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Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of SC/ST Amendment Act, nullifies its previous order

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Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of SC/ST Amendment Act, nullifies its previous order

On Monday, a 3-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justices Vineet Saran, Arun Mishra, and Ravindra Bhat upheld the constitutionality of the SC/ST Amendment Act, 2019. The Court bulldozed its previous judgment of March 2018 that diluted certain provisions of the Act.

The Parliament had made amendments to the Scheduled Cates and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in 2019 such that it nullified the 2018 Supreme Court ruling. The verdict challenging its constitutionality after several PILs were filed was reserved on October 3 last year.

In March 2018, a two-Judge bench of Justice AK Goel and Justice UU Lalit ruled that there would not be automatic arrest on the basis of a complaint filed under the Act. The Court also introduced the provisions of preliminary inquiry by the police and anticipatory bail for the accused.

This prompted the Union Government to file a review petition against the decision. In the review judgment, directions 3, 4, and 5 of the 2018 judgment was kept set aside. As a matter of fact, the amendment to the Act had already nullified the effect of directions 3 and 4. The direction 5 provided for disciplinary action against the cops in case the other two directions were not followed.

However, the bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra recalled the March 2018 verdict and ruled the need for a preliminary probe. The Court observed that bail can only be granted where a prima facie case is not made out under the stringent SC/ST Act.

Justice S Ravindra Bhat added that bail can be granted only during “extraordinary” circumstances where “denial of bail” would imply “miscarriage of justice”. The apex court also observed that the directions issued by the 2018 Division Bench were not within the parameters of Article 142 of the Indian constitution.

It has sparked a debate on social media whether the lives of innocent people falsely implicated under the stringent SC/ST Amendment Act matter to the Supreme Court.

1993 Mumbai blast accused Munaf Moosa arrested by Gujarat ATS, was living in Nairobi with a Pakistan passport

OpIndia Staff
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1993 Mumbai blast accused Munaf Moosa arrested by Gujarat ATS, was living in Nairobi with a Pakistan passport

In a major development, the Gujarat ATS has nabbed 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts accused Munaf Halari Moosa at the Mumbai airport earlier today. As per reports, Moosa was living in Nairobi under an alias Mohammad Anwar Hajri, under a Pakistani passport. He was accused of planting bombs at Zaveri Bazaar.


Moosa was one of the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. As per his profile in the CBI database, Musa had procured three scooters and loaded them with explosives. One of the scooters had exploded at Zaveri Bazar, while the other two exploded scooters were recovered from Naigaum Cross Road in Dadar, Mumbai.

As per reports, Moosa was also wanted for in involvement in international drug rackets. He was also allegedly involved in a case where narcotics worth Rs 1500 crores were captured last year.

As many as twelve serial blasts in a span of two hours had taken place in Mumbai on 12 March 1993. The blasts killed 257 people and injured 713 others. The blasts took place at Bombay Stock Exchange, Katha Bazaar, a petrol pump near Sena Bhavan, opposite Passport office near Century Bazaar, Fishermen’s colony at Mahim Causeway, at the basement of Air India Building, Zaveri Bazaar, Hotel Sea Rock, Plaza Theatre, Centaur Hotel of Juhu, Bay No-54 of Sahar Airport and Centaur Hotel near airport.

Read: All you need to know about 1993 Mumbai blasts convicts

In June 2017, a special TADA court in Mumbai had convicted key mastermind of the blasts Mustafa Dossa, gangster Abu Salem and four others for their involvement in the blasts.

In June 2018, Gujarat ATS had nabbed another major accused named Ahmad Kamal Sheikh alias Lambu from the Valasad area. He was a key aide of Mustaffa Dossa. A few months prior to Lambu’s arrest, another key Dawood aide, Mohammad Farooq alias Takla was arrested after being extradited from UAE.

The main conspirators in the Mumbai Blasts case, Tiger Memon, Dawood Ibrahim, Anees Ibrahim and Mohammad Dossa are still wanted.

‘We are Muslims first, then anything else, do not lose your identity to become secular’: Poet Munawwar Rana’s daughter Sumaiya Rana at AMU

OpIndia Staff
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‘We are Muslims first, then anything else, do not lose your identity to become secular’: Poet Munawwar Rana’s daughter Sumaiya Rana at AMU

While addressing an anti-CAA rally in Aligarh Muslim University, poet Munawwar Rana’s daughter, Sumaiya Rana urged the protestors to not give up on their Muslim identity. As reported by Amar Ujala, Sumaiya said, “We need to be careful that we should not become that ‘neutral’ that we lose our identity. We are Muslims first then anything else.” She further said that the Muslims should not forget their ideology such that they can’t even show their face to Allah.

Sumaiya further stated that the India we are currently living in is suffocating her and alleged that there are two fake cases against her. An FIR has been registered against her sister Fauzia as well.

Read: Shaheen Bagh mob robbed, assaulted and tried to convert Gunja Kapoor into Islam for wearing a burkha, wanted to use as hostage to negotiate with the BJP

On completion of two months of anti-CAA protests, a march was carried out on AMU campus where Rana even accused Uttar Pradesh Police of misbehaving with protestors. She also accused UP Police of stealing the blankets brought in for the protestors. “They snatch away the blankets as if some thief had taken those blankets,” she said.

She was joined by Makshoor Ahmad Usmani, former AMU students union President, who said that the CAA will not be implemented in India at any cost.

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid seen cheering, encouraging as a baby is made to shout Azadi slogans

OpIndia Staff
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Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid seen cheering, encouraging as a baby is made to shout Azadi slogans

Salman Khurshid, a senior leader of the Congress party, has been spotted at a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, reportedly in Jamia, participating in a jolly round of ‘Azadi’ chanting that was led by a baby. Khurshid beamed with pride, and encouraged as the child was cheered by the crowd to chant slogans of “Tum Goli Maaro! Azadi!” and “Hum Chheen ke lenge Azadi!”


It is not yet clear the kind of Azadi the slogans were demanding as there have been occasions in the past in Delhi when slogans demanding ‘Azadi’ from Hindus and ‘Jinnah Wali Azadi’ were raised. Not one adult around the child appeared concerned about the kind of vitriol the child was being exposed to. Salman Khurshid had a big smile on his face as he responded with ‘Azadi’ loudly every time the child shouted a cry. It was obvious that the child was trying very hard to impress the adults around him, as is only natural. And the adults did not disappoint him.

Not too long ago, an infant had died in Shaheen Bagh due to the negligence of its parents. The four-month-old infant had caught a cold due to the harsh weather conditions of Delhi, after being exposed to it night after night as his mother sat at Shaheen Bagh’s protest site and succumbed eventually. However, that had not sparked any introspection on the part of the protesters. The mother herself said that she was willing to ‘sacrifice’ her remaining two children as well for the fight against NRC.

Celebrations had continued at the protests despite the death of the infant and the death due to negligence did not disrupt the normal order of things. Later, a video had surfaced where children were holding posters of the deceased baby and a protester could be heard chanting in the background that the baby was a ‘Qurbani’ for the protests. Children have been a regular feature at these protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Children have been spotted chanting slogans such as “Jo Hitler ki chaal chalega, woh Hitler ki maut marega” and “Jamia tere khoon se, Inquilab aayega”.

Read: Child rights body writes to EC over video clip where Priyanka Gandhi giggled as children abused Modi

One would have expected Salman Khurshid, a former Union Minister, a senior Supreme Court advocate and Congress’ minority face to know better and not encourage such deranged behaviour. However, he appears to be perfectly at home chanting Azadi slogans with the child. Even the Supreme Court of India had taken suo moto cognizance of the involvement of children in these protests but it appears that Salman Khurshid does not believe there’s anything wrong with it, despite the fact that a baby has already lost its life due to the negligence of the parents.

Set on fire by stalker last week, 25-year-old woman succumbs to injuries in Nagpur

OpIndia Staff
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Set on fire by stalker last week, 25-year-old woman succumbs to injuries in Nagpur

A 25-year-old female lecturer who was set ablaze by a stalker, Vicky Nagrale, succumbed to her injuries on Monday at the Orange City Hospital and Research Centre in Nagpur. She had suffered 40% burn injuries and died due to Septicemic shock.


While speaking to the media, the doctors said, “Her health had been deteriorating, and her blood pressure was also fluctuating. Her heart failed twice. The first time we could revive her, but not the second time. Her lungs were affected as all three layers of the skin were burned. She had suffered grade three level burns and inhalation injuries.”

“As such, her condition became critical, and she was put under ventilation. She underwent two rounds of two sessions of debridement (removal of infected tissue) upper limbs and multiple fasciotomies (treatment for loss of blood circulation)”, said the doctor. The government had also flown in Dr Sunil Keswani, the director of National Burns Centre for the victim’s treatment.

The body of the lecturer has been handed over to the police for post-mortem. According to the police, the incident occurred on February 3 when the unmarried woman was heading to her college near Hinganghat in Wardha district. Bike-borne Vicky Nagrale threw petrol on the victim and set her on fire. She was then rushed to the hospital, following which she was transferred to Nagpur.

Reportedly, the perpetrator was a former friend on the victim. He is married and has a 7-month-old son. Nagrale used to work at a firm in Balhashah. He had been stalking the deceased for quite some time. Vicky was arrested within hours of the crime. He had been booked under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 326 (voluntary causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons). Following the death of the victim, the stalker will now be charged for murder.

People and political parties alike staged a protest against the gruesome incident. Businesses and schools were closed during the bandh.

‘Jo Modi-Shah ke khilaf awaaz uthayega woh mard-e-mujahid kehlayega’: Asaduddin Owaisi likens anti-CAA protests to jihad

OpIndia Staff
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‘Jo Modi-Shah ke khilaf awaaz uthayega woh mard-e-mujahid kehlayega’: Asaduddin Owaisi likens anti-CAA protests to jihad

Likening protests against Citizenship Amendment Act to ‘jihad’, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that those who raise their voice against PM Modi and HM Amit Shah are real ‘mard-e-mujahid’.


Mujahid is an Arabic term used for someone who is engaged in jihad. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief while addressing a rally in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool said that he will stay in India nad not show his documents. He further said that if CAA is implemented, India will become a Hindu Rashtra. “BJP and RSS want to make India a Hindu Rashtra. But remember, if the country becomes Hindu Rashtra, people of other religions would be considered second class citizens,” Owaisi said.

Read: Aaj Tak and Lallantop glorify Sikh man ‘who sold his house for funding Shaheen Bagh langar’. Here is what they don’t tell you

Ever since the enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act, Owaisi has been indulging in fear-mongering about the new law along with the NRC and NPR to continue fuelling misgivings about them amongst the Muslims. Earlier this month, Owaisi had said that Shaheen Bagh may be turned into ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ after February 8, after Delhi elections are concluded. Earlier, Owaisi had stated that NPR, which was first carried out by Congress in 2011, is the first step towards NRC, despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically stating that there is no plan for a nationwide NRC as of then.

Aaj Tak and Lallantop glorify Sikh man ‘who sold his house for funding Shaheen Bagh langar’. Here is what they don’t tell you

OpIndia Staff
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Aaj Tak and Lallantop glorify Sikh man ‘who sold his house for funding Shaheen Bagh langar’. Here is what they don’t tell you

Earlier this month, social media posts went viral praising ‘generosity’ of a Sikh man, one ‘Advocate D S Bindra’ who ‘sold his flat’ to fund ‘langar’ (community kitchen often in Gurudwara) at Shaheen Bagh.


A video was making rounds where DS Bindra claims that he sold one of his three flats in Delhi to fund the langar at Shaheen Bagh.


In the video he claims that he is ready to sell off his other two flats too if needed to ‘fund the langar’ at Shaheen Bagh. This was later on picked up by mainstream media. India Today group’s Lallantop also published an article hailing Bindra.


The same claims were picked up and published by India Today Group’s Aaj Tak as well. As per media reports, Bindra had also been instrumental in leading anti-CAA protests at Delhi’s Mustafabad and Khureji. Mustafabad is the same place where eminent lawyer Bhanu Pratap Singh called for economic jihad targeting specific brands.

Advocate D S Bindra and AIMIM

However, Aaj Tak and Lallantop, both, conveniently forget to mention that Bindra is an office bearer of Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Advocate DS Bindra as General Secretary, AIMIM Delhi

As per his Facebook page, he is also treasurer at AIMIM.

D S Bindra’s Facebook post

Another post on his Facebook page has Bindra posing with Owaisi where he is appealing to youth to join AIMIM.

Owaisi appealing to youth to join AIMIM

Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA protests have been largely portrayed as ‘organic’ and ‘apolitical’ protest. However, with such politicians supporting and financing the protests, it raises a few questions. Moreover, these ‘protests’ have come under fire as two of the infants who were used in the protests by their parents have now lost their lives. Taking suo moto cognisance of their deaths, the Supreme Court will hear a plea to stop involvement of children in protests.

Media and convenient amnesia

This is not the first time media has skipped mentioning political affiliations of ‘do-gooders’ glorifying the ‘good samaritan’ in its reports. During the JNU violence where leftist goons assaulted students who were registering for winter semester, the media would regularly take news bytes of one ‘Dr Harjit Bhatti‘. Dr Bhatti was touted as a representative of AIIMS. It was, however, revealed that Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti is not a doctor at the AIIMS. His Twitter profile says he was president of the Resident Doctors’ Association at AIIMS but does not inform about his current medical practice. Moreover, he is the National Convenor of the All India Medical Cell of the Congress party. In February last year, he was appointed to the post in the Congress party. Not just the Congress party, he is also close with the Bhim Army.

Police stop VHP from distributing Hanuman Chalisa at Kolkata Book Fair and close the stall while allowing Quran and Bible distribution

OpIndia Staff
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Police stop VHP from distributing Hanuman Chalisa at Kolkata Book Fair and close the stall while allowing Quran and Bible distribution

The last day of Kolkata Book Fair on Sunday saw tensed situation after police had closed the stall of Viswa Hindu Parishad for distributing Hanuman Chalisa. Police objected to the distribution of the Hindu holy book after left-wing student groups visiting the book fair protested against it, and ordered the closure of the stall.

According to reports, students from Kolkata University were chanting anti-CAA, anti-NRC slogans outside stall number 370 of the VHP at the Kolkata Book Fair since morning, causing huge inconvenience to fair visitors which was packed to capacity as it was the last day and a holiday. In the afternoon when the stall named ‘Janabaarta’ started distributing Hanuman Chalisa, it triggered an altercation between left-wing activists and VHP workers. Following this the police stopped VHP from distributing the book, saying that it may cause the situation to deteriorate and may trigger communal tension. This caused an argument between VHP workers and police officials, after which police closed the stall.

But after that VHP activists confronted the police by asking why can’t they distribute Hanuman Chalisa when other stalls were distributing Quran and Bible in the book fair, the police had no reply and they allowed to reopen the stall. After that VHP resumed distribution of the book amid heavy police presence.

Read- BJP Bengal youth wing recites Hanuman Chalisa on the road to protest Friday namaz offering on the road which blocks traffic

“There was tension initially. But when we wanted to know why the Hanuman Chalisa cannot be distributed if other organisations can give out the Quran and the Bible, the police relented and we continued with the distribution,” VHP member Swarup Chatterjee told PTI.

Police also stopped anti-CAA anti-NRC protests held by activists in the book fair, and arrested 5 activists. The book fair had seen tension on Saturday also when BJP leader Rahul Sinha had visited it. Left-wing students had gheraoed him and chanted go-back slogans against him. This had caused a scuffle between the BJP and Left-wing workers, before police had brought the situation under control.

Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry starts celebrating the defeat of “extremist regime” after exit polls predict AAP winning Delhi elections

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry starts celebrating the defeat of “extremist regime” after exit polls predict AAP winning Delhi elections

The Delhi elections concluded yesterday and the exit polls give a landslide majority to Aam Admi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal. While the Exit polls show that BJP may improve its tally, AAP has been predicted to be the clear winner in the state. The Congress, just like in 2015, is unlikely to win any seat in the 70-member Delhi assembly.

Pakistan, which has developed an annoying habit of poking its nose in India’s internal matters, has once again started celebrating the probable win for AAP. Pakistan’s Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who has umpteen number of times taken to Twitter to expose his buffoonery, on Saturday, rejoiced at the Delhi exit poll results which projected AAP victory. He apparently appeared ecstatic over the defeat of “extremist regime”.


To hold up a mirror to the terror-financing Pakistan, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra gave a reply to Chaudhry saying that Pakistan attacking BJP was like ‘terrorists calling names’.


But one cannot expect anything more from this dull-witted Pakistani Minister who finds it difficult to hold back from poking his face into India’s internal matters, especially when it is to do with Modi.

Last year, Choudhury Fawad Hussain rued the fact that Rahul Gandhi did not win the 2019 elections and instead, Prime Minister Modi is running the country.

Read- Meet Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, one of the most deranged men in parody country Pakistan

Fawad Hussain tweeted, “Had you been a leader and a man enough would have taken a just stand on #Pulwama Today world would have been better sans #ModiMadness Your coward politics allowed India to become a prey of Fascism and Extremism”.

Fawad Hussain had said that Rahul Gandhi was a coward to not take a “just” stand on Pulwama. Interestingly, several people from within the Congress party had floated the theory that Pulwama was not perpetrated by Pakistan backed terrorists but was an “inside job” by the Modi government. This was also a stand vehemently peddled by parody nation Pakistan to shield itself after sending state-sponsored terrorists to bleed India.

Besides, displaying the deliberation of meddling in India’s internal matters, Fawad Chaudhary has time and again displayed that his IQ level is beyond redemption as for more than once now he has turned out to be the favourite bunny of Indian social media activists.

Umpteen number of times in the past, Hussain has regaled users on Twitter and those attending his rallies. The low IQ Pakistani minister had fallen for pranks many times. Indian Right Wing meme-makers have time and again played pranks on the poor Pakistani minister.

Even in his own country, Fawad Choudhry often becomes the butt of jokes and insults. A fellow parliamentarian had once called him a dog that was tied in his house inside the national assembly.

Warkari Sect declares Sharad Pawar as anti-Hindu, urges its community members to refrain from inviting him, Pawar hits back

OpIndia Staff
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Warkari Sect declares Sharad Pawar as anti-Hindu, urges its community members to refrain from inviting him, Pawar hits back

The Warkari sect has recently issued a statement urging its community to refrain from calling Sharad Pawar for inaugurations and lectures alleging that he favours the “atheists” and those who insult gods, Hindus, and saints.

The Warkari Sampradaya within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Vaishanavite Hinduism geographically stays in the Pandharpur, Maharashtra. They worship Lord Viththal, who is regarded as a form of Krishna.

The Rashtriya Warkari Parishad had said, “Honourable Sharad Pawar Saab says there is no need of ‘Ramayan’. He supports those who indulge in the insults of gods, saints, and the Hindu religion…Therefore Warkaris should remain cautious in the future and always remember that they are Hindu first”.

Thy also urged its community to stop inviting people who believe in atheism.

In September 2018, Sharad Pawar had said that “there is no need of Ramayana or Mahabharat in the country.” He had made the comment reacting to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calling for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya at the earliest. The NCP supremo is known to be an atheist, which has been confirmed by his daughter Supriya Sule.

Read- Sharad Pawar ‘invented’ an extra bomb blast in 1993 ‘to promote Hindu-Muslim harmony’, said was praised for his lie

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar hit back at the Warkari sect saying that there is no need for anybody’s permission for visiting temples. While Addressing a gathering in Alandi, Sharad Pawar said there was no need to seek anyone’s permission to visit Lord Vitthal’s temple in Pandharpur and pray there.

He said, “If you want to worship Lord Vitthal, you visit Pandharpur. If you want to worship Saint Dnyaneshwar and Saint Tukaram, then you visit Alandi and Dehu respectively. There is no need to take permission from anyone to visit these places”.

He added, “Therefore, if anyone says that you don’t have permission to visit these places, then I think they don’t understand the thought of the Warkari Sampraday (sect)”.

“A true Warkari will never take such a stand. I think we should ignore such things and follow on our choices”, Pawar added.

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