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Tyranny of big-tech: Twitter won’t allow the US National Archives to merely host Trump’s old tweets on the platform

OpIndia Staff
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Tyranny of big-tech: Twitter won’t allow the US National Archives to merely host Trump’s old tweets on the platform

Twitter will not permit the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency responsible for preserving historically significant records, to make former U.S. President Donald Trump’s old tweets available on the social media platform. This is just the latest example of Big Tech exerting its power and influence over a government entity. In January, Twitter banned the then President of the United States, Donald Trump in the wake of the U.S. Capitol riot.

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is seeking to create an online official archive of Trump’s tweets during his time serving as U.S. President, including the tweet Twitter permanently suspended him for. NARA already maintains the online archives of several Trump-era officials, which users can like, retweet and interact with.

Twitter’s decision has added more fuel to the fire of the Big Tech censorship debate in Washington D.C. Just a couple of days ago, Justice Clarence Thomas of the U.S. Supreme Court was critical of the Big Tech social media companies who “control of so much speech in the hands of a few private parties,” paving a legal path for the U.S. Congress to step in.

Twitter is dead set against any version of Donald Trump’s tweets reappearing on its platform, accusing Trump of glorifying violence in the wake of the U.S. Capitol riot.

“Given that we permanently suspended @realDonaldTrump, the content from the account will not appear on Twitter as it did previously or as archived administration accounts do currently, regardless of how NARA decides to display the data it has preserved,” a Twitter spokesperson wrote in an email statement.

NARA is proceeding with its role of archiving and preserving Trump’s tweets, “working to make the exported content available … as a download” on the Trump Presidential Library website. This means that Trump’s tweet will most probably be officially available in the form of a download file, not on Twitter where users can like, retweet or interact with them.

NARA spokesperson James Pritchett confirmed that NARA’s records will include all of @realDonaldTrump’s tweets, regardless of any actions that Twitter took against some of them.

“NARA intends to provide public access to all captured and preserved Presidential Record social media, including any blocked or deleted Tweets that have been transferred to us,” he said.

Twitter’s decision means that even an archived version of former U.S. President Trump will not be permitted on the platform. Just last week, Facebook removed a video of Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump interviewing the former President, citing the “voice of Donald Trump” as its reason.

Donald Trump’s de-platforming from virtually all social media sties has drawn harsh criticism from not only Republicans, but even Left wing Progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders who said he did not “feel particularly comfortable” about the Twitter’s ability to silence a former president.

However, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has defended the Trump ban, calling it the “right decision” for handling “an extraordinary and untenable” situation.

Aam Aadmi Party claims no FCI counters opened in Delhi for wheat procurement. Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Aam Aadmi Party claims no FCI counters opened in Delhi for wheat procurement. Here is the truth

On April 8, the Food Corporation of India has rubbished Aam Aadmi Party’s claims that the corporation had not opened any counters in Delhi for wheat procurement. In a tweet, FCI said, “FCI Delhi region is fully prepared to procure wheat from farmers of Delhi at these centers, FSD Mayapuri, FSD Narela & APMC Najafgarh Mandi, which have been completely operational from April 1, 2021.” It further added that till April 8, 2021, FCI had procured 15.8 MT wheat in Delhi.

Aam Aadmi Party’s fake allegations against FCI

On April 7, Aam Aadmi Party’s Gopal Rai had held a press conference in which he alleged that the FCI is making false claims about the wheat procurement in Delhi. He further said that though FCI is saying they are procuring wheat since April 1, upon inquiry from the markets, AAP members found that wheat procurement had not started.

Rai urged the central government to ensure that procurement starts in Delhi at the earliest.  He added, “The Central Government is responsible for fixing MSP of crop and FCI is responsible for making purchases, but BJP is falsely accusing the Delhi Government of not buying wheat on MSP Rates. This is the absurd reality of the Prime Minister’s assurance to buy crops at MSP rates, MSP will sustain.” He also demanded that the legal guarantee of MSP should be given to the farmers.

After the press conference, the claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party started to make rounds on social media.

Reply from Ministry of Consumer Affairs

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, which comes under union minister Piyush Goyal, said in a statement that the press release issued by AAP government in which it was stated that FCI had not opened any counter to procure foodgrains in Delhi, is fake. The ministry said that the contentions of the Delhi govt are not true.

It further added, “FCI Delhi region is fully prepared to procure wheat from farmers of Delhi at three centers – FSD Mayapuri, Narela & APMC Najafgarh Mandi – completely operated from April 1, 2021. To date, 158 quintals wheat at FSD Narela purchased by FCI Delhi region.”

FCI Delhi posted photos of procurement centers

Official Twitter handle of FCI, Delhi Region, posted some photos of procurement centers proving the claims made by AAP are baseless.

Clicked on April 8, 2021, trucks and wheat can be seen in the photographs.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee likely to skip the Covid-19 review meeting with PM Modi, yet again: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee likely to skip the Covid-19 review meeting with PM Modi, yet again: Reports

Amidst the bitter battle being fought for the 2021 Bengal Assembly Elections, reports suggest that the TMC chief is unlikely to attend the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today over the COVID-19 situation in the country and the ongoing vaccination drive. According to News agency ANI, State Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay will be present at the meeting instead of the CM.

According to reports, Mamata Banerjee has cited her campaigning schedule for the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections as an excuse to skip this PM-CM meet, which is being held to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be interacting with Chief Ministers of various states on the COVID-19 situation and vaccination-related issues today via video conferencing at 6:30 PM today.

Mamata Banerjee had skipped PM Modi’s CM Covid-review meet in the past too

PM Modi’s last interaction with chief ministers was on March 17 during which he had expressed concern over the rise in COVID-19 cases in parts of the country and called for “quick and decisive” steps to check the “emerging second peak”. Then too, the West Bengal CM had chosen to stay away from the meeting citing pre-scheduled election meeting in Jhargram as the reason.

Though this particular conduct does not suit Mamata Banerjee’s demeanour and stature, the West Bengal CM has many times in the past indulged in such frivolousness. She gave another all CM virtual meeting a miss in June 2020 after being visibly upset about not being invited as a speaker. TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh alleged in a tweet saying the Centre is against the people of Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee has also been skipping meetings held by Niti Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and termed it as a ‘futile exercise’.

Fresh COVID-19 cases hit an all-time high in India on Thursday, surpassing the 1.26 lakh mark in a single day.

‘Encounter cop’ Pradeep Sharma who contested assembly elections on a Shiv Sena ticket procured gelatin sticks planted at Antilia: Sachin Vaze

OpIndia Staff
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‘Encounter cop’ Pradeep Sharma who contested assembly elections on a Shiv Sena ticket procured gelatin sticks planted at Antilia: Sachin Vaze

The quandaries of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Party are only increasing with every new revelation made in the Sachin Vaze case. Now, reports suggest that ex-cop Sachin Vaze has named the Shiv Sena leader and former policeman, ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma in his confession.

As per a report by Republic TV, Vaze has confessed that Sharma had helped him procure the gelatin sticks that was planted in the SUV outside Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s residence. According to Republic TV, Sachin Vaze and Pradeep Sharma would be interrogated together face to face today.

Sachin Vaze has reportedly confessed to the central agency that he had met Pradeep Sharma on March 3rd and 4th.

Pradeep Sharma was with Vaze when he had met Mansukh Hiren: Report

The Republic TV report stated that Vaze has mentioned to NIA that when he had called Mansukh Hiren to meet him, Pradeep Sharma was also present. Vaze has further informed that Sharma had helped in the procurement of gelato sticks through one of his aides. Vaze has told NIA that Sharma was using SIM cards acquired from Gujarat. Sharma is also being interrogated by NIA

According to a report by Republic TV, Pradeep Sharma, who is believed to be Vaze’s mentor, had gone to the police headquarters on March 2 to meet Sachin Vaze. On March 4, Pradeep Sharma and Sachin Vaze allegedly met once again, sources have revealed. The NIA suspects that they met in western suburbs (Andheri – Marol – Chakala). There were other police officials who were also present during the meeting. The NIA had taken Sachin Vaze to these areas for recreation on April 3.

Pradeep Sharma is one of the five officers who were under the NIA’s scanner. Interestingly, Pradeep Sharma had contested the 2019 Assembly Elections on a Shiv Sena ticket from the Nalasopara constituency.

As per Times Now, Sharma is being questioned for his alleged connection with arrested-suspended Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze. He was questioned for more than 8 hours yesterday. The NIA is continuing to interrogate him today.

A source said that on the basis of CCTV footage found at the Mumbai Police headquarters, the NIA has come up with a list of people who met Sachin Vaze at his Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) office on days leading to the murder of Thane-based Mansukh Hiran.

Who is Pradeep Sharma who has been named by ex-cop Sachin Vaze

Former police officer Pradeep Sharma was a part of Mumbai Police’s encounter squad which Sachin Vaze and other officers were also a part of. The former encounter cop quit the Mumbai Police in 2019 after having served for over 30 years following which he joined the Shiv Sena. Sharma had contested and lost in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections from the Nalasopara constituency.

Previously suspended from service owing to corruption allegations, he was reinstated back into service in 2017 after he was cleared of all charges. At the time of contesting elections, Sharma in his affidavit had declared assets of Rs 36.21 crore in his and his wife’s name.

Besides, the former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh was also questioned by the NIA for around four hours in connection to its probe in the Mukesh Ambani house bomb scare case on Wednesday. The NIA is believed to have questioned Singh about some revelations made by Vaze so far.

United Kingdom cuts off Oxfam’s funding after new sexual exploitation allegations rock the international NGO

OpIndia Staff
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United Kingdom cuts off Oxfam’s funding after new sexual exploitation allegations rock the international NGO

Two workers from the International NGO collective Oxfam were suspended last week in the wake of sexual exploitation allegations against them. Now the UK government has suspended Oxfam from receiving any financial aid. These two workers were operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This comes just after Oxfam became eligible again to apply for aid funds from the UK government in March. The NGO was banned for three years from receiving aid funding from the UK because of Oxfam’s cover-up of sexual exploitation coming to light in 2018.

UK’s Foreign and Development Office clarified that Oxfam will not be able to apply for UK aid money until it clears up these fresh allegations.

“All organizations bidding for UK aid must meet the high standards of safeguarding required to keep the people they work with safe,” the Foreign Office’s spokesperson said.

Recent reports “call into question” Oxfam’s ability to meet those high standards, he added.

Oxfam, on the other hand, tried the suspensions as positive, saying that suspensions show “our commitment to tackle abuses of power”.

Oxfam staff’s sexual exploitation in Haiti

In 2018, the uncovering of Oxfam staff’s sexual exploitation in Haiti, wherein the Haiti Oxfam chief solicited prostitutes in a villa which was paid and provided for by Oxfam, had exposed the dark underbelly of international charity organizations and NGOs in general.

Many promises of reform and change were made in the wake of the 2018 scandal, but these latest allegations coming out from the DRC clearly pose new questions on whether enough change has been made.

According to the UK Foreign Office, Oxfam is yet to meet the highest standards of safekeeping. After three years of being banned from receiving funds and just becoming eligible again, Oxfam is now once again shunned by the UK government.

In the wake of all these allegations, in combination with the fallout from the 2018 scandal, Oxfam’s reputation has suffered an almost irrecoverable blow.

Charges of sexual exploitation in DR Congo

Last week, Oxfam revealed that it had suspended two of its workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of an “external investigation” into the allegations. However, according to The Times, whistleblowers were “frustrated at the length of time taken to complete the investigation”

Former and current staff members of Oxfam made allegations of sexual exploitation, bullying, fraud, and nepotism against 11 people in a letter sent to the Oxfam leadership in February, the paper said.

After Oxfam’s Haiti sexual exploitation scandal came to light in 2018, the UK Charity Commission concluded that Oxfam had a “culture of poor behavior” and was issued with a warning over its “mismanagement”. In the wake of this scandal, thousands of people canceled their regular donations to Oxfam, causing Oxfam to make cuts worth 16 million British pounds.

It is to be noted that the CEO of Oxfam India, Amitabh Behar, wrote a fawning article on the Congress party. In the article, Behar offers numerous sermons to the Congress party and eulogizes its idea of India. Furthermore, a Board Member of Oxfam India was involved in the drafting of the deeply dangerous and anti-Hindu Communal Violence Bill.

Sachin Vaze’s letter sends Thackeray Govt in a tizzy: Emotional pleas, swears on children and cries in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray

OpIndia Staff
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Sachin Vaze’s letter sends Thackeray Govt in a tizzy: Emotional pleas, swears on children and cries in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray

Sachin Vaze’s explosive handwritten letter to the NIA has opened yet another pandora’s box making us believe that there is much more to the Antilia bomb scare case than what meets the common eye. Hours after, Antilia bomb scare case prime accused, Sachin Vaze, made explosive revelations accusing Anil Deshmukh and Anil Parab of extortion, Shiv Sena ministers have rushed to safeguard themselves and the Uddhav Thackeray government. On expected lines, the Shiv Sena loyalists have taken recourse to pin the blame on the central government to wriggle out of the impasse.

Anil Parab calls letter a ‘BJP conspiracy’ to defame Uddhav Thackeray govt

On April 7 (Wednesday) evening, Anil Parab held a press conference to refute the claims made by Sachin Vaze in his letter. The Maharashtra cabinet minister and Shiv Sena loyalist, had in his desperation to absolve himself from the accusations, went on to swear on his two daughters. He alleged that the opposition BJP had hatched a conspiracy to defame CM Uddhav Thackeray.

“I am Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sainik…I take an oath in his name, who I treat as my god and swear on my two daughters and say that these allegations are false,” Anil Parab told media, adding: “This is part of a strategy by the BJP and Vaze allegations are part of all this…To defame the CM, one needs to defame people around the CM, so this is a conspiracy by BJP.”

‘Names are fabricated’, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut says Sachin Vaze’s letter is ‘character assassination’

Now, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has also jumped onto the bandwagon. He has alleged that Sachin Waze’s letter against Maharashtra Ministers is ‘character assassination’.

“It is a political conspiracy. Those named in the letter are fabricated. This is character assassination. Those named in the letter will come clean,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, news agency ANI quoted.

He added: “A new tactic has come to light wherein people who are in jail write letters. This is a political conspiracy I know Anil Parab, he can never indulge in such work. I can assure you, no Shiv Sainik can take a false oath in Bala Saheb Thackeray’s name.”

Interestingly, Raut’s today’s stand against Vaze is in contrast to his earlier stand in the Antilia bomb scare case, where he had praised the tainted cop as ‘honest’ and ‘capable’. We reported earlier, how when the case had come to the fore, Sanjay Raut had heaped praises for Mumbai Police, in particular, Sachin Vaze.

Sachin Vaze writes an explosive letter to the NIA

In the letter written by Sachin Vaze to the NIA, which has sent the Uddhav Thackeray government in a tizzy, the tainted cop claimed that he was told to pay former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Rs 2 crores if he wants to be let back into the police force.

It is pertinent to note that Vaze was dismissed from the police force after he was accused in the custodial death of one Khwaja Younis. Thereafter, he had joined the Shiv Sena.

In his handwritten letter, Sachin Vaze has claimed that NCP chief Sharad Pawar was against his reinstatement into Mumbai Police in 2020 and wanted it to revoked. It was to this that Deshmukh had told him to cough up Rs 2 crores.

Besides naming Anil Deshmukh the letter also named Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena’s Anil Parab.

In the second page of the letter, Sachin Vaze claims that in the month of July/August 2020 he was called to the official bungalow of Anil Parab. During the meeting, Parab told Vaze to look into the SBUT inquiry which was in its preliminary stage and had asked Vaze to bring the trustees of SBUT to him for a ‘negotiation’ on the inquiry.

Shockingly, Vaze claims that Parab told him to initiate talk about extorting Rs 50 crores from SBUT to end the inquiry. 

He further claimed that in the month of January 2021, he was again called by Anil Parab to his official bungalow to look into the fraudulent contractors listed with BMC. He was then allegedly asked to collect at least Rs 2 crores from 50 such contractors. He claims that the said inquiry to extort these contractors is ongoing currently under an ‘anonymous complaint’.

In the letter, he further claimed that again in the month of January 2021, Anil Deshmukh had called Sachin Vaze to his residence and told him that there are approximately 1650 bars and restaurants in the area. He was also told to then collect Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh from each of these for Anil Deshmukh himself.

From the letter, it seems evident that Sachin Vaze is trying to insinuate that he is being implicated in the Antilia bomb case as he allegedly refused to run extortion rackets for leaders from NCP and Shiv Sena.

The full text of the purported letter written by Sachin Vaze to the NIA can be read here.

Modi govt rescues Punjab govt from a financial crisis that would prevent it from procuring foodgrains from farmers: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Modi govt rescues Punjab govt from a financial crisis that would prevent it from procuring foodgrains from farmers: Details

Even as the Punjab government continues to fight the centre opposing reforms in the agriculture sector, the state government was rescued by the central govt just before the end of the financial year 2020-21 from a crisis situation in the sector. Had the central govt not intervened, the state govt in Punjab would not have been able to procure produces from farmers, as the entire portfolio of loans for this purpose was on the verge of becoming NPA by 31st March.

The Govt to Punjab was on the verge of becoming Non-Bankable, as the Entire Loan amount of Rs 90000 crore towards Food credit was about to become Non-Performing Asset (NPA) by the end of the financial year. This is because, State Procuring Agencies (SPA) had not repaid the loans they have taken from banks to procure farm products.

It may be noted that the farmers sell their food grains to FCI and other agencies through such SPAs. SPA makes payments to the farmers, and they are later reimbursed by the FCI against the stock.

To facilitate this payment to the farmers, the SPAs take loans from a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India (SBI), which is known as Food Credit Consortium. For every session (Kharif and Rabi), the amount of loans taken by the SPAs from the FCC is determined, which is known as Cash Credit Limit (CCL). The CCL is fixed depending upon the funds required for estimated procurement quantity in a procurement session. GoI gives consent under Article-293 of the Constitution for such loan to the State Govt. As per rules, this loan has to be repaid withing 3 years, else it becomes NPA.

As the SPAs had not repaid loans amounting to ₹ 89,200 crore, this entire amount was on the verge of becoming NPA, as the RBI had refused to extend the 3-year deadline to repay. Had this happened, the SPAs in Punjab would have been able to take fresh loans to procure crops in the next harvest session. The wheat procurement session is scheduled to start on 10th April, that means it was really an emergency situation. This would have led to a disastrous situation for the farmers of Punjab, as the Punjab Government and especially the farmers of state would have plunged into a deep financial crisis.

To tide over the situation, the state government had written to the Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution ministry to lift the stock lying with the SPAs, and release the payment against them. Responding to the request, minister Piyush Goyal assured that FCI will lift the entire stock of 22.42 million tonnes of the food grain available with the state agencies since 2018-19.

According to ministry sources, the Government of India accorded an overriding priority for evacuation of almost entire stock of 2018-19 crop, as requested by the Punjab govt, and the proceeds released to Punjab. Keeping in view the seriousness of the matter, the issue was reviewed at the highest level in consultation with the state government, FCI and Railway Board and entire stock of 2018-19 was liquidated by the end of March, and funds released by FCI to Punjab Government.

Thus, the timely action by GoI saved the loan account of state government from becoming NPA.

Bodies of 8 Covid-19 victims burnt on one pyre in Beed, other cities in Maharashtra report shortage of space and wood in crematoriums: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Bodies of 8 Covid-19 victims burnt on one pyre in Beed, other cities in Maharashtra report shortage of space and wood in crematoriums: Reports

Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded 59,907 new Covid-19 cases and reported 322 deaths. The sudden surge in cases has put immense pressure on the existing health infrastructure in the state.

In one such instance, eight bodies of COVID-19 victims were cremated on a single pyre in Maharashtra’s Beed district due to a shortage of space at a makeshift crematorium, as informed by a civic official. Similar instances are being reported from other cities as well.

Ambajogai Municipal Council’s chief officer Ashok Sabale told PTI, “As residents objected to the cremation of COVID-19 victims in the crematoriums which we currently have, we identified a separate space on Mandwa road, nearly two kilometres away from the town. The new makeshift facility has limited space.” “As a result, we had to set up one large pyre and cremate eight bodies on Tuesday. It was a big pyre and the bodies were kept at a certain distance from each other,” the official informed further.

Amongst the dead, one was a woman below the age of 60, while the others were 60 years and above.

Considering the rise in cases and therefore expecting an increase in mortality rate, the official informed that they are planning to expand the makeshift facility and make it waterproof before the monsoon season. The official urged people to seek timely treatment to avoid complexities. 

The Ambajogai block in Beed has become the new corona hotspot with 500 cases reported in just four days. The local administration has imposed a lockdown of 10 days in the district. 

VHP leader, Vinod Bansal condemned the act in a tweet and questioned the Maharashtra government asking if it would have meted out a similar treatment if the deceased were from any other religion.

Lack of space in Aurangabad crematorium, no wood for the fire in Bhusawal

A shortage of space has been reported in a crematorium in Aurangabad. As per a TV9 report, pyres have to be set on fire even before the previous one extinguishes completely. 

The city of Bhusawal located in the Jalgaon district has reported a shortage of dry wood to light the pyre of the deceased. The cremation ground near the Tapi River which usually cremates ten to fifteen bodies every day is experiencing a sharp rise in numbers. As the funeral is being delayed due to lack of wood, relatives of the deceased have to queue up and wait for hours to perform the final rites. 

Possibility of a new strain in Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed that there is a possibility of a new strain of the Covid-19 virus in the state. The samples have been sent to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) for examination. The state has also asked if a change in treatment would be required to treat corona patients in Maharashtra. 

FIFA bans Pakistan football team with immediate effect for ‘serious violations’, freezes funding to Pakistan Football Federation: Details

OpIndia Staff
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FIFA bans Pakistan football team with immediate effect for ‘serious violations’, freezes funding to Pakistan Football Federation: Details

The international football governing body, FIFA on Wednesday suspended Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) due to third-party interference. The ban is to be implemented with immediate effect. The FIFA council released a statement on its official website to confirm the same.

The statement said: “The situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.”

Until the suspension is lifted, Pakistan’s national and club teams would not be eligible to take part in FIFA international football competitions. Moreover, PFF will not get any fund from FIFA, leaving the sport in the country in a financial mess.

Pakistan football in disarray

Pakistan football is staring at a long-term ban from the Bureau of the FIFA Council after a forced take over of the national federation headquarters in Lahore by a group that won the last elections but annulled by the world governing body of the sport.

On March 30, FIFA had issued a letter to PFF warning it of suspension, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and handed over back to the FIFA Normalization Committee headed by Haroon Malik to carry out their mandate.

A member of the normalization committee had said then: “If the government’s sports minister does not intervene and resolve this issue Pakistan football could be banned for a very long time from all international competitions.”

He also warned that if FIFA imposes a ban, the PFF will not get any fund from the world body, leaving the sport in the country in a financial mess and development projects on hold.

Pakistan Football has been in a mess for the last three years after government officials started interfering in the affairs of the national federation.

The country’s football federation had earlier been suspended for six months by FIFA from October 2017 to March 2018 after the latter objected to a court decision to appoint an outside administrator to run the PFF after another dispute over a contested election. FIFA opposed governments or courts getting involved in football disputes.

After this long-drawn-out dispute between opposing groups in the PFF and a number of court cases, FIFA appointed a Normalization Committee to hold elections to decide as to who would run PFF.

Interestingly, politics crept in even in the Normalization Committee and FIFA once again announced to hold fresh elections by June 2021.

However, last Saturday, things went out of control as a PFF group, led by Ashfaq Hussain, broke in and forcibly took over the Football House in Lahore. According to sources, they also manhandled and harassed the staff, kept them under forcible confinement and took personal belongings and items by force.

This recent “hostile takeover” prompted FIFA to impose a ban on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect.

This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalization committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance,” FIFA said.

Besides, FIFA has also suspended Chad after the African country’s government tried to dissolve the national football federation and appoint new officials to run the sport. FIFA said it will lift the suspension if the government repeals those decisions and hands back power to the president of the soccer federation.

Death threat to Yati Narsinghanand: One Danish Ali from Meerut offers Rs 51 lakh for ‘beheading’ the Dasna temple priest

OpIndia Staff
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Death threat to Yati Narsinghanand: One Danish Ali from Meerut offers Rs 51 lakh for ‘beheading’ the Dasna temple priest

In a video that has gone viral, one Danish Ali from Meerut was seen announcing a reward of Rs 51 lakh to anyone who beheads Swamy Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati of Dasna Temple over his remarks against Muhammad.

The video was uploaded after a clipping of Yati Narsinghanand at a press conference in Delhi went viral on social media where he allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims through his comments against Prophet Muhammad.

Danish in a 01:45 second long video can be heard threatening Yati Narsinghanand and says he messed with the wrong people. He says the priest should not have spoken against the ‘creator of the world’ and that he will have to face consequences for the same. Agitated with Yati Narsinghanand’s comments, Danish claimed he will behead Yati Narsinghanand himself if given the opportunity. However, if anyone else chops off the priest’s head, he will sell his house and jewelry to reward that person with Rs 51 lakh. 

Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati also shared this video on his Twitter account.

As soon as the video went viral, some social media users tagged UP Police to take relevant action against the maker of the video. Upon contacting Railway Road police station, Meerut, a police official confirmed to OpIndia that Danish has been arrested and is being interrogated.

The same was shared by Meerut Police on Twitter.

FIR against Yati Narsinghanand:

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati under sections 153-A and 295-A of the Indian Penal Code at the Parliament Street Police Station.

Other threats issued to Yati Narsinghanand:

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan had also issued a death threat calling for his beheading for the same. In a tweet, Khan said, “We can not tolerate such impertinence for our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This hateful insect should be awarded the most severe punishment by slitting his tongue and neck. But the law of the land does not permit us to do this, we have faith in the Indian constitution, and I want Delhi Police to take note of this.”

Amanatullah Khan’s Tweet threatening Yati Narsighanand. Image Source: Twitter

Taking action against his tweet which calls for the beheading of the temple priest, Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s MLA Amanatullah Khan as well.

After numerous threats received, the social media users are trending ‘Main Bhi Narsinghanand’ in support of Dasna temple’s head priest Yati Maharaj.

‘Beheading’ as the punishment for ‘insulting’ Muhammad

It is notable here that radical Islamists consider any alleged or perceived ‘insult’ against their prophet Muhammad as a legitimate ground for murder by beheading. Most Islamic countries have strict laws against blasphemy, punishable by death. In India, lakhs of Muslims had marched calling for the beheading of Kamlesh Tiwari after his remarks against Muhammad. Tiwari was later murdered by Islamic fanatics in 2019.

In Bengaluru last year, hundreds of Islamists, encouraged by local political leaders, had attacked the house of Congress MLA after the MLA’s relative shared a social media post that allegedly ‘offended’ Islam. The mob had burned down police stations and attacked police personnel too.

In France last year, a school teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded by an Islamist for showing the Charlie Hebdo cartoons in his class.

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