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Is YouTube suppressing information on the Kanhaiya Lal murder case and the Zubair saga? Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Is YouTube suppressing information on the Kanhaiya Lal murder case and the Zubair saga? Here is what we know so far

The brutal beheading of Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal by two Muslim perpetrators, Mohammed Riyaz Akhtar and Mohammed Gaus, has shaken the conscience of the nation. While the global media gave the murder of Samuel Patty the attention it deserved, names like Kanhaiya Lal are often brushed under the rug with media and social media giants actively suppressing information on the Islamist killing and also shield those who hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community, like AltNews co-founder Mohammad Zubair.

On the 28th of June 2022, OpIndia published a report headlined “Mohammed Zubair moves to Delhi High Court against remand order, Police takes him to Bengaluru to recover his laptop, hard disk”. In the report, OpIndia had embedded a YouTube video from TimesNow that showed visuals of the police escorting Mohammad Zubair to his Bengaluru residence in an attempt to recover the laptop used by him.

According to the reports, Zubair earlier had refused to hand over his electronic devices and had formatted them. The Police said that despite repeatedly asking for the devices, Zubair had refused to hand his devices over to the Police.

On the 1st of July 2022, Twitter user @BeffitingFacts posted a screenshot that showed that the TimesNow video that OpIndia had embedded in its report had gone missing. The notice read that the video had been taken down for violating community standards.

There were several people who reacted questioning YouTube India wondering why this video had been taken down and was it an attempt to shield Zubair.

The video by TimesNow was a live coverage video of the police taking Zubair to his residence. It is quite possible that YouTube removed the video because the video was mass reported by supporters of Zubair claiming that it breached his privacy. In the visuals of the live reporting, Zubair was seen being escorted inside his residence with the visuals of his building visible clearly.

When OpIndia went through the guidelines of YouTube, the most likely guideline used to report and take down the TimesNow video could have been their privacy policy.

The YouTube privacy guidelines says:

For content to be considered for removal, an individual must be uniquely identifiable and the complaint we received from that individual, or their legal representative, must uniquely identify the individual by a combination of image, voice, full name, government identification number, bank account number, contact information (e.g. home address, email address), or other uniquely identifiable information. We also take into account public interest, newsworthiness, consent, and whether the information is otherwise publicly available when determining if content should be removed for a privacy violation. YouTube reserves the right to make the final determination of whether a violation of its privacy guidelines has occurred.

YouTube privacy

YouTube says that if they receive a complaint regarding privacy, they give the user 48 hours to amend and if not amended, they proceed to take the video down.

But here is a catch. They also say that complaints can’t be raised on behalf of third parties unless the person whose privacy is being violated is incapacitated. Therefore, it is entirely possible that the privacy complaint, that YouTube took cognisance of, was raised by some family member or colleague of Zubair.

YouTube privacy

The TimesNow video, however, was not breaching his privacy. It was an on-ground report about an accused who was being questioned by the police while being escorted to his residence.

The question that is now being asked is would YouTube act in the same manner had some other criminal been escorted to his residence by the police and the media had reported the development similarly.

The intentions of YouTube have come under question with people asking if YouTube acted against this video of TimesNow because they want to shield information being decimated in the investigation against Mohammad Zubair who had insulted Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is pertinent to note that YouTube has hardly acted against several threats issued to Nupur Sharma by the very people who were unleashed by Zubair’s dog-whistling, however, it seems more than happy to take down videos where the investigation against Zubair is being reported.

YouTube’s action against a video that showed protests after Kanhaiya Lal’s brutal beheading

When it was pointed out that YouTube took down the TimesNow video showing Zubair being taken to his Bengaluru residence by the police, OpIndia noticed that some other videos from Republic TV had also been taken down by YouTube for violating community standards.

One of the videos removed by YouTube showed the massive protests against the murder of Kanhaiya Lal by two Islamists. In the tweet by Republic TV, a short video is added along with a YouTube link for the full video.

However, when one clicks on the YouTube link, it shows that the video is not available.

Video unavailable

In this case, we could not confirm if the video was taken down by YouTube or Republic TV themselves since the notice says the video is not available anymore. However, in another case, it was clear that it was taken down by YouTube.

In another tweet, Republic had posted a YouTube link about Kanhaiya Lal’s family demanding justice.

When one clicks on the YouTube link, it says that the video was removed due to violation of community standards.

Video taken down

The family of Kanhaiya Lal, obviously, was extremely agitated while talking about the murder. In some instances, some family members also demanded that the perpetrators be killed exactly the way Kanhaiya Lal was murdered by them.

It was also said in one of the videos that CM Ashok Gehlot was a “slave of Muslims”.

While we don’t know exactly what was said in this particular video, it is entirely possible that it was taken down by YouTube after mass reporting by Islamists and Leftists for “hate speech”. It is interesting that while Islamists beheaded Kanhaiya Lal, his family cannot even express their anguish without YouTube curtailing their voice probably for hate speech.

In the hate speech policy of YouTube, they mention that any “targeting” based on religion is a reason for videos being taken down.

YouTube hate speech guidelines

In this case, while YouTube hardly acts against insults to Hindus, it seems to have removed a video where the family of a murdered Hindu man were expressing their anguish.

How Western media shut their eyes to the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal

While fears are now being expressed about YouTube suppressing news about the Kanhaiya Lal murder and Zubair being arrested, the western media has also actively suppressed news about the Islamist brutality.

Showcasing again the crooks of the selective media reporting, one of the Asian News International (ANI) editors revealed on Wednesday that many of the western media outlets had chosen not to report about the brutal killing of a Hindu tailor named Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan’s Udaipur. Western media outlets, which work as the reflection of leftist, liberal understanding were given 5 detailed video stories by ANI on the Udaipur murder, but only a handful of them had reported the gruesome murder.

Elaborating the fact, ANI editor Ishaan Prakash on June 30 tweeted that ANI had globally shared 5 detailed video stories on Kanhaiya’s murder through Thomson Reuters, the largest news agency in the world. He stated that the vast majority of the international media outlets had ignored the story. “ANI has pushed out 5 detailed video stories on the Udaipur murder through our partner Thomson Reuters. A handful of western outlets may have reported on it, the vast majority have ignored it. The stories are in their newsrooms, they ignore it”, he tweeted on Wednesday. 

The handful of western media outlets who reported the incident as mentioned by Prakash include the BBC, Waco Tribune-Herald, The Washington Post, and the Toronto Sun. However, while the BBC highlighted the Hindu nationalists staging violent protests and the visible tensions between the ‘majority Hindus and minority Muslims’, it selectively failed to report the names of the Islamist murderers (Riaz Mohammed and Ghous Mohammed) who had identified themselves in a video released by them. Also, the Waco Tribune-Herald twisted the report to mention that the attack ‘represented a dramatic escalation of communal violence in a country riven by deep religious polarization’.

“There have been a spate of attacks by Hindu nationalists on minority groups, especially Muslims — who have been targeted for everything from their food and clothing style to interfaith marriages. Muslim homes have also been demolished using bulldozers in some Indian states, in what critics call a growing pattern of bulldozer justice against the minority group”, the Waco Tribune Herald wrote later stating the fact that Kanhaiya was killed for sharing a post in support of ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who had made alleged ‘blasphemous’ remarks in the recent past.

With the western media and big tech trying to actively suppress the news of the Islamist brutality and blame Hindus instead, it becomes increasingly important to remember that according to the new social media guidelines by the government, YouTube and other social media giants could lose their safety net as an intermediary if they continue to act as ‘editors’ and suppressing vital news without logical basis.

Maharashtra fiasco: How Sanjay Raut became Shiv Sena’s Mani Shankar Aiyer

Gopal Tiwari
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Maharashtra fiasco: How Sanjay Raut became Shiv Sena’s Mani Shankar Aiyer

As Eknath Shinde takes the oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra, it becomes evident to recall what made the Thackerays in the Shiv Sena look more like the Gandhis in the Congress party. Among many factors, one important point is Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut playing a Mani Shankar Aiyar for Shiv Sena.

Mani Shankar Aiyar’s infamous attacks that helped Narendra Modi gain support among the masses

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar is infamously known for the jibe he took at Narendra Modi in 2013 and 2014 when Modi was declared the Prime Minister candidate by the Bharatiya Janata Party. At that time, Mani Shankar Aiyar said that Narendra Modi will not become the Prime Minister of the country, but he can sell tea if he wants. It was an elitist jibe at the then Gujarat CM’s humble background where he used to sell tea in his childhood at Vadnagar station.

After this Chaiwala jibe, Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. It was anyways going to lose that election given that the second term of the United Progressive Alliance government was infamous for the corruption cases and the rising popularity of Narendra Modi’s Gujarat model of good governance. But Mani Shankar Aiyar’s Chaiwala remarks made Modi the face of the common hardworking Indian and exposed the elite arrogance of the Congress party and its top leadership. Not only this, but Mani Shankar Aiyar also went on to call Narendra Modi ‘neech’ in 2017.

Sanjay Raut playing Mani Shankar Aiyar for Shiv Sena

Sanjay Raut also used similar abusive language for the Shiv Sena MLAs when they joined the Eknath Shinde camp for taking Hindutva ideology ahead. Just like Mani Shankar Aiyar called Narendra Modi a Chaiwala, referring to Modi selling tea for a livelihood at a very young age, Sanjay Raut also publicly recalled the humble background and hardworking professions of the Shiv Sena MLAs in a derogatory tone.

Sanjay Raut said, “This Gulabrao Patil. Listen to his speeches. He talks like he is the only tiger in Shiv Sena. (abusive words for his mother) He ran away like a coward. He says that I used to run a Pan Shop and the organization made me a cabinet minister. Now, we will make him a Panwala again.”

In the same speech, Sanjay Raut insulted another two Shiv Sena MLAs Sandipan Bhumre and Prakash Surve. Sanjay Raut said, “And that Sandipan Bhumre. He was a watchman in a sugar factory at Paithan when he got the ticket for the first time. It was me who urged Balasaheb Thackeray to replace the stalwart like Moreshwar Save and give the ticket to that watchman. He was a watchman. He was just a watchman. He came to Mumbai for the first time in his life. He did not know how to eat Wada Sambhar in a hotel. He would sit cross-legged on the floor of the hotel and eat Wada Sambhar. We have seen that. He became a cabinet minister and started crying in front of Uddhav Saheb and said that he became a cabinet minister because of the Shiv Sena. Today he proved those tears false.”

Sanjay Raut also insulted Prakash Surve, who once used to sell vegetables for earning his livelihood. Sanjay Raut said, “What was Prakassh Surve? What was he? Tell me. He used to sell vegetables. Let us send him back to sell vegetables again. Today I knew he used to sell rotten vegetables.”

Not only elected representatives, but Sanjay Raut also used to speak very rudely while addressing the media. In one such media briefing, he started saying, “Don’t ask any useless questions. What do you want?” In the same media briefing, he said that the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena are high on some sort of marijuana and that he does not know what exactly they are fed.

Sanjay Raut not only insulted the Shiv Sena MLAs for their humble backgrounds. He also went on to threaten them which underlined the arrogance of the top leadership of Shiv Sena. Sanjay Raut said, during the 10 days of the coup in Shiv Sena, that Shiv Sainiks are waiting for his orders to come to the streets against the rebel MLAs. He also said that the MLAs are there in Guwahati but their dead bodies will only come back to Maharashtra and then there will be a postmortem done on those dead bodies.

Sanjay Raut often took jibes at opponents, and rebel MLAs and used poetic couplets and rhyming gimmicks to put his points. When rebel MLAs were living in a hotel in Guwahati, Sanjay Raut tweeted, “Kab take chhipoge Gohati mein, Aana hi padega Chaupati mein.” It means, “Till when will you hide in Guwahati. You are bound to come to Chaupati.” Chaupati refers to beaches in Mumbai.

Even after Uddhav Thackeray resigned as the chief minister of the state, Sanjay Raut kept his vague talks going on. He said, “Shiv Sena is not made for power. In fact, it is the power that is made for Shiv Sena.” It was Sanjay Raut’s arrogance that seems to have widened the rift in the party. Even after Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation, Shiv Sena MLAs in the Eknath Shinde camp said that they are hurt as no action is taken against Sanjay Raut who used abusive words for them and their family members.

In this way, Sanjay Raut’s blabbering has cost more to Shiv Sena than a passive chief minister and supreme party leader like Uddhav Thackeray. Sanjay Raut ended up playing the same role for Shiv Sena as Mani Shankar Aiyar has played for the Congress.

Family member of Kanhaiya Lal calls Ashok Gehlot a ‘slave of Muslims’, demands the culprits be killed the way he was killed: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Family member of Kanhaiya Lal calls Ashok Gehlot a ‘slave of Muslims’, demands the culprits be killed the way he was killed: Details

The brutal beheading of Hindu man Kanhaiya Lal by two Islamists, Mohammed Riyaz Akhtar and Mohammed Gaus, merely for posting in support of Nupur Sharma has shaken the conscience of the nation. While the investigation of the case has been taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a video has now emerged from the 29th of June 2022, where the family of the slain Kanhaiya Kumar called Ashok Gehlot a “slave of Muslims”.

In an exclusive report by Republic TV, while the journalist spoke to the family of Kanhaiya Lal, his sister said that Hindus are being killed everywhere. “The government is not for Hindus. Hindus are being killed every day but nobody listens to the Hindus. But, if anything happens to Muslims, even a little bit, the government will be standing for them”, a sister of Kanhaiya Lal was heard saying. She further demanded that the two Muslim accused should be cut up just the way they cut her brother, Kanhaiya Lal.

One being asked what she would like to tell the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, she said, “I don’t want to say anything to him. He is the number 1 slave of Muslims”.

In the full report by Republic TV, after the sister spoke, there were others who also chimed in that they demand justice for the family and that the culprits who beheaded Kanhaiya Lal should be hanged to death. Another woman said, “Jaise mere bhai to kaata, waise hi usko kaato, hume bas yahi chahiye” (The way they killed my brother, they should also be killed the same way, that is all we want).

The full video report by Republic TV can be watched here:

On Thursday, after the statements of the family and other Hindu organisations who have been protesting against the brutal murder, CM Ashok Gehlot finally decided to meet the family of slain Kanhaiya Lal.

Lal’s son, Yash, demanded security for the family and also the death penalty for the guilty. We have demanded security. My father was not provided security but we should be provided. We have been assured of the same. The culprits should not be given anything less than a death sentence,” Yash said.

“I have spoken with the Chief Minister. He has provided us with financial help too. He has also assured me of a Government job. He is cooperating with us, and we are ready to cooperate too,” he added, according to a report by Republic TV.

NIA dismisses terror angle – one propagated by CM Ashok Gehlot to claim this was not a ‘communal incident’

On Thursday, June 30, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot reached Udaipur to meet deceased Kanhaiya Lal’s family who was killed by two Islamic assailants over his post in support of Nupur Sharma. While talking to the media, Gehlot glossed over the Islamist communal crime as an ‘act of terror’ with connections outside the country.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot was seen patting his back upon the ‘swift’ arrest of the murderers of Kanhaiya Lal, a Hindu tailor who was killed in his own shop on June 28 in Udaipur. Talking to the media, Gehlot said, “We found out within one night that this case has connections internationally. This tells us that this incident is an act of terror. This has nothing to do with two religions fighting with each other.”

The NIA, on the other hand, which is now investigating the case, has dismissed this theory peddled by Gehlot to claim that this was not a “communal incident”. On June 30 the probing agency denied the involvement of any terrorist organization in the brutal murder of a Hindu tailor by Islamists that took place on 28th June 2022 in Udaipur. 

NIA said that some media reports about the links of the two accused with some terrorist outfit are based on speculation. It also held that the preliminary inquiry suggests that there may not be any terrorist group involved in the murder but a terror gang.

The NIA also informed that there will be many group members of the accused and not just two. A six to ten-member NIA team is supposed to investigate the case under the supervision of an Inspector General and a Deputy Inspector General ranks officer.

It is pertinent to note that several questions have been raised on the role of Rajasthan police in the murder of Kanhaiya Lal. The name, photograph and details of Kanhaiya Lal were leaked to other Islamists by his neighbour, Nazim. It was also Nazim who had filed an initial complaint against Kanhaiya Lal for the post supporting Nupur Sharma. On June 15, 2022, five days after the initial complaint by Nazim, Kanhaiyal had approached Police for legal action and had sought protection. In his application to the Police, he said few days prior to the complaint, his son accidentally shared a post on Facebook while playing games on his mobile phone. Two days after the post was made, two men approached him at his shop and demanded to see his phone. They told him about the post, to which Kanhaiya Lal replied that he did not know how to operate the phone, and his son used it to play games. They deleted the post and warned him not to repeat it.

It was later found that Nazim and other Islamists were doing recce of Kanhaiya Lal’s shop and the police ignored pleas by Kanhaiya Lal after he started getting threats for the post. In fact, the police had arrested Lal and later released him, however, did not provide him security after his life was endangered by his neighbour and other Islamists.

ASI Bhanwarlal called those who were threatening him and had initiated a ‘compromise’ between Kanhaiya Lal and the others. He told Lal nothing would happen as there was a compromise between Lal and the other party. He told Lal to take care and inform the Police if he suspected anything.

Lal also submitted a letter to Police that as there was a compromise, he did not want any legal action against the five. Now, after Kanhaiya Lal has been killed, ASI Bhanwarlal has been suspended, and ADG Law and Order Hawasingh Ghumaria said they would question the five who signed a compromise agreement regarding how the incident took place despite the compromise.

Fundraiser for Kanhaiya Lal’s family

BJP leader Kapil Mishra floated a fundraiser to help the family members of the poor deceased tailor. Within 24 hours the fundraiser completed its target of pooling Rs 1 crore.

As the help is still coming in for the family of Kanhaiya Lal, the fundraiser is expected to complete the target of Rs. 1.25 crore very soon.

Registrar of Companies issues notice to Alt News owner Pravda Media Foundation over complaint of violations of rules

OpIndia Staff
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Registrar of Companies issues notice to Alt News owner Pravda Media Foundation over complaint of violations of rules

The office of the Registrar of Companies in Ahmedabad issued a notice to Pravda Media Foundation, which runs the so-called fact-checking site Alt News, for alleged violations of several provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. The notice was sent on 22nd June 2022 after the Registrar received a complaint regarding alleged violations from a Chartered Accountant. The complainant Shshank Saurav tweeted about the notice on 30th June 2022.

The ROC has also sent copies of the notice to Pravda Media Foundation Managing Director Nirjhari Mukul Sinha, Directors Pratik Mukul Sinha and Mohammed Zubair. It may be noted that Pratik and Zubair are co-founders of Alt News, while Nirjhari Sinha is Pratik Sinha’s mother. A copy was also sent to the complainant Shshank Saurav. The company has been asked to furnish its reply to the complaints along with documents as proof within 15 days.

If Pravda Media fails to respond to the notice, appropriate action will be taken against the company and its directors as per provisions of the law, the notice added.

The CA, who is also a writer and participates in TV debates, tweeted, “Prateek Sinha, Mohammed Zubair, and other directors of Alt News, run under the Pravda Media Foundation, have been issued notices by ROC Ahmedabad on charges of violation of several sections of the Companies Act, 2013. It is expected that proper facts will be presented on behalf of the Directors.”

However, the complainant Shshank has refused to share the details of the allegations against Pravda Media, as the matter is under investigation. In a subsequent tweet, answering a question about the copy of the complaint, Shshank Saurav wrote, “Issues related to non-compliance with the various provisions of Companies Act, 2013. Since the matter is under investigation, can’t share the copy as of now.”

The notice says, “This office has received a complaint (copy enclosed) forwarded by office of DGCOA made by Mr. Shshank Saurav which is self-explanatory. Therefore, you are directed to submit comments/explanations on each point of allegations along with documentary proof to this office within 15 days from the date of receipt of this letter, failing which penal action as contemplated under sections 447/448/449 and/or the relevant contravened provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, may be initiated against the company and its Directors without further notice.”

ROC Ahmedabad’s notice to Directors of the company running Alt News

Alt News is run by Pravda Media Foundation. Nirjhari Mukul Sinha is the Managing Director of the company. Pratik Mukul Sinha and Mohammed Zubair are the Directors of the company. The notice is issued to all of them.

It is notable that Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested on June 28 by the Delhi Police for hurting religious sentiments via derogatory social media posts targeting Hinduism. He was booked under Sections 153A and 295 of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR was based on a tweet by Twitter user @balajikijaiin where the user had shared a screenshot of an old tweet by Zubair in which he had mocked Lord Hanuman. In the tweet, @balajikijaiin had tagged the Delhi Police and had asked them to take action against Zubair for hurting the sentiments of Hindus with his derogatory post against Lord Hanuman.

After the arrest, the donations received by Alt News have come into question and there are allegations that they received foreign funds without FCRA registration.

Pravda Media Foundation is registered under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, which means it is registered as a not-for-profit company, and its shareholders can’t earn any dividend. The donations to the foundation can be exempt under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, which means the donations can be used only for charitable purposes.

Haryana: Young man named Vicky Bharadwaj attacked with sharp weapons in Palwal, Anjum Suleman, Bilal and 4 others absconding after stabbing in his chest

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: Young man named Vicky Bharadwaj attacked with sharp weapons in Palwal, Anjum Suleman, Bilal and 4 others absconding after stabbing in his chest

Days after the brutal killing of Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, another Hindu person named Vicky Bharadwaj was attacked by some miscreants with a sharp weapon in Haryana’s Palwal district. The miscreants brutally stabbed Vicky and tore his chest open. The victim was immediately shifted to the hospital and is under treatment.

According to the reports, the attackers have been identified as Anjum whose father’s name is Suleman, and Bilal who are absconding after the incident. According to the Police, Anjum and Bilal were accompanied by 5-6 persons who are also absconding. The Police have reported an FIR in the incident and are searching for the accused.

Copy of the FIR obtained by OpIndia

The incident is said to have occurred on Tuesday, June 28 when the victim was returning from Delhi and was attacked by the accused persons near the Golaya Public School in Palwal. The complaint was lodged by the father of the victim who confirmed that Vicky had gone to Delhi to purchase goods for his mobile shop. “He didn’t return till late in the evening. Later at around 1 am I was informed that my son had been attacked by the 5-6 people”, said the father in the complaint.

He added that he asked Vicky about the exact trail of incidents while he was in the hospital. Vicky said, “I was returning in my car from Delhi when I met some of my friends at the district bus stop. I offered them to drop at their destination and went to Camp with them. My car was stopped by some of the miscreants at the Golaya Public School at around 12:15 am. Suddenly 5-6 of them started beating me”. He also identified one of the accused as Anjum and said that his father’s name was Suleman, a resident of Sheikhpura, Palwal.

Copy of the FIR obtained by OpIndia

In the Police complaint, Vicky further added that he had heard Anjum saying that they would kill me on the spot. “Anjum stabbed me in my chest and I collapsed on the street. Some people came to help me after my friends screamed for help. Anjum threatened me to kill some other time again and he ran away from the spot”, Vicky added. His father meanwhile added that their financial condition is not good and that his son is struggling to survive at the Gurunanak Hospital in Palwal.

One of the witnesses named Hitesh Sharma talked to OpIndia to state that the reason behind Anjum attacking Vicky is still not known. “It was my birthday that day and we were all celebrating it in the evening. Anjum from nowhere initiated the brawl with us. We still don’t know why Anjum and his friend Bilal and his other friends attacked Vicky. None of the accused has been arrested yet”, he said.

To note, Hindu organizations on June 30 held protests in Palwal, Haryana, and demanded severe punishment for the Islamist attackers. They said that the cruel face of Islam had surfaced. Team OpIndia tried to contact SP Palwal and DSP city for obtaining updates on the case, but the calls remained unanswered. The Police meanwhile, who are investigating the case have registered an FIR under sections 148, 149, 307, 324, 341, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.

Police statement

The local police have clarified that the incident was a result of internal rivalry and not communal in nature. They have informed that the victim was partying with his friends and nearby another group was also partying. “Each group had 5-6 members and they all knew each other. Investigations are underway,” ADGP South Range Rewari said on June 30.

Prince Charles to stop receiving cash donations for his charities after allegations that he accepted suitcases full of cash from former Qatar PM

OpIndia Staff
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Prince Charles to stop receiving cash donations for his charities after allegations that he accepted suitcases full of cash from former Qatar PM

Prince Charles will no longer be accepting cash donations for his charities, a British royal office has been quoted by media as saying. The decision was taken after allegations surfaced that a cash donation of roughly $3 millionwas accepted by Prince Charles from former Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani between 2011 and 2015.

Britain’s Prince Charle’s office was quoted on Thursday as saying that the Prince “operates on advice”. “Situations, contexts change over the years. I can say with certainty for more than half a decade with the situation as it has evolved, this has not happened and it would not happen again … That was then, this is now,” said the source in the royal office.

The statement came after reports emerged earlier this week that the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund had received donations from the Qatar PM in three payments, in cash stashed in a suitcase and handbags. The payments were reportedly made in Euro notes of the denomination €500. The first payment was reportedly received in a suitcase, and the other two in shopping bags in London’s Fortnum and Mason department store.

The donation was reportedly accepted by Prince Charles in person. These funds were then passed on to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF). The donations were said to be made by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. The Sheikh was Prime Minister of Qatar from 2007 to 2013 and the donations had been made between 2011 and 2015.

Sheikh Hamad had served as the head of the country’s sovereign wealth fund when he held the office of PM from 2007 to 2013. During his term, he had reportedly used Qatar’s financial assets for high-profile investments in corporate Britain, including investing in luxury department store Harrods.

Sheikh was named in Panama Papers in 2016 and Pandora Papers in 2021 for allegedly using offshore companies in tax havens.

Disputes surrounding Prince Charles’ charitable endeavours

One of Prince Charles’ charities, The Prince’s Foundation, was the subject of a British Police inquiry in February of this year after media reports claimed that a Saudi businessman had been promised royal honour and British citizenship in exchange for donations.

The Sunday Times reported in September 2021 that Michael Fawcett, the prince’s former assistant and the foundation’s former chief executive, allegedly offered to assist Saudi business mogul Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz after he gave roughly £1.5 million to royal charities.

Uttarakhand: 5 including BKU (Tikait) leaders Subodh Kakran and Vicky Tomar arrested for gang raping mother and her minor daughter in a moving car

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand: 5 including BKU (Tikait) leaders Subodh Kakran and Vicky Tomar arrested for gang raping mother and her minor daughter in a moving car

On Thursday, the Haridwar Police arrested five persons who had allegedly gang raped a 35-year-old woman and her 5-year-old daughter in a moving car in Roorkee. The Police said that all the give accused have been arrested including the main perpetrator within 6 days of the crime.

According to the reports, the main accused have been identified to be associated with Rakesh Tikait led faction of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). BKU leaders Subodh Kakran and Vicky Tomar were among the main accused who were arrested by the Police later today. Subodh is the President of Saharanpur Mandal and Vicky is the Mandal vice-president of the main body.

The heinous incident of gang rape took place on Friday night when the minor girl and her mother were heading to Roorkee from Kaliyar. The woman and her daughter were raped by four men after the duo took lift in a car on the Kaliyar-Roorkee Road. Both the victims were then dumped in a secluded place near the Ganga Canal stretch and the car fled away from the spot.

According to the reports, the mother and her daughter were immediately shifted to the hospital, and the Police were informed. The mother reportedly earns through begging and lives in a shelter home. While the identity of BKU leaders Subodh and Vicky has been revealed, the victim who is being treated at a hospital has identified another accused as Mehek Singh aka Sonu.

Reports mention that Sonu had offered to help the woman victim and her daughter to drop them at their destination at Kaliyar. He deceptively took them to a place where there were no people around. He then tried to molest them. Later a white car arrived at the spot and took away the mother and her victim daughter. Sonu during the Police investigation confirmed the trail of incidents and added that the white car had a flag on its bonnet which represented some union.

The Police earlier had registered a case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Police had also released the image of the suspect and had announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for anyone who would give provide the information on the accused. Also, the National Commission for Women had taken suo-moto cognizance of the incident and had formed a three-member fact-finding team to look into the matter. The Commission had reprimanded the Police and their inability to arrest the culprits.

Reportedly, the Haridwar Police on June 30 arrested all the five accused including Sonu, Subodh Kakran and Vicky Tomar. Reports mention that the Bharatiya Kisan Union, taking the cognizance of the incident has terminated the membership of its two accused leaders named Subodh and Tomar.

Eknath Shinde takes oath as new Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis joins him as Deputy CM

OpIndia Staff
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Eknath Shinde takes oath as new Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis joins him as Deputy CM

Ending the political uncertainty in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde took the oath as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra today evening. Along with Shinde, BJP leader and former state CM Devendra Fadnavis alson took oath as a cabinet minister, who will be the deputy CM of the state.

There were administered the oath by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

No other ministers were included in the ministry. As things moved fast after former CM Uddhav Thackeray resigned yesterday, the new ruling coalition didn’t have time to discuss various issues of the coalition, including the compision of the ministry. Earlier Fadnavis had announced that the ministry will be expanded later after the constituent partners select their MLAs to be part of the ministry.

This is a day after Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Maharashtra CM following the Supreme Court’s decision to allow a floor test against his government. Thackeray headed a coalition government with the help of Congress and NCP. While everyone was speculating that Devendra Fadnavis will be the CM and Eknath Shinde will be the Deputy CM which seems logical as the BJP has highest number of MLAs in the house, today afternoon BJP announced a big surprise when Fadnavis had said that Shinde will be the CM.

Amid the massive political turmoil, the announcement by Fadnavis came as a surprise as the citizens of Maharashtra speculated Fadnavis to succeed Uddhav Thackeray. Extending support to Eknath Shinde and his rebel group, Devendra Fadnavis said that whatever Shinde did cannot be called as an act of ‘rebel’. “Shiv Sena MLAs were demanding that the alliance with Congress and NCP should be ended but Uddhav Thackeray ignored these MLAs and gave priority to MVA alliance partners, that’s why these MLAs intensified their voices”, he was quoted.

Taking a potshot at Shiv Sena for forming an alliance with Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, Fadnavis further said that the MVA alliance had insulted the mandate of the people. Earlier today, Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and staked a claim to form the government. 

While Fadnavis had said that he will not join the government, the BJP added another twist to the development by asking him to reconsider the decision. Party president JP Nadda said that the party has decided that Fadnavis should join the government as the Deputy CM. After Nadda made a personal request regarding the same, Devendra Fadnavis accepted the request and agreed to join the govt. According, he also took oath along with Eknath Shinde.

Meanhwhile, Eknath Shinde reiterated that whatever decision has been taken is committed to Balasaheb’s Hindutva and for the development work in the constituencies of the MLAs. “We have 50 MLAs with us”, he stated in the press conference. Shiv Sena rebel leader Deepak Kesarkar who also addressed the press conference on June 30, confirmed that the rebel leaders were not revolting against Uddhav Thackeray but were only against the alliance with Congress and NCP.

“Uddhav Thackeray was and is the leader of Shiv Sena. He had said that ‘if any of the MLAs want to become chief minister, then he should come ahead and meet me and say so, then I will resign.’ It must be noted that none of the MLAs, whom the Shiv Sena spokesperson called traitors, has asked Uddhav Thackeray to resign. All we were asking him was to break the alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party and join hands with Bharatiya Janata Party”, he said.

CM Shinde and around 42 MLA supporting him had rebelled against the MVA led government and the Shiv Sena party led by Uddhav Thackeray. He had demanded the re-alliance of the BJP and Shiv Sena to which former CM Uddhav Thackeray had refused.

The rebel camp led by CM Eknath Shinde first went to Surat and from there it traveled to a hotel in Assam’s Guwahati. The rebel Shiv Sena leaders had claimed that Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray had forgotten the principles of the party supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and that it had also forgotten its agenda of Hindutva.

Devendra Fadnavis to be Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra after BJP central leadership decided that he should join the govt

OpIndia Staff
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Devendra Fadnavis to be Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra after BJP central leadership decided that he should join the govt

There seem to be no end to the twists in the political scenario in Maharashtra. After it was thought that the surprises have after BJP leader Devendra Fandavis announced that Eknath Shinde will be the CM and he will not join the govt, there was another twist, as the BJP’s central leadership urged him to reconsider his decision not join the Maharashtra government. After BJP national president JP Nadda announced that he has personally requested Fadnavis to become the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, the former CM accepted the party’s decision, and now Devendra Fadnavis will be the Deputy Chief Minister in Eknath Shinde led government.

This was announced by Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah on Twitter, who informed that Fadnavis has decided to join the government on the request of JP Nadda.

While congratulation Fadnavis, Shah wrote on Twitter, “On the behest of BJP President Shri J P Nadda, Shri Devendra Fadnavis has shown a big heart and decided to join the government in the interest of the state of Maharashtra and the people. This decision is a sign of his true loyalty and service to Maharashtra. For this, I heartily congratulate him.”

BJP National President J P Nadda, in a video message, had urged Fadnavis to take the post of deputy CM in the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra cabinet. He said, “BJP’s central leadership has decided that Devendra Fadnavis should become a part of the Govt. So, I am making a personal request to him and Central leadership has said that Devendra Fadnavis should take charge as Deputy CM of Maharashtra.”

In a dramatic turn of events, Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai had announced that Eknath Shinde will be preceding as the new CM of Maharashtra. He had also announced that he will not join the government, and the government will be expanded later. and With the support of BJP MLAs and at least 10 Independent MLAs, Shinde, who led a rebellion in Shiv Sena will take oath as the Chief Minister in Rajbhavan in Mumbai.

Nat Geo India shares a poll about penguins, netizens appreciate the timing

OpIndia Staff
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Nat Geo India shares a poll about penguins, netizens appreciate the timing

On June 30, amid the turmoil that has been happening in Maharashtra politics, Nat Geo India decided to publish a poll about penguins. In a tweet, Nat Geo asked its followers, “Penguins can be massive too! Can you guess which species is the largest of them all?” Three options to it were Blue Penguin, Emperor Penguins and Adelie Penguins.

The poll amused netizens as Aaditya Thackeray, son of former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray, is often called ‘baby penguin’ in social media jokes because of the expensive initiative under which Thackeray junior had brought penguins to Mumbai Zoo.

Twitter user Sagar sarcastically questioned, “But why penguins today?”

Twitter user Ankur said, “Mumbaiya penguin”.

Another Twitter user, Nationalist, said, “The timing of NatGeo talking about Penguins is world-class trolling for our own penguin.”

Twitter user Prashant said, “Timing dekh rhe hoo” (look at the timing).

Twitter user curiosweetie said, “Ok…the person behind this handle is sharp.”

Why is Aaditya called baby penguin?

Donald, Daisy, Popeye, Olive, Flipper, Bubble and Mr Molt are penguins owned by the Mumbai Zoo, thanks to the Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment for the Government of Maharashtra Aaditya Thackeray. All of them are Humboldt penguins that were bought from Seoul, South Korea, in July 2016. You can witness seven penguins having fun in their man-made habitat. These penguins, however, have been mired in controversy ever since, because of the huge costs involved to keep the birds in their preferred temperature conditions.

For the controversies penguins have caused in the past few years, many have started calling Aaditya Thackeray “Baby Penguin”. The hashtag makes its way to social media platforms every now and then. In 2020, a man named Sameet Thakkar was arrested for a complaint against him for calling Aaditya a baby penguin on social media. The controversy continued for months, and he was released from jail in November 2020.

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