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Signaling to Muslims again? Congress candidate from Ratlam, MP, says those with two wives will get Rs 2 lakh a month if party voted to power

OpIndia Staff
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Signaling to Muslims again? Congress candidate from Ratlam, MP, says those with two wives will get Rs 2 lakh a month if party voted to power

On the 9th of May 2024, a video went viral where the Congress candidate from Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam was heard signalling to Muslims again. Kantilal Bhuria, the Congress candidate from Ratlam during an election rally said that if Congress comes to power, those who have two wives would get Rs 2 lakh a month.

“If Congress comes to power, as our manifesto states, every woman will get Rs 1 lakh in her bank account. Women from each house will get Rs 1-1 lakh. Those who have two wives will get Rs 2 lakh…,” said Congress candidate from MP’s Ratlam, Kantilal Bhuria, while addressing a public rally earlier today.

Bhuria has been the Union minister for tribal affairs in the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Speaking at the rally, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari supported what Bhuria said. Patwari said, “Bhuria ji has made a terrific announcement just now that a person with two wives will get double (of the ₹ 1 lakh financial aid).” As per the Congress’ manifesto, under the Mahalaxmi scheme, women will get ₹ 8,500 per month till they move out of the below-poverty line (BPL) segment.

Reportedly, the BJP has demanded action from the Election Commission of India against Bhuria.

The Congress scheme to give Rs 1 lakh to every woman if voted to power is one that would spell doom for India. The scheme in the manifesto reads, “Mahalakshmi: Inequality of income and opportunity remains India’s ugliest truth. It is the moral and political responsibility of any government to ensure that every Indian family is assured of a basic income every month. Congress resolves to launch a Mahalakshmi scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer. The poor will be identified among the families in the bottom of the income pyramid. The amount will be directly transferred to the bank account of the oldest woman of the household. Absent a woman, it will be transferred to the account of the oldest member of the family. The scheme will be rolled out in stages and reviewed every year to assess the number of beneficiary families and its impact on alleviating poverty.

Lack of clarity on funding and about sustainable economic growth in Nari Nyay scheme 

The promise of Rs 1 lakh per year per family by Congress lacks clarity on funding. Furthermore, it also undermines the dignity of labour and entrepreneurship. The grand old party has planned to hand out cash without any productive activity attached. Their promise risks fostering a culture of dependency rather than women empowerment. We can compare it to putting a band-aid on a wound that requires surgery.

Moreover, injecting such massive among of cash into the economy will cause inflationary pressure. In rural areas, where the cost of living is comparatively lower, the sudden inflow of cash without increasing productivity will eventually result in price hikes that will erode the purchasing power of the poor.

In addition to the future disasters linked to the scheme, Congress has not planned to create new wealth. In short, it will only add to the inflation without addressing the root cause of poverty. Congress has called for eradicating poverty. For decades, the party leaders including first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, former PM Indira Gandhi and former PM Rajiv Gandhi, all talked about eradicating poverty during elections but never succeeded. The lack of vision always pushed Congress on the back foot.

Congress and its Muslim Pitch for 2024

Rahul Gandhi has been talking about wealth distribution in the run-up to the 2024 elections. He has essentially claimed that there would be a survey of wealth in the nation and then, according to population, the wealth of the nation would be redistributed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hit out at the Congress party and its Muslim appeasement politics during an election campaign meeting in Banswara town of Rajasthan. He lambasted the wealth distribution scheme of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi and reminded the voters about the infamous speech of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2006. “During the time of their government, they (Congress) had declared that Muslims have the first claim of this country’s resources. First, they will seize your properties and distribute them to Muslims, those who produce a high number of offspring, and infiltrators,” PM Modi emphasised.

The Congress party in its manifesto has also hinted at decriminalising triple talaq and a backdoor entry of the Communal Violence Bill.

Page 8 of the Congress manifesto reads –

4. We will restore the Maulana Azad Scholarships for study abroad and increase the number of scholarships

7. Congress will ensure that, like every citizen, minorities have the freedom of choice of dress, food, language and personal laws.

There are several other promises made in the manifesto that hint at special treatment to the Muslim community, for example, the Congress manifesto also promises greater representation of Muslims in the Judiciary.

Given the Congress’ pitch to get Muslim votes, the statement of Kantilal Bhuria signals a dangerous trend. It is a reality that polygamy is commonplace in the Muslim community. Bhuria talking about those two wives getting double the money if Congress comes to power only signals how the Congress party seems to believe that their only pitch for the 2024 General Elections is to, by any means necessary, hanker for minority votes.

Bombay HC orders registration of crime in alleged misappropriation of Tulja Bhavani Temple’s money in auction of donation boxes, slams govt for opposing filing the case

OpIndia Staff
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Bombay HC orders registration of crime in alleged misappropriation of Tulja Bhavani Temple’s money in auction of donation boxes, slams govt for opposing filing the case

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court on 9th May ordered to register a case in the case of embezzlement of donated money and other valuables from the Tulja Bhawani Temple in Maharashtra’s Tuljapur. The court issued the order based on two inquiry reports in the case, which found that around ₹8.46 crore worth of cash, gold and other valuables were misappropriated by officials by auctioning donation boxes of the temple.

The bench of justices Mangesh S Patil and Shailesh Brahme ordered that an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police should investigate the matter.

The court also slammed the state govt for arguing against probing the matter by saying that the investigation may not prove the allegations of embezzlement. The court said the state’s govt’s decision to prejudge the issue is not acceptable.

The court said, “since it is a matter of misappropriation and criminal breach of trust resorting to forgery, it being a cognizable offence punishable under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the criminal law must be set in motion and there has to be a threadbare investigation into the allegations.” The court added that if the investigating machinery/officer is unable to collect evidence after the investigation, then the allegations may not be substantiated and a charge-sheet may not be filed, but the action cannot be preempted.

The matter relates to alleged embezzlement of valuables received in donation boxes of the Tulja Bhawani Temple from 1991 2009. During this period, the donation boxes were auctioned, and allegedly fraud and misappropriation took place by temple officials.

The temple management had decided to auction the donation boxes in August 1984. In September 1991 the practice was stopped after it was found to be against the interest of the temple. But despite that, the auction process was resumed after a few months, which continued till 2009. Allegedly, there was rampant embezzlement of the donations during this period. While the temple received huge amounts of cash, gold, silver and other valuables are offerings to the deity, only few were accounted for in the auction process.

In 2009, the collector realised that such embezzlement was taking place. The office of the Joint Charity Commissioner also came to the same conclusion. After that, the CID was asked to investigate the matter in 2011 by CM Ashok Chavan. However, there was no progress in the case, and in 2015, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti filed a PIL with the High Court seeking investigation into the matter.

As per an order of the court responding to the plea, an enquiry report was submitted to the Court in a sealed cover on 29.09.2017 and the petition was disposed of. The enquiry report had recommended filing a case in the matter, but it was ignored and no case was filed. As a result, the petitioners filed another plea in 2017, seeking directions to constitute a Special Investigation Team to investigate the matter, and to recover the amount of over ₹8 crore from the persons who had embezzled the gold, silver ornaments and cash.

After the submission of the enquiry report, the Maharashtra DGP ordered a reenquiry in November 2017, and its report was filed in February 2018. This was a much detailed report, which mentioned the names of the trustees and the manner in which embezzlement had taken place. The report suggested registration of crime under different sections of the Indian Penal Code like 109, 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 67 of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950.

The report stated that during the period between 1991 and 2009 there was misappropriation to the tune of around Rs. 8.46 Crores. The report was forwarded to the Home Department of the State Government on 22.03.2018 and the Home Department again directed further reenquiry.

Accordingly, another enquiry was done and the report was submitted in January 2020. This report stated that though there were irregularities and negligence by the then trustees, who were Collectors, Sub Divisional Officers and Tahsildars during that period, they could not be held criminally liable. The report also claimed that the period from 1991 to 2009 was pretty old, and recommended not to conduct any departmental enquiry.

The court noted that while the first 2 reports concluded that concerned officers had indulged in misappropriation, the 3rd report claimed no concrete proofs could be collected against them. The third report claimed that as the Tahsildars were ex officio managing trustees, it would be a matter of negligence, not misappropriation. The state govt sided with the third report in the court, saying that calculations made in earlier reports were notional, there was no concrete material and the prosecution could not stand simply on the basis of such notional calculations.

However, the petitioners pointed out that the Collector in 2009 and then the Joint Charity Commissioner had noticed gross illegality and mismanagement taking serious objection to the auctions being undertaken in respect of donation box. This clearly reveals misappropriation and criminal breach of trust, which should have been sufficient for the State Government to direct registration of crime and its investigation, they argued.

The petitioners also alleged that govt were trying to protect the accused persons because they are govt officials. However, the govt denied the charge, saying that it was not practicable to register the crime and investigate it merely based on the inferences. The Additional Public Prosecutor submitted though there could be some misappropriation and embezzlement, there is no concrete record. It was a matter of auctioning of the donation box undertaken every year. The govt argued that in the absence of any concrete proof, it would be an exercise in futility.

However, the High Court rejected the arguments of the state government, saying that when there are police reports finding misappropriation of temple fund and suggesting investigation, the criminal law must be set in motion and there has to be a threadbare investigation into the allegations.

The court also noted that everyone, even the latest report that suggested against filing cases, is unanimous that the practice of auctioning the donation box should not have been resorted to. Even the Joint Charity Commissioner had ordered in 2010 to stop it giving reasons for it, the court noted.

“In our considered view, the issue needs to be taken to the logical end, even if it requires registration of a crime,” the bench added.

Notably, the scam came to prominence in 2010 after the donation boxes were sealed for a month on the complaint of a priest. It was found that the temple received 443 grams of gold in just one month from March 18 to April 18 after the boxes were opened, while as per record, the temple received on 40 grams of gold in the last 10 years. This revealed that massive misappropriation of donations was going on in auctioning of donation boxes.

Talking about the court order, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti issued a statement saying that the successful legal battle fought by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad over the past nine years has culminated in this significant victory. “The decision brings relief and joy to millions of devotees across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti vows to persist until the corrupt officials responsible for misappropriating government funds face justice,” said the Samiti.

Senior Advocate Sanjeev Deshpande, along with Founder Member of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad Advocate Suresh Kulkarni and Advocate Umesh Bhadgavankar represented the petitioners in the court.

Our diplomats have been threatened with impunity, no relevant evidence given to us: MEA after 3 Indians arrested for Khalistani terrorist Nijjar’s Killing in Canada

ANI
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Our diplomats have been threatened with impunity, no relevant evidence given to us: MEA after 3 Indians arrested for Khalistani terrorist Nijjar’s Killing in Canada

 The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that Canada has not provided any “specific” evidence or relevant information in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case and that no “formal communication” has been provided to India over the arrests of three Indians allegedly involved in the matter.

“No specific or relevant evidence or information has been given to us in this matter. Canada has informed us about the arrest. But we have not got any formal communication…,” MEA Spokesperson said on three Indians arrested in Canada in Nijjar killing.

“Therefore, understand a view that the matter is being prejudged when people say x or y. Obviously, there are political interests at work. We have long maintained that separatists, extremists and those advocating violence have been given political space in Canada,” he said in a press briefing on Thursday.

“Our diplomats have been threatened with impunity and obstructed in their performance of duties. We have also pointed out to the Canadian authorities that figures associated with organised crimes with links in India have been allowed entry and residency. Many extradition requests are pending with them. We are having discussions at the diplomatic levels on all these matters with the Canadian side,” he added.

On being asked if India has given consular access to the three Indians arrested in Nijjar Killing case, MEA spokesperson said that they have not received any request from the Canadian side for the same as those arrested have not asked for the consular access yet.

“In different countries, there are different norms. In certain countries, if a person of a certain country is apprehended, then it is for that national to make a request that please give consular access to my embassy and there after it is granted,” he said.

The three men were taken into custody in Edmonton last week on Friday and are accused of first-degree murder and murderous conspiracy in connection with the June 2023 shooting of Nijjar, which severely damaged Canada’s relations with India.

Notably, ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government of killing Nijjar. However, India has dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year. The video of his killing that reportedly surfaced in March this year showed Nijjar being shot by armed men in what has been described as a “contract killing.”

Last week, Canadian police released photographs of all three persons arrested in the killing of India-designated terrorist, Nijjar last year amid an ongoing probe into alleged connections of the Indian government.

Along with photographs of the three accused, the Canadian police also released the photographs of the car believed to have been used by the suspects in the time leading up to the homicide, in and around the Surrey area.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of Surrey, RCMP had said that on the morning of May 3, IHIT investigators, with the assistance of members from the British Columbia and Alberta RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service, arrested the three men for the June 2023 killing of Nijjar.

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

Won’t happen again: Maldives’ Foreign Minister on Maldivian ministers’ derogatory remarks about PM Modi

ANI
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Won’t happen again: Maldives’ Foreign Minister on Maldivian ministers’ derogatory remarks about PM Modi

Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, who is on his first official visit to India, has distanced his government from the derogatory remarks made by some of its ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that it was not the stand of the government and that “proper action” has been taken to ensure that it is not repeated.

In an interview with ANI, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer reiterated the government’s stance, stating, “I think if you have seen, like you said, we have said that it’s not the stand of the government or it’s not the view of the government. And we believe it shouldn’t have been done. And then we are taking proper action to make sure that this don’t repeat.”

“And I think if you have seen, there has been a misunderstanding, social media mainly, but the governments of the Maldives in India, we understand what has happened and we have passed that stage now,” he added.

The row between India and the Maldives broke out over derogatory posts made by three officials about PM Narendra Modi.

Following derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives Deputy Youth Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Mahzoom Majid and Malsha Shareef have been suspended indefinitely, but all three will continue to receive their salaries, the President’s Office has said, Maldives local media Adhadhu reported.

Providing further information about the suspensions, Maldives President’s Office Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel told Adhadhu that the three deputy ministers were suspended indefinitely as a measure taken to look into the matter.

The Male is now facing a boycott by Indian tourists, who are one of the largest contributors to the country’s income.

In light of concerns about a potential decline in Indian tourist visits to the Maldives following the controversy, Minister Zameer expressed the Maldivian government’s eagerness to mend ties with India and reiterated their invitation to Indian tourists.

“I think the Minister of Tourism has clearly said that he would like to welcome and I like myself to welcome all Indians who would like to travel to Maldives. But I think in the long term, once we move forward because if you’re seen in the last eight months , in Maldives and India, we are going through election cycles. So I think we will move beyond that phase pretty soon and we would like all Indian tourists to come back,” he said.

“And if you look at the trajectory of what has happened. If you go back about 10 years ago, there continued to be a very important source market and then during COVID Indian travelers actually came into all this in high numbers. And then that trend continued … In the past couple of months and we have had about 16-17 per cent increase and then of course there has been a decrease in Indian markets but I’m confident that it will pick up in the near future,” he added.

Zameer’s visit to India comes amid strained ties with Maldives under President Mohamed Muizzu’s government and as India said that it will replace its military personnel from Maldives before May 10.

In April, the MEA said that the first batch of Indian technical personnel reached the Maldives to replace the defence personnel.India and the Maldives have held two high-level core group meetings, and the third one is expected to take place soon.

The removal of Indian troops from the country was the main election campaign of Muizzu’s party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives.

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

NIA special court convicts Jahanzaib Sami Wani, his wife Hina Bashir Beigh and 3 others for anti-India activities, links with ISKP

OpIndia Staff
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NIA special court convicts Jahanzaib Sami Wani, his wife Hina Bashir Beigh and 3 others for anti-India activities, links with ISKP

On 6th May, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in New Delhi handed down varying prison terms to five accused including a Kashmiri couple in a case concerning a plot by the outlawed Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) group to propagate the ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and incite terror in India through violent acts.

The convicts include 36-year-old Jahanzaib Sami from Srinagar, having multiple names such as Dawood Ibrahim, Xaib, Abu Muhammed Al-Hind, and Abu Abdulla. The others are Jahanzaib’s wife Hina Bashir, a native of Kashmir; Abdullah Basith, a resident of Hyderabad; and Sadiya Anwar Shaikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri, both from Pune. They are charged under various sections for their alleged association with the banned Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), an affiliate of the ISIS. They were charged with conspiring to generate disaffection against the government, promoting enmity among different religious communities and carrying out subversive activities.

Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh, from Okhla Vihar, Jamia Nagar were taken into custody by the Delhi Police Special Cell on 8th March 2020, on charges that they had connections with the ISKP, an ISIS front. The two intended to carry out anti-national and subversive activities in India. On 20th March of the same year, NIA re-registered the case and began its inquiry. The agency also apprehended Sadiya Anwar Shaikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri during the inquiry from Pune on 12th July 2020.

The NIA court sentenced accused Jahanzaib Sami who pleaded guilty to a range of jail terms, from 3 to 20 years, including a fine, for offences under sections 17, 18, 38, and 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) as well as sections 120B and 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in its ruling. He was accused of plotting to create a caliphate in India and of organizing 100 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) explosions across the nation in a single day.

Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh observed, “For any organisation to survive, continue and act to achieve its objectives, availability and movement of funds is one of the most important factors. In absence of funds, despite having the most dedicated cadre, an organisation cannot inch forward. Therefore, to say that funds are the lifeline of an organisation would not be an exaggeration.” According to the NIA, the perpetrator incited the minority community by disseminating hateful slogans, drawing graffiti in public areas and posting it on social media and global media sites.

The court added, “Convict Jahanzaib Sami was also involved in procuring arms, remote of IED, and suicide jackets. Convict was also involved in raising funds through Bitcoin, which is a veiled method of raising funds online, therefore, he can be said to be a person of reasonable intelligence who cannot take shelter under the arguments of not understanding the impact of his (mis)deeds.”

“NIA investigations had revealed that the accused was also raising, receiving and providing funds through cryptocurrency to promote the ideology of ISIS, a banned global terror outfit. Sami was also involved in exploiting the sentiments of gullible youth to fuel the anti-CAA/NRC (Citizenship Amendment Act/National Register of Citizens) protests,” the agency noted. According to sections 38 and 39 of the UAPA, the second accused Hina Bashir Beigh has been sentenced to seven years in prison for each of the two offenses. She had admitted to being an ISIS member and to have assisted her husband in finding others who shared her beliefs to further the terrorist group’s evil plans against India.

Abdullah Basith has been sentenced to the time he has already served after being found guilty under sections 38 and 39 of the UAPA. A self-confessed ISIS member, according to the NIA probe, he supported Jahanzaib Sami in compiling the ISIS magazine “Voice of Hind.” Furthermore, accused Sadiya Anwar Shaikh was determined culpable of violating sections 38(2) and 39(2) of the UAPA as she professed to be an ISIS member and attempted to unite all terrorist organizations under the ISIS banner. She was sentenced to seven years in prison for each of these crimes. “She had also tried to procure a suicide jacket through accused Jahanzaib Sami, the NIA probe in the case has revealed,” the press release read.

According to sections 17, 38, and 39 of the UAPA, Nabeel Siddick Khatri has been pronounced responsible and faces sentences of 15, 8 and 8 years, respectively, for giving Jahanzaib Sami money to buy weapons. He also carried out pre-emptive bombings to advance ISIS ideology in collusion with Jahanzaib Sami. If he does not pay the penalty imposed under section 17 of the UAP Act, he will be sentenced to an additional two years in jail or an amount of Rs. 2.5 lakh.

August 2020 also marked the arrest of Abdur Rahman, also known as Dr Brave, following an additional probe. He is still on trial. An MBBS student from Bengaluru, he travelled to Syria in December 2013 after being radicalized by the other accused individuals. He had taken part in a number of ISIS terrorist operations in Syria and had gained information on how to create both a laser-guided anti-tank missile software for ISIS and a medical application for treating ISIS terrorists. NIA filed a charge sheet in this matter under the number RC-11/2020/NIA/DLI on 20th March 2020 and a supplemental charge sheet on 12th January 2021.

Air India Express cabin crew ends strike, airline agrees to take back termination letters of ‘sick’ employees

OpIndia Staff
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Air India Express cabin crew ends strike, airline agrees to take back termination letters of ‘sick’ employees

On Thursday, May 9, the Air India Express cabin crew agreed to end its ongoing strike. The cabin crew withdrew the strike after the airline agreed to look into issues raised by them, news agency PTI reported. Following the decision by the cabin crew to end the strike, Air India Express has agreed to take back the termination letters and reinstate the ‘sick’ employees who had been fired.

Over a hundred flights were cancelled since May 7 as a section of the cabin crew reported sick in a protest against alleged mismanagement. On Thursday, the airline issued termination letters to around 25 cabin crew members who were on strike. The remaining cabin crew members who reported sick were given an ultimatum by Air India Express to go back to work by 4 pm on 9th May or else they would be fired. However, now, the stalemate seems to have ended.

Following the cancellation of several flights and the inconvenience to passengers, the government had to get involved. At the request of the Regional Labour Commissioner Ashok Perumalla, a meeting was held on Thursday between Air India Express Union and the airline CEO to reach a solution. Apparently, after the meeting, a middle ground has been reached and the strike will end, much to the relief of the travelers.

Earlier, on the evening of 8th May, several crew members got notifications of termination from the airline. The airline stated that the crew members’ action “pointed to a pre-mediated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason”.

In the email notice of termination it sent to the affected employees, the airline added that the widespread sick leave “violated the Air India Express Limited Employees’ Service Rules as are applicable” in addition to breaching the relevant laws.

According to the statement, the crew members who were scheduled to fly on 7th May informed the Scheduling team at the last moment that they were unwell and accordingly reported sick. “It is noted that at around the same time, an overwhelming number of other cabin crew members have also reported sick and not reported for their duties. This clearly points to a pre-mediated and concerted abstentation from work without any justifiable reason,” the statement added.

2 women from Sandeshkhali withdraw complaints of rape: With 700 complaints and threats reported in 2021, here are 5 unanswered questions in the case

Anurag
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2 women from Sandeshkhali withdraw complaints of rape: With 700 complaints and threats reported in 2021, here are 5 unanswered questions in the case

In a recent development, two women in the politically charged region of Sandeshkhali withdrew their complaints of rape against the members of Trinamool Congress (TMC) on 9th May. The development has stirred up a political controversy with TMC targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and social unrest in the state of West Bengal.

A woman and her mother-in-law have withdrawn complaints of rape against TMC leaders. They claimed they were forced to sign blank papers at the behest of National Commission for Women. As two out of three complaints have been withdrawn, it has left unanswered questions in the Sandeshkhali case.

Five unanswered questions in the Sandeshkhali Case

The pressure factor

The first question arises in the matter is, if there was pressure on the victims to retract their statements. If there was pressure, was it political, social or personal? There is an atmosphere of fear and coercion in Sandeshkhali. According to a 2021 report from The Print, women have been gang-raped in the TMC office and police asked one of the victims to compromise. It has been three years since the complaint was made and the question of undue pressure on the victims persists. The intimidation faced by the Hindu victims in West Bengal is unprecedented.

Safety and Security

How safe are the victims in Sandeshkhali? How safe do they feel after coming forward with their complaints especially when the environment in the region is politically charged? The repeated threats and acts of violence were reported by OpIndia in 2021 which highlighted the dangerous conditions under which the victims and their families live in the region.

Role of law enforcement agencies

Is there any evident pattern of influence or intimidation affecting how law enforcement agencies handle these cases? There have been reports of the inaction of West Bengal police and allegations against them of collusion with the ruling party TMC. The criticism of such collusion has been in the media for years but as complaints have been withdrawn, the question arises if the police are under pressure from the ruling party or if could they be working for them. NHRC’s findings pointed towards the compromised state machinery which cannot be ignored in this case. It was noted that the law enforcement agencies of the state were reluctant to safeguard the victim’s rights and ensure justice.

Political dynamics

There have been accusations against the ruling party TMC leaders and now the accusations have been retracted. What does it reveal about the political dynamics of the region at play? Can justice be served without being partial in the matter in such a politically charged atmosphere? The involvement of the political parties in these sensitive cases suggests that their manipulation by the influential individuals might be the reason behind retracting the complaints and it will potentially harm the criminal investigation.

The Unresolved Cases

There are over 700 complaints of violence and intimidation reported in just six days in June 2021. The question arises as to why these cases remained unresolved. The overwhelming numbers of complaints show that there has been a systematic failure of the state agencies as they failed to address and resolve the allegations.

These questions demand answers. Furthermore, there should be a call to reassess the mechanisms of justice in the state of West Bengal. As the complaints have been withdrawn, it has made it even more difficult to resolve the broader issue of violence, intimidation and political interference in such cases.

Understanding the rise of insurgency and violence in Balochistan amid escalation in attacks on outsiders from Pakistan’s Punjab and China in the region

Anurag
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Understanding the rise of insurgency and violence in Balochistan amid escalation in attacks on outsiders from Pakistan’s Punjab and China in the region

In recent times, Balochistan has witnessed a surge in violence where Baloch separatist groups have specifically targeted outsiders, especially from Pakistan’s Punjab province and China. In the most recent incident, seven labourers from Punjab province were gunned down while asleep in their rooms. Notably, there has been a rise of 96% in violent incidents in the Balochistan region in 2024 compared to the previous year. The incident took place during the wee hours of 9th May at Surbandar in the Gwadar area of Balochistan. Last month, 11 people from Punjab working in Balochistan were killed.

Historically, Balochistan has been a hotspot for separatist activities. The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, condemned the attack and termed it as an act of terrorism. In a statement, he vowed not to spare the culprits behind the attack. He said, “We will use all necessary force to deal with the terrorists and those who support them. Every drop of Pakistani bloodshed will be accounted for.”

So far, no group has taken responsibility for the attack. However, it is believed that Baloch Nationalist Groups could be behind it as they have been active in the region.

Background of ethnic tensions

This is not the first time “outsiders” got attacked in the region. There have been several instances where people from Punjab and China were targeted. The main reason behind the attacks has been the perception that those who come from “outside” represent external influence and it would undermine the culture and rights of the locals. If we look at the history of the region, the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 was the pivotal event that escalated the anti-outsider sentiments among the local insurgents.

In 2019, OpIndia interviewed Dr Allah Nazar Balock, founder and chief of the Balochistan Liberation Front. He said that the people of Baloch had no intention to join the democratic process of Pakistan as they have different cultures, languages, psyches, histories, and compact geography, albeit Pakistan occupied Balochistan by force. He said, “They (Pakistan) have no interest in the welfare of Balochistan and the Baloch nation. They are only interested in our 750-mile-long coast and minerals. So we Baloch have no way other than resistance, to divert the attention of the world towards oppressed Baloch.” Notably, this is one of the main reasons for attacks on Chinese nationals in the region.

The current wave of violence

There has been a spike in the incidents of violence in Balochistan. Data available in the public domain reveals that in 2022, there were 406 fatalities in the region. It increased to 466 in 2023 which was the highest number since 2016. Insurgent groups that are highly active in the region include the Balochistan Liberation Front (BKLF) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). They often justify the violence suggesting it is a way to show resistance against the exploitation of the natural resources and erosion of the culture of Balochistan due to the influx of non-local labour on projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Nothing is being invested in Balochistan. Punjabi establishment is plundering it with both hands and Baloch resources are booty of war for Pakistan”, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch said in the interview with OpIndia.

CPEC is a multi-billion-dollar road project that is the result of a deal between the governments of Pakistan and China. The idea behind the project is to provide China with a clear path to transport its products from China to ports in Pakistan connecting it to the rest of the world. CPEC is not only facing financial issues but also facing resistance from the locals as the government of Pakistan has failed to convince the locals that the project is beneficiary for them. Furthermore, India has also registered its objection to the project as it passes from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Specific incidents and claims

The insurgent groups have explicitly targeted those who were suspected of being in collaboration with the Pakistani security forces or being involved in the CPEC projects. Targeted killings of workers from Punjab and attacks on Chinese nationals have underlined the severity and specific nation of the threat. For example, the attack of 13th August 2023 on the convoy carrying Chinese nationals in Gwadar resulted in several casualties of both Chinese nationals and Pakistani security personnel. BLA claimed responsibility for the attack.

Impact on the region

The repeated attacks have destabilised already distressed Balochistan and pose a significant challenge to the economic ambitions of the financially drowned Pakistani government. CPEC was believed to be the cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic future but it has been marred by opposition from Baloch insurgents and violent attacks. Baloch people argue that CPEC is benefitting the outsiders at the expense of the local population.

The role of the Pakistani state

It has to be noted that there has been no stability in Pakistan for years, whether it is economic or political. Amidst such a situation, Pakistan has responded to the Baloch resistance with a mix of military operations and attempts at negotiations. However, due to instability at the centre, the Pakistani government as well as the military has failed to control the violence.

The problem of political instability was also raised by Dr Nazar in the interview with OpIndia. He said, “There is no democracy in Pakistan. The most important thing that compels the Baloch to rebel is oppression and slavery. When I see that my nation is deprived of all aspects of life and ignored in every field, even lacking in a drop of water what else am I supposed to do? Some federalist parties who are puppets of Islamabad, show them as representatives of Baloch but this is not reality. On the other hand, everyone knows that ISI and the Pakistan military are the shadow government in Pakistan. The common Baloch people are supporting the Balochistan Liberation Front and other freedom-seeking organizations.”

Military action on insurgents is also seen as one of the reasons why peace remained elusive in the area. Military raids and blockades have resulted in further grievances and numerous reports of human rights violations. India has also expressed concerns about human rights violations in Balochistan on several occasions.

In September 2016, India raised the human rights violation issue in Balochistan at the United Nations. In a statement, India said, “The people of Balochistan, amongst other provinces, have been waging for decades a bitter and brave struggle against their daily abuse and torture. Religious and sectarian minorities such as Hindus, Christians, Shias, Ahmaddiyas, Ismailis and others continue to face discrimination, persecution and targeted attacks in Pakistan. Places of worship belonging to minorities have been destroyed and vandalized. Blasphemy laws remain in force and are disproportionately used against religious minorities.”

The situation in Balochistan requires a deep understanding and multifaceted approach along with support from the World leaders including India. It is essential to address the legitimate concerns of the people of Balochistan and ensure they get the rightful ownership of the resources. Furthermore, it is essential to respect the cultural and economic rights of the native population. All stakeholders including the Pakistani government and international actors have to get involved to find a resolution for the problems faced by the people of Balochistan due to regional projects.

OpIndia’s interview with Dr Allah Nazar Baloch can be read here.

‘Abhishek Banerjee offered money to make false comments’: Woman seen in Sandeshkhali sting video says it is doctored, points out her audio and video do not match

OpIndia Staff
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‘Abhishek Banerjee offered money to make false comments’: Woman seen in Sandeshkhali sting video says it is doctored, points out her audio and video do not match

In the case of a sting video widely shared by Trinamool Congress where some people are seen saying that the rape allegations made by women in Sandeshkhali are bogus, another person seen in the video have said that the video is edited, and she never made the comments heard in the video. Jaba Rani Singha, who had appeared in the video, where she appeared to be said that she signed on the official complaint with ‘false charges’ against TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, have now said that the video is doctored, and the charges are not false.

This comes after BJP’s Sandeshkhali mandal president Gangadhar Koyal, who also appeared in the sting video saying the charges were false, claimed that the video is doctored and hi-tech methods were used to edit his audio.

Notably, in the sting video, Jaba Rani Singha’s comments are not lip-synched with the video, what she seemed to be saying does not match her lip movements and facial expressions. This gives credence to her allegation that the video has been doctored.

Talking to Bongo TV, Jaba Rani Singha asserted that she is committed to the movement by the Sandeshkhali woman against the TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides.

Talking about the video, Jaba Rani Singha said that some people had called to fill up a form saying that she will be paid money against her job card. They had claimed that Suvendu Adhikari sent them.

However later that they threatened her to make comments against the protests, saying her family will be harmed if she does not say what they asked. They also offered to drop a case registered against her, and asked her to quote a price for making the false statements. She added that at last, the two men who were talking to her revealed that TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee sent them, and asked her to demand whatever she want in exchange of saying that the allegations of Sandeshkhali women are false.

However, she refused to make the comments as per their demands. She added that she didn’t know that the conversion was being recorded. Jaba Rani Singha said that she talked to the two men for around 1 hour, but only 2-3 sentences were being repeated in the video. She also said that the conversation took place in the day, while in the sting video it is nighttime.

Jaba Rani Singha said that while it appears in the sting video that she accepted that the allegations are false, her comments were in response to some other queries, and the audio recordings of her responses were misused with some other queries to make the sting video.

Another woman accompanying her noted the video and audio are not in synch in the sting video, Singha’s voice can be heard even while she is saying on video, which proves that it is an edited video.

Trinamool Congress leaders including Mamata Banerjee has been sharing the sting video on social media platforms to claim that the allegations by women in Sandeshkhali are false. The video features Gangadhar Koyal, Jaba Rani Singha and Shanti Dolui, BJP Mandal President. However, now two the three, Gangadhar Koyal and Jaba Rani Singha, have said that their videos are doctored and they never said that the Sandeshkhali charges are false.

Earlier Gangadhar Koyal had said, “The viral video targeting me is part of a conspiracy and collusion. My words have been tampered with. High-tech method has been used to tamper my voice. Me, my party and the women of Sandeshkhali have been targeted to tarnish their image and also tarnish the image of LoP Suvendu Adhikari. This was their conspiracy.” He also demanded CBI inquiry into the matter.

Bareilly: Murdered 14-year-old girl was forcibly converted to Islam, was being stalked for months, Fariyad was threatening her and her brother: Exclusive details of the FIR

OpIndia Staff
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Bareilly: Murdered 14-year-old girl was forcibly converted to Islam, was being stalked for months, Fariyad was threatening her and her brother: Exclusive details of the FIR

In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim youth identified as Fariyad raped a Hindu minor after converting her to Islam and then murdered her by throwing her in front of a running train. As a result, the body of the minor was divided into two pieces. A complaint has been lodged against the Muslim accused and he has been arrested.

According to the FIR lodged, the 15-year-old Hindu girl resident of Faridpur was being harassed by a Muslim youth living nearby for the last seven months. Due to this, the Hindu minor was scared. The victim had also informed her parents that accused Fariyad had converted her to Islam forcefully.

The accused, who runs a barber shop in the area, had also been threatening to kill the Hindu minor. He used to threaten to kill her brother as well. The family members of the victim said in the FIR that the minor had left her house on Wednesday (May 8, 2024) for her college studies.

The accused forcefully abducted the Hindu minor on his bike from the road. After this, he raped her and then took her to a nearby railway line and threw her in front of a moving train.

The girl was crushed to death after being hit by a moving train. Her body was chopped into two parts. This incident happened on a river bridge, her body was recovered from a nearby water body. On receiving information about the matter, the family members of the Hindu minor reached the spot and informed the police.

After getting information about the matter, the police arrested the accused. A case has been registered against the complainant under various sections including murder, rape, POCSO, and forced religious conversion. OpIndia has the FIR copy of this case. Bareilly Police is investigating the matter. The family members of the deceased have performed her last rites.

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