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BHU protests: Students of SVDV submit their demand to the PMO, want Firoz Khan’s appointment rescinded

OpIndia Staff
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BHU protests: Students of SVDV submit their demand to the PMO, want Firoz Khan’s appointment rescinded

The BHU has been grappling with protests ever since Dr Firzo Khan was appointed to teach Hindu Theology at the University. The students of the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vidgyan at Banaras Hindu University continued their movement today even though they called off their demonstrations yesterday over the appointment of a Muslim professor to the faculty.

To that effect, they submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office located near the University and demanded that the appointment of Dr Firoz Khan be rescinded.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiG6_E98swk]

Hundreds of students participated in the march to the Prime Minister’s office and raised slogans. Chakrapani Ojha, one of the leaders of the student’s protests, told reporters that the appointment was made in violation of the vision that Madan Mohan Malviya had of the University. “Our protests against the movement continue and as a part of this, we came to the Prime Minister’s Office to submit a memorandum,” he said.

Read: SVDV BHU students end their protest temporarily, to boycott classes till admin gives answers, to meet PMO tomorrow

Ojha reiterated that the students have no personal enmity with the professor and said that they only wish that the vision with which the University was founded is respected and the rules to that end are followed.

Meanwhile, Dr Firoz Khan has applied at the Ayurveda Department at the University. His interview is due to occur on the 29th of November. There is no vacancy for the post of a Sanskrit teacher in the Arts Faculty’s Sanskrit department, but there is one in the Ayurveda department where Firoz Khan can apply and be selected. Then, he will resign from SVDV as he has already joined through the office of VC, formally. It is seen as a move to end the whole fiasco which has escalated and reached even the PMO.

Read: BHU researcher’s detailed interview: 26 OBC Hindus disqualified to favour Firoze Khan, corruption should be investigated

This development comes after yesterday, the BHU SVDV students had said that they were temporarily ending their ‘dharna’ but will continue to boycott classes and examinations till the administration responds to their questions. The students had forwarded certain questions to the administration and the BHU administration, in turn, had asked for 10 days to respond. It was also reported yesterday that the Prime Minister’s Office had got involved in trying to smooth tensions.

BJP’s votes helped Sena win seats, we have ‘electoral and moral’ mandate to form govt in Maharashtra: RS Prasad

OpIndia Staff
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BJP’s votes helped Sena win seats, we have ‘electoral and moral’ mandate to form govt in Maharashtra: RS Prasad

As Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government in alliance with Ajit Pawar of the NCP, senior BJP leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Congress-NCP and the Shiv Sena, saying those who were ‘dead opposed’ to each other joined hands to ‘grab’ power, despite the BJP winning the popular mandate to form the government.

Addressing the press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that before the Maharashtra assembly election, Devendra Fadnavis had been the chief ministerial candidate of an alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

Ravi Shankar Prasad added that it was BJP’s votes which had helped the Shiv Sena MLAs to secure victory. The coalition’s victory was both a moral and electoral win for the BJP, Prasad added.

On Saturday, following the formation of a coalition government between the BJP and a faction of NCP MLAs led by Ajit Pawar, Prasad asserted that it had the “electoral and moral” mandate to form government in Maharashtra and rejected criticism, saying the tie-up was guided by current circumstances.

Attacking the Shiv Sena-Congress alliance, Prasad said that there was an attempt to take over the financial capital of the country through unfair means. Prasad also went on to target Shiv Sena by saying that the party had forgotten the principals of Balasaheb Thackeray.

“I don’t want to say anything about those who couldn’t stay true to Balasaheb’s ideals. Their opposition to Congress was well-known. Those who dump their entire legacy, are teaching us. Those who are willing to compromise for power, shouldn’t talk about Shivaji,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Taking a dig at the Congress, the BJP leader said that it was clear on whose ‘direction’ the Shiv Sena became ‘hostile’. “Those who compromise in pursuit of power should not talk about Chhatrapati Shivaji,” the Telecom Minister said.

In a massive political development on Saturday morning, BJP and some NCP MLAs led by Ajit Pawar came together to form the Maharashtra government. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the CM early morning at the Raj Bhawan by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. NCP leader Ajit Pawar also took oath as the Deputy CM of the state.

The BJP and Sena, which fought the Assembly polls in the alliance, had secured a comfortable majority by winning 105 and 56 seats, respectively, in the 288-member Assembly. The Congress and the NCP, pre-poll allies, had won 44 and 54 seats respectively.

BJP and Ajit Pawar acted as Duryodhan and Shakuni of Maharashtra politics: Randeep Surjewala after being checkmated

OpIndia Staff
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BJP and Ajit Pawar acted as Duryodhan and Shakuni of Maharashtra politics: Randeep Surjewala after being checkmated

After Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra early morning on the 23rd of November. The Congress party is dumbfounded by the development and they are having some difficulty coming to terms with it. Randeep Surjewala addressed a press conference on the matter as a spokesperson of the Congress party.

Randeep Surjewala said that it was a black chapter in the history of Indian democracy. He further claimed that the Governor acted acted like a ‘hitman’ of Amit Shah. He also claimed that Ajit Pawar was threatened with jail and that a ‘power-hungry’ BJP has ‘murdered Democracy’.


The Congress party also posed ten questions to the BJP on the matter. Among them were questions such as “Who presented the proposal for government formation?” and “Were the signatures of support verified by the Governor?” Another question that was asked was, “Why has the governor not spelt out by when the Fadnavis government has to prove majority?”


Randeep Surjewala also said that the BJP constituted an ‘illegitimate government’ and acted as a ‘contract killer’ for Democracy. He also claimed that the BJP and Ajit Pawar have acted as the Duryodhana and Shakuni of Maharashtra politics. Conspicuously enough, Surjewala and the Congress party appears to have firm faith in Sharad Pawar, unlike Sanjay Nirupam.


Meanwhile, the Congress party is looking to ship its MLAs to Rajasthan ahead of the trust vote. Earlier, it was believed that Madhya Pradesh was the destination but the party believed Jaipur was safer.

Pakistan wants to incite Khalistani terrorism through Kartarpur corridor: says PoK activist

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan wants to incite Khalistani terrorism through Kartarpur corridor: says PoK activist

A Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) activist, Amjad Mirza on Saturday reiterated the concerns regarding Pakistan’s agenda behind the Kartarpur Corridor. The activist who lives in exile in Glasgow has said that Pakistan has a devious agenda behind the opening of Kartarpur corridor.

He affirmed that the Pakistani Army had become desperate after losing the plot along the Kashmir border and wanted an alternate route to hamper peace and harmony in India, hence the corridor.

“Why has Pakistan taken this decision now? Why have they done it after 73 years? They have done it so because the gateway to Kashmir where they were spreading terrorism is closed now. This has resulted in the Pakistani army, the real ruler of the country, losing confidence among the common people. Through this corridor, they will now use the Khalistani extremists to hamper peace and harmony in Punjab.” said Mirza.

He said Pakistan has nobody’s welfare in mind and just wants to hatch anti-India plots.

Mirza said, “If they care so much for the people then they must open the routes to Ladakh and Kashmir. But they will never do this because people from across the border will meet and mingle with each other.”

Speaking about the massive repression the illegally occupied regions of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan were subjected to in the hands of Pakistani authorities, the activist said: “They know that people of PoK, who expressed their will on 22nd of October that they are no more going to live under the clutches of Pakistan, will find friends,” said Mirza.

“When the People’s National Alliance, an alliance of 26 parties and individuals, decided to go Muzaffarabad to highlight their issues, they were brutally baton-charged. Videos are available everywhere in which you can see police attacking bystanders from behind. Four people were killed, 150 people were arrested and around 100 were disappeared from that place.” added Mirza.

Talking about the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Mirza opined “Imran Khan Government has not rendered any justice to the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). Not just Imran government but no Pakistani government has ever done any justice to the people of PoK and GB. Our friends are languishing in jails merely for carrying out environment based campaigns. People who carried protests against Chinese intentions of buying our mines have been sentenced for 70 years. One has even been sentenced for 90 years,” lamented the activist calling Imran Khan even more cruel than his predecessors.

In fact, Punjab chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has always been vocal about Pakistan’s sinister designs behind using the Kartarpur corridor to peddle its anti-India agenda. He had called the corridor-opening a bigger conspiracy of ISI.

Amarinder Singh, in his article in The Tribune, published last December, stated that the Pak Army’s sinister aim behind approving Kartarpur Corridor is to bank on the sympathies of disgruntled Sikh youth with the objective of gaining support for the referendum.

Ajit Pawar removed as Legislative Party leader after NCP admits he went ‘rogue’ to ally with BJP

OpIndia Staff
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Ajit Pawar removed as Legislative Party leader after NCP admits he went ‘rogue’ to ally with BJP

In the latest in Maharashtra’ power-play, Ajit Pawar has now been removed as NCP Legislative Party leader by the party after he allegedly turned ‘rogue’.


The political coup in Maharastra has taken a surprising turn. The President’s Rule in Maharashtra was removed early morning at 5:47 AM on Saturday and by around 8 AM, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were sworn in. After Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s deputy in the stunning twist this morning, NCP was left shellshocked.

After accusing Ajit Pawar of back-stabbing, and ‘betraying trust’, the party has now removed him as NCP Legislative Party leader after he takes an oath with BJP in Maharashtra. The action shortly after NCP chief Sharad Pawar indicated that his nephew Ajit Pawar had gone rogue and said that he had taken a “personal decision” not supported by the party. The Party chief had also intimated that ‘action against Ajit Pawar will be taken as per the procedure’.


The overnight coup came as a big shock to the trio (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena) who had declared the previous night, that the three parties were close to deciding on a Common Minimum Program. Soon after the shocker, Sharad Pawar had tweeted that NCP is placing on record that the party does not endorse Ajit Pawar’s decision to form an alliance with BJP.

Interestingly, 3 days ago, some reports had emerged that Ajit Pawar might be ready to split from NCP with 35 MLAs.

While this development has unsettled many in the opposition, Shiv Sena, which was certain until the morning that they have bagged Maharashtra CM’s post, has especially been swept off their feet.

Almost immediately, the party’s motormouth Sanjay Raut spoke to the press and cursed Ajit Pawar on his decision. After calling him a thief, and backstabber, he added that Ajit Pawar has betrayed everyone and ‘Woh zindagi bhar tadapte rahenge’ (he will have lifelong suffering).

Now, Raut has given a statement that there is a possibility of Ajit Pawar maybe ‘coming back’ as he has been ‘blackmailed’. Raut also claims that out of the 8 MLAs who had gone with Ajit Pawar, 5 have come back. He says that these MLAs were “lied to, put in a car, and sort of kidnapped.” He challenged that the truth would be soon exposed in Shiv Sena’ editorial, Saamana.

NCP leader Nawab Malik has even claimed that the ‘signatures’ Pawar had submitted to the governor for showing support were actually the signatures taken earlier to mark the MLAs’ attendance.

Here is the timeline of the midnight coup that led to BJP and Ajit Pawar forming the Maharashtra government

OpIndia Staff
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Here is the timeline of the midnight coup that led to BJP and Ajit Pawar forming the Maharashtra government

In a massive shocker, in an overnight coup, BJP and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar’ faction formed an alliance in the state of Maharashtra. While people slept, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy CM.

Until this morning, Congress, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders probably felt they had it in the bag. In fact, last night it was declared that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be the next Maharashtra Chief Minister after a month-long political upheaval in the state. But the tables turned in the wee hours of the morning and Maharashtra got its CM and Deputy CM.

Here is the timeline of how things proceeded that led BJP and Ajit Pawar to form the Maharashtra government.

Friday, 8 PM

Ajit Pawar submitted letter’ of support signed by NCP MLAs to the Governor of Maharashtra.

Friday, 10 PM

The Governor apprised the President of the development.

Saturday, 12 AM

Ajit Pawar along with a few MLAs met the governor and extended their support to BJP’ Devendra Fadnavis.

Saturday, 2 AM

Late night at 2 AM, Devendra Fadnavis met the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stake a claim.

Saturday, 5.47 AM

President’s Rule, which was imposed in Maharashtra on November 12, was revoked.

Saturday 7:30 AM

Devendra Fadnavis left the official home of the Maharashtra chief minister, Varsha. His family was with him, but not Ajit Pawar. The NCP leader reached Raj Bhavan separately, also accompanied by family. The duo met the governor and claimed the right to form a government.

Saturday 8 AM

When barely a few people had been awake long enough to worry about breakfast, a swearing-in ceremony was taking place in Raj Bhavan. BJP’ Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Cheif Minister whereas NCP’ Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Minutes after Fadnavis and Pawar were sworn in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated them and said he was “confident they will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra”.

President’s Rule, which was imposed in Maharashtra on November 12, was revoked at 5.47 am after a signoff by President Ram Nath Kovind and a month-long logjam finally reached its conclusion.

The BJP made a stunning comeback in Maharashtra even though just hours before NCP had pledged support to a Shiv Sena-led alliance along with the Congress. Ajit Pawar’s uncle Sharad Pawar, the chief of the NCP, distanced himself from his nephew’s decision and said his party is still with the Shiv Sena and it’s chief Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP would lose the trust vote, said Sharad Pawar, alleging that Ajit Pawar had misled the Governor and handed him letters of support that had been taken for the Shiv Sena-led alliance. Devendra Fadnavis has to prove his majority by November 30.

Maharashtra: Congress decides MLAs will be safer in Jaipur rather than Bhopal, Shiv Sena and NCP to ship off their MLAs too

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Congress decides MLAs will be safer in Jaipur rather than Bhopal, Shiv Sena and NCP to ship off their MLAs too

In a massive political twist, Devendra Fadnavis returned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra with Ajit Pawar as its deputy. It is still unclear whether the move by the NCP leader with the consent of supremo Sharad Pawar or the party is heading for a split. Under such circumstances, it is being reported that the Congress party has decided to lock up its MLAs in Madhya Pradesh until the 30th of November.


It is also being reported that the Shiv Sena, the Congress party and the NCP are mulling the idea of keeping all their MLAs together. It is pertinent to mention here that an alliance between the three parties never officially materialized, therefore, keeping all their MLAs together at one place will certainly be a show of intent. Regardless, it appears that the return of ‘Resort Politics’ could very well be upon us again.


The Congress then changed its mind and decided that their MLAs will be safer in Jaipur as compared to Bhopal.


The last time ‘Resort Politics’ made a return was during the Karnataka elections when the BJP had emerged as the single largest party. It is pertinent to mention here that during the drama, two Congress politicians engaged in mortal combat where one of them smashed a bottle on the other’s head.

Given the fact that the three parties are now considering keeping all their MLAs together, a repeat of what happened in Karnataka cannot be ruled out; especially considering the fact that the three parties have a history of enmity between themselves. Moreover, trouble seems to be brewing within the NCP as well, therefore, the parties involved may have to take necessary precautions before embarking on such a venture. However, it appears almost certain that the parties will definitely park their MLAs in some resort.

Anti-Islam rally in Norway turns violent after SIAN leader is attacked by Muslim man for burning the Quran

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-Islam rally in Norway turns violent after SIAN leader is attacked by Muslim man for burning the Quran

A video has surfaced wherein a man is seen attacking another who has a burning book in his hand, thereafter the mob is seen going into a frenzy and police intervening to stop the skirmish. The crowd from behind the barricades can he heard hooting.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsIJmk3aTZE]

This footage had been shot in the city of Kristiansand in Norway where a leader of a group, which has been holding rallies against the Islamification of Norway, was attacked initially by a Muslim man then subsequently by a mob for defying the police orders against burning the Quran.

According to reports, Lars Thorsen, the leader of an organisation named Stop Islamization of Norway (SIAN) burnt a copy of the Quran while two copies of the religious text (The Holy Quran) were thrown in a trash can during the rally.

The rally had been approved by local authorities, but police had warned SIAN against desecrating the Quran after the group said it planned to do so.

The action infuriated counter-protesters, who vaulted over the barricades and attacked the SIAN’s leader. The demonstration soon took an ugly turn and the Norwegian police were seen intervening, trying to calm down the situation.

The video of the confrontation shows Thorsen tossing away a burning Quran as a Muslim man, reportedly named Ilyas comes charging at him. The man manages to grab Thorsen’s jacket, jerking him around. However, the assailant falls to the ground after attempting to kick the anti-Islam activist. Police then scuttles to break up the fight as the mob is seen rushing at Thorsen.

Both Thorsen and his attackers were detained by police, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, the Muslim organisations in Norway have announced that they plan to press hate crime charges against the SIAN leader for burning their holy book as well as for verbal assault. Twitter users have also accused the Norwegian government and authorities to ignite religious hatred and humiliate Muslims.

Ajit Pawar’s decision is an act of indiscipline, no NCP worker will support alliance with BJP: Sharad Pawar

OpIndia Staff
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Ajit Pawar’s decision is an act of indiscipline, no NCP worker will support alliance with BJP: Sharad Pawar

After losing out on the opportunity of forming a government in Maharashtra, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addressed a joint press conference on Saturday along with other senior party leaders on Saturday.

In an early morning twist, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister for a second time at Raj Bhavan. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.

Addressing a joint press conference with Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said that his nephew Ajit Pawar’s decision to join hands with the BJP was an act of indiscipline, and no NCP worker is in favour of this government.

“Except for Ajit Pawar, none of the other NCP MLAs went for the swearing-n the ceremony. A true NCP member will never ever join hands with the BJP.” said Pawar.

Sharad Pawar added that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance is still active and all the elected MLAs have given their support to this alliance. “Some people of the NCP called me in the morning saying that they have reached Raj Bhawan along with Ajit Pawar,” said Sharad Pawar.

The NCP supremo said that there will action against Ajit Pawar. He added that the decision on action against Ajit Pawar will be taken at the party meeting later today.

“Our discipline committee will take action against all those who have participated in the swearing-in ceremony today. All the MLAs who are going must know that there is an anti-defection law and the possibility of them losing their assembly membership is high,” Sharad Pawar added.

Sharad Pawar also said that the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP leaders had come together to form Government and had the numbers that had supported the new government. “Several independents were also with us and we had numbers around 170,” he added.

Pawar also added that they cannot rule out a possibility of “cheating by the governor”. Ajit Pawar may have submitted ‘ready-made’ list of NCP MLAs, he added.

Four-time NCP MLA Rajendra Shingane said that they were “misled” by Ajit Pawar. He added, “None of us there had any idea of what was happening, we were taken to Raj Bhawan by Ajit Pawar. This was the case of misunderstanding and of not knowing what was really going on.”

Another NCP MLA Sandeep Shivsagar echoed similar statements after he said, “We did not know anything about the oath-taking ceremony. As soon as the swearing-in happened I called up Sharad Pawar”.

Continuing his attack on the BJP, Pawar said that saffron party has always believed in forming an alliance with anyone and in any manner to come to power. But NCP can never join hands with BJP, said Sharad Pawar.

“We are firm that the leadership of this government should stay with Shiv Sena. Governor has given time till 30th to prove majority. We will all be together with them. Congress leaders were to come, but their LLP meeting is today. So they gave gone there,” added Sharad Pawar.

Speaking at the press conference, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray launched an attack on its former ally BJP, stating, “The child play in the name of democracy is laughable. They should stick Fevicol and sit there. Instead of saying, I will come back, he should have said, I won’t ever go.” Uddhav added that the BJP did the same thing in Haryana and Bihar.

Thackeray added that the BJP did not want opposition or friends. They are narcissistic. Nobody should try to backstab us, said Shiv Sena chief who was visibly angry at the BJP.

Calling the BJP government formation as a ‘furgical strike’, Uddhav Thackeray asked the BJP  not to “ploy midnight plots”.

“Earlier EVM Khel (game) was going on and now this is new Khel (game). From here onwards I don’t think elections are even needed. Everyone knows what Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did when betrayed and attacked from the back,” said Uddhav Thackeray.

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