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Kashmiri, Sikh separatists to launch anti-India campaign during Modi’s UK visit at behest of Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmiri, Sikh separatists to launch anti-India campaign during Modi’s UK visit at behest of Pakistan

As per reports, some British Sikhs along with Kashmiri separatists are planning an anti-India campaign in the UK during Prime Minister Modi’s UK visit this month. The protest is reportedly backed by Pakistan-origin British MP Lord Nazir Ahmed. Prime Minister Modi, along with heads of 53 Commonwealth nations will be in the UK for “Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting” from 16th to 20th April.

The Sikh Federation UK has announced that it will join a protest demonstration with other UK based groups which will be protesting against Prime Minister Modi outside one of the venues of the meeting. One of the main demands would be the release of British national Jagtar Singh Johal who was arrested in Punjab for alleged targeted killings. It is also reported that Kashmiri separatists have hired several open roof tourist buses with signage of ‘Free Kashmir’ and ‘Modi not welcome’ where women and children are expected to be brought in to board these tourist buses which will pass through important tourist places including the Parliament, White Hall, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly and Buckingham Palace.

It is reported that working on behest of Pakistan based militants, including Wadhwa Singh of Babbar Khalsa International, these UK-based Sikhs held a meeting at a Gurudwara in London to plot their strategy. It is believed that they got their instructions from Pakistan based Sikh militants whose sole objective is to conduct acts of terror against India.

As per British Government Whips’ Office, House of Lord’s website, Member of Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmed is also planning to raise a question on Kashmir and Punjab in the House of Lords on 16th April. The Pakistani origin MP is also president of the all-Party Parliamentary group on Kashmir and is known to be working on an anti-India campaign in the UK Parliament. This, however, is not the first time such news has surfaced. The same PoK origin Lord Nazir Shah had organised “black day” protests outside the India House on Republic Day. He was then met by “Vande Mataram” chants.

Fake poll about Karnataka assembly election outcome circulated under name of Today’s Chanakya

OpIndia Staff
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Fake poll about Karnataka assembly election outcome circulated under name of Today’s Chanakya

A poll in the name of Today’s Chanakya predicting a hung assembly is being circulated on Whatsapp. The PDF being circulated in media predicts 70 seats for JDS + BSP combine. 76 seats for Congress and BJP would get 75 seats. Remaining three were predicted to be won by others. This information was published in a Kannada Daily called ‘Udaya Vani’. It is not clear as to who has initiated this piece of fake poll on Whatsapp as of now.


Today’s Chanakya categorically denied that the prediction is done by them.


Similar fake polls were being spread by AAP social media head during Punjab assembly polls and Congress office-bearer during the Gujarat assembly polls in 2017. AAP had specifically used the name of Today’s Chanakya to add credibility to their poll. It must be noted that fake polls under the name of reputed poll agencies have the potential to influence voter choice during elections.

People recall Lalu’s jungle raj terror, as some ‘liberals’ try to whitewash his crimes

OpIndia Staff
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People recall Lalu’s jungle raj terror, as some ‘liberals’ try to whitewash his crimes

Following RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s conviction and pronouncement of the jail sentence in the fourth fodder scam, in a not so surprising move, champions of justice have decided to come out defending him, calling his conviction in scams dating over two decades back, as Modi’s vendetta politics.

Sagarika Ghose, a self-proclaimed Nehru fangirl who was slammed for peddling Congress leader’s ‘spin’ on Lalu’s imprisonment, immediately took to Twitter to call Lalu’s conviction as ‘violation of fundamental human rights’.


While Sagarika Ghose’s knowledge about law of the land is questionable, journalist and former Shiv Sena MP Pritish Nandy soon came to defend Lalu, who according to him, is not facing conviction for decades of scams.


Even as Lalu Justice League was busy defending the indefensible, many Twitter users came out reminiscing the long forgotten times of lack of law and order in Laluland.


Sadhu Yadav has a history of criminal complaints registered against him, including a complaint as late as 2016 when an FIR was registered against him for demanding Rs. 50 lakh extortion money. Back in 1999, he was also accused of rape and murder of Shilpi Jain and Gautam Singh, but Yadav reportedly refused DNA test.


Other users who grew up in Laluland also shared their stories, which sound nothing less than a Bollywood potboiler. At a time when Bihar government under Lalu struggled to pay salaries of government employees, crores were spent on his daughter’s lavish wedding.


Speaking of Lalu’s daughter, one needs to remember the time when Lalu’s daughter Ragini’s ‘friend’ Abhishek died under mysterious circumstances in Ranchi. The case which bears striking similarities to the Nitish Katara murder case because it was widely believed that Ragini and Abhishek were romantically involved and more than just friends.

Twitter user GabbbarSingh further recalled the rampant kidnapping and extortion when Bihar was ruled by Lalu Yadav and his proxies.


He added how no one felt safe in his rule.


Journalist Vivek Kaul, who spend his growing up years in Lalu’s Bihar also had similar stories to share where kids disappearing was a norm.

Lalu Justice League was back questioning Lalu’s sentence for a few scams.


Because all other crimes are forgotten if you arrest L K Advani and stop the rath yatra in the 1990s.


The swarm coming out defending Lalu, who is a convict, shows that the narrative for the 2019 elections is already being built by the Opposition. Perhaps a good time for all criminals to come out against Modi to garner support from the so-called liberal journalists and patron saints of justice.

Stinger becomes stingee: Zee News stings the Cobrapost journalist who was out to sting them

Nithesh S
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Stinger becomes stingee: Zee News stings the Cobrapost journalist who was out to sting them

Cobrapost has recently come out with a report claiming that many media houses were ready to peddle Hindutva narrative in exchange for money. The key person behind this sting report in Pushp Sharma of fake RTI document fame. Cobrapost has given their sting the name Operation 136. 136 refers to the rank of India on world press freedom index published by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) in 2017.

Media houses who was targeted by Sharma include India TV, Dainik Jagran, Hindi Khabar, SAB TV, DNA (Daily News and Analysis), Amar Ujala, UNI, 9X Tashan, Samachar Plus, HNN 24*7, Punjab Kesari, Swatantra Bharat, ScoopWhoop, Rediff.com, IndiaWatch, Aj and Sadhna Prime News.

Pushp Sharma, is a journalist who had been arrested for spreading fake news. He had fabricated an RTI reply which claimed that there was no recruitment of Muslims in AYUSH ministry.

Zee News in its ‘Operation Rashtravaad’ revealed that a Cobrapost journalist Pushp Sharma disguised as Acharya Chatrapal Atal who wanted to conduct a sting operation got stung himself. Sharma met the personnel of Zee News to lure them into a deal. Acharya Atal pretended to be the representative of an ashram and Guruji. He had got in touch with Zee through a middleman named Shishir Gomang. Shishir is the son of a former Odisha chief minister Giridhar Gomang.

Under the guise of Acharya Atal, Pushp Sharma offered ads and money to Zee personnel with a demand of spreading communal news. His interaction with Zee News reveals that he wanted to portray media houses with an inclination towards nationalist agenda could also be bought for money by right-wing elements. However, the attempt of Sharma failed as Zee personnel said that they would stick to journalistic ethics and standards. Sharma met Zee personnel at a hotel in Bhubaneshwar.

Sharma had tried to portray Zee Channel as one that can be lured with money and ads in exchange for content. Since Zee personnel reiterated that they would stick to AFP (advertiser funded programme) standards, Sharma was unsuccessful in his attempts. Pushp Sharma also tried to drop in the name of BJP leaders and RSS in the conversation. Zee News claims that Acharya Atal was trying to fool the news channel by using the name of the ruling party.

Pushp Sharma also offered the Zee News chief a meeting with his guruji to talk about a ‘deal’. However, Zee personnel told him that their chief has told them to stick to facts and national interest. He also clarified that their chief does not talk deals. In a key part of the video shot by Zee News, the person is seen saying the following.

Pushp Sharma: Before the election I want you to take the official line. In that, I want some anti-Muslim issues and I also like the issues to be communalised.

Zee News personnel: Even today our channel’s line is nationalist in nature.

Pushp Sharma: Rashtravaad is a dicey word. What I am saying is, I am asking for some content in the form of political demands.

Pushp Sharma: I want the issue to communalised and the issue must give dividends equivalent to that of five years of governance in a single day.

Zee personnel: We do not hide the truth. We report the truth in Zee media. Our organisation in an honest one.

Zee has not explicitly claimed that Pushp Sharma has targeted them as a part of Cobrapost sting operation in their program ‘Operation Rashtravad’. Their program is entirely focused on the manner in which Pushp Sharma tried to lure them into the deal. However, it appears that Zee was also on his hit-list as part of the Cobra post sting. Unfortunately, the predator became the prey in this episode.

The full program can be seen below.

The truth about Kerala’s 1.24 lakh students who left their caste and religion columns blank

OpIndia Staff
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The truth about Kerala’s 1.24 lakh students who left their caste and religion columns blank

Last week Kerala’s education minister C Raveendranath told the Assembly that about 1.24 lakh students in the state had kept their caste and religion columns blank in their admission form for 2017-18. This was hailed as a very progressive step across on Twitter


The news was widely shared by various politicians as well.


Some even hailed it as ‘shiny beacon of hope’.


However, after the news went viral, the truth has emerged that the reason those children have not mentioned caste or religion is the fact that there was a technical glitch. The data was sourced from incomplete information uploaded by the schools. According to Director of Public Instruction (DPI) K V Mohandas, the details of students admitted to schools are uploaded on the Education Department’s website using the ‘Sampoorna’ school management software.

As per reports, it is not mandatory to fill up the columns declaring religion and caste in the application form for Class I admission. The department has sourced the data from the information entered by schools on the website. It appears that teachers might have filled only the mandatory columns while entering the students’ details. While it is mandatory to fill the column regarding the name of the guardian, it is not compulsory to enter the names of father and mother. Similarly, though there are columns to enter the religion and caste of the student, they are not mandatory.

Fresh data suggests that only 1,538 students chose to mention neither caste nor religion. While 2,797 entered religion not caste, as many as 2,984 kept away from citing religion.

There is a reason the mainstream media wants you to remain uneducated about the truth

Ashish Shukla
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There is a reason the mainstream media wants you to remain uneducated about the truth

There is a good reason to believe that mainstream English newspapers in India keep masses uneducated. Most of it stems from bias. A lot has also to do because journos themselves are uneducated. They can’t speak or write on any subject coherently. At best they are quote-renters. At worse, remotely controlled by compromised bosses, politically aligned. The whiff of money and power also keeps them drugged.

Look at the data issue currently clouding our mornings. Aadhaar, of course, is unpalatable to these journos. In the name of a data breach, for months at end, the mainstream media is trying to discredit it. So when Union Minister of State, KJ Alphons made a spirited defence of it, Hindustan Times on its front page accused him of “kicking up a fresh row.” The stable of Times of India called it “bizarre.” Indian Express buried it on Page 10.

What Mr Minister has done is to ask a few simple questions:

  • Aadhaar only asks for your name and address to go with identification. When a telephone directory can have your name and address, why not Aadhaar?
  • When you apply for US Visa, everything of yours, including your body, is laid bare, so why object to Aadhaar?
  • Not a single breach of Aadhaar data has occurred in the past three-and-a-half years.

A sensible and responsible media ought to have reflected and posed these questions to its readers in response:

  • When you give your personal details to earn loyalty points and discounts in a shopping mall, why not Aadhaar?
  • When you give your personal details for mobile numbers, Facebook, banks and passports, why not Aadhaar?
  • When in order to get a blue tick on twitter, you give all your personal information, why not Aadhaar?

Yet, all we get is the minister being accused of being “bizarre” and “kicking up a row.” Row? Who’s in opposition? Obviously, the mainstream media itself is offended and nobody else.

Never would you see an English mainstream media applauding Aadhaar for ostensibly eliminating fake subsidies, throwing out middlemen out and; securing direct subsidies to poor and needy. Hell, I would the let government put every bit of me under a scanner if the rampant corruption could be rooted out.

Those in support of corrupt practices are obviously corrupt. The implication is clear for mainstream media. Yet in the name of privacy, they are using hammers and axes of lies everyday to dismantle Aadhaar. And to keep us “uneducated” on Aadhaar’s overwhelming benefits.

Since “data breach” is the current flavour, in the wake of Facebook outrage, the English mainstream media has gone berserk on the NaMo App. Indian Express has spilt over columns and pages in ugly multi-layered headlines on NaMo App to convey private information of its users are being passed on to US companies. This has followed on Rahul Gandhi claiming that the Prime Minister is “spying” on “personal data” of users.

Now all these dim-wit English mainstream media would never care to inform its readers that one could use NaMo App without giving any information. Yes, without giving any information!

The attempt clearly is to hijack the current outrage over Cambridge Analytica’s alleged data theft of Facebook users. Yet English mainstream media would hide the most logical fact from its readers and indulge in hysteria.

Readers ought to be aware of a very common tactics used by these “journalists” while running down BJP and Prime Minister Modi. Whenever a valid accusation is made by BJP against its opponents — like the engaging of Cambridge Analytica by Congress — a counter allegation is hurled at BJP and the headlines in newspapers next day read: “BJP and Congress trade charges over Analytica.” This is the same tactics such “journalists” use when BJP workers get killed in Bengal or Kerala. Opposition is nudged to similar allegations in return and newspapers next day report: “BJP and Left trade charges on political murders.”

The only option left to the neutral citizens of this country is to call out this “fraud” of the “five-star journalists”. Keep hammering away at their moral credibility till they are left without even a fig leaf to cover their shame.

And keep informing their mistruths to unsuspecting readers who pay for being told lies.

India is run not by the Dove but Doval, and it’s time the likes of Mr Noorani accept that

Anand Walunjkar
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India is run not by the Dove but Doval, and it’s time the likes of Mr Noorani accept that

This is a rebuttal to an article written by Abdul Gafoor Noorani for the Pakistani daily, the Dawn titled “A Hawkish Doctrine”. The Mumbai based lawyer has argued that no Indian PM has ever realized that Indian aspiration of becoming a global power requires a stable friendly relationship with neighbours. Nothing can be farther than truth. Right from Nehru (who signed Indus water treaty with Ayub Khan) to Vajpayee (remember Lahore bus journey and Agra summit?) to Manmohan Singh (Who went beyond measure to have peace talks with Pakistan even after Sharm al-Sheikh and 26/11)

Noorani immediately contradicts himself and accuses Modi of ‘wiping our Nehruvian approach in all fields’. After reading his contradiction laden article, one wonders if he considers Nehru as a pacifist towards Pakistan and Modi as not or was it just a rant against India.

He further criticizes Modi for keeping a hawkish attitude towards Pakistan and cites appointing Ajit Doval as NSA as the supreme evidence. Well, there is no doubt Modi has shifted the gear in pressure tactics but to ignore all the friendly gestures extended by him is a bit of unjustified.

Let us start with 26 May 2014, when Modi invited Nawaz Sharif for his oath-taking ceremony. It was Modi who reciprocated with the saree shawl diplomacy with Sharif. It was Modi who initiated the comprehensive bilateral talks with Pakistan in UFA. It was Modi who went uninvited to Sharif’s granddaughter’s wedding and surprised all critics.

It is shocking that the author puts the entire onus of good relations with Indian leadership and obscured Pakistan from any responsibility. Fact is that in spite of written agreements between the two countries in UFA, Pak refused to send its NSA for bilateral talks on the excuse of involving Kashmir. And there cannot be any discussion on India Pak relations without addressing the elephant in the room – terrorism. Pathankot and Uri attacks are examples of Pakistani barbarism on Indian soil. Pakistani PM had the audacity to praise and glorify a terrorist Burhan Wani from the floor of Pak parliament and the United Nations. Yet, they have no qualms in expecting that India should continue with restraint. Needless to say, that expectation is a bit unfair and India has the right to protect her sovereignty by employing all measures.

Yes, we are not anymore guided by a dove, but a Doval. For years, India has been a victim of neighbour sponsored terrorism and Doval is right to suggest an offensive defence approach which has borne fruits. Every ceasefire violation from Pak is met with a ferocious rebuttal from the Indian side. The surgical strike, as a response to Uri attacks, was a clear example of the new strategy. As a consequence of this so-called hawkish attitude, we have successfully isolated Pakistan from the world and put tremendous pressure to put a curb on self-grown terror, which would ultimately be in the best interest of Pakistan and would eventually pave way for new friendship between the two countries.

In the past, Noorani has showcased his delusions when he blamed Sardar Patel for ‘downfall of Hyderabad’. The Mumbai based writer, who seems to have forgotten the dreadful 26/11, could have done better to go out of the way to criticize the NSA of our own country while writing for a foreign newspaper, full of unnecessary rants, delirious of facts. Instead, he should have used the opportunity to educate the Pakistanis of the terror menace their country has become, and encourage them to embrace secularism like the one he advocates for India. That of course, seems like a far cry.

Two former University of Hyderabad students held for allegedly conspiring to kill the vice chancellor

OpIndia Staff
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Two former University of Hyderabad students held for allegedly conspiring to kill the vice chancellor

Two former students of the University of Hyderabad, Ankala Prudhviraj and Chandan Misra, were arrested by Eastern Godavari Police on Friday for allegedly hatching a plot to kill the university vice-chancellor, V Appa Rao. It is reported that the two were attracted towards leftist ideologies and had joined Maoists.

As per reports, the two were arrested by police when they were returning from the forests after meeting Yapa Narayana alias Haribhushan, the secretary of Telangana State Committee of CPI (Maoist). As per police, they had met Haribhushan in January 2018 with help of a Maoist courier where he explained party’s principles and ideologies to them and asked them to recruit maximum students from the varsity.

During the discussion, the police say, Rohith Vemula’s suicide was discussed and it was decided that if Appa Rao is killed in the name of Maoist party, may students will join the party. The two former students were also promised better cadre in the party on the successful assassination of the vice chancellor.

Ankala is a native of the Krishna district joined the university in 2010 and studied till 2013. He was earlier arrested for escorting a woman believed to be the wife of top Maoist leader Pulluri Prasada Rao alias Chandranna. He was jailed for some time before being released on bail. Chandan who hails from Howrah in West Bengal had joined HCU in 2013 for a post-graduate course. He was earlier a member of Telangana Praja Front and SFI.

It is reported that Haribhushan had also given them letterheads with the outfit’s name on it which were meant to be dropped off at the murder site.

Truth about 21 year old Dalit man killed for ‘owning a horse’ in Gujarat

OpIndia Staff
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Truth about 21 year old Dalit man killed for ‘owning a horse’ in Gujarat

A few days back, a news was published alleging that a 21-year-old Dalit man, Pradeep Rathod, was killed in Gujarat by upper caste men for owning and riding a horse in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. It was alleged by the man’s father that some Rajput men had held a grudge against his son since he purchased a horse about two months back and threatened to kill him if he didn’t sell off the horse.

The story quickly went viral on Twitter. Congress Twitter handles also shared the story, in an attempt to make it go viral.


Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, too, took a dig at BJP President Amit Shah over the story.


It was ironic that Siddaramaiah shared this fake news considering just a few days ago, a website owner, Mahesh Hegde was arrested in Karnataka for spreading fake news. This irony wasn’t lost on people.


However, the investigation by police has revealed that no evidence was found which proved that he was killed for keeping a horse.


In fact, police claimed that he used to harass girls and villagers were angry with his activities and police suspect he may have been killed over that. Police claim that villagers had complained that Rathod used to perform stunts on horse and motorcycle whenever he confronted girls.

This is not the first time fake news was spread which could possibly bring about caste divide. Earlier also, weeks before Gujarat went to poll in December, a youth had claimed that he was stabbed by men because he was a Dalit and was sporting a moustache. However, a later investigation by the police had revealed that the youth had stabbed himself ‘just like that’.

It is interesting how such news about ‘Dalit atrocities’ come up whenever there is an election around the corner.

The state board question paper leaks that did not get much media attention

OpIndia Staff
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The state board question paper leaks that did not get much media attention

While there are huge protests going on over the CBSE paper leak issue over the past few days, there were several other instances of paper leaks this year that failed to gain national attention. Many state board examination papers were allegedly leaked prior or during the respective examinations.

In West Bengal, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) came under wide criticism after cases of paper leaks were reported in the Madhyamik (10th) examination which took place recently. In one instance in Jalpaiguri, a school headmaster Haridayal Roy reportedly leaked the question paper to the school topper hours before the examination. The Life Science question papers were allegedly circulated on WhatsApp but the WBBSE had claimed that the leaked papers were from last year’s model papers. The ordered probes are yet to report any significant results.

During the Higher Secondary examinations, Bangla and English, papers were allegedly found doing rounds on social media. The state government had initially denied the paper leaks. The WBCHSE had initiated probes for the cases but any significant progress is yet to happen. The board has not yet submitted the probe report either.

Karnataka SSLC exams this year witnessed several glitches, mix-ups and alleged leaks too. On day 1, in Shirol, Vijayapura district, the question papers of the Kannada exam were reportedly circulation in social media merely an hour after the paper packets arrived at the Vivekananda High Scool. Last year too, the SSLC English question papers were leaked on social media much before the exam. The worse case, however, had to be the PU exams. The PU exams papers have been leaked many times so far. In 2017 it was the accountancy paper, while in 2016, the II PU Chemistry exams had to be conducted and cancelled twice. 40 officials of the examination section of the Pre University Department were suspended and a CID probe was initiated after widespread protests.

In Odisha too, question paper leaks have been a constant problem plaguing the students. This year the Mathematics question paper of the matriculation exams went viral in the social media less within less than an hour of the starting of the exam. It was after two previous question papers, for Odia and English were allegedly found doing rounds in the social media. While the state Education Minister has explicitly denied any leaks, several reports came on question papers being available on social media while the exams were still underway.

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