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India a victim of Chinese aggression, US recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory: Read what US State Department said

OpIndia Staff
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India a victim of Chinese aggression, US recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory: Read what US State Department said

On Friday, a senior US State Department official had dismissed the claims of the Chinese regime on India’s territory of Arunachal Pradesh. The development comes as a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing border standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

On being asked by a reporter about the diplomatic position of the United States with respect to the current Chinese aggression, the senior State Department official stated that they are closely monitoring the escalated situation at the border. While conceding that the discussion of the position of the ‘actual border’ is sensitive, he added, “Our position on some parts of the border for sure is explicitly clear. For nearly six decades the United States has recognized Arunachal Pradesh is Indian territory.”

US calls out China on its attempt to advance territorial claims

The senior State Department official also pointed out the unilateral attempts made by China to undermine India’s territorial integrity. He further emphasised, “We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions, by military or civilian incursions across the border or across the established line of actual control. And the disputed boundaries, all we can say is that we encourage India and China to use their existing bilateral channels to discuss those and not resort to military force.”

India has been a victim of Chinese hostility, concedes US State Department

Furthermore, the official stated that achieving peace in the Indo-Pacific region was the common objective of both India and the United States. “Well, the United States maintains a – has a vision and a commitment to a peaceful, open Indo-Pacific region and I’d say that stands in marked contrast to the activities of the People’s Republic of China,” he reiterated. 

While acknowledging India’s victimisation at the hands of aggressor China, the US State Department remarked, “You just have to open your internet browser to see all of the various areas where China has engaged in aggressive, hostile, or bullying behaviour against its neighbours or against its own citizens. Unfortunately, India has also been one of the victims of that. ” 

USA State Department takes a stand on Galwan Valley clash

Earlier, the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) of the US State Department in its statement mentioned the recent stand-off at Galwan and called it the result of the expansionist policy of China. In the statement, USA said, “We see it in the East China Sea and around Taiwan, where Beijing has expanded its maritime provocations and threatening sorties. We see it in the Himalayas, where Beijing recently took aggressive action on its frontiers with India.”

It further added, “We see it along the Mekong River, where Beijing has used its massive cascade of dams to hold back water from downstream neighbours in Southeast Asia, contributing to the worst drought in the Mekong’s recorded history. I urge everyone to read the recent report from the Stimson Center, “New Evidence: How China Turned Off the Tap on the Mekong River.”

Clashes between India and China at the LAC

Clashes between the two countries have occurred along the Line of Actual Control raising fears of serious conflict breaking out between the two countries. Only recently, the Indian Army had made major breakthroughs and occupied six new heights along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. This was after India had acted proactively to occupy heights in regions on the Southern Bank of the Pangong Tso lake and strengthened their positions. Talks between the two countries have been ongoing but without any major headway.

Mahatma Gandhi wanted the Union Jack on India’s national flag and said he would not salute it if Charkha was replaced by Ashoka Chakra

Jinit Jain
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Mahatma Gandhi wanted the Union Jack on India’s national flag and said he would not salute it if Charkha was replaced by Ashoka Chakra

Today is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a day when the nation pays its tribute to the ‘father of the nation’. Although Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi led India’s non-violent independence movement, he didn’t join the government even though he was a leader of the Congress party. And just like he kept a distance from the government, he had also maintained a distance from the symbol of newly independent India, the flag of the nation.

The design for the tricolour was unanimously accepted by the constituent assembly on July 22, 1947, days before India attained its Independence from the British, during a meeting held by the Constituent Assembly comprising of eminent personalities such as Rajendra Prasad and including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu, C. Rajagopalachari, K. M. Munshi and B. R. Ambedkar.

The flag is based on the Swaraj flag, a flag of the Indian National Congress designed by Pingali Venkayya. The present Indian flag contains three equal strips of saffron, white and green, with a navy blue ‘Ashok Chakra’ with 24 spokes at the centre. The flag, presented by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in the constituent assembly on July 22, 1947, served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950 and has served as the flag of the Republic of India since then.

However, while India adopted tricolour with Ashok Chakra at the centre as its national flag, Mohandas Gandhiji was not pleased with the flag proposed by the Constituent Assembly. In one of the letters written by Gandhiji, which is published in “The collected works of Mahatma Gandhi”, the ‘Father of the Nation’ expressed his objection with the flag adopted by the Constituent Assembly. He was unhappy with the design due to two reasons, absence of the union jack, and replacing the charkha (spinning wheel) with the Ashoka Chakra.

Mahatma Gandhi supported the inclusion of Union Jack in the canton of the Indian tricolour

In his letter, Gandhiji conveyed his support for the flag proposed by the last British viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten. The proposal of the flag presented by the Governor-General Louis Mountbatten in 1947 included the flag of the Congress but with a Union Jack in the canton. However, the flag was rejected by Jawaharlal Nehru, claiming that Congress’ nationalist members would see the inclusion of the Union Jack as being overly deferential to the British.

Indian Flag proposed by Lord Mountbatten

In his letter, Gandhiji defended the inclusion of the Union Jack canton in India’s national flag. Gandhiji contended that though British might have inflicted harm on the Indians, it was not done by their flag. Extolling the British for “voluntarily withdrawing from India” and urging Indians to take note of virtues of the British, he made the case for the adoption of the flag proposed by Lord Mountbatten.

Relevant sections from Mahatma Gandhi’s letter

“But what is wrong with having the Union Jack in a corner of our flag? If harm has been done to us by the British, it has not been done by their flag and we must also take note of the virtues of the British. They are voluntarily withdrawing from India, leaving power in our hands,” said Mahatma Gandhi lamenting over the rejection of the Union Jack in India’s national flag.

Gandhi lamented India could not show “generosity and friendship”

Gandhi further added, “We are having Lord Mountbatten as our chief gate-keeper. So long he has been the servant of the British King. Now, he is to be our servant. If while we employed him as our servant, we also had the Union Jack in a corner of our flag, there would be no betrayal of India in this.”

Relevant sections from Mahatma Gandhi’s letter

Gandhi further added in his letter that he was pained to see Congress leaders not extending the “generosity and friendship” to the British. “If I had the power that I once had, I would have taken people to task for it. After all, why should we give up our humanity,” said Gandhi while expressing her angst over Constituent Assembly’s dismissal of incorporating the symbol of Union Jack in India’s national flag.

Gandhi said he would not salute the flag without the Charkha

Mahatma Gandhi had prefered the flag that the Congress party had adopted in 1931, with the saffron, white and green stripes and the blue charkha in the middle on the white strip. He wanted the same flag to be adopted by independent India with the Union Jack. Therefore, when the proposals were made to replace the charkha with the Ashoka Chakra came, he was so unhappy that he had declared that he will refuse to salute the flag.

In a statement made in Lahore on 6 August 1947, Gandhi said, “I must say that, if the Flag of the Indian Union will not embody the emblem of the Charkha, I will refuse to salute that flag. You know the National Flag of India was first thought of by me, and I cannot conceive of India’s National Flag without the emblem of the Charkha”. 

This quote can be found in volume 96 of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru had tried to convince him saying that the design change is not significant, and the chakra in the new National Flag symbolizes the charkha also. Rejecting the argument that the chakra represents the Sudarshan Chakra also, Gandhiji has said, “Some describe the wheel-mark as Sudarshan Chakra, but I know what Sudarshan Chakra means.”

He had also written in Harijanbandhu, “Nothing would have lost if our councillors had never thought of interfering with the design of the original flag.” Rejecting the selection of the Chakra on artistic reasons, he wrote, “I will refuse to salute the flag that is modified on the above lines however artistic it may appear” (chapter 222 in volume 96 of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi).

Comments against Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray: Bombay HC grants protection to Sameet Thakkar, extends protection of Sunaina Holey

OpIndia Staff
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Comments against Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray: Bombay HC grants protection to Sameet Thakkar, extends protection of Sunaina Holey

The Bombay High Court today granted protection from arrest to Sameet Thakkar who was booked for criticising Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. The court granted him relief from arrest while hearing his petition seeking quashing an FIR filed against him at V P Marg police station on the allegations of obscenity and slander. A Division Bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik heard Thakkar’s petition through his counsel Dr Abhibnav Chandrachud.

Arguing on the charges of obscenity, Dr Chandrachud contended that obscenity under section 292 of the IPC meant only sexual obscenity or pornography and that mere abusive language did not amount to obscenity. “There are great works of literature that have abusive language within them”, he said. Quoting Justice V R Krishna Iyer’s words he said, “The dogs may bark but the caravan will pass”.

Responding to Dr Chandrachud’s contentions, Justice Karnik asked, “We ignore the harsh criticism that is often levelled against us, but what if others who are in power are not able to ignore it and are more sensitive?” To this Dr Chandrachud responded saying that those who occupy positions of power must develop a thick skin. Justice Shinde said, “What about the dignity of the post of the Chief Minister, that must be maintained”. Dr Chandrachud replied that the office of Chief Minister is such a high post that its dignity could not be reduced by a person on the streets or on Twitter who abuses the CM.

Additional Public Prosecutor SS Shinde told the court that the police has issued a notice to Thakkar under section 41-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for the recording his statement but he is yet to appear. Dr Chandrachud said that his client Thakkar did not appear to record the statement fearing arrest.

The court directed the Additional Public Prosecutor not to arrest Thakkar as the notice was issued under section 41-A of the CrPC that does not contemplate arrest. The court said that the petitioner should not be arrested until the next date of hearing even if the police wished to add any cognizable offence in addition to the bailable offences that are there in the FIR.

Sunaina Holey granted protection from arrest

The case of activist Sunaina Holey, who was also booked by the Mumbai police for criticising CM Thackeray, had also come up for hearing before the same Bench. Holey was also represented by Dr Chandrachud who told the court that Holey could not record her statement before the police as was directed by the Court in the previous hearing because the Investigation Officer (IO) at the Azad Maidan police station, where she was required to record her statement, was found COVID-19 positive.

The court directed the Additional Public Prosecutor that a fresh notice should be issued to Holey once the IO recovers. The order also said that no coercive steps should be taken against her already directed in the previous order in the case.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protester carries Indian flag during Chinese National Day protests because India is fighting China

OpIndia Staff
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Hong Kong pro-democracy protester carries Indian flag during Chinese National Day protests because India is fighting China

Hong Kong is experiencing waves of protests against the Chinese government. Laurel Chor, Photographer, and Journalist shared a few photographs and videos of the latest protests in a Tweet thread. In the visuals, one man caught everyone’s eyes, as he was sporting an Indian flag. When he was asked why he was wearing an Indian flag, he said, “Because India is fighting China. So India is my friend!” Laurel mentioned in the tweet that the man was shouting “STAND WITH INDIA!” and the crowd was applauding him.

On China’s national day, many Hong Kong nationals came out on the roads to raise their voice against the Chinese government. The pro-democracy protesters have been on streets on and off since last year after China passed Hong Kong’s Extradition Bill to allow Hong Kong to detain and transfer people wanted in territories and countries that do not have formal agreements for extradition. It includes Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

As thousands of people came onto the streets of Hong Kong, chanting slogans like “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times”, the police came forward to thwart the protests. Thousands of policemen arrived on the streets, stopping and searching people. According to reports, the police cordoned off dozens of people, lined them up against the wall, handcuffed them and marched them away.

The police said that slogans demanding to liberate Hong Kong was tantamount to inciting people to “commit secession”, and a possible breach of the national security law.

The Civil Human Rights Front, a pro-democracy group that organized million-person marches last year, had asked Hong Kong police for authorization to hold a rally on National Day. But its application was rejected, citing the Coronavirus pandemic and violence at previous rallies.

Last year, the Hong Kong police for the first time fired shot at a young protester. Several rounds of tear gas were also shot to disperse the crowd during the National Day protests.

Hathras: Congress scions Rahul-Priyanka attempt to wash off mother’s sins during Nirbhaya case after trying to wash off father’s Bofors sins by shouting Rafale

Jhankar Mohta
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Hathras: Congress scions Rahul-Priyanka attempt to wash off mother’s sins during Nirbhaya case after trying to wash off father’s Bofors sins by shouting Rafale

The unfortunate Hathras incident has become more of a political hippodrome for the two legal heirs to the Congress throne- Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. As soon as the incident came to the fore, Gandhi scions grabbed on to it as an opportunity to reinvent their plummeting career. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a no-holds-barred attack against the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh asking for his resignation.

The brother-sister duo today embarked on a journey to Hathras to meet the victim’s family. When their motorcade was impeded owing to the section 144 imposed in that area, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi hopped out of their vehicle and started walking along with scores of Congress workers, shouting slogans against UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 

Well knowing Congress’ previous charades, one can be sure that the brother-sister duo was trying to pull off this stunt to score a few political goals. But at the face of it, what Rahul and Priyanka were grappling for, was quite overwhelming. But one wonders why then the Gandhi scions, who seemed to be so moved by this incident chose to ignore all the recent crimes happening in the states ruled by its own party.

Two minor girls from Baran say on camera that they were gang-raped, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot claims they were ‘not forced’

Only today it was reported how two minor girls in Baran in Congress-ruled Rajasthan were gang-raped for three consecutive days. Despite the two sisters talked about the crime on camera, Congress senior leader and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot insisted that the minor girls were not ‘forced’. Maybe this was not as heinous to draw reactions from the brother and sister or since the duo is currently too busy castigating the BJP government, they have forgotten to hold its own government accountable.

Congress scions could not manage to take out time to pay visit to the family of victim of Balarampur rape case

Another similar incident took place in Balarampur, where a 22-yr-old Dalit woman died after she had allegedly been gang-raped by two youths on Wednesday. Balarampur, a village in Uttar Pradesh, incidentally fell on the route taken by the Gandhi scions to reach Hathras. This too was ignored by them. The brother and sister who headed straight for Hathras could not spare some time to visit the family of the victim of Balarampur. Probably because the Hathras incident has been getting more media coverage and thus is a better platform to get noticed and kickstart their drowning careers or attack the BJP government.

Party President Sonia Gandhi who condemns ‘Nirbhaya of Hathras’ stayed silent when her own party leader downplayed the Nirbhaya rape case

Moreover, one wonders why Sonia Gandhi, who has been vociferously condemning the BJP government over the gruesome incident and said the ‘Nirbhaya of Hathras’ did not die but was killed by a “cruel and insensitive” government and its administration, remained mum when the Congress leader and former Delhi Chief Minister late Sheila Dikshit has said that the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case was “blown out of proportion” by the media. There was not a word of condemnation when her own party’s senior leader downplayed the Nirbhaya case saying that there were several cases of rape taking place across the country and that her government had no role to play in the security situations.

For the uninitiated Congress leader, late Sheila Dikshit served as the chief minister of New Delhi 15 years from 1998 to 2013 and was at the helm of affairs when the Nirbhaya case happened in the capital city.

Likewise, not a word of damnation when Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had in an insensitive remark favoured making public the identity of the Nirbhaya Gang rape victim.

Well, the determination of the Congress party to rob the nation needs no introduction. Name any scandal, and a Congress link emerges. What is worrying, however, is the fact that the party pretends to be a holy cow on possibly all counts while trying to attack the Modi government.

Congress claims misappropriation of PM-CARES Fund forgetting how it siphoned funds from the Congress-run PMNRF

In one such incident, a few months ago, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM CARES Fund to fight the Wuhan Coronavirus, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had accused PM Modi of setting up a parallel national relief fund which is opaque, at a time when PMNRF already exists. Sonia Gandhi had, in April, asked the Prime Minister to transfer all PM-CARES fund to the National Relief Fund. Through a series of Tweets, the Congress president had claimed misappropriation of PM-CARES Fund and cast aspersion on the government of India.

However, it turns out that it was Congress which for at least three consecutive years, i.e., 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 diverted and siphoned funds from the Congress-run national relief fund (PMNRF) to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. 

It is pertinent to note that the PMNRF is not constituted by the parliament. PMNRF was constituted by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. However, what is little known is that when it was constituted, the managing committee had included the President of the Congress party specifically.

Rahul hops on one leg to castigate PM Modi on an imaginary Rafale scam, fails to recall his father legacy- the Bofors scam

Moving on, it becomes imperative here to remind Rahul Gandhi, who had based his entire campaign for 2019 general elections on imaginary Rafale scam, about the Bofors legacy which was exclusive to Rahul Gandhi’s family. It was his father Rajiv Gandhi who presided over the Bofor’s scam and received kickbacks to a tune of Rs 64 crore from the deal.

A gentle reminder to Congress calling Modi government to be a fascist regime

While the opposition parties, especially the Congress and left-liberal media constantly accuses the current Modi government to be a fascist regime without freedom of speech, the fact is that the PM and the government is constantly being attacked, labelled a thief by the very same people without any fear of retaliatory action from the government. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and all Congress leaders keep saying chowkidar chor hai, where chowkidar means PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi had even attributed this comment to the Supreme Court. This comes in sharp contrast to how the Congress party had reacted when Rajiv Gandhi was called a chor. 

Fascist Indira Gandhi imposed the draconian emergency to protect her political interests.

Though Congress harps on Modi being fascist, the only party which has proven fascist credentials is Congress and the only proven fascist was Indira Gandhi who had imposed the draconian emergency to protect her political interests.

Indira Gandhi, whose 1971-election victory against Raj Narain was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court in 1975, imposed a national emergency in the country to protect her political interests. Indira Gandhi, rather than accepting her defeat with all the grace, imposed the draconian emergency and locked up her political opponents in 1975.

If there is anybody in the history of this country, who has attempted to wreck the country’s democratic values, it is none other than Rahul and Priyanka’s grandmother- Indira Gandhi.

And while speaking on how Rahul Gandhi goes on a mindless rant against the Modi government, forgetting his own family legacy, it becomes important to remind the Gandhi scion, who recently went on a headless rant against the Government on the India-China border issue, that it was your great grandfather- Jawaharlal Nehru who had handed over Tibet to China on a golden platter.

When the Congress claim that India lost territory to China in the recent stand-off with China along the LAC, Rahul Gandhi should be shaken up to remind that in one of the biggest historical blunders, the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru had allowed China to build the Aksai Chin road thereby occupying an Indian territory without Delhi noticing it.

Congress and its long list of goof-ups

Besides, the laundry list of several other goof-ups involving the Congress governments in its 55-year long rule is practically endless, including the numerous terror attacks carried out by Pakistani terror outfits like LeT, JeM, etc in the Indian heartland and the dastardly attack on the Indian Parliament to name a few.

Besides the Nehru government granting Kashmir the special status under Article 370 of the Constitution, the Simla Agreement that we had with Pakistan at the end of the 1971 war that culminated in the liberation of Bangladesh, the 1962 Indo-China war, Nehru sacrificing Indian candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, are few other such Congress misadventures which has costed India dearly.

Accused in Delhi anti-Hindu riots, Umar Khalid arrested by the crime branch in another FIR related to the violence

OpIndia Staff
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Accused in Delhi anti-Hindu riots, Umar Khalid arrested by the crime branch in another FIR related to the violence

Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid has been arrested by the crime branch over his involvement in the February anti-Hindu Delhi riots that left several dead and injured. According to ANI, the former JNU student has been remanded in three-day custody. This is the second FIR under which Umar Khalid has been formally arrested. This FIR was registered on 25th February 2020 and investigated the violence in the Khajuri Khas area of north-east Delhi.

Umar Khalid is an accused in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots and has been arrested for provided logistical support for the riots and being one of the main masterminds of the riots.

According to sources, Umar Khalid has been arrested in FIR No. 101/2020. This FIR pertains to Tahir Hussain and the violence at Chand Bagh, however, there is no confirmation about this yet.

Delhi Court sends Umar Khalid to judicial custody till October 22

Prior to this, on September 24, Umar Khalid has been sent to judicial custody till October 22 by a Delhi court. In the first FIR 59, along with other charges, the stringent the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) had also been invoked by the Special Cell of Delhi police which booked Khalid in relation to the riots that had taken place in Northeast Delhi.

On September 21, a Delhi court had rejected Khalid’s plea in which he had requested the court to be allowed to meet his family. His request was opposed by the Investigating Officer who had said that Khalid was non-cooperative during the investigation and that he might hinder the investigation process of set free.

Role in Delhi Riots

Khalid was arrested by the police September 14 for his alleged involvement in the horrific Northeast Delhi riots. He was summoned by the police for investigation and was later arrested. In a charge sheet filed by the Delhi police and admitted by the court, it is alleged that Khalid had hatched the conspiracy of the anti-Hindu Delhi riots along with his friends during the visit of the US President Trump to India. Khalid had allegedly met the former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and another accused Khalid Saifi to assure logistical support during the riots through his contacts in the PFI.

Arnab Goswami and Republic TV bag 77% viewership for primetime, read what Rajdeep Sardesai and NDTV manage to garner

OpIndia Staff
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Arnab Goswami and Republic TV bag 77% viewership for primetime, read what Rajdeep Sardesai and NDTV manage to garner

Ever since journalist Arnab Goswami launched his own TV News channel Republic TV, he has maintained top position in the genre. After remaining in top position in the English News sector since its inception, the network’s Hindi channel Republic Bharat has also occupied the top position in viewership data as per BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council of India), leaving behind established players in the sector like Aaj Tak, India TV, NDTV India etc.

While both the news channels of the Republic network are way ahead of the competition, the difference between Arnab Goswami and the other top anchor seems to be even wider. According to the latest BARC data for the 9 PM slot, which is the prime time for News Channels with shows hosted by their topmost anchors, Republic TV’s viewership is much more than the other English News channels.

Weekly BARC data for English news channels, 19 to 25 September

Weekly BARC data for Hindi news channels, 19 to 25 September

Arnab Goswami hosts the show “The Debate With Arnab Goswami At 9” on Republic TV. During the same time slot, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai hosts News Today on India Today, and Navika Kumar hosts the Newshour on Times Now, which was previously hosted by Arnab Goswami when he was at the channel.

https://twitter.com/republic/status/1311566167899738112

The Republic TV market share for the 9 pm slot is whopping 77.18%, which means almost four-fifth of the English News viewers watched the Arnab Goswami’s famous panel discussion program at 9 pm. The next was CNN News18 with 7.56%, and after that at third spot was India TV with 7.02%. The CNN News18 show is Brass Tacks with Zakka Jacob, while on India Today it is the Rajdeep Sardesai hosted program.

The BARC viewership data for the 9 PM for the week 19th September to 25th September show that viewership of Arnab Goswami’s program was more than tens times the viewership of the next programs in the list by Zakka Jacob and Rajdeep Sardesai.

For NDTV, the channel that pioneered the English News sector in India and is also pioneer of the 9PM debate show, the data is even shockingly low, with just 1.30% share in viewership. The 9 PM show for NDTV is hosted by Vishnu Som.

Republic Bharat is also in the top position for the 9 pm slot, although the difference with the competition narrow, unlike the English channels. The channel has 15.8% share for 9 pm, marginally ahead of 14.28% of Zee News, Aaj Tak’s 14.06%, News18 India’s 12.22% and India TV’s 11.58%.

Arnab Goswami has come under attack from other channels like India Today and NDTV for his position on several issues, and relentless coverage of incidents like the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. But time and again the viewership data shows that his programs are liked by the audience, with more than 75% audience watching his show. On the other hand, the channels that keep lecturing him have market share in single digits for the 9pm slot.

Rahul Kanwal spreads fake news, shares a video where police express solidarity with Hathras victim’s family as ‘intimidation’

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Kanwal spreads fake news, shares a video where police express solidarity with Hathras victim’s family as ‘intimidation’

As the politics around the Hathras case is getting dirtier by the day, different narratives are being woven around the unfortunate incident. Media houses are reporting on every development relating to the case and as a consequence things are either being misinterpreted or blown out of proportion.

Today a video went viral on social media showing the District Magistrate of Hathras talking to the family of the Hathras victim, which was twisted by India Today journalist Rahul Kanwal.

Sharing the video on Twitter, the journalist claimed that the DM was “intimidating” the family of the victim. However, on listening to the video, one finds that the DM was telling the victim’s family that the police are with them. The officer was heard telling the family, “Aap apni vishwasniyata khatam mat kariye. Ye media wale, mai apko bata du, aaj abhi adhe chale gye, kal subah tak adhe aur nikal jaenge, do char bachenge kal shaam tak. Hum he aapke sath khade hain. Ab apki ichchha hai apko bar bar bayaan badal k nhi badalna hai (Do not lose your credibility. Let me tell you half of these media people have already left, half of them will leave by tomorrow morning. Very few will be left by the evening. But we are standing by you. Now it is your wish whether you want to keep changing your statement or not)”.

However, the DM’s statement in which he is expressing solidarity with the family of the victim has been twisted by the journalist as intimidation. While he said that the police is with the family, Rahul Kanwal circulated fake news by saying the DM was intimidating the family.

Priyanka Gandhi had shared a video showing Victim’s father being prompted to speak

It is noteworthy, that earlier in the day Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had posted a video of Hathras’s victim’s father on Twitter alleging that the family was being pressurised. However, it was clearly obvious from the video that a voice in the background was suggesting the victim’s father to say certain things on camera. The voice was suggesting the father to demand court monitored CBI probe.

In just a week, Rajasthan sees 11 cases of rape, including sexual assault of minors: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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In just a week, Rajasthan sees 11 cases of rape, including sexual assault of minors: Read details

In the state of Rajasthan, 11 incidents of rape and sexual assault have been reported in just seven days. The state saw several instances of violent sexual crimes against women in just a week. Here is a list of incidents in the past week.

Woman gang-raped in Jaipur

According to the reports, the woman was visiting Jaipur for some work on 28th September. When she was visiting the SMS Hospital Trauma centre, someone stole her purse. On Sunday night, she went to the hospital again to see if she can locate the bag. Some men approached her and raped her on the pretext of helping a poor with food. The police apprehended all four accused based on information by a tea seller.

Minor raped by three men in Sikar

Police have arrested two men on 30th September for raping a minor in the Udyog Nagar Police Station area. As per the reports, one accused is absconding. The victim’s father has alleged that the accused are threatening them and forcing them to take back the case. The victim has alleged that the accused made an illicit video of her and sent it to his friends.

Two minor girls from Baran gang-raped for three days

As per the reports, two minor girls aged 13 and 15 years respectively, were abducted from Baran on 18 September. Two minor boys and three others took them to Kota and Jaipur, where they were raped for three days. On 21st September, they were found in Kota. The family of the victims has alleged that they are being forced not to pursue the case. The police had denied the rape charges and said the girls did not mention rape in their statement. Even CM Ashok Gehlot has stated that the minors had gone on their ‘own free will’ and were not ‘forced’.

The victims have stated on camera that they were drugged and raped.

Woman raped in Ajmer

A woman was raped in the Ramgarh Police Station area, Ajmer, on 29th September. As per the reports, a resident of the village, Tipu Sultan, forcefully took her to the nearby farms and raped her. She somehow managed to escape and told her family about the incident, after which they filed a complaint with the police. Superintendent of Police, Ajmer, is investigating the case.

Minor raped in Jaipur

As per the reports, a student of the 8th class has been raped by three men in Jaipur on Wednesday. She was going to the school when she was abducted by the accused and allegedly raped. The family of the victim informed the police about the incident. The accused were apprehended within four hours of reporting the crime. All three accused were living close to the victim’s house. They had asked her to sit on the bike on the pretext of dropping her to school.

5-year-old assaulted in Hanumangarh

A 5-year-old has been assaulted in Hanumangarh. As per the reports, the crime was reported on 24th September. The accused, Mahendra Singh had taken the girl with him to the Nohar. One of the villagers heard her screams. The accused got scared and left the girl. CO Nohar is investigating the case.

Four-year-old child raped in Alwar

As per the reports, a 4-year-old has been raped in Alwar by a 45-year-old man named Ramnaresh. The incident was reported on 25th September. The girl was alone at home, and the accused took advantage of the situation. He ran away and left her bleeding. When the parents reached, they immediately took to the hospital and filed a complaint with the police. The police have arrested the accused.

Woman gang-raped in Sawai Madhopur

As per the reports, a married woman was visiting her relatives in Kodhai village. The accused picked her from the Bauli bus stand on the pretext to help her. She was raped by two accused in the farms located near Lalsot road. Police have filed a case based on the complaint of the victim. SHO Brijesh Meena is investigating the case.

Minor raped by friends in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur

In another incident in capital Jaipur, a minor girl living in sector-3 Malviya Nagar has accused a man, who was known to the girl’s family, of forcing her into making sexual relationships with him and his friends. The father of the victim alleged that her friend Nitin intoxicated her and raped her. The victim has alleged that she was also forced into sexual intercourse with the friends of the accused by intimidation and blackmail. Police have registered a case under the POSCO act.

Minor raped in Sirohi

On September 28, a minor girl was raped and murdered by a man in Sirohi. As per reports, the minor had gone to bathe in the canal water with her brother. A man, who was allegedly drinking in a nearby place, had attacked the children. While the brother managed to run away, the girl child was raped, and then strangulated to death. No arrests have been made so far in the case. The police have registered a case against unknown accused and investigating the incident.

Constable arrested for raping a minor

The Police in Navan, Nagaur district, have arrested 28-year-old Constable Jitender Singh in Nagaur after he was accused of raping a minor girl. The constable, who was about to travel to his village to see his newborn child, had allegedly attacked and raped the minor girl from a family who are his neighbours in Navan. The minor girl was sent for police examination and after confirming the sexual assault, station inchage had arrested the constable. SP Nagaur has dismissed the constable from the job.

The dancing boys of Afghanistan: A report on the rising ‘baccha bazi’ in the country

Nivan
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The dancing boys of Afghanistan: A report on the rising ‘baccha bazi’ in the country

Afghanistan, a country reputed for following a highly conservative form of Islam, has recently opened a can of worms with the rising awareness on rampant child sex slavery practised by the warlords and influential men in the middle eastern country.

‘Baccha Bazi’ or ‘Child play’ is a practice in which young (and often pre-pubescent) boys are made to dress like girls and dance erotically in front of middle-aged Afghan men (thus called ‘dancing boys’). The boys are referred to as ‘baccha bareesh’ whereas the men are called ‘Baccha Baz’. Often, the victims are brought into the profession through human trafficking syndicates or by kidnapping.

The practise of Baccha Bazi is a result of deep rooted pedophilia present in the Afghan society.

The victims of this pedophile-flesh trade syndicate are often considered as outcasts by the society. The Daily Mail says that even if the victims wanted to marry, it had to be done in a discreet fashion due to the social stigma against the Baccha Bareesh. On the other hand, Afghan warlords who participate in the Baccha Baz tradition are often considered to be powerful and host such parties to show off their power and wealth. (www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3384027/amp/Women-children-boys-pleasure-secret-shame-Afghanistan-s-bacha-bazi-dancing-boys-dress-like-little-girls-make-skirts-abused-paedophiles.html)

Usually, the horror begins after the party ends, when the middle-aged guests of the warlord take the child to hotel rooms and mercilessly rape them.

Interestingly, homosexuality is believed to be a sin according to mainstream Islam. During the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, participating in Baccha Bazi was a crime punishable by death. However, after the fall of the Islamic terror outfit, there has been an increase of Baccha Bazi in the country.

The Afghan warlords argue that Baccha Bazi is a loophole to the Islamic practises since they merely ‘lust’ for the child and don’t exactly ‘love’ them, and are therefore not committing the Islamic sin of Homosexuality.

During the Afghanistan war, NATO forces were surprised to see middle-aged men going to parties with prepubescent boys hand-in-hand. However, they were asked to see the other way and not interfere in the local tradition.

The Daily Mail says that 2/5th of the Baccha Bareesh victims were between the ages 13 and 15. Several victims of the heinous act are said to have taken to drugs like heroin to cope with the repeated sexual abuse.

“Once I grow up, I will be an owner and I will have my own boys”, a then-17 year old Ahmad told Reuters in 2007. 

The boys who were brought into the system usually carried the tradition forward by becoming ‘masters’ and bringing another set of pre-pubescent boys into the tradition.

Until recently, when a law by the Afghanistan government banned Baccha Bazi, police officers also participated in the tradition and sat as audiences in the parties.

According to Dr. Sobhrang, who was then the woman commissioner of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission(AIHRC), the tradition puts victims under psychological trauma, who cannot cope and are forced into narcotics. Usually, a warlord has about 10 Baccha Bareeshs, who pass it on from one generation to the other.

The problem of Baccha Bazi still persists in Afghanistan, but the new laws introduced by the Afghanistan legislation aim to end this barbaric practice and free victims.

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