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Number of Kashmiri youths joining terror groups has gone down by 40% since the Since abrogation of Article 370: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Number of Kashmiri youths joining terror groups has gone down by 40% since the Since abrogation of Article 370: Report

The number of Kashmiri youths joining Islamic terrorist groups has reduced significantly in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, since the revocation of Article 370, which had granted separate status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Economic Times.

According to the reports, there has been a reduction of more than 40 percent in Kashmiri youths joining terrorist groups in the last year mainly after the abolition of Article 370 by the Modi government. The number of youths who joining terrorist groups fell to 67 between January 1 and July 15 this year, compared to 105 a year ago, while terror incidents also reduced from 188 to 120 during this period.

The Home Minister had informed that 22 civilians were killed after the removal of special status from January to mid-July. He had also informed Parliament last year that more than 41,000 people including locals and security personnel were killed due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Out of 136 militants killed this year, 110 were locals and the rest had crossed the LoC from Pakistan. There have been fewer improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and grenade attacks this year. The number of IED attacks this year was 21, less than 51 in 2019, while one IED attack has been reported this year, as compared to six in the year-ago period.

Infiltrations remains high

As there has been a massive reduction in the home-grown terror, Pakistan-based terror groups are now pushing terrorists to Kashmir as infiltrations attempts along the Line of Control (LoC) have increased. It is also being reported that the peace in the valley is also partially due to the coronavirus lockdown.

As many as 136 terrorists have been killed by the security forces in the past seven months, higher than 126 in 2019.

Meanwhile, 35 security forces personnel have been martyred in the line of duty since January 1 compared to 75 in the year-ago period. Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), which is believed to have the largest presence in the region, has suffered highest casualties of more than 50 terrorists including its commander Riyaz Naikoo. The Hizbul commander was killed in an encounter with security forces in May this year.

Most of the other terrorists killed in the Valley belonged to Pakistan-based terror groups – Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, Islamic State of J&K and Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind.

On August 5, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the centre took a historic decision of abrogating Article 370, stripping away the separate status of Jammu and Kashmir state, and subsequently got the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill passed to bifurcate the state into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Watch: The iconic video where Karsevaks razed the disputed structure standing on the Ram Janmabhoomi site to dust

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: The iconic video where Karsevaks razed the disputed structure standing on the Ram Janmabhoomi site to dust

The Bhoomi Pujan at the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya for the construction of a much-awaited Bhavya Ram Temple is set to happen on August 5. The event will be attended by various luminaries and the Puja will be performed by Prime Minister Modi himself.

With just a few days remaining for the auspicious event, it is worth reminiscing the iconic videos from the 1992 Ram Janmabhoomi movement that paved the way for the construction of a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

Demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya by Karsevaks

One of the most significant videos from the 1992 Ram Janmabhoomi movement is the demolition of the disputed structure forcefully erected on the Ram Janmabhoomi site at Ayodhya. After a nationwide campaign, a legion of Hindu activists and volunteers, known as Karsevaks, entered the premises and demolished the disputed building, the symbol of centuries of Islamic onslaught, standing on top of one of the most sacred grounds for the Hindu faith.

On December 6, 1992, about 150,000 Karsevaks from across the country attended a rally called by the BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Ayodhya. Eventually, a large number of charged Karsevaks stormed the heavily fortified premises of the Ram Janmabhoomi where the disputed structure was standing and razed it to the ground.

Video of the demolition of the disputed structure (Source: YouTube)

As can be seen in the above video, a large number of restive karsevaks entered the premises and attacked the building what they regarded as an illegal construction on the birthplace of Lord Ram. Vastly outnumbered and unprepared for the attack, the police cordon fled the area as other Karsevaks began to enter the site. Some of them even managed to scale the structure and stood on the domes of the buildings waving saffron flags.

The karsevaks are then seen whittling down the controversial structure with instruments such as axes, sledgehammers, rods, grappling hooks and other equipment and within hours the entire structure, made from mud and chalk, was levelled.

The movement marked the first significant step towards reclaiming the birthplace of Lord Ram that was forcibly occupied by Mughal rulers, as a symbol of Islam’s victory over the Hindu faith. The movement culminated with the highest court of the country, the Supreme Court granting the disputed site to the Hindus, in a landmark judgment in the protracted case in November 2019.

Towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Indian Railways achieves major improvements in Freight and Logistics operations

OpIndia Staff
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Towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Indian Railways achieves major improvements in Freight and Logistics operations

While the economy continues to suffer due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and the economic slowdown that preceded it, Indian Railways have performed remarkably well during this period. Apart from completing a large number of long-pending projects taking the benefit of the absence of regular trains, the railways have improved the performance of freight operations considerably.

This was revealed by Railway Board VK Yadav in a press conference held via video conferencing on 28th July. As the general passenger train services remain suspended due to the Coronavirus lockdown, apart from Shramik Special Trains and Special Passenger Trains, the Railways have focused on improving and optimising freight operations during this period. As a result, the average speed of freight trains nearly doubled in the month of July. The average went up from 23.2 kmph in July 2019 to 45.03 kmph in the same month this year. On 27th July, the average speed was 46.2 kmph, compared to 22.5 kmph on the same date last year. While speeds increased in all the zones, it was highest in the Eastern Zone with 52.52 kmph, and lowest in North-Western zone with 44.62 kmph. As a result of increased speed, the turnaround time for wagons have improved, and more freight could be carried.

The Railways also completed more than 200 infrastructure projects in the last 4 months. Some of these included such projects which could be undertaken earlier as they required blocking the route for long duration, which was not possible due to high traffic. Several bottlenecks on the railway network have been removed with these improvements. Rebuilding/Rehabilitation of 82 bridges were done, 48 Level Crossing Gates were replaced with Limited Height Subway/Road Under Bridge. 16 foot overbridges were built or strengthened, while 14 such old foot overbridges were dismantled.

With the focus on improving freight operations, the Railways loaded more freights this year compared to last year. Indian Railways has also introduced Time Tabled Parcel Trains to improve punctuality and made improvements to Good Shed Facilities in mission mode. The Time Tabled Parcel Trains will be notified for 6 months. Zonal and Divisional Business Development Units have also been established to increase freight traffic. The units will provide single window for customer interface.

In an effort to end-to-end logistic services in parcel business, the Railways will gradually move away from leasing of parcel space in trains – and will introduce on-line booking of parcel space in trains of choice at pre-determined freight rates. This service will be offered on first-come first-serve basis. Suitable railway terminals will be converted to dedicated Parcel terminals to improve parcel services.

Separate terminals for parcels will mean that the parcel traffic will be separated from passenger platforms, and will provide more space for parcel handling. This will be a step in the direction of providing end-to-end logistic services to customers. The Railways is planning to rope in strategic private partners for different goods sheds. 2 EoIs have been already floated to test the scheme.

The Railways is also entering into a tie-up with the Department of Posts to provide end-to-end logistics solutions to parcel customers at 7 over Central Railway. The locations are Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik, Akola, Solapur, and Kolhapur. At a later stage, it will be expanded on the pan-India level. The Zonal Railways have been empowered to appoint service agents to provide the first-mile-last-mile service to customers. List of such agencies will be available on-line, and the customers will be able to choose a suitable agency

Sonia Gandhi brought them together, Rahul should now lead: Says Sharad Pawar who had left Congress over Sonia’s leadership

OpIndia Staff
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Sonia Gandhi brought them together, Rahul should now lead: Says Sharad Pawar who had left Congress over Sonia’s leadership

While there is a raging debate over the prevalence of nepotism in Bollywood and Politics alike, the NCP chief Sharad Pawar has made a strong case for the return of Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi as the president of the Indian National Congress party.

In an exclusive interview with CNN News18, Pawar described the Gandhis as a cementing force of the Congress party, one that acts as a glue to keep the tottering flock of Congress leaders together. “Gandhis are a cementing force for the Congress party and it is high-time Rahul Gandhi is handed over the party leadership,” Sharad Pawar said.

“I have seen the evolution of Congress over last several years. And I want to note one thing. Whether people accept it or not, it is the Gandhis who have kept the party intact. Soniaji succeeded in forging a cohesive Congress unit. Now, Congressmen regard Rahul Gandhi as their leader. While it is their internal matter and up to the rank and file of the party, I believe they should hand over the responsibility of party leadership to him,” Pawar said.

Rahul Gandhi should tour the country and mobilise grassroots workers

The NCP chief also added that Rahul Gandhi should not only take the responsibility of shepherding the country’s oldest political party but he should also take the initiative of holding conversations with the party leaders and bringing them together.

When asked how should Rahul Gandhi assume the role of president of party, Sharad Pawar advised the Wayanad MP to go on a tour across the country and meet with the grassroots workers. According to Pawar, knowing the lay of the land, meeting workers and instilling confidence in them, is critical to the revival of the Congress party which is facing tough headwinds from an agile BJP under the leadership of PM Modi and Amit Shah.

Sharad Pawar advises Rahul Gandhi to avoid making direct attacks on PM Modi

Besides, Sharad Pawar also suggested the Gandhi scion to avoid making ad hominem attack against PM Modi and instead concentrate on resurrecting his party. “Attacking PM Modi might be his personal opinion but we have seen that targeting any particular individual has an adverse impact on your own credibility. It should be avoided,” Pawar added.

Pawar’s endorsement for Rahul Gandhi comes at a time when the Congress party is facing a leadership crisis, with Sonia Gandhi leading the party in her capacity as the interim president after her son resigned from the position following the election debacle in 2019. While there is a groundswell of opinion-forming within the Congress party to once again elect Rahul Gandhi as their leader, the Gandhi scion has, so far, manifestly shied away from taking the responsibility of leading the party once again.

Pawar had left Congress because of Sonia

Sharad Pawar had left Congress in 1999 and started NCP. Speaking to media in the past instances, he had told that he had left Congress because of Sonia Gandhi. He had added that he had left Congress because Sonia wanted to be PM in 1999 after bringing down the Vajpayee government.

In 1999, when Sonia had assumed the leadership role in Congress, Pawar, PA Sangma and Tariq Anwar were the most prominent senior leaders who had openly opposed the idea of a foreign born person taking over the party and becoming the PM candidate.

“Welcome to the Indian Ocean”: Indian Naval warship welcomes the Rafale as it establishes contact. Listen in

OpIndia Staff
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“Welcome to the Indian Ocean”: Indian Naval warship welcomes the Rafale as it establishes contact. Listen in

The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata deployed in the Arabian Sea has established contact with the Rafale jets.

INS Kolkata: Aero leader, Indian Naval Warship Delta 63. Welcome to the Indian Ocean.

Flying Rafale leader: Many thanks. Most reassuring to have an Indian warship guarding the sea.

INS Kolkata: May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings.

Flying Rafale leader: Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting. Over and out.

The Defence Ministry also welcomed the shining new jets.

The jets have arrived in the Indian air space.

The five Rafale jets are to be inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala base today. They left France on Monday, July 27. They are accompanied by two Su-30MKIs.

Ex-RAW officer alleges Deepika Padukone went to JNU on instructions of Pakistan’s Aneel Mussarat, was paid Rs 5 crore for same

OpIndia Staff
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Ex-RAW officer alleges Deepika Padukone went to JNU on instructions of Pakistan’s Aneel Mussarat, was paid Rs 5 crore for same

Former RAW officer NK Sood on his Youtube Channel, he alleged that Deepika Padukone has connections with Aneel Mussarat. He claimed that Padukone visited JNU on instructions of Mussarat.

Sood, in his video released earlier this year, said that Mussarat, who is a Pakistan National, has deep connections in Bollywood. 51-year-old Aneel is currently based in Manchester and mainly deals in real estate. He is in good terms with Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. He also invested in election campaigning of Imran Khan. Sood alleged that Mussarat is assisting Imran Khan in his housing project of over five million homes in Pakistan.

NK Sood alleged that Deepika Padukone received two calls before she visited JNU. One call was from Karachi, and the other was from Dubai. He said that either Mussarat himself or one of his associates urged Padukone to visit the university.

He further alleged that she was paid Rs 5 crore by Mussarat to go to JNU.

In January this year, during film promotion of her film ‘Chhapaak’, based on an acid attack survivor Lakshmi’s real life story, Deepika Padukone had visited JNU campus amid the protests where in leftist students organisations had taken the varsity on ransom not letting students register for winter semester. Deepika Padukone even got endorsement from former JNU student turned politician Kanhaiya Kumar, who allegedly mourned the death of 2001 Parliament Attack terrorist Afzal Guru on JNU campus in February 2016. Moreover, her PR stunt also found resonance in Pakistan.

Deepika’s PR stunt gets endorsement from Pakistan

Sood further added that Mussarat has deep connections with many celebrities in Bollywood. He was seen in the wedding of Sonam Kapoor in May 2018. Anil Kapoor has family relations with Aneel’s wife. Sood said that the film industry runs mainly on financing from investors. Though it is not an illegal practice, but if they take money from anti-India forces, it will be against the country’s interests.

Strong connections with Bollywood celebrities and Pakistan army officials

In another video released on 24th July, Sood again talked about Mussarat. He said that Aneel’s net worth in November 2018 was 300 million pounds. Aneel regularly hosts officials from Pakistan in London. In September 2017, Anusha Mussarat, daughter of Aneel Mussarat got married in London and Manchester. Imran Khan and other Pakistani officials were present during the wedding. Many celebrities from Bollywood also attended the wedding. Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar, Sonam Kapoor, Hritik Roshan, and Suniel Shetty were among the prominent names who participated in the marriage. Sood alleged that Karan Johar has strong intimate relations with Aneel.

Sood, in his video, said that Aneel played a vital role in financing Anti-CAA activities in London. Mussarat actively finance films that project anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments. When Deepika attended the protest in JNU on Aneel’s call, General Asif Gafoor, official spokesperson of Pakistani Army, also praised her in a tweet. Sood said that the statement against CAA posted by Sonam Kapoor was allegedly made after Aneel’s request.

Sood alleged that he also manages the tickets and stay for Pakistani army officers and their children in London. British authorities have questioned him several times in connection to money laundering and terror financing.

Wikileaks on Mussarat

Sood said that, in some documents released by Wikileaks, it was evident that the firm owned by Aneel Mussarat is involved in Hawala transactions. Wikileaks called him a small part of a larger conspiracy around money laundering and claimed that if he is questioned, may reveal the names of bigger fishes. It was also revealed that Aneel Mussarat provides support to Bollywood celebrities in building connections with prominent personalities across the world. In his video, Sood urged the government not to issue Aneel Mussarat visa, and in case he managed to visit India, he should be arrested and questioned for his role in anti-India activities. Sood also urged to government to take strict action against the officials in the embassies that issue Indian visa to such people.

Bollywood’s connection with ISI puppets like Aneel have surfaced several times. Netizens have demanded strict action against those who are associated with Aneel or seen with him.

Twitter user Sarfaraz goes from ‘Masjid phir se banega’ to ‘galti ho gayi’ after netizens accuse him of provoking communal tension

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter user Sarfaraz goes from ‘Masjid phir se banega’ to ‘galti ho gayi’ after netizens accuse him of provoking communal tension

A Twitter user named Sarfaraz found himself in a fix after netizens pointed out his brazenly provocative statements alleging that a mosque will be rebuilt over the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, whose Bhumi Pujan is scheduled for August 5.

Responding to AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi’s critical tweet on PM Modi’s scheduled visit for the Bhumi Pujan ceremony, Sarfaraz posted a tweet saying that a mosque will be built at the place of Ram Temple when their party will be in power.

“The mosque is ours and it will remain ours. Today, they are in power so they are building a temple. When we will be in power, we will rebuild a mosque there because history repeats itself,” Sarfaraz tweeted.

Sarfaraz’s tweet about building a mosque in place of Ram temple

However, Sarfaraz’s incendiary tweet, calling for the demolition of Ram Temple in Ayodhya did not sit well with the netizens who took to Twitter to tag official police handles, along with PMO India, to bring to their attention Sarfaraz’s provocative assertions that had the potential of stoking communal tensions.

As backlash for his inflammatory tweet mounted, Sarfaraz later retracted his statements by pulling down the controversial tweet. He was also seen profusely apologising for his mistake with a reassurance that he would not commit such mistakes in future ever again.

“Sorry, @PMOIndia @Uppolice @myogiadityanath @warrior34811802 sorry to all public. Maine jo post-kiya Mujhe Maaf Kar do aur tweet ko please delete kar de. Maine delete Kar Diya. aap bhi ,mujhe nahi pata tha ki ye itna bhadda aur kharab maine likh diya hai,” One of the apologetic tweets by Sarfaraz read.

Sarfaraz apologising for his earlier provocative tweet

In another tweet, Sarfaraz was seen apologising for his mistake, asking one of the Twitter users to let him off considering him as an illiterate. He also assured that he wouldn’t post such tweets again.

Another tweet where Sarfaraz offers his apologies

In yet another tweet, Sarfaraz apologised for his provocative tweet and pleaded one Twitter user to remove the screenshot of his controversial tweet.

Bhumi Pujan ceremony of Ram Temple scheduled to happen on August 5

Preparations are underway in Ayodhya for the historic Bhoomi Pujan for the construction of the Ram Temple on August 5, 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Ayodhya for the ceremony on August 5. The ceremony will be graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath among several other invitees. Keeping in accordance with the coronavirus guidelines, the ceremony will be attended by not more than 200 people.

Reportedly, an estimated 100-150 guests will be allowed at the said event. The foundation laying ceremony will mark the beginning of the construction of the grand temple that is expected to take about 3 years to complete. Kameshwar Chaupal who serves as a trustee of the Ram Temple Trust informed that they are expecting the Prime Minister’s arrival in the temple town of August 5. He added that all government standard operating procedures (SOPs) with respect to safety against coronavirus will be ensured during the Bhumi Pujan.

Voice samples of JNU student leader Sharjeel Imam match with videos of his seditious speeches, says forensic laboratory report

OpIndia Staff
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Voice samples of JNU student leader Sharjeel Imam match with videos of his seditious speeches, says forensic laboratory report

Hindustan Times has got hold of a copy of a report issued by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) on voice samples of Sharjeel Imam. In the report, CFSL concluded that voice samples of Jawaharlal Nehru University student Sharjeel Imam matched with the video clips of his speeches on the campuses of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. He is facing sedition charges under Indian Penal Code 124A for his said speeches. Police also added charges of mobilising people to block roads in the case against him. The report said, “The voices marked exhibit Q-1(S) & Q-2(S) are the probable voices of the person (Sharjeel Imam), whose specimen voice is marked Q-1(s).”

On Saturday, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police submitted the said report along with transcripts and video files of Imam’s speeches in a city court. It is believed that this report, along with the findings of the Police during the investigation, will form crucial evidence against Imam. He was allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches on the campuses of Jamia and AMU campuses. The Police have reported that his speeches played a vital role in the instigating violence outside Jamia on 13th and 15th December last year.

Imam refused to give samples

According to the Police, Imam at first refused to give his voice samples. He was ordered by the court on 12 February to provide his samples for examination. The report uses the word “probable” which is a technical term used by scientists, said Additional Commissioner Ashok Chand. He said that the report used the words “potential match” because there was ambient noise in the video clips.

If the voice did not match, the report would have clearly mentioned that the voice in videos does not match with Imam’s voice samples. The Delhi Police has said that the report is “conclusive enough” to establish that Imam did give speeches on 13th and 15th December.

Imam’s lawyer refused to accept the charges

Ahmad Ibrahim, Imam’s lawyer, said that these findings are insignificant. He added that Imam gave a hand-written application to the Patiala House court in which he informed the court that his voice was modulated and he was asked to speak some sentences from the speech. The court said that it would consider his application during the trial. He added, “We will file a bail application as soon as we get a copy of the charge sheet.”

Police filed supplementary chargesheet against Sharjeel in April. He was booked under IPC Sections 124A (sedition) and 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups) by the Delhi Police. As per the reports Police attached copies of pamphlets about the new Citizenship Amendment Law that they recovered from his laptop. Around 5000 copies of such pamphlets were photocopied and distributed across different mosques in Delhi. Police attached statement of a photocopy shop owner in south Delhi in the case. Sharjeel was arrested by the Police in February.

As Sharjeel Imam had incited people to “cut off” Assam from the rest of the country, Assam police also had filed a case against him. He was shifted from Delhi to Guwahati to face the probe in Assam, and has been lodged in Guwahati central jail. While he was scheduled to be transferred back to Delhi earlier this week, it was delayed as he tested positive for Coronavirus. At present, he is undergoing treatment for the infection in Guwahati.

The Citizen Amendment Act came in force on 10th Jan 2020. The Parliament passed the Act in December. The misinformation and protests against the said bill led to deadly anti-Hindu riots of Delhi.

Son of poor teacher in Nepal gets admission at IIM Ahmedabad, Indians come together to help with ‘high fees’

OpIndia Staff
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Son of poor teacher in Nepal gets admission at IIM Ahmedabad, Indians come together to help with ‘high fees’

When twenty-four year old Aashik Jayswal, son of a poor teacher and farmer in Nepal, made it to the premier institute of higher education, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), it was like his dream come true. Except, the fees for the two year Post Graduate Programme in Food and Agri-business Management (PGPFABM) were too high for him.

Back in Nepal, Jayswal lives with his family about 20 kms from India-Nepal border in East Champaran where everyone is engaged in farming. His father works as a temporary teacher and also does farming. Till 10th he studied in his village after which he went to Kathmandu for his remaining school graduation. He won a scholarship from Indian Embassy to study BSc in Agriculture in Prayagraj, India.

While studying, he got to know of the two-year course at IIMA in agriculture, the profession his family is engaged in back in Nepal and decided to take it up further.

“During my undergraduation, I saw my seniors trying to solve these papers to appear for the CAT. I loved the maths problems and could solve them very quickly. My seniors told me that a degree in agriculture from IIMA would be more beneficial to me than an MSc. So I began preparation for the CAT,” he said. As luck would have it, he cracked the CAT (Common Admission Test) and made it through. But here is when things get tough for him.

Aashik Jayswal faced hurdles arranging for fees for IIMA course

Jayswal comes from a family which could not afford the high fees at IIMA. “I on the 7th floor of the building in Nepal when the 2015 earthquake devastated the country. I survived for a week without access to sanitation. But I learnt a big lesson there. I learnt that I could survive even if things go to the lowest of low phases,” he said while speaking to OpIndia.

Jayswal said that previously, his relatives in India had promised to help him with finances. However, the Chinese coronavirus pandemic struck which put the plans on hold. Jayswal approached banks for loans. Aashik’s family owns 0.5 acres of wetlands and a house and his father’s annual income is Rs 3 lakh.

The banks in Nepal were not in a position to offer him collateral free loans and could not get a secured loan either. And while Indian citizens are eligible for financial aide at the IIMA, the same is not applicable to Jayswal as he is a Nepali citizen.

“I could not get loan from Indian banks as I am a Nepal citizen. As a non-Indian I was not eligible for the loan here. This is where my mentor Abhishek Srivastava came in. I don’t want to crowdfund my education. I would like either sponsorship from corporates who believe in agriculture or loans which I could repay. People are kind-hearted. They may help out today out of goodness in their hearts. But the pandemic is a tough time for all. The money they might give me today may come handy to them tomorrow if uncertainty over coronavirus remains. Hence, I want to go ahead on my merits and while I appreciate the kind gestures, in good conscience I could not take money from individuals,” he said.

Jayswal has approached everyone – NBFCs, private investors, SAARC alumni, anyone who could help him. The IIMA alumni tried to look at ways to help him out.

Indians come together to help Nepali citizen

Meanwhile, some help has started pouring in. An NGO based in Ahmedabad has helped him with the fees of first term which is to start from later this week. Ahmedabad-based entrepreneur Pankaj Mashruwala, who deals in agri-business has come forward to help him as well. Mashruwala, Jayswal says, was in same position 40 years back and someone had come forward to help him with his tuition fees. He had promised that he will pay it forward when time comes.

Nagpur-based individual K S Cheema has also offered him loan for whatever amount remains. A Nepal-based individual, Diwesh Bothra, has also gotten in touch with him and he’s currently talking to his employers on how things could be taken forward with Jayswal.

However, the fees problem is only partially taken care of. Jayswal still needs to make arrangements for the second year. He is still talking to individuals, corporates and financial institutions who could help him out.

Aashik Jayswal could be reached out on [email protected]

Egypt: Female social media influencers get 2-years jail, 19,000 USD fine for ‘indecent’ TikTok videos

OpIndia Staff
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Egypt: Female social media influencers get 2-years jail, 19,000 USD fine for ‘indecent’ TikTok videos

An Egyptian court has sentenced several young women to two years in prison and a hefty monetary fine on Monday for posting “indecent” dance videos on TikTok.

According to the reports, two women – Haneen Hossam and Mawada el-Adham, who are in their early 20s, have been charged by the Egyptian court for their social media posts. The two women, who are extremely popular on TikTok, has amassed millions of followers for their video snippets.

Who is Haneen Hossam?

Haneen Hossam, a 20-year-old student of the Cairo University, is now accused of ‘encouraging young women to meet men through a video app and build friendships with them’, receiving a fee according to the number of followers watching these chats’. Hossam has about 1.3million followers on the popular social media platform.

The Egyptian authorities have arrested Hossam in April after she posted a TikTok video asking girls to work for her and get paid in return. 

The court has imposed a fine of 300,000 Egyptian pounds, nearly $19,000 on the women, for “violating the values and principles of the Egyptian family, promoting human trafficking and inciting debauchery”. 

Mawada el-Adham: arrested for posting dance videos

Another female TikTok and Instagram influencer Mawada Al-Adham has also been named in the prosecution statement.

The 22-year-old Instagram influencer has at least two million followers. Al-Adham is also accused of publishing ‘indecent’ photos and videos on social media platforms. 

The Egyptian authorities arrested al-Adham in May after she had posted satirical videos on TikTok and Instagram. She is also imposed with a fine of 300,000 Egyptian pounds. Her lawyer Ahmed el-Bahkeri has said they will now appeal the verdict. 

Mawada el-Adham was arrested for sharing ‘indecent’ dance videos

Seven others detained, petition launched

Not just Hossam and El-Adham, three other women have also been charged for assisting the two to manage their social media accounts. 

Following the court’s decision to charge the young girls, there has been a massive uproar in the country against such harsh decisions. The critics have described the crackdown on social media stars an assault on self-expression.

Meanwhile, an online petition has been launched on Change.org by a group of women seeking to “stop targeting women on TikTok” and demanded the immediate release of the women and named others besides Hossam and al-Adham. 

Menna Abdel-Aziz, Sherifa Refaat also known as Sherry Hanem, Nora Hesham, Manar Samy, Hadeer Hady and Bassant Mohamed are the others who have been detained by the Egyptian authorities in last few months for their social media posts. The petition calls for the release of all nine detained women. Reports say that the women were portrayed as a part of a prostitution network by the prosecution.

Several organisations and individuals have criticised the increasing instances of stamping on feedoms of women and excessive moral policing by the authorities in the Islamic nation.

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