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Gujarat: Maulvi, who provided a revolver and 5 bullets to the murderers of Hindu youth Kishan Bharwad, arrested

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Gujarat: Maulvi, who provided a revolver and 5 bullets to the murderers of Hindu youth Kishan Bharwad, arrested

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Friday, January 28 confirmed that the Muslim cleric (Maulvi) from the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad, who had allegedly provided weapons to the murderers of 27-year-old Kishan Bharwad has been arrested, reports Desh Gujarat. Kishan was shot dead in Dhandhuka on January 25 as he along with his cousin, was passing by the Modhwada locality on his two-wheeler.

He had allegedly shared a social media post that had enraged some Muslims after which the murder was executed on instructions of two Maulvis, one from Ahmedabad and another one from Mumbai.

Speaking about the Maulvi’s arrest, Harsh Sanghavi said, “It was shocking that a Maulvi gave a revolver and five bullets for the murder. Radicalization of youths is unacceptable. Putting my hand on the head of the 20 days old daughter of Kishan Bharwad, I vowed and assured the family of timely justice.”

“Some murders are done in anger, some murders are executed for revenge, but this murder is special. This murder is a case of conspiracy. When an in-depth probe was carried out, we received the details on why this murder case is special. The details surfaced how murders were motivated,” Sanghavi added.

Meanwhile, Virendra Singh Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad (Rural) said: “It appears that this murder was part of a planned conspiracy. At times, people from different communities act out of rage and we sort out such acts of anger by counselling them. But this is totally different and radicalization of youths seems to be behind this.”

He confirmed that the Maulvi from Jamalpur had urged the accused Shabbir to carry out the murder and also provided him with a revolver and cartridges. The accused had become radicalised after the maulvi repeatedly told them that anyone who makes blasphemous remarks, nabi ki gustakhi, should not be spared, said Yadav.

The murder of Hindu youth Kishan Bharwad executed on instructions of two Maulvis, Gujarat Police identifies the suspects and arrests murderers

On January 28, OpIndia reported that the Ahmedabad Police arrested two persons and discovered links of two Maulvis in the murder case of 27-year-old Kishan Bharwad. According to the Zee News Gujarati, the murder was carried out on instructions of two Maulvis, one from Ahmedabad and another one from Mumbai. A Maulvi from the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad had allegedly provided weapons to the murderers and Maulana from Mumbai had given the instructions.

Further reports by News18Gujarat state that the police has formed 7 different teams to investigate into the matter. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi reviewed the investigation process by the Police and collected all the details of the case.

The matter came to light when the cousin of the victim, Bhaumik lodged a police complaint in the case and said that the murder could be related to Bharwad’s social media post around 15 days back. It is alleged that Kishan had shared a post on social media platform which the Muslims found offensive.

The video shared by Kishan had an image of Prophet Muhammad. As reported, the police had taken action against Kishan over the post as some people had outraged over it. Following the police intervention, both sides had reconciled, however, Kishan Bharwad was killed a few days after the incident.

‘God is everywhere, fanatics are the problem’: Madras HC rejects petition by Temple trustee seeking to stop eviction by Tamil Nadu govt

OpIndia Staff
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‘God is everywhere, fanatics are the problem’: Madras HC rejects petition by Temple trustee seeking to stop eviction by Tamil Nadu govt

On Friday (January 28), the Madras High Court rejected a petition that sought to stop the eviction of a temple, which is allegedly built on public land in Veppanthattai in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu, reported The Times of India.

As per reports, the petition was filed by a temple trustee named S Periyasamy in response to a notice issued by the Tamil Nadu Highways department for the eviction of the temple. During the hearing, he informed the court that the temple had been in existence for more than 3 decades.

S Periyasamy emphasised that the temple was built without impeding public movement or local transportation. His petition to prevent the temple eviction by the Tamil Nadu government was however rejected by the Madras High Court.

The matter was heard by a 2-Judge bench of Justices D Bharatha Chakravarthy and S Vaidyanathan. “The petitioner, in the garb of setting up a temple, cannot usurp the highways property, which is meant for public use irrespective of creed, caste and religion,” the Court observed. The Judges pointed out that ‘not causing any hindrance to the public’ cannot be accepted since the petitioner failed to show documents that prove the ownership of the land by the temple trust.

They further noted, “Even though the petitioner has stated that the temple was constructed three decades ago and the land belonged to the temple, what prevented him from producing necessary documents to establish his case? If the petitioner is so particular in facilitating the devotees to worship Vinayagar, it is open for him either to allot his unencumbered land or the land, if any, available to the temple and thereafter, shift idol to that place.”

The Madras High Court said that accepting the petition of S Periyasamy would send across a message that illegal occupation of land was permitted if it did not obstruct public or vehicular flow. It concluded, “God is omnipresent. God does not need a specific place for his divine presence. It is the fanatic, who is the root cause of all problems to divide the people in the name of religion.”

Karnataka: Principal of government school suspended after she allows students to offer Namaz inside the classroom every Friday

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Principal of government school suspended after she allows students to offer Namaz inside the classroom every Friday

A principal of a government school in Karnataka was suspended on Wednesday, January 26 for allowing students to offer Namaz in the classroom. The incident took place at Bale Changappa Government Higher Primary School, located on Bengaluru-Chittoor highway, where the headmistress, Uma Devi gave permission to around twenty students to offer Namaz in the classroom every Friday.

According to reports, the school authorities granted permission to Muslim students to perform Friday prayers inside the classroom in the month of December last year. The issue, however, came to light when a video of the incident was shot on Friday, January 21 and uploaded on various social media sites on January 23.

After the purported video went viral on social media, many members of various Hindu organisations protested against the authorities of the school for favouring children of a particular community.

Protesters said that since December of last year, Namaz had been permitted at the school. Ramakrishna, a local citizen told the media that the principal permitted the students without consulting any officials. “She has allowed students to pray inside the school on her own. This is not acceptable. We demand action be taken,” he said.

Speaking about the incident, one student had reportedly said, “We have been doing this since school reopened two months ago. Permission was given by the school headmistress.”

Following the protest, Umesh Kumar, the Kolar district collector, had ordered an investigation and sought a detailed report into the Mulbagal Someswara Palaya Bale Changappa Government Kannada Model Higher Primary School’s operations.

Minister Nagesh had also assured appropriate action against the school officials.“The incident in Kolar is too bad. No institution can allow such things. We have asked all concerned officers to visit the school at the earliest. Since the two days after the incident were weekends, a visit to the school was not possible. Now, they will visit the school and give a detailed report on what transpired there. We will take strict action based on the report,” said Nagesh.

Revana Siddappa, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction, had been tasked with visiting the school, conducting an investigation and filing a report on the same.

According to the investigation led by Deputy Director of Public Instruction (Kolar), Revana Siddappa, the principal initially stated that she did not allow students to offer prayers at school. “I don’t know anything about this. I haven’t done it. The students did it themselves. I was not here when this happened. The block education officer called and said this was happening at school and I rushed,” principal Uma Devi had reportedly stated.

Later, however, she justified her actions by claiming that she had authorised the students to offer namaz in the classroom to keep them from going outside for prayers. She also said that she had done so keeping the safety of the students in mind as they had to cross the national road to go to the mosque and also because many of them did not return to school for the afternoon sessions thus missing the in-class lessons.

However, she has been placed under suspension for the time being.

Gurgaon Namaz row

It may be recalled how Gurgaon, Haryana, had been embroiled in a huge controversy over the offering of Namaz at these public places in various sectors for the past few months. For weeks, locals had pushed back against Muslims who have resorted to communal praying in public locations rather than designated places of worship for weeks.

After prolonged protests, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar had categorically stated on December 10 that Namaz in open spaces will not be tolerated in his state.

He stated that members of all faiths should offer prayers in their own personal space or areas designated for worship. Namaz should be read in Mosques or Idgahs rather than public spaces. The trespassing on public spaces in the city under the guise of conducting religious prayer would not be allowed by the state administration henceforth.

Akhilesh Yadav’s helicopter was delayed due to high traffic and refuelling, informs Delhi Airport official

OpIndia Staff
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Akhilesh Yadav’s helicopter was delayed due to high traffic and refuelling, informs Delhi Airport official

After Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that his chopper to Muzaffarnagar was deliberately held up at Delhi to prevent him from campaigning, Delhi airport officials have denied the allegations. An official of the airport said that the Akhilesh Yadav’s helicopter was delayed due to high traffic at the airport, and there was no conspiracy behind it.

According to the airport, at first, the helicopter was delayed due to high traffic, and after it was cleared for take-off, it was found that the aircraft needed refuelling, which delayed its departure further.

“Akhilesh Yadav’s chopper was not granted permission by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to fly initially because of high air traffic. After the clearance was given, the chopper had less fuel. After refuelling, the chopper flew to the destined place,” a Delhi airport official said.

However, Akhilesh Yadav has refused to accept the clarification, and alleged that aircraft carrying BJP leaders were allowed to take-off but only he was delayed. He said, “People told me that BJP leaders had taken off before me. I was told about the air traffic. But why did the BJP leaders who had taken off before me faced no issue? They did not have to wait while I had to wait for over two hours.”

Bringing the UP elections into the matter, he added, “No matter what the BJP does, the people of Uttar Pradesh will remove the party from power”.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that his helicopter was delayed at the Delhi airport for no reason. Posting a photograph of himself in front of the helicopter on tarmac, he had alleged that his helicopter was stopped without giving any reason and he was being prevented from visiting Muzaffarnagar.

He had alleged that this was conspiracy by BJP which is losing the polls. In another tweet he had termed it the misuse of power, and said that this day will be recorded in the history of Samajwadi struggle. ‘We are going to take a historic flight of victory’, he had added.

Akhilesh Yadav was travelling to Muzaffarnagar from Delhi to attend a joint press conference with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Choudhary. After the helicopter was cleared to fly, the SP chief reached Muzaffarnagar and addressed the delayed press conference.

Yadav tweeted to inform that both the alliance partners took a ‘United Food Resolution’ to defeat and remove the BJP government, alleging that the BJP govt has committed atrocities and injustice on Annadata (farmers).

Madras HC reserves order on petition seeking CBI investigation into Lavanya suicide case: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Madras HC reserves order on petition seeking CBI investigation into Lavanya suicide case: Details

In the latest development regarding the Lavanya suicide case, the Madras High Court on Friday 28th January 2022 has reserved the order on the petition filed by Lavanya’s father seeking a proper investigation in this case. The court reserved its orders after Justice GR Swaminathan heard the arguments of the petitioner, the Prosecution & the School. M Lavanya, a student of standard 12th in Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thirukattupali in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, had committed suicide after she was allegedly tortured by her school authorities for refusing to convert to Christianity.

A petition was filed by the father of the deceased girl seeking a proper investigation in this case. Justice GR Swaminathan heard the argument of all the parties involved. ‘Live Law India’ has tweeted to inform people about the proceedings. Let’s peep into what actually happened in the courtroom.

‘We don’t trust the investigation as the video evidences are leaked’: Petitioner

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the girl had complained about harassment in the hostel. The petitioner counsel added while explaining the nature of the harassment, “She was made to do other works including accounting works. She complained that she won’t be able to study amid such works.”

The petitioner’s counsel further said “It is a matter to be investigated how the girl could obtain poison in the hostel. Statements made by the victim to third parties shortly before her death are to be taken as direct evidence. The principle of res gestae applies. So those statements cannot be questioned.”

Putting a question mark on the SP presenting to the press conference in a hurry, the petitioner’s counsel said “Immediately after the death of the child, the SP gave a press statement that there was no allegation of religious conversion in the FIR. The interview was given by police when there was an agitation to take action. After the agitation, the police took the complaint & arrested one person who is remanded to custody. After that parents moved this petition for change of investigation agency.”

On leaking of the video evidence, the petitioner’s counsel argued “The dying declaration given to the Magistrate was shown in TV. How can it be leaked? There are guidelines on dying declaration that dying declaration should not be made public until the final report is filed.”

Accusing police of leaking this video evidence, the petitioner’s lawyer said “In this case, the dying declaration recorded by the Magistrate has been published. It cannot be from the Court. Only through the police, it has been published in the news and social media. We have seen in social media two clippings in which she categorically stated about religious conversion. After Court’s direction, we appeared before the police. After handing over the sets, another video has been published. We have lost faith in the investigation. They have done injustice to the little girl. She was studying well. She has meted out some cruelty. In her own voice, she said two years back there was an attempt to convert.”

Seeking a thorough investigation by some central agency, the petitioner’s lawyer concluded “By releasing confidential information, they are creating a debate. We have lost faith. For fair investigation, the case has to be transferred to CBI.”

‘Muthuvel, who shot the video, is not cooperating’: Prosecution

The prosecution in response has argued that the one who has shot the video is not cooperating with the investigators of the case now. The prosecution lawyer argued “Alleged incident happened on 09.01.2022. She was taken to various hospitals. On 15.01.2022, she was admitted to Tanjavur Medical Hospital. There only it was found that she consumed poison. From 09.01 till 15.01, it was not known. On 15, it was found by a government doctor. Next day FIR registered and dying declaration recorded.”

The prosecution further added “We have recorded the statement of Muthuvel and asked to all he circulated. A forensic examination is going on. We are investigating all angles. We want to bring the truth. How many videos we don’t know. Because Muthuvel is not cooperating with the investigation. As of today, he is not cooperating with the investigation. We are not suppressing anything. We are doing our best to find out the truth.”

‘We are into education for last 300 years. We don’t convert’: Missionary school

The missionary’s school in whose hostel the incident has happened has attempted to act naive in the courtroom by saying that they are into education for the last 300 years and to convert Hindus is not their mission. Xavier Arulraj who argued for the school has said that the school is deeply pained by the demise of the girl.

He further added “Majority of our students are Hindus. The majority of our staff are Hindus. We don’t discriminate on basis of religion. We follow a secular approach. We do not shy away from any investigation. But the allegations in the petition are very serious. We don’t do the conversion. That is not our mission. We have been in the education field for many years. No complaints so far.”

Converting Hindus in exchange for food, economic support, and medical assistance has been an old strategy of Christian missionaries in India. The argument of the school’s lawyer also underlined the so-called welfare agenda of the institute as he said “The girl was more attracted to the institution than her home. She generally does not go home for a short vacation. Due to lockdown, she had to go home. We tendered her fees and medicine whenever needed.”

After hearing all these arguments, Justice Swaminathan has kept the order reserved.

NCPCR says Tamil Nadu govt not cooperating in probe of M Lavanya suicide case, Chairperson-led team to visit the state for inquiry

OpIndia Staff
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NCPCR says Tamil Nadu govt not cooperating in probe of M Lavanya suicide case, Chairperson-led team to visit the state for inquiry

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is sending a team to Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu to probe the suicide of M Lavanya. A press release issued by the NCPCR said that a team headed by Chairperson Priyank Kanongo will visit Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu to inquire into the suicidal death of the minor girl of the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Michaelepatt, as the child rights body has received a complaint regarding the matter.

In a dying declaration recorded on video, the 7-year-old girl student had alleged that her school was pressurising her to convert to Christianity, and had tortured her for refusing to leave Hinduism. However, the police and the media are trying to cover up the conversion angle in the case, and they are trying to allege that the girl killed herself because the school had asked her to do some regular chores.

Therefore, the NCPCR is visiting the spot between 30 and 31 January to ascertain the facts of the case. NCPCR also said that the Tamil Nadu government is not cooperating with it in the case, and therefore the commission will make all arrangements itself for the probe.

The NCPCR statement says, “a complaint was received by the Commission alleging that the minor girl was force to illegal conversion into Christianity and consequent upon opposing this conversion, the girl imposed corporal punishment, refused to go home and made to clean toilets and wash dishes etc., by the school authorities. As a result, the child committed suicide by drinking pesticides, because of atrocities faced by her.”

The NCPCR added that “the Government of Tamil Nadu is reluctant to extend the necessary facilities/support to the NCPCR team for the said inquiry into the incidence on the pretext of imposition of Model Code of Conduct which came into force due to Local Body Ordinary Elections in the State of Tamil Nadu”.

However, the Commission said that it still stands to its proposed visit to Thanjavur District Tamil Nadu for the purpose. The NCPCR will inquire into the incident of suicidal death of a minor girl, for which the concerned Superintendent of Police and Investigating Officer has been asked to ensure their presence, meeting with the parents of deceased girl, interacting with the classmates of the deceased, meeting/interacting with the Doctor who treated the girl before she died and the Doctor who performed Post-mortem of the deceased, meeting with the School authorities and also open to interact with the local populace, willing to interact with the Commission, said the statement issue by the commission.

The Commission said that since the state government is not extending support to the visit of NCPCR, the Commission will arrange the above-mentioned activities at a designated place to be identified on reaching Thanajaur, which shall be made public through NCPCR Social Media platform.

The class 12 student had committed suicide by consuming pesticide after she was allegedly tortured by her school authorities for refusing to convert to Christianity. According to her dying declaration, as she had refused to convert, she was prevented from visiting home during the Pongal holidays, and was forced to do chores like cleaning toilets of the school, cooking and washing dishes.

But instead of probing the allegations made by the girl, the police were trying to question the person who had recorded her statement, after which Madras High Court had ordered the police to focus on the case instead. The girl’s father S Muruganantham had said in the court that the Thanjavur police was trying to protect the perpetrators who had tortured his daughter to convert to Christianity.

Even after the court’s observations, a section of media continues to peddle propaganda to protect the school. The News Minute has published multiple reports questioning the conversion angle and trying to dismiss the dying declaration of the girl.

Maharashtra: NCB arrests ‘drug lord’ Sahil Shah in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput death case

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: NCB arrests ‘drug lord’ Sahil Shah in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput death case

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Sahil Shah alias Flacko, the drug peddler wanted in actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. Flacko had disappeared 9 months ago and surrendered himself to the NCB on Friday.

According to the reports, Flacko who stayed in Sushant Singh Rajput’s immediate neighbourhood will be probed by the NCB in connection with the seizure of marijuana from two other accused persons arrested in April 2021.

In April 2021, the NCB had seized 310 grams of contraband worth Rs 30 lakh from two persons and arrested them in the case. The peddlers were distributing highly expensive strains of buds like Blackberry, Northern, Rainbow, Forbidden imported from Europe, Canada and the USA.

The premier anti-drug agency reportedly said that Facko’s name had cropped up when they arrested the first two accused, Karan Arora and Abbas Lakhani, in a drugs case related to Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020.

NCB’s Sameer Wankhede earlier had reported that Sahil Shah used to supply drugs to Rajput. He also had said that Shah was a puzzle for us until his Malad house was raided. The NCB has been probing the drugs angle in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, after the actor was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020.

Earlier last year, the Narcotics Control Bureau had also detained a drug peddler named Haris Khan because of his alleged ties to gangster and drug dealer Parvez Khan alias Chinku Pathan. Khan was arrested after his alleged role in a narcotics case connected to the death of late Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput had come to light following the actor’s death in June 2020.

Parvez Khan aka Chinku Pathan is a henchman of Dawood Ibrahim and a cousin of the late mafia don Karim Lala. He was nabbed by the NCB in Navi Mumbai in January 2021 after the agency busted a narcotics trafficking network.

The Hindu downplays Kishan Boliya murder, says incident acquired ‘communal colour’ only after VHP’s bandh to protest his brutal killing

OpIndia Staff
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The Hindu downplays Kishan Boliya murder, says incident acquired ‘communal colour’ only after VHP’s bandh to protest his brutal killing

Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) recently observed a ‘bandh’ in Gujarat following the death of a Hindu man, who was shot dead by assailants for posting an ‘allegedly’ blasphemous social media post against Islam.

However, for the Chennai-based newspaper The Hindu, not the murder of the Hindu man by religious zealots but the observance of a ‘bandh’ by VHP against the horrific killing had given the incident a “communal colour”.

In a report published in The Hindu, the publication said that the incident had assumed “communal colour” after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) called for a bandh or a strike to protest against the murder of a 27-year-old Kishan Boliya, a Hindu man who was killed reportedly on the orders of two Maulvis.

Source: The Hindu

“The murder acquired a communal colour as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other outfits gave a bandh call on Thursday,” the report titled ‘Two detained for gunning down a man in Gujarat over social media post’ said.

Kishan Boliya murdered over an alleged social media post against Islam

Earlier this week, the murder of a Hindu youth named Kishan Boliya in Dhandhuka taluka on Tuesday had sent shockwaves across the country. Kishan was on his way home when two bikers came and shot at him. He died on the spot. Police had filed a case and launched an investigation in the matter.

As per reports, it was alleged that Kishan had shared a post on social media platforms that Muslims found offensive. According to sources, the video shared by Kishan on social media had an image of Prophet Muhammad. Usually, those who share such images meet violent ends as Islamists have in the past gone on a rampage trying to teach those who “blaspheme” a lesson.

Yet, for The Hindu, the killing of Kishan was not a communal incident until the Vishwa Hindu Parishad came out in support of the victim and called a bandh to protest against his murder. VHP, an organisation that is at the vanguard to fight for the rights of the Hindus, has often been subjected to smear campaigns by left-leaning organisations such as The Hindu in connivance with ‘liberals’ who build a narrative that cast them in a negative light. The recent attempt to accuse them of turning the murder of a Hindu man, who was killed by Islamists over a social media post, is another bid to smear the organisation and blame them for stoking communal passions.

Kishan Bharwad’s murder executed on instructions of two Maulvis, Police identifies the suspects and arrests murderers

While The Hindu found the VHP of communalising the murder of Boliya, it is notable to mention that on Thursday, the Ahmedabad Police arrested two persons and discovered links of two Maulvis in the murder case of 27-year-old Kishan Bharwad on January 25. Kishan was shot dead in Dhandhuka as he along with his cousin, was passing by the Modhwada locality on his two-wheeler.

According to the Zee News Gujarati, the murder was carried out on instructions of two Maulvis, one from Ahmedabad and another one from Mumbai. A Maulvi from the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad had allegedly provided weapons to the murderers and Maulana from Mumbai had given the instructions.

Further reports by News18Gujarat state that the police has formed 7 different teams to investigate the matter. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi reviewed the investigation process by the Police and collected all the details of the case.

‘Go Back China’: Civil society in Nepal protests against growing Chinese interference in the country’s internal affairs

OpIndia Staff
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‘Go Back China’: Civil society in Nepal protests against growing Chinese interference in the country’s internal affairs

On Thursday, the Rashtriya Ekata Abhiyan in Nepal held demonstrations against China in Biratnagar, Morang, Khabarhub. The civil society of Nepal protested against excessive Chinese interference in Nepal’s internal affairs and encroachment of Nepali territory at various places along the northern border.

The members of Rashtriya Ekata Abhiyan marched from Mahendra Chowk to Bhatta Chowk in Biratnagar and raised slogans against Chinese expansion and its undue interference in the top political circle of the country. They also burnt pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the course of the demonstration.

According to the reports, China has imposed an unofficial blockade at border points affecting Nepali traders and has also portrayed apathy towards the Nepali students who are yet to complete their medical degrees from Chinese Universities. Jitendra Yadav, the Morang coordinator of the group, said that they held protests to make the society and the government realize China’s overarching interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.

Since the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019, the country has been witnessing an increasingly assertive Beijing, trying to dictate the political and governmental agenda in Nepal. Reports mention that Nepal is the only country where China wields a certain kind of leverage. However, the situation for China is said to have become difficult after Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli resigned as PM of Nepal in July 2021.

Protests against China has become a regular affair in Nepal. Earlier on January 13, the Rashtriya Ekata Abhiyan had held similar protests and burned pictures of the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanki in Kathmandu. The protesters had chanted slogans against Yanki and demonstrated placards that read ‘Go Back China’.

‘Habitual defaulter’ Navjot Singh Sidhu yet to clear electricity bill since August 2021, owes ₹4.2 lakhs to PSPCL: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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‘Habitual defaulter’ Navjot Singh Sidhu yet to clear electricity bill since August 2021, owes ₹4.2 lakhs to PSPCL: Reports

Ahead of the upcoming Vidhan Sabha polls in Punjab, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has been embroiled in a controversy over the non-payment of electricity dues, reported India Today.

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has issued a pending bill of ₹4,22,330 on January 19 this year. Navjot Singh Sidhu has not paid the electricity bill of his residence in Amristar for the past 6 months. The latest bill issued by the PSPCL also includes surcharge and interest, which have been incurred on the unpaid dues.

Despite defaulting on the payment since August 2021, Sidhu’s electricity connection has remained intact. India Today reported that this is not the first time since he did not pay his bill. In July last year, he created a hullaballoo after PSPCL handed him a bill of ₹8,74,784.

In a tweet of July 4, 2021, Navjot Singh Sidhu had demanded free power supply of up to 300 units to domestic consumers. “Punjab already provides 9000 Crore Subsidy but we must do more for Domestic & Industrial consumer giving power at Rs 3-5 per unit instead of surcharge inflated Rs 10-12 per unit, along with 24-hour supply with No Power-Cuts & Free Power (Upto 300 Units)…It is definitely achievable,” the Punjab Congress chief wrote.

The BJP has questioned Sidhu on his doublespeak. BJP leader Vineet Joshi slammed, “Navjot Sidhu, on one hand, is raising the issue of losses caused by the mafias to the state exchequer and is looting his own government on the other. He is a defaulter and the PSPCL is not daring to disconnect his power connection due to his influence.”

NRI sister makes serious allegations against Navjot Singh Sidhu

On Friday (January 28), Sidhu’s sister Suman Tur alleged that he had thrown her and their mother out of home in 1986 after the death of their father. Weeping inconsolably, Tur revealed the heart-rending tale of how their mother was “left to die unattended by her son, after the demise of her beloved husband.” Their mother died at Delhi railway station unattended in 1989, Tur claimed.

“We have endured harsh situations. My mother was in the hospital for four months. I have documentary evidence to back my claims,” Tur said. Calling Sidhu a “cold-blooded person”, Tur, an NRI and US citizen, alleged that her brother did not even bother to offer condolences after the tragic death in an accident of his eldest sister and other family members. She urged the public to seek answers from Sidhu on the matter.

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