Home Blog Page 4821

Mamata Banerjee accuses Railways of delaying Majerhat bridge, here is how her allegations were debunked by the railways

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mamata Banerjee accuses Railways of delaying Majerhat bridge, here is how her allegations were debunked by the railways

Responding to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s allegations that the Railways has been delaying the construction of Majerhat Bridge, the Eastern Railways said on Twitter that all the codal formalities from the Railways have been completed concerning the Majerhat Bridge and it is only awaiting the mandatory safety certificate from the PWD department of the West Bengal government.

“All codal formalities prior to the opening of the ROB have been completed. It is expected that mandatory safety certificate from PWD will be received shortly for giving clearance by Railways. No other issue is pending with Railways,” the tweet said. 

In the subsequent tweet, the Eastern Railways informed that there is no delay on the Railways’ part and it is waiting for the state government’s PWD department to issue the mandatory safety certificate.

Mamata Banerjee blames the Railways for the delay in the opening of the Majerhat bridge

The riposte from the Eastern Railways came after Mamata Banerjee yesterday alleged that the Railways has been delaying the construction of the Majerhat Bridge, a part of which had collapsed on 4 September 2018, killing two people. 

Banerjee had blamed the Railways for the slowing down of the construction of the bridge, alleging that the department had delayed the clearance for nine months.

Speaking to media at Nabanna, Banerjee said, “For nine months, the railways kept delaying giving permission. You, BJP party, were you sleeping then? For nine months, we had repeated meeting with them, requesting them for clearance.”

Banerjee further added, “For the last two years, people of Behala and South Kolkata have suffered so much because of Railways continued delaying the construction. They did not approve the permission at the right time because of which we are facing this delay.”

The West Bengal chief minister also added that though the bridge looked “completed”, it wasn’t and alleged that only the PWD related work of the bridge is completed. She claimed that there were some technicalities that need to be cleared by the Railways before they gave their 100 per cent clearance and stated that it will take another 7-8 days. 

Besides Railways, Banerjee also trained the guns on the BJP, alleging that because of the saffron party, the construction of the bridge had been delayed.

Claiming that she had done enough for the people of Behala, Mamata proceeded on enlisting the development work supposedly carried out by her government in the neighbourhood. “I’ve done the metro in Behala. We are constructing the Majerhat Bridge. I’ve named a stadium after Satyajit Ray in Behala. All kinds of development work in Behala has been done by me,” she said.

Clashes broke out between Police and BJP workers over the delay in construction of the bridge

Banerjee’s allegations came in the wake of the clashes that had broken out between the West Bengal police and BJP workers after the latter were stopped short of the Bridge in the southwestern part of Kolkata. The police had placed barricades to stop the BJP workers from marching towards the bridge, demanding immediate re-opening. 

The police also employed lathi-charge to disperse the protestors. The barricades were set up nearby Taratala More to prevent the BJP cadre from marching towards the construction site, following which the BJP activists allegedly clashed with the police forces. Many of the demonstrators were detained by the police. 

Railways issue a press release

The Railways also published a press release debunking the allegations. The press release is reproduced below:

In some media, a news has appeared on 27.11.2020 describing as if Railway is responsible for the delay in opening of Majerhat Road Overbridge (ROB). Following points indicating up-do-date development/status of re-building of Majerhat ROB are placed hereunder for clear appreciation of the problem.

1)    Majerhat ROB collapsed in September, 2018 apparently due to maintenance failure. The structure was under the maintenance of PWD, Govt of WB. Initially the Government of West Bengal decided to rebuild the ROB with bow string steel girders, but in January 2019 they changed the decision to rebuild it as a cable stayed type ROB. It led to loss of time by more than four (4) months.

2)    Metro Railway Joka  – B B D Bag alignment is parallel to the proposed ROB at Majerhat. As per planning made by the engineers of the Government of West Bengal, north-end approach of the proposed ROB was infringing with the Metro Railway alignment. In spite of repeated requests by ER to get the nod of RVNL/Metro regarding infringement of proposed Majerhat ROB before finalizing the alignment of Majerhat ROB, it was delayed by PWD. The matter was at last resolved with the intervention of Chief Secretary of Government of West Bengal, which led to loss of time by more than one & half months.

3)    The draft design & drawings of the super structure submitted by the PWD, Government of West Bengal to Railway had multiple (29 Nos.) technical shortcomings. Ultimately, in a meeting held on 4th & 5th July, 2019 by Railways with the foreign designers engaged by the Government of West Bengal and the engineers of PWD, the issue was finally resolved. The final design & drawings for the super structure of the ROB were submitted by the PWD to Railways after about one month of the above meeting.

4)    In order to avoid delay, PWD engineers were requested to attend the office of Chief Bridge Engineer/Eastern Railway on 4.11.2019 to comply with the observations made in connection with erection and the launching scheme after a thorough scrutiny thereof. The concerned officials from the PWD finally complied with the observations on 22.11.2019. On 22.11.2019 itself all the drawings & designs have been taken back by the officials of the PWD from the Railway Office for submission of the final drawings as per extant practice for approval of Railway.

5)    State PWD on 27.11.2019 submitted 22 drawings on the launching scheme to Railway. After scrutiny by Railway, the number of drawings for the launching scheme was increased from 17 to 22. Railway has approved the designs and all these 22 drawings on 28.11.2019 and PWD was requested to take away the approved drawings for filling of Commissioner Railway Safety application etc.

6)    The Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) application for erection & launching of girder was submitted by the state authority to DRM/Sealdah on 2.12.2019. DRM/Sealdah has filed the Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) application for erection & launching of girders to Commissioner Railway Safety, Eastern Circle on 4.12.2019. Commissioner Railway Safety Eastern Circle’s approval was accorded on 28.2.2020 with some stipulations.

7)    The final drawings of the bearings were submitted on 26.08.2020 and were approved by this Railway on the same day.

8)    Joint Safety Certificate  received from State Govt on 27.11.2020 and submitted to CRS EC on date after signature of Railway Authority. State Govt. Has also been informed in writing on date that all statutory formalities regarding the ROB involving this Railway have been completed and they are now at liberty to take further action for arranging its opening for public.

It may be appreciated that nothing was left pending with Eastern Railway and there was no delay on the part of the Railway. Eastern Railway is always keen to complete job in coordination with all the agencies associated with construction of Majerhat ROB including PWD, Govt of WB and has taken all steps for early completion of the work.

‘Azam Khan misused his power as state minister to obtain forged documents for his son’: Read why Allahabad HC rejected bail plea today

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Azam Khan misused his power as state minister to obtain forged documents for his son’: Read why Allahabad HC rejected bail plea today

In a major setback to the Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Allahabad High Court denied bail to him and his son. The case pertains to Azam Khan’s son, Abdullah Azam Khan, forging his passport and PAN to show that he was born in 1990, to enable him to contest the UP Assembly elections from the Suar constituency in Rampur in 2017. Justice Suneet Kumar, who rejected the bail plea on Thursday, asked the trial court to expedite the trial.

Azam Khan, his son Abdullah Azam and wife Tanzeen Fatima are lodged in Sitapur jail since February this year.

The Allahabad High Court bench observed that the accused enjoy ‘deep-rooted and pervasive influence’ and thus, if given bail, it is entirely possible that they would attempt to influence witnesses.

Fearing that on being outside on bail, they may try to influence witnesses in the case, Justice Suneet Kumar observed while rejecting bail: “The forged date of birth was procured during the tenure of the first applicant being Cabinet Minister; Municipal Corporation was under his ministry. The allegations reflect deep-rooted criminal conspiracy; gross misuse of position, the exercise of coercion and threat in the commission of the offence and perpetuating it”.

While passing the order, the Allahabad High Court also took on record the State’s submissions as regards the criminal antecedents of the Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son. Azam Khan has 91 cases against him starting from 1982, his wife Dr Tazeen was stated to have 32 cases and their son was found to have 44 cases lodged against him. Moreover, the Court took note that Azam Khan was alleged to have intimidated and threatened landholders while trying to usurp government land. 

As per the Bar and Bench report, Given the State’s submissions that the two bail applicants had not cooperated with the probe until coercive measures were adopted, the Court proceeded to reject the bail pleas. The court order read: “Having regard to the allegations that the applicants did not cooperate with the investigation and court proceedings, consequently, coercive measures had to be adopted against them. Further, having regard to the position and status of the accused persons, the repetition of the offences, and the deep-rooted and pervasive influence, applicants exercise in the various departments of the State, there is a reasonable apprehension of the witnesses being tampered with, and danger to the course of justice being thwarted. In the circumstances, the grant of bail at this stage would not be in the public interest.”

2017 forgery case against Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan

It may be recalled that FIRs were lodged against the Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam in 2019 alleging that on January 24, 2017, Abdullah had filed nomination papers for contesting from Suar Assembly constituency. In the nomination papers, Abdullah Azam’s date of birth was wrongly mentioned as September 30, 1990, to make him eligible for contesting elections, and in support of it, a forged PAN card was also obtained with the help of Azam Khan. His son Abdullah Azam was booked for forgery in birth date documents. Suar MLA Abdullah Azam Khan had to lose his membership of the state assembly after he was found guilty of forgery.

MP Azam Khan made several attempts earlier to get anticipatory bail but was denied by the court. The MP and his family have several non-bailable warrants issued against them.

Rampur MP and family have dozens of cases against them

Apart from this particular forgery case, several cases are lodged against Rampur MP Azam Khan. In September last year, Rampur Police in Uttar Pradesh had booked Azam Khan on allegations of ‘stealing goats’ following the complaint which was filed in October 2016.

Azam Khan is also accused of stealing valuable books and manuscripts from old Mosques and Islamic institutions. He has also been booked for ‘stealing buffaloes’ and later the Rampur MP was also booked for electricity theft. The power supply to Azam Khan’s resort ‘Humsafar’ in Uttar Pradesh was cut after raids were conducted in the resort by the Uttar Pradesh electricity department.

Khan had landed in a major land grabbing case after irregularities and allegations against his family’s Mohammad Ali Jauhar University surfaced last year. The University was raided by Rampur police following a complaint by the principal of Madrasa Aliya, wherein he stated that 9000 books and rare manuscripts from the Madrasa have been stolen.

Mehbooba Mufti cries foul, yet again, says she and her daughter have been ‘detained’ for the past two days, yet again: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mehbooba Mufti cries foul, yet again, says she and her daughter have been ‘detained’ for the past two days, yet again: Details

On Friday, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to claim that she had been ‘illegally’ detained for over 2 days. She had claimed also that the Jammu and Kashmir police have stopped her from visiting the Youth President of PDP, Waheed Ur Rehman.

While crying foul over the alleged house arrest, Mehbooba Mufti stated that the BJP was indiscriminately detaining her with allowing others to move about freely. I’ve been illegally detained yet again. Since two days, J&K admin has refused to allow me to visit @parawahid’s family in Pulwama. BJP Ministers & their puppets are allowed to move around in every corner of Kashmir but security is a problem only in my case.

Mehbooba Mufti further alleged that her daughter Iltija Mufti had also been placed under house arrest, for wishing to meet Waheed’s family. “Their cruelty knows no bounds. Waheed was arrested on baseless charges & I am not allowed to even console his family. Even my daughter Iltija has been placed under house arrest because she also wanted to visit Waheed’s family,” she alleged. The former J &K Chief Minister also stated she would hold a press conference at 3: 30 pm and brief the media about various issues.

Previous detention of Mehbooba Mufti

In August 2020, after the central government decided to abrogate Article 370, Mehbooba Mufti along with several other politicians were detained. The government of Jammu and Kashmir issued the order to revoke the detention in October that was extended for three months on 31st July 2020.

In her first message to the public, she said that no one could forget the ‘insult’ and ‘humiliation’ when Article 370 was repealed. Mufti called the action of the central government, illegal and anti-democratic. Urging Kashmiris to continue the ‘struggle,’ she said, “We need to take back what Delhi Darbar took away (Article 370) from us illegally and in an undemocratic manner. The issue of Kashmir needs resolution too for which several Kashmiris have given up their lives. I know the path won’t be easy but we need to continue with this struggle. Today, when I am being let off, I demand the release of others who are still in detention illegally.”

Mehbooba Mufti sparks controversy, refuses to unfurl Indian flag

Mehbooba Mufti denounced the Indian Tricolour, saying she won’t raise the flag until the former flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is restored. “Our relationship with India’s flag is linked to our relationship with Jammu and Kashmir’s flag. It’s not an independent relationship. The national flag is here only because of this (the Jammu and Kashmir) flag and constitution,” Ms Mufti said on Friday. In her first press conference after she was released from her 14-month long detention, the former chief minister said that her fight is not restricted to the reinstatement of Article 370 alone, but for the resolution of the longstanding Kashmir issue as well. 

‘Indira thok di…Modi ki chhati mein’, ‘Imran Khan dost’: Congress plays a dangerous game as ‘farmer’ protest turns into show of strength for Khalistanis

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Indira thok di…Modi ki chhati mein’, ‘Imran Khan dost’: Congress plays a dangerous game as ‘farmer’ protest turns into show of strength for Khalistanis

The ‘farmer’ protest carried out along the Punjab-Haryana border against the recently passed farm bills has seen participation from pro-Khalistani elements, who not only gloated over the assassination of the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi but also threatened PM Modi with a similar fate if their demands went unfulfilled.

In one of the videos from the protests, one of the demonstrators can be seen threatening PM Modi with dire consequences if the solution is not reached in the upcoming meeting between the farmers and the Centre over the agriculture bills.

“December 3 ko meeting hai, agar hal koi hua toh thik hai nahin toh…aap jaante nahin…hamare shaheed Udham Singh ne goro ko Canada me jake thoka…Indira thok di…Modi ki chhati mein…(If we can hit the whites in Canada, Delhi is nothing. We had bumped off Indira. A similar fate awaits PM Modi if the talks that are scheduled to happen on December 3 do not yield the desired results),” a protester threatened while talking to media.

Slogans against PM Modi and the central government has been a leitmotif of the demonstrations carried out by the so-called farmers in Punjab. In one of the blockades organised to express their disapproval over the farm bills, protesters wished death upon PM Modi.

Demonstration in Punjab against the farm bills

At 8:47 in the above video, the protesters chant, “haye haye modi mar gaya, mar gaya bhai mar gaya” which roughly translates to death wish for PM Modi.

At another instance in the video, the demonstrators shout, “Ikki dukki chakk deyange, dhaun te goda rakh deyange (Every Tom, Dick and Harry will be knocked out, their necks will be under our feet).”

From 2 hour 01 min onwards, one of the old demonstrators hails Pakistani PM Imran Khan while insinuating that PM Modi is the enemy of the protesters. “Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan is our friend. Our enemy is sitting in Delhi,” the man says.

Pro-Khalistani slogans and posters raised in the demonstrations by farmers in Punjab

Protests have swept Punjab after the Modi government announced three new bills for the agriculture industry. Since the passage of the bills, the farmers, inflamed by the state government, have laid blockades on railway tracks and highways to mark their protest against the bills.

However, the protests, apparently carried out by the farmers, seem to have been hijacked by the Khalistani supporters, who have raised pro-Khalistani slogans during the protests. At several instances, banners of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, one of the fervid proponents of Khalistan, were also held during the protests.

Even in September 2020, shortly after the Parliament passed the agriculture bills and protests began in Punjab, pro-Khalistani slogans were raised by protesters who had gathered in Ambala. An Army cavalcade was blocked and pro-Khalistan slogans were shouted during the protests in Ambala. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on a busy Ambala-Amritsar National Highway-1, shouting pro-Khalistani slogans and stopped the Army trucks from passing through the highway.

‘Farmer’ protest: Congress playing a dangerous game even as Khalistanis remember how they killed Indira Gandhi

Ironically, while Khalistanis are remembering how they murdered Indira Gandhi and threatening PM Modi with the same fate, it is Congress that is fuelling these protests, hidden behind the veil of ‘farmer’ protests.

In September, after Congress states brought in laws to negate the farm bills passed by the centre, The Congress invoked Bhagat Singh, whose birth anniversary was being celebrated today, during the protests, and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh took part in a sit-in at the ancestral village of the freedom fighter.

Even as Khalistani slogans are raised, Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh has been standing in support of the farmers stating these laws are against their benefits. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself debunked his claims and had said on multiple occasions that these laws are in favour of the farmers, things are not cooling down in Punjab.

Only yesterday, a war of words have broken out between Amrinder Singh and Haryana CM ML Khattar. Irked by the strict measures taken by CM ML Khattar to stop the protestors from entering Delhi, CM Singh has posted a series of tweets condemning CM Khattar’s actions. He said, “For nearly 2 months farmers have been protesting peacefully in Punjab without any problem. Why is Haryana govt provoking them by resorting to force? Don’t the farmers have the right to pass peacefully through a public highway?”

CM Singh further added it is sad that on Constitution Day, the Constitutional Right of the farmers to protest is being taken away from them. He further urged the BJP leadership at the centre to ask the states under BJP’s rule to stop using ‘strong-arm’ tactics against the farmers. “The hands that feed the nation deserve to be held, not pushed aside,” he added.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar replied to Captain Amrinder on Twitter and said that he had said multiple times that if there will be an issue over Minimum Selling Price (MSP) because of these laws, he will leave politics. “I’ve said it earlier and I’m saying it again, I’ll leave politics if there’ll be any trouble on the MSP – therefore, please stop inciting innocent farmers,” he said.

“Time for your lies, deception and propaganda is over – let the people see your real face. Please stop putting the lives of people in danger during the Corona pandemic. I urge you to not play with the lives of the people, at least avoid cheap politics during the time of the pandemic,” he said.

Just as Congress played a dangerous game right after the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed, leading to riots in Delhi where several Congress leaders have been accused, Congress seems to be repeating their shenanigan, this time, using the farm bills as an excuse.

Protests in Punjab over new agriculture bills

Ever since the Modi government brought the three new bills for the agriculture industry, the farmers in Punjab have been vehemently protesting against it, launching agitations and demanding the government to either withdraw the bills or ensure guarantee on the MSP front.

Taking cognisance of the ongoing protests, the Centre, earlier this week, invited farmer unions from Punjab for the second round of ministerial talks on December 3 to iron out differences over the new agriculture laws. The meeting comes after the protesters laid a condition for another central ministerial meeting while calling off their ‘rail roko’ agitation in Punjab on Monday. With the ‘rail roko’ agitation called off, nearly two-month-long blockade in the state is lifted. However, only the resumption of good trains is allowed.

The Rail Roko agitations in Punjab started in September, after which Railways suspended its services in the state stating security reasons. The services were resumed for a short span but again suspended as the government of Punjab failed to get the tracks cleared. Indian Railways had lost approximately Rs.500 crores in revenues due to the ‘Rail Roko’ agitation in Punjab until November 4.

The bills, passed in September, aimed to remove the middlemen from the sale and purchase of the produce. But, opposition parties tried to paint the bills as an attempt to remove Minimum Selling Price (MSP) and alleged that the Modi government brought these bills to facilitate large players in the agriculture business. Captain Amrinder had tabled a resolution to bypass the new regulations.

‘Malafide intent’, ‘action to target her for statements’: Bombay HC slams BMC for demolishing Kangana Ranaut’s house, appoints valuer to ascertain damage

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Malafide intent’, ‘action to target her for statements’: Bombay HC slams BMC for demolishing Kangana Ranaut’s house, appoints valuer to ascertain 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.

“There are materials to indicate that the action of demolition smacks of malafides 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.

Advising the actor to exercise restraint while airing views on public platforms, the court slammed the Uddhav Thackeray government for attempting to stifle the voices of dissent. It opined that is not befitting for the state government to take mala fide action against a citizen however distasteful their views might be.

“The manner in which demolition was carried out was unauthorized and sinister to prevent the petitioner from taking a course to legal remedies”, observed the court.

Quashing the demolition notice sent to actor Kangana Ranaut by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the court passed an order for a valuer to be appointed to ascertain the damage caused in the demolition.

In a clear case of vendetta, the BMC acting in accordance with the Maharastra State government had on September 9 demolished actor Kangana Ranaut’s Mumbai office-cum-residential bungalow located at Chetak Row House, in Pali Hill, Bandra (west). They had claimed that there were several alterations on the premises without the due permission from BMC. The actor had approached the High Court to get a stay on any further action by BMC. On 5th October, the court had concluded the hearing and reserved the decision.

‘Victory of democracy’: Kangana Ranaut thanks Bombay HC and her supporters

Today, soon after the Bombay High Court quashed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) notice to Kangana Ranaut for the demolition of her property in Bandra Friday, actor Kangana Ranaut took to Twitter to thank the court and her supporters for standing by her.

Terming the courts directive as a “victory of democracy” the Queen Actor Tweeted: “When individual stands against the government and wins, it’s not the victory of the individual but it’s the victory of the democracy. Thank you everyone who gave me courage and thanks to those who laughed at my broken dreams. Its only cause you play a villain so I can be a HERO.”

Kangana Vs Shiv Sena

After the alleged suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Kangana Ranaut came down heavily on the ruling party in Maharashtra, alleging misappropriations in the investigation. At the time of demolition of her bungalow by BMC, Ranaut had alleged that the municipal body is acting on the behest of the ruling party, Shiv Sena. Sanjay Raut had called her ‘Haramkhor’ and later tried to justify it saying it means naughty. The clip of him calling her names was playing in the High Court during the hearing. Other Shiv Sena leaders had also threatened assault and harassment of the actress, following which she was provided security by the Himachal Pradesh government.

Delhi: Dozens of idols in a temple in Begumpur vandalised, locals heard someone shouting ‘beheaded, beheaded’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: Dozens of idols in a temple in Begumpur vandalised, locals heard someone shouting ‘beheaded, beheaded’

In yet another incident of temple desecration and sacrilege, dozens of Hindu god and goddesses idols were discovered to be desecrated in a temple at Kailash Vihar Pansari in Begumpur, Delhi. The incident happened on the night of November 24 at the Shiv Shakti temple in Begumpur. The antisocial elements mainly separated the head from the torso of all the Murtis installed in the temple, left it behind and fled.

Idols at Shiv Shakti Mandir in Delhi’s Begumpur desecrated

The idols which were destroyed included those of Lakshmi Narayana, Krishna-Radha, Durga Mata, Bagalamukhi Mata Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya.

When OpIndia learnt about the incident, it got in touch with Vibhuti Sharma, the trustee of the temple. Sharma informed that he lives 500 meters away from the temple. Confirming the incident, Sharma said when the lady who cleans the temple every day, reached the Mandir at around 7 am on November 25, she noticed that the Murtis in the temple were vandalised. She immediately informed Sharma about the incident, who in turn informed the police.

The Temple at Delhi’s Begumpur

Sharma said that the police have lodged an FIR against unidentified miscreants under sections 457 and 295 of the IPC and started investigating the case.

The FIR

According to the trustee, the administration assured that they will give them new idols to install in the temple. According to him, the broken idols have been immersed in the water yesterday, but the administration has not yet given them new idols and the temple which until now housed so many idols remains empty.

The trustee said that the locals saw a boy running in the area on the previous night of November 24. The locals confirmed that they heard him screaming “sar kaat diya…sar kaat diya” (beheaded…beheaded), but no one could see his face. The trustee said that the doors of the temple generally remains locked at night, but unfortunately on the night the incident happened, the door was mistakenly left open and the culprits took advantage of the situation and vandalised the idols in the temple.

When asked about the CCTV cameras installed in the area, the trustee informed that CCTVs were installed on the street by the Aam Aadmi Party govt, but when the incident happened and the authorities checked the CCTV cameras they found that the DVR of the CCTV was broken 3/4 days ago.

Condemning the sacrilege of idols, Vishwa Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal shared a video of the Mandir which is now empty. Bansal said that the miscreants broke the head of all the Murtis and left it behind. He called it a vile attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

Bansal said that though the police authorities have lodged an FIR, limited sections of the IPC have been invoked and moreover no arrests have been made so far. Saying so, the VHP leader demanded a strict and speedy investigation into the case.

Past incidents of Temple desecration and sacrilege 

This is, however, not the isolated incident which has occurred in the recent past. Temple Desecration occurs far more frequently than we would like to imagine. Prior to this incident, there was a similar attempt to hurt the sentiments of Hindus in Mewat, Haryana. On the occasion of Navratri, merely two days after Durga Maa’s idol of consecrated in a temple in Mandikheda village of Nagina block of Mewat, antisocial elements completely dececrated the idol. The locals had accused the Mufti of a madarsa near the temple.

Moreover, in last year’s Hauz Qazi incident, which left an irredeemable scar on the psyche of Hindus all across the country, 300-400 people belonging to the Muslim community barged into a Hindu colony at the midnight of June 30 in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk – abusing and threatening the residents and desecrating their temple while raising Islamic slogans. Mobile-shot videos that emerged the next day showed a crowd chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Naara-e-Takbeer’ while proceeding to vandalise the 100-year-old Durga temple located at the colony’s entrance. The incident had stirred communal tensions. For several days, the area resembled a militarized zone due to heavy security. 

US govt announces 5 million dollar reward for information on Pakistani terrorist Sajid Mir, involved in 2008 Mumbai attacks

OpIndia Staff
-
0
US govt announces 5 million dollar reward for information on Pakistani terrorist Sajid Mir, involved in 2008 Mumbai attacks

On the 12th anniversary of the dastardly terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the US State Department Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program has announced a whopping $5 million for information about a Pakistani terrorist named Sajid Mir. “The Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of Sajid Mir for his role in these attacks,” the website read.

On 26th November 2008, 10 Islamic terrorists from Pakistan had sneaked inside the country to create havoc in the country for 3 long, un-ending days. Shooting and bombing several locations in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, the terrorists left a trail of blood. Between 26/11 and 29th November 2008, not just 167 lives were lost, but the entire nation was gripped in fear and worry.

Who is Sajid Mir?

As per RJF, Sajid Mir is associated with radical Islamist outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT). He was the operations manager for the LeT during the Mumbai attack that killed over 167 people. He had played a crucial role in planning, preparation and execution of the terror attack. Mir was charged for conspiracy, terror support, the bombing of public property, the murder of US citizens outside the country and injuring the property of a foreign government.

He directed the terrorists to kill hostages, engage in arson, throw grenades and seek the release of a hostage in return for a captured terrorist. Besides operational planning, Mir was also responsible for money laundering and overseas recruiting. He was indicted in the US District Court in Northern District of Illinois in Eastern Division on April 21, 2011. An arrest warrant was issued on the same date and Mir was placed on the list of FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists in 2012 for holding leadership positions within LeT.

Rewards for Justice Program

RFJ is the Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program of the US State Department that was established to bring international terrorists to justice and prevent acts of terrorism against US citizens internationally. Since its inception in 1984, over $150 million have been disbursed to over 100 people for providing credible information, leading to the prevention of terrorist acts or incarceration of terrorists. The programme has also been beneficial in the arrest of terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was responsible for the 1993 World Trade Centre Bombing.

Abetment to suicide charge not established in FIR: Massive victory for Arnab Goswami as SC delivers scathing statements

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Abetment to suicide charge not established in FIR: Massive victory for Arnab Goswami as SC delivers scathing statements

In a big relief to Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami, the Supreme Court on Friday said that prima facie evaluation of FIR lodged by Maharashtra police does not establish the abetment of suicide charge against him in the 2018 Anvay Naik suicide case.

On Friday, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Indira Banerjee pronounced their judgement giving detailed reasons for the interim bail to Arnab Goswami on November 11 in the 2018 Anvay Naik suicide case.

The Supreme Court said as Maharashtra police had failed to establish charges against Republic TV chief in the suicide case, it was necessary for them to grant bail to Arnab Goswami. The apex court said that there was prime facie no nexus between the FIR filed failed against Arnab Goswami and Section 306 (Abetment to Suicide) under IPC.

“It cannot be said that appellants had abetted the suicide of the head of the architectural firm…High Court said the justification to quash has to be exercised carefully. If the High Court was carrying a prima facie evaluation, then it could not have seen that there was no nexus between FIR and Section 306 IPC…”

Supreme Court slams Bombay HC for overlooking bail in the Arnab Goswami’s case

Slamming the Bombay High Court for its reluctance to grant bail to Arnab Goswami, the Supreme Court bench pointed out that the High Courts ought to take a final call on whether FIR should be quashed or not. The Bombay High Court abdicated its constitutional duty as protector of liberty by failing to take prima facie view of the FIR, the SC noted.

The apex court also observed that Bombay High Court has failed to do its duty by disabling itself from exercising its jurisdiction and added that the Bombay High Court should be circumspect in considering the facts of the case but should not close itself off when considering the denial of liberty of the citizen. The top court also said that the High Courts must exercise its power with caution.

Criminal law should not become a tool of harassment, bail is expression of humanness, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court also observed that the criminal law should not become a tool for selective harassment of citizens.

Justice Chandrachud said that the remedy of bail is a solemn expression of humaneness in the justice system. “We have given expression to our anguish in the case where the citizen has approached the Court,” he added.

Justice Chandrachud also placed the figures of the National Judicial Data Grid regarding the number of bail applications which are pending. “The Chief Justice of every HC should utilise the data to ensure equitable access to justice. Liberty is not a gift for the few,” the Supreme Court Justice observed.

“There was a rule established by Justice Krishna Iyer which was “bail is rule and jail is exception.” High Courts get burdened. Chances of incarceration is huge and the accused languishes as undertrial,” Justice Chandrachud added while giving reasons for granting bail to Arnab Goswami.

Disposing of the appeals, the Supreme Court bench also said that the interim order shall remain in operation till further proceedings and it will be open to the parties to peruse further remedy.

SC judgement proves that the case filed against me is false and fabricated: Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami

Following the Supreme Court judgement declaring that there was no nexus between the FIR and the charges, Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami said that he was overwhelmed with the judgement of the Supreme Court. He added that the case filed against him was false and fabricated and added that the judgement of the top court proved that he was incarcerated illegally.

“Today’s judgement proves that vendetta and malice have no place in our society. The Supreme Court has stood by the people of India. The words of the Supreme Court today will go down in history. The Maharashtra Government and the Mumbai Police should immediately stop their vicious misuse of the law to target Republic,” the Republic TV chief who was arrested by the Mumbai Police on November 4 said to OpIndia.

Supreme Court had granted bail to Goswami on Nov 11

On November 11, the Supreme Court had ordered the immediate release of Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami after it granted interim bail in connection with the suicide case filed against them by the Maharashtra government.

A Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra, hearing the petition, said that Bombay High Court made an error in rejecting the application for grant of interim bail on technical grounds. Granting the bail to Arnab Goswami, the apex court also directed the Raigad police to ensure the compliance of the order of release of Arnab Goswami forthwith.

The Supreme Court also asked Arnab Goswami and two other accused to execute a personal bond for an amount of Rs 50,000 for release on interim bail.

Arnab Goswami was arrested on November 4 after Maharashtra government had reopened a 2018 abatement of the suicide case of an architect, Anvay Naik. In his suicide note, the architect has blamed a few people, including Arnab Goswami, for not paying dues. Later, the court had closed the case after the Raigad police filed a closure report, but it was reopened in May 2020 by the Maharashtra government.

‘Lashkar Zindabad’: Mangaluru sees graffiti threatening to take LeT and Taliban’s help to eliminate ‘Sanghis’ and ‘Manuvadis’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Lashkar Zindabad’: Mangaluru sees graffiti threatening to take LeT and Taliban’s help to eliminate ‘Sanghis’ and ‘Manuvadis’

In a shocking incident, on the anniversary of the ghastly terror attacks in 2008, Mangaluru saw graffiti threatening to take Lashkar-e-Toiba and Taliban’s help to eliminate ‘Sanghis’ and ‘Manuvadis’.

Graffiti on the wall in Mangaluru

The graffiti says, “Do not force us to invite Lashkar-e-Toiba and Taliban to Deal with Sanghis and Manvedis (Manuvadis)”. Further, in the corner, a hashtag is painted with the words “Lashkar Zindabad”.

According to the police, the graffiti was noticed in the wee hours of 27th November morning.

Speaking to OpIndia, the police said, that the graffiti was drawn on the wall of an apartment at Circuit Road, Mangaluru. Kadri police have registered a case and have launched an investigation based on CCTV footage.

Further, the police also said that the graffiti has now been covered up.

“A case has been registered against the unknown suspects under Section 153 and other sections related to cause destruction to public property,” said a police officer of Kadri PS, who is investigating the case.

In the graffiti, the word ‘Manvedi’ was painted, which presumably meant ‘Manuvadis’. Several anti-Hindu elements claim to fight ‘Hindutva’ by calling all Hindus who don’t bow down to their whims as “Manuvadis”. They imply that Hindus follow Manusmriti, which they consider as a Brahmanical text of oppression.

Further, the Left and Islamists often use the word ‘Sanghis’ in their derision against Hindus, who they believe are now voting for BJP and follow the path of RSS.

However, with each passing day, it is becoming evident that these slurs are meant for all Hindus who refuse to submit to the extremist views of Islamists and Leftists.

The Wire’s faux analysis: How it went from ‘Modi can’t get crowds in his rally’ to ‘Bihar admires Modi’ in 48 hours flat

OpIndia Staff
-
0
The Wire’s faux analysis: How it went from ‘Modi can’t get crowds in his rally’ to ‘Bihar admires Modi’ in 48 hours flat

The National Democratic Alliance’s thumping victory in the recently held Bihar assembly elections sprung up a lot of surprises for those who were hoping for an RJD return. As NDA emerged victorious in Bihar, especially after almost every exit poll had predicted victory for Mahagathbandhan, the left-liberals, who had hoped for a victory of RJD-Congress-Communist alliance were perturbed.

With almost every of their so-called ‘analysis’ turning out to be exactly opposite to the prevailing reality, many of them tried to undo the damage.

Leftist ‘news’ website The Wire, which was hoping for a Mahagathbandhan victory, had to face a ‘foot-in-the-mouth’ moment recently after their analysis and predictions went wrong in Bihar elections.

In one of its videos published just after exit polls predicted a landslide win for the RJD-Congress coalition, the exuberant ‘editors’ of the Wire analysed the Bihar elections to claim that Prime Minister Modi was responsible for NDA’s ‘loss’ in Bihar. Claiming there was no Modi wave in the state, the Wire said that PM Modi should be held responsible for the Nitish Kumar’s loss as he failed to impress voters of the state.

Responding to anchor Arfa Khanum’s Sherwani’s questions asking whether PM Modi was a factor in Bihar elections and the presumed NDA’s loss in Bihar should be pinned on PM Modi, Ajay Ashirwad, Deputy Editor at the Wire, agreed that the ‘loss’ in Bihar elections was solely the responsibility of Prime Minister Modi.

Ashirwad, relying on the exit polls published a day before, said that the Modi rallies were a ‘flop’ as it failed to impress voters of Bihar. The Wire Editor said that most of the rallies held by Prime Minister Modi attracted paltry crowds implying that the loss in Bihar elections was a direct result of such flop rallies. At one point, Ashirwad says that PM Modi could not even get 5,000 people to attend his rallies.

According to Ashirwad, Prime Minister Modi, who was the prime campaigning asset of the BJP, could not convince the voters of Bihar to vote for the NDA coalition and hence he was responsible for the loss.

The Wire takes a U-turn after Bihar election results

The Wire, which was making tall assertions about NDA’s ‘loss’ in the Bihar elections based on the data of exit polls, perhaps were shocked to accept the victory of the BJP-JDU alliance in the state two days after they had predicted a victory to the alliance of the opposition.

Following the NDA’s thumping victory in Bihar elections, the Wire did another show to analyse the election results. Ajay Ashirwad, the Deputy Editor at the Wire, who claimed to have ‘extensively’ covered the Bihar elections was also part of the show. It must be remembered that it was Ajay Ashirwad who had only 48 hours before this video, said that PM Modi could not even gather 5,000 voters during his elections rallies.

Just two days after Ashirwad had predicted ‘Mahagathbandhan’ victory in Bihar, the opposite had happened in the state elections. After claiming to have covered Bihar extensively and asserting that PM Modi’s rallies were a flop, the Wire Deputy Editor did a U-turn by claiming that people of Bihar had a lot of admiration for PM Modi.

Contrary to what he had said just two days earlier, Ashriwad in the show said that there was an anti-incumbency against Nitish Kumar and not against Prime Minister Modi. Ashirwad said that people of Bihar had a positive opinion on Prime Minister Modi and were very much appreciative of Modi government’s developmental programmes.

The faux analysis by The Wire’s deputy editor only goes to show that most of the analysis during Bihar was more on the lines of wishful thinking than actual data. The Left, of which The Wire is an integral part, was essentially hoping for a Mahagathbandhan victory and all their ‘extensive coverage’ was an expression of what they hoped would happen in Bihar. However, the brazenness with which The Wire simply discards its own analysis when the results don’t suit their decided narrative is certainly hilarious.

1...4,8204,8214,822...7,648Page 4,821 of 7,648