Home Blog Page 248

16 days, 23 districts, 1300 km, 67 constituencies: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ set out to move mountains in Bihar, but only ended up undermining Tejashwi Yadav

श्रवण शुक्ल
-
0
16 days, 23 districts, 1300 km, 67 constituencies: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ set out to move mountains in Bihar, but only ended up undermining Tejashwi Yadav

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s controversial 16-day ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ has ended. This yatra covered 23 districts, 1300 kilometres and 67 assembly seats in poll-bound Bihar. While the purpose of this yatra was to gain public support and bolster I.N.D.I. Alliance by peddling the ‘Vote Chori’ (vote theft) bogey, its impact has been the exact opposite.

The Congress party which led this Voter Adhikar Yatra neither managed to win the trust of the people nor could unity be seen within the alliance. The controversy, mutual differences and the indifference of the local people during the yatra made it a topic of discussion. Let us understand every aspect of this yatra in detail.

Voter Adhikar Yatra and its failure

Rahul Gandhi started the Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, in which RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was with him. Its aim was to make vote theft a big issue and tell the people of Bihar that their voting rights are in danger. In addition, this march’s aim was to demonstrate the unity of I.N.D.I. bloc and make Tejashwi Yadav the face for the post of Chief Minister in Bihar. However, both these goals could not be achieved.

The local people did not pay much attention to this yatra. Talking to Dainik Bhaskar, senior journalist Sanjay Kaushik says, “The biggest loss of the Voter Adhikar Yatra was in the selection of issues. The issue of vote theft could not resonate among the people of Bihar. People consider SIR (Special Electoral Registration) necessary, because they believe that the names of outsiders, infiltrators and dead voters should be removed from the voter list.” Due to this, Rahul Gandhi failed to garner local support.

OpIndia also covered Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Rights Yatra. During this, our team talked to the people. People not only rejected Rahul Gandhi’s visit, but also called Bihar SIR very important. The local people also seemed troubled by the influx and dominance of infiltrators.

The route map of the Yatra was also made keeping in mind the Muslim dominated areas, so that this community could be attracted towards the I.N.D.I. alliance. The Yatra which started from Sasaram, Rohtas passed through Aurangabad, Gaya, Wazirganj, Sheikhpura, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnia, Supaul, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Bettiah, then Gopalganj, Chhapra, Bhojpur and ended in Patna. But this strategy also did not work. Left parties were included in areas like Ara, but there too they could not gather large crowd.

Rahul Gandhi’s limelight hogging, rift in the alliance and its impact on Tejashwi Yadav’s image

RJD hoped that this yatra would make Tejashwi Yadav the face for the post of Chief Minister in Bihar, however, this did not happen. During the yatra, Rahul Gandhi drew all the attention towards himself, which damaged Tejashwi’s image. Talking to Dainik Bhaskar, senior journalist Nachiketa Narayan says, “Rahul Gandhi exposed the internal bitterness of the alliance by avoiding declaring Tejashwi as the face for the post of Chief Minister.”

In addition, tensions also emerged between RJD and Congress regarding seat sharing. Before the yatra, there was a discussion that Congress will not get even 40 seats in the Mahagathbandhan. But after the yatra, it seems that Congress can get some more seats. Despite this, no significant benefit is seen at the ground level.

Controversies sank the boat of Voter Rights Yatra

Many controversies during the yatra further weakened it. The biggest controversy arose over the participation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Stalin joined the yatra in Muzaffarpur on 27th August. But people remembered the old anti-Bihari and anti-Hindu statements of DMK leaders.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran had called people from Bihar and UP ‘toilet cleaners’, while Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi had called Sanatan Dharma a disease. BJP spokesperson Prabhat Malakar said, “This yatra was a yatra of insult to Bihar and Biharis. Rahul and Tejashwi travelled with people who questioned the DNA of Bihar.”

The second major controversy took place in Darbhanga, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was abused from the stage. Mohammad Rizvi was arrested in this case. The video of this incident went viral and the BJP made it an issue across the country.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said during his Assam visit, “Rahul Gandhi should apologize for the abusive words he used against PM Modi and his late mother.” PM Modi himself also raised this issue in front of the public. In such a situation, this controversy further damaged the credibility of the visit. Even Prime Minister Modi has condemned the abusive language used against his deceased mother and said that she had nothing to do with politics and yet the opposition leader insulted her. PM Modi added that insult to his mother, is insult to all the mothers in India.

Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar’s role is limited, they remain on the backfoot

Leaders like Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar were also included in the yatra, but their role was also not untouched by controversies. Pappu Yadav was used in Purnia, but later he was not even given a place on the stage. In Patna, he was seen sitting behind the stage, while he even called Tejashwi Yadav ‘Jananayak’. Kanhaiya Kumar was seen in the yatra in the beginning, but later disappeared.

RJD is still not ready to accept people like Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar. In such a case, RJD did not accept both of them completely, due to which the gap of mutual distrust in the alliance has widened.

Disappearance of Tejashwi’s issues

RJD was hoping that this yatra would make Tejashwi Yadav the front face of the I.N.D. Alliance in Bihar, but the opposite happened. Rahul Gandhi hogged all the limelight. Due to this, differences also came to the fore between Congress and RJD that Rahul Gandhi dominated Tejashwi Yadav. Due to this, the conclusion of the yatra was changed and the yatra was ended in Patna in a very disappointing atmosphere.

There is a section of people in Bihar who has only read the stories of Jungle Raj, has only heard about that time, they have not lived through Jungle Raj. This class of voters has seen Nitish Kumar in power for 20 years. There was an anti-incumbency factor in this class of voters who did not know about Jungle Raj. This class was also looking towards Tejashwi Yadav as an option out of helplessness. They were looking at him in 2020 and are still looking at him.

This is the reason why Tejashwi Yadav used to talk about education, employment and all constructive issues. But the fake agenda of vote theft imposed by Congress made Tejashwi Yadav lose his issues and chance establish an impression in the minds of voters that he could be their leader. It is clear – Congress’s agenda of vote theft suppressed the issues Tejashwi Yadav could have played on.

Due to all this, the popularity of Tejashwi who was emerging among the new voters with the issues of education and employment also slipped out of the hands of Tejashwi and the Indy alliance. Nachiketa Narayan says, “Congress was successful in putting itself at par with RJD. Apart from this, it did not gain much. The issue of vote theft was rejected by the people. The evidence shown during the yatra either turned out to be wrong or the public did not accept it.”

What did the Indy Coalition get?

The I.N.D.I. Alliance got mixed benefits from the yatra. For the Congress, it was an opportunity to strengthen the organization. Sanjay Kaushik says, “The Congress organization in Bihar was almost finished. This yatra breathed new life into the workers.” But it is not clear how much benefit it will have in terms of votes.

The yatra was not a profitable deal for RJD. Talking to Dainik Bhaskar, senior journalist Manikant Thakur says, “This yatra did not prove to be a profitable deal for RJD. The only benefit it got was to prevent division of Muslim votes. Strategically, it suffered a loss.” However, Nachiketa Narayan believes that the chemistry between Rahul and Tejashwi can make seat sharing and vote transfer easier.

Smaller parties like CPI (ML) gained some benefit from this visit. Party general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya was seen with Rahul for the entire 16 days, which increased the importance of his party.

Has the political atmosphere of Bihar changed?

Out of the 67 assembly seats included in the route of the yatra, NDA had won 39 seats in 2020, while Congress had won only 9 seats. Rahul Gandhi had the challenge of breaking the strength of NDA on these seats, but it could not happen. A big rally was planned at Gandhi Maidan in Patna at the end of the yatra, but due to lack of crowd, it was converted into a roadshow. Rahul Gandhi soon left Bihar.

Lost more, gained less

Overall, the discussion that was there before this yatra that Congress will not get even 40 seats in the Indi alliance has changed after this yatra. Now it seems that Congress might snatch some more seats. However, it has also become clear from this yatra that even if Congress gets some more seats in the Indi alliance, it will not benefit them on the ground. Because despite being in the opposition for years, neither Congress nor RJD has any issue. In such a situation, it does not seem at all that Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Rights Yatra has made any significant difference on the ground.

India ushers in Semiconductor revolution: ISRO-built ‘Made-in-India chip ‘Vikram’ handed over to PM Modi. All you need to know

Rukma Rathore
-
0
India ushers in Semiconductor revolution: ISRO-built ‘Made-in-India chip ‘Vikram’ handed over to PM Modi. All you need to know

India’s quest towards semiconductor self-reliance reached a significant milestone on 2nd September when Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the country’s first domestically produced Vikram 32 bit processor chip at Semicon India 2025 in Delhi.

After PM Modi launched Semicon India 2025 alongside Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, Vaishnaw additionally presented him with test chips of four projects that had been authorised. “Oil was black gold, but semiconductor chips are a digital diamond,” the prime minister stated, highlighting their crucial role in the country’s progress and development.

Vaishnaw conveyed, “Just a few years ago, we met for the first time to make a new beginning driven by our prime minister’s farsighted vision, we launched the India Semiconductor mission. In a short span of 3.5 years, we have the world looking at India with confidence. Today, the construction of five Semiconductor units is going on at a rapid pace. We just presented the first Made-in-India chip to PM Modi.”

He further emphasized, “We are living in unprecedented times. Global policy turmoil has created huge uncertainty. In these turbulent times, India stands as a lighthouse of stability and growth. In these uncertain times, you should come to India because our policies are stable.”

Vikram 32 bit chip and its features

The Vikram 32 (formally known as Vikram 3201) is the first 32-bit microprocessor that is completely indigenous. It is specifically made for rockets and satellites in contrast to the processors found in everyday devices like laptops and smartphones. It has been developed to survive the harsh conditions (temperatures from -55 degrees Celsius to +125 degrees Celsius) of rocket launches and space environment by the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) Chandigarh of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre created the Vikram 32 chip which was manufactured at SCL’s 180nm (nanometers) CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) plant in Punjab’s Mohali. The 16 bit Vikram 1601 microprocessor which has been powering the space agency’s launch vehicles since 2009 has been replaced with it. The Kalpana 3201 chip and the new processor were officially included into the program in March.

The 32-bit structure on which the Vikram 32 is based enables it to process more data more effectively and can do intricate computations needed for satellite and aeronautical missions since it supports floating-point processing. A specially designed Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) for space applications is used by the processor.

The Ada language which is extensively utilised in aeronautical engineering is supported for programming. ISRO produced the compiler, assembler, linker and simulator, among other supporting software tools, domestically. Moreover, efforts are being made to include support for the C programming language.

Importance of Vikram 32 chip

Space-grade processors must endure radiation, high temperatures and launch vibrations They are not commercially available off-the-shelf devices. India has relied on foreign processors for numerous vital tasks up to this point. India obtained autonomy in this area with Vikram 3201 which lowers dependency on exports and supply chain interruptions.

The new version can process more data at once with increased accuracy owing to its 32-bit design. Its 64-bit floating-point capabilities are essential for precise navigation and trajectory computations. Ada programming language is commonly employed in aerospace systems that are crucial to safety.

It can be linked to other avionics modules of a rocket due to on-chip communication interfaces (1553B bus). It is made with 180-nanometer CMOS technology, a process node that is dependable for aerospace-grade applications despite being small by consumer electronics standards.

The Vikram 32 has been designed mainly for satellites and rockets but it is also applicable in other vital applications due to its sturdy construction. High-reliability energy systems, innovative automotive solutions, aeronautical technology and military systems are among its possible uses.

Space tests of the Vikram 3201 have already been completed. During its flight on the PSLV-C60 mission, it supplied power to the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module’s (POEM-4) Mission Management Computer. ISRO gained the confidence to pursue broader adoption after its successful in-orbit validation.

MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) Secretary S Krishnan formally turned over the first production lots of Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201 to ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan on 5th March. The 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor Kalpana was created to work with open-source toolchains. It employs a distinct design methodology while still accomplishing the same goal of indigenous capabilities.

Boost to “Make in india”

ISRO has created a whole ecosystem around Vikram 3201 to reduce reliance on imports, including Ada compilers, assemblers, linkers, simulators and integrated development environments. Furthermore, a C compiler is being developed to increase the flexibility of programming. India would retain control of the development tools and hardware required for mission-critical applications because of this integrated ecosystem.

The space agency unveiled four other domestic devices in addition to the Vikram 3201 with the goal of downsizing launch vehicle avionics: Two Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System (RDAS) variations, a Relay Driver IC and a Low Drop-out Regulator IC with multiple channels. All of these elements work together to minimise the burden placed on foreign electronics for launch vehicles.

Consumer to creator

The first “Made in India” chip is anticipated to be released by semiconductor manufacturer CG-Semi from the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) pilot plant in Sanand, Gujarat. The initial plan to develop a semiconductor facility in Sanand was authorised by the Narendra Modi administration in 2023.

23 chip design projects have been approved under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) program to assist inventors and companies. Businesses such as Vervesemi Microelectronics are producing cutting-edge chips for energy systems, electric vehicles, aerospace and defence, demonstrating India ambitious leap in the field.

The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was started by the Indian government in 2021. It appears that in just three and a half years the mission has already paid off. Ten semiconductor manufacturing projects totalling over ₹1.60 lakh crore have been sanctioned by the government so far in six states: Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Five more semiconductor units are already under construction.

Modern technology relies heavily on semiconductors. They supply vital systems for communication, transportation, healthcare, defence and space. Semiconductors are now essential to both economic security and strategic independence as the world becomes more automated and digitalised.

Although India now employs around 20% of the world’s chip design experts, the country’s manufacturing capabilities have not kept up with demand. Hence, Vikram 32 chip is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat (India that is self-sufficient) and lessens its reliance on imported microchips.

Semicon India 2025 

The goal of the three-day Semicon India conference which was launched in New Delhi is to improve the semiconductor ecosystem in the nation. The conference’s sessions will cover areas such as advanced packaging and semiconductor fabrication projects, infrastructure preparedness, research and artificial intelligence advancements, investment prospects, smart manufacturing and the execution of state-level policies.

Likewise, there will be dedicated sections on workforce development, international collaboration, the startup ecosystem, and the Design Linked Incentive program.

More than 2,500 delegates from 48 countries, 150 presenters and more than 350 exhibitors are among the more than 20,750 attendees of this year’s event. The program also includes pavilions and roundtables tailored to each countries. Greater Noida (2024), Gandhinagar (2023) and Bengaluru (2022) have hosted Semicon India conferences in the past.

Delhi Riots 2020: Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam prima facie had role in the larger conspiracy, says High Court

Anurag
-
0
Delhi Riots 2020: Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam prima facie had role in the larger conspiracy, says High Court

On 2nd September, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail application of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. The division bench of Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur noted that at this stage, prima facie material exists to show both of them played a role in planning and mobilising protests that spiralled into riots. While rejecting the bail applications of Khalid and Imam, the court clarified that it was not going into the merits of the case but found no ground for parity with other accused who had been granted bail earlier, as the roles attributed to the two were of a different nature.

Court on early mobilisation after CAB

The Delhi High Court observed that in the events that unfolded soon after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in December 2019, it was Khalid and Imam who allegedly took the first steps towards mobilising dissent. The judgment noted, “prima facie it appears that the appellants were the first ones to act after the CAB was passed in early December 2019, by creating WhatsApp groups and distributing pamphlets in the Muslim populated areas calling for protests and Chakka-Jaams, including the disruption of essential supplies.”

Source: Delhi High Court

The bench noted that the prosecution has alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, specifically the Muslim community, into believing that CAA and NRC were anti-Muslim laws. According to the court, this went beyond simple political opposition and was aimed at laying the groundwork for disruption.

Khalid and Imam described as intellectual architects of conspiracy

The court also emphasised the role of speeches delivered by Khalid and Imam, and observed that when considered together with other material, they revealed more than just routine political expression. During the hearing, the Solicitor General argued that Imam and Khalid were “the intellectual architects behind the entire conspiracy, working in tandem with the other co-conspirators.”

Source: Delhi High Court

Though the bench did not comment on the ultimate merits, it accepted that, prima facie, “the alleged inflammatory and provocative speeches delivered by the appellants, when considered in totality, prima facie indicates towards their role in the alleged conspiracy.”

The court was satisfied that the speeches could not be viewed in isolation. Such speeches had to be read in the wider context of coordination, mobilisation and disruption that the prosecution alleged was by design.

Physical absence not enough to negate role

The defence had strongly pressed the point that Sharjeel Imam had been in custody since January 2020 and therefore could not have had a role in the riots. In the case of Umar Khalid, he was also not present at the protest sites on the day of the riots. The High Court, however, dismissed this line of argument.

Source: Delhi High Court

The bench noted, “it is irrelevant whether the appellant was physically present at the protest sites or in meetings” that were held after 28th January 2020 as the key acts attributed to them, “initial planning, creation of groups, conceptualisation, and incitement regarding the CAA/NRC”, had already been completed.

The absence of Imam and Khalid, therefore, could not wipe away their involvement in the larger conspiracy behind the riots. The order concluded that “the mere absence of appellant Sharjeel Imam a few weeks prior to the ultimate riots, and the appellant Umar Khalid’s absence a day or two before, at this stage, may not be sufficient to mitigate their role, as they have been alleged to be the key conspirators in planning and designing the scheme of events.”

Bail rejected on distinct roles

While refusing bail, the court stressed that though it was not entering into a detailed evaluation of the evidence or the merits of the charges, bail could not be granted on parity. The court noted that unlike some other accused, including Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, who had obtained bail, Khalid and Imam could not be granted bail as they stood on a different footing. Their actions, as recorded in the observations, showed a degree of planning and leadership that could not be equated with others.

Trump and Navarro’s unhinged policy against India invites domestic backlash: American media and commentators question anti-India stand

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Trump and Navarro’s unhinged policy against India invites domestic backlash: American media and commentators question anti-India stand

US President Donald Trump’s tariff war against India has backfired monumentally. Not only has India embarrassed Trump by stating that it will continue buying Russian oil, exposed US’s hypocrisy and its own profiteering off Russia-Ukraine war but also bolstered its ties with Russia and China. India’s resilience coupled with the unintended consequences of Trump tariffs, particularly, the consolidation of BRICS, has sparked backlash against Trump administration within the US media.

China buys most of Russian oil but faces no tariffs, Trump’s mindless ‘punishment’ to India brought RIC and BRICS together

Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, former US Trade Representative, Michael Fronman, appeared on CNBC TV’s show Squawk Box’ and discussed how and why of India’s drift away from China. When asked by anchor about how the US has for decades been trying to keep India away from China, but Trump’s 50 percent tariffs have brought India and China closer, Fronman said that since the Clinton administration, the US has “changed” the nature of Indo-US ties.

“The recent actions on tariffs have very much struck India by surprise to be among the highest tariff countries in the world…  This is Modi’s first trip to China in seven years, and it’s a direct reaction to the fact that Us imposed these tariffs. They don’t feel they can rely on the United States as a strategic partner going forward, and they’re exploring their other options with China and the other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization… India’s been wondering why it’s facing a 25 percent tariff because of the oil it is buying from Russia, where China, which buys more oil from Russia, faces no such tariff,” Fronman said.

He added that while India and China have a lot of issues which are not going to get resolved anytime soon, India and China’s recent bonhomie is a “signal to the US and a very important domestic political signal for Modi that they are not going to be taken f or granted by the United States going forward.”

Interestingly, India knows why China gets a pass despite being the biggest buyer of Russian oil. The US cannot afford a discontinuation of the supply of rare earth magnets from China, and fearing that, Trump has on one hand threatened to impose 200 percent tariff if rare earth magnet supply is curbed, on the other, he has also said that the US is interested in bringing in 6 lakh Chinese students.

Pakistan bribed Trump by nominating him for Nobel Peace Prize, India got tariffed not dancing to Trump’s tunes: American podcaster criticises Trump’s ‘bromance’ with Pakistan

Popular American podcaster, ‘Speaknsee’, slammed the European leaders for having failed to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the “greatest of all time/G.O.A.T”. The podcaster compared the approval ratings of Western leaders, most of whom having their rating below 50% including Trump with a 45% positive approval rating, with PM Modi’s who has 72% approval rating. He went on to criticise Trump for his ‘bromance’ with Pakistan. He further asserted that Trump should stop daydreaming about Nobel Peace Prize, adding that “there’s no way that a phone call (by Trump) offering a deal can stop something (India-Pakistan conflict) like that magnitude.

The Speaknsee podcaster proceeded to say Pakistan has “bribed” Trump by nominating him for the Nobel prize, while Narendra Modi has never tried to bribe Trump to get things done his way.

Trump administration is a combination of “stupid and desperate” to bring India and China together and is isolating itself

A Dialogue Works discussion on 31st August, featuring American economists Richard D Wolff and Michael Hudson, garnered over 3 lakh views on YouTube. The discussion revolved around White House Trade Adviser, Peter Navarro’s unhinged rants against India, particularly, the one where Navarro called Russia-Ukraine war as “Modi’s war”.

Richard D Wolff called Navarro “not the sharpest knife in the drawer”, asserting that anyone have trade relations with Russia is in some way making money off that trade because that is why trade happens. Wolff pointed out that Russia is having trade with over 100 countries but only India gets singled out and targeted by Navarro.

Calling Navarro’s reasoning “stupid” Wolff said, “On that grounds, there should be an endless war of everybody against everybody because Mr. Mr. Putin would be able to say exactly the same thing about the United States and everybody who trades with the United States. You are providing uh profits for the United States which are taxed and used by the government to kill Russians in Ukraine.”

He went on to say that while Trump administration is blaming PM Modi and India for the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in Ukraine runs through Washington DC, which decided to push NATO to the frontier of Russia. Wolff stressed that in its quest to ‘punish’ the whole world, Canada and Mexico then and India now, the US is isolating itself.

Meanwhile, Michael Hudson also expressed his discontent over Trump’s approach towards India. He highlighted that American foreign political-economic policy has left out the political aspect, while India has not. Both Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have explicitly said that the 50% import tariffs are an attack on India’s sovereignty and freedom to have trade with whichever country it wants. PM Modi refuses Trump’s calls because he knows that Trump would want PM Modi to agree to his terms, which the Indian PM cannot.

Emphasising that since 1945, America has a policy of making other countries dependent on its grain exports to weaponize food and even got regime change operations executed in foreign countries for its own interests, Hudson said that the US want India to open its markets for American food exports. Hudson asserted that PM Modi is not going to comply with Trump’s demand. He added that is impasse has resulted in India’s pivot towards China despite having its own set of issues to resolve with Beijing.

“Trump has performed the act of peace by driving Russia and China together for the next generation.  Trump has now driven India together with China and Russia,” he said.

He speculated that while India was earlier seen as the “weakest link” in the BRICS giving India’s vicinity with the US in the technological arena, now with Trump’s failure to grasp the political aspect of the situation, Beijing and New Delhi might join hands to dominate equal halves of the Silicon Valley. He highlighted that PM Modi and the Indian people are nationalistic, and by neglecting this fact, Trump has achieved opposite results from his tariffs against India.

Meanwhile, Wolff opined that Trump is either “desperate” or “stupid” or a “combination of both, to be going after Indian exports and to be bringing together China and India, the two giants of future technology.

American conservative political commentator, Victor Davis Hanson, noted that India and the US have had good relations in the past. India’s geography and its democracy made it an ideal counterweight to a communist autocratic China. Indian immigrants coming to America have also been skilled and law-abiding rich minorities. However, the Indo-US relations nosedived after Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. He highlighted that despite traditionally getting benefits from the US, Trump’s tariffs have made India and China improve relations, while Russia has always been India’s ally. He added that even historically, the US was on the wrong side by supporting an Islamic Pakistan against a democratic India, which Russia backed.

“…my point is that it has strong ties historically with Russia and it’s developing ties with China and it’s pulling away from us (America)…” Hanson said and wondered how it is going to end.

Trump tariffs ruined America’s reputation

 The Daily Show put out a video in April this year, with the title “Trump’s Tariffs Ruined America’s Reputation. Does Anyone Still Respect Us?, wherein the anchor discussed how during his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly said that under his leadership, America will be ‘respected again’, however, the reaction of Chinese government and social media, French and Italians, Canadians, Polish, Singaporeans, Germans, Australians, and Britishers, shows that under Trump’s leadership, America has not gained but lost respect.

Trump worries more about Rose Garden patio in the White House than his policies

YouTuber Tim Miller for The Bulwarks criticised Donald Trump over his misplaced priorities as the latter put up a Truth Social post on 31st August, raging against the contractor for allegedly damaged newly installed stonework in the White House Rose Garden. Miller said that Trump’s focus on trivial issues over policy matters amidst speculations around his deteriorating health, raises the question whether Trump is even fit for the job.

Trump’s presidency is in chaos after tariffs struck down

Recently, American YouTuber Mallen Baker, published a video on YouTube, wherein he criticised Trump’s utilisation of tariffs as an economic bludgeon and political punishment weapon against India and Brazil for political, not economic, reasons. He asserted that with the US court saying that Trump exceeded his powers and authorities in slapping these arbitrary tariffs, Trump’s presidency will be left in chaos and invite embarrassment to the US, as all the tariffs will have to be paid back in the court upholds its decision against him.

Besides tariffs, Donald Trump unexpected reneging on his poll promise of releasing the Epstein Files has also triggered discontent among his supporter base. Trump supporter and popular radio show host, Alex Jones has slammed Trump over Epstein Files and also said that MAGA is turning out to be a “cult”.

The damage is done: India will no longer trust America, says Fareed Zakaria on CNN

The seriousness of the strain in Indo-US ties due to Trump’s tariff tirade against India can be understood from the fact that even known Modi detractor, CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria has said that the damage by the Trump administration is beyond repair and India will never trust the US.

Zakaria said two weeks back that Donald Trump’s sudden inexplicable hostility toward India reverses policies pursued under five administrations including his own previous one. “If it holds, this reversal may be the biggest strategic mistake of the Trump presidency so far.”

He highlighted that while India has over the years been cooperating with the US, Trump in his second term, has “undone decades of painstaking effort by American diplomats. He has placed India in the highest category of 12 countries, long with Syria and Myanmar, while placing Pakistan at just 19%and offering joint efforts to look for oil in that country.

Zakaria said that Trump hosted lunch for Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, his family backed firm has done crypto deal with Pakistan’s newly-created National Crypto Council and at the same time, called India’s economy ‘dead’ even as it is thriving. “India had slowly but surely been embracing closer ties with America. No more. Even if Trump reverses course once again,

the damage is done. The country is united in its shock and anger at Trump’s insulting behaviour,” he said.

Indeed, the damage is done. India has a long memory and Indians will never forget Trump’s ‘dead economy’ jibe and the anti-India rhetoric unleashed by his attack dogs Peter Navarro and Scott Bessent, who accused India of profiteering from Russia Ukraine war even as US has profiteered the most, and continue to vilify New Delhi.

Donald Trump was already facing backlash for having backtracked from his promise of releasing the Epstein Files. Now the unintended consequences of his tariffs against India, especially what is said to be the revival of the Russia-India-China troika, consolidation of BRICS and needless antagonization of the only country which has been an effective counterweight to China, has added to his slumping popularity. The American angst against Trump is comprehensible given Trump promised MAGA – ‘Make America Great Again’ but ended up delivering ‘Make Asia Great Again’.

Uttar Pradesh: Nihal abducts minor Hindu girl, converts victim to Islam and marries her off to Maulvi, abuses victim’s father as ‘kafir’ and attempts to lynch him

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: Nihal abducts minor Hindu girl, converts victim to Islam and marries her off to Maulvi, abuses victim’s father as ‘kafir’ and attempts to lynch him

A disturbing case of kidnapping and religious conversion of a minor Hindu girl has come to light in the Konia area of Adampur police station in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

A case has been registered against four accused, including an unidentified person, at the direction of the Commissioner of Police, Mohit Aggarwal.

According to reports, the father wrote to the Commissioner of Police, informing him about the kidnapping and religious conversion of his daughter and requested legal action against the accused.

The complainant said that the accused Nihal, a resident of Konia, had kidnapped his daughter three months ago. When the complainant came to know about this, he confronted Nihal and demanded the release of his daughter.

However, Nihal dismissed him, saying that his daughter had been converted to Islam and was married to a Maulvi. He reportedly referred to the complainant as ‘Kafir‘ and said that he would send him to ‘Jahannum‘ (hell).

Nihal told the father of the victim that now his daughter belonged to them and would not return. Nihal’s father, Abbu Shareef, brother, Lalu, and a few other relatives threatened to kill the complainant.

Soon, a mob of around 200 people surrounded the victim’s father and tried to lynch him. He somehow managed to escape from there and save his life.

The father alleged that he informed the local police at the Kazzakpura police post and the Adampura police station, but was turned away without any help.

The disheartened father finally appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Mohit Aggarwal, for help. On Monday (1st September), the Commissioner of Police ordered the filing of the FIR, after which the police sprang into action.

Two people were arrested by the police, including Nihal and a woman, in connection with the case late on Monday (1st September).

The police are looking for the father and the brother of Nihal, who are on the run. The accused have been booked under Section 137(2), 351(2), 352, and 191(2) of the BNS and Section 5(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.

The police have assured to take strict legal action against the accused and rescue the girl. An investigation is currently underway.

‘Don’t ban the truth’: Vivek Agnihotri’s open plea to CM Mamata Banerjee for peaceful release of ‘The Bengal Files’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Don’t ban the truth’: Vivek Agnihotri’s open plea to CM Mamata Banerjee for peaceful release of ‘The Bengal Files’

Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has appealed directly to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to allow the peaceful release of his upcoming film The Bengal Files. The film is scheduled to hit theatres nationwide on September 5, 2025. However, Agnihotri fears that political resistance in Bengal, particularly from Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers who have staged protests, could lead to an unofficial ban in the state.

On Tuesday (September 2), the director shared a video on social media addressing Banerjee. In his message, he highlighted the anxiety of theatre owners who, according to him, are under immense political pressure.

“Theatre owners are telling me that even if the film is not officially banned, they will have to pay a heavy price for showing it. Many are simply too afraid. The workers of your party are also asking to ban this film. That’s why I request you to ensure a peaceful release in West Bengal,” he said.

Agnihotri reminded Banerjee of her constitutional responsibilities, pointing out that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared the film. “You have taken an oath to protect the rights and free speech of every citizen. The CBFC is a constitutional body, and once it has passed the film, it is your duty to see that it releases without disruption,” he stressed.

The filmmaker went on to explain why the story of Bengal needed to be told. He called Bengal’s past “a painful yet forgotten chapter of Hindu genocide,” citing Direct Action Day and the Noakhali massacres as moments of immense suffering. “Bengal is the only state that has been partitioned twice, in 1905 and 1947. No one has sacrificed as much as Bengal has, but does today’s generation know this? If you think beyond politics, like a true Indian and a true Bengali, you will not ban this film. You will salute it,” he said.

Clarifying that The Bengal Files was not targeted against any community, Agnihotri said it was about “truth and healing.” He argued that banning the film would be equivalent to silencing the voices of victims. “This film is not about hatred. It is about acknowledging history. If you ban it, you ban the soul and suffering of those who faced genocide,” he remarked.

Concluding his appeal, Agnihotri urged Banerjee to watch the film and allow healthy debate. “If we do not tell the story of Direct Action Day and Noakhali now, then when will we? If telling the truth about Hindu genocide is a sin, then yes, I am a sinner. You may punish me as you wish,” he said.

The Bengal Files revisits Bengal’s turbulent political and communal past. Featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Simratt Kaur, and Darshan Kumarr, the film weaves real testimonies and historical events into its narrative.

YouTuber Ravish Kumar compares Rahul Gandhi to MK Gandhi, justifies lies spread by the Congress party: Here is why he is the real ‘Godi Media’

Rukma Rathore
-
0
YouTuber Ravish Kumar compares Rahul Gandhi to MK Gandhi, justifies lies spread by the Congress party: Here is why he is the real ‘Godi Media’

The term “Godi media” has been popularized by key elements of the Congress ecosystem to discredit, demean, and belittle individuals who support the Bharatiya Janata Party or do not adhere to their political narrative of Hindu animosity under the guise of secularism.

Figures like Ravish Kumar who try hard to present themselves as “neutral journalists” while disseminating the propaganda of a particular ideology coined this term when their preferred party was ousted from power through the world’s largest democratic exercise.

The incomprehensible development not only shocked the conceited grand old party but also its lackeys in the media. Hence, the discontented opposition and its supporters have since embraced this term to invalidate the people’s mandate and cast aspersions on anyone who does not submit to their interpretations of divisive, communal or biased.

As Congress has remained out of power for over a decade and lacks any foreseeable chance of a comeback, its servers in the media have dispensed with their already non-existent facade of neutrality.

These elements regularly illustrate how they have borrowed from the propaganda manual of Joseph Goebbels, accusing the other side of being “Godi media” while they continue to function as courtiers for a particular party with decades of unrelenting servitude to their political masters.

The same was clearly evident when Ravish Kumar, in his attempt to exalt Rahul Gandhi, went to the extent of comparing him to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in one of his videos. He attempted to portray the Lok Sabha MP as an enlightened person who is indifferent to electoral triumphs and is solely advocating for the people of the nation.

“The question often arises regarding Rahul Gandhi’s failure to win elections. However, he has managed to separate his political pursuits from electoral outcomes. Even after several defeats, he returns to the political arena shortly thereafter. He has ended the opposition’s sense of hopelessness. Perhaps the BJP is troubled by his apparent lack of frustration. He is actively involved on multiple fronts simultaneously and indeed, he creates a new front for himself each day. He has risen above the threats of legal action and imprisonment,” Kumar stated in his video on 25th August.

Kumar then offered a ridiculous comparison between Rahul Gandhi and MK Gandhi, suggesting that both abolished the apprehension of jail from their political battles. He declared, “Mahatma Gandhi’s significant contribution to the freedom movement was his ability to eliminate the fear of prison among the poor and innocent, making incarceration a component of political existence. This is why, during British rule, Jawaharlal Nehru was thrown behind bars for 9 years. It was not just him but countless ordinary Indians were also jailed. For a long time, there were efforts to trap Rahul Gandhi through court cases. However, he has begun to confront those challenges as well.”

Interestingly, the alleged journalist in his unwavering loyalty, seeks to paint the Gandhi scion and his party as a non-governmental organisation dedicated to uplifting the underprivileged. However, the stark reality is that the latter has left no stone unturned, including exploiting caste and community fault lines to score trivial political points against the saffron party.

From the repeated references to the purported Adani-Ambani collusion with the Modi government which were recently reiterated by the Trump administration to attack New Delhi to the promises regarding the removal of Supreme Court’s 50% cap on reservations and the redistribution of wealth, the parliamentarian employed every tactic to convince voters to support his party yet he failed miserably.

The former Congress chief is such a devoted well-wisher of India that he even urged President Donald Trump to use Gautam Adani’s indictment in a United States Court to intimidate Prime Minister Narendra Modi to adhere to his demands. Notably, Mossad revealed how Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda (the head of Indian Overseas Congress) and the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research aimed to harm India’s economy through the Adani Group, only to malign the Modi government.

Furthermore, the I.N.D.I. Alliance choose to believe Trump’s remarks in relation to mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan rather than endorsing the official stance of its own government. The opposition has prioritized political interests over national security and diplomatic interests at every critical juncture, with its leaders expressing skepticism even towards the Indian Armed Forces and their notable operations. However, their ecosystem has not strayed from its habitual sycophancy in the slightest.

Nevertheless, all of this appears to be the actions of an altruistic politician (which is an oxymoron in itself) from Kumar’s perspective who is employing every strategy to depict Gandhi as the savior of the ordinary people of India while simultaneously lashing out at “Godi media” for not showing Gandhi via his prism of “objectivity” to the general public. Irony must have suffered a thousand deaths.

Past antics of Ravish Kumar

Ravish Kumar was employed at NDTV prior to his departure and the commencement of his new innings on YouTube. Notably, the channel was formerly recognized as an unofficial spokesperson for the Congress party. It even celebrated its 25-year journey with a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2023. Essentially, NDTV represented the original embodiment of “Godi media.”

Kuamr transitioned to social media for his propaganda, however, he continued to work as the mouthpiece for Congress. His videos are saturated with the opposition’s narrative while he deliberately targets the ruling party, not for any other reason but because it does not conform to his self-serving agenda.

Kumar has consistently opposed the BJP without regard for the validity of the arguments as he evidently pursues a specific agenda that, despite his futile efforts to depict otherwise, is neither neutral nor beneficial for the nation. Despite presenting himself as a proponent of democracy, he swiftly opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative in Bihar which intended to prioritize legitimate voters and discard fraudulent ones.

He has even been accused of trying to replicate the “Bangladesh toolkit” to undemocratically overthrown the current government through violent means (as happened in the neighboring country) by provoking the voters as he followed the lead of the Congress-led bloc.

Kumar was profoundly distressed after the Modi government’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. “You can stop the water of six rivers, who gets to decide that? Nature or Modi’s ministers,” he retorted while insisting that India could not possibly stop the rivers from flowing into Pakistan and the centre was deceiving the public.

In yet another striking example of being a “neutral journalist,” Kumar not only sanitized the atrocious Sandeshkhali crimes but also connected the horrific event to a BJP conspiracy, accusing the media of highlighting the offenses committed by TMC leaders. Predictably, Kumar exhibited an extraordinary level of confidence and thus thoroughly asserted that the I.N.D.I. Alliance will secure over 295 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Reporters Without Borders (also known as Reporters sans frontières, or RSF) even presented Kumar with the “Independence Prize” at their 32nd Press Freedom Awards ceremony in Washington, DC. RSF, a Western government-funded outfit supported by the Ford Foundation, is well-known for its anti-Indian and anti-Modi reporting. It appears that his overlords have acknowledged his tireless efforts to spread their propaganda.

Conclusion

The aforementioned incidents merely represent a glimpse into how Ravish Kumar while disseminating disinformation and a specific narrative to benefit Congress and other opposition parties, shamelessly accuses other media outlets of the very actions he himself is guilty of. Nevertheless, with the saffron party currently in power, his frustration is likely to escalate and he will continue to advance his notorious agenda in the coming times.

Christian conversion racket busted in Chitrakoot: Four arrested after VHP complaint

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Christian conversion racket busted in Chitrakoot: Four arrested after VHP complaint

An incident involving Christian conversion activities has come to light in Ahiri village of the Mau police station area in the Chitrakoot district of Madhya Pradesh. Four individuals were arrested by the police on Sunday (31st August) after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member Mukesh Vajpayee informed the police about Christian conversion activities taking place inside the home of Phoolchandra, one of the arrestees.

In his written complaint submitted to the police, Vajpayee said that for the past year, the culprits have been organising Christian prayer meetings in the village. In these meetings, they brainwash poor villagers by praising Jesus Christ and abusing Hindu deities and also lure them by offering money for converting to Christianity.

An FIR was registered at the Mau police station under Section 299 of the BNS and Section 3(5)(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, against Phoolchandra, Rajkumar, Santlal and Babulal. Police seized a copy of the Bible and another book relating to Christianity from the possession of the accused.

According to Mukesh Vajpayee, he received information about the Christian missionary activities taking place in Phoolchandra’s house on Sunday. He, along with some VHP members, reached the spot and found that around two many people had a group of people had gathered at Phoolchandra’s house. They were being encouraged to convert to Christianity. When Vajpayee and other VHP members tried to stop them, the four accused started arguing with them.

Vajpayee added that he informed the police about the Christian prayer meeting before reaching Phoolchandra’s house. The police arrived just when the meeting was over, and people started leaving. The police stopped and questioned the people who attended the meeting. They admitted to the police that they were attending a Christian prayer meeting and that they believed in Jesus. Station House Officer, Durgvijay Singh, said that an investigation is going on in the case.

Missionary activities in government school exposed

A few days ago, a case of missionary activities taking place in a government school had come to light in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A complaint was filed by a parent whose son was enrolled in the Nava Kranti School in Jangipura locality of Dabra town in Gwalior. According to the complaint, for the past year, some teachers have been preaching Christianity in the school and luring students and their parents to convert to Christianity by offering them jobs and other opportunities. The complainant came to know about the Christian activities when his son told him that the school teachers talked about Jesus and Christianity. 

An FIR was registered by the police under Section 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, on August 29, 2025, at the Itarsi Police Station.

India’s Semiconductor leap: Ashwini Vaishnaw showcases ISRO-built ‘made-in-India’ chip ‘Vikram’ at Semicon 2025, hails breakthrough in tech self-reliance

OpIndia Staff
-
0
India’s Semiconductor leap: Ashwini Vaishnaw showcases ISRO-built ‘made-in-India’ chip ‘Vikram’ at Semicon 2025, hails breakthrough in tech self-reliance

India took a decisive leap in its semiconductor mission with the unveiling of the nation’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram, at the Semicon India 2025 conference on Monday. Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the processor, along with test chips from four approved projects, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a historic moment in India’s technological advancement.

The Vikram processor, developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory, is specially designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space launch vehicles. Vaishnaw described it as a milestone in India’s efforts to cut reliance on imported chips, noting that self-reliance in this sector is not just an economic necessity but also a strategic imperative.

Showcasing the progress of India’s semiconductor infrastructure, Vaishnaw said that construction of five semiconductor units is currently underway. One pilot line has already been completed, and two more are expected to begin production in the coming months. “The design of five additional units is progressing very well. Ecosystem partners for chip manufacturing are all here,” he remarked, underlining the momentum behind India’s chip ecosystem.

Giving credit to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the minister recalled the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021: “Just a few years ago, we made a new beginning driven by the Prime Minister’s farsighted vision. In just 3.5 years, the world now looks at India with confidence. Today, we presented the first ‘Made-in-India’ chip to PM Modi.”

Vaishnaw also positioned India as a rare beacon of stability amid global uncertainty. “We are living in unprecedented times. Global policy turmoil has created huge uncertainty. In these turbulent times, India stands as a lighthouse of stability and growth. You should come to India because our policies are stable,” he told investors.

The minister highlighted India’s strong domestic demand and rapid growth in electronics. Over the last decade, electronics production has increased sixfold, while exports have surged eight times. “With stable policies, growing demand, and an expanding ecosystem, now is the right time for global players to invest in India’s semiconductor sector,” Vaishnaw added.

The unveiling of Vikram is only the first step in a much larger ambition. A Bastion Research report noted that nearly 20 per cent of the world’s chip design engineers are based in India, making the country an indispensable hub for global semiconductor design. Industry giants such as Qualcomm, Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom, and MediaTek already run large R&D and design centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida, reinforcing India’s role in the global value chain.

The report also praised New Delhi’s proactive policy push. The Semicon India Programme under ISM 1.0 has rolled out incentives worth Rs 76,000 crore to attract manufacturers and strengthen India’s quest for self-reliance in chips.

The launch of Vikram, backed by expanding infrastructure and global partnerships, signals that India is not only aiming to be a design powerhouse but is also determined to become a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation—crucial for economic growth, technological sovereignty, and strategic independence.

‘Protestors placed the High Court virtually under siege’: Bombay HC slams ‘Maratha reservation’ protestors for blocking roads, orders them to vacate the streets

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Protestors placed the High Court virtually under siege’: Bombay HC slams ‘Maratha reservation’ protestors for blocking roads, orders them to vacate the streets

On Monday (1st September), the Bombay High Court slammed the Maratha reservation protestors, who are holding demonstrations across Mumbai, for blocking the streets and bringing the city to a standstill.

While criticising the protestors for deviating from the designated protest site and blocking the roads across the city, the High Court directed the protestors to vacate the streets by Tuesday (2nd September) forenoon.

A special bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad came down heavily on the protestors for creating a blockage outside the High Court.

“They are right outside the High Court. They are blocking entry to lawyers and judges. You boasted yesterday that more people will come. How do we deal with a person who is refusing to obey the law?” the court remarked.

Justice Ravindra Ghuge had to walk to the court

One of the judges, Justice Ravindra Ghuge, had to walk to the court on Monday as the route outside the court was blocked by the protestors.

The High Court criticised the protestors for placing it “virtually under siege” and said that the protests have not remained peaceful.

“In fact, today, when one of us (Ravindra Ghuge) was travelling to the Court around 12.30 pm in the official car, there was a huge blockade in front of the City Civil Court and the High Court building,” the court stated. Government counsel, Purnima Kantharia, also had to walk along with the judge. “The High Court was virtually under siege. Whilst the hearing was going on inside the Court hall, doors of which were closed, slogan shouting was clearly audible to us as well as all the lawyers and litigants,” the bench stated.

The judges took note of several photographs and visuals of protests in newspapers, showing that major parts of the city, including the entire region around Azad Maidan, an area designated by authorities for protests, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Flora Fountain (located directly in front of the High Court), Marine Drive, P’Demello Road, Mantralaya and the area around Oval Maidan.

The agitators have been cooking, dancing, bathing and playing games, like kabaddi, on the streets.

Counsel appearing for protestors admit that the protests have paralysed the city

Even the counsels appearing for the protestors did not deny the fact that the protestors had deviated from the designated protest site and effectively paralysed the entire city.

One of the counsels, reportedly, said that he would make an effort to convince Manoj Jarange Patil, who is leading the Maratha quota protests, and the protestors to vacate the roads. However, he added that some of the protestors were acting independently and were not in Jarange’s control.

State to ensure no new protestors enter the city: HC

Holding that the organisers of the protest violated the court’s earlier directions, the High Court directed all the protestors, except those at the designated protest site (Azad Maidan), to vacate public streets and areas by Tuesday forenoon.

The Court directed the State to ensure that new protestors do not enter the city to join the protests until further notice. It further instructed authorities to comply with the order and keep a watch at all entry points into the city.

On 26th August, the High Court had ordered the protestors to strictly comply with the rules. Additionally, the High Court allowed the provision of food packets and medical facilities to protestors at Azad Maidan.

The Court added that Jarange, who is on hunger strike, should be provided adequate medical aid in case his health deteriorates.

Jarange has been leading the agitation with the demand of 10% reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

He has been on a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, in South Mumbai, since Friday (29th August). His supporters have reportedly claimed that he stopped consuming water on Monday.

1...247248249...7,679Page 248 of 7,679