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Was a $1.5 billion Trump family golf project the price paid by Vietnam to get 46% tariff reduced to 20% and a trade deal? Displaced farmers, meagre compensation and ‘conflict of interest’

Rukma Rathore
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Was a $1.5 billion Trump family golf project the price paid by Vietnam to get 46% tariff reduced to 20% and a trade deal? Displaced farmers, meagre compensation and ‘conflict of interest’

The sweeping new tariffs imposed by the United States president Donald Trump on over 90 nations recently came into effect. The general goal of his trade policies has been to change the international trading system, which he believes unfairly treats his country.

Trump initially engaged in a significant tariff battle with China, the world’s second-largest economy which was later resolved and has now trained the gun on India. He has threatened to increase the tariff on imports from the country to 50% unless it ceases its purchases of Russian oil.

As New Delhi maintained a strong position and has not yielded to the bullying, other nations identified their own strategies to counteract the tariff threat enforced by the megalomaniac president.

Likewise, the “Liberation Day” plan for worldwide tariffs unveiled by Trump on 2nd April was supposed to strike Vietnam with some of the highest tariff rates of any nation, at 46%. However, the levies were reduced to 20% later and the news coincided with the approval of an extravagant Trump family golf course in the Southeast Asian country.

Trump family’s golf resort in Vietnam gets fast-tracked while Vietnam gets tariffs reduced from 46% to 20%

A grand Trump golf resort is going to open in Vietnam and the construction is set to start next month, reported Reuters. Eric Trump and Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh held the groundbreaking ceremony for the $1.5 billion luxury residential development outside of Hanoi that includes three 18-hole golf courses, in May.

Chinh declared that Eric Trump’s visit “motivated us to expedite this project” as he called on local authorities to assist in completing the 990-hectare (2,446-acre) resort by the end of 2027 and lauded it as a move to strengthen ties with the Western power.

The project is the first collaboration for Trump’s family business in Vietnam. It breezed through expedited permissions while, interestingly, Vietnam was negotiating a significant trade deal with Washington. According to regulatory filings and a source familiar with the agreement, the Vietnamese real estate company Kinhbac City and its partners will build the upscale club after giving $5 million to the Trump Organisation for brand licensing rights.

Screenshot from a report on the Groundbreaking ceremony for the luxury real estate project in Vietnam

Once completed, the property will be operated by Trump’s family business. The White House has denied any conflict of interest. Notably, Trump has claimed that his children are in charge of managing the trust that holds his commercial interests but revelations made in June revealed that the Donald Trump is primary recipient of the money received from those sources, as per reports.

The Trump family organisation will take over the project after its completion. It is not involved in the reclamation, compensation and construction part of the project.

The New York Times reported that the project was approved ‘unusually quickly’ and without completion of many steps, including environmental reviews.

Farmers displaced, left with meagre compensation for their land taken for Trump company’s project

Meanwhile, the farmers who have been living and working on the land have been instructed to leave their land with only $3,200 and provisions for rice in exchange. Six persons with direct knowledge of the development and documents disclosed that the establishment has offered similar compensation packages to several locals to persuade them to leave the land that has supported their livelihood for multiple years.

Currently, fruit farms cultivating longan, bananas and other crops occupy the 990-hectare plot of land designated for the golf course. Many farmers are elderly and hence concerned that they will have a difficult time finding other sources of income in Vietnam’s economy which is dominated by young people. They fear that their land will be seized, leaving them unemployed.

A person familiar with the plans unveiled that developers are currently reducing expectations of compensation from an initial estimate of more than $500 million. The Trump family business is not engaged in the investment or payments to farmers.

Final compensation rates will be decided by authorities based on the location and size of the land and the official approval is anticipated the following month. Reuters reported that five farmers who were facing evictions had received compensation between $12 to $30 per square metre of farmland and were offered extra money for plants that were uprooted along with rice for a few months.

On the other hand, farmers expressed their dissatisfaction with the suggested rates due to the meagre compensation their small plots would yield. Moreover, a second letter from local officials noted that final payment decisions would be taken next month, affecting thousands of residents.

The state controls all land in the Communist nation. Small pieces of land are distributed among farmers for long-term usage but they have little control over when the government decides to reclaim the area. The state pays compensation but developers bear the expense.

Pham Minh Chinh spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony in May and promised that farmers would receive reasonable compensation. However, the farmers conveyed their discontent with the inability to negotiate as protests are also ineffective in the country.

No compromise of the interest of the farmers: PM Modi says on India’s trade deal talks with the US govt

“For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it and I am ready for it. India is ready for it,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly retaliated to the outrageous tariffs imposed by Trump under the guise of halting New Delhi’s energy supply from Moscow, and the delayed trade deal discussions that are yet to be finalised.

Trump justified the increase by citing national security and foreign policy issues, along with other pertinent trade laws, according to the White House order. He claimed that India’s imports of Russian oil, whether directly or indirectly, represent a “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.

India already clarified that imports are determined by market conditions and carried out with the ultimate goal of guaranteeing the energy security of the country’s 1.4 billion citizens. The government emphasised that the country would do whatever it takes to safeguard its interests.

The Modi government previously challenged the hypocrisy of the United States and the European Union. It pointed out how the two continue to trade with Moscow, even for non-essential goods and yet attack New Delhi which has only contributed to the stability of the world’s energy supply by buying the oil, after Trump’s first 25% tariffs.

An official informed that the government would not permit concessions on issues involving religious sensitivities, such as non-vegetarian milk and beef products. The Modi administration has taken a strong stance against opening up Indian dairy and agricultural markets to the United States and refused to lower tariffs on these critical sectors.

Opening Indian dairy and agricultural markets to the United States will negatively affect the livelihoods of millions of Indian farmers. Hence, the country has refrained from including agriculture in trade agreements. However, a persistent Washington is only concerned with maximising profits from one of the biggest marketplaces in the world.

It is noteworthy, the unwarranted altercation intended to intimidate India into compliance has emerged at a time of unparalleled proximity to the terrorist state of Islamabad.

Qatar’s $400 million gift to Trump

Donald Trump is known for his tendency towards lavish praise and extravagant gifts. The US Department of Defence in May received a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari royal family to be utilised as part of the Air Force One fleet.

The new aircraft, which would take years and millions of dollars to renovate and upgrade before its induction, will be placed into Trump’s presidential library after the conclusion of his term, according to the White House. Meaning, he will be able to use it even after leaving the position of POTUS.

Predictably, there was an instant and severe pushback as the news was released. “The United States should have the most impressive plane compared to the planes used by the leaders of other countries,” Trump remarked in defence of his decision. He described his current Air Force One as “much smaller” and “much less impressive.” However, questions were raised about the aircraft’s technical safety and security while Trump was also charged with corruption.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that he will halt the confirmation of all Justice Department nominees pending Senate approval until the White House releases all the information regarding the special present. He also pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the agreement before Congress.

“There will be plenty of scrutiny. There are lots and lots of issues around that, that I think will attract very serious questions,” asserted the Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. “The plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems, so we’ll see how this issue plays out,” voiced Republican Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz.

Trump, in an unprecedented move, managed to unite both Republicans and Democrats who voiced their criticism over the pricey gift and raised suspicions about it.

Trump’s tariffs: A ploy to arm twist countries

Trump recently announced that his import tariffs were bringing billions of dollars into the country. He also threatened to impose a 100% tariff on computer chips manufactured abroad. He set a patchwork of tariffs for various nations and changed them over time.

He ultimately chose August as the deadline for negotiations. A number of other industry-specific duties that impact goods like steel and automobiles have caused the average US tariff rate to reach its highest level in over a century.

South East Asian countries that rely heavily on exports were among the most severely affected. Laos and Myanmar, which are primarily focused on manufacturing, encounter some of the highest tariffs at 40%. Trump also issued further tariffs targeting the US’s top three trading partners (China, Canada, and Mexico) after he returned to the White House in January.

He clearly sought to present himself as a strong leader capable of influencing global politics on his own terms through the use of tariffs. Trump also desires geopolitical leverage over Russia to ensure that President Vladimir Putin regards him with a bit more seriousness. Additionally, he intends to coerce nations into complying with his demands.

This is one of the factors contributing to his severe stance towards India, particularly in light of New Delhi’s outright rejection of his claims regarding mediation during “Operation Sindoor.” Trump sought gratitude similar to what Islamabad demonstrated, however, India refuted his assertions which he apparently found unacceptable.

He wants to seen as a global peacemaker and is equally desperate for the Noble peace prize. Moreover, some countries including Pakistan nominated him for the same. India has not entertained any such expectations.

Trump is clearly using the tariffs to impose his will on the nations. It was also admitted by his officials after the move was blocked by a US court.

The court at that time revealed that an emergency law implemented by the White House does not provide Trump with the exclusive power to impose tariffs on nearly all countries. The three-judge panel ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority in defending the sweeping tariffs and declaring a national emergency under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The White House was further accused of acting “contrary to law.”

In the meantime, the government’s attorneys argued that the tariffs triggered international negotiations and any legal restrictions would significantly reduce the country’s global influence. “An injunction would completely kneecap the president,” submitted Justice Department lawyer Brett Shumate, indicating their critical importance for Trump in order to manipulate countries in international diplomacy.

Conclusion

Trump is evidently using tariffs to further his personal and political interests. The golf course in Vietnam and a Nobel Prize nomination from Pakistan are clear signs of this. India would have been free from his high tariff threats as well, had the Modi government capitulated, which they did not, instead opting to show fortitude which has further infuriated Trump.

The tariffs are being wielded as incentives and punishments to reward or penalize countries according to Trump’s whims and desires.

SC directs states, UTs to immediately release convicts in jail beyond sentence: A deep dive into a systemic problem that demands an urgent fix

Aditi
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SC directs states, UTs to immediately release convicts in jail beyond sentence: A deep dive into a systemic problem that demands an urgent fix

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (12th August), directed the Home Secretaries of all the states and the Union Territories (UT) to immediately release all the convicts languishing in jail beyond their sentence period.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Justice KV Viswanathan issued the direction during the hearing of the plea for release filed by Sukhdev Yadav alias Sukhdev Pehalwan, who was convicted in the high-profile Nitish Katara murder case. Pehalwan The top court said that all the convicts who are in jail even after completing their sentence time should be released if no other cases are pending against them. The court also ordered the release of Pehalwan, noting that he had served his full term.

The court directed a copy of the order to be sent to the National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSAR), which will ensure that the copy is further forwarded to the District Legal Services Authorities (DSLSAs) for further implementation.

Background of the case

In June this year, the Supreme Court granted a 3-month furlough to Sukhdev Pehalwan after he approached the court against a Delhi High Court order of November 2024, which dismissed his furlough plea. While granting him furlough, a bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran noted that he had spent 20 years in jail, which was his full sentence, without remission.

Sukhdev Pehalwan was convicted in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case and was granted 20 years in jail in October 2016. Along with him, former cabinet minister DP Yadav’s son Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav were each granted a 25-year jail term without remission. All three of them were convicted of killing Nitish Katara after kidnapping him from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16 and 17, 2002, because of Katara’s alleged affair with Vikas Yadav’s sister.

The problem of Convicts and undertrials illegally languishing in jails calls for greater attention

The present verdict of the Supreme Court highlights a grave problem of convicts and undertrials languishing in jails even after serving their sentence or being granted bail by the court.

In June this year, the Supreme Court ordered the ₹5 lakh compensation to be paid by the Uttar Pradesh government to a person who spent 28 days in jail even after being granted bail because of a minor technical error in the bail order. Calling it a travesty of justice, the apex court ordered a judicial enquiry into the case to determine accountability.

In a similar case in September 2023, the Gujarat High Court directed the state government to provide a compensation of ₹1 lakh to an accused, who was kept inside the jail for three years after securing regular bail. The accused was granted bail in September 2020, but was released from jail in September 2023, a day before the date of the hearing of his case. The accused remained in jail for three years after getting bail, as the jail authorities failed to see, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an Email containing the bail order of the High Court. Interestingly, the accused was released temporarily and was given furlough on a few occasions during his incarceration but the jail authorities did not bother to check the court records during th entire time. The High Court also reprimanded the Sessions Court for not ensuring that the bail order was implemented.

In October 2023, the Delhi High Court adopted a stern approach in a case of illegal detention. The High Court directed ₹50,000 to be paid to a person from the salary of the police officers, who had kept him illegally detained and locked up for half an hour. The victim was illegally detained by the police on mere suspicion of committing a crime, without any formal arrest, FIR or Daily Diary entry.

Lack of proper framework to address the problem

These examples point out how a mere technical error or omission by the jail authorities and courts can cost an individual his freedom and precious time. This calls for greater accountability of the jail authorities as well as the judiciary. Institutions are meant to serve individuals and society and not the other way round. Currently, India does not have a specific legislation for addressing the problem of illegal detention. In cases of illegal detentions, courts usually invoke Article 21 of the Constitution to grant compensation. However, some provisions in International law expressly address the problem of illegal detention. For example, Article 9(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a signatory, provides that victims of illegal detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.

While many such instances of convicts and undertrials illegally languishing in jails have time and again come up before courts, the courts are only able to provide relief on a case-by-case basis due to the lack of a proper framework to keep track of the people locked up in jails and the legal provisions to provide them compensation and ensure the accountability of authorities.

Justice after 35 years: Investigative agency reopens Kashmiri Hindu woman Sarla Bhatt’s rape-murder Case, raids JKLF hideouts in Srinagar

OpIndia Staff
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Justice after 35 years: Investigative agency reopens Kashmiri Hindu woman Sarla Bhatt’s rape-murder Case, raids JKLF hideouts in Srinagar

After reopening the investigation into the brutal murder of Kashmiri Hindu woman Sarla Bhatt by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorists, the J&K State Investigation Agency (SIA) raided multiple locations linked to JKLF terrorists in Srinagar on Tuesday (12th August).

As part of the investigation, the SIA raided 8 locations, including the house of JKLF terrorists Yasin Malik, who was convicted of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India, and properties linked to terrorists Javed Nalka, Peer Noor ul Haq Shah, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Bashir Ahmad Gojri, Feroz Ahmad Khan & Ghulam Mohammad Taploo.

Who was Sarla Bhatt?

Sarla Bhatt was a 27-year-old Kashmiri Hindu woman from Anantnag, who used to work as a nurse at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar. She was abducted by the JKLF terrorists from Habba Khatoon Hostel in April 1990. Later on, her bullet-ridden body was found lying in Umar Colony, Mallabagh, downtown Srinagar. A note was also reportedly found lying near her body, branding her as a ‘police informer’. According to media reports, her body bore signs of extreme torture before her killing. A case was registered at Nigeen Police Station; however, no progress was made in the case for over three decades before SIA took over the investigation.

The incident occurred at the peak of Islamic terrorism in J&K. Her murder was one of the first cases of killings of Kashmiri Hindus by Jihadists, which kick-started the mass exodus of Hindus from the valley in the 1990s. Before her, Islamic terrorists killed several Kashmiri Pandits, including Girja Tickoo, who worked as a laboratory assistant in a university in the Kashmir Valley, Pandit Tika Lal Taploo, who was an advocate and senior BJP leader, and Pandit Neelkanth Ganjoo, who was a former judge.

The forced exodus of Kashmiri Hindus that started in January 1990 was not a sudden event. The exodus was the culmination of a longstanding intention to purge the Valley of its Hindu population, planned and executed by radical Islamic elements. The terrifying slogan, “Raliv, Galiv ya Chaaliv” (convert, leave, or perish), echoed in the Valley’s air for years to drive out Kashmiri Hindus. Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits, who had to flee from their homes, leaving everything behind, to save their lives and the honour of their women. Justice still evades them.

Centre defends Ethanol blending: Cites green gains, farmer welfare, and ₹1.44 lakh crore forex savings

OpIndia Staff
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Centre defends Ethanol blending: Cites green gains, farmer welfare, and ₹1.44 lakh crore forex savings

Amid growing criticism on social media over ethanol blending with petrol, the Centre on Tuesday issued a detailed rebuttal, underscoring its environmental, economic, and strategic benefits. It reaffirmed that biofuels and natural gas serve as “bridge fuels” in India’s journey towards its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goal of Net Zero emissions by 2070.

Cutting emissions, boosting rural economy

Quoting a NITI Aayog study, the government highlighted that greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane-based ethanol are 65% lower, and from maize-based ethanol 50% lower, compared to petrol. Beyond environmental gains, the programme has transformed rural livelihoods—eliminating sugarcane arrears, making maize cultivation more viable, and raising farmer incomes, especially in distressed regions like Vidarbha.

Between Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2014-15 and July 2025 (ESY 2024-25), ethanol blending saved over ₹1.44 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substituted 245 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, and cut CO₂ emissions equivalent to planting 30 crore trees. This year alone, at 20% blending, farmers are expected to earn ₹40,000 crore, with forex savings of around ₹43,000 crore.

Performance and efficiency

Addressing concerns over mileage and performance, the Centre cited studies by IOCL, ARAI, and SIAM that show E20 fuel offers better acceleration, improved ride quality, and around 30% lower carbon emissions than E10. Ethanol’s higher octane rating and better heat of vaporisation enhance engine performance, particularly in urban conditions. Regular petrol’s octane rating has already improved from 88 (pre-BS VI) to 95 with E20 blending, reducing knocking and improving efficiency.

Global practices and standards

Rejecting calls to revert to unblended petrol, the government pointed to Brazil’s success with E27 fuels and stressed that Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Automotive Industry Standards ensure E20’s safety. Older vehicles may require minor rubber part replacements, but most models since 2009 are E20-compatible.

Costs and future roadmap

While ethanol is currently costlier than refined petrol, averaging ₹71.32/litre in ESY 2024-25, the government stressed the mandate’s importance for energy security and farmer welfare. Claims about E20 impacting insurance coverage were dismissed as baseless, with insurance companies issuing clarifications.

Decisions on moving beyond E20 will be taken post-October 2026, after stakeholder consultations and an Inter-Ministerial Committee review. The Centre reaffirmed its commitment to cleaner, sustainable fuel options with minimal disruption to consumers.

After welcoming a former ISIS terrorist to power in Syria and leaving Afghanistan to Taliban, US under Trump declares friendship with the biggest Islamic terrorists in the region: Pakistan’s military

Shraddha Pandey
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After welcoming a former ISIS terrorist to power in Syria and leaving Afghanistan to Taliban, US under Trump declares friendship with the biggest Islamic terrorists in the region: Pakistan’s military

There are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends in geopolitics. The only permanent friend is self-interest. From Syria to Pakistan, US President Donald Trump is demonstrating that self-interest is paramount even if it comes at the cost of mollycoddling Islamic jihadist terrorists and their enablers.

In May 2025, Trump held a meeting with Ahmed Hussain al-Sharaa, the interim president of Syria, who just months back had a $10 million bounty on his head by the US government. Trump heaped praises on the former terrorist, who once admitted to having celebrated the 9/11 Islamic terror attack that killed thousands.

When asked how he finds the new Syrian President, Trump said, “Young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter.”

In Afghanistan, former US President Joe Biden received all the global condemnation and domestic backlash for withdrawing US forces in 2021. However, it was Trump’s 2020 Doha Agreement that laid the ground for the eventual historic visuals of the US literally fleeing Afghanistan and leaving it in the hands of Taliban terrorists.

Basically, the USA spent 20 years, over 2 trillion dollars, and hundreds of lives in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban. But they left in 2021 after signing a deal with them and handing over their military assets worth billions to the very same forces they spent 20 years fighting.

Now, Trump wants to restore the US military presence in Afghanistan, although it remains to be seen how successful he will be in doing so.

After elevating a former ISIS terrorist to power in Syria and leaving Afghanistan to the Taliban, Trump has declared ‘friendship’ with the Pakistan Army, the biggest Islamic terrorist group in the region. Only a month after India inflicted a humiliating defeat on Pakistani Forces during Operation Sindoor in the aftermath of Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam Islamic terror attack, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir had lunch with Trump at the White House.

While the meeting came days after Indo-Pak conflict, it was more about Iran-Israel conflict than about India.

Historically, the United States has always used Pakistan in the region to achieve its goals, a fact which has been acknowledged by the leaders of the Islamic Republic. Pakistan was used by the US for years for its strategic operations in Afghanistan and others parts of the region.

Recently, the de facto leader of Pakistan visited the US again. Munir attended the farewell program for the outgoing Commander United States Central Command (Centcom). Trump’s backing has either emboldened Munir, or he is being actively encouraged by Washington to issue nuclear and dam-bombing threats to India.

At a private dinner in Tampa, Florida, on 10th August, the uniformed madrasa-bred jihadi who effectively controls Islamabad’s foreign and security policy, used a Mercedes-versus-dump-truck analogy to paint Pakistan as a “spoiler” power capable of inflicting damage on a far stronger neighbour. “India is shining Mercedes coming on a highway like Ferrari [sic], but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?”

He also claimed that if India builds a dam on the Indus River, Pakistan will hit the dam with 10 missiles and destroy it. Munir also threatened Indian industrialist-billionaire Mukesh Ambani by invoking Quranic verses. “Ek tweet karwaya tha with Surah Fil and a picture of [industrialist] Mukesh Ambani to show them what we will do the next time,” he bragged.

The timing of Asim Munir’s nuclear threat is crucial. Firstly, the threat was made from US soil. Munir not only tried to play to Islamic terrorists in Pakistan, citing Islamic verses to gloat about imaginary wins and powers, but he again used the nuclear threat as a blackmail, declarimg that Pakistan will ‘take half the world down with it’, like an average suicide bomber.

Also, Munir’s nuclear threat made from US soil against India came on the day the US dropped the atomic bomb on Japan’s Nagasaki 80 years ago.

While India issued a strong statement against Munir’s nuclear threat and reiterated that New Delhi will never be threatened by such blackmail, the US government and the legacy media have maintained a deliberate silence, fuelling speculations that these threats are not a mere expression of Munir’s anti-India and anti-Hindu mindset, but a calculated move encouraged by the US.

Besides issuing self-humiliating nuclear threats and targeting Mukesh Ambani, Munir also reiterated his “Kashmir is our jugular vein” remark, which he made days prior to the Pahalgam attack. “Kashmir is “not an internal matter of India but an incomplete international agenda. As the Quaid-e-Azam had said, Kashmir is the ‘jugular vein’ of Pakistan.”

Munir also thanked Trump for his imaginary role in ending the Indo-Pak conflict. Asim Munir’s Trump flattery didn’t go unrewarded. The Trump administration has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisation’. This not only lends renewed credence to Pakistan Army’s apocryphal narrative that Baloch freedom fighters are ‘terrorists’ but equates Baloch independence struggle with Islamic terrorism carried out by Pakistan Army-backed Jihadist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, LeT offshoot and perpetrator of Pahalgam—The Resistance Front. Not to forget, the US had earlier designated TRF as a foreign terrorist organisation.

On 11th August, the US Department of State designated The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). The executive order added the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation.

Baloch rebels have been fighting against Pakistani govt’s exploitation, and Chinese projects in their soil

Over the years, the BLA struck Pakistani military and Chinese personnel along with projects linked to Beijing’s investments in the province as they exploit the Baloch resources. The Baloch people, who are among the most marginalised communities in Pakistan, accuse the Pakistani government and China of exploiting the resources without providing any benefit to the locals.

US President Donald Trump recently unveiled a new trade agreement with Islamabad to jointly develop Pakistan’s alleged “massive oil reserves”. The announcement came just hours after he slapped the first round of 25% tariff and additional penalties on Indian imports. Interestingly, Trump claimed that someday Pakistan might be selling oil to India.

In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, “We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves… Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India some day!”

Given that most of Pakistan’s known oil and much of its gas, as well as prospective reserves, lie in Balochistan, the move stirred political conversations about what role Washington could play in the resource-rich but politically restive province already being exploited by Pakistan and China.

After a US-based company where Trump’s kin has 60% stakes signed a crypto deal with Pakistan, Trump is eyeing Balochistan’s untapped treasure of natural resources. While China’s bid to do the same has not played out very well, as Baloch freedom fighters continue to attack Chinese engineers and other officials working on CPEC and Pakistan Army personnel on a regular basis, the US wants to tap oil in Pakistan. Not to forget, years back, Pakistan had given the same oil reserves ‘Lahori Churan’ to the US, and ultimately, nothing was found after a continuous search for oil and gas reserves.

Pakistani Army has been training, harbouring and engaging Islamic terrorists for decades

Since Pakistan’s very creation in 1947, the Pakistan Army has essentially fostered, trained and funded Islamic Jihadi terrorists as its proxies against India and Afghanistan. The US also has a disgraceful history of backing these very Jihadi terrorists. However, Pakistan, which claimed to be an ally of the US against terrorism while the US was searching for Bin Laden in the hills of Afghanistan, was caught red-handed double-dealing.

Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attack, was found near Abbottabad in 2011, near Pakistan’s military premises, right under their noses.

Be it Pakistan’s monetary, logistical and ideological support to Jihadist groups in Kashmir in the 1980s, Kashmiri Pandit killings and exodus, the Doda massacre, and more, the Pakistani military has been funding and training the Islamic terrorists under different front names for decades. The military officers provide funding, training and actively protect the Islamic jihadis on their soil, while the civilian government machinery helps hide the terrorist organisation’s money trails and laundering fronts behind the garb of charity and religious organisations. The India and Hindu-hating Pakistan ‘Aand’ Forces have fought four conventional wars against India and lost all, knowing that they do not stand a chance against Indian forces.

Pakistan Army supports Islamic terror groups like JeM, LeT, Hizbul Mujahideen, and provides safe haven to UN-designated terrorists like Syed Salauddin, Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, and countless others. As seen in May this year, Pakistani forces also attend the funerals of these terrorists when India eliminates them. It, however, is not surprising for India, since the Pakistan Armed Forces’ current head of PR wing, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, is the son of a UN-designated terrorist.

While the US, especially Trump, who has a penchant for changing his opinions about terrorists and countries using Jihadi terrorism as state policy, has forgotten Pakistan’s Osama Bin Laden betrayal and dollar-squeezing tactics in Afghanistan, India will never forget that Pakistan has bled innocent Indians.

It must be recalled that in 2018, Trump had posted on X that the US was “foolish” to give Pakistan billions of dollars in aid. “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”

However, a year before, Trump had thanked Pakistan and expressed enthusiasm over bettering ties with Islamabad. Clearly, Trump’s stance on Pakistan, its terrorism and betrayals is as fickle as his promise of releasing the Epstein Files.

While the Trump administration declared the Balochistan Liberation Army and Majeed Brigade as terrorist organisations, it did not question the Pakistan Army’s brutalities against the Baloch people. Trump did not question why over 1,00,000 people have no access to clean drinking water in the Gwadar region, why Baloch children are stopped from learning Balochi language, why Urdu is imposed on them, why the Sui gas field in Balochistan supplies much of Pakistan’s energy needs, yet Balochistan itself has limited access to it. Probably, Donald Trump and Asim Munir’s greed for exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources trumps the injustice faced by the Baloch people and the BLA’s strive to break free from Pakistan’s oppressive regime.

After years of fostering jihadi terrorists in PoK and other regions of Pakistan, bolstering terror outfits like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and oppressing Baloch people, carrying out forced disappearances, and arresting Baloch leaders like Mahrang Baloch and many others, the Pakistani military has found a new opportunity to exploit and oppress the Baloch people further, and the US government has probably found a new geography to continue their perpetual wars that benefit their military industries.

Asim Munir is basically a Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed in a military suit. No wonder Trump is upset with India, since he prefers conflict-infested vassals like Pakistan over equal partners like India, since throwing bones at a pet is far easier than maintaining a mutually respectful relationship with a resolute, free and proud elephant.

OpIndia Exclusive – ‘Balochistan not a province to be claimed, it is a nation’: Baloch activist slams the US for courting ‘Maulana’ Asim Munir, highlights how Pakistan occupation of Balochistan is illegal

Anurag
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OpIndia Exclusive – ‘Balochistan not a province to be claimed, it is a nation’: Baloch activist slams the US for courting ‘Maulana’ Asim Munir, highlights how Pakistan occupation of Balochistan is illegal

On 11th August (local time), the United States once again placed the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). With this move, the US blocked any assets the group may hold under the jurisdiction of the United States and prohibited US citizens from engaging with it. The decision came in the wake of Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir’s visit to the US, a visit that saw the general, dubbed by his critics as ‘Maulana’ Asim Munir, make chilling nuclear threats during a private event on American soil.

The nuclear sabre did not rattle the US as it should have. Instead, it was followed by renewed strategic warmth and even reports of a potential US–Pakistan oil deal involving Balochistan’s resources. According to Baloch activists, such deals are nothing short of legitimising theft.

As a matter of fact, OpIndia spoke to Mir Yar Baloch, a prominent Baloch activist, who minced no words in condemning both the BLA designation and Washington’s courting of Pakistan’s military establishment. Speaking to OpIndia, he said, “If you wish to purchase something from a marketplace, you do not negotiate with the thief clutching stolen goods; you speak to the rightful owner,” and stressed that Balochistan is “a nation in its own right” with sovereign authority over its oil, gas, and rare earth minerals.

‘The US is negotiating with a thief, not the owner’

Mir Yar Baloch said the US decision to entertain a resource deal with Pakistan over Balochistan’s oil was nothing short of a diplomatic disgrace. He emphasised, “Balochistan is not a province to be claimed, it is a nation in its own right,” and added that Pakistan’s presence in the region was “nothing less than an illegal occupation” with “no legitimate documentation, no lawful right, and no moral standing” to control its land and resources.

Drawing a sharp analogy, he said, “If you wish to purchase something from a marketplace, you do not negotiate with the thief clutching stolen goods; you speak to the rightful owner. Pakistan is not a stakeholder; it is a trespasser, a looter, a dacoit whose only claim is force and fraud.”

For him, Washington’s conduct was not only about bad judgement but also about moral failure. He accused the US of allowing ISI-linked, pro-Pakistan networks to grow “alarmingly strong” in its capital, blinding policymakers to what he called “the undeniable truth: Pakistan’s military and ISI are steeped in the blood of American citizens, their record drenched in decades of terrorism.”

He warned that deals struck with Islamabad over Balochistan’s oil and gas only serve to entrench the military establishment’s power while dispossessing the rightful custodians of their land. He said that the issue was not merely about resource exploitation but about the US legitimising a regime whose chief stands on American soil threatening the world with nuclear annihilation. He said, “Our call is simple: distinguish between those who fight for freedom and those who leverage weapons of mass destruction to maintain power.”

‘A betrayal of truth’ – Washington brands freedom fighters as terrorists

Speaking on the US decision to once again designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist group, Mir Yar Baloch called it a “betrayal of justice and truth.” He argued that the BLA’s fighters “do not target innocents, they do not wage war on civilians, and they do not sow chaos for extremist ideology or greed.” Instead, he described them as men and women fighting “for survival, dignity, and liberation from an oppressive occupier.”

He contrasted this with what he called the “real architects of terror”, that is, Pakistan’s military and the ISI, who for decades have unleashed violence far beyond Balochistan’s borders through a network of extremist proxies. He said, “This is state-manufactured terror at its ugliest, a machinery of blood and deceit.”

He further cited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that Pakistani nationals had been found fighting for Russia in Ukraine and said the revelation was “proof that Pakistan’s terrorism is not a regional menace, it is a global threat.”

Citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that Pakistani nationals had been found fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Mir Yar Baloch said the revelation was “proof that Pakistan’s terrorism is not a regional menace, it is a global threat.”

“If America truly seeks justice and security, it must have the moral courage to name the real threat — Pakistan’s military apparatus, a global terrorist army masquerading as a sovereign state,” he said. “Anything less is a betrayal not only to the victims of their crimes, but to the very principles the United States claims to defend,” Mir Yar Baloch added.

‘Theft dressed as statecraft’ – A warning to the US and the world

Mir Yar Baloch urged that the United States and other global powers must recognise Balochistan’s legitimate representatives rather than dealing through Islamabad. He said the fighters in the independence movement are “the future national army, defenders of borders, guardians of the skies, and protectors of the seas”. He argued that these fighters stand as the shield between Balochistan and those who seek to plunder it.

He further accused Pakistan’s military of surviving on “deception, manipulation, and bloodshed,” and added that its history “reeks of atrocities and broken promises” while its present policies are “woven from lies” and its future doctrine is “a blueprint for instability and global insecurity.”

While highlighting Islamabad’s duplicity, he said, “Pakistan calls China its ‘iron brother,’ yet in the same breath, it courts Washington with deals over Balochistan’s stolen oil. This duplicity is not diplomacy, it is theft dressed as statecraft.”

He warned that without Balochistan’s stolen resources, Pakistan would be “nothing more than an irrelevant, artificial buffer zone” which is alive only to serve the shifting interests of global powers. He argued that the solution was clear, that is, “Engage directly with the rightful custodians of this land if you truly seek peace, stability, and cooperation in South and Central Asia.”

‘A historic opportunity’ – Urged India to recognise Balochistan’s sovereignty

Turning to India, Mir Yar Baloch said New Delhi now has a “unique and historic opportunity” to safeguard its own strategic interests while aligning with the truth of Balochistan’s sovereignty. He reminded that the Baloch people declared independence on 11th August 1947, before the creation of Pakistan, and have “never relinquished” their sovereign rights.

He described the events of 27th March 1948, when Mohammad Ali Jinnah unilaterally annexed Balochistan, as a “blatant violation” of treaties, principles of territorial integrity, and international law. “This act of aggression was never legitimised by the Baloch people. We remain a free nation under occupation,” he said.

He urged India to incorporate Balochistan into its foreign policy not as interference but as “an acknowledgment of historical truth and international law.” He proposed a 50 to 100-year strategic plan between India and a future independent Balochistan to create a stable, democratic, and strategically vital state in the region.

Mir Yar Baloch argued that a secular, democratic Balochistan could act as a “bridge for peace” and enable maritime and overland trade corridors benefiting a wider region. However, he warned that “continuing to empower Pakistan will only deepen instability” and allow the ISI’s entrenched extremist networks to keep posing a threat to neighbours and global security alike.

“Engaging with Balochistan is not merely solidarity; it is a strategic investment in a stable, cooperative, and peaceful South and Central Asia,” he concluded.

Washington’s moral failure and the cost of legitimising occupation

Mir Yar Baloch’s words reflect a scathing indictment of Washington’s willingness to court Pakistan’s military establishment, which is led by a man who issues nuclear threats on American soil while branding those resisting illegal occupation as terrorists. For him, this is not merely hypocrisy, it is the legitimisation of theft and the endorsement of a regime whose record is, in his words, “drenched in decades of terrorism.”

From his standpoint, Balochistan’s cause is anchored in history, law, and the right to self-determination. Yet, by cutting oil deals with Islamabad and ignoring Pakistan’s nuclear sabre rattling, the US is signalling that strategic convenience trumps moral clarity.

In his telling, the choice is clear. The world can either engage directly with the rightful custodians of Balochistan, a nation in its own right, or keep empowering what he calls “a global terrorist army masquerading as a sovereign state,” with all the instability that follows.

Congress ecosystem targets a Hindu priest over ‘Guru-Shishya’ tradition: Read how 2023 fake claim was revived to amplify Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ narrative

OpIndia Staff
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Congress ecosystem targets a Hindu priest over ‘Guru-Shishya’ tradition: Read how 2023 fake claim was revived to amplify Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ narrative

In yet another attempt to undermine the credibility of India’s democratic institutions, the Congress social media ecosystem has revived a debunked 2023 propaganda narrative targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI).

This time, pro-Congress influencers and trolls including self-proclaimed “journalist” Punya Prasun Bajpai, and known Congress amplifiers Arpit Sharma and Neha Singh Rathore have been circulating an old voter list from Varanasi Municipal Corporation elections with the claim that a man named Ramkamal Das has 40–50 “sons” listed as voters at the same address.

The posts, riddled with sarcasm and insinuations, are aimed at lending credence to Rahul Gandhi’s unsubstantiated “vote chori” allegations. The intention is clear: paint the ECI as complicit in facilitating fake voters, thereby discrediting the institution ahead of political battles.

The claim

The viral posts allege that a person named Ramkamal Das in Varanasi is the father of dozens of voters, all adult men, some with implausible age gaps implying large-scale voter list fraud. Bajpai mockingly wrote about a father with a 28-year-old youngest son and a 72-year-old eldest son. Sharma pushed the claim further, pairing it with unrelated Bihar voter age anomalies to hint at “cheating.” Rathore joined in, claiming Ramkamal Das lives with “43 sons.”

The truth

The voter list in question is not from the ECI’s electoral roll for Lok Sabha or Assembly elections. It is from the 2023 Varanasi Municipal Corporation elections — Ward No. 51, Bhelupur. The list shows multiple voters with Ramkamal Das recorded as their father.

Here’s the factual background deliberately omitted by the propagandists:

Swami Ramkamal Das Vedanti is the Mahant (head priest) of Ram Janki Math in Khojwa, Varanasi. His ashram follows the Guru–Shishya tradition, in which disciples regard their spiritual Guru as their “father” and often officially record his name in place of their biological father’s. In 2023, a total of 48 disciples of Swami Ramkamal Das, all genuine individuals, were registered as voters at the Math’s address. This practice is well-known in religious circles and is entirely legal.

On 12 March 2025, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh reiterated that the list belonged to an urban local body election roll, not the ECI’s general electoral roll. The CEO clarified:

“In the case of a religious Math/Ashram, the persons or sanyasis residing in it are identified by the name of their Guru instead of their father. Many sanyasis residing in an ashram may also be of the same age.”

The 2023 Fact Check

When the same list went viral in May 2023, several media outlets fact-checked the claim. Reports quoted the Math’s manager, Rambharat Shastri, explaining that disciples adopt new names upon initiation and record the Guru’s name as their father in official documents. Earlier, 150 disciples had done so; the number has since reduced to 48.

Jagran’s May 5, 2023 report confirmed the list was genuine and that all voters were real individuals residing at the Math. Even political rivals who initially raised objections dropped the matter once the facts emerged.

Media stunt designed to lend credence to Gandhi’s baseless voter fraud conspiracy

The revival of this debunked claim serves a calculated political purpose. It is designed to reinforce Rahul Gandhi’s baseless “vote chori” narrative by manufacturing examples of alleged voter fraud, thereby lending false credibility to his accusations. At the same time, it aims to erode public trust in the Election Commission, which has repeatedly been targeted by Congress and its allies whenever electoral outcomes have not gone in their favour. By exploiting cultural traditions such as the Guru–Shishya practice, which may be unfamiliar to urban online audiences, the campaign creates viral outrage, making perfectly legitimate voter entries appear suspicious and fuelling a perception of systemic malpractice.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ propaganda busted again

The claim that Ramkamal Das has dozens of fake “sons” registered as voters is misleading. The names belong to real disciples of Swami Ramkamal Das Vedanti, the Mahant of Ram Janki Math, recorded under the Guru–Shishya tradition in the municipal electoral roll of 2023, not the ECI’s official rolls for general elections.

This recycled propaganda is a textbook example of how half-truths are weaponised by the Congress social media ecosystem to attack institutions and manufacture mistrust for political gain. The facts remain unchanged since 2023: there was no voter list fraud in this case only deliberate distortion for optics.

BLAs, ground level workers of RJD, Congress working in Bihar SIR contradict what the party leaders are claiming in Delhi, ECI fact-checks Opposition lies on SIR

Rukma Rathore
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BLAs, ground level workers of RJD, Congress working in Bihar SIR contradict what the party leaders are claiming in Delhi, ECI fact-checks Opposition lies on SIR

On 11th August, the I.N.D.I. Alliance marched to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) New Delhi headquarters, marching against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral registers and at the same time claiming ‘vote chori’ and voter list discrepancies. They claimed that the drive would result in disenfranchisement and charged that was an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led-government to steal votes.

The Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has been on the edge since the campaign began to eradicate fraudulent voters and update the voter list prior to the forthcoming state elections. Senior leaders such as Tejashwi Yadav have been throwing outrageous allegations against the EC, in support of the bogus voters and have even threatened to boycott the polls.

However, members from all political parties have been included throughout the entire process to ensure transparency. Hence, as the top opposition leadership engaged in unfounded accusations and political dramatics while disregarding the truth, their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) exposed the propaganda of their own leaders.

What did the BLAs say

The Navada district representative of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) stated that the complete voter list has been reviewed in a timely manner and provided to them. “The authorities have also given the names of voters who have been removed for various reasons, including relocation or name duplication. These names will be forwarded to the Panchayat and booth heads,” he expressed.

“The Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Assistants (BLAs) will decide on the subsequent actions. Any mistakes discovered will be corrected during the objection window which is open from 1st August to 1st September. We feel comfortable. There are no issues in our area. No political parties have troubled the authorities during this exercise,” the RJD member voiced and thanked the district administration for the smooth execution of the program.

According to Om Prakash Sharma, the Congress district president of Gopalganj, a copy of the voter list for the region, released by the authorities, has been distributed to the political parties, including the names of those who have been excluded from the list. “We are allotted a month to contest or amend any inaccuracies related to the removed names.” he added.

Akhilesh Kumar, the Congress district president of Purnia, announced that a meeting was held with the district administration concerning the voter list. The lists have been provided to us, and we have been instructed to assist in including individuals whose names were omitted and to verify whether those who have relocated or passed away is indeed accurate.

“We will assist the BLOs through our BLAs. The updated list has also been provided to all political parties. We are pleased with the performance of the district administration. We will support them to the best of our ability, and the authorities are doing an excellent job, without a doubt,” he pointed out.

Multiple videos exist featuring the BLAs of the opposition parties who expressed their confidence in the process and commended the administration for carrying out the revision transparently, ensuring the involvement of every stakeholder.

EC counters the opposition’s propaganda

As the BLAs dismantled the narrative propagated by their senior leaders, the Election Commission similarly debunked the Mahagathbandhan’s lies with evidence, statistics and testimonies from the BLAs regarding the SIR exercise in Bihar.

The commission had earlier explained how the entire drive was implemented with the complete involvement of all political parties and the actions taken to ensure utmost transparency and rectify any errors. Nevertheless, it had to reiterate the same points as the opposition started to circulate misinformation concerning the campaign.

Rahul Gandhi alleged “voter theft” while sharing images of the protest by the opposition MPs on social media. However, the Election Commission swiftly responded with multiple links demonstrating that the entire process was conducted with great transparency.

It mentioned that meetings with BLAs were conducted before, during and following the publication of the electorate roll draft. The ECI outlined that while senior leaders persist in their allegations, no political party has actually filed any complaints or objections in relation to the draft rolls till now, illustrating that the protests are merely for political purposes without any factual basis.

The misleading claims of the grand old party were similarly invalidated as the Election Commission posted the links, which even featured several statements from the BLAs of opposition parties, asserting that the drive had been conducted in a transparent manner with their full involvement while simultaneously addressing their grievances.

The RJD accused the Election Commission of adopting an anti-democratic position and has alleged that it has conspired to undermine the voting rights of the impoverished, marginalized, Dalit and minority communities in Bihar under the guise of SIR.

Nevertheless, the commission repeated that the utmost level of transparency was guaranteed throughout the process, which involved members of political parties. Likewise, it highlighted that BLAs from each party were included, regular meetings were held with them, they were kept informed as well as played a vital role at every stage of the process. The authorities also provided them with voter lists concerning their respective areas, including the revised ones.

SIR drive in Bihar

The EC’s SIR program has revealed a significant number of fraudulent voters in Bihar. It uncovered around 65 lakh non-existent voters who were then purged from the electoral rolls. The names that have been deleted are mostly those of people who have passed away or who were not found at their registered addresses.

However, the widespread removal of names in some districts, especially in Kishanganj which is predominantly Muslim, has been surprising. A record 1.45 lakh names have been deleted from the list there. This represents an incredible 11.8% of all voters in the district. In an election where even a 4-5% margin can make a difference, it can easily swing the outcome.

The opposition in the state has been mobilizing since the initiative was announced. A significant number of these counterfeit voters are their supporters. Importantly, numerous foreign illegals including Bangladeshis were also identified with Aadhaar cards and other documents during the operation.

Now, a similar drive is set to occur in West Bengal which has alarmed the All India Trinamool Congress and its supremo, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has been an outspoken advocate for Bangladeshi infiltrators. Consequently, the entire opposition has come together to contest the SIR drive which contrary to the accusations, supports democracy by prioritizing legitimate voters and removing the deceased, emigrated or fake ones.

Notably, the researchers who had warned about around 70 lakh fake voters in Bihar, an estimate that was found nearly correct, have now in another study highlighted that around 1 crore excess voters in may be existing in the electoral roll for West Bengal in 2024.

OpIndia Ground Report: 2 Hindu sisters, 1 woman officer, 6 states, 9 hideouts – How the Agra conversion gang was busted under ‘Operation Asmita’ by UP Police

केशव मालान
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OpIndia Ground Report: 2 Hindu sisters, 1 woman officer, 6 states, 9 hideouts – How the Agra conversion gang was busted under ‘Operation Asmita’ by UP Police

The ‘conversion gang’ operating out of Agra came to notice after two real sisters went missing from the city. The conversion gang was busted under ‘Operation Asmita’ of Uttar Pradesh Police, as part of which, UP Police went to 6 states and raided 9 places simultaneously and rescued 7 girls.

To get every information related to this case and the ongoing operation, OpIndia met Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar. The Police Commissioner made many shocking revelations during the meeting regarding the entire Operation Asmita and the conversion gangs.

According to Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, Agra Police had received a written complaint about the sudden disappearance of two real sisters from Sadar police station area on March 24. On the complaint of the victim’s father, a missing report was registered at Sadar police station and investigation was initiated.

During the initial investigation, the police did not find any clue in the missing case because both the sisters had neither a mobile nor any electronic device. Despite every effort, the police were unable to trace the location of the girls and the case was stuck. 41 days passed by and the police couldn’t crack the case until they saw an Instagram post.

Police got shocked after seeing AK-47 on Instagram profile

One day, suddenly, the victim’s father expressed doubt about the name of a girl named Saima in front of the police and the police started the investigation by increasing the sections in the missing report. During the investigation, the display pic with AK-47 on the Instagram profile of the younger sister shocked the Agra police. The investigation of the case was now progressing rapidly.

The cyber cell and surveillance unit, which were investigating the case thoroughly, got a major breakthrough. Both the sisters who suddenly disappeared had become victims of a massive conversion gang. After this, considering the seriousness of the case, Agra Police handed over the investigation to Cyber Crime and ATS. Meanwhile, information was received from the third sister about the micro blogging site on which both the sisters used to connect often.

On this blog, Agra police found a page named ‘Reverty’ and the location was Kolkata. Agra police then got the information that this location is being used to communicate with four countries, America, Canada, Dubai and London, and from this location, money transactions have been done through banks in 15 states of the country. This fact helped Agra police crack the case.

When a woman sub-inspector joined the ‘Reverty’ group

The biggest challenge for the police now was to bring back the two sisters as well as expose the conversion gang. A woman sub-inspector then undertook the task. After receiving information about a social media account from the third sister of the two missing sisters, the woman police officer joins a ‘reversionary’ group of the gang and then gathered a lot of information by talking to the members personally.

Commissioner Deepak Kumar formed a team under the leadership of IPS Aditya. Being a 100 percent Muslim area, a special team was immediately sent to Kolkata. Here the team hid their identity and did a recce of the area for about 5 days and then DGP Rajiv Krishna and Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar formed 11 teams to carry out Operation Asmita.

Operation Asmita was kept confidential

About 45 policemen included in the team were given special training. The operation was kept so confidential that apart from one or two officers, no one knew how big a conversion gang they were going to break. No team knew what the other teams are doing. During the entire operation, a hired taxi was used instead of any government vehicle.

In a short time, both the missing sisters were recovered from the Muslim area under Operation Asmita. However, during this time the Agra Police also had to face opposition from the local people. The Agra Police Commissioner said that this is the first time that the UP Police has raided so many places simultaneously.

Under ‘Operation Asmita’, and during the raids conducted at 9 places in different parts of the country, 7 girls were rescued safely from the clutches of the gang. Further, in this case, 14 accused associated with the gang have been arrested and sent to jail. Books like ‘Islam and Bahujan Samaj’, ‘Dharam Parivartan’ and ‘Aapki Amanat Aapki Seva’ have been recovered from the accused. Along with this, many videos dividing the Hindu society have also been found from their mobile phones.

The original report can be read here.

NYT, Al Jazeera, and others amplify Rahul Gandhi’s bogus ‘vote chori’ claim: How Foreign media is echoing Opposition propaganda to discredit India’s democratic institutions

Aditi
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NYT, Al Jazeera, and others amplify Rahul Gandhi’s bogus ‘vote chori’ claim: How Foreign media is echoing Opposition propaganda to discredit India’s democratic institutions

As the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, joined by the entire opposition, has intensified his usual attacks on the Election Commission of India (ECI) by levelling unfounded allegations of election rigging, he has, unsurprisingly, found support from foreign media. Several foreign media outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Al Jazeera, published misleading pieces that promoted Gandhi’s baseless allegations against the ECI.

INDI Alliance leaders created a ruckus outside the Parliament building on Monday (11th August) by starting a protest march from the Parliament to the ECI headquarters. However, several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, were briefly detained by the Delhi Police. The Police said that the INDI Alliance did not obtain permission before conducting the protest march. As a result, a scuffle broke out between the opposition leaders and the police personnel, who were trying to control the situation. Visuals from the protest march showed opposition leaders fighting with police personnel, who were trying to maintain law and order. Some leaders, like TMC MP Mahua Moitra and Samajwadi Party Supremo, Akhilesh Yadav, climbed over the police barricades.

Reporting about the protest march taken out by the INDI Alliance against the ECI on Monday, The New York Times wrote in their headline, “Indian Lawmakers detained for Protesting Election Irregularities”, in an attempt to lend credence to the opposition’s allegations of election rigging.

Screenshot from the New York Times Website

Similarly, the Washington Post slyly termed the routine Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the ECI in Bihar as a “controversial electoral roll revision”.

Screenshot from the Washington Post website.

Al Jazeera also highlighted the allegations of the INDI Alliance leaders in their coverage of the protest.

Screenshot from the Al Jazeera website.

Joining the chorus, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation also described the electoral roll revision in Bihar as “controversial”

Screenshot from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website.

On August 7, 2025, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in Delhi, wherein he accused the ECI of colluding with the BJP. Blaming the election body and the ruling BJP for the Congress Party’s election defeat, Gandhi alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were “choreographed”.

Fake voters in Rahul Gandhi’s own constituency

To support his allegations, Gandhi presented lengthy documents, which he claimed were the electoral roll of Karnataka. He claimed that his party conducted an “internal survey” on polling in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, and alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) of 100,250 votes. According to Gandhi, since Congress won only 9 seats in Karnataka instead of the expected 16 seats, it could only have been possible because of vote theft. He alleged his party analysed several such unexpected losses and found out that there was vote chori as well. Gandhi even threatened the ECI officials with “consequences” after his party comes to power, despite such massive election rigging.

Notably, in his press conference, Gandhi accused the Election Commission of creating fake voters, citing anomalies such as “House Number 0” entries in voter lists. But some media reports later revealed that the same pattern existed in Rahul Gandhi’s own constituency, Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. The voter list in Rae Bareli also had a large number of entries with “House Number 0” and even clusters of dozens of voters registered at the same address.

Rahul Gandhi opposes SIR, which is an excercise to update voter list

The entire INDI Alliance, including the Congress Party, vehemently opposed the electoral roll revision in Bihar and even made a failed attempt to stop the revision by approaching the Supreme Court. While refusing to stop the electoral revision, the Supreme Court said that an electoral revision is a routine exercise, which the Election Commission is empowered to conduct.

Interestingly, the Election Commission has been asking Rahul Gandhi to submit his allegations on oath under a declaration, so that an investigation can be initiated. However, Gandhi evaded the declaration, claiming that as a politician, his words should be taken as an oath. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi alleges that there are fake and duplicate voters added in the electoral rolls, and on the other hand, he opposes an electoral roll revision, which is conducted to update voter lists by eliminating fake or ineligible voters. The SIR conducted by the ECI in Bihar revealed major discrepancies in the voter list. The commission found that around 18 lakh enrolled voters were deceased, 26 lakh shifted, and 7 lakh names were duplicates.

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