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Rahul Gandhi declares war against India, says ‘we are fighting Indian state itself’ while attacking BJP and RSS

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi declares war against India, says ‘we are fighting Indian state itself’ while attacking BJP and RSS

On Tuesday, 14th January, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi blatantly attacked the ruling BJP party and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) accusing them of capturing almost every national institution. Gandhi stated that the Congress party was not fighting against the BJP and the RSS, but was fighting against the Indian state itself.

“Do not think we are fighting a fair fight. If you believe we are fighting against a political organization called BJP and RSS, they have captured almost every institution in our country. We are now fighting not just the BJP and RSS, but the Indian state itself,” Gandhi said while addressing the party members on the occasion of the inauguration of the new AICC HQ in New Delhi.

He further showed distrust in the recently happened Maharashtra state assembly elections saying that “something went wrong in the Maharashtra elections.”

“We are uncomfortable with the way the Election Commission operates. The sudden appearance of almost one crore new voters between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra is problematic. It is the Election Commission’s duty to provide a voters’ list with the names and addresses of those who voted in the Vidhan Sabha election. However, the Election Commission has refused to provide this information,” he alleged.

Further, he stated that every congressman must keep in mind that the election system in India operates in a very non-favorable manner to the party. “There is a serious problem with our election system, and it is the Election Commission’s duty to be transparent,” he claimed.

“Why would the Election Commission refuse to make the voters’ list transparent? What purpose does it serve by not providing us with the list, and why are they withholding it? It is the Election Commission’s duty to provide transparency, and it is their sacred responsibility to explain why this has happened,” he added.

He also slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for allegedly saying that India didn’t gain true independence in 1947. “Mohan Bhagwat’s audacious comment that India didn’t gain true independence in 1947 is an insult to our freedom fighters, every single Indian citizen, and an attack on our Constitution,” Gandhi said.

He called RSS ‘a shady hidden organization’ and said that the ruling party wants just one man to rule over the nation. “It is the fight between our idea and the RSS’s idea. Our idea says India is a union of states. I saw in the building [Indira Bhawan] that all Indian languages are displayed. It shows there is no superior language and no superior culture,” he was quoted as saying.

He also alleged that Bhagwat attacked the Constitution. “Every day, they are attacking the ideas we believe in. The BJP and the RSS have captured every institution. We are fighting BJP, RSS, and the Indian state itself,” he said.

It is crucial to note that Bhagwat’s comments made in Indore were widely misinterpreted. On January 14th, at an event in Indore, he said that India got true independence after the Ram Mandir was consecrated.

“After India got political independence from the British on August 15, 1947, a written Constitution was made according to the path shown by that specific vision, which comes out of the ‘self’ of the country, but the document was not run according to the spirit of the vision at that time,” he said.

Controversy erupted after his comments were misconstrued. One of the RSS functionaries confirmed to the media that “Bhagwat referred to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir as a day of “Swa Ka Jagaran” (self-awakening) and “Pratistha Dwadashi” (symbolizing the establishment of sovereignty), not as a comparison to Independence Day.”

“The speech was in contention of Bhagwat ji’s idea of Bharat’s awakening. Ayodhyay was invaded, and our ancient culture and tradition, our temples, were destroyed. The act of invasion affected Bharat’s pride, dignity, and vitality. Reclaiming our land and establishing the Ram temple there is akin to the re-establishment of Ram Rajya. This is about Bharat’s awakening; it is also about reclaiming our pride. That is why he called the day Pratistha Dwadashi,” the RSS functionary said.

Notably, this is not the first time when Rahul Gandhi has attacked the BJP and RSS over the election. Congress has in the past attacked the election commission and its poll process several times after losing particularly slated elections. For instance, during the Lok Sabha elections, he claimed that the Election Commission did what it had to do to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for the third time.

“The Election Commission was doing what they wanted. The entire campaign was structured so that Modi could carry out his agenda across the country, with different designs for different states,” he said healing Congress for fighting elections with alleged frozen bank accounts.

In December 2024 also, he claimed that there was a big change in the voter list in Maharashtra amid the polls and that the EC was not providing any information on it. However, the INDI Alliance won elections in Jharkhand during the same time and suddenly found no fault in the poll system.

In 2023, he was issued notice by the ECI for making derogatory comments against PM Narendra Modi, including his ‘Panauti’ comment blaming Modi for India’s defeat to Australia in the Cricket World Cup final. The notice was issued based on complaints by the BJP leaders. The poll panel further also cited Supreme Court orders asking politicians not to use derogatory and abusive language against opponents.

In 2019, Gandhi had again blamed the ECI for acting biased in favor of the BJP. Rahul Gandhi said that the election commission had cowered to the pressures put by the Narendra Modi government and had become biased against the opposition.

Reportedly, Gandhi has always had issues with the EVMs and the election process in India. Interestingly, the fake issues against ECI are only raised by the party after it has faced defeats in the elections. In the given case also, Gandhi is showing major distrust in ECI after brutally losing the Maharashtra elections. However, ECI or EVMs are not blamed by the party in the case of the Jharkhand elections where the BJP lost. Further, had INDI Alliance won the elections even in Maharashtra, the Congress certainly wouldn’t have questioned the poll system and the ECI.

No Bhog, no Puja offered at Lingaraj Temple in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar for 3 days: Know what is the issue and why Makar Sankranti rituals were stalled

OpIndia Staff
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No Bhog, no Puja offered at Lingaraj Temple in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar for 3 days: Know what is the issue and why Makar Sankranti rituals were stalled

Following a scuffle between two groups of servitors, Bhog has not been offered to the deity in the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha since Monday. As per reports, there is a disagreement between Badu Nijog and Mahasuara Nijog servitors over Makar Sankranti rituals. All the temple rituals, including bhog, have been disrupted due to the disagreement.

During Makar Sankranti, special rituals are observed in the Lingaraj temple for three days. The rituals begin on the eve of Makar Sankranti with ‘Pushyabhisheka Sandhya Dhupa’ ritual. This involves bringing the deity outside of the sanctum sanctorum and seating him atop the ‘Makara Mandap’ located within the premises of the Lingaraj temple. On the day of Makar Sankranti, ‘Makara Ghee’ or ‘Ghruta Kamala’ is offered to the deity in a ritual called ‘Ghruta Kamala Lagi’. It is prepared using milk collected from some specific ‘Samantra’ households of Badu Sahi. It is believed that the ‘Ghruta Kamala’ is applied to relieve the diety of winter dryness.

According to reports, the milk is boiled and churned by Badu Nijog to prepare the ghee and the Ghruta Kamala is offered both by Badu Nijog and Mahasuara Nijog servitors. On Monday, the Badu Nijog servitors insisted on performing the ritual of offering the Ghruta Kamala alone without the participation of Mahasuara servitors. The latter protested against it. As a consequence, the Ghruta Kamala could not be offered after the ‘Pushyabhisheka Sandhya Dhupa’ and the deity has been kept seated on the Makara Mandap for two days now. The temple is open for devotees but the rituals are suspended.

“We have been doing this ritual every year and even the temple administration is aware of it. In fact, the ghee after application to the Lord, is distributed among Badu Nijog families. If Mahasuara Nijog members, who run the sacred kitchen, claim ownership over the ritual just because the ghee is cooked, that cannot be allowed”, a Badu Nijog servitor said.

The temple administration has been trying to pacify the dispute but neither party is ready to compromise on their stand. Speaking about the Ghruta Kamala ritual, Biranchi Narayan, secretary of Brahmana Nijog, said that the first round of Ghruta Kamala Lagi is performed by Mahasuara servitors and then Badu servitors take over. “We are not aware why they protested this time”, he added.

A high-level meeting was reportedly held in which Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Debottar commissioner, Khurda collector, Secretary of Law department, local MLA, and the servitors of Badu Nijogas were present. However, the meeting ended without a conclusion. The meeting will be held again later today in the presence of the ‘Brahmana Nijogs’ as they were absent during the high-level meeting.

The law minister also announced an investigation into the matter and said that the state govt is contemplating appointing a single-member Commission headed by a retired High Court judge. He said that an emergency meeting of the Trust Board will be held this afternoon where servitors will be requested to resume the rituals.

The Law Minister has issued a stern warning to the involved parties, indicating that strict measures may be enforced if the dispute is not resolved soon. “This is highly condemnable. If there was indeed any problem, they could have just sat together and come up with a resolution. Just stopping the rituals of Lord Lingaraj is highly condemnable,” Law Minister Harichandan said.

The stalemate has created anger among devotees who have condemned both groups and demanded action against them. One angry devotee said, “Lord Lingaraj has been in hunger for the last three days. It is because of the sevayats that Lord Lingaraj has to remain empty stomach. This is highly condemnable. I call upon the administration to take stringent action in this connection.” 

Muslim woman with Hindu Aadhar Card arrested for ‘sextortion’ in Shajapur: Used to trap rich men and record videos

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim woman with Hindu Aadhar Card arrested for ‘sextortion’ in Shajapur: Used to trap rich men and record videos

The female leader of a honey trap gang was taken into custody by Shajapur police on 14th Januray in Madhya Pradesh. The accused, Ranu Mansuri, reportedly shot a pornographic video of a young man after calling him to a hotel under the guise of a birthday celebration and then giving him drugs.

The victim was told to come to the Pushp Kamal Hotel by Mansuri on 4th January. An individual then threatened the victim over WhatsApp and phone after making the video and demanded money. The search is ongoing for another gang member who is yet to be apprehended.

The victim was warned that the video would be made viral if the amount was not paid. According to Santosh Vaghela, in-charge of the Kotwali police station, victim filed a complaint about it on 9th January. On the basis of an informer’s inputs, police nabbed her from her Berchha home on 13th January. She had fled after the case was filed against her.

According to the complaint, the Ranu Mansuri has been calling the complainant relentlessly since 25th December in the name of important work. She directed him to meet her near a college first and then in a hotel to talk privately where she claimed that it was her birthday and drugged him before capturing the explicit video.

The victim was then threatened with blackmail and told that he would be defamed if the video was posted online. He went to the police station and informed the Kotwali police about the situation out of fear of humiliation which led to the registration of FIR (First Information Report) under BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) sections 308(2) and 61(1) and the beginning of an inquiry.

Police have also recovered fake Aadhar Card from her. Notably, other similar cases related to her are likely to be unearthed during interrogation. A check for Rs 3 lakhs along with a bogus Aadhar Card featuring the picture of the perpetrator with her name written as Madhu, daughter of Dinesh Agarwal, who lived in Indore’s Manglia were discovered by the authorities during the search.

However, Mansuri disclosed her real name to the police during interrogation and informed that was she was 26-year-old Ranu, daughter of Shakoor Khan and resident of Berchha. Moreover, the offender added that her partner Inder Gurjar of Sultanpura used to hunt for rich people. She would then trap them and make obscene videos. Afterward, he would blackmail them and ask for lakhs of rupees. The cops are currently searching for him.

In her memorandum, Ranu Mansuri shared the cell phone used in the crime, nine other cell phones employed for similar crimes, two lakh rupees, and a covert webcam. The mobile number used in the crime will be used to get CDR (Call Detail Record), which will be used to look for more victims and accused parties in the case.

Vidya Kumbh: How Yogi Adityanath govt is fulfilling the educational aspirations of children of sanitation workers in Maha Kumbh 2025

Jinit Jain
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Vidya Kumbh: How Yogi Adityanath govt is fulfilling the educational aspirations of children of sanitation workers in Maha Kumbh 2025

As crores of Hindu devotees congregate at the Sangam in Prayagraj to take a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh 2025, the incumbent Yogi Adityanath’s social welfare and educational empowerment initiative focused on inclusive and equitable access to education for underprivileged children is receiving praise from several quarters.

The Yogi Adityanath administration has set up 5 Vidya Kumbhs at the Maha Kumbh, to provide thousands of children of sanitation workers with primary education with world-class facilities. The initiative only intends to close the education gap for children of sanitation workers by offering free primary education, necessary resources, and certification to ensure every child has access to learning opportunities. According to the government, the program goes beyond education— uplifting families, empowering communities, and building a brighter future for all.

On 13th January, the Mahakumbh 2025 commenced in the holy city of Prayagraj, marking a spiritual celebration for millions of Hindus worldwide. This festival stands as a testament to faith and the vitality of ancient traditions, with roots as old as time itself. Crores of devouts have already taken a dip at the sacred congregational affair, deemed by experts as the largest gathering of humanity on earth. With crores more expected to arrive at the 45-day spiritual gathering, including from people out of India, the UP government has employed thousands of sanitation workers to keep the Sangam clean and tidy.

With thousands of sanitation workers employed for the mammoth Maha Kumbh 2025, the UP government has set up five primary schools, including Vidya Kumbh Primary schools and others in Sectors 1, 2, 7, 10, and 13, enrolling thousands of students—children of those workers who often missed their schools because of their parents’ demanding work requirements.

A wholesome video of sanitation workers’ children studying in one such Vidya Kumbh, primed with modern facilities and qualified teachers, is doing the rounds on the internet. It underlines the efforts undertaken by the Yogi Adityanath government to ensure the organisation of Maha Kumbh 2025 does not in any way hinder the educational aspirations of these children.

Digital classrooms, educational kits, and playful learnings at these Vidya Kumbhs provide children with an engaging atmosphere and holistic learning experience at par with any modern private school. Students receive free supplies under the ‘Umang Kit’ and additional resources through ‘Gyan Ka Pitara.’

Playgrounds and mid-day meal dining areas have been established. Thousands of children, from nursery to grade 5, already benefit from interactive learning through digital tools, audio-visual content, and games. Special game-based teaching methods are designed to foster a love for learning, especially for younger children in nursery classes.

According to government authorities, primary schools launched in the fair area to educate children from nursery to grade 5 from underprivileged families who cannot afford costly schooling are taught free of charge using digital and smart classrooms. Besides, free uniforms, books, and shoes are offered to students who enrol on such Vidya Kumbhs. These educational centres are managed by government-appointed teachers.

In a report published in December 2024, the Hindustan Times spoke to an officer on Special Duty for the Kumbh Mela Authority, who expounded on the government’s plans for the expansion of the schools for children. Akanksha Rana, the officer, said the government’s goal is to expand schools across 25 sectors to ensure children of sanitation workers, maintain cleanliness for millions of pilgrims, do not miss school.

Madhya Pradesh High Court judge raises concern over misuse of SC/ST Act, says brokers get involved in such cases for compensation

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh High Court judge raises concern over misuse of SC/ST Act, says brokers get involved in such cases for compensation

During a division-bench workshop on the SC/ST Act and its implementation held in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Vivek Agarwal raised concerns over the rampant misuse of this Act. He also expressed concern over the misuse of laws related to crimes against women.

Justice Agarwal, who was the chief guest at the event held on 12th January 2025, stressed the need for sincere investigation and honest prosecution of matters related to the SC/ST Act. He urged prosecution and police officials to investigate cases to thoroughly distinguish between genuine and false accusations. He said, “If we have the right, we also have the duty to ensure that an innocent person is not wrongfully punished. It is imperative to filter out inconsistencies and bring out the truth.” 

Justice Agrawal warned the public prosecution and police administration that there is a provision for compensation in the SC/ST Act. Therefore, as soon as such cases come to light, many middlemen also become active and trap innocent people in the name of getting compensation for the complainant. He highlighted how middlemen or brokers exploit the legal system by filing bogus cases under the SC/ST Act to procure compensation for the victims and then claim a share in the payout.

“Many times people are falsely implicated in SC/ST. Investigating officers should take care that in such cases innocent people are not implicated and the guilty should not escape. In this case, the administration, police and judiciary are lacking somewhere. Therefore, during the investigation, we should keep in mind that our credibility is not being damaged because of the middlemen. If we have the right, we also have the duty to ensure that an innocent person is not wrongfully punished. It is imperative to filter out inconsistencies and bring out the truth,” Justice Agarwal said.

In his speech, Justice Agarwal highlighted the case of two young men who were acquitted after serving six to seven years in prison for a false case and said, “The stigma of imprisonment ruins lives, making reintegration into society and finding employment nearly impossible. It is our responsibility to prevent such injustices.”

Justice Agarwal also expressed concern over the misuse of laws related to crimes against women, saying that false cases are being lodged to obtain compensation or to settle personal scores. He said,  “While crimes against women are grave and demand strict action, we must be vigilant against their misuse.”

UP: Islamists illegally occupied land after violence against Hindus in Sambhal in 1978, returned to rightful owners after 46 yrs by Yogi govt

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Islamists illegally occupied land after violence against Hindus in Sambhal in 1978, returned to rightful owners after 46 yrs by Yogi govt

After a long wait of 46 years, the family of Tulsiram, who lost their land during the violence against Hindus in 1978 in Sambhal, has finally received justice in a landmark development. On 14th January, the Sambhal administration facilitated the transfer of possession of 10,000 square feet of land back to Tulsiram’s family. Tulsiram, a member of the Mali community, was killed in the violence in 1978. His three sons along with their families had to leave the place.

Currently, a school called “Jannat Nisha” was running on this land which has now been returned to Tulsiram’s heirs. The transfer was carried out in cooperation with the Revenue Department and police administration under tight security. Reports said that Sambhal’s SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) Vandana Mishra and ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) Shreesh Chandra conducted a survey of revenue records to determine the ground reality. The probe found that of the 15,000 square feet of land, 10,000 square feet actually belonged to Tulsiram’s family. The administration then handed over the ownership of the land to Tulsiram’s grandson Amrish Kumar and his family.

Throughout the process, the owner of Jannat Nisha School, Dr Mohammad Shawez, claimed that his father, Dr Zubair had purchased the property in 1976, that is, before the violence against Hindus. However, he could not provide sufficient evidence when the government demanded documented proof. A portion of the land was mistakenly identified as a fire station, among other irregularities in the land records that officials found. Vandana Mishra stated that more legal action would be carried out, highlighting that the documents had been manipulated and were recorded with malicious intent.

Amrish Kumar, Tulsiram’s grandson, pointed out that years of effort have led to justice and shared, “Our land was snatched from us and my grandfather was killed in the riots. We were informed that the land was no longer ours whenever we attempted to return. Justice has been served to us by the administration today.”

Asha Devi, a family member, elaborated, “We lost our temple in addition to our land. We suffered the loss of our identities and loved ones during the violence. For the first time, someone has actually paid attention to us.” It is important to note that valuable properties in prime areas were unlawfully occupied following the Sambhal violence against Hindus. The administration’s action is seen as a significant step in the fight against these illegal encroachments.

Affected families petitioned the government to restore their property rights after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath brought up the Sambhal violence in the state assembly. The government responded by giving Tulsiram’s family back 10,000 square feet of land after 46 years. Officials further disclosed that after the violence, Hindu families were compelled to leave their homes. The government has also made sure that Tulsiram’s family receives protection once they have reclaimed their land, to avoid any unfortunate event. Additionally, the authorities have made it clear that every complaint will be handled carefully and that the war against illegal encroachments will continue.

Pakistan PM orders probe into tragicomic Pakistan International Airlines advertisement announcing flight to Paris

ANI
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Pakistan PM orders probe into tragicomic Pakistan International Airlines advertisement announcing flight to Paris

After widespread backlash, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an inquiry into a controversial post by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on its official X handle, celebrating the resumption of Europe flights after a four-year break, Geo News reported.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar criticised the post while quoting the country’s chief executive during his address to the upper house of the parliament, as per Geo News.

In a post on X, PIA shared an image of a plane heading towards the Eiffel Tower with the French flag appearing in the background. “Paris, we are coming today,” read the caption.

The social media post was criticised online due to its resemblance to the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States. Nearly 3,000 people died when hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, Geo News reported.

Addressing the parliament, Dar said, “The Prime Minister has directed [authorities] to investigate who conceived this ad. It is a stupidity,” Geo News quoted.

In addition to this, the deputy prime minister expressed concern over the caption of the post, as per Geo News.

The post from January 10 amassed over 21.2 million views.

PIA’s first flight to Paris PK 749 landed safely at CDG Airport Paris, after a gap of more than four years, ARY News reported.

The passengers, officials of PIA and Aviation and crew members were warmly received at the airport by Charge d’Affairs Huzefa Khanum along with Pakistani diaspora, as per ARY News.

Minister for Defence and Aviation, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PIA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khurram Mushtaq and Secretary Aviation were present at Islamabad airport to see off the passengers in a simple ceremony.

After Pakistan started looking into a scandal involving the validity of pilots’ licenses following an aircraft accident that claimed 97 lives, the European Aviation Safety Agency revoked PIA’s permit to fly in the area, as per ARY News.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Delhi Excise Policy scam: Centre grants ED permission to prosecute Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal under PMLA Act

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Excise Policy scam: Centre grants ED permission to prosecute Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal under PMLA Act

On Wednesday, 15th January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) got permission from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to prosecute former Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia and former CM Arvind Kejriwal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Permission has been granted to investigate their involvement in the alleged money laundering related to the liquor scam case.

As per the initial reports, the authorized permission comes a month after Lt Governor Delhi VK Saxena recommended that Kejriwal be prosecuted in the excise policy scam. To date, the ED has conducted searches in 245 locations across Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai in the given case. The permission also comes ahead of the Delhi elections scheduled in February 2025.

On 11th January, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) released its report on the Delhi government’s now-repealed excise policy. The CAG revealed that the policy resulted in a staggering Rs 2,026 crore loss to the public exchequer. Furthermore, the report highlighted significant lapses in policy implementation and stated that it was ultimately the taxpayers who paid the price of the mismanagement, while there are also allegations of kickbacks having benefited Aam Aadmi Party leaders.

Notably, the report suggested that at the core of the issue is the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia. The CAG stated that the GoM disregarded recommendations from an expert panel. Furthermore, the decision-making process was marred by irregularities, which allowed all entities to bid for licenses despite documented complaints and financial weaknesses.

As reported earlier, violators of licensing conditions were not penalized, and there was a lack of transparency in pricing decisions, which added to the problem. Cabinet and Lieutenant Governor approvals were bypassed on several key matters, and excise rules, which should have been ratified by the Delhi Assembly, were kept from legislative scrutiny.

The CAG highlighted that the financial breakdown of the mismanagement in the excise policy by the AAP government led to a loss of Rs 2,026 crore, painting a grim picture. The failure of the ruling party to re-tender retail licenses surrendered mid-policy resulted in a loss of Rs 890 crore. Adding to the financial misery, the government granted exemptions to zonal licensees, which caused additional revenue depletion of Rs 941 crore. Furthermore, the government waived Rs 144 crore worth of license fees, which was “justified” under COVID-19 restrictions. This directly contradicted tender provisions that placed all commercial risks on licensees. To add to the woes, the incorrect collection of security deposits led to a Rs 27 crore loss.

It is crucial to note that Sisodia was jailed by the CBI in the case in 2023 and was granted bail in August 2024, following which he walked out of jail after 17 months. The bail was granted in cases filed by CBI and ED probing the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy.

Former CM Arvind Kejriwal also was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2024 in connection to the liquor policy scam case. The court meanwhile noted that the arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister was valid and that there was no illegality on the part of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Kejriwal was arrested in March last year and named in the chargesheet filed on May 17. The ED stated that the leader used a Rs 45 crore bribe of Rs 100 crore for AAP funding during the Goa elections. The ED said that Kejriwal was the brain behind the scam and controlled all the operations by the party.

Delhi Liquor policy scam case

At the heart of the controversy is the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-2022, which has been explained in 10 simple points.

  • 1. The liquor policy was first proposed in September 2020 but came into effect only in November 2021.
  • 2. It changed the manner in which alcohol was being sold in the National Capital. Introduced private players in the market and marked the exit of government-owned liquor vendors.
  • 3. Delhi was divided into 32 zones and a total of 27 private vendors were to ply in each zone. Every municipal ward had 2-3 liquor vendors operating in the area. 
  • 4. Proposals such as home delivery of liquor, allowing liquor vendors to offer unlimited discounts and opening of stores till 3 am were also tabled before the Delhi Cabinet.
  • 5. The drastic policy change resulted in a 27% increase in government revenue to ₹8900 crores. At the same time, it marked the complete exit of the Delhi government from the liquor business.
  • 6. While the objective of Excise Policy 2021-2022 was to end black marketing and the liquor mafia, the Delhi government soon came under fire over allegations of corruption.
  • 7. Chief Secretary of Delhi, Naresh Kumar, found irregularities and procedural lapses in the new liquor policy. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered a CBI probe on the recommendation of Naresh Kumar.
  • 8. Manish Sisodia waived off ₹144.36 crores on the license fee, to be paid by the private liquor vendors, under the garb of the Coronavirus pandemic. Incurred loss to the Excise Department and benefitted liquor licensees by waiving the import pass fee of ₹50 per beer case.
  • 9. All these changes were made without the final approval of the Lieutenant Governor and thus considered illegal under the Delhi Excise Rules of 2010 and Transaction of Business Rules of 1993.
  • 10. Thus, the Delhi government made a U-turn on its new excise policy in July 2022. A month later, CBI booked Manish Sisodia, ex-Only Much Louder (OML) CEO Vijay Nair, and 13 others in an FIR for irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-2022.

‘If I die, AAP is responsible’: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla goes on fast unto death as AAP accuses him of calling its MLA ‘Jha2’

OpIndia Staff
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‘If I die, AAP is responsible’: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla goes on fast unto death as AAP accuses him of calling its MLA ‘Jha2’

On Tuesday (14th January), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla announced a fast unto death after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused him of abusing its MLA Rituraj Jha and claimed that Poonawalla insulted the entire Maithil Brahmin community during a heated debate on Republic Bharat.

The BJP spokesperson, however, denied the allegations and accused AAP of spreading lies and doing his character assassination. Shehzad Poonawalla said that he would continue his fast unto death until the Aam Aadmi Party proved him guilty of abusing Rituraj Jha and the Maithil Brahmin community.

Poonawalla also accused the Aam Aadmi Party of circulating a cropped clip of the said debate on Republic Bharat news channel to target him, a Pasmanda Muslim. The BJP spokesperson also said that he would go to the Aam Aadmi Party’s office and stay there until AAP proved that he initiated the exchange of allegedly insulting remarks between him and the AAP MLA Rituraj Jha.

Taking to X, Poonawalla wrote, “Dear friends, If I die – @AamAadmiParty is solely responsible for it.. I am starting a fast unto death because of the lies spread against me by AAP and for my character assassination until AAP proves i abused anybody. Shri @MediaHarshVT, Aishwarya Kapoor of Republic know the truth i am disclosing below. #ShehzadAbusedByAAP.”

This came after AAP shared a cropped 6-second clip of Shehzad Poonawalla’s response to AAP MLA Rituraj Jha’s repeated mockery of the BJP spokesperson’s surname and claimed that Shehzad Poonawalla called Rituraj Jha as “Jhatu” and thus insulted him and the Poorvanchali Maithil Brahmins.

“BJP abused Purvanchalis on live TV ‼️ BJP spokesperson abused Purvanchal MLA @MLARituraj Jha on national channel. This is an insult to Maithili Brahmin community, this is an insult to Purvanchalis,” AAP said.

In the video, Poonawalla is heard saying, “Main bhi keh sakta hoon ki Sanjay Jha, Jha 1 aur Rituraj Jha, Jha 2…”Main bhi bol sakta hoon Jha 2 ho aap” (I can identify Sanjay Jha as Jha 1 and Rituraj Jha as Jha 2). I can also say you are Jha 2).

The incident transpired during a heated debate in which the AAP MLA Rituraj Jha called Poonawalla as ‘Choonawalla’, triggering objections from the BJP spokesperson and condemnation from co-panelist and senior journalist Harshvardhan Tripathi who said that the insulting remarks were first made by the AAP MLA.

Madhya Pradesh: Zahid posed as Rahul to exploit multiple Hindu girls, Hindu Jagran Manch hands him over to police

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Zahid posed as Rahul to exploit multiple Hindu girls, Hindu Jagran Manch hands him over to police

On 13th January, a man named Zahid Khan was apprehended by the Hindu Jagran Manch and handed over to MIG Police in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Zahid was using a Hindu name, Rahul Singh, to exploit girls. He was caught by activists of the Hindu Jagran Manch at a café where he was allegedly engaging in inappropriate behaviour with a girl.

As per media reports, Zahid initially claimed that his name was Rahul Singh. However, when activists of the Hindu organisations pressured him, he revealed that his real name was Zahid Khan. He was handed over to the police at the MIG Police Station in Indore, and further investigation into the matter is underway.

How the incident unfolded

The district coordinator of the Hindu Jagran Manch, Rajkumar Tetwal, and Mansingh Rajawat received a tip-off about a young man at Anger Strike Café in Malviya Nagar behaving inappropriately with a girl. The activists swung into action immediately and rushed to the café, where they confronted the individual. Initially, he claimed his name was Rahul Singh. However, when repeatedly asked by the activists, he revealed his real name as Zahid Khan.

When the Hindu activists checked his phone, they were shocked to discover explicit photos and videos of several girls on the device. Zahid admitted that he had been in a relationship with the girl for the past eight months and claimed he intended to marry her.

Fake Aadhaar card and social media deception

Further investigation into the matter revealed that he had a forged Aadhaar card with the name “Vedika Sharma”. He used this forged Aadhaar card to take girls to hotel rooms. He told the activists that he had created an Instagram ID with the Hindu name “Rahul Sharma” to lure girls into a relationship.

Zahid was handed over by the Hindu Jagran Manch to the MIG Police for further questioning and legal proceedings.

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