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Ukraine holding Indian students hostage in Kharkiv to use them as human shield, Russian President Putin informs PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Ukraine holding Indian students hostage in Kharkiv to use them as human shield, Russian President Putin informs PM Modi

Amidst escalating tensions in Ukraine, Russia has alleged that the Ukrainians were holding a group of Indian students hostage to use them as human shields.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi – the second in less than a week, during which the Russian President revealed to him that Ukrainian forces are using Indian students as human shields to gain leverage in the ongoing conflict with the Russian troops.

Russian President Putin also assured India that its military was doing everything possible to ensure the safe evacuation of Indians from the “war zone”.

According to the readout of the conversation issued by the Kremlin, Putin has instructed his military to ensure “urgent evacuation of a group of Indian students from Kharkov (Kharkiv) through the humanitarian corridor along the shortest route to Russia”.

“At the same time, according to the latest information, these students are actually taken hostage by the Ukrainian security forces, who use them as a human shield and in every possible way prevent them from leaving for Russia. Responsibility, in this case, lies entirely with the Kiev (Kyiv) authorities,” the Kremlin readout said.

The conversation between PM Modi and President Putin took place some hours after Indians stranded in the east Ukrainian city of Kharkiv were asked to leave and proceed towards three locations Pesochin, Babaye (both in Ukraine) and Bezlyudovka (in Russia) within four hours, even on foot if necessary.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine had issued an urgent advisory to all Indians in Kharkiv to leave immediately due to the deteriorating situation. Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, now hosts the largest number of Indians in Ukraine.

According to the Indian readout of the conversation between Modi and Putin, the two sides reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in the areas around Kharkiv where many Indian students are stuck.

“They discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas,” the readout read.

The Russians had agreed to provide a safe passage to Indians through their territory, the Russian envoy had informed yesterday.

India says no reports of any student held hostage

In another statement, the MEA added that India has “not received reports of any hostage situation regarding any student” amid war in Ukraine. The readout said that the Indian government has requested the Ukrainian government for arranging special trains to take students out of Kharkiv and neighbouring areas.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry had also stated that Russian armed forces are ready to take all necessary measures for the safe evacuation of the Indian citizens.

“And send them home from the Russian territory with its own military transport planes or Indian planes, as the Indian side proposed to do,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.  

Earlier, there were allegations that Zelenskyy’s regime was using civilians as human shields to prevent the forward movement of the advancing Russian army. Reports suggested that Ukraine has allegedly put Indian students in a hostage-like situation at the Poland border. 

Ukraine establishes hotline for evacuation

Hours after Russia alleged that Ukrainian troops are using Indians as human shields to protect themselves, Ukraine claimed to have established an emergency hotline for African, Asian and other students wishing to leave Ukraine because of Russia’s military operation.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said that the stranded students could dial the hotline for their safe evacuation. He added that they are working intensively to ensure their safety and speed up the passage.

The Foreign Ministry said that they had offered the students to leave the territory of Ukraine via the Ukrainian-Polish border. “They offered to go through the territory where active hostilities are taking place,” the statement said.

As per the reports, around 3,000 students are still stranded in these cities, the majority in Kharkiv.

It is notable here that many Indian students had shared videos saying they are being harassed by Ukrainian authorities and prevented from boarding trains.

US says no incidents of using civilians as human shields

Meanwhile, the US Department of State on Wednesday said that they have not seen any verified report of Ukraine using Indian students as human shields.

The State Department claimed that these allegations are commonly used in Russian disinformation.

“We have seen no verified reports of these incidents, and these types of reports about using civilians as human shields are commonly used in Russian disinformation,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. 

Varanasi: Members of Hindu Yuva Vahini welcome Mamata Banerjee with Jai Shri Ram chants and black flags

OpIndia Staff
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Varanasi: Members of Hindu Yuva Vahini welcome Mamata Banerjee with Jai Shri Ram chants and black flags

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was welcomed in Varanasi by members of Hindu Yuva Vahini with loud chants of Jai Shri Ram and black flags along with slogans like ‘Mamata Banerjee go back’. This incident took place on Wednesday 2nd March 2022 in the evening when Mamata Banerjee had arrived at Varanasi to address an election rally with Akhilesh Yadav to campaign for the candidates of the Samajwadi Party ahead of the seventh phase of voting in the ongoing assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh.

Many videos have gone viral on social media in which Mamata Banerjee and her cavalcade are seen obstructed by the outraging people who are raising slogans and chanting Jai Shri Ram. A Twitter user India Untold has posted one such video in which police are seen chasing a few such activists. The one who is seen talking in this video had said, “My name is Nitish Singh. I am City Secretary of Hindu Yuva Vahini. Today Mamata Bano, who is responsible for the genocide of Hindus in Bengal, has arrived at Kashi. By chanting Jai Shri Ram aloud, we want to bring this to her notice that this Bharat is the land of Sanatan Hindus and that this is not Bengal where you can insult Hindus and go away with it. This is Uttar Pradesh.”

Shashi Kumar, the social media co-convenor of the Uttar Pradesh state BJP has written in his tweet, “Mamata Bannerjee had the taste of her own medicine. She faced huge protests in Varanasi. People didn’t let her cavalcade move, welcomed her with black flags, and Jai Shri Ram. She had to cancel so many of her scheduled programs.” He has also posted a video with this tweet.

It is notable that Mamata Banerjee is holding a rally with Akhilesh Yadav in Airhe village of Varanasi to campaign for the Samajwadi Party (SP) and its allies in Varanasi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency – on 3rd March 2022, ahead of the seventh and final phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections. In the last phase on 7th March 2022, a total of 54 constituencies including eight in Varanasi will go to the polls.

This is not the first time that Mamata Banerjee is was greeted by the Jai Shri Ram slogans. Hindu activists have been doing that various occasions after she had ppenly displayed her hatred for the slogan. In January 2021, she was seen walking out of the stage refusing to address the public gathered at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial for Netaji birth anniversary celebrations, because the crowd was chanting Jai Shri Ram.

Mamata Banerjee who was sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lamented of “being disrespected” because she could not stand the slogans of Jai Shree Ram, Bharat Mata ki Jai, etc when she was invited to address the event. After that, she was greeted with the Jai Shri Ram slogan on several occasions.

Russia removes US, UK, Japan flags from rocket carrying OneWeb satellites but keeps Indian flag, puts conditions for the launch

OpIndia Staff
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Russia removes US, UK, Japan flags from rocket carrying OneWeb satellites but keeps Indian flag, puts conditions for the launch

Perhaps for the first time in history, the impact of war on earth have been felt in space. After Russia had said that the sanctions by the USA and European nations on Russia for invasion of Ukraine can result in a crash of the International Space Station, they have now removed all the flags of countries participating in a space program from a rocket they are launching, except the flag of India.

On Wednesday, Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS chief Dimitry Rogozin posted a video showing workers at the Baikonur launch pad covering up the flags of USA, Japan and UK on the OneWeb rocket which is scheduled to be launched on Friday. However, the flag of India was left intact.

Posting the video, Rogozin said in Russian which translates to, “The launchers at Baikonur decided that without the flags of some countries, our rocket would look more beautiful”. In the video, the launchers at the Baikonur launch pad were seen pasting white vinyl on the flags on the Soyuz rocket, covering them completely.

The Soyuz rocket is carrying 36 satellites from various countries which will provide broadband Internet connectivity under the OneWeb project. The project aims to launch 648 satellites into orbit, and 428 of them already have been launched, all of them using the Soyuz vehicle. Bharti Airtel group and the UK government are the owners of the project.

While the Russian invasion of Ukraine is going on and several countries including the UK have imposed sanctions, the Russian space agency had said that they are going ahead with the launch. Yesterday the agency had tweeted saying that they are installing the rocket at the launchpad for the scheduled launch on 5th March.

However, the agency changed its decision today, and held the rocket launch hostage to the current situation. Now, ROSCOSMOS has refused to launch the rocket carrying the satellites due to the sanctions imposed on Russia by the UK. The agency has put a condition for the launch of the rocket that the UK govt must sell its stake in the OneWeb project, and OneWeb gives guarantee that the satellites won’t be used for military purposes.

They said that they have warned OneWeb that if it does not provide a guarantee that its satellites will not be used for military purposes by 21:30 Moscow time on March 4, then the Soyuz-2.1b rocket will be removed from the launch pad. The agency added that due to the UK’s hostile stance towards Russia, another condition for the launch of OneWeb spacecraft on March 5 is the withdrawal of the British government from the shareholders of OneWeb.

Tamil Nadu: Hindu girl commits suicide after her ‘friend’ Amir Khan disappeared after proposing to marry her, Love Jihad angle alleged

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Hindu girl commits suicide after her ‘friend’ Amir Khan disappeared after proposing to marry her, Love Jihad angle alleged

In yet another shocking incident in Tamil Nadu, a Hindu girl from Uppathukadu near Thimmampatti village consumed pesticide after her ‘friend’ Amir Khan disappeared after proposing to her for marriage. The incident happened on January 18 after which the girl was immediately shifted to the hospital. She was declared dead on the very same day.

According to the reports, this case is of grave concern as the Police after registering the case found that the death was unnatural and influenced by someone. In the process of investigation, they questioned Amir Khan from the girl’s village and learned that the two were in a relationship.

Local SI Sivashankar on February 24 questioned Khan and found out that the two used to have lengthy conversations on calls and Whatsapp and that the girl had deleted the history of conversations before her death. While the exact reason for her death is not yet clear, the Police has asked Khan to appear in the Police station whenever required.

Amir Khan aged 22, is a commerce graduate working in a software firm near Salem. His mother used to teach the girl in the school. The two met and gradually became friends as Khan used to drop his mother at the school daily. They exchanged phone numbers and used to chat daily. The girl’s family came to know about the relationship on January 15. They then warned Khan to stay away from their daughter and stop ruining her life.

The Police has seized the phone of the girl and retrieved all the chat and call records to know the exact reason for her death. Reports mention that the boy and the girl used to meet at her NEET Coaching Centre. The boy had proposed to marry her but started avoiding her phone calls later, according to advocate Ramalingam.

According to the report, the officials having checked the boy’s Instagram and Facebook chats are of the opinion that the case is much more than the usual love matter and that Khan has been in contact with many girls before. While the investigations are underway, the Police has assured to take strict action against the persons involved in the case.

Advocate Ramalingam said, “It is not a love matter but beyond it. If we see the boy’s Instagram and Facebook messages and chats, it is a clear love jihad case. Amir Khan has been in contact with so many girls. Police should probe whether more Hindu girls have fallen to his love jihad net. The safety of Hindu girls is in danger. It is high time. Hindu outfits should sit and evolve a strategy to overcome it.”

International media outlets publish satire on Pakistan imposing sanctions against Russia through debt non-payment as real news

OpIndia Staff
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International media outlets publish satire on Pakistan imposing sanctions against Russia through debt non-payment as real news

A satirical take on debt-ridden Pakistan’s contribution to the economic sanctions imposed against Russia in the wake of the Ukraine invasion was passed off as actual news by many international media outlets.

Indian satirical website The Fauxy recently published a satire that said Pakistan is contributing to the west’s economic sanctions against Russia by not repaying the $1 billion loan amount it had sought from Moscow. The article was meant as a sarcastic swipe against Pakistan, whose foundering economy is perpetually propped up by loans Islamabad continues to seek from countries around the world.

Russia Pakistan sanctions
Source: The Fauxy

The article mockingly asserted that given the poor economic state of Pakistan, and in the absence of any leverage it has on Russia, the only way Islamabad could do its bit in punishing the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine is by defaulting on the $1 billion loans it had allegedly sought from Moscow.

However, many international media outlets fell for the satirical article, treating the outrageous claim of Pakistan contributing to the sanctions against Russia by not repaying its loan as entirely plausible and publishing it as real news.

International media outlets pass off a satirical article on Islamabad imposing sanctions against Russia as real news

Some Japanese and Korean websites were among those who lapped up the sarcastic claims made in the piece published on the Fauxy, presuming them to be factual and reproducing them on their respective websites. They asserted that Pakistan is joining the Russian sanctions through non-payment of its debts.

Japanese media organisation J-Cast was one of the news outlets that considered a sarcastic take on Pakistan’s alleged sanctions against Russia as an authoritative source of information and promptly published an article amplifying the claim that Islamabad would use non-payment of its loan amount as a mark of protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pakistan satire Russia sanctions
Source: Twitter

Another Japanese website also published a satirical article as actual news, stating that Pakistan was going to inflict punishment on Russia by defaulting on its loan payments.

Pakistan satire Russia sanctions

Similarly, other outlets also considered claims made in a satirical article as truth and published articles on Pakistan imposing sanctions against Russia through non-payment of loans.

Pakistan satire Russia sanctions
Source: Twitter
Pakistan satire Russia sanctions
Source: Twitter
Pakistan satire Russia sanctions
Source:etoland.co.kr

Looming economic crisis in Pakistan

It is worth noting that Pakistan has been teetering on the edge of an imminent financial collapse for the last several years. To delay the catastrophe, Pakistani PM Imran Khan has been running pillar to post from one country to another seeking loans to keep the country’s precarious economy afloat and to pay off the previous loans. Khan had sought loans from Saudi Arabia, China and various other countries. As of data from June 2021, the Public Debt of Pakistan is around PKR 39.9 trillion which is 83.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Pakistan. Out of which, the domestic debt stood at PKR 26.2 trillion, whereas external debt was PKR 13.6 trillion (USD 86.4 billion).

Given the desperate straits Pakistan finds itself in, the former finance minister of Pakistan, Asad Umar had once stated that the only solution to Pakistan’s problems is a bailout by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He had opined that the balance of payment crisis facing Pakistan was unprecedented and approaching IMF for a bailout was unavoidable.

Nawab Malik money laundering case: Bombay High Court grants ED time till 7th March to file reply on Malik’s plea against his arrest

OpIndia Staff
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Nawab Malik money laundering case: Bombay High Court grants ED time till 7th March to file reply on Malik’s plea against his arrest

On Wednesday 2nd March 2022, the Bombay high court gave the ED an extended time till 7th March 2022 to file their reply on Nawab Malik’s plea against his arrest in a case under PMLA. Maharashtra’s minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik had filed a petition to challenge his arrest in the money laundering case linked to fugitive terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. Now the minister will be produced before a special court on Thursday 3rd March 2022. He was arrested the last week and since then he is in the custody of the ED.

On Monday 28th February 2022, Nawab Malik had filed a petition in the high court. In his petition, he had pleaded to quash the case, and also the order passed by a special court that remanded him to the ED’s custody. Malik had also sought his immediate release along with direction from the high court to declare his arrest to be illegal. Nawab Malik had said in his petition that he was illegally arrested because he has been a vocal critic of the alleged misuse of the central agencies.

Advocate Amit Desai represented Nawab Malik in the high court while Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh appeared for the ED. Both of them argued before a division bench of Justice SB Shukre and GA Sanap. While posting the plea for the further hearing on 7th March 2022, the bench mentioned that the regular bench hearing criminal petitions will be available on that day.

The court said, “If in the meantime there is any subsequent remand or order passed by the special court, then it would be without any prejudice caused to the rights and contentions of both the petitioner (Malik) and the State (ED).”

Earlier on Tuesday, the ED had summoned Faraz Malik, son of Nawab Malik in connection with the Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case. 

Home Ministry approves extension of seven existing schemes helping victims of terrorism, Naxal violence and riots

OpIndia Staff
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Home Ministry approves extension of seven existing schemes helping victims of terrorism, Naxal violence and riots

The Home Ministry on Wednesday announced the Modi Government’s approval for the extension of seven existing sub-schemes under the Umbrella Scheme of “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates”. Under the move, existing schemes which provide assistance to displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Srilankan Tamil refugees and other groups who are victims of violence, riots and terrorism have been aided for further continuance.

The Modi government has decided to continue several schemes under the “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates” scheme for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. A provision of a total of Rs.1,452 crore has been made by the government for the same. The decision will ensure that assistance under the umbrella Scheme continues to reach beneficiaries through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) led by Amit Shah.

“The scheme enables migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities,” says the statement by MHA. The seven schemes started by the government at different points of time provide assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of displaced families of Pakistan Occupied Areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb. The relief assistance also includes Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Bru people lodged in relief camps in Tripura, 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims.

The umbrella scheme also has provisions for providing financial assistance to families of affected civilian victims of terrorist violence including militancy, insurgency, communal/ Left Wing Extremism violence and cross border firing. This also helps victims who died in mine/IED blasts anywhere on the Indian territory. The scheme covers grants-in-aid to the Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) and special grants to the government of West Bengal for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India, situated in Cooch Behar District and for resettlement of 922 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.

Since the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, The central government has outlined many schemes for them including financial assistance, reserved government jobs and rehabilitation of the Hindu population in parts of the country and also in the valley. The Narendra Modi government in 2015 announced additional 3000 jobs for the Pandits in the state government and the construction of around 6000 transit accommodations in the Kashmir valley.

‘Criminals armed by Zelenskyy govt are indulging in rapes, murders, and looting in Ukraine’, claims man in Kyiv

OpIndia Staff
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‘Criminals armed by Zelenskyy govt are indulging in rapes, murders, and looting in Ukraine’, claims man in Kyiv

Amidst the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, disturbing images of armed Ukrainian criminals openly looting and vandalising houses and stores in several cities in Ukraine have become viral on the internet.

Clint Ehrlich, a US-based foreign-policy analyst, posted a video on Twitter on Wednesday to allege that criminals armed by the Ukrainian government to take on the Russian forces were indulged in rapes, murders, and looting in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

Ehrlich shared a video filmed by a writer named Gonzalo Lira, who claimed that criminals in Ukraine have got their hands on military-grade weapons after President Zelenskyy’s regime declared that it would arm all civilians willing to fight against Russian forces.

“After the Zelenskyy regime handed out weapons willy-nilly in the last few days, a lot of criminals have military-grade weapons, and there have been robberies, rapes and all kinds of havoc due to this,” Lira can be heard saying in the video posted by Ehrlich.

He added, “It’s’ known for a fact that a lot of the shooting in Kyiv last night had nothing to do with Russians; the Russians were 10 km away from these shootings. So these were probably gang-related shootings.”

According to Gonzalo Lira, criminal gangs are using their new weapons to “figure out their dominance hierarchy” amid “anarchy created by the government”. The American writer said that the armed criminals would settle their own scores first and then target civilians.

Accusing Ukraine President Zelenskyy and his government of arming criminals, Lira said, “These people are creating chaos in Ukraine in the name of people fighting against the Russians. It’s’ absurd and irresponsible and will hurt the Ukrainian people. I have come to the conclusion that the Zelenskyy-led regime is evil.”

“The Western media is not talking about it. I am worried about getting shot not by the Russians or Ukrainian army but by criminals. I am so angry. This [handing out weapons to civilians] will not stop the Russians. It will only cause death and suffering of civilians, just so Zelenskyy can have a photo-op,” he concluded, adding that the Zelenskyy regime has gone insane.

The video comes just days after the Ukrainian President had announced that prisoners with military experience would be released if they were willing to fight against Russian forces. He had said inmates would be able to “compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots” by fighting the Russians.

As Russian airstrikes and artillery bombardment overwhelmed Ukrainian military installations, Ukraine President Volodymir Zelenskyy had also asked civilians to take up arms to defend the country. Two days earlier, Zelenskyy had said that they would provide weapons to anyone who wanted to fight and had asked people to be ready to support Ukraine in city squares.

Armed criminals, civilians loot stores, trucks in Ukraine, videos emerge

Several unverified videos of armed civilians, criminals and mercenaries looting and creating chaos in Ukrainian cities have made it to the social media platforms.

Netizens have shared horrific videos of organised looting by these armed criminals to allege that the decision by the Ukrainian government to arm the dreaded criminals have emboldened them, who are now resorting to looting cities without any fear openly.

In a video shared by Fazil Mir, untrained civilians with weapons were indulging in the robbery. This has resulted in an increase in other crimes, said the user.

Diana, a citizen of Ukraine, also shared a similarly disturbing video saying that Ukraine is experiencing a wave of looting and robberies by unsavoury individuals who the Zelenskyy government has issued guns in the past two days.

Sharing the video, Diana alleged that the armed mercenaries and criminals tried to rob a truck with groceries.

A social media user from Ukraine put out a shocking video in which two Algerian mercenaries reportedly heard saying they were waiting for darkness to start the robbery.

Another social media user had posted a video that showed civilians looting shops and residences in Kharkiv, leading to chaos.

These unverified videos have generated intense debate on social media over the decision by the Ukrainian government to arm criminals and untrained civilians.

Indian Embassy in Ukraine asks Indians to leave Kharkiv immediately, Russia giving safe passage at govt’s request

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Embassy in Ukraine asks Indians to leave Kharkiv immediately, Russia giving safe passage at govt’s request

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine has asked the Indians to leave the Kharkiv city immediately and provided a list of three settlements where they must reach by 6 PM Ukrainian time on March 2.

In the tweet, the Embassy wrote, “Urgent advisory to all Indian nationals in Kharkiv. For their safety and security, they must leave Kharkiv immediately. Proceed to Pesochin, Babaye and Bezlyudovka as soon as possible. Under all circumstances, they must reach these settlements *by 1800 hrs (Ukrainian time) today*.” They wrote the advisory in all capital letters, implying how urgent it is.

Pesochin is a western suburb in Kharkiv Raion of Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine.

Source: Google Maps

Babai or Babaye is located on the right bank of the Udy in the drainage basin of the Don.

Source: Google Maps

Bezlyudovka is a Russian establishment located at Belgorod Oblast, Russia.

Source: Google Maps

The locations Pesochin, Babaye and Bezlyudovka are located in 3 different directions from Kharkiv and are at a distance of 11 km, 17 km and 90 km away respectively.

Around half an hour after posting the advisory on Twitter, the embassy posted another embassy, again in all capital letters. In the second advisory, the Indian Embassy said that for their own security and safety, Indians in Kharkiv must leave the city immediately. “FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND SECURITY THEY MUST LEAVE KHARKIV IMMEDIATELY REPEAT IMMEDIATELY IN THE LIGHT OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION”, wrote the embassy, repeating the word “Immediately”.

Again asking the students to process towards Pesochyn, Babai and Bezlyudivka, the embassy said that students who can’t find vehicles or buses or waiting for trains at railway stations should proceed on foot. They informed that Pisochyn is 11 km away, Babai is 12 km away and the distance to Bezlyudivka is 16 km.

Given the urgent nature of the advisory, it seems the Indian govt has learnt from reliable sources that a major invasion at Kharkiv is going to take place tonight.

Earlier today, Denis Alipov, Russian envoy designated to Delhi had said that the Russian authorities were in touch we the Indian government to provide safe passage to the Indian nationals stuck in Kharkiv. “We have received the Indian request for the emergency evacuation of all those stuck there via Russian territory. We are actively working to provide a humanitarian corridor so that people have safe passage,” he said.

Yesterday, all Indian nationals were asked to leave Kyiv. The evacuation efforts are in full swing. Over 12,000 Indian nationals have been evacuated under Operation Ganga from Ukraine out of which over 6,000 have already arrived in India.

Congress, Islamists and ‘fact-checkers’ mock Arnab Goswami over lecture given by a panellist: Here is what his response was

OpIndia Staff
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Congress, Islamists and ‘fact-checkers’ mock Arnab Goswami over lecture given by a panellist: Here is what his response was

On Wednesday early morning, Islamists, self-proclaimed ‘fact-checkers’ several trolls sympathetic to the Congress party, took to Twitter to share a short clip of Republic TV Prime Time show to claim that he was called out by a foreign panellist for taking an ‘anti-Indian’ stand in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia clashes.

In a Republic TV debate show on Tuesday, Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami had launched an attack against the western countries, including the US, the UK, Germany, and others, for not making an effecting intervention in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis. Arnab Goswami opined that the west could not just be sermonising others as it was an inflexion point and civilians were being killed amidst threats of a nuclear war.

In the show, Arnab had called the west and the NATO nations to either negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin or directly intervene to stop the bombardment of Ukraine.

Hours later, an edited clip of the show that has gone viral on the internet is being used by detractors of Arnab Goswami to ridicule and abuse him on the internet.

A short clip of Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami being subjected to a diatribe by a Portuguese panellist as they discussed the west’s approach to the ongoing clashes in Ukraine is all over the social media platforms.

In the edited clip, Gilbert Doctorow, a Portuguese strategic affairs expert, was seen lashing out at Arnab Goswami for not allowing him to convey his point of view. The enraged panellist asked whether Arnab Goswami would be allowed to speak or was there just to watch. The Portuguese panellist further said that he would like to tell Arnab that he needs to de-escalate his own language.

The Portuguese panellist said Arnab Goswami was simply repeating the accusations coming out of Ukraine President Zelenskyy’s office and amplified by Washington. He also claimed that the words Arnab used were not suitable for this discussion. The panellist from Lisbon also added that Arnab interrupted his Chinese speaker in a brutal way which does not help for the exchange of opinions.

“This is a war against NATO. The end game of Mr Putin is to show the shambles that NATO and to take the American knee out of the European neck. You, India along with China will be the major beneficiaries if Putin succeeds,” said Doctorow, adding that the editorial position of Republic TV on the ongoing Ukraine conflict would harm the country and the show that he is airing is against the interests of his own country.

The less-than two-minute accusations by the Portuguese panellist turned out to be a joyful moment for the Islamists, left-liberals, who aggressively shared the video to claim that Arnab Goswami was humiliated on his own network.

Mohammed Zubair, a notorious fake news peddler and co-founder of the propaganda website Alt News, was ecstatic as the video went viral. The Islamist troll shared his glee by saying that Arnab was called “Anti-national” on his own channel. Interestingly, the panellist never used such words to target Arnab Goswami.

The angry rant by a foreign panellist against the Indian journalist also caused a sense of joy in the Congress party as senior leaders were seen making fun of Arnab Goswami.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that it took an expert from Lisbon to tell “ex-journalist” Arnab Goswami that his programme was actually anti-India.

Rana Ayyub, an Islamist accused of tax fraud, posted a tweet saying Arnab Goswami got schooled in journalism and journalistic ethics by a panellist from Lisbon. “A crying shame for the Indian media that is seen cheering war and amplifying state-sponsored propaganda,” Rana Ayyub claimed in her tweet.

As the one-sided propaganda videos have gone viral to tarnish the image of Republic TV chief, the full un-edited videos have appeared on the social media platforms in which Arnab Goswami was seen giving a befitting response to the Portuguese panellist for his bluster on national TV.

Arnab Goswami gives a befitting response to panellist

In his response, Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami said he thanked the panellist for giving a speech despite not asking for one. Asserting that he has independence over choosing an editorial position, Arnab Goswami slammed the Portuguese panellist saying, “You are sitting there in Lisbon and giving me a lecture. Kindly lecture yourself and ask yourself whether the straightforwardness of the question has begun to hurt you.”

The Republic TV chief also pointed out his bias, saying that the panellist, being a man of many years of own position, was very prejudiced in your views. Arnab Goswami cautioned the panellist by saying he would not accept a single line of unnecessary lecturing to anyone and asked him to desist from making any outrageous remarks as it was an Indian student who was killed in Kharkiv.

“So, I will not have you sit there and give me any lectures anymore. If you can answer the question, answer me. I will ask you a geostrategic question answer it as a geostrategic expert. Since you have chosen to run away, that is your problem,” Arnab Goswami responded to the panellist.

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