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Mobocracy prevails in Bangladesh: Top officials forced to resign with threats of ‘dire consequences’; Interim leader Muhammad Yunus admits ‘heinous’ attacks on minorities

OpIndia Staff
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Mobocracy prevails in Bangladesh: Top officials forced to resign with threats of ‘dire consequences’; Interim leader Muhammad Yunus admits ‘heinous’ attacks on minorities

Even days after the ouster of the country’s elected leader, Sheikh Hasina, social unrest, chaos and anarchy continues to prevail in Bangladesh as Islamist mobs have so far forced several top officials in judiciary, finance, and educational sector to step down. Several key officials, including the country’s Chief Justice, central bank governor and Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University have been forced to resign as rioters accuse them of being Sheikh Hasina loyalists. 

Facing violent protests, Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rouf Talukder has resigned from his post. However, as per reports, his resignation has not yet been accepted. According to Reuters, the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, ASM Maksud Kamal was also forced to step down from his post. Notably, the so-called student protests initially started from Dhaka University.  

Earlier in the day, on Saturday (10th August), the rioters directed their attacks on the country’s highest court and its judges. The protesting ‘students’ and the Interim government alleged that judges of the Supreme Court were involved in a “conspiracy”. Demanding en-mass resignation of judges, thousands of rioters gheraoed the Supreme Court. While they demanded the resignation of all judges of the apex court, the rioters gave Chief Justice 2 hour ultimatum to tender his resignation or face “dire consequences”.  

The situation escalated, with reports indicating that the Chief Justice may have fled the premises and later resigned from his post. Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, appointed last year, was accused of being a Hasina loyalist. 

The rioters directed their attack against the Supreme Court after the Chief Justice convened a full-court meeting allegedly without consulting the newly formed interim government. Following the development, the ‘student’ protesters alleged that the judges were involved in a conspiracy. 

They also received support from Asif Mahmud, the adviser to the Youth and Sports Ministry of the Interim Government. Taking to Facebook, Mahmud had demanded the unconditional resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and the cancellation of the full-court meeting.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus calls targeted attacks on minorities as “heinous”

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Interim leader Muhammad Yunus condemned the attacks on minorities and urged the Bangladeshi youth to protect them. He described the targeted attacks as “heinous” and asserted that restoring law and order remained the top priority of the Interim government. 

He said, “Are they not the people of this country? You have been able to save the country; can’t you save some families?… You must say – no one can harm them. They are my brothers; we fought together, and we will stay together.” 

It is pertinent to note that following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, Hindus and other minority groups have been facing targeted persecution at the hands of Islamist mobs. Strikingly, more than 205 incidents of attacks on Hindus and other Minorities have been reported across 52 districts of Bangladesh since 5th August when Sheikh Hasina resigned and was forced to flee to India to save her life. Scores of Hindus have been severely injured in the attacks on their homes, temples, and businesses. 

Numerous reports of kidnapping, sexual assault, and other heinous crimes against woman have also rocked Bangladesh. Additionally, Bangladeshi Hindus, in thousands, have also attempted to cross over to India to seek refuge and avoid religious persecution in the country that is fast becoming an Islamic fundamentalist state under the interim government. 

Following days of unhinged attacks, thousands of Hindus started raising voice against targeted attacks and religious persecution and continued staging protests in various parts of the country. 

Bangladeshi Hindus unite to raise voice against ongoing religious persecution and targeted attacks

Hindus in Bangladesh have come out in large numbers in various cities of Bangladesh protesting against the attack on Hindus and temples by Islamists after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government. Large protests erupted in Shahbag in Dhaka, Shariatpur, Chittagong, Barishal, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and other places, demanding protection of religious minorities.

In Chittagong, there was a massive gathering of Hindus, with some media reports claiming that over 7 lakh Hindus assembled at Cheragi Pahar Square, the cultural centre of the port city. They held placards saying ‘why we are not independent’, ‘why attack on our temples’, ‘why threat to leave the country, nation wants answer’ etc.

Apart from Bangladesh, Hindus also came out in large numbers in India, UK, US and member nations of European Union to raise voices against persecution of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. 

The Hindu community in Bangladesh have raised the following specific demands –

  • Establishment of a ministry of minorities.
  • Formation of a minority protection commission.
  • Enactment and Implementation of strict laws to prevent attacks against minorities.
  • Allocation of 10% of parliamentary seats for minorities.
  • Investigation on attack on minorities, arrest and appropriate punishment of culprits.
  • Compensation to the Hindu minorities who have faced vandalism, loot and torture.
  • Transform ‘Hindu Kalyan Trust’ as an autonomous body, free from Govt’s influence and interference.
  • Bring back minorities who have fled villages in the border areas and protect them against threats.
  • Ensure and arrange security for the Hindu homes, businesses, temples.
  • Increase representation of the Hindu minorities in different Govt. entities.

Manipur: Bomb blast at former MLA’s home in Kangpokpi kills his wife, suspected IED was hidden in garbage

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: Bomb blast at former MLA’s home in Kangpokpi kills his wife, suspected IED was hidden in garbage

On 10th August, 59-year-old Charubala Haokip, wife of former Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip, died after a bomb blast at their home in Manipur. The incident took place at around 3 PM in district Kangpokpi of Manipur. Charubala was from the Meitei community. She was living at Ekou Mulam in Kangpokpi district which is a Kuki-Zomi-dominated area.

Charubala’s husband, 64-year-old Yamthong Haokip, is a former MLA who won from Saikul seat twice in 2012 and 2017 on a Congress ticket. Before the 2022 Assembly elections, he switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Charubala is the second wife of Haokip.

As per reports, she was cleaning the courtyard of the part of a house abandoned by their son a few months ago when the bomb exploded, which was planted there by unknown attackers. She was rushed to the Saikul Primary Health Sub Centre after the blast, and then she was sent to Kangpokpi District Hospital. But she succumbed to her injuries. The explosion caused severe injuries to her, and the doctors could not save her.

The former MLA and their daughter were also at home at the time of the blast but they escaped unharmed. A complaint has been filed by Haokip at Saikul police station in the matter. Charubala is survived by her husband and two daughters.

The incident took place on Saturday but was reported a day later on Sunday morning. A police officer said that locally made IED was placed among waste material in the house. He said, “When the deceased burned the waste material, it exploded. Everybody else is okay. There are no other fatalities or injuries.”

The Saikul Police Station has launched an investigation into the incident, but the attackers’ identities and motives remain unclear. By the time this report was published, no arrests were made.

Police suspected that the incident was the result of a family dispute. The police official said, “The former MLA had purchased some land adjacent to one of his uncles’ grandsons and there was a dispute. We suspect this was related to that. We are investigating the matter.”

Anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh: Protests erupt in Downtown Toronto over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

ANI
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Anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh: Protests erupt in Downtown Toronto over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

Thousands of Canadians staged a protest on Sunday across downtown Toronto to stand in solidarity against the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.

Canadians of Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish origin gathered in Downtown Toronto. People in the protest held in Downtown Toronto were seen chanting, “We want justice – Bangladesh Bangladesh”.

The protesters urged the Canadian Government to press the Dhaka Government to protect Hindus in Bangladesh.

One of the protesters lamented that they also sent emails to the Bangladeshi mosques in Toronto, but they have not responded yet.

“We have also sent emails to Bangladeshi mosques in Toronto. So far, we have not heard any response from them, maybe we will, maybe they are busy because of the weekend,” he said, adding, “Whatever is happening in Bangladesh, is to their own brothers…”

The protester further said that the community has gathered in an unprecedented number, which is a good sign.

“We would love if they would also stand in solidarity. The community is here in unprecedented numbers which is a good sign. What is disappointing is the involvement of Canadian politics. They are disproportionately not listening to us after emails, tweets and calls…,” he stressed.

Moreover, the community leaders showed their concerns over attacks on Hindus. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh in a message on X on Thursday.

“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have been fleeing to neighbouring India to escape the violence.

Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have traditionally supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which has faced backlash following violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Bangladesh: Former PM Sheikh Hasina alleges USA role in her ouster for refusal to hand over St Martin Island for a US Air Force base

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Former PM Sheikh Hasina alleges USA role in her ouster for refusal to hand over St Martin Island for a US Air Force base

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that the USA is behind her ouster from power. On 11th August, the Economic Times published Sheikh Hasina’s statement making the allegation conveyed through her associates to the newspaper. Hasina, who is currently taking refuge in India after she was forced to leave Bangladesh following violent protests, said that the USA orchestrated her removal from the post of PM because she refused to hand over Saint Martin Island to the US which would have enabled the western superpower to have “sway over the Bay of Bengal”.

She also urged the people of Bangladesh not to get manipulated by the radicals in the country. Notably, OpIndia had reported on the day of her resignation how the US could have played in political turmoil in Bangladesh leading to the removal of Hasina from the post of Prime Minister.

In her statement, she said, “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it, I resigned from the premiership. I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal. I beseech to the people of my land, ‘Please do not be manipulated by radicals.”

According to the former PM, the USA wants the island because they want to build a military base on it.

Hasina said if she had stayed in the country, more people would have died and more resources would have been destroyed. “If I had remained in the country, more lives would have been lost, more resources would have been destroyed. I made the extremely difficult decision to exit. I became your leader because you chose me, you were my strength,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her anguish over the reports of leaders of the Awami Party being killed, workers being harassed and their homes being vandalised and burnt. She said, “My heart cries upon receiving news that many leaders have been killed, workers are being harassed and their homes are subjected to vandalism and arson…With the grace of almighty Allah, I will return soon. Awami League has stood up again and again. I shall forever pray for the future of Bangladesh, the nation that my great-father strived for. The country for which my father and family gave their lives.”

Referring to the protests over quota in the country, she clarified that she never called the students “Razakars”. She emphasised that her words were distorted and used to incite the protesters. She said, “I would like to repeat this to the young students of Bangladesh. I have never called you Razakars. Rather My words were distorted to incite you. I request you to watch the full video of that day. Conspirators have taken advantage of innocence and used you to destabilise the nation.”

This is not the first time Hasina has accused the US of pursuing a strategy of regime change in Bangladesh. In April, before the quota movement started in the country, she had informed the parliament about the alleged plan of the US to remove her from power. She said, “They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence.”

ET report suggested that Awami League leaders who are close to Sheikh Hasina, have blamed the USA for the regime change in Bangladesh. They accused a senior USA diplomat who visited Dhaka in May of being responsible for what happened in the country. They further alleged that the diplomat attempted to put pressure on Hasina to pursue initiatives against China.

Notably, American Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas favoured the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as alleged by one of the Awami League leaders. Haas finished his term in July. Not only Bangladeshi leaders including Hasina have accused the USA of being behind the regime change, but Russia has also warned about the possibilities.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in December 2023 at a press conference that in case Hasina comes back to power in the 2024 elections, the USA would use all its power to overthrow her government. Zakharova had warned that America would create a situation like the “Arab Spring” to bring a chaotic regime change. Not to forget, the Arab Spring was initially led by University, College and School students.

Saint Martin Island and alleged USA plot for a military base

Saint Martin Island is a small island located near the Southern tip of Bangladesh, around 9 km south of the tip of Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula. The island forms the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is about 8 kilometres west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf River. The island can be reached by ships and boats. Although Bangladesh administers the island, Myanmar also lays claim to it. Burmese forces occasionally target fishermen from the island on the sea.

This is not the first time that Sheikh Hasina has accused of USA of trying to take over the island. Last year in May, she had claimed that before the elections, a ‘white man’ had assured her a hassle-free re-election if she allowed a foreign country to set up an air force base on the island.

She said, “The offer came from a white man. It may appear that it is aimed at only one country, but it is not. I know where else they intend to go. There will be more trouble. But don’t worry about it. If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem.”

Later in June 2023, she said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party wanted to sell St Martin’s Island to grab power. “The BNP came to power in 2001 by giving an undertaking to sell gas. Now they want to sell the country. They want to come to power by selling St Martin’s Island,” she had said.

“Now if I say that I will lease out St Martin’s Island or our country, there will also be no problem for me to stay in power. I know that,” the then PM had said. Sheikh Hasina had also said that there was a plot to carve out “a Christian state like East Timor,” taking parts from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

At that time, Dhaka-8 MP Rashed Khan Menon had claimed that the US is after St Martin’s Island as it wants to build an air base on the island. “The US wants St Martin’s Island, and they want Bangladesh in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). They are doing everything to destabilize the current government,” he had said.

Notably, reports mention that Washington has been eyeing St. Martin Island for many years for its second air force base in the region. However, in June last year, the US officially denied having discussions on taking over St Martin’s Island.

“I will just say that it is not accurate. We respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, and we have never engaged in any conversations about taking over St. Martin’s Island,” said Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State last year.

OpIndia talked about possibility of US’s hand in removing Sheikh Hasina from power

It is pertinent to note that the coup in Bangladesh is being widely speculated to be a regime change operation by the US deep state. The protests in Bangladesh, violence and departure of Sheikh Hasina from the country have raised questions if there was a US deep state behind the coup. It has to be noted that despite the quota, against which the protests were happening, which was abolished by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the protests never faded away. They only intensified leading Hasina to order the use of force against the protesters and several hundred protesters were killed in the process. After the departure of Hasina and the Army took over the country, the violence intensified and Hindus became prime targets of the violent Islamist mobs across Bangladesh.

The role of foreign forces in toppling Hasina’s government has become a topic of discussion as well as concern. One of the organisations whose name has popped up repeatedly is the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The main objective of USAID is clearly, to further US interests abroad and regime change has been one of the interests of the US. USAID has been accused of being directly involved in regime change in Nicaragua and Venezuela.

BRAC has received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID that tuned into millions. For example, BRAC received USD 1.5 million from the Gates Foundation to build preparedness and emergency response capacity​. Furthermore, BRAC has teamed up with USAID in projects like the Bangladesh America Maitree Project, which aims to enhance the capacity of local NGOs through funding and training.

Not to forget, there are allegations that USAID is in front of the CIA, the foreign intelligence organisation of the US government. Furthermore, just before the recent General Elections in Bangladesh, Washington sanctioned members of Sheikh Hasina’s party and promoted a government involving BNP and Jamaat. It aligned with broader discussions about US foreign policy strategies aimed at fostering governments favourable to its interests.

In June this year, Sheikh Hasina made a shocking claim that a plot is being hatched to carve out “a Christian state like East Timor,” from parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar and that she will not let it happen. She claimed that a “white man” who visited with her before the Bangladesh elections in January of this year assured her that there would be “no problems” if she permitted them to establish an airbase on Bangladeshi soil.

Last year, the US also extended support to the Islamist Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Jihadist ally Jamaat-e-Islami during its protests against the PM Hasina-led government. The US and other Western countries expected the Awami League government to step down and hand over power to a caretaker regime, and release all jailed BNP and Jamaat leaders to ensure ‘free and fair’ elections. However, India and China, despite their disputes, backed Sheikh Hasina in dealing with US pressure resulting in her return to power for the fifth time.

Since there have been reports of the United States attempting to meddle in the elections in Bangladesh by imposing sanctions on Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and some officials alongside placing visa restrictions on Bangladeshi officials, it is being speculated that the airbase offer was made by the US.

In November 2023, OpIndia reported that there were clear signs of foreign interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. With just two months away from the elections, the United States government, its agencies and the embedded media were called out for orchestrating a ‘regime change operation’ in Bangladesh.

Cases of restaurants delivering Non-Veg food to vegetarians keep rising: KFC delivers chicken burger to a vegetarian woman, asked to pay Rs 12,000 as fine

OpIndia Staff
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Cases of restaurants delivering Non-Veg food to vegetarians keep rising: KFC delivers chicken burger to a vegetarian woman, asked to pay Rs 12,000 as fine

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Chandigarh has asked the manager of the local branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) located in Sector 35 of the city to pay Rs 12,000 to an aggrieved vegetarian customer for delivering her a non-veg burger instead of a veg burger. 

Notably, Anirudh Gupta, a resident of Chandigarh, stated that he and his wife are regular customers of KFC. His wife hails from a Brahmin family and is a devout vegetarian. In his complaint, Gupta recalled that on 3rd May 2023, he ordered a chicken bucket for himself and one classic vegetarian crisper for his wife. He placed the order through the online app of KFC and paid Rs 696.59 via UPI. 

Gupta added, “When my wife took the first bite of the burger delivered to us, she experienced something unfamiliar. She immediately called me and showed me the burger. I was shocked to find that the burger had chicken. Since my wife is a pure vegetarian, she immediately started vomiting.”

The complainant further submitted that because of this act of the KFC manager, his wife was under immense mental stress. 

However, in defense, the KFC manager went on blaming the customers and accused them of filing the false case to extort money from them and defame the brand. 

The KFC manager alleged, “The complaint has been filed on false and frivolous grounds with malafide intention and ulterior motive to extort money from KFC and defame the brand. The complainant concealed that the order placed was a takeaway order which was collected by the person after checking the same on the premises.”

KFC also argued that every customer gets a message on their mobile number used for placing the order. In this message, they get the description of their order. They also claimed that all orders have red and green markers displayed on the package to inform customers whether the order has any product of animal origin, meat, or eggs etc.  

However, based on the receipts of the order, the Commission rejected the defense submitted by KFC. It held that “it (the order) clearly indicates that the KFC outlet, instead of delivering a veg krisper burger as mentioned in the receipts, delivered a non-veg krisper burger stuffed with chicken which is fairly apparent from the pictures of the burger and same amounts to clear cut deficiency in service and negligence on the part of the KFC manager, especially when the manager has miserably failed to rebut the evidence led by complainant by way of any cogent documentary evidence”.

The Commission further observed that one thing is clear that the KFC manager was negligent while rendering service to the complainant. It wrongly delivered a non-veg food item to the wife of the complainant who is a pure vegetarian, thereby hurting her sentiments which caused a lot of mental agony and stress to her.

Consequently, the Commission directed the KFC manager to pay Rs 7,000 to the complainants as compensation for causing mental agony and harassment to him and his wife. It has also been asked to pay Rs 5,000 towards costs of litigation.

It is pertinent to note that this was not a one-off incident when a fast food joint or an eatery had been penalised for hurting the sentiments of vegetarian customers in the recent past. 

A few weeks earlier, the Ludhiana district consumer disputes redressal forum penalised food delivery app, Swiggy, and an eatery named Behrouz Biryani, for mixing up orders and delivering a non-vegetarian dish to a woman who ordered a vegetarian dish. The commission directed Behrouz Biryani, and Swiggy, to pay Rs 50,000 to the complainant, Vasu Gupta.

A similar incident was reported yesterday in the Indian Railways where a vegetarian passenger was served Non-veg food in a thali that had the sticker of a Veg special thali. Consequently, the accused eatery, Sagar Barbeque, owned by Faiz, was ‘deactivated’ from the list of vendors serving food on Indian Railways.

Numerous incidents of mental agony and hurting sentiments of vegetarian customers widely reported in media

Earlier, several shocking cases emerged from eateries in several parts of the country. 

Earlier this week, on 4th August 2024, chaos broke out after non-vegetarian biryani was served to pilgrims who were returning to Delhi from Haridwar via Kandhla after taking Gangajal. The accused hawker named Tanveer was apprehended by authorities, and he was subsequently brought to the police station.

In April, this year, Gujarat Police raided a Vadodara-based samosa shop, ‘Huseni Samosa center’, and arrested six persons, including eatery owners Yusuf and Naeem Sheikh for selling samosas stuffed with beef. A similar case was reported in Pune, Maharashtra, where condoms, stones and tobacco were found stuffed inside samosas in the canteen of Tata Motors. The police have registered an FIR against 5 people in this case. It was revealed that the accused – Rahim Shaikh, Azhar Shaikh, Mazar Shaikh, Azar Shaikh and Vicky Shaikh – committed the crime in anger after the company cancelled their contract. 

In January 2024, a vegetarian passenger hailing from the Jain community, was served chicken pieces in her veg meal on an Air India flight. Enraged, she complained about the same to the cabin crew but no action was taken on the matter. Finally the passenger, Veera Jain, shared the incident on social media. Air India responded to her post on X, and requested her to delete the tweet.

In July 2022, an incident surfaced at the Jamia Millia Islamia University of Delhi, in which a vegetarian student was allegedly served a non-vegetarian sandwich in the varsity’s central canteen. Upon complaining to the canteen staff, the student was shoved aside and told that there is no pure vegetarian food available in the canteen.

Incidentally, in March 2024, food delivery aggregator Zomato gave up with the idea of starting a new service ‘Pure Veg Mode’ to serve its pure veg customers to mitigate the growing complaint and criticism from ‘pure veg’ users who had at times found non-veg items in their food order. 

Malicious, mischievous, and manipulative selections of public record for personal profiteering: Adani group rejects latest Hindenburg allegations

ANI
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Malicious, mischievous, and manipulative selections of public record for personal profiteering: Adani group rejects latest Hindenburg allegations

The latest allegations by Hindenburg Research are malicious, mischievous, and manipulative selections of publicly available information to arrive at pre-determined conclusions for “personal profiteering with wanton disregard for facts and the law”, an Adani Group spokesperson said on Sunday hours after the US-based short seller shot off fresh allegations against the conglomerate.

“We completely reject these allegations against the Adani Group which are a recycling of discredited claims that have been thoroughly investigated, proven to be baseless and already dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in January 2024,” the Adani Group spokesperson informed stock exchanges in a filing dated August 11.

Adani Group reiterated that its overseas holding structure is “fully transparent”, with all relevant details disclosed regularly in numerous public documents.

The spokesperson said that Adani Group has “absolutely no commercial relationship with the individuals or matters mentioned in this calculated deliberate effort to malign our standing”.

“We remain steadfastly committed to transparency and compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements,” the brief statement by the Adani Group spokesperson concludes.

Earlier in the day, shortly after US-based short seller Hindenburg Research on August 10 alleged that SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in “both the obscure offshore entities used in the Adani money siphoning scandal,” the SEBI Chairperson and her husband issued a joint statement rejecting the allegations.

Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband accused Hindenburg Research, against whom SEBI has taken enforcement action, of character assassination.

In the joint statement released to the media they said, “Our life and finances are an open book. All disclosures as required have already been furnished to SEBI over the years. We have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents, including those that relate to the period when we were strictly private citizens, to any and every authority that may seek them. It is unfortunate that Hindenburg Research against whom SEBI has taken an Enforcement action and issued a show cause notice has chosen to attempt character assassination in response to the same.”

Earlier on Saturday, US short seller Hindenburg had alleged, “We had previously noted Adani’s total confidence in continuing to operate without the risk of serious regulatory intervention, suggesting that this may be explained through Adani’s relationship with SEBI Chairperson, Madhabi Buch.”

“What we hadn’t realized: the current SEBI Chairperson and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had hidden stakes in the exact same obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, found in the same complex nested structure, used by Vinod Adani,” the report by the US hedge firm said.

Hindenburg Research said it has made the new allegations based on documents provided by a whistleblower and investigations carried out by other entities.

In January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, leading to a significant drop in the company’s stock price. The group at the time had rubbished these claims.

The Hindenburg report alleged stock manipulation and fraud by the conglomerate. The case is related to the allegations (part of a report by Hindenburg Research) that Adani had inflated its share prices. After these allegations were published, there was a sharp fall in the shares of various Adani group companies’ stocks.

In January 2024, the Supreme Court refused to transfer the probe into the allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani group to an SIT and had directed market regulator SEBI to complete its probe into two pending cases within three months.

Earlier this year the SC also dismissed a plea seeking to review the verdict that had sought investigation by the market watchdog SEBI in the Adani-Hindenburg case.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

“Privilege to pursue my dream”: Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic Gold, says as he receives prestigious Olympic Order

ANI
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“Privilege to pursue my dream”: Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic Gold, says as he receives prestigious Olympic Order

Legendary Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order by the International Olympic Council (IOC) at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on Saturday.

The Olympic Order, established in 1975, is the highest honour bestowed by the IOC, recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement, as per the Olympic.com.

“When I was a young boy, it was these Olympic rings, which gave meaning to my life,” the 41-year-old Bindra said. It was a privilege to be able to pursue my Olympic dream for over two decades,” a five-time Olympian said, as quoted by Olympics.com.

“Post my athletic career, it has been a great passion of mine to try and contribute back to the Olympic Movement. It has been a privilege and an honour. This award only feeds that passion more and I hope to continue to work even harder and keep contributing to the Olympic Movement for the rest of my life,” the former Olympic gold medalist added.

Bindra’s journey to this remarkable achievement is marked by numerous accolades and contributions both on and off the field. As an athlete, Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Games in the men’s 10m air rifle event. He also holds the distinction of being the first Indian to win a World Championship gold in air rifle shooting.

Over his two-decade-long career, Bindra won over 150 individual medals, earning recognition as one of India’s greatest sports icons. His exceptional service to sport was further acknowledged when he was awarded the Blue Cross in 2018, the highest honour by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

In addition to his achievements in sport, Bindra has made significant contributions to sports governance. He chaired the ISSF Athletes Committee for eight years and currently serves as a member of the IOC Athlete Commission and Education Commission. These roles allow him to influence the development of global sports policies and advocate for athletes worldwide.

Post-retirement, Bindra founded the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting grassroots athletes in India through cutting-edge sports science technology.

Through initiatives focused on high-performance training, education, and social upliftment, the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust aims to bring global best practices to the Indian sporting landscape, ensuring a lasting impact on the country’s future athletes.

A key initiative under Bindra’s leadership is the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), which is being implemented in partnership with the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) and state governments in Odisha and Assam.

Launched in Odisha in 2022 and Assam in 2023, OVEP aims to instil the core Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect in over 11,000 schools, impacting more than one million schoolchildren, as per the Olympics.com.

By fostering a culture of sports and holistic development, OVEP is positioning India as a leader in values-based education, with a goal of reaching 13 million schoolchildren by 2025.

Additionally, Bindra’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship is reflected in the Odisha Ridley Forest Project, an initiative aimed at preserving the natural habitat of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles along the Odisha coastline.

This project, supported by ABFT in collaboration with local government agencies, focuses on the conservation of these turtles while promoting environmental education and awareness among local communities.

Through these efforts, Bindra and his foundation are not only advancing sports and education but also contributing to the preservation of India’s natural heritage.

This recognition highlights Bindra’s enduring legacy in the world of sports and his continued efforts to promote the values of Olympism globally.

Bindra was also elected as the Second Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes Commission on Friday. Bindra has been a part of the IOC Athletes Commission since 2018.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Malicious attempt to suggest conflict of interest: How ‘Hindenburg Research’ hit-job on SEBI chief Madhabi Buch does not prove anything

Dibakar Dutta
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Malicious attempt to suggest conflict of interest: How ‘Hindenburg Research’ hit-job on SEBI chief Madhabi Buch does not prove anything

On Saturday (10th August), controversial ‘Hindenburg Research’ published a report targeting Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chief Madhabi Buch.

The American short-seller, known for wiping out more than $100 billion in wealth from the Indian markets last year, has now shifted its focus to SEBI – the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India.

‘Hindenburg Research’ alleged that SEBI chief Madhabi Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had stakes in an ‘obscure’ offshore entity linked to Vinod Adani, the brother of Indian businessman Gautam Adani.

While accusing the SEBI chief of conflict of interest, the controversial short-seller claimed, “What we hadn’t realised: the current SEBI Chairperson and her husband Dhaval Buch had hidden stakes in the exact same obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, found in the same complex nested structure, used by Vinod Adani.”

Hindenburg Research stated that its unsubstantiated claims were based on documents provided by one whistleblower and investigation authorities.

“If SEBI really wanted to find the offshore fund holders, perhaps the SEBI chairperson could have started by looking in the mirror. We find it unsurprising that SEBI was reluctant to follow a trail that may have led to its own chairperson,” it continued.

When Hindenburg Research targeted the Adani Group

Hindenburg Research cast aspersions on the integrity of SEBI, its chief and suggested a collusion of sorts with Adani Group for ‘inaction’ against the Indian conglomerate.

For the unversed, the short-seller had initially targeted Gautam Adani in January 2023 and made baseless claims of ‘stock manipulation’ and ‘fraud’ against his companies. However, the nefarious attempt by ‘Hindenburg Research’ failed to yield any result.

SEBI had accused the American company of illicit profiteering after it shared its hit-job report on Adani Group with a China-linked hedge fund in advance. Importantly, the Supreme Court had also backed SEBI after it gave a clean chit to the Indian conglomerate.

Short seller claims ‘conflict of interest’ for loss-making funds held retrospectively

‘Hindenburg Research’ has been aghast ever since its outlandish allegations last year failed to implicate Adani Group of wrongdoing.

As such, the American short seller took it upon itself to target SEBI, investigating claims of ‘fraud’ and ‘stock manipulation’ against the Indian conglomerate.

It has accused SEBI chief Madhabi Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch of “stakes in both obscure offshore funds used in the Adani Money siphoning scandal.”

Alleged whistleblower document obtained by Hindenburg Research

The American short seller claimed that Gautam Adani’s brother, Vinod, invested in a Bermuda-based fund named ‘Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund in 2013, which then invested in a Mauritius-based offshore fund called ‘IPE Plus Fund.’

‘Hindenburg Research’ alleged that Madhabi Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch opened their account with ‘IPE Plus Fund 1’ in Singapore in 2015. It also claimed that the SEBI chief removed herself from this asset just before joining the Indian regulator body.

In 2018, the funds to the tune of $872,762.25 in ‘IPE Plus Fund 1’ were redeemed by Dhaval Buch. The transactions were facilitated by a wealth management firm called ‘Indian Infoline’.

‘Hindenburg Research’ used the erstwhile offshore fund holding of Madhabi Buch to suggest ‘laxity’ in investigations against Adani Group as SEBI chairperson.

Alleged whistleblower document obtained by Hindenburg Research

There are two things to remember – She exited the portfolio before becoming part of the Indian regulator and funds associated with ‘IPE Plus Fund 1’ were redeemed by her husband (who was owner of the asset at that time) 5 years before the publication of the ‘Hindenburg Research’ report.

Not to forget that there was a net loss of 0.02%, according to documents shared by the American short seller. It is thus baffling to even suggest the possibility of a ‘conflict of interest’ for loss-making funds held retrospectively.

Bizarre attempt to portray ‘Adani-Ahuja-Buch’ nexus

The manner in which ‘Hindenburg Research’ established connections between Madhabi Buch and Vinod Adani is mind-boggling. The short-seller insinuated collusion between the two for investing in the same offshore fund.

If this wasn’t enough, it also sought to tarnish the reputation of well-known investment manager Anil Ahuja. He is the founder of the ‘IPE Plus Fund’, where Madhabi Buch and her husband had invested their wealth.

‘Hindenburg Research’ pointed out that he served on the Board of Adani Enterprises Limited to suggest an inherent connection of the Buchs with Adani Group.

In its malicious attempt, the short seller forgot to mention that Ahuja had served on the Board of several other companies in the past. The list includes Nimbus Communications Limited, HDFC Bank, HDFC Securities, Domino’s Pizza India Limited and MTR Foods.

Given his professional accomplishments, it is not surprising that Ahuja had served one of largest India’s conglomerates.

However, it did not stop the American short seller from hoodwinking about closed ties with Madhabi Buch, who was merely a customer of not the Adani Group but a company founder by another man who happened to serve on the Board of Adani Enterprises.

Investment advice ft. Hindenburg Research

‘Hindenburg Research’ went on to reprimand Madhabi Buch for diversifying her portfolio and not investing in Indian mutual funds, prior to her stint as SEBI chief.

“In brief, despite the existence of thousands of mainstream, reputable onshore Indian mutual fund products, an industry she now is responsible for regulating, documents show SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in a multi-layered offshore fund structure with miniscule assets…” the short seller made bizarre assertions.

Based on its desperate attempt to establish connections frivolously, Hindenburg Research concluded, “We suspect SEBI’s unwillingness to take meaningful action against suspect offshore shareholders in the Adani Group may stem from Chairperson Madhabi Buch’s complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani.”

As evident from the above points mentioned, the conjectures, suppositions and surmises of the American short-seller about the incumbent SEBI chief do not prove anything and certainly not a conflict of interest.

Punjab: Don’t be seen after 9 PM, no consumption of Paan and Gutkha, no smoking – Village in Mohali district issues restrictions for migrant workers

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Don’t be seen after 9 PM, no consumption of Paan and Gutkha, no smoking – Village in Mohali district issues restrictions for migrant workers

The residents of village Jandpur, under the Kharar sub-district of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, has imposed restrictions on migrant workers. Notably, a total of around 2,000 people live in the village, out of which around 500 are migrant workers. The eleven restrictions imposed on migrant workers include a ban on movement after 9 PM, no smoking or chewing tobacco, and others. Multiple display boards were placed across the village explaining the restrictions.

Furthermore, police verification has been made mandatory for migrant workers. The residents who provide accommodation on rent to these migrant workers are now also required to provide them with dustbins. More than two migrant workers will not be allowed to stay in a single room and they cannot roam around in “half attire”. In case the migrant workers are found indulging in illegal activities, the house owners who rented them accommodation would be held responsible.

The list of restrictions came in response to the allegations leveled against the migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The allegations include spitting on roads outside the village Gurudwara, which is considered disrespectful to the Sikh religion. Locals accused migrant workers of roaming around half naked, causing embarrassment to the female residents. Several migrant workers have decided to leave the village following the restrictions. Other workers might follow suit.

Justifying the restrictions, Govinder Singh Cheema, the area councillor, claimed that the rules were imposed not to target the migrant workers but all miscreants. He said that several villagers also create ruckus after drinking alcohol at night and these restrictions would apply to them as well. He added that for the first 15 days, Village Committee members will go door-to-door to inform residents about the restrictions and only after that they will come into effect.

Kharar police and senior administration intervened after they were informed about the restrictions. They questioned with what authority the villagers imposed such restrictions specifically on migrant workers, after which the villagers agreed they would apply equally to everyone.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Kharar, Karan Sandhu, said that the police had intervened to ensure peace and they were closely monitoring the situation. Reportedly, earlier Mundo Sangatiyan Village in Mohali barred migrant workers from staying in the village. They had claimed that the children of migrant workers were involved in incidents of theft in the village.

Azim Premji University: Students wear Palestinian flag badges during convocation, demand Wipro sever ties with Israeli Universities and companies

OpIndia Staff
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Azim Premji University: Students wear Palestinian flag badges during convocation, demand Wipro sever ties with Israeli Universities and companies

Last Sunday, 4th August, students at Azim Premji University (APU) wore badges of the Palestinian flag as they collected their graduation certificates during the convocation ceremony. The students also demanded that Wipro, Azim Premji’s company, sever ties with the Tel Aviv University and Israeli companies. After Ashoka University and IIT Madras, APU has also become the ground for anti-Israel propaganda.

Speaking to the media, one of the students said, “We demanded the company divest from Israeli MNCs and institutions to stop funding the genocide in Palestine.” Representatives of students claimed that 80 students wore such badges.

APU spokesperson stated the matter and said, “A few students wore Palestinian flags as a sign of solidarity. The convocation was held without disturbance, nor were there any protests on campus that we are aware of.”

Notably, Azim Premji University is mainly funded by Azim Premji Foundation which was established by Azim Premji, founder of Wipro. The students criticised Wipro as it has a research partnership with Tel Aviv University and other Israeli organisations. They also demanded that Wipro should divest from the Israeli companies and cease funding activities claiming it contributes to so-called genocide in Palestine.

A student said, “Azim Premji Foundation is funded by Wipro and has a reputation of being very philanthropic. On one hand, they are maintaining an image of working for the welfare of the people and on the other hand, they are enabling the genocide of Palestinians by partnering with Israeli organisations. We demand that the company stop investing in Israel and stand with the people of Palestine.”

Another student told The Hindu, “It was a symbolic protest. We expected Mr Azim Premji to be present at the convocation like every year, but he did not come this time. But we want this message to reach him. We appeal to him to cut ties with Israeli institutions.”

Earlier, students had organised pro-Palestine rally in the university.

This is not the first time students became “woke” during convocation. In July 2024, it was reported that pro-Palestine slogans were raised in Ashoka University during convocation. On 24th May, students of Ashoka University displayed pro-Palestine placards during their convocation ceremony. A video of the ceremony had gone viral on social media platforms showing students dressed for receiving their degrees holding placards that read “Free Palestine” and “Stop Genocide” above their heads. Notably, the student union of Ashoka University (Ashoka University Student Government or AUSG) has been demanding to cut ties with Israel-based Tel Aviv University since May this year.

Just few days before that, it was reported that IIT Madras student peddled pro-Palestine propaganda in convocation. On 19th July, a graduating student, Dhananjay Balakrishnan, used IIT Madras as a platform to give a pro-Palestine speech during the institute’s 61st convocation. Notably, Dhananjay won the prize for best all-around proficiency in curricular and extracurricular activities in a dual degree in mechanical engineering. While accepting the Governor’s prize, he delivered the Pro-Palestine speech where he claimed that a “mass genocide” was taking place in Palestine and also went on to give a “call for action”.

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