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Watch: Congress workers protest in Bengaluru over ticket distribution ahead of Karnataka state assembly elections

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Congress workers protest in Bengaluru over ticket distribution ahead of Karnataka state assembly elections

Congress workers on Monday, April 3, took to protests over ticket distribution ahead of Karnataka state assembly elections.

As per the video shared by news agency ANI, the party workers were protesting outside the office in Bengaluru demanding tickets. They also resorted to sloganeering.

Saleem Ahmed, state unit’s Working President, while speaking to news agency ANI said that there is a lot of demand for the tickets. He said that there is the CEC meeting tomorrow and the ticket distribution will be discussed and finalised.

Karnataka Assembly elections are scheduled to be held on 10th May 2023 and results will be declared on 13th May 2023.

West Bengal: After Howrah, fresh violence erupts in the Hooghly district during BJP Sobha Yatra, BJP MLA injured

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: After Howrah, fresh violence erupts in the Hooghly district during BJP Sobha Yatra, BJP MLA injured

West Bengal continues to burn while the ruling dispensation led by CM Mamata Banerjee is busy whitewashing Islamist atrocities in the state. On Sunday, April 2, a fresh bout of violence erupted in Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. This came three days after Islamists unleashed mayhem during the Ram Navami procession in the Shibpur area of Howrah in West Bengal.

Yesterday’s incident occurred when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was taking out a ‘Shobha Yatra’ in the area. Miscreants pelted stones at the procession, leaving several people, including one of BJP’s local legislators, gravely injured. Following the incident, prohibitory orders were imposed and the internet was suspended.

According to media reports, BJP MLA Biman Ghosh was injured in the Sunday incident.

BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh, who took part in the rally, shared a video on social media saying stones were pelted from a mosque.

Following the incident, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah late on Sunday evening seeking his intervention. “In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, we immediately seek your kind intervention as per law so that the situation does not go out of control and the life and property of ordinary citizens are saved,” the letter said.

In another tweet, the BJP state president shared a picture of Biman Ghosh, lying on a stretcher. He tweeted, “A sad glimpse of how Hindus are paying the price for being Hindu in West Bengal. BJP MLA Biman ghosh is badly beaten up by the goons supported by Didir police. A harsh reality to accept in the land of Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore.”

BJP leader Amit Malviya also took to Twitter to condemn the violence against Hindus in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal. Castigating the apathy of the state police working at her behest, he accused the TMC supremo of playing appeasement politics. “Rishra, in Hoogly, is burning. Ramanavami Shobha Yatra has been attacked… Situation is extremely tense. West Bengal Police, as if under instructions, is a mute spectator, as Muslim mobs assault. Mamata Banerjee, after loss in Sagardighi, is desperate to consolidate Muslim vote,” wrote the BJP leader, as he shared a video of the violence unleashed on Hindus and the BJP supporters during the “Sobha Yatra’ on Sunday.

It may be recalled that on Thursday (March 30), stones were pelted on a Ram Navami procession from the terraces of the buildings in the Shibpur area of Howrah. This led to a clash between the Hindu and Muslim groups, leading to violence and arson. Vehicles and shops were also torched during the attack.

Several disturbing videos of the incident went viral on social media. A large contingent of police was deployed to maintain the law and order situation in the area. The cops conducted a flag march, fired tear gas shells and chased away the rioters.

Hours after Islamists ran riots against Hindus celebrating Ram Navami in Howrah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had attempted to give a clean chit to the perpetrators by first invoking their faith and second, blaming the violence on ‘outsiders.’ She insisted that Hindus should not venture into “Muslim areas” to carry out processions.

However, a day after Mamata Banerjee accused Hindu devotees of carrying out the Ram Navami procession on ‘unauthorized routes’, the organisers of the rally came forward to refute her claims.

While speaking to Republic TV, the organiser of the event confirmed that they had permission to hold the procession. “We have never diverted our route…We are organising Ram Navami rally for the past 10 years,” a member of the organising team emphasised.

The application, a copy of which was shared on Twitter by BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya, also bore the seal of the Howrah Police Commissioner acknowledging its receipt. It was written on March 3 this year and categorically mentioned ‘Shibpur Tram Depot’ as one of the spots on the proposed route of the Ram Navami Shobhayatra Rally.

Amritpal on the run: Pilibhit Gurudwara CCTV footage goes missing, probe underway

OpIndia Staff
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Amritpal on the run: Pilibhit Gurudwara CCTV footage goes missing, probe underway

On April 2, security agencies said in a statement that CCTV footage of Mohanpur Gurudwara in district Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, has gone missing. The security personnel have reached the Gurudwara amid an ongoing search for fugitive pro-Khalistani separatist leader Amritpal Singh and one of his mentors, Papalpreet Singh.

During the investigation, the police team found out that the footage up to March 25 was missing. As per the police, the CCTV cameras resumed recording on March 26. In the footage that police recorded, they saw a vehicle registered in the name of Badhpura Gurudwara’s chief Jathdar parked inside the compound.

Notably, Gurudwara’s karsevak Joga Singh was arrested by the police on March 30 after a vehicle was recovered from Phagwara on March 28. Another person identified as Gurwant Singh, who was the driver, was also arrested by the police. It is believed that Joga assisted Amritpal in reaching Punjab using the same vehicle.

In another news, Papalpreet Singh was allegedly seen in a dera in a Hoshiarpur village on Saturday. It is being said that the footage was from March 29, a day after the counter-intelligence wing of Punjab Police chased an Innova from Phagwara on suspicion that Amritpal was travelling in it.

Crackdown on Amritpal Singh

On March 18, Punjab Police, with support from Central Agencies, launched a massive crackdown on Amritpal Singh. The pro-Khalistani separatist leader came under the radar after taking over the late actor-turned-activist’s organisation Waris Punjab De. Singh’s pro-Khalistan ideology is parallel to what Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had propagated during the insurgency. His rise to fame also coincided with Bhindranwale’s methodology in the late 1980s.

After the crackdown, over 150 associates and youth linked to Singh were nabbed by the police. While close associates remained in custody, those who were not involved in his anti-India activities were released by the police. Furthermore, it was reported Singh was raising a private militia under the guise of drug de-addiction centres. Many pro-Khalistani groups have been protesting on foreign land, including in Australia, the UK, the US, Canada and other locations. Official Indian government establishments in these countries were also attacked during these protests.

Maneka Gandhi bats for making soaps from donkey milk to make sure donkeys remain relevant in modern times

OpIndia Staff
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Maneka Gandhi bats for making soaps from donkey milk to make sure donkeys remain relevant in modern times

On 2nd April 2023, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Maneka Gandhi advised farmers and rural people to make soaps from the milk of donkeys and goats. She made this statement as she referred to donkeys going extinct because they are irrelevant in modern times. She was addressing a public meeting at Baldirai of Sultanpur – her Lok Sabha constituency.

Maneka Gandhi said, “There is a group of people in Ladakh. They noticed that the number of donkeys is reducing. Tell me for the last how many days you haven’t seen a donkey? Their number is reduced. They have gone. A washerman’s job is also extinct now. Washermen don’t need donkeys anymore. Where will donkeys go then? But these people started milking these donkeys. They made soaps using the donkey’s milk. It is believed that the soap made with donkey’s milk is very useful to maintain the beauty of a woman.”

Maneka Gandhi added, “There was a famous queen abroad called Cleopatra. She used to bathe with donkey’s milk. So those soaps made with donkey’s milk are being sold in Delhi at a rate of Rs 500 each. Why should not we make soap from goat’s milk or donkey’s milk? We shall choose a thing that can be done easily and comfortably.”

Maneka Gandhi advised people to make and sell cow dung cakes. She said, “The trees are disappearing. Wood has become so expensive that even when a man dies, he makes his entire family poor. It takes wood worth 15-20 thousand rupees for cremation. It is better that we make long pellets of cow dung, and add aromatic ingredients to them. There should be an order that whoever dies will be cremated with cow dung. The rituals will then cost around Rs 1500 to 2000. These dung logs will be sold in millions”

Maneka Gandhi said, “I don’t want you to make money on animals. No one has become rich to date, raising goats and cows. There will be hardly 3 doctors among 25 lakh people in the whole of Sultanpur. Sometimes not even that. The cow is sick, the buffalo is ill, the goat is ill, and millions of rupees are lost there. That is why I am strongly against anyone going for goat-rearing or cow-rearing. It takes several years to train veterinarians. Then cattle also get stolen. “

Flour distribution related violence leaves five injured in Pakistan’s Punjab

ANI
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Flour distribution related violence leaves five injured in Pakistan’s Punjab

Pakistan, which is facing severe flour shortage, witnessed a major scuffle at the free wheat flour distribution centre in Shorkot in which five persons, including a woman, were injured on Sunday, reported Dawn. 

In Shorkot, there was a heavy rush of free flour seekers located at the Government Elementary School in Shorkot Cantt. The scuffle occurred between policemen and the people, leading to a stampede-like situation. As a result, five persons received injuries. They were given first aid at Shorkot Rafiqui Welfare Hospital. A man received stitches on his foot that was cut during the disorder, reported Dawn. 

However, Punjab Caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir has termed the reports of deaths during the flour distribution mere propaganda of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). 

“PTI leaders have told lies to mislead the people,” Aamir Mir said in the statement. 

He said the claim of death of dozens of people during the distribution of flour was nothing but mischief but added that the lives of three valuable people were unfortunately lost due to the rush and an inquiry was going on into the matter, reported Dawn. 

The eyewitnesses said a similar situation had occurred at the same centre two days back when the people had attempted to open the gate of the school forcibly to enter the distribution centre and some people were also injured. 

Meanwhile, the people blocked a road in protest against the non-availability of flour in Muzaffargarh on Saturday, reported Dawn. 

The people blocked a road for hours in the Jatoi area in protest against the non-availability of flour, alleging that some agents of the officials were charging Rs 200 per bag at the flour point. 

The protest continued until the flour was received by the protesters. 

On Friday, in Karachi, at least 12 people were killed, including 9 women, in a stampede during a ration distribution drive in a factory, Geo News reported. 

According to rescue officials and police authorities in the region, three children were killed as well. 

Also, six people passed out during the stampede, rescuers informed Geo News. Police officers said that a sizable crowd had gathered at the location while the ration was being handed. 

Pakistan is facing a major economic crisis triggered by a series of corrupt and failed governments, military coups, rising international debts, no major exports, and a major class divide, Asian Lite reported. 

The country has reportedly doubled its debt roughly every five years over the last 25-year period. Prices are going up and the government has failed to provide basic amenities like gas and power, the report said. 

Karachi was shrouded under a gas load-shedding in the month of Ramazan. The citizens couldn’t prepare Sahri (meal eaten before dawn during Ramazan) due to the gas shutdown and low supply, and the pakoras and samosas were left raw even in Iftar. The Jang reported that the people were wondering how to keep the fast and how to break it. 

Around 12 died and several others were wounded in a stampede during the distribution of free government flour in Charsadda.

According to sources, a stampede had broken out during the distribution of free government flour in the market of Charsadda, leaving several injured. 

Last month, a labourer in Punjab’s Narowal along with two children, committed suicide by jumping into a canal. In another incident, a man in Muzaffargarh reeling under inflationary pressure committed suicide along with his four-year-old daughter. 

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

Sasaram, Bihar: Another explosion reported from a communally sensitive area, police say it was a firecracker

OpIndia Staff
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Sasaram, Bihar: Another explosion reported from a communally sensitive area, police say it was a firecracker

Violence and communal clashes had broken out in several parts of Bihar on Ram Navami and thereafter. In Sasaram, a blast injured 6 people on April 1. The police had stated that the blast was not a part of communal violence and had occurred due to unlawful explosive handling.

On April 3, it was reported that another blast had occurred in the Mochi Tola area of Sasaram. ABP News reported that in Sasaram’s Mochi Tola area, some anti-social elements threw an explosive at a house. The area is deemed communally sensitive and Rapid Action Forces are deployed there.

An explosive was reportedly thrown at a wall in Mochi Tola despite police presence.

ABO News reported that nobody has been hurt in the recent blast that occurred around 4 am.

Clarifying the reports of another blast, Bihar Police have stated that the blast was due to a firecracker and not a ‘bomb’.

“We came to know about a loud sound that was heard by locals, when we went on the spot, we found that sound was related to a firecracker. Apart from that there is nothing else”, SHO Santosh Kumar told ANI.

As per reports, the deployed police forces and RAF personnel are carrying our flag marches in the area and are keeping vigilance to prevent any violent activities.

6 persons were injured in an explosion in Sasaram on April 1

In Sasaram of Rohtas district in Bihar, six people were injured in an explosion in the Sherganj locality in Sasaram late evening on 1st April. The Bihar police, however, have claimed that it was not an incident of communal violence. Bihar Police said that a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was sent to the spot to investigate the matter after receiving information about the incident of a bomb blast in Sasaram of Rohtas. “The blast was reported at a shanty and a scooty has been recovered from the area. Prima facie it does not appear to be a communal incident,” the police said.

In a statement, Bihar Police informed that 6 persons were injured in a blast due to unlawful explosive handling. The injured persons were referred to BHU for treatment while the police arrested 2 persons in the matter. Forensic teams were sent to investigate at a private household where the explosion occurred.

Indian student on LSE campus exposes Hinduphobia and anti-India rhetorics, says he was disqualified for being Indian Hindu

OpIndia Staff
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Indian student on LSE campus exposes Hinduphobia and anti-India rhetorics, says he was disqualified for being Indian Hindu

On April 2 (local time), Karan Kataria, Student Academic Representative, LSE Law School at The London School of Economics and Political Science, exposed Hinduphobia and anti-India rhetoric on campus. In his statement on social media, Kataria pointed out that he was disqualified from running for the post of General Secretary of the LSE Student Union LSESU after a smear campaign was launched against him to paint him as homophobic, Islamophobic, queerphobic, and Hindu nationalist.

In his statement, he pointed out that he belongs to a middle-class farmers’ family from Haryana, India, and he was the first-generation university-level graduate in the family. Considering his background, his journey to the London School of Economics and Political Science LSE cannot be deemed as privileged. However, his passion for student welfare and desire to strive on campus were shattered because of a deliberately orchestrated smear campaign launched against him because of his nationality as Indian and Hindu identity.

Karan was elected as the cohorts’ Academic Representative. He was also elected as a delegate to the National Union for Students in a short period. Considering his experience in engaging with the students in different positions at LSE, his peers motivated him to run for the post of General Secretary of the LSE Student Union LSESU. Karan said he was disqualified without being given a chance to tell his side of the story. He noted, “The silent treatment of the students’ complaints about such unacceptable behaviour also justifies the accusation of Hinduphobia against the LSESU.”

However, he was pushed back as some individuals on the campus could not “bear to see an Indian-Hindu leading the LSELU”. They restored to smear his character and his very identity. The campaign against him was in line with the alarming cancel culture at the campus. As a result, he was disqualified from the General Secretary elections of the LSE Student Union. His disqualification came despite immense support from students of all nationalities. He was accused of being homophobic, Islamophobic, queerphobic, and Hindu Nationalist. Multiple complaints were filed against him by individuals with vested interests.

The case of Rashmi Samant

This is not the first time a Hindu student got attacked for being a Hindu and an Indian in a western University. In February 2021, then-Oxford University student Rashmi Samant faced a similar attack. Samant, in a Twitter thread, said, “When I was attacked, harassed, bullied and humiliated at the University of Oxford for my Hindu Dharma, origins and background, I prayed that it should never happen to another Hindu on Campus. Karan Kataria’s story and experience from LSE is absolutely heartbreaking!”

She added, “It brings back the simmering issue of deep-rooted Hinduphobia not just in the UK but on campuses and in academia across the world, which under the guise of liberty, curtail the rights of historically persecuted communities like the Hindus. It is not Karan’s fault that he aspires to be a leader. He has every right to be one. Being Hindu does not make him less worthy of taking charge and creating change on any platform of his choice. LSE we demand transparency!”

“This incident brings back a personal trauma to the surface when I was not allowed to take office as the rightfully elected First Female Indian President of the Oxford Student Union due to the mindless cancel culture that continues to prey on the most underrepresented communities,” she said.

Rashmi Samant was hounded by leftists and anti-Hindu propagandists after becoming the first female Indian elect of the Oxford University Student’s Union on February 11. She was forced to resign within days after being abused, bullied and targeted for being a Hindu and over her views against British colonisation.

In a coordinated attack, her old social media posts were dredged up, accusing her of being racist, anti-semitic, Islamophobic, and transphobic. Besides this, Rashmi was also targeted for being a Hindu. One of the faculty members in Oxford – Dr Abhijit Sarkar had even dragged Rashmi’s parents into the controversy, attacking them for having a Lord Shri Ram display picture on their social media accounts while claiming that Rashmi’s student council elections were funded by Prime Minister Modi.

He had even accused Rashmi of being Islamophobic by alleging that she came from coastal Karnataka, which the faculty member termed as “a bastion of Islamophobic far-right forces”. Following the controversy, netizens from across the world demanded the dismissal of Hinduphobic faculty AbhijitSarkar and trended the hashtag #DismissAbhijitSarkar on Twitter.

Rahul Gandhi to flex muscle with all Congress CMs and Priyanka Gandhi to challenge conviction in Surat Sessions court

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi to flex muscle with all Congress CMs and Priyanka Gandhi to challenge conviction in Surat Sessions court

On March 3, the Congress party’s disqualified MP Rahul Gandhi is likely to challenge his conviction in Surat Sessions court. Before appearing in the court, Gandhi is scheduled to put up a big show of strength in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat. Reports suggest all Congress Chief Ministers (read three), Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and other senior leaders would accompany Gandhi for the show.

While three chief ministers, Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh), would join him for the show, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has already met him on March 2, a day before filing the appeal. Gandhi had met his mother in a hotel in Delhi where his brother in law Robert Vadra was also present. Rahul Gandhi is expected to ask for interim relief to restore his Lok Sabha membership.

Congress supporters plan Twitter trend for Gandhi

In a tweet, Congress supporter Shantanu asked for suggestions for hashtags that would be used for Twitter trends on March 3. In the tweet, he said, “Suggest a hashtag for tomorrow’s trend which will highlight the fact that Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification is due to his continuous questioning of the Modi-Adani relationship. Will choose one from the comment and share the timing of the trend alert. Tomorrow our CMs, Priyanka Gandhi and many senior leaders, will be in Surat. So..” In general, such discussions are done by social media managers in private. It is unclear why a Congress supporter would give a hint of a planned Twitter trend.

Netizens feel amused over the plan to flex muscle with three CMs

Netizens found it amusing that Congress was likely to flex muscle with three CMs. Abhijit Gupta said, “Height of sycophancy in INC that 3 CM shall not work because RG going to apply for bail….”

Twitter user Nandita Thakur said, “Show of strength against Judiciary??? “how dare a Judge to sentence me, The Rahul Gandhi???”

Some even wondered if this was a way to try and pressurise the judiciary.

Rahul Gandhi’s conviction

Gandhi was convicted by a Surat Court and sentenced to 2 years in prison in a 2019 defamation case. Gandhi’s conviction led to an automatic disqualification from Lok Sabha as per the regulations. His disqualification has been used by Gandhi and Congress leaders to attack Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming “democracy is in danger” and “Modi is suppressing the voice of opposition”. In 2019, Rahul Gandhi abused the OBC community by questioning “why all thieves have a common surname, Modi”. Irked by his comments, a defamation case was filed. Surat Court found him guilty and sentenced him to two years. He had 30 days to appeal against the sentencing.

‘Yes if that’s the language spoken’: British activist-commentator Bushara Shaikh justifies killing over blasphemy

OpIndia Staff
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‘Yes if that’s the language spoken’: British activist-commentator Bushara Shaikh justifies killing over blasphemy

On 2nd April 2023, British-Pakistani Political Commentator Bushra Shaikh justified killing over blasphemy in one of her tweets replies to author Douglas Murray. Bushra Shaikh, the anchor of the breakfast television show Good Morning Britain, wrote that violence is ok if someone commits so-called blasphemy.

Quoting Douglas Murray’s tweet responding to a ‘blasphemous cartoon’ depicting prophet Muhammad saying it is only a cartoon and asking the Twitter user to calm down, Bushra Shaikh wrote, “Keyboard badman right here. He’d never say this with his chest in Bradford. NEVER.”

Bushra Murray also added a smiley in her tweet essentially pointing out how it is difficult for someone to commit blasphemy in Bradford – an area in the UK with a significant Muslim population living there.

As the original tweet of the Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon, quoted by Douglas Murray was deleted, Bushra Shaikh wrote in the next tweet, “Douglas Murray referencing cartoon depictions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. For context. A man of his so-called intelligence lacks in sensitivity clearly.”

Replying to Bushra Shaikh’s tweet, one John Thomas wrote, “So violence is ok?” Bushra Shaikh replied, “Sometimes yes. If that’s the ‘language’ being spoken…”

Another Twitter user John A called out Bushra Shaikh and wrote, “The problem with violence is reciprocity.” Bushra Shaikh wrote in her reply, “Correction. The problem with violence is there’s always a badder man out there, so be prepared to take a beating if you’re willing to give out to begin with.”

It is notable that according to the 2021 census, the Muslim population in Bradford went up to 30.5% from 24.7% in 2011. In 2011, 7.7% of people in Bradford were born in Pakistan. In 2021, this percentage went up to 8.3%. Therefore, Bushra Shaikh wrote that nobody would be able to defend depictions of Prophet Muhammad without getting killed.

The row originally started on 1st April 2023 when Douglas Murray quoted a tweet by Omar Salha and asked him if a mosque in the UK would host a Holy Communion just like a church in the UK hosted an iftar event during the ongoing Muslim month of Ramzan.

Omar Salha posted, “History was made last night! Over 1,000 people from all faith backgrounds & none attended the iftar at the Manchester Cathedral. A beautiful showcase of bridging, belonging & celebrating our community of communities. Appreciation for hosting us in MCD.”

Douglas Murray wrote, “Shouldn’t a bridge be a two-way thing? So when is the next Holy Communion at a major mosque in the UK?”

Douglas Murray later posted another tweet with a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. He was countered by one Zeeshan Saleem whose tweet is now deleted. Depicting Prophet Muhammad is considered blasphemy in Islam and is punishable by death. Douglas Murray replied to Zeeshan Saleem, “It is just a cartoon. Calm down.”

Bushra Shaikh is a Pakistan-origin British anti-racism activist and political commentator. She is also known for anti-Hindu Islamist views. She has now supported killing for blasphemy according to Islamic Sharia.

India moves closer to having its own space shuttle, ISRO successfully carries out Re-usable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission

OpIndia Staff
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India moves closer to having its own space shuttle, ISRO successfully carries out Re-usable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission

India on Sunday moved a step closer to having its own ‘space shuttle’ or reusable space vehicle with the successful completion of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) by ISRO. The test of the Reusable Launch Vehicle RLV LEX, an autonomous winged spaceplane, was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka’s Chitradurga in the early hours on Sunday.

With LEX, the dream of an Indian Reusable Launch Vehicle arrives one step closer to reality, ISRO said in a statement.

The RLV LEX resembles the space shuttles operated by US space agency NASA for 3 decades before retiring them in 2011. It is a space aircraft with wings that can land like a regular aircraft after returning from space. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph.

The RLV was taken to an altitude of 4.5 km using a Chinook Helicopter of the Indian Air Force as an underslung load. The helicopter carrying the vehicle took off at 7.10 am. After the desired altitude was reached and all the predetermined parameters were attained based on the RLV’s Mission Management Computer command, the vehicle was released. Following that, the vehicle flew automatically and completed an autonomous landing on the ATR air strip at 7:40 am.

Release conditions of the RLV included 10 parameters covering position, velocity, altitude and body rates, etc, and its release was also autonomous. After the release, the RLV performed approach and landing maneuvers using the Integrated Navigation, Guidance & control system, and landed at the Aeronautical Test Range runway.

According to ISRO, the autonomous landing was carried out under the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle’s landing —high speed, unmanned, precise landing from the same return path— as if the vehicle arrives from space. Landing parameters such as Ground relative velocity, the sink rate of Landing Gears, and precise body rates, as might be experienced by an orbital re-entry space vehicle in its return path, were achieved.

The RLV LEX used several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system.

It is also notable that it was first in the world that a winged body was carried to an altitude of 4.5 km by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway.

Several indigenous systems have been used in the Reusable Launch Vehicle, including  navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information.

Extensive wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations enabled aerodynamic characterization of RLV prior to the flight. Adaptation of contemporary technologies developed for RLV LEX will make operational launch vehicles of ISRO more cost-effective.

The RLV is ISRO’s attempt at developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space. According to ISRO, the RLV’s configuration is the same as that of an aircraft and combines the complexity of both launch vehicles and aircraft. “The winged RLV-TD has been configured to act as a flying test bed to evaluate various technologies, namely, hypersonic flight, autonomous landing and powered cruise flight. In future, this vehicle will be scaled up to become the first stage of India’s reusable two stage orbital launch vehicle,” the space body says in its website.

RLV consists of a fuselage (body), a nose cap, double delta wings and twin vertical tails. It also features symmetrically placed active control surfaces called Elevons and Rudder. In actual use, the RLV will be launched using rockets, and after completing space missions, it will make a re-entry and land like conventional aeroplanes.

At present Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the only company with operational reusable space vehicles. However, its Falcon 9 rockets land vertically.

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