Home Blog Page 3638

Netherlands: Police dog mauls protester as a demonstration against lockdown orders turns violent

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Netherlands: Police dog mauls protester as a demonstration against lockdown orders turns violent

On January 3, visuals of anti-lockdown protests in the Netherlands went viral as a police dog was seen mauling a protester. Thousands of protesters had joined the demonstrations against lockdown. As the demonstrations went violent, the Police charged the protesters with batons to disperse the crowd.

In a video shared by Guerrilla Reporters, the police dog could be seen mauling an unmasked protester while police officials looked on. The video has so far gathered over 10 million views on Twitter. The man who was being mauled by the dog cried for help and tried to get away from the dog only to fall down on the street face forward.

The dog handler was seen using the baton he was holding to hit near the place where the dog was biting the man, but the dog refused to let go of the protester.

Several other videos and images shared on social media platforms show that the Police used force against the protesters who were demonstrating against the strict lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Notably, an emergency ordinance was passed by Femke Halsema, mayor of Amsterdam, that allowed the Police to clear the site around central Museum Square where the protesters had gathered.

Reports suggest that at least 30 people were detained after the scuffle between the Police and the protesters. Four officers were injured as well.

This is not the first time the Netherlands has seen violent clashes against the lockdowns. In November, when the country introduced partial lockdowns, the protests against the orders had turned violent. The current orders issued on December 19 last year further tightened the lockdown and imposed closure of all but essential services. Restaurants, gyms, museums, and other public places have been shut since then. The orders would stay enforced until at least January 14.

Covid-19 in the Netherlands

According to World Health Organization’s data, the Netherlands has so far reported over 30 lakhs Covid-19 cases. Over 20,000 people have lost their lives. The country that has around 1.7 crore population had reported the highest number of cases at 1,55,734 on November 22 last year. The Netherlands has so far administered 2.6 crores doses of Covid-19 vaccine with over 69% of population fully vaccinated.

Karnataka: Ex-Congress MLA’s family member arrested for ISIS links, cousin had fled to Syria in 2016

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Karnataka: Ex-Congress MLA’s family member arrested for ISIS links, cousin had fled to Syria in 2016

On January 3, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided the residence of BM Basha, son of renowned Kannada writer and former Ullal MLA late B M Idinabba. The agency arrested Basha’s daughter-in-law, Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepthi Marlah alias Maryam into custody for alleged links to the terrorist organization ISIS. Basha resides at Mastikatte village near Mangaluru, Karnataka.

NIA Deputy SP Krishna Kumar led the team and searched the house. Several documents were seized by the security agency. NIA secured her remand at a local court in Mangalore and took her to New Delhi for further questioning.

In a statement, NIA said, “Today, NIA in co-operation with Karnataka Police arrested one ISIS operative Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepthi Marla alias Maryam w/o Anas Abdul Rahiman R/o Mangalore….”

It is noteworthy that NIA had raided the same house in August and arrested Ammar, cousin of Anas Abdul Rahiman, for his alleged ISIS links. NIA had interrogated Mariam at that time but did not detain her. Reports suggest in the last five months, the security agency gathered enough evidence against her to initiate an arrest for suspected ISIS links.

News18 quoted a senior Karnataka Police officer saying, “Mariam alias Deepthi Marla was in touch with an ISIS member Ajmals, a granddaughter of late Idinabba. Ajmala is Idinabba’s daughter’s daughter. She happens to be her cousin. Ajmala fled to Syria a few years ago, and she is believed to be a hardcore ISIS member.”

He further added Mariam was a Hindu before she got married to Basha. “She is from a well off family. Her name is Deepthi Marla. She has studied in the UAE. She was attracted towards Islam there, married a Muslim from her native place and converted later.”

NIA stated that the arrests were made in connection to a case registered in March 2021. The investigation agency had arrested one Mohammed Ameen alias Abu Yahya and two associates, Dr Rahees Rasheed and Mus’Hab Anwar. Later in August 2021, four more people were arrested, including Ammar. NIA also arrested two women from Kerala in the same month who were planning to join ISIS in West Asia.

As per an Indian Express report, NIA said, “During the investigation, it has been revealed that after the decline of ISIS Caliphate in Syria/Iraq, Deepthi Marla and Mohd. Ameen had visited Kashmir in January and March 2020 for Hijrah (religious migration) and for engaging in terrorist acts and supporting the activities of ISIS. The investigation has also revealed that Deepthi Marla was the kingpin of the instant ISIS conspiracy along with Mohd Ameen.”

So far, NIA has arrested 11 people for allegedly raising funds, radicalizing and motivating people to join the terrorist organization ISIS. Ammar’s niece Ajmala is believed to be one of 13 people from Kasaragod, Kerala, who had fled the country to join ISIS in 2016. As per the charge sheet filed by NIA in 2017, Ajmala and her husband Shifas KP left India in May 2016 and joined IS in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Around that time, a total of 21 people had fled the country from Kerala to join IS.

As per the suo motu case registered by NIA last year, Mohammed Ameen and his associates were running propaganda channels on social media platforms including Instagram, Hoop and Telegram to recruit people to ISIS.

Pakistan: Jamaat-e-Islami leader calls for Ummah unity to solve the ‘Kashmir issue’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pakistan: Jamaat-e-Islami leader calls for Ummah unity to solve the ‘Kashmir issue’

Pakistan Jammat-e-Islami Leader Sirajul Haq has reiterated his stand that a united Ummah could decisively solve the problem of Kashmir and Palestine. On December 30, Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami had organised an ‘Islamic Unity Conference’ in Lahore where a delegation of leaders from Iran was also invited.

Speaking to the Iranian leaders, Haq pointed that Kashmir and Palestine were two important issues before the Islamic world. He also suggested a strategic economic partnership between the Islamic world and that all Muslim countries should have a shared defence programme.

“The unity of the Ummah is the solution to all problems. The problems of Kashmir and Palestine can be solved immediately if the Islamic countries raise their voice with full force,” said Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul-Haq.

Reportedly, Haq also called for a unified economic market for neighbouring Islamic countries, stating that Pakistan and neighbouring Islamic countries should form an economic market together. He also further advocated that the curriculum of the Islamic world should be uniform and there should be a joint defence force.

This is not the first time when the Jamaat-E-Islami has invoked the International brotherhood of Islam for the ‘Liberation’ of Kashmir. According to a report from May 2021 by a Pakistani news agency The News, Sirajul Haq had said that Netanyahu and Modi were involved in the genocide of Muslims and they should be tried as ‘war criminals’ at International Criminal Court.

During the same meeting of the central leadership of Jammat leaders in Mansoora, he called for ‘Ummah unity’ which according to him was the “only roadmap to the liberation of Palestine and Kashmir from the illegal occupation of Israel and India.”

Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist political party that is based in Pakistan, is the Pakistani successor to Jamaat-e-Islami, which was founded in colonial India in 1941. Founded by Abul Ala Maududi in Lahore, The Jamaat-e-Islami was split into Jamaat-e-Islami(Hind) and Pakistan soon after the partition. Earlier in an OpIndia report, we had revealed how the organisation is receiving funds from Saudi Arabia universities to spread radical Islam in the country.

Ghar Wapsi in Samastipur: Man reconverts to Hinduism from Islam after 15 years

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Ghar Wapsi in Samastipur: Man reconverts to Hinduism from Islam after 15 years

A unique case of religious ‘re-conversion’ has come to light in Samastipur, Bihar. Here a young man has returned to his old religion (Hinduism) after a span of 15 years. His name is Mohammad Abdullah. Now he has become the old Umesh Rai. Angered by the decision of the Panchayat, the youth has changed his religion.

The incident is from Bherokhara village of Tajpura police station area of ​​the district Samastipur. Locals told that 15 years ago, Umesh Rai had left Hinduism and converted to Islam. He renamed himself as Abdullah. As he has now come back to his original religion, all of them are happy after his decision.

Umesh said, “Recently there was a fight with one of my neighbors named Riyaz. He tried to kill me. After this we called a panchayat in the village to look into the issue. On the contrary, instead of considering him as the culprit, the panchayat acquitted him and convicted me of other charges. Hurt by this, I made up my mind to return to Hinduism and returned to my home religion on Saturday in the presence of hundreds of people.”

The villagers organized a Ghar Wapsi program at the Kali temple in the village. In this, Mohammed Abdullah was first tonsured. After taking a holy bath, as per Hindu customs, he was made to return to Hinduism by giving Paag and Janeu.

Umesh converted to Islam 15 years ago

On his conversion to Islam 15 years ago, Umesh said, ‘I had come in contact with a person. He constantly motivated and persuaded me to convert to Muslim religion. Told many things, inspired by his words, I decided to convert to Islam my. After many incidents in these 15 years, I realized that those people did not consider me as their own from heart.’

In his words, ‘All the people together had made up their mind that the incident needs not be disclosed. They planned my murder but I anyhow escaped. There no one helped us and everyone supported Riyaz. I Slept at someone else’s place for two days. Initially even my wife did not listen to me. later we ran away from there. I have come back home from my heart. My life is still in danger. I request local administration to provide security to me and my family.’

Former Shia Waqf Board chief Wasim Rizvi reverted to Hinduism by renouncing Islam

Former Shia Waqf Board chief Wasim Rizvi reverted to Hinduism recently in the presence of Mahant Yati Narasinghanand Giri at Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad. Rizvi was welcomed back into the faith of his ancestors in a series of rituals, after which he was named Jitendra Narayan Swami. It is notable here that Indian Muslims had been Hindus once. Most of them had been forcefully converted into Islam during the centuries of Islamic invasion and Mughal rule.

Indore: Protesters booked for demonstrating against the arrest of Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Indore: Protesters booked for demonstrating against the arrest of Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj

A group of 50 unidentified protesters were booked in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore for demonstrating in support of Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj, who was arrested last week for his purportedly derogatory remarks against MK Gandhi during a speech at an event on December 26 in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

As per reports, the protests, which was held on Sunday, also saw people chanting slogans in support of Nathuram Godse besides calling for the release of Kalicharan Maharaj.

“Close to 50 unidentified Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and Bajrang Sena activists on Sunday carried out a protest and raised slogans at Regal Square without the administration’s permission. They then advanced towards to the police commissionerate to submit a memorandum on Kalicharan Maharaj’s arrest,” said Savita Choudhary, police in charge of Choti Gwaltoli police station.

The police official informed that the unidentified protesters were booked for violating the prohibitory order issued by the district collector which forbids rallies, processions and dharnas in public places without the prior permission of the administration.

“An FIR has been registered against the protestors for violation of this order under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant),” the police officer said.

However, Choudhary said she was not aware of whether the protesters shouted slogans praising Nathuram Godse.

Raipur court denies bail to Kalicharan Maharaj in sedition case

Meanwhile, a Raipur Court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Kalicharan Maharaj who was arrested under charges of sedition.  He has been remanded to judicial custody until January 13 upon his arrest.

On December 30, Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj was arrested by the Chhattisgarh Police from Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. He was staying at Wagheshwar Dham from where he was arrested.

Kalicharan Maharaj was reportedly arrested for his alleged remarks during ‘Dharma Sansad’ in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on December 26. In his comments, he criticized Gandhi for India’s partition and hailed Nathuram Godse for killing Gandhi. After the video of his speech went viral, Awhad approached Naupada police and filed a complaint against Kalicharan Maharaj. A case was filed based on the complaint under Sections 294, 295A, 298, 505(2) and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code. Another complaint against him was filed by Pramod Dubey of the State Congress Committee at Tikrapara Police Station and Civil Lines Police Station. 

‘Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai’: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath slams ‘accidental Hindu’ Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai’: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath slams ‘accidental Hindu’ Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

Yogi Adityanath, speaking at a public event in Amethi, slammed Rahul Gandhi for his veiled ‘Hinduism vs Hindutva’ jibes while emphatically telling his audience to be proud of being a Hindu. “We are Indians and Hindus are our cultural identity. Say proudly that we are Hindus,” the Chief Minister said, amidst a loud cheer, adding that he has no qualms in declaring that he is a proud Hindu. Amethi was previously a Congress stronghold that Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani in the 2019 election.

Yogi Adityanath further added that the sense of Hinduism does not divide on the basis of caste and religion. This is our cultural identity which if these people (in an obvious reference to the Congress) had attempted to recognise then India would not have been split in the year 1947.

Yogi Adityanath then went on to say that the Congress party’s greed and lust for power have wrecked the country and ripped it of its glory. To imprison the Hindus of the country, they (Congress) solicited the enactment of Article 370 in Kashmir, halted the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, lobbied for the demolition of the Ram Setu, also brought the anti-communal law. Except during election season, when they hurry to identify themselves as Hindus, they have always toyed with the Hindu beliefs, said Yogi.

Continuing his no-holds-barred attack on the Gandhi scion, the Uttar Pradesh CM went on to call him an ‘accidental Hindu’. He said that Rahul Gandhi ‘election tourist’ who does not even know how to sit in a temple.

“Former MP from Amethi (in an obvious reference to Rahul Gandhi) doesn’t even know how to sit in a temple. In 2017, during the Gujarat elections, the former MP from Amethi went to a mandir and sat on his knees to offer puja. The priest of the temple he had visited had to teach him how to sit. When he told him to fold his legs and sit the former MP replied that he was not aware of how he should be sitting. The priest had to remind him that he had visited a mandir, not a masjid. At least learn the basics before preaching about Hinduism and Hindutva”, quipped Yogi Adityanath.

“If those who lack a basic understanding of rituals begin disseminating erroneous information about Hindutva and Hindutva, it can only be interpreted as a lack of intelligence”, said Yogi.

“Those who have always accepted divisive politics, disintegration, and division as part of their genes, whose forefathers used to declare we are Hindus by chance, they cannot call themselves Hindus,” the CM remarked.

Yogi Adityanath’s attack on Rahul Gandhi comes after the Congress leader’s recent rants in which he sought to emphasise the distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva.

Before NDTV journalist Vishnu Som rushes to cast aspersions on the shelf life extension to Covaxin, he should read his own channel’s report: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Before NDTV journalist Vishnu Som rushes to cast aspersions on the shelf life extension to Covaxin, he should read his own channel’s report: Details

Besides their penchant for peddling fake news, NDTV and its journalists are also notorious for indulging in faux outrage in their bid to target the Modi government. Recently, NDTV Vishnu Som took to Twitter to cast aspersions on the shelf life of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

Som quoted a tweet by a user who had shared a picture of a letter extending the shelf life of COVID-19 vaccines to insinuate that children in schools are being experimented upon by administering them with expired stocks of Covaxin doses.

“So my son went to get his first vaccine, the drive for kids begin today and realized that the vaccine had already expired in November. Then a letter was shown wherein it seems the shelf life has been extended!! How, why, on what basis? To clear stock you experiment on kids?” the tweet by Navanita Varadpande read, along with the picture of the aforementioned letter.

Without checking the veracity of her claims, Som presumptuously reacted to her allegations by quoting her tweet and asking Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya if the formal notification clearing expired vaccines for use on children could be released.

NDTV journalist rushes to cast aspersions on Covaxin, gets reminded of extension of shelf life
Source: Twitter

As it turns out, the extension of the shelf life of Covaxin from 6 months to 12 months was not a recent phenomenon. It took place more than two months ago, in the first week of November 2021, after the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India’s national regulatory body for drugs, granted Covaxin the approval of an extension of shelf life based on “additional data” accessed by it.

“This approval is based on the availability of additional stability data, which was submitted to CDSCO. The shelf life extension has been communicated to our stakeholders,” Bharat Biotech said in a statement issued then.

And more importantly, NDTV was one of the media organisations that covered the news about the extension granted to Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine. The report on NDTV was published on November 3, 2021, exactly two months ago.

Yet, in his haste to attack the central government and accuse them of compromising the health of the country’s children, Som did not bother to check reports published by his own media organisation to ascertain if the allegations peddled by the Twitter user held water. Instead, he recklessly propagated her unfounded fears that the government was palming off their expired vaccines by extending the shelf life of Covaxin.

Netizens take a dig at NDTV journalist for casting aspersions against Centre without checking reports published by his own organisation

Many social media users were quick to remind Som that the extension of shelf life for Covaxin was already granted and the news about it was also covered by his own organisation. Some of them took a swipe at the NDTV journalist for not trusting his own organisation which they claimed was prone to spreading fake news and misinformation.

The vaccination for children in the age group 15 to 18 has started from today, i.e January 3, 2022. PM Modi, in his address to the nation on December 25, 2021, announced that vaccination against COVID-19 for children belonging to the age group of 15 to 18 will start from January 3 while precautionary COVID-19 dose for frontline and healthcare workers will commence from January 10, 2022.

From rolling back of Char Dham law to Modi’s pat on the back: How Uttarakhand CM might be paving the way for BJP’s return

OpIndia Staff
-
0
From rolling back of Char Dham law to Modi’s pat on the back: How Uttarakhand CM might be paving the way for BJP’s return

As the state inches closer towards the much-awaited Assembly elections, the majority of the opinion polls have predicted that the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to retain power this year’s tight electoral contest in the hilly state of Uttarakhand.

The BJP, on its part, is also leaving no stone unturned to retain the power in the state. During his recent visit to Kedarnath Dham PM Modi inaugurated several development projects there. Recently, when PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 17,500 crore in Haldwani in Uttarakhand, he said that this decade belonged to Uttarakhand.

Lately, in the state of Uttrakhand, everything appears to be falling into place and in the BJP’s favour. Prior to March 2021, however, the scenario in the state was not so favourable for the incumbent BJP government. The sadhus and saints, whose feelings and emotions are crucial in this Char Dham state, appeared outraged. Alongside, rebellious voices began to emerge within the party. at this time, Uttarakhand witnessed a change of Chief Minister, resulting in a large churn in the Uttarakhand BJP. Trivendra Singh Rawat was replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat in March 2021.

One element that worked in the BJP’s favour was that both Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tirath Singh Rawat were affiliated with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), therefore there was neither any conflict and nor was any development projects stalled as a result of the change of leadership in Uttarakhand.

Despite this, the situation seemed to be quite grim for the BJP government in the state. Speculations were rife that changing Uttarakhand CM may spell trouble for BJP in elections.

The situation reached Maharashtra’s Governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who previously served as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and is one of the state’s most senior figures. He also met with a group of BJP legislators to discuss the issue. The Congress in the state had suddenly become pro-active, openly criticising numerous BJP officials in the state.

It may be noted that Uttarakhand is a state where the OBC community, as well as Brahmins and Rajputs, are politically significant.

Even though the opposition did not accuse the BJP of corruption in the state during this time, it was alleged that the bureaucracy was acting arbitrarily and that BJP workers/leaders were unable to get any job done for the public. In such a situation, CM Tirath Singh Rawat’s controversial remark over ‘ripped jeans’ had added salt to BJP’s injuries in the state. Additionally, in July 2021, since Tirath Singh Rawat could not become a member of the Uttarakhand Assembly, which he needed to within 6 months of becoming the CM, he resigned citing “constitutional crisis”. Until this time, he couldn’t even quell the sages’ and saints’ anger with the ‘Char Dham Devasthanam Board.’

Latest polls show BJP getting an edge in Uttarakhand Assembly polls, CM Dhami the first choice

On January 2, Times Now Navbharat conducted a survey in which BJP emerged as a clear winner in the upcoming 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly polls. According to the projections, BJP will comfortably acquire 42-48 seats in the 70-member house. The Congress is estimated to finish a distant second with 12 to 16 seats and AAP, managing just to make its entry in the assembly with four to seven seats. The high point of the survey was, however, something different.

The highlight of the survey was that when the respondents were asked about the most preferred CM, Uttrakhand’s incumbent CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who took charge of the post merely 6 months ago, emerged to be the favourite. Almost 40.15% of the respondents predicted that Dhami would return as the CM of Uttrakhand. Interestingly, 73-year-old Congress bigwig Harish Rawat, who has been ignored by the party leadership, remains to be the second choice, with 25.89% of respondents still putting the weight behind him for the next CM of Uttarakhand. Surprisingly, his own party isn’t betting on him and has even issued angry statements against the high leadership.

AAP has entered the fray with Colonel Ajay Kothiyal as their CM candidate, but sadly only 14.25% felt that he might have a chance and make it to the CM position in the Uttarakhand polls.

What changed for BJP in the state of Uttarakhand

Maximum people were of the opinion that for the ruling BJP, changing three chief ministers within a span of four months in Uttarakhand may prove to be its Achilles’ heel in the 2022 assembly election. Then, what changed for BJP. First and foremost, the newly appointed CM of Uttarakhand- Pushkar Singh Dhami. Although he is the state’s youngest Chief Minister, the people of the state have known his name for a long time. Yes, he hasn’t been in the news in a few years. Dhami, 46, rose to prominence 20 years ago today as an ‘Officer on Special Duty’ and advisor to then-Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, who graduated from Lucknow University with an LLB degree, was elected state president of the BJP Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in 2008. During this time, he is credited with securing 70 per cent reservations for local youngsters in the state’s industry. He was previously affiliated with the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)’. In such a situation, Dhami, a resident of Tundi village in Kumaon’s Pithoragarh district, has been involved with the state from the start. His ancestors came from the village of Harkhola in this district.

Dhami represents Udham Singh Nagar’s Khatima Assembly Constituency. For the second time in a row, he has won from this position and will now attempt a hat-trick. Though he never held any ministerial office before becoming Chief Minister, he garnered a lot of support from the state’s students, which he is currently reaping the benefits of. Clearly, this favours the BJP as well. He is not even a name that the general public is unfamiliar with, having been prominent in student/youth politics since the 1990s.

What changed for the BJP in the state? The decisions that raised hopes for the upcoming election

The popularity of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami among the state’s youth went on to become the first major factor working in the BJP’s favour. The second and one of the most crucial points was that he managed to cater to the grievances of Sadhus in the state by rolling back the ‘Chardham Devasthanam Management Act.’ Hindu activists and the priests of the Chardham have been objecting to the board’s formation, seeing it as an infringement on their rights, and have been calling for its abolition.

Hindus were overjoyed with the ruling. This is why, when PM Modi arrived here after the reconstruction of Kedarnath to inaugurate development projects and the Shankaracharya statue, nearly all of the state’s great Sadhus and saints were present on the occasion.

Dhami managed to turn the tables in his govt’s favour by taking the timely decision sensing the mood of the public, otherwise, Congress had tried its best to foment trouble for the BJP by proclaiming that it would disband the board as soon as it acquired power. But his efficient management and strategy seized the opportunity from Congress’ hands. This timely decision helped PM Modi’s dream project to be completed without a hitch, and the popular outrage in Rudraprayag subsided, apart from Uttarkashi and Chamoli. The BJP received a timely boost from this judgement.

Recently, during the BJP rally at the Parade Ground in Dehradun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen patting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the back and placing his hand on his shoulder. Though PM Modi had already lauded CM Dhami in Kedarnath, the message of PM Modi’s hand on his shoulders in the Dehradun rally, however, made it clear that he is pleased with CM Dhami’s tenure thus far.

This gesture had made people believe that PM Modi sent a similar message to BJP leaders in Uttarakhand as he had in Uttar Pradesh when he had similarly patted Yogi Adityanath, who had then gone on to become the CM face of BJP in Uttar Pradesh. The relevance of this gesture will be discussed in the near term due to the importance of symbols in politics.

The third major point is that the BJP’s internal turmoil has ceased, whilst the Congress-AAP is in jeopardy. Defection is common during elections, yet it does little to affect the BJP. Although AAP’s functioning state president joined the Congress, and BJP leader Yashpal Arya joined the party with his son Sanjeev, these decisions were made for personal reasons, and the BJP is unlikely to suffer a loss.

The BJP has appointed Prahlad Joshi, who is in charge of the coal and mining department, in charge of the party in Uttarakhand, in addition to parliamentary affairs at the centre. He has stated unequivocally that the party will run for office under the leadership of Pushkar Singh Dhami and will return to power in 2022. He stated that the party has no doubts about Pushkar Singh Dhami and that he will stay as Chief Minister. Farmers’ wrath has lessened as a result of the repeal of agricultural rules, therefore the BJP has no significant obstacles.

Furthermore, while Pushkar Singh Dhami’s ideas are occasionally discussed, they do not cause any problem within the party. Dhami has also established himself as a popular CM, having lately played cricket with BJYM leaders.

Besides, PM Modi’s promotion of the game, interacting with players and boosting their morale, the establishment of the ‘Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut and BJP’s ‘Sankalp Yatra’ that began in Dehradun, are all in line with Dhami’s strategy that is clearly working in his favour.

Dhami further, with his presence of mind, managed to put media speculations, about the resignation of party senior leader Harak Singh Rawat, to rest. For a while, there were speculations that there was discontent in the party ranks and Uttarakhand BJP’s senior leader Harak Singh Rawat was in touch with the Congress and was likely to join the party after resigning from BJP. This speculation too, was skillfully, put to rest by Dhami when he tweeted a picture of himself and Rawat having food together at his residence after a meeting on December 26.

The media propaganda was soon busted when after the dinner, Harak Singh Rawat went on to call Dhami his younger brother.

The question now is whether Dhami, like this ‘damage control,’ would help the BJP get a larger majority in Uttarakhand. That’s what the data and projections at least reflect.

SC dismisses WB govt’s plea to initiate criminal proceedings against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari

OpIndia Staff
-
0
SC dismisses WB govt’s plea to initiate criminal proceedings against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal against the Calcutta High Court order that had earlier stayed criminal proceedings launched by the West Bengal government against BJP MLA and leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

An LPA (letter patent appeal) was submitted before the Supreme Court by Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, on behalf of the State of Bengal after the Calcutta HC refused to interfere with a single bench order in favour of Adhikari in December 2021.

“We will not entertain this for the simple reason that the order of the single judge was challenged under Article 136 before us. We have dealt with the challenge on merits. Where is the question of going in an LPA when you have argued everything before us in SLP?…” observed justice DY Chandrachud. Earlier Justice Rajasekhar Mantha had issued a stay order on proceedings initiated against Adhikari when a hoard of cases was registered against him after he left the TMC. Suvendu Adhikari was granted protection from police arrest by Calcutta High Court which was affirmed by the Supreme Court on December 13, 2021.

The BJP leader has been on the target of the TMC-led government and the state after he parted ways with Mamata Banerjee to join the BJP. His convoy was attacked during his campaign by Trinamool party workers. After his win over Mamata in Nandigram, post-poll violence had erupted with an attack on his car in Haldia. After a prolonged threat to his life, The Calcutta HC had assured that the security of the BJP MLA lies on the shoulders of the state while asking the state government to reinstate his security cover.

Infighting in Punjab Congress continues, Deputy CM Randhawa claims Navjot Singh Sidhu is upset with him

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Infighting in Punjab Congress continues, Deputy CM Randhawa claims Navjot Singh Sidhu is upset with him

As the polling season comes ahead, a rift in Punjab Congress seems to be growing. Punjab Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said in a press conference on Monday that Navjot Singh Sidhu is upset with him ever since he became the chief minister of Punjab.

“Sidhu has some problem. I share old relations with his family. But he has been upset with me ever since I became the home minister. If Sidhu wants the home ministry, then I will put it at his feet in a minute,” Randhawa was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The ambiguity over Congress’s CM face in Punjab and the distribution of tickets have added to the ongoing internal chasm within the Punjab Congress. The deputy CMs statement comes amid growing discontent over Sidhu interfering anywhere and everywhere and affecting the decision making to his advantage.

Cabinet ministers go public over Sidhu’s interference

Targeting Navjot Singh Sidhu, cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh spoke to Times of India saying “It has been a tradition with the Congress to announce the CM face at the end and the party leadership knows whom to project. It will do at an appropriate time and not at someone’s behest. Sidhu cannot demand that he be made the CM face.”

Commenting on Sidhu’s “Punjab Model”, cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said, “It has always been Congress Model and Congress ideology If someone has an individual opinion, he should discuss it on the party platform. We are soldiers of the party first. Sidhu will have to learn the culture of the Congress party. When it is collective leadership, then the decision on party candidates should also be collective.”

Punjab Advocate General accuses Sidhu of obstructing government functioning

APS Deol, the Advocate General of Punjab, had previously accused Navjot Singh Sidhu of attempting to obstruct the functioning of the state government and the office of the Advocate General. He said in a statement, “His repeated utterances seek to derail the earnest efforts of the state government to ensure justice in the Drugs matter and the Sacrilege cases. Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu is spreading misinformation to gain political advantage over his political colleagues.”

Punjab has been in a state of chaos ever since Sidhu was made the chief of the Punjab Congress. Captain Amarinder Singh resigned as Chief Minister alleging that he had been humiliated by the party and dubbed Navjot Singh Sidhu as a national security threat. Later, Amarinder Singh floated his own political party for the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls.

1...3,6373,6383,639...7,647Page 3,638 of 7,647