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“Ill-informed and unwarranted”: India hits back at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau over his comments on farmer protests

OpIndia Staff
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“Ill-informed and unwarranted”: India hits back at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau over his comments on farmer protests

Govt of India has strongly reacted to the comments of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and other Canadian leaders on the farmer protests in India. During the last few weeks, several political leaders from Canada have issued statements “expressing concern” over the protests by mainly Punjabi farmers against the new farm laws enacted by the Modi govt.

Reacting to those comments, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava called the remarks ill-informed, saying, “We’ve seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. These are unwarranted especially when pertaining to internal affairs of a democratic country.”

Srivastava further added that it is best that diplomatic conversations aren’t misrepresented for political purposes.

Reactions from Canadian ministers over farmer protests in India

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and several other members of the Parliament in Canada, especially from the Sikh community, have raised concerns on the farmers’ treatment by the government of India. PM Trudeau said that the situation is concerning, and his government had reached out to Indian authorities to express their concerns. Other ministers have to target Narendra Modi-led Indian government for allegedly mistreating the peaceful protesters. During the parliamentary session in Canada, several ministers have addressed the house to express their views about the ongoing protests.

During the virtual Gurpurab 2020 celebration, PM Trudeau, at the beginning of his address, talked about the protests in India. Trudeau had said, “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protests by farmers. The situation is concerning. And we all are very worried about family and friends; I know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you. Canada will always be ready to defend the right to peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we reached out to multiple means directly to Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.”

Several other Sikh MPs, many of whom are sympathetic to the Khalistan movement, had also talked about the protests and supported the agitating farmers in Canadian parliament and outside.

Grooming Jihad: Golu Khan lured minor victim by wearing tilak and kalawa, used to visit temples with her

OpIndia Staff
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Grooming Jihad: Golu Khan lured minor victim by wearing tilak and kalawa, used to visit temples with her

Yet another case of grooming jihad has come to light in Kakadev, Kanpur. A person named Golu Khan allegedly lured a minor Hindu girl into a love affair by hiding his real identity. He allegedly forced the girl to convert to Islam and perform Nikaah with him. When the girl did not comply, he circulated her obscene video among his friends. A case has been filed against the accused under provisions of rape and the relevant provisions of POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012). Police are on a lookout for the accused.

Golu Khan used to wear tilak and kalawa

According to reports, the victim has alleged that accused Golu Khan introduced himself to her as ‘Raj’ and befriended her. He used to wear a kalawa (a scared thread that Hindus wear) and visit a temple to avoid suspicion. One day Golu Khan allegedly forced himself on the victim. The victim resisted. Thereafter, he put a marriage proposal before her. He disclosed his identity to the victim and forced her for marriage. However, the victim refused to convert to Islam.

After the victim’s refusal to convert, Golu Khan allegedly circulated her obscene images among his friends. He along with his friends also allegedly tried to rape the victim. He even poured alcohol over the victim on one occasion to harass her. The victim then went to the police station and filed an FIR against him. In the FIR, the victim told that Golu Khan had met her at a coaching centre and had become friends with her. “I used to go to a coaching centre. He told me his name is Raj and became friends with me. He tried to force himself on me. When I resisted he asked me to perform Nikaah with him. When I asked him why Nikaah, he said that he was a Muslim. He said that I needed to covert to marry him. He threatened me that I did not comply he would abduct me and circulate my video on social media. When I distanced myself from him, he shared all the videos with his friend Sunny”.

He used to go to the temple with the victim

The victim further alleged, “I could not figure out that he was a Muslim. He used to wear tilak and kalawa. He used to visit the temple and attend Jagran with me. He betrayed my whole family”. The victim expressed confidence in the law against love jihad that was recently introduced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh. She said that she was hopeful that the people indulging in love jihad would be punished as per the law.

Allegedly, the local police did not at first take the matter seriously. The victim then complained to the IG. The police finally came into action more than a month later after the SSP ordered an investigation. The police have booked both Golu Khan and his friend Sunny in the matter.

Maharashtra: Farmers in four districts record Rs 10 crore out-of-mandi trade with the help of new farm laws

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Farmers in four districts record Rs 10 crore out-of-mandi trade with the help of new farm laws

Even as ‘farmers’ from Punjab and Haryana stage blockades and demonstrations in and around Delhi, the new Agriculture bills that were passed in September 2020 by the central government have already started reaping benefits for the farmers in Maharashtra.

A report published in the Indian Express stated that soybean farmers have managed to get more out of the APMC deals following the passage of the farm bills. As per MahaFPC, the umbrella body of farmer producing companies (FPCs) in Maharashtra, FPCs in four districts have made about Rs 10 crores from trade outside mandis after the laws were passed three months ago.

Farm bills curtail the tremendous powers once held by the APMCs

Earlier, before the agriculture laws were passed, the cooperative bodies which regulated APMCs held tremendous power over the trade carried out in the catchment areas of the APMCs and such trades were levied market cess and other taxes on such transactions. However, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce(Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, strips APMCs of wielding such regulations.

In the last 3 months, the FPCs have registered an increased trade interest from edible oil solvent, extractors and animal feed manufacturers for directly buying from their farmers. The direct transaction has helped farmers in terms of increased savings by spending less on transportation. The companies, on the other hand, have profited by not having to pay for Mandi cess.

As per the article, as many as 19 FPCs, most based out of Marathwada, have recorded 2693.58 tonnes out-of-mandi trade with companies. Out of these 19 FPCs, 13 of them from Latur have supplied 2165.863 tonne, mainly to ADM Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd. Likewise, four FPCs from Osmanabad had supplied 412.327 tonne. One FPC each in Hingoli and Nanded have supplied 96.618 tonne and 18.78 tonne of oilseed to private companies.

Reduced transportation cost, no dispute on weights, among other benefits from the new laws

One of the farmers who benefitted from the new agriculture law said that the new bills not only helped the farmers in saving transportation costs, but there was also no issue of weight at the centres. However, he added that the companies stopped procurement once the market rate fell below the government declared minimum price support (MSP).

The farmer claimed that there was nothing contentious in the new bills but he advised the government to ensure that non-MSP procurement did not happen outside the mandi. He also added that the government should strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism.

The managing director of the MahaFPC, Yogesh Thorat, extolled the arrangement, saying the current structure opens up avenues for the farmers to sell their produce and provides them with a “choice to sell”. Allaying the apprehensions that have been raised by protesting farmers, Thorat said that he had witnessed farmers and corporate honour the commitments made to each other.

Protests by farmers from Punjab and Haryana

By contrast, thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have marched towards the national capital to protest against the passing of alleged ‘anti-farm’ laws by the Modi government. The main arteries leading to the national capital have been blocked by the farmers, who have set up sprawling camps along the highways, in order to compel the government to negotiation table. The farmers have been demanding a guarantee on the MSP front. Several of them have been more radical in their demands and have asked the government to annul the three farm bills altogether.

The protests by farmers have also seen participation from washed-up actors and activists, who are trying to fight their way back from oblivion on the back of farmers’ protests. Pro-Khalistani elements have also joined in the protests and several threats have been dished out to PM Modi and others if they do not heed to their demands.

US govt seeks clearance from court to extradite 26/11 Pakistani terrorist Tahawwur Rana to India

OpIndia Staff
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US govt seeks clearance from court to extradite 26/11 Pakistani terrorist Tahawwur Rana to India

In a major development, the United States government had moved the California court to seek clearance for the extradition of Pakistani terrorist Tahawwur Rana. The government made the submission after the court had fixed February 12, 2021, as the next date of hearing. The Pakistani-origin terrorist had been asked to submit his opposition to the extradition plea by December 21.

As per a report in Times Now, the US government has supported the extradition. While Rana tried to prevent his extradition by citing the case of David Headley whose extradition request was rejected, the US government sided with India. It argued, “Rana’s situation is different because he neither pleaded guilty nor cooperated with the United States. As a result, cannot avail himself of the benefits afforded to Headley through his negotiated plea. Such a position is neither inconsistent nor a bar to extradition.”

“Unlike Rana, Headley immediately accepted responsibility for his conduct and pleaded guilty to all of the charges in the Superseding Indictment,” the US attorney government attorney Nicola T Hanna emphasised. Tahawwur Rana was re-arrested in Los Angeles by the US police after an extradition request was made by the Indian government.

Rana was charged for waging war, committing a terrorist act, commission of murder and conspiracy in the deadly 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He studied at the Army Medical School in Pakistan and also served as a doctor in the army. He holds Canadian citizenship and has been living in Chicago. On the other hand, David Headley who plotted the 26/11 attacks was arrested from Chicago in 2009 and is now serving a 35-year jail term for his role in the terrorist attack. He and Rana also helped Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harakat ul-Jihad-e-Islami to execute the attacks.

Mumbai Terror Attacks

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.

US announces $5 million for Pakistani terrorist Sajid Mir

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.

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.

Instead of answering allegations, Shehla Rashid decides to run away from a live show, calls her father ‘greedy’

OpIndia Staff
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Instead of answering allegations, Shehla Rashid decides to run away from a live show, calls her father ‘greedy’

Shehla Rashid, JNU student leader, has been accused by her biological father Abdul Rashid Shora, of taking Rs 3 crore from terror funding accused Zahoor Vatali and Rashid Engineer. During an interview with journalist Vikas Bhadauria on ABP News, Shehla had a telephonic conversation with her father. Still, instead of answering tough questions, she decided to run away from the show and disconnected the call.

Shehla disconnected the call after 9:50

Shehla Rashid’s father said that he had written a letter to RAW explaining what she did after 2017. He said the problem started when she decided to enter the politics of Jammu and Kashmir as he had decided to take a u-turn in his political career. Rashid alleged that everything was planned in the US. To silent him, a case of domestic violence was registered against him.

Necessary to find out how far Shehla Rashid is involved in illegal activities

Shehla Rashid’s father said it is necessary to find out how far Shehla Rashid is involved in illegal activities. After the initial conversation with her father, Shehla also joined the show. She was asked about the allegations her father had made against her. She said there is no case against her, but warrants have already been issued against her father in an ongoing case of domestic abuse. She alleged that Rashid was kicked out of the house by the locals due to violence and abuse with the family.

Shehla urged the journalist to ask his father why he used to beat his wife and throw her out of the house. She described her father as a ‘greedy person’ and said that anyone could make allegations, but there is no evidence against her. She said if she alleges that anchor Vikas Bhadauria has murdered his editor, will that be a case against him.

Shehla alleged domestic abuse

Shehla claimed that when they were young, her father used to throw them out of the house, that too at 9 in the night. “With what right is he speaking? What school did we study, what was our school uniform, where did we pay our fee and where did we buy books – he doesn’t know anything. His presence our life is only to disturb us,” she alleged.

She alleged that when her mother built a new house, he reached there and started asking source of funds used to build the house. Reacting to the allegations, Rashid asked Shehla about details with whom she left Jammu and Kashmir for the first time, to visit Delhi and Jalandhar to complete her studies. However, Shehla refused to answer his question. She then said she does not want to debate the show, and everything will be resolved in the court.

Shehla tried to divert attention from allegations

In the interview with ABP News, in a bid to divert attention from allegations levelled by her father, Shehla started talking about court cases. ABP’s Bhadauria interrupted Shehla and told her that if she is refusing to answer the allegations and questions, it will be assumed that is she is running away from the questions. Shehla kept repeating that she would only answer in the court, and then she disconnected the call.

However, before disconnecting the call, she asked her father why he had met terrorist-funding accused Zahoor Vatali. Rashid said that his daughter is misleading the press, and he will present evidence.

Earlier, Rashid had said, he is facing death threats from his own daughter. As per local news reports, in his letter to the DGP, Shora threw light on his daughter’s “notorious activities” and urged the Jammu and Kashmir police to investigate her bank accounts as well as the property acquired by her in New Delhi, her email accounts and her mysterious financial dealings.

“We are all very worried” Canada PM Justin Trudeau, his ministers express ‘concern’ over protesting Punjab farmers in Delhi

OpIndia Staff
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“We are all very worried” Canada PM Justin Trudeau, his ministers express ‘concern’ over protesting Punjab farmers in Delhi

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers have expressed his concerns over ongoing farmers’ protests in India. During the virtual Gurpurab 2020 celebration, PM Trudeau, at the beginning of his address, talked about the protests in India. Ministers from the Sikh community, including Navdeep S Bains, Harjit Sajjan, and Bardish Chagger, joined him in the conversation.

While talking about the protests, Trudeau said, “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protests by farmers. The situation is concerning. And we all are very worried about family and friends; I know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you. Canada will always be ready to defend the right to peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we reached out to multiple means directly to Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.”

Other Canadian ministers, leaders extend support to farmer agitation

Canadian MP Bardish Chaggar, who was part of the Gurpurab celebration, had tweeted on November 30 that the rights of farmers protesting peacefully in India must be respected, and meaningful dialogue is the way forward.

Minister of National Defence, Canada, Harjit Sajjan had tweeted on November 29, “The reports of peaceful protesters being brutalized in India are very troubling. Many of my constituents have family there and are worried about the safety of their loved ones.”

In 2017, Chief Minister Punjab, Captain Amrinder Singh, alleged that Sajjan has connections with Khalistani extremists.

Member of Parliament Tim S Uppal had tweeted on December 1, “Sikhs across Canada are thinking of and praying for India’s farmers who are peacefully protesting new farming legislation,” along with his video of November 30 Canadian Parliamentary proceedings where he raised the issue of the protest. In his statement in the parliament, he said, “Hundreds of thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other parts of India are making way to Delhi. Shockingly along the way these peaceful protesters were met with blockades, water cannons, batons and tear gas. But they persisted peacefully.”

Member of Parliament Jasraj Singh Hallan also extended support to protesting ‘farmers’. Posting a snippet of his parliamentary address, he claimed that it is time to stand up for Freedom of Speech not just at home (Canada) but also abroad.

In the parliament, he said, “Canadians are concerned by the recent acceleration of India’s tension between farmers and Indian authorities. Freedom of speech is fundamental to a healthy democracy, including peaceful protests. Farmers feed cities. Their labour is crucial to the function of any country. No farmers, no food. Authorities are used to tear gas and water cannons, and baton charges to shutdown the peaceful protests.”

Earlier in June when protests broke out in Canada against racism after George Floyd death in US, Police across Canada resorted to using tear gas to disperse the protesting mob.

Minister of Public Services and Procurement had quoted Harjit Sajjan on Twitter and said, “Healthy democracies should allow peaceful protests.”

Member of Parliament Maninder Sidhu had tweeted on December 1 and said, “I rose in the House (virtually) to ask our Minister of Foreign Affairs how Canada is expressing its concern over the fundamental rights of farmers to peacefully protest in India,” along with the video of his address in the parliament in which he said, “Many Indo-Canadians particularly the 600,000 Punjabi decent are watching closely as hundreds of thousands of farmers are marching to Delhi in a peaceful protest. However, many of the farmers from Punjab have met with violence from police and blocked from entry to Delhi. It is essential that people in a democratic society are allowed to protest peacefully without fear of violence in response.”

Member of Parliament Navdeep Bains had tweeted on November 29 and shared images of protest. He said, “I’ve heard from many of my constituents in Mississauga-Malton, expressing their concerns about the safety of their family and friends in the #FarmersProtest in India.”

Concerns over Khalistan extremists’ presence in Canada

Over the years, several security agencies and leaders from India have raised concerns over the presence of Khalistani supporters and extremists in Canada. While the Defence Minister of Canada, Harjit Sajjan, was accused by Capt Amrinder Singh of having Khalistani connections, several reports suggest that Khalistanis are operating from Canada.

In September 2020, an Ottawa-based think-tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute had released a study on Pakistan’s role in nourishing Khalistani extremism. The paper stated, “Pro-Khalistani Sikh leaders, who enjoy wide-spread political patronage and clout in Canada, for their control over the Gurudwara cash flow and community votes, had reportedly pressurised the Trudeau government into removing the Khalistan reference from the annual report of terrorism threats.” 

There have also been reports of Khalistan forces in India getting financial support from Sikhs in Canada.

Khalistan-hugging had marred Trudeau’s India tour in 2018

In 2018, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had faced backlash for his alleged connections with Sikh extremists. A Khalistani terrorist was invited to state dinner with the Canadian PM. The Canadian authorities had to apologize on the issue. Trudeau’s inability to address the Khalistan problem in Canada had led to cold shoulder by Modi government.

ED reveals that Mumbai Police have not examined raw data from BARC, something that should have been the starting point of investigation

OpIndia Staff
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ED reveals that Mumbai Police have not examined raw data from BARC, something that should have been the starting point of investigation

10 days ago, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), the equivalent of FIRs filed by the Police, in the TRP case. It was reported that ED will be investigating money laundering allegations and all channels mentioned in the original FIR would be probed.

10 days on, OpIndia has learnt that the ED has already summoned officials from Hansa Research, based on whose FIR the original probe was initiated. It is pertinent to note that in the complaint by Hansa Research, based on which the initial FIR was filed named only India Today and a few other local channels as the main accused in the alleged TRP scam. However, the Mumbai police commissioner had held a press conference only 48 hours after the FIR which mentioned India Today was filed and implicated Republic TV led by Arnab Goswami in the alleged scam.

According to sources in Delhi ED, Hansa Research, while being questioned by the ED, named India Today and not Republic TV. Further, when two BARC officials were summoned, one from their vigilance department and another from the IT department, both attested to the fact that the Mumbai Police had not summoned any raw data from BARC.

Raw data here would essentially mean the details of bar-o-meters installed. The report by Hansa Research based on which the FIR in the TRP case was registered, names India Today as the channel which had bribed households with the bar-o-meters to watch the channel. It does not name Republic TV as alleged by Mumbai police. The FIR also names India Today and Republic TV finds no mention in the FIR too.

This inexplicable lapse came to light during the questioning of BARC officials by the Enforcement Directorate which is now looking into the TRP case from a money laundering angle. BARC has told ED that despite being called by the Mumbai Police, they didn’t ask for BARC’s basic raw data, which would have ideally been the starting point of this investigation.

ED sources have also revealed that BARC officials have now been summoned with the data which would be examined by ED within 48 hours. Further, OpIndia is told that once that process is over, India Today officials would be summoned for questioning as well.

Interestingly, while the Mumbai Police has allegedly not looked at the raw data by BARC, within 48 hours of the FIR being filed, Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh had held a press conference alleging that the FIR that was filed based on the Hansa Research complaint, pointed towards Republic TV indulging in malpractice. Further, when the FIR and the Hansa Research Report, that implicated India Today and not Republic TV, the Mumbai Police had tied itself up in knots to justify its probe.

After the initial celebratory tones of India Today, after the FIR surfaced, India Today went into damage control mode. Talking to Mumbai Police, Rajdeep Sardesai tried to get a statement saying that India Today was not named in the FIR. Rajdeep took to his channel to question the Joint Commissioner of Police. He asked, “an attempt has been made to suggest that India Today was mentioned in the FIR” and then, went on to demand clarity to exonerate himself and implicate Republic TV. The Joint Commissioner, however, interestingly admitted that it was indeed India Today that was named in the FIR. This revelation itself leads the Mumbai Police to tie itself up in knots since once this admission is out in the open, not much else makes sense.

While this drama was unfolding on India Today, Republic journalist spoke to Tejal Solanki (witness in the TRP scam) who specifically implicated India Today. She said that her son was asked to watch India Today specifically. However, she did appear scared. She kept asking the journalist if nothing would happen to them and they would be safe. The scared witness was then spoken to by India Today where they twisted her statement completely to implicate themselves. In fact, the scared witness kept repeating that no channel had paid her and she watched no channel to increase the TRP. That statement was then taken by India Today to say that she had admitted being paid money to watch Republic TV. 

While the witness was being manipulated by India Today, interesting visuals started to appear on Republic TV. They had got footage where it showed how Mumbai Police personnel were guarding the house of Tejal Solanki.

While tales of witnesses being tampered and intimidated came to the fore, another startling revelation appeared.

Hansa Research Group said that it was being harassed by the Mumbai Police forcing them to make false statements against Republic Media Network. The company which operates the Bar-O-Meters of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council), moved the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of the probe into the case from Mumbai Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), reported Bar and Bench.

In the petition filed with Bombay High Court, Hansa Research alleged that the Police have been adopting pressure tactics to coerce its employees to issue a statement that a document published as Hansa Report by Republic TV is a fake document.

The petition said that “the petitioners are continuously held at the Crime Branch for long hours and threatened with arrest and repeatedly pressed to make false statements.”

The petition was moved by Hansa group Director Narasimhan K Swamy, CEO Praveen Omprakash and Nitin Kashinath Deokar. It said that it has already explained to the police that it is in a position to adjudge whether the document shown by the Republic TV is genuine or not. They have said that Republic TV never applied to them for a copy of the report, and the channel has shown only extracts of the document.

The petition filed by Hansa also says that their officials are being questioned without written notice, and they are given no time to produce documents. “This method of demand for information, lack of time given for response and pressure place on the officers of Petitioner No 1 continues till the time of the writing of this writ,” the plea adds. Mumbai police Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze and ACP Shashank Sanbhlor were named as respondents in the petition. The company has informed that since October 12 onwards, Hansa Research employees have been repeatedly called to the Crime Branch office and made to wait for hours.

All of this, coupled with the fact that the Mumbai Police has allegedly not called for the raw data from BARC, which should have been the starting point of the investigation does point to the fact that the investigation may have been botched up. With the ED investigating the case now, uncomfortable details that have been pushed under the rug may as well surface, turning this investigation on its heel.

Shiv Sena does a u-turn on Azaan recital competition for Muslim kids, claims no plans to hold such event

OpIndia Staff
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Shiv Sena does a u-turn on Azaan recital competition for Muslim kids, claims no plans to hold such event

After drawing severe flak for the unabashed appeasement of Muslim minorities, Shiv Sena leader Pandurang Sakpal back-pedalled on his announcement of organising an ‘Azaan recitation competition’.

Sakpal, who said in an interview earlier that he found Azaan peaceful and soothing, later said that holding an azaan recitation competition was only a suggestion proffered by a Muslim party functionary and that he has no plans of holding such an event.

Sakpal backtracks, claims he has no plans to organise azaan recitation competition

The announcement was made by Sakpal after a video of him praising azaan and declaring to keep an azaan recitation competition had gone viral on the social media websites. The video triggered a groundswell of opposition from netizens, along with the political parties such as BJP, who lambasted the Shiv Sena functionary for brazenly pandering to the minorities.

The BJP, in its criticism of the announcement, contended that Shiv Sena had already abandoned its support for Hindutva and by announcing an azaan recitation competition, it was trying to burnish its newly acquired ‘secular’ credentials, in a brazen attempt to woo minorities for their votes. The BJP spokesperson said that the only thing left for Shiv Sena now is to carry a “green flag” on its shoulders.

Following the backlash on his announcement to keep an azaan recitation competition, Pandurang did an about-turn, stating that he simply voiced the suggestion by a delegation of party’s Muslim office-bearers a couple of days ago.

“They said that their children were loitering around on the streets and we should organise a competition for them. Then, on the lines of Bhagavad Gita recitation competition we organise in our area, I suggested them to hold an online azaan competition,” Sakpal said.

Sakpal likened Azaan to Maha Aarti

Earlier yesterday, a video of Shiv Sena division chief Pandurang Sakpal announcing to hold Azaan recitation competition had gone viral on the internet. Speaking about how the idea of holding an Azaan recitation competition crossed his mind, Sakpal said, “I live next to the Bada Kabristan in Marine Lines. That is why I get to hear the Azaan every day. I have found the Azaan to be amazing and soothing. Whoever hears it once, eagerly waits for the next schedule of Azaan. That is why I came up with the idea of ​​holding Azaan competition for the children of the Muslim community.”

He further added that the children of the Muslim community wonderfully recite Azaan and the purpose of keeping the competition was to provide a platform for talented artists. Sakpal even claimed that Shiv Sena will bear the cost of rewards granted to the winners of the competition.

In his interview, Sakpal had likened Azaan to Maha Aarti and took a swipe at those who opposed Azaan. “Azaan lasts for only 5 minutes. So, if anyone is bothered by these few minutes, he should be ignored like a rock of salt. The tradition of Azaan is several centuries old. It is not a recent phenomenon. Such protestations should be ignored. Azaan is as important as Maha Aarti. It’s a symbol of love and peace,” Sakpal said.

Father of Shehla Rashid refutes domestic violence charges, urges agencies to investigate her source of funding

OpIndia Staff
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Father of Shehla Rashid refutes domestic violence charges, urges agencies to investigate her source of funding

A day after ex-JNU student Shehla Rashid termed the allegations meted out at her by her “biological father” as baseless and charged him with counter-accusations of domestic violence, Abdul Rashid Shora has refuted the charges.

Speaking to ANI, Shehla’s father claimed that he was restored the right to enter his house by the court merely a day after the complaint was filed against him. He said that had he been a violent person, as alleged by his daughter, there should have been a number of FIRs registered in his name over the years. But there isn’t any, said Shora, strongly refuting his daughter’s accusations of domestic violence.

He reiterated that Shehla formed the party- ‘Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement’ when she went to the US, and all their funds have been coming from anti-national forces. No national party will fund them, opined Shora. He told the news agency that along with asking for security cover for himself he has also urged the DGP of Jammu and Kashmir to investigate into ‘Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement’ party’s fund sources.

Father of Shehla Rashid files complaint against her

Yesterday, Abdul Rashid Shora, the father of ex-JNU student leader and former general secretary Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement Shehla Rashid, had approached the office of DGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police with a written complaint that he is facing death threats from his own daughter. In his letter to the DGP Shora threw light on his daughter’s “notorious activities” and urged the Jammu and Kashmir police to investigate her bank accounts, the property acquired by her at New Delhi, her email accounts and her mysterious financial dealings.

Shehla’s father put out some serious allegations against his daughter saying that Shehla in concordance with Feroz Peerzada, Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali and Rasheed Engineer, an ex-MLA carried out “anti-national” activities. He accused her of once receiving Rs 3 crores from ‘notorious people’ to be a part of the Kashmir centric politics.

We have reported that both Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali and ex-MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Rasheed Engineer have been arrested by the NIA in a terror-funding case in the years 2017 and 2019 respectively. According to the IB officials, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali allegedly used his business to funnel ISI funds into Kashmir to promote separatist activities. 

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) first attached properties of Watali worth Rs 1.73 crore in August 2019 and then worth Rs 6.20 Crore in November 2019.

Ex-JNU student hits back at her ‘biological father’

Shortly afterwards, the ex-JNU student hit back at her ‘biological father’ calling his accusations “baseless” and “disgusting”. She described him as ‘wife-beater and an abusive, depraved man’, and said that finally, they have decided to act against them. She alleged that her mother was abused and tortured by her father.

She also said that the family had earlier lodged a complaint against her for domestic violence, and the authorities had asked him to stop. “Since he was restrained from entering the home by the Hon’ble Court, he’s trying to derail the judicial process by resorting to cheap stunts,” she alleged.

Kejriwal govt quietly notifies one of the three farm laws in Delhi while crying ‘injustice’ to farmers amid protests

OpIndia Staff
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Kejriwal govt quietly notifies one of the three farm laws in Delhi while crying ‘injustice’ to farmers amid protests

While Arvind Kejriwal and his party leaders are busy extending support to protesting ‘farmers’ from Punjab, his government in Delhi very quietly notified one of the three farm laws he opposes.

Gazette notification by Delhi Government (image courtesy: @manojtiwariMP on Twitter)

On 23rd November 2020, when the Punjab farmers were threatening to hold the national capital as hostage, Delhi government issued the above gazette notification.

Gazette notification issued by Delhi government (image courtesy: @manojtiwariMP on Twitter)

The Delhi government on November 23 notified the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020. It is one of the three laws passed by Central government against which Punjab farmers are protesting. Kejriwal and his party leaders including Delhi government ministers have extended support to the agitating farmers who have surrounded Delhi from various exit points.

As per the ordinance, Delhi government has allowed trade of food grains and poultry outside the APMC (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) mandi premises. The same legislation promulgated by central government has been termed ‘anti farmer’ by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

As per the ordinance, after passing of the new farm laws, while Delhi government has been allowing sale of fruits and vegetables outside APMCs since 2014, the new central government legislation allows farmers to sell food grains and poultry outside their designated mandis as well.

Delhi government ordinance will not abolish mandis, just as central government legislation does not. Hence, the fears of farmers are completely unfounded.

The Delhi government notification further redefines market areas for APMC located at Najafgarh, Narela and Ghazipur.

The new Central government laws override the state APMC Act. Hence, the Delhi government cannot allow APMC regulations operate outside the physical boundaries of APMC mandis.

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