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Controversial doctor Kafeel Khan arrested for his hate speech at AMU sent to Mathura jail

OpIndia Staff
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Controversial doctor Kafeel Khan arrested for his hate speech at AMU sent to Mathura jail

Controversial ‘doctor’ Kafeel Khan arrested in Mumbai on January 30 for making a provocative speech in the Aligarh Muslim University campus, inciting people against the CAA was remanded to 14 days judicial custody Saturday and later transferred to Mathura jail.

Anil Samania, the Circle Officer (Civil Lines) said that Kafeel Khan was brought here late Friday evening and was produced before the remand magistrate. The magistrate, in turn, sent Kafeel Khan to 14 days judicial custody.

The doctor was first sent to the Aligarh jail, but within an hour, he was transferred to Mathura jail, the official said.

The Uttar Pradesh police had on Thursday obtained transit remand for Khan, who was arrested in Mumbai for making a provocative speech on December 12 near Bab-e-Syed Gate outside the Aligarh Muslim University in front of over 600 students protesting against the new citizenship law. Activist Yogendra Yadav was the other speaker at the event.

Read: Controversial doctor Kafeel Khan arrested in Mumbai for his hate speech at AMU during anti-CAA protest

An FIR was filed against Kafeel for attempting to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and disturb communal harmony. The FIR was registered under section 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) of IPC on the 13th of December.

In his speech, the controversial doctor Kafeel had said, “Mota Bhai (Home Minister Amit Shah) is teaching everyone to become Hindu or Muslim but not a human being. He is a murderer whose clothes are foul with blood. He does not believe in the constitution since the RSS came into existence. The CAB makes Muslims a second category citizen and subsequently, they will be harassed with the implementation of the NRC.”

Kafeel is further alleged to have said, “This is a fight is for our existence. We have to fight”. He also said that students in RSS schools are being taught that those who have beards are terrorists. He reportedly added, “through the CAB, the government has told us that India is not ‘our’ country.”

Read: Spreading misinformation, violating suspension orders: UP govt to probe fresh allegations on Dr Kafeel Khan

On the night of December 15, Delhi’s Jamia Nagar and AMU had seen violent riots breaking out. UP police had stated that despite the proctoral team’s attempt, many students had scaled the gates and had come outside to clash with the police and pelt stones.

Kafeel Khan is one of the accused in the BRD Medical College and Hospital children’s death case in Gorakhpur. He had taken to social media to spread false news that he had been given a ‘clean chit’ in the 2017 case in a departmental inquiry. The Uttar Pradesh government had in October initiated a fresh inquiry against him for spreading misinformation in the media and forcibly entering a hospital and trying to treat patients during his suspension period.

Fundamental and constitutional rights are for Indian citizens, not OCI cardholders: Govt in Delhi HC

OpIndia Staff
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Fundamental and constitutional rights are for Indian citizens, not OCI cardholders: Govt in Delhi HC

In an affidavit filed by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Central Government has stated that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders cannot enjoy Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the Constitution. As per a report in Indian Express, the statement came on Friday in response to a petition filed by a former Ranbaxy executive Dinesh Thakur in Delhi High Court,

Thakur, in his petition, had sought the right to seek information under the Right To Information (RTI) Act. The government reportedly stated in the court that the OCI status ensures merely statutory rights under the Citizenship Act, 1955, and not constitutional or fundamental rights.

Thakur had also argued that an OCI cardholder has the right to make donations to religious institutions without seeking permission. He stated that such a right is vested by the Constitution. He sought an exemption from seeking permission under FCRA, 2010 (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) to make donations to religious institutions.

The affidavit read, “It is a statutory right and not a fundamental or a constitutional right. The grant of the limited right is by the Central Government by notification under Section 7B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Therefore, what right is granted depends on the policy of the Central government.”

The Centre’s stand may be in conflict with the observation made by the same Delhi High Court in 2018. The Court observed that OCI cardholders have the right to enjoy the fundamental rights of equality and freedom of speech like other Indian citizens.

The petition was filed by one Dr.Christo Thomas Phillip whose OCI card was cancelled due to alleged missionary work. The Court found no promising evidence that would suggest that he worked as a missionary doctor. As such, Philip’s OCI status was restored.

The Government had earlier cancelled the OCI card of British citizen Aatish Taseer, the son of deceased Pakistani Politician Salman Taseer and Indian journalist Tavleen Singh. He had allegedly withheld critical information about his parenthood in the official documents. As per OCI rules, the descendants of Pakistani or Bangladeshi citizens cannot be eligible for OCI status.

Budget 2020 fulfils a long-standing demand of startup community, defers tax payment on ESOPs for 5-years

OpIndia Staff
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Budget 2020 fulfils a long-standing demand of startup community, defers tax payment on ESOPs for 5-years

Giving a big boost to startups, the union budget for the financial year 2020-21 tabled by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to defer payment of tax on ESOPs (Employee Stock Option Plan) by five years, or till employees leave the company or sell their shares, whichever is earlier.

During the budget speech, the finance minister said, “during their formative years, startups generally use ESOPs to attract and retain highly talented employees. ESOPs are a significant component for compensation of these employees. Currently, ESOPs are taxable. This leads to a cash flow problem for the employees who do not sell their shares immediately and continue to hold them for a long term,” she said.

At present, the ESOPs are taxed at the time of exercise, that means when an employee chose to purchase them. The tax is calculated on the difference between the market price of the share and the exercise price, which is always lower than the market price. The tax is deducted as TDS by the employer at the time of exercise.

Later when the employees choose to sell the share, they are again required to pay capital gain tax on profit made on such selling. The startup community had contended that this amounts to double taxation on the same shares, and they were demanding that the tax rules on ESOPs should be taxed. All industry bodies such as NASSCOM, Ispirt, Indiatech, IVCA and others had been asking for a change in the taxation of ESOPs.

Now Employees will not have to pay tax on ESOP at the time of allotment. They will have to pay the tax only 5 years after exercising the ESOP option. But if the employees leave the company or sell their shares before 5 years, then they will have to pay tax at that time.

The finance minister said that startups have emerged as an engine of growth for India’s economy and over the past year, the government has taken several measures to handhold them and support their growth.

Welcoming the relief provided the budget to the startups, Snapdeal CEO and co-founder Kunal Bahl tweeted, “ESOP tax reform is here. Big win for the startup ecosystem!”


Earlier on January 13, Kunal had made two demands from the startup and angel ecosystem, ESOPs should be taxed at the point of liquidity, not exercise, and sale of unlisted equities should be taxed at the same rates as listed equities. And his first wish was fulfilled in the budget.

The finance minister also proposed a 100% deduction of profits for startups with turnover upto Rs 25 crore for three consecutive years in a period of 7 years. Moreover, the finance minister also proposed to increase the turnover limit for tax exemption for larger startups from existing Rs 25 crore to Rs 100 crore.

Banned by airlines for heckling Arnab Goswami on board a flight, ‘comedian’ Kunal Kamra sues Indigo, demands 25 lakhs

OpIndia Staff
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Banned by airlines for heckling Arnab Goswami on board a flight, ‘comedian’ Kunal Kamra sues Indigo, demands 25 lakhs

Kunal Kamra has issued a legal notice to Indigo Airlines which had temporarily suspended the ‘comedian’ from flying in their planes for a period of 6 months.


Through the notice issued through Advocate Prashant Sivarajan, Partner at Lawmen & White, Kamra demands the Airlines to pay him a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs on account of the ‘mental pain and agony’ allegedly suffered by him and the ‘losses incurred on account of cancellation of his scheduled shows and programmes’. He also demanded revocation of six months’ ban against him.

Through the legal notice, Kamra said that what he did was in the exercise of his right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined in Article 17(1)(a) of the constitution. Kamra seeks an unconditional apology from IndiGo, says it should be published in all newspapers.

Kunal Kamra has been banned from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, after a video of him heckling and abusing Republic Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami in an Indigo Mumbai-Lucknow flight went viral on social media.

In the clip that was shared by Kamra himself, one could see Kamra heckling to Arnab who continued to ignore him. He was heard heckling Arnab and asking him about how he could discuss Rohit Vemula’s (the University of Hyderabad student who committed suicide in January 2019) caste. He also tells Arnab that he should be answering him since he supports Rahul Gandhi and is a part of the ‘Tukde Tukde Gang’. The video ends with Kunal Kamra calling Arnab Goswami a ‘Nationalist’ as if it were an abuse.

Hours after Indigo put propagandist Kunal Kamra on six months No Fly List, national carrier Air India too barred him until further notice for his unruly behaviour onboard Mumbai-Lucknow Indigo flight. This was followed by SpiceJet which tweeted that they have suspended Kamra from flying with their airline till further notice.

Read: After four airlines ban ‘comedian’ Kunal Kamra from flying with them, Twitter bursts into a parody fest

Moreover, GoAir also declared that they have banned Kamra from flying in their planes until further notice, after the unfunny and unruly ‘comedian’ again tried to hound Arnab on a return GoAir flight.

Determined not to put an end to this self-inflicted humiliation, Kamra lately has been displaying some creepy antics. From standing outside the Republic TV office with a placard in his hand to sending creepy texts on phone, Kamra has been all-out to grab Arnab Goswami’s attention.

Budget 2020: Rs. 4,71,378 crores allocated for Defence Expenditure, a marked 9% increase from last year

OpIndia Staff
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Budget 2020: Rs. 4,71,378 crores allocated for Defence Expenditure, a marked 9% increase from last year

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her second budget on Saturday. One of the most important areas for any country is its national security. And allocations made in the budget for Defense go a long way towards determining the ability of the Indian Defense Establishment to protect the country. Defence allocations are, thus, a prominent feature of every budget including Budget 2020.

Nirmala Sitharaman announced during the budget that the allocation for modernization and buying new weapon systems has been increased to Rs. 1,10,740 crore for the financial year 2020-21, which is an increase of Rs. 10,340 crore from the previous year. The total allocation for defence expenditure was announced to be Rs. 4,71,378 crore in Budget 2020. This marks a 9% increase. The defence pension budget has been increased to Rs. 1.33 lakh crore in Budget 2020 from the Rs. 1.17 lakh crore announced the previous year.


Last year, during the interim budget, Piyush Goal had announced that the government has released funds to the tune of ₹35,000 crores to Army personnel as part of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme. It was also the first time that India’s defence budget crossed three lakh crore. It was also said additional funds would be provided should it be necessary.

I provide help to Shaheen Bagh protesters, they keep calling me: Delhi Congress candidate Mukesh Sharma

OpIndia Staff
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I provide help to Shaheen Bagh protesters, they keep calling me: Delhi Congress candidate Mukesh Sharma

Ever since the Shaheen Bagh protests started, there were wide speculations that the protesters were enjoying political support from the opposition parties, emboldening their demonstration against the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Now, the Congress candidate from Delhi’s Vikaspuri constituency, Mukesh Sharma, has claimed that he has been providing help to Shaheen Bagh protestors.


Ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, addressing a group of people, Sharma said, “When I offer help, I do it proudly, like a ‘man’. I have also helped Shaheen Bagh protesters. Shaheen Bagh protesters keep calling me daily seeking my help.”

For over a month now, anti-CAA protesters have occupied one of the main thoroughfares in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, causing profound inconvenience for lakhs of commuters travelling by that road. The acknowledgement by a Congress candidate from Vikaspuri constituency betrays the lack of empathy among the leader for the travellers who are facing everyday trouble to traverse through the Shaheen Bagh road.

Read: Sting video exposes propaganda behind Shaheen Bagh protests, organiser Sharjeel Imam from JNU confesses protest was carried out to attract ‘Western media’

The BJP had earlier claimed that the Shaheen Bagh protests, where anti-India and pro-Jinnah slogans were raised, were orchestrated by Congress and AAP. Recently, Shaheen Bagh protest mastermind Sharjeel Imam’s video had gone viral in which he was seen making secessionist and seditious remarks against the territorial integrity of India. AAP’s Amanatullah Khan was also seen accompanying Imam in one of the viral videos.

Earlier, in a viral video, a shopkeeper from the area was seen saying that the women at Shaheen bagh are being paid Rs 500-700 daily for ‘protesting’.

It is also pertinent to note that Delhi is going to the polls on February 8 and the results of which will be declared on February 11.

SC, ST and OBC in Budget 2020: Allocation of Rs. 85000 crores for welfare of SCs, OBCs, additional Rs. 53,700 for STs

OpIndia Staff
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SC, ST and OBC in Budget 2020: Allocation of Rs. 85000 crores for welfare of SCs, OBCs, additional Rs. 53,700 for STs

The Budget for the year 2020 was declared on Saturday by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and it had substantial allocations for SC, ST and OBCs.

During her Budget 2020 speech, the FM announced that Rs. 85,000 crore rupees for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Castes (OBC) in 2020-21 also, an additional Rs. 53,700 crores have been allocated in Budget 2020 for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes (ST).


Rs. 9,500 crore has also been allocated for the welfare of senior citizens and differently-abled citizens. A tribal museum would also be set up in Ranchi to educate people about India’s rich tribal history.

In a speech that lasted nearly three hours, Nirmala Sitharaman made a host of other significant announcements. A 16-point action plan was put forth by the Finance Minister to help the agricultural sector and increase farmer’s wages. A new optional tax regime was also announced in the budget which significantly decreases the income tax rate for the middle class.

Union Budget 2020: Finance Minister announces disinvestment of LIC, to be listed on stock exchanges. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Union Budget 2020: Finance Minister announces disinvestment of LIC, to be listed on stock exchanges. Read details

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget 2020 speech on Saturday announced that the government has proposed to sell a part of its holdings in state-owned Insurance company Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

“The government proposes to sell a part of its stake in LIC through IPO,” said Finance Minister in her Budget 2020 speech. She informed that the government will list LIC on the stock exchanges. Currently, the government owns 100 per cent stakes in LIC.

Life Insurance Corporation of India is an Indian state-owned insurance group and investment corporation owned by the Government of India. As of 2019, Life Insurance Corporation of India had a total life fund of Rs 28.3 trillion. It has 290 million policyholders.

The developments come as the Life Insurance Corporation of India had closed 23 schemes on January 31 following the guidelines of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.

The move is in line with the government’s aim to look at stake sale in government entities to shore up its finances and allow these PSUs to raise resources. The govt has pegged disinvestment for FY21 at Rs 2.11 lakh crore

The government had set a target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore in FY20. On the strategic sale, the government has already initiated the process for Air India and invited bids from potential buyers for a 100 per cent stake in the National Carrier.

Apart from Air India, other major strategic sales lined up are that of government refiner, Shipping Corporation and Container Corporation.

The disinvestment of LIC is in line with the government’s aim to look at stake sale in government entities to shore up its finances and allow these PSUs to raise resources. The govt has pegged disinvestment for FY21 at Rs 2.11 lakh crore.

Union Budget 2020: Rs 100 lakh crores to be spent on Infrastructure in the next 5 years to spur growth. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Union Budget 2020: Rs 100 lakh crores to be spent on Infrastructure in the next 5 years to spur growth. Read details

The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget 2020 speech announced a host of measures for infrastructure development. An ambitious plan to invest Rs 100 lakh crores on overhauling the Infrastructure in the country was declared by the FM which will give a fillip to the economic growth. The Union Minister mentioned that the investment of Rs 100 lakh crores will open up a host of job opportunities in the infrastructure sector.

Rs 1.76 lakh crores have been envisioned in Budget 2020 to be spent on transport infrastructure development in 2021. FM talked about the accelerated pace of development of highways. Delhi-Mumbai Expressway along with 2 other projects are intended to be completed by 2023 with 2,500 km access-controlled highways and 9,000 km of an economic corridor.
Chennai-Bengaluru expressway will be commenced very soon. A National Logistics Plan will be released soon. 12 lots of highway bundles spread over 6,000 km will be monetised before 2024.

Stating that Indians are fast embracing the air mode of transportation, the finance minister declared that her government plans to build and operationalise 100 new airports by 2024 to fulfil the fledgeling aspirations of the countrymen. With the aim to energise economic activities along the river banks, the government has conceived a project called ‘Arth Ganga’ for developing the inland waterways transport system in Ganga and other rivers that will provide employment opportunities and means of livelihood for people living along the banks of rivers.

In addition, N Sitharaman also stated that Rs 27,300 crores have been earmarked for the development and promotion of commerce and industry in the financial year 2020-2021 and about 3.24 lakh vendors have been registered on the Government e-marketplace. Ushering the villages into the digital age, the government has announced that 1 lakh gram panchayats will be getting optical fibre links to connect with the dynamic world of the Internet. Plans are afoot to institute a new policy to set up Data Centre parks across the country to provide digital connectivity to all public institutions, said FM Nirmala Sitharaman.

Scheme to encourage the manufacture of mobile phones, electronic equipment and semiconductor packaging to be introduced.

The government also made a number of announcements apropos the Rs 1.03 lakh crore National Infra Pipeline scheme. About 6500 projects are envisioned under NIP across sectors — housing, safe drinking water, healthcare, clean energy, logistics, irrigation etc. “NIP is improving the ease of living for every citizen. Generic and sectoral reforms are there…There is huge employment opportunity in the construction, operation and maintenance of projects,” N Sitharaman said.

Budget 2020: Here is all you need to know about new optional personal tax regime where the govt foregoes Rs. 40,000 crores in revenue

OpIndia Staff
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Budget 2020: Here is all you need to know about new optional personal tax regime where the govt foregoes Rs. 40,000 crores in revenue

Nirmala Sitharaman presented her second budget as Union Finance Minister on Saturday. The provisions in the Budget for Income Taxes were expected to create ripples as it was one area where reforms were expected the most. Along with Corporate Taxes, Income Tax reforms were believed to be crucial towards ensuring a revival of the economy.

In her second budget, Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed a new tax regime for the country. It is, however, optional for the taxpayers for the country. It was announced that in the new tax regime, those earning between Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7.5 lakh will pay income tax at the rate of 10%. Those earning between Rs. 7.50 and 10 lakhs will pay a 15% income tax. Those between Rs. 10 lakh and 12.50 lakh will pay a 20% income tax and the same for people earning between Rs. 12.50 and 15 lakh will be 25%. For those earning above Rs. 15 lakh in a year will be taxed at 30%. These rates are entirely optional and taxpayers willing to pay income tax at this rate will have to forego deductions and exemptions. Those who want to keep availing the deductions and exemptions can choose to pay tax at existing rates.

Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will forego a revenue of Rs. 40,000 crores due to the new income tax rates for individuals. She also said that 70 exemptions will be removed, with a view to further simplify the tax code. “A person earning Rs 15 lakh per anum and not availing any deductions will pay Rs 1.95 lakh tax in place of Rs 2.73 lakh now,” the Finance Minister said.

Read live updates of the Budget 2020 here.

In 2019, the income tax relief provided in the interim budget were the talk of the town and it is believed that it played a great part in alleviating the middle-class disenchantment with the Modi government head of the Lok Sabha Elections. Acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had announced a tax rebate for individual taxpayers with annual income up to Rs. 5 lakhs. It meant that individual taxpayers up to a gross income of ₹6.5 lakhs need not pay any income tax if they made investments in provident fund and prescribed equities. Around 3 crore middle-class taxpayers benefited from the tax exemption due to this measure.

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