Home Blog Page 439

Second ordnance factory employee arrested by UP ATS for leaking information to Pakistan, was honey-trapped by ISI agent using the name Neha Sharma

ANI
-
0
Second ordnance factory employee arrested by UP ATS for leaking information to Pakistan, was honey-trapped by ISI agent using the name Neha Sharma

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has made another arrest in connection with the alleged sharing of confidential and sensitive documents from an ordnance factory with a suspected Pakistani agent, said police on Wednesday.

The arrest follows a previous detention of Ravindra Kumar, an employee at the Ordnance Factory in Firozabad, who was found to be conspiring with a woman named Neha Sharma, an alleged Pakistani agent, to share critical documents.

According to the Police, the latest arrest involves Vikas Kumar, an employee at the Ordnance Factory in Kanpur. The police claim that Kumar was also in contact with Neha Sharma and was providing her with confidential and important documents related to the factory’s operations.

“On March 13, Ravindra Kumar, working in Ordnance Factory Firozabad, was arrested by ATS Uttar Pradesh, who was conspiring with alleged Pakistani agent Neha Sharma and sharing confidential and important sensitive information/documents of Ordnance Factory,” police said in a statement.

“In this sequence, ATS Uttar Pradesh received intelligence that Kumar Vikas working in Ordnance Factory, Kanpur, is also connected with the said alleged Pakistani agent Neha Sharma and is providing confidential information and documents of Ordnance Factory to the alleged Pakistani agent through WhatsApp. A case has been registered and the accused is being arrested and further action is being taken,” added the Police statement.

Earlier, Additional Director General (ADG) UP ATS Nilabja Choudhary following the arrest of Ravindra Kumar had said that the accused, working at the Ordnance Factory in Hazratpur, district Firozabad, was called to ATS headquarters in Lucknow and arrested following a detailed interrogation.

The official further added that the accused, Kumar, passed the sensitive defence-related documents to a woman handler identified as ‘Neha,’ a Pakistani intelligence operative.

“ATS UP and their associate agencies got information that there is a person named Ravindra Kumar who was sharing different confidential and sensitive information with his Pak ISI handler. So, working on this, our Agra unit did a preliminary interrogation of Ravindra Kumar, and he was called to ATS headquarters for a detailed interrogation, where it was proved that he shared very sensitive information through a handler named Neha,” ADG Choudhary said while speaking to reporters here.

“This ISI module has been around for a long time,” ADG Choudhary said. The official added that during the interrogation, it was discovered that the accused occasionally shared the information with the said handler.

“They honeytrap people and extract information from them, which poses a huge threat to national security. So, while interrogating him, we found out that he shared information with the said handler from time to time, which included the daily production report of the said Ordnance Factory (in which he was working) and the receipt of stores, other documents of criminal circulation, the stock that is about to arrive, the requisition, all were shared…,” ADG Choudhary added.

ADG Choudhary also requested all sensitive institutions to maintain a minimum level of security checks on their employees.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

100% running rooms are air conditioned, areas associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to be connected with Bharat Gaurav Circuit Yatra: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

OpIndia Staff
-
0
100% running rooms are air conditioned, areas associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to be connected with Bharat Gaurav Circuit Yatra: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

On Wednesday (19th March), Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that all 558 loco pilot running rooms are now 100% air-conditioned, and 1,100 locomotives have toilets for women loco pilots. Notably, running rooms are lodging facilities of Indian Railways where loco pilots, guards and other crew members rest after completing their duty or while waiting for the start of their duty.

“I would like to tell you, the running room where the loco pilots come and rest after completing their duty, today all 558 running rooms are 100% air-conditioned, today 1,100 locomotives have toilets for women loco pilots,” the Minister said.

The minister further stated that the chair car version of Vande Bharat is for a journey of 350 to 600 kilometres and that most of the states of the country have been connected with Vande Bharat, where its service is running.

He also said that all the areas associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be connected with Bharat Gaurav Circuit Yatra.  

The Railways Minister also said that railway tracks across the country are kept vacant for a few hours every day for maintenance to ensure a safer travel for the passengers. “Due to the continuous running of trains, microfractures occur in the track. IIT Bombay did research and prepared a timetable, after which the track is maintained by applying 3-hour blocks in every section. For this, some trains were stopped and stoppages were also reduced,” he said.

On 18th March, Minister Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that after independence, till 2014, 125 km of tunnels were built in India’s railway network, from 2014 till today, 460 km of new tunnels have been built and this is a matter of pride. “The world has acknowledged the strength of India’s engineers and self-reliant India, Modi ji’s vision,” Vaishnaw said.

Lauding the punctuality of the divisions in Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “I would like to inform you with great pleasure that out of our 68 divisions, there are 49 divisions whose punctuality is more than 80%. What is even more proud is that there are 12 divisions where punctuality has reached 95%.”

Highlighting the shift in ratio of general and sleeper coaches and AC coaches, the Railways Minister said that it has become 70:30 from being two third-one third.

“I want to make it very clear that today the total coach fleet has 56 thousand general and sleeper coaches and only 23 thousand AC coaches. The ratio which was earlier two third-one third has shifted to 70:30 today,” he said.

Informing about the Holi special trains being run, the Minister said, “1,107 special trains are running during Holi this year. Apart from this, many permanent steps are also being taken. Permanent holding areas are being created at 60 stations, access control is being made permanent.”

Bombay HC slams Thane Municipal Corporation for inaction against illegal mosque and prayer hall, orders demolition after Ramzan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bombay HC slams Thane Municipal Corporation for inaction against illegal mosque and prayer hall, orders demolition after Ramzan

On 10th March, the Bombay High Court came down heavily on the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for failing to demolish an illegal mosque and prayer hall despite prior court orders. The court asserted that it is imperative to instil in citizens the understanding that violations of the law will not be tolerated. The order was reserved on 5th March and pronounced on 10th March.

The illegal structure in question was constructed without municipal approval on encroached land that is reportedly owned by New Shri Swami Samarth Borivade Housing Company Private Limited. The court, on 27th January, directed the municipal body to demolish it. However, the body failed to fully implement the order.

A bench comprising Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata dismissed the corporation’s justification for the delay. The court emphasised the need for strict enforcement of the law. Notably, the corporation had informed the court that, due to protests by local Muslims, it was unable to execute the order. The court underscored that in a democratic country, no organisation or individual has the right to defy or oppose the law.

Court warns against defiance of legal authority

The bench made it clear that law enforcement authorities are bound by the duty to ensure compliance with the nation’s legal framework. The court said, “In such circumstances, the law enforcers must make such person/persons/Association abide by the law of the land. It is also necessary for the law enforcers to imbibe in the minds of the citizens that the violation of law and/or opposition to the implementation of the law by the State will not be countenanced and/or tolerated.”

Illegal construction on private land

The dispute revolves around a plot of over 18,000 square metres in Borvada village of Kasarvadavali, which is owned by New Shri Swami Samarth Borivade Housing Company Private Limited. The Ghazi Salauddin Rehmatullah Hoole alias Pardeshi Baba Trust encroached upon 18,122 square metres of land in 2013 and constructed an illegal structure, including the mosque and prayer hall.

The company approached the municipal corporation and requested action against the illegal structure. However, no action was taken, and the company had to approach the High Court for intervention.

Municipal inaction despite court orders

In its defence, the corporation stated that an inspection was conducted on 1st January 2025. It revealed that a 3,600-square-foot single-storey structure containing a prayer hall had been built. The corporation added that on 19th February, ten municipal officers, 65 workers, and several police personnel attempted to demolish the structure. However, a large gathering of protesters obstructed the operation.

The court did not accept the explanation and termed it an excuse. The court questioned why the municipal corporation failed to act when the illegal structure was being built. It noted that the petitioner had raised concerns and corresponded with authorities regarding the illegal construction. The court observed that the municipal body had failed in its duty to strictly enforce the law.

Mosque to be demolished immediately after Ramzan

The court, after reviewing photographic evidence, noted that a significant portion of the structure had already been demolished. It then ordered the complete demolition of the remaining structure immediately after Ramzan. Furthermore, the court warned that any attempts to rebuild the structure should be prevented. The High Court held municipal officials accountable for ensuring full compliance with its orders.

Petrol bombs used in Nagpur violence: The pattern of using this deadly weapon and how it shows Islamist mobs are always prepared, riots pre-planned

Rukma Rathore
-
0
Petrol bombs used in Nagpur violence: The pattern of using this deadly weapon and how it shows Islamist mobs are always prepared, riots pre-planned

Twenty-four hours after violent Muslim mob violence tore apart the heart of Nagpur in Maharashtra on the evening of 17th March, at least 30% of the city continues to be under curfew with a state reserve police force, riot control squad and 1,000 personnel monitoring the “communally sensitive” locations. Even though Hansapuri and Mahal were blocked off owing to the tense atmosphere, an additional 8,000 cops were placed on standby to prevent further unrest. 70 people and 34 cops including 4 DCPs (Deputy Commissioner of Police) were also wounded during the incident.

The violence erupted because of social media-fueled rumours that a copy of the Quran was set on fire during a demonstration by Hindu organizations asking for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. It began in Mahal and Chitnis Park before expanding to various parts of the area. The streets of Nagpur were quickly engulfed in turmoil as thousands of Muslims gathered to demonstrate and yelled Islamic slogans like “Allahu Akbar” and “Labaik-Ya-Rasool-Allah.” They vandalized public property, hurled stones and torched vehicles.

Witnesses reported that the enraged Muslims, armed with petrol bombs also stone-pelted children, indiscriminately attacking all nearby people and property. They further unveiled that the rioters wielded swords, weapons and bottles but concealed their faces. “They came in large numbers. They had big stones and petrol bombs in their hands. They pelted stones, vandalised property and torched vehicles,” disclosed a witness.

Two police cars were set on fire near Geetanjali Chowk in addition to two cranes employed for the ongoing road construction using petrol bombs, reported “The Times of India” as well. The Muslims shouted anti-Hindu slogans and threw communal insults at Hindu police officers. Petrol bombs were also used to injure officers.

Notably, alongside the commonality observed in incidents where trivial matters, or even their absence, are exploited by Islamists eager to demonstrate their street power, the use of petrol bombs has become their preferred method to inflict extensive damage. Alongside stones, swords and other weapons, petrol bombs inexplicably materialize in the possession of the rioting Muslims in order to attack others.

Petrol bombs: How Muslims are always equipped to spread mayhem

The use of petrol bombs by Muslim crowds during similar incidents is a troubling aspect of what is typically characterized as “spontaneous” protests by them. The recent occurrence in Nagpur is also being framed as an immediate reaction to the alleged burning of Quranic verses or copies of the Quran, an unfounded rumour. However, it raises the question of how they acquire weapons and petrol bombs if the violence is purely reactionary and not the result of premeditated planning as they lie in wait for such an opportunity to unleash havoc.

The supporters of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) created chaos on the pretexts of “hartal” and “bandh” after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested several of its members in 2022. They damaged Bharatiya Janata Party’s office in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu while two members of the terrorist outfit reportedly threw petrol bombs at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Kannur’s Mattanur.

Muslims reportedly planned unrest on Diwali night in Vadodara’s Pani Gate neighbourhood that same year. According to Vishva Hindu Parishad Vadodara Mantri Vishnu Prajapati, local Muslim thugs used petrol bombs to disrupt the Diwali festivities. He added that before the attack, the street lights were turned out and Hindus celebrating Diwali were targeted with stones and petrol bombs.

The Mewat region of Haryana experienced increased hostilities after a major event in 2023 in which stones were thrown at the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Religious Yatra in Nuh. The members of the minority community attacked one of the religious procession’s vehicles which soon escalated in a large-scale violence against the Hindu devotees. A police officer revealed that the discovery of thousands of empty soft drink bottles stored in crates and homemade petrol bombs alongside stones, iron rods and wooden sticks on the roofs of homes near the most violent areas suggested that the violence was not impulsive but rather carefully coordinated as part of a “larger conspiracy.”

The unrest in Haldwani of Uttarakhand, which erupted on 8th February of last year after a court-ordered demolition of an unauthorized madrasa located in the predominantly Muslim Banbhoolpura area, also involved the deployment of petrol bombs. Police officers, employees of the Haldwani Municipal Corporation and members of the media were all targeted by petrol bombs. The rioters reportedly took gasoline from motorcycles that were parked on the streets and used it to make these bombs.

On 11th September 2024, stones were thrown at a Ganesh idol close to a dargah in Nagamangala town on Mysuru Road, inciting violence in Karnataka’s Mandya district. Shops were set on fire and curfew was imposed there. Mandya Superintendent of Police (SP) Mallikarjun Baladandi had conveyed, “Investigations will reveal whether petrol bombs and swords were used. For now, Section 144 remains in effect.” Petrol bombs and swords were believed to be utilized duting the unrest.

“I strongly condemn the incident that occurred during the Ganesh immersion procession in Nagamangala, Mandya district. Miscreants from a particular community deliberately instigated violence by targeting devotees who were peacefully participating in the Ganapati procession. They threw stones, sandals and petrol bombs at the public and police and brandished swords, demonstrating a blatant failure of law and order in the town,” Union Minister HD Kumarswami also expressed at the time.

Petrol bombs used during anti-Hindu Delhi riots

The members of the Muslim community have employed petrol bombs in incidents ranging from minor to major. It was, predictably, employed by Muslim radicals and their minions to maximize destruction in the name of anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests.

During a pro-CAA rally organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand in 2020, stones were flung from within the mosque. Cops also sustained injured in the attack. The VHP asserted that petrol bombs and stones were thrown during the demonstration, aiming at both Hindu residences and women. 

The Delhi police told the Delhi High Court in 2020 that the violence at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on 13th and 15th December during anti-CAA agitation was a meticulously planned attack rather than an isolated incident because all of the rioters were well-armed with petrol bombs, stones and lathis. “The said incident was not a sporadic but a well-planned incident, as the rioters were fully armed with stones, lathis, petrol bombs, tube lights, etc., that clearly manifest that the intention of the mob was to disrupt law and order situation in the area,” the crime branch had pointed out.

During the Delhi riots, Hindus were subjected to petrol bombs and gunfire as their homes were set on fire. According to the charge sheet in the murder case of IB employee Ankit Sharma, former Aam Aadmi Party councillor (AAP) and current AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) member Tahir Hussain was on the roof-top throwing stones and petrol bombs at Chand Bagh’s Hindu residents in addition to organizing the disturbances and inciting the Muslim crowds.

According to Pradeep Kumar Verma, a Hindu whose garage was destroyed by Tahir Hussain and other Islamists including Shah Alam, Gulfam and Riyasat Ali initially broke through the gate of his parking lot, burned and damaged cars, and stole between ₹20,000 and ₹25,000. During this time, Tahir Hussain and others, including Liyakat Ali, were hurling petrol bombs and stones onto the parking lot and encouraging others to follow suit.

The sequence of events was further reinforced by Surendra Singh, another witness who was at Pradeep’s parking spot and gave his statement to the police. He also noted that Tahir Hussain was hurling petrol bombs and stones at the parking area.

Startling details regarding the Nagpur riots

The ruthless mob did not even hesitate to target women officials. Concerning information that surfaced included the assault on two women cops, one of whom was pinned down by stone-pelters in a small alley in Bhaldarpura and her uniform was ripped. She was groped but managed to escape her assaulters. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anita More, another officer, was attacked with stones and confined in a bylane.

A 15-year-old juvenile reportedly utilized an axe to attack Zonal DCP Niketan Kadam, at Hansapuri. The assailant was aiming for his neck, but he was able to intercept the blow with his hand. However, he endured serious injuries and underwent emergency surgery at New Era Hospital. During the riots, over 50 vehicles including two JCBs, were set on fire and vandalized. According to sources, Vikas Kumar Jha, the assistant commandant of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was subjected to severe stone-throwing while traveling through Bhagwagar Chowk. His official Scorpio vehicle sustained significant damage. While attempting to separate two groups of stone-pelters, two homeguards were almost lynched at the spot.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remarked, “In Nagpur, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal held protests. Rumours were spread that things containing religious content were burnt. It looks like a well-planned attack. No one has permission to take law and order into their hands.” Eknath Shinde, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, also called the occurrence a “planned conspiracy.”

Aftermath of the Nagpur violence

On 18th March, police filed six formal complaints against a minimum of 1,200 offenders. More than fifty people have been taken into custody and ten police teams have been formed to find other perpetrators. “A special cyber police team has been deployed to monitor and take action against those spreading rumours on social media,” Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Singal. He added that security has been increased around the city and all roads leading to Mahal have been barricaded.

School bus drivers kept off the road, while at least 100 colleges and schools in curfew-affected districts remained closed. Over 650 rioters were charged in a single FIR (First Information report) at the Ganeshpeth police station booked under 57 sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to a police source, investigators have also charged 51 members of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP) in the offense. Faheem Khan, the city head of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), was taken into custody by Nagpur Police on 19th March in relation to the violence in Nagpur. He has been linked with organizing the unrest.

Police execute patrols and surveillance operations since the situation remains unstable. Armed cops patrol the streets and designated security stations have been erected at strategic spots to avoid further escalation. The authorities have advised people to stay inside and refrain from disseminating unconfirmed information online. The Maharashtra Police Cyber Cell is looking into more than 100 social media accounts for spreading false information that sparked the unrest.

Additionally, an offense was filed at the Tehsil police station against unidentified rioters for setting ablaze and destroying approximately 12 automobiles valued at over ₹5 lakhs in Hansapuri during the disturbance. Almost fifty more vehicles, hand carts, e-rickshaws and other stores, clinics and homes were damaged in the same area by rioters who entered from Ganjikhet Chowk and Kasabpura.

Conclusion

It is clear that the incidents discussed earlier are merely a glimpse into a much broader issue. The inclination of the members of the Muslim community to become incensed at the slightest trigger, whether it involves a Hindu religious processions, anti government rallies, films that depict factual narratives or false claims of blasphemy, has been apparent for many years. However, their attack on the unwary non-Muslims has only grown worse in the past few years, using a variety of weapons and tactics, particularly petrol bombs.

Their ecosystem might try to defend their actions with absurd claims, it prompts the question of how their roofs are consistently equipped with stones, their residences contain swords and they are able to readily assemble petrol bombs if they are only responding to perceived provocations. How do they manage to remain perpetually poised to unleash disorder at any given moment, and how long will the authorities continue to endure these violent incidents?

More importantly, what lies ahead for non-Muslims, specially law-abiding Hindus, who are neither prepared nor motivated to take similar action. Furthermore, they do not have the ecosystem to validate even their legitimate responses, as evidenced in numerous instances, including the Nagpur violence where blame is directed at “Chhaava,” BJP and Hindu groups, but never the real culprits.

‘Give two free bottles of liquor to men every week’: Karnataka MLA takes a dig at Congress govt’s poll guarantees

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Give two free bottles of liquor to men every week’: Karnataka MLA takes a dig at Congress govt’s poll guarantees

Janata Dal (Secular) MLA MT Krishnappa stirred controversy in the Karnataka State Assembly on Tuesday (17th March) after he demanded that the Congress government in the state should distribute two liquor bottles for free to all men every week. The MLA said that just like how the state government is giving ₹2,000 per month to every woman using taxpayer’s money, it should provide free liquor bottles to every man.

“You (state government) are giving women Rs 2,000 per month, free electricity and free bus travel. Anyway, it is our money. So, those who drink should be given two bottles of liquor, free every week. Let them drink. What is wrong with that?…” the MLA said.

Not stopping at that, Krishnappa claimed that several legislators themselves consume alcohol. Women MLAs present in the assembly lashed out at Krishnappa for generalising and ignoring the presence of women MLAs who do not drink.

Krishnappa made the remarks during a discussion in the assembly regarding the state government’s welfare schemes and the state government’s decision to hike the excise revenue target from ₹36,500 crore to ₹40,000. His statement drew criticism from Congress leaders including Energy Minister KJ George who said, “You win the election, form the government, and do this. We are trying to make people drink less”.

The statement was also condemned by the Assembly speaker UT Khader who replied, “Without giving bottles, we are already struggling. What will happen if we give them liquor for free?”

The opposition has been attacking the state government for the latter’s freebie schemes which have put the state under huge financial burden. Recently, the Karnataka State Road Corporation (KSRTC) sought a bank loan of about Rs 624 crore to clear its arrears including statutory dues like provident fund (PF) and fuel payments. The KSRTC is facing a financial crunch two years after the state government announced free bus ride services for women.

Union Cabinet approves incentive scheme for promotion of low-value UPI transactions among small merchants

ANI
-
0
Union Cabinet approves incentive scheme for promotion of low-value UPI transactions among small merchants

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the ‘Incentive Scheme for promotion of low-value BHIM-UPI transactions Person to Merchant (P2M)’ for the financial year 2024-25.

The scheme to promote low-value BHIM-UPI transactions will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Only the UPI transactions upto Rs 2,000 for small merchants are covered under the scheme.

Incentives at the rate of 0.15 per cent per transaction value will be provided for transactions upto Rs 2,000 pertaining to the category of small merchants.

For all quarters of the scheme, 80 per cent of the admitted claim amount by the acquiring banks will be disbursed without any conditions.

The reimbursement of the remaining 20 per cent of the admitted claim amount for each quarter will be contingent upon the fulfilment of the following conditions:

10 per cent of the admitted claim will be provided only when the technical decline of the acquiring bank will be less than 0.75 per cent; and the remaining 10 per cent of the admitted claim will be provided only when the system uptime of the acquiring bank will be greater than 99.5 per cent.

This scheme will enable small merchants to avail of UPI services at no additional cost.

“As small merchants are price-sensitive, incentives would encourage them to accept UPI payment,” the government said.

It will also supplement the government’s vision of a less-cash economy by formalizing and accounting for the transaction in digital form.

The incentive is paid by the Government to the Acquiring bank (Merchant’s bank) and thereafter shared among other stakeholders: Issuer Bank (Customer’s Bank), Payment Service Provider Bank (facilitates onboarding of customers on UPI app / API integrations) and App Providers (TPAPs).

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Local politician Faheem Khan, accused of orchestrating the Nagpur violence, arrested; FIR filed against 51 accused

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Local politician Faheem Khan, accused of orchestrating the Nagpur violence, arrested; FIR filed against 51 accused

Nagpur Police on Wednesday (19th March) arrested Faheem Khan, city president of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP) in connection with Nagpur violence. The police have filed an FIR against 51 accused including Faheem Khan. Khan is said to be the mastermind of the communal violence that broke out in Nagpur on 17th March.

Khan was reportedly arrested within hours of filing the FIR at the Ganeshpath Police Station wherein he is named as an accused. The FIR includes charges of conspiracy to rape, molestation and misconduct. Police had released a photograph of 38-year-old Khan, a resident of Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar. He has been remanded to police custody till 21st March. A video had also reportedly emerged showing Khan delivering a provocative speech moments before the violence.

As per senior police officials, a preliminary investigation revealed that Khan’s provocative speech, which was captured in the video, directly contributed to the escalation of tensions, resulting in communal clashes. The investigation into the matter is going on.

Khan reportedly contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat against the senior BJP leader and the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari. He lost to Gadkari by more than 6.5 lakh votes.

On the evening of 17th March, Nagpur underwent violent unrest that left more than 30 people wounded over rumours of the burning of a copy of the Quran during a protest by Hindu organisations demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Demonstrators covered an effigy of the Mughal despot with a sheet and then put it on fire during the agitation. During the violence, a Muslim mob molested a woman police officer in the Bhhaladarpura area of Nagpur, Maharashtra, and attempted to disrobe her during the violence by the mob over Hindus demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. An FIR has been filed against the rioters at Ganeshpeth police station.

Curfew is effective in several parts of the city as part of measures to restore peace.

‘I am still wiping the egg off my face’: Shashi Tharoor admits how he was wrong to outrage against Modi govt buying Russian oil

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘I am still wiping the egg off my face’: Shashi Tharoor admits how he was wrong to outrage against Modi govt buying Russian oil

During the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi on 18th March, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that he seems to be wiping egg off his face conceding that despite himself calling for the condemnation of Russia’s war with Ukraine and objecting to the Indian government’s continuation of business with Russia, three years later India is in a unique position to be friendly with both countries and be welcomed by both leaders.

“I am still wiping the egg off my face because I was one person in the parliamentary debate who actually criticized the Indian position at the time back in February 2022,” Tharoor said.

Explaining his reasoning for condemning the war, Tharoor continued “On the well-worn grounds that Espen (Norway’s Foreign Minister) will understand because he and I talked about all this in my UN days, that there was a violation of the UN Charter, sovereignty of a member state, namely Ukraine, and we had always stood for the that there had been a violation of the principle of the inviolability of borders of a sovereign state, inadmissibility of the use of force to settle international disputes and all of those principles had been violated by one party, and we should have condemned it.”

“Well, 3 years later, it does look like I am the one with egg on my face because clearly the policy has meant that India has actually a Prime Minister who can hug both the president of Ukraine and the president of Moscow two weeks apart and be accepted in both places and therefore India is in a position where it can make a difference to a lasting peace if it was so required in ways that very few countries would be able to,” Tharoor added.

Bombay HC orders family court to decide divorce case of Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma tomorrow dur to IPL, the cricketer agrees to pay ₹4.75 crore alimony

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bombay HC orders family court to decide divorce case of Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma tomorrow dur to IPL, the cricketer agrees to pay ₹4.75 crore alimony

Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered a family court to decide on the divorce petition filed by cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his estranged wife Dhanashree Verma by tomorrow, granting them a waiver of a mandatory six-month cooling off period. The court order also mentioned that Chahal has agreed to pay an alimony of ₹4.75 crore to Dhanashree.

The high court overturned the decision of the family court to refuse the waiver of the cooling-off period of six months stipulated under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act for a divorce decree. The High Court agreed to grant the waiver considering Chahal’s participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). The leg-spin bowler is a member of the Kings XI Punjab team.

The court stated, “As petitioner 1 (Chahal) is participant of IPL, learned counsel informs that he may not be available from 21st March, the learned judge family court is requested to decide petition by tomorrow,” as reported by Bar and Bench.’ The court also noted that Chahal and Verma have been living apart for over two and half years, and both parties have agreed on the alimony during the mediation process.

Chahal and Verma got married in December 2020, but they are living separately since June 2022. In February this year they filed a plea seeking divorce on the basis of mutual consent. They also sought waiver of the six-month cooling-off period.

However, the family court rejected the request on the grounds that the terms of the mutual consent were only partially fulfilled. The court said that while Chahal was required to pay ₹4.75 crore to Dhanashree as per the consent terms, only ₹2.37 crore has been paid. The court considered it as partial compliance of the consent terms and rejected the waiver.

This information from the high court order makes it clear Chahal is not required to ₹60 crore as alimony to Dhanashree, as was being claimed on social media. Dhanashree’s family had already denied that she has demanded ₹60 crore.

However, the High Court has now granted the waiver of the mandatory 6-month cooling-off period for divorce and ordered the family court to decide the case on Thursday. The court stated that the partial payment of alimony was in compliance with the mutual consent terms as Chahal is required to pay the balance amount only after the decree of divorce.

The Bombay High Court said, “Thus it is clear that there is no impediment in the facts and circumstances of the case in granting the applications… Accordingly, impugned order dated 20th February is quashed and set aside and the writ is allowed.”

Not Chhaava but liberal mollycoddling of rampaging Muslim mobs is responsible for the Nagpur violence

Jinit Jain
-
0
Not Chhaava but liberal mollycoddling of rampaging Muslim mobs is responsible for the Nagpur violence

The recent violence in Nagpur was yet another grim reminder of how the Indian Left operates as a protective shield for Islamist mobs, ensuring that every act of aggression is justified, rationalized, or outright ignored. As usual, instead of holding Islamists accountable for their intolerance and violent tendencies, left-wing ideologues scrambled to spin the narrative—this time absurdly blaming actor Vicky Kaushal and the film Chhaava for “provoking” Muslims.

The Left’s routine whitewashing of Islamist violence

Whenever a Muslim mob indulges in violence, an influential section of India’s so-called “liberal” ecosystem instantly rallies behind them. Their objective? To shift the blame onto Hindus, the BJP, the RSS, or any other convenient scapegoat—while shielding Islamists from accountability. This playbook was followed to the letter in the Nagpur violence case.

The riots erupted because Islamists took offence at demands to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Sambhaji Nagar—a demand that, by any rational measure, should have sparked a debate, not a riot. Aurangzeb was a documented religious bigot, a genocidal ruler responsible for the destruction of countless Hindu temples, forced conversions, and mass killings. And yet, instead of asking why Muslims continue to revere such a polarizing historical figure, the Left-wing discourse immediately pivoted to blaming Chhaava and Vicky Kaushal for “hurting sentiments.”

This intellectual dishonesty is not new. It is the same mechanism that kicked in after every major Islamist riot—from the anti-CAA protests to the Udaipur beheading of Kanhaiya Lal. Each time, instead of acknowledging the radicalization within a section of the Muslim community, the Left concocts excuses to exonerate the perpetrators and demonize those who merely speak inconvenient truths.

Whether it is Ram Guha or Apoorvanand, The Wire’s Siddharth Varadarajan or Rohini Singh, popularly referred to as 2 BHK on social media for her alleged proximity with a political party, or politicians of the Left persuasion, all of them have sought to blame truth-telling in the form of movies made on historical events for the Islamist penchant for violence, passing the buck on the victim for committing the unpardonable sin of amplifying the truth and shielding the perpetrators who are champing at the bit of taking to violent means to suppress dissent.

The ever-shifting goalpost: From Aurangzeb’s tomb to Chhaava

A telling aspect of this narrative manipulation is how swiftly Leftist commentators and Islamist apologists changed their justifications. Initially, they claimed that Hindus demanding the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb “provoked” Muslims into retaliation, the narrative took a sudden turn to blame Chhaava for igniting sentiments of Hindus by depicting historical truths about Mughal oppression. Whatever narrative floated their boat, liberals went along with it, latched onto Aurangzeb’s tomb controversy as well as Chhaava, alleging that Hindus had “pushed Muslims against the wall.”

This pattern is predictable. When Islamist mobs pelt stones at Hindus, the Left asks, “What provoked them?” When Hindus respond, the Left screams, “Fascism! Majoritarianism!” It is always Hindus who must self-censor, always Hindus who must bend over backwards to avoid offending Islamists.

The Left’s intellectual gaslighting and the “victimhood” industry

The Left’s gaslighting follows a well-rehearsed formula. First, they deny that Islamist violence is a recurring problem. Next, they claim that Muslims are perpetual victims, pushed into a corner by “Hindu majoritarianism.” Finally, they manufacture an excuse for why violence was inevitable—whether it’s a film like Chhaava, an election campaign, or even a mere demand to remove a tyrant’s tomb.

This strategy is designed to provide Islamists with an unchallenged space to operate, ensuring that they remain forever shielded from criticism. It also feeds into a dangerous victimhood complex, where even the most violent and intolerant elements within the Muslim community believe that they are justified in their actions because they have been “wronged” in some way.

The real question: Why are Islamists always itching to riot?

The more pressing question, which no Leftist intellectual dares to ask, is: Why do Islamists so often resort to violence at the slightest “provocation”? Why does a mere film or a historical discussion become an excuse for mayhem? Why does the “secular” Left never challenge this hair-trigger outrage?

The answer is uncomfortable: Islamists have been conditioned to believe that their religious sentiments are above scrutiny and that any challenge to their historical narratives is akin to blasphemy and must be met with force. So whether it’s Allaudin Khilji, Aurangzeb or any other Mongol marauder, the Islamists are trained to hail them as religious warriors and their criticism as sacrilege deserving of a violent response. This conditioning is actively enabled by India’s Left-wing elites, who have consistently provided intellectual and moral cover for their actions.

In the case of the Nagpur violence, no sincere attempt was made to question why 600-1,000 Muslims would riot over Aurangzeb’s tomb. No Leftist questioned why a historical mass murderer is still a revered figure and his grave being allowed to turn into a shrine where the faithful can congregate and draw inspiration for another Nagpur-like riot or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj like torture. Instead, they followed their script—attacking Hindus, blaming the BJP, and portraying Muslims as helpless victims.

The consequence: Encouraging an endless cycle of violence

This deliberate mollycoddling of Islamists has dangerous consequences. By consistently shifting blame away from rioters and towards their victims, the Left ensures that Islamist violence remains unchecked. Every riot, every street veto, and every act of intolerance reinforces the idea that force, not reason, dictates public discourse in India.

Ultimately, the Nagpur violence was not about Chhaava or Vicky Kaushal—it was about an ecosystem that refuses to hold Islamists accountable. As long as this mollycoddling continues, the cycle of violence will only escalate, with the Left continuing to gaslight Hindus into believing that they are always at fault for daring to speak the truth.

1...438439440...7,602Page 439 of 7,602