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‘Idol height not more than 10 feet, bursting of crackers not allowed’: Chennai Police’s 11 diktats on how to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi

OpIndia Staff
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‘Idol height not more than 10 feet, bursting of crackers not allowed’: Chennai Police’s 11 diktats on how to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi

The Greater Chennai Police has issued guidelines for Hindus on how to celebrate the annual Vinayagar (Lord Ganesh) Chaturthi celebration, on the eve of the event.

Many consider the 11 sets of guidelines issued by the police for Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations to be draconian, making it challenging for Hindus to partake in the festival.

Some organisers told The Commune that the setup process for Vinayagar Pandals has become excessively bureaucratic, burdensome, and taxing. potentially leading to delays or hindrances in their construction.

Below are a few directives issued by the police concerning the installation of idols, instructing organizers to obtain them.

1. Landowners, where Vinayagar idols are going to be installed, must have obtained permission from local bodies concerned, the Highway Department or the Government Department.

2. Must have obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Fire Department, Electricity Board, etc.

3. Obtain permission from the police station officer concerned by filling up the forms for installation of Vinayagar idols, undertaking to abide by the restrictions and conditions mentioned therein.

4. The height of the statue to be installed should not exceed 10 feet from the base of the platform.

5. Installation of idols near places of Worship, Hospitals, and Educational institutions should be avoided.

6. Two volunteers should be deputed on a 24-hour rotation to ensure the safety of the idols.

7. Banners/billboards in support of any political parties or religious leaders should not be placed at the worship point.

8. Fire safety rules and regulations must be followed, and electrical wire connections and pandals should be monitored periodically to avoid accidents and mishaps.

9. Fire safety rules and regulations must be followed, Electrical wire connections; Pandals should be monitored periodically to avoid accidents and mishaps.

10. On days permitted by Police for immersion of Vinayagar idols, idols should be carried in permitted four-wheelers on permitted routes only and peacefully immersed.

11. Bursting of firecrackers is not allowed in places where Vinayagar idols are installed, procession routes and immersion Points.

Conversely, the Greater Chennai police have stated that the utterance of slogans that incite “religious hatred” or “offend the sentiments of other religions” is prohibited.

This directive is perceived as vague and potentially a means to clamp down on individuals associated with a specific ideology, especially given the current politically charged atmosphere where even chants of “Jai Shri Ram” are interpreted as “offensive to the sentiments of other religions.”

Additionally, there is a prohibition on the use of firecrackers during the procession for the immersion of Vinayagar idols. While it’s positive that the Greater Chennai Police is implementing precautionary measures for a seamless festival celebration, it has sparked inquiries into why similar concerns were not demonstrated during AR Rahman’s recent concert in Chennai.

The event turned chaotic with crowd mismanagement, stampede-like situations, incidents of molestation against women, and severe traffic congestion, resembling a nightmare.

Ambedkar Nagar murder: Shahbaz and aides followed minor Hindu girl to her house, family speaks to OpIndia

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Ambedkar Nagar murder: Shahbaz and aides followed minor Hindu girl to her house, family speaks to OpIndia

On Saturday, September 16, a minor Hindu girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkar Nagar was crushed to death while she was returning home from school. The accused Shahbaz and Arbaz had reportedly pulled her dupatta causing her to fall from her bicycle. Subsequently, the third accused Faizal killed her by running over his motorcycle on her. The accused were arrested under Sections 302, 354, 298 and 304 of the IPC along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act.

OpIndia on September 17 went to the deceased victim’s village in Ambedkar Nagar to meet her bereaved family. While speaking to them, we learnt that apart from the three arrested accused there was another person who was involved in the heinous murder of the minor Hindu girl.

The family also shared with us some personal information, like the hobbies and academic achievements of the deceased girl and spoke at length about the mental trauma she had been enduring recently because of the accused. They also gave us a detailed insight into what exactly transpired on the fateful day of September 16.

The deceased victim’s village is about 15 kilometres away from Tanda town in Ambedkar Nagar. The nearest market to the village is the Hirapur market. When we reached the deceased’s house, we saw all her family members and relatives sitting outside. The house they were staying in was in a really dilapidated condition.

View of the victim’s house from the outside

The father of the deceased 17-year-old, Sabhajeet Verma, who looked miserable after losing his minor daughter, told us how despite acute poverty he was somehow sending his daughter to school so that she could make a career for herself and look after him in future. Crying inconsolably while remembering his daughter, Sabhajeet Verma said that there were actually four culprits behind his daughter’s murder.

Besides Shahbaz, Arbaz and Faisal, whom the police apprehended, he named Salim’s son Munnu as the fourth accused. Munnu, he claimed, was a resident of the Arthalwa town. Sabhajeet Verma said that he had completely lost his senses when he saw the dead body of his 17-year-old daughter which is why he forgot to name Munnu as the fourth culprit. He also sought action against Salim’s son Munnu, as well as the other accused.

Calling the murder a well-thought-out and pre-planned conspiracy, the deceased girl’s sister and father said that they were waiting for Yogi Adityanath’s bulldozer to arrive at the houses of the accused. Notably, Munnu, the fourth accused is still at large.

Sections of murder and POCSO added, Ambedkar Nagar SHO suspended

Speaking on this development, the Superintendent of Police of Ambedkar Nagar district said that Section 302 of the murder and POCSO Act have been increased in the case. Hanswar police station SHO Ritesh Kumar has been suspended and a new police station in-charge has been posted.

OpIndia also spoke to the deceased’s elder sister who revealed how the accused had been harassing her younger sister for the last few months. They used to follow and hound the deceased continuously. About two months ago, the four accused had reached her house on two bikes, she said.

The sister added, “One day, my younger sister reached home on her bicycle. She was very scared. He told us how these youths had been following her from school and were waiting outside their house, Even though I had undergone surgery then and was advised bed rest I still rushed out to check but by then all four had fled.”

First pulled the dupatta then ran over the bike on her: Eyewitness in the Ambedkar Nagar murder case recounts the horror

OpIndia further spoke to the girl who was accompanying the deceased victim when the incident took place. She happened to be her cousin. She told us how the accused not only harassed them but also followed and hounded other girls at their school. She recalled how the accused used to come on their speeding motorcycles after school hours and harass the schoolgirls, adding that they did the same even a day prior to the incident.

Crying inconsolably, she said that on Friday, two of them came on a speeding motorcycle and the one sitting pillion pulled her dupatta from behind due to which lost her balance and her cycle drifted and she fell. Moments after that, Faisal ran the bike over her from behind. “By the time I reached there, blood was coming from her mouth and she could not say anything,” the friend said. Later, she was declared dead in the hospital.

The eyewitness cried bitterly while talking to us. She alleged that the four accused used to harass other girls in the same manner.

75-year-old grandfather bemoans losing his old age support

The deceased’s old grandfather sat before us crying inconsolably. “The deceased’s mother had died 8 years ago; it was she who was taking care of the household. From cooking to cleaning she managed everything along with her studies. Her two elder sister have gotten married and live at their in-laws house. I have a grandson who is still in class 5. It was she who took care of me and my son. I have lost my old age support, he lamented.

The Ambedkar Nagar Hindu victim wanted to become a doctor

The deceased’s father stated that his daughter wished to help people by becoming a doctor. He planned to send his daughter outside to study after class 12. The deceased’s sister reiterated her father’s sentiments. She was an exceptionally bright student, according to her sister, and when she died, the entire school staff gathered at their home to grieve her passing, she said.

The 17-year-old Hindu victim was an all-rounder

The deceased’s girl family gave us a tour of their house and the girl’s study room, which was filled with paintings made by her. One of her artworks especially caught our attention. It was a pencil sketch of a young girl donning a cap. The painting was placed on the wall beside a poster of Goddess Laxmi. Her father said that she was a very religious person and had immense faith in the Hindu goddess.

We also went through some of her notebooks, in which she had written her notes neatly in immaculate handwriting. Her chemistry notebook had remarks like ‘good’ from her subject teacher. Her school stationery including her geometry box was also kept very neatly in her room. Everything in the room was suggestive of her being a diligent student and an all-rounder.

Family wants nothing less than the death penalty for the accused

When OpIndia spoke with the deceased’s uncle, father, sister, and grandfather, they all said in unison that they demanded nothing less than the death sentence for the accused. The student’s father stated that he would be satisfied only when all four accused were hung to death.

“They should be made to stand in front of me and shot dead,” the destitute grandfather bemoaned.

“They should be killed like my sister was,” lamented the deceased’s elder sister.

Japanese Ambassador to India enjoys roadside Aloo-Tikki in Delhi, says now he is fully Indian

OpIndia Staff
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Japanese Ambassador to India enjoys roadside Aloo-Tikki in Delhi, says now he is fully Indian

Hiroshi Suzuki, Japan’s Ambassador to India, recently visited Delhi’s crowded Sarojini Nagar marketplace with his wife, Eiko Suzuki, and popular Japanese YouTuber Mayo Japan. The trio ate a variety of street delicacies including the licious Aloo Tikki and explored the local market.

The Ambassador on Sunday, September 17, shared his experience on Twitter (X) and said, “Wonderful, desi experience with Hindi-speaking Japanese YouTuber Mayo san!! Aloo tikki dijiye.” He also shared the YouTube video posted by a Hindi-speaking Japanese vlogger.

The video depicts Mayo Japan and Suzuki doing the hook steps from the Jailer movie song Kaavaalaa. Before walking farther into the market, all of them sampled some delicious aloo tikki from a local vendor.

Suzuki even took the time to try on different kurtas, eventually purchasing one that he adored. He liked it so much that he wore it for the rest of the video. The trio finished their culinary journey with freshly steamed veggies, chicken momos, and ram laddus.

The post has received a lot of engagement on YouTube with over 48,000+ views in a day. It has also received a large number of likes and comments.

It is to be recalled that earlier in the month of June, Hiroshi Suzuki had been to Pune, Maharashtra with his wife where he was seen having spicy Misal Pav, Vada Pav, and other local cuisines.

Also, on a visit to India in March, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tasted various Indian delicacies, including ‘gol-gappe,’ ‘aam panna,’ and ‘lassi,’ during a visit to the Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi with Modi.

Telangana: Shadab rapes girl twice at a hospital in Hyderabad, arrested after he manages to escape

OpIndia Staff
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Telangana: Shadab rapes girl twice at a hospital in Hyderabad, arrested after he manages to escape

On Sunday (September 17), the Telangana police arrested a man named Mohammed Shabad in connection to the rape of a 19-year-old girl at the ESI hospital in the Sanathnagar area of Hyderabad.

As per reports, the victim went to the hospital after her brother was admitted there on September 6 this year. Shabad worked at the hospital canteen and was introduced to the girl by the security guard, whom the victim knew beforehand.

A police official told The Times of India, “He (security guard) introduced her to the accused saying that the latter worked in the canteen and she could reach out to him for any help.”

While the victim was en route to the 5th floor of the hospital from the canteen, Shadab stopped the victim from boarding the lift. Later, he forcibly took the victim to the second floor and raped her. Shadab then took her to the blood sample collection room and violated her again.

“First, he proposed to marry her just outside the elevator and insisted that she give him her phone number. When she refused, he took her to some isolated place on the same floor and sexually abused her. When the girl started screaming, he allegedly dragged her to the blood sample collection room and raped her again,” a police official informed.

The 19-year-old was able to escape and notify her brother and the hospital authorities. But Shadab was able to flee the hospital premises. The administration of the ESI hospital later filed a complaint with the SR Nagar police.

The cops traced the culprit and nabbed him on Sunday (September 17). He was booked under Section 376 and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Jammu and Kashmir: CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit deployed in the valley

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit deployed in the valley

For the first time, the elite CoBRA unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been deployed in J&K, News18 reported on Monday (18 September) citing sources. The move signifies that security measures and missions similar to the anti-Naxal operations in the Left-Wing Extremist areas could be carried out in the Kashmir Valley.

The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) units have been stationed in Bihar and Jharkhand. However, in April, the CoBRA unit was brought to Kashmir to undergo rigorous training in the jungles of the valley. As per media reports, sources said that this anti-Naxal force – the CoBRA unit has been deployed in Kashmir’s Kupwara. However, they haven’t been given any assignments yet. Meanwhile a source said, “But now, they are ready for deployment.” 

Notably, the CoBRA unit is credited for breaking the backbone of the Naxalite movement. It is a specialised guerilla warfare commando unit of the CRPF and it has extensive expertise in fighting in the forest areas.

The commandos of the CoBRA units have tough mental and physical attributes. The majority of these CoBRA teams are deployed in various Naxal violence-affected states. At the same time, some of the CoBRA units have also been based in the northeastern states for undertaking counter-insurgency operations.

With a strength of about 3.25 lakh personnel, the CRPF is designated as the lead internal security combat unit. Its maximum deployment is in Left Wing Extremism-affected states, and insurgency-hit areas in India’s northeast.

This development comes in the wake of the ongoing operation to flush out terrorists hiding in the Gadole forest area of J&K’s Anantnag district which entered the sixth day on Monday (18 September).

The officials said that security forces are using drones and helicopters for surveillance of the dense forest area with several cave-like hideouts where terrorists are believed to be holed up since Wednesday after killing two Army officers and a deputy superintendent of police in the initial exchange of fire. 

They added that the security cordon has been extended to the neighbouring area of Posh Kreeri on Sunday. This was done as a precautionary measure to ensure that terrorists don’t slip into civilian areas. 

Top officials within the security apparatus in Kashmir, including the Director General of Police GP and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army’s 15 Corps, have been monitoring the operation.

Punjabi University female student death: Heavy police force encircles university as students demand case against professor for mentally harassing her

OpIndia Staff
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Punjabi University female student death: Heavy police force encircles university as students demand case against professor for mentally harassing her

On September 18, around 150 police personnel were deployed at state-run Punjabi University in Patiala as the students launched a peaceful protest demanding an FIR against a professor and the cancellation of an FIR registered against University students. As per reports, a female student died at the University, leading to an attack on the professor who was accused of mentally harassing her.

Student unions United Sikh Students’ Federation, Students’ organisation of India, and Secular Youth Federation of India had announced a protest on 18th September to demand an FIR against the professor. Furthermore, they also demanded that the professor be removed from all duties at the University immediately. A case was registered against the students, which they demanded to be quashed.

In response, the police personnel circled the main gate, parking lots and back gates of the University. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) City-2 Jaswinder Singh Tiwana and Urban Estate SHO Amandeep Singh controlled the situation at the University. Reportedly, they asked the students not to shut the gates of the University.

Around 60 students gathered at the main gate of the campus to show support for the deceased girl and held a protest. Notably, political and farmer leaders have also joined the protest. Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has also come forward in support of the victim’s family and sought support from the public. In a video message, he demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

Death of a female student at Punjabi University

A 2nd-year student in the language department, Jashandeep Kaur, reportedly died on 13th September at her Choke Village home. She suffered from chronic lung disease, and the students accused Professor Dr Surjit of mentally harassing her, who is the coordinator of five-year integrated programmes at the University.

Jashandeep’s health reportedly deteriorated on 13th September, after which her family members took her home, where she succumbed to death. The student alleged Dr Surjit had been mentally harassing her for some time even though he was aware of her chronic illness. The students further accused the professor of similar behaviour towards other students in the past.

Following her death, students launched a protest at the University. They noticed him coming out of VC’s office, where they circled and attacked him. A video of the incident reportedly went viral on social media. Both male and female students were seen attacking the professor. The campus security team rushed to rescue the professor. A case under Sections 341, 323, 308, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the students.

Professor Arvind, VC of the University, said, “The girl had taken admission in 2021. She was suffering from a chronic disease. She had dropped a year and again taken admission this year. She was reported unwell at 9.30 AM on Wednesday. An ambulance was called, and she was taken to the health centre. Her family was informed, and they came and took her home. We later received information about her death. I have not received any written complaint so far in the case, and hence, no inquiry has been marked. We have filed a police complaint about the professor being attacked.”

However, the students told a different story. A student, Harman Kaur, told Indian Express, “Jashandeep Kaur had a lung issue. Shewas admitted to the University in 2021. Dr Surjit’s behaviour was abusive towards her. She couldn’t meet the attendance criterion due to her poor health. Surjit then didn’t allow her to sit for her exams, forcing her to drop a year. She returned to the same class in 2023. She again faced some issues and applied for one month of medical leave, which was denied. She was feeling sick on Wednesday, after which her family was informed. We learnt that she died at her home later. She was being pressurised and was in depression. She is not the first girl whom Surjit had abused.”

20 female students accused Dr Surjit of harassment

On 15th September, at least 20 female students approached VC Arvind to complain against Dr Surjit, accusing him of harassment. Reportedly, he refused to accept verbal complaints. Later, a four-page written complaint against Dr Surjit was sent to the VC with the signatures of over 20 students. One of the students alleged Dr Surjit called her parents and questioned them about her character. Another student alleged he told her there must be a problem with her character as her parents don’t allow her to stay in a private accommodation as she was seeking a room in the hostel.

Upon receiving the complaint, the VC said, “An inquiry officer has been appointed to investigate the complaints. Now the University is peaceful, and everything is back to normal.”

Vadodara: Big blow to Congress as nearly a dozen party leaders join the BJP, organise a mega roadshow

OpIndia Staff
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Vadodara: Big blow to Congress as nearly a dozen party leaders join the BJP, organise a mega roadshow

In a big blow to the Congress Party, almost all the members of the party from Vadodara, Gujarat, joined the BJP in the presence of Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil. The development took place when Patil had been to Vadodara to welcome two former city presidents from Congress, Prashant Patel and Suresh Patel. During the event, a large number of members from the grand old party including the councillors joined the BJP.

According to the reports, the number of Congress leaders who joined the BJP is close to a dozen. While the Congress leaders held massive roadshows to get people to come to the event and join the BJP, Paatil made a visit to veteran leader Suresh Patel’s home before the event, greeting him and leading him to the site.

Vadodara city chief Prashant Patel, veteran leader Suresh Patel, former Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) corporators Minal Gohil and Anil Parmar, real estate developers Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Agarwal, Jayesh Patel, and several supporters of the leaders were among the Congress leaders who joined the BJP on Sunday, September 17. 

While Prashant Patel, Bhavesh Patel, and Suresh Patel conducted roadshows with vehicles carrying BJP flags, Patil paid a visit to Suresh Patel’s place of residence with BJP Vadodara city president Vijay Shah and former Vadodara mayor Bharat Dangar. This was to welcome Suresh Patel to the BJP and join in his rally at the venue.

Patil enumerated many government projects implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the years he served as Gujarat Chief Minister in his address to a gathering of BJP leaders. The event was organized at a venue under the Solar Panel at the Akota-Dandia Bazar flypast.

Patil, who laid the virtual foundation stone for the Kamalam, also criticized the Congress, saying that the opposing party insulted PM Modi’s Jan Dhan Yojana but is now ‘feeling the pinch.’

“The Congress middlemen have stopped getting the kickbacks from the scheme. They also started believing that Modi was right when he said, ‘I am not corrupt, I will not allow corruption (Na Khaunga na khane doonga). We can only pray for Modiji’s good health to help him continue to serve the country and its people on his birthday today,” he said.

While addressing to the newly joined members of the BJP, Patil said, “People like Prashant (Patel), Suresh (Patel), and other leaders are strong on their own, but they felt that they want to serve people; service towards people has ceased in the Congress, and they have joined the BJP.”

“They (oppositions) don’t want to perform any seva, they only want to eat meva (dry fruits). In the BJP, it is the leaders and party workers who are involved in public service. Elections are contested by its workers. But it is true we lost many seats (in the 2022 state elections) by a small margin. Had we won the seats Congress won only by a margin of up to 5,000 votes, it would have been a Congress-mukt Gujarat,” he added.

Prashant Patel, the former Vadodara city Congress President who contested on a party ticket in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, resigned from all positions on Thursday, September 14 citing his “conscience” encouraging him to embrace the BJP’s Hindutva thought.

“I had stopped going to Congress events for the last year or so… But my conscience kept telling me that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the betterment of the Hindu Rashtra, which is the identity of the country… I want to work for the Hindu community. The concept of Hindu Rashtra includes distributing equal benefits to all communities but it is taking the country on the path of Hinduism…”

Apart from Prashant, another Congress politician, Jayesh Patel, also indicated that he and his supporters would join the BJP on September 17.

Notably, Suresh Patel who was Congress President of Vadodara stated that he and his family had been associated with Congress for three decades. But he was recently suspended from his position without any notice for giving the party plot to RSS for a program. Patel is said to have joined the party with 1200 supporters.

Married woman consenting to physical relations with another man was aware of consequences: Jharkhand HC quashes rape FIR

OpIndia Staff
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Married woman consenting to physical relations with another man was aware of consequences: Jharkhand HC quashes rape FIR

Dismissing a rape case filed by a woman, the Jharkhand High Court on Monday (18 September) stated that the woman, who was married at the time, was fully aware of the potential consequences of engaging in a physical relationship with another person.

“Victim married V [name redacted] in the year 2018 as she was major; still without getting the marriage dissolved by the competent court of law, she established physical relation with the accused Abhishek Kumar Pal though on allurement to marry her. The victim being a major and married lady, was very well aware of the consequences of a physical relationship with another person, more so she had married in the year 2018. Therefore, the consent herein cannot be said to be obtained by the accused under misconception. Therefore, the allegations made in the FIR are believed that she was deceived by the accused,” the Court observed.

The woman alleged that the accused had lured her into a romantic relationship, engaging in physical intimacy, and pressuring her not to inform her parents about their relationship.

The accused then left to pursue his education and the woman got married to someone else. The accused continued to be in touch with the woman and promised to marry her. In 2019, the woman divorced her husband.

In 2020, the woman and the accused applied for marriage registration but the process was delayed owing to the COVID-19 lockdown. Meanwhile, the physical relations between the two continued.

When the woman disclosed their relationship to her parents, the family of the accused allegedly pressured him to refuse marriage, and the woman alleged criminal intimidation by the family of the accused.

A case was then filed against the accused, his brother, and his mother under Sections 376 (Punishment for rape), and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court ruled that the accused could not be deemed to have obtained her consent under false pretence. The court also observed that the woman was still married to her former husband at the time of her physical relations with the accused.

The Court observed, “Indeed, no judicial divorce was taken by the informant-victim from her former husband. The divorce agreement, which is on record between the informant-victim and her former husband V, in which, by way of mutual agreement reduced in writing on Rs 20/- stamp the marriage dated 26.04.2018 between the victim-informant and V was dissolved, therefore, this marriage was not judicially dissolved by the competent court.”

“The victim was major since the very time when she came in contact with the accused and while during the love affairs of the victim with the accused Abhishek Kumar Pal at college time, the victim was major, while the accused was minor at that time being 2 years younger to the victim.”

Justice Chand further observed, “This agreement in regard to the dissolution of marriage is nothing but a waste paper which has not evidential value in the eye of the law. Since the marriage of the victim was solemnised with V on 26.04.2018′ but still after solemnisation of marriage, the victim continued in contact and established relation with the accused.”

The ruling came in a Criminal Revision filed against the order passed by the Sessions Court. Based on the allegations made in the FIR and the evidence collected, the Court said there was no sufficient ground to make out the offence under Section 376 of the IPC against the accused.

The order passed by the Court below was set-aside and the petitioner was discharged from the charge framed under Section 376 of the IPC.

PM Modi to convene Union Cabinet meeting at 6:30 pm today amid special session of Parliament

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi to convene Union Cabinet meeting at 6:30 pm today amid special session of Parliament

On Monday (18 September), PM Narendra Modi called a meeting of the Union Cabinet at 6:30 pm. The announcement comes in the wake of the ongoing special session of Parliament which commenced today and will continue till 22 September. 

The meeting of the Union Cabinet will be held in the old Parliament building. Though the government has not officially revealed the agenda of this meeting, media reports claim that several key bills that have been listed for consideration during the special session could be discussed.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has announced that the five-day special session will be discussing eight bills. These will include –

  1. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 
  2. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 
  3. The Post Office Bill, 2023 
  4. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
  5. A bill on the welfare of senior citizens 

The Minister added that three other bills will be related to SC/ST order. 

However, considering the past governance model of PM Modi, particularly around the introduction of the Article 370 bill in the Upper House of the Parliament, speculations are rife that the government may introduce some surprise moves. 

Earlier in the day, the special session of Parliament began with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulating the nation on the success of the G20 Summit under Bharat’s Presidency in New Delhi on 9-10 September.

Afterward, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lower House by recalling several momentous periods in the history of the Indian Parliament.

Prime Minister Modi, while delivering the last address in the old Parliament building, recalled the day he first entered the Parliament as an MP.

While mentioning the historic decisions like the revocation of Article 370, and passing of One Nation One Tax, One Rank One Pension, and other such schemes, PM also appreciated and recognized the work done by the media in covering Parliament.

Currently, discussions regarding the 75 years of incredible journey of our Independent nation are ongoing in the old Parliament building.  

On the second day of the special session, 19 September, on the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Members of Parliament will begin regular work in the new Parliament building.

Sonia Gandhi prompts Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to list her achievements in Parliament, directs him to ‘carry on’ after he stops abruptly

OpIndia Staff
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Sonia Gandhi prompts Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to list her achievements in Parliament, directs him to ‘carry on’ after he stops abruptly

On Monday (September 18), Sonia Gandhi was seen prompting Congress MLA Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to list her achievements during the special session of the Parliament.

While discussing the ‘Parliamentary Journey Of 75 Years’ in Lok Sabha, Chowdhury highlighted the ‘accomplishments’ of past Prime Ministers including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi.

At about 21:55 minutes into his speech, the Congress leader said, “I am tempted to take the name of Madam Sonia Gandhi ji, who took the initiative to pass the landmark legislation ‘Right to Information Act.”

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also credited Sonia Gandhi for other legislations such as the Right to Education Act and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), and the National Food Security Act.

Later during his speech, Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was seen telling Chowdhury to talk about Congress and Information Technology. She was also seen prompting him to add the grand old party’s supposed fight for granting women reservation.

When Speaker Om Birla indicated that his allotted time was over, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stopped abruptly to seek additional time from the Lok Sabha Chair. At that point, Sonia Gandhi was heard instructing, “Carry on, carry on, carry on…”

The Behrampur MLA quickly adapted to the situation and immediately listened to the directive of the party’s supremo. In August this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi quizzed the Opposition Congress party about its decision to not allow Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to speak on the no-confidence motion.

“Why did Congress sideline Adhir Chowdhury? Was there a call from Bengal?”, he was heard saying. Even Home Minister Amit Shah took potshots at the Congress party for sidelining the Behrampur MLA.

“Your party members don’t allow you to speak. They haven’t mentioned your name in the list. Why are you speaking during my speech? Sit down,” he had said.

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