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Kerala: Congress workers clash in party’s district office, CPI(M) and Congress blame each other after BJP registers historic victory in Thrissur

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Congress workers clash in party’s district office, CPI(M) and Congress blame each other after BJP registers historic victory in Thrissur

On Friday (7th June), a major clash broke out between two groups of Congress workers inside the District Congress Committee (DCC) office in Kerala’s Thrissur. The incident unfolded when a meeting was called in to discuss the defeat of Congress candidate K Muraleedharan from the Thrissur constituency. Earlier, the CPI(M) and Congress had blamed each other for “helping BJP win this Lok Sabha seat”.

Notably, BJP’s Suresh Gopi registered a historic victory from Thrissur as he defeated his nearest rival, CPI(M)’s VS Sunil Kumar by a margin of over 74,000 votes. Congress candidate K Muraleedharan came in third place. With this, Suresh Gopi created history for the BJP by delivering the first Lok Sabha seat for the party in Kerala.

(Source – ECI)

After the results were announced on 4th June, tensions have been brewing in the Congress unit of Thrissur district as some anonymous posters blamed DCC chief Jose Valloor and former Thrissur MP T N Prathapan for the defeat. One of the posters read, “No seat No seat for Prathapan even in a ward” and “Jose Vallur should resign”.

Later, on Friday, the situation escalated when DCC Chief Valloor confronted Suresh, a worker aligned with DCC secretary Sajeevan Kuttiyachira, about putting up posters.

It is alleged that Kuttiyachira, a supporter of Muraleedharan, and Suresh were also assaulted by DCC chief Vallur and his supporters. Subsequently, it led to an all-out altercation between supporters of the two factions. 

Later, Sajeevan Kuttiyachira staged a sit-in on the ground floor of the DCC office as he sat in front of a picture of Congress leader and father of K Muraleedharan, K Karunakaran. However, the altercation intensified when supporters of Muraleedharan reached the office.

In fact, on the counting day, K Muraleedharan had criticised the district and state leadership and alleged that no leaders came to campaign for him. 

CPI(M) and Congress blame each other for helping the BJP register its first victory in Kerala

It is pertinent to note that earlier a war of words had erupted between the CPI(M) and Congress in Kerala over Suresh Gopi’s groundbreaking win in Thrissur. They blamed and accused each other of helping the BJP to win its first seat in the state. 

As per electoral data, the Congress party’s vote share in Thrissur declined from 39.83% in 2019 to 30.08% this time, while the BJP’s vote share increased from 29.19% to 37.8%. However, the CPI(M)-led LDF vote share remained nearly the same, increasing slightly from 30.85% in 2019 to 30.95% in the 2024 elections.

After the results were announced, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for a serious examination of the Thrissur result. Afterward, his colleague and CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan claimed that Congress ensured BJP’s victory from Thrissur. 

He said, “The BJP has got the Congress votes in Thrissur. The Congress lost 86,000 votes while Gopi’s victory margin was 74,000. The LDF increased its votes by 6,000. Our assessment was very clear that the BJP would not win. But the Congress ensured the BJP’s victory.” 

Trading barbs from the Congress side, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan on Wednesday had blamed Vijayan for the BJP’s Thrissur win. 

He had said, “The UDF had raised concerns over the erosion of votes in CPI(M) areas before the elections. The CPI(M)-BJP deal was out in the open… He (Vijayan) made the deal as he wanted to stop Central agencies from probing his party leaders.”

Congress candidate blames party leadership for his defeat

Furthermore, Congress’ losing Thrissur candidate K Muraleedharan, who had won the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat in 2019, blamed his party for his defeat, adding to the embarrassment for the grand old party.  

Muraleedharan said, “The Congress machinery in the constituency (Thrissur) was in a shambles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned for Gopi and Chief Minister (Pinarayi) Vijayan campaigned for the LDF. No one came for me.” 

He added that he may have won had he contested from Vadakara again. Incidentally, he was already campaigning in the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency, when the Congress abruptly announced his ticket from Thrissur. The development came after his sister Padmaja Venugopal switched to the BJP. Notably, both of them are children of the late Congress Kerala veteran, K Karuankaran. 

Meanwhile, a section of the Youth Congress leaders also raised questions over Muraleedharan’s loss and they demanded the resignation of district president Jose Vallore and senior leader T N Prathapan, who won from Thrissur in 2019. 

However, Kerala Congress chief K Sudhakaran reached out to Muraleedharan and said that the party will review what went wrong in Thrissur. Sudhakaran said, “The outcome was totally unexpected. Muraleedharan is an asset for the party and is not a leader who should stay away from public life. We will ensure he is active in the Congress at any cost.”

Samajwadi MLA Irfan Solanki, jailed in arson and land grabbing case, helped illegal Bangladeshi nationals to settle in India, had links with Kanpur riots accused

OpIndia Staff
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Samajwadi MLA Irfan Solanki, jailed in arson and land grabbing case, helped illegal Bangladeshi nationals to settle in India, had links with Kanpur riots accused

On Friday (7th June), an MP/MLA court sentenced Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki, his younger brother Rizwan Solanki, and three others to seven years imprisonment. Irfan has been found guilty of harassing a woman, setting her house on fire, and beating her son in an attempt to grab her land in the Jajmau area of Kanpur in 2022. It is also alleged that Irfan has relations with the main accused in the Kanpur riots. Additionally, as an MLA, he reportedly signed letters that got 5 Bangladeshi nationals Indian citizenship. 

This was the first conviction of Solanki (45) who has been booked in eight cases, including charges under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act and that of forgery, in the past two years. He has been a four-time legislator from the Sishamau constituency in Kanpur district but following the conviction and sentencing, Irfan Solanki may also lose his assembly seat. The others awarded the sentence in the case are Shaukat Ali, a builder, Israel Attewala, and Mohammad Shareef. Currently, Irfan is lodged in the Maharajganj district jail, while the other convicts are in a Kanpur jail.

Notably, Nazeer Fatima, a resident of the Defense Colony of Jajmau, lodged a complaint on 8th November 2022. In her complaint, she accused Irfan and Rizwan of regularly harassing her and threatening to kill her family in an attempt to grab her house located in the Defence Colony area of the city. 

Fatima further said that on 7th November 2022, Irfan, Rizwan, and their associates set her house on fire while she and her family had gone to a relative’s wedding. When her son reached home, he saw that their house was on fire. Fatima also said that Irfan Solanki, his brother Rizwan Solanki, and their associates had assaulted her son and also tried to push him into the fire. After the Police registered an FIR against MLA Solanki, he went absconding to avoid arrest.

On 4th April this year, Fatima’s 14-year-old granddaughter went missing. She went to school with her brother but did not return home. Her bicycle was found abandoned near the railway station. Aslam, the father of the missing minor, had lodged a complaint with the police.

Irfan signed letters that authorised illegal Bangladeshis as Indian citizens

Apart from all these allegations, Irfan Solanki is also accused of giving certificates of Indian citizens to Bangladeshi Muslims and having close relations with the accused of the Kanpur riots. In fact, in December 2022, Kanpur Police arrested 5 Bangladeshi Muslims of one family living illegally. The arrested individuals included 2 men, 2 women, and a minor.

All these infiltrators were living in India with fake identities. According to the reports, the Police seized fake identity cards including passports and Aadhaar cards, from the arrested individuals. One of these Bangladeshi citizens had traveled to many countries, and currency from several countries was also recovered from him. The accused were issued a letter purportedly signed by jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Irfan Solanki, which authorized them as Indian nationals.

On 11th December 2022, the Mulganj police station in Kanpur received information about some suspects heading towards Meston Road. Following this tip-off, the police set up a blockade and apprehended four individuals. When asked to show their identity cards, they hesitated. To mislead the police, all the suspects claimed that their identity cards were at home.

The police then took all the suspects to their house. There, they found a person named Khalid Majid. Upon searching the house, the police recovered his Bangladeshi passport, a fake Aadhaar card, foreign currency, and about Rs 14.5 lakh. When questioned about this, the accused could not provide any satisfactory answers.

Eventually, the police took all five suspects into custody. During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were originally residents of the Khulna district in Bangladesh. The suspects were identified as 79-year-old Khalid Majeed, 53-year-old Rizwan Mohammed, 45-year-old Hina Khalid, and 21-year-old Rukhsar. Another minor was also apprehended.

The accused told the police that they had been living in India since 2016. A total of 1001 dollars in foreign currency and many pieces of gold jewelry were recovered from them. The arrested Rizwan had traveled to Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Nepal several times.

The police stated that the documents of these accused were verified by SP MLA Irfan Solanki. Irfan not only provided the arrested individuals with certificates of being Indian on his official letterhead but also continuously verified their documents. Additionally, in 2019, SP councilor Mannu Rehman issued certificates declaring these Bangladeshis to be Indians.

Additional CP Anand Prakash Tiwari also confirmed that SP MLA Solanki and SP councilor Mannu Rehman helped the accused in attaining the residence proof certificates which proved them as Indian Nationals.

Irfan Solanki also linked to the main accused of the Kanpur riots

Several cases have been registered against Irfan Solanki and his associates in Uttar Pradesh for extortion, encroachment on public and private land, and illegal construction. Reports have also surfaced about Irfan Solanki’s collusion with builders Shaukat Ali and Haji Wasi Khan. Wasi Khan is accused of funding the 2022 Kanpur riots. He is also accused of illegally settling Bangladeshis in Kanpur. In this matter, cases under the Gangster Act have been registered against Haji Wasi Khan and his groups.

ED conducted raids at several locations of Irfan Solanki in connection with money laundering

In March this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several locations linked to SP MLA Irfan Solanki regarding his disproportionate growth of assets. Between 2016 and 2022, while he was an MLA, Irfan’s wealth increased by 282 percent. It is alleged that this unaccounted benami property of Irfan Solanki was created through money laundering.

According to reports, Irfan carried out money laundering through fake companies. Between 2015-16 and 2022-23, it was discovered that approximately 12.5 crore rupees were deposited in Irfan’s account in cash, while income tax returns were filed for only Rs 6 lakh. The bungalow that Irfan and his brother Rizwan live in, which is spread across 1000 square meters, is valued at around Rs 10 crore.

According to the agency, this wealth was also accumulated illegally. During the ED’s raids, some diaries were recovered that revealed transactions amounting to approximately Rs 40 to 50 crore. Additionally, documents for land worth Rs 5 crore in Mumbai were also found. Moreover, cash and digital devices were seized during the raids, which are currently being examined.

‘Houses ransacked, family members targeted, livelihood destroyed’: BJP workers in West Bengal flee homes after Lok Sabha elections, narrate their ordeal

OpIndia Staff
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‘Houses ransacked, family members targeted, livelihood destroyed’: BJP workers in West Bengal flee homes after Lok Sabha elections, narrate their ordeal

Following the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, hundreds of BJP workers have fled their villages and homes – a grim situation reminiscent of the 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections and 2023 Panchayat election in the State.

The development was confirmed in a report, published by The Indian Express on Saturday (8th June). While speaking about the matter, a BJP worker named Prasanta Haldar informed, “Election season mane amader ghor chharar season (election season for us means the season of leaving home).”

A resident of Vidyadhar Palli area of Baruipur, Haldar and his family fled home after casting their vote during the 7th Pphase of Lok Sabha elections. He had sent his wife and children to a relative’s house.

BJP workers seek refuse in safe houses

In the meantime, he has sought refuge along with 50 others at the BJP office in Baruipur. Haldar told The Indian Express, “I was forced to leave home in 2021 after the Assembly polls, and then after panchayat polls last year.”

“I was able to get back home in April this year, but now once again, I am homeless. Me and other workers from my village got threats before the Lok Sabha polls, but I still worked for the party. However, on June 2, after the last phase of polls, I left home. I later heard that my home was ransacked,” the BJP worker lamented.

Another party worker named Mamoni Das informed The Indian Express that TMC goons forced her out of her home in Matherdighi village in South 24 Parganas. “Then I lived in rented houses in Sahapara and later Kathpol, but we still got threats,” said added.

Livelihood and safety under threat for BJP workers in West Bengal

Mamoni, who serves as the VP of the BJP Baruipur, informed that 50 TMC goons gheraoed her house on the day of Lok Sabha election result (4th June 2024).

“I hid myself, but the goons beat up my husband and my mother – both were injured. In the early hours of the next day, we left home again, and I took both of them to the hospital. Since then, this party office has been our home,” she lamented.

Similarly, TMC goons harassed another BJP worker named Bikas Roy and took away his e-rickshaw. They also ambushed his residence and issued threats.

“They broke open the lock and took my toto (e-rickshaw) away. How will I earn a living now? That night, I left home and came here. My wife and children are at a relative’s house,” he lamented.

Attack on family members

The plight of BJP workers in Kolkata is no different. About 100 of them are now housed in a building near BJP’s West Bengal headquarters.

A 31-year-old Shanu Pramanik told The Indian Express, “After results were out on June 4, our houses were ransacked by TMC goons. I ran away before they could barge in. We then hid at our relative’s place, and at around 3 am today, we left and reached here at 1 pm.”

“My family members are still there. They have asked us not to go back as threats continue to come in that we would be killed if we returned,” he added.

Another BJP worker named Bishnu Dhali was quick to flee his home and avoid being attacked by TMC goons. “But they severely beat up my aunt. They also ransacked our house, he added.

Calcutta High Court takes cognisance of the matter

On Thursday (6th June), the Calcutta High Court rapped the Mamata Banerjee-led- Trinamool Congress government over post-poll violence in West Bengal.

While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) into the matter, a 2-Judge Bench of Justices Kausik Chanda and Apurba Sinha Ray said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) might be retained in the State for the next 5 years if the government fails to control violence.

“We want to ensure security of the people of the state at any cost,” the court noted. Justice Koushik Chanda pointed out, “Every day, we are watching in the media about post-poll violence. What happened after the last Assembly election, the same thing is happening this time also.”

“You (State) should be ashamed. If the state fails to control this violence, we have to make a decision that in the next five years, the Central forces will stay in this state,” he cautioned.

The court ruled that those aggrieved by post-poll violence can not only lodge their complaints at the nearest police station but almost submit them to the Director General and Inspector General of Police in West Bengal via the emails –[email protected] and [email protected]

Thereafter, the complaints need to be published immediately on the relevant website of the West Bengal Police and brought into the public domain.

Those who refused to make Nitish Kumar even convenor, are now offering him PM post: JDU leader KC Tyagi take a dig at I.N.D.I. Alliance, reiterates support to NDA

OpIndia Staff
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Those who refused to make Nitish Kumar even convenor, are now offering him PM post: JDU leader KC Tyagi take a dig at I.N.D.I. Alliance, reiterates support to NDA

On Friday (7th June), JDU advisor and national spokesperson KC Tyagi slammed the I.N.D.I. alliance leaders for attempting to court Nitish Kumar by offering him the PM post. KC Tyagi stated that the opposition bloc ill-treated the Bihar Chief Minister, who played a key role in forming the I.N.D.I. alliance in the first place. He added that the same I.N.D.I. alliance, which had refused to make JDU Supremo and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar the National Convenor, is now offering him the Prime Minister’s post. Tyagi noted that they have outrightly rejected the offer and reiterated JDU’s support for the NDA alliance under the leadership of PM Modi.

KC Tyagi asserted that there is no question of looking back or joining the I.N.D.I. alliance as their party’s respect has been restored with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).   

Notably, speaking with The Indian Express on Friday, Tyagi said, “Such is the game of politics that those who had refused to make Nitish Kumar INDIA bloc’s national convenor have been now making offers to make Nitish PM.”

KC Tyagi added that the Congress and other parties “ill-treated” Nitish because of which he was “forced to return” to the NDA in January this year. He further stated, “There is no question of looking back, as was also said several times by Nitish Kumar during the election campaign. We are now a valued partner of the NDA and we will strengthen the hands of Narendra Modi, who is all set to become Prime Minister for the third straight term.”

Tyagi pointed out that Nitish played an instrumental role in the idea of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc yet he was “pushed aside” by various members of the opposition bloc. 

He added, “With the NDA, our respectability is restored and Nitish Kumar has become a stakeholder in national politics. We are getting a lot of respect from ally BJP.”

It is pertinent to note that Nitish Kumar-led JDU has bagged 12 seats while Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP has won 16 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. BJP won 240 seats and fell below the halfway mark on its own, but with the support of the alliance partners, NDA got absolute majority for government formation and its continuation. During the NDA partners’ meet, both alliance partners lauded PM Modi’s leadership and extended unconditional support to the NDA after which President Droupadi Murmu officially invited BJP leader Narendra Modi to form government for the historic third term. 

Meanwhile, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the Mahagathbandan in January this year after a war of words erupted between the leaders of the RJD and JDU over dynastic politics.  

Reacting to his critical remarks on dynastic politics, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya made personal remarks about Nitish Kumar. 

She shared three posts on X and later deleted them. In those posts, she wrote, “He promises to be a socialist leader, whose ideology changes like the winds. What will happen by getting annoyed when no one is worthy of himself? Who can avoid fate when there is a fault in one’s own intention? Often some people do not see their shortcomings, but keep misbehaving to throw mud on someone else.”

Earlier, the JDU leaders had expressed displeasure with the I.N.D.I. alliance leaders over the issue of the appointment of National Convenor, “wrong timing” of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and Congress’ indecision, delay on seat-sharing formula, and poll preparedness. In fact, he had been expressing his disappointment with the opposition bloc for months and a heated incident involving Nitish Kumar took place in Delhi in December last year as well. 

According to reports, during the opposition bloc meeting, DMK leader TR Baalu requested an English translation of Nitish Kumar’s Hindi speech, leading to a surprising eruption from the Bihar Chief Minister. Expressing frustration, Nitish Kumar asserted that Hindi is the national language and insisted that everyone should comprehend it. His outburst continued for several minutes, delving into Indian history and criticising the imposition of English.

After snapping ties with the Mahagathbandan, Kumar maintained that there was no question of him going anywhere else as they would stay together with NDA. 

Denmark: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen assaulted in Copenhagen, one man arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Denmark: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen assaulted in Copenhagen, one man arrested

On Friday, June 7, Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen was assaulted by a man in the capital city of Copenhagen. The assault took place at a square in the centre of the city when a man walked up to PM Frederiksen and hit her. As per the PM office, the assault has left the PM shocked. The man was subsequently arrested after the attack.

“Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The prime minister is shocked by the incident,” the statement from the PM office said. The office didn’t provide any more details about the man or the reason behind the assault.

Two eyewitnesses, Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, told local newspaper BT that they had seen the attack. “A man came by in the opposite direction and gave her a hard shove on the shoulder, causing her to fall to the side,” the two women told the newspaper.

Mette Frederiksen, 46, became prime minister of Denmark in 2019 after taking over as leader of the centre-left Social Democrats four years earlier becoming the youngest PM in Danish history. The Social Democrats are the biggest party in Denmark’s coalition government.

Notably, the attack comes just two days before Denmark votes in the upcoming European Union election. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called the attack a despicable act in her criticism of the assault.

The attack on Denmark PM comes less than a month after in Slovakia, another EU member, the PM Robert Fico was shot several times as he greeted supporters. The Slovak PM Fico survived the attack and has been undergoing treatment.

Notably, just two days back, Indian MP Kangana Ranaut was also physically assaulted by a CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur at Chandigarh Airport while she was on her way to Delhi to attend her coalition National Democratic Alliance’s meeting.

Swati Maliwal assault case: Delhi Court refuses bail to Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar in view of threats received by the victim

ANI
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Swati Maliwal assault case: Delhi Court refuses bail to Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar in view of threats received by the victim

Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court dismissed the regular bail plea of Bibhav Kumar, former aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the Swati Maliwal assault case on Saturday.

The court dismissed the bail application in view of threats received by the victim Swati Maliwal and apprehension of influencing the witnesses by the accused.

Swati Maliwal was also present during the hearing and placed on record a copy of screenshots evidencing threats received by her. She also narrated the incident which occurred on May 13.

Special judge (NDPS) Ekta Gauba Mann dismissed the regular bail plea of Bibhav Kumar. He is in judicial custody after police interrogation.

“In view of the fact that Investigation is at initial stage and there is a fear in the mind of the victim regarding her security as well as security of her family members. There is also apprehension that the accused Bibhav Kumar would influence the witnesses, if at liberty, So I do not find any merit in the bail application of accused Bibhav Kumar. Hence the present regular bail application of accused Bibhav Kumar is hereby dismissed,” Special Judge Ekta Gauba Mann ordered on June 7.

The victim has alleged that her family and extended family members are being given continued threats. She also stated that she is scared as there is a risk to her life as well as the life of her family members if the accused is granted. She strongly opposed the bail application.

It is the second bail plea which has been dismissed by the court. His first regular bail plea was dismissed on May 27.

While seeking bail, the defence counsel argued that the accused has been a PA to the CM since 2010, even CM was not CM at the time. He is only a PA to CM who gives appointments as per the direction of CM. He also relied upon the complaint filed by the assistant section officer of camp office at CM residence to his department regarding the time of arrival of victim and accused on May 13, 2024.

Victim opposed the bail application and stated that accused is a very influential person and after she has made a complaint against him, all the leaders of her political party and cabinet ministers are busy in victim shaming/ doing character assassination of her and she has been ostracized by her entire political party as she has made a complaint against the accused.

She also stated that accused Bibhav Kumar is such an influential person and under the protection of leaders of his political party.

She also stated that a fake video was made by the accused after the incident had already occurred. She also stated that the alleged doctored and edited video that was leaked by the accused is of no use as the video was not at the time of the incident but after the incident already had occurred and she had made a call to the police.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava opposed the application and submitted that an investigation is going on and the accused is an influential person. There is a case pending against him in Noida. He should not be granted bail.

It was also submitted that as per IO there is no proper register maintained for appointment for meeting CM at his residence.

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

Encouraging and rewarding violence: Vishal Dadlani promises job to CISF constable who slapped Kangana Ranaut

Amit Kelkar
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Encouraging and rewarding violence: Vishal Dadlani promises job to CISF constable who slapped Kangana Ranaut

Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani has extended his support to the CISF constable accused of slapping actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut at the Chandigarh airport on June 6. Vishal expressed his support in an Instagram story, offering to assist the female CISF officer.

The incident occurred when Kangana Ranaut was slapped by CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur at the frisking area while proceeding to the boarding point after a security check. In response, Vishal Dadlani said he would help ensure the constable gets a job if any disciplinary action is taken against her.

“I do not ever support violence, but I understand the need for this @official_cisf personnel’s anger. If any action is taken against her by the CISF, I will ensure that she has a job waiting for her should she choose to accept it. Jai Hind. Jai Jawaan. Jai Kisaan (sic),” he wrote in an Instagram story.

Vishal Dadlani’s Instagram story

In another post, Dadlani tried to justify and contextualise the assault. “To those on Dungana’s side, if she had said your mother is ‘available in 100 rupees’, what would you do?” Dadlani asked while sharing an Instagram post that sought to rationalise the CISF constable’s unconscionable conduct with a passenger whom she despised for personal reasons.

Vishal Dadlani’s Instagram story

Dadlani, in yet another Instagram story, reiterated that if Ms Kaur is sacked from her job, he will ensure she is gainfully employed.

Vishal Dadlani’s Instagram story

CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur was reportedly detained following the incident. According to reports, she was later suspended after Kangana Ranaut filed a complaint with CISF officials upon her arrival at Indira Gandhi Airport.

Kangana Ranaut had won the Lok Sabha elections from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency. On the film front, she will be making her directorial debut with ‘Emergency’, produced by her home banner Manikarnika Films.

Dadlani’s job offer to the CISF constable will set a dangerous precedent, embolden and reward using violence to address personal grievances

Dadlani’s zealous support for a CISF constable who went against her duty and assaulted a passenger for her grievance is a classic case of encouraging and rewarding violence just because he doesn’t share the same social and political outlook as espoused by Kangana.

What Kangana said years ago is irrelevant. Kangana exercised her Freedom of Speech that is enshrined in the constitution of India. Contextualising her comments to justify the turn of events we witnessed on Thursday at the Chandigarh airport is a crude attempt at rationalising the assault, a discourse that would not only shrink the space for dissent in the country but also set a dangerous precedent to follow.

In fact, what Kangana said might even be true as we have seen in political rallies across the country where crowds are bought by giving them money. It is, therefore, not outside the realms of possibility that the women Kangana referred to who had participated in the farmer protests had taken part in the demonstrations for money. But surely, such a statement can’t be used to contextualise and rationalise the attack on Kangana Ranaut.

If we are to consider resorting to violence over grievances harboured by every individual for what they felt as mistreatment or insult meted out to their relatives as justified, it will lead to a total breakdown of law and order as everyone who’d felt hurt would consider it a fair game to assault and ‘avenge’’ the perceived insult. Terrorists might kill people in the name of grievances and then line up outside Mr Dadlani’s house for being ‘gainfully employed’. And more importantly, providing employment and rationalising such acts will encourage more people to take this route.

While Dadlani is in a position to provide a job to Ms Kaur, will he be able to employ several hundred thousand people who might be emboldened to take up violence knowing that a prospective employer is waiting to employ them? If yes, then India’s ‘jobs problem’, as the INDI leaders claim, is sorted. The government should depute the work of employing jobless people to Mr Dadlani. If he can employ a security official who went against her protocol and resorted to violence, there are far more deserving and hardworking people who are in genuine need of employment and would conscientiously dispense their duty.

If Mr Dadlani still does not realise how such job offers and rationalisation encourage and embolden perpetrators, will he be similarly ‘benevolent’ towards moviegoers who would want to slap him for a song composed by him that they didn’t like? Will he employ them as well?

Today, Dadlani is supporting someone who slapped a popular public figure and an MP-elect. How different is this from fatwas issued by Maulvis and financial rewards announced by Islamists against a person accused of blasphemy? Where will this stop?

Punjab and Haryana HC dismisses assault FIR against Elvish Yadav, asks him to refrain from depicting or promoting violence and substance abuse online

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab and Haryana HC dismisses assault FIR against Elvish Yadav, asks him to refrain from depicting or promoting violence and substance abuse online

A First Information Report filed against YouTuber Elvish Yadav for allegedly assaulting and threatening social media influencer Sagar Thakur, popularly known by his moniker “Maxtern”, was quashed by the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The FIR has been quashed on the condition that he and “his accomplices” abstain from encouraging violence and drug abuse on social media, reported Live Law. “The FIR portrays that the motive for violence was some dispute regarding popularity and content creation in which allegations were levelled against Elvish Yadav and his accomplices,” remarked Justice Anoop Chitkara.

He added, “To ensure that similar violent acts are not repeated in the future, that impressionable followers do not get influenced by the misdemeanour exhibited by the accused persons. and that the accused are not under the mistaken belief that such instances are taken lightly by the legal system, this Court proposes to quash the FIR in question but with the imposition of a certain condition.”

The court further emphasized that despite the fact that violence in the media might appear cool or amusing and draw a large audience across platforms, it frequently advances a narrative or increases viewership and fosters hero culture by negatively influencing societal perceptions. The court mentioned, “Such actual use of violence in a society cannot be accepted and needs to be condemned. Media influencers with a considerable audience must be sensitized to the message they impart through their actions to their susceptible followers and exhibit socially responsible behaviour.”

Following a compromise with the aggrieved Sagar Thakur, Elvish Yadav and other alleged associates submitted a motion to crush an FIR under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation). The victim who is a “well-known content creator” had charged that Elvish Yadav and others had severely battered him and threatened to murder him.

Elvish Yadav stated that he and the other accused parties had settled the matter with the complainant while the criminal case was pending. Sagar Thakur testified that there would be no issues if the court dismissed the FIR and the related procedures when he appeared before the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Gurugram, Haryana. “The accused and the private respondent have amicably settled the matter between them in terms of the compromise deed and the statements recorded before the concerned Court,” the court stated after hearing the submissions.

It further conveyed, “In the given facts, the occurrence does not affect public peace or tranquillity, moral turpitude harms the social and moral fabric of the society or involves matters concerning public policy.” The court also highlighted that “the rejection of compromise may also lead to ill will. The pendency of trial affects career and happiness and there is nothing on the record to prima facie consider the accused as an unscrupulous, incorrigible, or professional offender, and this Court proposes to caution the petitioners as mentioned in the later part of this order.”

It expressed that the goal of criminal jurisprudence is reformatory in character and aims to improve family, community and societal harmony. The judge did point out that section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure does not apply in this particular case to the offences under sections 147 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code. However, in the particular facts and circumstances of this case, the prosecution for the non-compoundable violations could be closed by quashing the formal complaint and the related processes, provided that the petitioners comply with the directives.

The decision of the Apex Court in Ramgopal v. The State of Madhya Pradesh, [Cr.A 1489 of 2012], was cited to emphasize, “Nevertheless, the limited jurisdiction to compound an offence within the framework of Section 320 Cr.P.C. is not an embargo against invoking inherent powers by the High Court vested in it under Section 482 Cr.P.C. The High Court, keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of a case and for justifiable reasons can press Section 482 Cr.P.C. in aid to prevent abuse of the process of any Court and/or to secure the ends of justice.”

The Supreme Court brought up Shakuntala Sawhney v. Kaushalya Sawhney, [(1979) 3 SCR 639, at P 642,] and observed that “the finest hour of Justice arises propitiously when parties, who fell apart, bury the hatchet and weave a sense of fellowship or reunion.” The Court cited this case in support of its position. Without commenting on the compromise narrative, the court deemed “it appropriate to quash the FIR captioned above subject to the condition that the petitioners, Elvish Yadav and his accomplices, namely Lovekesh Kataria, Ajay, and Rustam, refrain from depicting or promoting violence and substance abuse in any of their social media posts or content.” The FIR and all following procedures were overturned by the court, subject to the above criteria, stating that “continuing these proceedings will not suffice any fruitful purpose whatsoever.”

Sagar Thakur’s remarks on YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav’s meeting with Bigg Boss winner Munawar Faruqui sparked the brawl in March. Elvish Yadav then beat him up as a result and a police report was made against him. Elvish Yadav had conceded that he assaulted the YouTuber in the “heat of the moment” after the latter “threatened” to kill his family. In addition to him, 10 others were booked by the Sector 53 police in Gurgaon. The entire incident was captured on camera. The two then publically settled their differences.

President Droupadi Murmu appoints Narendra Modi to the office of Prime Minister after meeting NDA leaders, the new govt to be sworn in on Sunday evening

OpIndia Staff
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President Droupadi Murmu appoints Narendra Modi to the office of Prime Minister after meeting NDA leaders, the new govt to be sworn in on Sunday evening

President Droupadi Murmu today invited Narendra Modi to form the next government and appointed him to the office of Prime Minister of India after the National Democratic Alliance leaders elected him as the leader of the parliamentary party of the alliance and informed the president about the same. The third Modi govt will be sworn in on Sunday evening, at around 6 pm.

After the NDA meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and officially staked claim to form the government as leader of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). PM Modi has told the president evening of 9th June will be comfortable for the new government to take oath.

PM Modi will lead the third successive NDA government as Prime Minister.

PM Modi was elected as leader of the NDA Parliamentary Party earlier today at a meeting of the constituents of the ruling alliance. After this the alliance leaders informed the president about the same. After that President Murmu invited PM Modi and gave him a letter appointing him as the PM-designate. The president also asked the list of ministers of the new ministers, and asked when the new Modi would like to be sworn in.

Confirming the development in a post on X, the president said that under powers vested under Article 75(1) of the Indian constitution, she today appointed Narendra Modi to the office of Prime Minister of India. The president said that the PM has been asked to advise her about the names of other persons to be appointed members of the Union Council of Ministers, and indicate the date and time of the swearing-in-ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The president of India also tweeted that “a letter stating that Narendra Modi had been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party was handed over to the President. Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President.”

The president said that an NDA delegation led by BJP president JP Nadda and comprising Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Ashwini Vaishnaw, C.N. Manjunath, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Sanjay Jha, Eknath Shinde, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Pawan Kalyan, Ajit Pawar, Anupriya Patel, Jayant Chaudhary, Joyanta Basumatary, Atul Bora, Indra Hang Subba, Sudesh Mahto, Chandra Prakash Choudhary, and Ramdas Athawale called on the President.

Addressing media outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan, PM Modi said, ‘Today morning an NDA meeting was held. All members of NDA selected me once again for this responsibility. Then all members of the NDA informed the president about the same. The president had called me now, and appointed me as PM-designate.’

PM Modi further added, ‘The president asked me about the swearing-in ceremony and the list of council of ministers. I told the president that the 9th of June evening would be convenient for us to take the oath. The rest of the details will be worked out by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and by then we will finalise the list of the council of ministers, and after that, the swearing-in ceremony will take place.’

Earlier in the day, PM Modi had met former President Ram Nath Kovind. He also met veteran BJP leaders Bharat Ratna Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi at their respective residences.

In the meeting of NDA allies held at Samvidhan Sadan, the Prime Minister was welcomed with chants of ‘Modi Modi’. As he arrived to join the meeting, the Prime Minister respectfully touched the copy of the Constitution with his forehead.

While BJP has won 240 seats in the Lok Sabha alliance, the NDA has 293 MPs, comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The alliance also submitted the list of its MPs to the President today.

Audrey Truschke attempts to intimidate donors of Hindu American Foundation, was earlier exposed by US court for making “arguably verifiably false” claims

OpIndia Staff
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Audrey Truschke attempts to intimidate donors of Hindu American Foundation, was earlier exposed by US court for making “arguably verifiably false” claims

Dubious ‘historian’ Audrey Truschke, who has a track record of spreading hate against Hindus, has now been eyeing to intimidate supporters of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

HAF is a Hindus rights and advocacy organisation, based in the United States. On Thursday (6th June), its Executive Director Suhag A Shukla informed that Audrey Truschke has been scaremongering donors of the Hindu American Foundation.

The dubious ‘historian’ has been falsely claiming that a recent court ruling would expose the names and information about the donors of HAF.

“Right now, Audrey Truschke is contacting HAF friends, seemingly to intimidate them—and on social media, implying that HAF donors names will be revealed in the wake of our defamation lawsuit from 2021. This is false. Our supporters do not need to worry. Not a single bit of identifying information exists in court documents,” Shukla added.

“HAF never gave up donor names nor identifying information. We know about Audrey’s ethical failings, so we were very careful in protecting our donors & supporters. No one is surprised by this social media tactic of hers,” she pointed out.

The HAF founder informed, “Audrey has done this in the past, contacting even elected leaders, threatening them that she will now “research” them for working with us. Harassment is how she works, using her academic credentials to threaten & intimidate.

The Executive Director of the HAF expressed disappointment that the defamation suit filed against Audrey Truschke was rejected on ‘procedural grounds.’ “We will never stop fighting for our community and we will always stand up for the truth!” she concluded.

It must be mentioned that on Wednesday (5th June), a federal judge in Washington DC, identified as one Amit Mehta, directed the unsealing of all discovery documents submitted by the Hindu American Foundation in its lawsuit against Audrey Truschke and 4 others.

The development was confirmed by Truschke and an Islamist named Raqib Hameed Naik. A vicious fake news peddler, Raqib Hameed Naik is the founder of anti-Hindu disinformation outlet ‘Hindutva Watch.’ He is also infamous for denying the Hindu genocide, perpetrated by radical Islamists in the Kashmir Valley, in the early 1990s. Naik had also mocked the Hindu ‘Shivling’ found inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Kashi

When US court exposed lies of

In the case Hindu American Foundation Vs Sunita Vishwanath (2022), Justice Amit Mehta noted that allegations levelled by Audrey Truschke against the HAF’s Board of Director Rajiv Pandit were “arguably verifiably false.”

The dubious ‘historian’ had falsely claimed that Rajiv Pandit was going after her “along with a growing list of people in recent days.” Justice Amit Mehta said, “The court notes that some of Truschke’s statements are arguably verifiably false.”

The court had also exposed the false claims of Sunita Vishwanath, the co-founder of ‘Hindus for Human Rights’ – an anti-Hindu outfit known to have ties with the Islamist organisation ‘Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC)’.

“The court notes that Viswanath’s claim that HAF has “parent organisations” in India is plausibly verifiably false,” the federal court judge has said in his verdict on 20th December 2022.

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