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China forbids Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramzan, implement monitoring system to keep a check

OpIndia Staff
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China forbids Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramzan, implement monitoring system to keep a check

While Muslims around the world are observing their holy month of Ramzan, Uyghur Muslims in China are facing a prohibition on their fasting. The Chinese authorities have instructed Muslims in the northwestern province of Xinjiang that their children should not fast during the month of Ramzan. The children were also questioned by the authorities to see if their parents were fasting.

Dilshat Rushit – the spokesperson of the World Uyghur Congress said that during Ramzan, the Chinese authorities have implemented a 24-hour monitoring system in 1,811 villages of Xinjiang, including home inspections of Uyghur families. According to reports, local human rights groups have warned that China’s 11.4 million Uyghur Muslims are at risk of being wiped out completely under the Communist Party’s harsh religious rules.

A report by a coalition of rights groups, including the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), said they have been identified by Beijing as a “threat to be solved through forced assimilation”. According to the report, this is in stark contrast to the relative freedoms enjoyed before President Xi Jinping launched a renewed attack on religious worship, forcing Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists alike to be subjected to party control and censorship of their religious lives.

China has also targeted Muslim communities with its “ethnic unity” campaign, under which authorities pressure members of ethnic minority Uyghur Muslim families to follow non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork. In Xinjiang, unity policies have been implemented amid the mass incarceration of at least 1.8 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims in ‘re-education’ camps, and their deployment in forced labor, as well as rape, sexual exploitation, and forced sterilization of Muslim women in the camps.

On the other hand, USA president Joe Biden has expressed his solidarity towards the Uyghur Muslims in one of his recent statements. On Thursday, 23rd March 2023, Biden said, “Together with our partners, the United States stands in solidarity with Muslims who continue to face oppression, including Uyghurs in the People’s Republic of China, Rohingya in Burma (Myanmar), and other Muslim communities facing persecution around the world.”

It is notable that Muslims in Xinjiang province of China are subjected to persecution by the Chinese state which wants them to “assimilate” with the Chinese communities rather than just identifying as Muslims. A report published in November 2022 said that the Chinese government is taking special measures to promote intermarriage between Uyghur Muslims and Han Chinese ethnic groups. The means employed by the Chinese government consist of both incentivization and coercive actions, underlines the report.

Samajwadi Party MLA Swami Omvesh seeks permission to shower flower petals on Namazis from helicopter in Bijnor

OpIndia Staff
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Samajwadi Party MLA Swami Omvesh seeks permission to shower flower petals on Namazis from helicopter in Bijnor

On Saturday, March 25, Swami Omvesh, a Samajwadi Party MLA from the Chandpur assembly constituency in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, wrote a letter to the District Magistrate seeking permission to shower flower petals from a helicopter on the Muslims offering namaz at Chandpur Eidgah on the occasion of Eid. 

In his letter addressed to Bijnor DM Umesh Mishra Swami Omvesh stated, “To welcome and offer respect, greetings, and salutations to the Musalman brothers on the occasion of their holy festival of Eid, the applicant seeks permission to shower flower petals from a helicopter for half an hour on the namaz is offering namaz at the Chandpur Eidgah. The helicopter will not land anywhere during this half an hour and will return where it took off from after showering flower petals. Thus, your permission is requested.”

Media reports state that the District Magistrate has sought a report from the concerned officers and a decision will be made after receiving the report.

Swami Omvesh shared the said letter in a Facebook post captioned, “Tayyari Eid ke din Eidgah Chandpur par helicopter se pushp varsha ki” (Preparation to shower flowers on Eidgah Chandpur from a helicopter).

It is notable that the Chandpur constituency has a sizeable Muslim population. According to the 2011 census data, around 40 percent population here is Muslim. 

Chandpur religion population (Source: censusindia2011.com)

The Samajwadi Party MLA had in November last year showered flower petals from a helicopter on devotees who arrived to take a holy dip during the Vidur Kuti Ganga Snan Mela. MLA Swami Omvesh had showered flowers on devotees from the helicopter for around three hours.

Chhattisgarh: Gujarati community writes to police seeking action against Tejashwi Yadav for his ‘only Gujaratis can be thugs’ remark

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Gujarati community writes to police seeking action against Tejashwi Yadav for his ‘only Gujaratis can be thugs’ remark

On 23rd March 2023, Sarv Gujarati Samaj Chhattisgarh – an organization of all Gujarati people living in Chhattisgarh state – submitted an application to the SP of Dhamtari district in the state asking him to take an action against Bihar’s deputy chief minister Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav for his remarks against Gujarati people. On 22nd March 2023, Tejashwi Yadav had insulted the Gujarati community by suggesting that only Gujaratis could be fraudsters in the current scenario, as they would be forgiven for their actions due to the fact that both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are Gujaratis.

The letter signed by Preetesh Gandhi – State President of Sarv Gujarati Samaj Chhattisgarh – said, “The statement made by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in the media is highly condemnable. He has said in the media that only Gujaratis can be fraudsters.” The letter addressed to the SP was submitted with the Kotwali police station in-charge.

It further states, “He has used such indecent words for benefitting his politics. This statement made by Tejashwi Yadav has hurt the Gujarati community as well as the entire Gujarati people.”

The Gujarati community asked to file an FIR against the RJD leader in this case. The letter concluded by saying, “The Sarv Gujarati Samaj Chhattisgarh state strongly condemns this statement of Tejashwi Yadav. All Gujaratis living in Chhattisgarh are hurt by this statement of Tejashwi Yadav and we all request you take appropriate action by filing an FIR against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. His statement is an insult to all of us.”

Sarva Gujarati Samaj Chhattisgarh chief Pritesh Gandhi said that Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav has made indecent and indecent remarks on Gujarati society. In protest against this, they have submitted a memorandum addressed to Dhamtari SP at Kotwali police station in-charge Vishishta Vaidya. “We want strict action against them,” he said.

Kotwali police station in-charge Prasad Vaidya said that the memorandum has been received, and action will be taken as per the orders of higher authorities.

On 22nd March 2023, Bihar’s deputy chief minister said, “In the country’s present scenario, only a Gujarati can be a thug as their thuggee would be forgiven.” Attacking the BJP, he said, who would be responsible if someone runs away with the money of LIC or banks.

The statement is not only a factually incorrect one but is also highly demeaning of the hard-working Gujarati community. And his statement becomes laughable when seen in the light of the scams that took place in Bihar during his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s rule. When Tejaswi Yadav, who is himself an accused in the Land-for-job scam says something like this, it doesn’t go down very well.

UP Police reaches Gujarat to bring gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to Uttar Pradesh

OpIndia Staff
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UP Police reaches Gujarat to bring gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to Uttar Pradesh

On Sunday, March 26, Uttar Pradesh Police reached Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat and presented a production warrant to bring gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier today, his medical examination was also conducted to confirm his health status before the move.

Media reports state that the necessary paperwork is being completed before taking the former Samajwadi Party leader from Sabarmati Jail by road to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, Atiq Ahmed will be questioned regarding his involvement in the Umesh Pal murder case. 

As per a Zee News report, late in the evening, UP police would depart from Sabarmati Prison along with Ahmed. Gangster Atiq Ahmed will be brought to Prayagraj by a 45-member police team. A team of 40 police constables in addition to two IPS officers and three DSPs would bring him to Prayagraj. On the evening of March 27, Atiq is expected to reach Prayagraj.

According to DCP Nagar Deepak, the gangster is being brought from Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj as he is an accused in the Umesh Pal murder case.

Once in Prayagraj, he will be presented before the MP MLA court on March 28 in the Umesh Pal kidnapping and murder case. Atiq will return to police custody following the court’s ruling where he will be interrogated in relation to the Umesh Pal murder case.

Notably, Umesh Pal was the key witness of the Raju Pal murder case and the Atiq Ahmed gang killed him on 24th February 2023. On 21st March 2023, Prayagraj police arrested five associates of the Atiq Ahmed gang in connection to the murder.

FIR filed against Amethi youth Arif for keeping a Sarus Crane he had rescued, Akhilesh asks if Yogi’s pet dog will be sent to zoo after the bird shifted to Kanpur Zoo

OpIndia Staff
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FIR filed against Amethi youth Arif for keeping a Sarus Crane he had rescued, Akhilesh asks if Yogi’s pet dog will be sent to zoo after the bird shifted to Kanpur Zoo

On Saturday, March 25, a case was registered against a person named Mohammad Arif under the Wildlife Protection Act who gained media attention last year after he brought home an injured sarus crane he found in his village of Mandhka in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh and took care of it.

Officials reportedly showed up at the home of farmer Mohammad Arif, who found the crane last year, on Tuesday afternoon and informed him that the bird could no longer stay with him. Arif said that the officials informed him that they had received orders from the wildlife department to confiscate the sarus crane. After shifting the bird to Samaspur bird sanctuary, it was later shifted to Kanpur Zoo.

30-year-old Mohammad Arif, a resident of Amethi’s Jodhpur Mandkha village, had saved the life of the badly injured sarus crane in February 2022, and took care of it by keeping it with him. After full recovery in April of that year, the sarus chose to stay back like a domesticated bird, forming a close bond with Arif. However, after reels Arif had posted on social media with the bird flying by his side went viral. When this was spotted by wildlife officials, they took action, took away the bird, and then went ahead to file an FIR against the man.

Sarus is protected under Schedule (II) of the Wildlife Protection Act and can’t be domesticated. Moreover, it is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, if any wildlife is kept in captivity, it is considered a crime equivalent to hunting, and there is a provision for filing FIR in such cases. 

The matter became political after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the bird was snatched from Arif because he had gone to Arif’s village to meet him. “Because I went to meet the man, the bird was snatched away from him. Is this democracy? The government should also take away peacocks from those who feed them,” the former UP chief minister said.

A day after the bird was brought to the sanctuary, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav stated in a tweet that the sarus crane was missing. He tagged a news article that claimed that the bird has gone missing. “The famous stork, which was forcibly taken away from Amethi by the UP Forest Department and released in the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary in Rae Bareilly, is now missing. Such government negligence towards the state bird of UP is a serious matter. The BJP government should immediately find the stork, otherwise the bird lovers of the whole world will agitate,” Yadav wrote in Hindi.

Taking a dig at the BJP govt for renaming places, Akhilesh Yadav said that the CM can give a name to the bird if he wants, but he should ensure that it is found and saved.

The Sarus crane reportedly flew away after being transported to the Samaspur bird sanctuary. Videos of locals feeding the bird also surfaced online. But the officials denied that it had gone missing, and asserted that the bird was inside the confines of the sanctuary.

“It’s not been confined to a room but has been released in the sanctuary. Although we provide it with water, wheat, and bread in addition to the food it finds on its own,” Rupesh Srivastava, a forest official, told BBC Hindi. However, after that, the bird was shifted to Kanpur Zoo as it was feared that it will not be able to survive in the wild as it has become domesticated after staying at Mohammad Arif’s house for a long time.

The team of Kanpur Zoo told that the sarus crane has been brought there by the team of Bird Sanctuary. It will remain in quarantine for 15 days. Following that, it will be let out in that large portion of the zoo where it can sit on the trees. The crane is totally healthy, according to the zoo administration, and is being monitored for 15 days as per protocol. Apart from the caretaker, no one else is allowed to get inside.

Akhilesh Yadav posted two videos showing the bird being transported to the zoo, and a video of the bird inside an enclosure at Kanpur Zoo. “The Sarus has been sent to Kanpur Zoo… Will Golu be sent to the Gorakhpur zoo as well?” he tweeted. By Golu, probably he was referring to Gullu, a pet dog owned by UP CM Yogi Adityanath. In an earlier tweet, he said, ‘A bird locked in a zoo… what kind of freedom is this?’

Meanwhile, Arif who still is hopeful of getting the sarus crane he named ‘baccha’ will return to him. He has been summoned by the Assistant Conservator of Forest, Ranveer Singh, to record his statement.

It is notable that Arif has been accused of flouting the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Sarus is also the ‘state bird’ of Uttar Pradesh and it is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Sarus cranes are the world’s tallest flying birds, standing around 150 cm tall.

While technically Arif committed a crime, some forest officials are of the opinion that intention also should be considered before implementing laws. Arif had rescued the bird and kept it with him taking full care. Officials also point out that not everyone is aware of wildlife-related rules and regulations, and don’t know that they are not allowed to keep wild animals even if they have no intention to harm them or sell them.

Priyanka Vadra compares her family to Lord Ram and Pandavs, claims her family’s blood nurtured Indian democracy

OpIndia Staff
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Priyanka Vadra compares her family to Lord Ram and Pandavs, claims her family’s blood nurtured Indian democracy

Following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha MP after his conviction in a criminal defamation case, the entire Congress party has stepped out to defend their leader, and leading the charge is Rahul’s sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While addressing party workers in the nation’s capital, Priyanka Vadra attacked the ruling BJP and tried her best to defend Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.

Responding to BJP’s regular accusation that Congress is just a Nehru-Gandhi family party and there is parivarvaad (family rule) in the party, Priyanka Vadra said, “You (BJP) talk about ‘Parivarvaad’, I want to ask who was Lord Ram? Was he ‘Parivarvaadi’, or were the Pandavas ‘Parivarvaadi’ just because they fought for the culture of their family? Should we be ashamed because our family members fought for the people of the country? My family has nurtured the democracy of this country with their blood.”

Reminding people of the awkward hug that Rahul Gandhi dramatically gave PM Narendra Modi in the parliament, Ms Vadra said, “We might have different ideologies but we do not have the ideology of hatred. In 2018, Rahul Gandhi gave the PM a hug after his nearly hour-long speech.”

Congress is holding a day-long satyagraha across the country on Sunday, March 26, to protest against party leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha. The alleged satyagraha is led by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha after his conviction

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case. He was disqualified under section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, which states that any MP or MLA convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of conviction.

Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad in Kerala, has been disqualified with immediate effect, as section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act states that an MP or MLA will be disqualified from the date of conviction, if the jail sentence awarded is two years or more.

Apart from the current disqualification, Rahul Gandhi will also not be able to contest the next general election, and also perhaps the 2029 elections, if the conviction is not overturned by a higher court. According to the law, the disqualification will continue for six years after release from jail.

‘Don’t take Lawrence Bishnoi’s name’: Sidhu Moosewala’s father receives death threat

ANI
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‘Don’t take Lawrence Bishnoi’s name’: Sidhu Moosewala’s father receives death threat

The father of late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala, Balkaur Singh, on Sunday alleged that he was threatened once again through an email saying that he would be killed soon. 

“I’ve received threats on email from Rajasthan saying that I’ll be killed soon, so don’t take Lawrence Bishnoi’s name”, alleged Moosewala’s father. Previously also, Balkaur Singh alleged that he was threatened and said that he will be killed before April 25. 

“What wrong am I doing? Should I not fight my son’s case? I was threatened on February 18, 24 and 27 that I will be killed before April 25…I would like to tell the Government, to take back my security, I will continue to fight,” he added. 

According to the police, a case has been registered against unknown people for threatening Moosewala’s father. 

On March 7, Singh held a protest outside the Punjab Assembly and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the murder of his son. 

Speaking to media persons outside the Punjab Assembly, Singh said no investigation is happening in his favour. 

“In the last 10 months, I went to Police and Administration several times. I was assured. But what’s happening here is being done to brush under the carpet the murder of my child. Nothing is going in my favour. So, I had to come to Assembly,” said the father of the late singer. 

He questioned the government about action taken against the gangster Goldy Brar. 

“CBI should investigate the matter…Who are these gangsters (arrested in the case), they are just henchmen. They took the money and shot him dead. The mastermind, who targeted my son…what action is being taken against Goldy Brar?” he asked. 

Sidhu Moosewala, 28, was shot dead on May 29 last year in Mansa, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover. 

The Punjabi singer was shot at point-blank range and declared dead on arrival at the Mansa civil hospital. 

The assailants fired over 30 rounds at Moosewala, who was found slumped in the driver’s seat by locals. 

The investigation suggested gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was the mastermind of the daylight killing. His close aide Goldy Brar, who is said to be based in Canada, was also under investigation in this case. Police issued a Red Corner Notice against Brar through Interpol. 

The incident occurred two days after Punjab Police withdrew the security cover of 424 persons, including that Moosewala. 
Moosewala had fought an election from Mansa in the last Assembly election on a Congress ticket but was defeated by AAP’s Vijay Singla. 

On November 23, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Bishnoi in a case related to the alleged conspiracy to recruit youth to carry out terror strikes in Delhi and other parts of the country.

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

Akal Takht head asks Amritpal Singh to surrender and cooperate with the police investigation

OpIndia Staff
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Akal Takht head asks Amritpal Singh to surrender and cooperate with the police investigation

Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) Jathedar (Sikh leader) Giani Harpreet Singh, on Saturday, asked ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh to turn himself in and assist with the investigation. ”If Amritpal is out (of police net), then I will ask him to present (before police) and cooperate with (police) investigation,” he stated.

He also criticized the police’s ability, questioning why, despite having a large force, they were unable to apprehend the self-styled Sikh preacher. He denounced the police and claimed that they apprehended innocent Sikh youth from their homes. He also alleged that the residences of journalists in Punjab are being raided.

He contended that unfair arrests by the police are being made of individuals for merely posting on social media. He underlined that people’s human rights have been infringed by the government and mentioned that the administration ought to make its position clear.

He earlier bemoaned that the administration was attempting to destabilise Punjab. He complained that the internet shutdown led to creating rumours and panic among people in the state. He reminded the authorities of the precarious circumstances in the 1980s and forewarned them of the negative effects of their actions.

He accused the government of engaging in ‘dirty politics.’ He charged it with attempting to defame and harm Sikhs in order to advance their political goals. He alleged that Sikh youth are being harassed by the police.

He argued that for a peaceful Punjab, the governments, both centre and state, must address the Sikhs’ concerns. He opined that taking harsh measures will not only make Punjab unstable but also disturb the country’s tranquilly.

The ‘innocent’ young Sikhs who have been held by the police, he added, should be freed since their parents are very concerned. He remarked that the state administration need to clarify its position on the current situation in Punjab.

On March 27, the Jathedar summoned a special gathering at Akal Takht for Sikh organisations, intellectuals, lawyers, journalists, student organisations, and others to deliberate on the issue.

Sufficient material to show reputation of RSS is lowered: Mumbai court rejects revision application of Javed Akhtar in defamation case

OpIndia Staff
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Sufficient material to show reputation of RSS is lowered: Mumbai court rejects revision application of Javed Akhtar in defamation case

A Sessions court in Mumbai has rejected the revision application of lyricist Javed Akhtar, challenging summons issued by a Magistrate’s Court in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) defamation case.

“The statement of the petitioner (Akhtar) in the interview was on a national channel and YouTube. The reputation of volunteers, and supporters of RSS, is tarnished and a message is given to the world that RSS is similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Thus, there is sufficient material to show the reputation of RSS is lowered,” the Sessions court noted.

The words uttered by the accused in his interview definitely carry weightage and are heard by the public at large,” it further added. The Sessions Court also observed that the Magistrate Court was right in its application of mind and held that there was prima facie evidence for defamation.

“The accused is a highly renowned person against whom the process is issued. So also RSS is well-known in the nation with enormous followers and supporters. At the same time, Taliban and its activities are known worldwide, on which the interview of the accused was focused,” it emphasised.

The Background of the Case

The original case was filed by an RSS volunteer and advocate named Santosh Dubey before the Magistrate’s court after Akhtar compared the Hindu rights organisation with the radical Islamist outfit, Taliban in a 2021 interview with NDTV.

“The way the Taliban are trying to build a Muslim nation. In the same way, some people present the concept of Hindu Rashtra to us. These people have the same mentality. The Taliban are violent. Are wild. But the people who support RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have the same mentality,” Akhtar had said.

After the summons was issued by the Magistrate’s Court, the lyricist approached the Sessions Court in Mumbai under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Sections 397 and 399. In a revision application, he claimed that Santosh Dubey has no locus standi in the case.

“There are no allegations against the petitioner either specific or general but just the fact that he expressed his thoughts over something does not constitute an offence of defamation and it does not give any right to the complainant to file a complaint,” his application read.

Rahul Gandhi changes his Twitter bio after disqualification over conviction in defamation case

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi changes his Twitter bio after disqualification over conviction in defamation case

Days after his conviction in a criminal defamation case and subsequent disqualification from Lok Sabha, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi changed his ‘bio’ on Twitter.

“This is the official account of Rahul Gandhi | Member of the Indian National Congress | Dis’Qualified MP,” read his new ‘bio’ on the micro-blogging platform.

Screengrab of the Twitter profile of Rahul Gandhi

This has left netizens wondering why the Congress leader chose to add an apostrophe after the letters ‘Dis’ instead of the simple term ‘disqualified.’ Some social media users have suggested that Rahul Gandhi wants to give the impression that he is qualified but has been forcibly disqualified by the ruling BJP government.

The Background of the Controversy

On Thursday (March 23), Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Surat for his defamatory comments against people with the ‘Modi surname’ in a speech in 2019.

A criminal defamation case was filed by Gujarat BJP leader Purnesh Modi after Rahul Gandhi in an election rally had asked why everyone with the Modi surname is a thief, mentioning Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi. PM Modi belongs to the ‘Ghanchi’ community which falls under the Other Backward Caste (OBC). Hence, Purnesh Modi had said how this kind of comment by an MP is an insult to the OBC community.

Apart from the current disqualification, Rahul Gandhi will also not be able to contest the next general election, and also perhaps the 2029 elections, if the conviction is not overturned by a higher court. According to the law, the disqualification will continue for six years after release from jail.

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