On 10th June, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, publicly criticised Apple for the announcement regarding its partnership with OpenAI. In a series of posts on social media, Musk expressed his concerns over the potential security risks posed by integrating OpenAI’s technology into Apple’s operating systems. Musk categorically said that if Apple integrates OpenAI into its devices, he would ban Apple devices from his company’s premises.
If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.
Musk’s statement came after Apple announced on 10th June that it has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices. Apple named it the new “Apple Intelligence” system and Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, described it as the “next big step” by the company.
The announcement was made during the annual developer’s conference at Apple. Cook and his team outlined the upgrades that will be seen this year. It includes the use of AI to enhance the Siri experience. More personalised features are expected to come in the upcoming software update.
The partnership with OpenAI will help Apple to develop its own proprietary generative AI features. Cook, while making the announcement, described it as a “new personal intelligence system” based on Apple’s own generative AI models and customised to the user.
To use the power of OpenAI models, Siri will be able to ask questions to the chatbots. However, the user has to provide permission first to Siri to ask OpenAI model queries. The collaboration between Apple and OpenAI aims to integrate OpenAI’s sophisticated AI functionalities into Apple’s ecosystem which will help revolutionise the way users interact with the devices.
Musk’s strong stance on the use of AI
Musk is known for being an advocate for cautious AI development. He did not hold back while criticising Apple for its decision to partner with OpenAI. He threatened that if the collaboration happened, he would ban Apple devices from all his companies including Tesla, SpaceX and others. Criticising Apple for joining hands with OpenAI, Musk said, “It’s patently absurd that Apple isn’t smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy! Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.”
It’s patently absurd that Apple isn’t smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!
Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.
The main concern that Elon Musk has revolves around the security implications of embedding advanced AI capabilities directly into the OS of widely used consumer devices. Musk said he believes it could create significant vulnerabilities, potentially exposing users to data breaches and other security threats. Though Musk was fuming over the announcement, he made his point by sharing the Indian Coconut Water sharing meme adding a little humour to the discussion.
Apple has not issued any response to the billionaire’s protest against the former’s decision to join hands with OpenAI. However, the company has a history of prioritising user privacy and security, suggesting that they might have kept in mind the potential security threats AI could have. Apple’s partnership with OpenAI is seen as a strategic move to enhance its AI capabilities and compete with other tech giants like Google and Amazon.
Elon Musk chose public condemnation of Apple’s AI integration plans which showcases the complex challenges and debates the tech industry is facing as it approaches a more integrated world where Artificial Intelligence has a much more practical presence in our lives. Notably, Musk recently has launched X’s own AI model Grok. As companies like Apple and OpenAI push the boundaries of technological innovation, ensuring robust security measures and addressing ethical concerns will be crucial to gaining public trust and acceptance.
In Delhi, getting water has become a daily struggle for survival. As every new day dawns, the tensions surrounding the isolated water pump deepen with residents assembling, their faces lined with exhaustion and anguish, knowing that obtaining even a drop of water is essential for their families’ survival.
On Monday, June 10th, several Delhi women and AAP leaders staged a protest against the Haryana government alleging that it deprived the national capital of its rightful share of water. Kuldeep Kumar, AAP’s Delhi State Vice-President and MLA, along with colleagues Shiv Charan Goel, Vinayy Mishra, Somdutt Sharma, and Women’s Wing President Sarika Chaudhary, participated in the demonstration next to Haryana Bhawan, Mandi House.
Protesters chanted slogans against the BJP for stripping Delhi of ‘its share’ of water and demanded that the Central and Haryana governments assure the quick release of Delhi’s portion of water. AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar asserted that the current water crisis in the city is unmanageable. He also stated that the Delhi government had been asking the Haryana and the Himachal Pradesh governments, and also the LG to ensure adequate water for Delhi.
AAP leaders protesting for water outside Haryana Bhavan
He stated that the Delhi government had also approached the Supreme Court. Still, despite the court’s order, the Haryana government was refusing to release 137 cusecs of water from Himachal Pradesh. The AAP claimed that the Haryana government has also halted the flow of 200 cusecs of water from other canals into Delhi. The AAP leaders also added that till the city does not get its full share of water, they would remain on the roads.
Haryana CM says, ‘AAP lying, water being provided as agreed’
Meanwhile, the Haryana Government slammed the AAP government in Delhi for lying. “Lying is in their DNA,” said CM of Haryana Nayab Singh Saini. He further maintained that the state was releasing water to the national capital, over and above the agreed-upon quantity, and that it was internal mismanagement of the capital that was forcing its residents to beg and protest for water like never before.
He reiterated that the AAP leaders were lying and that Haryana had been issuing water supply to the capital as agreed. “AAP had raised the issue earlier as well but back then also it was found that the state was giving water to the capital as per the signed agreement,” Saini was quoted as saying.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva further held the AAP government responsible for the ongoing water crisis indicating that the government was stealing water from the Munak canal and providing the same via tankers to the locals in exchange for money. “The tanker mafia, run by AAP MLAs and Ministers, steals water from the Munak canal in exchange for which they earn money. This is the main reason for the lack of water in Delhi,” the BJP leader was quoted as saying.
VIDEO | “The tanker mafia, run by AAP MLAs and Ministers, steals water from Munak canal in exchange for which they earn money. This is the main reason for the lack of water in Delhi,” says Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva (@Virend_Sachdeva) on water crisis in the national… pic.twitter.com/Kn1I5Wjcrt
Several parts of Delhi have been affected by a lack of water due to the city’s current heatwave. Slums, resettlement colonies, and villages are particularly hard-struck, forcing residents to purchase water tanks or rely on Delhi Jal Board (DJB) tankers.
#Watch | People in the national capital face severe water crisis. Water is being supplied through tankers
Himachal Pradesh agrees water supply after SC’s directions
Amid extreme heat and temperatures reaching over 50°C, the Delhi government had turned to the Supreme Court (SC) in the first week of June for prompt action to tackle its rising water crisis. It asked that the state of Haryana release additional water to alleviate the issue and bring respite to millions of Delhi residents.
Owing to this request the Supreme Court on 6th June directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi. It also instructed Haryana to facilitate the release through the Wazirabad barrage, making sure that the water reached the Capital soon to reduce the shortage of drinking water.
A vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling it as an “existential problem” for Delhi, compounded by excessive heat and rising demand. It stated that as Himachal Pradesh expressed a desire to share 137 cusecs of surplus water with Delhi, Haryana must offer the “right to passage” at the Wazirabad barrage.
“We direct that Himachal Pradesh shall release 137 cusecs from the upstream so that the water reaches the Hathnikund barrage from where it can reach the Wazirabad barrage. As and when surplus water is received by Haryana, Haryana shall facilitate flow of additional water from Hathnikund through Wazirabad uninterruptedly for the citizens of Delhi,” ordered the bench.
Atishi’s repeated plea; Court slamming AAP
The matter was again heard on June 10th, when Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi in her plea again sought immediate and continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage, including the surplus provided by Himachal Pradesh. However, the court slammed the AAP government and said that the court proceeding should not be taken for granted.
This was after the court, on June 3rd, had asked the government to rectify defects in a plea seeking a direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh. The court also scheduled an emergency meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on June 5th to resolve the water scarcity issue. Representatives from the Centre, Delhi, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh decided to hold a meeting to address the problem.
The AAP government submitted affidavits but failed to cure the noticeable defects as a result of which the court said, “Why have you not cured the defect? We will dismiss the petition. On the last date also this was pointed out and you did not remove the defect. Don’t take the court proceedings for granted, however important your case may be.”
Delhi and its noticeable water network
Delhi relies heavily on its bordering states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to meet around 90% of its drinking water needs. According to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the capital’s supply of unfiltered water is derived from four elementary sources- 40% from the Yamuna, sourced through Haryana, 25% from the Ganga, 22% from the Bhakra Nangal Dam, and the remaining 13% from underneath sources such as wells and tube-wells.
This water is purified at nine water treatment plants (WTPs) and distributed around the city via a 15,473-kilometer pipeline network and underground water reservoirs. According to the DJB’s Summer Bulletin, Delhi’s total water output between May 21 and May 31 ranged between 977.79 and 993.76 million gallons per day (MGD).
Image- Delhi Jal Board
However, this is much lower than the daily demand of 1,290 MGD, or 60 gallons per person. Water quality is also an issue in some locations, with high ammonia levels (more than 2.5 ppm) and hazardous waste from industrial drains polluting the Yamuna. Despite pollution control board scrutiny and interventions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Yamuna remains one of India’s dirtiest rivers, posing a significant threat to Delhi’s clean water provision.
In the midst of the political blame game, it is terrible to see photographs of women, children, and young men endangering their lives while desperately chasing behind water tankers. What’s more distressing is the disparity in water supply between wealthy communities and slums, with the poor bearing the brunt of the scarcity.
VIDEO | “The tanker mafia, run by AAP MLAs and Ministers, steals water from Munak canal in exchange for which they earn money. This is the main reason for the lack of water in Delhi,” says Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva (@Virend_Sachdeva) on water crisis in the national… pic.twitter.com/Kn1I5Wjcrt
While the wealthy have continual running water in their homes and may afford private water tanks at high prices, the poor do not have this luxury. As a result, poor populations living in unauthorized colonies have to depend on unsafe water sources for their daily needs, which can lead to water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid.
Inadequate water supply further hinders sanitation, hygiene, and social welfare, leading to increased healthcare costs and illness prevalence. It also disrupts productivity, economic stability, and educational opportunities, affecting individuals and governments.
Why is Delhi struggling for water to this level
Many causes contribute to the continuance of this ever-expanding challenge, including excessive groundwater extraction, water source contamination, migrant population increase, negative effects of climate change, ineffective water management techniques, and inter-state water disputes.
In an effort to close the demand-supply gap, the DJB has gradually increased groundwater extraction during the last five years. According to reports, this extraction increased from 86 MGD in 2020 to over 135 MGD in 2024.
The Central Groundwater Board (CGWB), in its ‘Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2023’ report released on December 1, 2023, indicated that around 41.49 percent of Delhi’s territory of 1,487.61 square kilometers is considered “over-exploited” due to excessive levels of groundwater extraction.
The continuous extraction of groundwater exacerbates the depletion of the water table. It should be highlighted that the construction of concrete structures throughout Delhi obstructs natural groundwater recharge zones, creating an alarming imbalance between water recharge and extraction.
Image- Times of India
Notably, the Delhi Master Plan 2041 appropriately recognizes water supply challenges, however, it provides ambiguous policies and lacks specific targets. It fails to lessen dependency on external sources or prioritize rainwater gathering and wastewater reuse. Another critical factor increasing Delhi’s water problem, which is a global phenomenon but is especially acute in highly populated urban areas, is rising temperatures and blistering heat waves. According to the United Nations, every 1°C increase in global temperature is expected to result in a 20% decline in renewable water supplies.
The Yamuna’s pollution levels at the Wazirabad pond have further worsened the situation. Surpassing the permissible ammonia limit in drinking water of 0.5 ppm, according to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the elevated levels have reduced the efficiency of the Wazirabad water treatment plant by approximately 30%, resulting in disruptions in water production and low-pressure water supply. The silt, sand, sediments, weeds, and debris that have collected in the Yamuna’s river bed have an even greater impact on its water quality, flow, and water holding capacity.
Delhi and Haryana’s conflict over water
The most important issue is Delhi’s water-sharing conflict with Haryana. The Delhi administration has frequently chastised the Haryana government for supplying less water than agreed upon in the 1994 MoU. In response, Haryana has asserted that Delhi’s water scarcity is the result of internal mismanagement. Regardless of the legalities, it is apparent that the prolonged political conflict is causing irreparable harm to the population of this country.
Image- India TV
On May 12, 1994, the Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to allocate the usable surface flow of the River Yamuna up to the Okhla Barrage between the co-basin states. The MoU seeks the creation of the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB). which is a subordinate office of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
In a country where people frequently migrate and dwell in other states and Union Territories, governments must avoid politicizing the critical problem of water sharing, as the livelihoods of people from other states, including Haryana, who live in Delhi, are dependent on a consistent and adequate water supply.
Delhi shall stop supporting illegal immigrants with free water, ration
Delhi, being the national capital of a diverse country like India has become home to several migrants who shift from various parts of the country given immense opportunities. While the government cannot and should not differentiate between the locals and the migrants given their national identities, it can allegedly stop serving the illegal immigrants who illegally enter the country and settle in the national capital.
Several reports emerge daily highlighting the increasing influx of illegal inhabitants in Delhi who end up calling the place their ‘home’. According to the 2001 census around 3,084,826 people in India came from Bangladesh. In 2011, there were more illegal Afghanis than Pakistanis living in India. The country-wise list provided pointed out that there were over 13,500 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and about 7,700 from Pakistan. The highest number of immigrants, 32,600 then were from Bangladesh.
illegal immigrants settling in Delhi (India Today)
Many even today continue to live in the capital city without relevant identity documents or with fake identity documents. There still is an organized migration of roughly 40,000 illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslim immigrants in Delhi, who are considered to pose a national security concern and undermine national cohesion.
These outsiders occupy space in the city, grabbing the share of resources that are meant to be provided to the Delhi locals staying in the miserable conditions. Interestingly, it has been the AAP government in Delhi that has been helping the illegal Rohingyas by distributing free water, electricity, and ration to such inhabitants. The government then also decided to Rohingya Muslims to flats for the economically weaker section (EWS) in the Bakkarwala area in Delhi. However, the Union Home Ministry had denied any such move proposed by the Delhi government merely for vote bank politics.
The Delhi government needs to prioritize its attention toward the locals and stop helping the illegal immigrants with freebies like water, shelter, and ration.
Search for alternate water sources instead of politicizing the matter
According to the United Nations, the right to water entitles everyone to adequate, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and inexpensive water for personal and household use. This is mirrored in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to provide universal access to and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation. Furthermore, judicial precedents have demonstrated the importance of this right.
In addition to the upcoming court verdict, Delhi must make proactive efforts toward self-reliance by implementing sustainable policy and governance reforms such as technological interventions, infrastructure development, and alternative water conservation strategies. Addressing leaks in water distribution pipelines to reduce water waste should be a top concern instead of politicizing the issue and targeting the BJP government.
The Aam Aadmi Party has, over the past couple of weeks, accused the Haryana government of negative politics and stopping water supply in the Yamuna. The AAP government also needs to look into enhancing the internal supply management which is responsible for providing water to the Delhi locals.
Concurrently, people should accept it as their common obligation to preserve water at home by instilling good water usage habits and actively participating in rainwater harvesting efforts. According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research, a 60 m² roof in Delhi may gather 3,64,800 liters of water annually for a family of five. This amount of water is enough to meet home needs and to recharge groundwater.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled on June 12th.
A day after Ragini Nayak, Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera accused journalist Rajat Sharma of abusing on-air, India TV issued a statement on Tuesday (10th June) vowing legal action against the Congress leaders.
While issuing a warning to the trio, India TV’s Legal Head Ritika Talvar said, “I am writing to you on behalf of India’s most respected journalist and television presenter Mr. Rajat Sharma, who has been in this profession for more than four decades and has a very high degree of credibility and reputation. Mr. Sharma is known for his cultured and civilised behaviour both on and off air. Television viewers world over appreciate his polite and gentle style of anchoring.”
She further added, “We have seen your posts on social media where you have accused Mr. Sharma of using abusive language on air. The allegations made by you in your posts are absolutely false and lack any basis and foundation whatsoever. They are malicious and defamatory and clearly constitute fake news. You have blatantly violated all limits of public decency by falsely accusing a personality of high repute. We are taking legal advice on this to take further action.”
I am writing to you on behalf of India’s most respected journalist and television presenter Mr. Rajat Sharma, who has been in this profession for more than four decades and has a very high degree of credibility and reputation.…
Ritika Talvar informed that the Congress leaders have been planning to do a press conference and continue to make false claims about Rajat Sharma.
“Meanwhile, we have come to know that you are trying to further compound the imperceivable by proposing a press conference and disseminating the same baseless, false and defamatory news once again. We warn you that you should desist from this. We reiterate that Mr. Sharma has never used abusive language in private or public life. Inference drawn by you from the non-existent and imaginary are per se defamatory. We reserve the right to take further legal action,” she warned.
On Monday (10th June), Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak took to X (formerly Twitter) to allege that Rajat Sharma had verbally abused her on air during a live debate. “What can be lower than this in journalism? Do you have any answer, Rajat Sharma,” she tweeted.
Screengrab of the tweet by Ragini Nayak
The unfounded claim was further amplified by Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera.
Screengrab of the tweet by Pawan Khera
Pawan Khera tweeted, “This is highly condemnable that a veteran journalist is using derogatory language against a female politician. What will you say about this, Rajat Sharma.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Pawan Khera
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed, “Rajat Sharma is a well-known media personality. He has his own political leanings but to use such abusive language for a prominent spokesperson of the Congress, who is a woman, is completely unacceptable and must be strongly condemned. An unconditional public apology is urgently required in this matter.”
On Monday (10th June), former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh blasted ex-Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for his outrageous remarks mocking the Indian bowler Arshdeep Singh and the Sikh community after India defeated Pakistan in World Cup contest. Taking to X, Harbhajan Singh asked Akmal to know the history of Sikhs before opening his “filthy mouth”.
“Lakh di laanat tere Kamraan Akhmal.. You should know the history of sikhs before u open ur filthy mouth. We Sikhs saved ur mothers and sisters when they were abducted by invaders, the time invariably was 12 o’clock . Shame on you guys.. Have some Gratitude.”
Lakh di laanat tere Kamraan Akhmal.. You should know the history of sikhs before u open ur filthy mouth. We Sikhs saved ur mothers and sisters when they were abducted by invaders, the time invariably was 12 o’clock . Shame on you guys.. Have some Gratitude @KamiAkmal23 ??? https://t.co/5gim7hOb6f
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 10, 2024
Hours after Harbhajan Singh slammed Kamran Akmal for his “12 baj gaye hain” remark, a derogatory slur against Sikhs, the former Pakistani cricketer apologised to Harbhajan Singh instead of apologising to Arshdeep Singh against whom he made the hateful comment.
“I deeply regret my recent comments and sincerely apologize to @harbhajan_singh and the Sikh community. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful. I have the utmost respect for Sikhs all over the world and never intended to hurt anyone. I am truly sorry. #Respect #Apology,” the former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman wrote on X.
I deeply regret my recent comments and sincerely apologize to @harbhajan_singh and the Sikh community. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful. I have the utmost respect for Sikhs all over the world and never intended to hurt anyone. I am truly sorry. #Respect#Apology
As reported earlier, on a show on ARY News, where Kamran Akmal was a guest, he took a jibe at Arshdeep Singh and said even though Arshdeep’s rhythm isn’t looking good but ’12 baj gaye hain’, another co-panellist joined in and said no Sikh should be allowed to bowl at 12 o’clock.
Notably, this ’12 baj gaye hain’ is an insult directed towards the Sikh community in the illiterate part of the world. The insult implies that Sikhs don’t behave normally when the clock strikes 12. It is a sort of discrimination against a religion, it is offensive to them, and mostly, it is downright hateful most of the time.
Arshdeep Singh, in his last over yesterday, gave away only 11 runs and picked the wicket of Imad Wasim, sealing victory for India. Maybe Kamran Akmal saw it coming so he started badmouthing Arshdeep before he bowled that last over.
Days after Amit Malviya sent a legal notice to one Santanu Sinha for accusing him of demanding sexual favours from women politicians in West Bengal, the latter has now cried foul over the matter.
Sinha claimed that he did not level sexual harassment allegations against Amit Malviya and that his Facebook post had been deliberately misinterpreted by the Indian National Congress.
He has now issued a statement backtracking from his previous claims but pointed out that he would not delete the controversial post.
The transcript of his statement goes as –
“It is a great chagrin to me that the nastiest and most corrupted political party of the country, the Indian National Congress, being armed with a post in Bengali posted from my Facebook account, is spreading hate campaign against Mr. Amit Malaviya and the Bharatiya Janata Party,
No corner in the post there is any whisper about sexual exploition of women by Mr.Amit Malaviya. Rather I have there expressed my fear if Mr. Malviya will be drawn to honey trap by the unscrupulous leaders of the party to remain clung to their post despite such debacle in the recently held election. We have bitter experience of such honey trap during the tenure of Mr. Kailash Vijoyborgiya, Mr. Siddhartha Nath Sing, Mr. Pradip Joshi and Mr. Shibprasad. To be noted that criminal case arising of that honey trap is still pending against Mr. Kailash Vijoyborgiya, Mr. Pradip Joshi and Mr. Shibprasad. Sushri Mamata Banerjee several times threatened to bring out clips of the honey trap.
But to my extreme astonishment, none from the State BJP has ever tried to know the purport of the post, but played a dubious role. A legal notice sent from the end of Mr. Malviya by his learned Advocate was circulated amongst media, purposely, with a view to create pressure upon me on the one hand, and on the other, to divert their responsibility of the debacle in last parliamentary election in West Bengal. Several press people told me that Mr. Jaganath Chattopadhyay, de-facto president of the state party, is the man behind circulating the legal notice [I have the audio clips which I will bring out when require]. However I am ready to contest cases, civil or criminal, as threatened in the said legal notice, if any, is iniiated.
I want to give a clear message that the post was not aimed to malign Mr. Malviya but as caution not to get entangled in honey trap, which first brought to light by Mr. Tathagata Roy, ex-president of the State unit and former governor of Tripura with the phrase KAMINI KANCHAN.
I, a Sangha Swayam Sevak, former State Secretary of ABVP and contestant in State Assembly election and in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election, do not want the Bharatiya Janata Party and its office bearers get undermined in any manner by misinterpretation of my post.
Be precious, Rahul is my causin brother. He has been unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. He has no role to play in my Facebook post.
If my post hurts Mr. Malaviya and/or undermines my party for such misinterpretation and edited version, I do express my heart felt sorrow for the same. Since I have not written anything untoward in my post, with the mission to malign anyone, I am not withdrawing the post, the bone of contention.“
The Background of the Controversy
In a post dated 7th June, Santanu Sinha accused Amit Malviya and other senior leadership of BJP of accepting sexual favours from leaders in West Bengal and in exchange providing them positions in the party.
He accused West Bengal BJP leaders of sending women to Malviya and other senior leaders of BJP women in 5-star hotels to secure the president’s posts.
In a press conference on 10th June, Congress’s IT Cell chief Supriya Srinate levelled sexual harassment allegations against BJP’s Amit Malviya based on social media post by Santanu Sinha on Facebook.
On 8th June, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya sent a legal notice to one Santanu Sinha from West Bengal for making allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
As per the legal notice, the post against Malviya was published on 7th June 2024 on Facebook. The notice was sent by Supreme Court advocate Abhijeet on behalf of Malviya asking Santanu to take down the post and tender unconditional apology.
The notice pointed out that the post on Facebook by Santanu made “false and defamatory” allegations against Malviya with an “intention to harm his reputation.”
Santanu was asked to remove the post within three days. However, before the notice period could end, Srinate raised the issue in a press conference.
After the right-wing National Rally (Rassemblement National, RN) defeated President Macron’s Renaissance party with 31.5% of the vote in the European Parliament elections, hundreds of far-left supporting people staged a protest in Paris on Monday.
The protestors gathered outside the French Parliament and raised slogans against the victorious right-wing party National Rally. The demonstrators also raised pro-Palestine slogans during the protest.
Thousands of leftists gathered in Rennes, Nantes, and Rouen to push for a far-left ‘Popular Front’ to fight against the conservative National Rally in the parliamentary elections set to be held later this month. In Rennes, over 2,500 people protested against the right wing’s rise and chanted pro “popular front” [Front Populaire] slogans calling for the far-left to unite against the right wing. The protestors largely included left-wing parties, ecologists and trade unions.
Leftists protest in Rennes after conservative France’s National Rally wins EU parliament elections (Image source: France24)
In Nantes, more than 1,000 people rallied on Monday screaming slogans like “La jeunesse emmerde le RN” (“Youth f*cks with the RN”) and “Votre haine, notre révolte” (“Your hatred, our revolt”). The leftist protestors began a march in the city in the evening with a banner reading “revolution or barbarism”.
Meanwhile, in Rouen, over 800 people rallied against the right-wing party. The slogans chanted were “Young people f*ck the Front National” and “Everyone hates the Front National.” In Bordeaux and some other places, the protest took a violent turn and the police had to control the situation.
On Monday, French students gathered at Paris’ Henri IV High School to protest the right-wing party’s triumph in the European Parliament. Protesters blocked the building’s entrance, brandishing banners and chanting slogans against the conservative party and President Macron.
French high school students protest against RN in Paris Source: Anadolu)
The left-wing protesting against the rise of right-wing in France indicates that as is the common trait in leftists across the world, it is a democracy only when the Left wins and it dies when their opponents emerge victorious.
This came after President Emmanuel Macron dissolved France’s lower chamber of parliament, sending voters back to the elections in the coming days to elect MPs following his party’s humiliating defeat by the right-wing party in the European Parliament elections on the 9th of June. The declaration came as the provisional results from France showed the far-right National Rally party far ahead in the European Union’s parliamentary elections, giving Macron’s pro-European centrists an embarrassing disappointment.
While the Rassemblement National (National Rally) received 31.37% votes, Marcon’s Renaissance Party and its coalition Besoin d’Europe got just 14.60% votes.
On 10th June, a message on WhatsApp and social media started to circulate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been added to Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Margdarshak Mandal”. The assertion has been made that he was added to the “Mandal” alongside veteran BJP leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi as “punishment” for unfavourable results in Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
The WhatsApp message had a screenshot of the BJP’s website’s “Margdarshak Mandal” page alongside text that read, “Was the 2024 election result against Modi? It looks like even BJPee people are sick of Modi. They put him in Margdarshak Mandal on the BJPee website. People are sick of him. they have the numbers, but not the mandate.”
Source: WhatsApp Forward
When we checked social media, there were similar posts made on X. On 6th June, a Congress spokesperson mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post and wrote, “Who is spreading this rumour that Modi Ji is joining “Margdarshak Mandal”.
Source: X
X user Gurudath Shetty Karkala wrote, “Wow!! this is big. BJP’s official website has put Modi on the list of Margdarshak Mandal.”
Source: X
X user Sanatan Dharma questioned why PM Modi and Rajnath Singh’s names were added to Margdarshak Mandal.
Source: X
Another user Dhairya Maheshwari wrote, “For some reason, PM Modi’s and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s names have come up on the website of the BJP ‘Margdarshak Mandal’ besides the names of party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.”
Source: X
Reality: Both PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have been a part of Margdarshak Mandal since 2014
When OpIndia checked the page of BJP’s Margdarshak Mandal, PM Modi and Rajnath Singh are indeed in the list alongside LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. However, there is a catch. Both Prime Minister and Defence Minister are not new members of Margdarshak Mandal. They have been part of the committee since 2014.
We found a press release from 2014 that mentioned that five leaders were added to Margdarshak Mandal which were former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PM Narendra Modi, Lalkrishna Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Rajnath Singh.
Furthermore, we also found archives of the page from 2022 and 2023 where both PM Modi and Rajnath Singh were part of Margdarshak Mandal.
Screenshot of archive from 2022
Screenshot of archive from 2023
The war of narrative
As the dust settles on Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Indian political landscape has geared up for a fierce battle of narratives. The opposition parties have nothing better to do after getting defeated by PM Modi-led NDA for the third consecutive time. 28 opposition parties came together as I.N.D.I. Alliance and still failed to form a government. Now, these parties would prefer to marshal up all their resources to craft narratives against PM Modi and the NDA-led government. It seems the abovementioned message is going to be part of such narratives.
The incident of misleading information about Margdarshak Mandal exemplifies the broader strategy of the opposition. They will seize upon any opportunity, no matter how trivial, to apprehensions against the ruling party. They will highlight perceived shortcomings, amplify dissenting voices, and leverage social media to spread their message far and wide.
By indulging in such actions, the opposition will hope to sway public opinion and create an atmosphere of uncertainty and discontent. The aim, you may ask. The aim will be to undermine the credibility of the Modi government. They will portray him as an ineffective leader and project as if he is out of touch with the ground reality. This war of narratives is not just about policy or governance; it’s about perception and influence.
In response, the NDA-led government has to remain vigilant and proactive to counter the narratives immediately. In Modi 2.0, the war of narratives led to anti-CAA and anti-farmer laws sentiments across the country. It is essential to curb such dangerous narratives at the budding stage before they become a law and order problem. Transparency and clear communication will be crucial in dispelling misinformation and maintaining public trust.
The Paschim (West) Sarira police station in Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh, has been in the headlines for quite some time. The reason is the discussion on social media about the village of Jafarpur Mahawa. It is being claimed that the Muslim community has imposed a social boycott on the Hindu community. Some media outlets have also published similar reports. However, the police are denying these claims.
Meanwhile, Hindu organisations have expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the local administration and have protested at the police station. OpIndia has investigated all aspects of this news.
The root lies in land dispute
There is a land dispute at the root of this entire matter. In the village, there is a temple next to Chhotelal Gupta’s house. This temple is adjacent to a piece of land that used to belong to a Hindu. A Muslim villager bought this land. It is alleged that the buyer now wants to open a door facing the temple. Despite his house facing the other side, the Muslim neighbour insists on opening the door towards the temple, claiming ‘my land, my right.’ The Hindu community believes that if this happens, there will be frequent communal tensions in the future, as the temple could be defiled by the practices of the Muslim family.
The Hindu side levels serious allegations
Villagers Chhotelal Gupta, Mahesh, and Virendra Diwakar have made statements regarding this issue. In unison, they all said that moving beyond the legal battle over the land dispute, the Muslim side has now resorted to a social boycott. It is alleged that the Muslim community in the village held a meeting and unanimously decided that there would be no transactions of any kind with Hindu households. OpIndia has also obtained a letter addressed to the local Deputy SP. The letter is signed by Chhotelal, Mahesh, Rajesh Kumar, Rupendra Kumar Sharma, Dhirendra Singh, and Jagdish Kumar.
(Complaint Copy)
In this letter, the village Pradhan Naseer Ahmed, Abrar’s son Guddu, Akram, Naushad, and Wahab have been identified as the masterminds behind the boycott of Hindus. It is alleged that the boycott includes prohibiting the purchase of goods from Hindu shops, conversing with them, and preventing them from accessing water for their fields. Muslims who do not comply with this decree face a fine of Rs 5,000 and the threat of being ostracised from the community. The complaint mentions that there is an atmosphere of fear among the Hindus in the village. The names Vaijnath and Rajesh are mentioned as those affected by the lack of water for irrigation. The complaint is signed by the entire Hindu community.
Village Pradhan partially accepted the allegations
OpIndia has obtained a video byte of the village Pradhan Nassen alias Naseer Ahmed, regarding this entire dispute. He initially spoke many things like Hindu-Muslim unity. In the land dispute, he supported Muslim buyer, asserting that the construction is legitimate. He denied any claims of social ostracism. In the end, he admitted that strict actions had been taken against some individuals who were talking about the Hindu-Muslim divide.
Police refute all allegations
On Monday (10th June), the Kaushambi Police released their statement on this entire matter. According to the police, claims about issuing a fatwa for social ostracism in the village are baseless and misleading. The police also clarified that the issue of not providing water for irrigation was not a collective action but involved only one person. Fakire had asked for the old dues to be settled before providing water. Claiming peace among the villagers, the police stated that some outsiders were trying to disrupt the environment and had been issued strict warnings.
Kaushambi, UP ?
?Masjid has given open fatwa – Muslims must boycott Hindu businesses – Muslims must shut down water supply to Hindu homes – Muslims must not allow Hindus to use water from their tube wells & private resources
— Shashank Shekhar Jha (@shashank_ssj) June 10, 2024
Hindu organisations dissatisfied with the administration’s actions
Meanwhile, several Hindu organisations have expressed dissatisfaction with the administrative actions. Members associated with Hindu organisations alleged injustice against Hindus in the village. They staged a protest at the Paschim (West) Sarira Police Station on Sunday (9th June). During the protest, it was alleged that the police were threatening the Hindu side. Additionally, the revenue officials were accused of making unilateral decisions. It was announced during the protest that the complaint regarding the incident would be directly addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Notably, the village has approximately equal populations of Muslims and Hindus. Hindu organisations have announced that they will not let any injustice happen to the Hindus in the village. Currently, there is peace in the village. The administration is continuously monitoring the situation. Social media is also being monitored regarding this matter.
On Sunday (9th June), Kiren Rijiju was sworn in as the Union Minister of Minority Affairs. The BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh becomes the first Buddhist to hold the position of Minority Affairs Minister since its constitution in January 2006.
Conventionally, only Muslim politicians were appointed as the Minority Affairs Minister. The Congress-led-UPA government started the convention with the appointment of Abdul Rahman Antulay between 2006 and 2009.
The position was subsequently held by Salman Khurshid and K Rahman Khan. After the NDA came to power, the Modi government chose Najma Heptulla and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to lead the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The big shift came in July 2022 when BJP leader Smriti Irani was roped in by the Modi government as the Minority Affairs Minister. Irani was assisted by Christian John Barla as the Minister of State.
Kiren Rijiju, who has previously served as Minister of Law, will now lead the Ministry of Minority Affairs. George Kurian, a Christian politician from Kerala, has been appointed as the Minister of State.
It must be mentioned that Muslims constitute the largest majority among ‘religious minorities’ in India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment by the UPA government in 2006.
A case of molestation with a Hindu woman has come to light in the Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh. The accused, named Ata ur Rehman, has been arrested by the police in the case. The incident took place on Saturday (8th June). The police are investigating the case and taking necessary actions. Two videos related to this incident are also going viral on social media. In the first video, Ata ur Rehman, seen wearing Islamic attire and a netted skull cap, can be seen walking towards the woman. In the second video, the accused is seen limping and taking support from the shoulders of the police personnel.
अमरोहा में दूध लेने जा रही महिला का रास्ता रोककर अभद्रता करने वाला मो. अताउररहमान गिरफ्तार।
महिला अपराध में जीरो टॉलरेंस की नीति अपनाते हुए यूपी पुलिस अपराधी को पैरों पर चलने लायक नहीं छोड़ रही। pic.twitter.com/kZr6Ksk3q5
— Prashant Umrao (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ippatel) June 9, 2024
The incident took place in the Kotwali Gajraula area of Amroha district. On Saturday (8th June), the victim’s husband filed a complaint with the police. The complainant stated that on Saturday morning around 5:30 AM, his wife was going to buy milk. At that time, an unknown person approached her from behind. He stopped the victim and molested her. When she resisted, the accused threatened to kill her and hurled abuses at her. When the victim raised an alarm, the accused fled the scene while threatening her.
#Amroha : गजरौला में शनिवार की सुबह दूध लेने जा रही महिला से छेड़खानी करने वाले मुस्लिम युवक को पुलिस ने गिरफ्तार कर लिया है
The complainant works in a factory. He has demanded strict action against the unknown accused. The police have registered an FIR against the unknown person under sections 341, 323, 504, and 506 of the IPC. During the investigation, the accused was identified as Ata ur Rehman who is a resident of Gajraula. The police have arrested him. In the first of the two videos going viral on social media, the accused can be seen moving hurriedly towards the woman.
In the second video, Ata ur Rehman is seen limping and relying on support from Police personnel to walk out of the Police station. OpIndia has a copy of the complaint. The police are investigating the case and taking necessary actions.
