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Maharashtra: NCP demands Rs.11,000 as ‘donation’ from aspirants to consider them for Gram Panchayat administrator posts

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Maharashtra: NCP demands Rs.11,000 as ‘donation’ from aspirants to consider them for Gram Panchayat administrator posts

The decision of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), one of the coalition partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, to seek mandatory donations from the aspirants to administrators’ post to the various gram panchayats in the state has now stoked a massive controversy, reports Indian Express.

According to the reports, the NCP leaders in Pune have asked all the aspirants of the post to pay Rs 11,000 donation to the party to be eligible for the post.

The state election commission, following the coronavirus restrictions, had postponed the elections to gram panchayats whose terms have ended and recommended the appointment of administrators. Following that, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had decided to appoint administrators to nearly 14,000 Gram panchayats across the state in consultation with district guardian ministers.

The Rural Development Department headed by Minister Hasan Mushrif of the NCP had issued orders for the Government Resolution on the appointment of administrators.

Taking advantage of the, the NCP has now resorted to forcibly seek donations from the aspirants to make them eligible for the post. In Pune, NCP District president Pradip Garatkar has issued instructions to taluka heads of the party to collect donations from the aspirants.

In Pune district, 750 gram panchayats posts have become vacant, which require administrators and it is expected that at least two thousand aspirants could apply for the posts, as per the Indian Express report.

Image Source: Mumbai Mirror

The letter written by Pradip Garatkar also sought details including caste, educational qualifications, previous experience in governance / social work and any post held within the party. The bank details have also been included in the letter.

“All taluka presidents (of the party) have been given guidelines regarding appointing administrators based on lists of their gram panchayats that would have gone to polls. Following those guidelines strictly, application forms as attached must be filled out by all applicants and submitted along with a non-returnable party fund donation of Rs 11,000 that must be credited to the official bank account of the NCP Pune district,” the letter read which carried the signature of NCP leader Pradip Garatkar.

NCP says no such instructions have been directed

Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik refuted such claims and said that the party has not given any instructions regarding seeking applications for the post of administrators. “If they are preparing for the coming elections and preparing candidates, that is fine. If they are doing this for the posts of administrators, that is wrong,” he added.

Nearly half of Maharashtra’s 28,000-odd Gram Panchayats should have faced elections between March and November this year. With coronavirus restrictions, the elections are now postponed, giving an opportunity to the Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress to appoint administrators of their choice.

Reportedly, all the three coalition partners have informally-agreed on a formula in which these appointments will be granted by the district guardian minister in consultation with local MLAs. In places where none of the Maha Vikas Aghadi parties has any MLAs, then the district minister will take a call on the choice of the candidate.

Congress governments over four decades kept changing rules to allot free Lutyens land to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Congress governments over four decades kept changing rules to allot free Lutyens land to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation: Read details

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which has been caught up in a massive controversy over its financial links with China, is back on news again after a sensational disclosure that the Congress governments in the past had changed the rules of allotment of government land in Lutyens Delhi to benefit the Gandhis and the trusts controlled by the family.

A report by Times Now stated that an ongoing high-level probe on the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has exposed a convenient arrangement that saw Gandhi family virtually taking over government lands through various trusts including the RGF.

Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs had set up an inter-ministerial committee to probe various violations by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust & Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

Video Source: Times Now

The Times Now report also stated that the rules for the land allotted by the then Indira Gandhi-led government in 1975 for the construction of the Congress party headquarters was eventually violated and altered for the benefit of the Gandhi family and the trusts managed by them. The Congress party, however, did not construct the headquarters at the two-acres land but changed the land allotment rules to lease government lands for free to Gandhis.

The nearly two-acre land, which was allocated for the construction of the AICC office to build ‘Gandhi Bhawan Trust’ was altered by various Congress governments for over four decades, which was later handed over to Sonia Gandhi-led Rajiv Gandhi Foundation for free.

According to Times Now, the first alleged violation of terms happened in December 1976 under Indira Gandhi. The Congress, after renaming the ‘Gandhi Bhawan Trust’ to ‘Jawahar Bhawan Trust’ leased more lands during the Indira Gandhi government. The land was given in 2 tranches, once 4736 square yards and then 4500 square yards were granted, as per the Times Now report. The land was initially meant for the Congress party, but ended up under the control of the Nehru Gandhi family, though some clever tweaks.

Different Congress governments, one beneficiary, the Nehru-Gandhi family

In September 1988, during the Rajiv Gandhi government, the terms of allocations of the land were changed again, from the Congress party to the Jawahar Bhawan Trust (JBT), to allow the perpetual lease of the land and also for the construction of an office of the JBT. The government land was now transferred to a trust managed by the party for free, violating the land allotment rules.

Again in 1995, during the Congress government led by PV Narasimha Rao, the land allocated to JBT was rented out to another entity called ‘Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’ for free.

The fourth violation of the land allotment rules by the Congress government to favour the Gandhis came in May 2014, when the UPA government, days before losing power, gave permission to Sonia Gandhi-led Rajiv Gandhi Foundation to sub-rent the two-acre plot to four organisations, which are mostly controlled by the Gandhi parivar.

Image Source: Times Now

Congress used government-owned RGF land to give platform for Anti-India propaganda

Further, the Times Now report also stated that the Congress party organisation Seva Dal was wound up from the land to make way for the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which then gave space to Anti-national elements such as Anti-Hindu riots accused Umar Khalid, far-left members of Anti-India brigade Kanhaiya Kumar, former SIMI terrorist SQR Ilyas etc.

The conspirators of the Anti-Hindu riots, members of various anti-Hindu front were time and again given space by the Sonia Gandhi-led foundation through the controversial Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Sonia Gandhi-controlled Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received funds from China

Recently, shocking details had emerged wherein it was revealed how Sonia Gandhi-controlled Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had received funds from the Chinese government during the UPA era under the garb of charities.

Last month we had reported how the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had received funds from not just the Embassy of China but also the Government of China not once but at least thrice between 2005 and 2009. One donation amounted to Rs 10 lakhs and another one amounted to Rs 90 lakhs was given by the Chinese to the Sonia-Gandhi controlled Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

The Annual Statements of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had also revealed a far more sinister agenda as it turned out, the Chinese government had not only donated to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in the year 2006 but in the subsequent years as well. 

It is important to note that Sonia Gandhi is the Chairperson of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Since the year 2005, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the trustees.

The significant disclosure had come at a time when the Congress party was caught over its secret deals with the Communist Party of China (CPC) back in 2008. There have been serious allegations against the Congress party and its interim chief Sonia Gandhi over receiving funds from not only China but also for diverting public money for her private foundation. Documents had also revealed that Sonia’s loyalist Manmohan Singh had tried to allocate Rs 100 crores to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in the Union Bidget of 1991-92 when he was the finance minister.

Watch: Alcoholic man ruthlessly beat a stray dog to death in Ghaziabad, gets arrested after video of the act go viral

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Alcoholic man ruthlessly beat a stray dog to death in Ghaziabad, gets arrested after video of the act go viral

Social media has been abuzz with people posting a gruesome video of a man ruthlessly beating a stray dog with a wooden baton. The incident, which is reportedly two-three days old, took place in Modinagar in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh. After the disturbing video went viral on social media, Ghaziabad police apprehended the accused. The Ghaziabad SSP, Kalanidhi Naithani took to Twitter to share that the accused, Sunil alias Danny, has been taken into custody for the heinous crime and legal action is underway.

It is believed that the accused, who is an alcoholic, is a repeat offender and has many times in the past brutally killed stray animals. He reportedly even threatens to kill the people who try to stop him from killing the stray animals.

The video, which was first shared on Facebook by Tazza Khabar, shows the accused, in a green shirt, mercilessly beating a stray dog with a thick wooden stick. He initially hits the dog once and then goes away, only to return after a few seconds. He again starts hitting the helpless canine repeatedly with his heavy wooden baton. The stray dog is seen lying helplessly on the floor screaming from pain. Shockingly, the person who is recording the video, and others who can be heard in the background, no one comes forward to stop the person from performing the gruesome act or rescue the helpless canine. In fact, towards the end of the video, two children are captured laughing as the man continues to hit the dog.

This outrageous act has drawn massive public outrage. According to Tazza Khabar, people are threatening to take to the streets if the perpetrator is not brought to justice. It is believed that the accused is an alcoholic and has a track record of abusing animals in the past as well.

Amidst all this, one Anu Pandey has also started an online change petition, which has garnered more than 6,900 signatures, demanding actions against such acts of cruelty.

“Was attacked because I’m a Dalit”: Says social media user Madhur Singh who finds inaction of NCW against comedian Kenny Sebastian worrisome

OpIndia Staff
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“Was attacked because I’m a Dalit”: Says social media user Madhur Singh who finds inaction of NCW against comedian Kenny Sebastian worrisome

Social media user Madhur Singh, popularly known as ThePlacardGuy has expressed concern that the lack of action of National Commission for Women against comedian Kenny Sebastian for obscene comments against his mother. “I was attacked because I am a Dalit,” he said.

Singh says that while he has received death threats for raising his voice in the past, that didn’t scare him much. However, the obscenity hurled towards his mother distressed him. Speaking to OpIndia, he said, “My mother had no involvement in the twitter spat between Kenny and I, but yet he abused her and almost made remarks which in some way means that he’s raping her. This thought has put me in immense mental distress. Shubham Mishra and Imtiyaz made videos saying similar things for Agrima Joshua and they were arrested the very next day but no action against Kenny makes me lose my faith in the system.”

After an online spat between Singh and Sebastian early this month, Kenny went on to post obscene and abusive comments on photo-sharing app Instagram. In some of the comments on a post, Sebastian can be seen hurling abuses like ‘teri maa r*ndi’ and other such obscenities.

In his defence, Sebastian took to Twitter to claim that the screenshots making rounds on social media are ‘fake’. He claimed that the abuses posted from his account were ‘manipulated’ as he reported an account of someone who he claims was ‘abusing his religion’. He claimed he will approach Mumbai Police to investigate the ‘fake messages’. However, later netizens shared videos of his profile wherein it can be seen that the comments from his account were not fabricated. Later, on 9th July, the NCW took cognisance of the obscene messages and asked for probe.

“NCW had urged the Maharashtra DGP to take action against Sebastian, but nothing has been done so far. This weakens my faith in the judicial system,” Singh said.

This is not the first time Madhur Singh has been on the receiving end of hate and abuses. Earlier this year, he was threatened with Kamlesh Tiwari-like fate for his Instagram stories on Islamic fundamentalists. Kamlesh Tiwari was an outspoken Hindu Activist who was brutally murdered by Jihadists for blaspheming against Islam. He was stabbed 15 times. The post-mortem report suggested that there were two deep cut marks on the neck which pointed towards attempts to slit his throat. These threats and abuses were directed not only towards Madhur himself but also for the women in his family. Some of the abuses appeared to come from ostensibly fake accounts with no followers or posts.

‘India took extraordinary step to ban TikTok and other Chinese apps, US shouldn’t trust them either’: 25 US Congressmen urge Trump to follow India’s lead

OpIndia Staff
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‘India took extraordinary step to ban TikTok and other Chinese apps, US shouldn’t trust them either’: 25 US Congressmen urge Trump to follow India’s lead

Soon after the Indian government red-flagged 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, America has also been considering to ban the apps, amidst the rising privacy concerns over Chinese apps including TikTok. After the US Secretary of State and the US NSA batting for the ban on the Chinese app, 25 US Congressmen have now written to the US President to consider banning the app.

India took an extraordinary step of banning Chinese affiliated-apps, including TikTok, said US Congressmen

Praising India’s decision to ban 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, the US Congressmen, in a strongly worded letter dated July 15, asked Trump not to trust these apps either.

The letter praised India for the “extraordinary” step it took in June to ban the Chinese affiliated-apps, including TikTok, due to national security concerns. Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) systemic campaign to collect and illicitly transmit user data to the Chinese govt is not unique to Indian consumers,” it read.

Stressing on the fact that TikTok’s privacy policy for the US residents is upfront about the vast quantity of user data it collects and shares with the CCP, the Congressmen said: “The US shouldn’t trust TikTok or other Chinese-affiliated social media websites/apps to protect Americans’ data, privacy or security. We urge you to take strong action to stop CCP’s sophisticated espionage campaign against our country and protect our national security,” said the US Congress members.

Adding that the recent finding in an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report said that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, works closely with the Chinese government to enable human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims by disseminating the CCP’s state propaganda, the Congressmen also revealed that “ByteDance is also required under Chinese law to provide seats on the company’s board of directors to CCP officials, further cementing the authoritarian government’s role in setting these policies.”

The Congressmen concluded by urging Trump to take strong action to stop the CCP’s sophisticated espionage campaign against America and protect American’s data, privacy or security.

Banning TikTok and other Chinese apps would take away China’s ‘big espionage tool’: US NSA

Yesterday, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien had opinioned that by banning the app, America would take away China’s ‘big espionage tool’. “India has already banned those apps, as you know. And if they lose India and the United States, they lose some western European countries, that takes a big tool away from the espionage work or the surveillance work of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party),” the US national security advisor said.

US President too had said that banning TikTok is ‘one of many’ ways he is looking to hit back at the Beijing government over the coronavirus. His comment had come one day after Michael Pompeo the US Secretary of State said that his country is ‘certainly’ looking at banning the app, along with other Chinese apps that threat data security.

India bans TikTok

On June 29, the Indian government had banned 59 China-linked apps, including TikTok for being a threat to national security. The move came after the violent Galwan Valley clash in Ladakh which took place because of China’s attempts to unilaterally change status quo. India had lost 20 of its brave soldiers in the standoff.

Here is why #BabyPenguin is trending on Twitter, and why Aaditya Thackeray is called so by some

OpIndia Staff
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Here is why #BabyPenguin is trending on Twitter, and why Aaditya Thackeray is called so by some

On Thursday, the hashtag BabyPenguin was trending on Twitter, after a complaint was registered against a social media user calling Aaditya Thackeray a Baby Penguin.

Dharmendra Mishra, legal head of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, has filed a complaint against Sameet Thakkar, a Twitter user, for alleged derogatory tweets against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tourism and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray and Energy Minister Nitin Raut. An officer from V P Road police station said that they had registered an offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections of obscenity (292), defamation (500), and section 67 of the Information Technology Act.

According to the complaint registered with VP Road Police, Thakkar shared a photo on 1st July in which he allegedly referred to Aaditya Thackeray as  ‘Mohammad Azam Shah of Maharashtra aka baby penguin.’ He also referred to CM as ‘Modern day Aurangazeb’ and posted a derogatory comment on Raut.

Mishra said he was shocked when he checked Thakkar’s twitter profile as Prime Minister Narendra Modi follows him. “It is not the first time Thakkar has used derogatory language against the state leaders. So I decided to complain to him and approached the V P Road police,” added Mishra.

Thakkar had posted a sarcastic video on 13th July and referred Aaditya Thackrey as ‘baby penguin”.

Another tweet by Thakkar in which he called Aaditya “Baby Penguin”

Sameer in a recent tweet said that while CM of Maharashtra can indulge in name-calling by referring to former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as “Man of Afzal Khan,” ordinary citizen gets booked for calling CM Modern Day Aurangzeb.

Why Aaditya Thackeray is called Baby Penguin

Aaditya Thackeray was given the nickname after his insistence to bring penguins in Mumbai Zoo. The administration spent around 2.5 crores on the project that included the cost of an artificial environment built for the flightless birds. Eight Humboldt penguins — Donald, Daisy, Popeye, Olive, Flipper, Bubble, Mr Molt and Dory — were brought from Seoul, South Korea, in 2016 to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, popularly known as the Byculla Zoo. It was known as a ‘pet project’ of Aaditya Thackeray, as he had led the project to bring penguins to Mumbai. But a few weeks later, one penguin “Dory” died due to bacterial infection, triggering a massive controversy.

The experts said that the bird died due to sudden change in the environment, and the zoo administration did not have the training and knowledge to handle such exotic birds. Several experts had also said that it was a bad idea to bring penguins to hot and humid India. Later, the first baby penguin hatched in India had also died.

Netizens raised voice in favor of Thakkar

While calling the complaint absurd, netizens have pointed out the hypocrisy of state government. A Twitter user Aarthi pointed out that several users regularly post derogatory tweets against PM Modi and enjoy their freedom, but BJP is termed as fascist. Another user pointed out that Aaditya’s father a political satirist and cartoonist. Some users urged everyone not to call Aaditya “Baby Penguin” sarcastically while one user pointed out that NCP used the same term for Aaditya before allying with them.

Madhya Pradesh CM orders removal of Guna SP and Collector, high-level inquiry ordered after Dalit couple consumed pesticide

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh CM orders removal of Guna SP and Collector, high-level inquiry ordered after Dalit couple consumed pesticide

A couple drank pesticide in front of police after an encroachment removal squad bulldozed their crops in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, 14th June. The couple was farming on an encroached government land. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered the removal of the Superintendent of Police Tarun Nayak and Collector S Vishwanathan of Guna after learning about the case. 

According to the reports, a major chunk of 45-bighas of government land was encroached by Rajkumar Ahirwar and his wife. They claimed that they were using the land for farming for years. This particular piece of land was allotted for the construction of a college in the Jaganpur Chak area, Guna. The administration tried to clear the said land in November last year as well. At that time, they were blocked by the family of one Gappu Pardhi, who said he owns the land.

The encroachment removal squad damaged the crops sown by a farmer couple using a JCB. The couple pleaded them to stop, but the police refused to listen to them. Following this, the couple drank pesticide in front of the government officials and police. The police tried to force both of them into a jeep. They were beaten up by the police in front of their children. During the said incident, a female cop allegedly ripped off the wife’s sari when she refused to step away from her husband.

Tehsildar N Singh said, “Land has been allotted for college. So people, who had encroached it, were being removed. Both husband and wife consumed pesticide, after which they were admitted to a hospital. Both are in stable condition.”

State Home Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra said in a tweet that he is distressed after watching the video. Such unfortunate incidents should be avoided. The guilty will face strict action.

Criticism from the opposition parties

Mayawati, National President, BSP condemned the police action against the couple and demanded strict action against the officers involved in the incident. 

Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath said that this incident is a clear example of “Jungle Raj” under Chouhan’s government. In a searies of tweets, he said, “Where is this Shivraj government taking the state? What kind of jungle raj is this? A large number of policemen on a Dalit peasant couple in Cantt police station area in Guna.”

A photograph of the children crying next to the unconscious mother and videos of police beating the couple went viral on the social media platforms. A high-level inquiry has been ordered from the CM’s office on Wednesday night.

Complaints of fake and bad quality seeds: MNS workers vandalise agriculture department office in Latur, Maharashtra

OpIndia Staff
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Complaints of fake and bad quality seeds: MNS workers vandalise agriculture department office in Latur, Maharashtra

Some Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers have reportedly vandalized the office of co-director of the Agriculture department in Latur district of Maharashtra on Tuesday.

As per reports, on Tuesday, 14th June, some MNS workers came to the co-director’s office to submit a request regarding non-germinating seeds. During the conversation with the officers available, MNS workers started raising slogans and vandalised the office. Assistant Inspector of Police, Sanjay Pawar, said that they had registered a case against the MNS workers and legal action will be initiated against them. Santosh Nagroje, state president Maharashtra Navnirman Kisan Sena, was also reportedly involved in the vandalizing of the office.

MNS alleges that bad quality seeds are being given to farmers

MNS workers alleged that the seeds they have made available in the market are not germinating. No one from the ruling government is giving heed to the plea of the farmers. Farmers are losing money and their hard work is being wasted because of such seeds. They asked for compensation for the farmers and demanded action should be taken against the companies that produced such low-quality seeds.

There have been several complaints regarding low-quality seeds in many areas of Maharashtra. These seeds are either not germinating or not giving supposed yield. The MNS workers alleged that the government had not taken any action against these companies despite complaints. Police have registered FIR against 46 seed companies, including some big names. More than 50 companies have received show-cause notice for the same. As per the reports, Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has taken Suo Moto cognizance in the case and sought action on such companies and their vendors.

Soyabean crop failure in Maharashtra after seeds failed to germinate

There have been complaints of huge crop failure of soybean after farmers found that seeds distributed under the ‘Mahabeej’ scheme and sold by some private companies had failed to germinate even after good rains. Already FIRs against 23 private companies have been filed.

Reports say that so far, over 49,000 complaints have been registered against fake or bad quality seeds in the state.

He had problem with ringing bells in temple: Locals allege Nadeem Mewati of unleashing terror against Hindus and masterminding priest murder

OpIndia Staff
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He had problem with ringing bells in temple: Locals allege Nadeem Mewati of unleashing terror against Hindus and masterminding priest murder

In the Meerut Priest murder case, local residents have alleged involvement of former councillor Nadeem Mewati. As reported by Jagran, it was Mewati who got the accused Anas Qureshi arrested. As per the report, the locals allege that on Mewati’s instructions, the Muslims would even oppose ringing of bell at temple in Abdullapur. They also allege that Mewati roams around in the police’s car. They have also demanded he be arrested. However, despite the complains, the police has not mentioned Mewati as an accused, locals allege. Another Jagran report states that the murder and everything else happened on directions of Mewati. Live Hindustan report states that people are angry that the police is trying to save the accused on Mewati’s instructions.

He is a history sheeter

Former councillor Nadeem Mewati is a history sheeter and has a series of crimes registered against him. A 2017 report of Patrika states that a video of Nadeem Mewati firing with his goons had gone viral. The report states that Mewati, along with half a dozen of his armed goons entered a shop and beat up 3 people. Mewati also allegedly ransacked the shop and left after firing a few rounds. The entire incident was caught on cctv camera.

Nadeem Mewati terrorises Hindus

In October 2018, Amar Ujala reported that a BJP leader attacked when he came out of temple after offering prayer. This led to communal tension. The report suggested that while initially police tried to suppress the matter, later a case was registered against Nadeem Mewati and four others. As per the report, the police delayed filing case against Mewati and insisted on getting the two parties to compromise. BJP leader Sandeep Biwania had alleged that Mewati and his goons attacked him with sticks and even used casteist slurs against him. Locals had alleged that in connivance with the police, Mewati continues his unabated run with the crime. Sandeep had alleged that along with being a history sheeter, Mewati is also a land mafia.

Few days later, it was alleged that Mewati threatened Sandeep’s family to leave the village. Locals, along with the victims, protested at the office of the SSP demanding action against Mewati.

In 2017, a case was registered against Mewati, who was contesting as an independent candidate for municipal elections of Ward 17 in Abdullapur, over breaching the election code. As per his 2013 bail judgement, he was also jailed over an incident of violence that took place during Muharram in 2012 wherein he was also sent to prison.

Shiv Mandir priest Kanti Prasad murder

A shocking incident has been reported from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, where a priest of a Shiv Temple was brutally beaten to death by one Anas Qureshi after he protested against the latter’s comment on his saffron attire. The incident took place on Monday when Qureshi mocked Prasad’s saffron robes and passed hateful comments. When Kanti Prasad objected to his vile comments, Qureshi started beating up the priest in the middle of the road. Kanti Prasad somehow escaped from there. After reaching his village Prasad went to Qureshi’s house to apprise his family about the incident. However, Qureshi allegedly returned and started mercilessly beating up Kanti Prasad at his house.

Murder of a temple priest in Meerut: Locals allege ex-councillor Nadeem Mewati’s involvement, say Hindus are regularly harassed in area

OpIndia Staff
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Murder of a temple priest in Meerut: Locals allege ex-councillor Nadeem Mewati’s involvement, say Hindus are regularly harassed in area

A day after the brutal murder of a temple priest named Kanti Prasad by a man named Anas Qureshi in Meerut’s Abdullapur, a new angle in the case has come to the fore.

In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, locals have alleged involvement of local history-sheeter and ex-councilor Nadeem Mewati in the murder of the Shiv Temple priest Kanti Prasad. Hindi daily Jagran reported that locals say that it is usually Mewati who controls criminal activities in the Bhawanpur area it is probably Mewati who had asked Anas Qureshi to surrender while there were other accused involved in the case too.

It is alleged that Mewati instigates members of a particular community to even object to temple bells in Abdullapur. The locals sat on protest while demanding Mewati’s arrest. They also demanded that a case be filed against Nisam Qureshi, Babar, Abbas Qureshi, Hamsib Qureshi, father of the accused Anas, for threatening the family of the deceased caretaker.

The protestors alleged that Nadeem Mewati has very good terms with the local police and he is often seen talking and roaming with the police inspector.

Police used lathi-charge to disperse the crowd

As per the Jagran report, the protesters alleged that on the orders of Inspector Vipin, police used lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. The protestors raised slogans against the police, after which SP rural Avinash Pandey tried to pacify the situation. However, it led to heated arguments between Cantt MLA and SP. Later, Cantt MLA contacted SSP to raise a complaint against the police officers. SSP promised that Inspector and SP from the Bhavanpur station would be transferred.

The SP rural has informed that the police has registered a case against the family members of Anas Qureshi for threatening the family of the deceased Kanti Prasad, but the locals claim that Nadeem’s involvement in the case should be investigated too.

Kanti Prasad’s murder

Kanti Prasad, the caretaker and priest of a Shiv Temple in Abdullapur area of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, was brutally murdered after an altercation with one Anas Qureshi. According to the reports, Anas made fun of Prasad’s saffron attire to which he objected. After Kanti Prasad warned Anas from passing hateful remarks against his religion and saffron attire, Anas started beating him mercilessly. Prasad succumbed to his injuries later at the hospital. It is alleged that under the influence of Mewati, youth from the particular community used to harras Kanti Prasad daily.

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