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‘The closest is me,’ claims Yashwant Sinha when asked who has the abilities required to be PM

OpIndia Staff
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‘The closest is me,’ claims Yashwant Sinha when asked who has the abilities required to be PM

Former BJP leader, Yashwant Sinha, became the latest person to show interest in becoming the Prime Ministerial candidate of the proposed Mahagathbandhan. He was speaking at a session organised as part of Shri Ram College’s Economic Summit at the Delhi University.

Sinha said that the biggest problem in the country was the non-creation of jobs. He said that India needs a leader who can improve the conditions for agriculture in the country, make it profitable, and set up irrigation projects, industries and townships.

“We have to do a lot of work in this country… We will have to find somebody who is prepared to buy this theory and start doing it,” he stated. When prodded about who the person could be, he answered, “There is nobody in my mind.” And then, when he was asked who was the closest, he replied, “The closest is me, myself, what I am,” leading to laughter in the audience.

“I am very close behind him,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury was quick to reply when asked if he would endorse Sinha.

The problem with the Mahagathbandhan has always been the presence of too many leaders with great personal ambition. It is widely speculated that the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has Prime Ministerial ambitions. Then there is Mayawati who is often touted as next Prime Minister should the Mahagathbandhan manage to pull off a victory in 2019. And of course, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty Rahul Gandhi has also made his willingness for the top job clear. But apart from the DMK, no one believes Rahul is the right man for the post.

Under such circumstances, there is likely to be great friction within the alliance even if they do manage to secure a victory. There is a certain possibility that a neutral candidate who is acceptable to all parties is nominated for Prime Minister and his hands would be tied by the same people who awarded him the post. It is probably keeping such a scenario in mind that Sinha made himself available for the post, although it may have been appropriately cloaked in the garb of humour.

‘EVM hacking’ drama : The invisible hand of the sore losers working in ‘personal capacity’

Abhishek Banerjee
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‘EVM hacking’ drama : The invisible hand of the sore losers working in ‘personal capacity’

Change the judges. Change the voting system. Change the CBI.

These are not the cries of a five-year-old child who is making a scene at the department store because he has spotted a candy bar or a shiny new toy. These are the ramblings of an ecosystem that caters to a fully grown man who, thanks to his family privilege, still gets to act like he is five years old.

The latest in the sore loser protocol? A much-publicized drama about an “expert” who rambled along incoherently about “hacking” EVMs, spouted a bunch of ridiculous conspiracy theories, failed to demonstrate anything but still managed to create a buzz.

This is fake news being manufactured before our eyes. It is custom made for circulation on Whatsapp forwards to those who aren’t paying attention.

Of course, the Congress Party had nothing to do with this. How could it be otherwise?

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No, Sibal wasn’t representing the Congress at the press conference, but the hacker’s claims are serious, the Congress Party says. I suppose it was all in “personal capacity”.

This has been happening a lot lately. The “personal capacity” of the members of the opposition is at an all-time high.

So middleman Christian Michel, a person of major interest in Agusta Westland scam, is captured and brought to India.

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And Aljo K Joseph, the National in charge of the Legal Department of Indian Youth Congress just happens to be waiting for him. Immediately after the hearing in Patiala House Court, Aljo Joseph drives to the Congress Party Headquarters.

All in “personal capacity” of course.

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More of “personal capacity”. We can’t connect any of this to the Congress Party nor its leader Rahul Gandhi.

Isn’t it amazing? While every single right-wing social media troll, every cow vigilante, every petty criminal who has ever stolen a few thousand rupees from a missionary school, every drunkard on the street who has ever thrown a stone at a church is linked directly to PM Modi, the actions of Congress office bearers and  senior leaders like Kapil Sibal are supposed to be seen as having nothing to do with the party. There are online
“news” portals dedicated to scanning the Twitter accounts of BJP leaders and then checking the last 10 years of social media history of every account they “follow” online.

The desperation to find a BJP link to any untoward incident or allegation: it can get comical.

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Yes, PM Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity. The sculptor of the Statue of Unity was one 93-year-old Ram Sutar, who has created 50+ well-known statues of politicians over the years. Nehru himself commissioned Ram Sutar to create the bronze monument called Triumph of Labor at the Bhakra Dam. In Parliament complex itself, there are 16 statues erected by Ram Sutar. But Ram Sutar has a son Anil whose son Sameer is one of five directors in a company accused of failing to complete a project in Noida.

Big scandal. Will PM Modi resign?

Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhawan, Aljo Joseph, all enjoy the privilege of acting in “personal capacity”.

Let alone big political issues, court cases and corruption scandals that could have a major political impact, the invisible hand, acting in “personal capacity” surfaces even in matters of basic human interest. Such as protecting girl children from genital mutilation.

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And even if Supreme Court had a say, I guess they would have no time for it, because they might be much too busy regulating the amount of water that can be poured on top of the Shiv Lingam at Ujjain Mahakaleshwar temple.

From EVM hacking rumours to Agusta Westland to Female Genital Mutilation, the invisible hand is always there, acting in a personal capacity.

And sometimes, by chance, we get to see a handshake.

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This was immediately after the historic press conference by four judges of the Supreme Court in Jan 2018. After addressing the people’s court, Justice Chelameshwar shook hands with one of the “people’s representatives”. A Rajya Sabha member, who represents Tamil Nadu, despite the fact that his party does not have a single MLA in TN Assembly.

I need no prompting. I am quite certain that everyone here was acting in a personal capacity.

Trouble mounts for AAP: BJP Delhi files defamation case, demands de-recognition of AAP as political party

OpIndia Staff
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Trouble mounts for AAP: BJP Delhi files defamation case, demands de-recognition of AAP as political party

The BJP Delhi unit on Monday filed a criminal defamation case against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP members. The case has been for allegations levelled by Kejriwal against the BJP of deliberately deleting names of lakhs of voters from the electoral roll in Delhi. In December 2018, Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP got 30 lakh votes deleted.


Other than Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Gupta, MLA Manoj Kumar and AAP spokesperson Atishi Marlena have been named in the case. The Court has accepted the plea and the matter will be heard on 5th February.

Terming the allegations as ‘unfortunate and false’, the BJP stated that adding or removing voters from the electoral roll is the responsibility of the Election Commission and not of any political party.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also knocked the doors of the Election Commission demanding de-recognition of AAP as a registered political party from the Election Commission. BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari along with other leaders met the Election Commissioner and demanded that AAP should be de-recognised for carrying ‘baseless propaganda’. As per reports, the Election Commissioner has assured appropriate action.

Madhya Pradesh: Ex-Serviceman working at Jabalpur Municipal Corporation brutally thrashed by alleged Congress workers

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Ex-Serviceman working at Jabalpur Municipal Corporation brutally thrashed by alleged Congress workers

An ex-serviceman, working as a security guard at the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) in Jabalpur town of Madhya Pradesh was dragged, kicked and beaten up in public by alleged Congress workers on Monday, reported ANI.

Reportedly, the victim Harish Patel, an ex-serviceman was brutally thrashed by an alleged Congress worker Shakti Chokse and his 6-7 aides. The goons had attacked the JMC Court premises after its anti-encroachment team had removed Chokse’s illegal establishments, which resulted in Chokse resorting vandalism at the JMC premises.

“On January 17 the JMC anti-encroachment team removed the encroachments from near the Stadium in Wright Town area. What happened in JMC premises on Monday evening was Part Two of January 17 incident, as Shakti Chowkse, whose encroachment was removed by the JMC team, along with 6-7 goons assaulted the ex-serviceman so brutally that he fell unconscious and has been hospitalized,” SP Jabalpur Amit Singh said.

The incident has occurred at a time when Madhya Pradesh’s energy minister Priyavrat Singh, who is also the minister in-charge for Jabalpur district was visiting Jabalpur and was allegedly present in the JMC premises.

Rakesh Singh, Lok Sabha member from Jabalpur and state BJP president visited the hospital to meet the ex-serviceman and alleged that it was the Congressmen who had accompanied the minister in-charge for Jabalpur had brutally attacked the ex-serviceman Harish Patel.

“ While we were protesting against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, an ex-serviceman has been beaten up by Congress workers. how long will this continue? ” said Singh.

Speaking to the media, Amit Singh, the Jabalpur district police superintendent confirmed that Harish Patel had served the Indian Army for 24 years before his retirement and was presently working as a security guard at the JMC, where the incident happened.

“Entire incident of brutal assault on the ex-serviceman has been captured by the CCTV cameras installed at the JMC premises. We’re retrieving the CCTV grabs for further action. Initially, we have lodged a case under Section 353, 332, 294, 147, 148 and 114 of IPC against Shakti Chowkse and his aides. As the victim is still unconscious, we’re waiting to record his statements, after which if required Section 307 of IPC, which pertains to attempt to murder could also be added in the case,” said Singh.

With such open attacks against the common citizens of the state of Madhya Pradesh, aspersions are being cast against the Congress government’s ability to handle the grave law and order issues that have been mounting in the state. Within weeks of Congress party coming to the power, there has been series of attacks on BJP workers raising suspicions about the Kamal Nath government’s intentions.

Three BJP workers have already lost life in Madhya Pradesh after Congress formed the government in the state. On Sunday, a BJP leader Jitendra Soni of the Barwani district, his son Ravendra and two of his relatives were assaulted and robbed by unidentified persons. Balwadi BJP leader Manoj Thackeray was found murdered in a field after he had gone for a morning walk. Prior to that, Mandsaur BJP leader Prahlad Bandhwar was shot dead in full public view.

The Congress government in the Madhya Pradesh seems to have already lost their control as the state has been rocked with severe protests by the farmers after Kamal Nath government failed to deliver its promise of loan waivers. The politics of loan-waivers by the Congress party has already taken three lives of farmers in Madhya Pradesh.

Reportedly, a massive loan-waive scam has also been brewing in the state of Madhya Pradesh after reports emerged that various beneficiaries listed by the government eligible for farmer loan waiver did not even exist in reality. Many discrepancies and irregularities are already being unearthed in the loan waiver schemes.

ABVP protests as Hindu baiting ex Judge Kolse-Patil delivers lecture in open air after Fergusson College cancels event

OpIndia Staff
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ABVP protests as Hindu baiting ex Judge Kolse-Patil delivers lecture in open air after Fergusson College cancels event

Fergusson College in Pune was thrown into chaos after retired justice BG Kolse-Patil decided to deliver a lecture, which was cancelled by the University administration, on the road that leads to its amphitheatre even as ABVP protested the lecture.

Retired justice BG Kolse-Patil said that he was informed that his lecture on Indian Constitution stood cancelled only after he reached the university and since he saw a crowd had gathered already, he decided to deliver the lecture on the road that leads to the amphitheatre itself.

“Since a large crowd of students had already gathered to attend my lecture, I delivered my lecture in the open air,” said Kolse-Patil, according to DNA.

After the cancellation, some students were pulled into a discussion by the Fergusson College administration, as they demanded permission for the lecture to be held. The lecture was organised on the event of Jijabai birth anniversary by a group of FC students.

ABVP had protested Kolse-Patil’s lecture tooth and nail before the lecture was cancelled. As tension gripped the college premises, police were called and security was beefed up at the campus.

One of the organising students of the event, Sharmila Yeole reportedly said that the college cancelled the event at the last hour and hence, Kolse Patil delivered the lecture in the open air.

Over denial of permission, Sharad Kunte, chairman of Deccan Education Society, cited legal reasons. “Our principal is on leave and the principal-in-charge gave permission for this programme. But later, we asked students to change the venue and even suggested a few. We have no political pressure, but there is legal pressure due to which we had to cancel the programme. We had welcomed the speaker and respect the topic of his lecture. But we did not receive any response from students regarding the venue change,” he said.

ABVP was reportedly opposing the lecture by Kolse-Patil because he has been accused of sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement. According to the account of an anonymous woman, she had gone to Patil’s house to record an interview with him. The interview was recorded inside the house as there were lots of noise outside. At the end of the interview, he asked the woman why the top button of her kurta is open and said that he thought they can be ‘friends’.

ABVP protest in Ferguson College (Picture credit: Pune Mirror)

Incidentally, justice BG Kolse-Patil has been involved in several other controversies. Kolse Patil was one of the organisers of Elgar Parishad which was held in Maharashtra last year, which led to the Bhima Koregaon riots. He had, in fact, denounced action against the Urban Naxals calling saying that the government was trying to stifle free speech.

In one such speech in 2016, he has alleged that RSS is spreading Hindu terror. In another speech he had said that ‘RSS is the biggest enemy of India, we need to defeat the poisonous ideology of RSS on the ideological level’. He is also in the habit of raking up “Brahminism” and anti-Hindu rhetoric. He had even gone to the extent of alleging that RSS takes money from ISI Pakistan.

After threatening to thrash BJP workers publicly, BSP leader now offers 50 lakh reward for MLA Sadhna Singh’s head

OpIndia Staff
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After threatening to thrash BJP workers publicly, BSP leader now offers 50 lakh reward for MLA Sadhna Singh’s head

Reacting to the remarks made by the BJP MLA Sadhna Singh on BSP  supremo Mayawati, a former BSP MLA Vijay Yadav has announced a 50 lakh bounty on Singh’s head. Yadav has offered to award Rs 50 lakh to whoever brings Singh’s head.

“BJP MLA Sadhna Singh should seek an apology from Behenji (Mayawati) and women of the country, else we will protest. After collecting money from my supporters, I will give Rs 50 lakh to the person who will bring Sadhna Singh’s head to me,” said Yadav during a  press conference.

Sadhna Singh had made certain insulting remarks about Mayawati relating to the 1995 Lucknow Guest House incident when Mayawati was assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers in a Lucknow guest house and was rescued by an RSS Swayamsevak. Referring to the recently announced SP-BSP alliance in UP, Singh had commented that Mayawati had compromised her respect for power. Singh’s comments had drawn flak from across the political parties including Republican Party of India which is a constituent party of BJP-led NDA.

Singh had later tendered apology over her remarks clarifying that she did not intend to hurt anyone. However, a complaint has been filed by BSP leader Ram Chandra Gautam against Sadhna Singh.

The National Commission for Women has also issued a notice to Sadhna Singh and has sought an explanation for the “extremely offensive and unethical remarks” against Mayawati.

Yadav, who was an MLA from Thakurdwara, was in the news just days ago when he had remarked in a public meeting that once the BJP is out of power, they (BSP-SP alliance) will thrash BJP workers publicly.

In Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh, third BJP leader found murdered within a week

OpIndia Staff
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In Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh, third BJP leader found murdered within a week

Chhatrapal Singh Rawat, a BJP worker from Madhya Pradesh, was found murdered in Gwalior on Monday. This is third such murder of a BJP worker in Madhya Pradesh within a week. Another BJP office-bearer, Magan Siddiqui was seriously injured after he was reportedly attacked in Jabalpur on Sunday.

While the Police have ruled out political rivalry or pattern behind the killings, the party cadres staged protests against the killings. Chhatrapal used to work as a bus conductor and had gone for work on Sunday. When he did not return in the evening, the family lodged a police complaint. On Monday afternoon, his body was found near river Parvati. There were injury marks on his body. The body has been sent for postmortem and further investigation is underway.

As per reports, Chhatrapal was the cousin of Narendra Rawat, BJP district (rural) secretary. Narendra Rawat was preparing effigies of Congress workers to protest against killings of BJP workers when police informed him of his cousin’s murder.

Earlier on Sunday, Balwadi BJP leader Manoj Thackeray was found murdered in a field after he had gone for a morning walk. Prior to that, Mandsaur BJP leader Prahlad Bandhwar was shot dead in full public view. On Sunday, a BJP leader Jitendra Soni of the Barwani district, his son Ravendra and two of his relatives were assaulted and robbed by unidentified persons near Charvi village, 30 km from the district headquarters.

The increase of crime against BJP leaders has raised concerns about the growing crime rates in the state within weeks of Congress party coming into power.

21 illegal immigrants deported to Bangladesh from Assam

OpIndia Staff
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21 illegal immigrants deported to Bangladesh from Assam

21 Bangladeshi citizens who have been living illegally in Assam have been deported back to their country by the Indian authorities on Saturday.

According to reports, the 21 Bangladeshis had entered India through the Tripura border two years ago. They had been staying in Assam since then. After their identities have been revealed they had reportedly been detained under the passport violation act and were being kept in the detention centre associated with the Cachar Jail in Silchar.

After receiving approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bangladeshis were reportedly taken by a special bus to the Sutarkandi Integrated check post along the India- Bangladesh border in the Karimganj district in Assam.

The illegal immigrants were handed over to the Assam Border Police and BSF officials who then handed them over to the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) at the international border.

Two women were also among the 21 persons. 1 person in the group was reportedly a Hindu. As per a report in News 18, their names are Nasir Hussain, Abdul Wahid, Mohammad Khairul, Jahida Begum, Sufia Begum, Mihir Pebel Mia, Safique Islam, Saveel Ahmed, Ramjan Ali, Bablu Ahmed, Suman Fakir, Masum Ahmed, Nazimuddin, Litun Kanti Das, Tofique Ali, Raju Ahmed, Ashraful Alam Chowdhury, Dilwar Hussain, Md Sukkur, Samim Ahmed and Rubel Ahmed.

India has been taking stringent measures to identify and deport illegal immigrants in the country. Thousands of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been staying in Assam and the main purpose of the National Registry for Citizenship (NRC) that is being implemented in the state is to identify illegal immigrants who have been threatening the demography of the eastern state.

The porous border in eastern states has been a cause of concern for security agencies over the years. In Tripura, after BJP came to power, CM Biplab Deb has maintained that the Indo-Bangladesh border security will be tightened to stop infiltration and border crimes. Even the BJP CM of Assam had claimed that the India-Bangladesh border in Assam will be sealed off completely by the end of 2018.

Maharashtra: Cow smugglers crush police constable Prakash Meshram to death, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Cow smugglers crush police constable Prakash Meshram to death, arrested

In a horrific incident, two Muslim cow smugglers have mowed down a police constable, Prakash Meshram and injured two others after they tried to stop these cattle smugglers near Warora late on Sunday night, reported Times of India.

According to the reports, two Muslim youth- Imtiyaz Ahmed Faiyyaz (19) and Mohammad Raza Abdul Qureshi (20) were present in one of the two pickup vehicles smuggling cattle from Wani in Yavatmal district to Nagpur. The police officials had barricaded the road to carry out the routine checks. The cattle smugglers, afraid of getting caught drove past the first check post while injuring two cops Dheeraj Meshram and Suraj Meshram who tried to stop them.

The two pickup trucks further moved ahead but the two injured cops had already alerted the Warora police station and the Khambada check post a few kilometres away about. Police-constable Prakash Meshram and Kamlesh Mohmare who were posted at the check post stood behind the barricades and signalled the drivers using torchlight to stop. Shockingly, instead of stopping, the smugglers drove their trucks over barricades killing Prakash Mesharam on the spot.

The cattle smugglers after mowing down the policeman tried to escape but were soon arrested. Along with Faiyyaz and Abdul Qureshi, two others Muhammad Fahim Ajeem Sheikh (23) and Adil Khan alias Muhammad Kadir Khan (21) who had managed to flee from the spot have been taken into custody. The police officials have also seized two pickup trucks along with 24 cattle.

Reportedly, the Maharastra police have registered cases under sections IPC 302, 317, 353, 332, 333 and 34. Charges under sections of Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, and rules under the Transportation of Animals Act too have been registered against the accused.

The victim constable Prakash Meshram hailed from Ballarpur and was attached to Bhadrawati police station. The state government has announced an aid of Rs10 lakh for the kin of the deceased cop from CM’s fund. Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also directed the police to avail the services of distinguished lawyers to make sure that the culprits get the death penalty.

PDP leader’s car used in 2017 Amarnath Yatra attack, ‘integrity report’ sought after suspicions of ‘sympathy towards separatists’: NIA

OpIndia Staff
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PDP leader’s car used in 2017 Amarnath Yatra attack, ‘integrity report’ sought after suspicions of ‘sympathy towards separatists’: NIA

In a letter written to the Jammu and Kashmir police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought an ‘integrity report’ on former PDP legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir, saying that “it is believed that he has a soft corner towards the separatists.”

NIA in its letter addressed to the J&K’s Additional Director General of Police claimed that “It is believed that he (former legislator Mir) has a soft corner towards the separatists. It has also come into notice that his vehicle was used on the attacks on pilgrims of the Amarnath yatra. Therefore, you are requested to provide criminal record/antecedents if any and integrity report on respect of aforesaid Ex-MLA namely Ajaz Ahmad Mir to Shri Rakesh Sharma SP/CIO of the instant case.”

According to reports, a vehicle belonging to the former PDP legislator, Aijaz Ahmed Mir was used in the 2017 sensational attack on Amarnath pilgrims that left seven dead.

Moreover, investigations into the case where a special police officer named  Adil Bashir Sheikh, 24, (Belt No. 488/SPO), deployed with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, reportedly absconded with seven assault rifles of colleagues from a Police post guarding his residence at high-security Jawahar Nagar area in Srinagar in September last year, led the NIA to doubt that the former lawmaker has “a soft corner towards separatists.”

It was later reported that SPO Sheikh, who hailed from legislator Mir’s home town Wachi in south Kashmir’s Shopian, had joined Hizbul Mujahideen and posed in a picture with four other militants including prominent commander Zeenat-ul-Islam of the Hizbul-Mujahideen.

Soon after the incident, J-K Police registered a case under FIR NO 57/2018 and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the weapons’ theft. The case was later handed over to the NIA.

Meanwhile, an NIA official involved in the probe has urged J&K police to provide Mir’s “criminal record”, if any, personal antecedents and personal integrity report for “investigations purpose” at the earliest, which would, in turn, help the NIA to expedite the investigation.

When contacted Mir, who represented Wachi constituency of Shopian in the previous state assembly, said he is not afraid of any probe. “I am ready for any investigation,” he said. “If they have to probe this case or any other case, I am ready,” added Mir.

Earlier, in an interview, PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti had expressed her patronage for the former PDP MLA saying that Mir was being coerced to leave the party by members of the BJP.  She had alleged that after the BJP-PDP alliance broke in June last year, BJP has been using the NIA to intimidate Mir and his family.

However, it would be important to note here that Mehbooba Mufti herself has had a special tenderness for the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Recently the former J&K CM had displayed her endearment for these terrorists by terming local terrorists in J&K as ‘son of the soil’ and reiterating that efforts should be made to save them.

PDP legislator, Aijaz Mir, had also reiterated in the same lines as the PDP chief, calling all the terrorists ‘brothers’.

Sympathising with terrorists and whitewashing of crimes of pro-terrorist stone pelters in the state has been a chosen political tactic of many leaders, including Mufti in the state. In December last year, Mufti had visited a terrorist’s family in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and admonished the government for alleged harassment of terrorists’ families.

In fact, when BJP had walked out of the coalition government with Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP in J&K in June last year, they had stated heavy radicalisation and soft approach towards extremists under the PDP governance as the key reason for the break-up.

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