Home Blog Page 6873

PM Modi slams Congress party for their ‘uncultured and arrogant’ remarks against his mother

OpIndia Staff
-
0
PM Modi slams Congress party for their ‘uncultured and arrogant’ remarks against his mother

Prime Minister Modi while addressing an election rally in Chhatarpur district in MP, slammed Raj Babbar’s recent slur at the PM’s mother, which he made while taking a dig at the devaluating currency.

PM Modi said that the inability of Congress party to talk about the development done in last four years compared that during the last four generations of Gandhi family’s rule, has made them resort to hurling slurs at PM Modi’s aged mother Heeraben Modi.

“As we often see, in the local quarrels in mohallas that if they don’t have favored condition, they digress from the point of quarrel and resort to abuses,”  the PM said.


PM’s response is to senior Congress leader Raj Babbar, who speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh referred to PM Modi’s 97-year old mother Heeraben Modi and said, “He (Modi) used to say that the Indian rupee has fallen so much against the Dollar that it was nearing the age of the then prime minister (Manmohan Singh). Today, the rupee’s valuation has dropped so low, that it is inching closer to your beloved mother’s age”.

The Congress leader Babbar while campaigning in the Madhya Pradesh ahead of the state elections also referred Prime Minister Modi as ‘Manhoos’ over the rising fuel prices.

The PM then continued the attack on Congress for what he termed as ‘uncultured and arrogant’ behavior. He said, “When they failed to challenge me and didn’t get any issue to rake up in the polls, they have now started to abuse my old mother. They are not ready to engage with me, and are dragging my mother into an electoral slugfest.” The PM added that for the last 18 years, he has been challenging and defeating Congress and because the Congress cannot face him anymore, they are dragging his mother into their slandering.


Congress leaders have often targeted the humble background of the PM Narendra Modi. Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has time and again refers PM Modi as a ‘Chaiwala’ and had once called him as  ‘Neech Insaan’. Shashi Tharoor had recently called him a ‘Scorpion sitting on a Shivling’ and that’s why they cannot hit him with a ‘Chappal’. PM Modi, in a recent rally at Sikkim, had expressed anguish over Shashi Tharoor’s for his ‘outlandish’ remark on the Northeast’s traditional attires, Modi alleged that Congress leaders have disrespected and insulted the traditions and attires of the people of the northeast.


Congress leader CP Joshi had earlier also said that Narendra Modi should not talk about Hinduism, as it is an exclusive domain of ‘Pandits’, and PM Modi belongs to a lower caste.

The elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will be held on November 28.

Why do ‘liberals’ love Lalu so much?

Rahul Roushan
-
0
Why do ‘liberals’ love Lalu so much?

In past couple of days, there is a synchronized narrative going on where the question ‘why does BJP fear Lalu so much?’ is being tossed around to make sure the hypothesis ‘BJP fears Lalu’ becomes an implied truth. Motley of journalists and trolls are repeating this, in an attempt to not only turn that hypothesis into truth, but to generate sympathy for Lalu Yadav, currently in hospital but under custody after being convicted in various corruption cases.

This sympathy for Lalu was tried right at the time he was convicted in the corruption cases, with Shekhar Gupta, the senior journalist of ‘coup’ fame, peddling the theory that Lalu was convicted because he belonged to a ‘lower caste’. Obviously, within no time, his theory came crashing down as the list of those convicted along with Lalu had many ‘upper caste’ accused too. But when has facts and data mattered for ‘liberals’?

This desperation to paint Lalu Yadav some saint who was wronged actually begets the real question – why do the self-declared liberals love Lalu so much?

The answer could appear simple.

Anti-BJP = Awesome

The ‘liberal’ crowd in India is basically a confused anti-BJP crowd, with most of them being anti-BJP because it’s not just ‘cool’ but rewarding to take an anti-BJP stand (or anti-Hindutva) in public life. Unfunny comedians become intellectuals while genocidal maniacs become artists, so a corrupt politician becoming a wronged saint is hardly surprising.

Why does this crowd hates BJP or Hindutva is another issue, and well, I have to concede that BJP as well as Hindutva groups have to share some blame for it, though the main reason is relentless vilification for decades by a well-oiled propaganda machinery.

However, Lalu is anti-BJP not due to some ideological commitment, but because of realpolitik.

Just think of it; isn’t it rather strange that this cool liberal crowd doesn’t feel the same sympathy and loyalty for Mulayam Singh Yadav, who got dozens of (unofficial accounts putting the numbers in hundreds) Kar Sevaks killed to save the Babri Masjid (Taj Mahal of secularism) and who let go his ego to ally with Mayawati to end the BJP rule and influence in Uttar Pradesh, the biggest state of India that often decides balance of power?

As compared to killing of Kar Sevaks, Lalu just got Advani arrested during the veteran BJP leader’s Ram Rath Yatra in 1990 – a ‘secular’ guy should give more numbers for the former act. Further, Lalu’s ego didn’t stop him from breaking Janta Dal, which was becoming a national force to reckon with.

Lalu breaking Janta Dal and alienating the likes of Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas Paswan actually strengthened the BJP while Mulayam did everything to weaken the BJP in the neighbouring state. At one point of time, BJP was appearing weaker than an already hopeless Congress in Uttar Pradesh, before the 2014 miracle happened.

Today, Mulayam Singh Yadav is isolated, is as much ‘victim’ of politics as Lalu, and is reportedly in bad health as well like Lalu, but the cool liberal dude doesn’t care about him. Because he suspects that Mulayam Singh Yadav (or his faction supposed to be led by Shivpal Yadav) may even align with the BJP. Netaji is unpredictable.

On the other hand, Lalu and his family is considered pure and steadfast on this count. They will never align with the BJP. But as I put earlier, Lalu is anti-BJP not due to some ideological commitment, but because of realpolitik.

Nitish Kumar could never really become a mass leader like Lalu and his charisma was limited to some selected circles – his own caste group and some allied groups, the urban crowd (thanks to improvement in law and order and some development), women (yes, he could create a new constituency), and in some Lutyens circles. Even Nitish Kumar realised his limitations, and that’s why he didn’t risk a three-cornered fight in the 2015 assembly elections.

Had he become as powerful as charismatic in Bihar as Lalu, and had Bihar too got three or four major political players with distinct messaging and supporting social groups as one sees in Uttar Pradesh, you never know that maybe Lalu and BJP could have been forming an alliance too or at least flirting with each other.

Therefore, to present Lalu as some committed soldier of secularism is as dishonest as anything the ‘liberal’ crowd does.

However, beyond this anti-BJP/anti-Hindutva ‘commitment’ of Lalu, the reason why the self-declared liberals love Lalu so much is because consciously or accidentally, Lalu has been able to replicate the way Gandhi family functions.

The Bihari Gandhi

If you observe, the liberal love for Lalu is no different from the love they have for the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. They try to make sure that the crimes by both are covered and the culprits are actually paraded as martyrs.

As I had pointed briefly in an earlier article I wrote, Shabnam Hashmi, whose brother Safdar Hashmi – a communist playwright and theatre personality – was killed by Congress backed goons in broad daylight, but today she bats religiously for Congress even by spreading fake news to benefit the party.

Similarly, Kanhaiya Kumar, a JNU student ‘leader’ who has been giving hopes to some liberals as the next big thing, touches Lalu Yadav’s feet. The same Yadav, whose party goons killed Chandrashekhar Prasad, who was also a JNU student leader, in broad daylight.

The ‘Jungle Raj’ of Lalu is given context of social revolution and social churn, just as some try to give context to Emergency and paint how it was not so bad, or more recently, the way scam tainted regime of UPA-2 is being whitewashed.

The ecosystem appears almost full of guilt and desperate to undo the damage in both cases – oh my god, we got carried away and exposed Lalu Raj and Sonia Raj as corrupt (the former additionally being ‘criminal’), let’s make amends now as BJP benefitted.

How could Lalu secure this support of ecosystem? With Congress, it was due to Indira Gandhi, who could work out a Faustian bargain with the leftists in the 70s, allowing them to control academia and media. In return, these ‘intellectuals’ made sure that the dynasty was always protected. They would pretend to fight with Congress, but make sure the dynasty is not blemished.

Lalu too, in his later years, tried to please the same ecosystem. His ‘so-cute’ selfies with Lutyens journalists and his support to ideas that will have no resonance among his social base but will earn him brownie points among the ecosystem, bear testimony to that. And obviously, becoming an ally of the original dynasty came with the associated benefits.

Coincidentally, both the dynasties are now led by ‘youth’ leaders who are goofy and are often object of mockery. But the ‘liberals’ have no option but to love them. Essentially, it’s the self-interest of the ‘liberals’ – to see those people calling shots who have fed them well all these years – that makes them love the ‘secularism’ of Lalu Yadav.

And finally, this orchestrated attempt to paint Lalu as someone mighty whom the BJP fears no end, is actually manifestation of the fears of the ‘liberal’ crowd. They fear the BJP and they are now giving up on their hopes with new Lalus they created and flirted with – from Arvind Kejriwal to Kanhaiya Kumar.

The ecosystem is going back to their original hope – the dynasty.

1993 Mumbai bomb blast: Key accused confessed to receiving training in Pakistan, CBI files chargesheet

Jhankar Mohta
-
0
1993 Mumbai bomb blast: Key accused confessed to receiving training in Pakistan, CBI files chargesheet

The CBI on Thursday filed a charge sheet against Ahmed Kamal Shaikh alias Ahmed Lambu, one of the prime accused in the Mumbai 1993 serial blasts case. The charge sheet has been filed five and a half months after his arrest.

Shaikh was absconding for almost two decades before he was declared a proclaimed offender and apprehended in Gujarat on June 1, 2018.

In the charge sheet submitted by the CBI before the TADA court, the CBI claimed that Shaikh was an ‘active member’ involved in the plotting of the conspiracy and was present in Dubai in January 1993, ‘working in close association’ with absconding accused Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his brother Anis Kaskar.

The charge sheet included a list of 11 witnesses and also a copy of Shaikh’s confession, in which he had confessed to his alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast, his visit to Dubai, where now deceased, convicted accused, Mustafa Dossa had informed him and others about the conspiracy and it also mentioned how he had gone to Pakistan for arms training.

Shaikh had given his confessional statement before the magistrate’s court but had retracted when he was produced before the special TADA court in June.

Referring to the conspiracy meeting which held in Dubai before the Mumbai blast, the CBI said that in the meeting which was headed by Dawood and attended by absconding prime accused Mohammed Dossa and convicted accused Feroz Khan and Mohammed Salim Mira Shaikh, Ahmed Lambu along with four other accused were sent to Pakistan to receive training in handling arms and ammunition, throwing hand-grenades and making bombs. The Mumbai bomb blast was planned to avenge the Babri Masjid demolition.

The CBI has booked Shaikh on charges including murder and criminal conspiracy of the IPC as well as the now repealed Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

The CBI claimed that Shaikh had absconded to Dubai in 1995 after he learned that a co-accused had named him in a confessional statement.

The agency further alleged that Shaikh was assisted by absconding accused, Mohammed Dossa to procure a resident visa of UAE. It added that Shaikh was also given a fake passport and a job as an electronics salesman in Dubai.

The charge sheet alleged that in 2011, Shaikh arrived at the Chennai airport with a passport under the name of Ahmed Kamal Shah Walidiyat Haji Kamal. The CBI said that he had destroyed his previous two passports, one which showed his travel to Pakistan and another fake one made in 2011. It added that since his return to the country, Shaikh was living on rent with his family in various places in Mumbai.

On March 12, 1993, a series of blasts had occurred in Mumbai, leading to the death of 257 people and injuring 713. A charge sheet was filed by the CBI, naming 189 accused.

There have been two phases of the trial so far. While a death penalty has been awarded to Yakub Memon in the first phase, six men were convicted in September last year. Among them, Taher Merchant and Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan were given the death penalty.

French NGO that complained against Rafale has been accused of ‘destroying reputation to gain media attention and funds’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
French NGO that complained against Rafale has been accused of ‘destroying reputation to gain media attention and funds’

The fear-mongering of the opposition with regards to the Rafale deal got a new lease of life as news trickled in that a French NGO, Sherpa, headed by one William Bourdon has filed a complaint with the national financial prosecutor’s office in Paris against the Rafale defence deal. The NGO was immediately hailed as an ‘anti-corruption’ crusader, which may as well be. However, William Bourdon hasn’t been an alien to his share of controversies in the past.

Sherpa, headed by William Bourdon has been accused in the past of meddling in the affairs of African countries to get media coverage and funds in exchange. A detailed report was published in International Policy Digest that detailed his exploits in Africa and termed him as a media hungry person.

Reportedly, Bourdon was closely associated with Mohamad Ould Boumataou when he filed corruption charges against the Mauritian President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Bouamatou’s cousin and political opponent. Sherpa was also entirely funded by an organization both Bourdon and Bouamtou were board members of in 2015 and 2016. Three relatives of the Mauritian President are set to file a defamation suit against the lawyer-businessman.

Sherpa has also been involved in a number of failed corporate lawsuits. The NGO filed human rights charges against corporate giants like Samsung Electronics and Vinci Construction Company. The latter vigorously denied the allegations that it violated the rights of migrant workers in Qatar helping build the football stadiums for the 2022 World Cup and initiate defamation proceedings against the NGO.

Quite clearly, Sherpa and Bourdon have acquired widespread notoriety for their antics around the world. It does not bode well for political discourse in the country that people are willing to take the claims of anyone as gospel truth without verifying their credentials.

Sabarimala: Communist Kerala govt now suggests setting aside 2 days for women pilgrims of all ages

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Sabarimala: Communist Kerala govt now suggests setting aside 2 days for women pilgrims of all ages

The Communist Kerala government, after heaping atrocities on Sabarimala devotees, has now suggested the Kerala High Court that two days could be set apart for women pilgrims of all ages to offer prayers at the Sabarimala hill shrine.

The Communist government gave the suggestion during the hearing of a petition moved by four women devotees seeking protection for women of all age groups to offer prayers at the shrine beside facilities for smooth pilgrimage.

The petition was filed by Reshma Nishanth, Shanila Sajeesh, Dhanya V S and Surya M, that came up before a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice
A K Jayasankaran Nambiar. In the PIL, the four women suggested devoting two to three days exclusively to women of all ages who are willing to visit the shrine. The State government agreed with the suggestion of the petitioners.

The petitioners claim that they are ardent devotees of Lord Ayappa, who have been observing the ‘Vritham’ and wearing black dresses since the Supreme Court verdict came out. They complained that they have not been able to visit the shrine due to protests by the devotees and therefore they seek a directive to the government to ensure facilities and arrangements for smooth pilgrimage for all women and to provide adequate and sufficient protection.

Meanwhile, a bench of justices P R Ramachandra Menon and N Anil Kumar ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the shrine, not to divert funds to the state government without prior permission of the court.

The state government had claimed that the expenses were being met by the government but the TDB expressed its willingness to provide food and accommodation to the police at Sannidhanam, the temple complex. The Kerala government had earlier lifted the restrictions imposed by it at the Sabarimala including section 144 after an interim order of the High Court.

The Sabarimala temple reopened for the third time on Nov 16 since the Supreme Court verdict for the two-month-long pilgrimage season.

Idols broken, parts thrown into nearby sewer in old Shiva temple in UP

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Idols broken, parts thrown into nearby sewer in old Shiva temple in UP

In an incident of apparent religious hatred, some unidentified elements have desecrated the idols of Lord Shiva and his family in an old Shiva temple in the village of Sungarpur Behda in Uttar Pradesh as per reports. Some idols were thrown in the nearby sewer. The police administration has hastily got new idols installed in the temple to pacify the villagers.

As per reports, the broken Shiva idol was first seen by the temple priest on Friday morning. He then informed the about the incident to the Village Pradhan Rajpal Singh and Temple Committee President Hrishipal. On searching the other idols were found lying in the nearby sewer.

On receiving the news of the incident, ASP Dinesh Kumar, CO Arun Kumar, Tehsildar Radhey Shyam Sharma, and Station Inspector Satyendra Kumar reached the village with police and PAC.

As per the report in Jagran, the Police discovered a note from the temple premises. Though all the details of the content of the note are not clear yet, the report claims that the note mentions how an amount of 40 lakhs was collected from the people of a certain community and were handed over to one Jamil who allegedly hired a person by paying him Rs 2 lakhs to desecrate the idols. The note also reportedly warns the Gurjar communities to leave the village.

The villagers are demanding the arrest of the culprits. The police have been investigating the case and have assured that the miscreants will be caught soon.

However, this is not the first incident of its kind. The village has reportedly witnessed few such incidents before as well. In the year 2013, people of ‘another community’ had objected against the use of loudspeaker at the Shiva temple. The Police had to step in to pacify the situation and actions against many people were taken. In 2017, there was another confrontation between the two communities regarding the Siddhapeeth in the village.

Security tightened at Ayodhya ahead of ‘Super Sunday’ events organised by Hindu organisations

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Security tightened at Ayodhya ahead of ‘Super Sunday’ events organised by Hindu organisations

Two lakh Ram Bhakts will descend in Ayodhya tomorrow, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have claimed. The RSS has termed it the ‘Hunkar Sabha’. Demands for the construction of Ram Mandir have been gaining momentum lately with the matter getting delayed further in the Court.

The Shiv Sena will hold a separate event of its own as well on what is being dubbed ‘Super Sunday’ by the media. As per reports, about 25,000 Shiv Sainiks have reached Ayodhya on Saturday morning. Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray will reach Ayodhya later in the day. He is expected to attend the Maha Aarti on the banks of the Sarayu and hand over a silver brick to Saints for the construction of the Ram Mandir. The Shiv Sena is demanding the center to bring an ordinance to construct Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
.


Meanwhile, the state police are on high alert in view of the ‘Dharam Sabha’ at Ayodhya. A contingent of BSF, CRPF, RAF 70 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and 4,000 personnel of civilian police have been deployed at Ayodhya to maintain law and order. “The police force deployed in Ayodhya has been directed to remain on high alert. The entire district has been divided into eight zones and 16 sectors to strengthen security,” a senior officer said. Section 144 has also been imposed on the Ram Janambhoomi premises.

A senior RSS official reportedly said that ‘Super Sunday’ would be witness to the “last Dharam Sabha in Ayodhya” after which there would be “no more Dharm Sabhas and construction of Ram Mandir would begin.” Sanjay Raut on Friday had said, “The Babri mosque was demolished in 17 minutes, how long does it take to prepare papers to bring an ordinance.” He had also added that from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to UP cabinet, the BJP is ruling everywhere.

With BJP governments in both the state and center, the pressure is on the BJP to start the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya at the earliest.

Congress lies yet again, this time about prices of LPG cylinders

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress lies yet again, this time about prices of LPG cylinders

Congress seems to have run out of innovative poll strategies and like the quintessential one trick pony, it has resorted to blatant lying over and over again. This time, Congress took to Twitter to lie about LPG prices under the Congress regime and those under the Modi regime.


After taking a juvenile dig saying Prime Minister Modi uses “Mitrogen” gas for cooking, Congress’ official handle on Twitter goes on to say LPG is selling at exorbitant prices, Rs. 1000 in some states.

It then plugs a graphic that shows during Congress, LPG was being sold at Rs. 344.75 and now, the same gas cylinder is being sold for Rs. 942.

Congress, rather craftily, misleads its voters thoroughly.

LPG cylinders are sold at two different rates across the country. One, which is the subsidized rate, the other, is the non-subsidized rate where people have started giving up their subsidies voluntarily since the Prime Minister had urged people to do so.

Congress has conflated the two to further their rhetoric.

Following are the prices of non-subdized LPG cylinders across the four metropolitan cities as on November 7th 2018.

Source: Indane

It must be borne in mind that if someone avails the option of buying subsidized LPG cylinders, the difference of price between that and the non-subsidized cylinder is paid by the government.

From the prices mentioned, it is evident that Congress is quoting the price of non-subsidized LPG cylinders. The Congress quoted the price as being Rs. 942, and on the Indane Gas website, as on 7th November 2018, the price of non-subsidized LPG cylinders in Delhi was Rs. 942.50.

Now, if one goes by the graphic shared by Congress, one is to assume that the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinders in Delhi during the Congress regime was Rs. 344.75. This is however far from the truth.

In December 2013, when the Congress government was in power, to May 2014, when the Congress’ regime ended, the price of LPG, the prices were well within the same range. In fact, it touched a record of Rs. 1241 in January 2014.

Source: Here

It is thus evident that Congress was not comparing non-subsidised LPG prices during its own regime and Modi regime.

The only logical explanation is that Congress maliciously compared subsidized prices during the Congress era to non-subsidized prices now.

The prices of subsidized LPG’s as on 7th November 2018 were as following

Source: Indane

Since Congress took the non-subsidized price of Rs. 942 of Delhi, the subsidized price of LPG in Delhi as on 7th November 2018 is 507.42.

Now, is this price astronomically higher than what it used to be during the Congress regime?

If we look at more or less the same period in 2013, the prices of subsidized LPG in Delhi, one sees that in December 2013, the price of LPG was Rs 414

Then we take a look at what the prices of subsidized LPG’s were like even before 2013, during the Congress government’s rule. In 2004, the price of subsidized LPG was Rs. 241.6. By 2009, it climbed to 279.7 and by 2013, it increased to Rs. 414.

Source: Here

Interestingly, in the entire chart of subsidized LPG prices, right from January 2004 to today, we couldn’t find a single figure of Rs. 344.75 that has been quoted by the Congress.

In fact, if one looks at the increase in prices of subsidized LPG cylinders, one realises that the increase in 10 years of Congress government and that of 4.5 years of Modi government are poles apart. The prices, in Mumbai for example increased by 66.4% during 10 years of Congress and has increased by 11.5% in 4.5 years of the Modi government.


Here is how the price of subsidized cylinder grew when the Congress government was in power. Whereas, since the BJP has come to power, the increase in prices has halted substantially. Following is the chart for BJP.

Comparison of price increase of subsidised LPG cylinders during Congress and BJP govt

It is thus evident that Congress was wrong on several counts.

  1. They compared subsidized prices during Congress regime to non-subsidized prices during Modi government
  2. Congress failed to mention the time frame of comparison
  3. Congress failed to mention the city
  4. Failed to mention that the rate of price growth during Congress far exceeded that under the BJP regime.

Perhaps Congress would do well to get their information straight before making a mockery out of themselves by spreading lies that are so easily caught.

LeT has formed death squads and is monitoring PM Modi, assassination plot by Hafiz Saeed: TimesNow

OpIndia Staff
-
0
LeT has formed death squads and is monitoring PM Modi, assassination plot by Hafiz Saeed: TimesNow

News channel Times Now has claimed that they have accessed an intelligence report which says that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba has been monitoring movements of PM Modi and the PM is being treated as the number 1 target of the dreaded terrorist group.


The report claims that the channel has accessed an internal security note by the Intelligence Bureau which claims that a sleeper cell of the dreaded terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba has penetrated into Delhi’s Lutyens area where all the offices and residences of the ministers and top bureaucrats are located.

The report claims that Lashkar has formed death squads and has been tracking the movements of PM Modi in and around the area. The document also reportedly says that the Lashkar sleeper cell has reconnoitred the route from 7, Lok Kalyan Marg (the PM’s residence) to his office in the South Block. It also says that the death squad has received orders from their commander Hafiz Saeed to assassinate PM Modi.

The report goes ahead to state that before the 26/11 attacks, David Coleman Headly was given the exact same task of monitoring the important buildings and routes in specific locations. The report further states that the intelligence agencies have received several clues and important pieces of information over the last few months and the security around the Raisina Hill area has been tightened significantly.


In the last few days, the security agencies have completely blocked off public access to the offices of ministers in the North and South blocks. Though there were displeasures and questions regarding the sudden change in security arrangements, Times Now claims that it is because of the recent information that the LeT has reconnoitred the PM’s travel route from his official residence to PMO.

The report also claims that additional security cordons and outposts can now be seen on the route and also around the PM’s residence and office.

In the past too, there have been numerous instances of terrorist attack threat to the PM’s life. In December 2015, a major plot to attack the PM by LeT was foiled when the security agencies arrested the terrorists who had infiltrated into the Indian border through the LoC. In July this year too, there was a high alert issued to intelligence agencies over a possible LeT plot to target the PM and the parliament.

After the Maharashtra police began investigating the Bhima-Koregaon violence, several alleged Urban Maoists were arrested. It was revealed from a letter found by the police that the alleged Urban Maoists had also discussed of a plot to assassinate the PM in a ‘Rajiv Gandhi type’ incident.

Announcement: OpIndia is now a separate legal and business entity

Rahul Roushan
-
0
Announcement: OpIndia is now a separate legal and business entity

OpIndia started as a part-time effort by three professionals and it has only grown since then. We have worked with relentless focus to show how a certain section of the mainstream media distorts facts and maligns those who dare to question them.

OpIndia too was mocked and maligned – and that process has not stopped, nor it will stop ever, we are sure – we were treated as outcasts, branded ‘trolls’ (we don’t complain), personal lives of people associated with the website were targeted, but we persisted.

While we made these powerful enemies, what kept us going was the fact that we made many friends too. We could create a community that stood by us and continues to support us to this day.

A major step the in evolution of OpIndia was taken when, in October 2016, Swarajya magazine group decided to support us. OpIndia was made part of Swarajya group and a much-needed support system was provided to the brand.

A few months back, we realized that both Swarajya and OpIndia could aim for independent growth where neither of us needs to subsidize the other or need to curtail their own ambitions for sake of the other. We started exploring the possibility of OpIndia being run not just as an independent brand, but as an independent legal and business entity as well.

A new entity was formed, but the challenge of finding the resources to sustain the operations remained. Digital news industry is in a flux, with the very basic business model of journalism itself under strain. When even big brands are finding it challenging to find the right business model, how could OpIndia survive? Such questions did scare us, however, we were too emotionally invested not to try.

In the past few weeks, our resolve to chart out an independent path got only strengthened. We requested our readers to pay for the content, voluntarily, and the result was overwhelming. This helped us and a couple individuals who were willing to back us, gain confidence, that we are ready to start a new chapter.

We still don’t have a profitable business model, not anywhere close, but we have a lot of faith in what we are doing, and we are counting on the goodwill that we have been able to generate till now.

With that, we are formally announcing that OpIndia is now a new and separate entity. We are not part of the Swarajya group anymore. We thank Swarajya group for the hand holding and wish them the very best in whatever they do.

This is a leap of faith and it is faith that team OpIndia has in abundance. We know you will support us in this journey as we embark upon this unchartered territory.

Rahul Roushan,
Mentor, tormentor, CEO, whatever
OpIndia (Aadhyaasi Media & Content Services private limited)

1...6,8726,8736,874...7,675Page 6,873 of 7,675