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Wrestlers say 2 injured in police scuffle, video emerges of Dushyant Phogat saying he got hurt by a fan, not police: Watch

OpIndia Staff
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Wrestlers say 2 injured in police scuffle, video emerges of Dushyant Phogat saying he got hurt by a fan, not police: Watch

A day after a scuffle broke out between the Delhi Police and the protesting wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the wrestlers had claimed that two protestors had been hurt after the police ‘attacked’ them. The wrestlers yesterday claimed that the scuffle led to some wrestlers getting injured, including Dushyant Phogat, who had been taken to the hospital.

In the video which has been shared by ABP news journalist Vikas Bhadauria, Dushyant Phogat can clearly be heard saying that he has attained the injuries due to the fan. “Pankhe se lag gai (Got hurt due to the fan),” he said as he was seen being questioned by his aides about the injury on his head.

The wrestlers who have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since 23 April.

The scuffle yesterday is said to have broken after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) politician and an MLA from Malviya Nagar, Somnath Bharti arrived at Jantar Mantar with folding beds for the wrestlers without any permission. The Delhi Police spotted Bharti and said that he did not have permission to see the wrestler, given that in the evening, no outsiders were allowed inside the barricade.

After a few minutes, the wrestlers also got involved and the Police detained Bharati and his supporters who arrived at the spot. The matter further escalated as the wrestlers claimed that the Delhi Police was drunk and they misbehaved with the wrestlers. The police, according to the wrestlers, also caused injuries to Dushyant Phogat and other wrestlers. However, the viral video states that Phogat suffered injuries due to the fan and not due to the police.

One of the protesting wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat also meanwhile claimed that drunk police officers abused her during the scuffle. “I was abused and pushed around by policemen. Where were the women police personnel? If you want to kill us, kill us. Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We have not even eaten our food. Does every man have a right to abuse women? These policemen are holding guns, they can kill us,” she was quoted as saying.

Geeta Phogat also tweeted to claim that the Delhi Police had caused injury to her little brother, Dushyant Phogat. However, the viral video tells a different story.

Reportedly, Bajrang Punia, another wrestler has called for support from farmers in their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. “Delhi Police’s high-handedness will not work anymore. We will call farmers to assemble here in numbers. We will not tolerate it anymore. Tractors or trolleys, whatever you get, just come here. I request everyone to reach Delhi by Thursday morning. This is the time. If not, then when? This is a question of the dignity of our daughters. People like Brij Bhushan are roaming freely despite being criminals and all this is happening to us,” he said.

According to Delhi Police, a confrontation between Bharti and his followers and law enforcement officials occurred when they attempted to remove the folding beds from their vehicles in an ‘aggressive’ manner.

“During the protest at Jantar Mantar, Mr Somnath Bharti came to the protest site along with folding beds without permission. On intervention, the supporters became aggressive in trying to get the beds out of the truck. Subsequently, a minor altercation took place in which Mr Somnath Bharti along with 2 others was detained,” said DCP New Delhi, Pranav Tayal.

Following the late-night altercation, Delhi Police have heavily barricaded the wrestlers’ protest location at Jantar Mantar.

‘Journalists’, media and SM users spread fake news about wrestlers writing a letter to Amit Shah, get fact-checked by the wrestlers themselves: Full details

Jhankar Mohta
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‘Journalists’, media and SM users spread fake news about wrestlers writing a letter to Amit Shah, get fact-checked by the wrestlers themselves: Full details

A copy of a letter claimed to be written by Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on behalf of the protesting wrestlers following the alleged altercation between the wrestlers and the police at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday (May 3) has gone viral on social media.

Several social media users including some ‘journalists’ have taken to Twitter to share a copy of the purported letter. Various media outlets have also reported on this purported letter claimed to be written by Bajrang Punia to HM Amit Shah.

However, the letter has turned out to be fake, as the wrestlers themselves have fact-checked the assertion and confirmed that no such letter had been written to HM Amit Shah by them. In fact, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who has been protesting with her peers at Jantar Mantar, took to Twitter on May 4, to call the letter fake.

Phogat has, in fact, put out two tweets on the issue. In her first tweet posted earlier in the day, she shared a screenshot of a tweet posted by ‘journalist’ Ranvijay Singh wherein he had shared a copy of the purported letter. The ‘journalist’ captioned the tweet, in Hindi which translates to, “Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have written a letter to HM Amit Shah, hope Amit Shah would pay heed.”

Notably, the journalist deleted his tweet after Vinesh Phogat took to Twitter to fact-check him.

SS of Vinesh Phogat’s tweet

In the subsequent tweet, Vinesh Phogat reconfirmed that no such letter has been written to HM Amit Shah on behalf of the protesting wrestlers.

It may be recalled that yesterday (May 3) at around 11 PM, a scuffle broke down between the protesting wrestlers and Delhi police at Jantar Mantar after police stopped AAP leader Somnath Bharti from entering the protest site to give folding cots to protesters. Soon after, this purported letter, signed by Bajrang Punia and addressed to Home Minister Amit Shah started circulating on social media.

Several users shared a copy of the letter which was dated May 4, 2023, with claims that the protesting wrestlers have written to Amit Shah after the scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar yesterday (May 3).

Several media houses, especially vernacular media houses like ABP News, India TV Hindi, Punjab Kesari, OneIndia Hindi and TV9 Bharatvarsh also reported on the purported letter which urged the Home Minister to immediately resolve the issues and meet the demands of the protesting wrestlers. The letter also spoke about the scuffle that had broken down between the protesting wrestlers and Delhi police at Jantar Mantar.

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However, now the wrestlers have themselves clarified that no such letter was written to the Home Minister from their side.

PT Usha heckled by protestors, late-night scuffle with Delhi police

On May 3, at around 11 PM, a scuffle broke down between the protesting wrestlers and Delhi police at Jantar Mantar after Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Somnath Bharti and DCW chairperson Swati Mahiwal, visited the protest site with the police detaining Somnath Bharti and AAP supporters.

Yesterday’s fiasco at Jantar Mantar started much earlier with PT Usha being heckled and manhandled by the protestors. PT Usha had visited the protest site to meet the wrestlers. A video made it to social media where she was seen being hackled by some protesters that raised concerns about her safety at the protest site. She had to escape with the help of security personnel present at the site.

Here it becomes imperative to recall that it was after the video of PT Usha being manhandled went viral, did news emerge of another scuffle at Jantar Mantar. As per Delhi Police, the entry of any outsider was banned post-evening. Reports suggest that Somnath Bharti visited the protest site to provide them with folding cots in the late hours on the instructions of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Protesters called for mass movement towards Delhi

After the alleged scuffle, Bajrang Punia said, “We’re in need of the support of the whole country; everyone must come to Delhi. Police using force against us, abusing women and doing nothing against Brijbhushan.” He called for everyone to pick up tractors and march towards Delhi. Another protester said, “Do not wait for the morning. Reach here by morning”.

Wrestlers protest

On April 23, ace wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia launched a second round of protests against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging he sexually harassed hundreds of female wrestlers. The first round of protests took place in January this year. It was called off after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur formed a committee to investigate the matter.

Following the fresh wrestler’s protest, Delhi Police filed FIRs against Singh based on the complaints of seven athletes. The entry of politicians in the protests and slogans like ‘Modi teri kabar khudegi’ have raised concerns over the actual motive behind the protests.

In other news, the AAP-led Delhi government has announced that Punia will be appointed as chief sports advisor. Currently, he is an employee at Indian Railways.

Manipur: Curfew in 8 districts, mobile internet suspended after violence against ST status to Meiteis, Mary Kom appeals to centre for help

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: Curfew in 8 districts, mobile internet suspended after violence against ST status to Meiteis, Mary Kom appeals to centre for help

Indian boxing legend and former world champion MC Mary Com has made an appeal to the Central government to assist her state Manipur after violence broke out there during a tribal agitation amid the tension over the Manipur government’s move to protect forests in the face of opposition from illegal immigrants and the High Court’s direction to include the Meitei community in scheduled tribes.

The six-time World Amateur Boxing Champion tweeted that her native Manipur is “burning” with some images from the raging protest. She also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PMO, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested them to help her state to come out of the violence.

She also posted a video registering her distress over the frightening circumstances in her home state and requested both the centre and the state government to take measures to normalise the situation.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also addressed the issue and called it a result of a prevailing misunderstanding. He also assured that his administration is taking all the necessary steps to control the situation.

Violence broke out on May 3 during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the Churachandpur district’s Torbung area to oppose the demand of the non-tribal Meiteis – who dominate the Imphal Valley – for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation. Afterwards, a curfew was imposed in eight Manipur districts, and internet service was cut off throughout the entire northeastern State.

The rally was attended by thousands of protestors and violence between tribal people and non-tribal people was reported in the Torbung area. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to control the mob.

Although many protesters have started returning to their homes in various parts of the hills, the situation is still tense. A substantial police presence has been ensured and the non-tribal agitators have been requested to return to their homes. However, agitated youths were observed gathering at Canchipur in the Imphal West district and Soibam Leikai in Imphal East in the Valley asking for retaliation.

Curfew under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) which authorises the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area has been imposed due to the circumstances in both the tribally dominant Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts as well as the non-tribal Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts. Internet services were immediately suspended for five days throughout the State.

“To thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life or danger to public and private property, it had become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in the public interest by stopping the spread of misinformation and false rumours through various social platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter on phone,” an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash read.

It further stated, “The order is being passed ex-parte in view of the emergent situation and shall be in force for the next five days with immediate effect.” The eight district administrations each issued their own curfew declaration directives.

The Army and Assam Riffle personnel have also been deployed in several affected districts in Manipur. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the Army and Assam Rifles were called in, and by this morning, the violence had been subdued. According to the latest figures at least 7,500 civilians of all communities were rescued in major operations by the forces.

People were offered shelter at various locations within the Army and Assam Rifles contingency operating base (COB) and state government buildings. To calm the tension down, army men also marched with flags in the neighbourhood.

“So far, 4,000 people were rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter and more people are being shifted to safer places,” an official informed. “Flag marches are being conducted to keep the situation under control,” stated a defence spokesperson. 

The ATSUM had called for the march in all the 10 hill districts in the state to oppose moves for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category. The majority population in Manipur is seeking ST designation, and lawmakers from the Valley have previously publicly endorsed this demand, alarming tribes that are already on the Scheduled Tribe list.

The Valley, which makes up around a tenth of the land area of the former princely state, is home to the Meiteis, who make up 53% of the State’s population. They assert that large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis is responsible for their problems.

Most of the state’s hill districts, which make up a large portion of its land mass, are home to tribal people, including the Nagas and Kukis, and are shielded from encroachment by a number of laws.

To attend the protests, tribal villagers travelled in buses and open trucks to the nearest hill district offices.

In order to guarantee that the greatest number of demonstrators could attend the march, local authorities in the Naga-dominated Senapati town, the district headquarters with the same name and located approximately 58 km from Imphal, forced a complete market shutdown and the suspension of public transport from 10 am to 1 pm.

Thousands of tribal people, who constitute roughly 40% of the state’s population, marched in the procession, held signs, and chanted slogans opposing the inclusion of Meities in the ST list.

Additionally, Senapati District Students’ Association representatives met with the Deputy Commissioner and shared their worries with him. People disobeyed prohibitory orders and gathered at the public ground in Churachandpur, the second-largest town in the State, before staging a rally that continued till Tuibong.

After violent protests last week against a plan to relocate residents from restricted forest areas, prohibitions were imposed for an indeterminate time in the town. In order to contain the situation following the vandalism of a location where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was set to address a programme, security forces were hurriedly dispatched to the town from various areas of Manipur.

Similar demonstrations took place in Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Noney, and Ukhrul as well, where even schoolchildren were reportedly present, according to the authorities.

In the Valley districts, including at Sugnu in the Kakching district, counter-blockades were erected in support of giving Meitei’s ST status. The majority community’s request for ST designation, as well as the preservation of trees that are reserved and protected, were screamed out by protesters.

The movement to include Meiteis in the ST category is being led by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM), which maintains that the demand is not just being made to protect our ancestral land, culture, and identity but also to stop illegal migration from Bangladesh, Myanmar, and other countries, as well as by people from outside the state.

UP Police constables Imran and Furqan rape a 26-year-old woman, beat her, issue death threats, and force her to abort twice

OpIndia Staff
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UP Police constables Imran and Furqan rape a 26-year-old woman, beat her, issue death threats, and force her to abort twice

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday filed a complaint against the two UP Police constables identified as Imran and Furqan for raping a 26-year-old Hindu woman multiple times and forcing her to abort twice. The incident is said to have happened in the Pilibhit region of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the reports, the victim woman, a resident of Shamli, came in contact with one of the accused, Imran Mirza in 2021 via Facebook. Imran, who is presently stationed in Pilibhit, is said to have disclosed to the woman that he wanted to marry her. He took her to several hotels where he raped her.

Imran trapped the woman for a few months in a rental property in Shamli, his hometown. His older brother Furqan also joined him in torturing and abusing the woman at this point.

The lady claims that during this time she got pregnant twice and that both times Imran forced her to get an abortion. Two years of harassment later, the woman made the decision to face Imran. However, she was severely beaten, which led her to file a complaint in court.

“I remained quiet for two years. When I confronted him recently, I was brutally beaten up. That is when I decided to take legal action. Now, I am getting death threats from Imran and his brother to withdraw the case,” the woman said.

The Pilibhit police took cognizance of the event and confirmed that an FIR based on the complaint of the woman has been filed and that the two accused have been booked under relevant sections of the law. “Further investigations are underway,” the Police added in the tweet.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) (Pilibhit) Atul Sharma said, “Preliminary probe revealed that the woman belongs to a different community. The key accused, Imran, had taken a long leave and was expected to rejoin duty on May 3. Action will soon be taken in the matter.”

As Congress goes into damage control, BJP to recite Hanuman Chalisa amidst the row over Congress’ poll promise to ban Bajrang Dal

OpIndia Staff
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As Congress goes into damage control, BJP to recite Hanuman Chalisa amidst the row over Congress’ poll promise to ban Bajrang Dal

The row over the Congress party’s promise to ban Bajrang Dal in its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka elections does not seem to end anytime soon. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now announced that the party will recite Hanuman Chalisa across Karnataka on Thursday at 7 pm.

Speaking about the same, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that “Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the BJP does not know how to recite Hanuman Chalisa, so here is an invitation to him to come, see and listen how we recite the Hanuman Chalisa.”

Karandlaje also urged the people of the state to join the Hanuman Chalisa recitation programs held by the BJP across the state.

Notably, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had recently said that the “BJP and its friends do not how to read the Hanuman Chalisa, they only know how to take 40 percent commission.”

The political war of words erupted after the Congress party released its election manifesto on May 2 in which it promised to ban Bajrang Dal and also equated the Hindu group with the banned Islamist outfit PFI.

“We believe that law and Constitution are sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI, or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations,” read the party manifesto.

The move was met with severe criticism and backlash. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also slammed the Congress party for promising to ban the Hindu outfit in its manifesto. Addressing a rally in Karnataka’s Vijayanagara PM Modi said that the Congress earlier had a problem with those who chanted the name of Lord Ram and now they have decided to lock those who chant “Jai Bajrang Bali” in an obvious reference to the members of the Bajrang Dal. 

Interestingly, on Wednesday, May 3, Karnataka Congress leader and former chief minister M. Veerappa Moily in an apparent damage control move said that it is not possible for the state government to ban Bajrang Dal, adding that there is no proposal to ban the group. 

“We have PFI and Bajrang Dal mentioned in our (Congress) manifesto and included all radical outfits. However, banning an outfit is not possible for the state government as it is the central government’s jurisdiction. So a ban on Bajrang Dal by the Karnataka government is not possible. DK Shivakumar will come up with more clarity on this,” Moily said while addressing the media in Udupi.

The whole school knew he had a massive crush on me: Prithi talks about her husband and Indian cricketing legend R Ashwin

ANI
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The whole school knew he had a massive crush on me: Prithi talks about her husband and Indian cricketing legend R Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has enjoyed phenomenal success for over a decade and continues to weave his magic for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2023. His wife Prithi Ashwin has been a pillar of strength for the 36-year-old for years.

Prithi appeared on Match Center Live’s ‘Hangout’ on JioCinema to talk about her husband. The conversation was hosted by Sania Mirza, Veda Krishnamurthy and Danish Sait and they got Prithi to open up about their relationship and also played a unique game of chess to find out more about their lives as a couple. Prithi recalled the early days, saying that she and Ashwin went to the same school together and have been knowing each other since then.

“But then, we grew up and met as adults again. I was working at an events company. He had a massive crush on me, and the whole school knew it… He moved schools to pursue cricket and we were in touch on and off, birthdays, neighbourhood, like that. I met him again when I was handling CSK’s account and suddenly I saw him as a six-footer. We knew each other from Grade 7.”

As luck would have it, they went from being childhood friends to falling in love later in life.

Prithi described the simple way in which Ashwin ultimately asked her out after 10 years of being acquaintances. “Once he took me to a cricket ground and he’s a straight shooter. He said, ‘I’ve kinda liked you all my life and it hasn’t changed over 10 years. We’re adults and let’s try this’,” she said.

Later in the conversation, Prithi played a unique game of chess with the hosts where the King (Ravi Ashwin) and the Queen (Prithi) would advance one step based on the answers she gave.

This revealed a lot about their relationship, as Prithi described Ashwin’s temperament as a father and a husband. This included her revealing which one of them is likelier to start a fight with the other.

“It’s Ashwin. We fought this morning, I don’t remember about what. I think he was calling me funny names and it suddenly stopped being funny,” she said.

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

JKNPP founder’s son apologizes for pelting eggs, stones at Indian High Commission in UK, writes to PM Modi seeking visa to perform mother’s last rites

OpIndia Staff
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JKNPP founder’s son apologizes for pelting eggs, stones at Indian High Commission in UK, writes to PM Modi seeking visa to perform mother’s last rites

Ankit Love, son of JKNPP founder Bhim Singh apologized to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2 for taking part in an anti-government rally last year, which led to his being blacklisted by the High Commission. This is as he is awaiting the Indian government’s approval for his visa so he can return from London to attend his mother’s funeral.

Ankit Love (39), who apologized for hurling eggs and stones at the High Commission during the February 2022 protest, asked the prime minister to step in so that he could return and perform the last rites of his mother, Jay Mala (64).

Mala, a Supreme Court attorney, passed away on April 26. Love asked that her body be kept at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu until he could come to administer the final rites. This occurs at the same time as his kin are squabbling over who would lead the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), which has been in disarray since Bhim Singh’s passing on May 31, 2022.

Love was unable to attend the funeral of his mother. Love claims that he was put on India’s “blacklist” after being detained by British authorities on February 14, 2022, as a result of a demonstration outside the Indian High Commission in London. In an open letter to the Prime Minister on May 2, Love expressed his remorse and apology for the mistake he made by hurling eggs and stones at the High Commission.  

“I, Ankit Love, son of late Prof Bhim Singh and late Adv Jay Mala, resident of the UK, hereby sincerely apologise for my mistake of pelting eggs and stones at the Indian High Commission in the UK, which I deeply and sincerely regret,” he wrote. He sought forgiveness and said that he urgently needed to visit the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in India. He also said that some other people surrounding him had misled him, which had led to the mistake, for which he sincerely apologized. 

“…I assure you that henceforth there will be no such act by me against my nation, which I love very much and am very much proud of,” Love wrote adding that his late father Bhim Singh had battled his entire life for the full annexation of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

He also added that he did not wish to move to Jammu permanently, and that the government could allow him to take his mother’s body from the mortuary “to Devak in Udhampur, under police cover, and once I perform her last rites, it can make me board the returning flight to UK”.

“My mother was a Goud Brahmin from UP’s Meerut, and she has all the right to have decent and respectful last rites performed for her as per the Hindu rituals that she believed in till her last breath. I, being her only son, want to perform it on the banks of the holy Devak river in Udhampur, which was her last wish,” he was quoted as saying.

Additionally, he urged Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Jammu District Magistrate Avny Lavasa to delay the postmortem and refrain from removing the body from the mortuary.

Two of Bhim Singh’s nephews, former lawmaker Balwant Singh Mankotia and former minister Harsh Dev Singh, both of the JKNPP, left the political party to join the Aam Aadmi Party just before his death. Mankotia, who had previously served as JKNPP president, then joined the BJP, but Harsh Dev recently joined the party again and said that he had been chosen as state party leader.

Vilaskhan Singh and another faction, however, were pulled together by Harsh Dev’s homecoming. The other faction was led by a well-known figure and close ally of Bhim Singh, P K Gangoo. Harsh Dev Singh’s assertion was refuted by Vilaskshan Singh and Gangoo. Although Gangoo serves as the party’s acting president, they claimed to be its leader.

Mala fell from the steps on the evening of April 25 while visiting at the home of her niece, Mrignayani Slathia, who is the sister of Vilakshan Singh, in Domana. The next day, she passed away at a hospital. On Love’s request, the body was moved to Vilakshan Singh’s home in Sidhra and then to the mortuary. Love, who serves as the JKNPP’s primary patron, asked his cousin Vilaskahan Singh to step down as party president on April 28.

“Vilakshan Singh’s first responsibility as president was to ensure the security and survival of Panthers Party (co-) founder Jay Mala, widow of Prof. Bhim Singh, who died last year on May 31. She was only 64, and had many more years to keep on living and fighting for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he had said.

Love further added that he believed that Vilakshan Singh had failed in his responsibilties and priorities towards organising Jay Mala’s better security, supervision and safe accommodation. This is despite the fact that her death on 26 April being an accident was recorded on CCTV.

He meanwhile had also denied rumours that Harsh Dev Singh was responsible for the delay in the cremation. “I am the only one who has requested to delay my mother’s cremation, and that her body be preserved in the mortuary,” he said, requesting for a postmortem in his presence.

Jay Mala fell from the steps on April 25 and then she was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital where she breathed her last on April 26.

PT Usha heckled by protestors, late-night scuffle with Delhi police, AAP’s Somnath Bharti’s involvement and a dangerous call by Punia: What we know

OpIndia Staff
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PT Usha heckled by protestors, late-night scuffle with Delhi police, AAP’s Somnath Bharti’s involvement and a dangerous call by Punia: What we know

On May 3, at around 11 PM, a scuffle broke down between the protesting wrestlers and Delhi police at Jantar Mantar after Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Somnath Bharti and DCW chairperson Swati Mahiwal, visited the protest site with the police detaining Somnath Bharti and AAP supporters.

The fiasco at Jantar Mantar, however, started much earlier with PT Usha being heckled and manhandled by the protestors. PT Usha had visited the protest site to meet the wrestlers. She was spotted conversing with the wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia. According to Bajrang Punia, she stated that she is supporting the wrestlers and will seek justice on their behalf. She also added that she is an athlete first. She promised to look into the matter and resolve it immediately. She also affirmed that she was misinterpreted.

A video made it to social media where she was seen being hackled by some protesters that raised concerns about her safety at the protest site. She had to escape with the help of security personnel present at the site.

There was widespread criticism of the manner in which PT Usha was manhandled by the protestors who are urging the nation to support them in their fight. They have often asked for support in the name of being veteran sportspersons who have won laurels for the nation, however, their treatment of PT Usha has raised several eyebrows, given that PT Usha herself is an extremely senior athlete.

It was after the video of PT Usha being manhandled went viral, did news emerge of another scuffle at Jantar Mantar. As per Delhi Police, the entry of any outsider was banned post-evening. Reports suggest that Somnath Bharti visited the protest site to provide them with folding cots in the late hours on the instructions of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Despite the clear guidelines, Bharti arrived at Jantar Mantar with folding cots. When the police stopped him, he argued and tried to cross the barricades. Police had to detain him as a precaution.

Speaking to News Agency ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranav Tayal said that Bharti came with folding beds with permission during the protests. When Delhi police intervened, his supporters became aggressive and tried to get the beds out of the truck. A minor altercation took place between the police and Bharti. The police detained him and his two supporters.

He said, “Somnath Bharti brought folding beds to the protest site in Jantar Mantar. Since there was no permission, we didn’t allow it, so some of the protesting wrestlers’ supporters tried to remove the beds from the truck, which led to an altercation. We have told the wrestlers to complain about their grievances and will take appropriate action. Medical check-up of the Policeman on whom they’ve raised allegations, being conducted.” The police added the situation was under control.

Reacting to the police statement, Bharti took to Twitter, claiming that protesting women wrestlers had demanded a folding bed to spend the night in the rain, and he was there to support their demand but was detained.

DCW chairperson Swati Mahiwal also visited the site after 12:30 AM claiming she got reports of an alleged attack on the protesters. When female police personnel of Delhi Police tried to stop her, she hung on to the barricades and refused to leave the site.

Mahiwal said, “I am DCW chief. You cannot touch me. What is this behaviour”. Delhi Police’s female officers gently picked her up and carefully put her in the van. They kept urging her to cooperate to ensure she did not get hurt. At one point, she was seen pushing the female police officer. Notably, the police personnel did not lose their cool after Mahiwal pushed the female police personnel.

‘Did we win medals to see such days’ wrestler Vinesh Phogat

In a statement, Vinesh Phogat claimed they were pushed by a police personnel named Dharmendra. She further added, “Was it our mistake that we tried to bring the cots to sleep? Did we win medals for this day? The way they have made us suffer, I would not want any athlete to win a medal for the country.”

Protesters called for mass movement towards Delhi

In a statement, Punia said, “We’re in need of the support of the whole country; everyone must come to Delhi. Police using force against us, abusing women and doing nothing against Brijbhushan.” He called for everyone to pick up tractors and march towards Delhi. Another protester said, “Do not wait for the morning. Reach here by morning”.

Their statement received criticism over social media, after which Punia released another video requesting everyone not to get into a scuffle with the police. He said, “All three of us are fine. The one who got injured is being treated. Delhi Police has circled Delhi. We do not want anyone to get into any scuffle with the police, as they want us to get aggressive. They are detaining anyone who is coming to Delhi [to support us]. You should start your protest wherever they stop you. We are requesting again not to get into a scuffle with anyone or jump the barricades. You can come here after 6 AM. Police have said no one can come here during the night.”

Wrestlers protest

On April 23, ace wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia launched a second round of protests against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging he sexually harassed hundreds of female wrestlers. The first round of protests took place in January this year. It was called off after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur formed a committee to investigate the matter.

Following the fresh wrestlers protest, Delhi Police filed FIRs against Singh based on the complaints of seven athletes. The entry of politicians in the protests and slogans like ‘Modi teri kabar khudegi’ have raised concerns over the actual motive behind the protests.

In other news, the AAP-led Delhi government has announced that Punia will be appointed as chief sports advisor. Currently, he is an employee at Indian Railways.

‘Cannot ban Bajrang Dal’: Congress tries to do damage control after backlash over Karnataka poll promise

OpIndia Staff
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‘Cannot ban Bajrang Dal’: Congress tries to do damage control after backlash over Karnataka poll promise

On Wednesday, May 3, Karnataka Congress leader and former chief minister M. Veerappa Moily in an apparent damage control move said that it is not possible for the state government to ban Bajrang Dal, adding that there is no proposal to ban the group. 

“We have PFI and Bajrang Dal mentioned in our (Congress) manifesto and included all radical outfits. However, banning an outfit is not possible for the state government as it is the central government’s jurisdiction. So a ban on Bajrang Dal by the Karnataka government is not possible. DK Shivakumar will come up with more clarity on this,” Moily said while addressing the media in Udupi.

The former Karnataka CM also said that the Congress promised action against outfits like Bajrang Dal in the manifesto in the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court observation against hate politics.

It is notable that on April 28, the Supreme Court directed the states and union territories to take suo motu action to register FIR against hate speeches without waiting for a formal complaint. 

Interestingly, the Congress party invited severe backlash by promising to “ban organisations like Bajrang Dal” in its election manifesto for Karnataka.

While Congress says that it will act against organizations spreading hatred, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)—the political wing of the now-banned PFI announced on Wednesday that it will be contesting only 16 Assembly seats in the upcoming Karnataka elections in a bid to help Congress defeat the BJP. Initially, the SDPI had said that it will be contesting on 100 seats. 

Muslim victimhood, anti-Hindu digs, and gaumutra jibes: Meet ex-IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil plotting Congress victory in Karnataka elections

Dibakar Dutta
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Muslim victimhood, anti-Hindu digs, and gaumutra jibes: Meet ex-IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil plotting Congress victory in Karnataka elections

During the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha elections campaigning, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sasikanth Senthil has been leading the Congress campaign in the State from the party’s dedicated war room (also called the connect centre).

Sasikanth Senthil served as the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district between 2017 and 2019. He had left bureaucracy in September 2019 under the pretext of saving the ‘fundamental building blocks of the nation’ from being destroyed.

A year later, he made his intentions clear by joining the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress party. He later worked as the coordinator for the social media wing of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. Sasikanth Senthil has now been tasked to ensure the victory of the grand old party in Karnataka.

Screengrab of the Sasikanth Senthil

In a tweet on Wednesday (May 3), Sasikanth Senthil said, “Six months of hard work will certainly yield results on the 10th. The Congress War room aka ‘Connect centre’ was beginning in sharp election management in the party.”

While speaking to India Today, he claimed, “I have seen how politics worked in coastal Karnataka…I felt the country was going in a different direction and something needs to be done about it.”

Sasikanth Senthil said that his resignation was in protest against the humanitarian CAA, abrogation of Article 370, which completely integrated Jammu and Kashmir into the Union of India and the NRC (essential for identification of illegal immigrants staying in India).

“If there is one party whose ideology is that of the idea of India, then, that party is Congress,” he announced. Given his ideological inclination, it comes as no surprise that he had fear mongered about the NRC and CAA prior to joining the grand-old party.

Opindia had reported how Sasikanth Senthil claimed in January 2020 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were playing with people’s emotions. “After the implementation of CAA and NRC the nation is observing an emergency-like situation,” he had said.

“CAA has affected the Muslim community today and will affect the Dalits and the backward classes in the future,” Sasikanth Senthil effectively contributed to the hysteria against the humanitarian Citizenship Amendment Act.

Peddling victimhood and hysteria for vote bank politics

Sasikanth Senthil is well accustomed to the tactics employed by Congress to appease the Muslim community. In March this year, he cried foul over the Karnataka government’s decision to scrap 4% Muslim reservation in jobs and admissions in educational institutions in Karnataka.

Even though the quota for the Lingayats and Vokkaligas was increased, the ex-IAS officer claimed, “I am sure the Dalits and OBCs are next in line. Its just a matter of time.”

Earlier, he had tried to cast aspersions on the Assam government’s intention to crackdown on child marriages.

While registering his opposition to the exercise, Senthil said, “In their desperate attempts to run a narrative against Muslims, the BJP continues to harass the large chunk of poor Hindus. This is a classic example.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Sasikanth Senthil

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the man behind the ‘Congress war room’ in the State is also in support of non-essential religious clothing such as hijab in educational institutions with uniforms.

On March 15, 2022, the Karnataka High Court held that Hijab is not an essential practice in Islam and that uniform is a reasonable restriction on the Right to Religion. Following the verdict, liberals and Islamists took to Twitter to cast aspersions on the independence of the Judiciary.

Sasikanth Senthil joined them and claimed, “The hijab judgement is yet another disappointment from the higher judiciary which has somehow lost the idea of what this country is all about.”

He also tried to legitimise the idea of ‘Muslim veto’ and suggested that any administrative change in a Muslim-dominated area such as Lakshwadeep is akin to ‘needling communal tensions.’

Screengrab of the tweet by Sasikanth Senthil

Sasikanth Senthil makes Hinduphobic jibes

Besides minority appeasement, the ex-IAS officer has been at the helm of making distasteful remarks against the Hindu community.

Despite being well aware that ‘gau mutra’ jibes were made by Pulwama terrorist Adil Ahmed Dar prior to the suicide attack, Senthil used them to mock the sentiments of the Hindus.

Following the resignation of Pratap Bhanu Mehta from Ashoka University, he claimed that the Professor would be replaced by someone who ‘understands Bharat Mata and gaumutra.’

Screengrab of the tweet by Sasikanth Senthil

He had made similar distasteful comments during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Screengrab of the tweet by Sasikanth Senthil

Sasikanth Senthil has also tried to discredit ‘love jihad’ as a conspiracy theory, despite 100s of documented cases of forced conversion and identity fraud.

Screengrab of the tweet by Sasikanth Senthil

The ex-IAS officer, who is hoping to make Congress win in Karnataka, has been a frontrunner in anti-Hindu rhetorics and Muslim appeasement.

This becomes evident from his speech in January 2020. “Even after a thousand years, Hindu nation will not become a reality. Indians will not remain quiet if politicians meddle with the constitution,” he had said.

With Congress now vowing to ban Bajrang Dal in its election manifesto, the nefarious intentions of the grand-old party and their advisors are becoming even clearer.

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