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Days after Akshay Kumar apologised for a pan masala ad, Kannada superstar Yash rejects a similar advertisement offer

OpIndia Staff
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Days after Akshay Kumar apologised for a pan masala ad, Kannada superstar Yash rejects a similar advertisement offer

When three big stars of Bollywood joined the advertisement of the pan masala brand Vimal Elaichi, there was a lot of uproar on social media. Among Ajay Devgn, Shahrukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, netizens started trolling Akshay Kumar continuously because of his past comments on such ads. As a result, he had to issue an apology. A week after this, the Pan Masala brand approached the KGF-fame superstar Yash for the ad. But, the actor has turned down the offer. The agency that manages endorsement deals for Yash, Exceed Entertainment, has confirmed the news.

Arjun Banerjee heads the talent management agency Exceed Entertainment and he said in a press statement, “I remember when we became a part of the team with Yash and his long time friend and associate Prashant in March 2020, we created an informal group for communication and it was named ‘storm is coming’ that is the belief he is instilled in us, at a time when no one knew when will the filming of KGF2 will complete let alone release and be a monstrous hit.”

He further said, “At this point, we as a team are looking at long-term partnerships only, whether it’s in the form of strategic investments, endorsements, or equity deals. Recently we declined a double-digit multi-crore offer from a pan masala brand and are going to be extremely mindful of who we associate with. Given his pan-India appeal, we want to use this opportunity to give the right kind of message to his fans and followers and invest our time and sweat with brands that have a conscience, are like-minded, and want to play the long game, just like the man himself.”

The news came after Akshay Kumar decided to break away from the pan masala brand Vimal Elaichi. Akshay Kumar recently promoted Vimal’s what he called cardamom products with Ajay Devgan and Shah Rukh Khan. After which on social media, he faced the wrath of fans. Due to the constant troll loss, Akshay Kumar decided not to promote the brand and promised to choose the ad thoughtfully in the future.

In his post of apology, Akshay Kumar wrote, “I am sorry. I would like to apologize to you, all my fans, and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back.”

Akshay Kumar as specifically targeted by people for appearing in the ad because in the past, he had criticised others for promoting pan masala brands.

Gujarat: Accused Abdul, Shabbir, Hasan, Ismail arrested in Bharuch mass religious conversion case, total arrests reach 14

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Accused Abdul, Shabbir, Hasan, Ismail arrested in Bharuch mass religious conversion case, total arrests reach 14

On Friday, April 29, the Gujarat Police arrested four more people in the case of forceful religious conversion in the Kakariya village of Bharuch district, Gujarat. The four accused have been identified as Abdul Samad Dawood Patel (Bakerywala), Shabbir Mohammed Patel (Bakerywala), Hasan Ibrahim Patel (Tisli) and Ismail Yacoob Patel (Delawala), all residents of town Amod, Bharuch.

In November last year, Praveen Vasava of Kakariya village had lodged a complaint alleging forceful conversion of Hindu tribals to Islam in exchange of money. The Amod Police had registered a case under Section 4 of the Gujarat Freedom for Religion Bill and Sections 120(b), 153 (B) (c), and 506 (2) of the Indian Penal Code.

The tribals were offered money and houses in some cases to accept the religion of Islam. Reportedly, more than 100 tribals from 37 families were converted in the year 2018 and the accused had not taken any permission from the Bharuch district collector. According to the reports, the miscreants were in receipt of funds from other countries for converting the poor Hindu tribals to Islam.

Earlier the Police had arrested 10 persons in the case and had booked them under the relevant sections of the Gujarat Freedom for Religion Bill and the Indian Penal Code. The accused had then admitted that they had received donations amounting to Rs 14 lakhs from foreign countries, of which Rs 7 lakh were collected by Rizwan Patel from a person named Ismail from Bahrain.

It is important to note that on April 24, BJP MP (Bharuch constituency) Mansukhbhai Vasava had addressed a public gathering and had demanded the delisting of converted tribals from benefits made available to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community. He had slammed the forced conversions of Hindus and had said that law needs to be made for those elements who break Hindu dharma and who are into religious conversion activities.

He also had highlighted the menace of foreign funding and its direct impact on forced conversions. “This is a democratic country therefore these things go on. They work through foreign funds that arrive here to break this country. Foreign powers are working behind the curtains”, he had said.

Grooming Jihad and deceitful mass conversions have plagued several parts of India, especially in the Bharuch city of Gujarat. In a bid to contain the menace, the BJP government had amended the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act of 2003 in June last year. As such, fraudulent religious conversions and marriages involving forcible conversions or assistance for the same have been brought under the ambit of this law. So far the Gujarat Police has arrested 14 people in the current case. Further investigations are underway.

ED attaches assets worth 7.27 crores of Jacqueline Fernandez in extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar

OpIndia Staff
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ED attaches assets worth 7.27 crores of Jacqueline Fernandez in extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth over 7 crores of Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez in the extortion case against high-profile conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. The attached assets include a fixed deposit of 7.12 Crores in Jacqueline’s name.

ED had estimated that Jacqueline received gifts of around 5.71 crores from Sukesh from his extorted money. In addition, he also gave cash totaling around 1.5 crores to Jacqueline’s family members.

The 200 crores extortion and money-laundering case

While jailed as an undertrial, Sukesh Chandrasekhar allegedly extorted 200 crores from the wife of the promoter of Religare enterprises Shivinder Mohan Singh. Pretending to be a senior government official, Sukesh conned Shivinder Singh’s wife Aditi Singh assuring her that he can secure Shivinder’s bail. Sukesh and his wife, actress Leena Maria Paul used hawala routes and shell companies to launder the proceeds of their scam.

Sukesh Chandrasekhar and his wife were then arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) over an alleged extortion racket being run from jail. Sukesh was allegedly bribing prison authorities to keep his cons running from the prison. Several Bollywood personalities like Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi allegedly kept coming to the prison to meet him during his stay.

Jacqueline Fernandez and Sukesh Chandrasekhar

According to reports, apart from hiring private jets for Jacqueline Fernandez, Sukesh had also booked helicopter rides for the actress from the Kerala airport to hotels. Though ED sources had earlier claimed that Jacqueline visited Chennai to meet Sukesh, the ED probe reveals that Jacqueline also visited Kerala and Karnataka in luxury private jets and choppers arranged by Conman Sukesh.

Conman Sukesh in his statement to the central agency had stated that Jacqueline was his friend and that he had given $180,000 to Jacqueline’s sister Geraldine who lived in the USA. He also claimed that a Maserati and a Porsche were gifted to Jacqueline’s mother in Bahrain. Sukesh also informed ED that he had gifted Jacqueline several expensive gifts, which included Gucci outfits and Gucci shoes, Rolex watch, 15 pairs of earrings, 5 Birkin bags, Hermes bangles, and LV bags.

BHU VC continues to face criticism over Iftar party and anti-Hindu slogans, students sprinkle Gangajal on VC residence to purify it

OpIndia Staff
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BHU VC continues to face criticism over Iftar party and anti-Hindu slogans, students sprinkle Gangajal on VC residence to purify it

The students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) held protests outside the residence of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sudhir Jain who had attended the Iftar Party on the campus of the Women’s College of the University. They demanded an apology from the VC as they held banners and raised slogans against the Islamisation of the Banaras Hindu University.

According to the reports, the students gathered outside the residence of the VC on the evening of April 29 and raised their united voices against the anti-Hindu slogans on the walls of the University. “BHU ka Islamikaran karne walo par karvai kab (When will the case be registered against people responsible for Islamisation of the University)”, the banners in the hands of the protesting students roughly read.

Some of them even tonsured their head in protest and sprinkled holy Gangajal outside the residence of VC to purify his place. This came a couple of days after the students took out a protest rally carrying a symbolic effigy of the Vice-Chancellor and burnt it after reaching his residence. The controversy began on April 26 when an Iftar party was organized on the campus of Women’s College and the VC, Rector Professor VK Shukla, and fasting male and female professors joined the students to open their fast.

Apart from the VC and Rector, Dr. Afzal Hussain, Professor Neelam Atri, Acting Principal Professor Rita Singh, Student Dean Professor KK Singh, Chief Proctor Professor BC Kapri, and Dr. Divya Kushwaha also attended the party. The protesting students had then condemned the incident and said that the VC and the professors were ignoring the interests of the Hindu students and the traditions of the Banaras Hindu University. “Organising such Iftar Party at the campus is condemnable,” the students had said and termed the whole program as an initiative to appease Muslims.

Reportedly, the entire discussion regarding the organization of the party was moderated by Dr. Mohammad Afzal Hussain, one of the professors at BHU. After the Iftar Party, anti-Hindu graffiti was also seen on the walls of the campus at various places. Anti-Hindu slogans like “Kashmir to bas jhanki hai, poora Bharat baaki hai” (Kashmir is only the beginning, whole India is still there) and “Brahman Teri kabr khudegi BHU ki dharti par” (Graves of the Brahmins will be dug at BHU campus) were written on the walls.

The students on April 29 also protested against the anti-Hindu slogans and demanded strict action against those persons who wrote them on the walls of BHU. They further stated that no such Iftar Party had been organized in BHU before and that the Women’s College was deliberately chosen for the party so that the students could not go inside and protest.

As the West lectures and threatens India about Russian fossil fuel imports, data shows EU and USA remain largest buyers: Here is all you need to know

Dibakar Dutta
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As the West lectures and threatens India about Russian fossil fuel imports, data shows EU and USA remain largest buyers: Here is all you need to know

Russia has exported €63 billion worth of fossil fuels since its invasion of Ukraine on February 24 this year. And the major buyer has been the European Union (71%), with imports totalling € 44 billion, reported Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CERA).

“The largest importers in order were Germany (€ 9.1 billion), Italy (€ 6.9 billion), China (€ 6.7 billion), Netherlands (€ 5.6 billion), Turkey (€ 4.1 billion) and France (€ 3.8 billion),” the report added. India fared at the bottom of the list [pdf] while the US remained above Egypt and India in fossil fuel imports from Russia.

The independent research organisation has found that LNG and gas purchases (through pipelines) to the European Union also increased by 20% and 10% respectively. In fact, 1/4th of Russian fossil fuel shipments arrived in European Union ports, namely, Rotterdam and Maasvlakte in the Netherlands, Trieste in Italy, Gdansk in Poland, and Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Russian fossil fuel importers, data via Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

India is being targeted despite EU, USA importing more fossil fuels from Russia

Ever since the US imposed sanctions on Russia, India has been under growing pressure from the West to stop importing crude oil and other fossil fuel supplies from Russia. India has even been accused of weakening calls for sanctions on Russian oil purchases by the European Union.

On March 31, Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics of the Biden administration, Daleep Singh, had threatened India with ‘consequences’ for purchasing oil from Russia and setting up an alternate payment mechanism to circumvent US sanctions.

“I come here in a spirit of friendship to explain the mechanisms of our sanctions, the importance of joining us, to express a shared resolve and to advance shared interests. And yes, there are consequences to countries that actively attempt to circumvent or backfill the sanctions,” he had remarked.

Singh had also warned India to reduce its ‘dependence’ on Russia for its defence and energy requirements. “What we would not like to see is a rapid acceleration of India’s imports from Russia as it relates to energy or any other any other exports that are currently being prohibited by us or by other aspects of the international sanctions regime,” he cautioned.

India’s befitting response to the West

While speaking at the India-Uk Strategic Futures Forum earlier in April, Dr S Jaishankar reiterated that European countries were the biggest importers of Russian gas and oil. While defending the decision to purchase Russian crude oil at discounted prices, the EAM emphasised that it was important for India to obtain good deals on energy supplies, at a time when global markets were volatile.

“It is interesting because we have seen for some time what looks almost like a campaign (against us) on this issue. When the oil prices go up, I think it is natural for the countries to go out into the market and look for what are good deals for their people,” he had remarked.

During a conversation with British Foreign Secretary of State Liz Truss, S Jaishankar emphasised that India purchased its majority of energy supplies from the Middle East. He pointed out that around 8% of the total oil imports were from the United States while less than 1% of crude oil purchases were from Russia.

He had added, “I am pretty sure if we wait two or three months and actually look at who are the big buyers of Russian oil and gas, I suspect the list would not be too different from what it used to be and I suspect we won’t be in the top 10 on that list.”

On April 11, S Jaishankar gave a befitting reply to a reporter, who had tried to raise the issue of Indian oil purchases from Russia during the 4th edition of the India-US 2+2 dialogue.

“I noticed you referred to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe,” he emphasised.

Dr S Jaishankar pointed out, “We do buy some energy, which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect looking at the figures. Our total purchases for the month will be less than what Europe does in an afternoon. So, you might want to think about it.”

Hindu groups call for Patiala bandh after Khalistani supporters attack against Kali Temple: FIR against Khalistanis, and what Hindu leaders told OpIndia

OpIndia Staff
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Hindu groups call for Patiala bandh after Khalistani supporters attack against Kali Temple: FIR against Khalistanis, and what Hindu leaders told OpIndia

Hindu organisations have given the call for a Patiala Bandh and are demanding the arrest of Khalistani supporters who had attacked Kali Mata Temple on Friday. According to reports, the situation is tense in Patiala after an armed Khalistani mob had attacked a Hindu temple and ran amok in the city by brandishing swords. In response to the attacks on the Hindu temple, the Hindu groups have called for a bandh.

In the wake of the bandh, the district officials have imposed an 11-hour curfew, besides snapping mobile internet services in Patiala. According to the government order, all mobile internet and SMS services will remain suspended between 9:30 am and 6:00 pm. The Punjab government has also removed Patiala Inspector General of Police Rakesh Agarwal from his post. The Punjab government also ordered the transfer of Patiala SSP and SP.

Earlier on Friday, Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) leader Harish Singla was arrested by the Punjab Police in connection with this violence. Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) is the Punjab unit of Shiv Sena, a regional party from Maharashtra. Harish Singla, who claims to be the working president of Sena’s Punjab unit, had said the party had launched an anti-Khalistan march that came under attack from pro-Khalistan sympathisers and supporters. Following the attacks, Shiv Sena expelled Harish Singla.

Amidst this, media reports claimed that certain Hindu organisations were angry against Singla, and a bandh had been called against him. However, Hindu organisations have now clarified that they are not against Singla but the Khalistan supporters and stated that the bandh had been called to condemn the acts of Khalistan supporters. 

Speaking to OpIndia, Mahant Ravi Kumar Muni of Patiala’s Kali Mata Mandir said they are not against Singla, adding that the Shiv Sena leader could have carried out the protest against Khalistanis in a different manner. The Mahant said that the Khalistan supporters should not have attacked the Kali Mata temple. 

“This bandh has been called to demand action against the elements who carried out attacks on the Kali temple,” said Mahant Ravi Kumar Muni.

Mahant Ravi Kumar Muni of Patiala’s Kali Mata Mandir said that the media reports suggesting that they are against Singla are not correct. Some people are only angry with Singla as his protest led to an attack on the temple otherwise, they see him as part of the Hindu community, the Mahant clarified.

“Harish Singla is from Patiala, he is one of our own. However, it is dangerous to blame the entire community for the actions of one person. Harish Singla was not right, but those who attacked the temple are also guilty. The temple did not speak about anybody, but why was the temple attacked?” Mahant Ravi expressed his disappointment with the attacks on the temple.

Rajesh Kehar, the President of Hindu Raksha Samiti, told OpIndia, “This bandh is not against Harish Singla, but because of the attack on the temple by Khalistan supporters. All Hindu organisations of Patiala have taken this decision together.” 

Kehar also explained the series of events that resulted in the attacks on the temple. He said the protest march was taken out by Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) from Arya Samaj, however, the attack took place on Kali Mata temple, which is far away from where the anti-Khalistani march took place.

The Hindu leader said that the attacks on the temple were a well-planned conspiracy as all the attackers were called from outside. He added that more than 90 per cent of the attackers were not from Patiala.

Rajesh Kehar has also registered an FIR against the attacks in the Patiala police station. In his complaint, Kehar has said that the pro-Khalistani mob had assembled outside around noon on Friday, and a group of 40-50 attackers started raising slogans of Khalistan Zindabad outside the temple and pelted stones.

“I was in my office; I heard the slogans of Khalistan Zindabad. I ran outside, where I saw some Nihang Sikhs pelting stones and attacking the temple building and the Langar Bhawan. They had sticks and other weapons. They were raising anti-Hindu slogans,” Rajesh Kehar said to OpIndia.

In the complaint lodged, he further said, “I alerted the temple authorities and security and got the gates closed immediately. Within minutes the attackers attacked the temple building, causing some damage. They also attacked the temple shops located outside the temple gate. They damaged shops numbered 9 to 12 and stole about 25-30 thousand rupees from the shops. Police were also present at the spot and trying to stop the attackers.”

A video of the same has also surfaced on social media, which shows that the Khalistani mob had attacked the temple and looted shops as they brandished swords and sticks. The police officers can be seen trying to stop these attackers, however, the Khalistani Sikhs continue to attack the shops around the Kali temple.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has summoned a high-level meeting of officers following the attacks on the Hindu temple.

The FIR has been filed under Sections 153A, 380, 427, 147, 148, 149 of IPC and section 3 Precention of Damage to public property act 1984.

Attack on Hindu temple in Patiala

The violence occurred during Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray’s ‘Khalistan Murdabad‘ march when Khalistan supporters attacked the march with stones and swords. The clashes allegedly erupted as Khalistan supporters chanted shouts supporting Khalistan while hitting participants in the ‘Khalistan Murdabad’ march.

The armed Sikh mob, a part of the pro-Khalistan rally, attacked the Kali Mata Temple after Hindus took shelter inside the temple premises.

Speaking to OpIndia, Harish Sangla, the Punjab working head of Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray, had said that the clashes that erupted between Khalistan supporters and Hindus during a ‘Khalistan Murdabad’ march. The march was organised by his party to protest against a small section of Khalistan supporters harbouring secessionist mentality.

“We had organised a ‘Khalistan Murdabad’ march to mark our protest against a minuscule section of people who are still harbouring secessionist ideology and support the idea of Khalistan. This march was against proponents of Khalistan who have caused serious pain to the people of Punjab, who were victims of Khalistani terrorism and had lost their loved ones to it. Our protest was against Khalistan, and we will never allow Punjab to become Khalistan,” Sangla said.

He further added, “Initially, a handful of pro-Khalistan supporters tried to stop our march, but we drove them. Then, they brought with them a large number of people to attack the Kali Mata Temple”.

A video had also gone viral on social media, wherein the Khalistani supporters were seen performing Bhangra as the Police officers fired in the air to control the crowd. 

Gyanvapi Mosque management committee defies Court, refuses to allow videography inside the mosque as per court directive

OpIndia Staff
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Gyanvapi Mosque management committee defies Court, refuses to allow videography inside the mosque as per court directive

Anjuman Intejamiya Masjid, the management committee of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi has decided to oppose the directive of a local court to carry out videography inside the mosque. The videography is set to be performed on May 6 and 7 under the supervision of the advocate commissioner, as per the court’s directive.

“We will not allow anyone to enter the mosque grounds for videography and survey. Any attempt to access the mosque premises for videography and survey is unethical”, said SM Yasin, the joint secretary of the Anjuman Intejamiya Masjid adding that the management was prepared to face the consequences.

On April 18, the court had appointed Ajay Kumar as the advocate commissioner in the case where Delhi-based Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, and Rekha Pathak had sought permission for daily worship and performing rituals at Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, and Nandi on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. The judge had also asked the advocate commissioner to ensure video footage of his service and, if necessary, to get the police department’s assistance.

Accordingly, both sides were informed by the advocate commissioner that the survey and videography would take place in their presence on May 6 and May 7. The management committee of the Gyanvapi mosque had previously objected to the appointment of a new advocate commissioner and now has opposed him from filming inside the mosque. The advocate commissioner’s notice stated that the work would begin at 3 pm on May 6 and end on May 7 if not completed by May 6.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 10, when the videography is supposed to be submitted to the court.

According to the reports, the image of the goddess Shringar Gauri is located within the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. Following the demolition of the Babri mosque during the Ram Janambhoomi movement, regular entry of devotees was forbidden, and worshiping this deity was only permitted on the fourth day of Chaitra Navratri.

Jitendra Kanti Guha, a minority leader in Bangladesh, tied to a tree and beaten up: Here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Jitendra Kanti Guha, a minority leader in Bangladesh, tied to a tree and beaten up: Here is what happened

Jitendra Kanti Guha, Vice-President of Bangladesh’s Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad in Chittagong South, was beaten and tied to a tree by supporters of a local Union Parishad chairman over an invitation to an Iftar celebration at Haidgaon Union in Chattogram’s Patia Upazila. 

The former head of the Awami League in the area was taken to Patia Health Complex before being transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. The incident occurred this afternoon in front of the Gauchia Community Centre in Brahmanghata, Haidgaon. 

The Haidgaon Union Awami League hosted an Iftar mahfil and discussion meeting at Gauchia Community Centre, but Union Parishad (UP) chairman BM Jasim was not invited. According to reports, this was the reason behind the incident.

The Haidgaon Union Awami League’s joint convener, Shahidul Islam Zulu, alleged that the union Awami League did not invite BM Jasim to the Iftar celebration since the current chairman was picked as the ruling Awami League’s dissident candidate.

As a result, Jasim became enraged and arrived at the location with a group of 30-40 individuals and began insulting several persons, including Union Awami League convener Mahmudul Haque Hafez. Former member Indeijit Leo punched Jitendra Guha at one time. Jitendra Guha was hauled out, chained to a tree, and savagely beaten by the rest of the individuals who were with him at the time.

When asked to comment on the matter, BM Jasim stated Guha had cheated people out of money by offering government residences, tube wells, and employment under his presidency. The men thrashed him and wanted the money back.

Matrubhumi journalist tries to discredit ‘The Kashmir Files’ without watching the movie, channel deletes video where Vivek Agnihotri called her out: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Matrubhumi journalist tries to discredit ‘The Kashmir Files’ without watching the movie, channel deletes video where Vivek Agnihotri called her out: Details

While the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ is hailed all over the world for being the blockbuster of the decade, it has got some standard responses from the leftist ecosystem, denying the fact that thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were killed and lakhs were forced to leave the valley during the year 1990 by Islamists. One such attempt was made by journalist ‘Madhu’ of Matrubhumi news who interviewed Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri on Friday without watching the film, knowing the history and claimed that the genocide happened under the rule of Governor Jagmohan.

Madhu while interviewing Agnihotri stayed adamant that the then CM of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah resigned on January 17, 1990, and Governor Jagmogan had taken charge of the state on January 19, which was the black day for the Kashmiri Pandits. She blatantly tried to shield the Islamic terrorists and the then government who was actually responsible for the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus. She also denied agreeing to the fact that Governor Jagmohan had reached the state on January 21 and that there was no government on January 19 and 20 in the state.

When asked if she had watched the movie before making judgement and has read up on the real history of Kashmir, the journalist turned red-faced and said that she had not watched the film but she knew that CM Abdullah had resigned before the killings happened and that Governor Jagmogan had taken the charge of the state.

“The film Kashmir Files narrates propaganda. It was seen by only 3 crore people and some of them even raised slogans against the ‘minority communities’. Why spread hatred via an art form and dig graves from the past”, she asked the Director on April 29.

Slamming the journalist for shielding the terrorists and peddling false information, Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri stated that all the films on Kashmir that have been made to date justify the acts of terrorists. “Kashmir Files is the only film that shows the real pain of Kashmiri Pandits and the victims”, he said. “My purpose behind making the film was to heal the wounds of the Kashmiri Pandits and show the world what they had to go through. You know nothing about the film and Kashmir’s history”, he said to the journalist.

The argument in the 10 minutes long interview continued between the duo as the journalist of Matrubhumi news kept professing that though the film was a big hit (and she had not watched it), it had failed to show the truth and that it was not supported by a section of society. She blatantly covered up for the leftist cabal who criticized the film for no legitimate reason. To this Agnihotri said, “The leftist people have been terror sympathizers. They have been extending ideological shields and support to terrorism and violence. They support those who carry guns and threaten citizens in a democratic, free country”.

He also stated that Arundhati Roy who has been the spokesperson of the leftist community was a close friend of Yasin Malik who killed four Indian Air Force officers in the Kashmir valley. “You know nothing and how come you are interviewing me on Kashmir Files! I have done massive research before making the film and there’s no reason I should believe that justifying terrorism is an intellectual act”, he said verbally hitting the journalist of the Kerala-based news channel.

The channel on April 29 smartly deleted the part where Agnihotri criticized the journalist for her wrong facts. However, the deleted part went viral on social media as it was shared by the Director on Twitter. “The part that was edited out by the brilliant journalist of Matrubhumi”, he tweeted.

The film ‘The Kashmir Files’ takes the viewers back to 1989, when due to rising Islamic Jihad, a huge conflict erupted in Kashmir, forcing the great majority of Hindus to flee the valley. According to estimates, roughly 100,000 of the valley’s total 140,000 Kashmiri Pandit inhabitants migrated between February and March 1990. More of them fled in the years that followed until just about 3,000 families remained in the valley by 2011.

The movie which is based on video interviews with first-generation Kashmiri Pandit victims of the Kashmir Genocide begins with the episode of the year 1990 when the then CM of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah had tendered his resignation. Abdullah had lost control back in 1984, probably after he had visited a conference in Kashmir and shared the platform with the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front’s (JKLF) leader Yasin Malik. Later Ghulam Mohammad Shah, who was supported by the Congress party replaced his brother-in-law Farooq Abdullah and assumed the role of the state Chief Minister.

Shah’s govt which was supported by the Congress party had furthered the Islamist agenda in the Valley. The Islamists were given political space under Shah’s rule- Hindu temples were flamed, mosques were built instead and slogans like ‘Islam Khatre me hai’ (Islam is in danger) were raised. In 1986, the state was placed under President’s rule as Congress withdrew its support from the Shah-led government. Further, in November, the President’s rule was revoked after the infamous Rajiv-Farooq accord paved way for the NC-Congress alliance to take over the reins of the administration. The coalition ministry headed by Farooq Abdullah was again sworn-in, pushing the state into the quagmire of uncertainty.

The Islamisation of Jammu and Kashmir had already begun in the 1980s when the government led by Sheikh Abdullah had changed the names of around 300 areas in Kashmir to Islamic names. It is since then that the Kashmiri Hindus were deliberately targeted and referred to as ‘Mukhbirs’, or informants of the Indian military. They were named on the hit list of the Islamist terrorist organizations and were later brutally killed.

Manish Sisodia’s aide convicted in 2015 case, gets seven-year jail term for inciting violence where mob had hurled petrol bombs in Gurgaon

OpIndia Staff
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Manish Sisodia’s aide convicted in 2015 case, gets seven-year jail term for inciting violence where mob had hurled petrol bombs in Gurgaon

Nisha Singh, an advisor to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and a former municipal councillor, has been convicted for instigating a mob against Haryana Urban Development Authority anti-encroachment team in 2015.

According to the reports, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Mona Singh on Thursday convicted 17 persons, including ten women, for instigating a violent mob and attacking HUDA anti-encroachment team. The court sentenced ten accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine, the remaining seven were given ten years.

“There is no doubt that this is a serious lapse on the part of the accused to injure public officers, but there is no reason to believe that they cannot be reformed or rehabilitated and that they are likely to continue the criminal acts of violence as would constitute a continuing threat to society,” the court said.

The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on all ten women, while the other seven convicts have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000. In case of default, imprisonment will be increased by two to three years. The 17 accused were convicted under Sections IPC sections – 148, 149, 186, 325, 332, 333, 353, 436, 427 and 435.

It is pertinent to note that Nisha Singh is a close aide of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. She had served as an advisor to him in the past.

Post by Aam Aadmi Party

AAP leader had attacked officers, threw stones and petrol bombs

On May 15, 2015, an anti-encroachment team of the Haryana Urban Development Authority was removing debris after a demolition drive at Jhimar Basti, Sector 47 in Gurgaon.

The former AAP councillor Nisha Singh, advocate Khajan Singh and Pradeep Zaildar had instigated the crowd to attack the officers. The mob also allegedly threw petrol bombs and LPG cylinders at the police teams. A duty magistrate and 15 other policemen were injured in this incident.

The Haryana police have charged 19 accused in the case. Two accused, Ramesh and Ratanlal, died during the trial.

She had contested the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram as an independent candidate but late joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Singh served as a councillor till 2016.

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