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Congress, which signed an MoU with CCP and secretly met Chinese diplomats, comes out in support of NewsClick over raids in Chinese funding row

OpIndia Staff
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Congress, which signed an MoU with CCP and secretly met Chinese diplomats, comes out in support of NewsClick over raids in Chinese funding row

On Tuesday (3 October), following the early morning raids by the Delhi Police on several ‘journalists’ and staff of leftist media portal NewsClick, the Congress party came out in support of the portal under scrutiny for alleged links with China. The official X handle of the Congress party said the raids over Chinese funding indicate that PM Modi is scared and nervous. Presenting the developments as an assault on the free speech of dissenters, the grand old party accused PM Modi of harassing opposition leaders and journalists who “speak the truth”. 

The Congress’ party official handle stated, “PM Modi is scared and nervous. Especially from those people who question him on his failures. Be it opposition leaders or journalists, those who speak the truth will be harassed. Today again the raid on journalists is proof of this.”

This comes following the early morning developments as on 3 October, Delhi Police raided several locations in connection with the online portal NewsClick. The home of television journalist turned YouTuber Abhisar Sharma was one of the places seized by the Delhi Police in connection with the Newsclick matter. As reported, the places of several journalists associated with Newsclick, including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi have been raided by the police.

Apart from Congress’ official Twitter handle, several Congress leaders also rallied behind the accused journalists of NewsClick, lamenting that these actions are autocratic.  

The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department of Congress, Pawan Khera claimed that the raids by the Delhi Police in connection with illicit Chinese funding are being conducted to distract the attention from the Caste Census report released in Bihar. 

He said, “The early morning raids on contributing journalists at Newsclick comes as a fresh distraction from the explosive findings of caste census in Bihar and the growing demand for caste census across the country. When he faces questions from out of syllabus, he resorts to the only counter he has in his predictable syllabus – DISTRACTION.” 

Regarding these developments, the Congress leader Digvijaya Singh lamented, “Sad this is happening in a free democratic country.” 

Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari claimed that dictatorship has arrived in the country. 

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor raised questions on the democratic credentials of India and the moniker “mother of democracy”. He claimed that the arrests of some Newsclick journalists don’t reflect the actions of a “mother of democracy”. He accused the government of being intolerant and disgracing democracy.  

Taking to X, Tharoor wrote, “Shocked to learn of the raids on 30 journalists in Delhi and arrests of several of them. These are not the actions of a “mother of democracy” but of an insecure and autocratic state. Why does a government as strong & authoritarian as this one is, feel threatened by a news website? And that too, one that is not even ranked very high in reach or readership? Intolerance is unworthy of everything that India represents. The government has disgraced itself and our democracy today.”

Following the actions on Newclick for alleged links with China, the old Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CCP and Congress and similar other instances have begun to surface on social media. 

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

The Congress party’s kid-glove treatment of China and the soft condemnation, that too on rare occasions, against the Communist nation has time and again raised eyebrows as to know why the principal opposition party has been soft towards the hostile neighbour of the country. 

It is being said that the close connections between the Congress party and the CPC may be one of the reasons why the principal opposition party chose to remain mute in attacking the Chinese and instead has been unleashing all its attacks against its government and backing the journalists who are alleged of taking funds from China to do their bidding in India.

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.

Instead of condemning global bully China and its nefarious adventurism, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had on several occasions expressed his admiration for China openly. In his controversial speech at Cambridge Judge Business School in March this year, Rahul Gandhi showered praises on China hailing it as an ‘aspiring superpower’ and ‘force of nature’ adding that China harbours ‘social harmony’. The Gandhi scion had also lauded China’s controversial Belt and Road initiative.

Highlighting the controversial pasts of the Congress party and its connections with China especially the MoU with CCP, social media users have noted that they are not surprised by Congress’ stance on action against Chinese-funded journalists and presenting it as an assault on democracy. 

As Teesta Setalvad gets raided in the NewsClick case, here is her connection to the China-funded portal and how much money she got

OpIndia Staff
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As Teesta Setalvad gets raided in the NewsClick case, here is her connection to the China-funded portal and how much money she got

On 3rd October, Delhi Police detained several “journalists” with links to Newsclicks following raids in a foreign funding case. Controversial activist Teesta Setalvad’s Mumbai house was also raided in the matter. Setalvad has been accused of using funds she collected for the 2002 Gujarat Riots victims for personal use. She is also accused of tutoring witnesses in cases filed against the Gujarat Government and then-CM of Gujarat, Narendra Modi. Setalvad was also accused of taking funds (Rs 30 lakh) from Congress leader late Ahmad Patel for waging war against the then-Modi-led Gujarat Government.

Teesta’s husband and children got funds from Chinese money received by Newsclick

In August 2023, it was reported that during an investigation, the Enforcement Directorate found that the money Newsclick received from China was used to fund NGOs, activists and journalists. Teesta Setalvad’s husband, son and daughter were among the beneficiaries, including Abhisar Sharma, Gautam Navlakha and more.

As per reports, the husband of Teesta Setalvad, Javed Anand, received Rs 12.61 lakh. The daughter of Teesta Setalvad, Tamara, received Rs 10.93 lakh. Son of Teesta Setalvad, Jibran, also received funds, but the amount was not mentioned in the reports.

OpIndia’s report on Newsclick’s foreign funding

In 2021, OpIndia did a detailed investigation about the links of NewsClick and uncovered how it was linked to several individuals who regularly spew venom against India – from Urban Naxals to those like Teesta Setalvad, Abhisar Sharma and several others.

Reportedly, ED found during raids in 2021 that PPK NEWSCLICK Studio Private Limited received Rs 30 crores in three years. According to sources, the funds received did not have any connections with the company’s main business activity. It was further alleged that the funds were disbursed to journalists/activists in the name of salary or consultation fees. The beneficiaries include those associated with Teesta Setalvad. Other beneficiaries include Gautam Navlakha Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, among others.

The arrest of Teesta Setalvad in fabricated evidence case linked to Gujarat Riots 2002

Teesta Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat ATS in June 2022 in a case of forgery, influencing witnesses, and the investigation of the Gujarat riots in 2002 that occurred in the aftermath of the Godhra Train burning incident, when 59 Hindus were burned to death after a Muslim mob set ablaze a Sabarmati Express bogey carrying passengers from Ayodhya. Teesta Setalvad is accused of coaching witnesses and making ridiculous accusations in several cases related to the Gujarat riots in 2002.

The case against Setalvad was filed after the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Modi in the 2002 Gujarat Riots case.

Pakistani politician steps up to support Newsclick ‘journalists’ accused of working for China, says they have obligation to stand for Indian Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani politician steps up to support Newsclick ‘journalists’ accused of working for China, says they have obligation to stand for Indian Muslims

Amidst the reports of crackdown by Delhi Police on Newsclick ‘journalists’ in connection to the Chinese funding, Pakistani politician and former minister Fawad Chaudhry has come out openly in their support. Taking to X, Chaudhry lamented that India is no more a democracy, instead it is being governed by fascist government.    

The politician from Pakistan, long known as a Chinese vassal state, wrote, “Early morning Delhi police has raided houses of independent Journalists, India is now a democracy only on paper, in reality its a fascist Government in reality.”

When asked not to meddle in India’s internal affairs and mend his own house, the former minister Chaudhry claimed that Pakistan has an obligation to stand for the rights of Indian Muslims. 

In another tweet, Fawad Chaudhry said, “Threat to freedom anywhere is threat to justice everywhere, people of Pak has responsibility to stand for the rights of Indian Muslims this was the promise founders of Pak made to Muslims in India.” 

Interestingly, the action has been taken against journalists accused of getting illicit fundings from foreign sources in violation of Indian laws but the anti-India Pakistani leader mischievously tried to give it a communal colour and political spin when there is none. 

However, netizens lambasted Chaudhry for commenting on Indian affairs and noted that such rantings will be of no use.

Meanwhile, reacting to the ongoing action of Delhi Police, the Press Club of India (PCI) stated that it is concerned about these raids on homes of Newsclick employees. 

Taking to X, the PCI said, “The Press Club of India is deeply concerned about the multiple raids conducted on the houses of journalists and writers associated with NewsClick.”

It added that it would soon release a detailed statement on the Delhi Police’s actions. It also emphasised its solidarity with the alleged journalists while urging the government to provide more information.

Earlier in the day (3rd of October), Delhi Police raided several locations in connection with the online media portal NewsClick. The home of television journalist turned YouTuber Abhisar Sharma was one of the places raided by the Delhi Police in this case. 

Taking to X, Abhisar Sharma said that the Delhi Police showed up at his home and confiscated his laptop and phone.

As per media reports, the places of several people associated with Newsclick, including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi have been raided by the police.

NewsClick Scandal: House of Sitaram Yechury also raided by Delhi Police, here is how he had published propaganda articles in the portal

OpIndia Staff
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NewsClick Scandal: House of Sitaram Yechury also raided by Delhi Police, here is how he had published propaganda articles in the portal

In connection with the continuing police crackdown on the news website NewsClick, the Delhi Police Special Cell also searched the residence of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday, October 3. 

The raid was motivated by the presence of a graphic artist linked with the news website who was reportedly staying on the premises. Notably, Yechury is the husband of ‘journalist’ Seema Chisti who works as the editor of The Wire, a portal known for spreading fake news and propaganda.

Yechury confirmed the news however denied that the raid was not targeting the CPI-M, but rather the son of a party office employee who works at NewsClick as a graphics artist.

The homes of several NewsClick journalists were raided today by the Delhi Police in connection with a case under UAPA. The Delhi Police Special Cell has filed a fresh case against the news portal under the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), weeks after a New York Times investigation revealed that the news portal had received funds from a promoting Chinese propaganda.

The home of television journalist turned YouTuber Abhisar Sharma was one of the places seized by the Delhi Police in connection with the Newsclick matter. Abhisar Sharma took to X (formerly Twitter) to report that the Delhi Police showed up at his home and confiscated his laptop and phone.

As reported, the places of several journalists associated with Newsclick, including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi have been raided by the police.

The action by the Delhi Police comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the home of NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha. In February 2021, ED found several incriminating documents and suspicious financial transactions from the residence of Purkayastha. 

The crackdown is said to have began after in August this year, a report published by The New York Times exposed the ties of an American businessman with the Chinese government and his financial support to an Indian leftist propaganda outlet, NewsClick. A millionaire named Neville Roy Singham was funding several news publications across the world (including India) to peddle Chinese propaganda, the report stated.

Notably, Sitaram Yechury himself has contributed to the controversial news portal by launching attacks on the ruling government. In one of the articles published in the year 2017, Yechury targeted the BJP of creating ‘communal polarization’ and ‘caste-based social engineering’.

In one of his other articles published in 2017, he wrote that the Hindu groups under the BJP government were ‘harassing the youths’ and targeting the minorities. He also said that the government was busy imposing the ‘RSS agenda’ over the country and trying to make India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

Yechury meanwhile failed to mention that the Hindu groups who he called were ‘targeting’ the minority communities actually protect the Hindu girls who are deliberately targeted by the minority communities under the pretext of love relationships. The Hindu girls are trapped in a love affair, then raped, assaulted, and forced to convert their religion to Islam. Several such cases have been reported by OpIndia.

screenshot from NewsClick website

Notably, similar action has been taken in Mumbai against activist Teesta Setalvad, who served as a ‘tool’ in the hands of politicians to defame the Modi government after the 2002 Gujarat riots. She is the director of the think tank Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. The think tank has contributed to Newsclick with articles. 

In a statement, the Press Club of India has voiced worry about the raids, noting that they “stand in solidarity with the journalists and demand that the government provide details.”

Notably, on August 7 this year, the government happened to take cognizance of Chinese funding to NewsClick after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue in Parliament. He cited the report published by the New York Times and said, “Chinese goods are being sold at Rahul Gandhi’s nafrat ki dukaan (hate shop). The New York Times has published an interesting report. About Rs 38 crores have been received by organizations such as NewsClick. The report by the newspaper also reiterated the findings of the Enforcement Directorate. NewsClick is a part of the anti-India, tukde tukde gang. (Prabir) Purkayastha is the owner.”

The BJP leader said that funds accumulated by the NewsClick owner were routed to Maoists, Naxalites, and propaganda artists such as (Abhisar) Sharma, Rohini Singh, and Swati Chaturvedi. He added that the Chinese government is also spending money to create an anti-India narrative.

Nishikant Dubey also exposed the ties of the Congress Party with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He accused the grand old party of being in talks with China during the infamous 2017 Dokhlam standoff.

NewsClick also is said to have furthered the Chinese agenda during the COVID-19 spread. The email exchanges dated March 30, 2020, on China’s handling of COVID-19 between Prabir and Singham were shared by Zee News journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, days after New York Times investigation said that Singham was using its network of nonprofits and media organizations spread across the world to propagate Chinese propaganda.

The investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unveiled that an overseas fund amounting to Rs. 38.05 crores was deceitfully injected into NewsClick over a span of three years.

The received funds purportedly found their way to numerous contentious journalists, among them Gautam Navlakha and individuals associated with Teesta Setalvad.

The individuals being raided were or are connected to NewsClick which is under scanner for taking money from a hostile nation – China – to further their state propaganda in India and gainst the sovereignty of India.

India tells Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats within a week, can revoke diplomatic immunity of those who stay back

OpIndia Staff
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India tells Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats within a week, can revoke diplomatic immunity of those who stay back

India has reportedly told Canada to withdraw dozens of diplomats from the country. According to a report shared by the Financial Times (FT), New Delhi has told Ottawa to repatriate about 40 diplomats by 10th of October. No official statement has been issued by the Indian government yet.

India has sought that Canada reduce the number of its diplomats in India by 41. Canada currently has 62 diplomats in India. The Financial Times has reportedly cited people familiar with the development saying that India has threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of those diplomats who stay back post 10th of October even after being told to leave.

Diplomatic ties between India and Canada suffered a jolt after Canada prematurely expelled an Indian diplomat on 19th of September following baseless allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the involvement of Indian agents in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India categorically denied the allegations by Trudeau as “absurd and motivated” while also expelling a Canadian diplomat. While back at home, Trudeau suffered severe backlash. Canada’s Five Eyes allies also refused to meddle in the matter.

Moreover, Trudeau’s allegations against India emboldened Khalistanis in Canada with terrorists like Gutpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outfit, threatening Hindus to leave Canada. Moreover, Islamist groups like the NCCM also asked the Canadian government to freeze all trade and end diplomatic ties with India.

In view of the same, India suspended visa services in Canada. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has minced no words calling Canada a “safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and organised crime”. The Indian government also said that the Canadian government had not provided any evidence whatsoever over Nijjar’s murder even as India gave specific inputs on criminals in Canada to no avail.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last week said that the ongoing situation in Canada should not be regarded as normal. Addressing a press conference in Washington DC, Jaishankar said freedom of expression should not extend to incitement of violence. He was hinting at the Khalistani terror activities that have often targeted Indian embassies in Canada.

“I flagged here (in the US), and I flagged this to the Canadians as well. We are a democracy. We don’t need to learn from other people what freedom of speech is about, but we can tell people this, we don’t think freedom of speech extends to incitement to violence. That to us, is the misuse of freedom, that’s not defence of freedom,” the EAM reportedly said.

Delhi Police raids MeToo accused Sanjay Rajoura in Newsclick China funding case: His Anti-Hindu comments, association with portals like NewsLaundry, Quint and more

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police raids MeToo accused Sanjay Rajoura in Newsclick China funding case: His Anti-Hindu comments, association with portals like NewsLaundry, Quint and more

On 3rd October, Delhi Police raided several locations in connection with the online portal NewsClick, which had received several crores in funding from China. One of the locations raided was of comedian-cum-satirist Sanjay Rajoura, who has worked for NewsClick in the past. He is one of the three members of “Aisi Taisi Democracy”. Rajoura, who has a history of making Hinduphobic comments, faced a police complaint in 2020 for mocking Hindu deities. In 2021, Rajoura faced Me Too allegations. Rajoura has also appeared on The Quint, Newslaundry and other leftist platforms.

Sanjay Rajoura mocked Hindus especially Brahmins and Rajputs

X (formerly Twitter) user Ankur Singh shared screenshots of a few of his posts of Rajoura on social media that clearly showed his bias towards Hindus, especially Brahmins and Rajputs. In one of the posts from 2017, Rajoura called for beating Brahmins with shoes. At that time, Rajoura used the X handle “UrbanTucchha”. “Tucchha” is a word used in both Hindi and Punjabi that has several meanings, such as “worthless” or “someone with a bad character”.

Source: X/iAnkurSingh

In several tweets, he has mocked the Rajput community and called them illicit children of Mughals.

Source: X/iAnkurSingh

In 2017, Rajoura, no longer on X, got into a feud with another X user, GappistanRadio and threatened to beat him up. Later, he deleted the tweets.

Source: X/alok_bhatt

Sanjay Rajoura mocked Hindu deities

In May 2020, a complaint was filed against Rajoura for derogatory comments against Bhagwan Ganesha and Bhagwan Shiva during the “Azaadi Tour” of Aisi Taisi Democracy. Hindu activist Ramesh Solanki filed the complaint with Mumba Police.

In a video clip, Rajoura can be heard mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement about the advancement of science and medicine in ancient India. “He said the first plastic surgery took place in India. Do you know whose? Of Ganesh. Even if I believe that the world’s first plastic surgery took place in India, at least you could’ve done a good job. This shows how you shouldn’t do such things after smoking up,” he said to an audience roaring with laughter.

Me Too accusations against Sanjay Rajoura

In September 2021, a woman who used an alias, Tara, accused Rajoura of sexual misconduct. She revealed that Rajoura had reportedly coerced her into having oral sex in a public place despite her reservations. She also accused him of requesting nudes from her and posting an unsolicited nude image of a woman, proposing a threesome.

She wrote that she kept overlooking the advances for months since she admired the comedian for his work. His public persona clouded her judgement, she admitted. She was intimidated by the fact that Rajoura knew many influential people from the film fraternity. She alleged that Rajoura would ask her to send him unsafe and naked pictures. Even when she told him it was too soon or made excuses expressing hesitancy, he persisted and found loopholes in her reasons. She further revealed how Rajoura coerced her into performing oral sex at a public place.

Sanjay Rajoura appeared on several leftist portals

Newslaundry started a program titled “Yeh Bhi Theek Hai” with Sanjay Rajoura and Kunal Kamra in July 2022. Eight episodes of the program were released by the portal, where they discussed secularism, comedy, free speech and religion in India. Both Kamra and Rajoura were hired for the program by Newslaundry despite their controversial background.

He appeared on The Quint as well. He has written two articles in The Quint titled “Kanwar Yatra: Are India’s Public Spaces Only for the Rich?” and “The India Vir Das Forgot About: An Open Letter to Comics on Caste”. In the report on Kanwar Yatra, he presented himself as if he supported the Kanwariyas but subtly called them unruly and stated they could become violent anytime.

As Abhisar Sharma gets raided, here is what his link to China-funded NewsClick was and what ED had said about the portal’s funding

OpIndia Staff
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As Abhisar Sharma gets raided, here is what his link to China-funded NewsClick was and what ED had said about the portal’s funding

On Tuesday, October 3, Delhi Police raided several locations in connection with the online portal NewsClick. The home of television journalist turned YouTuber Abhisar Sharma was one of the places seized by the Delhi Police in connection with the Newsclick matter. Abhisar Sharma took to X (formerly Twitter) to report that the Delhi Police showed up at his home and confiscated his laptop and phone.

As reported, the places of several journalists associated with Newsclick, including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi have been raided by the police.

The action by the Delhi Police comes a couple of years after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the home of NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha. In February 2021, ED found several incriminating documents and suspicious financial transactions from the residence of Purkayastha. Also, 10 more locations related to the PPK NEWS CLICK Studio Private Limited were raided by the ED.

ED raids at NewClick in 2021

According to the sources in ED, NewsClick had received Rs.10 crore under Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from an American company. Interestingly, NewsClick’s owner Prabir Purkayastha has no idea for what purpose the American company transferred the money to his company’s account. He could not give any proof of work that he has done for the particular company.

Further investigation revealed that another US-based company gave them Rs.20 crore and marked it as ‘Export Remittance’. The money was transferred because NewsClick had uploaded content on a portal named People’s Dispatch.

Sources revealed that Purkayastha also took Rs.1.5 crore rupees in the name of maintenance. Interestingly, he had hired a ninth-class pass electrician for maintenance at his office. The money he took was without any documentation, which made it impossible for him to explain the transaction to ED.

Reportedly, the ED raided the premises of the NewsClick founder in the year 2021 when ‘journalist’ Abhisar Sharma was working for the portal.

During the investigation, the ED also revealed that another NewsClick employee had received Rs.52 lakh from an American company. The same person was said to have connections with CPI as he worked in the IT cell of CPI and managed the Twitter accounts of CPI leaders.

NewsClick, is financed by Chinese Communist Party supporter

Recently in August this year, a report published by The New York Times exposed the ties of an American businessman with the Chinese government and his financial support to an Indian leftist propaganda outlet, NewsClick.

A millionaire named Neville Roy Singham was funding several news publications across the world (including India) to peddle Chinese propaganda, the report stated. “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr. Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide,” the article read.

The publication pointed out that Singham has been successful in disseminating Chinese government talking points under the pretext of ‘progressive advocacy’ in countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. Neville Roy Singham, who holds strong ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is at the forefront of China’s smokeless war.

During its investigation, the American newspaper found that Neville Roy Singham had financed an India-based leftist propaganda outlet named NewsClick. It noted that the news outlet had repeated the talking points of the CCP in the past.

“In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. “China’s history continues to inspire the working classes,” one video said,” noted The New York Times.

Abhisar Sharma peddling anti-India narrative through NewsClick

‘Journalist’ Abhisar Sharma whose premise was raided by the Delhi Police this morning is known for spreading fake news and peddling anti-India narrative. In September 2019, he used morphed images of journalists from other media houses to peddle fake news and narratives during the Chandrayaan 2 mission. He had edited images of the content of a show to target Aaj Tak journalist Chitra Tripathi. He had launched a fake connection between the show host, Aaj Tak journalist Chitra Tripathi, and PM Modi when no reference to PM Modi was made in the show.

Also, in that year, Sharma, through the propaganda website NewsClick’s YouTube channel went on a deranged rant against cows. So much so that he even declared that cows had become a cause of ‘terror and fear’ for some in India. He furthered the lies by saying how cows are one of the primary reasons for mob lynching in India. He mentioned that in the name of ‘gau raksha’, minorities and Dalits were being terrorized. 

Recently in May 2022, he in a NewClck’s YouTube video joined the race to demean the Hindu culture of India and praised the country only for the Taj Mahal built by the Mughal Emperor. Sharma in the video further blatantly stated that the country of India was known worldwide because of the Taj Mahal and that there was no Shiv Mandir before the Taj Mahal. 

He slipped by saying that the Taj Mahal was the only identity of India. He forgot that India has been known as the land of temples for centuries and that there are many religious temples, monuments, and marvelous structures other than the Taj Mahal that are the identity of the country.

It must be mentioned that Abhisar Sharma is featured regularly on NewsClick videos wherein he is seen either defending the Congress party or furthering anti-India narratives. The Chinese government is infamous for swaying public opinion in its favour through its propaganda machinery, which ranges from educational institutes to media publications, and NewsClick evidently happens to be one of them.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raises the issue of Chinese financing of NewsClick in Parliament

Notably, on August 7 this year, the government happened to take cognizance of Chinese funding to NewsClick after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue in Parliament. He cited the report published by the New York Times and said, “Chinese goods are being sold at Rahul Gandhi’s nafrat ki dukaan (hate shop). The New York Times has published an interesting report. About Rs 38 crores have been received by organizations such as NewsClick. The report by the newspaper also reiterated the findings of the Enforcement Directorate. NewsClick is a part of the anti-India, tukde tukde gang. (Prabir) Purkayastha is the owner.”

The BJP leader said that funds accumulated by the NewsClick owner were routed to Maoists, Naxalites, and propaganda artists such as (Abhisar) Sharma, Rohini Singh, and Swati Chaturvedi. He added that the Chinese government is also spending money to create an anti-India narrative.

Nishikant Dubey also exposed the ties of the Congress Party with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He accused the grand old party of being in talks with China during the infamous 2017 Dokhlam standoff.

NewsClick was paid to defend China’s handling of COVID-19

During the COVID-19 spread, it was reported how Prabir Purkayastha and the NewsClick team were introduced to Chinese handlers by American businessman Neville Roy Singham for defending China’s handling of COVID-19.

The email exchanges dated March 30, 2020, on China’s handling of COVID-19 between Prabir and Singham were shared by Zee News journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, days after New York Times investigation said that Singham was using its network of nonprofits and media organizations spread across the world to propagate Chinese propaganda.

In the email exchanges shared by Sudhir Chaudhary, Roy is seen introducing the NewsClick team to the Chinese handlers based out of China to provide information that would help them show China in a positive light in handling the coronavirus outbreak.

According to its website, NewsClick is an independent ‘media’ agency dedicated to covering news from India and around the world with a focus on ‘progressive’ causes. It was established in 2009.

Liberals supporting Sharma call raids a ‘threat’ to Freedom of Press

After the current raids, several liberals supporting NewsClick and ‘Journalist’ Abhisar Sharma are crying copious amounts of tears. They are calling the current raids an ‘attack’ on Freedom of Press. Propagandist Rohini Singh, Self-proclaimed Muslim journalist from The Wire, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Rajdeep Sardesai, Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of Islamic propaganda outlet AltNews questioned the action and declared that the government was “crossing all limits” by conducting raids in the given case.

It is pertinent to note that all the individuals who are being raided currently have been spreading anti-India propaganda for a very long time. None of them were prosecuted for their opinions and views and the raids were not because the government of India willy-nilly decided to prosecute those who are journalists.

The individuals being raided were or are connected to NewsClick which is under scanner for taking money from a hostile nation – China – to further their state propaganda in India and against the sovereignty of India.

Made In India Malaria vaccines: WHO recommends second vaccine R21/Matrix-M for use in African countries, SII to produce

ANI
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Made In India Malaria vaccines: WHO recommends second vaccine R21/Matrix-M for use in African countries, SII to produce

The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India has been recommended for use by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after meeting required safety, quality and effectiveness standards, ANI reported.

Following a rigorous, detailed scientific review by the WHO’s independent advisory body, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG), the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been recommended for use.

“The recommendation was based on pre-clinical and clinical trial data which showed good safety and high efficacy in four countries, at sites with both seasonal and perennial malaria transmission, making it the world’s second-ever WHO recommended vaccine for preventing malaria in children,” Serum Institute of India said in a statement.

The vaccine was developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and Serum Institute of India with support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (‘EDCTP’), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (‘EIB’).

To date, the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been licensed for use in Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

“In combination with public health measures such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, this vaccine can help save and improve the lives of millions of children and their families,” SII added.

The vaccine has recently reached the primary one-year endpoint in a pivotal large-scale Phase III clinical trial – funded mainly by the Serum Institute of India, with Oxford University as the regulatory sponsor – including 4,800 children across Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania. The Phase III trial results are under peer review before publication.

Dr Lisa Stockdale, Senior Immunologist, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford said “Today’s news is a testament to the work of our small but dedicated team and means we have another tool with which to fight this disease that kills over half a million people every year. However, further work is critical to establish not just that the vaccine works, but to understand more about how it works, and apply that knowledge to future vaccines.”

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, said “For far too long, malaria has threatened the lives of billions of people across the globe, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable amongst us. This is why the WHO recommendation and approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine marks a huge milestone on our journey to combat this life-threatening disease, showing what exactly can be achieved when the public and private sector, scientists and researchers, all work together towards a shared goal.”

“As we continue to work together to create a healthier, more equitable world for everyone, I am incredibly proud of the part that the Serum Institute of India has played in developing the R21 malaria vaccine. We look forward to scaling up the vaccine production to ensure that it is accessible to those who need it the most,” Adar Poonawalla added.

Serum Institute of India further said that with the approval and recommendations by the WHO, additional regulatory approvals are expected to follow shortly and R21/Matrix-M vaccine doses could be ready to begin wider roll-out as early as next year.

The R21/Matrix-M is a second vaccine that has been developed by Oxford University and will be supplied by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and is qualified by WHO.

In April this year, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, got regulatory approval for usage by the government of Ghana.

SII has already established manufacturing capabilities for 200 million doses annually. R21/Matrix-M is a low-dose vaccine that is given to children between 5 to 36 months. It has been consistently meeting the WHO standards of 75% efficacy.

Indian companies to supply Malaria vaccines

On 5th July Gavi, the vaccine alliance, announced that twelve African countries are set to receive 18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine in the next two years.

By 2026, the annual demand for malaria vaccine will reach 40-60 million doses and by 2030 it will reach 80-100 million doses. Bharat Biotech will be supplying the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine in the future.

In 2021, GSK, the British pharma giant that worked for over 3 decades with nonprofit group PATH, announced that the manufacturing of the protein part of the malaria vaccine RTS, S/AS01 will be transferred to India’s Bharat Biotech.

“Helping secure the long-term future of the only vaccine available by working with an established leader like Bharat Biotech is vital for the continued fight against this devastating disease,” GSK’s Thomas Breuer had said then.

Hyderabad’s Bharat Biotech is currently the sole supplier of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine and is expected to remain so till 2029.

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

As TMC protests to hide their own MNREGA corruption, Saket Gokhale’s video being pushed by Delhi police surfaces: Here is what the police say

OpIndia Staff
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As TMC protests to hide their own MNREGA corruption, Saket Gokhale’s video being pushed by Delhi police surfaces: Here is what the police say

On Monday (October 2), a video of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale being pushed by a Delhi police personnel went viral on social media.

The development took place during a dharna (demonstration) at Samadhi Sthal by the TMC against the Centre’s decision to not release funds for the MNREGA scheme in light of rampant corruption in West Bengal.

In a tweet, the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the TMC claimed, “The BJP-led Central Government’s disregard for people’s welfare is undeniable!”

“In a blatant display of hostility, not only did police officials and site authorities attempt to disrupt our peaceful dharna, but they also resorted to aggressive actions against our National Spokesperson, Saket Gokhale. REPREHENSIBLE,” it further alleged.

In the video, the Trinamool Congress spokesperson was seen being pushed by a Delhi police personnel while another cop tried to pacify a visibly agitated Saket Gokhale. A man in the background could be heard saying, “Dhakka kesa diya (How dare you push me).”

It is unclear whether the voice heard in the video was that of Saket Gokhale. In a tweet, he claimed, “Delhi Police attacked our peaceful dharna at Raj Ghat today led by Abhishek Banerjee, demanding that Modi Govt release pending 15,000 cr dues of MGNREGA workers in West Bengal.”

“Modi Govt used violence at Gandhi ji’s samadhi hours after Modi paid lip service to his ideals. We ALL remained peaceful & followed Gandhi ji. Here’s Addl DCP Tomar manhandling me due to ‘orders from above’,” Gokhale brazened out.

In a statement, the Delhi police said that the TMC leaders were requested to vacate the Samadhi Sthal peacefully. “On this very important day of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, thousands of people were visiting Rajghat – the Samadhi Sthal – to pay homage,” it noted.

“TMC leaders were requested not to sit at Samadhi Sthal. Despite repeated requests, they were not listening. Due to that public entry was affected and that resulted in a gathering of people around Samadhi Sthal. Therefore, to avoid public inconvenience as well as in the interest of their own safety, TMC leaders were requested to vacate the samadhi Sthal peacefully,” the statement read.

Corruption in MNREGA scheme in West Bengal

As per the norms of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, a job cardholder can directly approach the panchayat or other implementing agencies for work and is entitled to get at least 100 days of work.

However, in West Bengal, a large number of Trinamool officials in rural areas have been accused of placing ineligible people, including family members, on PMAY beneficiary lists.

The list of PMAY beneficiaries in Bengal was discovered to be filled with wealthy individuals with ties to the ruling party, as well as children, wives, and close relatives of Trinamool functionaries.

Similarly, Trinamool employees in rural organizations have been accused of distorting MGNREGA beneficiary lists, generating bogus job cards, and misrepresenting records of assets produced under the scheme in order to siphon off funds, among other violations.

The Union administration suspended fund disbursement after central audit teams discovered these large-scale errors and malfeasance.

NewsClick China funding: Fresh case lodged under UAPA, Delhi Police special cell searches premises with forensic team at multiple locations, Teesta Setalvad raided too

OpIndia Staff
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NewsClick China funding: Fresh case lodged under UAPA, Delhi Police special cell searches premises with forensic team at multiple locations, Teesta Setalvad raided too

After raids by the Delhi Police early on Tuesday, 3rd October, news has surfaced that Abhisar Sharma, Urmilesh, former NDTV Managing Editor Aunindyo Chakraborty, and others have been detained, in the case related to foreign funding from China. As per reports, raids were underway at 30 different locations, all related to individuals related to NewsClick.

It is notable here that the news of detained journalists is yet to be confirmed. Republic TV reported that 8 journalists are being raided, apart from the official premises related to NewsClick. The journalists currently facing raid are expected to be taken to the Delhi Police special cell office later in the day.

Indian Express reported that comedian Sanjay Rajaura was taken to Delhi Police special cell office at Lodhi Colony. More individuals are expected to be detained and questioned.

As per some reports, multiple journalists related to NewsClick have been detained by the Delhi Police in the case as they raids continue. Earlier, Abhisar Sharma had tweeted that the police have raided his premises and have taken away his laptop and phone.

The Delhi Police has registered a fresh case under UAPA, other than the ED case, as per reports. UAPA is related to charges under terrorist activities and terror funding. if UAPA sections are applied, the case is going to be very difficult for the NewsClick and concerned individuals. A forensic team of the Delhi Police is also on site, seizing pieces of evidence, Republic reported.

As per reports, some of the evidence uncovered during the ED investigation demanded premises of investigation that are beyond the authority of the ED. Hence a fresh case has been filed under UAPA and a Delhi Police investigation has been initiated.

It is pertinent to note that NewsClick has been under the scanner for illicit foreign funding since the year 2021 – when Abhisar Sharma was working for the portal as well. Teesta Setalvad and Gautam Navlakha were also accused of taking funds form China that were obtained through newsClick.

Reports have surfaced that Teesta Setalvad’s property in Mumbai is also being raided by Delhi Police.

Earlier on August 22, the Delhi High Court issued notice to news portal NewsClick’s Editor in Chief Prabir Purkayastha on a plea filed by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EoW), seeking direction to vacate its interim order asking the probe agency not to take any coercive action against the news site, news agency ANI reported.

The high court, on July 7, 2021, passed an order directing that Prabir Purkayastha shall not be arrested, adding, however, that he will have to cooperate with the investigation as and when required by the investigating officer.

Enforcement Directorate says NewsClick received funds from US-based companies worth crores

The investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unveiled that an overseas fund amounting to Rs. 38.05 crores was deceitfully injected into NewsClick over a span of three years.

The received funds purportedly found their way to numerous contentious journalists, among them Gautam Navlakha and individuals associated with Teesta Setalvad.

Under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a thorough search at the premises of PPK Newsclick Studio, its affiliated entities, as well as the directors and shareholders (consisting of ten entities) situated in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) in February 2021.

Throughout the course of the search, foreign currency, documents indicating wrongdoing, and digital proof were confiscated.

Upon meticulous examination of the gathered evidence, it was uncovered that there were dubious transactions involving foreign inward remittances. Specifically, Rs. 9.59 crore was introduced through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and an additional Rs. 28.46 crore was purportedly generated through the export of services.

The ED Investigation brought to light that Prabir Purkayastha, the Director of Newsclick, had been acquainted with Neville Roy Singham of Worldwide Media Holdings LLC (Limited Liability Company) since 2017.

Based on the digital evidence seized, it was revealed that Prabir, in collaboration with Neville Roy Singham, who is reportedly linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC), had orchestrated a complex scheme.

To elaborate, the allegations suggest that Prabir Purkayastha and his associates, in an effort to secure a fund of Rs. 9.59 crores from a Chinese entity with significant emphasis, established a legal façade of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Furthermore, it is claimed that Neville Roy Singham had earlier transferred funds to Prabir under the pretext of consultancy fees, ostensibly to propagate a “leftist ideology”.

Both Prabir Purkayastha and the personnel at Newsclick Studio have been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the receipt of Rs. 28.46 crore from foreign sources, as per reports.

NewsClick and China link

After the ED investigation in 2021, an investigation by the New York Times in August 2023 uncovered an ecosystem of activist organisations, non-profits, shell corporations, and their intimate ties to China and Chinese propaganda. Notably, Neville Roy Singham is at the heart of this network. The article read, “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.”

It was highlighted that he has been successful in spreading talking points from the communist administration in nations including India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States under the guise of progressive advocacy. The report pointed out, “In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points.”

This is a developing story.

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