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Multiple links between the farmer protest and those who had fanned Delhi anti-Hindu riots and the JNU violence emerge: Read how

OpIndia Staff
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Multiple links between the farmer protest and those who had fanned Delhi anti-Hindu riots and the JNU violence emerge: Read how

As farmer protests continue on the Haryana-Punjab border to protest against the three farm bills passed by the Modi government, details have emerged revealing how the very people who had instigated JNU violence and the Anti-Hindu riots in Delhi early this year are now fanning the ‘farmer protests’ along the Haryana-Punjab border.

Thousands of farmers have marched towards the national capital to protest against the passing of alleged ‘anti-farm’ laws by the Modi government. Anticipating violence, Haryana Police enhanced deployment of security personnel and used fencing along the Singhu Border.

On Thursday, the Haryana Police had to use tear gas and water cannons, and carried out cane charges, but failed to stop the protesters. The police have taken several farmer leaders into preventive custody over the last two days.

Amidst all these events, shocking details have emerged linking the ongoing ‘farmer protests’ to the JNU violence unleashed by the left-wing students inside the university campus in January and the subsequent Anti-CAA riots that engulfed the national capital.

During the JNU violence, a series of screenshots of WhatsApp conversations purportedly used by the mobsters to coordinate the violence had made into social media. A part of such conversation was shared by controversial journalist Barkha Dutt, in which the name of Anand Mangnale had surfaced.

Anand Mangnale, who has previously worked with JD(U)’s Prashant Kishore, was a strategist for Gandhi-scion Rahul Gandhi in 2016 ahead of Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections. The WhatsApp conversations had revealed that Mangnale was a key figure in organising students to protest inside the JNU campus on that fateful day.

Anand Mangnale, who had initially claimed that he had sneaked into a ‘right-wing group’ to get information. However, it later emerged that he was invited directly by the admin of the group ‘Unity Against Left’, thereby shattering his claims of infiltration.

The violence had started after some students registered for the winter semester and a group of left-wing students opposing the same forcibly evicted the technical staff and made servers dysfunctional. During the act, these left-groups had attacked the server rooms and had injured several students.

The full story of what had transpired then can be read here.

Is Anand Mangnale, the Congress sympathiser who was a key person in the JNU violence and how he is now fanning farmer protest

In a fresh development, Anand Manganale, the person associated with the Congress party who was one of the people who had fanned JNU violence, was caught fanning the ‘farmer protest’ on Friday on Twitter.

Anand Mangnale, took to Twitter on Friday to instigate the already frenzied mob along the Haryana-Punjab border. Mangnale, posting the videos of the protest, noted how farmers have broken through the barricade and pushed the containers, filled the holes, removed cement structures and created a road despite police using water cannon.

In another tweet, Mangnale said that the containers and the water cannons of the police will not stop the farmers.

Further, hailing farmers for vandalising public properties and creating a public nuisance by blocking roads along the Haryana-Punjab border, Mangnale celebrated the breaking down of cement structures by these farmers.

Dreaming of a civil resistance, Mangnale said that the massive barricades will now be removed by force. The tractors which are used for farming, will now be used for civil resistance, said Anand Mangnale gloating over the destruction of public property.

Not just Anand Mangnale, a pattern is now emerging as the very same people who had instigated mobs during the anti-CAA and anti-Hindu Delhi riots have now been caught attempting to create similar chaos in the name of ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmer protests marches.

Yogendra Yadav at the forefront of farmers protest just as he was during the Anti-CAA protests

The left-wing activist Yogendra Yadav, who now claims to be a farmer leader, has once again put himself at the forefront of the so-called protests. Calling a democratically passed farm law as anti-farmer, Swaraj Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav tried to mislead the farmers by not only stating that they are not allowed to protest but also said that the law is inherently anti-farmer.

Yadav, who was till last week was a ‘Bihar election expert’ somehow transformed himself to be a farmer leader in a span of one week. He has now mobilised some of his party workers and has hit the streets to protest against the farm laws.

It is pertinent to note that Yogendra Yadav has also been accused of instigating mobs in the run-up to the Anti-CAA riots in Delhi in December last year and the subsequent Anti-Hindu Delhi riots that were unleashed by Muslim mobs on the streets of national capital during the last week of February this year.

According to the charge-sheet of the Delhi riots conspiracy case, in a protest organised by ‘United Against Hate’, Yogendra Yadav joining hands with riot-accused Umar Khalid, Nadeem Khan, Sharjeel Imam, had delivered speeches against the CAA. Reportedly, Umar Khalid, who was his “senior and mentor” from JNU introduced to the mastermind of Anti-Hindu Delhi riots Sharjeel Imam to Yogendra Yadav at this agitation.

Many witnesses had disclosed to the police that earlier, Umar Khalid had already told Sharjeel Imam to make a group of “like-minded individuals” from JNU, Jamia, DU etc and had explained the concept of Chakka Jam to him. As an extension of that theme, at the meeting with Yogendra Yadav, he was told to “mobilise students of Jamia, DU and AMU”.

According to the charge-sheet, during this meeting, it was decided between Yogendra Yadav, Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid that social media would be used to indoctrinate Muslims and for the mobilisation of people for Chakka Jam. Similarly, activists of far-left group Pinjra Tod – Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita had allegedly confessed to the Delhi Police saying that Yogendra Yadav and others had given them directions to protest in different parts of Delhi against the CAA and NRC.

The charge-sheet discloses the involvement of the likes of Yogendra Yadav in the early stages of the anti-CAA protests that later engulfed across Delhi. Similar to Anti-CAA protests, Yogendra Yadav has now been mobilising forces in the name of ‘farmer protests’, allegedly to create havoc on the streets of the national capital.

Mosques to arrange food for ‘protestors’ in Delhi, the involvement of ‘United Against Hate’, accused in Delhi Riots

Further, interesting details have emerged that hints at how the so-called ‘farmers protests’ have been carefully orchestrated with a great amount of planning.

Massive arrangements are being made in Delhi to sustain these ‘farmer protests’. According to left-wing journalist Aditya Menon, many mosques in Delhi are arranging foods for ‘farmers’ coming from Punjab, Haryana and other states.

Interestingly, even as a section of the protesting ‘farmers’ raise pro-Khalistan slogans, a Muslim organisation, United Against Hate, that is an accused in the Delhi Riots 2020 case, is now seen getting involved the in ‘farmer protest’. 

Reportedly, UAH has made arrangements to supply food and other logistics to the protesting ‘farmers’ in Delhi. The UAH, joining hands with 25 mosques in the city, will be providing food supplies to the agitating farmers and also a place to stay in the national capital in an attempt to sustain and prolong these protests in the national capital.

According to Nadeem Khan of the United Against Hate (UAH), his organisation was doing everything possible to reach out to the farmers who are protesting against the Modi government. He said four kitchens have been working round the clock at four locations to arrange food for these protestors. They have been set up at Hauz Khas, Okhla, Old Rohtak Road and Old Delhi. 

“We are feeding people at these locations. We are also delivering food packets to places from wherever requests are coming. Besides, our vans with food packets are going to places where farmers are found in big numbers,” he said.

It is pertinent to note that ‘United Against Hate’ is founded by none other than riots accused Khalid Saifi. Saifi, a radical Islamist is accused of instigating Muslim mobs and colliding with anti-India forces to plan the Anti-CAA protests that later turned into communal riots in Delhi. 

Even Home Minister Amit Shah had made a special mention of this organisation during the parliamentary debate on Delhi’s riots. Shah said in the parliament, “United Against Hate – the name sounds so pious but look what they advocated. They said, ‘(Donald) Trump is about to come, we should block the streets’.” 

Saifi was earlier arrested by the Delhi police from the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest site at Khajuri Khas on February 26. He is charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly plotting riots in the national capital. 

According to the chargesheet, Saifi was in touch with Umar Khalid. Khalid Saifi had arranged a meeting between Umar Khalid and former AAP member Tahir Hussain on the 8th of January at Shaheen Bagh. In that meeting, it was decided to take ‘big action’ so the government gets shaken up on the issue of CAA and NRC and also, ensure that the international community takes notice of that action.

The details mentioned in the charge-sheet filed in the Jafrabad riot case and Chand Bagh riots case assert that the UAH was one of the masterminds of the Anti-Hindu riots that convulsed the national capital in February this year. The communal riots were a part of a deep-rooted, well-planned conspiracy to throw Delhi into a state of anarchy.

It is not an unknown fact anymore regarding the role played by mosques and Islamic organisations both in the run-up and during the Anti-CAA riots and the subsequent Anti-Hindu riots in Delhi. OpIndia had reported how mosques were used to incite and gather the Muslim mob to protest against the centre after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

It was reported that announcements were made on loudspeakers of the nearest mosques in Delhi’s Seelampur area to gather Muslim mob to carry out protests against the Modi government that later turned violent.

Even though the so-called farmers protest march or ‘Delhi Chalo’ projects itself to be a peaceful march, there have been instances of the crowd turning violent near the Haryana-Punjab border. Attempts are also being made allegedly by various forces to sustain these so-called protests and intensify it in the national capital to conspire against the Modi government.

With Congress party fanning the protest and mosques, Islamic organisations and functionaries who had an active role in the Delhi anti-Hindu Riots 2020 getting involved, the farmer-protest, which have now been hijacked by several Khalistani elements, poses a great risk for the security apparatus of the country.

Manipur student body says ‘Sanskrit text too malicious to be taught’, calls Brahmins as ‘b*stards’: Here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur student body says ‘Sanskrit text too malicious to be taught’, calls Brahmins as ‘b*stards’: Here is what happened

In a letter that has now gone viral online, the Manipuri Students’ Association in Delhi (MSAD) is seen calling objectionable names to Brahmins and blaming them for the supposed imposition of Sanskrit in government schools and colleges in the State of Manipur. The contentious letter was posted on Facebook, a day after the government announced that Sanskrit will be a part of the curriculum in some schools and colleges.

On last Friday (November 20), it released a contentious press release which claimed that the BJP government in Manipur was trying to impose Sanskrit over the students in the North-eastern State. While referring to Sanskrit texts as non-indigenous and the government as stupid, the group claimed, “Sanskrit texts are too malicious to be taught to the students of Manipur where not a single word of it is inherited to the mother tongue of the indigenous population. The government exposes its stupidity by trying to impose Sanskrit which is based on hatred, rime, untouchability, sexism, domination, chauvinism, as we know what the upper caste Hindu Brahmins are.”

In a condescending display of sheer ignorance, MSAD claimed that the BJP wanted to ‘enslave’ the native inhabitants of Manipur through linguistic and academic subversion to further the so-called process of ‘colonisation.’ The letter read, “Imposing an alien language upon the indigenous people is completely a sign of colonisation. There are above 30 dialects spoken by the indigenous people of Manipur most of which are about to be extinct lest measures are taken up to continue their existence.”

Manipuri student group refers to Brahmins as ‘b*stards’

MSAD then went one step further to refer all upper-caste Hindu Brahmins as ‘b*stards’. The letter stated, “No doubt that this government is blind enough to not to see such sight but obedient enough to be acceptable to their colonial master, the Indian empire’s upper-caste Hindu Brahmins, the b*stards… The recent announcement by a so-called Education Minister of the puppet regime submissive to the Brahmins, that Sanskrit subject will be introduced in the curriculum of schools and colleges in the colony is highly condemnable.”

Screengrab of the contentious letter posted on Facebook page of MSAD

MSAD accuses the government of colonising Manipur society

The student group further accused the BJP government of converting Manipuri society into a ‘Hinduised society.’ It stated, “This regime will be merely another phase of Shantidash Goshai who brought turmoil to the indigenous folks of the 18th century Manipur if it is allowed to continue the alike venomous activities. We appeal to all the forward groups to stand against their strategy of converting Manipuri society into a Hinduised society and systematically enslaving the people in the box of colonialism. Long Live Solidarity!” The press release bore the signature of one Kenedy Moirangthem, the Organisation Secretary of MSAD.

The row over Sanskrit ‘imposition’ in Manipur

On November 19, the State Education Minister of Manipur S Rajen had informed that Sanskrit would be introduced as a part of the curriculum in selected schools and colleges in the State. He had also informed about plans to open a Sanskrit Department and directed authorities to speed up the process. While no notification has been issued by the government to make Sanskrit compulsory or replace the indigenous languages, the Manipuri Students’ Association in Delhi (MSAD) went on an unwarranted Hinduphobic rant over the non-existent issue.

Note: OpIndia has tried to reach out to the students’ body for a comment before the publication of this article. The number listed on their Facebook page is switched off and we have received no response to our message. If the Students Body does respond, this article will be updated accordingly.

Muslim organisation that is accused of fuelling anti-Hindu Delhi riots, comes in support of farmer protests in Punjab: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim organisation that is accused of fuelling anti-Hindu Delhi riots, comes in support of farmer protests in Punjab: Read details

The ‘farmer’ protests in Punjab has become a flashpoint in Delhi. Even as a section of the protesting ‘farmers’ raise pro-Khalistan slogans, a Muslim organisation, United Against Hate, that is an accused in the Delhi Riots 2020 case, is now seen getting involved the in ‘farmer protest’.

Reportedly, UAH has made arrangements to supply food and other logistics to the protesting ‘farmers’ in Delhi. The UAH, joining hands with 25 mosques in the city, will be providing food supplies to the agitating farmers and also a place to stay in the national capital in an attempt to sustain and prolong these protests in the national capital.

According to Nadeem Khan of the United Against Hate (UAH), his organisation was doing everything possible to reach out to the farmers who are protesting against the Modi government. He said four kitchens have been working round the clock at four locations to arrange food for these protestors. They have been set up at Hauz Khas, Okhla, Old Rohtak Road and Old Delhi.

“We are feeding people at these locations. We are also delivering food packets to places from wherever requests are coming. Besides, our vans with food packets are going to places where farmers are found in big numbers,” he said.

‘United Against Hate’ – the radical organisation that fuelled Anti-Hindu riots

It is pertinent to note that ‘United Against Hate’ is founded by none other than riots accused Khalid Saifi. Saifi, a radical Islamist is accused of instigating Muslim mobs and colliding with anti-India forces to plan the Anti-CAA protests that later turned into communal riots in Delhi.

Even Home Minister Amit Shah had made a special mention of this organisation during the parliamentary debate on Delhi’s riots. Shah said in the parliament, “United Against Hate – the name sounds so pious but look what they advocated. They said, ‘(Donald) Trump is about to come, we should block the streets’.”

Saifi was earlier arrested by the Delhi police from the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest site at Khajuri Khas on February 26. He is charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly plotting riots in the national capital.

According to the chargesheet, Saifi was in touch with Umar Khalid. Khalid Saifi had arranged a meeting between Umar Khalid and former AAP member Tahir Hussain on the 8th of January at Shaheen Bagh. In that meeting, it was decided to take ‘big action’ so the government gets shaken up on the issue of CAA and NRC and also, ensure that the international community takes notice of that action.

The details mentioned in the charge-sheet filed in the Jafrabad riot case and Chand Bagh riots case assert that the UAH was one of the masterminds of the Anti-Hindu riots that convulsed the national capital in February this year. The communal riots were a part of a deep-rooted, well-planned conspiracy to throw Delhi into a state of anarchy.

United Against Hate, that is now supporting the farmer protest, had organised several Anti-CAA protests, mobilised people

Not just Saifi, the name Nadeem Khan, who has taken the lead to arrange logistics supply to the so-called protestors, had also appeared in one of the WhatsApp communications in the run-up to the Anti-CAA violence in the capital.

The screenshots of a WhatsApp group named ‘United Against Hate’ had come out in public that had revealed the dangerous nexus between Congress, Islamists and foreign-funded NGO in fuelling the anti-CAA protests. A Delhi Congress leader named Nikita Chaturvedi was part of WhatsApp group which mobilised protestors in December.

Delhi Congress leader Nikita Chaturvedi’s WhatsApp messages

In the above message, Chaturvedi, whose phone ends with number 4231 can be seen conversing with ‘Saifi Bhai’ and ‘Nadeem Bhai’, who in turn says that people are waiting for them. OpIndia could not independently verify whether the name ‘Nadeem’, which appeared in the ‘United Against Hate’ WhatsApp group, referred to Nadeem Khan who is now organising langar for the protesting farmers.

In addition to that, ‘United Against Hate’ had also organised several protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the national capital. In one of the protests organised by UAH, dubious activists like Yogendra Yadav had joined hands with riot-accused Umar Khalid, Nadeem Khan, Sharjeel Imam, to deliver provocative speeches against the CAA.

Interestingly, during the Shaheen Bagh protests, DS Bindra, who was a member of Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, organised langars for several riot accused too.

OpIndia had reported how in the charge sheet filed in connection with the murder of constable Ratan Lal, advocate DS Bindra was named as one of the instigators. 

In the charge sheet, it was mentioned categorically that DS Bindra was one of the instigators of the riots that led to the murder of Ratan Lal. The charge sheet also categorically states that the conspirators “were fully aware that violence may ensue and had accordingly directed the protestors to arm themselves”. 

Further, the charge sheet says, “On 23.02.2020 the above said accused persons along with other organizers, conspirators and rioters convened a meeting at Chand Bagh and asked the residents to equip themselves with iron rods, Dandas, Petrol Bombs etc for the next day. On 24.02.2020 at around 1 pm as per plan, the riots erupted and the protestors attacked the police personnel. Numbers of police personnel were injured and HC Ratan Lal was killed”.

It is also evident that for certain elements who were involved in the Delhi Riots, the mythical ‘Sikh-Muslim unity’ has become a trope to exploit. Before Delhi Riots, the media had reported extensively how a ‘Sikh man had sold his flat to organised langars for Shaheen Bagh protestors’. Eventually, it was discovered that the ‘Sikh’ who had organised langar was a member of AIMIM, DS Bindra, and was later named in the chargesheet as an instigator. The same trope is being used now when the media reports how Mosques and Muslim organisations are organising langars for Sikh farmers. It is thus, rather evident that United Against Hate’s support to the farmer protests is a dangerous sign of things to come, given their antecedents.

Delhi: Severed heads of cows found lying on the road in Ghazipur, locals allege crime committed with impunity with the help of the local authorities

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Severed heads of cows found lying on the road in Ghazipur, locals allege crime committed with impunity with the help of the local authorities

Concerted attempts to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus has been on the rise in the national capital. Earlier in the day, it was reported how dozens of idols kept in the Shiv Shakti temple in Delhi’s Begumpur area were beheaded by unknown miscreants on the night of November 24. Now, videos have emerged which show several severed heads of cows lying on the streets of Ghazipur in Delhi.

Opindia has obtained the video in which severed heads of the cows are clearly seen lying scattered in pools of blood on the streets of Ghazipur. Though we have not shared the video here due to the disturbing content, in the video the heads of 4-5 cows were seen lying on the street in a pool of blood. The angry locals are seen complaining to the police how such incidents have become common in the area. They say that 2 or 3 times before this incident, they have reported similar incidents to the police authorities, but no action has been taken thus far.

In the video the locals accuse the police of trying to cover up the incident. They say that the police have been removing the severed heads of the bovines anticipating that media or the local MLAs might reach the spot soon. They appeal to the police to let the severed heads be there until media reaches the spot so that the incident can be brought to the fore.

At this point in the video, one can also hear an argument between the police and the local people, however, undeterred by the plea, the police continue to clear the street.

A young man is heard saying that the miscreants tenaciously continue to slaughter the cows merely at a distance of 100 meters from Ghazipur police station. At this point, the police keep the severed head of the cows in their car and speed away from the spot. The locals are heard saying angrily that they would go to the Ghazipur police station and protest. They say they would make sure that this crime, which has been continuing in their area for a while, is stopped. The person who has recorded the video says that these miscreants continue to commit the crime with impunity with the help of the local authorities.

Apart from the video, the source who sent the video tells OpIndia that such incidents have been happening continuously for the past 1 year. Though every time such incidents occur, the local authorities and police are informed, protests are also carried out, roads are blocked, but the incidents keep reoccurring. Every other day, the cows are picked up from dairy farms, slaughtered and discarded in similar fashion, informed our source.

After OpIndia acquired the video, we contacted the Ghazipur police station to confirm the case. Confirming the news, the officer told us that a case has been registered against unidentified culprits and investigation has been initiated. When asked about the exact location and other related information, we were told that only the SHO can give us further details about the case. But when OpIndia called SHO Prem Singh Negi and tried to speak to him about the case, he disconnected the phone. We tried calling him up again, be he could not be contacted. From the police station, we came to know that an FIR numbered 501 has been filed in this case. However, when we tried to look for the details by searching the FIR number online, we could find no details of the purported FIR.

Opindia is constantly trying to contact the police in this regard. We will update this news when we are able to establish contact with the Ghazipur police or get more information related to the case.

The UK and Russia steer away from China, emphasise on the use of domestic equipment by tech companies, 5G mobile networks

OpIndia Staff
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The UK and Russia steer away from China, emphasise on the use of domestic equipment by tech companies, 5G mobile networks

Russia’s State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) announced on November 23 that only the equipment of Russian origin will be used for the development of 5G network in the country. According to Comnews Russia, after a meeting of the SCRF, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, Oleg Ivanov said that a decision was taken to use exclusively Russia-made equipment in the deployment of 5G networks in the country. He said that during the construction of the Internet of Things (IoT) networks, base stations with the status of domestic equipment would be needed. Ivanov added that operators would be able to build a 5G network in all frequency bands in which they already have the right to built LTE networks.

The frequency ranges approved for 5G services in Russia are: 694-790 MHz, 2,300-2,400 MHz, 2,570-2,620 MHz, 4,400-4,990 MHz and 24.25-27.5 MHz. Rostec, a Russian state-owned holding conglomerate, has reportedly been identified as the basic contractor to ensure the production of domestic equipment for 5G networks. Recently, a roadmap was approved for the development of 5G in Russia according to which the delivery of Russian origin equipment would commence from 2024. PJSC MegaFon has predicted a delay of 5-6 years in the introduction of 5G technology in Russia. The press service of the Russian telecom operator said that PJSC “MTS” was ready to purchase competitive Russian equipment with required characteristics, quality and prices. In December 2019, the company had signed an agreement with the Element Group of Companies and Skoltech regarding the development and production of 5G in Russia. This year in October, a 5G pilot zone was set up in Skolkovo within the framework of this project.

General Director of Spectrum Management LLC, Igor Guryanov said that all the existing network in Russia were currently working with the NSA (Non Standalone) architecture and that assuming that transition to SA (Standalone Nwetworking) architecture could be done by 2023, full-scale 5G networks were unlikely to be ready before 2025. Agreeing with Guryanov, Vitaly Solonin, Head f the Wireless Technologies Depertment at J’son & Partners Consulting, said that requirement to have exclusively Russian origin equipment would delay the launch of 5G network in the country.

MTS is ready to deploy 5G-ready dedicated network powered by Ericsson for Polymetal, one of the world’s largest producers of gold and silver producer at the Nezhdaninskoye gold deposit in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The network that will be build on Ericsson Dedicated Networks solution, is expected to be introduced by the end of 2020. The network will provide critical communications infrastructure and the IoT.

The UK warns tech companies of doing business in China

The United Kingdom has launched a website warning about the consequences of doing business in China or accepting Chinese investment. The website has reportedly been created in response to demand from the tech sector. The website has a number of features including case studies, guides to conducting due diligence, links to consultancies and warning about the possible violation of ethical, security and commercial norms. The website also suggests measures like “legal steps to protect your IP in China”.

UK’s Digital and Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage said in a statement, “The UK is determines to support our business to engage with China in a way that reflects the UK’s values and takes account of national security concerns”.

The UK government had earlier allowed Huawei a limited role in supplying equipment for the country’s 5G roll-out. However, reversing its earlier decision, the country has now ordered all its operators to get rid of all Huawei equipment from their 5G network by 2027. The UK government has also presented the National Security and Investment Bill, which allows the government to intervene in commercial transactions which could undermine national security and this includes the power to block transactions as a last resort.

Earilier this month, the US had levied sanctions on Huawei by restricting chip supply to the company which had affected the company’s smartphone shipments.

Netizens call to Boycott tax evasion accused Amrapali Jewels after it pitches Swara Bhasker as its brand ambassador, Amrapali deletes tweet

OpIndia Staff
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Netizens call to Boycott tax evasion accused Amrapali Jewels after it pitches Swara Bhasker as its brand ambassador, Amrapali deletes tweet

The Rajasthan based Amrapali Jewels is drawing severe flak on the social media websites for roping in ultra-leftist and controversial actor Swara Bhasker as its brand ambassador.

The official Twitter account of Amrapali Jewels yesterday posted a tweet with a picture of actor Swara Bhasker donning the brand’s jewellery and other accessories. “Celebrating the festivities with love, light and happiness, Swara Bhaskar shines bright in our chandbalis, bangles and maangtikka,” the tweet said.

However, the tweet showcasing Swara as the brand’s ambassador raised the hackles of the brand loyalists, who quickly took to Twitter to denounce the brand for enlisting a highly controversial and polarising figure to market its product. Before long, a raft of Twitter users joined in to demand a boycott of the jewellery brand for associating itself with Swara Bhasker.

Social media users call for a boycott of Amrapali Jewels

One of the aggrieved Twitter user claimed that he had bought 6 items worth lakhs for his wife but he will not be making any further purchases from the brand. The user contended that he is going to block the Amrapali Jewel on Twitter as well as its owners on his Whatsapp.

Another user said that she had never heard of the brand before but since they have roped in Swara Bhasker, she will never be making any purchases from the brand and will advise the same to her followers.

Yet another Twitter accused Swara Bhasker of inciting Delhi riots and called for the boycott of the Amrapali Jewels.

A social media user, offended by Swara Bhasker being hired to promote the brand, vowed to ensure that no one in his family gives business to Amrapali Jewels.

One of the Twitter users was particularly acerbic in criticising the association between Swara Bhasker and Amrapali Jewel. The social media user tweeted, “All crooks are helping each other” while sharing a snapshot of a report about Income Tax raids carried out at several premises of the Amrapali Jewels.

Interestingly, the Amrapali Jewels is owned by Rajasthan Congress leader Rajiv Arora. In July 2020, the tax sleuths conducted raids at several premises of the Amrapali Jewels in connection with a tax evasion case. About Rs 12 crore cash and jewellery worth Rs 1.5 crore were seized after the searches. The tax sleuths had alleged that a substantial part of the silver jewellery business was carried out outside the regular books of accounts.

Swara Bhasker’s past antics draws the ire of social media users

Bhasker has been at the receiving end of the online criticism for her past antecedents where she was seen taking controversial stands on a variety of issues. Bhasker earned the title of ‘anti-Hindu’ for her selective outrage when she was seen holding a placard highlighting an allegation of the rape taking place in a ‘devi’-sthaan temple (with the term Devi written in single quotes). Her act triggered a controversy for the selectivity it exhibited and for maligning the entire religion for the act committed by a few. It was also alleged that Bhasker did not take a similar stance in such cases at worship places of other religions.

More recently, Bhasker was also seen standing with the alleged masterminds of the horrific anti-Hindu riots that swept the national capital earlier in February 2020. Bhasker has been fervidly campaigning for the release of one of the masterminds of the Delhi riots, Umar Khalid, who had been described in the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police as ‘veteran of sedition’ who devised a plan to split India in 2020 on the concept of Ummah, thereby annihilating all its secular, national and cultural identities.

More recently, Swara Bhasker was also accused of whitewashing the Islamist violence and vandalism when she commented: “cheap photoshop”, on a tweet with pictures of the Islamists attacking Amar Jawan Memorial during the Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai.

Update: After widespread outrage, Amrapali has now deleted its tweet where it plugged Swara Bhaskar as its brand ambassador, though the brand has offered no explanation yet or released any statement regarding the deletion of their tweet.

BJP names Sushil Modi as its candidate in the Rajya Sabha by-election for the seat vacated due to death of Ram Vilas Paswan

OpIndia Staff
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BJP names Sushil Modi as its candidate in the Rajya Sabha by-election for the seat vacated due to death of Ram Vilas Paswan

BJP has nominated former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi as the party’s candidate for Rajya Sabha from the state. He has been nominated for the by-poll to the Rajya Sabha scheduled to take place on 14 December. The by-election was necessitated due to former union minister and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan. BJP decided to keep the seat to itself instead of giving it to LJP after the party broke the alliance ahead of Bihar assembly elections.

Sushil Modi was not inducted in the newly elected Bihar government headed by Nitish Kumar. Since then, it was being speculated that the veteran BJP leader will be moved to the centre. Today’s nomination has proved those speculations correct.

Although Rajya Sabha MPs are elected for a fixed term of six years, Sushil Modi will remain MP only till 2024, because it is a by-election, and he will get the remaining term in the vacant seat. The seat was originally own by Ravi Shankar Prasad in 2018. But he resigned in the next year after being elected to the Lok Sabha. After that, Ram Vilas Paswan was elected to the seat with the support of BJP and JD(U). Therefore, it will be third election for the 2018-2024 term of the Rajya Sabha seat.

After Sushil Modi moves to Rajya Sabha, possibilities have also emerged that he may be inducted in the union cabinet. A cabinet expansion is due anytime soon, as four posts have become vacant in the cabinet. Death of Ram Vilas Paswan and minister of state for Railways Suresh Angadi had cause two vacancies, while exit of Shiv Sena and Akali Das has two more vacancies.

It is being speculated PM Narendra Modi will expand the cabinet in December itself, well ahead of the budget session. The winter session this year has been cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic, and the same has been merged with budget session.

Haryana: Ikram tries to abduct Hindu girl, molest and assault the girl and family for refusing his advances of conversion and marriage

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: Ikram tries to abduct Hindu girl, molest and assault the girl and family for refusing his advances of conversion and marriage

In a shocking incident of alleged Grooming Jihad (Love Jihad), a group of Muslim goons led by one Ikram barged into the house of a Hindu girl in Durga colony in Sarurpur in Faridabad district, Haryana, where Chhath Puja was being performed on 19th November and tried to abduct her. They also molested the girl and when her family tried to resist, the goons brutally assaulted the members of her family.

The family of the Hindu girl has alleged that Ikram had been pressuring them to allow him to convert the girl to Islam and marry her into his community. This attack was reportedly a repercussion of the Hindu family rejecting Ikram’s advances.

Police coercing victim’s family to reach a settlement and withdraw the case against the accused

While speaking about the incident, the victim’s family also alleged that the police have not been cooperating with them and are trying to protect the accused instead. The lady police officer has been constantly trying to coerce the victim’s family to reach a settlement and withdraw the case against the accused.

Recollecting the harrowing experience, the victim told local news channels like STV Haryana News and News48TV, that she and her family had sat down for Chhath Puja on the night of 19th November when local goon Ikram sent a young boy to call for her. When her brother refused and sent the child away, Ikram landed up at their house with 8-10 of his aides and started looking out for her. 

They asked ‘ladki kahan hai, ladki ko uthao?’ (where is the girl, pick her up?) and then on seeing her, they caught her by her hand and dragged her. When the girl’s mother tried to intervene, they thrashed and pushed her away. They then molested the girl near the stairs of the house. When the victim’s brother’s friend tried to intervene, the goons brutally attacked him, leaving him grievously injured.

The victim’s maternal uncle also spoke to the media. He confirmed that the Muslim boy Ikram is feared by everyone in the locality.

Muslim man insisted on getting the Hindu girl converted to Islam and thereafter marry her in his community

Around a month back, Ikram had approached the mother of the Hindu girl and said that he would get the girl married in his ‘quam’ (Muslim community). Ikram had allegedly insisted on getting the girl converted to Islam and thereafter marring her in his community.

He had allegedly told the victim’s mother that since they were from a humble background and the victim’s father was also disabled, he wanted to ensure that the girl is married off into a decent family. He had also assured them financial help if they bowed to his demands. The girl’s mother had, however, angrily driven him away from their home and warned him against proposing such things ever again. This had triggered Ikram, claimed the victim’s uncle.

The uncle speaking to the media also alleged that the police was not cooperating with them. When he went to the police station along with his niece and was guiding him on what to write in the complaint against Ikram, the officer on duty discouraged them from submitting a complaint against the accused saying that their case was weak and that they should withdraw their case else they only could land up in trouble. The uncle claimed that the officer kept threatening his niece and instructing her on what is to be written in the complaint.

Naming Sub Inspector Sushila Phogat in the Women Cell as the one who was pushing them for settlement and pressurising to withdraw their case, victim’s uncle quoted Phogat as saying: “You have come from Bihar, just earn and live here, don’t get into all this…if you agree for settlement, we will ensure you get a fair deal,” Phogat is alleged to have said.

The uncle, however, said: “We want justice…recently we saw Nikita’s (Tomar) case, then another happened few days back, and now this happening with us. This is only increasing, how long will be live subservient to them?”, questioned the victim’s uncle expressing his despondency towards the establishment.

Avinash, the youth who was brutally attacked by Ikram and the other goons, told media, “I went for Chhath to their house as I do every year, and saw the girl being dragged. I tried to mediate and end the dispute, but they started arguing with me. Suddenly, someone attacked me with a sword from behind, and then many of them pounced on me and started beating me with rods and sticks. I had no prior animosity with any of them (in tears) yet they thrashed me so mercilessly that I fainted. I want police to take action.”

Grooming Jihad in Haryana

Like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana has also been emerging as an epicentre for the increasing menace of Grooming Jihad (Love Jihad), where Hindu girls are victimised, forced to convert to Islam on the pretext of marriage. Recently, a 16-year-old minor girl went missing from Rewari, Haryana. The mother of the victim had revealed that her daughter’s abductor had introduced himself as one ‘Rahul Rathore’, and had allegedly hidden his real identity to lure her daughter. She had claimed that his father’s name is Asif and he originally hails from a village near Ferozepur Jhirka, Haryana.

Likewise, in the Nikita Tomar case, which had gained national attention, the 21-year-old Hindu girl was killed in broad daylight by a man named Tousif after she rejected his advances and refused to convert to Islam.

Mumbai Mayor rants against Kangana Ranaut, calls her ‘two rupees people’ after Bombay HC slammed BMC for demolishing Ranaut’s house

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai Mayor rants against Kangana Ranaut, calls her ‘two rupees people’ after Bombay HC slammed BMC for demolishing Ranaut’s house

Even after the Bombay High Court quashed the demolition notices sent by the BMC and deemed their action against Kangana Ranaut as carried out with malice, and asked BMC to pay compensation for demolishing her office, Shiv Sena leader and Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar has intensified the attack against the actor, calling her a worthless individual and accusing her of using court’s arena for political rivalry.

Speaking to the media after the Bombay High Court verdict, Pednekar said, “Everyone is surprised that one nutty (a derogatory, slang used for actors in Maharashtra) who lives in Himachal Pradesh, comes here and calls Mumbai as PoK…such ‘do takke ke log’ (people worth two rupees) want to make Courts arena for political rivalry, it’s wrong that such worthless individuals want to turn the judicial courts into a political battlefield.”

The BMC mayor also said that she does not know who Kangana Ranaut is and she never watched her movies. Rejecting that demolition of Ranaut’s office was an act of revenge, she said, “Action was taken because there was something to it. I personally didn’t even know who she was. I had never seen her movies simply because there is no time.”

Earlier, after the verdict came out, Pednekar defended the BMC, stating that their actions were pursuant to the municipal rules. She was to hold a meeting with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) legal team to assess Bombay High Court’s order in Kangana Ranaut case.

Bombay High Court comes down heavily on Sanjay Raut for his condemnable language against Kangana Ranaut

It is worth noting that the Bombay High Court while quashing the demolition notice sent to actor Kangana Ranaut by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and accusing the Maharashtra State government with “malafide intent”, also took note of the despicable remarks made by Sanjay Raut against the actor. Tearing into the Shiv Sena MP, the Bombay HC bench comprising of Justices S J Kathawalla and RI Chagle opined that such conduct certainly doesn’t befit a leader like Sanjay Raut who is also a Parliamentarian.

Earlier in September, a war of words broke out between actor Kangana Ranaut and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut over the former’s comment likening Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Following the incident, Kangana claimed that she was threatened by Raut against entering Mumbai. In response to the threat, Kangana said that no big daddy can stop her from entering Mumbai.

Sanjay Raut while responding to the News Nation reporter about whether he will take unlawful steps to prevent Kangana Ranaut from entering Mumbai said, “What is law? Did that girl respect the law in the manner in which she spoke? Why are you acting as the lawyer of that ‘haramkhor’ girl?”

Later, after receiving flak for his unparliamentary language, Raut tried to brazen out his stand, giving a new definition to the word ‘haramkhor’. In an interaction with AajTak, Raut was seen defending his crass remarks for the actor Kangana Ranaut, saying he meant “haramkhor” as “naughty” and “dishonest”. Since then, he has been referring to Kangana on multiple occasions, including in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, as ‘naughty’.

Bombay High Court slams BMC for demolishing Kangana Ranaut’s house, appoints valuer to ascertain the damage

A Bombay HC bench comprising of Justices S J Kathawalla and RI Chagle Friday quashed the demolition notice sent to actor Kangana Ranaut by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation dated on September 7 and 9. Passing the directive the court observed that the order had “malafide intent” and was “premeditated to target her for her tweets and statements”. Orders that a valuer is appointed to ascertain damages caused due to demolition, to determine the compensation to be paid to Ranaut.

“There are materials to indicate that the action of demolition smacks of malafide and would refrain from making findings on malice in fact for want of facts”, observed the two-judge bench of the Bombay HC hearing a writ petition filed by actor Kangana Ranaut challenging the demolition of her bungalow by the Mumbai civic body at the behest of the state government.

Note: This article has been updated with new information that came to light

Shoaib Akhtar hails Pakistan as ‘greatest nation on the planet’, slams New Zealand for warning Pakistani cricketers against violating isolation protocol

OpIndia Staff
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Shoaib Akhtar hails Pakistan as ‘greatest nation on the planet’, slams New Zealand for warning Pakistani cricketers against violating isolation protocol

Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has hailed Pakistan as the “greatest nation” on the Earth during his diatribe against New Zealand Cricket for threatening to send the Pakistani cricket team back home after many of its players were caught on camera defying the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Akhtar, known as ‘The Rawalpindi Express’, made the remarks while speaking on his YouTube channel.

The former speedster said that New Zealand’s admonition about Pakistan cricket team not following the COVID-19 guidelines was below the belt attack. He cautioned the New Zealand cricket board to not consider Pakistan as a club team which can be threatened into submission. Akhtar added that Pakistan cricket team is an international cricket team and they don’t need New Zealand to sustain their cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar slams New Zealand for threatening to send Pakistan cricket team back

Shoaib Akhtar says New Zealand Cricket should be beholden to Pakistan for touring them

Even though Pakistan’s cricket team is struggling after consistent refusals from several nations to tour their country on account of rampant terror incidents, Shoaib Akhtar stated that New Zealand Cricket should be beholden to Pakistan for deciding to tour their country in such difficult times. Akhtar added that the Kiwis should be grateful that Pakistan is touring them despite not receiving any monetary compensation for the tour while they will be raking in the moolah from the broadcasting rights despite hosting the tour.

Akhtar advised New Zealand Cricket to behave in a polite manner and not issue such strident remarks for Pakistan, a country which he hailed as the “greatest nation on the planet”. He asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to show some spine by calling off the New Zealand tour and severe cricketing ties with the nation for the next five years.

If railing against New Zealand Cricket was not enough, Akhtar also trained guns at the PCB, faulting them for not arranging a chartered flight for sending Pakistani players to New Zealand. Akhtar claimed that during the tour of England, players were sent on chartered flights but this time around, they had to board commercial flights, travel to Dubai first, then to Kuala Lumpur and from there to Auckland.

NZ Cricket issues final warning to PCB after 6 Pakistani cricketers test COVID-19 positive

Earlier yesterday, PCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan said that the New Zealand cricket board has given the Pakistan cricket team a “final warning” to strictly follow coronavirus safety guidelines. 

The board, according to Khan, said that 3-4 coronavirus SOPs were broken by Pakistani players after which 6 players tested positive for the contagion. Khan said New Zealand has a “zero tolerance” policy towards violation of COVID-19 protocols.

He added that the New Zealand Cricket has also said that the entire Pakistan squad will be sent back home if there are any other violations. Khan estimates if this happens, it would be a big embarrassment for Pakistan cricket and which is why their margin of error is zero.

“It’s not easy. But this is a matter of the nation’s respect and credibility. Observe these 14 days and then you’ll have the freedom to go to restaurants and roam about freely. They have told me in clear terms that if we commit one more breach, they’ll send us home,” he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had confirmed on Thursday that six members of the Pakistan cricket team in New Zealand had tested positive for coronavirus. With Pakistani players testing positive for the Chinese virus, the exemption to train while in isolation has been put on hold for now. Authorities in New Zealand have said that the Pakistani players caught the virus after they violated protocols on the first day of managed isolation. The New Zealand’s Minister of Health had also issued a statement backing NZC, adding that CCTV footage is clear evidence of a few members contravening the protocols despite ‘clear instructions’.

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