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Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights moves Supreme Court backing legalisation of same-sex marriages

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights moves Supreme Court backing legalisation of same-sex marriages

The Delhi Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) submitted an intervention application on April 3, Wednesday, requesting the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in India. On April 18, 2023, these pleas are scheduled to be heard by a Supreme Court Constitution bench.

The child rights body extended its support to the set of pleas already made before the top court by several same-sex couples seeking the legalisation of these marriages. The DCPCR application was submitted through Advocate Abhishek Manchanda.

In their application, the DCPCR stressed that adolescents who identify as homosexual may have negative psychological complexes, low self-esteem, and other mental health problems if they do not have the same legal protections as their heterosexual counterparts.

“Unless equal rights are accorded to homosexual (persons), their acceptance, assimilation and legitimacy will remain under troubled waters. This again is bound to have its bearing upon adolescents,” the application stated.

DCPCR said that “studies on same-sex marriages demonstrate that same-sex couples can be good parents or not, same as heterosexuals can be good parents or not.”

The application further outlines that many countries have legalised same-sex marriages and over 50 countries have provisions allowing same-sex couples to adopt children legally.

Furthermore, the application stressed that non-recognition of same-sex marriages can have adverse effects on the children of homosexual persons. 

“The said person shall be the only de jure parent and guardian of his or her child. While the child may actually be under joint custody and maintenance of two persons consisting of a homosexual couple performing equal duties, only one of the persons would have de jure authority and rights. This could have psychological and emotional consequences not only for the affected de facto guardian but also for the child who may be left with a reduced choice in case of a rift or separation between his de facto guardians,” the application asserted.

Guidelines recommended by DCPCR

The application submitted by the Delhi child rights body also mentioned certain guidelines for the court to consider.

  • The Central and State governments should take measures to educate the public about the “normalcy” of same-sex families and that children from these families are not in any way “incomplete”.
  • School boards and educational institutions take proactive measures to normalise such topics, especially in classroom settings where same-sex family unit issues are brought up.
  • Education boards review school textbooks for homophobic material and eliminate it; they also revise or re-envisage passages, caricatures, diagrams, and references to family to incorporate a diversity of understandings.
  • Development of dedicated helplines, infrastructure, and resources for psychological support for children of same-sex couples who are subjected to discrimination, stigma or bullying.

Centre on legalisation of same-sex marriages

The Centre has opposed the demand for the recognition of same-sex marriage in the country. On March 12, in its affidavit in the apex court, the Centre opposed the plea seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage, saying that living together as partners by same-sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit and they are distinct classes which cannot be treated identically.

Furthermore, a group of former judges also wrote an open letter not to pursue the matter in court. They believe that legalising same-sex marriage would violate Indian culture and tradition. The statement says that vested interest groups are working towards the legalisation of same-sex marriage, and the Supreme Court is considering the matter. The issue has gained momentum recently after being referred to a constitutional bench. 21 retired judges signed the letter.

Twitter user who identifies himself as Pakistani army personnel threatens to nuke Greece for calling Pakistan beggar: Read what happened

Nirwa Mehta
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Twitter user who identifies himself as Pakistani army personnel threatens to nuke Greece for calling Pakistan beggar: Read what happened

While warfare may be prohibited in the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, Pakistanis will not let go of the opportunity to threaten another country to nuke them if someone calls them ‘beggars’.

It all started when Greek journalist Paul Antonopoulos tweeted about how Pakistan wants to buy submarine accessories from Greece even when the country is facing one of the worst economic crises.

People in Pakistan have lost their lives in stampedes and riots over flour subsidies during Ramzan and parts of the country are on the brink of running out of flour. Greece has actually rejected Pakistan’s request for batteries and other equipment for their submarines. Antonopoulos posted the link to the article and said how Pakistan would have such audacity to ask Greece for such help even though their pilots once allegedly violated Greek airspace.

As per reports, in November 2019, Greece lashed out at Pakistan for breaching its airspace, during the Dogu Akdeniz-19 joint international naval exercise. Greece had accused Pakistan of flying the P-3 Orion aircraft into Greek airspace, which the country said had been the first incident of its kind. 

Antonopoulos ended his tweet with ‘beggars will be beggars…’ jibe at Pakistan.

To Antonopoulos’ tweet, a verified Twitter account that identifies itself as Faisal Naseer (supposedly some high-ranking Pakistani army personnel) threatened him and reminded him that Pakistan is a nuclear power with missiles ‘that can reach Greece’.

He claimed that the Pakistani Army is ready to defend the ‘honour’ of its nation.

To that, Antonopoulos reminded him that the most powerful Pakistani missiles can hardly reach Greece. To put things in perspective, if fired, the Shaheen 3 missile is likely to fall somewhere in Iran.

Pakistanis really do like to threaten other nations that they would shoot off their missiles at the slightest insult. In May 2021, as the Hamas and Islamic terrorists continued to attack Israel, Pakistanis were not only standing in solidarity with Palestine but also egging their then Prime Minister Imran Khan to show the world how Pakistan is a nuclear state. Many Pakistanis at that time had urged Khan to fire off the Shaheen missile in the general direction of Israel.

Not the one to be bogged down by facts, Faisal Naseer then doubled down and said how their F-16s can arrive at Antonopoulos’ doorsteps to ‘drop the nuclear payload’.

To this, many pointed out how threatening nuking countries over a beggar jibe may not be the wisest idea, especially with country barely managing to put food on the table.

In a strange flex, Faisal Naseer claimed the madarsa students with even ‘basic weapons’ can beat the NATO forces. He did not specify what the ‘basic weapons’ were there in the madarsas in Pakistan and whether or not they were legal or illegal. He added that the ‘most highly disciplined and professional army’ in the world can take on the NATO forces.

He then threatened the Greek journalist that his ‘derogatory’ tweets were reported to their foreign ministry and gave him time till midnight to delete them. He shared a gif of a nuclear bomb as an additional threat.

Minutes later he claimed that the Greek foreign ministry has ‘apologised’ for the tweet where the Greek journalist called Pakistanis beggars.

Moments later he claimed Pakistan has demanded that Antonopoulos be ‘extradited’ to Pakistan so he can ‘face sedition charges’ on Pakistani soil for calling Pakistanis beggars. He then put up the moral of the story that one should not ‘mess with nuclear Pakistan’.

In response, Antonopoulos is only retweeting the allegedly seasoned Pakistani army personnel’s tweets that are threatening to nuke Greece.

OpIndia cannot confirm whether the Twitter account Faisal Naseer is actually of Pakistani army personnel. It is a verified account on Twitter but with Elon Musk’s whims, it is hard to confirm if it is a legacy verified account or a Blue subscriber. Further, there is no evidence as yet whether such an army personnel exists. A cursory Google search (because we don’t have that much time to invest in beggars), one Faisal Naseer is indeed one Pakistani army personnel and has a change.org petition calling him a psychopath and demanding his removal. However, we cannot confirm if the same alleged psychopath was tweeting and threatening to nuke Greece. And while it is likely this is a troll account, with past Pakistani shenanigans, one can truly never know.

British archive reveals enormous loot of precious Indian resources during colonialism: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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British archive reveals enormous loot of precious Indian resources during colonialism: Reports

Former British monarch, Queen Mary of Teck (1867-1953), commissioned a probe into the Imperial origins of her jewels in 1912. A study of this 46-page archive by The Guardian revealed the extent of loot of Indian sculptures, paintings and artefacts.

One of the precious items looted by the British colonisers was a gold girdle, which was used by the Indian ruler Maharaja Sher Singh to adorn his horses. It was equipped with 19 large emeralds.

The Guardian found a journal, which recorded the visit of then British Governor-General George and his sister Fanny Eden to Lahore in 1837. The duo met Maharaha Ranjit Singh, the father of Maharaja Sher Singh, in the city.

According to Eden’s diary, Maharaja Ranjit Singh wore only a few jewels but his entourage was equipped with precious stones. “He puts his very finest jewels on his horses, and the splendour of their harness and housings surpasses anything you can imagine,“ she had written.

“If ever we are allowed to plunder this kingdom, I shall go straight to their stables,” her diary stated. It must be mentioned that Singh had signed a ‘treaty of friendship’ with the British in 1831.

The East India Company conquered Punjab in 1849 during the 2nd Anglo-Sikh war and looted the gold girdle of Maharaja Sher Singh as well as the precious Koh-i-noor.

The Timur ruby necklace, image via Royal Collection Trust

The British also looted the ‘Timur ruby’, which is a short necklace with 4 larghe spinel rubies. Citing academic Susan Stronge, The Guardian reported that the precious stone was not owned by Mongol invader Timur.

It was passed on to several Persian and Mughal emperors at different points in time and was ultimately sent to Queen Victoria from India. Queen Elizabeth II was spotted handling the ‘Timur Ruby’ in a 1969 BBC documentary ‘Royal Family.’

Besides, a necklace consisting of 224 large pearls, with ruby clasp, was also stolen from Lahore. The debate on its origins continues to this day. Reportedly, Queen Elizabeth II was spotted wearing it during her diamond jubilee at Royal Opera House in London in 2012.

The Guardian reported that the 1912 archives also have references to an emerald belt, which was looted from India and now belongs to the collection of King Charles III.

Britain set to display Koh-i-noor as a ‘symbol of conquest’

On May 26 this year, the historic diamond Koh-i-Noor (mountain of light) will be put up for display as a ‘symbol of conquest’ at the Tower of London. The new exhibition, which has courted controversy since its announcement, reportedly will explore the history and origin of the diamond in utmost detail.

India has time and again demanded the repatriation of the Koh-i-Noor diamond from the United Kingdom, which currently sits in the crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her 1937 coronation.

During the exhibition, the colonial past of the 105.6-carat diamond would be explained and the manner it was ‘given’ (taken away) to Britain in 1849. Koh-i-noor had changed several hands over centuries and was possessed by Mughals, Afghan Emirs, Iranian Shahs, and Sikh rulers before being taken away by the British.

The controversial diamond, which is now part of Crown Jewels, was originally unearthed in central Southern India. Reportedly, the East India Company seized Koh-i-Noor from Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1849 and handed it over to Queen Victoria.

The diamond was then recut in 1852 by the royal jeweller, Garrad of London, to improve its brilliance. The story of Koh-i-Noor will be retold at the exhibition through a short film and a combination of projections and objects.

The event comes at a time when King Charles and his Queen Consort Camilla are set to be crowned in Westminster Abbey in May this year. The keeper of the Jewel House, Andrew Jackson, said that the exhibition will provide visitors with a richer understanding of the jewels’ collection.

Karnataka: JD(S) writes to Election Commission seeking a ban on Kichcha Sudeep’s movies, actor had earlier extended support to BJP for state polls

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: JD(S) writes to Election Commission seeking a ban on Kichcha Sudeep’s movies, actor had earlier extended support to BJP for state polls

Janata Dal (Secular) has written to the Election Commission regarding the imposition of a ban on the screening of Kichcha Sudeep’s movies, shows and commercials as these could potentially influence voters in the upcoming Assembly Elections.

On Wednesday, Kiccha Sudeep announced that he would campaign for the ruling party BJP in the Karnataka assembly elections. Since then, the actor has been in the headlines of the media. Initially, speculations were rife that Kiccha Sudeep and Darshan Tugudeepa would join the BJP. But, Kiccha Sudeep dismissed the reports of joining the party and said that he will campaign for the BJP in the elections but will not join the party, nor contest elections.

“I had no need to come here. I have not come here for any platform or money. I have come here only for one person. I have the utmost respect for CM Bommai. I am announcing my full support to Bommai Sir,” Sudeep said.

Earlier actor Prakash Raj, known for harbouring pathological hatred for PM Modi and his penchant for sharing fake news against the Prime Minister, was in shock and hurt after Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep threw his weight behind the BJP for the upcoming state assembly elections in Karnataka.

“I am shocked and hurt by Kichha Sudeep’s statement,” tweeted Raj, who keeps attacking the BJP and PM Modi on Twitter, often with fake news and unfounded claims.

Raj expressed his disbelief after Kichcha Sudeep earlier today extended his support to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who he referred to as his “mama” (uncle).

Notably, Sudeep, while talking about CM Bommai earlier had said “I call the CM ‘Mama’ (uncle’ as I have seen him since my childhood. I have very few people who stood by me since childhood, so it won’t be wrong to call him Mama (uncle). I didn’t have a godfather when I entered the film industry. I want to extend my support to him (CM),” Sudeep said at a press conference, lavishing praises on Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai.

West Bengal: A cop tells Hindus to remove Lord Ram idol from a private property because it is visible from road, BJP slams TMC after video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: A cop tells Hindus to remove Lord Ram idol from a private property because it is visible from road, BJP slams TMC after video goes viral

An undated video of a police official, asking a group of Hindus to remove a publicly visible idol of Lord Ram in West Bengal, has gone viral on social media. The contentious clip was originally shared by the official Twitter handle West Bengal BJP.

In the disturbing footage, the uniformed cop could be heard saying, “I understand that this is your private property. The main issue is that it (the idol) is visible from the road.” The incident occurred in Rathtala village under Nodakhali Police Station.

The Hindus, standing in the vicinity of the police official, argued that it was their property and that there was nothing outrageous if the murti is visible from the road. “Thakur chokhe probe na (Now, deities shouldn’t be seen by all),” scoffed a man in the background.

“Ami kothai jabo? Amar toh jaiga tai royeche! Private property er upor royeche (Where should I go? The idol is at my place. It’s on private property,” a man wearing a blue shirt was heard saying.

This led to a heated argument between the Hindu devotees and the police official. A man in the background was heard saying that it was illegal to sell cow meat (gou mangsho) but it’s being done in broad daylight.

“Aagami din thaka jabe na ai Banglai (It will not be possible to survive in Bengal in the coming days),” one man in the crowd lamented. At about 43 seconds into the video, an idol of Lord Ram could be seen in the background.

“Have you given it a thought how will your next generation survive in this State?” one of the Hindus confronted the cop. The location and date of the video remain unknown.

While sharing the video clip, ‘BJP Bengal’ tweeted, “Outrageous violence of TMC continues as their puppet police ask the people of Bengal to remove the Murti of Bhagwaan Shri Ram. One cannot even practice the religion they stand for! This is Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal for you.”

In the video, an idol of Lord Ram is seen placed outside a house. A saffron flag and frills are also seen at the place.

Muslims don’t commit ‘injustice’ during Ramzan: Mamata Banerjee

The development comes days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a clean chit to Islamists, responsible for orchestrating violence in Hoogly during Ram Navami.

On March 30 this year, Mamata Banerjee claimed, “I have said several times that I will not stop public processions of Ram Navami. You go and do it peacefully. I have instructed the same to my party.”

“The police were given direct instructions – There was Annapurna Puja on one side and Muslims were observing Ramzan fast (Roja) on the other. We have 33% Muslims in the State. Their families observe fast during Ramzan,” she added.

“Ai somoi ta tara kunu anyay kore na karon ata holo Allah er kache oder sacrifice (During Ramzan, Muslims don’t commit ‘injustice’ as this is the time of sacrifice for Allah),” the West Bengal Chief Minister dismissed the role of Islamists in the violence.

Mamata Banerjee had also insinuated that violence occurs when Hindus take out Ram Navami processions through ‘Muslim areas.’ “I want to request those who are taking out the Ram Navami procession, please do but do it peacefully. Kindly avoid Muslim areas as Ramzan is going on. Celebrate peacefully but don’t try to create violence. Don’t get provoked,” she was heard saying.

‘Seems a targeted attack’: Sharad Pawar on Hindenburg report against Adani Group; slams Congress’ ‘Ambani-Adani’ strategy of targeting large corps

OpIndia Staff
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‘Seems a targeted attack’: Sharad Pawar on Hindenburg report against Adani Group; slams Congress’ ‘Ambani-Adani’ strategy of targeting large corps

Sharad Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, an alliance partner of Congress in Maharashtra, on Friday said he felt the Adani Group has been targeted. The remark came in the wake of political rhetorics against the business conglomerate after the US-based Hindenburg Research accused the Adani Group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud

Speaking to NDTV about the attack on the Adani Group by the Congress Party, the NCP stalwart said unequivocally that it seemed like a targeted attack to him.

“Such statements were given by other individuals too earlier and there was a ruckus in parliament for a few days but this time out proportion importance was given to the issue. The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country’s economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted,” Pawar told the NDTV journalist Sanjay Pugalia.

“An individual industrial group of the country was targeted, that is what it seems. If they have done anything wrong, there should be an inquiry,” he added.

When asked whether he was in agreement with Congress’ demand for a JPC probe into the Hidenburg’s report, the NCP chief’s answer was in the negative.

He stated that after the demand was made, the Supreme Court launched an investigation and formed a team comprised of a former Supreme Court judge, an expert, an administrator, and an economist. They were given rules and a timetable to undertake an investigation.

Sharad Pawar questions opposition’s demand over a JPC probe, says SC-monitored probe more reliable

“On the other hand, the opposition wanted a parliamentary committee to be appointed. If a parliamentary committee is appointed, then monitoring is with the ruling party. The demand was against the ruling party, and if the committee appointed for an inquiry has a ruling party majority, then how will the truth comes out is a valid concern. If the Supreme Court, who no one can influence, if they were to conduct the inquiry, then there was a better chance of the truth coming to light. So, after the Supreme Court announced an inquiry, there was no significance of a JPC Probe. It was not needed,” Pawar said.

On being questioned on Congress’s intent behind pushing for a JPC probe, the NCP supremo said, “I cannot say what the intent was but I know that a committee appointed by judges of the Supreme Court was very important, this is what I know. Maybe the reasoning could have been that once a JPC starts, its proceedings are reported in the media on a daily basis. Perhaps someone would have wanted the issue to fester for two to four months, but the truth would never have come out.”

Pawar made it plain that he did not agree with Rahul Gandhi’s “Adani-Ambani” strategy of targeting large corporations. He said, referring to the “Tata-Birla” narrative of the past, that it was completely meaningless.

“This has been happening in this country for many years. I remember many years ago that when we came into politics if we had to speak against the government, we used to speak against Tata-Birla. Who was the target? Tata-Birla. When we understood the contribution of Tata, we used to wonder why we kept on saying Tata Birla. But one had to target someone so we used to target Tata-Birla. Today the name of Tata-Birla is not at the forefront, different Tata-Birla has come before the government. So these days if you have to attack the government, the name of Ambani and Adani is taken. The question is, that the people you are targeting, if they have done something wrong, or misused their powers, then in a democracy, you have a right to speak against them 100 per cent, but to attack without anything meaningful, this I cannot understand,” Pawar continued.

“Today, Ambani has contributed to the petrochemical sector, does the country not need it? In the field of electricity, Adani has contributed. Does the country not need electricity? These are people who take up such responsibility and work for the name of the country. If they have done wrong, you attack, but they have created this infrastructure, to criticise them does not feel right to me,” he said

“There can be different viewpoints and criticism, one has the right to speak strongly about the policies of the government, but a discussion should take place. A discussion and dialogue are very important in any democracy, if you ignore discussion and dialogue the system will fall into danger, it will just perish,” Pawar added in an indirect reference to the Congress’s relentless campaign.

Congress continues to demand a JPC probe into allegations levelled by Hindenburg against the Adani Group

Even as Pawar denounced attacking business groups, his political ally in Congress remained among the political parties who ratcheted up the attack against the Adani Group after Hindenburg Research reported on the business conglomerate.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly trotted out ‘Adani and Ambani’ jibes to attack the current dispensation even as Congress-ruled state governments have generously indulged the businessmen. 

On Thursday, April 6, the final day of the second leg of the budget session, both Houses were rocked by continuous sloganeering by the Opposition seeking a JPC probe into the Adani case. While Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was speaking about the House’s productivity, opposition leaders entered the House well with placards calling for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the Adani-Hindenburg issue.

Hindenburg Research report accuses Adani Group of fraud and stock price manipulation 

Hindenburg Research, which claimed of having conducted an investigation for the last two years, said Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, has a net worth of approximately $120 billion, mainly due to an 819% average stock price growth in the group’s seven most significant publicly traded companies over the last three years.

The research involved interviewing multiple individuals, including former senior executives of the Adani Group, examining thousands of documents, and conducting due diligence site visits in nearly a dozen countries, Hindenburg Research said. 

“Even if you ignore the findings of our investigation and take the financials of Adani Group at face value, its seven key listed companies have 85% downside purely on a fundamental basis owing to sky-high valuations,” said the forensic financial research company in its report.

‘Don’t preach Islam to me’: Hindu lawmaker in Pakistan Parliament after being pressurised to convert by fellow politicians

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t preach Islam to me’: Hindu lawmaker in Pakistan Parliament after being pressurised to convert by fellow politicians

A Hindu politician in Pakistan, Danesh Kumar, has accused his fellow lawmakers of trying to get him to convert to Islam and warned them not to preach Islam to him. He also discussed the country’s aggravating food crisis when addressing the Senate, the upper house of the Pakistani Parliament on Thursday.

Danesh Kumar stated, “My colleagues often urge me to recite the ‘Kalima’ and get converted to Islam. First, teach Islam to the criminal Muslims (hoarders) and then ask me to do so.” ‘Kalima’ is the formal content of the ‘Shahada’ (declaration of faith in Islam).

Danesh Kumar slammed the incumbent government for doing little to prevent the food hoarders in the market. He also attacked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s administration for bringing about the country’s catastrophic food crisis. Speaking on Pakistan’s current inflation problem, he remarked, “It is a source of embarrassment that food costs have increased in the holy month of Ramazan.”

His comments coincided with recent reports of stampedes that killed individuals queuing for food during the delivery of free rations. This year’s Ramadaz has already witnessed 16 fatalities as people frantically sought out free wheat flour and other food items under historically high inflation.

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on a reserved seat for minorities in the 2018 Pakistani general election representing Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). He is currently serving in the country’s senate. He has been the senate’s most outspoken opponent of the forced conversion of minorities (Hindu and Christian) to Islam.

Pakistan is notorious for the atrocities committed against minorities, particularly Hindus. Minor Hindu girls are the regular victims of kidnapping, rape, and forced conversions in the country. The Pakistan government has regularly come under fire for its treatment of minorities and the absence of measures to ensure their safety and security against continuous oppression.

Ayodhya: Yogi Adityanath to perform Ram Lalla’s “Jalabhishek” at Ram Janmabhoomi using water from rivers of 155 countries

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya: Yogi Adityanath to perform Ram Lalla’s “Jalabhishek” at Ram Janmabhoomi using water from rivers of 155 countries

In a gesture of global Hindu unity, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath would be performing a grand “Jalabhishek” ceremony for Ram Lalla, the presiding deity of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, using waters of rivers from 155 different countries. The ceremony is set to take place on 23 April, marking the birth of Lord Rama, and is expected to be attended by many devotees from across the country.

Preparations for the ceremony are in full swing, and the temple administration has worked tirelessly to arrange for water samples from rivers of 155 different countries. The water from all these rivers is collected in special containers, each labelled with the name of the country it represents. The ceremony will involve pouring the collected waters on the Murti of Ram Lalla amidst Vedic chants and prayers by priests.

Yogi Adityanath, who is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur, is known for his deep devotion to Lord Ram and has been actively involved in the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The “Jalabhishek” ceremony apart from being a religious event is also a significant step towards promoting the ideals of peace, harmony, and global Hindu unity. It is expected to send a powerful message of inclusiveness and brotherhood to people around the world, reaffirming the universal appeal of Lord Ram’s teachings.

According to Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Yogi Adityanath would receive the Kalash which has water from rivers of 155 different countries from a team led by BJP leader Vijay Jolly on 23 April at the Maniram Das Chawni Auditorium in Ayodhya. On 23 April at the Auditorium, the “Jal Kalash” pooja will be performed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

Water from rivers in 155 nations, including Pakistan’s Ravi River, will be included in the “Kalash.” Rai said that Hindus from Pakistan sent the water from the Ravi River to Dubai before bringing it to Delhi. Water will also come from the rivers of Suriname, China, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, and Tibet in addition to Pakistan.

The initiative to collect water from rivers and oceans for Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple was taken up by Delhi Study Group, a non-government organization based in Delhi. Vijay Jolly, a former BJP MLA from Delhi, is the president of the organisation. Jolly said that he had been inspired by the late Ashok Singhal and PM Modi to collect water from all over the world and perform Jalabhishek of Lord Ram.

Memorial to be built at the site of Dhoni’s World Cup winning six in the Wankhede Stadium: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Memorial to be built at the site of Dhoni’s World Cup winning six in the Wankhede Stadium: Details

MCA informed on 7th April 2023 that the 2011 World Cup victory memorial will be built at the site where Dhoni’s winning six had landed in Wankhede stadium. 5 chairs of the MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) pavilion stand will be removed for this(seat number J282 -J286). MS Dhoni will also be felicitated at the same spot by MCA.

Earlier on Monday, 3rd April 2023, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Amol Kale said that a small victory memorial will be built in Wankhede Stadium to commemorate India’s 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup win. The memorial will be built on the exact spot where MS Dhoni’s iconic winning sixer had landed in the stands.

He also said that MCA will approach MS Dhoni, India’s then-skipper in 2011 triumph for the inauguration of the memorial. He said that the MCA is hopeful that Dhoni will inaugurate the memorial when he is in Mumbai for his Indian Premier League IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match against Mumbai Indians (MI), which will take place on April 8. “MCA will also felicitate MS Dhoni when he inaugurates the World Cup Victory Memorial in Wankhede Stadium,” concluded Amol Kale.

India defeated Sri Lanka in the final by six wickets in the summit clash at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. After batting first, Sri Lanka posted 274/6 in their 50 overs. An unbeaten century from Mahela Jayawardene (103) and knocks from skipper Kumar Sangakkara (48), Nuwan Kulasekara (32) and Thisara Perera (22) powered Lanka to a competitive total. Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan took two wickets each and Harbhajan Singh took one wicket.

Chasing 275, India lost Sehwag (0) and Tendulkar (18) early. But an 83-run stand between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli (35) revived India’s chances. Gambhir went on to score 97 in 122 balls and had a 109-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper MS Dhoni, who ended at an unbeaten 91* off 79 balls. Dhoni and Yuvraj (21) had an unbeaten 54-run stand for the fifth wicket that guided Team India to their first World Cup title in 28 years.

Notably, India will be hosting the Cricket World Cup 2023 in its entirety, for the first time ever. ICC, on Sunday 2nd April 2023, unveiled the logo of the upcoming 2023 World Cup on the same day the Indian team led by MS Dhoni stood victorious over Sri Lanka to lift the ICC trophy in 2011.

Andhra Pradesh: SC/ST court acquits 13 policemen accused of raping 11 tribal women at gunpoint in 2007

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: SC/ST court acquits 13 policemen accused of raping 11 tribal women at gunpoint in 2007

On Thursday, April 6, the special judge for SC and ST cases in Andhra Pradesh acquitted 13 cops accused in the gang-rape of 11 tribal women in Vakapalli in G Madugula Mandal of ASR district in the year 2007. The court acquitted the accused under section 235(1) Cr PC (acquittal on the benefit of doubt).

The policemen accused in the case belonged to the Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxal police force in Andhra Pradesh. It was alleged that the cops raped the Adivasi women at gunpoint. The court, however, acquitted the accused due to the lack of evidence.

The judge pulled up the investigating officer M. Sivananda Reddy, for conducting a shoddy investigation into the matter and directed the state government to constitute an apex committee to take action against the officer. Since the other investigating officer B. Ananda Rao, is no more, no action was to be initiated against him, said the court.

Since the accused were acquitted due to failure in the investigation, the court asked the District Legal Services Authority to decide the quantum of compensation to the victims in the case after conducting a due inquiry.

11 tribal women gangraped by Andhra Pradesh policemen

Notably, the case pertains to a sexual assault incident that took place 15 years ago. In August 2007, eleven tribal women belonging to Vakapalli village under Nurmati Panchayat of G Madugula Mandal about 650 km from Hyderabad had alleged that 13 policemen, who were part of a 30-member Special Party of Andhra Pradesh Police and had visited their village for anti-Naxal combing operation, raped them on gunpoint.

The women alleged that the police team stormed the village just as the men were leaving to work in the fields, forcibly took them into huts, and raped them. When the men returned in the afternoon, the women complained to them. They went to their sarpanch, who alerted then-BSP MLA L Raja Rao. The women were taken to the deputy collector by the MLA and tribals, who then asked the police to file an FIR. A complaint was filed under Section 376 (2)(g) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC and ST (PoA) Act, 1989.

The state government initially chose deputy SP (Visakhapatnam Rural) B Ananda Rao to probe the allegations, but he was later replaced by veteran police officer M Sivananda Reddy. At the time, Reddy was the SP of the Crime Branch (CID). Reddy eventually resigned and joined the Telugu Desam Party, running for Nandyal in 2019 but lost.

Lawyers defending the officers contended that Maoists forced the women to file false rape charges against them in order to prevent anti-Naxalite combing operations and that medical testing failed to confirm rape. The women, who were supported by tribal and SC/ST organizations, petitioned the Supreme Court, which decided that the medical test evidence provided to it did not indicate rape. The officers filed petitions to have the charges against them dismissed. The tribal organisations then petitioned the Supreme Court, which directed the Special Court for SC and ST cases to begin the trial and expedite the hearing in September 2017.

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