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Bangladesh: Policeman Nazmul Tareque hurls abuses, tries to run bike over college teacher for wearing a ‘bindi’

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Policeman Nazmul Tareque hurls abuses, tries to run bike over college teacher for wearing a ‘bindi’

In an incident of hate crime in Bangladesh, Lata Samaddar, a female teacher of Tejgaon College in Dhaka was reportedly harassed in broad daylight by a policeman in the capital’s Farmgate area simply for wearing a traditional bindi on her forehead. According to reports, the policeman hurled abuses at her after seeing a bindi on her forehead.

When the teacher protested, the policeman tried to run her over with his motorbike, causing her to fall and sustain serious injuries.

The incident reportedly happened on Saturday (April 2) morning. Biplob Kumar Sarkar, the deputy commissioner of the Tejgaon Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police informed on Monday, April 4 that the constable identified as Nazmul Tareque has been taken into custody. The accused policeman was reportedly identified based on the registration number of his motorcycle provided to the police by the victim.

Bangladeshi author Tasleema Nasreen took to Twitter today to condemn the incident. The author shared pictures of how many “freethinking men and women from all communities have been wearing bindis & protesting against the harassment.”

News of the incident spread quickly on social media, drawing a severe backlash. Members of various women’s rights organisations took to the streets to protest against the despicable act. Extending their solidarity with Lata Samaddar, members of these outfits asked the authorities to identify the policeman and bring him to book.

Suborna Mustafa, a parliamentarian from the ruling Awami League (AL), also expressed her outrage in the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) on Sunday. She demanded strict and prompt action against the harasser.

“Is there any clause in the constitution and the law that says a woman cannot wear bindi on her forehead?” the parliamentarian and famous actress blasted.

Speaking to Prasar Bharti Special Correspondent in Dhaka, parliamentarian and social activist Aroma Dutta termed the unfortunate incident as more than harassment. “It is preventing people from practising their own culture as women have worn Bindi and jewellery for thousands of years in this country. Such incidents are not expected in a secular state like Bangladesh,” said Aroma Dutta. She, however, added that the incident reflected an individual’s mindset rather than the mindset of Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies in general.

I am a Hindu and it is normal to wear a bindi: Bangladesh Teacher harassed by a policeman for wearing bindi narrates her ordeal

The incident took place on Saturday morning at around 8.30 am when Lata Samaddar, a lecturer in Theatre and Media Studies Department at Tejgaon College, was passing by the policeman at Shezan Point in the area.

Lata Samaddar filed a complaint about the incident at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. In the complaint, Lata Samaddar wrote, “When I was walking towards the college, a middle-aged bearded man hurled abuse at me saying ‘Why are you wearing a ‘teep’ (bindi)?’ I turned around and found the man sitting on a motorcycle in a police uniform.”

“As I protested, he started the bike and tried to run me over. I tried to move away but got injured severely by falling down,” she added in the complaint.

According to the Daily Star, she went to three on-duty traffic cops after the incident, who advised r to file a complaint against the accused.

According to the teacher, a number of people were watching the incident but chose not to intervene. Because the man was wearing a police uniform, they may have kept a safe distance from any unwanted attention, stated Lata.

“I want exemplary punishment for the man. Who is he to decide whether I should wear a bindi or not. Such an incident needed to be protested. Let women be safe from such communal and fundamentalist people,” Lata added. She broke down in tears after reaching her college.

“I wonder where we are. I am a Hindu and it is normal to wear a bindi. Not only me, anyone can wear bindi. Several people earlier made bad comments for wearing ‘shankha’ (conch shell bangles), but I paid no heed. Their comments and those uttered by the uniformed person today are quite similar,” she said.

Targeted attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have become quite common in recent years. In a Muslim-majority nation where they constitute less than 10% of the total population, Hindus remain vulnerable to attacks by radical Islamic terrorists. OpIndia has documented several such cases of persecution and ill-treatment meted out to the minority community.

New book sheds light on Smriti Irani’s indomitable courage: An incident from December 2020 that stands testament to why she won Amethi

OpIndia Staff
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New book sheds light on Smriti Irani’s indomitable courage: An incident from December 2020 that stands testament to why she won Amethi

Smriti Irani’s victory in Amethi in 2019 was an epoch-making event in the history of Indian politics. She managed to do what many stalwarts of Indian public life (such as Kanshi Ram, Rajmohan Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi and Sharad Yadav) could not. 

Indeed, due to the BJP’s emphatic win both in 2014 and 2019, spearheaded by PM Narendra Modi, the Congress’ popularity had dwindled. However, the 2019 election in Amethi was still an uphill task for a BJP candidate. Both Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party did not put up a candidate in the 2019 election.

One of the principal reasons why Smriti Irani won Amethi was her indomitable courage. From day one, she marched on the streets of Amethi, questioning the claims of her opponent Rahul Gandhi about Amethi’s development. Another incident from December 2020 illustrates her gutsy avatar. Here is an extract from the book: The Smriti Irani Story – Why She Won Amethi.

Speaking at a function organized to dedicate projects to the people of Amethi, Irani gave a warning to the Indian National Congress that, if they continued to abuse or insult BJP workers, then, come 2024 (the year when the next Lok Sabha elections shall be held), Rae Bareli too shall be gone. The Member of Parliament in the other family pocketborough Rae Bareli, as we shall recollect, is Rahul Gandhi’s mother Sonia Gandhi. 

The audience responded vociferously to this challenge. What preceded it? 

The story goes back to around ten o’clock in the morning outside her apartment in Gauriganj. Among the people who had gathered to meet her, most of whom wanted her intervention or attention for some issue they were facing, one individual started slamming allegations at her of indulging in corruption. There were also some journalists in the crowd. 

Vartika Singh, a shooter who competed in international competitions, had previously alleged that Irani and her two aides demanded a bribe of Rs. twenty-five lakh from her for an appointment as a member in the National Commission for Women. Irani, in addition to being Union Minister of Textiles back in 2020, was also the Minister of Women and Child Development.

Irani’s aide had already filed a complaint in a local police station in Amethi for what he considered a frivolous, unfounded complaint. Singh, on the other hand, approached the courts with a claim right before Irani was visiting Amethi. She also produced a letter, alleging that people close to Irani had given her a letter confirming her appointment to the National Commission for Women – a letter, she asserted, was fake.

These allegations by Singh were all over the news, threatening to shadow Irani’s December 2020 visit to Amethi. There were also reports of obstacles put in place by some political rivals in the way of the BJP team in Amethi. 

Soon after that discussion with the accuser, Irani sat in her car and was on her way to attend the public programme. A few minutes later, I started asking her questions on my list, including what just transpired.

Irani indicated, among other things, her intention to proclaim that the Indian National Congress will lose Rae Bareli too if it keeps creating obstacles in the BJP’s mission to serve the people of Amethi, a responsibility Amethi had given it in 2019. 

Was this out of anger? Sure, she had won Amethi in 2019, but Rae Bareli is Sonia Gandhi’s seat.

Indira Gandhi represented it at one point, as we shall recollect. After her death, two of her relatives – Arun Kumar Nehru and Sheila Kaul – represented it. BJP did win it twice – in 1996 and 1998, the two Vajpayee era elections – before losing it to the Indian National Congress in 1999 (when Rajiv Gandhi’s friend Satish Sharma contested). Since 2004, Sonia Gandhi is its undefeated Member of Parliament.

May be, Irani was upset, understandably so. Why, it begged a question, would she throw that challenge to the Indian National Congress almost three and a half years prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? By challenging the party in the Rae Bareli seat, she was effectively challenging Sonia Gandhi’s likely candidacy. That, in the Indian political parlance, is challenging the unchallengeable. 

Arriving at the venue, she started speaking about governmental programmes for Amethi. Within a few minutes, her tone suddenly changed to a slightly more aggressive one. Was that the moment? Was that the build-up to what she indicated she would announce? 

It, indeed, was. 

In a couple of minutes, that moment came. 

Did she run this by someone else within the BJP prior to that day? The answer was in the negative. This, one realizes yet again, is a BJP which has no fear of taking the competition against its rivals in their bastions. Not only is this an example of the level of trust Irani enjoys, this also signifies how leaders like Irani are empowered. Anything that seeks to increase BJP’s presence in areas hitherto dominated by its rivals does not need approval from some ‘high command’. 

Was this, then, political bravado? Quite likely not. There seems to be a method behind it. 

What is that method? The book explains it. 

Kartikeya Tanna’s book, ‘The Smriti Irani Story: Why She Won Amethi’, is available on Amazon. Click here to buy the book.

Watch: Ex-TMC student leader heckles and harasses Vice-Chancellor of Aliah University, arrested after video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Ex-TMC student leader heckles and harasses Vice-Chancellor of Aliah University, arrested after video goes viral

On social media, a video of a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) student leader heckling and verbally insulting the vice-chancellor of Aliah University in West Bengal has gone viral. His name is Giyasuddin Mondal, and he is a former student of the same university.

According to police, Ghiasuddin Mondal and a group of 20 supporters stormed into the vice-chancellor’s office on Friday and harassed him. Despite the fact that the event occurred on Friday, the accused, Giyasuddin Mondal, was detained on Sunday afternoon following widespread demonstrations on the streets and on social media.

The police confirmed the authenticity of the viral video, which showed the VC, Prof. Mahammad Ali, sitting silently in his office with Mondal and his accomplices taunting him in filthy language and threatening to murder him. Mondal was recorded indicating that he was not frightened of the police since he had previously been arrested under non-bailable provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The former TMC student leader, who was formerly the president of the TMC-controlled students’ union, was expelled by the university’s former VC. Three years ago, he spent ten days in judicial detention as a result of police complaints.

According to a university official, the incident occurred when Mondal and a few others went to the V-office C’s and threatened him with serious consequences if the PhD list was not quickly amended to include individuals proposed by him.

“Mondal and a handful of youths are known troublemakers. He was expelled by my predecessor and arrested on criminal charges. I fell sick when they were abusing me,” the VC told the media. “I had called up the police seeking their help, but they did not come,” he further added.

Governor seeks detailed report

Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar has requested a detailed report from the Chief Secretary and stated that such “Shameful incidents call for exemplary consequences.” Hw shared the video on Twitter and wrote, “Chief Secretary has been called upon to send a full update by 1 PM tomorrow on worrisome scenario reflected in a video in viral circulation. Such state of affairs where law violator rogue elements have their way with no fear of law is the certainly fearful scenario for law abiders.”

“Social Media input @WBPolice reveals Giasuddin Mondal arrest. There will be a focus on the situation once there is an update from Chief Secretary as such shameful incidents call for exemplary consequences and no cover-up,” he further added.

The TMC sought to distance itself from Mondal as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised a protest in several areas and governor Jagdeep Dhankhar criticised the episode, saying it was the result of the “politicisation of the education system.”

TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “Mondal was expelled from the TMC students’ union three years ago following specific complaints. He had no business on campus. The fact that the episode was recorded and circulated on social media proves that this was a conspiracy to malign the TMC. Our party does not support hooliganism on campus. Police will take action.”

Karnataka: Bajrang dal activist Harsha’s murder was planned with intention of sparking communal violence over hijab issue, NIA finds

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Bajrang dal activist Harsha’s murder was planned with intention of sparking communal violence over hijab issue, NIA finds

According to reports, early investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have revealed that the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Karnataka was perpetrated to orchestrate communal unrest against the backdrop of the hijab issue.

According to reports, the murder was also carried out in order to instil terror and disturb society’s peace and tranquilly. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra further indicated that the local police investigation revealed a communal motive for the crime.

On Saturday, NIA officers visited Shivamogga and seized all papers and materials related to the Harsha murder case from the local police. The Karnataka government recently handed over the inquiry into the death of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha to the NIA.

On March 2, Karnataka police charged ten persons apprehended in connection with the murder under the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Mahammad Qasif (Kasif), Syed Nadeem, Rihan Sharief, Asif Ullah Khan, Abdul Afnan, Nihan, Faraz Pasha, Abdul Khadar Jilan, Abdul Roshan, and Jafar Sadiq are the ten accused in the murder case.

Harsha murder case

Harsha was stabbed to death by a group of Muslim youths on the night of February 20 at Kamat petrol bunk in Karnataka’s Shivamogaa district. He was from Seegehatti and worked as a tailor. Harsha was associated with the Hindu organisation Bajrang Dal, and he was spotted wearing saffron shawls to protest in support of the school and college dress regulations.

According to a friend of the Bajrang Dal activist, Harsha had been under observation for some weeks and the murder was a “well-planned plot.” Islamists reportedly threatened him in 2015 for allegedly ‘blasphemous’ social media posts.

The cold-blooded murder of the Bajrang Dal activist sparked widespread demonstrations, compelling the district government to enforce a curfew and close educational institutions.

People on social media were also outraged by the gruesome death of the Bajrang Dal activist. As sympathy for the slain Harsha came in, the hashtag #JusticeForHarsha trended on social media platforms. From Kangana Ranaut and Raveena Tondon to BJP officials and prominent people of society, everyone was outraged by the murder.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot asks PM Modi to condemn ‘rising intolerance’ in the country after the attack on Hindu New Year’s celebrations in Karauli

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot asks PM Modi to condemn ‘rising intolerance’ in the country after the attack on Hindu New Year’s celebrations in Karauli

Two days after communal violence broke out in Karauli in Rajasthan, state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn the incidents of communal violence and rising intolerance in the country. The violence that broke out in Hatwara Bazar area of the city during Hindu New Year celebrations, resulted in injuries to over 40 people, including policemen.

Talking to the media outside the state Secretariat, Gehlot said, “The Prime Minister should come forward to address the nation and condemn these incidents of communal violence. Irrespective of the religion of the perpetrators, these ‘anti-social’ elements must be condemned to maintain rule of law.”

Blaming the BJP for communal violence, CM Gehlot said, “They ignite this communal fire wherever they go in the country and have created this Hindu-Muslim division in the country.” He also accused BJP of disrespecting the constitution, and hailed Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi during his media interaction.

The violence broke out when a bike rally to celebrate the Hindu New Year was passing through a Muslim-dominated locality, as per the Police. The violence left dozens of people injured and led to the imposition of a curfew in the city. A total of 46 people have been arrested after the violence, 33 of them for violating Curfew norms.

Gehlot also said that the responsibility to maintain peace in the country lies with PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He asked them to take a pledge that they won’t tolerate such incidents of violence in the country.

It should be noted that law & order is a state subject as per the Indian constitution.

Elon Musk takes a 9.2 per cent passive stake in Twitter days after questioning its commitment to free speech

OpIndia Staff
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Elon Musk takes a 9.2 per cent passive stake in Twitter days after questioning its commitment to free speech

American billionaire Elon Musk has bought a 9.2% stake in Twitter Inc., a week after he ran a Twitter poll questioning if the social media behemoth was rigorously adhering to the principles of free speech. After a majority of respondents said the company had failed in upholding the ideals of free speech, Musk had responded to one of the Twitter users saying he is giving “serious thought” to building a new social media platform.

The share price of the Twitter stock rose about 28% in pre-market trading after a 13G filing revealed Elon Musk has taken a 9.2% passive stake in the social media company.

Musk bought nearly 73.5 million shares, a document filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed.

Musk, who is known for not shying away from expressing his maverick views on social media, had last week polled his more than 80 million followers on Twitter, asking them whether the social media organisation complies with the principles of free speech.

After more than 70 per cent of over 2 million respondents said no, he wondered what should be done given that Twitter had failed to adhere to free speech principles and fundamentally undermined democracy.

In a subsequent tweet, he questioned if a new platform is needed.

When a Twitter user asked Musk if he would consider “building a new social media platform” that would consist of “an open-source algorithm”, the billionaire responded by saying “Am giving serious thought to this.”

It is worth noting that Musk has often been critical of Twitter and had made no bones about it through his tweets. In December last year, when Twitter announced that Parag Agrawal would be taking over from Jack Dorsey as the company’s CEO, Musk had posted a cryptic meme that depicted Agrawal as Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and Dorsey as Soviet secret police head Nikolai Yezhov being shoved into the water.

Musk, who is the richest man in the world, had also had run-ins with the Securities and Exchange Commission over his tweets about his company, Tesla. Last month, the SEC said it would not let Musk out of a 2018 agreement that requires his use of Twitter to be overseen by Tesla lawyers. Musk had objected to the subpoena, claiming that it inhibits his freedom of speech.

‘She has old parents here, fraud amount not very big, just 10-12 crores’: Delhi HC allows donation fraud accused Rana Ayyub to travel abroad

OpIndia Staff
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‘She has old parents here, fraud amount not very big, just 10-12 crores’: Delhi HC allows donation fraud accused Rana Ayyub to travel abroad

The Delhi High Court, Saturday (April 4, 2022) granted permission to the donation fraud accused journalist Rana Ayyub to travel abroad. The permission, however, came with a few pre-requisite conditions. As per the court order, Rana must disclose the details of travel, her contact and her place of stay.

The Delhi High Court was hearing Rana Ayyub’s plea seeking interim relief from the Enforcement Directorate’s action against her, stopping her from travelling abroad.

According to reports, the Delhi HC specified that Rana Ayyub could travel to Italy provided she submitted an undertaking to return and deposit some money to show her bonafide. Rana’s counsel submitted that the journalist would return to India on April 11.

As per reports, the court stated that Ayyub has her old parents here in India and noted that the amount of alleged misappropriation is not ‘that big’, and is around just “10-12 crores”.

Detailed order with conditions will soon follow.

On Friday, the Delhi High Court had asked the Enforcement Directorate, on whose orders Ayyub was barred from leaving the country, to file a status report on its case against her by 2:30 pm on Monday.

Controversial ‘journalist’ Rana Ayyub had filed a petition requesting the Delhi High Court to allow her to travel outside India to attend an event. On March 29, she was stopped by Indian Immigration officials from boarding a flight to London concerning the money laundering case against her. She has been accused of financial fraud over allegations of violation of provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

During the hearing today, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG), representing the Enforcement Directorate, had opposed the lifting of travel restrictions on Ayyub, saying that the apprehension was that if she leaves, she may not head back.

ASG had argued that some conditions must be imposed on Rana Ayyub to make sure she returns.

Court had then asked how much money should she be required to submit? ASG Raju opined that Ayyub should head back to Bombay and that all her details about her foreign trip should lie with the Authorities.

Notably, on Friday, ASG SV Raju had told the court, “This case is not as simple as what is being portrayed. Rana Ayyub raised funds under the garb of covid relief and money running into up to 2 crores. They have been siphoned off. These were received in INR, Dollars. Fake bills were submitted by her in the name of relief work. A deposit of 50 lakh was created for herself by Rana Ayyub, and 50 lakhs were transferred for personal consumption. A lookout notice was issued much earlier.”

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating Ayyub for donations she raised through an online crowdfunding platform, “Ketto”, citing coronavirus pandemic relief work and then keeping the money in her personal accounts. The Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth Rs 1.77 crore of Rana Ayyub over allegations of violation of provisions of the Money Laundering Act. 

Israeli PM fears more terror attacks during Ramadan after 3 suspected terrorists were eliminated during a West Bank operation

OpIndia Staff
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Israeli PM fears more terror attacks during Ramadan after 3 suspected terrorists were eliminated during a West Bank operation

Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett has asked the national security forces to remain on high alert at least until the end of Ramadan against possible terrorist attacks. This decision came after the shootout near the city of Jenin on the West Bank, resulting in the death of 3 suspected terrorists.

On the night of April 3, The Israeli Defence forces killed three suspected terrorists near Jenin, a West Bank city. According to The Times of Israel, the Palestinian terror group was planning attacks in Israel in the near future. As per Israel’s internal security service Shin Bet, the terror group had already carried out a shooting attack near the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Furthermore, the Jewish state witnessed a rise in armed attacks and gunfire incidents in the cities along the West Bank and the Green Line (a demarcated border shared by Israel with its neighbours Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria).

Taking cognizance of the spike in attacks, Israeli PM Bennett said, “We are in the midst of a joint effort, by all security forces, to stop the string of recent terrorist attacks and to bring back security to the citizens of Israel.” The PM last week met Shin Bet’s head Ron Bar to discuss the deteriorating security situation on the brink of Ramadan. “During Shabbat, the Shin Bet, the police, the IDF and anti-terror units stopped an imminent attack, but we can assume that there will be many more attempts, and we are working to prevent them as well,” Bennett added.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz too proactively addressed security concerns in a statement to Palestinians residing in the West Bank. Gantz said, “We are in a difficult period of terror attacks against Israeli citizens, a situation that we cannot accept. We are considering the measures we can take in honour of Ramadan in order to allow you to celebrate the holiday in the best way possible, while we at the same time maintain security.”

Meanwhile, the threat of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians remains dire. According to many reports, Shin Bet is said to have received warnings from Islamic state affiliates and intelligence information on probable terror attacks in the coming month. While the agency has filed many attack attempts so far, it is working to identify Arab Israelis who may have connections with the Islamic state. Apart from the Palestinian threat, Arab Israelis were also found involved in two recent attacks – a stabbing and car-ramming incident in Be’er Sheva city in which four people were killed. Another incident involved a shooting attack in Hadera in which two police officers were killed.  

Congress’ Matloob Ahmed incited mob to pelt-stones at bike rally celebrating Hindu New Year in Karauli, PFI had ‘warned’ state govt: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Congress’ Matloob Ahmed incited mob to pelt-stones at bike rally celebrating Hindu New Year in Karauli, PFI had ‘warned’ state govt: Read details

Two days after communal violence flared up in the Hatwara Bazaar area of Karauli, Congress Councillor Matloob Ahmed has been identified as the main conspirator in the stone-pelting incident, as per reports. Matloob Ahmed has been charged with stone-pelting, inciting violence, and organising a mob to attack the bike rally celebrating Hindu New Year in the city on April 2, 2022. The development came after the BJP accused the state Congress government of ‘saving its people’.

Notably, after the communal clashes took place in Karauli Rajasthan, leaving at least 42 people, including policemen injured in the mob attack, the BJP had alleged Congress local leaders’ involvement in the incident. It also alleged that the radical Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) had a role in the communal clashes that broke out in Rajasthan’s Karauli on Saturday. Calling the incident a “pre-planned conspiracy”, the BJP accused the Congress-led government in Rajasthan of shielding its people.

“Congress government is saving its people. Local leaders of Congress have carried out this incident with full planning. Karauli Dholpur MP Manoj Rajoria says that the government and police administration are taking selective action. If they do not arrest, then BJP will soon go for bigger agitation,” a BJP MP from Karauli was quoted as saying by Republic TV.

PFI had warned the Rajasthan Congress govt beforehand about the Karauli incident

Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala alleged that PFI had written a letter to the Rajasthan government beforehand, warning of such violence occurring in the district during the Hindu new year rally, but the Ashok Gehlot government turned a deaf ear.

“PFI wrote a letter in advance to Gehlot govt about violence in Karauli! How did they know that there would be violence targeting the Hindu New Year Shobha Yatra? Was it Sanyog or Prayog? If PFI knew how did the Rajasthan administration not know? Or did look the other way?” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said in a series of tweets. 

According to reports, the PFI had written a letter to the Congress government in Rajasthan 2 days before the Karauli incident took place. In the letter details obtained by Times Now, the PFI stated in the letter that tensions could rise during the rally. The PFI had alerted the local administration and the police about the sensitivity of taking out a Hindu new year procession through the Muslim-dominated locality in a letter written to the Gehlot government two days before the procession.

Despite this, the Congress government in the state did little to prevent the violence.

Curfew imposed, Internet services shut down in Karauli after a bike rally celebrating Hindu New Year was attacked

Meanwhile, a curfew has been imposed in the city until the night of April 4, Monday. Internet services would also remain shut in the city to control the menace of polarization and fake news through social media. Those who were injured were discharged from a local hospital after receiving first aid. One person whose condition remains serious is being treated at the SMS hospital in Jaipur.

To avoid further clashing, 600 policemen including 50 deputy superintendents of police have been deployed in the city. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has failed to condemn the violence equivocally. Taking a calculated stand, he told PTI, “Some miscreants happen to be there…they can be of any religion and anywhere and they should be avoided because they are not harmed, the common man is harmed. They are not hurt, common man is hurt.”

On April 2, communal violence broke down in the Hatwara Bazaar area of Karauli when stones were pelted by miscreants at a Hindu bike rally while more than a dozen shops and three bikes were set on fire. Reportedly, 42 people, including policemen, have been injured in the mob attack while the rally celebrating ‘Nav Samvatsar’ passed through a Muslim-dominated area. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Hawa Singh Ghumariya informed that over 30 people were detained by the police so far.

As petrol prices soar, some BJP-ruled states selling them at least Rs 10 cheaper than neighbouring non-BJP ruled states

OpIndia Staff
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As petrol prices soar, some BJP-ruled states selling them at least Rs 10 cheaper than neighbouring non-BJP ruled states

As the crude oil price is on the rise in the international market, the domestic fuel price is soaring across the country. On April 4, another 40 paisa hike in the petrol and diesel price was announced. Notably, the fuel price difference between BJP-ruled states and non-BJP ruled states, especially Rajasthan and Maharashtra, stand at least Rs 10.

Rajasthan fuel price

In Rajasthan, the petrol price since April 1 has been increased by Rs 2.59 overall. The state saw a Rs 2.27 increase in the price of petrol on April 3. The price was reduced by Rs 0.55 on April 4. At present, it stands at Rs 116.27 per litre in Jaipur.

Petrol price in Jaipur, Rajasthan

In the case of diesel, the price has been increased by Rs 2.41 since April 1. There was an increase of Rs 2.07 on April 3 in diesel price, and on April 4, it was dropped by Rs 0.48. The current price stands at Rs 99.29 per litre.

Diesel price in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Maharashtra fuel price

In the case of Maharashtra, the petrol price went up by Rs 2.07 since April 1. While the price did not fluctuate on the first day of the month, the following days saw a rise of Rs 0.85 on April 2, Rs 0.84 on April 3 and Rs 0.42 on April 4. The current price in Mumbai stands at Rs 118.83 per litre.

Petrol price in Mumbai, Maharashtra

In the case of diesel, the price was increased by Rs 0.85 on April 2 and April 3, followed by Rs 0.42 on April 4. The current price stands at Rs 103.07 per litre.

Diesel price in Mumbai, Maharashtra

West Bengal fuel price

In West Bengal, the petrol price hike is similar to that of Maharashtra. On April 1, there was no change in the price, but on the following days, the price was increased by Rs 0.84 on April 2 and April 3, followed by Rs 0.42 on April 4. The current price in Kolkata is Rs 113.45 per litre.

Petrol price in Kolkata, West Bengal

In the case of diesel, there has been a consistent hike in the price. On April 2 and April 3, the price was increased by Rs 0.80, followed by Rs 0.42 on April 4. The current price stands at Rs 98.22 per litre.

Diesel price in Kolkata, West Bengal

Kerala fuel price

In the case of Kerala, the petrol price saw an increase on all days of this month. On April 1, there was a hike of Rs 0.31, followed by Rs 1.03 on April 2 and Re 1 on April 3. On April 4, it was increased by Rs 0.04. The current price in Thiruvananthapuram is Rs 115.34 per litre.

Petrol price in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

In the case of diesel as well, the price has been increased consistently. On April 1, it was increased by Rs 0.29, followed by Rs 0.99 on April 2, Rs 0.96 on April 3 and Rs 0.05 on April 4. The current price stands at Rs 102.16 per litre.

Diesel price in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Gujarat fuel price

In Gujarat, the petrol price was reduced by Rs 0.09 on April 1, followed by an increase of Rs 0.80 on April 2, Rs 1.15 increase on April 3 and Rs 0.04 on April 4. The current price of petrol in Ahmedabad is Rs 103.44 per litre, which is at least Rs 10 less than in the above-mentioned states.

Petrol price in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

In the case of diesel, the price saw a fall on April 1 to Rs 0.08, but it was increased later on. April 2 saw a rise of Rs 0.82, followed by Rs 1.18 on April 3 and Rs 0.06 on April 4. The current price is Rs 97.78 per litre, which is at least Re one less than the majority of non-BJP states.

Diesel price in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Haryana fuel price

In Haryana, the petrol price has seen an increase consistently since April 1. On the first day of the month, the price was increased by Rs 0.05, followed by Rs 0.54 on April 2, Rs 1.14 on April 3 and Rs 0.20 on April 4. The current price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 104.06 per litre.

Petrol price in Gurugram, Haryana

In the case of diesel, the price was increased by Rs 0.06 on April 1, followed by Rs 0.55 on April 2, Rs 1.13 on April 3 and Rs 0.20 on April 4. The current price stands at Rs 95.30 per litre.

Diesel price in Gurugram, Haryana

Non-BJP ruled states have a higher price for both petrol and diesel.

State-wise comparison of fuel price.

While Gujarat and Haryana have consistently kept petrol under Rs 105, the non-BJP states are selling petrol at over Rs 110.

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