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Indira Gandhi’s assassination by Sikh bodyguards flaunted on a tableau with Khalistan flags at Sikh parade in Canada’s Brampton, poster says “revenge”

OpIndia Staff
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Indira Gandhi’s assassination by Sikh bodyguards flaunted on a tableau with Khalistan flags at Sikh parade in Canada’s Brampton, poster says “revenge”

In a disturbing occurrence, on June 4 in a 5-km Sikh march in the Canadian city of Brampton, the pro-Khalistani elements featured a tableau glorifying the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. The tableau was a part of the annual Sikh Martyrdom Parade which saw the participation of a large number of people in the city where the largest number of Sikhs live in Canada.

The video of the tableau has gone viral over the internet in which Indira Gandhi is shown being assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. The tableau also displays Khalistani flags and a poster reading, “Revenge of the attack on Shri Darbar Sahib.” Another poster that the tableau carried read, “Never Forget 1984. Sikh Genocide.”

The video has been highly criticized by netizens who said that India should send a strong message to the Canadian PM for allegedly serving as a breeding ground for the pro-khalistani elements.

screenshot from Twitter

One of the users also said that though Indira Gandhi belonged to the Congress party, none of the BJP members will support the tableau out of respect for India’s former PM. Meanwhile, he also hinted that the Congress even today finds pleasure in defaming PM Modi on international platforms.

Screenshot from Twitter

This recent incident has once again brought to the forefront India’s concerns regarding the activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. Notably, India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner in March to convey its strong concerns about the actions by pro-Khalistani extremist elements against Indian diplomatic missions in Canada in recent times.

India had also criticized Canada last year for holding a vote on Khalistan, the call for a separate Sikh nation. The referendum was described as “deeply objectionable” and behavior “politically motivated” by extremist forces. 

Operation Blue Star and assasination of Indira Gandhi

On October 31, 1984, the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took place at her home in New Delhi, months after the Indian Army had conducted Operation Bluestar to drive Sikh insurgents from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Operation Blue Star is the largest internal security mission the Indian Army has ever gone on. The Operation was Indira Gandhi’s response to the law-and-order problems that were occurring in Punjab at the time as a result of the spread of the Khalistan movement. Under Operation Blue Star, which was conducted in Amritsar between June 1 and June 8, 1984, Indira Gandhi, the country’s prime minister at the time, gave the order for Indian soldiers to drive out Sikh militants who were stockpiling weapons in Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).

Supporters of Khalistan had taken refuge at Amritsar’s Golden Temple’s Akal Takht complex in the 1980s. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who seized control of the Akal Takht complex in Amritsar’s Golden Temple, was the target of the Blue Star operation.

According to the official data, 492 civilians and at least 83 Army jawans died during the whole operation. The fire at this time included a shot at a copy of the sacred Sikh text that was put in the Golden Temple.

Gujarat: ‘The attack on 2 persons from Nagaland not a hate crime but business rivalry’, says Ahmedabad police, assures strict action

લિંકન સોખડિયા
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Gujarat: ‘The attack on 2 persons from Nagaland not a hate crime but business rivalry’, says Ahmedabad police, assures strict action

In a recent incident in Ahmedabad, two persons from Nagaland, who ran a restaurant, were attacked in an area of Ahmedabad by local miscreants. According to the reports in the mainstream media, the attack allegedly took place just because they were outsiders and were selling non-veg. But the police investigation into this matter has revealed different things. The Ahmedabad police have cleared that the attack was not a hate crime but it was a business rivalry that caused the attack.

A report published on 6th June 2023 in Times of India was titled, “Two from Nagaland attacked for ‘selling northeastern food’ in Gujarat”. According to the report, the victim in this incident said, “There were about ten men who attacked us. They kept saying how could we sell non-vegetarian food items and northeastern food in a place like Gujarat which is dominated by Hindus.”

The Indian Express Gujarati also reported, ‘2 persons from Nagaland attacked with a baseball bat in Ahmedabad, one arrested’. “They (the attackers) said ‘Gujarat is a Hindu state and you are not even allowed to sell chicken’,” the report added.

According to The Indian Express report, Inspector J.B. Agrawat from Sola police station refuted the victim’s statements and claimed that the dispute stemmed from a professional rivalry rather than the reasons stated by the victim.

What is the case?

After acquiring an FIR related to the case, OpIndia examined it and conducted a telephonic conversation with Inspector J.B. Agrawat from Sola police station, where the incident was registered. This led to the revelation of the actual incident.

The ownership of the restaurant, known as ‘One Stop – Northeast Shop and Restaurant’ situated in the Chanakyapuri area of Ahmedabad, lies with Hiren Patel. However, the establishment is operated by two individuals from Nagaland named Rovimezzo Kehi and Mapuyangar Jamir.

On the evening of Sunday, June 4, 2023, at approximately 8:30 pm, a group of individuals arrived at the aforementioned restaurant and engaged in a heated argument concerning business-related matters. The complaint stated that there were around 10 to 12 people present in the crowd.

According to the police, the attackers were associated with a similar restaurant located nearby. Their contention was related to the fact that the targeted restaurant offered a particular type of meat as its speciality. The dispute primarily revolved around this matter.

Subsequently, a physical altercation broke out between the two parties involved. As a result, Rovimezzo Kehi sustained head injuries and was subsequently taken to Sola Civil Hospital, where he received four stitches on his head. Following the incident, both aggrieved parties approached Sheth Hiren Patel, engaged in a conversation, and later proceeded to file an official complaint at the Sola police station.

Mainstream media spread lies about this incident

During an exclusive conversation with OpIndia, Inspector JB Agrawat of Sola police station refuted the victim’s statements given to the media. He stated that their investigation determined the incident to be primarily driven by business rivalry and denied any involvement of hate crime.

Based on the filed complaint, the police have arrested one of the accused, identified as Pratik Dhobi. The authorities are currently conducting a search for two other suspects. It was further assured that the accused would face stringent action in accordance with the law.

Probe against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to be completed by June 15, WFI polls by June 30: Anurag Thakur after meeting wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik

ANI
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Probe against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to be completed by June 15, WFI polls by June 30: Anurag Thakur after meeting wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik

After meeting with India’s star wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik on Wednesday, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur assured them that the ongoing probe against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be completed by June 15 and a chargesheet will be submitted.

A six-time BJP MP, Brij Bhushan was booked by Delhi Police following allegations of sexual harassment. Earlier, on Wednesday, wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik reached Thakur’s residence in the national capital, responding positively to a call for discussion by the government on the demands and issues put forward by the grapplers during their protest.

“I had a long 6-hour discussion with the wrestlers. We assured them that the probe will be completed by June 15 and a chargesheet will be submitted. The next election for WFI president will be conducted by June 30,” the Union Sports minister said.

Speaking to reporters at his residence after holding parleys with the ace grapplers, Thakur added, “An Internal Complaint Committee of the wrestling federation will be constituted. It will be headed by a woman. We have demanded that all FIRs filed against wrestlers be withdrawn. They also requested that Brij Bhushan Singh, who has completed 3 terms (as WFI chief), and his associates be asked not to stand for the elections again. The wrestlers promised not to hold any fresh protests before June 15,” said Thakur.

Meanwhile, Bajrang Puina said the government assured that the police probe against the WFI chief will be completed before June 15.

“The government has assured us that the police investigation will be completed before June 15. We requested that all FIRs against wrestlers be taken back and he (Thakur) agreed to it. If no action is taken by June 15, we will launch fresh protests,” said Punia after meeting Thakur.

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

Mukhtar Ansari’s close aide and gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari shot dead in the Lucknow court, assailant dressed as lawyer nabbed

OpIndia Staff
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Mukhtar Ansari’s close aide and gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari shot dead in the Lucknow court, assailant dressed as lawyer nabbed

On 7th June 2023, Mukhtar Ansari‘s close aide and gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari was shot dead in the Lucknow court premises by an assailant in the afternoon. The attacker came in the guise of a lawyer.

Maheshwari was brought from Lucknow district jail to the court to attend a hearing in a criminal case. When the hearing was going on and Maheshwari was present in the court, the assailant opened fire on him. Sanjeev Maheshwari aka Jeeva, who himself was a dreaded shooter, was booked in several other criminal cases.

The police have apprehended the individual disguised as a lawyer who carried out the assault. According to a witness, the attacker fired a total of six gunshots, resulting in Sanjeev Maheshwari’s death and injuries to two other individuals including a young girl. The injured were taken to the trauma centre for medical treatment, said the police.

Following the incident, angry lawyers attacked and police and pelted stones, resulting in injuries to several cops.

Sanjeev Maheshwari was also known as ‘Jeeva’. He hailed from Muzaffarnagar in north-western Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested in 2006 in connection with the murders of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai and former UP minister Brahmadutt Dwivedi. Jeeva and former Samajwadi Party MLA Vijay Singh had been handed life sentences for the murder of Dwivedi. Jeeva was also involved in four other murders.

Sanjeev Maheshwari was involved in a series of serious crimes since 1995. He led an inter-state gang and faced charges in multiple cases, including murder, extortion, robbery, dacoity, kidnapping, and gangster activities. His name was associated with the kidnapping of a businessman’s son in Kolkata, where a ransom of two crore rupees was demanded. Additionally, Jeeva was implicated in the murders of legislative assembly members Brahm Datt Dwivedi and Krishnanand Rai, both linked to organized crime. As a result, Jeeva was incarcerated in Lucknow jail.

Jeeva was known to have a close association with mafia dons like Mukhtar Ansari and Prem Prakash Singh, also known as Munna Bajrangi. He was further accused of the assassinations of legislator Krishnanand Rai and former minister Brahmadutt Dwivedi. Following the murder of BJP legislator Krishnanand Rai, Munna Bajrangi, the primary suspect, was also killed in jail. Since then, security measures for Sanjeev Maheshwari, alias Jeeva, who was a co-accused in the case, were intensified.

Karnataka: Tejasvi Surya slams state government for excluding women entrepreneurs, employees and IT filers from Grih Lakshmi Yojana

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Tejasvi Surya slams state government for excluding women entrepreneurs, employees and IT filers from Grih Lakshmi Yojana

On 7th June 2023, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya slammed the Congress government in Karnataka for the stringent terms and conditions applied to the Grih Lakshmi Yojana. This scheme guarantees a direct benefit transfer of Rs 2000 per month to the bank accounts of women heads of families in the southern state.

Grih Lakshmi Yojana was one of the five key promises made by Congress in its election manifesto before the recently held Karnataka state assembly elections. However, in its manifesto, the Congress party did not clearly mention the terms and conditions of this scheme. It only promised Rs 2000 per month direct benefit transfer to every woman head of the family.

The Karnataka state government has now put strict terms and conditions to qualify to be the beneficiary of this scheme. According to this, if the woman or husband is an income taxpayer or a GST refund claimant, then the woman is not eligible to get the benefits of this scheme. This automatically excludes most of the women who are entrepreneurs, or wives of entrepreneurs. This also automatically excludes the wives of private-sector or government-sector employees who file income tax returns. This also excludes the women who work in either the private or government sector.

Tejasvi Surya tweeted, “Another day, another betrayal to people of Karnataka by Congress. After promising Rs 2,000 per month to the woman head of every family Siddarmaiah’s government has released its long list of conditions – leaving out Govt & Private Employees, entrepreneurs & those filing I-T returns or getting GST refunds. In other words, a significant portion of the state’s women, who were promised Rs 2,000 every month, have been left out.”

Though the Grih Lakshmi Yojana includes women from both above-poverty-line and below-poverty-line classes, the condition to exclude working women or wives of government and private employees substantially reduces the total effective reach of the scheme. Earlier, this scheme was embroiled in another controversy when it was not made clear as to who should be called a woman head of the family. there were complaints of clashes between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law over getting the direct benefit transfers to their respective bank accounts.

While giving an explanation for this confusion, Karnataka’s minister for women and child welfare, Lakshmi Hebbalkar said, “It’s up to the family to decide. This amount should be given to the mother-in-law under the Grih Dhanlaxmi scheme. There is an Indian tradition that the owner or senior woman of the house is the head of the family. She can also give the amount to her daughter-in-law if she wishes.”

Maharashtra: Clashes in Kolhapur after WhatsApp posts on Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Clashes in Kolhapur after WhatsApp posts on Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan

Massive tensions erupted in the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra on Wednesday, June 7, amid peaceful protest by Hindu organisations against people who posted social media stories praising Aurangzeb and Islamic tyrant Tipu Sultan on the glorious day when the state celebrated the 350th Rajyabhishek Day of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The police had to resort to lathicharge and tear gas shells after the peaceful protest organised by several Hindu organisations was attacked by miscreants who pelted stones at the protesters. According to the local reports, the fight between the two groups happened after the Hindus were attacked by the miscreants.

“Some organisations had called for a Kolhapur bandh and the members of these organisations gathered at Shivaji Chowk today. After their demonstration ended, the crowd began to disperse but some miscreants started pelting stones, forcing police to use force against these people to disperse them,” Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit was quoted as saying.

Collector of Kolhapur, Rahul Rekhawar also stated that the situation in Kolhpur is under control and appealed to the citizens not to believe the rumours and to go with only official government statements.

(Video attached above shows stone-pelting from the terrace of a building. The video has been sent to OpIndia by one of the Hindu activists)

Apparently, the objectionable social media stories went viral a day after they were posted and Hindus had gathered in the city to seek action against the persons who posted such stories. “After the chaos, the police then resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. It is being said that the two persons who posted the objectionable stories have been detained, but it’s unconfirmed,” the activist added.

Six arrested so far, confirms Police

Meanwhile, it has come to the fore that several shops have been vandalized in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, Ganji Galli, Mahadwar Road, Akbar Mohalla, and Shivaji Road adjacent to Shivaji Chowk area in the city of Kolhapur. However, the state police are said to have brought the situation under control by 12:30 pm. Kolhapur Zone IG Sunil Phulari also reviewed the situation and confirmed that six persons have been arrested in the case of violence and that further investigations are underway.

Internet services in Kolhapur suspended

Reports mention that the administration has ordered telecom companies to disconnect mobile internet services in Kolhapur to prevent any kind of offensive messages from going viral on social media. Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit confirmed the event and said it is a preventive measure to avoid any untoward incident from happening in the city.

Notably, there were a total of seven persons who had posted the objectionable WhatsApp status on the occasion of the 350th Rajyabhishek Day of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj yesterday. According to the sources, two of them belonged to Kolhapur while the others were from the nearby small towns. The police have booked a case against the persons who uploaded the status and have assured the Hindu activists that they will take action against them.

‘Disrespect to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will not be tolerated’: Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis commented on the issue and said that those who are praising the Islamic tyrants on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s land will not be spared. “This Maharashtra belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and people who show disrespect to him will not be spared. This is intolerable. The situation in Kolhapur is being monitored and it is under control now. The state appeals to people to maintain peace,” he said.

Further, cabinet ministers Deepak Kesarkar and Shambhuraje Desai said that some of the political elements were making deliberate attempts to disturb the communal harmony in the state. The duo also warned that the miscreants would be dealt with a heavy hand.

Similar incidents were reported from Ahmednagar, Yavatmal

Earlier, a similar incident was reported from Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra where four persons flaunted posters of Aurangzeb during a procession on Sunday in the Mukundnagar area. The police have filed a case against four people in total and have arrested two of them.

Further, on May 17, Maharashtra Police filed an FIR against one person identified as Sheikh Aftaab Shiekh Mannan for uploading an Islamist propaganda social media story on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The accused person had posted a video in which Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was seen bowing down before Aurangzeb. “Aurangzeb Hindustan ka Baap,” the video captioned.

In the given case at present, tight police security has been deployed in the city of Kolhapur, particularly in some of the sensitive pockets with other forces reportedly kept on alert.

Union cabinet approves new 28.50 km elevated metro line in Gurugram worth ₹5,452 crore, SPV of centre and Haryana govt to be set up

OpIndia Staff
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Union cabinet approves new 28.50 km elevated metro line in Gurugram worth ₹5,452 crore, SPV of centre and Haryana govt to be set up

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a new metro line in Gurugram, from HUDA City Centre to Cyber City, with a spur line to Dwarka Expressway. The route will be 28.50 km long and will have 27 stations.

The entire track will be elevated, which will be a standard gauge line of 1435 mm (5 ft 8.5 inches). The total completion cost of the project will be ₹5,452 crore. The project is to be completed in 4 years from the date of sanction.

The length of the main corridor of Huda City Centre to Cyber City will be 26.65 km and it will have 26 stations. The spur line from Basai Village to Dwarka Expressway, provided for connectivity to depot, will be 1.85 km long with 1 station.

The stations on this metro line will be HUDA City Centre, Sector 45, Cyber Park, Sector 47, Subhash Chowk, Sector 48, Sector 72A, Hero Honda Chowk, Udyog Vihar Phase 6, Sector 10, Sector 37, Basai Village, Sector 9, Sector 7, Sector 4, Sector 5, Ashok Vihar, Sector 3, Bajghera Road, Palam Vihar Extension, Palam Vihar, Sector 23A, Sector 22, Udyog Vihar Phase 4, Udyog Vihar Phase 5, and Cyber City.

Alignment of the proposed line (in blue), with Delhi Metro (Yellow) and Rapid Metro Gurugram (green)

The design speed of the project will be 80 kmph, while the average speed will be 34 kmph.

The project is proposed to be completed in four years from the date of sanction of the Project and is to be implemented by Harayana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (HMRTC) which will be set up as a 50:50 Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Government of India and Government of Haryana after sanction order is issued.

The share of govt of India in the project cost will be ₹896.19 crore, and the Haryana govt’s share will be ₹1432.49 crore, and Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HUDA) will contribute ₹300 crore. ₹2,688.57 will be raised through loans, and ₹135.47 will come through PPP route for lifts and escalators. Loan is being tied up with European Investment Board (EIB) and World Bank (WB) for the project.

According to a cabinet statement, 90% of the land needed for the project is govt land, and only 10% land is private. The process of shifting utilities has already started.

At present, there is no metro connectivity in Old Gurugram. This new metro line will connect New Gurugram with Old Gurugram. New Gurugram has two metro lines, the Yellow Line of Delhi Metro, and Rapid Metro Gurugram, a light metro system that acts as a feeder line of the Delhi Metro, and is currently operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

The new metro line will connect to the Rapid Metro Gurugram at Cyber Hub. The other end of the line will meet the DMRC Yellow Line at HUDA City Centre. However, the lines will not join together, as the Yellow Line is broad gauge, while the new line will be of standard gauge.

This network will also connect with Indian Railway station. In next phase, it will provide connectivity to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. This will also provide overall economic development in the area.

Wrestlers Protest: Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik meet sports minister Anurag Thakur, submit 5 demands including female WFI president

OpIndia Staff
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Wrestlers Protest: Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik meet sports minister Anurag Thakur, submit 5 demands including female WFI president

Protesting wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik reached Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s residence in the national capital on Wednesday. Following a new proposal from the minister for a conversation on issues brought up by the former during their month-long protest, he convened a meeting to address their grievances.

The grapplers put forth their five demands before the minister which included the appointment of a female president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). They sought the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the current head of the WFI and the exclusion of his family members from the organisation. They wanted the WFI elections to be held ‘impartially.’ Additionally, they asked that the First Information Report (FIR) against wrestlers should be dropped for rioting in Delhi.

“We will discuss the proposal given by the government with our seniors and supporters. Only when everyone gives their consent that the proposal is fine, then will we agree. It won’t happen that we will agree to anything that the government says and end our protest,” Sakhi Malik informed earlier in the day.

Hours after accepting the invitation for a meeting in the late hours of the night, they went to Anurag Thakur’s home in New Delhi. The meeting happened after the wrestlers met Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence on June 4. However, the wrestlers found the meeting ‘inconclusive.’

Following this, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malika, and Bajrang Punia joined their respective duty in railways. However, Khap and farmer leaders were incensed by this move.

This was the second meeting between the wrestlers and Anurag Thakur. The first one was in January when top wrestlers including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat met over dinner at his house in January following which they withdrew their protest after gaining assurances that the latter would take appropriate measures regarding the matter.

However, they returned to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on April 23 after their initial protest in January, to demonstrate against WFI head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They demand an investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment of female wrestlers by Bharatiya Janta Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during his tenure as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India.

The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs and ten complaints against the politician regarding the case. The FIRs and complaints were registered at Delhi’s Connaught Place police station. The complaints were registered on April 21, and the FIRs were filed on April 28.

According to the FIRs, he was charged with requesting sexual favours. Ten molestation accusations were also brought against him. The claims included specifics about his attempts at inappropriate contact, which comprised of placing his hand over the girls’ chests and moving it to the back, among other things. The first of the two filed FIRs contained the assertions made by the wrestlers, while the second described complaints presented by the parent of a juvenile.

As part of its probe, the Delhi Police took testimonies from his friends and others who work at his Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, home, according to authorities on Tuesday. They added that the girl whose confession served as the foundation for the POCSO Act has recorded a new statement in accordance with section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

In accordance with the officials, police are gathering evidence in relation to the complaint brought against him and will present a report in court as a result. There have apparently been over 125 persons interviewed and their statements recorded, involving family members and friends from both sides. He has reportedly also been interrogated twice.

In the meantime, the BJP leader has refuted all of the charges and stated that he has complete confidence in the country’s legal and judicial systems.

Modi government announces hike in MSP for Kharif crops for the 2023-24 season

OpIndia Staff
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Modi government announces hike in MSP for Kharif crops for the 2023-24 season

On Wednesday, June 7, the Modi government approved the increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the Kharif crops during the 2023-24 marketing season. 

The cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has authorised a Rs 143 increase in paddy MSP to Rs 2,183 per quintal for 2023-24, with Moong MSP recording the highest increase at Rs 8,558 per quintal.

The support price of ‘A’ quality paddy has been raised by Rs 163 to Rs 2,203 per quintal, up from Rs 2,060. The support price for Jowar-Hybrid and Jowar-Maldandi has been hiked to Rs 3180 and Rs 3225, respectively. Meanwhile, the support price for Bajra, Ragi, Maize, and Toor/Arhar has been increased in this marketing season to Rs 2500, Rs 3846, Rs 2090, and Rs 7000, respectively.

Soybean MSP which earlier was at Rs 4300 now stands at Rs 4,600 per quintal, sesamum MSP is Rs 8,635 per quintal with an Rs 805 increase from last year’s MSP, niger seed MSP is Rs 7,734 per quintal (Rs 7,287 last year), and cotton (medium staple MSP is Rs 6,620 per quintal witnessing an increase of Rs 540. Cotton’s MSP (long staple) has been raised from Rs 6380 to Rs 7,020 per quintal.

MSP for Kharif marketing season 2023-24 (Image via PIB)

Moreover, the MSP for Urad has been increased by Rs 350 to Rs 6950, last year it was Rs 6600. Groundnut MSP has been hiked to Rs 6377 and Sunflower seed to Rs 6760.

According to an official press release, the hike in MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24 is consistent with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of “setting the MSP at least 1.5 times the All-India weighted average Cost of Production, with the goal of providing farmers with relatively fair remuneration.”

The predicted margin to farmers over their cost of production for bajra is estimated to be 82%, followed by tur (58%), soybean (52%), and urad (51%). The margin to farmers over their cost of production for the remaining crops is projected to be at least 50%.

The press release further stated that the government has encouraged the cultivation of crops other than cereals, including pulses, oilseeds, and Nutri-cereals/Shree Anna, by increasing the MSP for these crops.  Furthermore, the government has “developed several schemes and initiatives to encourage farmers to diversify their crops, such as the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).”

Calling the Modi government “a partner in the prosperity of the farmers” Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar tweeted, “Today, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shri  @narendramodi ji, the Union Cabinet took an important decision in the interest of the farmers… Unprecedented increase in Minimum Support Price for Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24.”

Jamia professor Shoaib Jamai spreads lies about Hindu religious texts, claims Apsaras are same as Hoors in Islam, here are the facts

OpIndia Staff
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Jamia professor Shoaib Jamai spreads lies about Hindu religious texts, claims Apsaras are same as Hoors in Islam, here are the facts

A film titled 72 Hoorain (72 Hoors) depicting the dark face of Islamic terrorism is soon to release. The teaser of the film was launched on 4th June 2023. After the teaser of this film was released, Dr Shoaib Jamai, Chairman of India Muslim Foundation and a professor of Jamia Millia Islamia University, posted a thread of tweets spreading fake things about Hindu religious texts to whitewash the concept of 72 Hoors in his faith that is Islam.

Hoors (meaning beautiful virgin ladies) promised to Muslim men when they go to Jannat (meaning paradise or heaven) after attaining martyrdom while on the path of Jihad is one of the most alluring baits to join Jihad and unleash Islamic terrorism. The terror masters of various terrorist outfits lure Muslim youths with jannat and 72 hoors to kill infidels (non-Muslims) and wage jihad against them. Trapped in this greed, Muslims become terrorists and then get ready to kill others and themselves. When the film’s teaser calling out this Islamic belief was released, Dr Shoaib Jamai took to Twitter to write false things about Apsaras described in various Hindu scriptures, and compared them with Hoors.

He wrote, “Those who don’t marry and spread hatred over social media in an attempt to get 1000 Apsaras of heaven are nowadays preaching knowledge on 72 hoors. Kalyug is astonishing.”

With this post, he shared two images with multiple purported verses from Hindu scriptures which said that if a warrior attains martyrdom in a war, one thousand Apsaras of heaven wish to become his wife. Dr Shoaib Jamai’s post quoted from Hindu scriptures like Devi Bhagwat, Matsya Purana, Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, Mahabharata, etc.

Dr Shoaib Jamai further wrote, “Literary proof of the existence of Apsara From Rigveda and Vishnu Purana.”

With this tweet, he shared some alleged translations of the said Hindu scriptures describing the creation of Apsaras. Dr Shoaib Jamai essentially tried to imply that like Muslims kill non-Muslims to get 72 Hoors in paradise, Hindus also kill others so that they get 1000 Apsaras.

However, these are false claims, and while Hindu scripts mention Apsaras, nowhere it is written that Hindus will get 1000 Apsaras. Apsaras are described as celestial maidens associated with the court of God Indra, and they are associated with several important incidents described in Hindu texts. According to the Mahabharata, Apsaras, along with Gandharvas, were engaged in divine tasks, and they worshipped God Brahma through hymns and chants. Nowhere it is mentioned that Apsaras are ‘available’ for ordinary men as prizes, like how Hoors are described.

The Jamia professor’s claims were debunked by author Anshul Pandey who quoted relevant references and authentic translations of Hindu scriptures to show how Dr Shoaib Jamai spread misinformation about the Hindu holy books.

Out of the references quoted by Dr Shoaib Jamai, Van Parva of Mahabharata – verse number 168.6-7 did not mention Apsaras. Jamai gave a false translation. Anshuman Parva’s reference from Mahabharata – verse number 13.79.27 was also cross-checked by Anshul Pandey – the author who holds exceptional authority on Mahabharata. That reference also did not mention Apsaras.

Atharva Veda’s verse number 4.34.2 was also quoted by Dr Shoaib Jamai. Anshul Pandey provided a proper translation of the text and underlined that it talks about women and not Apsaras.

Dr Shoaib Jamai also quoted the 31st verse of the 3rd chapter of the Parashar Smriti. Anshul Pandey gave the original script and translation of yet another verse and proved that it does not contain any word which means women or Apsaras.

Similarly, Dr Shoaib Jamai implied that Rig Veda 10.103.3 and Atharva Veda 2.2.5 mention Apsaras. While the Rig Veda reference – as cross verified by Anshul Pandey – did not contain the word Apsaras while the other reference called Apsaras as wives of Gandharvas and that they should be worshipped.

The only reference that was found quasi-factual was the one from Mahabharata. Dr Shoaib Jamai said that Shati Parva (12) 98.46-48 of Mahabharata says that a warrior gets 1000 Apsaras after attaining martyrdom. Anshul Pandey providing proper translation tweeted, “You mentioned about Mahabharat Shanti Parva (12).98.46-48. Here Apsara is mentioned but it says that a Beautiful woman is waiting for his Husband in Swarga lok, And nothing wrong in having intimacy with her husband. You translated as per your convenience.”

Explaining the difference between the concepts of Apsaras and Hoors, Anshul Pandey told Dr Shoaib Jamai, “Enough of evidence now, If you really want to know more about Apsaras in our scriptures then do your Ghar wapsi. Apsara is a celestial term in Sanatan and Worship them, you can’t compare them to hoors, Are Hoors worshipped in heaven? No right? it is a completely different concept.”

He further explained how Apsaras were made by Brahma for Natya Shastra – the classical theatre that roots in Indian in fact Hindu mythology. He also underlined the difference between a Hoor and an Apsara. While a Hoor is only meant to give sexual pleasure to the Muslim who attains martyrdom during Jihad against non-Muslims, an Apsara is meant for the art it is created for. wrote, “In Natya Shastra, it’s mentioned that they Originated for Abhinay. If you find any verse in the Scriptures to have the pleasure of Apsaras means you need to watch their Natya (Not for Sex). It is up to you with what intentions you are seeing that Natya of that girl.”

This explanation, however difficult to comprehend for someone like Dr Shoaib Jamai holds importance because in the guise of giving a rebuttal to something as indefensible as the concept of 72 Hoors, Islamic professors like Dr Shoaib Jamai start misquoting the false translations of Hindu scriptures to whitewash the superstition in their religion.

Shoaib Jamei is known for his controversial acts and comments. He was a media coordinator of the Shaheen Bagh protests.

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