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Imran Khan and his wife face shame for retaining, selling expensive gifts that belonged in Toshakhana: PM Modi had been auctioning his gifts for good causes

Dibakar Dutta
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Imran Khan and his wife face shame for retaining, selling expensive gifts that belonged in Toshakhana: PM Modi had been auctioning his gifts for good causes

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been mired in controversies ever since he was ’selected’ to the highest office of the land in Pakistan. The controversies surrounding him only intensified after his removal from office in a no-confidence vote on April 10 this year. He has been accused of retaining gifts, received by the Office of the Prime Minister from other countries, either for free or at throwaway prices.

As per a report published by The Express Tribune, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi retained 112 valuables that were gifted to the PM’s Office between August 2018 and December 2021. The duo obtained 52 of the items worth PKR 800200 without ‘paying a single penny’.

The former Pakistani Prime Minister retained the remaining 60 valuables worth over PKR 141 million by paying a total of PKR 38.17 million. The Express Tribune reported that a PKR 85 million Graff wristwatch gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was retained by Khan for a sum of PKR 20 million.

He also paid just PKR 754,000 for a Rolex watch valued at PKR 3.8 million. The details of all gifts received by Imran Khan, during his tenure as the Prime Minister, were maintained by a department of the Cabinet Division known as Toshakhana.

Secrecy, tax ‘fraud’ and allegations of illicit profiteering

In September 2021, the PTI government had expressed reluctance to reveal details of gifts received by the PM Office, claiming that such a disclosure might impact relations with other countries.

On April 20 last month, the Islamabad High Court held that the incumbent government could release details of gifts received by Imran Khan in the absence of no restraining order. In an exclusive report published by Fact Focus, it had come to light that Imran Khan earned more from Toshakhana gifts in 2 months than he did in the first 66 years of his life.

“The tax record establishes that he and his wife Bushra haven’t declared the value of all the Toshakhana gifts they retained…The total worth of all his properties and assets as declared by him in his latest tax return (FY 2021) is PKR 141 million. The total value of Tosha Khana gifts retained by him was PKR 142 million,” the report by Usman Manzoor in Fact Focus stated.

Besides the non-declaration of Toshakhana gifts in tax filings and the firm resolve to withhold information, Imran Khan has been accused of selling valuables that he received as Prime Minister.

Tax returns and earnings of Imran Khan, graphic via Fact Focus

“Imran Khan has sold the gifts he received from other countries…Caliph Hazrat Omar (companion of Prophet Muhammad) was accountable for his shirt and robe and you (Imran Khan), on the other hand, looted foreign gifts from Toshakhana and you are talking of setting up a state of Madina?”, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif had asked.

The incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has claimed that Imran Khan had sold Toshakhana gifts in Dubai. His party leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Ahsan Iqbal had further alleged that Khan sold a watch, necklace, gold plated AK47 and a jeep.

PTI leader Fawad Chowdhury defended Imran Khan by claiming that “selling one’s own assets (after purchasing them from Toshakhana) was not a crime”. Marriyum Aurangzeb had accused the former Prime Minister of purchasing Toshakhana gifts at a 20% rate of their value and then increasing the retention rate to 50%.

She had alleged that Khan took away a PKR 150 million worth of BMW X5 car, equipped with protection from bombs and bullets. The car was reportedly meant to ferry foreign delegates but the ex-Prime Minister took it with him when he left Office.

“You are a thief, a cheat, a liar and a swindler but trying to pose yourself as a pious person only to hide the wrongdoings and corruption,”  Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

Imran Khan defends decision to retain gifts received as Pakistani Prime Minister

Imran Khan has however defended his decision to retain valuables from Toshakhana by claiming “Mera Tohfa, Meri Marzi (My gifts, my choice).” He claimed that he had paid 50% of the value of the gifts. He further justified his decision by comparing the Toshakhana gifts to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) flats allotted to the Pakistani army officers.

While addressing a public gathering, Khan conceded that he sold the Toshakhana valuables (which allegedly belonged to him) to repair the Bani Gala road (located next to his residence). He also claimed to have cost the exchequer the least during his tenure as the Prime Minister.

It must be mentioned that the Islamabad High Court had earlier noted that gifts received by the Office of the Prime Minister cannot be retained by him after vacating office. “Individuals come and go but the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan is permanent…These gifts are not meant for taking home,” Justice Aurangzeb said adding that all such gifts must be recovered by the State if they have been retained.

The approach of PM Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a radically different approach when it came to gifts received by his Office. During an event titled, ‘Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath’ in April 2018, he revealed that he auctioned all valuables, received during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, to fund girl child education.

“I used to put all the gifts in the government treasury (also called Toshakhana). I first found out their valuation and began auctioning them… I can say with pride that when I left my position as the Gujarat CM, I donated more than ₹100 crores, received from auctioning these gifts, to the government treasury for funding the education of girl children.”

All the gifts and mementoes received by PM Modi are maintained by the National Gallery of Modern Art, an undertaking of the Ministry of culture.

In September 2019, PM Modi announced that all gifts and mementoes received by him in the past 1 year would be auctioned both physically and online. “The proceeds from the auction will be devoted towards the Namami Gange Mission. It would contribute to a cleaner Ganga,” he had said.

In September 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi auctioned the special mementoes received from Olympic heroes for the Namami Ganga initiative. These gifts included the javelin of Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, gloves of boxer Lovlina Borgohain, and a stole with signatures of Tokyo Olympic players.

“Over time, I have received several gifts and mementoes which are being auctioned. This includes the special mementoes given by our Olympics heroes. Do take part in the auction. The proceeds would go to the Namami Gange initiative,” he had tweeted.

While India and Pakistan are just divided by a border, the conduct of the two Prime Ministers turned out to be quite distinct. Imran Khan is now facing corruption charges for selling gifts, received by the Office of the Prime Minister, for personal gains. On the other hand, PM Modi had auctioned gifts received by his Office to fund the government’s ‘Clean Ganga’ mission.

Imran Khan had been secretive about the gifts held by the Toshakhana. He also retained 112 valuables at a meagre price. On the other hand, all gifts received by PM Modi are available on the website (pmmementos.gov.in). The Indian government’s Toshakhana is easily accessible, contrary to that of his Pakistani counterpart.

Unlike Khan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi neither retained any gifts as a personal collection nor profited from the sale of such valuables. The difference in transparency and integrity between the two leaders becomes crystal clear for everyone to see.

Before you spread hatred, Mr Kejriwal, learn how Gujarat has had a history of Marathi leaders who contributed immensely to the state

Suyash
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Before you spread hatred, Mr Kejriwal, learn how Gujarat has had a history of Marathi leaders who contributed immensely to the state

They say you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. The promised ‘free’ omelette in Kejriwal’s case rather is not of welfare, but about running his personal political roost, with many a crack on the integrity of the nation. This was evident once again in the recent speech made by Arvind Kejriwal in Gujarat.

On the first of May, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal raised questions over Gujarat BJP state President C R Patil being born in Maharashtra. Kejriwal was speaking at a rally in Gujarat’s Bharuch on the day which marked the celebration of full statehood to Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960.

Furthering his divisive agenda, Kejriwal questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making a Maharashtrian the head of its Gujarat state unit. Moreover, Kejriwal chose May 1, the day which also marks the separation of the two states fanned after brutal violence on linguistic lines in 1960. Kejriwal asked, “I am offended by one thing for long. Who is the president of BJP’s Gujarat state unit? CR Patil. Where does he hail from? He is from Maharashtra. So, among the 6.5 crore Gujaratis, the BJP leaders did not get a single person from the state to make the president of their state unit?” He claimed that this is a huge insult to the people of Gujarat.

However, Kejriwal did not stop here. He went a further ahead to say, “No party committed an insult bigger than this. Will these people rule Gujarat from Maharashtra? Will these people run Gujarat through a person from Maharashtra? The people of Gujarat will not tolerate this. Convert the upcoming election into a revolution. There won’t be any elections this year. Rather, we will lay the foundation of a new Gujarat.”

Perhaps, contesting new territories after Punjab would require Kejriwal a lesson in history where the people of Gujarat have not seen the sight of its Marathi-speaking leadership ‘insulting.’ Since the modern-day states were carved out of the same Bombay State Presidency after Independence, Gujarat has seen large numbers of Marathi-speakers living in the state till day and vice-versa. 

Even though language formed the basis of the division of the erstwhile state, a sense of shared history and cultural ties have forged a strong relationship between the people of the two states, which is unlikely to be weakened by Mr Kejriwal’s regional chauvinism. 

Kejriwal’s insinuation on C R Patil comes from a place of ignorance at the least and malice at the worst. Patil secured a place in grassroots Gujarat politics as a heartthrob leader securing high electoral margins. In the Lok Sabha 2019 elections, he won his seat of Navsari with a record margin of over 689,668 votes. He is also said to have played a pivotal role in the development of Surat as a Textile and Diamond hub through Infrastructure development.

Born in 1955, Patil started in Jalgoan in Maharashtra before the separation of states and ended up in Surat to receive post-school technical training. A Maharashtrian by birth but a Gujarati by heart, Patil knows the nitty-gritty of Gujarat Politics way better than Kejriwal, which explains his frustration in targeting the prior for being an ‘outsider.’ 

But if the contemporary identity of Gujarat as a region is to be considered, then one wonders how the Marathi leadership has flourished in an expanse that now represents the modern-day state of Gujarat in more ways than one. 

Many a lesson for Kejriwal in History

If Maharashtra and Gujarat, were to find linkages that bound them, it would lead us to the exploration in the Maratha times when Pilaji Rao Gaekwad as lieutenant of the Maratha Army established his base in Gujarat long back in 1721. The Gaekwads administered the province of Gujarat with the title ‘Shamsher Bahadur’ given to the heirs of the family by Chhatrapati Shahu of Satara until the advent of the British.

But it was after 1871, when Sayajirao Gaekwad ascended the patriarchal throne after his adoption by dowager Jamnabai, that the modern, prosperous and equally progressive princely state of Baroda emerged under the suzerainty of the British Raj.

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad with wife Maharani Chminbai Gaekwad. Courtesy: Royal Gaekwad Collection Baroda

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad – III, along with his wife Maharani Chimnabai – II, ruled the region when social malaise such as casteism, lack of education among girls, and the enforcement of the purdah system, and the prevalence of the child marriage plagued the society.

Gaekwad, The Maratha ruler of Gujarat, was a great institution builder who set up a national grade University in Baroda, many fine-arts institutions, aided primary schools for girls, colleges that promoted religion as well as ideological education. Gaekwad, along with his wife Maharani Chimnabai, set up libraries across Gujarat – one of which played a pivotal role in shaping the childhood of incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Maharaja Sayajirao modernised Gujarat in more ways than one. He led economic development initiatives including the establishment of railroads across the state. In 1908, he founded the Bank of Baroda with numerous operations abroad in support of the Gujarati diaspora, which still finds its place today as a leading Nationalised bank. In a true sense, Baroda with the advent of the Marathi dynasty of Gaekwads stood as a fountainhead of the progress of Modern Gujarat.

Arvind Kejriwal Gujarat
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad Baroda University. Courtesy: HistoryofVadodara.in

The Maratha Imperialism which brought with it a host of Marathi-speaking natives, intermingled with the Gujarati cultural ethos and became on with it. One such family was the Mavalankars, a hardworking family residing in Ahmedabad who had migrated from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar was a first-generation migrant to the city, who had come to seek a B.A. degree in Science from Gujarat College in Ahmedabad. Mavalankar entered the legal profession in 1912, wherein he got an opportunity to interact with leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Arvind Kejriwal Gujarat
G V Mavalankar (Right) with Elanor Roosevelt and Jawaharlal Nehru in Parliament House, Delhi

G V Mavalankar was elected to the Ahmedabad Municipality for the first time in 1919 and was a member of the Ahmedabad Municipality until 1937. After his tenure as a Speaker of the Bombay Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1946, he was elected as a speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly. After Independence, Mavalankar, a boy from a Marathi family who made a glorious political career in Gujarat, rose to become the first speaker of the Lok Sabha until his death in 1956.

The need to rise above regionalist politics

If the cards are to be reversed today, the Gujarati community in Maharashtra remains an underlined contributor to the progress of Maharashtra as well. While our states are divided on a linguistic basis pertaining to an erstwhile historical need, Gujarati leaders are not stopped from taking part in Maharashtrian Politics while the Marathi speaking population in Gujarat too enjoys a sound representation in the politics of Gujarat as well. With the advent of leaders like Kejriwal who are hopping from one state to another for power, one should be reminded that regionalist jingoism can transform into linguistic nationalism as a challenge for tomorrow.

Arvind Kejriwal, who himself hails from Haryana, enjoys the political support of Delhiites who have elected him twice, with thumping majorities. With no hopes to contest the assembly elections in Maharashtra, he has conveniently insulted Maharashtrians with his statement, with the hope to play a momentary Gujarati pride card – a stance that even the Gujaratis would not appreciate. Pressing the unwanted regionalist buttons would make Kejriwal win yet another election, with a high cost for the nation to bear in its internally challenged sovereignty.

Osmania University triggers controversy as it denies permission for Rahul Gandhi’s event, cites Court judgment as the reason

OpIndia Staff
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Osmania University triggers controversy as it denies permission for Rahul Gandhi’s event, cites Court judgment as the reason

Telangana’s Osmania University, which is one of the oldest universities in India, has denied permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegedly non-political event at the campus. The event was to be held on May 7. As per the Indian Express report, the University has not officially informed the organizers about it.

Reports suggest that following the decision by the University, the Congress party has accused the TRS-led Telangana government of pressurizing the University to deny the permission. Some students have even approached Telangana High Court and urged it to direct the University to allow the event.

The Congress Party had applied for permission for the event on April 23rd. They had mentioned that the event would be non-political. In reply, the university administration stated that the Executive Council has barred non-academic activities, including political meetings on campus since 2017. Furthermore, it was noted that in 2016, the High Court had directed the state government to deny permission for political and public meetings at Osmania University. The decision was taken after a petition was filed by the students stating that political activities are causing a constant disturbance.

A University official speaking to the Indian Express said, “A circular (in 2017) stated Osmania University (OU) was established for the purpose of imparting higher education and informed the teachers and students that non-academic activities such as political meetings would not be permitted on the campus. A resolution to this effect was also passed by the OU Executive Council.”

Youth Congress leaders and supporters are not happy with the decision and held a protest at the OU Arts College. A counter-protest was organized by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and students’ associations affiliated with the TRS. Venkat Balmoor, President NSUI Telangana, and others were arrested by the Police for protesting at University.

Sridhar Babu Duddilla, MLA-Manthani, Telangana, wrote, “Strongly condemn the arrest of NSUI president Venkat Balmoor and other leaders while they were protesting against the refusal to allow Sri Rahul Gandhi Ji’s interaction with students in the OU campus.”

Reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi is adamant to visit the University irrespective of the permission being denied. MLA Uttam Kumar Reddy said Rahul would visit the University and talk to the students about their problems at the campus.

‘Do not perform Maha Aarti on Akshaya Tritiya, let Muslims celebrate Eid’: Raj Thackeray to MNS workers

OpIndia Staff
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‘Do not perform Maha Aarti on Akshaya Tritiya, let Muslims celebrate Eid’: Raj Thackeray to MNS workers

MNS chief Raj Thackeray in his recent Tweet has appealed to his party workers not to perform the Maha Aarti on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya on May 3 as he doesn’t want to create any obstacle for Muslims during the Eid festival.

In the latest tweet, Raj Thackeray asked his party workers not to perform Aartis anywhere on account of Akshaya Tritiya and let Muslims celebrate Eid peacefully. He writes, “Tomorrow is Eid. As said by me in my Sambhajinagar speech yesterday, I feel Muslims should get to celebrate Eid happily. We do not want to hinder the celebrations of anyone.” Thackeray has reiterated his earlier statement that for him the issue of loudspeakers is not a religious one, but a social problem.

Thackeray has asked his party workers to maintain restraint. He has said that he will announce what needs to be done on this issue tomorrow, on Twitter.

On 1st May 2022, the foundation day of the Maharashtra state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray addressed a public meeting at Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray had declared this public meeting after he warned the government of Maharashtra to take down the loudspeakers on the mosques before 3rd May 2022, falling to which, he said that, his party workers would play Hanuman Chalisa on speakers in front of mosques with a volume double that of the Azaan.

“However, if the loudspeakers are not taken down by May 4, Hindus in Maharashtra should make sure that they play Hanuman Chalisa with the double voice in front of the mosques,” Raj Thackeray had asserted in his May 1st speech.

Andhra Pradesh: Three arrested including a juvenile for gang-raping a pregnant woman at Repalle railway station

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: Three arrested including a juvenile for gang-raping a pregnant woman at Repalle railway station

A pregnant woman was allegedly gang-raped by three people, including a juvenile after beating up her husband at the Repalle town train station in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

The woman was traveling with her husband and three children to Nagayalanka in the Krishna district when she was brutally raped by the trio. The three suspects were apprehended on Sunday, according to Bapatla district Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal.

The family arrived in Repalle at 11 PM on Saturday on the Guntur-Repalle local train and chose to take sanctuary in the premises of the railway station owing to a lack of transportation at the time. According to Bapatla SP Vakul Jindal, the couple who were both daily wagers, had gone to Guntur for work a few days before. They were from Yerragondapalem in the Prakasam district.

The culprits, who were drunk, woke the husband up and asked him for the time as they were sleeping on the platform, according to police. The husband did not respond since he did not have a watch. The perpetrators then beat him up and stole 750 Rupees from him. They then proceeded to punch the woman and sexually assault her after she tried to intervene. 

The man rushed from the station and proceeded to the nearest police station for assistance. The perpetrators escaped when the police reached the railway station after hearing the siren. The victim was sent to a local health center for treatment right away.

The suspects, who live in Repalle’s Netaji Nagar, have been charged under IPC sections 376D (gang rape), 394 (robbery), and 307 (attempt to murder).

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister, spoke with the SP and instructed the police to speed up the inquiry and assist the family. Vasireddy Padma, the chief of the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Commission, expressed her shock at the crime, stating that such an incident at a railway station must be treated seriously. She ordered a thorough investigation of the railway station’s security measures and instructed the in-charge railway personnel to provide a report.

SFJ issues threats to Punjab CM and DGP, warns against taking action against Khalistani supporters from Patiala violence

OpIndia Staff
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SFJ issues threats to Punjab CM and DGP, warns against taking action against Khalistani supporters from Patiala violence

On May 2, the banned Khalistani Terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) issued a fresh threat to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Viresh Bhawra. In the video statement, SFJ’s chief and designated terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu warned CM and DGP against taking action against the Khalistani supporters accused in Patiala Violence.

In the video message, he said, “On April 29 the Khalistan Day, Sikhs filled Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana with Khalistani flags. They announced that Himachal and Haryana would become part of Khalistan via referendum. In Patiala, Hindu extremists came on roads against Sikhs and Khalistan. Sikhs gave a befitting reply to them.”

He further warned them by reminding them what had happened to Late Beant Singh etc., during the 1990s. He said, “We came to know that CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Viresh have initiated action against Sikhs. You are taking out Sikhs to Police Station. You have done the same in the 1990s. You know the consequences. Do not follow the path of Butcher Beant. Remember his destiny. Or think about what had happened to those who supported KPS Gill.”

Pannu took responsibility for the April 29 incidents where Khalistani flags were hoisted and said, “We have taken responsibility for April 29 and Khalistani flags. If the Police reach any Sikh’s house, they should contact SFJ. Contact me. We will talk to Punjab Police.”

He added, “We have made lists of your children as well (referring to AAP and Police) who are studying in foreign countries. They will be able to study there only till the time our children are not harassed by you in Punjab. If you harass our children, your children will be legally sent back to Punjab. This is a message to CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Viresh Bhawra.”

Notably, Late Beant Singh was assassinated in a bomb blast on August 31, 1995. Several other Police Personnel, Army officials and leaders were killed by Khalistani terrorists.

Patiala violence

On April 29, Khalistani supporters attacked Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray’s ‘Khalistan Murdabad’ march in Patiala. The clashes allegedly erupted as Khalistan supporters chanted slogans in favour of Khalistan while hitting participants in the march. During the clash, the Khalistani supporters reached Maa Kali Temple and pelted stones. They also attacked the shops and injured shop owners outside the temple.

A video had also gone viral on social media, wherein the Khalistani supporters could be seen performing Bhangra as the Police officers fired in the air to control the crowd. The main accused of instigating Sikhs, Barjinder Singh Parwana and others, were arrested by the Police on May 1. Harish Singla, who had organized Khalistan Murdabad Rally, was also arrested by the Police. Notably, Shiv Sena expelled Singla after the violence.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha, meanwhile, tried to water down the seriousness of the incident by blaming it on ‘political parties. Interestingly. Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) leader Harish Singla was arrested and eventually expelled from his party following the violence.

Anti-CAA riots accused Sadaf Jafar spreads misinformation about SC order, outrages over UP govt’s notice

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-CAA riots accused Sadaf Jafar spreads misinformation about SC order, outrages over UP govt’s notice

On May 2, anti-CAA riots accused and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar shared a notice on the social media platform Twitter and alleged that the notice she received from the Uttar Pradesh government was against the Supreme Court judgment.

In her tweet, she said, “Received Eidi from Yogi Adityanath Ji. Despite the rebuke by Supreme Court, the protesters are being harassed in a malicious manner. Perhaps they do not know if we were cowards, we would have written apology against the Congress ideology.”

Jafar received notice for her role in the riots

The notice that Jafar has received is in connection with her alleged role in the Anti-CAA riots that took place on December 19, 2019, in Uttar Pradesh. The order stated, “As per Supreme Court’s order on February 11, 2022, the notice has been issued to you to recover the cost of the damages to the public property.” Jafar has been asked to appear in front of the court and tell the court why action should not be taken against her.

Notice to Sadaf Jadar to appear in court. Source: Sadaf Jafar/Twitter

The notice had old dates, and it seems it was reissued on April 11, 2022. Jafar has claimed that the Supreme Court had ordered the state government not to recover money for the damages to the public property from the protestors. The information Jafar shared on her Twitter profile was a half-truth and an attempt to twist the reality. In reality, the court’s judgment narrates a whole different story.

The Supreme Court Judgment

On February 18, it was reported that the Supreme Court directed the UP government to refund the money it had recovered from people who destroyed the public during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

However, the court made it very clear to all that the government could issue fresh notices against the rioters and can re-attach the properties under the new law that was brought in by the UP government.

“The State as clarified is at liberty to proceed in accordance with the law that is the State legislation of 2021,” the court directed. This means the damages which were recovered can be recovered again by the State based on the outcome of the proceedings after issuing fresh notices under the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public Property Act, 2021, the court order stated.

Earlier the apex court had directed that all the notices issued for recoveries by the district administration should be withdrawn, and fresh notices under the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Act, 2020 could be issued.

To collect damages from rioters, the Uttar Pradesh government brought the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Act 2020. According to the law, the State would establish claims courts to examine and provide compensation for damages caused during protests, as well as to reimburse the costs of police and administrative actions taken to avoid damage to public property.

Hardik removes Congress details from Twitter bio, goes missing from Jignesh Mevani rally poster as the rift widens ahead of Gujarat elections

OpIndia Staff
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Hardik removes Congress details from Twitter bio, goes missing from Jignesh Mevani rally poster as the rift widens ahead of Gujarat elections

Months ahead of Gujarat state assembly elections, the rift between Congress leader Hardik Patel and the party has now widened even further. Patel has now removed details related to his posts in Congress have now gone missing from his Twitter bio.

Hardik Patel Twitter bio changed

Earlier, Hardik Patel had ‘Gujarat Congress’ in his bio which he has now removed.

Earlier this week, on his father’s death anniversary, many Congress leaders had met him to pay their respects. As per local media reports, when Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani was released from jail in Assam last week, Congress announced a rally to welcome him in Gujarat. While Mevani is an independent MLA as of now, he had extended support to Congress last year. He had not joined the party officially back then as it would lead to him losing his elected post. However, he had hinted he would contest the upcoming elections on Congress ticket.

Interestingly, Gujarat Congress earlier today announced a ‘Satyameva Jayate Jansabha’ to be held on 3rd May 2022 in Ahmedabad in solidarity with Jignesh Mevani.

Mevani was arrested by Assam Police over a tweet in which he had compared PM Modi with Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mohandas Gandhi.

However, Hardik’s picture from the poster has gone missing. Soon after, Hardik removed Congress from his bio.

Earlier, Hardik had taken a dig on Congress and said that Congress had done ‘nasbandi’ (vasectomy) on him by inducting him into the party. Hardik Patel had also expressed his disappointment over the Congress party not utilising him properly. Speaking to media, Patel had said that it might be because people felt threatened by him within the party.

Currently, Patel is a convict in rioting and vandalism case which has been stayed by the Supreme Court.

‘Prophet said even if a woman is to deliver a child and her husband wants to have sex, she should fulfil his wishes’: Muslim cleric in a viral video

OpIndia Staff
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‘Prophet said even if a woman is to deliver a child and her husband wants to have sex, she should fulfil his wishes’: Muslim cleric in a viral video

A video of a Maulana Jarjis Ansari Hafizullah addressing a crowd and saying that Muslim women should offer themselves to their husbands under all circumstances has gone viral on the internet. In the viral video, Maulana explains that even if a Muslim lady is pregnant and about to birth a child, under any circumstances, she should not deny her husband if he asks for sexual pleasures.

In the video, Maulana says, “O Muslim woman! If you don’t allow your husband to take advantage of your body (sexually), you are committing a grave sin.”

Explaining the commandment of the Prophet, he says, “That’s why the Prophet said – even if you are about to deliver a child and your husband wants to enjoy your body, and have sex at the time of delivery, then O Muslim woman, you will have to fulfil your husband’s wish.”

He further states that if the woman does not satisfy her husband, he might go to another woman in search of satisfaction. “Because you alone can control the fire of his lust. If you won’t, your husband will go to other women to satisfy himself,” he added.

Reiterating the Prophet’s words, he declares that the lady must surrender her body at any cost and that she cannot refuse. The video has been gaining rounds over the internet with many people resharing it.

Maulana Jarjis has a history of making contentious remarks

For a long time, Maulana Jarjis Ansari Hafizullah has been known for his provocative views and hate speech. On December 18, 2019, a video of Maulana Jarjis threatening to wage Jihad in India was uploaded on YouTube, in which he opposes the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) bill, erroneously alleging that they are anti-Muslim.

Throughout his speech, he can be heard making disparaging statements against India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on several occasions.

In his hate speech, the Maulana boldly declares that if Modi or Shah tries to drive them (the Muslim community) out of the nation, he will wage ‘jihad’ to the very last corner of India. “Inke baap ke baap ke baap ki bhi takat nahi hain ki humme bahar nikaal de (their predecessors also do not have the guts to throw us out of the country), humme nikaal ke toh dikha Modi, hum bhi jihad karne se peeche nahi hatengein (try throwing us out Modi, we will not hesitate in waging jihad).”

Furthermore, about 3 minutes 30 seconds into his hate speech, the Maulana unabashedly warned the government to rescind the CAA and NRC or face ‘jihad.’

Another video of Maulana Jarjis went viral in March 2021, in which he said that relatives of women who do not wear the Burqa are referred to as ‘bh*dwa,’ a Hindi slang term for a ‘pimp.’

According to reports, Maulana Jarjis campaigned for the TMC in Bengal. Jarjis instigated Muslims in Bengal against the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, influencing people to vote for the TMC indirectly by spreading fear and hatred.

As US states push for balkanization of India by supporting Khalistan, western intellectuals wonder why India is not supporting US in Ukraine

Amit Kelkar
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As US states push for balkanization of India by supporting Khalistan, western intellectuals wonder why India is not supporting US in Ukraine

Ever since Russia started its “special military operation” in Ukraine, western think tanks and their resident ‘intellectuals’ have had one question- Why isn’t India breaking up its close ties with Russia and publicly condemning them. India’s lack of support for NATO expansion in Ukraine has bugged a lot of western commentators.

Essentially what these western commentators, some of them useful idiots of Indian origin hired by the US, were saying was that India should sacrifice its own interests to promote the current US administration’s interests in eastern Europe. Thankfully, India didn’t bow down to them and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar gave a befitting reply to them on several occasions.

India has been roundly condemned in western media and by western intellectuals for buying some barrels of oil from Russia. Interestingly, US and Europe have bought several times the oil from Russia during the same time period. Of course, since they are from the west, they can continue to buy oil from the enemy they are fighting. However, their reasoning is that others should not look out for their own interests and should fight the American war for them.

While the US continued its oil imports from Russia, President Joe Biden’s economic advisor Daleep Singh even went on to threaten India if they buy any oil from Russia. He was sent on a leave of absence soon after, though it is not clear whether it was over his threats to a sovereign democracy.

While all these western commentators and politicians are wondering why India is not hurting itself to support American interests, the General Assembly of the US state of Connecticut has come out in support of a separate Khalistan, to be carved out of India. The Connecticut General Assembly offered its congratulations in recognition of the 36th anniversary of the declaration of Sikh Independence by separatist groups.

Consulate General of India based in New York was quick to condemn this public support for separatists in India by a US body. However, this begs the question, how can the US expect Indian support for US interests and NATO expansion in Ukraine when it is officially supporting the division of India. India should jeopardize their entire defense system, which is reliant on Russia, to support America when they are actively trying to push for the balkanization of India.

This is not even the first time when a US body has tried to push for division within India. When India passed the Citizenship Amendment Act to help persecuted minorities in its neighborhood, the Chicago City council passed a resolution against it, claiming that helping persecuted minorities is anti-Muslim.

US funding of Pakistan as it continues to wage a war against India and the support for the separatist Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir is already well-known. We don’t even have to go back to 1971 to explain the distrust when US Navy was threatening India during the Bangladesh liberation war and USSR supported India.

US hypocrisy on the world stage is well known, as they topple governments across the world and invade sovereign countries as per their whims and fancies while pretending to be holier than thou. Western commentators must understand that India just can not shoot itself in the foot to support a country that is actively encouraging the division of India into various parts. Or maybe they do understand but are just as duplicitous and hypocritical as the country whose interests they promote.

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