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Rahul Gandhi gets legal notice from Maharashtra child rights body for disclosing identity of minor victims

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi gets legal notice from Maharashtra child rights body for disclosing identity of minor victims

The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued a notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi as well as microblogging site Twitter for disclosing the identity of two minor boys who were reportedly victims of assault. As per reports, Amol Jadhav, a city resident, had filed a complaint and President of the commission, Pravin Ghuge, said he has sought a reply as to why action should not be taken against them under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

On 15th June, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had tweeted a video where two minor Dalit boys were allegedly being beaten up for bathing in ‘Savarna’ well.

As per law the identities of minor victims cannot be disclosed. The video which went viral last week allegedly shows two minor boys who were stripped naked and beaten up and paraded nude in a village at Jalgaon in Maharashtra. Rahul Gandhi had tweeted the video from his official handle, blaming the BJP and RSS for rising atrocities against Dalits.

While Congress leaders from Maharashtra, like Sanjay Nirupam, have dismissed the notice, the commission has sought the reply within 10 days from Rahul Gandhi.

Google creates anti-fake news curriculum with the help of ‘fact checking’ website whose co-founder was caught spreading fake news

OpIndia Staff
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Google creates anti-fake news curriculum with the help of ‘fact checking’ website whose co-founder was caught spreading fake news

Sundar Pichai led tech giant Google would train 8000 Indian journalists to raise awareness and aid in the fight against fake news, PTI has reported. As per the report, this awareness would be spread via training program designed to raise awareness against misinformation, which will also provide tools to combat fake news.

An IANS report has hinted that the training would be a two-step process with the first step being selecting 200 journalists from various Indian cities to participate in five-day boot camps to spruce up their skills in this regard. They would then in turn start training the 8000 journalists.

The workshops would be conducted in languages like English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada.

Google’s News Lab Lead Asia-Pacific Irene Jay Liu has been quoted as saying that Google considers “supporting trusted, authoritative media sources” as its top priority. Thus Liu claimed that journalists and communities working together with the help of online tools can fight the “tide of misinformation”.

As per a statement issued by Google in this regard, this training will be imparted in the next one year. As per the statement, the topics covered would be online verification, digital hygiene and fact-checking.

The program as reported would be based on a curriculum developed by ‘experts’ from websites like First Draft, Storyful, BoomLive, Factchecker, DataLeads and even Alt News whose co-founder has ironically been caught spreading Fake News multiple times, via the Facebook ‘parody’ page Unofficial: Subramanian Swamy.

First, the co-founder was caught spreading the fake news about former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, and then for spreading a lie about a protest in Delhi, while the quoted video was actually of a Mumbai Maratha Kranti Morcha. The latest lie to be spread by the Facebook page was in regards to Modi government’s view on multi-brand retail.

This makes one wonder how credible would this ‘fact-checking’ training would be when trainers themselves indulge in spreading fake news.

Chinese citizen arrested in West Bengal found in possession of an Aadhaar card

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese citizen arrested in West Bengal found in possession of an Aadhaar card

A Chinese citizen was arrested in West Bengal’s Siliguri on Sunday night after he was supposedly caught possessing an Aadhaar card, Hindustan Times has reported. As per the report, the individual named Ye Wang was found using an Aadhaar card to book a hotel despite having a Chinese passport.

As per a UNI India report, Wang had arrived at the hotel situated on the city’s Sevoke road, about a week ago along with a Nepali citizen named Ganesh Bhattarai. The report claims that the duo had contacted a transport businessman Bappai Agarwal.

It is being alleged that the trio wanted to hatch a cheating and forgery scheme, owing to which they were arrested in the raid on the hotel, following which they have been sent on a week-long police remand. This raid was carried out by a joint team of Central Intelligence officials and the Indian Army if the UNI report is to be believed.

As per Siliguri’s police commissioner Sunil Kumar Chowdhary, the three accused have been booked under charges of Foreigner’s act, cheating and forgery. It has also been reported that fake ID cards have been found in the accused’s possession.

Incidentally, it isn’t the only time Aadhaar cars or their fake counterparts have been seized from foreign national residing in India.

It was reported that fake Aadhaar cards had been seized from illegal Myanmar Muslims in Manipur. It was also reported in this case that the Manipur police had arrested 10 individuals in connection with two fake Aadhar card manufacturing rackets which were operating in the towns of Moreh and Jiribam. Out of those arrested, nine are believed to be illegal immigrants hailing from Myanmar.

In another case, it was reported that 24 Bangladeshis having fake Aadhaar cards were arrested by the police over suspicion of them having terror links. Some of the accused even had ID cards issued by various madrasas of the country.

Pastor arrested by Police after being thrashed by Bajrang Dal Activists for trying to convert Hindus to Christianity

OpIndia Staff
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Pastor arrested by Police after being thrashed by Bajrang Dal Activists for trying to convert Hindus to Christianity

The Police has booked Pastor Dipender Prakash under section 151 of the CrPC (Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offence) and arrested him.

He was also beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists inside Court premises while trying to convert 11 Hindus to Christianity when he reached the local court in Meerut to submit an affidavit on behalf of the men who wanted to convert.

“Around 11 individuals wished to convert to Christianity, and Dipender Prakash had come to Sardhana to get their affidavits notarized when Bajrang Dal activists caught him. He was brought here and we booked him under CRPC section 151 and sent him to jail,” said Dharmender Singh Rathore, station house officer (SHO) of Sardhana police station. It is being reported that the arrested pastor is a resident of Muzaffarnagar.

We had reported earlier how the forced conversion factory works. In February this year, a Christian pastor and his associates were thrashed in Bihar after allegations were made that they were indulging in proselytizing. In December last year, a couple was arrested in Andhra Pradesh for allegedly engaging in the conversion of tribal children. In the same month, UP Police had arrested 7 Christian missionaries after it was alleged that they were carrying out forced conversions of villagers. Only a few days later, Police had arrested one Catholic priest and detained 40 others for forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. Slum dwellers in Agra had even alleged that they were drugged by missionaries who were trying to lure them into converting to Christianity with promises of a house, better lifestyle and education for their children. In another instance, Christian missionaries had assaulted an aged tribal man for refusing to convert to Christianity.

NavIC – India’s indigenous satellite navigation system all set to launch

OpIndia Staff
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NavIC – India’s indigenous satellite navigation system all set to launch

India felt the need of an indigenous navigation system during the Kargil War when the nation approached the US for GPS data of that particular region to ascertain the positions of the enemy combatants, but India’s appeal was denied b the U.S. for this reason, the Indian Armed forces suffered large numbers of casualties.

Nearly two decades have past and that need is on the verge of being met as India is set to launch NavIC, India’s own GPS which would challenge those of the west. Ajay Prakash Sawhney, the IT secretary told a news outlet that in order to popularize the platform a request for proposal (ROP) has been called.

The GPS was named NavIC by the incumbent Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi after the last of the seven satellites namely Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1G was launched in 2016. The Indian GPS relies on seven satellites whereas the US has 24 satellites for their GPS, Russia has GLONASS and European Union has Gallelio. With this launch, India will be in a club of very few countries with their own satellite navigation systems.

NavIC is said to be much more accurate than its American counterpart, with NavIC’s position accuracy of 5 meters and the GPS’s 20-30 meters. The NavIC covers India and 1,500 kilometres from the country’s border, the cost of India’s indigenous satellite navigation programme has been estimated to be around 1,400 crores.

It will aid in terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation. It is also technologically more superior than the American GPS as Tapan Mishra explained to a news organization last year the India system has a dual frequency (S and L bands). GPS, on the other hand, is dependent only on one band – L band. Low-frequency signals travel through the atmosphere and its velocity is subjected to atmospheric disturbances. US banks on the atmospheric model to assess frequency error and it has to update this model from time to time to assess the exact error. In India’s case, NavIC measures the difference in delay of dual frequency (S and L bands) and can assess the actual delay. Therefore the Indian system is not dependent on any model to find the frequency error and is more accurate than GPS.

Bihar youth plays pro-Pakistan songs to celebrate Eid, gets arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar youth plays pro-Pakistan songs to celebrate Eid, gets arrested

Eight people were arrested on Monday in Bihar’s Rohtas district for allegedly playing a pro-Pakistan song during an event organized for Eid. As per reports, a DJ Party was organized to celebrate Eid but the songs which blared from the loudspeakers allegedly praised Pakistan and threatened to kill anyone who opposes the creation of an Islamic nation.

The participants of this programme also allegedly raised slogan praising Pakistan and a particular terrorist outfit. Satyaveer Singh, SP Rohtas stated that the police took action after a video of the aforementioned event went viral on the social media. The police initiated a probe to ascertain the location and time of the video and they found that the incident took place at Nasirganj on the eve of Eid.

The police lodged an FIR and three main suspects were arrested. Other five were aged between 14 and 17, they later got sent to the district juvenile justice board.

The police are still searching for 15 other people, who they believe played key roles in organizing the event. The song “Hum Pakistani Muzahid, Dharti Ke Rakhwale”, was played and according to police most of the attendees were familiar with the song and they suspect these youth have played this song before in their get-togethers.

BJP pulls out of alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti government falls

OpIndia Staff
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BJP pulls out of alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti government falls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today announced that it has decided to withdraw from the coalition government with Mehbooba Mufti led PDP in J&K.


BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav informed in the press conference that all the BJP leaders of J&K were called to Delhi yesterday by the central leadership to discuss the achievements, programmes and developments of the 3-year-old alliance government in J&K with the state leaders. In the discussion, necessary inputs from central government ministers and other agencies have also been discussed. He added that after taking into account all the factors, the party has decided that it is not possible for the BJP to continue in the alliance government any longer.

Ram Madhav informed that the present partnership has become untenable for the BJP. He added that the BJP formed the government with PDP 3 years ago after a fractured mandate in the J&K assembly elections. While Jammu region had given support to BJP, Kashmir had favoured PDP. Ram Madhav stated that the party made a Common Minimum Programme and agenda on the government. He added further that for 3 years, the BJP had tried to stick to agenda.

Ram Madhav stated that the BJP 2 main commitments, restoring peace in the state, especially the Kashmir valley and encouraging development in al the 3 regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. But as the BJP did not have an absolute majority, it had to be dependant upon the PDP. He further stated that today’s situation is such that there is heavy radicalisation, terrorism in the valley. He mentioned journalist Shujaat Bukhari being shot by terrorists in broad daylight and many instances violence and failure of law and order.

Ram Madhav added that the central government has provided all possible support to state government. He mentioned that the major part of the Rs 80,000 crore package promised by the PM has been disbursed and major projects were inaugurated by the Prime Minister when he visited Ladakh and Jammu recently. He asserted that the central government has been doing all that is possible to improve security situations in the state and even all the government agencies have been taking steps to counter the threats from Pakistan. The central government has facilitated the construction of 4000 bunkers along the Line of Control for the safety of citizens. He further stressed that despite the central government always giving whatever the PDP asked for, they had failed to deliver expected results. He stated that the recent events in the state are a testimony to that.

Ram Madhav added that even developmental works have been halted and hindered by PDP leaders and the regions of Jammu and Ladakh have seen gross negligence and exclusion from developmental work.

He went ahead to state that keeping in mind the larger national interest of India’s integrity and security, the party has decided that it is time they pulled out of the government and the reins of power be handed over to the Governor and any further steps will be considered only after the situation has been stabilised in the state.

Regarding the recent suspension of anti-terror operations in the state, Ram Madhav stated that the suspensions were announced with a hope and separatists elements including Hurriyat will appreciate it and it will see some positive outcome towards restoring peace in the valley. However, their attempt to reassure the people of the state, the move has failed to inspire any positive step from the separatists and terrorists.

BJP leader and now former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Kavinder Gupta informed that he has tendered his resignation to the Governor and all the MLAs of BJP have also submitted their resignations.

This decision comes hours after BJP President Amit Shah met NSA Ajit Doval. Meanwhile, following the break-up, Mehbooba Mufti has also resigned as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Narinder Nath Vohra is the current Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP pulls out of alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir

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BJP pulls out of alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir

BJP has decided to pull out of the BJP-PDP alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports by Republic TV, the BJP has decided to pull out of the alliance in the frontier state.


As PDP does not have the numbers to stake an individual claim for the government, the state is expected to go under the Governor’s rule. Speaking to Republic TV, former CM Farouk Abdullah has stated that the split was expected because the current government has been a complete failure when it comes to tackling terrorism.

The BJP has announced a press conference at 2.15 pm on the matter.

Currently, BJP holds 25 and PDP 28 seats in the 87 seat assembly. Congress, National Conference have 12 and 15 seats respectively.

According to latest reports, the decision has been conveyed to CM Mehbooba Mufti.

Muslim Cleric in presence of a Congress minister says that cow slaughter will happen during Bakrid

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim Cleric in presence of a Congress minister says that cow slaughter will happen during Bakrid

A Muslim cleric Tanveer Hashmi – head of Hashim Pir Dargah in Karnataka’s Vijayapura, was caught on camera saying that cows would be sacrificed during the festival of Bakrid, PTI has reported.

The report claims that this comment was made during the Ramzan prayer sermon on Saturday. It is also been reported that this controversial statement was made in presence of a Karnataka Congress minister Shivanand Patil.

As per the report, Patil who is the state’s Family welfare minister, did not raise objection to the cleric’s statement, despite the fact that cow slaughter is banned [PDF] in the state.

A local NEWS9 report shared the video clip of the cleric making the controversial statement:


As per the video and translation provided, the minister is heard saying that during Bakrid, the devil will do mischief with regards to cow sacrifice. He then says that, it shouldn’t be the case that another sacrifice takes place along with the cow’s sacrifice – to much cheers from the crowd.  He was later also heard expressing hope that his listeners would pay attention to his words.

Incidentally it isn’t the only time the Congress has been caught in an embarrassing position with regards to cow slaughter.

About a year back, it was reported how Youth Congress workers in Kerala had horrifyingly slaughtered a calf in full public view in order to protest against the Modi government’s notification to restrict the sale of cattle in the markets for slaughter purposes.

This tryst with cow slaughter didn’t end here, and a few days following the incident, a Kerala Congress MLA was seen eating beef with his friends to express solidarity with cow slaughter.

From worst performer to best, Uttar Pradesh now aims to achieve ODF status a year before the national target

OpIndia Staff
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From worst performer to best, Uttar Pradesh now aims to achieve ODF status a year before the national target

The government of Uttar Pradesh has seen a massive overhaul in the implementation of schemes and achieving the set targets in various state and central government projects. According to a report in the Economic Times, the state government is now bracing itself to the task of building 20 lakh toilets every month till October 2nd this year.

The Uttar Pradesh government is aiming for the distinction of achieving the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status a whole year ahead of the national deadline of October 2nd, 2019.

Till a year ago, UP has been lagging behind the national averages on the number of toilets built and the total number of villages being declared ODF. It was reportedly among the two worst performing states in the Swachh Bharat Mission and it was being speculated that the state will not even be able to meet the national target. In the last one year after CM Yogi Adityanath took charge, the state has witnessed a complete turn around in the efforts and dedication.

UP was reportedly the top performer last year and if it is able to achieve ODF status a year earlier, due to its distinction of being the highest populated state of India, it can even enable to turn the country ODF six months earlier than the national target of October 2, 2019.

According to the report in ET, out of 2.69 crore rural houses in UP, 1.94 crores already have a household toilet. In urban areas, against an original target of 8.87 lakh toilets, 3.69 lakh toilets have been built so far and 1.46 lakh are under construction.

When the Swachh Bharat Mission was announced on October 2nd, 2014, UP had only 37% coverage of rural (Grameen) household toilets. After nearly 2.5 years, on April 30, 2017, the total rural household toilet coverage was at 47%. That means the state had only made 10% progress in 2.5 years. But in the last one year, after massive efforts from the BJP government in the state, the state average on rural household toilets coverage has been taken up to 74%.

SBM rural coverage state-wise
Courtesy: Ministry of drinking water and sanitation

The state government has been providing active support, personnel and administration in the awareness and participation campaigns to achieve the target of Swachh Bharat Mission. Innovative measures like summer internships, geotagging, Swachhta shapath, and Bal Swachhta Rath etc. have been undertaken to encourage the masses to come forward and make the mission a success.


UP CM Yogi Adityanath has recently told in the NITI Ayog Governing Council meeting chaired by the PMthat the state will now target to construct 20 lakh toilets every month to achieve the complete ODF status by October 2nd, 2019.

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