as with all records World Cup, are on top with 4 consecutive World Cup final appearances from 1996-2007.

The two teams had a very different run to the semifinals. While India blew all before them spectacularly to end up with 9 wins out of 9, including the win over New Zealand, their semifinal opponent had a bit of a roller-coaster ride. New Zealand started the tournament in fine fashion winning their first 4 games easily, but then the defeat against India derailed their campaign a little bit. New Zealand went on to lose an iconic game against arch-rivals Australia, then lost comfortably to South Africa, and then a rain affected game against Pakistan was also lost. All that left New Zealand with a must win game against Sri Lanka in the last game which they eventually won comfortably, and coupled with Pakistan’s loss to England, they eventually made it to the semifinals comfortably.

The two teams have changed significantly since that semifinal clash in 2019 even though several stalwarts remain from that fateful encounter. Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Mohammed Siraj etc were all not part of the sides that clashed in Manchester over 4 years ago.

In this World Cup, India has looked unstoppable with every player from Number 1 to 11 looking in extremely good form. Their batsmen are scoring for fun while their bowlers have been unplayable. Twice in the tournament, against Sri Lanka and South Africa, Indian bowlers have knocked over the opposition on a 2 digit scores. So their confidence is sky high and they are the clear favourites to make their way through to the final.

For New Zealand, as always, there have been decent contributions from everyone here and there, though Latham’s form in the middle order may be a bit of a concern. However, they have had one standout performer this World Cup, and it is the Indian origin player Rachin Ravindra.

Rachin has been a revelation at the top of the order for New Zealand, and is only behind Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock in the run scoring charts for the tournament. He also has picked up 5 wickets in the tournament while keeping things fairly quiet in the middle overs, making him the most valuable player in this tournament.

Whether India manages to reverse the result of the 2019 semifinal and keep this juggernaut going on, or will New Zealand once again shatter Indian hearts, either way, this promises to be a mouthwatering semifinal.

About 60 per cent of Muslim Americans believe Hamas was justified in its attack on Israel: Survey

OpIndia Staff
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About 60 per cent of Muslim Americans believe Hamas was justified in its attack on Israel: Survey

Earlier in October 2023, a Cygnal survey unveiled the perspectives among Muslim Americans on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The poll, conducted from 16th October to 18th October, sampled 2020 respondents, revealing nuanced opinions. According to this survey, 60% of Muslim Americans opined that Hamas was justified in its attack on Israel.

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack executed by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, pro-Palestinian protests erupted in several cities in the USA. Subsequently, this survey was conducted only to reveal shocking insights.

Survey results revealed that 60% of Muslim Americans believe Hamas was justified in its attacks on Israel. This sentiment, found in the survey, aligns with the Islamic Ummah concept, emphasising global support for fellow Muslims. Notably, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib echoes this sentiment, characterising Hamas’ actions as “resistance” against what she terms the “apartheid state” of Israel. The survey indicates higher favorability among Muslim Americans towards Islamic leaders, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, compared to President Joe Biden.

Interestingly, only 31.9% of Muslim Americans hold a favourable view of President Biden, while 44% support Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The survey suggests a nuanced shift in political affiliations among Muslim Americans post-Hamas attacks, with a general preference for the Democratic Party (31.1%) over the Republican Party (25.2%).

The survey explores attitudes toward Israel’s right to self-defence, with 68.8% affirming it. Meanwhile, 69% acknowledge the legitimate grievances of Palestinians in Gaza. In terms of policy recommendations, 46.8% of Muslim Americans suggest an invasion of Gaza to remove Hamas leadership, while 75.8% advocate for negotiations between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages.

Conducted by Cygnal, the survey was aimed at capturing diverse opinions within the Muslim-American community. It provides valuable insights into their stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape. The survey’s accuracy is emphasised by its sampling of 2020 respondents with a 2.18% (+/-) margin of error.

It is notable that Israel attacked Gaza in retaliation to the terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October 2023. After the war started, there were multiple incidents of pro-Gaza and pro-Palestine demonstrations in the USA.

Justin Trudeau gets a public scolding from Israel PM Netanyahu for his statement asking Israel to restrain the counteroffensive in Gaza

OpIndia Staff
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Justin Trudeau gets a public scolding from Israel PM Netanyahu for his statement asking Israel to restrain the counteroffensive in Gaza

On Wednesday (15th November), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over his statement that Israel must stop “this killing of women, of children, of babies” in Gaza. PM Netanyahu said that it is the Palestinian terror outfit Hamas and not Israel that should be held accountable for “targeting civilians while hiding behind civilians. “

Reminding his Canadian counterpart of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel that left over 1300 Israeli civlians dead, Netanyahu said that Hamas perpetrated the worst horror on Jews since the Holocaust. He added that while Israel is making all possible efforts to avoid harming the Gazan civilians, Hamas terrorists are preventing the civilians from leaving the conflict zone and are using them as human shields.

Taking to X, the Israeli Prime Minister wrote, “@JustinTrudeau It is not Israel that is deliberately targeting civilians but Hamas that beheaded, burned and massacred civilians in the worst horrors perpetrated on Jews since the Holocaust. While Israel is doing everything to keep civilians out of harm’s way, Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harm’s way. Israel provides civilians in Gaza humanitarian corridors and safe zones, Hamas prevents them from leaving at gunpoint. It is Hamas not Israel that should be held accountable for committing a double war crime – targeting civilians while hiding behind civilians. The forces of civilization must back Israel in defeating Hamas’s barbarism.

This comes after the Canadian Prime Minister during a press meeting on Tuesday called on Israel to “exercise maximum restraint” while fighting against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, saying that “the world is watching.”

“The human tragedy unfolding in Gaza is heart-wrenching…especially the sufferings we see in and around the Al-Shifa Hospital. I have been clear that the price of justice cannot be the continued suffering of all Palestinian civilians. Even wars have rules. All innocent life is equal in worth, Israeli and Palestinian. I urge the government of Israel to exercise maximum restraint. The world is watching, on TV, on social media – we’re hearing the testimonies of doctors, family members, survivors, kids who have lost their parents,” Trudeau said.

Justin Trudeau’s statement pertaining to the Al-Shifa Hospital bombing adds to the insinuation that it was Israel which attacked the hospital even though the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has stated that the missile that struck the Al-Shifa Hospital was a misfire by a Palestinian terror outfit and not Israel. It is pertinent to note that Al-Shifa Hospital has been the headquarters for Hamas terrorists for many years.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s statement against Israel appears to be rooted in the country’s internal vote-bank politics, as the Liberal Party leader visited a mosque in Toronto last month only to be booed and confronted regarding his stance on the Israel-Hamas war. The shift in position from supporting Israel’s right to defend itself under international law to blaming it for the Al-Shifa Hospital attack and accusing it of making “all Palestinians pay the price for justice” appears to be a ‘corrective action’ in response to criticism from Canadian Muslims.

The desperate move is certainly not surprising as Trudeau, according to a September poll witnessed a sharp decline in his popularity with the conservating leader Pierre Poiliverre gaining the ground. From blaming India for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar even at the cost of straining ties with a crucial partner like India to now throwing shade on Israel, Trudeau’s moves appear nothing more than desperate attempts at appeasing religious and ideological groups ahead of the elections in the country.

‘Our Plight is one’: Pro-Palestine demonstration held by Kerala group calls for eradication of ‘Zionism and Hindutva’, ‘Azadi by any means’. Read details

Pragya Bakshi Sharma
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‘Our Plight is one’: Pro-Palestine demonstration held by Kerala group calls for eradication of ‘Zionism and Hindutva’, ‘Azadi by any means’. Read details

Demonstrations were held by the so-called “The Solidarity Movement” (TSM) in at least eleven cities to display “solidarity with Palestine” in view of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. OpIndia exposed the group which came into existence on Instagram only last month perhaps after Israel declared war on Hamas following the 7th October terrorist attack by Hamas Jihadis on unsuspecting Israeli citizens, killing over 1,400 and injuring several thousand.

The organiser of TSM has used anti-Hindu and anti-Israel language in her posts, is a declared leftist and has justified Hamas in her stories and posts on Instagram. The pattern displayed by TSM, its founder Pooja Pradeep and those promoting the demonstrations that happened on 14th November extensively were similar to that of the left-liberal Islamists we have seen in several of these protests which demonise Hindus and whitewash the crimes by Islamists.

That the agenda behind their demonstrations was clearly anti-India, anti-Hindu and anti-Israel was proven from some of the messages displayed. One of the many messages on a placard from the demonstration in Kochi reads, “From Kashmir to Palestine end to occupation”. Another placard from one of the demonstrations read, “From Kashmir to the Western Sahara, to Palestine, our fight is one, and our freedom is inevitable.”

Essentially, when the Kerala group says that “our fight is one”, they are alluding to the “fight of all Muslims” and the Ummah. Ummah states that all Muslims across the world essentially form one nation and a common brotherhood.

Screenshot of a story shared by The Solidarity Movement from one of the demonstrations
Screenshot of a story shared by The Solidarity Movement from the demonstration in Kochi

One of the participants from Ernakulam named Ashfaque took to Instagram to share an image of a placard in Malayalam in his story. The text he wrote on the same goes as follows, “People’s resistance till Zionism drown in Red Sea and Hindutva drown in Arabian Sea.” Part of his story further calls for resistance saying that there are different ways of resistance. “Ultimate aim is Azadi, by any means necessary,” the story on Ashfaque’s Instagram reads.

Screenshot of a story shared by a demonstrator calling for eradication of Zionism and Hindutva and demanding “Azadi by any means necessary”.

While these narratives were predicted by OpIndia, a bizarre statement was released by TSM on Instagram about the outcome of the demonstrations. TSM held India responsible and accountable for the situation in Gaza. “Despite the people of the country showing their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinians, India abstained from voting for the ceasefire in the UN. However, in a later UN resolution, India voted to recognise Israel’s occupation there,” the statement read.

Statement released by The Solidarity Movement on Instagram

TSM used the Indian Constitution to say “any support for the indiscriminate massacre of civilians (which includes the bombing of hospitals, ambulances, Red Cross aid trucks carrying medical supplies, churches, mosques, journalists, UN schools, refugee camps, bakeries, and formally declared “safe zones”), is a violation of international law, as well as India’s constitutional responsibility under Article 51 to “promote international peace and security” and to “foster respect for international law”.

Hilariously, citing the Directive Principles of State Policy, TSM claims that it demands “immediate attention of the government of India, and swift, impactful measures”.

While India has supported Israel’s right to self defence after ghastly terror attacks against it by Hamas and condemned all forms of terrorism, India has also unequivocally supported the two-nation solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and peaceful resolution of conflict. India also condemned the loss of civilian lives in the process of Israel’s retaliation against Hamas. These steps taken by India is consonance with the Directive Principles of State Policy. In fact, Article 51 acts as a guiding principle of India’s foreign policy and does not require it to get directly involved in international wars, which TSM seems to want India to do.

Statement released by The Solidarity Movement on Instagram

Days before the 14th November demonstration, TSM shared the details of the event explaining point by point the process that is to be followed. This included reading a communal prayer along with the names of the deceased in Gaza, a list that was released by the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run largely by Hamas.

Punjab: Gau Rakshaks capture truck carrying 10 tons of cow meat, Police arrest Sultan, Altaf, Gulshan, Hajid, and others

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Gau Rakshaks capture truck carrying 10 tons of cow meat, Police arrest Sultan, Altaf, Gulshan, Hajid, and others

On 12th November, Gau Rakshak Dal in Ludhiana intercepted a truck carrying 10 tons of beef. As per reports, the truck was travelling from Delhi to Jammu. The police were informed about the truck, and the apprehended accused were handed over to Ludhiana Police Commissionerate’s Kangnawal Police Station officials for further investigation.

The truck, originating from Al Kaif Foods Enterprises (Delhi), was intercepted by the Gau Raksha Dal on the New Delhi-Jammu National Highway in Dhandari Kalan, Ludhiana. The driver managed to escape, but the Gau Rakshaks captured his associates.

OpIndia accessed the copy of the FIR registered on the complaint of Nikseen Singh. It is registered against unnamed driver of the truck, Al Kaif Foods Enterprises (Delhi), Noor Enterprises Uttar Pradesh, Sultan from UP, Taaj Wali Sultan, Altaf Ahmed Jadhinu, Gulshan, Hajid Dilshad from Patiala and Kaka Saleem from Malerkotla under Sections 295(A), 153(A) and 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 3 and 8 of The Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act.

Speaking to OpIndia, Nikseen Kumar, chairman of Gau Raksha Dal in Punjab, said, “We received information about the truck four days ago. However, we were not sure on which date they would come and which route they would take. Hence, our activists were stationed at all possible routes to intercept the truck.”

Nikseen said when the truck did not cross Punjab till Diwali, they thought it would travel post-holidays. However, on the morning of 12th November, they received information from a source stationed near the Ambala toll that the truck crossed. The activists immediately took positions and started looking for the truck.

They found the truck parked on the side of the highway. He said, “These beef smugglers know about us and what our vehicles look like. While we look for these criminals, they often escape because of the information they have about us. The driver managed to escape that day, but we apprehended his associates.”

Nikseen further said that the Gau Raksha Dal apprehended at least four trucks of the same company in the past. He said, “The previous consignment of beef managed to escape.” He alleged the last consignment was taken in a large ambulance.

While looking for the truck, they also informed all police stations falling in the route. Nikseen added that initially, police were reluctant to file the FIR. However, after talking to the senior officials, an FIR was filed.

Gau Raksha Dal activist who led the team, Satish Kumar, told Dainik Bhaskar that when police did not reach the location where the truck was parked, they had to call DGP Arpit Shukla and Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu.

Commissioner Sidhu directed the officials at Kanganwal Police Station to take immediate action, after which the FIR was registered.

Nikseen said they were waiting for the court’s permission for the proper burial of the carcasses as per Hindu rituals. He said, “It is important for us to do proper burial of the deceased cows. We sought permission from the court, and once we get the permission, it will be done according to the Hindu rituals.”

Cow slaughter is prohibited in most of the states in India. Slaughtering cows and transporting their meat is a punishable offence under different state laws. The ‘beef’ officially produced and sold in India is buffalo meat because cows are sacred in Hindu, Jain, and Sikh religions. Gau Rakshaks often play a vital role in capturing the criminal elements involved in beef smuggling. Gau Rakshaks, who take an oath to save the revered cows, are painted by the left-liberals as criminals and vigilantes. However, the theft and smuggling of cows not only hurts the religious sentiments of most Indians but also damages the rural economy because the cows are often stolen from poor farmers causing them great financial loss.

‘My tongue slipped’: Pakistani cricketer Abdul Razzaq issues lame apology for his derogatory comment on Aishwarya and her child

OpIndia Staff
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‘My tongue slipped’: Pakistani cricketer Abdul Razzaq issues lame apology for his derogatory comment on Aishwarya and her child

Former Pakistan cricketer Abdul Razzaq on Tuesday (14th November) apologized for making sexist and derogatory remarks about Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai. He made the remarks earlier this week at a public panel with fellow former cricketers Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi, who both cheered and laughed at Razzaq’s vile remarks.

Razzaq posted an apology video on Twitter (X) and said, “I am very ashamed of yesterday and I realize I said very bad words. I apologize to everyone, please forgive me.” He also added in his statement that he wanted to use a different analogy but took Aishwarya Rai’s name because his ‘tongue slipped’. Meanwhile, he said that he had no intentions to hurt anyone’s sentiments.

Razzaq criticized the current Pakistan cricket team and questioned the players’ intentions and piety during the panel discussion last week. He could be heard saying in Urdu, “If your thinking is that you marry Aishwarya Rai and expect a pious and virtuous child to be born, then that can never happen.”

A video of his comments about Aishwarya was widely shared online and drew criticism. Following the uproar, former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi went on television and condemned Razzaq’s remarks. He also claimed that he was ‘unaware’ of what was said, despite viral videos showing him laughing at Razzaq’s words. “It was a bad joke, and such jokes should not be made. I would urge Razzaq to issue and apology,” he said on Samaa TV.

Former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Yousaf also slammed his compatriot’s remarks, tweeting, “I hope he will be ashamed of what he said and apologize.” Shoaib Akhtar also commented on the remarks made by Razzak and said that ‘no woman should be disrespected like this,’ and he also chastised Gul and Afridi for supporting Razzaq.

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