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How the Govt can further improve transparency in foreign contributions related to NGOs after the recent FCRA amendments

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How the Govt can further improve transparency in foreign contributions related to NGOs after the recent FCRA amendments

There has been significant fine tuning in recent years in regulations related to foreign contributions to private non-profit entities, the most recent of which has been the FCRA Amendments of 2020. In this article, we describe some remaining issues in the regulations as they stand now, and describe some suggestions for improving the transparency in operations of foreign-funded non-profits.

Public Interest Litigation

Existing FCRA regulations restrict use of foreign funds in conducting demonstrations, dharnas and protests. However, nonprofits engage in public interest litigation through courts for continuing in activism. Potential conflicts of interest are not made explicit as part of litigation.

All petitioners and lawyers holding brief – whether original writ petitioner or anyone that files an intervention petition – must submit an affidavit as part of the petition to declare any one/all of the following

  1. The Trust, Company or Foundation that is filing the petition must furnish its registration details, FCRA Registration Number and latest FC4 Return.
  2. Individuals on the board of directors, or board of trustees or founders/authors of a Trust or Foundation that is filing the petition must declare if they or a close relative are on board of directors, board of trustee or founder/author of a Trust that has FCRA Registration. Registration Number and FC4 return to be furnished
  3. Individuals on the board of directors, or board of trustees or founders/authors of a Trust or Foundation that is filing the petition must declare if they or a close relative are in a position of profit in a Trust, Company or Foundation that is filing the petition that has FCRA registration. FCRA Registration Number and latest FC4 Return to be furnished.
  4. An individual filing petition must declare if he/she or a close relative is on board of directors, board of trustee or founder/author of a Trust that has FCRA Registration. Registration Number and FC4 return to be furnished
  5. An individual filing petition must declare if he/she or a close relative is in a position of profit in a Trust, Company or Foundation that is filing the petition that has FCRA registration, FCRA Registration Number and latest FC4 Return to be furnished.
  6. Lawyer holding a brief must declare if he/she or a close relative is on board of directors, board of trustee or founder/author of a Trust that has FCRA Registration. Registration Number and FC4 return to be furnished
  7. Lawyer holding a brief must declare if he/she or a close relative is in a position of profit in a Trust, Company or Foundation that is filing the petition that has FCRA registration, FCRA Registration Number and latest FC4 Return to be furnished.
  8. Close relatives are defined as Spouse, Children, Parents and In-Laws

Policy Consulting and Government Projects

Policy decisions of the Government require studies, surveys and special expert committees. The composition of the committee and award of contracts for studies and surveys are currently not restricted by FCRA rules. Potential conflicts of interest may never be declared explicitly and not made part of the contracting or vendor selection process.

Any organization or individual that has been given a contract for carrying out a study, survey or report, or is part of an expert committee commissioned by the Union or State Governments in the fields of Women and Children Development, Education, Skill Development, Human Rights, Social Justice, Environmental Protection, Animal Rights must declare the following

  1. Trust, Company or Foundation that is awarded the contract must furnish its registration, FCRA Registration Number and latest FC4 Return.
  2. Individuals on the board of directors, or board of trustees or founders/authors of a Trust or Foundation that is awarded a contract must declare if they or a close relative are on board of directors, board of trustee or founder/author of a Trust that has FCRA Registration. Registration Number and FC4 return to be furnished
  3. Individuals on the board of directors, or board of trustees or founders/authors of a Trust or Foundation that is awarded a contract must declare if they or a close relative are in a position of profit in a Trust, Company or Foundation that has FCRA Registration. Registration Number and FC4 return to be furnished
  4. An individual given a contract or nominated for a committee must declare if he/she or a close relative is on board of directors, board of trustee or founder/author of a Trust that has FCRA Registration. Registration Number and FC4 return to be furnished
  5. An individual given a contract or nominated for a committee must declare if he/she or a close relative is in a position of profit in a Trust, Company or Foundation that is filing the petition that has FCRA registration, FCRA Registration Number and latest FC4 Return to be furnished.

Donor Information

FCRA regulations include only sparse information about donors. The information must be extended. Entities that are restricted from receiving funds remit to another entity abroad, which in turn sends money to India.

FC 4 Returns must contain the following fields relating to all donors that cumulatively remit more than Rs 5 lakhs per annum:

  1. Name of donor as registered in the home country
  2. Address of donor as registered in the home country
  3. Nature of business or enterprise of donor – one of Business, Charitable Trust, Religious Endowment or Charitable Trust, Government Agency, Political Trust, Political Party.
  4. Primary source of funds of donor – Business, Other charitable institutions, Government Agency, Political Party, Political Trust
  5. Does the donor or any entity that is the source of funds for the donor fall into any one of these categories
    1. An entity whose Indian arm that has had FCRA Registration cancelled or placed in Prior Permission category
    1. An entity related to a company or non-profit organization that has either been found guilty of or under investigation for foreign exchange violations.
    1. An entity whose key personnel have been found in violation of Indian visa rules.
  6. The stated aims and goals of the donor or entity that is the source of funds for the donor.
  7. An undertaking that these details that have been furnished are to the best of the respondent’s knowledge.

At least 100 entities will be taken up scrutiny at random, or upon receipt of question from the public. The MHA shall make the list of such entities taken up for scrutiny public information. MHA can send a show cause notice if information in FC4 return is insufficient or if shared information indicates violation of FCRA norms. After a hearing, if the explanation is not satisfactory, entity can be placed in Prior Permission Category

Feedback, complaints and comments from public on NGO functioning

Many FCRA NGOs and their foreign donors may engage in activities or in public communication that conflict with national interests.

MHA FCRA site must include a facility for public comments section to let the general public submit promotional materials and public communications of donors and NGOs that conflict with national interests.

The MHA will have 20 working days from receipt of comment to respond with determination if the submitted query has merit. If the query is found to have merit, the MHA shall institute an enquiry within the next 20 working days. If the MHA finds sufficient proof of the entity acting against national interest either in India or abroad, the entity can be placed in Prior Permission category. In case the activity is found to be in violation of Indian laws, the findings may be forwarded to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and any other competent authority for prosecution.

Comedian Rahul Dua deletes YouTube video, apologises for hurting the feelings of dentists and physiotherapists: Here is what he had said

OpIndia Staff
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Comedian Rahul Dua deletes YouTube video, apologises for hurting the feelings of dentists and physiotherapists: Here is what he had said

On Thursday, comedian Rahul Dua apologised to dentists and physiotherapists after having insinuated that they are not ‘real’ doctors in a recent Youtube comedy video.

The video, which now stands deleted, showed Dua interacting with his audience. He stumbled upon an audience member by the name of Rashi, who happened to be a doctor by profession. Rahul Dua said, “Thank you for whatever you have done in the last one year (referring to the work done by health professionals to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.) Thank you very much.”

“Are you the main frontline worker or you are a dentist?” he asked. And the crowd burst into laughter, reiterating the problematic stereotype that ‘dentists’ are not ‘real doctors’. While addressing Rashi, the comedian confirmed, “So, you are a real doctor. Even she is saying that she is an actual doctor. So nice of you guys.”

Video Courtesy: Youtube/Rahul Dua

Rahul Dua then moved to the other section to engage with his audience members. At that point, a man in the crowd yelled, “Even he (referring to another audience member) is a doctor. Ask him which one?” The comedian responded, “The way it has been set up… I can guarantee that this guy is a physiotherapist.” He further continued, “I don’t know why physiotherapists call themselves doctors. After all, it is just an expensive massage.”

Rahul Dua issues apology, deletes video after outrage

His comments however did not go down well with some dentists and physiotherapists. On Thursday, comedian Rahul Dua posted a 1-minute-long video on Instagram and apologised for the remarks he made during the video.

“The crowd work video that I uploaded today was not appreciated by a few people. Several dentists and physiotherapists took offence to the (remarks made during the) video. It has always been my objective to make people happy, make them laugh, give them a good time and not hurt their feelings,” he emphasised.

“I don’t want this balancing act of rendering some people happy and others unhappy. So I am deleting the video. Spreading unhappiness is not my job. So I am deleting the video. You know it was a crowd work video and not a rehearsed set. I did not mean anything that I had said. In fact, I frequently visit dentists and physiotherapists. Peace. Hope you continue to support me and my work,” he added in his 1-minute video.

USA: Manhattan school’s guidelines advise students to use gender neutral terms instead of ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, endorse gay marriage

OpIndia Staff
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USA: Manhattan school’s guidelines advise students to use gender neutral terms instead of ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, endorse gay marriage

The Grace Church School in Noho, a private school in Manhattan, has urged its students to abandon the use of words such as “mom,” “dad” and “parents” in pursuit of what it calls “inclusive language”. The Inclusive Language Guide also calls the concept of ‘traditional’ family “outdated”.

The Inclusive Gender Guide advices students to use “grown-ups,” “folks,” “family” or “guardians” for “mom,” “dad” and “parents.” Instead of ‘nanny’ or ‘babysitter’, the guide recommends “caregiver”.

“Families are formed and structured in many ways. At Grace Church School, we use inclusive language that reflects this diversity. It’s important to refrain from making assumptions about who kids live with, who cares for them, whether they sleep in the same place every night, whether they see their parents, etc.,” it states.

“We actively try to undo notions of a “typical” or “normal” family structure, each family is unique,” the guide says while referring to traditional families as outdated. The guide also advices children to respond with “People can love and commit to whomever they please, it’s their choice who they marry,” when confronted with a person saying that one cannot marry someone of their own sex.

Grace Church School's Inclusive Language Guide
Screengrab from the Inclusive Gender Guide

The school, in a statement, defended its guide despite grave criticism. It said, “At Grace we understand the power of language both to include and to cause alienation. We also know that it is our job to give community members resources to allow them to make informed and generous choices.”

“The Inclusive Language Guide at issue in the press, which we shared with you this fall, comes from that place in our hearts and mission. It is designed to help the adults in the community find words to affirm and unite,” it added.

Antilia bomb scare: Phone used to make terror claim traced to Tihar Jail barrack that houses IM terrorist Tehseen Akhtar

OpIndia Staff
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Antilia bomb scare: Phone used to make terror claim traced to Tihar Jail barrack that houses IM terrorist Tehseen Akhtar

The Special Cell of Delhi Police has seized a mobile from the jail barrack of Indian Mujahideen terrorist Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu in the high-security Tihar Jail. According to the police sources, the phone was used to operate a Telegram channel that was used to claim responsibility for placing an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s home in Mumbai.

Preliminary investigation hinted that at least five terrorists other than Tehseen used the phone to operate the Telegram channel, as per Times of India. Besides being allegedly used in the Antilia bomb claim, the police also believe that the phone might have been used in the blast that took place outside the Israeli embassy in the national capital.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police said the Telegram channel—Jaish-ul-Hind—was created inside the Tihar Jail. A probe is underway to trace the further links.

The police added that the location of the phone was traced with the help of a cyber agency. The location of the phone was traced to Tihar Jail in Delhi.

Following this, the Tihar Jail authorities conducted a massive search operation inside the sub-jail number 8 on Thursday. They recovered a mobile and a sim card. The phone was used to create the Telegram channel Jaish-ul-Hind through which the responsibility of the attack against Mukesh Ambani was claimed.

Apart from Tehseen Akhtar, the sub-jail number 8 also houses some other terrorists with links to Al Qaeda and some underworld criminals.

Indian Mujahideen terrorist Tehseen Akhtar’s role in Antilia bomb scare under probe

It is pertinent to note that the links to the Antilia bomb scare ties to Indian Mujahideen terrorist Tehseen Akhtar, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail and on death row for a string of terror attacks, including being the brains behind the explosions that rocked Patna and left six dead in 2013. A computer-savvy and master at disguising himself, Akhtar was on the radar of the investigative agencies for being involved in many terror attacks across the country. Tehseen, who hails from Bihar’s Samastipur, is also believed to be close to Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal. Akhtar was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in 2014.

The Indian Mujahideen terrorist was also involved in the 2006 blasts in Varanasi, the 2011 serial blasts in Mumbai and the 2013 Hyderabad blasts. He was sentenced to death by a special NIA court in the 2013 Hyderabad bomb blasts case. 

The police is planning to take remand of Tehseen Akhtar to question him regarding the mobile phone seizure, the official said.

Antilia bomb scare incident: Car laden with explosives recovered from outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence

On February 25, a Scorpio car with 20 gelatin sticks was found parked near Antilia, the multi-storey residence of Mukesh Ambani in Mumbai. The police had claimed that a Telegram channel was created on February 26 and the message claiming the responsibility of the attack was posted through the channel on February 27.

On February 28, Jaish Ul Hind allegedly used another channel on Telegram. The terror group claimed that they did not post the previous message and they had no connection to the SUV parked outside Ambani’s house. The police believe that the second message was sent from outside the country, but the location could not be pinned.

The message that was sent from Tihar Jail demanded money from Ambanis. A link for payment through cryptocurrency was also mentioned in the message. However, the link was not functioning, according to Mumbai Police. The message claimed that it was only a trailer, and “the big picture was yet to come.” It further added, “the brother who placed the SUV near the Ambani house has reached the safe house.”

The case had gotten murkier and murkier after the link of Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze with the owner of the Scorpio car surfaced. Vaze was reportedly in touch with Mansukh Hiren, the owner of the car, since June 2020. Hiren was subsequently found dead in the Kalwa creek, which only served to deepen the mystery surrounding the attack against Mukesh Ambani. The investigative agencies probing the matter are looking into all possible angles, including the role of Indian Mujahideen in the attack against the billionaire businessman.

Uttar Pradesh police arrest 40-year-old Irshad for trying to molest a 4-year-old girl behind a temple

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh police arrest 40-year-old Irshad for trying to molest a 4-year-old girl behind a temple

Uttar Pradesh police have arrested a 40-year-old man for trying to assault a 4-year-old Dalit girl in Karhal in Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh, based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father. According to a report by Hindi daily Live Hindustan, police have charged accused Irshad, son of one Mehboob, who is a resident of Maniharan town in Uttar Pradesh, with various provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act, apart from relevant sections of the IPC. He would be sent to jail today.

In what transpired, the 4-year-old child had accompanied her mother to a temple for the Mahashivratri puja. The child, however, separated from her mother and got lost in the crowd. Seeing her crying alone in one corner, Irshad approached her. Assuring her that he would take her to her mother, Irshad took her to a secluded area behind the temple and tried to molest her.

The child started screaming for help. Hearing the cry, the people in and around the temple rushed to the spot. Seeing the crowd, Irshad tried to flee leaving the child in a badly injured situation, but the alert people caught him. The crowd started beating him up fiercely seeing him trying to molest the child. On receiving the news, station in-charge Shivkumar Chauhan reached the spot and sent the accused to the police station. The girl has been admitted at the hospital for treatment.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the IPC, the POCSO Act and sections of the SC/ST Act based on the father’s complaint. The accused will be sent to jail today.

Prashant Bhushan files SC petition on behalf of illegal Rohingya immigrants to stop their deportation from Jammu

OpIndia Staff
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Prashant Bhushan files SC petition on behalf of illegal Rohingya immigrants to stop their deportation from Jammu

An interim application was filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday through Advocate Prashant Bhusan, who was last year convicted of contempt of court, seeking urgent intervention to release the illegal Rohingya immigrants detained in Jammu. The interim application has reportedly been filed by a Rohingya named Mohammad Salimullah and has been drawn by Advocate Cheryl Dsouza.

Application seeks directions to the UNHCR to issue refugee cards to refugees in India

According to reports, the interim application has sought directions to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assess the protection needs of the illegal immigrants and grant refugee cards not only to Rohingyas but to refugees across the country. The relief through the interim application has been sought in a writ petition pending before the Apex court. The application has sought directions for the Jammu government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to grant refugee identification cards to Rohingyas through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). The application also sought directions to the central government not to implement the deportation orders of the detained Rohingyas in Jammu.

The application alleged that the government discriminated against Rohingyas

The application reportedly states that due to absence of any law in India to deal with refugees, Rohingya have often been clubbed with the class of illegal immigrants who may be deported by the government under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners Order 1948. The application alleged discrimination on the part of the government against Rohingya refugees due to their identity as Muslims.

The application claims that India is bound by the principle of non-refoulement under the international customary law that prevents a country from sending refugees back to a place where they faced persecution. The principle has been mentioned in Article 33 (1) of the United Nations Convention on Status of Refugees (1951). It referred to an Supreme Court ruling (in National Human Rights Commission v State of Arunachal Pradesh) wherein the court held that the right to life and personal liberty is available to citizens and non-citizens alike.

The principle of non-refoulement has an exception according to which refugee or asylum seekers who have been granted temporary residency can be made liable to expulsion on the ground of threat to national security. However, the application claimed that the exception did not apply to Rohingyas in India. It said that the exception does not provide a free pass to deport refugees back to the country where they face danger.

Application filed a 2017 writ seeking protection of refugees’ right against deportation

The application was filed in a 2017 writ petition seeking protection of right against deportation of refugees including Rohingyas. It alleged that the government has failed to ensure protection to Rohingya community by proposing to deport them to Myanmar where they face persecution.

According to reports, as part of the ongoing exercise to identify illegal immigrants among the Rohingyas living in Jammu and Kashmir, many Rohingyas were sent to a holding centre under section 3(2)e of the Foreigners Act. The immigrants were not holding valid travel dovcuments as required under section 3 of the Passports Act. Their nationality check will be conducted thereafter which illegal immigrants will be deported.

British Embassy in Bolivia supported November 2019 coup through ‘civil society orgs’ and media to secure access to Lithium: Report

OpIndia Staff
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British Embassy in Bolivia supported November 2019 coup through ‘civil society orgs’ and media to secure access to Lithium: Report

Socialist Eva Morales stepped down as the president of Bolivia on the 10th of November 2019 after the head of the army demanded his resignation. The resignation was preceded by protests against ‘election irregularities’ after a report by the Organisation of American States (OAS) claimed that the incumbent president had won the elections the month before through unfair means.

Subsequently, Jeanine Áñez was installed as the interim president of Bolivia, in what was widely regarded as a coup. Eva Morales was forced to flee the country as a consequence of the persecution he faced. The protests against the coup attracted the use of lethal force and led to the death of many protesters.

Declassified UK has now reported that the British embassy in La Paz, the seat of Government in Bolivia, was quick to support the coup in order to secure its access of Lithium, or ‘white gold’. Bolivia has the second largest Lithium reserves, a metal that is used in making batteries.

Evo Morales had chosen a Chinese consortium in February 2019 as its strategic partner in a new $2.3-billion lithium project focusing on production from the Coipasa and Pastos Grandes salars. The coup regime, after it came to power, said that the deal was under scrutiny and it was ‘hoped’ that it could move forward under ‘right conditions’.

Declassified UK reported that one of the projects co-funded by the UK Embassy between 2019-20 was meant to “optimise Bolivia’s lithium exploration and production (in the Coipasa and Pastos Grandes salars) using British technology”. This particular project moved forward swiftly following the coup.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the main funder of the project, authorized its abstract on the 25th of November, two months after the coup. The IADB told Declassified UK in a statement, “The implementation of [grant] activities are conducted in close coordination with designated government authorities and their technical teams.”

The report says that the Foreign Office of UK refused to tell them whether the British Embassy’s $5000 contribution towards the Lithium project was made following the coup in November 2019. According to documents obtained by the media outlet, the objective was to “design and implement a satellite data-based application that can optimise exploration and exploitation of large/best lithium sources in the Coipasa and Pastos Grandes salars in Bolivia”.

Satellite Applications Catapult (SAC) was to implemented the project, an Oxford-based organisation “helping organisations harness the power of satellite-based services”. A third of SAC’s funding comes from the UK Government, the report said.

Furthermore, two days after the IADB’s final approval for the project, the UK Foreign Office transferred £33,220 to SAC as “programme spend”. While the department refused to tell the media outlet if it was for the lithium project, the IADB told them, “Coordination with the British Embassy has been particularly cooperative in search for synergies”.

In March 2020, four months after the coup, an “international seminar” was organised by the British Embassy in partnership with coup regime’s Ministry of Mining, attended by more than 300 officials of the global extractives sector. The keynote presentation was delivered by a British company, Watchman UK.

Foreign Office documents stated as per the report, “Watchman UK and other consultancies are now in line to offer services in this important field to a number of Bolivia mining companies who wish to achieve win-win solutions to their controversies with indigenous inhabitants and towns located in the area of influence of their activities”.

Evo Morales had blamed the USA and other international actors for the coup. Wikileaks cables had demonstrated that the US Embassy had worked with his opposition in order to oust his government. After his electoral victory in October 2019, the Washington based OAS cited “an inexplicable change” that “drastically modifies the fate of the election” for its now discredited report.

Declassified UK has reported that the OAS relied on inputs from the British Embassy for its discredited report. An alliance of civil society organisations, funded by the British Embassy, “coordinated an operation for citizens’ observation of the elections in 2019”.

The report reveals that the embassy’s preparations for the elections were unprecedented. 30 Bolivian journalists, trained by the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) which the embassy spent £9,981 on, were trained on “verification techniques and pre-planning an election on coverage that is balanced, accurate and free of polarisation”.

The TRF claimed that it was training the journalists on “practical skills and tools to recognise fake news and attempts to influence the electorate with false information” ahead of the elections in Bolivia.

When elections were held again in October 2020, Evo Morales’ Movimiento al Socialismo secured a comprehensive victory winning 55% of the votes. Bolivia’s new president Luis Arce declared the country had ‘reclaimed’ Democracy.

Why are some countries putting use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on hold and should we be worried? Not quite. Here is all you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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Why are some countries putting use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on hold and should we be worried? Not quite. Here is all you need to know

Ever since the vaccines for the COVID-19 have been developed by several companies across the world, the anti-vaccine lobby has gone into overdrive to spread propaganda against vaccines. The latest victim of this is the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine against Coronavirus, the administration of which was suspended in Denmark and Norway over its alleged link with blood clotting.

Concerns were raised after a person in Austria was diagnosed with blood clots and had died 10 days after taking the vaccine. Subsequently, more people who had taken the vaccine were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). As a result, some European countries including Denmark, Norway and Iceland decided the halt the administration of the vaccine among their citizens.

Apart from them, Italy and Austria have suspended the use of vaccines from certain batches, after people who had received vaccines from those batches developed the blood clotting condition. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg have also suspended the use of the same batch as Austria.

However, now the European Union has come forward to clear any apprehension about the vaccine, and it has said that there is no link between the vaccine and the cases blood clots. “There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday. The agency further added, “The vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing.”

The EMA said that so far 5 million people in Europe has received the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, and only 30 people among them have reported the blood clot condition. This rate is not higher than the natural rate of occurrence of blood clot among people. AstraZeneca has also assured that its vaccine is safe, as it was approved by regulators after it had passed stringent efficacy and safety tests.

An official of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the UK said that blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon, and it is not caused by the vaccine. It is notable that blood clotting is not listed as known side-effects of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Canadian health authorities also have ruled out any link between the vaccine and blood clotting. They have said that only a small number of people have reported the condition, which is normal given the scale the vaccination drive.

As millions of people are given various COVID-19 vaccines across the world, it is evident that hundreds of them will suffer from some or other conditions. And it will be attempted to link those conditions to the vaccines, which may not be correct.

Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine is also been administered in India, as it is one of the two vaccines approved in the country. In India it is manufactured by Serum Institute of India, and is marketed under the brand Covishield.

Theatre artist loses job after joining BJP, vocal Communist supporter behind the removal: Here is all you need to know

Dibakar Dutta
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Theatre artist loses job after joining BJP, vocal Communist supporter behind the removal: Here is all you need to know

Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal State assembly elections, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) supporters have weaponised ‘cancel culture’ to deter people from joining the BJP. In a disturbing development, a theatre artist by the name of Koushik Kar was removed from a play after he joined the BJP, reported The Times of India.

As per reports, Kar was barred from the ‘Ghum Nei’ play, written by Utpal Dutta, and adapted by a vocal Communist party supporter named Saurav Palodhi. Following the decision of Palodhi, who runs a theatre group ‘Ichamoto’, he has been slammed online for his intolerant behaviour. However, the CPM supporter justified his decision, saying that Kar’s decision to join the BJP was reason enough for his ouster.

In a Facebook post, Palodhi wrote, “We have removed Koushik Kar from ‘Ghum Nei’ play. He has joined the BJP and that is enough for us to remove him in the current scenario. This play has no place for communal people. Therefore, get lost… The new dates for the play will be announced soon Regards, Ichamoto.

Screengrab of the FB post

“While adapting Dutt’s play, Koushik and I had created his character and named him Akhlaq. The name had a reference to the 2015 Dadri case where a mob had attacked the home of Md Akhlaq, killing him on suspicion of eating beef. Allowing someone to play Akhlaq after joining BJP will be attacking the soul of the play,” he added while speaking to Times of India.

‘Cancelled’ Theatre artist slams Communist supporter, gets support of co-actors

Slamming Saurav Palodhi for removing him from the ‘Gum Nei’ play, Koushik Kar said leftists with no grassroots connections are trying to lay siege on theatre groups. “Saurav is hiding his folly by making such statements. Few Leftists who move between Dharmatala and Brigade and hyperventilate on Facebook are trying to control theatre. They have no grassroots connect,” he stated.

Kar further added, “Dropping me or barring me from staging a play is only exposing the insecurity of elites who don’t even understand the essence of communism.” The ‘cancelled’ theatre artists, who had recently joined the BJP, has received the support of actor-turned-politician Kanchana Moitra. Labelling the move as ‘sheer intolerance’, she pointed out that such decisions cannot be defended at any cost in a democratic country such as India. Actor Rudranil Ghosh condemns ‘cancel culture’, dubs it ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘fascism of left-leaning theatre workers’.

Saurav Palodhi and his connections to the CPI (M)

Saurav Palodhi is a vocal Communist party supporter. He has even updated his profile picture with CPI(M) West Bengal frame. He had attended a Communist party rally at Brigade Ground. After attending the gathering, Palodhi came to the conclusion that the West Bengal elections were no more between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress.

Screengrab of the Facebook post

Assuming that the people who had gathered at the Communist rally represent the number of voters, Palodhi alleged that CPI(M) is a strong contender in the 2021 elections.

Screengrab of the Facebook post

He was also seen supporting ‘communist students’ from the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. It must be mentioned that Palodhi is a vocal critic of the Mamata Banerjee regime as well.

Screengrab of the Facebook post

He was also seen justifying the decision of the ‘secular’ Congress-Communist alliance with the rabid Islamist Abbas Siddiqui. Palodhi targeted Hindutva politics and claimed that Indian Secular Front and the CPI(M) were two different parties and the alliance may be ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It must be reiterated that Siddiqui had called for the intervention of Allah to kill 50 crore Indians with ‘virus’ last year.

Screengrab of the Facebook post

While Abbas Siddiqui’s alliance with Left might be positive or negative, Koushik Kar’s decision to join the BJP was somehow a reason enough for his ouster from a play that he and Palodhi co-created. Although the ‘cancel culture’ in India is still in its nascent stage, leftists are pouncing on every possible opportunity to mainstream the financial and societal boycott of individuals on the basis of mere political opinions.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s kin summoned by CBI in connection with coal smuggling case: Details

OpIndia Staff
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TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s kin summoned by CBI in connection with coal smuggling case: Details

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned the sister-in-law of Abhishek Banerjee, Maneka Gambhir, and her husband Ankur Arora in connection with the coal smuggling case. Abhishek Banerjee is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

According to reports, Ankur Arora’s father Pawan Arora has also been summoned on the 15th of March. The previous month, Rujira Banerjee, the wife of Abhishek Banerjee, was summoned by the CBI in connection with the same matter.

The senior Trinamool leader had then responded to the summons on social media crying political vendetta. He said that they will not be intimidated and they have full faith in the law. The case pertains to allegations of illegal mining and coal theft in Kunustora and Kajoria.

The CBI had raided over 30 locations in West Bengal, including in Kolkata, related to the coal smuggling case in November last year. According to reports, the racket in connection with which the raids were conducted was led by Asansol based kingpin Anup Majhi.

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