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Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi lashes out at Nitish Kumar for “insulting his community”, vows to stage protest

OpIndia Staff
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Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi lashes out at Nitish Kumar for “insulting his community”, vows to stage protest

Following the insulting remarks by Nitish Kumar in the Bihar assembly, Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi has launched a scathing attack against his former colleague and incumbent state CM Nitish Kumar. Speaking to Republic TV, he accused the JDU Chief of insulting his community and called him an enemy of the Scheduled caste community. He also vowed that they would stage a protest against him for those insulting remarks. He added that he will approach the Governor in this matter against Bihar CM.  

He said, “Nitish Kumar insulted my community, he cannot use such words. We will protest against Nitish. He is an enemy of the scheduled caste.” According to him, Kumar is not making statements on his own insinuating that someone else is at play. He added that Kumar’s mental health doesn’t appear to be in a good state because of which he is committing a series of mistakes. 

He also highlighted a particular episode pertaining to Kumar’s meeting with the President of India Droupadi Murmu. According to HAM Chief Manjhi, Nitish Kumar had once asked the President whether she was one of those who used to bring files to him, insinuating an insult to the President that she used to be his subordinate.  

He further added that during a funeral gathering in Bihar Minister Ashok Chaudhary on account of his father’s demise, Nitish Kumar paid floral tributes not at the portrait of Chaudhary’s father but at his head. He also highlighted Nitish Kumar’s ‘vulgar’ remarks made on the assembly floor regarding population control which has created a massive outrage in Bihar and elsewhere forcing Nitish Kumar to tender an apology.  

The Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Manjhi has further claimed that a conspiracy is being hatched under which the food of Bihar CM is being laced with “poisonous substances” by those who want to occupy the position of Chief Minister in the state. 

Speaking with reporters in Patna, Manjhi said, “It looks like that as per a conspiracy someone is giving food with some poisonous substance in it to him (Nitish Kumar) to claim his (CM) seat. The result of it was the statement he made about women and the words he used against me yesterday.” He also demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter.

He made these remarks after Nitish Kumar made disparaging remarks against him in the state assembly during a discussion on increasing the ceiling of reservations in the state. In a fit of rage, Nitish Kumar hit out at Jitan Ram Manjhi saying that he became the CM due to his own stupidity otherwise Majhi knows nothing.

While delivering his address on the Reservation Amendment Bill, Majhi raised apprehensions on the caste census done in Bihar. Nitish Kumar lost his cool at this, interrupted him mid-way and said, “He keeps saying he too has been a chief minister. He became a chief minister because of my stupidity. Does he have any sense (ye bolta hai ki hum Mukhyamantri the. Meri moorkhta ki vajah se mukhyamantri bana. Isko koi sense hai)”.

Nitish Kumar’s cabinet colleagues tried to calm him down and get him to sit down by pulling at his kurta, however, the Bihar CM did not relent. He continued saying, “journalists should also know the complete facts. They keep giving a lot of publicity to this man”. Kumar further went on to scream at the BJP leaders who stood up to protest against the Bihar CM’s unparliamentary behaviour.

Jitan Manjhi along with several BJP leaders staged a protest inside the Assembly premises today protesting against the CM’s remarks. 

‘Lord Ram is a part of our culture and civilisation’: Javed Akhtar calls people to chant ‘Jai Siya Ram’ at an event in Mumbai

OpIndia Staff
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‘Lord Ram is a part of our culture and civilisation’: Javed Akhtar calls people to chant ‘Jai Siya Ram’ at an event in Mumbai

On 9th November (Thursday), Former Rajya Sabha MP and Bollywood lyrist Javed Akhtar attended the Deepotsav program organised by MNS-Chief Raj Thackeray in Mumbai. During the event, Akhtar emphasised that Lord Rama and Sita are not only Hindu gods and goddesses but the cultural heritage of India.

Praising the Hindu community for being tolerant, he stressed that “democracy exists in India because of Hindu culture and tradition”.

He said, “There are some people who have always been intolerant. Hindus are not like that. They have this great quality – generous and large-hearted. Don’t lose that, else you will become like others.” He further added, “We have learnt from Hindus’ way of living. Will you leave that?”

Akhtar added that he was proud to have been born in the land of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. 

“Although I am an atheist, I respect Maryada Purushottam Ram a lot. Lord Ram is a part of our culture and civilisation. Ramayana is also our cultural heritage. That is why I have come to participate in the programme. Whenever we talk about Maryada Purushottam, only Lord Shri Ram and Sita come to mind,” he said at the programme while sitting beside his lyricist partner Salim Khan and Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh.  

Akhtar continued further stating that even if one doesn’t believe in anyone, they are a Hindu, that is Hindu culture, and this is civilisation. It has given us the attitude of democracy. On the contrary, thinking that we are right and everyone else is wrong is not the work of Hindus. Whoever taught you this is wrong, he added.

At the event, he also asked attendees to chant ‘Jai Siya Ram’ slogans. Recalling his childhood in Lucknow, he said that while the rich used to say “good morning,” common people on the street greeted each other with “Jai Siya Ram.”

He said, “Therefore, it is a sin to think of Sita and Rama separately. The word Siya Ram is a symbol of love and unity. Siya and Ram were done by only one. His name was Ravana. So the one who does differently will be Ravana. So you chant Jai Siya Ram three times with me. Say Jai Siya Ram from today.” 

Many pictures of the program have surfaced on social media however video of Javed Akhtar raising slogans of Jai Shri Ram in particular is going viral. While some people have observed that his recent act is laudable after whatever controversial he has said in the past some have expressed apprehensions about whether it could be another sugar-coated attempt to box and guilt trip Hindus as tolerant of anything that they encounter. 

There are leaders in Congress who hate Ram Mandir, Lord Ram and Hindus: Congress leader Acharya Pramod

Shraddha Pandey
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There are leaders in Congress who hate Ram Mandir, Lord Ram and Hindus: Congress leader Acharya Pramod

On Friday, 10th November, Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who is known for his controversial comments, lashed out at his own party leaders alleging that there are some leaders in the party who hate Lord Ram and Hindus. He added that such Congress leaders are opposed to a Hindu saint or religious leader being in the party.

“I don’t have personal animosity towards anyone but I have felt that there are some leaders in Congress who hate not only hate the Ram Mandir but also hate even the name of Lord Ram. These leaders not only hate Hindutva but also hate the word ‘Hindu’, they want to insult Hindu religious gurus. They don’t like that there should be a Hindu religious guru in the party.”

Before slamming his own party’s “anti-Hindu” leaders, Acharya Pramod Krishnam expressed his joy over the construction and inauguration of Ram Mandir Ayodhya. On speculations that he might be planning to join the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Pramod Krishnam asserted that although he is a part of the Congress party it does not mean that the truth cannot be called the truth and a lie cannot be called a lie. He further questioned if speaking for Bharat, Sanatan Dharma and saying Vande Mataram is joining the BJP. He also asserted that Congress as a party is not anti-Hindu as it is a party of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s party who according to Pramod Krishnam was a great devotee of Lord Ram.

“Being a part of a party doesn’t mean that the truth cannot be called truth and a lie cannot be called a lie…Congress is not anti-Hindu. Congress is a party of Mahatma Gandhi. His [MK Gandhi] meetings start with the chants of ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram..’. How can Congress party be anti-Hindu and if it is indeed anti-Hindu, it cannot be a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
Is talking about Bharat, Sanatan Dharma, saying Vande Mataram is like joining BJP? If we are not in BJP can’t we speak the truth or talk about Sanatan? The question is not about BJP & Congress, but India culture and tradition. One can’t imagine about Bharat or our democracy, without Lord Ram and Sanatan Dharma.”

This, however, is not the first time that Pramod Krishnam has spoken against the Hindu-hating politicians in the Congress party. In August this year, Pramod Krishnam hit out against his own party over its anti-India and anti-Hindu antecedents. “There are some people, who have infiltrated the Congress party and are against Hindu religion, Hindu names, saffron (bhagwa). They are also opposed to chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, and ‘Vande Mataram’,” Krishnam said back then.

Although Pramod Krishnam somehow had a change of heart or maybe a genuine realisation of the status of Hindu saints in the Congress party, he himself once said that “people who are not followers of Prophet Mohammad cannot be together with us (Nahi hai jo Mohammad ka humara ho nahi sakta)”.

While now Acharya Pramod Krishnam is vehemently about Sanatan Dharma and asserting that although there are certain anti-Hindu leaders in the party, Congress is essentially not anti-Hindu, the party is in alliance with the Dravida Munetra Kazhagham (DMK), a party notorious for its blatant hatred for Sanatan Dharma and whose leader Udhayanidhi Stalin calls on for the “eradication of Sanatan Dharma”.

Although now Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has taken the ‘avatar’ of a “Tapasvi”, the Gandhi scion had once claimed that those who go to the temple, worship the goddess… They are the ones who molest women in bus.” The Gandhi prince has also been mollycoddling with ardent Hindu haters, as was seen in September last year, when Rahul Gandhi met anti-Hindu Christian pastor George Poonaiah who is notorious for deranging Hindu deities and Bharat Mata and made derogatory comments about Hindu goddess Shakti and the Janeudhari, Dattatreya gotri brahmin Rahul Gandhi did not object or even stop the Hindumisic pastor.

While Pramod Krishnam refused to mention names of any Hindu-hating leaders within the Congress party, the party and its leaders have time and again exhibited their disdain for Hindus and Sanatan Dharma.

Interestingly, Acharya Pramod Krishnam stressed that ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi was a great devotee of Lord Ram and his Sabhas started with the chant of “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, patit paavan Sita Ram..”, Gandhi had tampered with the lyrics of original composition and inserted “Allah” to appease Muslims. OpIndia has published an extensive exposé on ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s betrayal of Hindus.

Contrary to Pramod Krishnan’s assertion that MK Gandhi was a great Hindu, ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi’s ‘affection’ for Hindus is evident in his remarks that “Hindus should not harbour anger in their hearts against Muslims even if the latter wanted to destroy them. Even if the Muslims want to kill us all we should face death bravely. If they established their rule after killing Hindus we would be ushering in a new world by sacrificing our lives. None should fear death. Birth and death are inevitable for every human being. Why should we then rejoice or grieve? If we die with a smile we shall enter into a new life, we shall be ushering in a new India.”

Excerpt from The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi volume 94 (Image via Gandhi Ashram Sevagram)

Coming back to Pramod Krishnan’s claim that Congress is not entirely anti-Hindu, one needs to remind him that it was his own party that had in September 2007 said that there is no historical proof of Lord Ram’s existence.

An affidavit filed by the Congress-led government back then read, “Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas admittedly form an important part of ancient Indian literature, but these cannot be said to be historical records to incontrovertibly prove the existence of the characters and occurrences of events depicted therein.” The affidavit was filed to register the UPA government’s opposition to the demand to scrap the Sethusamudram project as it would damage the Ram Setu.

Despite being evident that the Congress party and even its top leaders have a record of taking measures against the interest of Hindus and making Hinduphobic comments, it raises questions over why is Acharya Pramod Krishnam turning a blind eye to the truth and sticking to the Congress party? Is he expecting Congress’s high command to pay attention to his political aspiration or the BJP is unwilling to welcome him?

Madurai Court lifts NSA imposed against journalist Manish Kashyap by Tamil Nadu police, grants bail: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Madurai Court lifts NSA imposed against journalist Manish Kashyap by Tamil Nadu police, grants bail: Reports

Seven months after the Tamil Nadu police booked Manish Kashyap under the National Security Act (NSA), a Madurai court lifted the charges brought against the journalist under the stringent law.

As per a report by News 18 Bihar, the court held the final hearing in the case pertaining to the arrest of Manish Kashyap over ‘fake migrant crisis video.’ The report stated that the Madurai court removed the NSA although investigation in the case will continue under other Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The journalist had reportedly challenged his arrest before the court and has been granted bail.

Manish Kashyap is currently lodged at the Beur jail in Patna. But he is unlikely to be free. The Economic Offence Unit (EOU) of the Bihar police had filed three cases against him for alleged financial wrongdoing. He is yet to receive bail in those cases.

Tamil Nadu police slap stringent NSA on YouTuber Manish Kashyap

On April 6 this year, Manish Kashyap was slapped with the stringent National Security Act (NSA). A special team of the TN police arrested Kashyap from Bihar. It brought him to Tamil Nadu on transit remand after the Madurai Crime Branch police registered a case against him.

Kashyap, arrested in the case related to the ‘fake videos’ of attacks on migrant workers from the state in Tamil Nadu, appeared before the Madurai district court on Wednesday and was remanded to judicial custody for 15 days.

“Manish Kashyap, who circulated fake videos of Bihari migrant labourers being attacked in Tamil Nadu has been detained under the NSA Act,” Madurai Superintendent of Police Shiva Prasad was quoted by media house as saying.

NIA files second supplementary chargesheet in Lawrence Bishnoi gang and BKI terror-gangster network case

ANI
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NIA files second supplementary chargesheet in Lawrence Bishnoi gang and BKI terror-gangster network case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a second supplementary chargesheet in the terror-related activities of the Babbar Khalsa International and Lawrence Bishnoi organised criminal gang, said the agency.

The four individuals named in the chargesheet are Darman Singh alias Darmanjot Kahlon, Parveen Wadhwa alias Prince, Yudhvir Singh alias Sadhu and Vikas Singh.

According to the NIA, Darmanjot Singh is one of the key links between Canada-based absconder Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, an operative of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International & Lawrence Bishnoi Terror & Crime Syndicate.

Operating from the United States, Darmanjot Singh has been actively involved in a range of criminal activities, including the smuggling of weapons, explosives, and drugs from across the border – originating in Pakistan for consumption in India, said the agency.

Parveen Wadhwa alias Prince is one of the associates of the Lawrence Bishnoi terror Syndicate.

Prince was a linchpin in the dissemination of vital information among the members of the terror gang.

Investigations indicate that he was instrumental in coordinating communication channels, enabling seamless interactions among gang members, even those incarcerated in different Jails, said NIA.

Yudhvir Singh alias Sadhu has figured as the Chief Arms Procurer of the Lawrence Bishnoi terror Syndicate. Sadhu’s role and expertise extend to facilitating the procurement of arms and ammunition from foreign countries.

Vikas Singh is another associate of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang who has been involved in providing sanctuary to different gang members involved in executing terror attacks and criminal operations across multiple States, said NIA

Notably, he provided a safe harbour to the gang members responsible for the RPG terror attack at the Punjab Police State Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali.

NIA has seized arms, ammunition and other incriminatory digital devices and documents from the accused. The investigations further led the NIA to the hideouts set up across Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which were being used to harbour the gangsters and store weapons, said the agency.

On 24.03.2023, the NIA filed its initial chargesheet against 14 accused, followed by the first supplementary chargesheet on 09.08.2023, against three additional individuals. Today’s action takes the total number of accused charge-sheeted by the NIA so far in this case to 21.

The NIA said that further investigations into the case continue.

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

How Congress and the Communists are both trying to woo the Muslim League in Kerala, the splinter of Jinnah’s party which was involved in communal violence against Hindus

Rukma Rathore
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How Congress and the Communists are both trying to woo the Muslim League in Kerala, the splinter of Jinnah’s party which was involved in communal violence against Hindus

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year, both Congress and the communists seem to be competing to woo the Islamic extremist outfit, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), in Kerala. According to E. P. Jayarajan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Muslim League has significant seats on its own and the Congress failed to secure any constituency itself.

The Indian Union Muslim League is a crucial part of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and holds great importance for the left front. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener also attacked the Congress party for preventing P K Kunhalikutty, national general secretary of the IUML, from attending the M V Raghavan memorial meeting in Kannur.

E. P. Jayarajan said on 8 November, “Kunhalikutty maintained close ties with Raghavan. When the latter’s son Nikesh invited him for the meet, Kunhalikutty agreed. But the Congress was insecure and uncomfortable. It does not trust the League.” He maintained that his party was devoid of any weaknesses. “We moved from 91 to 99 seats. The people of Kerala wish to maintain this government. It is only natural that the Muslim League also wishes the same.”

Furthermore, he condemned the grand old party’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. “When Aryadan Shoukath held a pro-Palestine rally in Malappuram, the Congress opposed it. The Congress stance has generated a dissent within the IUML.” The former minister alleged that the LDF government is working to find a solution to the state’s financial problems. He conveyed the hope that Keralaleeyam would contribute to the state receiving more foreign investment.

The ties between Congress and the Muslim League

Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the United States this year made an astounding statement by calling the Indian Union Muslim League “completely secular.” He claimed, “Muslim League is a completely secular party, there is nothing non-secular about the Muslim League. I think the person has not studied the Muslim League,” in response to a question about his party’s alliance with IUML in Kerala.

The Congress has received “unconditional support” from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) for the upcoming Telangana assembly elections. IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty wrote to the Wayanad MP and asserted that the party would work closely with Congress to build a new government against the governing “fascists.”

The Congress and the IUML formed an alliance to run in the Kerala general elections of 2019. There were thousands of Muslim League flags flying during Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Wayanad. Their inclusion in the Nehru-Gandhi Parivar road show takes on additional significance because it was reported that the Congress party strictly instructed its ally not to deploy the flags for fear that it would damage their chances of winning elections in North India. Rahul Gandhi was allegedly at Wayanad with radical Muslims, per the CPI(M).

Muslim League’s love for Hamas and hate for India and Hindus

On 30 October IUML leader MK Muneer, Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal Jain, CPI(M) leader MA Baby and other speakers participated in a debate on India Today hosted by Rajdeep Sardesai and all of them refused to refer to Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Additionally, they avoided condemning the Hamas leader who was speaking at a rally in Kerala and debated the issue endlessly.

The IUML demonstrated their everlasting support for Palestine on 26 October by holding a large anti-Israel protest on the seashore in Kozhikode, Kerala and waved banners and chanted slogans in support of Hamas which carried out a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October killing hundreds of Israeli civilians and igniting one of the worst humanitarian crisis the world has ever seen.

According to reports, on 7 November, the IUML declined an invitation from the CPI(M) to take part in its 11 November Palestine solidarity rally. This decision, however, came about because of the IUML’s support of the Congress which is engaged in a full-scale political conflict with the CPI(M) in Kerala. The IUML reaffirmed its backing for the “cause of Palestine.”

On 27 July the Kerala police apprehended around 300 people including five members of the Indian Union Muslim League’s youth wing for yelling anti-Hindu and anti-Indian slogans during a protest march against Manipur violence in Kasargode.

The controversial chants were yelled at a protest on 25 July, a few days earlier.  Slogans like “Ambalathil Ketti Thooki” (We will hang you in the temple) and “Pachakkittu Kathikkum” (We will burn you alive) were shown in the less than thirty-second video that quickly gained popularity on social media.

The complete slogan was “Without reciting the Ramayana, will be hanged in Temple, will be burnt unto death,” which meant that Hindus would be hanged in front of Sanctum Santorum without being allowed to recite Ramayana and will be burnt there unto death. Other slogans included “Youth League Zindabad” and “Muslim League Zindabad.”

Muslim League – Indian branch of Jinnah’s party

The All India Muslim League (AIML) founded by Pakistani ideologue and founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah is the parent organisation of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which claimed to have emerged upon Indian independence in 1948. The Muslim League in Pakistan and the Indian Union Muslim League in India succeeded the All India Muslim League. IUML states that secularism and communal harmony are its two guiding principles on its website, yet it has frequently engaged in overtly pursuing goals that run counter to these statements.

Pakistan successfully prompted the British Empire to divide British India in 1947, despite the Muslim League’s vigorous advocacy for the creation of a distinct nation-state with a majority of Muslims. The goal to preserve the spirit of the All India Muslim League led to the founding of IUML in December 1947.

M. Muhammad Ismail was a strong advocate for Pakistan’s creation and actively participated in the country’s partition process. He served as the founder and first President of the Indian Union Muslim League following the league’s separation from Jinnah’s Muslim League. Importantly, he contended that the IUML was a secular group, however, it had in fact backed the Constituent Assembly’s decision to uphold Sharia law for Indian Muslims upon India’s independence.

He launched the first Muslim political party in the newly formed state of India and even negotiated with Congress to “recognize the League as the sole representative of Muslims.” This is comparable to the policies of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had consistently maintained that he and his party, the AIML, were the only delegates of Muslims in undivided India.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru teamed up with the IUML in Kerala after independence.  Jinnah had proposed a coalition government with the Muslim League in 1937, however, it was refused by the Congress. Political Islamists like the IUML were further pushed to turn to greater communal politics under the pretext of defending the rights of Muslims in the nation by the opportunistic policies of Congress.

UML was allegedly founded on his guidance immediately before Jinnah departed the nation after the split of the country. He had infamously declared, “There must be a Muslim league in Hindustan.” The AIML had also noted that Pakistan’s might affected India’s ability to defend its minorities and had pledged that it “would do all to protect them.”

Role in the Marad Massacre of 2003

Activists from leftist and Islamist groups like the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the now-banned Popular Front of India and the Indian Union Muslim League killed eight innocent Hindu fishermen during the Marad massacre that rocked the nation in 2003. Marad Beach is a slum area located in the Kozhikode city of Kerala. Hindus and Muslims have a long history of communal strife with the majority of conflicts being caused by local Muslim organisations.

The conflicts that occurred in January 2003 between the two villages over the insignificant matter of drinking water from the public tap served as the impetus for the massacre that occurred on the fateful day in May of the same year. The remainder of the year was characterised by a prearranged plot by Islamic extremist groups like PFI, PDP (People Democratic Party), and IUML.

A special commission led by Justice Thomas P. Joseph was formed to investigate the riots after the nation was appalled by the premeditation and ruthlessness of the rioting by the Muslim community in the area.

The commission’s investigation revealed that the attack was orchestrated by members of Leftist and Islamist groups in a number of locations throughout the city, including the Juma Masjid in Marad. The firearms and explosives were kept on the Mosque grounds until the attack which was scheduled for a year in advance of the actual date and hour.

Radical Islam in the name of secularism

Indian opposition parties particularly the Left and Congress have a reputation for associating with radical groups in the name of secularism. Their politics is centred around the appeasement of such elements at the expense of the rule of law and national security. The political landscape of the Indian opposition parties endorses calls for the genocidal eradication of Sanatan Dharma and at the same time supports jihadi components in order to achieve short-term political objectives at the expense of national sovereignty.

Adani Group aspires to challenge China’s maritime dominance, while Congress party attacks the Indian company after signing MoU with the Chinese

Paurush Gupta
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Adani Group aspires to challenge China’s maritime dominance, while Congress party attacks the Indian company after signing MoU with the Chinese

On 8th November (Wednesday), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced its commitment to provide $553 million in financing for a port terminal in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, which is partly owned by the Indian conglomerate Adani group. Notably, this is the biggest investment announcement by the American government’s financial arm, DFC in Asia. 

The move comes as a strategic counter by two Quad partners India and the US against the Chinese expansionist designs of encirclement of India and not letting it gain hegemonic control in the Indian Ocean region.

Additionally, the development thwarts attempts by non-state actors and vested interest groups like short-selling firm Hindenburg and ilk that have been engaging in smear campaigns against Indian Infrastructure behemoth Adani group. While the conglomerate on its own has recuperated from the canards and hitjob, it has indirectly received another stamp of authority, this time from the American government’s financial arm, DFC. 

The development underscores that international investment firms and institutions, conducting thorough due diligence before making investments, have discerned the groundless nature of the accusations. Despite this, they have chosen to proceed with substantial investments in the Adani group. This strategic investment by DFC is indicative of how the Indian conglomerate Adani group has been acting as a bulwark against Chinese deep pockets gobbling smaller nations one after the other. 

Interestingly, India’s Adani group has been developing projects mirroring the Chinese ports that could in isolation undermine India’s interest in these geo-strategic locations in our vicinity or the Mediterranean. Here are some of the key investments of the Adani group that pose a strategic counter to China’s BRI and also to the ‘string of pearl’ strategy.

Adani counters China’s presence in Sri Lankan waters

China gained control over a terminal in Sri Lanka’s Colombo port through its notorious debt trap strategy, posing a serious risk to India. However, in 2021, Adani forged a deal with the state-owned Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The deal was to develop and run the strategic Colombo Port’s Western Container Terminal. The Build-Operate-Transfer deal, amounting to $700 million, marked the largest-ever foreign investment in the port sector of the island nation. Since then, the Adani group has been developing a terminal at Colombo port and squared off China’s advantage in the region. 

Strikingly, the move wrestled back India’s influence in the Island nation especially after the Lankan government had pivoted to Beijing as the latter splurged the Island nation with its debt-fueled projects. Establishing a strategic presence in Colombo’s emerging port holds significant importance for India, especially in light of China’s development of the adjoining Colombo Port City—an ambitious financial hub resembling Dubai—and its operation of the Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. This is because unchecked Chinese projects could have undermined India’s influence in Indian backwaters. 

Moreover, the port battle in Sri Lanka holds significance as the island nation lies on key global shipping lanes and China’s move was seen as a part of its encirclement strategy. 

Subsequently, Adani also replaced China in solar projects. It unfolded after Sri Lanka cancelled Chinese solar projects on islands in the Palk Strait, located between India and Sri Lanka, reportedly citing security apprehensions raised by New Delhi. 

By early 2022, Adani had entered into a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to develop 500 megawatts of renewable energy projects in Pooneryn and Mannar, northern districts in proximity to India.

Katharine Adeney is a professor and expert on South Asian politics at the University of Nottingham. Speaking to Bloomberg last year, she said, India “is worried about Chinese access to the Indian Ocean, and being encircled by Chinese friendly regimes in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.” She added that Adani’s supplanting of China’s solar power projects represented “a strategic move and one that we are likely to see more of.” 

Samantha Custer is the director of policy analysis at AidData, a research unit at William & Mary University in Virginia. Speaking to Bloomberg last year, she said that India likely has a vested interest in having one of its own companies build a port terminal close to China’s own port project. However, she noted that Indian companies are often disadvantaged due to Beijing tying project finance to implementation by state-subsidized Chinese firms. 

Adani port at Haifa coupled with IMEEC would overshadow China’s nefarious play in the Middle East

To bolster its BRI project, China bagged a port in Haifa in 2021. Since then, China’s Shanghai International Port Group has operated a port at Haifa. With this, China gained increased access to European markets as Haifa is a major trade hub on the Mediterranean. Notably, Haifa is one of the main seaports in Israel with virtually the entire trade moving in and out of the country by sea. 

Further, it is well-documented that China deploys tactics of industrial espionage and sneaking military presence in its ports. However, the Chinese move was matched soon after as Adani also bought another port close to China’s project taking away its leverage of being a sole player and dominating the region. In collaboration with a local company, Adani oversees the Haifa Port in northern Israel, following its acquisition for $1.03 billion completed in January of this year.

India’s presence mirroring China at every step checks the nefarious designs of the communist regime. It also boosts India’s trade ambitions of enhanced connectivity with the Middle East and Europe along with posing a counter to the BRI as the IMEEC is seen as a slingshot to China’s BRI.

It is important to note that Haifa is now integral to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), announced during India’s G20 Presidency. IMEEC includes two corridors: one connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and the other linking the Gulf to Europe. It features a railway for efficient cross-border transit, enhancing trade among India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe. Although it has faced serious challenges in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, the Haifa port will only serve India’s enhanced trade ambitions in the long run. 

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Adani’s recently established port in Kerala at Vizhinjam is set to enhance India’s competitiveness against China in trade and manufacturing. Situated near the southernmost tip of the country, the Vizhinjam transshipment container port, a pioneering initiative in India, positions the country to increase its share in the global maritime trade, challenging China’s dominant position.

Adani group’s open admission of aggressively locking horns with the dragon

Last year in September, the Chairman of Adani Group, Gautam Adani emphasised that the group would utilise opportunities created because of the decline of China’s project to spread a global footprint. Referring to China’s tumultuous BRI project, he said, “I anticipate that China, which was seen as the foremost champion of globalisation, will feel increasingly isolated. Increasing nationalism, supply chain risk mitigation, and technology restrictions will have an impact.” 

Prior to that in July last year, Gautam Adani told shareholders that he sought a “broader expansion” beyond India’s borders with “several” foreign governments approaching his conglomerate to develop their infrastructure.

While the Adani group is giving the Chinese regime a run for its money on every project that poses a threat to Indian interest or territorial security, inside or outside India, Gandhi scion, and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has been launching a tirade against the Adani group without giving a shred of evidence to back it up. The vicious cycle of attacks has prompted several political pundits and netizens to rekindle the controversial 2008 MoU which was kept hidden from the general public for years. 

Congress’ alleged connection with China: MoU with CCP, funds to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and more

One of the main reasons for the Congress Party’s peculiar stance regarding China stems from the 7 August 2008 agreement between the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress Party and the Communist Party of China (CPC).

During UPA1 in 2008, the Congress Party and the Communist Party of China (CPC) signed an MoU in Beijing to exchange high-level information and cooperation between them. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) also provided the two parties with the “opportunity to consult each other on important bilateral, regional and international developments”.

The 2008 MoU between CCP and Congress came at a time when the Left parties in India had expressed a lack of trust in the UPA-1 government led by Congress. 

Not just the MoUs, but the close relationship between the Chinese leadership and the Congress party, especially Rahul Gandhi came to the fore a few years ago during the Doklam stand-off when Rahul Gandhi was caught secretly meeting Chinese officials.

Apart from that, back in 2020, details about the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s (RGF) monetary operations emerged. OpIndia had previously published detailed pieces about the Chinese government’s financial contributions of more than Rs 1 crore to RGF since 2006.

High-profile prostitution racket with primarily Asian women busted in the United States, sex buyers included officials, politicians, military officers and others

Pragya Bakshi Sharma
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High-profile prostitution racket with primarily Asian women busted in the United States, sex buyers included officials, politicians, military officers and others

US federal prosecutors have arrested three individuals in connection with operating sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia. According to a press release by the Department of Justice (DoJ), commercial sex buyers allegedly included elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, attorneys, scientists and accountants, among others.

The three arrested accused have been charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity. The accused have been identified as Han Lee, 41; James Lee, 68 and Junmyung Lee, 30.

Interstate prostitution network primarily targeted Asian women

As per the charges, the accused operated in an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusettes as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Virginia.

The DoJ stated that the accused “collectively established the infrastructure for brothels in multiple states which they used to persuade, induce and entice women – primarily Asian women – to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution”.

High-end apartment complexes rented for prostitution

The accused allegedly rented high-end apartment complexes as brother locations. The apartments were furnished and maintained regularly. The monthly rent for the brother locations were as high as $3,664.

Moreover, the accused coordinated the women’s airline travel and transportation and permitted women to stay overnight in the brothel locations so they did not have to find lodging elsewhere, therefore enticing women to participate in their prostitution network.

Modelling websites set up as a front for prostitution

The accused allegedly advertised their prostitution network primarily on two websites – bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog – which offered appointments with women in either greater Boston or eastern Virginia, respectively. The domain bostontopten10.com has been seized by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Both websites purported to advertise nude Asian models for professional photography at upscale studios as a front for prostitution offered through appointments with women listed on their websites. The websites listed the height, weight and bust size of women available for appointments and depicted nude and/or semi-nude photographs of each.

The women listed as available on the websites updated frequently, with updates to include “coming soon” or “open” to reflect an impending arrival of new women arriving in the area.

Buyers went through a “verification process”, and were sent “menu” of options by the accused

Each website described a verification process that interested sex buyers undertook to be eligible for appointment bookings – including requiring clients to complete a form providing their full names, email addresses, phone numbers, employer and reference if they had one.

The accused separately maintained local brothel phone numbers which they used to communicate with “verified customers” and schedule appointments via text message. In these text message exchanges, the defendants allegedly sent customers a “menu” of available options at the brothel, including the women and sexual services available and the hourly rate.

Additionally, the defendants allegedly texted customers directions to the brothel’s location – high-end apartments – where they engaged in commercial sex with the women.

Accused were paid in cash, proceeds of crime and source of funds concealed

The accused charged sex buyers a premium price for appointments with the women advertised on their websites, which ranged from approximately $350 to upwards of $600 per hour depending on the services and were paid in cash.

The proceeds of the prostitution network were concealed by depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash proceeds into their personal bank accounts and peer-to-peer transfers. They regularly used hundreds of thousands of dollars of the cash proceeds from the prostitution business to purchase money orders (in values under an amount that would trigger reporting and identification requirements) to conceal the source of the funds.

These money orders were then used to pay for rent and utilities at brothel locations in Massachusetts and Virginia.

Chats from the racket exposed

NBC10 Boston reporter Abbey Niezgoda took to X, formerly Twitter, to share the image of a standee showing the nature of the racket. The standee shows an explicit image of a woman with the text, “Modeling shoots available. Do not forget that our time is also as important as your time is and unregistered numbers will not contact!! 10:30 am – 10 pm at upscale studio. We have some changes!! Ask for Text. 30 min, 1 hour/1rd/2rd, 1 hour 30 min. Verification form for 1st time photographers. P411 ID for Ter ID Welcome.”

Another standee shows an image of a chat from the sex service was also shared by the reporter on X. The explicit chat shows a buyer inquiring about the service. “Like 8:45? Mimi?” the alleged buyer asks.

The racket operator replies, “9pm available. Donations for Kara or Tina or Mimi or Alina. There is no discount for BB, if you get caught making direct deals with girls, we won’t accept any more appointments. Also, if you go into the GFE and upgrade to BB, Please Pay First!!. Do not share with other girls, they don’t like it!!”

Elected officials, politicians, military officials bought service

Investigators have identified a wide array of buyers including, but not limited to, elected officials, politicians, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, lawyers, scientists and accountants.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts, the “commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity”. The acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy said, “Pick a profession, they are probably represented in this case.”

The customers were reportedly identified through surveillance, phone records, customer interviews and other investigative methods. Moreover, the document noted that there could be hundreds more customers who haven’t been identified by investigators.

The website for the Boston-based racket has been seized by the government but the the website for the Virginia-based business remained active as on 8th November. Prosecutors have said that they are determined to hold accountable both, those who ran the racket and those who “fueled the demand for it”.

As Delhi witnesses rain AAP MLA Somnath Bharti thanks God for fulfilling promises that Arvind Kejriwal failed to deliver on

OpIndia Staff
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As Delhi witnesses rain AAP MLA Somnath Bharti thanks God for fulfilling promises that Arvind Kejriwal failed to deliver on

On Friday, November 10, New Delhi witnessed a light spell of rain. This brought some relief for residents from the hazardous pollution they had been experiencing for over a week, as the toxic haze cleared up and the air quality improved marginally. 

The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, which has only engaged in finger-pointing rather than taking practical action to address the rise in pollution levels, welcomed the unanticipated bout of rain. Somnath Bharti, the party MLA, immediately took to social media to thank god for doing what the Kejriwal govt couldn’t – bring down, even if temporarily, the pollution level in the national capital.

The rains come amid the Delhi government’s ongoing discussions with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to conduct artificial rains across the national capital to combat the deteriorating air quality. But this project too, just like all the other empty promises, probably looked implausible to Somnath Bharti. That’s why he appeared so thrilled when it rained last night—he knew deep down that the rain would hide the inability of his government to handle such a serious situation. He took to X to thank the ‘God sent rain’ to tackle the situation which otherwise is the responsibility of the AAP government.

“And rain starts in Delhi…..and it’s not the artificial rain which Delhi CM Sri @ArvindKejriwal Ji promised and Delhi is yet to witness but it’s God sent rain. God has always been with Arvind Ji and @AamAadmiParty. Thx God,” the AAP MLA posted on Friday, November 10.

Netizens were, however, quick to respond to the AAP MLA’s post. Mocking the AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal, several asserted that Delhi has been functioning on God’s mercy ever since AAP took power.

“As you rightly pointed out, Bharti ji, Delhi’s residents are living under the faith of God since there is no such thing as government here,” an X user Ajay Mathur wrote.

A BJP and RSS member going by the handle @Gauravbjpdelhi1 criticized the AAP government, claiming that only God could save the people of Delhi given the pitiful state the city has been in under their rule. “Lord Ram appeared on this earth to safeguard the righteousness and annihilate the evil, by killing the demon Ravan, likewise, to destroy y’all God will send somebody,” he retorted.

“God realised that He cannot leave Delhites & NorthIndians on mercy of ‘Nakara aur Jhute’ AAP CMs of Delhi & Punjab….”, @ShalabhPB wrote. The X user slammed the Arvind Kejriwal party and said that their pot of sin is full. He also asked how long they planned to do nothing and rely on God to perform miracles.

One X user took a dig at the AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Liquor scam case and said that the same God is arranging for his arrest and that he shouldn’t hold the Modi government accountable for it when it occurs.

“Same God is making arrangements of his arrest. Don’t blame Modi ji that time,” wrote X user @Pushkar81Singh.

AAP and its drama on pollution in Delhi

The Arvind Kejriwal government has been only playing the blame game instead of taking any concrete steps to curtail the pollution issue in New Delhi. Even as AAP is the ruling dispensation in both, Punjab – where stubble burning is at its peak, and in Delhi – where AQI currently stands at 426, it has time and again been attacking the BJP-ruled Haryana government and indulging in a political war of words.

On Friday (3rd November), when Anand Vihar’s AQI at night touched 999 making it extremely hazardous, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles coming from Uttar Pradesh have been contributing to the deterioration of the air quality index in the national capital.

Similarly, on 6th November, Aam Aadmi Party’s Chief National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused Haryana of the alarmingly bad air quality in Delhi.

She further asserted that there has been a reduction in stubble burning in Punjab, and the stubble being burnt in Punjab is not affecting Delhi as it is 500 KM away. However, Haryana, which is close to Delhi, is burning stubble only 100 KM away. Accusing the Khattar government of not taking any steps to reduce pollution, she added that the Haryana government had not formulated the plan to buy 100 EV buses. Furthermore, the buses that enter Delhi from Haryana run on fuel banned in Delhi.

She also claimed that the Haryana government is not supporting the industries so that they can shift to cleaner fuel like Delhi. In a nutshell, she tried to throw BJP-ruled Haryana under the bus for the pollution in Delhi’s air.

Continuing to peddle the same rhetorics, AAP posted a graph image on November 9 to claim that stubble-burning incidents in Punjab have reduced by 55 per cent in 2022-23.

Notably, Punjab has reportedly recorded 65.6 per cent of farm fires as compared to Haryana which has recorded 5.3 per cent of farm fires. The BJP-ruled state has taken strict action against individuals responsible for farm fires.

In fact, on November 9, OpIndia in its report attached the satellite imagery from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) showing Punjab covered in red dots signifying the severe levels of farm fires in the state whereas the same in Haryana appeared significantly lower.

Screenshot of the satellite imagery available on NASA FIRMS showing large scale farm fire in Punjab in the past 24 hours (Source: NASA FIRMS)

Yet, the Aam Aadmi Party has accused the Haryana government for the dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). 

‘Odd-even doesn’t help, farmers in Punjab need to be more responsible’: SC on Delhi pollution issue, keeps next hearing for Nov 21

ANI
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‘Odd-even doesn’t help, farmers in Punjab need to be more responsible’: SC on Delhi pollution issue, keeps next hearing for Nov 21

The Supreme Court in the hearing on Delhi pollution on Friday questioned the Odd-Even rule and ordered to stop farm fires immediately.

“As per the report from amicus curiae, advocate assisting the court on the issue, odd-even does not help; it will have a minimal impact,” said a bench headed by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

“Don’t try to not perform and then shift the burden on the court,” the Supreme Court said to the Delhi government on the government’s submission that will finalize policy on odd-even after the Supreme Court’s order.

The top court made it clear that it wants farm fires to stop. “We suggested a methodology; you do it however you want. But farm fires must be stopped. Some emergency measures are required to stop the farm fires,” the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court asked the Centre and Punjab government about what steps they are taking as a long-term measure to slowly phase out paddy to restore the water table in Punjab.

“We want farm fires stopped, we want air quality to get better. It’s your business how it occurs,” SC said. Meanwhile, the Court further observed that farmers are also a part of society and they have to be more responsible, and we have to be more responsive to their needs. “But people cannot be made to die,” it added.

The top court said that the farmers are very well organised in Punjab and asked the government why it doesn’t talk to their bodies and motivate them.

“The pollution level must come down, it cannot await tomorrow,” SC said. Moreover, on today’s rain in the national capital, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the people have to pray only; sometimes wind comes and helps, and sometimes rain. “God may have heard the prayers of people and intervened; no thanks to the government,” Justice Kaul said.

The apex court was hearing air pollution issue in Delhi-NCR. The bench has now posted the matter for hearing on November 21.

Morning showers in parts of Delhi offered marginal improvement in the toxic air that people in the national capital had been battling with over the past few weeks.

The overall air quality in Delhi at 7 am today was 407, according to data by the government’s air-quality monitoring agency SAFAR. The Air Quality Index recorded at 10 am was at 361 which according to the index range falls in the ‘Very Poor’ category but showed a slight improvement from the “Severe” category.

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

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